AN: Wow, I've never gotten such great reviews J thanks so much to everyone who left them. I have a lot of ideas for this story which might lead to History Repeats Itself being put on hold. It might be a while until there's real Troriness, but I promise to make it worthwhile.

Tristan sat in his room and all of the Chilton memories started coming back to him. Of course he didn't remember Rory; she was the first thing he got rid of when he arrived at military school. Rory Gilmore was the only girl who didn't want Tristan and that made her even more the conquest. The problem with that conquest was he fell for her…hard, but she had a boyfriend. Tristan began to wonder about the bagboy who he fought with at the Chilton Formal. Every suppressed memory from the days at Chilton came pouring back into Tristan's mind. He started to think back to his first week in North Carolina, being miserable and angry with his father. The night of the Romeo and Juliet performance, he saw something in Rory's eyes before he left that said maybe she did feel something for him. Maybe she wasn't as ready for him to leave as he thought.

"I'd kiss you goodbye, but your boyfriend's watching," Tristan remembered saying. Rory didn't respond, she just looked at him – did she want that kiss? How could I not remember her? Then he realized that he didn't want to remember her. He called her Mary, his Mary, because she was so innocent. He pictured her face walking into the room where he and Paris were and still saw that innocent glow. There was a guy in the picture though; boyfriend or not Rory's heart belonged to someone else.

"So, you really like this Brian guy?" Paris asked her roommate.

"Yeah, he's not like any other guy I know. He drinks coffee as much as I do."

"Rory, there's more to life than coffee."

"Tell my mother that."

"Lorelai is a lost cause; we've figured that out already. I think Brian will be good for you; he's not Jess and has no where to run to."

Paris didn't mean to spark bad memories for Rory, but what she said was true. Brian was a Yale student so he couldn't go very far – he'd never appear out of nowhere just to say he loves her. At the same time Brian wasn't "the safe choice" as Dean had been.

"Paris, how do I find out if he wants to be my…"

"Boyfriend?"

"Yeah, with Dean it came after the Chilton dance and it was awkward and with Jess, I don't even know. I think it was just assumed there."

They were interrupted by a knock at the door…it was Brian.

"If this continues, I'd say bring it up – you shouldn't have to worry," Paris laughed.

Brian looked at the two girls confused and asked Rory if he could talk to her for a minute.

"Sure," was her simple, yet hopeful response.

Rory and Brian walked into the hallway of her residence hall, but talking didn't seem to work very well there with all the music and noise of the Yale students. Brian took Rory's hand and suggested that they go for a walk around campus. The Yale campus was beautiful although neither Rory nor Brian cared at that moment.

"Rory, I really like you and was wondering if you'd…"

Time seemed to stand still as Brian started the question. Rory felt herself speaking through Brian's mouth – the hesitation, feeling absolutely ridiculous. She wanted to save him from asking, but didn't want to assume anything.

"…be my girlfriend?" he finished.

"I'd love to, Brian."

That was it; Rory had her first boyfriend since Jess left for California. From the beginning of sophomore year until almost graduation, Rory hadn't been single, then after an entire year she found someone who she thought could make her happy. Rory looked up at the 6'1" brunette standing in front of her and smiled. His emerald eyes looked back at her and he squeezed her hand. Rory didn't think anything would bring her down; classes hadn't even started and sophomore year was going so much better than freshman.

Brian escorted Rory to the dining hall for dinner and the two ate together. During their dinner, Paris walked over and asked if she could sit with them. Paris was curious about Brian and wanted to make sure that he stayed with Rory so that she could have her chance with Tristan. This guy seemed good to her after such a short time; Rory couldn't possibly want someone who treated her like crap, even if she does remember him.

Rory wanted to get some rest before the first day of classes so Brian walked her back to her room, kissed her goodbye, and went to his own room. Paris, on the other hand stayed in the dining hall where Tristan walked over to her.

"Hey Paris, I've been thinking and I was wondering if your roommate Rory…"

Paris knew it – Tristan remembered her. He remembered being in love with her. Her mind started working in overdrive thinking of ways to keep Tristan for herself.

"What about Rory?"

