Will all the people who have this story on their site please email me at 
OoOCougrSwteOoO@aol.com. I'd really appreaciate it. Thanks.

Novi

Title: Sociology 101 
Author(s): (Pt1 Diana C dianac05@usa.net) 
	Pt 1 and beyond -  Novi OoOCougrSwteOoO@aol.com 
Rating: G (maybe PG) 
Pairing: Rory/Tristan 
Disclaimer: We can dream....
Distribution:Opposites Attract, 
Summary: An interesting school project turns Rory's life upside town 
Feedback: Yes please we need it.

Rory sighed to herself as she dipped her chin and rested within her hands, 
staring off into space, a frown marred her pretty face. The girl was 
obviously troubled, though no one seemed to notice; all but one figure that 
sat in the back silently observing the girl as she wallowed in something 
unfathomable. Though one more person had noticed and misinterpreted. not 
neccessary, doesn't make sense 

"Miss Gilmore, could you join us?" the teacher barked out, causing Rory to 
suddenly come to her senses, a faint blush creeping up to stain her cheeks as 
she stuttered around, barely managing to suppress the tears that started to 
glaze over her eyes as she frankly worked her mind to try to come to terms 
with even zoning out on such an important class. Things like this never 
happened, not to Rory Gilmore. In embarrassment, she tucked a piece of hair 
behind her ear to try to compose herself. 

"So as I was saying," the teacher began again, this time with Rory's rapt 
attention as she tried not to drift away again. "This assignment is very 
important to your grade. It will take up 30% of your grade for the semester. 
Not only will this be beneficial to your education, but it will also help you 
to get along with the environment you will have to eventually deal with. 

"Now I will be assigning your partners. I do not want to hear any excuses 
about how you don't like the person or how you're allergic to the perfume 
they wear, hence not being able to be in close perimeter with them, or how 
it's against your religion to associate with them. 

You will work with the person and you may not, under any circumstances, even 
think about pairing off with someone else unless you would like to withdraw 
from the project and thus guaranteeing a poor grade. Do I make myself clear? 

"Paris and John, Madeline and Brent, Sarah and Alex, Demi and Randall, Louise 
and Tommy, Rory and Tristan." 

"What?" Rory dropped her pen after hearing who her partner was. 

"Miss Gilmore, is there a problem?" Ms. Glayr asked Rory. 

"Umm no nu-nuthing Ms. Glayr, I just dropped my, um, my pen. Sorry to bother 
you," Rory said, blushing as she sunk down into her chair. The entire time 
she never noticed the lazy, yet intense gaze of the boy sitting in the back 
row. 

The minute the bell rang to end class, Rory jumped out of her seat and began 
to get ready to run through the door. She wanted to get home as soon as 
possible. Ever since the party, she had been feeling weird about Tristan, and 
now working with him on a project would just complicate things. 

While Rory gathered her things, Tristan walked up behind her. "Hey Mary," he 
whispered into her ear, surprising her. 

"Oh Tristan, hi... so, um, we're gonna work together on our project. Um, we 
can get together this weekend at the library or something, but I really don't 
know anything about this, so I need to look over the requirements," she 
babbled, feeling flustered while Tristan just wore his trademark smirk. 

Sure thing, Rory," he said, leaving. "See you at home, darling." 

Rory stared after him for a few minutes. "Oh my gosh. He called me Rory... 
DARLING! HOME? What's that supposed to mean?" she blurted out a minute later. 
Madeline, Louise and Paris, who had been exchanging information with their 
own partners, walked over to her. 

"Hey there, Mrs. DuGrey," Louise said to Rory. 

"Excuse me?" 

"You're so lucky. A month under the same roof with Tristan. Like, maybe you 
could accidentally walk into the bathrroom while he showers or something," 
Madeline chimed in. Rory still looked lost. 

Paris, who had been quiet, took pity on her new friend. "Do you know anything 
about this project?" she asked. 

"No, not really... I guess I wasn't here when she talked about it." 

"Well, this is Ms. Glayr's big, annual, infamous project. She pairs you up 
and the partners have to live together for a month, and like, basically be 
joint at the hip to have a better understanding. She always pairs guys and 
girls so that there's also a learned sensitivity towards the opposite sex." 

"A month with TRISTAN! In the same house?" Rory said faintly. 

"Don't worry, it won't be so bad, he's not really that bad of a guy," 
Madeline and Louise told her. 

"He's just misunderstood, he doesn't exactly have a perfect home life," Paris 
added. 

Rory looked at the group as if they had lost their minds. Rolling her eyes, 
she waved her hands in the air in exasperation. "Yeah, I'm supposed to spend 
time with the last person I'd ever wanted to even breathe the same air with," 
she remarked before crossing her arms over her chest and pouting. The others 
girls' mouth's gaped in shock at such a cruel remark coming out of Rory 
Gilmore's mouth. but to be perfectly honest, Rory didn't care. She had had 
the 'perfect' last couple of days, 

could Rory, as I said before, it's not going to be that bad. Try to cut the 
sarcasm, he's more than just a spoiled, selfish brat," Paris said looking at 
Rory, trying to convince her. It took more than just the girls to convince 
Rory, when they themselves were spoiled, rich kids. Rory doubted at times 
they knew what spoiled was, having everything handed to them on a silver 
platter, but at least they seemed to be genuine friends. 

Rory, in spite of all the love that she had received growing up, had to work 
to get what she wanted, and it wasn't easy. Her mom was independent, and 
there were times when no matter how bad financially they were, her mom was 
just too stubborn to ask Grandma Emily for help. Her mother hated to admit 
they needed anything, and now they were on their own feet, it left an older, 
wiser Rory Gilmore in it's place. 

She remembered when she was little how some of the Chilton gang would come 
into Stars Hallow. She vividly recalled how they had treated the citizens of 
her town and the boy that had had the exact same personality as Tristan. Rory 
knew back then as she knew now that she never liked those kind of boys. Men 
that trampled over women's hearts treated them like trophies instead of 
something dear. 

Sure, in general men were like that, but at the moment this dark haired 
stranger stepped foot in Stars Hallow, he had caused commotion among the 
young ladies, though most had practical heads on, their had been one. One of 
Rory's friend's older sister had fallen for the guy hard 

He had gone out with her, and as Rory had found out later as well as the rest 
of the town, he had been playing her well, dating numerous others. Using her, 
abusing her, and crushing her like a flea. Even though Rory had only been 
barely 10, she still remembered the heartbroken look on the older girl's face 
as the boy had carelessly put his arms around two other Chilton girls, saying 
something about her being white trash and things like that. 

She had watched the tears as they fell down the girls face, the heartbroken 
look as she fell to the ground sobbing, lip quivering and all. 

Oh no, it would take a heck of a lot more to convince her that Tristan wasn't 
a younger version of that boy that Rory had seen so long ago. 

"Whatever you say, girls," She muttered before swiftly turning away without 
checking to see if they were following or not. She didn't want to deal with 
those memories, and suddenly she lost all energy to fight as her thoughts 
shifted back to her ex, Dean. Looking back around she had seen that the girls 
had disappeared, and suddenly she felt like everything was coming down upon 
her. Walking to the ladies room yet again, she swiftly picked up the pace, 
speed walking. Seeing the door handle in front of her, she grabbed onto it 
and swung it opened, dashing inside. 

Looking around, she only saw a couple of girls standing by the mirrors 
talking animatedly; they looked to be the popular, ditzy girls. The 'pure' 
snobs. As she slammed the door behind her, the girls paused and suddenly all 
was silent. Glancing over at her, they made a face at her general direction 
that could only be distinguished as disgust. They quickly started whispering 
into each other's ears, picking up stuff like 'freak, shouldn't be here, 
pathetic, ugly.' Rory bit back the tears that she k 

"Your such a freak Gilmore, you don't belong here, you'll never belong here," 
a tall blonde announced as Rory brushed past and slammed into the stalls, 
shutting the door quickly behind her and locking it. She let the tears flow, 
never would she show how much the Chilton's hurt her, it was weakness and 
Rory wouldn't stand for that, not when people expected her to be strong, a 
leader. She bitterly held her breath as she heard more taunts before the 
girls gave up and decided to leave. 

When she was sure they were gone, she backed up against the wall of the stall 
and sunk down until she cradled her head in her knees. Pulling out her 
ponytail she had done today, she shook her head and let her wild, uncombed 
hair fall around her. She trembled and continued to cry silently, letting out 
more of the broken emotions she had felt over Dean and her splitting, crying 
for the cruel ways the Chilton's treated her, crying for why Tristan had to 
tease her so much, and she cried, for reasons 

Rory splashed some cold water on her on her face and took a brush out of her 
bag and began to angrily stroke her hair. "Lorielia Leigh Gilmore, you will 
not let them get to you. You are so much better than them and you have so 
much more than they could ever dream. You have a family that cares, friends, 
a real home, brains," she lectured herself mentally. 

