"Rory! RORY! Wake up!" Lorelai shouted at her resting daughter during the middle of the night.
"Mom?" Rory answered groggily. Seeing that it wasn't even light out she continued, "What time is it? And why are you screaming?"
"It's four in the morning and, yes, I realize it. But I have to go to the Inn. Something to do with a small fire a guest accidentally lit, wasn't really awake when the fire department called. Just wanted to make sure you knew where I was. And to tell you that you can't take the bus today. One of Jess' antics is blocking the main street and it will take way too long just for the bus to even think of getting into the town. Alright I'm done. Go back to sleep," Lorelai finally stopped and turned to leave the room.
"Wait, how do you know the street's blocked? And how am I supposed to get to school?" Rory questioned fully awake.
"The fire department had a little trouble getting to the Inn and I don't know. Don't you have any nice friends at that school who will drive all the way out here to pick up your butt."
Rory just stared back at her mom and responded, completely exhausted, "No."
Lorelai made a face before thinking for a moment, "Then call Tristan."
"But I don't want to. Then I have to see him," she pouted gloomily, still unsure of the kiss.
"Well, you're going to have to. I have their number lying around somewhere, probably in the address book. Go back to sleep and call them at a more reasonable hour. Do you know how early it is?" Lorelai asked, mocking Rory.
"Shut up. You're the one who woke me up," Rory said throwing her pillow at Lorelai before she could escape the room. She groaned again when she realized that she had to get up to retrieve the pillow from the floor.
Two hours later Rory awoke and this time to the more expected music of radio/alarm. Digging up the old and almost never used address book, she did find a slot for the DuGreys. Swallowing her pride Rory woefully took the phone and called the number and waited patiently until a maid answered.
"Good morning, may I speak to Tristan?" Rory kept the politeness at a high, seeing as it was six in the morning and no sane person would call at this hour.
"I'm sorry but Mister Tristan has already left for his football practice. Is there anything else I can assist you with?" the maid answered promptly.
Rory stared at the phone in wonder, thinking why Tristan hadn't bothered to mention football in one of their spastic conversations. She regained her senses when the other line called out again, "Miss?"
"Oh, no, that's alright. Thank you. Have a good day." Rory said while mulling over her options on how to get to school. Quickly thinking of Luke Rory began to prepare for school hoping that the diner wasn't too crowded this morning.
Pushing her way through the crowd of people around the front door Rory fought for Luke's attention as he tried to take some orders. "Luke, you couldn't possible give me a ride to school."
"Sorry, we're a little busy or else I'd be glad to take you," he answered while quickly scribbling on the order pad and shoving the piece of paper at Caesar.
"I can take you," Jess interjected when he plopped down some plates in front Miss Patty.
Luke glared and responded, "No, you can't cause you're going to school today and for more than five minutes. Why can't you take the bus Rory?"
Rory looked up sullenly, "Cause Boy Wonder over there clogged up the main street and the bus can't even get in the town."
Jess grinned sheepishly and ducked a hit from Luke before retreating to the back.
Luke went off mumbling about irresponsible teenagers, leaving Rory behind at a loss for what to do. Someone approached her from behind and cleared their throat.
"I can take you, Rory," Dean said out loud, coming from his stool where he had heard the entire exchange.
Rory spun around quickly and was incredibly startled while fumbling for a valid excuse to get out of his offer, "I, uh, I wouldn't want to keep you from school. It's a long drive there."
Dean smile shyly before continuing in what he thought was reassurance, "Don't worry. I start a period later than most people. I'll have plenty of time to get back here for my first class."
Luke suddenly glanced over and found the need to interrupt. "Actually, Rory, I could take you now if you want. It's starting to clear out a bit."
A quick look around assured Rory that it wasn't and not wanting to trouble Luke she begrudgingly accepted Dean's offer. "No, it's alright now Luke. Dean's already offered to take me. He has a car and a little more time than you do right now."
Despite Rory's hesitant acceptance, Dean smiled brightly and took her stuff from her, leading Rory to his pickup outside. Waiting for him to get settled, Rory took a long sip of the coffee Luke had handed her before she was pulled out the door.
