Rory closed the door behind her, and sat down inside leaning against the doorframe. She placed her hands in her head and tried to erase all thoughts from her mind.

It was Sunday night. She had just gotten back from her trip home to Stars Hollow for the weekend. She had thought it would be a good chance to get away from things. Firstly, Tristan whom she had managed to avoid since their encounter on the bench. Secondly, Kate and Paris who were hounding her as to what had happened the other night. They had reported back to her that as they were hanging out in Jake and Tristan's suite, Tristan had stormed in without saying a word, closed the door to his room and refused to come out for the rest of the night.

Yet when she had gotten back home things just became more confusing, she had run into Dean and as it turned out, it was the weekend of his wedding. She had followed Luke's advice and not gone but just seeing it happing from her vantage point behind a tree had struck her with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and confusion. When she had seen Lorelai, she had pretended she was fine, but the whole trip back to Yale her head had been racing with thoughts.

It's not like she wanted Dean back, or wanted it to be her he was marrying, but now he was gone forever. It seemed so final, he was her first love. What if she never found something like that again. She thought that she had found that with Jess but when that had ended badly… Perhaps Dean was her only chance for true love. She then tried to tell herself that was ridicules, she was so young but…And it was never ending, she just kept thinking herself around in circles.

Rory tried to contain herself by looking around the common room. It was dark and strangely quiet, she realised she was the only one back. Paris was visiting Jamie, Janet had a running meet and Tanna had gone on the biology club field trip. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. She grudgingly got up and opened it hoping whomever it was would leave quickly.

"Rory" Tristan stated, sounding surprised. He was dressed in jeans and a grey top, that she reluctantly concluded, brought out the blue in his eyes. He was holding her robe, which had been folded and looked like it had been washed.

"Kate, said you had gone home for the weekend" he continued.

"I just got back" Rory replied steadily, casting her eyes sideways to avoid looking at him.

"Oh" he replied "I was just going to drop this off with one of your roommates" he added, handing her the robe.

"Thanks" she replied softly. The fact he was standing there was throwing her head into a spin.

"So, I guess I'll just go"

"Uh huh" Rory murmured back rubbing her eyes with her hands. Why was she feeling so emotional, she wasn't that angry at him, she felt that she had overreacted the other night, how could she be angry at him for just being who he was. But the fact he was there, was just bringing everything to the surface, Jess and especially Dean…

"Hey, are you ok" Tristan asked looking concerned, in a way that reminded her of the way Dean used to look at her

And with that Rory fell apart, she began crying hysterically, her shoulders shaking with emotion. Tristan stood there momentarily unsure of what to do. He then wrapped his arms around her. She leaned her head against his chest and continued sobbing. He stroked her hair and just let her let it all out.

And that's how they stood until Rory began calming down. She eventually subsided, and began hiccuping uncontrollably, as she tried to regain her composure.

"There's just something about me that makes you cry, huh" Tristan stated trying to lighten the mood. Rory tried to raise a smile but was thwarted by a hiccup.

"Is it that I smell or something because I've never had any complaints before" he added half heartedly. Rory smiled, despite herself.

"Well at least this time, I know it can't be about Dean" he said jokingly. Rory immediately started up again.

"Oh" he replied catching on. "I'm sorry".

"No, it's…hiccup…fine. I'm um fine" Rory tried to protest pulling away from Tristan's chest.

"Sure" Tristan replied sceptically.

"Oh god, look at your shirt, I got mascara all over it" Rory replied coming too.

"Wouldn't be the first time" Tristan smirked. This in turn caused Rory to sigh, but also smile.

"I can't believe I let you see me like this, I'm acting like such a girl"

"Well, you are a girl" Tristan shot back

"I'm glad you noticed" Rory drawled.

They stood there silently. Before she exclaimed;

"I must look like such a mess"

"You look fine"

"Really"

"Well no, you look like you've been hit by a truck"

"Thanks"

"Don't mention it"

"Hey I've got an idea" Tristan began "Why don't you get cleaned up and I'll be back in fifteen, ok"

"Ok" Rory replied somewhat hesitantly.

Once Tristan had left Rory went and had a shower and changed into some fresh sweat pants and a long sleeve top. The shower made her feel better, as had the crying. She realised she had been bottling so much up and it had felt good to just let it all go. Unfortunately, that had to be while Tristan had been there. But the way he had looked at her when she answered the door had just released something in her.

She heard him rustling around outside the door and went to open it. He was standing outside, laden down with things. In one hand were two cops of coffee and a DVD, in the other what looked like a pint of ice cream and a bag of cookies.

"I ran out of hands to knock with" he stated.

"What are you doing?" Rory asked letting him in.

"Well is it just me, or did you seem kind of upset" Tristan smirked sarcastically.

"Actually I think it's just you"

"And I wanted to apologise for the other night, I was a jerk"

"Yes"

"And I shouldn't have let them assume that anything had happened…"

"Continue" Rory interrupted.

"Or could happen or would ever happen between us" he added, "And I promise to clear up any misconceptions"

"Apology accepted"

"Good" Tristan smiled with a relieved look on his face, "So can we have ice-cream now. It's mint fudge swirl".

Rory nodded and led him over to the coffee table where he unloaded.

"Coffee for you" he added handing her a cup, as he took one for himself, after putting a movie in the DVD player.

"So now there's a movie, I thought it was just ice cream" Rory asked, feigning annoyance.

"Yes there is, one from my private collection"

"Is it dirty" Rory asked sceptically.

"No, just the greatest movie of all time" Tristan replied settling back onto the couch.

"Sure" Rory smirked "Let me guess, does it star Steven Seigal"

"No but it does star Corey Feldman pre-rehab"

"Gremlins?"

"Close, it's…"

"No let me guess" Rory interrupted, getting into the game.

"Also starring Sean Austin, before he become a Hobbit"

"The Goonies" Rory exclaimed excitedly.

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner" Tristan replied.

"Now, that is a great movie"

"I know"

"Who would have thought you'd have the taste of a twelve year old boy"

"Hey, that hurts, what's your favourite movie Miss Maturity"

"Willy Wonka" Rory retorted without missing a beat.

Tristan smiled, "Are you ready" he asked getting comfortable.

"Uh huh, you know when I was eight I saw this with my Mom, and the afterwards I wouldn't go near a blender for a week"

"Well you should be ok, I don't see any blenders, but that can opener over there looks mighty scary"

"Shut up" Rory replied hitting him with a pillow.

"Make me" Tristan shot back grabbing the pillow he was sitting on and getting her back.

"Hey, that hurt" Rory stated faking pain.

"Ok, truce" Tristan ventured holding out his hand. Rory took it and accepted, "Let's be friends"

"Are we?" Tristan asked seriously

Rory thought about it for a moment, "Well, I wouldn't say we're friends just yet, but we are in the pre friendship stages"

"There are stages"

"Yep, seven"

"Very precise, does this mean we can watch a movie together"

"I guess that's allowed" Rory replied smiling, and with that they started the movie, both immediately becoming engrossed in the world of pirates and treasure.

To be continued…