G'day. Thanks for all the reviews thus far, they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Then I walk around with a false sense of importance. Then I get obnoxious and snide and realize you know what, I need new friends. Cooler friends. Then one day, I wake up from a hazy drug induced sleep, roll over and see Courtney Love lying passed out on the couch and Nicole Richie desperately snorting flour. In a beautiful moment of life changing epiphany – the music gradually increases, camera focuses in, my eyes light up with understanding - I realize my mistake. These boots weren't made for walking at all! Why, these are anti-gravity boots. And that's how I learned to bake the best darn cupcakes this side of socks.

Thanks Nat for coming up with a bunch of ideas and for betaing, I'll bake you some cupcakes.

"So, you uh... didn't plan anything?"

On the inside, Tristan was killing himself laughing at her discomfort. Yes, he was that much of an ass. Outwardly he managed to keep himself in check. Barely. "You asked me out, Rory. I naturally assumed you had some sort of plan." His innocent façade only served to infuriate her.

"I did! I do. I didn't ask you out, I just wanted the book," She defended, not at all convincingly.

"Then I could have left you on the curb outside your grandparents place, book in hand. Admit it, you're totally hot for me," he nodded to himself as if asserting this claim, and made a left turn. To his disappointment, Rory let out a laugh rather than turning red as intended, "What's so funny?"

She pulled on a long strand of hair, twisting the end around her finger as her voice took on a comical affect, exaggerated perky tone and all. "Who, like, talks like that, Tristan? That was like, totally uber lame." she emphasized the sentence with a flip of her hair and a high pitch giggle.

Tristan rolled his eyes, allowing a small smile in the face of such mockery. Deciding it best to distract her from her teasing, he changed the subject back to that of her own embarrassment, "Where to then, Gilmore?"

Rory crashed down from her self afflicted high – man, she was a regular riot – and sat up straight. She mentally went through all the coffee places she knew of in Hartford, "The uh, mall."

"The mall? That's where you want to go?"

She glared at him, how the hell did he know that it wasn't her plan all along? "Yeah, the mall," The words were very 'What's your point?' That should drive it home.

"To the mall it is." Never mind that he wasn't planning on going anywhere near the mall. He was told that Summer and her crew would be there today, shopping and not eating. This information came from Summer herself, in the hopes that he would come on by. To do what? He remembered how he'd been roped into a shopping spree with her and said crew; they'd dragged him around for hours as he futilely wished for an earthquake or death or something. That had been fun. Tristan shuddered at the memory.

A few minutes later he was backing the car into an all too small parking space, just barely avoiding hitting the curb. He climbed out, wary of just how close the door was to the car over. Looking back, it appeared Rory had yet to remove her seatbelt. Walking to the other side of his vehicle, he opened her door, gesturing for her to move.

"Where are we?"

Tristan glanced around, "O'sullivan Street."

"The mall this is not Tristan. Are you aware of that? Or have they torn it down and moved it to a-"

"There's a new coffee shop that opened just on the corner there," he nodded his head in the direction, "Elixir of Life, perhaps you've heard of this place?" he asked knowingly.

Heard of it! Rumors of orgasms just from a drop of the stuff had abounded in the Gilmore household since its establishment, rumors that were quickly confirmed by Lorelei - leaving Rory to sulk around the house for the better part of a week.

Tristan was surprised she didn't leave a trail of dust in her wake as she sped off to the store.

xxx

"You know that game, whack-a-mole?"

"Uh, yeah." Tristan cocked an eyebrow, she was a random one.

"I don't think I've ever seen it re-enacted before."

What? "Well I've never seen mating unicorns, but that's not something I brag about..."

"Mating unicorns?" Rory placed the cup on the table, looking at him strangely.

Tristan just shrugged. "You started the conversation."

She gestured behind him, two booths down their row. Tristan turned, catching a glimpse of a head dropping out of sight at the speed of light. He heard a light thud and a muffled; "shit!" He may not have seen the face, but he'd know that voice anywhere.

Spinning back to face her, Tristan opened his mouth to offer up some sort of explanation. Rory beat him to it, however.

"You brought your friends," The fact that it wasn't even a question hurt a little. Like she expected this sort of betrayal, however minor it was and however non-relationship-y they were for betrayals.

