Rory listened attentively as Professor Calines began his introduction to the class. She could feel Tristan's stare, but refused to look anywhere near him.
"This class is going to teach you about love. I know you're all thinking that love can't be explained, but this is what researchers have found. Love is something that you feel and you know by those chills, the butterflies, everything else that only comes from being around someone you care about."
Tristan thought back to the way the kiss with Rory made him feel and continued to listen to the professor.
"Unrequited love causes people to act in ways that they can't seem to justify. A young male will attempt to rebel as a way to take out his frustrations and at times will do irreversible actions."
Rory looked over at Tristan who had "military school" written across his face, but she wouldn't believe that she was that unrequited love from high school. In her head, it was Summer; it was always Summer when it came to Tristan.
"The young male will also act almost hostile towards the object of his affections. He knows that the way to get her attention is to frustrate and aggravate her."
He was describing Tristan to a t causing a bit of discomfort. After another half hour of lecturing, the class was dismissed. Tristan followed Rory back to the building where they were both dorming.
"Do me a favor, stop following me."
"I hate to burst your little bubble, Mary, but we are going to the same place."
"Whatever, I'll just walk faster."
As Rory walked faster, so did Tristan.
"Are you telling me that Calines' lecture said nothing to you? It didn't remind you of anything?"
"No, should it have?"
Tristan was hurt by her words so he made a sarcastic comment and walked a different way. Rory began to think even more about what everyone had been telling her. Maybe Tristan did have some kind of feelings for her that she couldn't deny any longer. He had kissed her, twice now, and she only cried the first time.

Tristan sat in his room reviewing the notes he took during that lecture. He was everything that Calines described...he was in love with Rory Gilmore, but she was with her little bagboy. Tristan knew that he could get her to feel something that Dean never could; all he needed was a way to get her into his arms.

Rory thought about her time with Dean the night before and wondered why she didn't feel the sparks. She wanted to feel those chills and butterflies that Professor Calines was talking about. Then her mind drifted to Tristan's comments earlier and she remembered the chills she got when his hand rubbed up against hers. Rory's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Much to her surprise, it was Dean just there to see how her first day of classes went. He came in and they talked about life in Stars Hollow and about Lindsay after the divorce. Talking about Lindsay wasn't what Dean drove to Yale for so he leaned in and kissed Rory. She tried to force herself to feel tingly, but it wasn't working. Just then Paris walked in the room.
"Sorry. I'm not here."
Rory was kind of glad that Paris walked in because she couldn't pretend anymore. She and Dean really were over, as much as she didn't want to admit it.
"Dean, remember that night when you and me..."
"Made love?"
"Yes. Do you remember the sparks between us? How amazing every kiss, every move felt?"
"I finally felt alive again, like I wasn't completely tied down."
"I guess what I'm trying to say is...the sparks...they're...gone."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't feel anything when you kiss me. Sure, I enjoy the kissing...a lot and I love you more than anything."
"But if there are no sparks..."
"There's no relationship. Dean, I'm sorry and I don't want to lose you."
"Too late, Rory. You just told me that you don't want this."
"I love you."
"Good bye."
That was it. Dean was gone, for good this time. Rory knew that she hurt him and that there was absolutely no way of him ever coming back. About an hour after Dean left the dorm, the phone rang.
"Rory, it's for you. It's some guy."
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Jess."
"Jess...hi."
"Rory, look, I know things ended pretty badly between us when I left for California."
"Don't forget the coming back and telling me you love me then wanting me to run away with you after you disappeared again."
"I do love you, but I know we can only be friends. I want to be friends."
"Dean and I broke up again. For good this time."
"So I heard, and Miss Patty overheard so would you like to talk to Lorelai before she finds out otherwise?"
"Sure."
Lorelai got on the phone and Rory told her everything. Lorelai knew that a new bad boy had stolen her daughter's affections; it was all a matter of Rory realizing where her feelings really were. Lorelai gave the phone back to Jess and Rory stayed on the phone with him for hours just talking and catching up. She missed the talks that she had with Jess before and during their relationship. He was so brilliant and well read, but too unreliable for Rory. She could never open herself up to how much he hurt her...not again. When Rory realized how late it was, she got off the phone and went to bed.
Paris started to ask about Dean and Jess...then about Tristan. The girls swore that Tristan DuGrey wouldn't come between them as he had years before. Within minutes of making that promise, they were both fast asleep.

The phone rang in Tristan's room while he was starting to fall asleep. Marty was in the library so he dragged himself out of bed to answer it.
"Hello?"
"DuGrey," said a familiar voice on the other end.
"Carlisle," Tristan responded to his friend Noah Carlisle from military school.
"What's going on?"
"You'll never guess who's at Yale."
"Your Mary, Mary, quite Contrary?"
"She was supposed to be at Harvard. I was finally getting her off my mind."
"That's a funny statement, DuGrey. What are you going to do about it?"
"I have to show her that I've changed, but King of Chilton, Tristan keeps coming back whenever I see her. God, I love her."
"Well it's up to you."
Tristan stayed on the phone with his military school buddy for a little while talking about Rory, then all the other girls that Noah had hooked up with at his college. Military school didn't do very much for either of them. Tristan fell asleep that night and had one of the best dreams he'd had in a while...
Rory was lying in the bed next to him and he was just looking her in the eye and playing with her hair. Every so often he'd kiss her forehead, lips, and neck while she'd utter the words "I love you, Tristan." He woke up in a cold sweat and in desperate need of a cold shower. Wet dreams weren't Tristan DuGrey's style; he had to do something to get his girl.