AN: Happy Independence days to all your Americans out there! I'm updating before the party at my house. It's going to be a 4th of July BBQ and Engagement Party for my brother put in one. Yes my brother is engaged now, he proposed while he was in Italy on vacation with his girlfried. So romantic! Anyways here's the chapter. Next chapter I will be raising the rating to M so if you're reading and I'm not on your alerts or Favorites you can find me under the M rating next chapter! Enjoy this one, a little Trory drama then a cute song.Oh and I also included Rory's nickname Ace because it didn't feel like a Sophie without that nick name, Logan's nickname will come out next chapter!

I own nothing!

It was Wednesday. Three days until the Homecoming day and the whole week the group had been running campaigns for Rory and Logan to make them King and Queen. On Monday, Rory and Tristan rode into school in their custom limousine and caused quite a scene. The whole week Rory had been the center of attention and been blushing furiously every time someone complemented her while Logan smirked at her side. Rory had been perky around school and had been very amiable towards everyone; the whole group had been that way by instruction of Rory. If she was going to get attention, she wanted the attention to be from the group's kindness, not by fear.

Today was different though. Today, while the group was waiting for Rory and Tristan to show up in their limo they saw Tristan's car pull up. Tristan stepped out of the car with a scowl and almost surpassed the group if they hadn't blocked his way. "What's with you and where's Rory?" asked Colin. Tristan just shot them all a glare and walked into the school leaving the group confused.

Within one minute, Rory's limo pulled up and Rory stepped up they knew something had gone awry. Instead of the usual perky smile and wave Rory usual greet them with; they were totally ignored by her and she stomped off into the building. "What's with them?" Logan asked annoyed that his girlfriend had completely overlooked him.

The group all looked at each other concerned before trailing off after the two to see what was going on. They entered their corridor to find Rory and Tristan yelling at each other with several onlookers. Then all of a sudden Tristan went into Rory's open locker and pulled a book out and threw it to the ground. Rory gasped before going into Tristan's locker and copying the action. Tristan glared at her before the two went into each others' lockers completely empty them throwing all the things on the ground. As they were doing this, the group cautiously approached the two, trying hard not to get hit by the flying books and school supplies.

Tristan walked onto school grounds pissed, Rory had told him to get his own ride because she sure in hell wasn't going to be in the same car as him. So Tristan had to drive to school while Rory got to sit and relax in their limo. He arrived and went straight to his locker, not answering any of the questions his friends asked him. When he got to his locker he was happy to find Rory wasn't there yet and quickly tried to get his stuff together without having a confrontation with his best friend.
Rory stepped out of her limo still thinking about her and Tristan's fight. He wasn't being reasonable and thinking about the future like she was. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she totally walked passed her friends without even a smile, but she wasn't concerned about that at the moment. She walked into the hall way and sighed, Tristan was already there. She would just have to try and ignore him.
Tristan knew immediately when she had stepped into the hallway and knew he had to ignore her to avoid a scene. She walked past him and to her locker which was right next to hers, slamming everything she could possibly slam in the process.

"Someone's cranky," mumbled Tristan before wincing as soon as he said the words. Rory wouldn't let him get away for saying that.

"Yeah I found out my best friend is an idiot jackass last night, sorry if I'm taking it badly," Rory spat back still slamming things into her locker.

"What the fuck did I do so wrong Rory!" Tristan yelled to her turning heads in the hall.

"How could you even ask that! You should know what you did!" she screamed back gaining even more attention.

"No sorry my mind reading skills haven't been up to par lately!"

"Oh don't get clever on me. You want to skip a year before college!" Rory yelled.

"What's so bad about that Rory? I want to explore the options of the world before settling down!" Tristan reasoned.

"It's stupid that's what Tristan! We got accepted into all of the Ivy League schools we applied to and we're expected to attend one of them. Do you know how stupid and immature we'll look if we tell our grandparents we want to take a year off. A year off to do what? Party and get stoned while the world passes us by!" Rory screamed not appreciating his reason.

