-1Tristan lies in his bedroom that night, wondering how he let Rory Gilmore get under his skin. She was just supposed to be a challenge. He wasn't actually supposed to start caring about her. I don't care about her, he thought to himself. This is all just because she is so different. Once I actually reel her in, this will all go away. Tristan was surprised to find that he was sad to think what he was feeling for Rory might disappear if he won her over. He was even more surprised to realize that he would be the one hurting when all was said and done, not Rory. He pictured Rory's smiling face after he had splashed her with water that afternoon. Then he saw her smiling in the garden as she dreamt of sitting there on a warm day, reading a good book. He pictured himself sitting with her, stealing glances while her mind was in another world.

Tristan runs his fingers across Rory knee. He then tickles her hand, lifts it to his lips, and places a soft kiss on it.

"You're trying to distract me."

"I'm succeeding. Come on. Would you rather get lost in a world that is contained within pages or live the dream?"

"Can't I have both?"

"Right now? I don't think so. You have to choose. It's me or the ink."

"That's really sad. You'll come back tomorrow though, right?"

Tristan grabs Rory around the waist and lifts her off the chair the have been sitting on. He then place her on the ground and tickles her until she cannot take it anymore.

"Stop, please." She laugh as tears run down her face. "Please Tris, I can't take it anymore."

"No? Well then, I guess you'll just have to give me something in return."

She smiles up at him and runs her hand under his shirt to softly graze his bare skin with her soft hand. He lets out a small groan as a shiver runs down his spine. He slowly brought his head down so his lips could brush against hers.

This daydream is nothing like what he normally imagined when he thought about a girl. Usually he just ripped their clothes off. Tristan became terrified at the thought that a girl might actually be able to control him in any way. It was not at all what he wanted. This has to end. Tomorrow, I'll just tell her I don't have time to tutor her anymore. Tristan tosses and turns as he tries to figure out how he got in too deep with this girl he barely even knew.

Rory is also lying in bed, but she is sleeping soundly. A smile forms on her face as she rolls onto her back.

Rory is walking through the gardens Tristan introduced her to earlier that day. She has a content smile on her face as she bends down to smell the roses and gardenias. She closes her eyes as she takes in the magnificent scents. When she stands up straight and opens her eyes, she sees Tristan waiting for her in a brilliant, white gazebo with a broad smile on his face. She walks toward him and the wind blows her long white dress against her bare legs. When she reaches him, Rory lifts her hand to caress his cheek. Her eyes meet his gaze, and she pulls his head down to hers until their lips meet.

She wraps her arms around his waist and rests her head on his chest. She feels Tristan kiss the top of her head and run his hand through her hair.

Suddenly, Rory and Tristan are dancing across the garden to Liszt's Lieberstraum.

Rory suddenly jerks herself awake, taken aback by her unexpected dream and her even more unexpected sadness that she had to tear herself away from it. Rory rolls over onto her side, pushes all thoughts from her head, and falls back asleep.

"Morning Luke," Rory says as she walks into the diner the next morning.

"Morning, Rory. Where's your mom?"

"Oh, she got distracted by the juggler."

"The what?"

"The juggler. He's right outside. See?" She leans toward the window and points to her left.

"Oh, this is ridiculous." Luke says and heads for the door.

"Wait, can't I have some…" She stops when Luke starts yelling at the juggler stationed outside his diner. Rory helps herself to some coffee and donuts and puts $2.00 on the counter. She steps back out onto the sidewalk and says, "Okay, mom. I'm ready."

"You didn't get me any coffee?"

"I only have so many hands. It's not my fault you went into a daze. Chop chop."

"Just a sec," she calls before running through the doorway and grabbing a cup of coffee herself.

"What does this look like, McDonalds?"

"Oh, absolutely not. They're nicer at McDonald's. And they don't kick Ronald McDonald out when he starts doing tricks."

"Just go."

"See you later, Lukey D."

"I thought this was nothing like McDonalds."

"I said Lukey, not Mickey."

"Yeah, yeah."

Lorelei opens her mouth to continue torturing Luke, but Rory jumps in. "Are you really going to drive me to school, or should I try to run and catch the bus?"

