The beginning of a BEAUTIFUL friendship



One month has passed. Nothing has happened in the last month. School has occupied both Rory and Margaret. Margaret and Dean haven't gone out on a date yet.

Paris had a big smile upon her face, for once. "I can't believe that our finals are finally over! And I can't believe how easy they were this year."

Rory looked tired and restless. "Easy? Are you ok Paris? Because those tests were hard. I better get an A."

Margaret also commented upon this remark. "Yeah. We studied together for like a 100 hours a week since last month. My brain is exhausted. I can't believe I wanted a challenge. This is beyond challenge. This is impossible!"

Paris looked around and started to walk away. "I have to talk to Louise and Madeline about some stuff. I am going to go."

Margaret thought for a moment and chased after her. "Oh, I have to talk to Madeline. I will go with you."

Rory shouted back at them, "I need to take some books home. See you guys later!"

Paris and Margaret took off and Rory went towards her locker. Rory tried opening her locker but it was stuck. "I hate you locker! You are evil! The existence of evil! Why won't you open when I need you to open?! I demand you to open and let down your hostages!"

Right then, a strong arm punched the locker and the locker flung open.

"Thank you."

Rory turned around to see Tristan standing. He was so handsome, with his messy blonde hair, dressed in all Abercrombie. "You know Mary, you really must learn that the locker cannot talk to you. Nor will it open without my magical touch."

Rory rolled her eyes. "You are really full of yourself Tristan. And must I repeat myself? The name is RORY! R-O-R-Y, not Mary ok?!"

Tristan had a smirk on his face. "Ok MARY. I am only kidding you. I missed you. What, don't I even get a hug?"

Rory smiled. "Of course!"

Rory hugged Tristan and felt a tingle down her spine *stop it Rory, you are not going to develop feelings for Tristan. He is evil, but so cute. Arrgh, stop it. I hate it when this happens. * *Tristan, you don't even have a chance with her. Your feelings are returning. Make a move on her. * They both regretfully let go of each other.

"So Rory, how have you been?"

"Fine. I told you in the letter about Paris and my best friend, Lane's cousin, Margaret started a month ago. How have you been?"

"Ok. I am just happy to be out of that school. It was harder and stricter than it is in Chilton. Hey, I really want to catch up with everything that is going on with Hartford and Chilton. You want to go out for a bite and talk?"

"You should ask Paris, she knows more. *Stupid Rory. *"

Tristan put on a pout. "What? You don't want to show me around? I'm hurt. I will buy you coffee."

Rory's face lighted up. "Coffee? Let's go!"

Tristan widened his eyes in amusement. "Wow, how some things just do not change. So where to little lady?"

"There is this great coffee place at Star's Hallow."



In the car on the way to Luke's.

Tristan then asked, "So, how have you been Mary?"

Rory caught her pet name and instantly injected, "Tristan, for the millionth time, the name is RORY!"

Tristan laughed. "Touchy! How you have changed, my lovely Mary."

"I have truly given up on you."

"Anyways, how is that wonderful abyss of a place everyone calls Chilton?"

"The usual. Finals were tough and stuff."

Tristan was able to tell there was this awkward silence between them. They weren't exactly friends when they left Tristan then tried to make some conversation. "Soooo."

"Tristan, why did you ask me to come with you?"

"Because I like your company. Why else would I ask you." *And every minute I am not with you hurts me. *

"Oh ok."

"So, why'd you break it with bagboy?"

Rory looked down on to her knees and paused for a moment.

Tristan seemed a little worried. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I was just curious since you know, a while back, you were declaring your love to Dean and if my mind does not deceive me, that was the same day you proclaimed your hate to me." *And even now, my heart has not completely healed. *

"I don't hate you.", Rory said quietly.

Tristan looked a little surprised. "You don't?"

"If I hated you, do you think I would be here with you in your car, willing to show you around my hometown? And if you haven't forgotten, I wrote back to you. If I hated you, do you really think I would have written back to you?"

"Soooo does that mean you love me?"

Tristan had his trademark smirk plastered on his face. Rory gently smacked him on his arm. Even right then, with that small contact, Tristan felt a tingle on the back of his spine. *Amazing how some things just don't change. *

"I wouldn't push it."

Tristan waited for his response about Dean but even after a few moments, he got nothing. He opened his mouth to say something but right then, Rory sighed.

"He broke up with me."

Tristan had yet again a surprised look plastered on his handsome face. "What?"

"Dean, he broke up with me."

*That idiotic fool. * "Why? '

"Because. because he thought I had feelings for this other guy and got jealous."

"And what happened with that?"

"I went out with Jess and we were a couple."

"I am guessing that Jess is the guy?"

"Yeah."

Tristan felt his heart break and he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Rory's eyes were still glued to her knees.

Tristan had a little hurt in his voice but tried to cover it. "So how is that going?"

"I broke up with him. Or it was a mutual. He's kind of my best friend."

Tristan loosened his grip on the wheel and was now regrouping his shattered heart, taping it back together. He also let out his breath, not even knowing that he was holding it.

Tristan had his smirk back on his face. "Does that give me a chance?"

"Dream on buddy."

"Every night." * And every day. *

The two of them bantered until they reached Stars Hallow. Rory made Tristan stop the car when they reached Luke's.