Tristan sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Why do you have to have a stick up your ass when it comes to college Rory? There's more to the adult life than books and education, you need to let loose!" Tristan screamed, and before his head knew what his hand was doing, he was pulling out a book of Rory's and throwing it on the group. Shit why did I do that?

Rory gasped before doing the same thing he did and before either of them knew what was happening they were taking each others' belongings and throwing them every where in the hall way. The two were unaware of the group of 6 that was watching them from behind, dodging flying books and looking on with amusement, confusion, and concern. Suddenly, Tristan stopped what he was doing.

"Wait what do you mean by we take a year off?" Tristan said giving Rory a confused look. Rory also stopped what she was doing to look at him. "I never said anything about us taking a year off," Tristan said harsher than he intended, he was just surprised that she thought he expected her to follow his footsteps.

That comment hit Rory like a ton of bricks, making her feel like Tristan didn't want her around. Instead of showing her hurt in sadness though, she released it in anger. "I HATE YOU! YOU STUPID AS--," before being able to finish the sentence and lunge towards Tristan she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and a hand cover her mouth holding back her biting words and aggressive actions. Tristan stood and stared at her blinking, processing what she just said. Sure, he and Rory had fights but they never culminated to the point where she said she hated him, seriously. He then realized she was crying, and he felt horrible.

Rory looked back to who was holding her and found Logan, with her other friends staring at her. She just wrapped her arms around Logan's neck and buried her face into chest letting out her sobs. Rory didn't care who saw her, because she was hurting. Her best friend was totally abandoning their life plan they had formulated when they first met and it was killing her, she was scared to go through everything alone. She always had someone there for her, but in college she might be alone without Tristan, and it scared her.

Logan looked down at his crying girlfriend and kissed her head. He had no idea what was going on between her and Tristan. He wanted to find out badly but all he could do was hold her and comfort her, even if he didn't know what he was comforting her from. He took a glimpse at Tristan who now was on the floor next to his locker sighing with his eyes closed and looking guilty. Logan glanced back at his friends, all looking concerned at Tristan and Rory. He made eye contact with Louise whose gaze was drifting between Rory and Tristan, he nodded towards Tristan and Louise understood. She immediately walked over to Tristan and sat next to him giving him a kiss on a cheek and taking his hand in hers. He looked up at her before looking down once again.

Colin and Finn took the duty of breaking up the crowd that was around them. "Move along people, nothing to see," Colin said flailing his arms around trying to dissolve them, unsuccessfully.

"Alright everyone show's over, not unless you'd like to stay and watch my rendition of Cats!" Finn said excitedly. The crowd quickly dispersed, not wanting to be around for that. "Should I be insulted?" Finn asked Steph. Steph only rolled her eyes and told Colin and Finn to pick up all the stuff and put them in the right lockers. The two sighed before complying, normally they wouldn't but it was for their friends. The two even kept the right books that Tristan and Rory would need for their first class. The bell rang signaling the start of homeroom and Rory gathered herself not wanting to look like wreck in front of everyone.

The whole day had been horrible for Rory and Tristan. They both wanted to say some thing to each other but then would stop themselves, not wanting to be the first one to cave. It was already the end of the day and the group was saying their goodbyes. Rory gave each over her friends a hug or a kiss on the cheek, avoiding Tristan. She whispered apologies and thanks for the trouble they went through because of the two of them but each of them said it wasn't a problem at all.
The rest of the group except Tristan had left; he had left a book in his locker and went to retrieve it. Rory looked around anxiously for her limo, wanting to be gone before Tristan got back out. It was unusual for Geoffrey to be late; he was a very punctual driver and never came tardy. She idly pulled out her cell phone saw she had a missed call from her grandmother and a new voicemail. She checked her voicemail inbox and Grandma Hayden's voice spoke.