"What do they have other than money? Psychologists, plastic surgeons and 
parents who use them against one another, that's what." Rory pulled her hair 
out of her face with a clip, straightened out her uniform, and opened the 
bathroom door, ready to leave. The school was practically empty by now, with 
only a few kids walking around for the after school activities. 

She headed to her locker and took out the books she needed for the weekend, 
grabbing her sociology folder which was stuck, with distaste. "Stupid 
folder, stupid class, stupid school, stupid teacher, stupid project, stupid 
stupid stupid!" she growled, slamming her locker shut with a bang. 

"Mary, Mary, chill! What did the poor locker do to you?" Tristan smirked, 
leaning against Paris's locker. 

"I so don't have to time for this, Tristan... move out of my way." 

"Aww, honey! Is this about last night? I'm sorry snookums for missing dinner, 
and I bet you worked hard on it, too," he joked, putting an arm around Rory's 
shoulder. 

"Ugh! Not only are you disgusting, you're delusional. Look, I have to catch 
my bus so can we save this for Monday?" she asked, pushing his arm off. She 
ignored the twinge she felt in her stomach. 

"You take the bus? Don't you live out of Hartford?" Tristan asked, seriously. 

"Yeah, Stars Hollow." 

"Isn't that dangerous? Why don't you have your grandparents drive you, or 
your mother?" Tristan asked, actually sounding concered." 

"Ummm, no... people in the real world who's mommys and daddys don't buy them 
their dream cars on their sixteenth actually take the bus. And it's quite 
safe, now could you get out of my way? I don't want to miss the bus!" Rory 
asked, none to nicely, walking quickly away from a confused Tristan who stood 
in his place just staring after her. 


END PART 1

Pt 2

Rory got of the bus with a heavy heart. She had read over the rules and 
procedures over and over with despair. The rules required that the partners 
had to live together for the entire time period of the project since they 
would be given situations that they were to face as one,which required they 
actually be together. 

"Sorry," she said coming out of her daze as she bumped into someone, dropping 
her books. 

"Don't worry about it," a familiar voice replied. 

"Dean!" Rory smiled brightly looking up. "Hi, I haven't seen you around a for 
a while," she mentioned a bit shyly. 

"I've been around," he said curtly. 

"So how are you?" she questioned, trying to make friendly conversation, her 
smile faltering a bit at his tone. 

"Not bad for someone who just had their heart ripped out and stomped on by 
someone they love, someone they cared for and trusted," he declared coldly 
this time. "And what about you Rory, break anyone else's heart lately?" 

"Dean." Rory whispered helplessly, she could feel the tears ready to come. 

"No, Rory ... just leave me alone okay?" he pat out at her, a bit tiredly. "I 
just can't do this anymore, I don't wanna you see you, at least not now." 

"I'm sorry... I never meant to hurt you," she responded sadly, which only 
seemed to make him angrier. 

"No, you're not, if you never meant to hurt me you wouldn't have lead me on. 
You know what Rory, you're a tease, worse because you play with not just the 
person’s mind but a person's heart as well," he counter her apology furiously.

"You don't mean that," she told him as the tears really did start to escape. 

"Just leave me alone, I don't want to see you again," Dean said stalking off 
and crushing Rory’s feelings. 

"I really am sorry, Dean" Rory whispered wiping her eyes knowing he didn't 
hear her, and even if he did he wouldn't care. Sighing she picked up the 
papers she had dropped when bumping into him and headed to the Inn where her 
mother was. 

*Independence Inn* 

"Michael have you see my mother?" Rory asked the Frenchman.


"Do I look like her keeper to you?" he answered a question
with a question, glaring at her. "All though she is in dire
need of one, I fortunately am not." 

"So have you seen her?" Rory inquired not at all intimidated. 

"She's most likely in the kitchen with Sookie doing anything but the job she 
is paid for. Now go and bother someone else."  He dismissed her.

"Thanks Michael! You've been really helpful," she said smiling brightly 
feeling better already in the familiar place. 

"Insolent child," the Frenchman glared again causing her to laugh as she 
headed to the kitchen. 

"Here hon., try this," a spoon was shoved into her mouth by Sookie, the Inn's 
chef and her mother's best friend, before she fully entered the kitchen. 

"Oooh! Chocolate, more please!" she pleaded when tasting the ambrosia. 

"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore! Have I thought you nothing?" her mother asked 
dramatically entering the kitchen through the side entrance. "You are a 
Gilmore and it is your given right to never say please when it comes to 
chocolate and coffee, life's most precious gifts." 

"Sorry, Ma. I just don't know what got into me."  She laughed dumping her bag 
and books on a small table and accepting the bowl and spoon Sookie offered 
her with a smile. 

"It's that damn school, corrupting my innocent baby with blasphemies such as 
please and thank you. What's next, turning down coffee?" her mother continued 
to rant and rave. 

"Oh no! Anything but that.  I'll stop them with my bare hands if it ever 
comes to that," Rory promised.

"Good girl," her mother approved dropping into the chair next to her. "So how 
was school?" 

"Not bad, I forgot my homework in my locker, someone bumped into me at lunch 
and got soup on my shoes, Tristan is gonna live with us for a month or so, 
the bus was late, and I ran into Dean..." 

"Whoa, whoa, back up horsy. What was that about a Tristan?" Lorelai 
interrupted her. 

"Well, you remember that guy I told you about, the one that calls me Mary and 
gets a high off torturing me?" Rory asked her mother, and she nodded. "Well, 
he's gonna live with us for a month for this project Ms. Glayr assi..." 

"Say no more, I know what you mean. The dreaded boy girl project." Lorelai 
laughed. "I can't believe that old hag is still alive." 

"Alive and kicking," Rory said glumly. 

"Aww, don't worry Kid. We'll make sure the Evil One doesn't torture you while 
he's here." Lorelai assured her, giving her daughter a quick hug. "Does he 
know he's going to be staying here?" 

"Not yet, but he doesn't really have much of a choice because I absolutely 
refuse to live at his house." 


"He won't know what hit him," Lorelai laughed. "Now what were you saying 
about Dean?" 

"Oh, I bumped into him when I got off the bus and he kinda blew up at me 
basically told me to drop of the planet and told me I was a tease," Rory told 
her, the tears coming back again. 

"That little prick, who does he think he is?" Lorelai frowned. 

"It's okay Mom, I'm gonna go home now though." Rory started getting her 
things together. 

"All right kiddo, go home and take a nap and I'll bring you some dinner when 
I'm done here," Lorelai said as Rory left the kitchen.

"She's a good kid," Sookie commented coming up to Lorelai. 

"The best," Lorelai agreed. "But is she strong enough?" 

"Don't worry, we all love Rory and that Chilton kid won't know what hit him 
if he tries anything like that last one," Sookie assured her. "And that bag 
boy is already on everyone's hit list." 

END PART 2
Pt 3

"Who is he Annabelle?" Charles DuGrey yelled in a drunken
stupor, his fourth, or was it fifth glass of brandy half
empty, as his beautiful wife just laughed. 

"Really Charles, you're making a fool out of yourself. He's
just my personal trainer," she laughed again checking her
reflection in the mirror, which hung over the fireplace in
their living room. She was a beautiful women and she knew
it, almost forty yet she could pass for twenty-eight,
twenty-nine with her with her dark red hair and her blue
eyes framed by long eyelashes which she had passed down to
her son. 

"Don't lie to me, I know you were with him last week."
Charles yelled, refilling his now empty glass. Though he
didn't look as young as wife he was a handsome man, with
light blonde hair that almost passed for silver and green
eyes that changed shades depending on his mood. 

"How would you know that Charles? You where in Tokyo, on
business as always." Annabelle replied coldly. 

"As always?" Charles mocked. "If it weren't for my hard
work you wouldn't be able to run around Europe every month,
or afford all those shopping sprees to Paris, most
importantly you couldn't afford those plastic surgeons. Now
could you?" 

"Well, if you allowed me to work I could pay for my own
things," she snapped. "Besides what else am I supposed to
do at home, knit? I'm not some house wife you know.  I sure
as hell won't sit around pregnant all the time in the
nursery while you go around the world with that little
secretary of yours, Lisette or Brigitte. Whatever her name
is." 

"When have you ever been in the nursery? Other than
bringing the decorators who cost more than the entire
hospital bill. As for Celeste, she's a happily married
woman and a wonderful secretary. But you're beginning to
sound bitter Annabelle, you sound quite foolish" Charles
laughed drunkenly throwing back her words from earlier. He
only laughed as she threw a crystal vase at him.  "Did I
hit a nerve?" he laughed again as she missed him by a good
few inches. 

"You're a bastard," Annabelle said venomously. 

