A/N: Thank you all so much for reviewing! Well here is the next chapter. Hope you like it! Please R/R...



On with the story...



Chapter 12 ********

"Okay everyone, I think we're done for today.", Rory announced to the room full of people and empty Chinese food containers.

"Finally.", sighed one women. Paris scowled.

"No one is going anywhere until we finish the layout.", Paris said sternly shooting a death stare at Rory.

"How do I set the laser printer to stun?", remarked one staff member.

"Paris your crazy, we have been here four hours. At least give us a break.", protested another women.

"I'm not crazy. I've just been in a bad mood for thirty years, but I guess we can finish up tomorrow.", Paris said admitting defeat.

Her staff left and only Rory remained, silently in her chair.

"Rory?", Paris called.

"I didn't get any of the Chinese food, you didn't eat either right? Let's go get some lunch.", Rory asked not waiting for an answer. She grabbed her friend by the arm and the two walked out the door.

"Something's wrong.", she stated simply.

"Well aren't you the brightest crayon in the box.", replied Rory sarcastically.

"What is it?", Paris questioned wearily.

"Don't ask. It's almost twelve. Where do you want to eat?"

"Cafe Roma?", Paris suggested.



"Hi Lucas!", Lorelai said brightly as she entered the diner.

"Lorelai.", he warned.

"Jess. Hi.", mumbled Lorelai.

"Hello Auntie Lorelai.", he said with a fake smile. As usual the two kept up their act of contempt.

"So Jess, why are you here?", she asked.

"Why are any of us here Lorelai?", he returned.

"Ha ha. Very good. Amusing, really.", Lorelai laughed sarcastically.

"Glad to entertain you Lorelai."

"Cut the crap. Aren't you supposed to be serving people food, not harassing me?"

"Oh sarcasm is just one more service we offer. It's on the house.", Jess smiled.

"Some things never change, do they?", muttered the previously silent Luke.

"Consistency, my dear husband. Consistency," Lorelai grinned at him, "Jess give me a straight answer. Why, after so long, are you back here?"

"Isn't it obvious Lorelai? I missed you terribly.", he remarked caustically.

"Ugh! I give up!", exclaimed Lorelai in defeat. In one swift movement she was out the door.

"You enjoy that, don't you?", asked Luke.

"I must say I do."



"Where can she be?", Alex thought frustrated.

His search for Lana was turning up nothing. This was all his fault, he knew Lana would be upset by his little act, but he did it despite her. Now he regretted it. What exactly was he jealous of anyway? She had gone out with guys before, nothing serious, and he hadn't turned into the green eyed monster.

"Why now?", he asked himself.

"Why not now?", a in his head voice combated.

He had visited Emma's house, searched Stars Hollow, and checked back at her house, but no luck. He was out of ideas. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed her number, yet again.



"Lana your coat's ringing.", Emily pointed out impatiently.

"So it is.", Lana said ignoring it.

"Were you planning on answering it any time this millennia?", Emily asked rolling her eyes.

"Not really no.", Lana said uncomfortably

"Well whoever it is, is very persistent. That is about the fifth call gone unanswered.", she replied turning to her tea.

"Actually sixth.", Travis chimed in. Lana and Emily glared at him.

"What? You, of all people, want me to answer it.", Lana hissed at him.

"Lana, if you don't answer it I will.", he replied suppressing a smirk. He was gaining the lead.

"Go ahead, I'm sure he'd love that."

"What is going on here you two?", Emily demanded.

"Nothing Grams. Me and...a friend are in a little fight. That's all.", she explained. As Travis pulled out here ever ringing phone.

Travis:(cheerily) Hello Alex.

"Alex? You and Alex are fighting?", Emily asked in the background where her and Lana were listening.

"Yes Grams.", Lana closed her eyes in attempt to block out Grams water fall of questions.

Alex: Travis.

Travis: That's my name.

Alex: Where is Lana?

Travis: Lana?

Alex: Yes, you remember her right? The girl next in line on your list of potential conquests.

Travis:(In mock pain) That was harsh.

Alex: Let me talk to Lana. i Please/i

Travis: I'm sorry, but it seems she doesn't want to talk to you.

"Give the boy a cookie.", Lana yelled sarcastically in the background.

Alex: Look I know she is there. I can hear her insults.

"Lana. You go over there and get on the phone right now. Your behavior is extremely rude and I will not tolerate it.", Emily demanded sternly.

With a huff she grabbed the phone away from Travis and took it into the other room. Leaving Grams and Travis alone. That was like setting a lamb in a pack of wolves, if you could associate a lamb with Travis. You couldn't.

"I swear to God if you do anything to that girl I will have you hunted down and serve your head on a platter at my next dinner party.", Emily threatened.

"Very subtle, Mrs. Gilmore. Let me guess you have heard the rumors regarding my return?"

"I highly doubt that they are all rumors."

"Oh never doubt what none of us are sure of."

While Travis and Grams were trading threats, Lana was dealing out some of her own.

Lana: What do you have to say? I don't know what's left, but I'll give you two minutes, but then me and Travis are off to the church.

Alex:(sighs) Lana you know how good I am at begging for forgiveness. I'm sorry. You would think after hours of looking for you I would have come up with something.

Lana: Minute and forty seconds.

Alex: I'm sorry Lana. I was a jerk. Okay?

Lana: Why should I care? You don't care, then I don't care.

Alex: Lan, I do care, you're my best friend.

Lana: You think it's that easy? Well it's not. Bye Alex.

