Thanks to all those who reviewed. I really do appreciate it and I promise to start speeding up the updates because I am well aware I have been a lazy bum about it.

Rory felt the cool air settle against her flushed cheeks as she marched forcefully into the courtyard.

Marty, whose hand she had already dropped, signaled for her to stop.

"Rory, what was that all about?"

Rory looked at him, the very picture of wide-eyed denial.

"What was what all about Marty?"

The look he gave was dripping with annoyed vibes.

"that guy and you."

"oh nothing. He went to my high school, that's all."

Marty looked skeptical.

"Rory that couldn't have been all. I mean he must have been someone to get you acting all…"

"Marty. I was not acting a certain way. I do not care about Tristan in the slightest and he obviously doesn't not care about me. And I'm not even talking about caring caring. I'm saying like the type of common courtesy caring. You know when someone's sneezed, you say bless you and if someone in your math class is crying and you don't even know them but you still ask if they are alright. That kind of caring. I don't even care about Tristan that way, no sir. So if he sneezes, no bless you's from me."

"oh yeah. It's pretty obvious you don't care about him at all. Nothing is going on there."

"Marty, I don't know why you always feel the need to make such a big deal about things."

"Rory, I don't know why you always have to ignore everything, even when its' right in front of your face. You just have this naïve attitude and you don't notice anything and even if you do, you deny it. You can't even converse with me about what that was all about because you are too busy ignoring how weird that was in there!" And with that Marty threw up his hands, as if he had finally had enough, and started walking in the other direction.

Rory paused and sat down on one of Yale's historical benches.

She didn't even know what Marty was going on about.

Oh Rory, you know what that was about.

That was about a boy. A boy with eyes that can change colors from a mottled light blue to a navy colored. That was about a boy with blue eyes and blond hair, the color of wheat. That was about a boy with a smirk that used to stretch across his face in such a delightful way that it made everyone who saw it want to kiss it away. Only you told yourself, you'd rather slap it off. That was about a boy who had tormented you and chased you and kissed you on a piano bench. A boy who would never leave you alone. A boy who made you feel incredibly good and so annoyed all at the same time.

That was about a boy who forgot who you were. A boy who had acted like he couldn't get you off his mind the entire school year, and just like that, he forgot who you were. He didn't recognize your face, he didn't smile when he saw you, and he didn't even tease you.

That was about a boy you hadn't forgot. You weren't even sure you liked him and you had remembered him more than once. Things even reminded you of him. That was about a boy who when you saw him there, leaning in your doorway, made you really happy. And before you could smile, he had looked at you in the blankest way possible, without a trace of recognition.

As Paris was getting out her keys to open the door, she heard an hissing noise coming from somewhere. She squinted her eyes in the dark.

"PARIS," and Rory emerged with a final hiss, only to grab her arm and drag her several feet away.

"Jesus Rory, no need for the brute squad or anything."

"Paris, how could you not tell me?"

"tell you what?"

Rory's eyes flashed. "You know what, Paris"

"Oh my, so this is how we are going to do this. Rory I've had like the longest day and I would love to stand out here in the freezing cold while you refuse to get to your point, but if we could move this along that would be great."

"Tristan is here, Paris, why is Tristan here?"

"He called. He was in town and wanted to see people."

"People? Paris, he wanted to see you"

"Alright, he wanted to see me. What's the problem?"

Rory crossed her arms, her disbelief growing at how dense Paris was being.

"you didn't think of running it by me before you invited him up here?"

"you weren't in the room. You were out."

"So?"

Paris made a face like Rory was the slowest person she had ever spoken to.

"You were not in the room. I didn't know when you would be back. So I invited him. Besides what's the big deal?"

"Well just that according to roommate etiquette we should okay our visitors before you know we have them."

"oh really? Have we always constituted that policy? Because I seem to remember you touting around the sixteen year old who was all hopped up on red bull and how much she loved sleeping with the TV on. You know who doesn't like sleeping with the TV on Rory? me. But did I make I giant scene about her...no. Not to mention Marty. I mean c'mon Rory the guy is over here constantly. Do I ask you to check with me before hand?"

Rory squirmed at how unreasonable Paris was being.

"You know very well, Anna and Marty are completely different from Tristan."

"Why?" and then light dawned in Paris' eyes.

"Rory, the boy had a crush on you. A crush. Crushes by their very nature fade so I'm sure he doesn't still like you and I'm positive he won't be bothering you like he did at Chilton," here Paris' voice got softer and more understanding, "it won't be awkward and you won't have to field him hitting on you every second. I bet he's totally and completely over you, so don't worry about that."

With that Paris turned and motioned her head for them to both walk inside.

"Thanks Paris," Rory said softly. For pointing out the obvious.

Authors note:

I know this is going slowly but I promise it will get our two favorite munchkins to at least a semi-mushy state eventually.

Reviews will inspire me to actually forge on with this thing so you know what to do…