*click* and then a dial tone was what Tristan heard after a few seconds of waiting. Apparently Rory didn't want to talk to him. Lorelai would have at least made fun of him for a little bit. Shrugging, Tristan finally put the phone back and rested against the headboard. Since it was obvious Rory was not about ready to talk to him he gradually fell asleep thinking about her.


Rory spent her weekend or the remainder of it thinking about Tristan and wondering what he would have said if she hadn't so abruptly hung up. Deciding to tell Lorelai she was subjected mocking and torturing on the Gilmore's new object of fascination. She was almost grateful for the promise of school on Monday to take her thoughts off her new problem and onto something more practical: school and grades. Too bad she remembered that he would also be there and more than likely become an even bigger distraction.


So Rory after putting plenty of thought and consideration decided on the best solution to her current trouble: running from and ignoring him. Boldly she shattered her old schedule of getting around school. Changing the times that were required to unload/reload her backpack, bolting in and out of her classes just as the bell would ring, taking the long way to classes. This system of quick change worked for oh, two days when Tristan cornered her ten minutes before school actually started.


"You know, running away from me just shows that you care."


Rory let out a heavy sigh and sagged against her locker as she heard his voice a little too close to her ear. "And here I thought I was getting rid of you and your suffocating ego."


Tristan backed off a little as she opened her locker door pulling out random books. "So I'm guessing you didn't want to talk over the weekend."


"Gee, now whatever gave you that idea? The fact tat I didn't return your messages or maybe the time I hung up on you." By now she had whirled around to face him, red-faced and obviously angry.


"No, it was actually something Lorelai said. About you needing to time to work out all your feelings."


This time Rory couldn't even tell if he was lying as Lorelai was capable of doing something like that. "You're bluffing. Mom would never do something as stupid as tell you what I was thinking even though my weekend consisted of no thoughts of you. None, whatsoever. So, now you can take your properly deflated ego to home room where it belongs."


"We're not talking about what happened Friday. New topic?"


"If you're going to insist on being here, you can at least give me that much."


"Mary, I could give you so much more than just that," Tristan paused, awaiting her enraged reaction, "I could get you a date to prom."


"Now why would I want a date to this prom when I could save so much time and energy and just go to oh, maybe, my senior prom?"


"Because then you might not have such a willing and eager date as I am right now."


"And if I take someone else?" Rory questioned all her thoughts focused on finding a way to beat Tristan since he would probably turn this into a way to get her to go to prom with him. Now none of her attention was used on understanding the slightly compromising position Tristan was hell bent on establishing.


"Sorry, only Chilton students allowed." This really wasn't true and Rory would have his head if she found out the truth but it's not like she paid any attention to all the dances.


"I'll go by myself," she stated in a sudden outcry of girl power.


"Again, sorry, couples only."


"I won't go at all," Rory had suddenly remembered that she had a choice in the situation.


"Hm, curious how I know more about your life than you do. Paris assigned you the prom as a Franklin assignment. How are you going to do the article if you're not actually going to the dance?" His smirk was a triumphant one as he watched realization dawn on her face and a scowl taking over her usually angelic face.


"Fine, fine, I'll go with you. And as to what happened Friday you will never mention that."


"Don't sound too excited to go with me, Mary," Tristan called out leaving after getting what he had come for.


"Don't worry. I'm not!" Rory yelled out to his retreating figure. Banging her head against the lockers, once, twice, she thought How do I always manage to get the worse of situations?




A/N - Alright I know that prom doesn't really go like that. But Tristan is just using her obliviousness to his advantage. And plus this is my story. Thanks for the support people who even bother reading the musings of a fourteen year old. Anyway nothing will be up for a really long time since, you know, new school year and all. I'm sure plenty of you are willing to put a trigger to their head as I am ready to do. Not really.