Disclaimer: As I write this new chapter, I still don't own Gilmore Girls. Are you starting to see a pattern here?

A/N: I will like to take this space to thank each and everyone of you for reading my story and also thank all of those persons that take the time to review it, it makes me very happy and wanting to write even more. "You make me want to be a better. . ." writer (you know where that quote came from, right?). Also I would like to tell you that I love and adore CMM, have you seen him with that long hair? He looks nice, doesn't he? Oh! And for writing purposes only, we are going to pretend that Rory's birthday is in November, OK! There would be an extract of the episode "Rory's Birthday Parties" in this chapter which was written by Amy Sherman-Palladino and her group of talented writers.

Every time There's a Concert

Chapter 6: Actions Speak Louder that Words part 2

After that minute or two, Rory snapped out of the trance she had fell into, and smiled as she looked at Tristan' s eyes. And he smiled back at her, as wide and as sincerely as he could. They both tried to pretend nothing had happened as they tried to follow the actions that they left unfinished.

"So I think I should close the door", Tristan whispered, still looking at Rory. He was the first to break the silence, because he was the one who had the most to loose if he did something resembling Chilton-Tristan, and he didn't want to scare her away.

"Yeah, I think it's wise" Rory whispered back at him as he placed his hand on the door behind Rory's back. When he leaned a little closer to close the door behind her, she felt something weird go thru her, and so she moved into the kitchen, trying not to look as if she was running away from something. 'Jean Paul Gautier, leave it to Tristan to smell fancy' she thought to herself as she moved.

When she did Tristan actually felt how his heart skipped a beat, but tried to keep acting normally. He wanted to get Rory Gilmore the right way this time, giving her a chance to decide that she wanted to be with him and not force her into anything she didn't want to. And if getting Rory took him a lifetime, so be it. She was the one girl, he knew, was worth the wait.

"So, Janine and Drew, huh?" Rory said, snapping Tristan out of his thoughts.

"Yeah. . . well, it was bound to happen. Don't you think?" he asked as he sat in one of the chairs in the breakfast table at the kitchen, watching Rory make, yet, more coffee.

"I guess, it is nice, really nice. She seems happy" she stated.

"Well, he seems happy too. I've never seen him act like this with a girl, and trust me I've been around long enough to know that" He said, making Rory feel a little at ease with that comment.

"That's great. Would you like some more coffee?"

"Sure, why not!"

"So you like coffee too, huh?"

"Well yeah, but apparently not as much as you do"

"Oh, well you know how they say that 80% of your body is water?"

"Yeah"

"Well, I'm 80% coffee, instead. I got that from my mom, among other things"

"Really, what things?", he wanted to know. He knew how special Rory's mom was to her, and the logical thing to do was ask about her. And he really wanted to know too.

"Well, first of all her name. She named me Lorelai after her; she was lying in the hospital, and she thought how guys always named their sons after them, so she decided that she would do the same. . ." she said as a way to answer the questioning look on his face, and saw how he understood after she finished explaining "her coffee addiction, main reason why I am mainly coffee. Her blue eyes, and white skin, not that suitable for summer, but what can I say. The ranting. The banter abilities you know so well, and wanting to fight for my life and hers, 'cause it hasn't been easy to go thru everything we did, both of us being so young and all."

"She sounds like a great person, maybe I'll get a chance to meet her one day" he said hoping for and invitation to her Stars Hollow house one day.

"You've seen her, she was at the play the day. . ." but she didn't finish that thought, he finished it for her.

"I left. . . yeah! I probably did, but I think I don't recall such a pleasure"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to . . ."

"It's OK Rory, don't worry. It is after all a fact of life. I left that day, and you shouldn't feel guilty about talking about it. . . I am curious about something"

"About what?"

"Who took my place as Romeo? Brad?"

"Paris!"

"Paris!!!" and he started to laugh so hard, that he almost busted his gut in doing so. Rory joined him in his laughter, not because of what he was laughing about, but because he had the most contagious laugh she had ever encountered.

After they finished laughing she added

"Well I am glad it turned out to be so funny for you, because it wasn't for her. You should've seen her, she pulled up her hair, and put on this wig. She was in character in less than 5 minutes. But you know Paris, she wasn't going to let that grade slip away, after how hard she had worked on it. Especially with you acting the way you were acting"

"Impossible"

"Your words, not mine."

