Hi again! I'm sorry I haven't updated in yonks!! Exams are now over so I can update again! Hope you like the chapters. Please review!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything yada yada yada

"What…" Rory woke up startled as the bell rang for class.

 "Ahhh… sleeping beauty wakes"

"Well don't get used to this coz it was a one-time thing."

"Ok"

"Good" Rory said mostly relieved.

"But only if that's what you want, because I have a feeling you want a repeat performance."

"Sure how about tonight? In your dreams…" Rory said smiling as she walked to her next class.

Wednesday afternoon Rory, Louise and Madeline want shopping for Friday's party.

"Is there any special reason we're buying new stuff for the party or is this just coz?" Madeline asked.

"Well I think Tristan's return is reason enough, especially for Mrs Dugrey over here" Louise said smugly

"Mrs Dugrey? Come on you guys I thought you'd got over that. Seriously, he's just another guy."

"Just another guy? If he's just another guy, why did you fall asleep in his arms?"

"I was tired. Now can we shop please because I have to be home soon."

"Sure Miss avoidance, anything you say. So what do you think Tristan wants you to wear?"

"I doubt that Tristan cares what I wear, but even if he did I wouldn't"

Friday night

Madeline, Louise and Rory arrived at the party together as always. Tanya, like the majority of the Chiltonites, lived in a mansion and, like the majority of Chiltonites, had parents that weren't often home.

They entered the main room where Rory locked eyes with Tristan who was talking to friends. He spotted her and smiled. Rory smiled back, but neither moved. Tristan signalled for Rory to walk over to him. Rory looked innocently back and motioned for him to walk over to her.

Tristan smiled and shook his head and pointed to the middle of the dance floor, halfway between him.

"Stubborn or what" Tristan sighed as he met Rory in the middle.

"You're just as stubborn"

"Guess we're right for each other then"

"Maybe…"

"Dance?" Tristan asked as a new song started.

"Hmm… Drink first"

"Sure, I'll go get some, What do you want?"

"Double the strongest drink" Rory replied sweetly.

Tristan raised his eyes, "You sure you can take it?"

"Why? Worried what I might do? I think the question should be can you take it??"

"I think I'll be more than fine"

After a few drinks Rory and Tristan began dancing.

"I don't know if it's the alcohol, but you're a good dancer Rory"
"Why thank you, I've had a fair bit of practice" Rory said grabbing onto Tristan's shirt, pulling him closer for the slow song that was starting.

"I'm really liking the new you" Tristan whispered into Rory's ear as she leant on his chest. Rory closed her eyes.

            (I'm not going to hurt you)

"…you ok? Rory?"

"Don't…What? Oh sorry, I'm fine" Rory said trying to cover her worried expression, trying to force the voice out of her head.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine" she said forcefully.

"That you are" Tristan said smirking, looking her up and down. "Why don't we take a break from dancing? Find somewhere quieter"

"Sounds good"

Tristan led Rory into a guest room that hadn't already been taken by a couple.

"You look gorgeous" Tristan said huskily in Rory's ear, leading he to the bed.

"Flattery… wise choice"

"I'm serious, there wasn't one guy who wasn't staring at you tonight"
"And I chose you? Hmm maybe I should go back outside"

"No chance" Tristan said sitting, pulling Rory onto the bed.

"You have amazing eyes… they seem to go forever" Tristan said staring longingly into her eyes, brushing hair from her face.

"Nice choice, but you should know that you don't need corny lines to get me." Rory said leaning closer, smirking.

 "And you should know that wasn't a line. There's something different about you, you're definitely one of a kind" Tristan said softly.

"Uh huh… that's sweet, really. Cut to the chase already" Rory said looking away.

Her eyes glazed over and she felt the headache coming on. She'd hadn't been getting flashbacks from that night until recently, they seemed to appear at the most inconvenient times. Rory scrunched up her forehead and tried to block her thoughts.

            {But you said you loved me…}

"…something wrong? Rory?" Tristan said, concerned as he watched a tear roll down her face.

Rory looked up at Tristan's worried face and tried to wipe away her tears without him seeing.

"umm… of course, I'm.."

"Fine? Rory, if there's something wrong you should tell me." Tristan said more forcefully, confused.

"If there was something seriously wrong I would tell you." Rory said trying to avoid eye contact.

