It didn't really seem as if Tristan really listened to what Rory had said to him. On the days he was actually in class, his taunting of Patrick continued, though Patrick, to Rory's relief had become immune to him.
Rory complained to Lorelai about this.
"Well, if Sir Pompous doesn't stop, why don't you just ask your teacher to put him in another lab group."
"I can't do that. Ms. Imar assigned him to me."
"Well, is it because he's doing poorly."
"No, that's just the thing, besides his homework and labs, he gets A's on all of his tests."
"Is he cheating?"
"No. He has to take most of his tests afterschool because he's never in class."
"Well, then, what the heck is wrong with him."
"I don't know."
One day, after tennis practice, Rory saw Tristan going to his car. He had just finished football practice and looked exhausted. Somebody tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around. Gina was rolling her eyes. "Not you too."
"What do you mean?"
"Every girl who comes here falls head over heels for him. He's not a really nice person."
"No, I don't like him. He's just my lab partner, but he's not exactly great to work with."
"Oh, sorry. Can't help you there."
"Yeah, I know. I tried to talk to him, but he's very difficult to talk to."
"He just thinks he's better than everyone else because his father owns a huge Oil Company. The Dugreys have a lot of money."
"Yeah, I've noticed. All of his friends seem to have tons of money."
"Yeah, that's why they have money to do tons of drugs and have parties and stuff."
"Really?"
"Yeah, they throw one at least once a month. The guys smoke pot a lot. The girls do it to get high before well, you know."
Rory nodded as she watched Tristan drive out of the school. Rory decided that day instead of going straight home, to go to a coffee shop in Hartford to finish some work.
While she was writing her essay on the components that led to the Revolutions of 1848, she saw Tristan walking in and ordering. He didn't seem to notice her, which she was glad about. However, he did see her after getting his drink and walked over to her. He glanced that at her table which had two stacks of neatly piled books and about five cups of coffee.
"Are you an addict?" he asked her. She didn't retort about his whole drug thing, but just said, "I really like coffee."
"Yeah, I can see that. You also seem to have some problems with getting things unorganized," he said while pointing to her stuff.
"Yep, that too."
"Do you come here a lot?"
"No, I just decided to come to finish up. I have to catch a bus in an hour."
"You take the bus home?"
"Yeah."
"Where
do you live?"
"Stars Hollow."
"Never heard of it."
"It's a really small community."
"I see, well, I have to get going. Bye." With that, he left.
Rory didn't go to homecoming this year because she didn't really feel like she would have too much fun. She didn't have anyone to go with and Gina, Hannah, and Jessica all had dates. She didn't want to feel like the seventh wheel. But, she heard that it was pretty boring. Tristan and some 12th grade girl were named King and Queen.
Rory decided that if she needed another extracurricular and since she loved to write, the school paper was what she chose. She found that she was a pretty good reporter. The editor, a senior, told her she could go far, which she was really happy about.
Then, around early November, she saw flyers posted all around the school for a party at Tristan's house. Rory's friends all said they would probably stop by. Rory didn't really much like going to parties. She found they were all a big blur for a while, but apparently, all of Chilton was invited.
During history, while they worked on their group assignments, Beth came up to talk to Rory. "So are you going to the party this weekend?"
"I don't know."
"Oh come on, Tristan's parties are always fun, especially when the drinks get spiked."
"I'll make sure to bring my own water then."
"So you'll go."
"I'll think about it."
"You should come. A couple of us go out to watch the guys race before each party."
"What do you mean race?"
"Oh, they drag race for fun. That's why we have the parties to celebrate afterward," Beth said. Derek who had come up to her added, "Yeah, and get drunk off our as."
"Come by my house. I'll give you the address. Then, I'll take you over to the track."
"Oh, ummm," but before Rory could protest, Beth had handed her a piece of paper and walked away with Derek.
Rory spent Saturday afternoon getting ready. She asked Lorelai what you would wear to a drag race, which was a bad idea.
"I think you should go as a Dominatrix. That will surely attract the attention of all those bad boys."