"Noted"

"Good. So do you think they are ever going to come in."

"Well, mom! I don't know. Why don't you go and turn on the porch lights to let them know that we know that they are out there" making fun of her concern "Don't worry, Rory, they are both grown ups, and know what they are doing"

"I know, I am acting a little like a mom, aren't I? Moving on then. So, tell me something else about you"

"So you are not bored with me yet?" he asked hiding how happy he was, that she still wanted to talk to him, after so many hours together.

"You can be anything but boring so, tell me then."

And they started to talk about how Tristan and Drew were going to start their own company, and what they were going to do, and how they were going to do it. Rory was very interested with this topic of conversation, when she heard Janine's keys and then both Janine and Drew coming in.

"Hey Rory. . . and Tristan?!" Janine said, very, very confused at the guest at their house.

"Tristan?" Drew asked a little less confused than Janine sounded. Drew knew that it was a matter of time for this to happen, what surprised him was that Tristan had shown up there so soon. Wasn't he eager!

"Hey guys!" Rory said, as if it had been the most normal thing to find Tristan sitting across from her at the kitchen table.

"So, what have you too been up to?" Janine asked as casually as possible, but not succeeding at the task at hand.

"We hanged out" Tristan said.

"Had coffee" Rory said.

"Talking about school"

"Life"

"Had more coffee" Tristan said as he lifted his mug.

"The usual" Rory finished. "How about you? What have you been up too?"

"Well, had coffee, talked, the usual" Drew said mocking them, but they didn't even notice. "Well good for you guys, good for you! So I guess I should go, it is a little late" Tristan said.

"Yeah, I'm right behind you" Drew said "So, I'll call you, OK!" he said to Janine.

"Ok! Bye, and thanks for everything"

"Rory, thanks for everything I had a great time."

"Yeah, me too. We should do this again sometime." 'Wow! Who said that?' Rory thought to herself, "You know, hang out and. . . stuff"

"Sure, anytime" Tristan said really enthusiastic.

"Bye!" The four of them said in unison. And the guys walked out the door, and the girls just stood there until they closed the door.

"So Tristan, huh? You've come far from not being able to stand him, haven't you?"

"Apparently so. This Tristan that I am getting the chance to know, is so much better than the one that went to school with me. We had fun today. But, as it seems, we weren't the only ones who had fun. How was coffee with Drew?"

"It was great, we had fun, and we talked all the time we were together at the Coffee House, until they closed on us."

"So what did you do after they closed? Because the Coffee House closes at ten, and I don't know if you noticed, but right now is a quarter to eleven"

"Well aren't we nosy!!! We talked some more on the way and . . ."

"Aaaannd?"

"And then he kissed me, when we were getting here. It was so nice Rory! I felt like flying"

"Wow! He brings the corny side out on you, doesn't he?"

"Well he is amazing, and I had a great time with him. . . and he is such a great kisser. All of a sudden I thought that I was going to black out for lack of oxygen. . ."

"But you didn't"

"But I didn't, because here I am. That would be a terrible end to a coffee date now would it? Going to the ER because you blacked out for making out and not coming up for air"

"Yes, I bet that ranks in the top five, we might have to survey it, but I think it would be right up there"

"And on that note. . . I think I am going to call it a night, did you get any work done?"

"Just a little, Tristan came over, like an hour after you left. So I didn't get to do much"

"Oh, Ok! Well good night Rory"

"Good Night Janine!"



-* Back to the guys *-

After they closed the door behind them, and started walking down the hall they looked at each other and smiled

"So a surprise visit, huh?"

"Yeah, all of a sudden I felt this urge to see her. So I got in the car, turned it on, started driving and came here, to this very building, so I figured I'd ring the bell to see if there was anyone home, and to my surprise, she was home, and alone, because you had come to pick up Janine earlier and we stayed there. So how did it go with Janine?"

"I am still holding my last statement, she is amazing. Great girl. I really like spending time with her, we didn't even notice when it got dark, and then all of a sudden they were going to close the Coffee House, and we left the place, and then we got to the apartment."

"So we both had great times, then"

"Yeah, apparently so. This is me" Drew said when they reached his car parked close to the building.

"OK, then I'll see you later man"

"Yeah, bye" and with this they did the whole hand shake think with the snap of the fingers and everything and each went on their way.

