Boys and Invitations

7:30 AM, Friday morning

Rory jumped out of her dad's car quickly before he had a chance to say anything to her. She had been avoiding discussion with him all morning. Not that Christopher hadn't tried to talk to his daughter. But Rory whipped out her book and headphones from the moment she sat at the breakfast table to the moment she hopped in the car.

Christopher pulled away from the curb in front of Rory's middle school leaving his daughter to try and work through her feelings. He said a silent prayer to himself and started toward his next stop.

As Rory began walking up the front steps to her school, she spotted her best friend, Jenna, waiting for her by the school entrance.

Jenna grabbed Rory by the arm and pulled her aside.

Rory: "Jenna! What's going on?" Rory asked, startled by her friend's behavior.

Jenna: "I know something. You'll never believe it. Tristan DuGrey likes you!"

Rory (shaking her head): "Jenna, please, I don't have time for this. Wait, who did you just say?" Rory had tried to turn back around to head back to school but turned again suddenly to face her friend.

Jenna: "I heard it from Emily who heard it from Justin."

Rory: "Wait, I thought Emily wasn't speaking to Justin. Didn't they break up like two weeks ago?"

Jenna: "Rory, where have you been? They got back together last weekend."

Rory: "Oh, I guess I didn't get out that much last weekend. I was studying for that Algebra test we had Monday."

Jenna (shaking her head): "Forget about Algebra. Emily also told me that Justin said that Tristan was going to ask you to Tim's party tonight!"

Rory: "Oh! Seriously! Wait...oh no! My grandparent's party is tonight. Is he planning on asking me to Tim's party at my grandparents? He flashed the invitation in my face yesterday."

Jenna: (frowning now) "I think Tim's party is starting at 10, after his parents leave on their vacation. Supposedly they have some late flight or something tonight and they are going to be gone all weekend."

Rory: (nervously trying to change subjects) "I really need to get to Mrs. Heath's class now to talk about that test we had. See you at lunch?"

Jenna: "Sure. And, you might want to stop by your locker first. A certain someone is waiting there for you. You'll be fine, Rory. Just open your mouth and say yes. That's all you have to do."

Rory: "Yeah, okay..." Rory suddenly felt very unsure of herself. If Jenna was right, this would be the first time a boy asked her out.

Rory rushed into the school not sure whether she should actually stop at her locker first or not, but her books for her first class were in there and she really needed them.

As she neared her locker she saw the familiar blond head that wouldn't leave her mind...no matter how hard she tried.

Tristan: "Hey there, Mary." Tristan was leaning against the neighboring locker as Rory approached.

Rory: "The name is Rory." She said this with all the courage she could muster. If he was going to ask her out, he might as well get her name right. While she worked out the combination on her locker, she felt physically aware of his presence...so close she could smell ... was that cologne? Tristan never wore cologne, so far as she knew...

Tristan: "So, Mary, have you heard about Tim's party tonight? I thought you might want to go with me. What do you say?"

Rory: "My-my grandparent's party is tonight, Tristan. You know that. And, I am kind of expected to be there."

Tristan: "Well, then, I'll see you at your grandparent's house then. We can leave from there."

Rory frowned. "I don't know about that."

Tristan: "Trust me, Mary, everything will work out. You do trust me, right? Or are you scared you might get in trouble?"

Rory: "I'll be there. We can leave at ten. I know an upstairs balcony with a trellis we can use." At that moment she wasn't sure what was coming out of her mouth. Tristan seemed satisfied with her answer and gave one final wink in her direction and walked off in the opposite direction. Rory completely forgot that she had planned to talk to her Algebra teacher as the bell for homeroom rang at just that moment. Rory dashed off to her classroom on the second floor. This was going to be a long day. Not only were there classes to contend with, but she also had to think up an alibi to tell her dad.

NEXT TIME ...(on the same day, while Rory is at school, and before the grandparent's party)Christopher decided he would pay the town of Stars Hollow a little visit. He had heard of it before, but never actually had a reason to visit. He wanted to see just what Lorelai saw in this town that kept her away from her family for the past several years.