"Thanks Mom, I don't think so."
"Fine. I think I'll just wear some jeans and a sweater."
"That's the way to go."
"Stop mocking me, it's cold outside. Besides, it's not a huge sweater, just a long sleeve wool thing."
"Fine, fine, fine. You don't have to defend your clothing Rory."
Rory took the bus to Beth's house. It was a large, gray house with a freshly cut lawn and a large elm tree in the front.
Beth took her inside and made her apply some blush and eyeshadow.
"There, you won't look too plain now."
Beth was wearing a mini skirt and a revealing top. Rory knew she would be the most dressed at the event.
When they finally got there, Rory knew she was right. Most of the girls were in skirts and many had tank tops on showing a lot of cleavage.
"There they are," Beth said dragging Rory over to Jamie and Stacy, who both gave them a glare.
Rory stood awkwardly as many girls rushed to give some of their drivers "good luck." Some of the races started, but Rory didn't see any one she recognized.
"Whose racing Beth?"
"Well, Derek, Brian, Tristan, and Adam."
"Oh. All of them?"
"Yeah, they love it."
"Ooh," Jamie squeeled, "Tristan's starting." The four of them watched as the engines revved and the drivers drove around the course.
When Tristan's car came in first, he abruptly stopped and got out, handing his keys to some kid. Three girls approached him, all giving him a kiss on the lips before he made his way over to them. Rory glanced over at Jamie who was glaring now at them and no longer at Rory.
"Hey Tristan," Beth said, "You did great. Where are the others?" Derek's going next, but Adam and Brian finished about fifteen minutes ago." Beth and Stacy went back over to the track to watch Derek's race.
Jamie slipped her arm through his, but he brushed her off.
"Hey Rory," Tristan said, giving her a once over, obviously amused at how much she stood out compared to the rest of the girls there.
"Hi," Rory said, seeing that Jamie's glare was back.
Tristan left the two girls behind and walked over to some more girls who were willing for his attention.
"Just get this straight Gilmore, he's mine," Jamie said viciously
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"Don't think I don't know what you are doing."
"Listen, I think Tristan's okay, but you don't really have to worry about me. I know you don't like me, even though I've done nothing to you."
"Fine, whatever. It's not like I'm threatened by you or anything."
Rory just shrugged at her dumb comment.
"Tristan would never like someone like you."
"Someone like me?"
"Yeah, a nobody."
Rory, a bit upset by her words walked away because she knew tears were forming in her eyes. She walked over to the entrance of the track and just waited until the event would be over.
The party wasn't much better. Rory's friends stopped by to dance and hang out. However, Jamie and Stacy, and some of the other guys told them to leave. Rory had wanted to go home to, but Beth insisted that she stay.
So Rory spent the rest of the time with her water bottle on Tristan's deck, dipping her feet in the cool pool. After a while, she heard the deck door open and smelled smoke.
She coughed a little, and turned around. Tristan was there, holding a cigarette and looking out into the sky. She waved at him when he turned her way. He slowly approached her and asked, "Having fun?"
"To be honest, not really?"
"Yeah, me neither." He sat down next to her.
After a few moments of silence, Rory asked, "Umm, is that pot?'
"Yeah, you want to try some?" Tristan asked offering it to her.
"Oh, um, no," she replied quickly.
He smiled, "Didn't think so." He put it out when she coughed again.
"So, why did you come to the race tonight. It didn't seem like you were very comfortable there. I mean no offense, you didn't exactly dress appropriately."
"Yeah, I'm not really comfortable with showing too much skin. Beth invited me. Actually, she didn't really give me a chance to decline her offer."
"Yeah, she does that a lot."
"So, do your parents know that you race?"
"Yeah, my dad bought me the extra car. As long as I don't kill myself he says."
"Oh. My mom would kill me. It doesn't matter anyways, I don't have my license yet."
"Are you serious Gilmore?"
"Yeah."
"I could always teach you if you wanted?"
'Thanks, but I don't think I trust you all that much," she said jokingly.
He laughed and just relaxed his arms. "At least you're honest."