Tuesday went by without any new developments except for the phone calls, each of the guys made to each of the girls, with different purposes and topics of conversation with each guy and girl, of course. But they called.

Someone might think that the boys seemed to eager, but for Tristan, he was finally reaching the point with Rory where he would have wanted to be with her when in school, but then again he reflected, that back in school that wouldn't have been enough, so he new that things were better now. As for Drew, well he was serious about Janine, and he made every effort to show that it was so. Even if he had known her for so little time, he enjoyed everything about her, her cheerfulness, her sense of humor, everything. He didn't love her of course, yet! But he knew that it was just a matter of time before that happened, he was almost sure of that.

When the end of the week came, Janine had been asked out by Drew on their first formal date. So Rory was going to stay home and read a little. Little did she know that those plans were going to change really fast.

'Ding-Dong'

"Yeah" Rory answered the intercom.

"How do you feel about going to a fair"

"Come on up!" She already had recognized that voice, so she opened the door and went inside to brush her hair and put it into a pony tail. She wanted to look natural, but not that natural.

"So, what do you say?" He asked when he came inside the apartment.

"A fair? Well I haven't been to one for so long"

"So is that a yes?"

"Sure, just give a minute to change and fix myself a little"

"Rory you look great like that, besides it's a fair, you really don't have to overdress yourself, get your coat because it is cold outside, put some sneakers on, and you are ready" Of course it was cold outside, but it was still bearable enough to go to the fair, besides it was the last weekend the fair was going to be in town and then they were leaving, so. . .

"OK! Give me two minutes"

"I'll set my watch" he said joking, as she smiled at him and turned away and into her room and put on her sneakers and got her coat, just as she had been advised to.

"OK! I'm ready" she said when she came out.

"That's gotta be a world record for girls everywhere, I assure you!"

"You said, sneakers and a coat, and so I got sneakers and a coat, both activities are not as time consuming as you may think, but if you want I can go in there and take longer" she said, as she mocked his last statement, "you know, girls just like to keep you guys waiting, but we are usually ready on time, but don't tell that to anyone or I'll have to present myself in front of Women's Court for disclosing confidential information".

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me"

"I hope so" she said trying to act untrustful, but failing at said task.

"Come on, lets go" he said, as he chuckled at her 'confession'

The fair was a lot of fun. They got on most of the rides there, except for the one's that could make them nauseous and prevent them from eating all the junk food that was there. Tristan wan Rory a stuffed tiger, that when she reached home and placed him on the bed, took at least half of it. Funny enough she named him Panther, what a contradiction, but then again it is Rory Gilmore we are talking about, although the ability to name things was Lorelai's, which you can tell for the lack of creative efforts put into the name of the tiger, she did give it a try. Tristan was amazed that Rory would eat so much and not even get sick. He enjoyed the time he spent there with her, it was as if he had brought a 5-year-old girl. But then she got tired, thankfully because he was beat.

And with this they started a series of dates, that for Rory's sake were called "just hanging out", but every time they did that, Tristan would go all out, but cleverly, so she wouldn't notice the effort he put into said activities. He tried really hard not to make her uncomfortable, and succeeding, because she never did.

But he wasn't the one always planning the things; she did a little planning of her own. She was always happy when they were together. One of the best things they did was have amazing amounts of coffee, which was great to not have someone complaining at how much she drank coffee, because he did too.

They took on many activities together, and the most important thing was how one would let the other one be part of the other one's world. Here is how it went.

Rory took Tristan once, to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript library at Yale, which as you can tell was home of over 500,000 rare books and manuscripts, and she told him about the books that she loved and showed him where they were, and related to him what they were about, and what interesting things they were. And she told him, how her grandfather would love to see that, because she was sure that they had added more volumes since he had gone there.

The next time Tristan took Rory to Artspace, which was this place where they showed new work in visual, literary and performing arts, combining both their tastes in things. She enjoyed the way he explained how the visual arts influenced many things that were 'new'. And he enjoyed looking around for the new tendencies in writing, and how Rory explained what was good, and what. . . well, wasn't.

Rory took him to the parks that she enjoyed where she would usually be found reading when she had the time to enjoy the scenery, and he took her to play golf once, sport that she had tried once, very unsuccessfully.

