A/N: Pretend that Dean and Rory broke up on a Thursday, and the party was the following night, not the following week. Thanks!

"Hey, Mary!" Tristin Dougrey greeted Rory as she approached her locker at Chilton the next day. She realized with dismay that he was leaning against it. "You're blocking my locker." Rory told Tristin tersely.

"Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." Tristin observed.

"I just had a bad evening last night. Go away."

"What, did you and the Hulk break up?" Tristin asked jokingly.

Tears came to Rory's eyes and she nodded miserably. "Oh, Rory." Tristin was genuinely shocked and instantly sorry that they had broken up and that he had said anything about it. He offered her a hug and at first, she shook her head. Then she accepted.

She cried into his blazer, comforted by his warmth and friendliness. "He…he cheated on me." Rory said, muffled by his blazer. Tristin shook his head and rocked Rory back and forth. Why would anyone cheat on someone as sweet and dedicated as Rory? Something just didn't add up.

"Hey, Rory?" Tristin released her from his arms. "I know you probably don't feel like it, but would you like to come to the party at Madeline's tonight with me?"

"What about Summer?" Rory just realized that he was still attached to Summer Kingsley and he shouldn't have hugged her.

"Ah, Summer. She's still my girlfriend, isn't she?"

"Yeah, I am. You better have a good excuse for this scenario." A voice came from behind Tristin. It was Summer, and she had seen everything.