Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls! Or Shrek 2!

Note: Hey everyone I'm back! I want to say thankyou to every single reviewer! It means more than you know! I special shout-out to Smile1! Thank you for that great review! Your advice is so appreciated! Also, I know that I promised that this chpt would be the dance chapter but it's going to be the next chapter! So until then enjoy this!

Rory walked into the cafeteria and headed straight to the table she had sat at all junior year. She hadn't seen or talked to Tristan since their homeroom reunion. Sitting down with her gray, plastic tray she pulled out a book and her headphones. She was used to this routine and she didn't really mind it. She picked up her book, The Complete Collection of Sherlock Holmes, and began reading. However, she found herself looking over the top of her book for a certain someone. She didn't know why she wanted to see him. Her freshmen year she hadn't cared that he was "the most gorgeous guy in school," he was a jerk. But this year, even though he still knew how to push her buttons, he was different.

Almost as if he had heard her thoughts, Tristan walked up to Rory's table and sat directly across from her.

"Mary, lunch time is for socializing." He grinned and pulled a cold fry off her plate. Cocking his head back, he glanced at his table.

"Why don't you come sit with me?" His eyes sparkled playfully, waiting for Rory's answer.

"Why Tristan, that is so nice of you to offer, but don't you see? I am socializing. Holmes and Watson say hello." With that she cast her gaze back onto her book, but she wasn't reading.

"Aw, Mar. You wound me!" Tristan clutched his heart and groaned. "Won't you please come sit with me?" He batted his eyelashes and stuck out his bottom lip.

Rory glanced over at his table and locked eyes with a fuming Summer. Looking back at Tristan Rory laughed.

"Tristan, I am not going to sit with you and your group. Plus..." She pointed a slender, unpolished finger at a the glaring brunette," I don't think that would make your "Queen" very happy."

Tristan followed Rory's finger. Summer thought that they were going to get back together but she was wrong. Tristan had no interest in Summer at all. He turned back to Rory and shrugged.

"Fine. I will just stay here." He slouched back in his seat, making himself more comfortable, and tried to ignore Rory's uncomfortable expression. Her eyes were as big as apples and her lips were pressed together hard, making them look thin and small. He knew he was making her feel uncomfortable but he didn't want to leave. He wanted Rory to like him. He knew that she would never feel the same way that he felt about her, but he needed her as a friend.

Sighing he went to reach for another fry but jumped back when a small hand smacked him.

"Tristan! Stop eating my fries! If you want to sit here, you need to bring your own food!" Her face was serious but her eyes gave her away. She began laughing at Tristan's look of shock.

Tristan watched her. He loved watching her laugh. He rarely got this reaction so he liked to take it all in while he could. Her blue eyes lit up like stars and her smile was always contagious. Looking at her he noticed how much she had changed.

The curls were knew. They shaped her face perfectly. He watched as the bounced while she laughed.

He also noticed that she had a little bit of makeup on. The teal around her eyes intensified their blueness and drew him in.

Makeup looked different on Rory than it did on other girls he knew. Summer always clobbered mounds of makeup on everyday and Tristan had always hated it. Rory's face looked natural, classic. He always had thought that she looked like a greek goddess.

Noticing Tristan's silent but obvious starring, Rory shifted in her seat. She had only seen him look at her like that once before. At Madeline's party. Right before he kissed her.

Feeling nervous Rory quickly picked up her things and shoved them into her book sack.

"Um...I'm finished so I'm just going to go." Leaving a bewildered Tristan behind, Rory walked out of the cafeteria and headed towards the library. It was the only place in Chilton were she felt comfortable. She quietly made her way to the back tables and sat down. Letting out a deep breath, she reeled over her thoughts.

Why had she reacted like that? It wasn't like Tristan was going to kiss her right then. Or ever again! She threw her head into her hands. What was happening? Her mind flashed to Jess. She really did like him. Love him? She didn't know yet. But she knew that if he gave her a chance, and opening, she could.