He even took Rory to a baseball game of the New Haven Ravens, but he spent most of the time explaining the sport to Rory, that kept asking questions because she wasn't a sports fan. But he explained everything so well, that she enjoyed what little she understood of it. She changed his reading habits, and he introduced her to the exciting world of cars. That part, she didn't enjoy.

But they didn't go out all the time, sometimes they would just stay and hang out at Rory's and watched a movie. Janine was with Drew now, most of the time, and Tristan was really great company for Rory at this time.

One day he showed up wearing leather pants, she couldn't let that one pass

"Hey there, Renegade!"

"Don't mock!"

"And why not"

"Because I got a pair for you, too"

"Really and why should I wear something like this. . . and how do you know this are going to fit me?" she said as he held up the pair of leather pants.

"I changed, but didn't forget. . . so I figured what size of pants you wore, and I got you these ones. Now, I need you to please, go, change into this leather pants, and we are going out. So go on!!"

"Yes sir!!" she said, trying to do a military salute, but failed because she used the wrong hand to do it.

"First, you have to use the other hand. . ."

"Oh!" She said.

"And second, you need to wear this for your protection."

"Why? What are we going to do now?"

"Go change and you'll see"

"OK!" and so she went into her room and changed the jeans she was wearing for the leather pants Tristan had brought her. They fitted like a glove.

"I'm ready, should I take something else with me?"

"Nope, just that. Come on." And with this he grabbed her hand and they walked out of the door and then out of the building. And right in front of them was parked, Tristan's Ducati. He had to have the fanciest, best racing motorcycle in the history of motorcycles.

"Oh, no! Tell me you don't expect me to get on that thing?"

"Come on. It's going to be fun, you are going to love it."

"What if we hurt ourselves."

"We won't. You see, this is why I got you the leather pants, because they are so much more comfortable than regular pants, and if something did happen to us, we wouldn't even scratch our selves" he said reassuringly, and then continued "then we have the leather jackets, which they would prevent us from getting hurt on the upper part of our body" he said as he handed her, her leather jacket "and last but not least we have, helmets, which would protect our heads. . . so you see, you are now covered. . . besides, I would never do anything to hurt you, Rory." He said in the double sense of the word.

If Rory hadn't put on her helmet, he would have been able to see, how much she had blushed at this last comment.

"OK, so. . . where are we going?"

"You'll see. . . hop on" and she did. She sat behind him and put her arms around his waist, only to feel the tightly packed abs this boy had.

When she did this, he almost ran out of breath. To feel her arms around him only made it harder to concentrate. But nonetheless, he grabbed her hands and made her take a harder grip, so she would be sure that nothing would happen.

And they started driving. They went to this beautiful place that connected New Haven with the beach, and she was amazed at the beauty of everything around her. Then they drove around Wooster Square Green, this amazing place that had the most beautiful architecture in all of New Haven and you could sit in these benches that were covered by the shades of cherry trees, and made everything around it seem even more beautiful.

And then they drove back to Rory's.

"I am totally into bikes now" she said as she removed her helmet and let her hair fall down. In doing so, Tristan saw how beautiful she was. Such a natural gesture had made him fall even more in love with her. And he removed his helmet too.

"So, did you enjoy it?"

"I loved it, LOVED IT. . . who would've thought that I would like something like this one day, but I did, it was amazing. . . thank you so much, Tristan, you never seize to amaze me" and when she said that she got a little closer and kissed his cheek. He could have wanted to make that moment last forever.

"Well I am glad, I aim to please"

"And you did. . . so what do I do with all this" she said as she held out the helmet and pointing to the leather outfit she was wearing.

"Well, keep it. . . since you liked the motorcycle experience, then you should keep it so we can do it again sometime, OK?"

"Sure. . . so do you want to come in"

"I would love to. . . but I can't, I am meeting Drew over at this real state office, 'cause they are going to show us some appropriate places for the company, so I have to go."

"Oh!," she said a little disappointed "that's OK. . . so, good luck then"

"Yeah, thanks. . . bye" and he put on his helmet again and drove off.

