Disclaimer: It's a fanfictions… for obvious reason as a "fan" I can not claim this as my own. BUT! The idea is mine – and that's the basis of what you're reading… SO ENJOY!

Chapter 3: Got Mono?

"Hey Mary, wait up!" The words escaped his mouth before he could stop himself. What was he doing? He wondered.

Rory kept walking, hoping that he would go away if she ignored him. Obviously this was not the case, because Tristan had run to catch up, and was now walking in step with her, as she made her way towards the bus stop.

"Look Tristan, what ever it is, you better make it quick. This is my bus." Rory said motioning towards the bus which stood waiting.

"Do you want a ride?" he asked, trying not to let the hope fill his eyes.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"A lot of reasons."

"Care to elaborate?" Tristan asked, just wanting to keep her there as long as possible.

"I'd love to, but let's do it tomorrow, or over a messenger service of sorts,"

"Why?" Tristan asked, momentarily confused.

"Because," Rory stated, moving towards the bus. "If I started, I'd go on forever, and then," she said stepping up onto the bus. "I'd miss my bus. Bye Tristan."

"Bye Mary," Tristan whispered, as the doors closed behind her.

The next day at school, Rory went to drop off some of her books in her locker. Juggling coffee, books, and school bag – she turned her combo lock slowly.

"Need help there Mary?" Tristan asked from behind her.

When he had first started doing this, Rory had been terrified at his sudden appearance. But as it became habit, she almost expected him to just appear. It would have been more of a scare if she went through a morning without him showing up at her locker, than him jumping in front of her with what ever verbal attack he had that day.

"No," she replied shortly, twisting to remove the lock, while keeping her coffee balanced on her books.

Smiling proudly as it came off easily, she tried to pull open the door. Nothing. Why me! She deliberated, cursing silently under her breath. Giving it a few hard smacks she started to curse out loud. "Open you stupid piece of steal! What do you have against me? Hun? I don't leave moldy sandwiches in you, I keep you organized, and happy – I don't cover your walls with Abercrombie posters, and magazine clipping of Chad Michael Murry or who ever is in right now. Open damn you!"

"Are you sure?" Tristan asked, eying her coffee as it rocked unstably on her book pile.

"Yes." Rory said irritated. Turning back to the locker she continued. "I'm sorry I called you all those mean things." She said stroking it gently. "I didn't mean them. You're a wonderful locker. You're so much more than a piece of steal – you're … you're a…" she trailed off

"Bodyguard." Tristan supplied.

"Yes!" Rory exclaimed, still gently patting her locker. "You're a bodyguard for all my most precious belongings… so open up and protect you hunk of metal!" she shouted. "No, no, no. I didn't mean that…"

"Listen Mary," Tristan said seriously. "I'd love to stay and watch you stroke your locker – hey, I think I've even seen a porno like this once. But I have class, and unless you want to be late you're going to have to come with me."

"I need my books. They're in my locker. Which won't bloody well open!" She shouted, slamming her fist onto it.

Sighing, Tristan pushed Rory to the side gently. Leaving his hand gently on her hip, where it fell as he moved her, he used his other fist to hit the locker beside hers, causing her door to spring open.

"There," he said, still not moving his hand.

"Thanks…" Rory mumbled, trying to shift her books in hand.

Tristan grabbed the coffee as it stared to fall. Smiling, Rory placed some books into her locker, and pulled out her copy of Death of a Salesman for English. Shutting her locker as gently as possible, she retrieved her coffee, and walked with Tristan towards their class just as the bell was about to ring.

"Where were you?" Louise whispered into Rory's ear.

"Late." Rory supplied, taking out her notebook.

"Late with Tristan DuGrey… anything you want to tell us?"

"Don't you mean anything I want to tell the entire student body?"

"Hey!" Louise argued. "I can keep a secret! I never told anyone when Maddie went out to meet the guy she met online and it turned out to be Eric, the science geek from grade nine."

"Louise!" Madeline hissed.

"Shoot!" Louise said, covering her mouth before trying to hurriedly apologize to Madeline.

Rory just gave her a knowing look; happy that the topic had shifted from her to… well other things.

"Don't think I've forgotten that you came in late with Tristan." Louise said, after getting Madeline to forgive her.

Damn.

"I wouldn't put it passed you, Louise." Rory said turning her attention to the front of the class.

'I don't get it' Louise mouthed to Madeline, before pulling out a nail file.