"Never mind, I'm still trying to remember her. Are you sure she went to Chilton with us?"

"Yes, she and I weren't friends until senior year though. Rory was the valedictorian."

"I thought you were going to be valedictorian? What happened to the Paris Gellar I always knew?"

"Senior year there were a lot of changes, Rory truly deserves it. I didn't get into Harvard either."

"I'm quite shocked."

Paris had missed Tristan's dry sarcasm in the past few years. It had led to a lot of conflict between the two throughout their lives, but only increased her crush on him. She remembered the night that Lorelai had taken Rory, Madeline, Louise and herself to the Bangles concert, the conversation she had with Rory.

"Can I ask you a question," Rory asked Paris.

"Maybe."

"What could you possibly see in Tristan?"

Paris remembered all the reasons in her head when Rory asked her that question, but her answer to Rory was simply "you wouldn't understand." Rory thought it was looks alone, but Paris told her there was more to it than that. "He's not always a jerk," Paris began defensively; "I've known Tristan a really long time, ok? We've been in the same class since kindergarten." Rory looked at Paris who continued, "…and he has things in his life that are hard. His parents – not so great. We have that in common." Back then Tristan had it bad for Rory and Paris' jealously had come between any chances the two had at a friendship.

"I'm gonna get back to my room – I'll see you around, Paris."

"Okay. Bye Tristan."

Why does he have to look so perfect, Paris thought. Military school and getting older were definitely very good to Tristan. The shirt he was wearing was a little tight so Paris could see the outline of his six pack. There were still so many things Paris wanted to show Tristan to show him how she'd changed. At the social functions everything had to be prim and proper and the two only exchanged pleasantries…nothing more. Tristan had only gotten back from military school at the end of senior year then attended the University of North Carolina for a year. He'd been home for special affairs the DuGrey's had. Tristan's name hadn't been forgotten at Chilton, people just looked at the mark he left on people's lives. Rory hadn't wanted to remember him which was why she didn't. Tristan made her life a living hell in his third grade attempts to get her attention.

Rory sat in her dorm room just lying on her bed staring off into space. She'd only known Brian for two days but was absolutely crazy about him. Everything seemed a little too good to be true because of how quickly it all happened – Rory hoped that it wouldn't end as quickly as it started.

Paris walked into the room with an almost giddy look to her. Through all the years Rory knew her and all the changes she went through, giddy and Paris Gellar didn't go together. Rory wanted to know all the details.

"Well, remember when I told you I had a crush on him since the sixth grade?"

"Yeah…what happened?"

"We sat there and talked and I was reminded of all the things I liked about him."

And all the things that he liked about you, Paris thought to herself. It's not that she was jealous of Rory, but she didn't like how every conversation had to revolve around her. Paris didn't want to keep the two from remembering each other, especially not since Rory had Brian.

"Aw, Paris, that's so great. Maybe you can double date with Brian and me."

"Does this me he asked you out?"

"Yes," Rory gushed, "he was so cute about it too."

"Did you tell Lorelai yet?"

"No, she'll want me to bring him home so her and Luke can interrogate him," Rory laughed.

Paris agreed with her friend, but they decided that if Lorelai wasn't told everything she would have Rory's head on a platter by Friday night. With that in mind, Rory called Lorelai and told her that it was official with Brian. Of course she was right and agreed that after class one day during the week, she'd bring Brian to Stars Hollow. Rory had so many memories in Stars Hollow, she was almost afraid of bringing him there. There was one thing from Rory Gilmore's past that a new boyfriend would only hurt…Dean. Lindsey was only 3 months pregnant and Dean was by her side like the perfect husband he thought he should be. Seeing them together killed Rory because it made her realize how fake people could be and how big of a mistake that night really had been.

The next morning came and Rory was off to her first class, coffee in hand. The class was Investigative Journalism; Rory looked for a familiar face when she walked in and the only one she saw was Tristan. Since she didn't remember him from Chilton, she didn't mind him sitting next to her. Brian was planning to meet Rory after her class to join her for lunch, so she was strongly anticipating the end of class.

