Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, I just use the people. Well, I own a couple, but you know.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for the reviews! Well, here's the next part cause I've got time to kill for a while. I know it's not that great, but it's something at least. And sorry this took so long, but my teachers decided to team up and assign mondo homework along with tests and quizzes. Anyways, thanks.

As Tristan was walking up the stairs to his apartment, he bumped into a girl. Okay, he would normally consider her hot. But just as he was about to strike up a conversation, he heard a shout. And it wasn't any shout. That voice belonged to the one and only Rory Gilmore. "Rory?!" He whispered, breaking into a full run and barging into his apartment.

"Get off of her! Now!" Tristan commanded, as he ran into Rory's room to see Matt trying to take off Rory's pants. She was half pinned against the bed, and her eyes had a panicking look.

Matt whipped around so fast, he was a blur. "Tristan. Hey buddy, what's up?" He looked towards Rory. "This isn't what it seems. Rory here hurt her shoulder yesterday, and I was only trying to . . ." He was cut off. By Tristan's fist connecting with his face.

"You idiot. When you lie, do it right. Cause, one, I know that you're trying to get some. And two, Rory is not an idiot." Tristan spat out, dragging Matt from the room to the hallway. Matt was trying to put up a fight, but it wasn't working with Tristan. "And once and for all, stay away from Rory Gilmore!"

Tristan slammed the door so hard someone might have thought it was going to fall off. He calmly walked towards Rory's room where he saw her sitting on the floor, knees curled up to her chest, sobbing. "Rory, shhh. It's okay, he's gone now." He slowly sat down next to her, and put his arms around her, pulling her towards him. "He won't hurt you again. I promise."

Rory started to sob even harder, when he mentioned Matt. Even though it wasn't the best time, Tristan thought of the many ways he could get back at Matt. Normally, Tristan wasn't a revengeful person, but he swore, if Matt even looked at Rory again, he would have another black eye. Getting back to the thought of Rory, Tristan just sat back and helped a friend through a tough time. 'Or are we just roommates, or friends, or . . .'

An eternity later it seemed like, Rory was fast asleep in Tristan's arms. Carefully and slowly, Tristan picked Rory up and laid her on her bed so she could sleep comfortably. Sitting in the desk chair, Tristan sat back and stared at the picture of Rory and her mom on the bed stand.

"Tristan?" Rory asked, wildly, her voice still filled with sleep. She sat up quickly, trying to look around for Tristan. She vaguely remembered Tristan sitting next to her and soothing her. Her gaze landed upon a tall muscular body sleeping on her desk. His face was buried in his arms and he was snoring lightly.

Rory laughed to herself silently. What Gilmore could resist a practical joke? 'Hmm, where did I put my lipstick? Ooh, can't forget to eyeliner . . .' She went in search of her makeup.

Ten minutes later Rory was done with her experiment. Tristan now had an 'I Like Boys' sign written on his forehead in lipstick. She purposely used the lipstick that is hard to get off, too. "Oh, Tristan, I never knew you liked boys! Why did you tell me?" She asked, rather loudly, shaking an American Eagle covered shoulder. "And since when do you grow a mustache overnight?"

Tristan sat blot upright. "Rory, what did you do?" He asked, evenly. Getting up to look in the mirror, he saw what was on his face. Turning around with an amused look, he slowly started towards Rory. "Oh Gilmore, you're in for it now." He threatened playfully, in a low voice.

Rory saw that he was advancing on her, so she started to back up as well. "Well, umm, I dunno. It was uhh, I didn't do anything!" She stood with her hands on her hips and nose in the air.

"Wow, I didn't know you belonged back at Chilton."

"No I don't,"

"Oh yes you do,"

"Nuh uh,"

"Yea huh,"

"Nuh uh,"

Tristan realized that he couldn't win with Rory. He couldn't win this conversation, but he could win her heart. For a day, at least. "So, are you okay?" He asked, with a touch of concern.

"I'm doing okay, I think," Rory smiled, telling the truth. If Tristan hadn't been there last night, she would have nearly died of just panic.

He walked to the closet door and pulled out a duffel bag. Putting it on the bed, he ordered Rory to get showered and dressed, cause they were heading for Stars Hollow.

"Weren't we supposed to go last night?" Rory asked, twenty minutes later, in Tristan's room. It was funny to see him walk back and forth in his room to make sure he had everything for the weekend trip. Classes were cancelled for a week due to unknown reasons.

"Yeah," He just looked at her.

"Oh, I remember. Sorry, I forgot for a while there." Rory responded, sitting down on Tristan's bed, picking at the blue bedding.

He sat down next to her and rubbed her back. "Don't worry, it's okay. And it's good." He sighed, remembering how scared she was not twenty four hours ago. "That you forgot, I mean."

She leaned into Tristan's embrace, and felt herself trusting him. Almost completely. "Hey Tristan?"

"Hmm?" He replied, not ready for her to leave his arms.

"Don't ever leave me." Her mouth said, while Rory herself wasn't quite sure what she meant by that. "I mean, just don't ditch me cause, you're kind of the only friend I have here now. Kristina ditched me for the big H."

Tristan laughed, kissing the top of Rory's head. "I won't, I promise." He reluctantly got up, giving the excuse, "I've got to go take a shower. Go get some coffee, and a donut, and when you're back, we can leave."

Shortly after noon, Rory walked into the café. "Hey Kylie." She greeted, smiling for the first time that day. "How's it going?"

"Slow." The girl scrunched up her nose. "No business."

"I can tell, cause this place is just so packed," Rory noted the tumbleweed blowing across the café and out of the door. "Could I get four cups of coffee and a donut for me, and another donut for Tristan?"

"Sure thing, but Rory?" She asked, almost shyly.

"Yes?"

"You know that man yesterday? Matt?" Rory nodded, and she went on. "Well, my best friends sister dated him at one point in time. I don't want to scare you, but he beat her and he got her pregnant. And then left her when she started to show." Kylie finished, just above a whisper. Leaving a stunned Rory, she went to go get four cups of coffee to go, and two donuts.

"Kylie? I know he's bad news, don't worry," Rory involuntarily gave a shudder as she was talking. Upon finishing, she felt an arm drape across her shoulders. "Tris!" She jumped up and gave the guy a hug.

Tristan was, needless to say, very surprised. He hadn't expected that, much less from Rory. "Whoa, if you do that every time, can I go out and come back in again?" He leaned in and kissed Rory good naturedly on the forehead.

"Oooh, so ya'll finally turned off the blinders and hooked up?"

The question forced the friends to jump apart and look at each other nervously.