"Rory dear, it's grandma Hayden. I'm so sorry for this but I have to borrow your driver from you and Tristan today because mine called out sick and your grandfather and I have a very important meeting to attend. I assure you he'll be back in your hands tomorrow but for today you and Tristan will just have to call a cab to bring you home. Don't try taking one of those communal buses, I hear there are all kinds of diseases there and I don't want either of you catching anything, so here's the number for the cab: 435-555-7274. I'm sorry once again dear, see you soon!"

Rory sighed and closed her phone. She looked in her purse to find her wallet, only to realize that she left it at home. To top it all off, the sky was turning a dark shade of grey and the sound of thunder cut through the air, threatening a storm. "Beautiful fucking day," Rory mumbled trying to figure out what to do. She then saw Tristan walking out of the building, he glanced at her but when he saw she was looking quickly turned away.

"I am so not taking the bus, I'd rather get my books thrown out the window by Tristan than take the bus," Rory thought.

Tristan was halfway to his car, wondering why Rory was just standing there and where their limo was. He sighed when he heard his name being called.

"Tris," Rory yelled shyly towards his retreating body. He immediately stopped in his tracks and turned towards her with a blank expression. "Yeah?" he said quietly.

"I don't have a ride home," she said embarrassed. Tristan just looked at her before giving a sigh of defeat and nodding his head towards his car. Rory followed him silently and got into the passenger's seat in silence. Tristan turned on the engine and the radio automatically turned on, playing one of the Hartford radio stations. The music it was playing was basically pop, and not either of the two's style but neither of them motioned to change the station.

Tristan focused on the road ahead of him. As much as he wanted to say something to Rory, he knew that she would counter whatever it was and his pride was at stake. They were best friends, and they were both as stubborn as the other, which made it harder when they fought. He understood that her dream since forever was to go to Harvard, but he didn't understand why he had to be there with her. He needed the year off, especially after the bomb his grandparents had dropped on him. Why can't she understand that?

Rory gazed out the window watching the passing scenery being covered with rain. She had a lot to say to Tristan, but was tired of yelling out her feelings. She was taken aback when he told her his plans for the next year, and hurt when she realized that he hadn't even thought of including her in his plans. They were, are best friends and they had agreed back when they met that they would do everything together.

Rory and Tristan were having their first sleep over together, organized by their moms. Today had been the last day of 7th grade and tomorrow the two would be going to separate summer camps, Tristan to basketball camp and Rory to writer's camp.

The two 13 year olds were in Rory's basement in lying down on their backs with the tops of their heads touching. They were sharing their expectations for the camps and ignoring the feelings they were having for each other at the moment.

"Hey Rory, are you uh… are you going to miss me this summer?" Tristan asked shyly looking up at the ceiling.

Rory blushed, as much as she didn't want to admit it, she wasn't going to lie. "Yeah, a lot Tristan. Are you going to miss me?" Rory asked in the same manner.

"Of course I am. Do you promise to keep in touch and not find a new best friend?" he asked flipping over onto his stomach and looking down at Rory's face.

"I promise as long as you promise," Rory said mimicking his action and looking him in his eyes.

"Promise Pinky," Tristan said. Rory sighed with a worried look on her face. "What's wrong?" he asked her.

"I'm scared. I won't know anyone and I'll be all alone," Rory said starting to cry. Tristan moved over so he was lying on his stomach next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Hey, just bring that cell phone that your mom got you for your 13th birthday, and I'll bring mine and then whenever we need each other we can call and the other one will pick up. It won't even be like we're apart," Tristan said with a smile. Rory wiped her tears and smiled back.

"Are you sure? Because you'll be getting calls every hour," Rory said to him weakly.

"Yes I'm sure Rory. That's what best friends are for. I'll never leave you. You're stuck with me the rest of your life," Tristan said joking back.

"Aw darn," Rory replied giggling, "Hey let's make a pact."

"A pact? What do you mean, like one of those 'Friends'-if- I- don't-get-married-by-30-we-marry-each-other pacts?" Tristan asked.

