Part 7:

"You're really wearing out the highlighter, huh," Tristan commented as he approached Rory. He saw her glancing in his direction, a scowl marring her otherwise angelic face. A smirk grew on his mouth, "You know, if you hold that face long enough, it may stick."

Rory's scowl grew. Ignoring his comment, she said, "So what are you doing in Yale's library? Took a wrong turn while traveling to Spectrum?"

Tristan wanted to correct her that he'd come from Spectrum, but he knew he needed to get working if he wanted to win Rory over. "You know, some of us actually study," he told her.

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" She gestured towards his empty hands. "Then where is your book bag? No paper, pencils, nothing?"

Tristan didn't think about that one. Luckily, he was quick to come up with something that sounded good. "I'm looking for…this book," he reached out and pulled the nearest book to him. "My book bag is in another section."

Rory smirked at the book title. "Interesting…and what class is this for?"

Tristan looked down, spotting in large print "Pregnancy for Dummies." He scowled. "It's not for a class…it's just research."

"Oh? Did you happen to get a girl pregnant?"

"No, no, nothing like that," Tristan said. And it was the truth. Although Tristan had several sexual partners, he was always sure to take precautionary measures to prevent anything like that from happen. "My sister's pregnant." And that…it was a lie. "I told her I'd pick something up for her."

Rory nodded. "How far along is she?"

"Twenty-two…weeks," Tristan fibbed.

"Must be real…" Rory paused for a moment to find the word, "…exciting for your family."

"Yeah, we're pretty excited."

Rory just nodded once again, looking back down at her notes. When she realized Tristan was still standing there, she looked up with a scowl on her face. "Don't you have some place to be?"

Tristan shook his head, pulling the chair out and sitting across from her. "I think I'll just stay here and absorb this book for a minute, that way I can make sure it's alright for Natalia."

Rory watched as Tristan cleared his throat and opened the book, his crystal blue eyes scanning over the page. She sighed. She knew guys like Tristan before, they were ones that when you pushed, they just pushed back harder. She tried to take another tactic and ignore him. That way he'd get bored and would go away.

She started reading her notes once again, trying to use the worn out highlighter. Letting out another sigh when the highlighter refused to work, she put the cap back down and tossed it near the bright yellow one. Digging through her leather messenger bag, she hoped to find another one, as she had a vast collection of them in all sorts of colors, but her search came back empty.

Tristan cleared his throat, something that began to grate on Rory's nerves. When she glanced up at him, he seemed entirely focused on the book he was reading. His eyebrows were even furrowed, as if he were trying hard to concentrate, something that was impossible now for Rory.

Maybe she could still contact Mallory; it wasn't too late, after all. The last thing Rory needed was to spend the rest of her night busying herself to rid the thoughts of Dean when they only lead her to think even more about him.

The highlighters had been a gift from Dean. She'd discovered a note that Dean had slipped into her textbook when she wasn't looking, something she'd seen for the first time tonight. She didn't bother to open the envelope once she recognized his unusually neat handwriting, for a guy at least. Even Tristan, in a small way, reminded her of Dean. He was there that night, after all.

After tossing her textbooks into the bag, Rory began to organize her notes before putting them into her binder and putting that into the messenger bag as well. Standing up, she grabbed the bag, swinging it over her shoulder and collected the textbooks that she'd taken inside the library itself.

"Where are you going?" Tristan asked, standing up, library book in hand still.

"Leaving," Rory announced, heading to the closest section to her where she'd taken a book from.

Tristan kept up with her. When he saw that she was putting the book back where she'd originally taken it from, he frowned. "Isn't there some sort of place where you can put your book and they'll put it back for you?" he asked.

Rory nodded.

"Why don't you use it then?"

"I don't see the point of making someone else do something that you're perfectly capable of doing yourself," Rory responded.

"I'm sure that's what you say to your maids back home," Tristan said, guessing that Rory had come from a wealthy family.

"What makes you assume I'm wealthy?" Rory asked. "Is it because I go to an ivy-league school? There are such things as scholarships."

"You went to Chilton as well, if I remember correctly," Tristan said.

"Repeat: there are things such as scholarships."

Tristan thought for a moment. "It's the way you carry yourself. You aren't stuck up, but you have this…vibe that…" He trailed off, not finding the words to express what he was trying to say.

"Really? I have a vibe?" Rory asked. "Can you read the vibe I'm sending to you right now?"

Tristan was silent.

"Wow, you actually got that?" Rory started for the door to the library.

Tristan had a delayed reaction and paused for a moment, contemplating what Rory meant by her comment. When it hit him, he quickened his pace to catch up with her. "Rory, wait!"

Rory paused, glancing back at him. She bit her lower lip, as if wondering whether to stay standing their or to quicken her pace towards the car. "I thought we had a vibe connection going on?" She raised an eyebrow, waiting for his response.

At least she was waiting, Tristan thought.

Tristan tried to find words. Four thousand…four thousand… All he had had to do was repeat the number over and over again in his head and it made him determined not to lose. "I can't just leave you alone, although I'm sure that's what you want," Tristan said, "but I think we have another sort of connection too. Want to test it out by going out with me next Friday night?"

A week away, yes, but as far as Tristan was concerned, he still had two weeks left. One date with her and Rory would be a goner. Tristan was pretty sure about it.