"No, no. I want to hear about yesterday's tutor session. You have had a funny look about you my sweet child, and I am dying to find out why."

"What?" Luke asks with a confused look.

"You wouldn't understand. We'll leave you be now."

"If only."

"You love us Luke." He rolls his eyes as the aggravating mother and daughter walk away, but Lorelei catches him smiling. "I saw that," she calls to him, and he curses under his breath.

After they get situated in the car, Lorelei begins her interrogation. "So, what happened."

"We studied."

"Yes, and that is why you actually came home with a smile last night."

"What's wrong with smiling?"

"Absolutely nothing. What's wrong with sharing a good story with your dear mother?"

"We had a snack with his little sister. Then we studied. Then we took a break. Then we studied some more. THEN, he took me home."

"What happened during the break?"

"What?"

"Well, snacking I get, studying I get, driving home I get, but breaking? What's that?"

"We took a walk. It was no different than the studying and snacking and driving. We insulted each other."

"And that made you smile."

"Mom."

"Daughter."

"I embarrassed him."

"Ooh. You embarrassed the all powerful and in control pretty boy?"

"Yep."

"And you realized he was actually human. And incredibly hot?"

"NO!"

"Oh, of course not. I have no idea what I was thinking. I must have imagined that goofy smile. You know, the kind that says, I can't wait to see the man of my dreams again."

"Oh come on. The man of my dreams? Now I know you imagined it."

"Perhaps," Lorelei says with a knowing smile. "But if I'm right, remember to use protection."

"MOM!"

"Kidding. I know you would never forget something so important."

"You're such a teenager."

"Right back at ya."

"It's not an insult when you're actually talking to a teenager."

"Oh."

They arrive at Chilton at the same time Tristan is walking to the main entrance. Rory steps out of her mother's car and flashes him a smile before saying hello. Tristan gives her a quick nod without smiling and continues walking. He stops when Babe runs up behind him, then he pulls her into a deep kiss.

"See?" she whispers to her mom. "Definitely not 'man of your dreams' worthy."

Rory struggles to hide her disappointment from her mom. Lorelei can see right through her, but knowsthat it is not the time to push her. Instead, she plays along with her daughter.

"I guess not. I was getting such high hopes for him too. I'll make sure to cross him off my list." She then points a random boy. "Why don't you wrangle that one in."

"Bye mom."

"Really. Have him come to Friday night dinner. It'll be great."

"Bye."

"Party pooper."

"You just dropped me off at school."

"You love school."

"How do we ever know what we're actually talking about?"

"Does it matter?"

"I have to go."

"I was serious about the Friday night dinner thing."

"It's not happening. Bye."

Lorelei mutters something under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Love you."

Rory was surprised when Tristan did not hassle her about what had happened when they arrived at school. She is even more surprised when he does not even look at her during class. Finally, after lunch, she decides to approach him herself.

"Hey, Tristan."

He turns around, surprise showing on his face. "Oh, hi."

"Is something wrong?"

"Nope."

"Okay, well I was wondering if we could get together on Wednesday or Thursday."

"I'm not really into dating you," he says harshly

Rory feels her cheeks begin to burn. "I meant for German."

"Oh, right. Yeah, I don't think I can help you out anymore. I just don't have the time. And it's not right for me to do something that obviously upsets Babe."

"Right. Because you two are so in love."

Tristan now turns red with anger. He is glad to feel something other than the rosy feelings that seem to have clouded his mind for the past few days, and uses it to fuel his break from Rory. "You have no idea what my relationship with Babe is like."

"So now it's a relationship?"

Tristan feels a pang when he hears the hurt in her voice at the way she has just been spoken to. He has never seen her face look as stricken as it does now. It has suddenly gone from red to white. He mentally shakes the regret from his body and formulates a response.

"You know, it's really none of your business. I can't help you anymore. I know you were starting to like it, so it's probably good that I keep you from falling for me."

"You are so full of yourself. Trust me. You are NOT the guy for me. You are egotistical,"

"Spare me. Bye Mary."

Rory screams on the inside as he walks away. "How does he do that?" she mutters to herself.

