Yet again, thanks to everyone who's reviewed, especially repeat reviewers, like Dawnmeister and Firegoddess.  They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like a Wuzzle.  (Does anyone else remember Wuzzles?  Have you hugged a Wuzzle today?)

Disclaimer:  I have a bunch of Christmas presents under the tree, but I'm willing to bet that none of them contain any of the characters from the show.  (I even specifically asked that my brother buy George Clooney on a grocery trip once…much to my disappointment, he came home without G.C.  sniff, sniff, sob, sob.)

This chapter happens a couple of weeks after the first 3 chapters.  Recap:  Tristan came back to Chilton, and Rory was asked to help him get caught up in one of their classes.  The two went to Luke's (where else?) to study.  At Luke's, Jess and Tristan met, and were friendly with each other.  Dean also showed up at Luke's, and had a not-so-pleasant encounter with Tristan.  After said encounter, Dean attempted to warn Jess that Tristan had a thing for Rory.   During the following weeks, Tristan and Rory were friendly in school, but did not hang out much.  The one night of studying at Luke's was enough to get Tristan caught up in class, so they didn't get together to study again.

SECOND CHANCES

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

Friday, about a month later

She slammed the door of her locker with a sense of finality.  It had been another long, stressful, frustrating day.  She couldn't wait to get home.  She needed coffee.  Lots of coffee.  And Jess.  Jess.  Just thinking about him brought a smile to her face; she could already feel the muscles in her shoulders relaxing.  She smiled, quite probably her first smile all day, slung her backpack over one shoulder, and headed towards the door, her bus, and home.

"Rory!  Hey Rory!  Wait up!"  Tristan called after her.

She stopped, and turned to look at him.  "Hey, Tristan.  What's up?"

Tristan caught up with her, reached over, and grabbed her backpack.  "Here, let me carry that – you look like you're about to fall over!  Long day?"

"You have no idea."

"Well, hey – maybe this'll perk you up.  My parents decided to go out of town again.  They left yesterday.  So, party tonight, at my house.  Bring Jess and Lane.  Or, let me give you a ride home, and I'll invite them."

"A party?  I don't know…Jess isn't really into the social scene.  Plus, getting Lane out might be tricky."

Tristan shrugged.  "I'll give you a ride home, and ask them myself.  And, we'll work out a way for Lane to go, if she's interested."

Rory nodded.  "Okay.  Let's get going, though…no offense, but this conversation is keeping me from my coffee."

Tristan laughed.  "There are hot lines for addictions like that, y'know."

She grinned back at him.  "It's not an addiction…Coffee is the elixir of life."

"I dunno…you display all of the classic symptoms of coffee-ism."

"Coffee-ism?  Okay, that's a stretch, even for you!"

Tristan faked a hurt look.  "You wound me, Rory!  Besides, it's all I could come up with on such short notice.  Give me a few minutes, I'll do better."

"Riiiight." 

Tristan and Rory continued their light-hearted banter in the car, and shortly pulled up in front of Luke's. 

"No, no, no, and no.  Oh, and one more thing, Taylor.  NO."  Luke was saying as Tristan and Rory walked in. 

"Honestly, I don't know why you have to be so difficult!" Taylor responded.  "As head of the Stars Hollow Upgrading the Town and Unifying the People committee, it's my responsibility to…"

"Taylor, you're head of a committee called SHUT UP.  There is NO way I'm letting you put a billboard to that effect on my store!"

"Well.  We'll just have to take this up at the next town meeting."

"Yeah, well, big shocker coming here…my answer will still be NO."

Rory and Tristan looked at each other, and started laughing hysterically. 

"Hey, Luke…I would've thought that you'd love a sign that said 'Shut up'!"

"If you're not careful, Rory, I'll cut off your coffee supply."

"Being careful now.  Is Jess here?"

"Upstairs.  Go on up."

"Thanks!  C'mon, Tristan."