"What? No! No, Ror, I didn't even know they'd... how the fuck did they know we'd be here?" He looked at his coffee, confused. What the hell where they doing there? He hadn't pre-approved of this move, it was meant to be just him and Rory. Not his cronies reminding her of just who she was with and why she so desperately hated him.

Noting the genuine confusion, Rory softened, however slightly. "Well, maybe it's a coincidence." He shot her a look, "Yeah, I didn't think so either."

Tristan stood suddenly, "I'll be right back. Just...stay here, okay?" When she didn't respond and the possibility of her perhaps leaving was more of a reality, he knew drastic measures had to be taken. Leaning down, he moved his lips to her ear, "I promise Mary, I didn't bring those guys here." With that he withdrew from the action that had shivers going down her spine, and instead deposited a quick kiss on her cheek, effectively stunning her into paralysis.

Within seconds, Tristan stood glaring down at his friends. They're laughter died down instantaneously as they busied themselves with menus.

"So I was banging Cassie in the backseat of my- Tristan! Hey man, what's up? What're you doing here?" Matt's wide grin spoke volumes of his guilt.

Tristan turned his glare on Dave, lowering his voice, "Dude, what the fuck are you all doing here? I said no interruptions."

Dave held up his hands innocently, "Calm down Dugrey, we're not interrupting anything.

We were just kicking a football around when Eric here," he gestured to Eric who suddenly found his cell phone extremely intriguing, "suggested we grab a bite to eat. And well, you know how famed this place is. What an uncanny coincidence that you and Rory happened to be here too."

Damn, for a best friend he sure was a jackass. Two peas in a pod.

"But seeing as you are here, maybe we should join you." He attempted to rise from the couched seat only to be pushed roughly back by Tristan.

"I will kick your ass if you go anywhere near her or me today. Don't try me."

Dave's smile widened, he had obviously thought things through. Standing up, he pushed Tristan away from the table, toward the entrance.

"How's it going there, man?"

"It was going fine, till you morons showed up."

"We're helping-"

"Helping? She's about to get up and walk out on me here-"

"I thought everything was peachy?"

God, he hated that shit eating grin.

"Look Dave, man, seriously. Get the hell out."

"It's awkward, isn't it?"

"What?"

"The conversation? Forced, stiff... feels like your parents set you up?"

Tristan was about to deny it, but really, what was the point. Dave had already figured it out, and it looked like he had a plan. Crossing his arms over his chest, Tristan half nodded, allowing his friend to continue.

"We'll sit with you," at the upcoming protest, he continued, "no lewd jokes, or behavior from myself or the others. We'll diffuse the situation and leave."

Tristan weighed the pros and cons inside his mind, if his friends were on their best behavior, maybe it'd help Rory understand that he wasn't the dickhead she had him pinned for. Then again, there was no reassurance that they wouldn't make all sorts of implications in her presence; they were after all, his friends and the most obnoxious pricks on the planet. Despite all that, Tristan chose to focus on the good.

"Five minutes. But first I have to tell her, she can't go in this without warning." He strolled back to Rory, leaving a triumphant Dave in his wake.

xxx

"No Tristan. Please, no."

"Come on Rory, they're my friends. And they've promised to behave." At her skeptical look he conceded, "First sign of any assholery, we'll leave. You have my word."

Unfortunately, Rory had no time to consider this new deal as the four boys had made their way over, squeezing into the booth, leaving her and Tristan squashed in the middle.

They greeted her enthusiastically before ordering their food, letting her mumbled 'hi' fall upon deaf ears. Tristan smiled apologetically and made a mental note to tell Dave's girlfriend where her 'clean cut' boyfriend stashed his unparalleled porn collection.

xxx

"So Rory, I'm a little confused here. You appear to be a sane, level headed individual, what're you doing hanging around Dugrey?"

Damn. They'd lasted a whole ten minutes.

"Okay and that's it for today folks, if you'll excuse us..." Tristan grabbed Rory's hand, shoving Matt with his shoulder. As soon as they were released from their couchy confines, Rory had barely gotten a goodbye passed her lips when she found herself stumbling along the street behind Tristan.

"Hey, hey. Two functioning legs here!"

He stopped as she crashed into him, "Sorry. I really didn't know they'd be there."

"I know. It's okay, they're..."

"Nice?"

"Or something like it."

Tristan nodded, "Come on."

"Where are we going? I got the book and we had coffee..."

