Paris looked over in Rory's general direction and noticed that Rory hadn't written a single note the whole class period. In fact it appeared that Rory wasn't even paying attention to what was going on around her at all. The bell rang signaling the end of class and everyone began scurrying to get out the room except for Rory. Paris sighed and walked over to her. She tapped her on the shoulder and when she still got no response she began to shake her forcefully.
"Paris what the hell…" Rory started to yell but then looked around the room and noticed they were alone. "Where'd everyone go?"
"Class is over Gilmore. What's with you today?" Paris asked
Rory shook her head and began gathering her things. "Nothing."
"Well then I suggest you get to lunch before it's over and you haven't got anything to eat." Paris suggested as she watched Rory scamper off in the direction of the cafeteria
Rory rushed to her locker and dropped off her books and then entered the cafeteria. Once she sat down with her food she realized that she had made a mistake and she should have ate in the library. The entire school was talking about him. There were rumors spreading like wildfire. Her favorite so far was that he had disgraced the family so badly that they had sent him away to a Swiss boarding school for boys. The cafeteria was abuzz with talks of what he could have done that was that bad enough to be sent away. The guys couldn't help but be glad he was gone, it helped their chances with the female population but the girls they were a different story. If she had to hear one more brain dead bimbo say how much they were going to miss him she was going to scream. She was so preoccupied in her thoughts of him that she never noticed anyone sitting down next to her.
"I hear you were the last one that spoke to Tristan before he left Chilton." Came a female voice from beside her
Rory turned around to see Summer sitting next to her. "I guess. I don't know. I don't exactly keep track of Tristan's whereabouts." Rory said acidly
"So what did he say to you?" she asked practically cooing
"He said that whatever he said to me before he left was private and that all the stupid sluts that come up to me and ask what he said to me can all just go to hell." She said storming away from the table and out of the cafeteria leaving Summer and her entire group of friends that had been standing around speechless
"Looks like someone was a little bit more than affected by Tristan's absence today." Summer snickered causing the girls to laugh
xxxxxx
Rory got off her bus and immediately was bombarded by Dean. "Hey Rory. I brought you a coffee." He said presenting a coffee cup form Luke's.
Rory nodded and accepted the cup immediately swallowing half the cup. "Thanks."
Dean smiled. "Anything for you." They continued to walk in the direction of Rory's house in complete silence. "So… I know that you're studying tonight but I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me first?" Dean asked practically begging
Rory sighed. "I have a paper to write tonight. I won't have time." She lied.
"What if I stop by with take out and you can just take a break?" Dean argued
Rory sighed again and ran her fingers through her hair. "I won't have time. I'm sorry Dean. Really I am. I would love to go have dinner with you but I just can't."
Dean's face fell soundlessly. "It's ok. I'll just uh… call you later." He said standing at her porch
Rory nodded wordlessly. "Bye."
"Bye." Dean replied to Rory's already retreating form as she closed the door behind herself. Dean sighed and began making his way towards the diner where he knew Lorelai would be. Once he got there he saw Lorelai sitting at the counter irritating Luke. He walked over to her and calmly asked, "What is wrong with Rory?"
Lorelai swiveled in her seat and looked at Dean thoughtfully, "That's funny. I was going to ask you the same thing."
"What?" Dean asked confused
Lorelai stood up with her coffee and gestured that Dean follow her to a table. She sat back down and waited for Dean to do so as well. Once he did she sighed. "She's been in this weird mood ever since she walked off the stage last night. I assumed that you and her must have got in a fight or something."
"No, no fight. I don't know what's wrong with her. She wouldn't have dinner with me tonight because she said she had to study. When I suggested that we study together she snapped at me that studying was a solitary activity and got on her bus. Then after school today I bring her coffee and suggest I bring over some take out and she can take a break and eat and she gives me an excuse about having to write a paper and walks inside before I can even tell her bye." Dean rambled
Lorelai sat silent trying to think of what could be bothering Rory. "I don't know what's wrong with her Dean. I'll try and talk to her but this morning when I tried she threw books at me."
"She threw books at you? That doesn't sound like Rory. Not that I haven't seen her throw things before but a book, never. Rory would never endanger one of her books." Dean said skeptically
"Well she did. Three of them to be exact. Including her antique copy of Romeo and Juliet. Actually come to think of it they were all copies of Romeo and Juliet. Whatever it is that's wrong must have something to do with whatever happened last night." Lorelai said thinking back to anything that had been out of the ordinary last night. The only thing her brain could pick up was the absence of the actual Romeo, Tristan. Come to think of it Rory never told me why he wasn't there Lorelai thought to herself. Then it was as if a light bulb cut on above her head. Whatever's wrong has to have something to do with Tristan. "I'll figure it out. I'm sure she'll call you though Dean." Lorelai said standing up and walking out of the diner leaving Dean sitting there completely confused
xxxxxx
Lorelai threw open Rory's door to find her sitting on the bed doing her homework. She walked over to the bed and grabbed Rory's biology book away from her. "What the hell?" Rory snapped
"You can have this back as soon as you tell me what I want to hear." Lorelai said forcefully
Rory's eyes narrowed at Lorelai. The last time anyone had taken her books and taunted her with them was Tristan and Lorelai knew that. A small barely audible gasp left Rory's mouth but was caught by Lorelai. "Stop." Rory choked out
"I'm right aren't I?" Lorelai said softly
Rory reached out and snatched her book back. "I don't know what you're talking about." she said through gritted teeth
"I am. I knew it. I'm right. This mood. This funk you are in. It's because of him." Lorelai smiled widely
"I'll say it again. I don't know what you are talking about."
"Don't you mean who?" Lorelai asked knowingly
"Leave me alone please. I have homework to do."
"Any papers to write?" Lorelai asked
"No there's no paper. Why?" Rory asked confused
"I'm just a little confused. I mean Dean said you were pulling a hermit tonight because you had a paper to write and now you're telling me there's no paper. You can see where the confusion comes in right?"
Rory sighed knowing she'd just been caught in a lie. "Dean must have misheard me. I said I had a paper to research for." Rory lied
Lorelai nodded. "Oh ok." She said smiling. She reached back out and snatched the biology book back and ran upstairs with it while screaming, "You didn't tell me what I wanted to hear Mini-Me."
Rory groaned and chased after Lorelai. "Mom I need that book." She said through gritted teeth while standing at the top of the stairs.
"I told you what you had to do Ror. What is going on with you? The attitude is beginning to border on completely aggravating. I won't take much more of it."
Rory groaned. "Well I'm sorry if my mood isn't satisfying your desires. I'll try to buck up and smile a little bit more for you." Rory snapped. Deciding to give up on getting her book back at the moment she turned on her heel and stormed back down the stairs and back into her room slamming and locking the door behind her.
"Well that worked Lorelai. Congratulations." Lorelai said out loud to herself
AN: Read and Review….please….