AN: Well it seems like everyone liked the last chapter and that everyone was please to finally see an update!!! I was so please with the response, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own GG or the lyrics to SR-71's "My World"

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...I've had enough of fears, you let them out...

Rory walked into school on Friday with Finn, he was telling her a story that she doubted was true about what he and the Icon had gotten up to the night before. Truth be told she was distracted, and she couldn't honestly say that she wasn't subtly keeping an eye out for Tristan.

As the pair passed a freshman classroom Rory looked up and locked eyes with Tristan who was leaning against Hamish's locker. She stared at him openly, unabashedly, and he met her gaze equally as coolly before a small smile tugged at her lips.

When she turned back to Finn she found he was watching her strangely.

"What was that love?"

"A teenage fantasy Finn, tell me more about the absinthe"

He laughed and slung his arm around her, continuing with his tall tales.

---

Rory spun the dial of her locker, glad she'd finally been switched to one that worked when she heard the heavy thud of the Icon as he leaned against the locker next to hers.

"Hey" She said quietly, not looking at him.

He remained silent, he knew her too well, he knew she wouldn't be able to ignore his silence. Slowly she turned to meet his gaze.

"What's going on?" he asked quietly, not letting her eyes go.

"Me missing school?"

He inclined his head slightly.

"Among other things"

" I didn't feel up to it yesterday…that's it"

"That's not it…was it the other night?"

Rory's eyes widened, they never discussed that, never discussed them, at least, not in public. She quickly looked around to see if anyone was listening.

"Rory did I do something wrong?"

Her eyes softened and she smiled sadly at him.

"Of course not, that's silly…why would you think that? I love you"

He stared at the ground.

"I don't want to lose you" He said finally and she moved in closer to him and felt his hand on her neck, burning.

"I know" She whispered.

She slammed her locker shut, breaking the moment.

"Unfortunately you are going to lose me to my first class, but I'll see you at lunch"

She walked off, knowing that he knew she was lying.

---

"We have to have the kiss" Tristan told her.

Rory glared at him.

"But then everyone will know that I cried!" She whined.

He smirked.

"I thought you believed in all that truth, beauty bullshit"

"Shut up and write the damn scene" She grumbled, resting her head in her hands.

She looked up when she felt his eyes on her and found herself smiling again.

"What?" She asked.

Her smile wasn't returned, instead he looked confused.

"You're a mystery to me" he said quietly, thoughtfully.

"A little mystery can be sexy" She said coyly, staring up at him from beneath her long eyelashes.

"I just find it frustrating," he mumbled.

She fell silent.

"Don't forget to put in the part when you were leaving," she said suddenly.

He looked up at her questioningly.

"What did I say?"

Rory smiled.

"You said 'I'd kiss you, but your boyfriend is watching'"

Tristan laughed.

"You should have kissed me anyway" She continued quietly, thankful they had chosen an empty classroom to work in.

Tristan sighed and took off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"You know there's a party at the Hamilton's this weekend" Tristan said, looking her in the eye.

"Mmmm?"

"And I thought I might go"

"Really?" Rory asked, playing along with a smirk.

"And I thought it would be nice if you were also to go"

"Interesting concept" She muttered.

"It would probably nice if we were to run into each other before hand as well, and eat"

"Like, in a restaurant?"

Tristan grinned.

"Restaurant, road house, hardware store…whatever"

Rory burst out laughing at his ironic turn of phrase.

"Yes Tristan, I would like to be your date for the Hamilton party on Saturday night"

She stood up as the bell rang and gathered her books up. She was halfway out of the room before she heard him calling after her.

"Date? Who said anything about a date?"

She laughed and waved over her shoulder at him as she was swallowed into the caterpillar of students.

---

Rory chewed slowly on her fries and was a million miles away when Louise sat down across from her, a grin plastered across her pretty face. Slowly Louise's grin began to drop until finally she waved to get Rory's attention. Lazily Rory looked up at her.

"Yes?"

Louise smirked and Rory looked at her, confused. Smugly Louise turned to the rest of their table.

"I have an announcement to make" She said loudly.

"Another one to put up there along with the "I Have a Dream" speech no doubt," Rory quipped dryly. Louise glared at her before continuing.

"I am happy to announce that our very own Mary Gilmore, has managed to snag a date with the oh-so-hot and recently re-throned king of Chilton, Tristan DuGrey himself"

"I do?" Rory asked, "Cause he was quite adamant it isn't a date"

"Whatever" Louise muttered as Madeline grabbed Rory's hand, wanting to know all the particulars.

As Madeline prattled on about what Rory would be wearing to the party (the same dress she was going to wear before Tristan had asked her in a round-about, half-assed way to go with him) Rory looked up and caught the Icons' eye. He was gazing at her levelly, a look of understanding flickering in his cool green eyes, a look that said Ahh, now I know. She fought to keep feelings of guilt at bay, damn it, she didn't owe him anything.

He caught up her after she left the cafeteria.

"So a date with the King huh?"

"Mmm"

"Don't be coy Rory, it's not something you're good at"

"Well you're standing around pointing out facts I already know, what do you want me to say?"

"Is this why you've been acting so weird?"

Rory arrived at her locker to collect the books she'd need until the end of the day.

"What you think one date with Tristan turns my world inside out? No, Icon, why can't you be like a normal guy and just assume I have PMS?" She asked irritatedly.

"Do you have PMS?"

Despite herself, Rory laughed.

"No"

"I thought he wasn't interested in you, what changed?"

"I don't know, I am pretty irresistible though. You'd know all about that wouldn't you?" She asked him, lowering her voice to a sultry whisper as she looked up at him.

He closed his eyes and groaned.

"That's not fair Rory, you can't do that"

"Well what does it matter if I have a date?"

Suddenly he reverted back to his cool demeanor. He shrugged.

"It doesn't. We going out tonight?"

Rory grinned at him.

"It's a sure thing, I'll meet you after school"

She stood up on her toes quickly and kissed him on the cheek before rushing off.

---

Tristan watched her as she made her way to her locker at the end of the day. It was strange, in some ways he wanted to smile softly to himself because he had gotten his date after all this time. But in other ways he was perturbed, sure, he had the date, but he didn't know who he had it with.

She smiled as he leaned against her locker.

"Bible Boy"

He laughed.

"I thought we should get together tonight and work on our play" He suggested.

She raised her eyebrow.

"Work on our play? On a Friday night? In your bedroom?"

He rolled his eyes.

"Well?"

She sighed and slammed her locker door shut.

"Sorry Tristan, no can do, I have a hot date tonight" She winked at him mischievously and he only just managed to stop the look of horror that was rushing to his face.

She patted his shoulder,

"Call me tomorrow about the Hamilton's party" She breathed and turned to walk off.

Before she got too far away she turned back to him.

"Better leave in until the afternoon to call me," She suggested, shrugging, "It could be a late night".

Shaking his head in disbelief he followed her through the throng, losing sight of her but he found her again as he left the building and watched her running into the embrace of the new guy, besides Louise's car, the Icon. Tristan's eyes narrowed and he slammed his fist into the door. What the hell was going on?

AN: Please remamber to R&R!!!