"No stupid! A pact that we'll always keep in touch, and we'll go to high school together, to college together, grow up and find houses next to each other and get grave plots next to each other," Rory said joking near the end.

"Whoa grave plots, getting a little too ahead for my taste Pinky," Tristan said. Rory just rolled her eyes. "But it does sound reasonable. Ok from this day forward, even when we're apart we'll constantly be on the phone with each other, and we'll grow up together going to all the same schools, and we'll find houses together. No promises with the grave plots because I don't think I can stand being with you my whole life on earth and the after life," Tristan teased. Rory slapped his arm and giggled.

"Ok, so how do we seal this deal? Make a blood pact or something?" Rory said nervously.

"Nah, I have a better idea," Tristan said leaning in and giving Rory a gentle kiss on the lips. "Great so if someone breaks the pact our kissing abilities will be in jeopardy," Rory said with a giggle as Tristan threw a pillow at her face.

That was how the pact started, and although the formation of it wasn't a binding contract, Rory obviously took it deep to heart and very seriously.

"I wonder how the kitten and Tristan are," Finn asked taking a long swig of Mitchum's scotch bottle. The group had all assembled at Logan's house. Logan had offered Rory several invitations, not wanting to leave her alone, but she rejected all of them saying she had things to do at home.

"Rory seemed really upset. She was even more upset than when she told us those stories about Dean and Jess and Austin," Stephanie said painting her toenails.

"Steph can you not do that here! The nail polish always makes the place smell like shit!" Logan yelled angrily. All of his friends just eyed him suspiciously.

Colin spoke. "Are you alright Logan, you see kind of stressed out."

"He's just worried about the love of his life Rory," Louise said trying to grab some nail polish from Stephanie, who pulled away quickly nearly falling off the couch she was sitting on.

Logan turned red. "What is with everyone and the love crap? I'm telling you all that it's way too early for any of that. And Louise, shouldn't you be concerned about Tristan your boy toy?"

"Come on Logan, you got to stop denying your feelings it's getting old and annoying fast. And I'll have you know that I'm only going to Homecoming with Tristan, there's nothing else." Logan rolled his eyes. She should really practice what she preaches.

"Then why did you turn down that date with that hottie at the dress store in the mall? He was like an Abercrombie model!" Madeline asked. She didn't mean to leak out that vital information, she was just dumbly curious. "Hmm you're right he was a sexy beast," Stephanie said with a giggle. Colin's face dropped and Finn noticed. He passed him the bottle and whispered, "There's happiness at the bottom of every alcoholic beverage."

"We're off subject here," Louise stated annoyed, "We'll just call them tonight and make them talk ok?" The group all nodded and started off on their own activities again. Logan sat looking at his hands and thinking about what everyone was telling him. Slowly but surely, he was starting to grasp his feelings, his feelings of love.

Tristan and Rory were pulled out of their shared flashback when a song started played on the radio instead of the commercials that were becoming background sound.

Will I always be there for you?
When you need someone, Will I be that one you need?
Will I do all my best to, to protect you?
When the tears get near your eyes
Will I be the one that's by your side?
Will I be there when you call me in the middle of the night?
Will I keep the rain from falling down into your life?
I promise, I promise
I promise I will.

The song wasn't something that Rory and Tristan would usually listen to, but the words hit them hard. It was their promise, they promised each other that when they started being friends and Rory couldn't help it when her eyes started welling up with tears. She quickly wiped them away, not wanting to show weakness with Tristan in the car.


Will I take tender care of you?
Take your darkest night and make it bright for you
Will I be there to make you strong and to lean on?
When this world has turned so cold
Will I be the one that's there to hold?

However, with those words Rory just let it all out like a blubbering idiot. Tristan nearly swerved into another car before pulling the car into the shoulder and parking there. He looked over at his best friend, crying and he knew it was his fault. "Swallow your pride you asshole," his conscience said.

"Rory, please stop crying," Tristan said desperately. He hated it when she cried; it made him want to cry.

