No. She wasn't ready to discuss her mother, not yet. Rory swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Her blue eyes fixed intently on Jess's face, but she didn't see him. Suddenly she was back in the day her mother had left her. It was like this whenever she let her mind drift, and preventing herself from envisioning her Lorelai's haunting face had become somewhat of a chore. It was almost a relief to hear Jess's words break free from his lips and rock her foundations.

"It's about your father." The thought tumbling relentlessly into Rory's head ceased immediately, pushed back by the shock if nothing else.

"My father?" she asked numbly. Jess sighed theatrically, and placed a hand disparagingly on her shoulder.

"Well, Ror, I knew we would have this talk eventually. You see, when a man and a woman--"

"I know where babies come from, thanks." Rory rolled her eyes. She was thankful his teasing bought her a little time to think. Now she had formulated her thoughts, had composed herself, and was ready to present her fully baked idea.

"Uh...kay. So." she expatiated. Brilliant.

"He wan't to get to to know you, and says he feels really bad about the entire situation."

Rory rolled her eyes. She couldn't help it. The idea that her father wanted to join her life after so many years of figurative nonexistance just wasn't possible. It was a little annoying.

"Look, I don't think this guy is going to win any prizes for father of the year," Jess continued, "But he is your father. That means a lot." He looked at her meaningfully, and Rory got the point. Jess had never really known his own father, becuase his mother was so sporatic. Then again, knowing the guys Lizz frequented with, maybe he didn't want to.

"I get it." Rory sighed. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to let him come back into my life." Jess nodded. "I'm going to be late." She grabbed her coffee and left the diner. Tristan was walking towards it when she got outside. By the look on his face, it was clear he could see Rory was upset, but chose not to mention it. After all it was very early, and very crowded where they were. He put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder. Rory smiled gratefully. Some things didn't need to be vocalized.

-

"And how does the passage of time contract so seamlessly in this story? What does the author do?" Ms. Stetton asked the class. Rory put up her hand.

"The teacher changes in every sentance. His mother offers a drink to the 3rd grade teacher, then 4th grade, then 5th, et cetera."

"Yes. Now, how does this effect the meaning of the story in accordance to the passage of time..." The professor continued her lecture, and Rory let her mind wander. She had already finished a plague of ticks last week, and had re read it several times since then. Her gaze floated idly over the heads of her classmates. Tristan wasn't in her English class, but she did have a few friends there. Paris sat in the front of the room, busily scrawling notes on her paper. Louise and Madeleine were in the far back corner, gossipping. Of course.

Rory looked around, and nearly jumped out of her seat when she looked directly behind her. Marty sat staring at her, his desk void of any objects. No notes, no pencil, no book. Apparently he had just sat down and stared at the back of her head. His eyes had a haunted look to them, further embellished by the dark purple circles beneath them. His eyebrows lifted up slightly when he caught her gaze, and a pleading look cametp his face. Rory turned back around. This happened more and more often, his surprising her. He always had the same look on his face, the same tortured begging.

Rory tried not to shudder too visibly, and forced her mind back on to the lesson.

-

"And that's the last time I saw either one of them," her voice almost a whisper, Rory finished her story. Tristan sat next to her, cradling her in his arms and kissing her neck softly. It was a less arousing kiss, and more one of comfort. Rory let herself be cuddled, still staring off at the horizon. The sun was rising slowly over the hill which marked the boundary of Chilton, but Rory didn't care. She had spent the most amazing night with Tristan, just talking and sitting on the roof. Even though she had just recounted the story of her mother's death, she felt peaceful and safe.

"I'm so sorry, Mary," he whispered, resting his chin on her shoulder. She leaned her head back onto his.

"Don't be." she smiled sadly. "You are the best thing to happen to me since that day." they sat in silence as she contemplated how intense the last statement had just been. "And I mean that in a strictly non serious, no pressure sort of way." she corrected, and was glad to hear Tristan laugh behind her.

"Mary, there is no way that sentance could ever be non serious no pressure." He paused for a moment. "I love you, Mary." Rory sighed.

"Tristan, you don't have to say that. I was just--"

"Mary."

"Well you don't have to."

"It's the truth." Tristan protested. "Rory Agatha Gilmore, I am actually in love with you."

"Yeah, whatever." Rory said, but a smile played the corner of her lips.

"I--" Tristan's objections were cut off by Rory's silvery peal of laughter. "What?"

"Agatha!"

"Oh," he said sheepishly, "I don't know your last name, so I invented one."

"And all you came up with was Agatha?"

"Well...uh...hey what's your middle name, anyway?"

