Chapter Six

Dean suddenly felt nervous at Rory's reaction to him. He didn't know why he had decided to come over. It was just seeing all the couples at school today, he had really missed Rory. He really did love her, and it hurt him that she couldn't say the same. He wasn't sure what he exactly wanted to happen now, but he just had to see her.

Realizing she was dressed up, he suddenly felt really stupid.

"You're going out?" he stated stupidly.

"Yeah. I…There's this thing at Chilton and…What are you doing here?" Rory asked.

"I don't know," Dean admitted. "I just needed to see you. And I guess I thought you'd be at home. But it's okay. I'll just go…"

He turned to leave, but Rory couldn't just let him leave. "Dean, wait!"

"What?"

"Is that it? All you have to say?" she asked. She didn't know exactly what she wanted him to say, but she didn't want him to leave like that.

"I guess so," he said.

"But…"

"It was a mistake. I shouldn't have come," he said.

"Yeah, you're probably right," she agreed. "But I miss you."

"You do?" Dean seemed surprised.

"Yeah. I hate that we've been avoiding each other," she admitted. He was her first boyfriend and her first kiss, and he had been a good friend to her. It felt weird that all of that had suddenly disappeared.

"Me too. But I can't be your friend, Rory."

"Why not?" she asked.

"It's too hard."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

He turned to leave again and Rory called after him. "Maybe I'll see you around?"

"Yeah, maybe," he agreed before walking away from her.

He didn't notice Tristan who was standing by his car, having witnessed the whole thing. For a second Tristan felt all his old jealousy coming back. God, how he hated Dean. He hated that Dean was with Rory when he had been too stupid to even admit he liked her. But he wasn't going to throw away his chance with Rory. He was not going to let her go back to Dean without giving him a chance.

Rory was still standing on the porch watching Dean leave, a confused expression on her face, when she noticed Tristan walking up towards her. Her confusion instantly turned into happiness as she grinned at him.

"You're late," she teased.

"Actually I was early, but you were a little busy."

"Oh." Rory frowned, wondering how to explain about Dean. "That was…He was just…"

"It's okay, Ror," Tristan cut her off.

"We were just talking," she explained, while wondering exactly why she felt the need to explain.

It was weird that she actually cared what Tristan thought now. She didn't want him to think she was back together with Dean.

"You look amazing," Tristan complimented, filling the silence.

"Compared to the Chilton uniform you usually see me in, anything I wear will look good," she said, shrugging off the compliment.

"I wasn't just talking about the dress," Tristan clarified, coming closer to her. Rory blushed, knowing that Tristan was being sincere. "And you don't like the Chilton uniform?" he carried on. "I think it makes you look cute."

"There you go with that word again."

"Oh, I'm sorry. It makes you look sexy."

Rory rolled her eyes. "Enough with the flattery, Romeo, I already agreed to go with you."

"But it's true. You look gorgeous, sexy, amazing, your beauty blinds me, I can't think straight…"

"Tristan!" she interrupted. "Let's go."

He laughed, held his arm out for her, which she took and then walked towards the car.

******

They were almost to Chilton when Tristan pointed out, "You do know everyone's going to think we're together."

"Yep."

"And they're going to talk."

"Yeah."

"And that doesn't bother you?"

"I don't really care what people think," Rory said truthfully.

Tristan didn't know what to say to that so they just sat in silence for a while, the radio playing quietly in the background. Tristan was confused by Rory. She hadn't pointed out that this wasn't a date, and she wasn't bothered if people assumed this was a real date. So, did this mean she had agreed to really go out with him?

He didn't know, and it was bugging him. He didn't know if he was allowed to take chances. All he wanted to do since he saw her on the steps was kiss her, but he didn't know whether or not that would freak her out. He had slowly gained her trust and friendship and he didn't want to blow that.

"So, is this a date?" he asked, finally breaking the silence.

"I don't know," Rory said, unsure of herself. It felt weird going out with Tristan, especially since it had only been a few weeks since they even became friends. But a lot had changed since then. "Do you want it to be?"

"I think you know the answer to that." He couldn't really believe that she didn't know how much he wanted to be with her.

Rory didn't know what to say to that, so she didn't say anything.

******

When Rory walked into the Chilton dance hall, and people started to look at her and Tristan, she wondered what she was thinking going on her first date with Tristan on Valentine's Day and coming to Chilton of all places. It was an insanely stupid thing to do.

She knew they were going to ask her about Tristan and she had no clue what to tell them. She didn't even know what the hell was going on between them. This wasn't even supposed to be a real date.

