A.N: well, I know that it took me a while to update but here you go, here's the sixth chapter. I'm not sure when I'll post the next chapter but I hope that it'll be soon. I guess all that's left is to wish you that you'd enjoy this one… (And no, I don't own that one either…)

Don't judge a book by its cover

Chapter 6:

"Was that your mother I saw you talking to on the phone?" The guidance counselor stopped me just as I was about to walk back to my room.

"No. Why would I want to talk to my mother?"

"I think that you should come to my office so that we could talk tomorrow…"

"Why, because I don't get along with my mother?"

"You have lots of hostility in you…" She said quietly, answering my question.

"And you want to help, how nice."

"It's my job to-"

"Help people. I know." I cut her off, "But your job is to help people who want your help, and trust me when I say that I don't need your help and that I definitely don't want it."

"Your parents sent you here for a reason…"

"Well, I'm not sure that you can really understand this, but I was an embarrassment and my parents just decided to get rid of it."

"Is that what you really think?"

"No. It's what I know."

"And how do you know that?"

"Well, let me see, I got into some trouble and instead of dealing with it they just sent me away, to this fucking place…"

"Well, maybe I can help."

"I already told you that I don't want your help." I said loudly.

As I pushed past her and started walking away she asked loud enough for me to hear, "Then what do you want?"

"I want to be left alone."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John, Don, Matt and I were now seated in our room, just talking about our day and making fun of how pathetic it was, "She is so annoying." I said, as I told them about what happened with the guidance counselor earlier that day.

"She just wants to help…" Don said.

I started laughing at his words.

"Because she cares…" he started laughing himself.

"So, what did you tell her?" John asked.

"That I wanted to be left alone."

"You actually said that to her?" Matt inquired.

"What else could I say?"

"That you wanted to go home…" Don said, as if it was the obvious answer.

"Don't worry, he'll have plenty of time." John smiled my way as he said the next sentence, "I don't think that she's going to leave him alone anytime soon."

"I thought that people weren't supposed to give a damn around here…" I said.

"Yeah, right…" John smiled again.

"So, how exactly am I going to get her off of my back?"

"Cooperate." Matt said.

"I don't think that it'll help."

"Just give it a try."

"Is there any way that I could get suspended?" I asked.

"Start a food fight during lunch or dinner." Don said, smiling mischievously.

"I'll have to give it a try sometime." I said, "Only in a time of need, though."

"And what exactly is 'a time of need'?" Matt asked.

"I'm not sure yet, but when the time comes you'll be the first to know."

"I'm sorry but I really don't get you," John said, "I wish that she would have been on my case, she's so hot…"

"You're the only one who can think of it that way…" I said, smiling.

"You can't tell me that you don't think she's hot…" He looked shocked.

"She's a bit too old for me." Don said with a disgusted look.

"Plus, she's gonna try talking to him about boring stuff." Matt commented.

"I never said that I wanted to have a relationship with her. All I said was that she looks good." John explained, "And it could have been worse…"

"So, how was your day, anyway?" Don asked me, ignoring John's words.

"I talked to her."

"With the counselor?" Matt asked.

"No. I talked to Rory…"

"And how is she?" John asked.

"Oh, you know, she's okay."

"And how are you?" Don inquired.

"What do you mean?" I didn't understand.

"Well, after talking to Rory…" He explained his question.

"Better. I'm more at ease now."

"Maybe you should call your father and ask him to let you come back." Don said quietly.

"You're so funny sometimes…"

"Well, if you want something to happen-"

"He's not gonna let me come back just like that, and you know it." I cut Don off.

"So you're not even gonna try?" Matt asked.

"I'd rather not."

"Your loss." Don said.

"I know." I said as I threw myself on my bed, "But he's not gonna change his mind anytime soon." I smiled bitterly to myself, hating this feeling.

"But you have the money if you decide to go back on your own, right?" John asked.

"Yeah, but I don't think that it'll help."