-* Back in Stars Hollow *-

As their friendship progressed, everyone that knew her, and knew the story was surprised at this. But the most surprised was, of course, Lorelai. She couldn't believe the kind of friendship that was developing between her daughter and her former enemy, but then again everyone could change, and apparently he had. And she knew Rory was happy. Too happy. Lorelai wondered if Rory was falling in love with him, because she always talked about the cool things they did, and how they went there, did that, ate this, drank that. It was obvious to Lorelai that Rory was, in fact, falling in love with this boy, but knew that her daughter would take longer to figure this one out, as she always did.

The phone rang, and of course Lorelai went into a frenzy to find the phone, when she did and answered the phone someone on the other end of the line said

"Guess what I did today?"

"Worked out?"

"Mom, be serious"

"I don't know kiddo, you tell me"

"I took a ride on a bike, as in motorcycle"

"You're kidding? Did you finally hook up with a biker. . . I am so proud of you"

"Close. . . Tristan, has this amazing bike and he came over and we went for a drive, it was amazing"

"So, you did hook up with a biker"

"Well, in a way, I did, I guess" she said doubtfully, and then realized the meaning behind that comment.

"So tell me, what bike does he have?"

"A Ducati"

"Really!!! That is an amazing bike. It is one of the best racing bikes, did you know?"

"No, but I figured as much, considering Tristan owned it. He is after all Tristan Dugrey"

"Yeah, that he is. So tell me what else have you been up to?"

"School's going great, we have a lot of things to do, but I am doing fine."

"So Bible boy, is not distracting you from official duties, huh?"

"Nope. I have plenty of time to work on my school work and hang out with all of my friends"

"Yeah, I like how you emphasized the word all"

"Well mom, it is because I have many friends"

"I know honey, it's just that you seem to have a favorite"

"We just get along"

"Of course you do, I am not saying otherwise"

"Change of subject please. . . how are things with Luke?"

"Great. . . he denies me stuff once in a while but. . ."

"Mom, I hope for my sake that you are talking about coffee"

"Dirty!"

"Mom!"

"Yes angel, I am talking about coffee. You know what?"

"What?"

"I ate a carrot once"

"So his influence is starting to rub off on you"

"He drank a cup of coffee"

"And vice versa"

"It was part of a deal, he would prove a point by making me have a carrot and I would make mine by making him drink coffee. The side effects were ugly. I almost had to drive him to the hospital"

"You did not!"

"That's right, I didn't. . . but he did drink the coffee for me"

"Well, he loves you"

"And I had a carrot"

"Well, you love him"

"Yeah, I do. . . you see how easy it is to accept things like that"

"Yeah, after knowing him for almost 9 years, it comes really easy"

"OK, change of subject please! So someone is having a birthday soon! What are your plans?"

"Well I don't know yet, 'cause I have an exam programmed for that very day, so probably nothing"

And they kept talking for a few more minutes, before they hanged up.

'Rory, Rory, Rory', Lorelai thought 'when are you going to figure it out'



-* Back in New Haven *-

When Janine finally showed up, they didn't waste any time. They just started studying as soon as she arrived, the test was coming and they did have to cram for it.

And so, this was the routine they followed for the next three days: Go to school, Go by the Coffee House to get a cup of coffee, go home, have lunch or something that resembled lunch, and then study. Janine didn't even saw Drew those days, because the grade for this test was worth 20% of their final grade.

Finally the day of the test came, which was also known as Rory's Birthday.

At 4:03 in the morning the phone rang at Rory's and Janine's. It was Lorelai. The usual birthday routine.

"Happy birthday little girl" Lorelai said when Rory answered the phone.

"Hey mom!" she said sleepily.

"I can't believe how fast you're growing up"

"Really? It feels slow"

"Trust me, it's fast. . . anything you desire"

"World peace"

"I'll start working on that, then."

"Do I sound older"

"Yeah, senior citizens discount will now apply"

"Great, think of all the money I can save now"

"So you know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think you're a great, cool kid, and the best friend a girl could have"

"Right back at ya"

"And it's so hard to believe that exactly this time many moons ago, I was lying in exactly the same position, only I had a huge, fat stomach and big fat ankles and I was swearing like a sailor on leave. And there I was. . ."

"In labor"

"And while some have called it the most meaningful experience of your life, to me it was something akin to doing the splits on a crate of dynamites. And I was screaming and swearing and being surrounded as I was by a hundred prominent doctors, I just assumed there was an actual use for the cup of ice chips they gave me. . ."

