DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything involving Gilmore Girls.

So, I'm back! It's been a while, I know. I got swamped with schoolwork and such. So, please read and review! I really need to know what you guys think of the turn the story is going to take in this chapter! Thanks!

Rory hadn't been in Chilton for more than five minutes on Monday morning before she heard Paris shouting at her from the end of the hallway. "Oh, this should be fun." She muttered to herself as she continued rummaging through her locker.

"Gilmore! Where are they?" Paris shouted, despite having arrived right in front of Rory.

Rory took a step back from the overbearing Paris and said, "Why hello Paris. Good morning to you too. I'm guessing you mean the assignments?"

"No, Brad and Angelina. Of course the assignments." Paris stuck her hand out expectantly and Rory just stared at her.

Paris sighed and said, "Well?"

"They're saved on the computer in the history room, just like you said." Rory shut her locker and began walking towards class. She stopped and sighed when she felt Paris grab her backpack from behind.

"No, they're not! You thought I wouldn't have checked there?

Rory's eyes widened in surprise and she said, "Paris, I don't know what could have happened. Tristan and I finished them on Saturday and hit save. Maybe you should ask him."

"I would, but his majesty didn't bother showing up today." Paris scowled in disgust and then huffed off towards their history classroom.

Rory glanced around the hallway in hopes of seeing Tristan leaning cockily against a locker, smirking at the trouble that he had caused. No such luck. She took a deep breath and decided to do something that she never thought she would do. She walked over to a group of Tristan's loyal servants, also known as his friends, and tapped one named Brian on the shoulder. He turned around and smirked upon seeing Rory. "Well, well, well, what can I do for you little Mary?"

"God, you call me that too?"

"Everyone knows your Tristan's Mary. He never shuts up about you."

Rory had always thought that Tristan and his friends would sit around laughing at her expense. It was good to know that she no longer needed to doubt who the real Tristan was. Noticing that Brian and the rest of his friends were now staring at her expectantly, she finally said, "Um, okay. I was just wondering if you knew where Tristan was."

Brian eyed the rest of the group and said, "If he's not here, then he's at home. I can take you to him if you want."

Quickly, Rory responded, "No, thanks. But I do need to talk to him. Do you think you can give me his number?"

Brian smirked and said, "I'm sure Tristan would love for you to have his number." Rory rolled her eyes as he ripped off a sheet of paper from his notebook and scribbled down a number.

Rory warily took the paper and said, "Thanks." She turned away from the group and quickly walked back towards her locker.

"Any time, Mary!" Brian shouted and laughed with his friends.

Rory thought she hated it when Tristan called her Mary, but hearing Brian say it was even worse; it somehow sounded much more vulgar and condescending. After only a small fight with her locker, she opened it and retrieved her cell phone that she kept there throughout the school day. She had learned her lesson about bringing it in her bag to class after she forgot to turn the ringer off and Lorelai's "Like a Virgin" ringer rang throughout class. Tristan had had a field day with that one; there were many references to her "being like a virgin, touched for the very first time." She blushed at the embarrassing memory and dialed Tristan's number.

Tristan didn't answer after her first attempt, so she re-dialed and finally after many rings, a tired sounding Tristan answered, "Hello?"

"Tristan, where are you?"

"Mary? Is that you?"

"Yes, it's RORY. The history assignments aren't in the computer. Do you know what happened to them?"

"How'd you get this number?"

"Tristan, focus! The assignments, where are they?"

"Whoa, Relax, Mare. I don't know what happened to them. They were saved and that's all I know."

"God, Paris is going to kill us! Well, actually just me since I'm the only one here."

"I'm sorry Rory, really I am. But I have to go."

"Go? Go where? Back to bed?"

Rory heard a click on the other end and slowly brought her phone from her ear and stared at it. That was really strange, she thought. No stupid excuses, no inappropriate remarks. She put her phone away and quickly went to see if she could help Paris. First period started in 5 minutes and she had no idea how they were going to get the assignment that was due in 5th period finished.

Opening the door cautiously, Rory said, "Paris, I talked to Tristan."

Paris looked up from her fast paced work and said, "And?"

"And he doesn't know what happened. We really did save all the work. Maybe the computer crashed."

"Next time try saving it on a disk!" Paris shouted. Rory nodded her head solemnly and realized that she had definitely overlooked that step. It definitely wasn't like her to not make sure to save it separately. Maybe it was because I was too anxious about the fact that I would be riding in a car alone with Tristan DuGrey, she thought bitterly.

The bell rang, signaling the beginning of first period. Rory looked at Paris in silent questioning and Paris said, "I have an exam first period. I have to go. We'll work on this in study hall." Paris grabbed her bag and roughly brushed by Rory.

Rory considered her schedule for the day and realized that she could stand to miss some of her classes. Not that she would ever want to miss class, but this situation seemed to warrant it. Rory sat at the computer and began typing, but only a few paragraphs into it, she stopped and abruptly rose from her chair. If she was going to re-do all this work, then so was Tristan.

Rory grabbed her jacket and ran out of the school. She stopped when she thought of the small fact that she had no idea where he lived. She thought for a moment and then ran back into the school and headed to the administration office. After explaining the situation, the secretary gave her Tristan's address. She made it back outside, where she was grateful that the Jeep was parked. She had been running late this morning and Lorelai insisted that she take the car. Less than five minutes later, she pulled into Tristan's huge driveway.

After banging on the door for several minutes, Tristan finally answered. He was dressed in baggy sweatpants and white wife beater, looking pale and exhausted. She briefly noted to herself that he looked awful, but then remembered her purpose for coming.

"Mare, what are you-" Rory cut him off by pushing him through the door and following him in.

"You are going to help me finish the assignment! Now!"

Tristan couldn't help but smile at her forcefulness and said, "Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

"Huh, I could say the same for you. Now move it!"

Tristan glanced down at his attire and raised an eyebrow at Rory. "Did you happen to notice something?"

"Other than the fact that you are wasting my time? No." Rory said impatiently.

"Rory, there's a reason why I'm not in school today."

"Oh, please enlighten me."

Tristan ran a hand through his already messy hair and said, "You wanna sit?"

Rory placed her arms over her chest defensively and said, "Why would I want to sit?"

Tristan sighed and said, "Okay, don't sit. But I am." He took a seat on the bottom step of the stairs and stared back up at Rory.

"Tristan, what's going on?" Rory asked quietly. The more she looked at Tristan, the more scared she became. He definitely didn't look like his usual self.

"Okay, here goes. The reason that I'm not in school is because I have been throwing up for the past day and a half."

Rory gave him a sympathetic look and said, "Stomach flu?"

"No… Chemotherapy."

Rory slowly backed against the wall and slid to the ground. She felt as though she had been punched in the stomach. "What?" She said, slowly.

"Rory, I have Leukemia. It's not the first time; I had it when I was a kid."

Tears welled up in Rory's eyes and slowly rolled down her cheeks. "I, I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry Tristan. I had no idea."

Tristan looked at the pained expression on Rory's face and said, "Hey, its okay. I've beat it before and I can do it again. You don't have to worry about me."

Rory stood up and quickly walked over to Tristan, enveloping him in a huge hug. They sat there for several minutes, just hugging. Rory finally pulled back and wiped her eyes. "No more hiding behind your cocky self, Tristan DuGrey. I'm going to be here for you whether you like it or not, so you better get used to it."

Tristan smiled weakly and said, "I think I can get used to that."

So, what did you think? I wanted to take it in a different direction and I didn't think that this was done a lot. This subject is really close to me because I have been dealing with Leukemia for a long time now. I hope this does not bother or upset anyone, because its definitely not my intention.