"Meaning?" Don asked as he got up from where he was seated and walked over to his desk to grab something, before sitting down again.

"I don't think I'm going home anytime soon."

"Why not?" Matt looked at me questioningly.

"There's nothing there." I said painfully, "And besides, I have everything I need right here, I have food, a bed and a phone, what more could I ask?"

"That's great." John said, "But you can't see Rory from here…" He pointed out.

"Sure I can," I smiled, lightly, "I have pictures."

"Oh, why didn't I think of that?" Don said sarcastically, "That's more than enough, you have pictures…"

"So maybe it's not enough, but it's something."

"Are you sure?" John asked, "Because it looks to me like you're fooling yourself."

"I never said that I don't miss her."

"Then what are you saying?" Don asked.

"That I wish I could go back." I said, quietly.

"Then go home." Matt smiled my way.

"Sure, 'cause that's what I need right now, to get into trouble with my father again."

"Then don't go home…" he continued.

I sighed with frustration, "What am I doing right now?!"

"Well, it's nice to have you here with us." Matt said, smiling lightly.

"It's not like you have any other choice…"

"Neither do you."

Silence took over the room as I stood up and started pacing about the room.

"How about if we go and find something to do?" Don finally broke the silence.

"Yeah, considering that this is our free evening, that'll be nice." John said with a smile.

"Something that'll take my mind off of everything." I said.

"That's probably a good idea." I heard Matt's voice from behind me.

"Girls…" John said, smiling.

"Who needs 'em?!" Don winked at me.

"Right. Let's just go." I grabbed my jacket.

"A movie and then some pizza will do us only good." John said as he got up.

"Something with lots of fights in it." Matt said, getting up himself.

"The Hartford theatre is where I want to be right now…" I murmured to myself.

"What?" Don turned to look at me, his eyes questioning.

"Nothing."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"What?" I asked the women that had been standing by the doorframe for a long time now, "What do you want?"

"Mr. Dugrey, that attitude won't get you far." When all she got in response was my stare she continued, "Don't look at me that way, you have a phone call."

"Who is it?"

"I don't know." she answered.

"How come you didn't ask?"

"Mr. Dugrey, I don't appreciate you wasting my time, are you going to take the call or not?"

"Can't you see that I'm busy?"

"Doing what, exactly?" she looked at me, exasperation evident in her eyes.

"Can't you see?" I asked, smirking.

"No. Enlighten me, what are you doing?"

"Lying around." The smirk grew bigger.

"Then I guess you're not going to take that call…"

"Tell whoever this is to call later, I'm not in the mood right now."

"It sounded urgent." She gave it another shot.

"Well, I don't think I care." I only stared at her.

"Really important…"

"Was it a young girl, say, a teenager?"

"No, all grown up…"

"Then no, I'm not going to take that call."

"It's not your mother if that's what you're worried about."

"I'll pass." I said, turning my eyes away from her.

"Aren't you going to say something to him?" She turned to look at John, Don and Matt.

"No." John said, smiling.

"It's his choice." Don went on.

"And there's nothing that any of us can do about it." Matt looked at her apologizingly.

"But it could be important." She kept insisting.

"And I already told you that I don't care." I said, wishing that she'd leave already.

"Right," She turned to look at me, "Because you're busy…"

"Right."

"Well, she's been waiting long enough, I'll be leaving now." With one last look to my direction she left.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"So, why didn't you take that call?" Matt asked.

"Have you seen him lately?" John asked.

"Yeah, I mean, he's completely down." Don said.

"It's not what you think…" I tried to explain.

"It's exactly what we think, you're all freaked out because she hasn't called in a week and you're too proud to call her yourself." John said, staring at me knowingly.

"Fine, so maybe it is what you think." I said, "But the fact that she hasn't called in a week has to mean something. Maybe she just realized that she hates me or something like that."

"I thought that things were going pretty good…" Matt said quietly.

