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Chapter 4

Throughout the week, Rory was busy studying for her test determined to get a better grade in Mr Medina's class. Her parents had helped her study and tested her on everything and she was gradually growing more and more confident about doing well on the test. The only setback during the week was due to Parent's evening at her school. Both her parents had gone but apparently something had gone down between Mr Medina and her mom. She'd only heard snippets from the short argument it had cause between her parents but it seemed like her teacher had hit on her mom. Her mom had obviously closed him down immediately but she knew it had caused some tension. Luckily it blew over and the subject was agreed not to be spoken about again.

When Friday arrived, Luke had woken Rory early to make sure she wasn't late for the test. Rory arrived at school and sat down in Mr Medina's classroom to sit the test. She remembered her dad's advice about taking a minute before answering the questions and it worked. She finished the test happily, knowing she had done much better. She was exiting the class after when she heard a familiar voice.

"Someone looks happier." Tristan said appearing at her side.

"Yeah well I think I may have aced that test." Rory said.

"You thought that last time though and look what happened." He smirked.

Rory gave him a look.

"Too soon?" Tristan grinned cheekily.

Rory just rolled her eyes. "Not even you will get me out of this mood today." She said.

"Good to know." Tristan chuckled. "That's actually good as I was going to ask when you would like to go for that coffee?"

"What?" Rory said. "You said to forget about that stupid bet."

"I know but that was when you were upset. I didn't mean forget about it indefinitely." He smirked.

Rory just shook her head. "And there I was thinking you were actually not an idiot." She said. "You'll never stop, will you?"

"Come on, what's the harm in one coffee?" He asked.

"I'll tell you why. Because it will be all around this school by tomorrow and then Paris will hate me even more and right now, I could do without being public enemy number one with her." Rory said. "So just leave it okay?" She said walking away, leaving Tristan standing there.

The following week was focused on Rory's 16th birthday that was coming up on the Friday. She was having a party at her house and the whole town was invited. Or that was what she thought until Tristan came up to her at the lockers. She had deliberately tried to avoid him, knowing he would just keep going on about that coffee.

"Happy Birthday." He said.

"It's not my birthday." Rory frowned.

"No but it will be on Friday the 8th of October, at 4:03am..." He started reading of an invitation.

"What is that?" Rory asked snatching it from him. Her eyes widened when she read the invitation that had been written by her Gilmore grandparents. They were to the party at her house on Friday that her mom had planned. "Who else got these?" She asked.

"I don't know. The whole class, I think!" Tristan chuckled.

"Ugh why would they do this?" She demanded. She turned to Jess who had joined them at the lockers. "Did you know about this?"

"Nope." Jess said, hiding his smirk.

"It's not funny!" Rory exclaimed.

"It is kind of funny." Jess chuckled. "You must have wondered why they had been so quiet over the birthday planning. Planning parties is what they do. They were obviously planning to do something to contribute to it."

Rory groaned. "Great! Now I have to converse with people who hate me on my birthday!"

"I don't hate you." Tristan pointed out.

"Yeah well you might be the only one." Rory scowled. "I can't believe they did this!" She said before storming off.

"She's really not happy about this, is she?" Tristan said to Jess.

"Oh no. This would be her idea of hell." Jess said. "Having to socialise with people who don't even give her a second glance here. Just what you'd want on your birthday."

"I can try and talk to the people in the class if you like. Lie and say it's been cancelled or something or persuade them not to come." Tristan offered.

"Really? Why would you do that?" Jess asked.

"Well I'd hate it if it was my birthday and a lot of people had been invited behind my back." He shrugged.

"And there wouldn't be any other reason why you're doing this? Not to get into someone's good books for starters?" Jess raised his eyebrows.

Tristan smirked a little. "Well maybe..."

"You're going to have to work a bit harder than that." Jess smirked. "See you around." He said walking off.

"Yeah see ya." Tristan said.