"No!" She yelled like a defiant four year old.

"Rory," Tristan said rubbing her arm before intertwining his fingers with hers. "I'm sorry Rory," he said sympathetically trying to stop her from crying.

"No you're just saying that. You're still going to leave, you're going to leave me like Austin and Matt and Dean and Jess and you're going to leave me like Logan's going to leave me!" She yelled hoarsely through her sobs.

"Don't even say that babe," Tristan said reaching over the gears and kissing her temple, "Logan's not leaving you and I'm not leaving you. I've been thinking the whole day, and I have to tell you the real reason I wanted to get away for a year. It's not to get away from you, and I don't know what I was thinking when I said and did what I said and did today." Tristan said looking straight at her.

Rory's crying subsided into hiccups before she turned to Tristan. "Don't let me hold you back Tristan. You do whatever you want," she told him trying to convince herself she was alright with it.

"Rory just please listen to what I have to say ok?" Rory nodded and looked at him as he sighed.

"When you called me last night, I was really upset. I know I should have told you about it but then you started talking about how excited you were to start college life in Harvard, and it just upset me. Rory I found out the real reason my grandparents started being so nice to me," Tristan said exasperated. Rory straightened up at this. She knew all along that they had ulterior reasons but she pushed it to the back of her mind and let Tristan enjoy it. But now the subject had come back at full force, and she knew that their motives probably played a big part on why Tristan planned on what he did.

"What did they tell you?" Rory asked, surprising Tristan with her concerned tone.

"Apparently, after I graduate from college, which they so kindly let me pick," he said mimicking a deeper voice of his grandfather, "I am to become a partner in my father's lawfirm, marry a nice girl ,preferably you, and have two kids one boy one girl," Tristan said annoyed.

"Wow," was all Rory could say. "So do you want roses or daisies for the centerpieces?" Rory asked trying to cheer him up. He laughed a little before speaking, "That's the reason I want to take a year off and travel at my own free will, because it might just be the last time I really get my own free will," Tristan said sadly.

"I'm sorry, I wish you would've told me before I blew up on you," Rory said giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"I guess I really didn't want to talk about it," Tristan said with a sad smile.

"I didn't have a right to yell at you anyways. It just scared me you know? Thinking about how hard college is going to be, and not having you there for my support."

"Yeah, but listen you have Logan now, he'll be there for you and if he's not I'll kick his ass," Tristan said with a smirk.

"What if he leaves too?" Rory asked worried.

"Rory you have to have more faith in people, you can't be so scared anymore. Logan's a great guy and from the looks of it he's not going anywhere. He's in love with you." Rory froze. No no no no no no way!

"Tristan don't lead me to believe things that aren't true," Rory deadpanned.

Tristan let out an annoyed sigh. "What ever you said Rory," he said letting it go and sitting in silence with her. These two are both so stubborn and blind to see things.

"So what's going to happen? With us I mean?" Rory asked warily.

"We'll take it as it comes Rory, we still have the rest of the senior year and summer to figure it out. But I'm sure we'll definitely stay best friends."

"Is that a promise?"

"It's a promise," Tristan said with a final smile at her before he started up the car again and drove the rest of the way to Star Hollow in comfortable silence listening to the ending of the song.

And I love you more every day
And nothing will take that love away
When you need someone
I promise I'll be there for you (there for you)
I promise

Will I be there when you call me in the middle of the night?
Will I keep the rain from falling down into your life?
I promise, I promise
I promise I will

Rory and Tristan had arrived back at Rory's house and the two immediately started on homework, seeing as they barely paid any attention in classes today. Both of their parents had gone on an emergency business trip to Canada until Friday, the night before homecoming, leaving the two of them alone until then. Tristan had agreed to stay at Rory's house and Rory was happy about that, she hated being alone.

The two had just finished their homework when the phone rang. "I'll get it," Rory said reaching over to her phone to find it wasn't there. Instead, she pushed the talk button on the phone dock and put it on speaker. Logan's annoyed voice filled the room and Tristan raised his eyebrow.

