DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything to do with Gilmore Girls or the song "What's Up Lonely?" by Kelly Clarkson. I am simply borrowing them for a little while.

So, after a crazy week, I am back! Seriously though, all your reviews made all of the tests and papers more bearable. So thank you sooooooo much for encouraging me! I really appreciate all of you continuing to read this story! Now that I am finished groveling, I will allow you to read the next chapter!

Tristan had just finished dropping Rory back off in Stars Hollow after school. Excitedly, he drove up the long driveway that led to his house. He only had two and a half hours to get everything ready for tonight. He laughed to himself as he remembered telling Rory that he had to study tonight. Her look of surprise and disappointment was one of the cutest things he had ever seen. He didn't like lying to her, but he knew she would forgive him.

Rory was sitting in the kitchen working on homework and drinking coffee. She already missed Tristan; a feeling that was definitely a little unsettling. She wouldn't even get to see him until tomorrow morning at school. Earlier today, she had a suspicion that Tristan was finally going to take her out on their first real date. After his little comment about what he had been doing the previous night, she was shocked when he told her he was going to be studying tonight. She sighed and took another large gulp of coffee. This is going to be a very long night, she thought.

"Rory! Luke's!" Lorelai burst into the kitchen door and broke Rory out of her thoughts. Lorelai stopped and stared at her daughter, who was staring at the inside of an empty coffee mug. "Hello? Earth to Rory! Did you not hear what I said? Food!"

Rory finally looked up and said, "Oh, hey mom. What are we doing?"

Lorelai walked over to Rory and placed her hand on her forehead. "Are you feeling okay? Because you must be delusional."

Rory hit Lorelai's hand away and said, "No, I'm fine. I was just thinking, that's all. Come on, let's go to Luke's."

"Ohh, thinking about a certain blonde-haired Bible Boy, huh?" Lorelai said teasingly as she followed Rory out the door.

"No, I'm not thinking about Tristan. I was thinking about school."

"Uh-huh, sure. I've been meaning to ask you, how does Bible Boy look in that uniform while ruling all his little cronies?"

Rory gave Lorelai a confused look and said, "What are you talking about?"

"Just the fact that you are dating the King of Chilton. Thinking about school must be so much more interesting now."

Rory ignored Lorelai's ramblings about Chilton, Tristan and the fact that blue was definitely a good color on him. All she could think about was that she missed him; she could care less about the fact that he ruled their pathetic little school.

An hour later, Rory and Lorelai were back at the house. Lorelai was watching "The Graduate" and Rory was attempting to study. It was a difficult task, however, with Lorelai mocking Dustin Hoffman in the background and the fact that her mind definitely was not on calculus.

Half-way through the movie, Lorelai heard an "Ahh!" come from the kitchen. She hit the pause button and quickly ran into the kitchen with a pillow poised in attack position.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on my daughter!" Lorelai yelled.

"Mom, it's okay! I was just frustrated with studying." Rory said and then laughed as she saw her mom in attack mode.

"Geeze, you gave mommy a heart attack. What's up with you hun? You've been acting weird all night." Lorelai dropped the pillow and sat next to her daughter at the table. Rory pretended to be looking at her textbook, so Lorelai flipped it closed and said, "So, talk."

Rory sighed and said, "Fine, you win. I was thinking about Tristan. Happy?"

Lorelai smiled at her admission. She would have to be blind to not know he was the reason for her behavior. "What about Tristan?"

Rory groaned and placed her head on the kitchen table. "Everything! Where do we stand? Is he just using me? Am I really over Dean? And why can't I get him out of my head?"

"Wow, that's a lot of thinking. Well… let's just start with the obvious. You can't get him out of your head because you like him. And he's gorgeous."

"Mom!"

"Sorry, sorry. Ror, I know that you're scared about this, but you just have to take a chance. And trust me when I say that you are over Dean. Do we not remember the little confrontation you had with him a few days ago?"