"Actually, I have a father, and he and my mother had been
married quite a few years before I graced them with my
presence, sorry to disappoint you," Charles replied
cheerfully as he drunkenly swaggered away from the broken
shreds of glass by his feet. "But you'd like that wouldn't
you? The bastard and the bitch." 

The entire time neither of them noticed their son, sitting
on the staircase as they fought the familiar battle.
Sighing Tristan went to the West wing where his suites
where, where her room was, his sisters' room. Instead of
going to his own room and blocking out his parents, Tristan
headed to the closed off room across the hall instead. 

It was a dream room, filled with antique dolls and teddy
bears that were far to precious to her to stay in the
playroom, posters of her favorite musicians and actors. The
room was fit for the princess who once lived in it. Her
name was Charity Celeste DuGrey. A fairy princess, filled
with love and laughter, whose smiled brightened everyone's
day. She was dead. Seven years older than Tristan, Charity
his beautiful sixteen-year-old sister, had died in a
motorcycle accident when she was sixteen leaving her family
to fall apart without her to holding them together. Charity
had always been different, she 
belonged to a better place with her kindness, and she was
the best, much to good for the backstabbing and cruelties
that plagued their high society world. 

"Why'd you leave me Char?" Tristan asked, pretending his
sister was actually there as he crawled into her bed and
hugged her favorite teddy bear. Lord Tristan, von Bear. He
had actually been named after the bear due to six year old
Charity's begging and pleading when she had found out their
mother was pregnant with him. Looking around the room,
which he considered his sanctuary Tristan, felt a wave of
calmness wash over him. Charity had been dead almost nine
years but ever since the night of her accident Tristan had
been taking care of her room for her. His parents, back
when they actually cared about him 
had been alarmed but when the child psychiatrist they took
him to said it was fine they allowed him to continue. 

"I can't let Rory come here, can I?" he thought aloud
again. "She's to pure, to good to be tainted by this place,
I wish you were here Char. It would be okay then,
everything would be fine," he mumbled softly as he was
lulled to sleep by the familiarity filled the room of his 
beloved sister,causing him to drift to sleep, unaware of what
was now going on downstairs with his parents." 

"I'm going to the club now. Enjoy your drinks, I hope you
have a hell of a hangover," Annabelle said grabbing her
keys and purse and headed to the Country Club.  Charles
headed to his study. Charles took out a framed picture from
his study of sixteen year old Charity and seven year old
year old Tristan, smiling brightly into the camera. Unknown
to him, his wife was crying at the wheel of her parked car,
holding the same picture to her heart.


END PART 3
Pt 4

Rory walked into the kitchen in her smiley face PJ's and
puppy eared slippers Saturday morning, awoken by the smell
of fresh made coffee. "Coffee." 

"Good morning, sleepy head," her mother laughed handing her
a cup. 

"What's good about it?" Rory grunted, she had been awake
all night thinking about what Dean said and about Tristan
moving in with them plus she kept hearing strange noises
like someone was banging around upstairs in the attic. 
  

"I slept wonderfully last night, I had a nice Friday night
dinner with my daughter last night alone, in our own home. 
Life is perfect," Lorelia continued, still on the same high
she had been ever since Emily cancelled their Friday night
dinner due to a wedding she and Richard had to attend in Florida. 

"You know we have go tonight, right?" Rory reminded her
mother, as the last of her sleep was driven away by the
caffienated goodness. 

"Evil child!!" her mother admonished sticking her tongue at
her smug daughter. 

"I'm just trying to help you Mommy, I wouldn't want us to
miss dinner with Grandma knowing how much you enjoy them,"
she snickered. 

"Rooooory," Lorelia whined pouting, making Rory laugh even
more. "I've been thinking," she said changing the subject. 

"No you can't have those kittens that lady is giving away
by Doose’s" Rory interrupted her before she could start. 

"No that's not it," Lorelai smiled innocently sitting
across from her suspicious daughter. "I was 
wondering.... where is the Evil One going to sleep?" 

"On the couch," Rory replied without hesitation. 

"For a month?" Lorelai asked incredulously. "What about his
things, where will they go?" 

"Why do I have a feeling that you know exactly where
Tristan his things are going as where he is going to be
sleeping and it's definitely not the couch," Rory groaned
again. 

"Oh ye of little faith," Lorelai laughed. "I say he uses my
sewing room." 

"You don't have a sewing room," Rory replied 

"I could... you know that little room, by my bathroom?"
Lorelai began. 

"The storage room?" Rory asked. "It would take forever to
move the things out of there." 

"Only about five hours and forty-eight minutes or so,"
Lorelia confirmed refilling her coffee. 

"You didn't," her daughter groaned closing her eyes. 

"I did." 

"Where did the things from that room go?" Rory asked
dreading the answer she was sure to receive. 

"In the attic, it's a good thing I was in a mood to clean
because I also have the entire attic pretty much clean and
organized. Also my new sewing room is all clean and has
sparkly shinny windows also." 

"Our attic?" Rory demanded disbelievingly, still stuck on
the fact that Bermuda triangle called their attic was clean. 

"The same, it's all undusted now, and pretty too!" Lorelai
smiled gleefully. 

"Nuh uh!" was her daughters reply. 

"Yeah huh," 

"I don't believe it!" Rory said shocked. 

"It's true... but about the guest room..." 

"I thought it was the sewing room," Rory interrupted 

"It's a sewing room moonlighting as a guest room only
without a sewing machine and all my equipment, bed set or
curtains." Lorelai assured her. "Don't worry, it's only a
guestroom sometimes." 

"I don't see why we have to do this, it's not like he's
gonna be satisfied. He's probably used to maids and a room
bigger then our front porch," Rory whined. "I don't see why
we have to bother." 

"That's not very nice Rory, you don't know what he's like
away from Chilton Hell," Lorelai frowned. 

"So what do you have in mind?" Rory asked, feeling a bit
guilty for her 
previous remarks. 

"Shopping! We can go shopping and get a bed and some sheets
and curtains and maybe even redecorate the whole room.
It'll be fun and it'll kill some time before we head to the
Grandparents," Lorelai said excitedly. "I'll get you a
frapachino," she bribed. 

"Okay. Okay, sold! Let's go shopping for the Satan Spawn's
room." Rory said heading for the door. 

"Umm sweetie, just one quick thing." Lorelai said from
where she was still sitting. 

"Yea?" Rory asked half way out the door. 

"You might wanna change out off of your puppy slippers...
and if you really, really wanna go for the big one you
could even change out of your PJ's!" she laughed as Rory
looked down and saw herself still wearing her pajamas and
her house slippers. 

"Ooops?" she offered before going to her room to change. 

*Hartford Plaza* 

Armed with what seemed like an endless amount of shopping
bags the mother and daughter headed to the Food Court with
a Starbuck treat for them both. 

"We did good," Lorelai said satisfied. 

"We should seeing as we've been here for over five hours,"
Rory grumbled. 

"You have been a very, berry, berry, grumpy child today," her
mother admonished. 

"Have I really?" Rory asked. 

"Yes, incredibly, monstrously, gigantically, furiously,
hugely." Lorelai stated plainly. 

"Lorelai, Rory!" a high voice suddenly called as a woman
followed by two girls headed towards their table. 

"Erica!" Lorelai smiled getting up and hugging the women
with Rory following the process with a shy "Hello, Mrs.
Moore," 

"You've gotten so big, and so pretty as well!" Erica Moore
gushed letting Rory go. "You remember Jessica and Stacy,
right Rory?" she asked pointing out her daughters. 

"Hey Rory," Stacy, a short, bubbly, strawberry-blonde girl
much like Erica in the looks about Rory's age, said giving
her a huge hug. 

"Stacy, Jessica! It's so good to see you guys again. How
are?" Rory asked excitedly after the reunion filled with
lots of hugs and "my how you've grown" from both mothers
ended. 

"Great, so how are things back at Stars Hallow? How's
Lane?" At twenty, Jessica Moore always seemed light years
older to Rory, Lane, and Stacy who used to followed her
around when the Moore's lived in Stars Hallow. 

"Wonderful, we've all missed you so much," Rory smiled at
the older girl. Unlike her mother and sister she was tall
with dark hair and always a reserved manner that made alot
of people shy away from her. 

"No worries, cause the Moore’s are back in town," Stacy
squealed excitedly. 

"Oh no, look out Stars Hallow, the terrible three are back
in action!" Lorelai groaned in mock pain referring to the 
town nickname for her daughter and Lane and Stacy. 

"Tell me about it, almost made me want to stay away, far,
far, far, away!" Jessica teased her offended sister. 

"Why didn't you give us a warning, I could have left town
by now!" Lorelai asked Jessica in mock anger. 

"If I have to go through it so should you," Jessica
laughed. "Besides, I only found out that we were going to
stay with Aunt Gabby last weekend." 

"Oh so you're going to stay with Gabby?" Lorelai asked
turning to Erica. 

