A/N: If You haven't seen my profile page, then I'll take this time to tell you that July Rain II is about to come to an end. I'm almost positive that I'm going to write a July Rain III however. I may not write it for a while, though. I have another story line I'm wanting to get started on. Anyway, if you think this story ends kind of on a cliff hanger, it's because I'm leaving room for the third part. Lol Enjoy.

(Chilton – A few days later)

"Rory!" Tristan called from down the hallway. "Hey!" Rory slowed her pace so Tristan could catch up. "How are you classes going?" he asked as he came up beside her.

"Good. I'm almost caught up." She smiled.

"Already? Wow…" Tristan replied. "Paris better watch out, her valedictorian spot could be threatened."

"Paris?" Rory asked, unfamiliar with the name.

"Paris Gellar." Tristan replied. "Blonde haired girl… snobby… hateful."

"I don't think I've met her."

"Consider yourself lucky." Tristan joked. "You'll meet her soon enough, I'm sure. She's been out of school this week with the flu. Louise has taken her all of her assignments though, she'd die before she'd miss any school work. Personally, I'd revel in a week off from school and wouldn't be bothered with assignments."

"Well, it's good that she cares that much about school." Rory answered.

"Yeah, but Paris takes it to an insanely creepy level. You'll see what I mean when you meet her." Tristan and Rory walked outside of the school. "So, you take the bus home everyday?"

"Yeah. I live about forty-five minutes from here." Rory answered.

"Oh, that must get pretty lonesome…"

"I don't mind it. It gives me a chance to read and study."

"Well, how about today you take a different type of transportation home?"

"Like what?" Rory asked.

Tristan walked over to his car. "I'll give you a ride. Hope in."

"You have a car?" Rory was astonished.

"Yeah." Tristan answered amused. "What's so strange about that?"

"You're a freshman…" Rory remarked.

"So?"

"So, how can you already have your license?"

Tristan smiled. "Okay, I guess you get to find out a little secret now."

"What, you drive illegally?"

"No." Tristan chuckled. "I'm sixteen. I started school when I was six instead of five. My parents tried to home school me my first year… it didn't exactly work out too well. The following year, they popped me into kindergarten." He opened the door to his car. "Come on, I promise I'm a safe driver."

Rory knew she should probably take the bus, but she'd never rode in a car with a friend before. Especially not a cute sixteen year old male friend. She gladly got into the car and immediately locked her seatbelt.

(Gilmore House)

"Okay, so it's settled then… we'll adopt." Lorelai confirmed.

"Yeah, I guess it's our best option." Luke replied, though he was truly still disappointed.

"The bright side is, we can look for a newborn." Lorelai continued. "It'd be so close to the same thing, it wouldn't matter. I know we'll learn to love it just as much as if it were our own."

"These types of things can takes months, or years to get through… then you always have to worry about the biological parents…" Luke began having second thoughts.

"Luke, we'll find one that's perfect for us, I'm sure." Lorelai smiled. "It's obviously meant for us to adopt."

Luke forced a smile. "Yeah… I guess it is."

The sound of a car pulling up into the driveway caught both their attention. Luke stood from the kitchen table and looked out the window.

"Who do we know that drives a silver mustang?" Luke asked.

"Uhhh…. Non one." Lorelai replied skeptically.

Luke watched as Rory stepped out of the vehicle. "It's Rory." Luke replied surprised.

"Rory?" Lorelai jumped from her seat and stood beside Luke.

"Who is that in the driver's seat?"

"I have no idea." Lorelai squinted. "Why is some strange boy in a silver mustang dropping my daughter off in our driveway?"

"Good question." Luke opened the door. "I'll find out."

Luke walked outside and towards Rory. Lorelai quickly followed.

"Thanks again." Rory replied as she finally shut the door. She waved as the car pulled out of the driveway.

"Who was that?" Luke asked immediately.

Rory was still a little dreamy. "Tristan." She faintly answered as she watched the car drive off down the street.

"Tristan who?" Lorelai asked just as up tightly.

"DuGray." Rory smiled. "He gave me a ride home."

Lorelai stepped in front of Luke. "Rory, I don't recall telling you it was alright for you to ride home with a boy."

Rory's daydreaming ceased when she realized her mother and Luke were angry with her.

"It's just Tristan. He's a really good driver."

"I don't care if he's Richard Petty, you don't get in a car with him." Lorelai snapped.

"How old is this kid?" Luke asked as he followed his arms.

"He's sixteen." Rory replied in a timid voice. She was unsure if her answer was good or bad at this point. "He just offered me a ride home, so I wouldn't have to sit alone on the bus."

"Next time he offers you a ride, tell him no." Luke replied coolly.

"Why? I don't understand what the big deal is."

Jess was returning home from the bookstore just in time to see Luke, Lorelai, and Rory standing out in the lawn arguing.

"Dear, God." Lorelai moaned.

"What?" Luke asked quickly looking back at Lorelai.

"She likes him." Lorelai replied dropping her arms to her side.

Luke's focus went directly back to Rory. "You like him?"

"That's none of your business." Rory replied sharply.

"Rory." Lorelai scolded.

"Well, it isn't." Rory defended. "I don't know if I like him or not, but even if I did, why would that matter?"

"Hey, drop the attitude!" Lorelai replied. "You know better than this, Rory."

"I didn't do anything!"

Jess quickly walked over beside Rory. He assumed the conversation was about his and Rory's feelings for each other.

"Hey, leave her alone." Jess stepped up between Luke and Rory.

"Jess, stay out of this." Luke replied.

"Don't be mad at her." Jess continued. "You guys just need to get over this whole thing, right now."

"Jess, this doesn't concern you, stay out of it." Luke repeated more forcefully.

"What do you mean it doesn't concern me?" Jess asked, obviously confused.

"Jess, please…" Rory replied in a lower voice. "Just go inside."

Jess turned around. "What is he talking about, Rory?"

"Nothing… just go."

Jess could tell by the look on Rory's face that their disagreement truly had nothing to do with him. "It's about another guy?" Jess asked. "Dean? Don't tell me it's Dean."

"It's not, Dean." Rory replied angrily.

"Jess, go inside!" Luke instructed. "Now."

Jess took a final look at Rory. "Okay… fine." He stuffed his hands into his pockets and took off.

"I don't get it…. You let me go out with Dean."

"Dean didn't drive…." Luke noted.

"And we knew Dean… We've never even met this guy." Lorelai added. "Rory, what if you had gotten into a wreck? We wouldn't have known where you were, or how to get to you…" Lorelai's voice sounded more concerned now than angry.

"Look, it was just a ride. I'm not a kid anymore. I'll be driving too in just a few more months." Rory attempted to walk inside.

Luke stepped in front of her. "I don't care how old you are, you're safety comes first."

"I was safe." Rory remarked.

"I'll judge safety from now on." Luke pointed to himself.

"What is your deal, Luke?" Rory's asked disgustingly.

"My deal? I'll tell you my deal, I'm here to look out for you. And when I see you pull up into the driveway with a guy who I've never met before, I get to be angry."

"No you don't." Rory sassed. "You're not my father."

"Well, I'm the closest damn thing you have!" Luke's voice rose tremendously. It was very possible that every neighbor had heard his remark. Rory's shoulder sank and she stepped back several feet. Tears began to whelm in her eyes.

Luke looked back at Lorelai for some type of reinforcement. Lorelai walked over beside him.

"I'll take care of this." Lorelai replied in a low whisper. She walked over and took Rory by the arm. "Come on."