"Then why hasn't she called yet?" I asked, frustrated.

"I think that you'd save yourself a lot of pain and worries if you'd just call her." John said.

"I'm not calling." I said in response.

"You can be such a girl sometimes…" he looked at me.

"Well, that's what hanging around guys like you can cause a normal guy."

"I get it, you're bitter…" Don said jokingly.

"Funny." I didn't even turn to look at him.

"Hey, you asked for it."

"I really think that you should call her." Matt said quietly.

"We've been over this, I'm not calling her." I said, raising my voice.

"And what if she needs you?" John asked.

"I'm there for her and she knows it, all she has to do is to pick up the phone."

"Are you sure that she knows that?" Don asked, looking at me strangely.

"We had a talk about it once. I told her that Id always be there for her."

"Just call her." John said.

"Why would she need me, anyway?"

"All I'm saying is that girls don't always tell you what they want or need, you have to look carefully, and to do that you actually have to call her…" He clarified.

"I know that." I said quietly.

"Right, I forgot who I was talking to…" he kept on going.

"She has her mother and her best friend, Lane. Plus she has Jane and Josh and the whole gang, and I'm sure that that's more than enough."

"You're her friend, you should just be there for her." Matt said.

"I can't be there, I'm right her as you can see. And it's not like I can leave…"

"Don't get all smartass now." Don said, annoyance evident in his voice.

"She knows where to reach me, okay?"

"But you're not taking your calls..." John pointed out.

"What do you want from me?" I was getting frustrated by the minute.

"For the millionth time, call her." Matt said.

"Not gonna happen!" I said aloud.

"Then at least take your calls." He continued.

"Will that get you off of my back?" I asked.

"For now." He smiled.

"And what about you two?" I turned to look at John and Don.

"No." John said, smirking.

"And you?" I asked Don.

"Only if you call her…"

"One down, two to go. For some reason I like Matt better than you two today." I said.

"Oh no!" John said sarcastically.

"It's her turn to call." I said, annoyed.

"Do you have the same arrangement with your parents?" John asked, smirking again.

"No. You know how it goes with my parents," I smiled his way, "I never call them and whenever they call me I'm always too busy to take the call."

"Busy, hu?" John asked.

"Too much homework…"

"Yeah, I think I get it, you're too stubborn to call her."

"I'm not going into this again." I said firmly.

"You're too proud to care, I get it."

"No." I turned to look at him, "It's up to her and she knows it." I clarified.

"Only girls do that." He looked at me annoyingly.

"Fine, then I'm a girl."

"Fine."

"Well, whatever you are, you have a phone call." I turned to look at the woman who left a little while ago, "Are you going to take this one?"

I gave Matt a pleading look, "I'm kind of busy here…"

"Let me guess, Sitting on a chair."

"Yeah, that's it." I said coldly.

"Well, she told me to let you know that it's Lorelai."

"Lorelai?"

"Yeah, Lorelai Gilmore."

"I think I'll take that one…" I pushed past her and ran to the office to answer the phone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"What's wrong?" I asked as I picked up the receiver and put it close to my mouth.

"Calm down, okay?" I heard what I assumed to be Lorelai's voice.

"What happened to Rory?"

"She'll be okay, she just needs you."

"Then why isn't she the one on the phone, talking to me?"

"She's too busy wallowing."

"What?" I didn't understand.

"Let's just say that she's single again."

"Did she-"

"No, he did. Again." She didn't even let me finish my question.

"And how is she?" I was worried about her.

"Haven't left the bed in two days."

"School?"

"No." I heard frustration in her voice.

"Put her on the phone."

"She's not taking it, no matter who I tell her it is…"

"Well, I'll find a way to be there as soon as possible, even today if it's possible."

"That'll be good." She said quietly.

"I'll see you soon." I hung up.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Hey," Lorelai said as she opened the door, "Come in."