He stopped walking, spinning to face her, "You want to go home?"

He looked so distraught at the thought, Rory couldn't bring herself to say yes, not that she wanted to anyway, "We could hang some more. That is, if you, you know, wanted to…" she trailed off, blushing furiously, embarrassed at her own inability to form a sentence.

Tristan laughed; evidently he found her discomfort amusing, "Let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"To the mall." It was the perfect place to walk around without actually having to go anywhere. And he had deflowered many a girl on the fire escape stairs. Screw Summer (you know, figuratively. He'd already done that literally.)

"I knew we'd eventually do it my way." Rory nodded, before shutting her eyes and waiting for the inevitable.

"Oh, we can do it your way anytime baby."

Ah, there it was. He'd lasted longer than she thought he would. Or could for that matter.

xxx

Ok, so maybe his earlier thoughts of not caring whether Summer was around or not were a little premature. As they were walking the floors of the huge centre, each content with an ice cream cone, Tristan had spotted the mini skirt clad brunette and her entourage up ahead. Fuck, but she had good legs.

He knew exactly what would happen were they to come across one another. Summer was relentless, and having Rory with him would just fuel her ammo. Sparing them both the headache, Tristan veered her into the first store he saw that his ex would never set foot inside.

Throughout his mini panic attack, Rory had been fixated on the Power Rangers show that had been playing out on the little stage ahead. This is why she was so shocked to find the red ranger all of a sudden replaced with a display of tacky fridge magnets and beads. So shocked in fact, that the Neapolitan ice cream she had been happily licking had dripped all down the front of her very white shirt. Damn Tristan's pushiness. She turned to glare at him, now she'd be walking around with a rainbow stain on her chest, as if she wasn't self conscious enough as it was.

"Tristan, what the hell are we doing in here?"

"You act as if the dollar store wasn't on your to do list."

"It wasn't." She griped, pulling a tissue out of her pocket and dabbing at the ice cream on her clothing.

He managed a sheepish apology before his attention was monopolized by something shiny behind her.

"Let me guess, you've never been in one of these?"

He glanced over his shoulder, "Never really had the need. You come here often?" His mocking tone did nothing for her mood. "Sorry"

Tristan slowly made his way around the displays at the front of the store; there was all sorts of weird crap here. Suddenly, he turned back to face her, swallowed the last of his ice cream and attempted to fish something from his pocket. By this stage Rory had given up on the removal of the stain and instead concentrated her efforts on demolishing the rainbow colored offender.

"Here," a ten dollar note was shoved at her, "buy me something."

Buy him... "What?" He couldn't buy something himself?

Now he looked really excited, smiling widely and bouncing up and down slightly. It was sort of cute. "Yeah, I'll go buy you something and you get me something. We'll meet back here in ten minutes."

Rory grasped the money in her hand, smiling at the idea, "You're a pretty cheap date, Dugrey."

She wasn't sure why those words had him standing so closely in front of her, but she wasn't one to complain. Or maybe she should, to keep up appearances and what not.

"So you do admit this is a date."

He didn't give her a chance to reply and practically floated in satisfaction into one of the aisles. Sighing, Rory made her way to the opposite end of the store.

xxx

"You got me a beaded necklace?" Not just any beaded necklace either, it was long - the kind you either wrap around five times or it hangs to your waist. The beads were chunky and colorful - the kind you find in a child's jewelry kit.

"That's not all I got you!" She defended as he examined the piece in distaste.

"I'm not wearing this." He dropped it on the table they were seated in front. The two had made their way out of the store ten minutes later, as agreed and found two adjoined arm chairs in front of a coffee table placed under a setting of faux palm trees. Rory grabbed the necklace off the table and attempted to place it over his head, pouting as he moved away.

"No fair, you made me wear these." She gestured to the blue star shaped sunglasses atop her head.

"Those are classy, Mary. They really are."

"They have sparkles, Tristan." An eye for an eye. Relenting he leaned down allowing her to place the monstrosity over his head. True to form, they dangled low and loud against his light blue tee. "Your go."

Tristan dug into his bag once again, searching for the next present. That was the good thing about these junk stores; ten dollars went a long, long way. Already she had acquired three fridge magnets, a pack of stickers and a hot pink candle, which he admitted he had purchased with his last 80 cents, not knowing what else to get. He in turn, had received a matchbox car, glow in the dark stick on stars, and a ballerina figurine attached to a gaudy heart shaped picture frame which she had delighted in purchasing for him. Finally, he pulled out a thin box, handing it to her.