"Yes, you know how lonely she is and when Jessica came down
from school we knew we just had to go back together and
visit the old place," Erica smiled in remembrance to their
former home. 

"So how do you like New York?" Rory asked Stacy and
Jessica. 

"It's great, we live like an hour away from New York City
so Jess and I drive there alot and try new things. Like
Indian food for one thing, Sookie would love this little
restaurant Jess found," Stacy told her. "Of course it's not
the same as Stars Hollow though." 

"How are things with you? How's good old Stars Hallow
High?" Jessica turned to Rory asking about her old school. 

"Oh, Rory doesn't go to Stars Hallow anymore," Lorelai,
ever the proud parent interrupted. 

"Really, got kicked out huh Rory. I always knew that
innocent look was a facade," Jessica teased the blushing
Gilmore. "So where do you go?" 

"Chilton," Rory practically whispered as a pale faced
Jessica dropped the soda she had been about to drink. 

"Jess, are you okay?" Erica asked shaking her shoulder
lightly. 

"Oh, yeah Mom. I'm fine, my hand just fell asleep,” she
said distractedly. "We should go now Mom, Dad's gonna be
worried." she said getting up and pulling her younger
sister with her. "Bye Lorelai, Rory." 

"Well James will be worried, we'll see you around." Erica
said as she hurriedly caught up to her daughters leaving 
the two Gilmore Girls alone. 

"You sure know how to clean up a crowd," Lorelai remarked
watching the Moore’s disappear. 

"I feel so awful, I should have known Jess was still
sensitive about Chilton," Rory frowned. If anyone should
hate Chilton Preparatory it was Jessica Moore, she was the
girl that had been humiliated in front of the entire town
that dreadful Spring Break when the Chilton crowd came to
their sleepy little town and changed it forever. 

"What else could you do, lie and tell her you still went to
Stars Hallow? There's nothing you could do about it, and you
know she was gonna find out sooner or later," Lorelai chided. 
"Personally, I myself can't wait for Satan's Spawn to come down, 
he's in for a hell of a ride." 

"It's not funny," Rory frowned at her laughing mother.
"Besides, we have to go Grandma's now," she informed her
mother oh-so-sweetly, which instantly stopped the laughter.


"You're so mean." 

"It's for your own good, you don't want to be late do you?"
Rory scolded her mother. 

"I don't want to be late, or early, or on time. I don't
want to be there at all!" Lorelai whined knowing that if
she kept Rory busy it would take her mind off the whole
Tristan-Chilton problem.

END PART 4
Pt 5

Tristan paced around his spacious room, cordless phone in
hand. He had been trying to call Rory all day to tell her
that they should live at her house but all he got was the
answering machine. 

"Come in," he called out to whomever it was that was
knocking at his door at such a late hour. 

"Hello darling, getting reading for bed?" Annabelle asked
noticing her son garbed in customary form sleepwear,
boxers, as she surveyed the room with a critical eye. "You
really need to redecorate, maybe we could get Giovanni
back." 

"No thank you, I'm fine," Tristan politely declined. "May I help 
you, Ma'am?" 

"I just wanted to see how you where doing and tell you that
your father left for New Zealand, some merger he needed to
oversee and I leave for Rome early tomorrow," she
gracefully slid into the vacant chair by his desk.
"Expecting a call?" 

"Actually I was trying to make one," he absent mindedly
replied, placing the phone back in it's cradle. "So how
long will you be gone?" 

"Your father will be back by Friday and I think I'm not
really sure," Annabelle watched her son pacing the 
room like a caged animal. "Is there something wrong?" 

"Nothing, nothing. Why do you ask?" he frowned at her. 

"You just seem ... anxious about something, are you
sure..." she drew off as both his parents always did
whenever they feared that they where crowding him. 

"Just bored," he lied, never one to share his true
feelings. 

"What would you like to do while your father and I are out
of town?" Annabelle changed the subject. "Do you want to go stay with
Grandmere and Grandpa? Or perhaps take a holiday somewhere
for a week or so. Maybe Hawaii?" 

"I have school." 

"Well, an excuse could be arranged if you truly wish it,
what's the point of sending you to a private school if we
can't have a say in your schedule," Annabelle laughed
gently. 

"No thank you, I have a project due and I can't abandon my
partner by gallivanting around the country," he declined.
"Actually, I'll most likely be spending the month at a
friends house for our project." 

"Really, what kind of project is that," his mother
inquired. 

"Ms. Glayr's annual project, you remember don't you? You
signed the contracts for it at the beginning of the year."
Tristan reminded her, fully knowing she remembered nothing
of the sort. 

"Oh, yes that project. So who's your partner?" she asked
steering the conversation into a different direction. 

"Rory Gilmore," Tristan smiled wistfully without realizing
it. 

"Gilmore, Gilmore... Emily and Richard's daughter? I didn't
realize they had one your age." Annabelle smiled eagerly;
glad to be involved in his affairs, obviously her son was
quite charmed by the girl. 

"Granddaughter." Tristan corrected. 

"Really?" Annabelle replied shocked. "But, I distinctly
remember a Gilmore who was quite younger than me, much
too young to have a fifteen, sixteen year old daughter." 

"That would be her mother, Lorelai" Tristan confirmed. 

"How nice. Are you and Rory ... have you two ... are you two...?
Annabelle searched for a word. 

"Are Rory and I dating? Is she my girlfriend? Have we ever
gone out?" Tristan supplied. "No, she's in love with her
boyfriend," he added somewhat bitterly. 

"Oh, Tristan," Annabelle sympathized reaching out to him
but than as if realizing what she was doing she pulled
back. 

"I’m fine Mother," Tristan snapped. "What's up with the
Spanish Inquisition anyhow?" 

"I just wanted to see how you where doing, tell you our
plans," Annabelle replied coolly. 

"Well, since you've done that I would like go to sleep now.
Besides you don't want to miss your flight tomorrow." 

"Good night Tristan," Annabelle retreated. 

"Good night Ma'am. Have a nice trip," he replied formally. 

"Thank you, good luck on your project and I'll see you when
I come home," she instructed. Then looking back at her son
who was about to get into bed she gave him a stiff hug.
"Sleep tight, don't let the bugs bite," she recited the
rhyme from his younger days while tucking the covers around
him. 

"Night Mommy," Tristan mumbled softly as she left, still
surprised from the unexpected show of affection his parents
reared from as if it where the plague. 

*Stars Hallow, Gabby Moore-Jameson Home* 

"Jessie, Jessie," Stacy hissed. 

"What is Trouble?" Jessica asked rolling over to face the
general direction of her sister’s bed. 

"Are you asleep?" Stacy asked from her bed in the guest
room she always shared with Jessica when they visited their
aunt. 

"I was until some horrible little child woke me up,"
Jessica smiled fondly in her younger sister's direction
knowing she couldn't see her since the lights where off. 

"I am not a child," Stacy huffed indigently. 

"All right, all right you're not a child." Jessica laughed.
"Now what do you want?" 

"I couldn't sleep," Stacy whined. "I'm to excited." 

"And you woke me up because...." 

"So we could talk!" Stacy stated in a tone that just
screamed 'duh.' 

"You're too kind little sister," Jessica sighed wiping away
any traces of sleep left in her eyes knowing that when Stacy 
wanted to 'talk' she usually didn't stop until she was good and
ready. And a hyper Stacy took her own sweet time being
'good and ready.' 

"Isn't it great being back in town? Like New York is great
and everything and so are all our new friends but it's not
the same as being home." Stacy ranted on, oblivious to her
tired sister. 

"Yeah, well don't get to attached sweetens, you and the
'rents are going back home Tuesday." 

"It's not fair ... why do we only get to stay for like 5
days and you get to stay for a month?" the younger sister
sulked. 

"Because you have school?" Jessica reminded. "Besides, I
wish I could go back to New York, or at least switch places
with you 'cause I sure don't want to stay here." 

"Oh, Jess. I'm sorry, it must really suck being here,
especially with Rory going to Chilton now," Stacy yawned.
"Sorry, I guess I'm getting tired now." 

"It does kinda 'suck' as you so eloquently placed it. I
guess I'm not ready to fight the ghosties yet but I have
to. Besides I promised Aunt Gabby I would stay for a while
and I don't plan on backing out." Jessica sighed. "Now go
to sleep, you have a long day ahead of you." 

"Mmm'k... night Jess," Stacy mumbled already drifting into
the Sandman's domain leaving a now wide awake Jessica
listening to her fair snores as she stared at the ceiling
remembering the day she met Drew Blakely, her down fall. 

Quietly slipping out of bed she padded over to the closet
where she had stored her things and she drew out a Dream
box from under her neatly folded clothes. Heading to the
dresser where she had placed her jewelry box she took out
the small key she had hidden among the false bottom and
went back to bed box and key in hand. In the box were some
on her most bittersweet memories. Going through the
contents she drew out an old fashioned necklace in the
shape of heart, which held pictures. 