Rory lifted her head and looked at Lorelai. "Okay, I guess you're right. But, I still don't know what Tristan is thinking about all this. Shouldn't he have asked me out by now?"

"Ror, you just have to give him time. From what you've told me about him, this is definitely new territory for him."

"Yeah, that's what scares me." Rory mumbled.

Lorelai smiled and patted Rory's hand. "It'll all work out. Trust me, I'm the mom. Now, you want to come watch the movie with me?"

"No, I think I should probably try to get some actual studying done. Thanks mom."

Lorelai stood and grabbed her pillow and made her way back to the living room. "Just holler if you need anything!"

Rory took a deep breath and opened her textbook. She was determined to finish her homework and get her mind off Tristan. After taking much more time than usual, she finally finished her homework and closed her book. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was already almost 7:30. She trudged into the living room and saw Lorelai glued to the TV. She laughed and sat next to her on the couch.

Just as Rory was finally starting to relax, she heard a knock at the door. "Did you order a pizza?" She asked Lorelai.

"Nope, but maybe my stomach ordered it for me. It does have powers."

Rory laughed and shook her head. She went to the front door and gasped when she opened it to find Tristan standing there. In his hand was a single red rose and his face was smiling happily down at her.

"Tristan, what are you doing here?"

Tristan smirked and said, "I would have thought that was obvious Mary. I am taking you out."

He extended his hand to her and she slowly took the rose. She brought it to her nose and inhaled the sweet smell. "A little notice would have been nice." Rory said as she looked down at her current ensemble.

"Are you kidding? I personally think that you look amazing." Tristan said, without an ounce of sarcasm. He loved seeing her in her coffee mug pajamas and her hair messily tied back in a ponytail.

Rory blushed and said, "Thanks, but I'm not buying it. If we're going out, I am definitely changing." She gestured for him to come in and as he slipped by her he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"If you insist Mary."

"I do. Now, where are we going? I need to know how to dress." Rory immediately regretted her question as she took in Tristan's nice black pants and collared shirt.

"Well, you can dress however you like Mary."

Rory smiled at him and said, "Okay, you can go in the living room and wait."

Tristan followed Rory as she led him over to the couch where Lorelai was sitting. She looked up surprised and said, "Bible Boy, what are you doing here?"

He leaned forward and said, "It's a secret."

"Oh, I love secrets! But I can see from your appearance that I have some work to do with Rory, so if you will excuse me."

Tristan laughed and said, "Sure thing." He sat down on the couch and nervously watched the movie.

In a record twenty minutes, Rory was back standing in front of him. He stood up and tried to think of something to say. Rory looked beautiful in a simple knee-length black dress. Her hair was down and flowing freely over her shoulders. He suddenly was taken by the urge to run his hands through it. Rory just stared back at him bashfully.

"Okay, kids. I think we should end this stare fest. Time for you to go, chop, chop!" Lorelai said.

Tristan laughed and said, "She's right. We really should get going." He walked towards them and gently took Rory's hand, leading her out the door.

"Have fun! Don't be back too late!" Lorelai yelled after them as they walked towards Tristan's car. She smiled as she watched the two walking hand and hand. She noticed Tristan stopped and whisper something in Rory's ear. Man, I wish I knew what he was saying, Lorelai thought.

As they were walking towards the car, Rory couldn't be feeling more nervous. She had no idea what was going to happen tonight, but she was excited. Tristan leaned towards her and softly whispered, "Mary, you are without a doubt the most beautiful girl I have ever seen." Rory smiled back at him and allowed him to open the car door for her. Yup, this was definitely going to be an interesting night, they both thought as Tristan drove away from the Gilmore house.

So, I'm sorry I didn't get the actual date in this chapter! I know I tend to drag things out. I just start writing and then if I would have kept going it would have been way too long. Please don't hate me and review! Ideas are still appreciated for the date, because that is not completely carved in stone in my mind yet. Please, please, review and let me know! Thanks!

P.S. I do not own the "Graduate," but I just saw that last night for the first time and it was in my head.