Arriving at the school in one piece, Rory breathed out a sigh of relief as she watched Dean's truck pull away, him waving in the driver's seat. She was glad to get out of the ordeal alive, not that Dean was a bad driver but that the awkward silence threatened to strangle her. Rory climbed the stairs to the main building, just happy to make it to school a little ahead of time.
Tristan watched Rory's expression change from a forced happiness to a relieved and slumped demeanor as the Bag Boy left the parking lot. Wondering why she needed a ride to the school, he trailed behind her at a safe distance, noticing that she was completely unaware of anything happening around her at the moment. He watched her for a minute before approaching, thinking about the changes in everyone that he had missed while adapting to society's standards.
Taking the safe route and deciding not to startle her so early in the morning, Tristan came up to Rory from her open side, not blocked by the locker door. Still, she had been so immersed in her own head that she didn't realize his presence until he cleared his throat. The sound made her jump, trip over her bag on the floor, and stumble backwards towards the polished floor.
Quickly reaching out Tristan caught her deftly with one arm as if he was dipping her during a formal dance. "Somehow you always end up in close proximity to me," he commented wryly, before allowing her to straighten up.
"Yeah, too bad it's never really by choice," Rory retorted, remembering yesterday's event. Ignoring Tristan, she continued to pull random books from her locker, unsure of her class schedule and the textbooks required for them.
Tristan observed her as she remained puzzled over her Literature book, to bring or not to bring. "You know, Davis always uses that book in class and even though it weighs like ten pounds it's probably safer to carry it." He waited for an appreciation of his advice but it never came. "So why did Bag Boy drop you off today? Took a break from stocking the shelves?"
Rory scowled at him though she didn't particularly like Dean just that he was a lot less cocky than the one standing next to her. "He was doing me a favor. You know what those are right? When you help people out of the goodness of your heart?"
"That's funny. I could have sworn that the word 'favor' always came attached to the word 'sexual'. Well, at least, those are the only ones that I know of," Tristan said lightly, knowing the mere mention of the word was sure to make Rory blush.
Rory did, though barely, before slamming her locker shut and leaving in the opposite direction. Smiling to himself Tristan took the time to yell after her even though his comment wasn't one that she expected. "You're going the wrong way. Home room's on the other side of the school."
She quickly turned around and stormed right by him acting as if she had known all along. Tristan couldn't help the smile that broke out onto his face when he yelled at her one more time. "Take a right," he called out when she appeared to be going left.
Arriving just moments before the bell Tristan was ushered into class by the teacher who had been outside chatting with a parent. He took his assigned seat behind Rory and poked her in the back while the teacher was presently pulling together his scattered notes. "Mary, Mary, quite contrary. We need to talk. And soon."
Rory didn't even turn around to face him but he still noticed the lack of ease in her posture now. When she refused to respond, he tapped her lightly on the shoulder with his pencil and she whirled around, agitated. "While I'm glad to know that you still remember your nursery rhymes, Tristan. You and I have nothing to talk about so if you would please stop distracting me."
His eyes grew wider as she spoke though not because of Rory's intimidating glare or harsh, down-putting voice, but because of the ever nearing teacher who was eyeing him like he was the devil.
"While I am so glad that Miss Gilmore can see through your amazingly charming exterior, I doubt that one outburst from her is going to solve this problem any time soon," he sternly said as Rory finished the end of her tirade and once again turned in her seat in surprise. She blushed at being caught and he continued, "So Miss Gilmore, if you would kindly trade seats with Miss Grant it would be greatly appreciated."
Although he structured the instructions as a request both girls knew better and slowly rose from their seats, swapping places. Happy to be farther away from Tristan, she still felt eyes boring into the back of her head and turned to look at him but found that his gaze was in a battle with that of their teacher. Glancing around the room, she finally turned to her right and found Paris' penetrating evil eye concentrated solely on her.
Afraid she was going to drop down dead from the Look, Rory turned her attention back to her teacher who was now addressing Tristan. "If it is alright with you, Mr. DuGrey, may we begin our lesson only a bit later than usual?"
The tone was mocking, challenging, and judgmental all at the same time and Tristan answered in a cool, calm voice that was cocky in the slightest way possible, "By all means." When the entire class turned their attention back to the board, Rory's eyes remained on his and he gave her a small wink before she turned to copy down the notes.
A/N - Thanks for the reviews so far. Not much else to say.