It was sophomore year and most of the students in the class were either journalism majors or minors so the professor didn't waste any time starting class. Rory couldn't believe how dazed she was during class; it was something that never happened to her before. Of course she was still taking notes on most of what the professor said, but when he droned on about something else she sat doodling in her notebook.

Tristan couldn't help staring at Rory next to him, hoping that she wouldn't realize. He noticed her doodling and that was something his Mary would never do in Chilton. Rory had definitely changed, but she still had that innocent glow to her. She looked older, that's probably why he didn't recognize her – but she was still as beautiful as ever. When class ended he decided this was the time to jog her memory about him.

"Hi…Tristan was it?"

"Tristan DuGrey…I'm surprised you don't remember me…Mary."

That name repeated in her head, Mary, only one person had ever called her that. He was the guy in Chilton who made her life miserable until he left. Then she remembered why he left. Tristan had gotten himself into some trouble and ended up in military school. When he left Rory tried her hardest to forget him and had finally succeeded until he came back into her life.

"You know deep down you missed me."

"I see you never changed."

"So you remember me now?"

"You tried your hardest to make me miserable."

"I wanted to prove that you wanted me."

"You didn't remember me at first either, where's your explanation."

Tristan wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but she got to him. Even all these years later she could still hit that nerve causing his defenses to go up. Tristan thought to himself that a 19 year old should not have to go back to third grade tactics.

"There are just so many girls, I can't remember everyone."

"Apparently something made you remember me."

"You're Mary; you were the last person I saw before leaving. You look different than you did…that's all."

If only he could say how beautiful she looked, but before he had the chance to Brian was walking over.

"It's called growing up, maybe you should try it."

"Rory," Brian greeted her with a kiss, "who's this?"

"Brian, this is Tristan – we went to high school together."

"Old friends?"

"You could say that," Tristan responded.

"More like sworn enemies," Rory added as she said goodbye to Tristan and walked off with Brian.

It hurt more than Tristan could ever admit to hear Rory say those words. He remembered back to the end of their sophomore year at Chilton when he'd bought the PJ Harvey tickets. He wanted to take Rory to the concert and even sacrificed her friendship with Paris to convince her to go. Rory flat out turned him down so many times that he once again went to the childish actions and took her books. Just then Dean was there and Tristan overheard Rory tell him she loves him then she said those painful words. "He's not my boyfriend…I hate him." If that wasn't bad enough, Tristan had to watch Rory kiss her bagboy. From that day on he didn't go near her until the Romeo and Juliet performance where he had to say goodbye.

Brian wanted to know more about Rory's high school life so he asked her about Tristan and how they knew each other.

"I don't remember much actually. Tristan was the guy that was with Paris that I could tell I knew from somewhere. On my first day at Chilton Prep Tristan nicknamed me Mary and he called me that for the rest of the school year. My boyfriend at the time was convinced that he had a thing for me. That's all I really remember now."

"Do you think he did?"

"Have a thing for me? Never, Tristan could have any girl – I didn't want him so I became a challenge."

Brian dropped the subject even though he wanted to know more. Rory kept spacing out while eating her lunch and he became very curious about what went on between Rory and Tristan in high school.

Paris found Tristan roaming around campus with a frown.

"What's got you down?"

"Nothing," he responded dryly.

"If you say so."

"Paris…back in Chilton…"

"What about it?"

"I remember Rory now…I remember her as my Mary. Why didn't you tell me when I first brought her up yesterday?"

Paris didn't know what to say. She didn't want to tell Tristan that it was because she wanted him to herself.

"I don't know. I was pretty taken aback that you didn't remember each other, it didn't click to say Mary."

"She never changes, ya know that?"

"I've lived with her for a year. She has changed though; we became good friends not long after you left."

"She's still an innocent Mary though."

"Don't start with that on her Tristan. Please."

Although Paris didn't know what happened between Rory and Dean she knew that anything sexual had become a touchy subject. She might've wanted Tristan for herself, but she didn't want to hurt Rory that much. Tristan's sexual innuendos could ruin anyone's day…anyone's that is but her own. Tristan looked at his childhood friend and was suddenly confused about everything he'd known since military school. Paris was hiding something and it had to do with the girl Tristan had finally forgotten.