Disclaimer: I don't really own anything. Trust me, I'm broke, so please don't sue if I use anything I shouldn't.

Author's Note: Some characters may be OOC. Just a heads up for the future.

Two minutes later after having a quick conversation with a guy named Jake, Rory was supposed to go over to the apartment at six o'clock tonight.

"Aww, my little baby is going to have a male roommate. Just don't go out onto any balconies at night, okay?" Lorelei commanded, as she was on the phone that night around five.

"MO-OM!" Rory rolled her eyes. "I just hope he's cool, not like any other guy I've met before. I kind of want a few more friends here."

"Yes, a few friends are good. Especially if they're fine, young, male specimens. Yes, those are always good." Lorelei teased. "Oh babe, I've got to run, Sookie and I are going out to pick up a present for Jackson. I'll talk to you later. Love you." With that, she hung up before Rory had a chance to respond.

Quietly, she hung up the phone and started to get ready for her meeting with, hopefully, her future roommate. A male roommate, at that. "Oh well, college is a time for experimenting. So a guy can't be that hard to live with, can he?" Rory whispered, trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing.

Walking up a flight of stairs to the apartment 77A, Rory was nervous. Kristina was moving out in less than a week, and she paid half of the rent. Rory didn't have a job and couldn't afford the apartment by herself. 'I will get this apartment no matter what.' The door opened.

In front of Rory stood a figure from her past. A certain blonde haired boy, whose hair was still tousled like he just woke up. Tristan DuGrey. 'Dammit, I thought too soon.' Rory scolded herself as she saw a familiar grin make its way to Tristan's face.

"So we meet again, Mary," He stood there for a minute, drinking in the sight of the girl who had been part of the reason he ad left for North Carolina. He screwed up the first time, which had made him leave. But since she looked so serious, or determined, Tristan decided not to tease her. That much, at least. "Come on in?" He opened the door wider, revealing a spacious modern apartment.

"Nice crib," Rory noted, walking in, and heading straight towards the bookcase. It stretched from floor to ceiling, and had every book imaginable. She saw 'Romeo and Juliet,' and sighed. That was the play her and Tristan were supposed to do the night he left. 'Why am I thinking about that? It's been, like, three years.'

"Thanks, Jake and I, we try," Tristan laughed, humbly. "So, are you interested in the apartment? Jake said that someone was coming by." Rory turned around. "Yeah. So, when are you moving out?" She thought Jake was supposed to be moving out. But, she wasn't so sure now. The only things that were somewhat splayed over the apartment sporadically seemed like Tristan things. Maybe it was the pictures. They were only of him and his friends, Rory guessed.

"Me? No way. I love this place. It's got a great balcony view," Tristan responded, stopping suddenly when he saw Rory's face. It went from a nice rosy color to ghost white. "Are you okay?" He walked towards her, and guided her to the leather couch that took up most of the living room.

Rory thought it was ironic that she was with Tristan and the apartment that she could potentially move into had a balcony. Exactly what Lorelei had warned Rory about. She laughed, picturing her moms face when Rory told her about her roommate. "So, you aren't moving out, huh?" She questioned, noting how Tristan never took his piercing gaze off of her face.

He shook his head and grinned. "Nope, I'm afraid not."

Having mock disappointment on her face, Rory replied. "Aw, shucks. I was hoping for a nice non-player roommate." She stressed 'non-player.'

Tristan shrugged and faced forward, staring at a blank TV screen. "No such luck, Mary. Sorry, but this place is half mine. So, do you still want to move in? I mean, after Chilton, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to. I know I acted arrogant and snobby when I went there." He was suddenly remorseful, for no reason at all. Maybe it was the fact that Rory still looked innocent after three years or so.

"No, we did things in high school we all regret." Rory wasn't comfortable as to where this speech train was headed. The side of mountain, apparently, cause they were destined to debate about how Tristan acted, and what everyone did. 'Or maybe not,' Rory thought, thinking about how sincere the man next to her sounded. "So, I thought you would follow your daddy's footsteps and do business. Why in sam hell did you pick journalism?"

'Cause you were always talking about writing for a newspaper, and being an overseas correspondent. Well, when you actually talked to me seriously. Which was a grand total of six or seven times. But then, I don't think you'd remember.' Tristan tested his potential answer out in his head and realized that Rory was staring at him. "What?"

"You look all nervous when you're thinking. Kind of cute." She smiled. "So? Journalism?" Rory referred to her previous question.

'Cute?! Suh-weet!' Tristan grinned, "Well, I wanted to rebel. Then I remembered you mentioned overseas correspondent stuff. So, I looked it up on the 'net one day, and said 'Well, I can do that.' And I always got good English grades. So," Was the reply.

Rory laughed. "That sounds just like you." She was about to say something else when the doorbell sounded, announcing the presence of someone else.

"Uh, hello." Tristan said, when he opened the door. The 'someone else' was a blonde holding a copy of the flyer that Rory had in her purse.

"Hi." She stuck out her chest and walked closer to the doorframe. "I'm here for the roommate business. I think we would make very good roommates." The girl's eyes traveled lazily up and down Tristan's well- built frame.

Tristan had a look of pure terror when he turned his head back towards the couch where Rory was still perched. "Uh, I think umm," He stammered, backing up subconsciously. Suddenly he looked at Rory again and smiled, with an evil glint in his eye. "That position has already been filled. By my longtime girlfriend." He pulled Rory up and put his arm around her waist.

Rory was shocked by the gentleness of Tristan as he placed his hand on her hip. She saw the girl standing in the doorway, and nodded. "Yeah, sorry. We had a fight two days ago and we just made up, didn't we, Bible Boy?" Rory purposely looked towards where the bedroom was supposed to be. "I do believe we still have some making up to do." She stood on her tiptoes and gave Tristan a peck on the cheek.

"Yeah Ror, we do." Tristan grinned wildly. "Sorry again." He announced to the shocked woman.

The girl stumbled backwards rather fast. "N-No problem. See y-y-you." She practically ran away from the door.

"My, my, and here I thought you were still a Mary."

"Yeah, Mary my ass. No, I saw the look of horror that was on your face." Rory teased. "I saw you face was just pleading, 'Rory, save me! Save me, and I'll give you coffee, that liquid you love so much, forever and ever!'"

Tristan shrugged, playing along. "You got me. What can I say?"

"That you'll let me move in, help me move in, and that you'll go have some coffee with me now?"

"Sure, why not? I can't risk having other people apply for the position." He shuddered, grimacing. The sight made Rory laugh.