"So…"

"Theres nothing wrong…"

"Sure, You've blanked on me several times in the last week. I know I'm not the most interesting person in the world, but I don't think I'm that boring that you would switch off talking to me. I'm starting to get worried."

"Fine, if you're going to get all freaked. I'm just stressed from the studying for the exams, I had some trouble keeping up." Rory said looking away.

"Exams? You sure?" Tristan said, not quite believing her completely.

"Yes, exams."

"Well you should have told me before. I can help you if you want. We could study together, I'm sure that would be less stressful" he said smiling.

"Sure, we should do that sometime. I'm really sorry but I have to go. My mum's expecting me home really soon" Rory said awkwardly, getting up.

"Ok…Let me give you a lift home." Tristan insisted.

"I'm fine, really. You have fun here."

"No, Its ok, I'd rather make sure you got home safely." Tristan said more forcefully, ushering her out of the door.

"Sheesh, ok. You can take me home"

The drive home was filled with an awkward silence. A silence that was broken by a sudden outburst from Tristan.

"The ski trip!" he said smiling.

"The what?" Rory said puzzled.

"You should come with us on the ski trip next week!" Tristan said smiling.

"Next week? A ski trip"

"Yeh, Its perfect! It'll get your mind off exams and you'll have a great time."

"Ok, one; where am I supposed to get the money to be able to go and two…I'm not organised. I can't just decide to go to the snow!"

"Yeh you can!! We get most of the stuff we need when we get there, and anything else you need you can get off my sister. I am brilliant" Tristan said, pleased with himself.

"Hold on a minute, oh brilliant one. You forgot the money thing. I don't have a car for each day of the week, unlike some people."

"Well some people just happen to have rich parents, and some people like sharing that money with their friends, so, some people could pay for you to go"

"Ok if you said what I think you said, I can't let you do that."

"Yes you can."

"I'd feel terrible and guilty the whole time and even worse when I got back"

"No you wouldn't. I want you to come with us." Tristan said with a puppy dog face. They pulled up into Rory's driveway.

Trying not to laugh looking at his face Rory half gave in.

"Let me think about it?"

"Well, ok. But I'll call you tomorrow night and I expect an answer, a yes answer" he said sternly.

"Whatever, weirdo. Thanks for the lift."

"No problem. You go get some sleep. Exams are over now. I don't want you stressing."

"Yes sir" Rory saluted as Tristan began driving away.

Rory walked into the house smiling to herself.

8:30pm Saturday

"Rory, phone." Lorelai called outside Rory's bedroom door.

Reading on her bed, Rory got up and opened the door.

"Thanks"

"He sounds hot!" Lorelai said grinning and gave her the thumbs up. Rory rolled her eyes and began talking.

"Hey"

"Hey, so I sound hot, huh?"

"That's just my mother, who thinks Kermit the frog sounds hot. Don't inflate that ego too soon."

"Too late"

"Figured"

"So…"

"So?"

"You know why I'm calling! Stop playing games."

"But there just so much fun"

"Hurry up and say yes!"

"Why, you got somewhere to be?"

"Yes I do"

"Well in that case… fine."

"That was fine as in yes?"

"Yes… but I want to pay you back."

"You can pay me back in many ways…"

"I'm serious Tristan"

"And I'm not?"

"Have fun doing whatever you're…hmm… doing?"

"Subtle, really."

"I thought so."

'So where are you going?"

"I'm almost there actually."

"Oh is this some kind of guessing game? Let me see… club?"

"No"

"Party?"

"Nope."

"Date?"

"Warmer."

"ok…You're going to pick her up?"

"Much warmer"

The doorbell rang.

"You wouldn't, by any chance, be there would you?"

"Hotter"

Rory answered the door smiling to herself.

"Hot…" Tristan said, looking Rory up and down, still with the phone to his ear.

"You know you probably should have asked me out before you arrive on my doorstep expecting a date." Rory said with her arms folded.

"Yeh, that thought occurred to me. But this is more fun."

"Well I dunno, I'm up to a really interesting part in my book… I don't know if I really want to go anywhere tonight." Rory said teasingly.

"Puhlease…."Tristan said with his puppy dog face.

" You know that face doesn't work all the time…"

Tristan looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"Ok, yes it does. Let me get ready. Where are we going?"

"Movies."

"Which one?"

"How does that effect what you wear?"

"More than you know"

"You look hot whatever you wear"

"Flattery to get me to hurry up, good use,"

"Thanks I thought so."