"Good news!" Kate exclaimed, as she barged into the room Rory and Paris shared.

Rory looked up from her position on her bed, where she was sitting cross legged surrounded by a pile of notes and textbooks, in deep study mode. Paris who was hunched over her desk barely flinched at Kate's sudden entrance.

"They cancelled finals due to the snow storm" Rory replied hopefully.

"Two inches is hardly a storm" Paris piped in, without looking up.

"A girl can dream" Rory shot back.

"This is even better" Kate continued, ignoring the two roommates, "Phil managed to score an entire table to the Winter Ball the Business Students Associations is throwing this weekend".

"Wow" Rory replied feigning enthusiasm "That will put the whole Ben and Jen break up back to page two".

"Come on, those tickets have been sold out for months, and I now have in my power ten tickets, count them ten" Kate stated rapidly, holding up the tickets as proof.

"I thought you said Phil scored the tickets?" Rory asked.

"Well theoretically, but it is all in my control, so do want to come"

"I guess…" Rory began before being interrupted.

"Don't worry Tristan's not coming. He's actually been MIA for a week. Jake thinks he may have just headed home after finals, he only had a few and they were early on" Kate informed her.

Rory nodded in reply to this information. It had been a week since she had gone up on a whim to see Tristan and it seemed as if Jake had kept his word and not mentioned it to anyone. Rory had then gone into hibernation in an attempt to study for all her finals

"So are you coming or not because I could get a lot for these tickets on e-bay" Kate asked slightly impatiently.

"Sure, why not" Rory answered, keen to return to her books.

"Paris, are you in, you can bring Jamie" Kate asked turning her attention to the blond who was highlighting at a frantic pace.

"I'm in" Paris replied, again not taking her attention away from her work.

"This is going to be fun" Kate stated to none in particular as she closed the door behind her.

* * *

Rory stared at her closet looking for a jacket to wear and attempting to drum up some enthusiasm for the evening that lay ahead of her. Paris meanwhile was frantically trying to do her hair while still in the process of getting dressed. Jamie had arrived earlier that day and it seemed as if the two of them had gotten distracted, leaving Paris little time to primp. Jamie was waiting in the other room attempting to converse politely with both Tanna and Janet. The later of whom, was holding a grudge about the fact that neither of her suitemates, had gotten her a ticket to the ball even after Rory had explained that it wasn't their fault.

Rory sat down on the edge of her bed and packed her purse, attempting not to crease the dress she had brought after Kate and Paris had hauled her out shopping after they had all finished their finals. It was a light blue colour, fitted, with spaghetti straps and covered with diamantes. When she had tried it on Rory had actually felt excited about the formal for the first time, but that had faded. She couldn't quite pin point why she felt so indifferent to it. It was supposedly the social event of the season, and the BSU always went to great expense and effort to make it so. But Rory couldn't even muster a fake smile at the prospect. She had agreed to be Phil's de facto date as neither were bringing someone and perhaps that was the reason. She was going with a friend, a nice guy who would try to make it fun but that was it. Kate had Jake, Paris was with Jamie, Allison's boyfriend was coming into town and Phil's friend from class was bringing a girl he had met over the summer.

Rory shook her head and stood up determined not to bring the others down. This is what she wanted; she concluded a chance to be herself and to experience new things.

* * *

The group made their way towards the ballroom on campus where the dance was being held. The snow was still lightly covering the ground and fairy lights twinkled at them from the trees as they made there way down the path. The ten of them made a happy party. Jake and Kate looked perfect together, her silver dress matched his tie and they strolled hand in hand soaking up the moonlight. Rory flashed back to the night they had gotten together on the beach. This then reminded her of her own encounter the following night, with Tristan…

"Are you ok?" Phil asked interrupting her thoughts.

"I'm fine" Rory replied attempting a smile.

"Did I tell you that you looked really pretty tonight" he continued.

"You don't have to say that, this isn't a real date"

"Hey, the truths the truth. Don't worry I have every intention of ditching you the minute a girl I really like comes along" He added jokingly.

"Oh same her, when that James Franco look alike comes my way I'm totally out of there" Rory shot back.

"Got a thing for James Franco hey, Freaks and Geeks or Spiderman?" Phil asked.

"Defiantly Freaks and Geeks, my Mom was totally addicted to that show, it brought back all of her high school memories" Rory added smiling, starting to loosen up.