The week went quickly for Rory. She had told her parents about the invitations, who were just as angry as her about it. Her mom had had a huge argument with her Grandma about it over the phone but luckily it ended with the outcome that she wanted. Her grandparents would take back the invitations and pretend that there had been a big misunderstanding. Rory relaxed after that, glad that her party would just be with the town and people she cared about.

At 4:03am, Rory heard Lorelai come into her room and lie down next to her on the bed. "Hey birthday girl..." She whispered.

"Hey..." Rory smiled.

"So how does it feel being 16?" Lorelai asked.

"Pretty much the same." Rory said.

"I can't believe it was 16 years ago that I was in that hospital..." Lorelai said quietly.

Rory snuggled into her mom, knowing what the outcome of that awful night was for her mom.

Lorelai had made it a tradition to tell Rory about her birth every birthday. It was hard to start with, especially with all the bad memories, but it was getting easier and she was determined to focus on the positives. "Yep this time 16 years ago, I was swearing like a sailor..."

"Oh boy..." Rory said closing her eyes.

"And then suddenly your head..." Lorelai said.

"Night mom." Rory said sleepily.

That morning, Rory woke up to the traditional coffee cake and balloons at the kitchen table that her dad had made. Her Grandma, Jess, her parents, Katie and LJ were all at the table. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They all grinned.

Rory smiled. "Thank you."

"I made you a card!" LJ said proudly running up to her and handing her a handmade one.

Rory smiled down at the vivid drawing. "Thank you. I love it bro." She said giving him a hug. She then sat down to eat and open more of her cards. The presents were being left until the party.

After school, Rory returned to the house where the living room had been decorated with balloons and streamers. Soon the party was in full swing with all the townspeople arriving and wishing her a happy birthday. Rory sat with Lane around the table that had her presents on and people urged her to open them. She started with her parents' one, which was a brand new iBook. "No!" She squealed. "Oh my god, thank you!" She exclaimed launching herself at Lorelai and then at Luke. "This must have been expensive." She said.

"That's what we told the people in the shop." Lorelai joked.

"I love it!" Rory grinned.

She then proceeded to open the rest of her presents which included a book that she had really wanted from Jess, some really expensive looking necklace from her Gilmore grandparents, some stationery for school and several other items which she gratefully thanked everyone for.

Sookie then came in with the cake, which to Rory's amusement and slight embarrassment had her face on. Everyone sang happy birthday and then after blowing out the candles and making a wish, she started handing out slices to everyone there.

As the party continued, the music blaring, Rory looked around at all her friends and family and smiled. This was exactly what she had wanted. She walked by the front door and was surprised to see Tristan coming in.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I got an invitation." He said.

"Yeah but my grandparents..." Rory said.

"Did you really think I wouldn't come?" He smirked.

"Well I guess it was more wishful thinking than anything…" She said dryly.

"Ouch." Tristan smirked. "Now I'm in two minds as to whether to give this to you or not." He said holding out a bag.

"You bought me a present?" Rory asked surprised.

"Well it is your birthday. I thought it was mandatory to bring presents." He said.

Rory took the bag suspiciously and looked inside. She was stunned to find a lovely understated silver bracelet. "Tristan, this is..." She said, lost for words.

"I wasn't really sure if you wear jewellery that much but I thought it looked nice." He shrugged.

Rory looked up at him. "It's beautiful." She said. "Thank you."

"Beautiful as you." He smirked.

"And he's back.." Rory rolled her eyes.

"Well I did say I wouldn't stop trying." He grinned cheekily. "So are you actually going to invite me in or am I going to have to stand by the door like a lemon?"

Rory smirked. "Fine, come in. I can't really tell you to leave now, can I?"

Tristan smirked and followed her in.

As they were heading to the living room, they bumped into Jess who smirked. "Why am I not surprised?" He said.

"What? I got an invite!" Tristan defended himself.

Jess just rolled his eyes. "Yeah well good luck with Luke." He joked and walked off.

"Who's Luke?" Tristan asked.