"How could you Drew?" she whispered tearfully opening the
locket and staring at the picture of the guy that
humiliated her in front of the entire town and broke her
heart in the process. Putting the necklace back in she
shuffled through the other contents, a CD. A card, numerous
pictures, and some poetry he had give her. Shutting the box
up she put things away and headed back to bed, try to catch
whatever sleep she could.

End Part 5
Pt 6

Rory got of the bus Monday morning tiredly. The weekend had
passed by much to quickly and she still hadn't talked to
Tristan about her plans for the project. 

"Morning," Paris greeted as Rory dragged herself to her
locker before first period. 

"Only four more days till Friday, five if you count today," Rory 
groaned tiredly, very out of character. 

"Someone got up on the wrong side of bed today," Madeline
remarked as she and Louise came up to the other two. 

"Yes, but whose bed was it?" Louise asked cattily as she
and Madeline burst into giggles. "So, Mrs. DuGrey ... late night?" 

"Are you going to drop this anytime soon?" Rory demanded 
impatiently. 

"Let me see," Louise tapped a finger against her forehead
in thought. "Umm... NO." 

"What did you guys do this weekend?" Paris changed the
subject. 

"Shopping," Madeline and Louise chorused together. 

"You go shopping every weekend," Paris pointed out.
"Did you do anything new?" 

"Shopping is a form of art that need careful, constant
nurturing," Louise huffed indigently. "You have to be
constant and create a harmonious schedule." 

"Are you for real?" Paris demanded.

"Not really, just really hyper," Louise giggled. "So what
did you do?" 

"Uh, umm well, I..." Paris stuttered as her partner John
came passed by. 

"Hey Paris, I had a great time last night," he greeted.
"See you in class." 

"Weeeell, Louise. I guess that answers your question," Rory
teased as John left their little group. "So Paris, I guess you
had fun this weekend?" 

"We're just friends," Paris declared getting even more red.
"And what did you do this weekend?" 

"I went shopping with my mother, had my weekly dinner with 
my grandparents, and some of our friends who moved to New
York came to visit so we spent some time with them." 

"New York City?" Madeline inquired. 

"I think they live right outside, in a suburb or something," Rory replied. 

"Close enough. New York guys are so yummy," Madeline
purred. "Any of those friends male?" 

"Down girl, it's only 7 on a Monday morning no less," Paris
ordered. "How can you think about guys so early?" 

"Sweetheart, we can always think about guys," Louise chimed in.
"So any guys?" 

"No, sorry ... unless you count Mr. Moore," Rory laughed. 

"How old is he?" Louise inquired. 

"Oh ick! Stop now, that's just to gross!" Rory protested. 

"Hello ladies," Tristan offered his salutations. "And
what's got your panties in a twist today, Mary?" 

"And you care because?.." Rory asked blankly. 

"Awww, honey. I always care about the state of your
panties," he leered 

"Um, excuse me. I just had breakfast today so could you
like keep it down to like minimum flirtage?" Paris asked pretending 
to gag. 

"Meow," Louise clawed the air laughing. "Is John
influencing are darling little Paris?" 

"John, your partner John?" Tristan inquired leaning against
Rory's closed locker lazily as Paris literally brightened at their 
classmate's name. 

"That's the one," Madeline grinned. "They had a nice time
last night." 

"Really? How nice are we talking?" 

"You'll never find out, now will you?" Paris threw back. Shocking 
herself not because she was uncharactersitcally flirting with 
Tristan, but because she felt nothing outside friendship and
fondness for one of her oldest friend.

"Paris you slut," Tristan admonished jokingly. "Whatever
happened to our sweet little Paris who never talked to guys
let alone have nice nights with them." 

"You guys leave Paris alone," Rory interfered placing an
arm around her shoulders. 

"Aww Ma!" Madeline and Louise whined. 

"Are you gonna spank me if I don't?" Tristan turned to her
mischievously. 

"Oh gawd, never mind. Go back to bothering Paris." Rory
groaned. 

"And where were you all weekend young lady?" Tristan
demanded. "I called all weekend but no one answered." 

"Oooooh! He called all weekend." 

"All right, enough from the peanut gallery," Tristan pretended
to glare at the other girls. 

"Ouch! If looks could kill..." Paris pretended to shudder. 

"I don't think I like the new Paris," Tristan sulked. 

"Yes, but John likes it," Madeline teased. 

"Walk with me?" he turned to Rory, ignoring the other three
as well as all the stares they got from curious onlookers 
when she accepted. 

"I need to talk to you about the project," Rory began as
they headed to their class." 

"Same here," Tristan agreed. 

"I think we should stay at my house..." Rory began as
Tristan said, "I think we should stay at your house..." 

"Well, then ... now that we agree," Rory started heading
for her first class which she had with Tristan as well. "Wait," 
she stopped suddenly and turned to a smirking Tristan who 
was exactly where she left him. 

"Yes, Mary?" he smirked. 

"Why do we agree?" she demanded coming closer to him. "We
never, ever, ever agree." 

"Well, if you want we could disagree and you could come
stay at my empty house without parents and a practically
deaf house keeper," he leaned in closer till they where
practically touching. "A deaf housekeeper who wouldn't hear you
scream." 

"Ugh! You're such a jerk." Rory pulled back punching his
arm. 

"Are you a screamer, Rory? Is that it?" Tristan smirked
looking down at her flushed face. 

"I'm going to class now, where I will ignore you and you
will keep your lewd comments to yourself," she ordered. 
"Got it?" 

"I love when you get dominant," he called after her.

End Part 6
Pt 7

Tristan put the last of his stuff in his car and slammed
the trunk shut. Today was the day that he moved in with the
Gilmore’s and despite the fact that he stayed up more than
half the night worrying how he was going to spend an entire
month under the same roof with the girl who he desperately
wanted and act as if everything was normal, he was looking
forward to meeting everyone who meant so much to her, where
the essence of the way she had become the wonderful person
she was. 

"Good-bye Master Tristan," Henrietta, the not so deaf
housekeeper who had been with his family since forever,
hugged him. "Be good, and please try to be careful. Eat all
your vegetables and try to stay away from all that awful
junk food," Henrietta warned, she had become a mother
figure for him when his parents began to close them off.
Actually, she was a parent for even his own parents. She
made sure his father didn't fall asleep in his study drunk,
or his mother caterer's didn't slack off before her
parties. 

"I'll try Henni," he smiled. "And if not you can get even
when I come back home." 

"Oh I will, you be sure of that Master Tristan. I will have
my revenge," she threatened him, even though her eyes where
twinkling with laughter. "Now get to school. Shoo! Off you 
go." 

"Trying to get rid off me, huh Henni?" Hot date?" he teased
as he threw his school bag in on the passenger side floor. 

"Tristan," she warned. 

"Okay, okay I'm leaving!" he held up his arm in defeat as
Henni went inside shaking her head. Grinning, Tristan drove
to Chilton, which he would be leaving at the end of the day
to with Rory Gilmore to her house. 

Rory got off the bus, ignoring the glares she got from a
group of the popular senior girls who had been lounging on the
benches that where sprawled around the courtyard. 

"Watch where you're going loser," one of the girls snapped
as she bumped into Rory purposely. 

"Excuse me?" Rory glared at her, she hadn't exactly been
warmly welcomed into the school, and it had gotten worse
when she and Tristan began their verbal warfare, and that
was fine, they did have loyalty to him. But ever since it
got around that they were partners the girls, especially
the popular girls, had gotten down right hostile. 

"Did all that bleach kill whatever brain cells you had
left?" 

"What did you say?" the other looked up at her, while the
rest of her friends stared at them. "Who do you think you
are talking to me that way? How dare you!" 

"No, how dare you," Rory replied coolly. "Look, I didn't
come here to be friends with all of you, I didn't ask to
part of your crowd, or to be best friends with you. But I
didn't asked to treated like I was the scum of the universe
either. You have no right to treat me like that." 

"Are you feeling okay?" the other girl snapped. "Us
treating you like the 'scum of the universe’? I don't think
so." 

"Cami just drop it," one of her friends called to her. 

"No way Sky, it's about time someone filled her in," Cami
told her friend before turning back to Rory. "Now it's all
great that you're very dedicated to your school work, it's
kinda rude but understandable with your whole Harvard
bound-ness that you ignore your classmates and actually
just come here to study. But when you play with one of our
friend's feeling, it's just flat out wrong." 

"What are you talking about?" Rory demanded confused. 

"What am I talking about?" Cami hissed, trying very hard
not to yell. "I'm talking about Tristan! He's in love with
you and all you do is rag on him. If you don't like him
that fine, but do you have to be a jerk about it?" 