"There wasn't"

"But pelting the nurses was fun"

"I love you, mom"

"Shh, I'm getting to the part where he sees your head." And so the story carried on. It was a Gilmore Girls tradition to do this on every one of Rory's Birthdays no matter where they were.

When Lorelai finished she asked

"Any updates on your plans"

"Nope, none"

"Well honey, I hope you do great on your test, and I'll be calling to check up on you later."

"Bye, Mom. And thank you"

"Thank you for existing, bye angel!"

And with this they hung up, so Rory went back to sleep.

A familiar smell woke her up, and when she turned to see the clock on her night table, she found a cup of freshly brewed coffee on it. Janine made it for her, so she got up.

"Morning, Panther" she said to the stuffed animal that was lying on the floor.

"Happy Birthday!!!" Janine, Drew and Tristan screamed.

"Thanks, guys!" she said when she saw the whole living room/dining room decorated with balloons and serpentines, and banners, and everything they could think of. And they were wearing Happy Birthday, crowns and hats. The table had been cleared off from the week's papers, and breakfast was served: Pancakes, and eggs, and bacon, and sausage, and hash browns and cake. . . all, courtesy of the guys (so courtesy of Tristan).

"When did you guys have time to do all this" she said as they came up to her and hug her.

"Well, I heard when your mom called, and I knew that you would fall asleep again. So when you did, I called the guys to wake them up, and I got up and started to decorate. When they showed up with everything you see here, I brewed the coffee that you are drinking right now, and that was it"

"Well, great plan! I suspected nothing"

"That was the idea," they said

And they proceeded to have breakfast, and then the guys left, and the girls stayed home getting ready for school and left for their dreaded test.

Her mom kept calling to her cell phone every two hours, asking how it was going. Emily sent her a basket full of odd things that Lorelai helped her buy and Richard sent her the usual envelope. Janine got her this really cute dress, just like the ones Rory wore to dinner with her grandparents. Drew gave her a First Edition of Anna Karenina. Lorelai and Luke sent her: 2 pounds of Luke's ready to brew coffee, a certificate to Friday's, New CD's, and a new laptop, that reminded her of her 16th birthday party. Oddly enough there wasn't a gift from Tristan. Not that she was expecting one, or that he had an obligation to get her one.

"So, are we going to go out to dinner today?", Rory asked.

"Yeah, tell me where you would like to go", Janine responded.

"I'm in the mood for pasta"

"Pasta for the birthday girl, it is"

"Did you call the guys?"

"Yeah, they're coming to pick us up later"

"Then we should start to get ready then"

"Yep" And so they did.

The guys came over at 8 sharp, and they went to dinner. . . in separate cars. They got the staff to sing happy birthday to Rory, and made her blush in every shade of red existent. When dinner was done around 11:30 and they were starting to leave, Tristan said to Rory

"There is just one more present for you tonight. . ."

"Oooh! Let me see"

"Actually I have to drive you someplace else"

"Oh, OK" she said not really knowing what the present was.

He covered her eyes so she wouldn't know where they were going, because she would probably recognize the route. When they finally reached the place, he stood her in front of the door and uncovered her eyes. She looked around, but didn't understand what was happening.

"This is Barnes and Noble. . ." and a guy came over and opened the door for them "just for you, for tonight. . . pick out everything you want. Oh! And Starbucks is open for you too, so you can have coffee while you run around looking for books. It is not permitted usually, but since it's your birthday they are allowing it"

Rory was amazed.

"The whole store"

"The whole store" Tristan answered back. "So enjoy, and don't worry about me. I'll be right here waiting for you" and as he said that he pulled a chair to him and sat down "go on."

Rory couldn't believe her eyes, the whole store just for her. Tristan had really gone out for this one. He had to pull some strings and gave every person that stayed a bonus. . . although for some of the girls that stayed after hours, looking at him was a bonus by itself. She walked around for hours and after seeing that it was almost 3 in the morning she came over to where Tristan was, and said

"I'm done"

"Are you really?"

"Well no, but it's late, and there's only as many books as I can take"

"OK then, lets go"

All the books she had picked out were packed and ready when she said I'm done, thanks to the guys that were following her around taking the books from her when she approved of them. And they walked out, Tristan carrying the books from her.

"Thank you so much Tristan, it was really nice of you to do this"

"Well, anything for the birthday girl."