Once Rory got past the shock, she started to laugh. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand and tried to muffle it, but it soon become uncontrollable and her shoulders shook. "That's a good one," Rory said. Seeing the scowl on Tristan's face, she tried to stop her laugher, but it was harder than she thought it would be. "Are you…are you…are you actually serious?"

Tristan's scowl grew. "What's so funny about me asking you out?"

"I thought you were joking!" Rory exclaimed. "Like this was just some kind of bet you made with one of your pals. 'Get the studious girl to say yes.'"

Tristan's eyes grew, scowl gone, and he tried to disguise the shock, but it went away too slowly.

"What? This is some sort of bet? With who?"

"No, it's not a bet at all. I'm just…surprised that you would even think that. Do you know how gorgeous you are?"

Rory eyed him, as if trying to tell whether or not he was lying. She just shrugged and said, "Don't take it too personally when I decline the invitation. I'd be lying if I were to say that it wasn't you…"

Rory then turned and walked out towards her car, not looking back at Tristan.

Tristan numbly walked back to where Michael was sitting. "I think…I got my first rejection," he said, in shock.

Michael started to grin, but upon seeing the look on Tristan's face, he held it back. "It's harder than you thought it would be, huh?"

Tristan didn't feel like lying so he just put his head down on the table and pretended like he didn't hear Michael's comment.

---

Once in the car, Rory grabbed her cell phone and dialed Mallory's phone number. Mallory answered on about the fifth ring, just as Rory was about to give up.

"Sorry…" Mallory said, letting a little giggle slip out. "I was a bit… 'busy', if you know what I mean." She let out another giggle.

"Oh god! Not needed information! Why are you even answering the phone then?"

"Hmm, Erik's not that good," Mallory said with a laugh.

"HEY!" Rory hear Erik's voice protest in the background.

"Sorry, I'll let you…get back to what you were doing," Rory apologized.

"No, that's fine; what's up?"

"It's real quick," Rory reassured her. "There wouldn't happen to be any bet out about me that you'd know about?"

Mallory was silent for a moment. "No, nothing I know about. What's up, sweetie? Why would you think that?"

"Tristan Dugrey asked me out," Rory spit out bitterly. "I asked if it was a bet and I wouldn't be surprised by his action. And frankly, I was hoping it was a bet."

Mallory let out a nervous laugh. "Nope, no bet I know about. I should get back to Erik though, but I'll come in and see you when I get back tonight."

"Okay, sorry for interrupting," Rory apologized again.

"Oh, don't worry about it. You can call anytime," Mallory reassured her.

"Just next time the phone will be turned off," Rory heard Erik mumble.

Rory laughed. "See you later."

Mallory returned the sentiments before closing her cell phone. Erik rolled back on top of her and began to kiss her neck, one hand sneaking his way under her shirt and the other onto her thighs.

"Hey, stop that," Mallory protested. "Rory just asked me if there was some sort of bet on her."

Erik stiffened for a moment, but just grinned. "If she's suspicious then all the better, it just makes it harder for T."

Mallory frowned. "I don't know if I like this side of you. Why can't you just do the right thing and call it off? Rory is my friend and I don't want her to be the target of any bet, especially your bet."

"You don't understand, Mal," Erik said. "But let's not talk about it tonight."

Mallory shook her head as he bent back down to kiss her. "I think I'll just take off now," she said. "I really don't feel like doing anything with you if you won't even talk."

"Mal, don't act like this."

Mallory bent over and kiss his cheek as she slipped into her sandals that were lying on the floor beside the bed. "Just for the record, I'm not mad at you; I'm disappointed. But if this bet continues and Rory gets hurt in any way, shape, or form, I will be beyond pissed."

"Duly noted," Erik said dryly. He got up and headed towards the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" Mallory asked.

"Cold shower," was all Erik said before disappearing into the room.

When Mallory got back to the doors, she found Rory in the common room, flipping through channels. She set her keys on the table beside the drawer and walked over towards Rory, settling down on the couch beside her.

"Anything good on?" she asked.

Rory shook her head and then asked, "Back so soon?"

"The mood was sort of ruined," Mallory explained. When she felt Rory begin to apologize again, she held up her hand. "Not your fault, just other stuff. But what do you say you pick out a movie and I'll go make us some popcorn?"

Rory raised an eyebrow. "We're going to need more than popcorn."

So a movie was picked, popcorn was made, a pizza was ordered, and a variety of junk food was spread across the table but while the movie was playing during their "girl bonding time" Rory began to think about Tristan and his odd proposal.

We had a connection? Yeah Right.

Author's note:

I am so sorry about the long time it took to update. It didn't even feel like it was that long so I apologize profusely. This chapter was hard to write because really, I have no clue where I want this story to go. Sure, ultimately, I know, but the little steps are a bit hazy for me. I don't quite want Rory to say yes to Tristan yet, but its hard coming up with little chance encounters (or not so chanced, like the Erik informing Tristan on the library) and still keeping you guys satisfied with all the other characters that make up the story. Ideas, suggests, etc. are welcome so if you have any, please share. :)

Thanks for reviewing:

emmy (Thanks for saying I'm a great writer! And for noticing the stars…you were one of two.), Danger1Zone1988 (No, Dean is not quite gone yet. And patience, this is only the seventh chapter. It'll happen soon enough), LoVe23, riotgirllina, princetongirl, karahbella, i die without you, Lalalaaaa, jalna, eternalgorithm (Thanks for replying—just let me know if you think my story is progressing too slowly, though!), and TristenLover (thanks for reading the note!).