"Mary... I was just thinking about you." Tristan started.

"Should I be worried." Rory quipped with a small smile. God, he thought she's gorgeous even in the way to bright florescent over head lighting. He ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair and relaxed a little. She didn't hate him. Or at the very least she hid it well.He returned the smile with ease.

"May I sit?" Tristan asked while holding his breath. She's the only girl in the world that can do this to me he thought absentmindedly.

"Sure I could use the company. It's just me and Dorothy Parker here." She replied. He sunk into the uncomfortable chair. Leaned back and sipped his drink without much enthusiasm.

"I wanted to apologize for the way I've treated you. And I really want to know if you would consider giving me a second chance?" Tristan pleded geuniuely sorry for the way he had treated her.

"Yeah sure." Rory said she smiled and they sat there in an akward silence for a few minutes. Rory trying to make it look like she was reading and Tristan drumming his fingers. Both Seeking desprately for a safe topic on which to base a conversation on. Tristan opened his mouth to say somthing but Rory beat him to the punch.

"This is all a bit awkward isn't it?" She asked.

"Yeah. But what else would you expect." Tristan answered."So what's your book about?" He inquired knowing that it would take a long time for her to finish a synapse on any book she was reading and planning to take full advantage of that time. He studied her as she prattled on about her book. He loved the way her face lit up when she talked about the things she was passionate about like books. Her iridescent blue eyes dance and her smile was more genuine and less forced looking.

She had a certain charm and innocence about her that he hoped that Chilton nor her life afterward would be able to steal it from her. He had seen to many people hardened by life experiences and it would kill him to see that happen to her.

"Tristan are you ok?" Rory asked seeing the glassy far away look in his eyes and that odd little smirk upon his face.

"Yeah, just thinking. Hey wait is this the same Rory Gilmore who only a few short months ago had said she hated me. And now I see a look of concern on her face what's the deal." Tristan knew she was genuine with her worry but he needed to hurt her a little, the way she had done when she had told Dean that she hated him. That day was the self proclaimed worst day of his life. He lived until then in a little world of delusion because until then he could protect his ego by saying that she just wasn't ready. Or that maybe she really did like him that way but she was waiting for Dean to figure it out and dump her cause she could never be that girl. The one who puts people through pain intentionally.

But then, oh boy, all the delusion and all the ego protecting in the world could not hide the venom in her voice when she had said "he's not my boyfriend, I hate him!" That had hurt. He knew logically that it was his fault that she had said that he had provoked her by telling Paris about the concert. That had been foolish probably the stupidest move he'd ever made. And then trying to play it off like he was all cool and that she would go out with him eventually. How the hell else was she supposed to respond to that.

He saw that flicker of hurt flash across her face before it was hidden behind a front of indifference. "I'm really sorry about that. You know it wasn't about you. I was hurt and angry and confused about Dean breaking up with me and you weren't making my life any easier by making Paris hate me so I snapped." She was rambling again he made her nervous an in some odd way he liked that fact that he could.

"I know I should have backed off and given you time before I asked you out. Then I just kept forcing myself on you and well I just want to say that I'm sorry!" Tristan mumbled not really wanting to apologize but seeing the necessity for it. If he wanted a shot at being her friend and god willing maybe more he needed to show remorse and repent.

He saw that she was honestly taken aback with his deceleration "Umm.. Yeah sure." She said obviously uncomfortable. "But do my eyes deceive me is the great Tristan Dugrey apologizing to little old me?" she placed her hand to her heart and tried her best Scarlett O'Hara impression. She seem more relaxed and that was good he hoped she would be able to let her gard down just enough to let him in. He stuck his tongue out at her feeling very mature, and she did something most unexpected she giggled. "So...friends?" Tristan asked once again holding his breath and praying that she would accept his proposition.

She seemed a tad reluctant testing the waters he assumed. "Yeah friends." Rory decided. He smiled truly pleased with their goings on.

"Won't Dean be pissed, I mean at the dance he didn't seem to like me much." Tristan inquired.

"He might but he trusts me, I hope." Rory added the last bit as almost an afterthought. Trouble in Paradise he thought filling it away to be asked at another date. Woah Dugrey slow down friends first relationship, if that's in the card for you to comes later. And he hoped if he took it slow enough it would be.

A/N

Please review even if it's sucks I need to know. Thanks :)