"Tristan is not in love with me," Rory snapped, getting
angry herself. "In case you don't notice he gets a high off
torturing me. Now does that sound like love to you? If it
does, than you need some serious help, like now!" 

"Know what?" Cami turned away. "I'm not even going to try.
You're beyond help, but get this through your head. If you
hurt Tristan, we'll make your life hell. You're gonna wish
you never left that little hick school of yours." 

"I'm so scared," Rory rolled her eyes. "Now if you're done,
I'd like to get away from Chilton's version of the Mafia." 

"You really don't get it do you?" Cami called after her as
she headed inside. 

"Get what?" Rory turned around exasperated. "All I want is
to get the best education I can and go Harvard. What is
wrong with you people? Ever since my first day someone has
been on my case for something or the other. What did I ever
do to you?" 

"Aww, a welcoming committee? For me?" Tristan gushed,
suddenly appearing behind them "Waiting for me, oh shucks!
You shouldn't have!" 

"You forgot your medication again didn't you?" Cami
deadpanned as Rory said, "It is possible, your ego can get
bigger!" 

"That hurts, that really does," Tristan backed away slowly
with his head down. 

"Get over it," Cami laughed as she headed back to her
friends, leaving Rory and Tristan alone. 

"I didn't know you and Cami where friends," Tristan asked
curiously, Rory as they walked into the main building
together. "How'd you meet? Do you have a class together?
That can't be it though, she's a senior and you two don't
have the same electives, do you? Why do I feel like I'm
talking to myself?" 

"I think, that's cause you are." Rory laughed at his
version of babbling. "And to answer your question, no I
don't know Cami. We just met today, actually." 

"Really? How'd that happen?" Tristan gave her his customary
smirk. "Were you fighting over me? You know I have no
problem with you sharing me." 

"How do you do it?" Rory asked him amazed. 

"Do what? Be so perfect? So amazing? So desirable?" 

"I was going for so disillusional, but plain old psycho is
doable." Rory interrupted. 

"Oh, honey. Don't hide your feelings," he comforted her as
he waved to some of their classmates and his minions who
eagerly tried to get his unavailable attention. "I know you
want me, you stay up late at night wishing for me, you..." 

Rory put her hand on his mouth, ending his tirade.
"Anyways, are you coming over today?" 

"Yeah, I have all my stuff in the car so I can come over
right away after school and also you don't have to take the
bus," he added the last part somewhat concerned. "I mean. I
know you said that bus is cool and everything but I was
thinking that maybe we could also come and go to your place
together while I stay there. If it's okay with you." he
asked, somewhat shyly. 

"Sure, uh thanks Tristan," Rory replied, surprised. "Well,
I need to go my locker now. See you in class." She left him
staring after her before heading off to his own locker,
wondering what she and Cami had been talking about so intensely
earlier as well. 

END PART 7
Pt 8

Lorelai left Luke's, coffee in hand. She needed to get back
to the house to wait for Tristan and Rory who should be
there soon. "Finally, a chance to meet the 'Evil One'" she
grinned to herself at the possibilities. 

"Lorelai!" two familiar voices called after her. 

"Jess, Stace!" she turned around grinning. "What are you
two up to? 

"We got nothing to do," Stacy chirped hooking her arm
through Lorelai's, "So we thought we'd hang out with you
since everyone else is still in school." 

"So basically I'm a substitute till your friends get out
school?" Lorelai pretended to be hurt. "Is that it?" 

"That's about it," Jess informed her with mock seriousness
as they reached the house. 

"Just checking," Lorelai nodded as she unlocked the front
door. 

"When does Rory come home?" Stacy asked as they headed into
the kitchen so Lorelia could refill her coffee, which she
had finished already on the short walk over as well as get
a cup for herself. 

"That stuff can kill you," Jess pointed out only to receive
a deadly glare from her little sister as well as the Addict
Queen herself. "What! It can!" she defended herself,
relieved when she heard a car pulling up in the driveway.
"Oh look, Rory's home!" she skipped outside, glad to be
away from the coffee addicts inside. 

"You can run, but you can't hide forever," Stacy playfully
threatened coming up behind her with Lorelai close on her heels
as well. "Remember, Rory is one of us!" 

"We have to be normal now," Lorelai interrupted in a
whisper. 

"Normal? What's that?" Stacy turned to her with feigned
confusion. 

"Mom you're home," Rory came out of the passenger side
surprised, interrupting the conversation. 

"That's a nice car," Stacy whistled appreciatively. 

“Hey guys, what are you doing here?" Rory turned to them as
well. 

"We just wanted to see how you were doing?" Lorelai offered
innocently. 

"Don't you have to be at work?" Rory folded her arms, and
tapped a foot impatiently as she waited for answer. 

"How come he's still in the car?" Lorelai changed the
subject, craning her neck to see the infamous Demon Spawn
who was still in his nicely tinted car. 

"I think you scared him," Rory said in amazement, turning
to face the car as well. 

"Who's your friend?" Jess asked, knowing she was going to
regret the answer. Something felt wrong, maybe it was
because Rory's Chilton uniform brought back many unpleasant
memories but that was to be expected. 

"I'll go get him," Rory sighed, "this was very bad, Jess
was here and she was about to get a real shock when she saw
Tristan. He was sure to bring back all those memories." 

"Ooooh, it's a he," Stacy laughed when Rory was out of
earshot. "Is that her boyfriend?" 

"Nope. Even better," Lorelai grinned. "He's her arch
enemy!" 

"No!" Stacy gasped. "Rory doesn't have arch enemies, is he 
cute?" 

"I haven't seen him yet," Lorelai admitted. "He's here to
do a project that they got paired up for." 

Meanwhile, Rory was tapping on Tristan's window. "Hey," he 
greeted when the tinted glass was practically down. 

"Hey, you planning on spending the month in that car or 
inside?" she teased. 

"I didn't want to interfere," he replied. 

"Interfere with what? I think they're all here to see you,
not me," she confided. "My Mom should be at work, and Stacy
probably came for coffee, and Jess came to make sure she
didn't OD, so other than my mother they're not here to see
you actually. But if it weren't for you my mother would be
at work and she wouldn't have run into Stacy and Jess and
then they wouldn't be here. So in a way they are here to
see you, so you're not interfering" she babbled as Tristan
just stared in amazement. 

"So Mary, you told your Mother about me huh? A little
sudden, but I'm cool with it," he smirked as she pulled his
door open and ordered him out. "There's that dominant
streak again." 

"Tristan! Just be quite and get out," Rory ordered
impatiently. 

"Is Rory getting mad?" Jess wondered out loud when she saw
Rory pull open the door and order her partner out. 

"Oh my, oh wow..." Stacy trailed off when he got out of the
car. "If Rory doesn't want him, can I have him?" she asked
no one in particular. 

"Jess, sweetie are you okay?" Lorelai turned to Jessica
when she heard her gasp. 

"Drew..." Jess whispered when she saw Rory's partner. He
seemed so much like Drew, that smirk she saw him throw at
Rory, the way he leaned against her, or how he had his coat
draped on his arm, the way he rolled his sleeves up. "I
have to go now," she practically ran off the porch and past
a surprised Rory. 

"Who was that?" Tristan asked Rory when one of the girls
ran past them. "Is she okay?" 

"That was Jess..." Rory trailed off realizing whatcaused her
friend to run off. "Come on, you can meet the rest. I can 
see their dying to meet you." 

"Should I start to get my things now?" Tristan asked. 

"They can wait," Rory told him as she led him to the porch.
"Mom, Stace this is Tristan DuGrey. Tristan, this is my
mother Lorelai and my friend Stacy Moore, her sister
Jessica was the one that just passed us," Rory introduced. 

"Pleased to meet you..." 

"Lorelai, you are never to call me Ms. Gilmore," she
interrupted. 

"Got it," Tristan confirmed. "Pleased to meet you Lorelai
and Stacy," he threw in a smile for bonus. 

"Cool car," Stacy smiled. 

"Yeah, she's my baby," Tristan smiled fondly at the car. 

"GT Mustang convertible, with a V6 engine?" Stacy guessed 
as Rory and Lorelai stared in confusion. 

"Yeah, you're into cars?" Tristan asked eagerly. 

"Not really, just this one," Stacy admitted. "Well, I need
to get home now. See you around Rory and Lorelai, it was 
nice meeting you Tristan." 

"You'll be seeing Tristan around as well," Lorelai added as
Stacy started to leave. "He's going to be our houseguest
for a month or so." 

"Jess is gonna love this," Stacy groaned as she headed to
Aunt Gabby's. "Good thing I leave Saturday." 

"Well, I should get back to work now, Rory why don't you 
show Tristan his room and give him a tour of the town,"
Lorelai advised heading back to work herself. "Meet you 
at Luke's at 6." 

"So, wanna show me our room now?" Tristan leered throwing
an arm around Rory's shoulders. 