"Here," I handed her a cup of coffee, "Where is she?" I asked, my eyes never leaving the remaining cup of coffee in my hands.

"In her room."

"Thanks." I walked past her to the direction of Rory's room.

I knocked on the door lightly waiting for an answer, when no answer came I knocked again, "Rory, can I come in?" I asked quietly.

A few moments later the door opened and I saw her walking back to her bed.

"How are you?" I asked as I came in and sat on the edge of her bed.

She lay back, "You didn't have to come." She said quietly, staring at her blanket.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Because," She sat back up, "I didn't want to bother you."

"Rory…" her eyes turned to look at me.

"And there's nothing you can do." She said with a shaky voice.

"I can listen," I handed her the cup of coffee, "It might help to just get it all out."

"Thanks, " She took the coffee from my hand, "But no one can help."

"Well, I'm here anyway."

"Right." She got up and placed the coffee on her desk, on her way to the bathroom.

I got up and followed her in, "Why don't you come with me?" I asked.

"To where?" she turned the tap open, letting the water fall for a little while on her hands before splashing some on her face.

"Anywhere but here." I offered a smile.

"She called you, didn't she?"

"Come on, Rory…" I took a little towel in my hand and wiped her wet face gently.

"What did she tell you?" she pushed my hand away from her face, feeling uncomfortable with the closeness between us.

"Nothing. She just said that you needed me around."

"I don't need you…"

"I don't think that it's the right time to do this." I said quietly.

"No, really, you can just go back."

"Rory…"

"I'm hungry, let's go find something to eat." She pushed past me and walked out of her room, a few moments later she was out the front door and down the porch's stairs.

"I really think that you should talk about it." I said as I followed her outside and down the stairs, she didn't even slow down.

"But I don't want to."

"You can't run from dealing with it forever." I was practically running so that I could reach her and finally make her talk to me.

"It's too soon, okay?"

"Rory…" I touched her shoulder lightly as I finally reached her, to stop her from running away.

She started crying.

"Just tell me…"

"I don't want to…" I heard her mumble quietly as she started crying even harder.

I turned her to me, so that I could look her in the eye, but she only stared at the ground, her sobs subsiding slowly. "You can trust me, Rory." I said quietly as I lifted her chin up with my hand so that she'd finally look at me.

"It's not that…" she pushed herself away from me, finding a random rock to sit on.

I stared at her for a moment and then I came and sat down beside her, "Then what is it?" I asked quietly.

"You wouldn't understand. You're perfect, you've never been rejected in your life, why should you understand?" she spat the words out, sounding bitter.

"I thought that you were giving me another chance…" I said quietly, hurt that she'd just assume things like that.

"I am."

"No, you're not, you're attacking me."

"How could you understand? You're perfect."

"See? Attacking me…"

"You wouldn't understand, okay?" she kept insisting.

"Just give it a try." I turned my head to look at her, "Give me a chance to at least try and help you."

"All I'm saying is that-" she started.

"You're being stubborn." I cut her off.

"No, I'm not, I just-"

"Just tell me, okay?" I cut her off again.

"I don't want to." She said, firmly.

"Fine." I felt frustrated.

"Fine." She said quietly.

"Fine!" I hated the fact that she was being so stubborn.

We sat there for about ten minutes in silence, neither of us saying a word, just thinking about all that's been said in the past twenty minutes. She slowly calmed down, her breathing becoming normal again. Then, I heard her humming something to herself. It took a few moments but I finally recognized it, "Michelle Branch?" I asked, smiling to myself.

"You know her?" She sounded surprised.

"Jane sent me her CD."

"That's my favorite song." She said, referring to what she'd just hummed.

"It's not too bad."

"I just love her!" I could see from the corner of my eye that she was smiling.

"I can't seem to understand what she means. I mean, I just don't get it."

"Are you dumb?" she asked, amusement in her voice.

"I guess that you have to be a girl to understand her."