She hung up the phone and went back to tell Grams that her and Travis were leaving.





"So Ror, are you ever going to tell me what is wrong?", Paris incessantly asked all the way to the restaurant.

"Oh God.", Rory's eyes widened and she ducked behind her menu to hide. Just as the waitress came.

"What?", Paris asked in confusion.

"Nothing.", she squeaked still hiding.

"Have you decided yet, or do you need a few minutes?"

"We've decided.", Paris answered for the two of them.

"Very well."

"I'll have the chicken Parmesan.", Paris ordered.

"And you miss?", the waitress asked Rory, who was obviously trying to avoid being seen by someone.

"Oh. Me. Um... I'll have the pasta with vodka sauce.", she stumbled.

"Anything to drink?"

"Something strong.", Rory said under her breath.

"I'll have water with lemon. Thank you."

The waitress tried to take the menus away, but Rory fought a losing battle for her only source of cover.

"What is up with you?"

"All right fine look behind to your right.", she whispered. Paris did as she was told and was met by the sight of Tristan and a women that, by Rory's reaction, could only be his fiancé.

"Oh. So that's her huh? I thought you said they broke it off?"

"I did, that's what he told me."

"He told you?"

"Stop repeating everything I say in question form."

"Sorry."

"Nicole, what exactly is your point?"

"I want to give 'us' another try."

"You want it, or did Daddy threaten to cut if you didn't?"

"That isn't fair."

"Yes it is. This is all getting old Nicole. Your father and mine had our wedding planned before our first date."

"For your information my father hasn't even heard that you broke it off."

"I wonder why?"

"What is wrong with you? Ever since your ex came over you have been cynical, rude, and insolent all the time."

"I have never justified myself to anyone and I will not start with you.", he replied calmly.



"What do you think they're talking about?", Paris wonder aloud.

"Looks like I'm going to have to find something else to do tomorrow night.", Rory said under her breath.

"They look like they're fighting.", she observed.



"I've decided to give you a second chance."

Tristan rolled his eyes at Nicole and leaned across the table to whisper in her ear, "What makes you think I want one."



"Or not.", Rory said as she saw him lean over the table.

"We really should stop watching them."

"We should."

"It would be the moral thing to do."

"Not to mention sane."

"Remember that sane is the one adjective that does not describe either one of us."

He relaxed back into his seat and started to look around the restaurant intent on finding something more interesting than what was going on at his table. He had.

"Ror."

"Yeah?", she said looking up from the plate of food the waitress brought over.

"He's watching us, or you now.", Paris said teeth clenched.

"Uh oh.", she said dumbfounded still staring into her food.

"Yeah."

Rory looked up to see him looking over with a sort of help me look on his face, while Nicole continued to try to regain his attention and she had to laugh.

"Tristan.", Nicole called and got no answer.

"Tristan!"

"Yes ma'am.", he answered sarcastically, turning to face her. He was caught by surprise when Nicole kissed him full force.

"Now maybe you can actually look at me when I speak to you.", Nicole said with a mischievous smile. Tristan looked around the restaurant, looked to the table he had found so interesting before, but no one was there.



"Paris come on.", she demanded throwing the money for lunch on the table. * He did it again! *, she thought. * Just to spite me. He deserves Nicole. They deserve each other. *

Paris decided it was less dangerous if Rory let her drive.

"I don't feel like dying on Tristan's account.", Paris argued when Rory protested to Paris driving.

"I don't feel like doing anything on ihis/i account.", she mumbled.



"Thank you Grams.", Lana said to the old women as she left arm in arm with Travis. All day they had acted like the perfect little couple, well that is until the phone calls.

"Goodbye Lana. Come again soon. Travis. Well, it...was...uh nice to meet you."

"I hope to see you again too, Mrs. Gilmore."

"Probably at the next dinner party.", she replied sharply. Lana shot the two a quizzical look and turned to get in the car.

"Thank you.", Lana said when they were on the road.

"For what?"

"Just for being here.", she smiled.

"I live to serve.", he smirked. Haha. He was winning, and Alex was losing. This is how the world should be.

"I'm sure you do. Um do you mind if I stay in the car when we get to your house?"

"No, but who said we were going there we have the entire day a head of us."

"Really?", she asked with a smile.

"Yes really.", he smirked.

"Hey Trav, are you going to Chilton for the rest of the year?"

"Why do you want me there?", Travis smirked, yet again.

"Answer the question.", she demanded.

"I start tomorrow."

That night when Rory got home she found the answering machine blinking like crazy. She played the first one.

'Lana? It's Alex. I know you're mad, but just call me when you get this message...'

The next ten where similar to that one, all Alex pleading to be forgiven for some unknown act. The next few surprised her.

'Rory? I guess you're not home yet. Give me a call.', she pressed delete and went on to the next one.

'Mar, I was calling to see if we were still on for tomorrow. Please call me.', again she pressed delete.

Sick of hearing his voice she slammed the door of her apartment and walked to Luke's.

"Hey Ror.", Jess greeted.

"Uh.", she replied tiredly.

"Not exactly the greeting I expected, but it'll do."

"Coffee.", she groaned.

"Long day?"

"Huh!" That was the understatement of the century.

"Here ya go.", he said handing her the coffee cup.

"Thanks."

"Are you going to give me more than one word answers?"

"Sorry. It's just been a very...odd three days. Have you ever wondered how things happen so quickly?"

"It's Tristan again isn't it?", he sighed.

"Why do you think that?"

"Rory."

"You're right, again. That is very annoying you know."

"I know. You want some ice cream?"