"Maybe you should stay in your car," Rory pulled out of his
grasp, heading inside. 

"Aww honey, you don't mean that." he went after her as she
began the tour of his new, temporary, residence. "I'm so
glad I signed up for Ms. Glayr's class," he smiled to
himself as Rory lead him upstairs to his room.

END PART 8
Pt 9

Rory finished going over the last of her homework when she
realized that it was almost 5:30 and she had yet to hear anything
from Tristan. Worried, she put away her books and headed upstairs to
where his room was. 

"Tristan?" she knocked on the practically open door. 

"Come in," was the muffled invitation Rory got before she
pushed the door open. 

"Hey," she called out cheerily looking over the room
surprised. Though it wasn't the dusty, over crowded room from 
before Lorelai had gotten to it, the room was also no longer the 
bare guest room they had offered Tristan either. 

"I hope you didn't mind that I kinda added some of my own
things," Tristan watched her a bit nervous. Rory Gilmore was 
in an empty house with him, in a room with a bed in it. 

"Don't worry about it," she dismissed before walking over
to desk, and looking over the textbooks which he had neatly
placed there. "Do you want to finish unpacking or something 
or head over to Luke's now?" 

"I already unpacked," Tristan informed her. "What's Luke's?
I heard you telling your mother we would meet her there at 
six, but I have no clue what it is." 

"Luke's is a diner, he's our supplier" she confided moving
over to the book shelf where his personal and the school
required books were placed. "We eat there everyday
because this is a coffee and pop-tart only kinda house." 

"Everyday?" Tristan questioned amazed. "And your mother is
cool with that?" 

"Of course she is, her domestic skills, well the cooking
part at least are beyond non existence. We go to Luke's 
practically everyday, well everyday but Fridays," she corrected, 
moving to his CD rack. "On Fridays we have to go to the grandparents
for dinner, so no Luke's tomorrow," she finished before bursting into 
surprised laughter. 

"What, Rory are you okay?" Tristan asked her worried. "What
is it?" 

"You, you're a neat freak," she gasped laughing. 

"Yeah, what so funny about it?" he snapped annoyed, a bit
hurt as well. 

"I'm sorry. It's not funny, it's just that I never imagined
you where a neat freak," she apologized still trying to 
catch her breath. "You have all your CD's alphabetized and 
your books by size order, and then you have those alphabetized 
as well. 

"And I have my socks in order by color and patterns as
well, same with my shirts," he supplied rolling his eyes. 

"You do?" Rory turned to him with wide eyes. 

"Would you like to see?" he asked sarcastically, while
glaring. 

"No, no, that's okay. I'm sorry Tristan, I'm gonna stop
bugging you now," Rory promised him earnestly. "So you 
wanna go to Luke's now?" 

"Okay, let me get my keys and we can leave," he said going
to grab his car keys. 

"Don't bother," Rory stopped him. "We can walk, that way
you can get to see the sights and you can also meet some
of the people." 

"Wanna show me off huh, Mary?' Tristan grinned. 

"You know it," she deadpanned. "I want everyone to see you
so that they can be eaten alive with jealousy." 

"I knew you'd come around," Tristan sprinted ran down the
stairs, ignoring her sarcasm. 

Shutting the door behind her Rory looked up at the ceiling.
"Why me?" she asked before joining the impatient Tristan
who was waiting for her on the porch. 

"You sure took your time, Mary." Tristan noted as he leaned
against the railing. "While you were making yourself presentable,
for me I'm sure, some weird tall guy with a cat and short blonde lady
where staring at me from that window." 

"A weird..." Rory trailed off. "Oh, you mean Maury and
Babette. Those are the neighbors." 

"I figured that," Tristan down at her, amused. She was so
cute when she tried to figure something out. 

"Then why'd you ask?" 

"I didn't ask," he easily replied as they started to walk
to Luke's. "I just thought I'd let you know your plan was working." 

"My plan?" Rory echoed. 

"Your plan," he confirmed with an air of arrogance. "You
know, to be seen with me. Showing me off, if you will." 

"Showing you off?" Rory echoed again in amazement, how can
one person be so egotistical? 

"Showing me off. You know all you had to do was ask, I
don't mind." 

"You wouldn't," Rory giggled as Tristan continued his
tirade. 

"What, you don't believe me?" Tristan demanded in mock
disbelief. "Just look at that guy in the hat, the one with
the cell. He's looking at us." 

"Oh that's Jackson, he's probably talking to Taylor, the
guy from the grocery store we passed who was staring at
us by the entrance door," Rory filled him in. "And you see that
guy on the pay phone over there? The one that just turned
around now? His name is Keith, he's also probably telling
someone how Rory Gilmore is walking around town with some
strange guy." 

"Are you for real?" Tristan burst out laughing. "Why would
they care?" 

"I dunno," Rory shrugged. "They're really harmless, nosey,
but harmless so don't worry about it. They just want to see
if you're an ex-convict, or something and worthy of being
in my presence," she added the last part with an air of
self-importance. 

"So who has the ego now?" Tristan teased, nudging her with
his elbow. 

"Who me?" Rory turned to him innocently. "Couldn't be!" 

"Oh that is so third grade," Tristan groaned all while
sticking his tongue out at her. 

"Rory! Yoo-hoo! Rory sweetheart, wait for me!" Miss Patty
called after them as she ran, huffing to reach them. 

"Who is that?" Tristan asked with interest. 

"Miss Patty, you know what I said about everyone being
harmless? Well, I'd watch out, Miss Patty was a dancer in
her younger days and she likes to relive her crowning
moments." 

"Rory sweetings! There you are," Miss Patty gushed as she
finally caught up to them. "And who is your darling little
friend?" 

"Tristan DuGrey ma'am," Tristan smiled politely. 

"My, my. Isn't he a handsome one," Patty turned to the
grinning Rory. "Where ever did you find him, doll?" 

"Tristan goes to school with me, Miss Patty. Tristan, this
is Miss Patty, she's a dance teacher." Rory introduced. 

"I'm more than a dance teacher, in my younger days I was a
star," Patty started, "why the audience, the men
especially, would demand..." 

"Sorry to interrupt Miss Patty, but Tristan is starved. And
we're supposed to be meeting my mother now at Luke's," Rory
broke in sweetly. 

"I could always join you dear," Miss Patty smiled at
Tristan. "I can tell you all about my days on the stage!"
she riled missing the scared look Tristan threw Rory. 

"That would be wonderful Miss Patty, but don't you have a
six o'clock class?" Rory reminded the older woman. 

"I could always cancel that," Miss Patty dismissed. 

"Really, what a shame," Rory lowered her eyes. "It's just
that I was going to show Tristan the studio." 

"You were?" both Patty and Tristan asked her together. 

"I mean yeah! You where," Tristan retracted sheepishly. 

"I was," Rory smiled up at the older woman. "Tristan was
looking so forward to seeing you conduct that class." 

"He was?" Miss Patty turned to the furiously nodding
Tristan. 

"I was, oh yeah, I was," he smiled hoping that would be
enough to discourage the woman from joining them for
dinner. 

"Then for you I won't cancel the class after all," Patty
headed to the studio. "See you later kids." 

"We're not going, are we?" Tristan turned to Rory, actually
worried.   

"That all depends on how you are," Rory said pulling him
toward Luke's. 

"Oh, I'm always good," Tristan assured her, smirking. 

"See, its things like that which makes me want go visit
Miss Patty after dinner," Rory threatened. 

"No! I mean, I'll behave, honest," Tristan promised
following Rory into the diner. 

"I'll believe it when I see it," Rory slid into an empty
booth with Tristan sitting across from her. 

"Who's he?" Luke stalked over, pad and pencil in hand;
ready to take their order. 

"Hi Luke, this is Tristan. He goes to school with me and he
has to stay with us for a while so he's going to be here
for a while," Rory greeted him. 

"Does your mother know?" he demanded, all while glaring at
Tristan. 

"Yup, she's gonna join us any minute now," Rory assured the
older man. 

"You gonna wait for her before ordering?" Luke ignored
Tristan completely and focused on Rory. "I suppose you want
some coffee." 

"Yes, please," Rory, replied gratefully. 

"You got it kid," then as if realizing he that he had to
serve Tristan as well, Luke turned to him glaring. "What
do you want?" he barked. 

"A coke, please" Tristan gulped nervously. "Sir." 

"That's Luke," Rory supplied. 

"Nooo," Tristan gasped sarcastically as he saw him
returning with their drinks causing Rory to stifle her laughter.

END PART 9
Pt 10

"Lorelai, you have a phone call," Michael called from the
front desk where he had been flipping through a magazine. 

"Who is it?" Lorelai looked up from her notes that she had
been going over for her business exam. 

"Do I look like your personal secretary?" 

"Why do I even bother?" she asked no one in particular as
she grabbed the phone from an uninterested Michael. 