Rory waited in the library until the bell rang. Her next class was Spanish. She already knew her teacher because she had taught her last year. Rory's spirits lifted as she neared the language wing. She really liked her teacher and is the class was anything like junior year, she would like the class too. Turning into the last classroom in the hall Rory smiled. There were not many students in the class. Rory loved small classes. They gave her a chance to ask more questions and get more answers, as corny as it sounds. She picked a seat close to the front and unpacked her things.

"Rory!" Smiling Rory looked up. There was only one teacher who didn't call her Miss. Gilmore.

"Mrs. Rita!" Rory bounced from her chair and wrapped her teacher in a hug. The happy moment was interrupted however.

"Always knew you were a teacher's pet Mar.." Rory spun around to face the speaker. When she saw him, anger from somewhere began spinning inside her. She didn't know why she was getting so angry, he was just playing. Maybe she just wanted one happy thing at Chilton to herself. Whatever the case she snapped.

"Tristan, you just love to take everything good out of my life don't you! Admit it!"

Tristan stepped back at her words but continued.

"Yes that's me, joy sucker." Rory furrowed her eyebrows in frustration.

"Can you take any comment seriously!" She was close to a yell by now and people were looking. Usually Rory kept quiet, but too many emotions were swirling inside her like a whirlpool. She was being sucked down.

Tristan's eye's grew dark. "Not 'I hate you.'" With that he backed away and found a seat in the back, leaving Rory's mouth hanging open at his bitter words. She remembered when she had said that. She hadn't meant it, she had just wanted Dean back so bad. Looking at Tristan now, who seemed to be very interested in his hands, Rory noticed that he still looked upset about it.

"Tristan.."

"Attention class! I'm Senora Rita..."

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Rory walked out of class feeling horrible. She didn't like to hurt people. Her and Tristan had always bantered with each other. When had it turned serious? She realized that they weren't exactly messing with each other when she had claimed that she hated him, but she hadn't thought he had taken it to heart.

Rory quickly grabbed the things she needed out of her locker and walked out to her bus stop. It had been a long first day and she was ready to go home.

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"I still don't get why you started school on a Friday!" Luke was jamming a fork into the toaster trying to get out a piece of burnt bread.

"Luke, I don't know! Can I please have some coffee?" Rory made her "Puss and Boots," from Shrek 2, face and Luke complied.

Rory grabbed her mug and picked a table. Lorelai was meeting her there in ten minutes and Jess was upstairs changing. Rory felt her body relax as the warm fluid entered her system. Thank God for coffee.

"How was Hell today?" Rory smiled as Jess came downstairs. He was wearing a plain, gray tee-shirt and some jeans. He was really fun to look at.

Rory scooted her chair closer to him so she could lean into his shoulder. She was surprised when he let her. He had been so distant lately.

"Okay. Tristan is back though." Rory frowned at his name. She didn't know why but she couldn't stop thinking about how hurt and bitter he looked. Not at all like the Tristan in homeroom or at lunch.

Jess gave her a confused look and Rory remembered that he have never met Tristan.

"He is this guy who made my school life miserable at Chilton until he got booted off to military school. You will meet him at the dance tomorrow night."

Raising his eyebrows Jess met Rory's eyes, "Sounds like someone I would like!" This made Rory laugh and pull him in closer. Actually, she thought, Jess and Tristan were kind of similar. Both rebelling in their own ways, and unknown to Rory, both in love with the same blue eyed girl.

"Rory!" A pair of arms wrapped around her from the other side and she abandoned her thoughts.

"How was your last first day of high school?" Lorelai continued talking as she went around the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Bible boy is back." Lorlai squealed at her daughter's words.

"Spawn of Satan? No way! Did he talk to you? Did he and Paris join forces and try to take over the world?" Lorelai slid into the seat across from the couple.

Rory sat up a little and took another sip of her coffee. "Surprisingly I didn't see Paris once! But it was the first day of school so I'm sure she was haggling all of the teachers. Tristan talked to me a little and he is basically still the same." Rory didn't know if that last statement was a good or bad thing yet.