The two ran up the stairs.  Rory knocked on the door, but knew that Jess wouldn't be able to hear it over the Metallica blasting inside, so she opened it, and they went inside.

Jess was lying on his bed, reading.  An evil grin spread across Rory's face, and she made a big show of tiptoeing over to the bed.  She leaned over, and was reaching to tickle Jess's waist, when Jess rolled over, grabbed her wrists, and pulled her down on top of him.  She let out a squeal, which he promptly quieted with a kiss. 

Tristan stood in the doorway, watching.  She really cares about him, doesn't she?  And…he cares about her, too.  I wonder…if I hadn't gone to military school…would it have been me?  He watched as their kiss deepened, and Jess's hands started rubbing Rory's back.  He cleared his throat, suddenly uncomfortable watching them.

Rory sat up almost immediately, blushing.  "Sorry, Tristan."

Jess too sat up, and leaned over to look past Rory.  "Oh, hey, man, what's up?"

Rory turned back to Jess.  "He's having a party tonight, and invited you, me, and Lane." 

Jess frowned.  "Huh.  Parties aren't really my thing."

Tristan spoke up.  "That's what Rory said, but I thought I'd extend the invite, anyway.  It'll be fun…we've got a pool table, hot tub, pool-"

Jess cut him off.  "A pool?  It's December."

"Indoor, and heated.  It's cool if you don't want to go, though."

Jess shrugged.  "Like I said, it's really not my thing.  But, hey, Rory – if you want to go, that's cool with me.  I can put in some extra hours at the diner."

Rory looked concerned.  "You sure?  I mean, I don't have to go…"

"Go.  Party.  Have fun.  Make sure Lorelei knows that I'm not there, so that she can't blame me for anything that happens."

Rory chuckled.  "Yeah, she can…she'll blame you for not being there to protect me."

Jess snorted.  "Yeah, you're right.  It's a lose-lose situation with her."

Rory shook her head.  "She'll come around eventually…I'm really glad that you're at least trying to get along with her."

"Well, you know…" Jess looked a little embarrassed.  "Hey, you guys should probably go start trying to figure out how to get Lane out of the house tonight."

Rory nodded.  "Okay…see you later, then."  She leaned over, and kissed him again.

"Later."

Jess watched from the bed as Tristan and Rory walked out.  Watch out for Tristan, huh?  Nah.  Bagboy's crazy.  Even if he has a thing for her, she certainly isn't into him.  I mean…I'd be able to see it if she was.  Wouldn't I?  He gave himself a little shake, and turned back to his book.  After a few minutes of staring at the pages, he finally slammed it shut and tossed it aside.  Screw this.  I'm going for a walk.

TRISTAN AND RORY – LANE'S HOUSE

"Hi, Mrs. Kim, is Lane here?"  Rory asked politely.  Mrs. Kim had always scared her a little. 

"Upstairs.  You have 10 minutes." Mrs. Kim responded curtly.  She looked at Tristan.  "You wait here."

"Yes, ma'am."  Tristan replied with a smile, as Rory ran up the stairs.  "We were just coming over to invite Lane to join my Bible study group tonight.  There's a play in Hartford, re-enacting the Gospel according to Mark."

At that point, Lane and Rory came down the stairs.

"Lane.  You're going with Tristan and Rory tonight.  Pay close attention."

Lane looked puzzled.  "Mama…"

Tristan interrupted Lane. "Mrs. Kim, I believe that they're going to do the other three gospels as well, one each week.  Next Friday is the Gospel according to Luke."

Mrs. Kim frowned.  "Good for Lane to see.  Lane, you will go see all of these plays."

Lane smiled at Tristan.  "Yes, mama."

Tristan grinned back at her.  "We should be going, now.  We wanted to reread the gospel before the play.  Mrs. Kim, our bible study group likes to go out for tea after each meeting, to discuss the Scripture in a more relaxed setting.  We typically don't get home until fairly late.  Is that alright, or did you want me to bring Lane home immediately after the play?"