"Its Tyson Ritter for me" Allison chimed in, eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Oliver Hudson" Kate added.

"Ok, enough of this" Jake interrupted, "You're just making us guys feel bad, we can't all look like teen idols".

"Well except Tristan" Phil added smirking.

A strange silence fell over the group.

"So where is he" Allison asked turning her attention to Jake.

He shrugged his shoulders in reply and left it at that.

* *

The group sat down at their table and surveyed the scene. The room was covered in lights. Silver snowflakes and glass stars hung from the ceiling. The tables had silver cloths and centrepieces consisting of snowflake ice sculptures, white lilies and white candles.

Rory was breathless at how beautiful it looked. No wonder tickets were so hard to come by. Phil had still not quit explained how he had acquired them, but the theory was it involved his grandfather whose status as an Alumni made Richard Gilmore's look like chicken feed.

"Dance" Phil asked, standing up as the band returned from their break and couples made their way to the dance floor.

Rory agreed and followed him until they were satisfied that they were in a spot were their eardrums would survive the blasting music. They danced like friends did, each trying to make the other laugh and commenting on the people surrounding them. Phil spun Rory so hard that she almost took out another couple.

When a slow song came on they awkwardly got into position.

"So" Rory stated.

"So" Phil shot back.

"By the way I'm sorry about the Tristan thing" he added.

"What Tristan thing?" Rory asked puzzled.

"I shouldn't have brought him up" Phil continued.

"Why not"

"I just got the feeling that, I don't know, you didn't want to hear about him"

"Oh" Rory replied focusing her attention on the ground.

"I'm actually kind of worried about him, all of his stuff is in his room, but he hasn't slept there in days, and Jake said he's probably gone home, but then why wouldn't he have taken his things, it's just a bit strange, you know" Phil continued.

Rory's mind began thinking about his parting words to her. This sudden disappearance couldn't have anything to do with her, could it? She tried to rationalise, maybe he just needed some quite time to study, or he had gone for a trip.

"Speak of the devil" Phil muttered smiling.

Rory looked up, as Phil spun her around.

Walking through the entrance was none other then Tristan Du Gray. He was dressed in a charcoal suit and looked literally like a million dollars. On his arm was a tall blond girl in a dress that looked like it cost more then Rory's computer.

"Rory?" Phil asked sounding concerned.

"Huh" she replied.

"You stopped dancing? Do you want to sit down?"

Rory watched as Tristan made his way across the room to their table to say hi to Jake, who looked just as surprised as she was to see him.

"No" Rory shot back quickly, "Lets keep dancing".

For some reason the thought of having to talk to Tristan was making her almost nauseous.

She quickly glanced over to their table and briefly caught Tristan's eye. He stared her down, his eye unflinching. She turned away, feeling herself blushing. What was he doing to her? She turned back and saw him smirking in her direction. And she silently berated herself.

"I wonder who that girl is" Phil stated.

"Which girl"

"The hot blond with Tristan" Phil added.

"You think she's hot" Rory replied.

"Hell yeah" he shot back.

Rory looked back over to where Tristan and the girl had been only to find they were gone.

The song changed to yet another slow one, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Switch" a voice asked.

Rory turned around to find Tristan and his date standing behind them.

"Sure" Phil answered enthusiastically, taking the girls hand and ignoring Rory's pleading looks.

"Dance, Mary" Tristan asked.

Rory slowly shook her head and started to leave but Tristan grabbed her hand, thwarting her effort.

"Please" he added softly.

Rory relented and turned back.

They assumed their positions and danced in silence. Rory refused to look up, instead focusing on her surroundings. She saw Jake and Kate across the dance floor, Kate looking curiously in their direction. She glanced away and could see Paris and Jamie at their table, engaged in a conversation which had resulted in Paris heatedly arguing something. She was searching for Allison, when Tristan's voice interrupted her…

"So I'm getting the silent treatment, am I" Tristan smirked at her.

Rory shook her head.

"Ok then what, nothing to say. Rory Gilmore has nothing to say, what's that hello sorry I can't hear you…is that hell freezing over" Tristan continued.

"Funny" Rory deadpanned.

"Why thankyou, she speaks, it's a miracle"

They danced in silence for a few minutes.

"Tristan" Rory asked quietly, "Where were you this week?"