But it felt like a real date, and she kind of wanted it to be one too. She didn't know exactly what she was feeling for Tristan right now, but she was definitely feeling something.

She didn't know how her feelings for him had changed so suddenly. With Dean, she had liked him from the minute she saw him. But Tristan she had hated and then kind of tolerated, and now she kind of liked him…a lot. She couldn't help it; he had been really great the last few weeks. He made her laugh and smile, and she'd actually enjoyed going to school the past few weeks, for reasons other than the actual learning.

"So, you want to dance?" Tristan asked. He had leaned over to whisper in her ear so she could hear him over the music, but his hot breath against her neck made her skin tingle.

"Sure," she agreed, trying to ignore the sensations his touch was creating.

The song that was playing was slow, and Rory suddenly felt really weird about this. But Tristan pulled her into his arms easily and all her thoughts disappeared. He smiled at her and everything just seemed right.

******

Rory and Tristan were dancing when Lucy Rickman approached them. "Do you mind if I cut in?" she asked, practically pushing Rory out of the way.

"Actually Lucy, I'm going to dance with my date," Tristan interrupted, keeping hold of Rory.

"Oh, uh, okay. I'm sorry, I thought you were just friends," she said, looking between the two of them. She didn't seem very happy as she walked away.

"You could have danced with her if you wanted," Rory said.

Tristan rolled his eyes. "I didn't want to."

"But…"

"Mary!" He looked a bit pissed so she dropped it.

She laughed as he twirled her around suddenly, pulling her out and then back against him. Her body fell against his and she felt a weird sensation. She was really glad he was dancing with her and not Lucy.

"So, tell me something?" Tristan said as they danced.

"What?"

"Do I really look like someone who does your taxes?" Rory laughed. "Because I have a reputation as a badass to uphold."

"Oh, your reputation is safe. I wouldn't trust you to do my taxes."

"Thanks, I think."

"He was just jealous," Rory pointed out. "He seemed to think you had a thing for me."

Tristan grinned. "Maybe he was right."

"Maybe?" she asked.

"Maybe," he agreed, not giving her a proper answer. "So, uh, what did he want?" he asked. He really didn't want to ask, but he couldn't help himself.

Rory noticed the slight jealousy and smiled. "Nothing."

"Yeah, right," Tristan scoffed.

"Seriously. We haven't spoken to each other since we broke up. There's nothing there anymore."

She seemed so sincere that Tristan had to believe her. "Well good. I would hate to have to get into a fist fight for your affections."

Rory laughed. "That's good to know. And by the way, you would totally take him," she added jokingly.

"Oh, I know I would."

******

"There you are," Tristan said later that night when he found Rory. She was outside by the school gardens, sitting on a low wall.

"I'm hiding from you," she told him with a grin.

Tristan went over and sat next to her. "Why? You feeling overwhelmed by your growing lust for me?" he teased.

"Yep. You got me," she deadpanned.

It was a nice night outside. They could hear the music playing from inside, but outside it seemed calm and surreal. They sat together for a while, just enjoying being in each others company.

Rory wondered how someone went from annoying you every day, to being the one you always wanted to turn to. Her newfound friendship with Tristan was confusing enough as it was, but now she was reacting to him. His body so close to her, his hands touching hers as they were dancing, his breath tingling on her skin every time he spoke to her. She didn't understand the feelings he was stirring inside her. They were so new and different. And the fact that it was Tristan making her feel this way was even more confusing.

She had tried to chalk their first two kisses up to a lapse in judgment, but she knew she was lying to herself. She wasn't the type of girl to accidentally kiss someone. She had done it because she cared.

But she also wasn't the type to fall for the bad boy. She liked nice kind boys who kept things safe. Tristan was anything but safe. They weren't even together yet and all she wanted to do was kiss him. It was crazy.

"So, it hasn't been so bad, has it?" Tristan asked, breaking her thoughts.

"No," Rory admitted. "It's actually been fun."

Despite being surrounded by people Rory didn't know, she had had a great time with Tristan. They had been dancing and joking together all night, and she hadn't had this much fun in a long time.

"That's because you're with me," he told her jokingly.

She turned her eyes on him seriously. "Yeah," she whispered, agreeing with him.

Suddenly all the people in the Chilton hall seemed to disappear to the point that they could barely hear the music anymore. It was just the two of them outside in there own little world. Tristan realized just how close they were sitting. Her lips were only inches from him, and he couldn't help himself. He needed to kiss her.