She ignored my teasing tone, "Maybe…"

We sat there quietly for about a minute, "What do you want to eat?" I finally broke the silence.

"I don't know." She said quietly, "Surprise me."

"Get in the car." I said as I stood up and turned her way, to help her to her feet. I turned my back to where she stood, heading in the car's direction.

"What's wrong with me?!" I heard pain in her voice. When I turned to look her way she was seated on the same stone, looking my way with tears in her eyes.

"Nothing."

She averted her eyes to the ground, "Then why did he break up with me?" her eyes returned to look into mine, "And not once, twice."

"He's stupid, okay?" I couldn't make myself come closer to her.

"That doesn't change the fact that he doesn't want me." her sobs came harder now.

I couldn't help but smile.

"See?" She wiped some tears away with her sleeve, "I knew you wouldn't understand."

"It's not that."

"It's not funny, stop smiling."

"I can't."

"I knew I shouldn't have said anything…"

"No. I'm glad you did."

"Because you find it amusing."

"No." I took a few steps closer, "Because I finally get that stupid song."

"What do you mean?" she looked confused.

"I would cry, and you would smile." I quoted the words from Michelle Branch's song, sweet misery, "I finally get it."

"Explain."

"No matter how you look or even what you feel, I can't help but smile, because it doesn't change a thing, I still feel the same."

"I don't understand."

"When the right time comes, you will."

"And now's not the right time?"

"No." I gave her another smile.

"So, you weren't laughing at me?"

"No."

"Good."

"But I still don't understand why you were so sad, I mean, you wanted it to end, right?"

"It doesn't change the fact that he dumped me." she got up, "Twice."

"Idiot."

She smiled.

"Here's that smile…"

It grew even bigger, "Shut up."

"Why don't you come and make me?" I teased.

"Why don't we go and find something to eat?" she walked over to where I stood and pushed me on her way to the car, "I'm starving."

"Junk food, I assume." I said, as I followed her, unlocking the car with the remote in my hand.

"And some ice cream." She turned to look at me, smiling.

"Ice cream it is…" I said as I opened the door on my side and got in.

She opened her door and got in herself, "Good."

"And I'm paying." I said, smiling from what I knew would come.

"No, you're not. You chauvinist macho." My smile grew wider as I started the car.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"You can't imagine how I've missed this sort of food." I said, as I took another bite of my hamburger. It's been so long since I've eaten normal food.

"Yeah, I can. Once, mom and I had a bet on which one of us could last longer without having food from this place…" she said, smiling to herself at the memory.

"How long did it take her to cave?" I asked knowingly.

"Two weeks…"

"Like I said, you have no idea."

"Okay, so maybe you're right, but don't forget that it always feels longer for the Gilmore girls…"

"I still can't believe that your mother could last more than a day."

"Well, she didn't." she confessed, smiling.

"How long, then?"

"Three hours."

I chuckled, "So, what flavor?"

"What?"

"The ice cream." I explained.

"Vanilla."

"Good choice." I got up and went to the counter, to get us some ice cream.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As I pulled the car in front of her house I turned to look at her, "You're okay, right?"

She turned to look out the window, "Much better." she smiled lightly and then turned to look at me, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it, it was my pleasure."

"Right."

"And I'll see you tomorrow, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"After school. Because I assume that you are going tomorrow…"

"Yeah, I think that I've had enough time off school."

"Is there such thing?" I joked.

"Yeah, at Chilton there is and you know it. Besides, you know that I enjoy the whole learning process." she gave me a smile.

"Okay, so just bring with you comfortable cloths for tomorrow."

"You're not taking me on another hiking trip, are you?"

"We'll see..."

"No, we won't. I'm not going."

"You had fun last time." I argued.

"Yeah, and I also fell on my butt…"

"Yeah, you did, but that part was funny." I couldn't help but smile as the scene played itself in my mind.

"No, it wasn't." she protested.

"I promise that this time it'll be easier."