"I'll never tell."

"Not even me?"

"I love you too." Rory said happily. The pair sat in silence.

-

Rory rolled her eyes. "No, Paris, this doesn't mean I'm going to buy him fuzzy handcuffs."

"Yeah, Paris, Rory's more of a fluffy sort of girl. Fuzzy just couldn't cut it." Jess handed his friend a coffee, and tried not to appear too amused when it disappeared in under a minute. "'Nother?" he asked, not waiting for an answer.

Just then the door opened, and Logan entered. He stopped when he saw Rory and Paris, and stood a moment.

"Um."

"You in the right place?" Jess asked lightly. Logan scowled.

"Obviously not. I would never come to a place like this on purpose." He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

"What was that?" Rory asked.

"Oh, nothing, just a little project of mine." Rory's eyes widened.

"Is he--are you...?" Jess only smiled.

-

It was Spring break. Students went home and visited their families, including Jess. He promised he would be back, though. Rory didn't understand how he could spend so much time away from home, from school.

Tristan had forgone the family visit, as he didn't share the greatest relationship with his father. That had been another rooftop conversation. Instead, he was keeping Rory company. Obviously she wasn't going to visit any family, and Tristan's presence helped her to forget that somewhat.

They did go on the roof, yes, but they had also taken to spending time in Rory's dorm. After all, Paris had left to spend time with her family, and the rooms were empty.

They usually just lay on the bed, talking or doing less innocent things. Tristan never forced himself on Rory though, which was strange to him. He had never waited this long for a girl before. Yet with Rory, he felt it was worth it. She was different.

"Sylvia Plath?" he asked her one day, noticing a book on her nightstand.

"Yeah, she's brilliant. Do you like poetry?" Tristan laughed.

"Yeah, but a different sort of poetry. I'm more of a Bukowski fan." Rory stared at him blankly. "I'll introduce you sometime." Rory smiled and he kissed her nose.

-

Saturday morning. Vacation was dwindling, and Rory already missed it. Her time alone with Tristan had been a blissful escape from her life. The empty halls, usually filled with bustling students, seemed almost surreal. Now there was only one day left.

As had become customary, she lay on her bed with Tristan today. The sunlight filtered in through the window shade, and fell softly on the lounging couple.

"...but the worst part is
(like jumping off the garage roof)
Eugene wins again
because he's not even thinking
about me." Tristan finished The Bee. "So? What do you think?"

"It's good. Crass, but in a useful sort of way." Tristan grinned. Responding to some unexplainable urge, Rory reached up and poked his dimple. Somehow this sent them into a fit of laughter, the simple joy of one another's company apparent in their actions.

Their laughs subsided, their faces close together. It was unexplainable, the way the mood changed in that instant. Tristan leaned in.

"Mare..." he breathed, and suddenly they were kissing. It was never less than perfect, but this was electric. Every time his lips covered her own, Rory felt her face warm. His hands went behind her head, cupping the back of her neck. His fingers sent shivers down her spine.

She felt frenzied, desperate. She needed his to be closer, but Tristan took his time with maddening inexorability. Rory arched towards him, and his hand moved to the hem of her shirt. It slowly slid beneath, each second sending jolts through Rory. She reached down and pulled his belt open. He looked at her quickly, his blue eyes heated.

They were interrupted suddenly, though. Marty crashed into the room. It was clear he had just returned from his vacation, and his gasping breaths indicated he had run the the dorm. The door wasn't locked, becuase no one else was at the school to interrupt.

"Marty!" Tristan shouted, sitting up. "What the fuck?"

"I..knew...I knew it!" Marty said around his heavy breathing. "I told you to stay away...I did! I...you..."

"Marty get out of here!" Rory screamed, pulling her shirt down.

"How could you? She's mine, you bastard! I knew it! We were best friends!"

"Marty!" Tristan roared. It was too late though, Marty was already backing out of the room.

"I'm sorry I have to do this man, you never should have made me do this..." With that, the curly haired boy slammed the door behind him. When Tristan finally redid his belt and pulled the door open, the hall was empty.

"I guess he got home early..." Rory said quietly.

Sorry about the wait you guys, there has been a lot going on these days. I'm still very into this story though, and the end will come soon. Maybe within the next couple chapters? Im thinking this thing is in phase three.

Special thanks to gracefulmary, whos review/email/the email that comes with the review shocked me into writing again.

Sorry if the style is changed at all, I've been writing nothing but college essays for a while. It might take a little to get me back to the norm.

Please R&R, I lurve it and miss it and all that.