He leaned forward and Rory moved towards him too.

"Ror…" he whispered just as his lips brushed hers.

"Yeah?"

"You're not going to cry are you?"

He was so serious that Rory just laughed before closing the distance between them and kissing him. It started off soft and unsure, Tristan was being a little tentative as if he thought she would still pull away from him.

But Rory couldn't pull away. She didn't know exactly how she ended up here, kissing Tristan of all people, but she knew it felt right. She opened up to him, letting his tongue caress hers as the heat between them suddenly increased.

He moved his hand to rest on her waist, pulling her small frame against his body. Her hands moved around his neck, her fingers running through the soft hair at the back of his neck.

Tristan let out a soft moan as she continued to kiss him. Without realizing it he had lifted her up and in between his legs, so her body was pulled right against his.

When they finally pulled away from the kiss, but not from each other, their breathing was out of control. Tristan smiled as he noticed Rory's lips were swollen and looked thoroughly kissed.

He moved one hand from her waist, up to her face, softly caressing her cheek before moving her hair out of her face.

Rory didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything. She just enjoyed being in his arms, with him looking at her like she was the most beautiful person alive. How had she never noticed the way he looked at her before? How did she never notice him before?

"So, I guess this is a date?" Tristan asked, finally breaking the silence.

Rory laughed. "Yeah, it is."

She leaned forward and wrapped her arms him and Tristan felt like he was dreaming. But Rory really was in his arms, hugging him.

When she finally pulled away he stood up. "Do you want to go back inside?" he asked.

"Sure," she agreed.

Tristan started to go inside, but Rory grabbed his hand, stopping him.

"Tristan?"

"Yeah?"

"There's no other girl, right?" she asked, suddenly unsure.

His answer would confirm that she really was the one he wanted to be with all along. Tristan knew he was admitting that she was the one for him, but after that kiss he didn't care.

"No, Ror. There's no one else."

Rory smiled, feeling suddenly relieved. As if all the changes that had been happening between them lately resulted in this one moment where they realized they wanted to be together.

******

Tristan and Rory pulled up to her driveway at midnight, their evening finally coming to an end. They got out of the car and walked to the door.

Rory turned to Tristan, suddenly feeling awkward. "So I guess this…"

She was cute off by Tristan's lips, as he pulled her to him and kissed her. This was their first kiss since they admitted they were together. This time Tristan wasn't tentative, he was demanding, and Rory kissed him back with just as much passion.

Her arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled him closer to her. The fact that she was on her doorstep seemed lost to her as Tristan's arms came around her waist.

"I…uh…" Rory tried to say something as she pulled away.

"I don't think I've ever left you speechless before," Tristan teased.

"Well there's a first time for everything," she said.

They were still holding each other, and even though this was only their first date, Rory felt completely comfortable in his arms.

"I should probably get inside," she told him.

"Yeah," Tristan let go of her. "But I have to give you your present first."

"Tristan, you already got me a card, flowers, chocolates, balloons and god knows what else. I haven't even had time to go through it all."

Tristan laughed. "Yeah, but those things don't really mean anything to you. I was just trying to get you to agree to go out with me."

"Well it worked," Rory agreed.

He ran back to his car and grabbed a small gift bag he had put there earlier before going back to Rory and handing it to her.

"It's nothing special so don't get you hopes up," he warned.

Rory opened the bag and pulled out her present.

"Casablanca?"

"Yeah. You know because of…"

Rory cut off his explanation with a kiss. It was weird how she was so used to kissing him after just one night.

"I love it, thank you."

"No problem." Rory suddenly felt like laughing, and Tristan frowned at her. "What?"

"Nothing. I just can't believe I'm going out with Tristan DuGrey."

Tristan smiled. "I knew you'd be helpless underneath my charm eventually."

"Yeah, right." She rolled her eyes. "I think it was mostly the fact that you stopped calling me Mary every five seconds."

"Well…" Tristan stepped closer to her, his breath against her ear. "If you want, the offer to get rid of that nickname once and for all still stands."

And then they were kissing again, lost in each others world, not wanting to let go.

"Tris…" Rory said in between kisses.

"Yeah?"

"I should…" She gestured to the door.

"Right," he agreed, pulling away from her.

"See you Monday?"

"Yeah. Good night Ror. Happy Valentine's Day." He kissed her again softly before turning to leave.

Rory watched him leave with a smile on her face.

******

Lorelai jumped onto the couch just as Rory walked through the door. Her daughter looked at her suspiciously.