"Finn shut the hell up or I won't be able to hear when she answers!" Logan yelled.

"Mate my voice is much more pleasant to hear compared to yours. Give me the phone, I'll sing kitten a ballad of my undying love for her!" Finn said

"NO!" said all of them in unison. They all quieted when they heard a familiar giggling through the phone.

"Rory?" Logan asked.

"Hi Logie bear," answered Rory seriously, she heard the laughter of several people. Logan would usual scold her for that, but he was just happy she sounded better.

"Hey Ace," Logan replied.

"Ace?" Rory asked confused.

"Yeah, my dad had a talk with me earlier and told me he got his hands on some of your pieces that you wrote for your town newspaper, said you were quite the reporter. Hence Ace reporter, you don't mind now do you?" Logan said completely ignoring the eye rolls he was getting from his friends. "It's ok if he flirts and makes up little pet names for her but does he have to do it when we're all here," Louise mumbled to Madeline who just said, "I think it's so cute!"

"Ace huh?" Rory said throwing a pillow a Tristan who was making smooch faces at her, "It's fine, but what do I get to call you then?"

"I can think of a few things," Logan said with a smirk that Rory could practically see through the phone.

"Ok before you two get all sexual innuendo on us I would like you remind you that your innocent friends-," Colin started but was cut off by Rory's voice.

"Excuse me did you say innocent?" she asked teasingly.

"Ok before you two get all sexual innuendo on us I would like to remind you that your friends with virgin ears--," he was cut off again by Logan this time.

"Virgin?" Logan asked with an eyebrow up. Colin sighed. "Alright, alright I would like to remind you that your friends with ears are listening and we don't want to hear you two have phone sex thanks," he said saying it quickly before anyone could correct him again.

Logan just rolled his eyes. "We'll figure out that name thing later. But we called to see how you were feeling, have you talked to Tristan yet?" Logan asked sincerely concerned. Rory smiled, she could hear his concern and was happy to have a boyfriend who really cared about her, she never really got that feeling from Dean or Jess, it was like they would put up a show to seem concerned when really they didn't.

"I'm a lot better, and I have talked to Tristan," Rory replied giving a smile to him while she packed her books into her backpack.

"Really? We tried calling him, wanting to get both of you on the line but he wasn't answering his house line or his cell," Logan's voice said. Tristan looked at his cell phone and saw that he had missed a call and he just gave Rory and innocent smile.

"Oh, well he's right here. Did you want to talk to him?" Rory said distracted. "How did I get all of these books to fit in here?" she mumbled to herself.

"Tristan's there?" Colin's voice said confused.

"Present," Tristan replied, "What's up?"

"Things went all Twilight Zone!" Madeline exclaimed nervously starting to bite her nails.

Finn spoke, "Uh mate weren't you and the little lady just screaming your heads off at each other this morning?"

"Yea we fixed that," Rory answered. "Hey why don't you guys sleep over until Friday! Our parents are out of town!" Rory exclaimed changing the subject.

"Rory wait you and Tristan are all right now?" Logan asked confused.

"Yes Logie Bear," Rory said with a sweet voice. She heard the group sigh in relief collectively before Finn yelled, "See you in 20 minutes love!" and the hanging up on the phone.

"Gotta love 'em," Rory said with a shrug to Tristan. "Love huh?" he said with a smirk.

Rory sighed, "Don't start that again!" she yelled before slamming the door to take a shower.

AN: I just need to reenforce the whole Rory Tristan friendship and I wanted to incorporate the cute song. I don't own it by the way it's I Promise by Stacie Orrico. Review and remember next chapter the rating's going to bumped up to M! Oh and also to sugary sweet who picked up the extremely subtle hint about Austin's voice in chapter 17 congrats! It will all be cleared up and I'm going to have fun writing that particular part. I don' think I'm having Paris in this story after all, she just don't mesh well. That's all, I'll update soon if you all review!