"Independence Inn, Lorelai Gilmore speaking," 

"What took you so long to answer?" the impatient voice
demanded from the other end. 

"Hello mother, I'm doing just fine, and you?" Lorelai
drolled out. 

"Don't be so rude Lorelai," Emily admonished. "I called you
about that voice mail you left me, what do you mean we are
to set up a plate for a guest at dinner." 

"Exactly that, we have a guest staying with us and we can't
exactly leave him home alone now, can we?" 

"It's a him? Who is he, one of your new boyfriends? That
man from Rory's birthday party?" Emily demanded. "It's him,
isn't it? I can't believe you're allowing him to live with
you! What about Rory?" 

"What about Rory? We kicked her out so that he could use
her room as a closet. She's living in our neighbors old dog
house now," Lorelai laughed. 

"Lorelai be serious," Emily snapped. "Now who's your guest
and what does Rory think about him?" 

"Not much actually, I think she'd like to run him over and
then some," Lorelai admitted. "But they have to get used to
each other." 

"Are you out of your mind?" Emily demanded from the other
end. "You're dating a man who your daughter has homicidal
feelings for and you're forcing my poor grand daughter to
live under the same roof as him? How could you Lorelai?
That's it, tell Rory to bring her things with her, she can
stay with us until you get that, that, man out of your
system. What are you laughing about, I can't believe you 
find your daughters pain amusing." 

"Mom, relax! Take a deep breath," Lorelai laughed into the
receiver. "Easy now. Okay, feeling better?" 

"I suppose," Emily sniffed indignantly. 

"Great, well that man who is staying with us is a sixteen
year old boy and one of Rory's classmates." 

"You're dating one of Rory's classmates?" Emily let out
what could only be described as a very undignified shriek. 
"Lorelia how could you? As if that teacher indecent wasn't
scandalous enough" 

"Ma! Relax," Lorelai ordered. "It's for a school project,
Ms. Glayr's annual project, remember? We did it also when I
took her class. No one is dating him." 

"Oh, well why didn't you say so before?" Emily asked a bit
more pleasantly and relaxed. 

"Uhh, maybe because you where loosing whatever marbles you
had left?" Lorelai suggested. 

"Don't be rude," Emily replied. "Now who is this boy? Maybe
we know him." 

"I think you probably do, he was at Rory's birthday party,"
Lorelai filled her in as she started scanning her notes
once again. "Tristan DuGrey." 

"Why that's lovely, the DuGrey's are a wonderful family,"
Emily practically gushed. "Janlen DuGrey, that's Tristan's
grandfather, and your father have been doing business
together for years." 

"Uh huh," Lorelai mumbled going back to focusing on her notes. 

"Lorelai are you paying attention?" Emily asked sharply. 

"Ma, I'm kinda at work. Can I go now?" was the whine she
got in reply. 

"Oh all right," Emily sighed. "I shall let you go and we'll
see the three of you at dinner." 

"Oh goodie," Lorelai groaned hanging up the phone. "Well,
at least Rory will be there to enjoy the evening right along
with me."

End Part 10
Pt 11

  Jess walked through Stars Hollow alone, with her hands shoved deep
into her pocket. Today was her family's last day in town, they where 
headed for New York in the morning, leaving her all alone to deal with
the small town ghosts. She knew one of the reasons her parents and
aunt wanted her to stay in Stars Hollow was so that she could over
come her past fear. Sighing, she turned to a small park, which she
began using as a secret place ever since the town built a newer,
bigger, park. 

"Ouch!" she shrieked as someone bumped into her, 
causing her to fall.

"I'm so sorry I didn't see you. Are you okay?" an anxious 
male voice called to her as she looked up to see a worried
guy looking down at her with concern. 

"I’ll live," she grimaced picking herself before she began 
walking away. 

"I'm so sorry, is there something I can do for you?" the 
guy persisted, trailing behind her. 

"Don't worry about, it wasn't your fault." Jess assured him 
halfheartedly as she tried to get away. 

"Are you new here?" the guy asked her falling into 
step with her. "I haven't seen you around before." 

"I should be asking you the same thing," she threw
back. 

"True," he smiled at her. "I've been here for a few months
now, my family moved here from Chicago." 

"From Chicago to Stars Hollow?" Jess 
laughed. "Why?" 

"My father's company moved," he replied 
easily. "By the way, I'm Dean." 

"Jessica, but everyone calls me Jess," she 
offered hesitantly. "And to answer your question,
no I'm not new, my family used to live here and I'm
just staying with my Aunt Gabby." 

"Gabby Jameson?" Dean asked. "Is that your aunt?" 

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Jess demanded suspiciously. 

"Whoa! Calm down now, I just wondered because I work
 at Doose's and that's the only Gabby I can think off," 
he laughed holding up his arms. 

"Oh, sorry. I guess I forgot how things worked in small 
towns. You know, with everyone getting into everyone's 
business" 

"Especially in Stars Hollow," Dean agreed smiling. 

"Especially Stars Hollow," Jessica echoed remembering 
how the town had reacted when they heard of her 
betrayal. 

"Hey, are you okay. I kinda lost you there," he said 
gently touching her shoulder. 

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about..." she trailed off 
wondering if he knew anything about the incident. 

"About what?" he encouraged. 

"Nothing, never mind. Just forget I said anything," Jess hurried. 

"Hey, if you want to talk..." Dean offered. 

"It's okay, don't worry about it." 

"Are you sure? I hear it's best to talk about it to a stranger
than anyone else." 

Sighing, Jess headed toward the abandon bench with Dean
close behind her. "Okay, well see I guess I should talk to 
someone else, but I have no one else I can really talk to 
without worrying them. So I guess you'll have to do since 
I should talk about this." 

"Gee thanks," Dean interrupted. 

"Do you want to hear this or not?" Jess demanded. 

"Sorry, go ahead. No more interruptions" he promised. 

"All right, here's the story. Back when I was sixteen 
and we still lived here I started going out with this 
guy, his name was Drew and he was so amazing, 
cute, cultured, romantic, and sweet. Or so he led 
me to believe. He and some of his friends had come
 down here from Hartford during their Spring Break, 
kinda like their hangout and when we met he just 
swept me off my feet. He was so unlike any of the 
guys I had ever met, I started to fall in love with him, 
and I thought he loved me as well, then I found out he
was just looking for some fun. He and his friends were 
tired of their usual vacations so they had decided that 
instead of going somewhere and partying like they always 
did before they would come down here and see if they could
have some fun. Their fun consisted of seeing how far they 
could get with her, and then leave h! er high and dry when 
school started up again." 

"Oh.whoa, that's really messed up." Dean said amazed as 
he ran a hand through his hair. 

"Yeah, I don't think they meant for me to fall in love
with him, but when they found out, when he found
out, I was quickly filled in on how beneath them I 
was," Jess laughed bitterly. "How I was just some bet." 

"So what happened after that?" 

"Not much, I just walked around like a zombie and finally
when my father got a better offer in New York we just
packed up and left Stars Hollow for good. I haven't been
back here since now." 

"So what's got you bummed now?" Dean asked. 

"Well, a friend mine, actually my little sister’s old best
friend goes to Drew's old school. They have a project
that they're doing where you're supposed to live at 
your partner’s house or something and her partner is 
going to be living here. I saw him today and it was 
déjŕ vu, he seemed so much like Drew, not in looks 
mind you, but how he carried himself. I just freaked 
out and left and my sister, Stacy just filled me in on 
the whole deal. She said the guy wasn't all that bad, 
and he seemed to be harmless. I hope she's right." 

"Who's Stacy's friend?" Dean question, he had a 
feeling he already knew the answer to that question. 

"Oh, she's the sweetest thing," Jess brightened up. 
"I hope for her sake that her partner really isn't like
Drew. Anyway, her name is Rory. Rory Gilmore, 
do you know her?" 

"Yeah." 

"Duh you know her. Small town, my bad. Plus everyone
here knows Rory and her mother, Lorelai." 

"Actually, Rory and I went out." Dean admitted. "For 
three months." 

"Really? Do you know her partner then?" 

"I doubt it, I didn't know any of her Chilton classmates.
In fact the only people she ever mentioned were this 
girl Paris and this jerk Tristan. Both of whom I met at a
dance I took her to. I think Paris is friends with Rory though." 

"Tristan?" Jess groaned. "Blonde hair, tall,
looks like a junior ! accountant in their dopey uniform?" 

"How'd you know.... that’s her partner?" he asked. 

"Yeah, are you sure he's a jerk?" 

"We got in a fight at that dance I took Rory to, 
Rory never liked him either, but I don't know if she's
changed her mind or not. Rory and I aren't on speaking 
terms. In fact, last time we talked I said some things I 
regret." Dean sighed, standing up. "I have to get to work 
now, see you around Jess," he hurried off before Jessica
could ask any more questions.


End Part 11