As Rory sits in study hall that afternoon, she lets her mind wander to what happened in the hallway with Tristan at lunchtime. For the first time, she cannot pinpoint why she is uncomfortable with his reaction to her. She continually replays his words and gestures in her mind. She pictures the look on his face as he delivers his blows. He did not have his trademark smirk. It was instead replaced by a pained expression. He did not want to say the things he did. It did not seem like he wanted to hurt her. But for some reason, he seemed to think he had to. Rory could not grasp why Tristan had acted the way he had or why he suddenly could not tutor her anymore, especially when he was the one who had encouraged her to utilize her help. He had almost pursued her as if he were the one who needed the help. Finally, confused and frustrated, Rory decides to stop trying to figure out Tristan Dugrey and directs her energy toward being angry with him, instead.

Rory and Tristan continue to avoid or ignore each other for the remainder of the day, though neither can get the other from his/her mind.

Tristan is disappointed that Rory does not try to find out what has happened or why he suddenly refuses to work with her on her German assignments. When he leaves school for the day, he walks quickly from the building and ignores most of the usual people who try to get his attention. He finds Babe waiting at his car.

"Hey there sugar. Want to go hang out?"

"Sure. Hop in."

Tristan glances up to see Rory watching him with a hard look on her face and feels a slight twinge, and then he peels out of the parking lot, ready to erase her from his thoughts.

Rory stomps into her house and slams the door before she walks to her bedroom.

"Whoa. What's going on?" Lorelei calls from the kitchen.

"Sorry."

"You know, these one-word answers are becoming more and more frequent."

Rory sits quietly for a moment, contemplating what to tell her mother. "I thought Tristan was actually growing up. That he was starting to open up to me. Now he's worse than ever."

"How so?"

"He refuses to tutor me. He says it's for my own good, so I won't fall for him. He basically ignored me all day today."

"Oh, I see. He's playing hard to get."

Rory laughs, "Tristan Dugrey does not play hard to get."

"A couple of weeks ago you would have jumped for joy if he just left you alone. And this morning you said he was not 'the one worthy.' So what's the problem?"

"Well… he may not have been 'the one worthy' but he had friend potential. I just can't believe it means nothing to him. We really started to have fun. That's all."

"I'm sorry. I know it stinks to have the door shut in your face. Focus on the kids who are mature enough to handle real human emotion."

"Thanks, mom."

"Anytime. I like it when you actually let me in."

"I wasn't shutting you out."

"I know that. You just haven't been telling me everything. But maybe I'm not the only one you're hiding something from." Upon receiving a quizzical look from Rory, she responds, "You'll see." Lorelei then gets a bright smile on her face. "You want Chinese for dinner? I've been craving it all day."

"Sure. Why not? Don't forget the fried wantons."

Lorelei gasps, "How dare you imply I would ever forget one of the four Chinese food musts!"

"Okay, get extra fried wantons. I need them tonight."

"Sure, kiddo."

"Where are we going?" Babe asks Tristan.

"I'm taking you home."

"My parents are home already. We should go to your place."

"I'm dropping you off at home, Babe. Then I'm going home. Alone."

"But I thought we were gonna have fun."

"I changed my mind."

"What's up with you lately? You never have time for me anymore. It's not like I've ever asked for any sort of commitment from you. And I always give you good…"

"Seriously, Babe. Just drop it. I'm not interested anymore. It was nice while it lasted."

"She broke you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Mary. She got you to want more. It's almost unbelievable."

"It is unbelievable. I don't have a clue what you're talking about. I'm not broken, Babe. I'm just not interested in you anymore. It happens all the time. Ask Heather or Kelly or Jenn."

"You broke up with Heather and Kelly and Jenn because they each wanted an exclusive relationship. You and I have been together through all of those 'relationships'. So Mary… Mary is different."

Tristan pulls up in front of Babe's ornate house. "Get out."

"You're only going to end up with a broken heart."

"No, I'm not. Because I'm not going after Rory."

"Mmmhmm. Whatever you say lover boy." Babe hops out of the car and skips up the walkway to her front door.