"Abducted by aliens"

"Too bad they gave you back, the world would have been a much safer place" Rory replied.

"Harsh, Mary, harsh"

"What can I say I'm just a horrible person"

"Well, we both know that isn't true" Tristan stated softly.

"So who's the girl" Rory asked changing the subject.

"Why, jealous" Tristan smirked.

"Oh yeah, I want to go full on Kill Bill on her" Rory replied smiling.

"She's no-one, just an old friend. Though I must say Phil seems to like her" Tristan stated, as he gestured towards the couple who were dancing nearby. Phil had a kind of love sick puppy dog look on his face.

They continued to dance in silence until the song ended. They then just stood there in the position they had been in, Rory's arm around Tristan's neck and his hands around her waist. The, next song, which Rory recognised as being by Damien Rice started up, but neither moved an inch.

"So I heard you came looking for me the other night" Tristan whispered in her ear.

Rory tensed up.

"So what does that mean Mary" he continued.

Rory pulled away and stared up at him. She immediately felt embarrassed and confused. Jake had told him, that in the middle of the night she had come up to his room. She suddenly felt the need to get out of there. The room felt like it was closing in on her and she turned and pushed her way off of the dance floor.

* *

Rory stood outside and put her coat on. Unsure of what to do next. All she knew was she couldn't stay in there a second longer.

A slight flurry of snow had started up and Rory could feel it landing on her hair as she began to make her way along the path.

She could hear footsteps coming after her and turned around to see who it was.

Tristan was slowly walking behind her keeping his distance.

"What are you doing?" Rory asked frustrated.

"Well I promised myself I wouldn't chase after you" Tristan retorted.

"So, what's this then?"

"I'm walking"

"Oh, well could you just go away" Rory stated turning around.

"No"

"Why not" Rory asked, slightly exasperated.

"Because I also promised myself that I wasn't going to let you go" Tristan stated as he caught up to her.

This rendered Rory speechless.

"See, I had given up" He continued inching closer to where Rory stood with her arms around herself to keep warm, "But then Jake told me".

"Told you what"

"That you had come after me"

"I didn't…It was, I just wanted to talk to you" Rory stated defensively.

"Why"

"Why what"

"Why did you want to talk to me in the middle of the night" Tristan smirked.

"Because"

Tristan stared at her.

"So what, I came to see you, that doesn't mean anything" Rory shot back defensively.

"Fine, whatever, but look me in the eye and tell me that tonight when I walked in you didn't feel anything"

Rory said nothing.

"And tell me right now" Tristan began as he leaned in to whisper in her ear "That you don't feel anything"

Rory stood paralysed like she had the other night. Her mind flashed over their history, the night she had cried on his shoulder. All of their fights and she realised something, maybe he wasn't right for her and maybe they would go down in flames together but whenever she was with him, she felt something, she felt more alive. Everything seemed more real and she couldn't hide from that fact any longer.

"I do" she whispered.

Tristan stared down at her and for the first time she saw the real Tristan, the one she had been hiding from. Who in her presence most often hid himself behind the scared Tristan.

"So what are you going to do about it" he asked softly smiling.

Rory tilted her head upwards and placed her hand on Tristan's cheek, pulling him towards her and placing her other hand on his chest. She kissed him. Slowly at first but gradually increasing the pressure. As it got more intense Tristan pulled her closer wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm. The snow increased and snowflakes fell on both of their faces but they were ignorant. To caught up in each other to notice.

When they finally parted, they just stood there staring at each other. Before Tristan broke the silence;

"So Mary, does this mean you like me" Tristan asked smirking.

"What do you think?" Rory shot back laughing.

"Maybe you're drunk, or just really cold and you thought this was the only way to warm up, or your minds gone crazy from too much studying and…" Tristan began before Rory silenced him with a kiss.

"Shut up" she stated after they had parted, "You know the only way I think this is going to work is if you don't talk, it only gets you into trouble".

"I'm offended, what am I to you a piece of meat"

"Yes" Rory replied laughing.

"I'm fine with that" he smirked as he put his arm around her and they began the stroll back to the dorms.

"So does this mean I have to stop calling you Mary" Tristan asked suddenly concerned.

"You better not" Rory replied.

"See I always knew you secretly liked it…and me" Tristan smirked at her.

"This is never going to work" Rory stated exasperated.

"I don't know Mary, some things have a way of surprising you"