Disclaimer: Nothing but the storyline is mine.

Okay, okay, so I lied, this chapter wasn't out by the weekend. Blame procrastination and school. It's extra-long to make up for it, though. D Thanks to everyone who took the time to review this!

Who is that? I can't quite make out what... he's saying. Oh, no. Dean. Couldn't the guy just be crushed a little while longer? I wonder--- Tristan. He looks... confused. Oh, now angry. And hurt? I don't understand boys.

"... Look, Dean..." Good. It sounds like Mom took Dean outside. Deep breath. I sigh and go to sit next to Tristan.

"How did everything get so screwed up?" I don't know who I'm asking; Tristan or myself. I put my head in my hands and sigh. Then I look over at Tristan. He looks cute in the mornings, rumpled and disheveled. God, how can I even be thinking about that NOW? He pulls me towards him a little, and starts rubbing my back. I lay my head on his shoulder. This is nice.

"I'm sure everything will work out for you, Mare." Right. Sure it will. What does he know?

You know what? I am not going to let those two screw up any more of my life. I just go around in circles, Dean or Jess, Jess or Dean. Hmm... like the circles Tristan is so kindly tracing on my back. Shh! I don't need a boyfriend. And neither relationship would be good for me. Jess is way too screwed up, and Dean... well, something had to be wrong for me to kiss Jess. Something was wrong.

"That's it. Let's go to Luke's."

"Wha... I thought you had some kind of issue with that..."

"Were you eavesdropping?" That was a total guilty look.

"Me? Never. I just assumed. Plus there was the mad dash from there last night."

"Yeah. Sorry about that. I'm- well, I'm not over it, exactly. I'm facing it, I guess."

"Was that ba- Dean at the door?"

"Sounded like it. We broke up."

"I kind of got that impression last night. I'm sorry."

"I know you aren't, really, but thanks for the sentiment." He smirks.

"Anytime."

"So, do you have any clothes you can wear?" Well, duh. Of course not, if he had, he would have gotten them last night!

"Uh... I might have a pair of jeans in my car, let me go check." How resourceful.

"And you didn't get them last night?"

"And go back out in that rain? They would have been wet anyway."

"True. Let's go see."

"Hey, did your mom call me 'evil one' this morning or was I still asleep?"

I laugh, "Yep, she sure did." He chuckles.

"Okay, just checking."

How could I have totally bypassed the thought that Mom and Dean are still out here? Oh, yeah. I'm not supposed to care. Can I just crawl into a hole and die? Dean's looking at us like... like we have horns or something. He does not look happy. You don't care, you don't care.

"Hi Dean." My face must be ten shades of red. I look down at my feet and somehow will them to move over to Tristan's car. He looks at Tristan, who's unlocking the car, to me, to my mom. He just shakes his head and turns to leave.

"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into." No. No he didn't. He does not have any right. He made it perfectly clear he didn't want that right. He continues walking, and I start after him. I hear Tristan sigh behind me.

I catch up to him a couple of houses down. "Dean!"

"What? God, Rory. What do you want from me?"

"That wasn't what it looked like. And truthfully, it shouldn't have mattered what it looked like. You made that clear. And I know I screwed up with Jess, and I'm sorry. I should have just broken it off when I knew things weren't the same anymore, when I had doubts. You deserved better than that. I hope one day we can be friends."

He's just shaking his head, like he can't believe this is even happening. "Friends. Jesus. Look, Rory, I don't think I can be friends right now. I'm probably going to need time before I can even think about being friends with you. But you don't have to completely avoid me like you did last time." He's kind of laughing here, that's a good sign.

"Deal."

"I guess I'll see you around."

"Yeah." And that's it. Deep breath. This is good. A good start. Well, it went as well as could be expected, anyway.

Oh god, did I leave Mom alone with Tristan? Bad idea.

"Mom? Tristan?" Where are they?

"Oh, hey honey. You get everything straightened out?"

"Sort of. It went pretty well."

"Good. Oh, Tristan found a pair of pants and a shirt in his gym bag. He said they were clean, but I'm not responsible if he smells. He's changing in the bathroom."

"Okay, I'm going to go get some clothes on too."

I throw on some new clothes and come back out. He looks good. A little wrinkled, but better than before. Not that he looked bad before. "Well, let's go."

"You sure? I could still just go pick it up."

"Absolutely, positively sure."

"Whatever you say."

"So, ah, are we walking or driving?" Hmm... good question.

"Well, how much do you want to be stared at?"

"Oh, yeah. Fishbowl." I nod.

"Okay. I'm a little lost, but hey, what else is new? Let's go, I need coffee and soon."

"And now I see where you get that from."

"Yep. Coffee's in my blood."

"So, driving then? Can I drive the pretty car?" Moooom! Nooooo. How embarrassing. Tristan just laughs.

"Sure. Here ya go." Mouth. Close it before he notices. I think - hope - that he was gaping at my mom's gleeful expression.

"Yay!" Now she's doing a mini-happy dance. There are moments when I seriously doubt my mother's sanity. And awareness of her surroundings.

"Uh. Mom? Can we go?"

"What? Oh, yeah. Let's go!"

What was my mom thinking? Not that I stopped her. This car will attract all sorts of unwanted attention. We just need to get into Luke's quickly where they won't be as likely to come right up to us and ask lots of questions. Good, we've got a parking space close to the diner.

"Okay. Move quickly, and hope for an open table away from a window."

Mom and Tristan hop out first, and Tristan helps me get out of the backseat, not an easy task. Stupid 2-door cars. No large groups staring yet, just a few bystanders. And neither Babette or Miss Patty is out and about.

A/N: As always, muchos gracias to Jenn (Bookwormz) for betaing this for me! Go read her stories! now!

oh, and hit that purdy little periwinkle-colored button down there and review. It makes my day.