"Were you spying on me?" Rory asked.

"No! No. What would give you such an idea? I was merely waiting on the couch for my daughter to come home," Lorelai answered in her usual quirky fashion. "So, how was your date?"

"It wasn't a date," Rory lied.

"Yeah, that's why Tristan had his tongue down your throat."

"Ha! I knew you were spying!" Rory accused, amused with her mother, but also a little embarrassed.

"I was not. I just happen to get up and wander towards the window at the exact moment you came home."

"Okay." Rory rolled her eyes. "Well I'm going to bed."

"What? You are not going to bed young lady. Not until you tell me all the gossip."

"Mom!"

"What?"

"I'm tired," she lied. What she really wanted to do was wake Lane up and have a good gossip about Tristan. As close as she was to her mother she didn't think she could tell her about the sensations Tristan was stirring inside her lately.

"You're not even going to tell me anything?" Lorelai pouted.

Rory sighed and flopped down on the couch. "Well I think we're together now."

"Duh!"

Rory glared at her Mom. "We kissed at the dance. It was this perfect moment. And we had a lot of fun. And he's really great."

"I thought he was the Evil One?"

"Well yeah, he is. But he's complex."

"I don't know if you want a complex boyfriend, Ror."

"He makes me laugh and feel happy, and I can't believe I'm talking about Tristan DuGrey."

"I can," Lorelai told her, but Rory just frowned. "You know, that whole third grade "I like you so I'm going to pick on you" mentality. I knew he was pulling that the minute you told me about him."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you wouldn't have believed me. And he needed to get over it before you should have given him a chance. Thankfully he figured it out on his own."

"Yeah."

******

Rory went into her room after talking to her Mom for a little while. After changing and getting ready for bed, she noticed all of the things Tristan had put in her locker earlier today sitting on her table. She hadn't had a chance to look at the things properly yet.

She picked up the envelope she hadn't even opened yet and quickly tore it open. The card was cute and simple, with a picture of a King and Queen on the front of it. The school project that they had started the same day they became friends was finished, but Tristan liked to remind her that she had been his Queen occasionally.

She opened the card with a smile on her face. On the right side was a simple note.

Dear Mary,

Happy Valentine's Day

Love Tristan

But on the other side Tristan had taken the time to write a more personal message.

Rory,

I don't really know how to write these messages, and it feels really stupid, but I have a few things I wanted to say. Whatever happens, or doesn't happen between us today, I just wanted to let you know that I think you're a really good person and I'm glad we're friends.

Luv

Tristan

Rory smiled at Tristan's sincerity. She knew he had a soft side underneath that bad boy exterior; he just didn't let it out very often.

She got in bed and tried to sleep, but even though it was almost one o'clock in the morning, she couldn't stop thinking about him. It was weird. Dean never consumed her thoughts this much. This was definitely new and different.

After about five minutes Rory gave up trying to sleep and tiptoed into the living room. She had to throw quite a few things around before she finally found the phone.

She dialed Tristan's number, thanking God that he had his own private line. He answered after only two rings, so he obviously wasn't sleeping either.

"Hey gorgeous," he answered the phone.

"Should I be worried that you answer your phone like that?" she asked as she got into bed.

"Rory? Oh shit, I thought it was my other girlfriend," he joked.

"Funny, Tristan." Rory rolled her eyes. "How did you know it was me, anyway?"

"Caller I.D."

"Oh. Well I was just calling to…"

"Hear my sexy voice before you went to sleep?"

"See if you got home okay, actually."

"Aww, your concern warms my heart. I got home fine. I'm in bed now, but not sleeping, because all I can think about is you."

"Well good luck with that."

"Rory…" he whined.

"Yeah."

"I miss you."

She smiled, but tried to act nonchalant. "You just saw me."

"I know. I was going to call you, but I didn't want to incur the wrath of your mother."

"Good idea. She does not like to be woken by anything other than coffee."

"I'll remember that."

"Yeah, just bring coffee every time you come over and you should be fine."

"It's rather strange how much importance you put on that one drink."

"Tristan DuGrey! Coffee is not just a drink! It is a life force."

"Okay, Rory, you're scaring me now."

Rory laughed. "You have so much to learn."

"You can teach me," Tristan said.

"Yeah," Rory agreed as a yawn escaped her. "Look what talking to you does to me?" she joked.

"I thought you enjoyed our witty banter."

"Yeah, but at a decent hour."

"Okay, I'll call you tomorrow. Goodnight, babe."

"'Night Tristan."