Rory walked into Math class, feeling only slightly off centered. Her day wasn't going too well, and she wasn't looking forward to her first period that day with Paris.

Silence.

What was happening? What, no arguing? No tension, anger, or frustration? Where was Paris? What did she do to deserve Gods blessing?

"Hey, Maddie?" Rory asked.

"Yep?" She replied, lifting her head from her books at the sudden attention.

"Where's Paris?"

"Oh, she's at home with her nanny. Apparently she went to some conference and one of the representatives from the New York Times had Mono."

"So what? She caught it?"

"That's what I hear."

"Wow."

"Yea, she said she sent you a text message about today's meeting…"

"You have got to be kidding," Rory said, opening her phone and reading the text message Paris had sent her."

"What?" Madeline asked, eager for anything she could pass off as gossip.

"She's left me in charge of today's meeting."

"Better you than me," Madeline said, pulling out a bottle of nail polish.

Sighing, Rory pulled out her notebook, and began checking over her homework problems. This is for the Franklin, she kept reminding herself. All the top stories are mine. I need coffee, she thought.

Tristan walked into the news room, five minutes early, hoping to get a seat next to Rory. He was surprised to see Rory running around the conference table, setting down papers, and highlighting individual things.

"Hey Mary," Tristan said, dropping his bag next to hers.

"I don't have time for this right now Tristan," she replied scribbling something on a sheet before placing it down again.

"Where's Paris?" He asked, surprised at the silence.

"Well, she decided to get mono, and put her whole work load on me. Of course she didn't bother to ask if I had time to organize anything," Rory said pulling a sheet out from a folder, and slamming it down on the table. "She didn't think that maybe I had other things I need to be doing." She said, replicating the action one seat over. "She also conveniently forgot that I didn't elect to be part of this committee, that I was bribed into joining." She said, slamming the folder down.

"Woah there Rory. Calm down… I can't be that much work."

"You use my real name," Rory said sinking into a chair.

"Yea, you don't look like you're in the mood to be teased right now."

"And I do normally?" she demanded.

"Hey, I'm here to help. What do we have to do?"

Sighing Rory pulled her notebook from her bag. Flipping it open, she skimmed the pages until she found the one she was looking for. Sliding it over to him, she buried her head in her arms, breathing in the scent of the table.

"Pick location, choose caterer, pick menu, plan, select and order decorations, tally costs, price tickets, sell tickets, plan fundraiser or fundraisers," Tristan read. "This really isn't all that much."

"Turn the page," Rory mumbled still not raising her head from the table.

"Woah." Tristan said, seeing two more pages. "Who would have thought these dances took so much work."

"Well, if you'd bothered to help out with any school event, you'd know that they all take a lot of work," Rory spat out, lifting her head, reaching for her notebook.

"Hey, back off. I'm here to help you."

"Yea right Tristan. You're here because it was this or expulsion. You're a filler." Rory replied, scribbling something else at the bottom of her lift of 'things to do'

"Rory look at me," Tristan said, taking a seat next to her.

"No time Tristan," Rory said, reaching for a highlighter, as people started to file into the room and take seats.

"Fine, then listen."

"I don't have much of a choice," she said skimming the page.

"Let me help you. My work load isn't nearly as large as yours is, and," he continued. "I have contacts which could make this a lot easier. Not to mention a car for transportation to Paris' house…"

Rory looked up form the papers she was holding.

"You're serious? You're not going to take the work, not finish, and then laugh when you dump it all back on me in a few days?"

"Oh, I'm to classy to laugh."

"Watch it DuGrey. My patience is thinning."

"No really, I'll help you out. It's the least I can do. I mean, it's not your fault Paris got sick."

"Promise not to get mono on me?" Rory asked, as the last person took their seat.

"Promise," Tristan said giving her a real smile.

"Okay everyone," Rory said standing up. "Paris has come down with an unfortunate case of mono, so I'll be running the meetings," she said glancing at Tristan. "We have a lot of work to do, so if you'll open the folders in front of you, there are tasks which need to be completed highlighted."

Taking her seat, she opened her folder. Glancing at Tristan, she smiled as she moved it over for them to share; thankful that he was there to help.

A/N: Well this didn't come out like I'd planned… But I'm reasonably happy with it… Sorry it took so long… I was racing at a qualifying regatta while writing this, and had been busy with training. I also couldn't get through to my beta... BeDaZzLeNpLaiD where are you? I'll try to update soon.