"So why don't you try in science, even though I know you're really smart."
He peered curiously at her and then answered, "My dad wants me to go into business."
"So?"
"So, what's the use in trying when I already have a job waiting for me."
"And what do you want to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you said your dad wants you to go into business, you never said what you wanted to do."
He paused for a second, glancing up and then back at Rory, "I like physics and stuff so I guess an aerospace engineer."
"Wow, like NASA and stuff?"
"Yeah. But, it's not going to happen?"
"Why not, you're smart enough."
"Didn't you hear me, I have a business to take over."
"Yeah, I heard you. I don't know what Dad wouldn't be proud to have his son work for NASA?"
"Mine."
"Have you even tried to talk to him about it?"
"No. I don't talk to my parents."
"I see." There was a silence and then Rory felt a small trickle down her nose.
"Geesh Gilmore, you really are pure. Just one smell of pot and your nose is bleeding."
Rory touched her nose and sure enough blood was coming out. She quickly put her head up, trying not to look too flustered that she had just gotten a nosebleed in front of Chilton's King.
"Wait here, I'll get you a tissue." He went back inside and quickly came out with a box of Kleenex. Rory thanked him, and after a couple of minutes, the bleeding stopped.
He laughed, "I'll make sure not to smoke in front of you next time."
"You know, you really shouldn't smoke that stuff at all. It's bad for you."
"Yeah, I know. It's the rush though."
"Why not try eating ice cream on a cold night like tonight? That's a rush."
He peered at her again, and just laughed. She noticed that when he laughed, his eyes seemed to twinkle. She quickly glanced away, feeling butterflies in her stomach.
"You look cold." He put his jacket over her shoulders.
"Thanks."
"You know, you're okay Rory."
"Thanks, I guess."
"No, it's just I thought you were a goody-two shoes before."
They sat in silence again. Rory could feel Tristan looking at her, which made her really nervous.
"You've got an eyelash," he said brushing off an eyelash from her cheek.
"Thanks."
"Do I make you nervous?" he said.
"Yes," she replied quickly.
He laughed, "Wow, you're the first girl that's ever answered me honestly. Actually, you're one of the few people I know who answer me honestly."
"Well, you should get some better friends then," she said with a laugh.
He smiled and said, "I guess you're right."
Just then, a girl with curly blonde hair called Tristan over.
"Got to go," he said to Rory with a wink.
Rory disappointed to see him go said, "Oh wait, your jacket."
"Give it back to me in class Monday. I don't really need it now if you know what I mean," he said with a wink.
Rory nodded and gave him the thumbs up. Then when he was back inside she hit her own forehead for doing such a dumb thing as giving him the thumbs up.
Rory decided to call it a night and told Beth that she was going home.
Tristan sat in his bed with the blonde next to him. He got up and stood at his window with a drink in his hand. He saw Rory leave and felt something flutter in his stomach.
"Hey Tris." Tristan turned around and saw Beth coming into his room. She glanced over at the passed-out blonde and giggled, "Well, I won the bet. Who are you looking at?"
"No one," he quickly said, closing his blinds.
Beth, knowing her best friend walked over to him and opened the blinds.
"Aah, I see. I was wondering how long."
"How long what?"
"You would want Rory."
"Well, I don't think she's the pre-marital relations type of girl."
"And I think that's what so appealing."
"Well, you know I don't have girlfriends."
"Maybe you could make an exception for her then."
"I don't think so," he said, taking another sip of his drink.
"Well, if you ever decide to, you know I already approve of her."
"Thanks. I don't need your approval though."
"Fine, whatever Dugrey. So what are you going to do with blonde here?"
"Wait until she wakes up then kick her out. So, where does Gilmore hang out?"
Beth smiled knowingly at her best friend. "Around. She's on the tennis team. Why, are you reconsidering?"
"No, but I would like to get to know her better."
"Come on Tristan, don't do that to her."
"No, not like that. She's okay to talk to sometimes you know."
"Really?"
"Yeah I talked to her for half the party."
"Well, that's a first."