Changed

A/N: I just wanted to say thanks to all the people who reviewed - it's means a lot to me, thanks!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything - never have, probably never will.

Chapter 2: What was That?

"Hey hon. Why are you late?" Lorelai asked, currently engrossed in a magazine.

"Well, I missed the bus, so I was going to wait for the next one, but then I saw Tristan and he gave me a ride home."

"Wait…why does that name sound familiar?" Lorelai asked herself. "Tristan… Tristan…" Now completely at a loss, she turns her attention back to her daughter. "Okay, you have to help me out here. I know that you've mentioned that name to me before…I just can't remember…"

Rory slightly laughs. "I met Tristan a couple years at Chilton."

Lorelai sat there, still not able to put a face to the name.

"He was the one that called me Mary." Rory reluctantly revealed.

"Oh! Now I know! You know, you could have just started with that. You could have saved me all of that trouble I went through to think." Lorelai threw her hands up in a playful manner.

"My mother, ladies and gentlemen…the only women of her age who simply refuses to think," Rory replies sarcastically.

"Well, thank you. I would start by thanking - wait - what do you mean 'woman of my age'?" Lorelai began to inquisitively look at her daughter.

Rory just smile sweetly and stated, "I have tons of homework, so I'll be in my room."

"Don't you think this is over!" Lorelai began to frown when her daughter disappeared into her room. "And you still have to tell me about Tristan!"

* * *

~ The next day at Chilton ~

Rory unwillingly steps into the school which turns into an even more unbearable hell each and everyday that she is there. Turning the corner, she notices a certain blonde-headed boy standing next to her locker.

Seeing that he seems to be lost in thought, she just brushes past him to get to her locker, located a few inches away from where Tristan was standing.

"What - no 'hi' or 'good morning'?"

She slightly jumps at the sound of his voice and turns, unconsciously smiling when seeing him.

"Sorry, you seemed to be thinking about something important and I didn't want to interrupt you." Rory opened her locker, placing all the books she needed for her upcoming class and returning those that she didn't need to their rightful place.

"No, I was just waiting for you."

"I knew something didn't add up - you and thinking - now that is just funny - I don't know why I even thought of that." She smiled at Tristan, then looked back into her locker. "Why were you waiting for me?"

"First of all, thank you for that comment."

"No problem."

"Second of all-" Before Tristan could finish his sentence, he's interrupted by Paris.

"Rory! I thought I made it the other day that we were supposed to meet in the library to discuss new topics for articles!" Paris was obviously enraged.

"Sorry, Paris. I-"

"It was my fault," Tristan quickly intervened.

"What?" both Rory and Paris stunned by his confession.

"Well, I just wanted to ask her if she could help me get caught up in one of the classes we have together and then I that is what made her late for your meeting. Sorry."

Paris glared at Tristan before responding. "She's not late, she missed the meeting completely and I thought that you just started today - how could you possibly already know what classes you have with her?"

"Well…" Tristan desperately searched for an answer, "we were talking yesterday when I gave her a ride home and she told me all the classes that she has."

Paris stood there glaring now both at Tristan and Rory before just walking off without saying another word.

"You didn't have to do that, Tristan," Rory looked at him through appreciative eyes.

"It was nothing," Tristan shrugged.

"Well, thank you. She probably would have lit me on fire or something."

Tristan took a step towards Rory and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He looked down into her eyes. "No problem." And with that, he turned and walked away.

Rory stood there in a stunned state. What was that?

* * *

Rory sat in her usual seat in her English Lit class. She was looking at the professor, but couldn't seem to focus on anything that he was saying.

Why did he kiss me? Well, okay, not really kiss, but one on the cheek is still a kiss…right? Stop! What is wrong with you, Rory? It was nothing…it's just Tristan.

The bell soon disrupted her thoughts. She made her way down the stairs and out the door. She went to her locker one last time, collecting all of her homework and all of the necessary items in order to accomplish it. She stepped out the double doors and once again found him. She silently made her way behind him and covered his eyes. In a low voice, she asked, "Guess who?"

"How about if I don't and you keep touching me?" They both laughed as Rory brought her hand down away from his face and he turned around. "Did you need something?"

"Well, I remembered you saying that you wanted to tell me something this morning but I kind of forgot due to Paris. So, I came to see what it was."

"Um…it was nothing." Damn it, DuGrey. Just tell her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Do you need a ride?"

"Nope. I'm actually not late for the bus today," Rory replied in a flirtful manner, not even realizing until she had actually said it. She looked down at her shoes, hoping that he didn't pick up on it.

He laughed playfully at her sudden bashfulness. "Well, Mary, I guess I'll just see you tomorrow then." He looked into her eyes for a few seconds more then turned and headed towards his car.

Mary…I think I could actually get used to that nickname now.