"Well he better stay away from here!" Dean had walked in on their conversation and joined them at the table. Jess shifted uncomfortably at this. Jess and Dean still didn't like each other but they toned it down a bit because of Rory.

"You knew him?" Jess directed the question at Dean but didn't look at him.

"Yeah I met him at a dance. We almost got into it at the end." Dean's floppy hair cut shook as he chuckled at the memory. Rory's laugh however was short and forced. Dean had said that Tristan had liked her then. Had he? Was that why he was so hurt by her words? Rory denied the thoughts by reminding herself that he wasn't over Summer when she had said that.

"Well that's familiar. I am meeting this guy tomorrow at the dance."

Dean stood up and began heading out the door.

"Well, if I were you, I would watch out." With that he walked out, the diner bell leaving the table in silence.

Rory sunk low in her seat. She could see Jess's mind spinning. She didn't want him to start anything.

"Dean thinks that he likes me, or at least thought that he liked me back then. Nothing to worry about."

"Okay." Jess stopped the conversation from continuing by standing up.

"I have to go to work." Jess quickly kissed Rory and left the Gilmore's at their table.

Rory glanced at Lorelai who had been surprisingly quiet. She was doing her own version of puss and boots.

"What?"

Lorelai shrugged. "I never had three boys fighting over me at once!"

"Mom! I don't have three boys fighting over me! I have Jess and he doesn't even have to fight!"

Lorelai pulled her chair back in defense.

"Okay! Sorry, you're right! Are you ready for this dance then?"

Rory smiled, content with the change of subject. Her mom had been working on a "secret dress" for Rory. All she knew about it was that it would match with red shoes.

"When do I get to see the dress?" Rory watched as her mom's eyes twinkled with excitement,

"Tomorrow!" Rory tried to protest.

"Mom, what if it doesn't fit! What if we need to alter it?" Rory was now rambling.

Lorelai reached out and grabbed Rory's arm.

"It will fit hun! Don't you trust me?" Rory rolled her eyes and pulled back her arm.

"That is exactly what you said right before you set the microwave on fire!" Lorelai gasped.

"Hey, that was it's own fault! It should learn to get along with metal!" Rolling her eyes once again Rory pulled her mom to her feet.

"Well, what do you say we head home?" Hooking arms with her mom, she exclaimed, "We're off to see the wizard!" Lorelai joined in,

"The wonderful wizard of Oz!"

Luke sighed as he watched the girls skip down the sidewalk.

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Rory blinked her eyes as the bright sun crept into her room through her shades.

"Urrgghh.." Sitting up in bed she rubbed her eyes, getting used to the bright light. What time was it? She glanced at her blue, fuzzy alarm clock which her mom had given to her after that first fateful day at Chilton. It read 11:00 AM. She frowned, she had gotten in a good ten hours of sleep but she was still tired. She considered going back to bed until she remembered what say it was. Saturday. Dance Day. She had a lot to do before the dance, which started at eight sharp. Rory knew that she wasn't going to show up until at least nine but she liked to leave room for error. Plus, it took thirty minutes to get to Hartford.

Pulling on her robe, she walked into the kitchen for coffee and breakfast. Luke had promised that he would make Jess bring her coffee that morning so she could have a full day of "girl time" as he called it. Rory knew that he really just wanted Jess to do something nice for her.

"Mom, where is the coffee?" Rory looked around and empty kitchen.

"Mom!" No answer.

Making her way upstairs, Rory continued yelling for her mom. She figured that she had stolen all the food and was eating it in her room.

"Mom you better not be..." Rory stopped dead in her tracks.

There on Lorelai's bed was the most beautiful dress Rory had ever seen in her entire life. Ever.

Ruby fabric was bathed in soft coral undertones in the full skirt. A sectioned corset drew the waist inwards to accentuate the neckline, a deep V formed in glittery cloth of the same hue.

Rory got chills as she ran her hands over the fabric. A note was laying on the side of the dress.

"Meet me at Luke's Princess!"

Rory smiled. this was going to be a great day.