hey people. thanks for all the reviews! its really helping me keep on

top of this story. dont worry, there will be a time where they are

together without fighting, but their gonna have to work to overcome that.

just hang in there!

***

disclaimer: i don't even own the computer im typing at, my parents do,

so i definitely dont own Gilmore Girls.

***

Chapter 9: Making Mrs. Whipple's Day

***

Tristan didn't show up to second period, or any of the other

classes the rest of the day. Quite frankly, Rory was happy he didn't.

Instead, he went straight to the gym to work off all his anger-driven

energy.

Rory, on the other hand, worked of her anger by completing her

work with an attitude that resulted in her use of two packs of lead

because she pushed on her pencil so hard the lead kept breaking.

At exactly three o'clock, right when Rory was thanking God

the hellish day was over, her cell phone rang, with Jess on the other

line. Instead of making her feel better like a call on any other day

would, Rory added guilt to the list of emotions she was feeling. Guilt

for not calling him since the day they moved, guilt for not thinking

of him for even a second since she laid eyes on Tristan.

So when she heard his voice she burst into tears, telling him

she had to call him back.



Rory was left home alone that night, with Lorelai busy at the

inn until two or three in the morning. The silence left Rory lying in

bed awake all night, staring at the second hand tick by on her clock

through eyes blurred with tears.

Little did she know on the other side of town Tristan was also

alone, lying in bed awake, watching the florescent digits on his clock

slowly change.



Everything he had done that day he regretted. At one point he

came to the point where he even regretted breaking up with Shayna, and

even considered calling her, but he knew that would get him absolutely

nowhere. What he had told Rory earlier was true. He was sick of the

blonde bimbos he always dated, he wanted something more.

And all through the night he couldn't shake the gnawing

realization that he had only lasted one day without screwing things up

between him and Rory. And this was the girl he was in love with. He knew

the future of the relationship was bleak.

And the worst part of it was he was the one to cause it all.

****

The next morning Tristan was waiting for Rory at her locker.

"Is it too much to ask to have one day where my locker doesn't

have a crowd around it?" Rory asked sarcastically as she spun her

combination.

"Rory, I'm here to apologize," Tristan said. Rory didn't

respond, so he continued. "I was a jerk. An ass hole even," Rory slammed

her locker shut and began to walk towards class. Tristan followed her.

"I'm assuming you're not forgiving me?" he asked.

But he never got a response because Rory ignored him. And she

kept on ignoring him up until fifth period.

"Class, we have a new project," the teacher Mrs. Whipple

announced. "It will be on World War II and you will be working with a

partner." The class started to look around the room to see who they

would work with. "I will be choosing them," Mrs. Whipple continued.

A wave of groans followed as if on cue, and Mrs. Whipple smiled

contentedly.

Now, Mrs. Whipple had been a teacher for many years, and was

way past the years of trying to win favor with her students. Instead,

she now enjoyed watching them twist with discomfort.

She had, of course, heard all about the scene Mr. Dugrey and

Miss Gilmore had made in the courtyard the previous day. And today she

had noticed Tristan staring at Rory all period while Rory purposely

ignored him.

Mrs. Whipple had over the years had many troublesome students,

but none like Tristan by far. She decided to abuse her power as teacher

and bring some entertainment in her otherwise dull life and pair up

the two.

And she couldn't have been more delighted when she called Rory

and Tristan's names together, and Rory's head shot up with a look of

shock and disgust. To be truthful, it made Mrs. Whipple's day.

When the class moved to be next to their partners to begin the

project, Tristan slid into the seat next to Rory.

"You're going to have to talk to me to do this project," he said.

Her eyes remained glued to the front of the room.

"Fine then. As my first wish, I command you to forget about

yesterday and start fresh."

"You don't have three wishes, Tristan, I do," Rory said,

slapping her hand over her mouth once she did.

"Gotcha!" Tristan cried triumphantly.

"That's not fair!" Rory replied.

"All's fair in love and war," Tristan said, smirking.

"And is this love or war, may I ask?"

"You know, if you don't want to get in another argument, I would

take back that question," Tristan said honestly.

"Right. And by the way, I forgive you. But you're not off the

hook."

"Fair enough. But you will talk to me right?"

"Well, how else are we going to get an A on this assignment?

If I left all the work up to you we'd get an F-," Rory said. Tristan

tugged her hair playfully and was amazed at the silky smooth texture.

"Will I ever be able to just sit next to her without finding

another thing to fall in love with?" he wondered to himself.