"My dad." Rory smirked. "Don't worry, his bark is worse than his bite." She joked, leaving Tristan slightly unnerved.

Meanwhile, Lorelai and Luke were just walking back into the living room when they saw Rory and Tristan start talking to Lane.

"Who's that?" Luke asked protectively.

"No idea." Lorelai asked, just as intrigued.

"Tristan." Jess said as he walked past them.

"Who's Tristan?" Luke asked.

"Just this guy from school." Jess said. He smirked as Luke didn't take his eyes off Tristan. "Put away your pitchfork, Uncle Luke. He's actually alright."

"You're friends with him?" Lorelai asked not to be nosy but she just wondered why Rory hadn't mentioned him before.

"Yeah sort of." Jess shrugged. "He's ok. He's one of the more normal ones at school." He said leaving them to it and walking over to the group.

As the party drew to a close, more and more people started leaving but the party hadn't finished yet. Lorelai had a glint in her eye and picked up a slice of cake. Luke walked up to her. "Don't you even think about it. It always take ages to clean up." He growled.

"What?" She asked innocently.

"You know what." He said.

"Oh this!" She grinned and threw the cake towards Rory, who was still talking with Lane, Jess and Tristan.

"Hey!" Rory exclaimed, looking up. She had to laugh when she saw her mom's grinning face. "Oh it's on!" She exclaimed jumping up and throwing some mallomars back at her.

"What is going on?" Tristan asked amused by the sudden change of activity.

"It's tradition." Lane explained. "A mother-daughter food fight, although normally it turns into a full scale one."

"Yeah I'd be careful if I were you. You're probably Rory's first choice of a target..." Jess smirked.

As he said that, a piece of cake was thrown at Tristan by a smirking Rory. "Hey!" He said getting up.

"Bit of payback!" Rory grinned.

"For what?" He exclaimed.

Rory just smirked and picked up a cupcake and aimed it at him and it landed right in his face, causing Jess and Lane to laugh.

Tristan wiped it off. "Ok you want to play dirty?" He smirked, grabbing a bowl of jelly.

"No!" Rory exclaimed. "That's not fair!"

Lorelai watched amused as Tristan dropped the whole bowl of jelly onto Rory's head while Luke wasn't really sure what to think of this boy.

"Tristan!" Rory exclaimed.

"Sorry, just a bit of payback." He smirked.

Rory scowled and grabbed the bowl of cream that was on the table and dropped it on him.

As the two continued their food fight, Lane turned to Jess. "And she says she doesn't like him?"

"Yep. Couldn't be more obvious right?" Jess smirked.

"Oh yeah. Totally obvious." Lane laughed.

After the food fight ended and Tristan and Rory got cleaned up, Tristan started to get ready to leave. Rory followed him to the door and smirked. "Just to say I now have photos of you covered in cream, chocolate and cake..."

"Great..." He muttered.

Rory grinned. "So you better be nice to me from now on!" She joked.

Tristan smirked. "When am I not nice to you?"

"Uh like every day when you're annoying the hell out of me." She exclaimed.

Tristan chuckled. "Yeah well you got your revenge."

"It did feel good." Rory smirked.

Tristan chuckled. "See you at school."

"Yeah see ya." Rory said, smirking when she saw Tristan wipe some cake that he had missed out of his hair. "Hey Tristan?" She called.

"Yeah?" He said turning round.

Rory hesitated for a minute. "My dad's diner does the best coffee. I always say it's a sin if people don't try it." She said.

Tristan smirked. "Then I'd be a fool to turn down the offer."

Rory smiled. "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." Tristan smiled. "See ya. Mary." He smirked.

Rory rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smirk. "See ya bible boy." She joked, watching him get into his car and leave. As he left, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She watched as his car drove out of sight and then she slowly walked back inside to help with the clean-up. Had she really just agreed to a date with Tristan? This could have just been the stupidest decision she had ever made. What had she gotten herself into?

Hope you liked it! :) Please keep the reviews coming! You have no idea how happy it makes me to read what you all think so thank you! :)