"I'm still not going, find something else to do."

"We'll talk about it tomorrow."

"Why? I want to do it right now."

"Well, you have school tomorrow and it's getting pretty late."

"I'll just drink some extra coffee tomorrow morning."

"Just bring the clothes with you." I started pushing her in her front door's direction.

"Don't wanna…" she pouted.

We were going up the stairs now, "And don't forget to bring comfortable shoes."

"But I-"

"No, you're not saying a word." I shushed her.

"It's not-"

"School night." I cut her off again.

"Why are you-" she started again.

"Have a good night, Rory."

She finally gave up and opened the front door, with one last smile she said quietly, "You too, Tristan."

As she shut the door behind her I smiled to myself, "I wouldn't worry about that…" I went back to my car and got in, heading home.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I couldn't help but smile on my way back to Hartford. Rory let me in. It felt so good to know that she trusted in me enough to let me help her, or at least try. It felt good to know that even when she was feeling bad she wanted me around. She let me be around at such a hard and painful time for her, and to tell you the truth, it felt good to be the one who brought a smile back to her face. My thoughts wondered back to that time I took her hiking, it was a nice day and I hoped that she'd let me take her hiking again, just so that maybe, for even a little while, she'd forget everything that was on her mind. I was trying to find a way to convince her to go with me when I pulled the car in front of my house. I sat in the car for a few more minutes, thinking about what happened with Rory that afternoon, before I got out and headed home. But I forgot one important detail; my parents were probably awaiting my arrival…

"It's nice of you to finally stop by." I heard my father's voice as I walked into the house. The smile that was still there disappeared in no time.

"How are you, dad?" I asked in an aggravating tone.

"Why didn't you tell us that you were coming home?" my mother asked.

"Why should I? Were you even worried?" I asked, knowing the answer.

"Don't start, young man, you are already in enough trouble." My father said, firmly. Coming in my mother's defense.

"Well, I don't care what you have to say, dad, I'm not going back."

"You'll do whatever I decide you do." I wanted to laugh so hard at his words; he was standing there, trying to show me that he had control over this whole situation. How pathetic.

"What are you going to do, punish me?!" I laughed at the thought of him trying to punish me, "You can't punish me, dad. Sending me away is the worst thing you can do to me, how can you top that one?" I asked in disdain.

He was mad and I could see that, "I already got you a plane ticket, you'll be leaving tomorrow morning and this time, young man, I'm not changing my mind."

I hated him when he called me that, "I have a name, dad. Use it"

"Tristan," my mother said quietly, "Listen to your father."

"I'm not going."

"Give me one good reason as to why I should let you stay."

"Well, let me see. How about the fact that I'm your son and you want the best for me?"

"Sending you away is the best thing for you." He said firmly.

"You don't know me, how would you know what's best for me?" he was so annoying.

"Then tell me, what is best for you, running around with you friends and getting into trouble? For some reason I don't think that it's the best thing for you."

"And what if I stop hanging around with Duncan and Bowman?"

"And who will you be friends with?" My mother asked.

"Jane and Josh and all those guys you like so much."

"You'll just change to please your parents all of a sudden?" my father asked, disdain evident in his voice.

"No, father," I couldn't take it anymore, "I'm already friends with them. Josh knows everything there is to know about me ever since I can remember myself and Jane is his girlfriend. I just don't want to leave Hartford again." I said as an explanation.

"I don't buy it."

"So, what now?" I asked, frustrated.

"You have a plane to catch tomorrow morning." He said coldly.

"I love you too, dad." I said, sarcastically.

"Don't forget to take your bag out of your car's trunk."

"Yeah, yeah…"

"We'll see you in the morning." He started heading up the stairs, my mother following him; she only sent me an apologizing smile before she disappeared.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Tristan, what are you doing here?" Josh asked, surprised, as he saw me standing in front of him.

"I need a place to crash for the night."

"When did you come back?"