"Christmas Anthems of 1996?"

"With lyrics," he helpfully pointed out, "you can sing along."

She shook her head, putting the CD down. But the small smile on her face belied her disappointment. Lorelei would get a kick out of this. If she doesn't already own a copy.

"I got you a CD, too"

"Oh yeah? What is it, the Spice Girls album? 'Cause you know, I've already got that one."

"I so wouldn't be surprised." She muttered distractedly, pulling the case from her own plastic bag, handing it over for inspection. A moment later, the desired reaction filtered through.

Tristan laughed, "An interactive story of Jesus?"

She nodded, "You seem to have a fascination with Mary."

"There's only one Mary I-" she shot him a warning look and he changed course, "Good call." Placing it with the rest of his stash, he handed her... something.

"What is it?" An examination of the thing yielded no clue as to its identity.

"No idea, but you put the batteries in here." He took the little toy, placing the batteries he had bought with it inside and handing it back to her. Rory pressed the on button, almost dropping it as what appeared to be two eyes began flashing red and satanic barking came from somewhere inside.

"A dog? That's...a dog?" she looked at Tristan, his puzzled features surely reflecting her own. Turning it off, she passed him his next gift.

Tristan inspected the hat with yet more distaste. It was bright orange for one thing, had no discernible logo for another, but it did have the words 'The Wiggles' printed on the front, with the head of a green dinosaur beside them. "Okay, the necklace was one thing, but this... this Gilmore, is going too far."

"Oh come on! It's totally cute, look he's wearing one." She pointed toward a toddler asleep in a passing stroller. Off Tristan's unamused look, she started again, "I promise to wear anything else you might have gotten me that requires wearing."

Instantly perking up, Tristan shoved the hat over his head, causing Rory to worry slightly about the deal she had just brokered. However, what she saw caused her to break out in a smile, rather than the glare she was preparing. He held out a white shirt, almost identical to hers, only cleaner.

Smiling thankfully, Rory grabbed at the shirt, tossed him an "I'll be right back" and headed toward the bathrooms. Tristan waited expectantly, a grin on his face and a satisfied glint in his eye. Sure enough, Rory came storming out moments later, her dirty shirt balled in her fist, the words 'Tristan Dugrey Rocks My World' emblazoned across her chest.

"You... how could you!" He could practically see the steam blowing out of her ears.

He grinned, touching the ugly orange hat as a reminder to her, "Oh well, I just bought me some permanent markers, see-"

"I hate you Tristan, what will people think!"

"Will you relax, as if anyone here will know who we are." His face took on a curious look before he added, "Although they should, me especially."

Plopping back down, Rory shoved the ruined shirt into her bag, throwing Tristan's next gift at him. As she suspected, he broke down in a fit of laughter as he continued playing with the toy. Rory tried to hide her smile, but it wasn't easy. That was a damn funny thing to make. The small wooden Pinocchio's legs and arms rose up in tandem when you pulled his string, the string that was very conveniently located in between his legs.

"Thought of me did you?" he expected a blush, but instead got a grin and a shrug.

"Last one now, your go."

Rory would be lying if she said her heart didn't melt a little as he pulled the plastic red tulip from his bag. But she did try and hide her reaction, "Tristan, you're so cliché."

He grinned, knowing exactly what she was really thinking. Taking her hand, he wound the long green wirey stem around her wrist. Rory brought it up to inspect, it was completely loose and the flower itself looked large and tacky, dangling there against her wrist, but to her it was a completely charming gesture.

"I love it."

"I knew you would." she looked away, blushing slightly and began clearing all her presents into her plastic bag. Taking his cue, Tristan did the same.

This time, as they started up their aimless journey through the mall once again, they were holding hands. And willingly, on Rory's part. Tristan smirked to himself; he was as good as in her pants already. That fire escape would be getting visitors damn soon. However, the smile she gave him didn't last long as Summer and three other girls stood up ahead.

The dark haired girl turned, icily taking the two in, "Well, well. Look what we have here."

Longest chapter ever! Please review, it totally motivates me to write. And sometimes, it even helps me breathe easier. And, as we all know by now, it helps me bake cupcakes. That's important.