"That is fine.  Wake me up when you come in, Lane.  I want to hear all about this play."

"Yes, Mama."

The three teenagers turned, and scurried out of the house.  As soon as they reached the sidewalk, they took off, running to Rory's.

"Ohmigod that was incredible!!!!" Lane gasped, once they reached the crap shack.  "I love you forever!!! You just got me out of the house for the next 3 Fridays!  With no curfew!!!!!"

Tristan laughed.  "All in a good day's work.  And, the story is completely airtight.  There really IS a bible study group putting on plays of the 4 gospels in Hartford."

"And how would you know this, Bible Boy?"  Rory asked.

"I have my ways.  Plus, we have witnesses who will testify that all 3 of us were there, if asked.  So, you're completely covered, Lane, provided you don't get drunk at the party."

"No worries there…I don't drink."

"Then it's all good."

"Not quite…" Rory interjected.  "I kinda forgot that tonight's Friday."

Tristan frowned.  "Yes, tonight's Friday…hence, the party."

"Yeah – I've got dinner with my grandparents.  And they aren't as willing to believe in a biblical play as Mrs. Kim."

Lane shrugged.  "You can get out of it.  Can't you?  I mean, we have Mr. Brilliant here…by the way, you are my new hero.  Did I mention that I love you?  Forever?"

Tristan smirked.  "I believe you did mention it, briefly.  But, you probably shouldn't say anything tonight…I'll confess, it wasn't my idea to invite you to the party, nor did I come up with the excuse for Mrs. Kim."

Lane looked confused.  "Who's idea was it, then?  And who did come up with the excuse?"

"I've said too much.  It's a surprise…let's just leave it at that.  How're we gonna get Rory out of dinner?"

Just then, the jeep pulled into the driveway, and Lorelai fell out of the door. "ow, dammit." She muttered, as she picked herself off the ground  "Offspring!!!!  You will love me forever as soon as I tell you what I have to tell you!  I mean, we're talking total goddess worship here.  You will fall to my feet, and beg to be allowed to offer me coffee.  This is good.  This is incredibly, unbelievably, amazingly, inspired-ly-"

"MOM!"  Rory shouted.  "Just tell me already!"

Lorelai pouted.  "Hey, no fair.  I was on a roll!"

"Moooooom…."

"Fine.  I got us out of Friday dinner."

"Really!?!  Wow!  I love you forever!  How'd you do it?"

"I called my mother, and explained that we had both had very long, stressful weeks, and asked if we could reschedule Friday dinner to Saturday, just this once."

"And she fell for that?"

"Actually, no.  She told me that rescheduling would be more convenient for her, as well."

"So basically…you didn't get us out of Friday dinner, she let us off the hook."

"Hey!  Don't go knocking the accomplishment!  Hi Lane, Hi…Tristan?"

"Hi Lorelai."

"Hi, Ms. Gilmore.  It's good to see you again."

"Call me Lorelai, and tell me, Rory, why is Bible Boy sitting on our front porch?"

"Uh…He invited us to a party tonight."  Rory replied.

"Oh.  Well then.  Are you going?"

"Since you so cunningly got us out of Friday dinner, I thought I would."

"Okay.  Don't stay out too late."

"We won't.  See ya later, mom!"

"See ya.  And I want details tomorrow!  Like, how'd you get Lane to be able to go?"

"Tristan did it.  And, no worries, you will get the full, blow-by-blow version tomorrow.  Oh yeah.  We're going to see a bible study group put on a play of the Gospel according to Mark."

Lorelai guffawed.  "Okay, now I DEFINITELY need details tomorrow!"

"Of course!  I wouldn't hold out on you, Goddess.  Might I offer you some coffee now?"

"Actually, I'll just go to Luke's and get some."

"We need to go over there, too.  That's where Tristan left his car."

"So, let's go."

The four started walking to the diner.