They finally arrived home, he carried the books into her room, they hugged good bye and he left. The next day, Rory called Lorelai to tell her everything about it.



-* A few days later *-

Rory and Janine were walking home after school, and to Rory's surprise, she saw Tristan at the Coffee House. . . with a girl.

When Rory saw this she got so upset, that her face morphed completely. When Janine saw the expression on her face, she looked over and saw the same thing Rory was seeing.

"What is he doing with that girl?"

"I don't know, but I don't plan to find out either" and with this Rory started walking faster until they reached the building and went into their apartment.

"You're not the least bit curious who the girl was?" Janine asked once they were inside the house.

"I don't really care," Rory said visibly very upset "for all I know she could be the flavor of the month, or whatever"

"But Tristan hasn't dated anyone, Drew told me, ever since you saw each other again" Janine stated a little confused at Tristan' s actions, but even more because of Rory's reaction. "We could find out, I can call Drew and ask him, he would definitely know who the girl is."

"I told you I don't care" Rory spat, really pissed off.

"Well, honey, for someone who doesn't care you are not acting like one. You're actions are speaking louder than you just did right now. If you are so mad why don't you go downstairs, into the Coffee House and ask him."

"NOO!"

"Look I know you're mad right now, but it is not my fault. I am not the one that made you mad by being with someone else"

"He can do whatever he wants, I don't care Janine!"

"Again, it doesn't show!! You like him Rory, or why else would you spend so much time with him, huh? And why would you be so upset right now?"

"Well you seem to have all the answers, why don't you answer your own questions", and she started to leave.

"Oh, no! You are not leaving this discussion Rory!"

"Yes I am!!" and she stormed out of the apartment and out of the building, just to run right in to him. And he was the last person she wanted to see right now.

"Wow, wow, wow!! What's wrong?" He asked as she almost walked over him.

"Nothing!! Get out of my way"

"Hey, why are you so mad? Did I do something wrong?"

"You are not that important in my life, to make me upset for the things that you do!!" she stated.

"Really? Well you are not telling me nothing new. I already knew that one" he answered with as much deceit as she had.

"Well good for you, now let me thru"

"No, tell me what happened first"

"No, and hey! Shouldn't you be sitting right there with your new girl. Please don't let me spoil your fun"

"What the hell are you so upset about? Last I checked I wasn't dating you so I can go out with who ever I want" he said, really upset now.

"Exactly we are not dating, so go back to your girl"

"Tell me Rory, why are you upset? You don't even care about what I do! So, how does my going out with anyone affects you? Please, enlighten me!!"

"It doesn't affect me!!"

"Well it doesn't show! To me you are visibly upset!!"

"Nothing goes by you, huh?"

"No, but everything goes right over your head, doesn't it?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're so smart, you figure it out"

"I'm leaving!!"

"Oh, no you are not! Tell me why you are mad at the fact that I was with another girl. . . Tell me Rory, tell me why you are mad, come on" he pushed and pushed to see what was happening, he needed to know. Apparently some things went over his head too. Or maybe he just wanted to be sure.

"Because. . ."

"Why, tell me Rory, please tell me" he said really mad, but not at her, at himself for expecting something that might just not come.

"Because. . ."

"I am going to stand right here in front of you until you tell me, there is no way you are going to leave this like that. . . tell me Rory"

"Because I like you OK! Because I was completely jealous when I saw you with that girl OK! Because it reminded me of how you used to be, and that maybe you hadn't changed! Because I am totally and completely head over heels for you!!!"

Tristan couldn't believe this words, he was completely amazed. And he just pulled her in, ever so softly, by the waist, looked deeply in to her eyes and kissed her, softly at first and then with all the passion that he had been holding back for so long. He couldn't believe it. These were the words that he longed to hear for so long. And this was the way he wanted to be with her ever since he met her that day at Chilton.

They kissed for as long as they could hold it in, and when they couldn't kiss anymore, they would do it all over again, right in the middle of the street.

Lorelai was right, it felt really good accepting your feelings.

* * * A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. I believe I am almost done with my story, unless you suggest me otherwise. I want to apologize in advance, but I won't be updating over the weekend because I have a bunch of work to do, with my finishing the semester and my life as a college student. So enjoy. Read. Review. And on Monday, you will have a brand new chapter. I hope all my references to New Haven are accurate enough. I had to research online, because I've never been there.