"This afternoon."

"I bet you're in a lot of trouble."

"Hence the I need a place to crash for the night."

"And then what?" he opened the door a little wider, making room for me to come in and then turned around and started waking down the hall, "Come in, man."

"Thanks." I walked inside and followed him, "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what." I answered his question.

"So, I guess that this means that they already know that you're back in Hartford."

"Yeah, my father already got me a plane ticket…"

"So, what now?"

"I guess I'm going to have to find somewhere else to stay after tonight since this will probably be one of the first places they'll look me in."

"Find someone they'll never think of." We reached the guest room and he opened the door so that we could both walk inside.

"The only person I can think of is Rory, and she has enough on her mind as it is."

"Have you spoken to her? Jane told me that she's not taking any calls."

"She didn't have much choice, I came to her house." I said, smiling.

"She wasn't in school for a couple of days."

"I know, that's why I'm here in the first place." I put my bag down on the floor, next to a bed that stood in the room.

"How did you find out, anyway?"

"Lorelai called."

"Wow."

"I know."

"So, I guess that means that she doesn't know that you ran off, right?"

"Why tell her?"

"But Lorelai probably knows, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Then why don't you ask her?"

"You know, even though you can be dumb sometimes you always seem to have great ideas when needed…" I said, jokingly.

"Keep saying that, Dugrey, and I'll kick your ass."

"So, how's Jane?" I asked, smiling.

"Actually, she's in the living room."

"Really, did I disturb you two?" I teased.

"We were watching a movie…"

"What movie?"

"Why don't you join us?"

"Is it a chick flake?"

"Big Daddy."

"You picked it, hu?"

"No, we just thought that something funny might be nice."

"Then I guess I'll be joining you two…"

"You know the way."

"Aren't you coming with me?"

"In a minute, I'll just fix your bed."

"I can do that later."

"It's okay, I'll be there in a second, just go."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"So, we'll see you in a sec, right?"

"Yeah, what do you think that I'm trying to set you up? She's my girlfriend. Just go and I'll be there in a sec." He looked at me strangely.

"Okay…" I turned around and left the room.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Hey, Janie…" I said as I walked into the room.

"Tristan, hey." She was surprised to see me there.

"In the flesh."

"When did you come back?"

"This afternoon."

"I can't believe you got your father to let you come back." she smiled at me.

"Yeah, maybe that's because I didn't."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that I'm in trouble again."

She turned serious; "I think that something's wrong with Rory."

"He already knows that," Josh said, walking into the room, "That's why he's here in the first place."

"She's not taking any calls. Believe me, I tried."

"I know, Lorelai told me. I went to her house and we spent the entire afternoon together. She's going to school tomorrow so you'd be able to talk to her."

"What happened to her?" She asked, looking worried.

"She'll tell you tomorrow, don't worry."

"So," Josh interrupted, "On with the movie…"

"Yeah." I took a seat in front of the TV.

"How is she?" Jane asked, ignoring Josh.

I turned to look at her, "Better." I gave her a smile.

"That's good." She returned my smile.

"Yes it is." Josh said, "Why don't we talk about it later?"

"You can be such an asshole sometimes." Jane said, turning to look at him.

"Come on you two, don't start fighting, we have time to talk after the movie's over." I said.

"You're saved because he's here. Otherwise you'd be dead…" She warned.

"I wouldn't have been in this mess if he weren't here anyway." He answered quietly.

"Asshole."

"Why don't we watch the movie now?" I asked quietly.

"That sounds like a good idea." Josh said as he pressed the play button.

"Only because you want to stay alive…" she said quietly.

"The movie's starting." He said.

"I can see that, I'm not blind." She turned to look at him.

"I know that." He said quietly, avoiding eye contact.

"Well, since the movie's starting and we can all see that why don't we just watch it quietly?" the both turned to look at me.

"Good idea." Josh said. And with that they both turned to look at the movie.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~