Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. All characters belong to the WB and its affiliates.

 

 

Story Summary: It looks like Tristan isn’t going to get away with ditching…but Rory is. In a bold but kind of crazy move Rory makes a decision that will change everybody’s perception of the good little girl.

 

 

INT: CHILTON HALLWAY- DAY

 

Rory is standing in the hall by the lockers trying to catch her breath when Tristan comes through the auditorium doors. Rory looks up and sees him.

 

RORY: Go away Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: I just wanted to make sure you were okay.

 

RORY: Fine. You checked. Now go away!

 

Tristan starts walking towards Rory and Rory instinctively starts to back up until she has completely backed up into a locker. Tristan comes and stands right in front of her. Rory puts her head down not wanting to look at him. Tristan takes his fingers and lifts her chin…gently urging her to look at him.

 

TRISTAN: If I did something out of line…I’m sorry.

 

RORY: No you’re not.

 

TRISTAN: Okay…fine. You got me. I did enjoy myself in there. But you just make me want to do crazy things…like this.

 

Tristan brings his lips down to Rory’s and gives her a tender, soul stirring kiss. Rory starts to kiss him back but in a split second takes hold of her senses and pushes him away.

 

RORY: You can’t keep doing this to me.

 

TRISTAN: What am I doing to you Rory?

 

RORY: You’re ruining my life.

 

TRISTAN: By caring about you? Gee a guy could really take offense to that.

 

RORY: Why can’t you just take no for an answer?

 

TRISTAN: It’s not in my nature to give up. Rory…you are the one good thing Chilton has to offer me. I’m not just going to roll-over and let Dean have you. Sorry.

 

Tristan turns and begins to walk away.

 

RORY: You aren’t going to change my mind Tristan.

 

Tristan turns back around and gives Rory a smile that makes her heart begin racing again.

 

TRISTAN: We’ll see.

 

RORY: (weakly to herself) I’m not going to cave.

 

Tristan walks back into the auditorium and Rory with her back against the locker slowly sinks down to the floor.

 

RORY: (trying to convince herself) I love Dean.

 

INT: LUKE’S DINER-DAY

 

Lorelai walks into the dinner and walks up to the counter. Luke has his back turned to her.

 

LORELAI: Excuse me…is that anyway to greet a customer?

 

LUKE: (back still turned) I knew it was you.

 

LORELAI: What…am I not a customer?

 

Luke turns around.

 

LUKE: More of an annoyance actually. Like one of those little gnats that keep flying around your head.

 

LORELAI: A coffee gnat.

 

LUKE: In your case…yes.

 

LORELAI: Did you ever wonder if maybe it’s caffeine that makes the gnats like they are?

 

LUKE: Never crossed my mind.

 

LORELAI: Too little caffeine can make a person crazy Luke.

 

LUKE: Or too much in your case. What can I get you?

 

LORELAI: Coffee please.

 

Luke reaches underneath the counter and brings out a steaming mug of the caffeinated stuff and places it in front of a giddy Lorelai.

 

LUKE: This is only because of those things under your eyes.

 

LORELAI: Things? What things?

 

LUKE: The luggage under your eyes.

 

Lorelai grabs a compact out of her purse and opens it to look in the mirror.

 

LORELAI: Well you’d look this way too if you had a teenage daughter.

 

LUKE: Not following.

 

LORELAI: I was up most of the night waiting for Rory to come home. And then I fell asleep on the couch, which by the way is like sleeping on a rock. You never would know it by it’s daytime performance…but it’s not so much a nighttime couch.

 

LUKE: Where was Rory?

 

LORELAI: Out with Dean.

 

LUKE: Since when is this a problem?

 

LORELAI: Since I needed to talk to her.

 

LUKE: About what? Never mind…it’s none of my business.

 

LORELAI: It’s just mother/daughter stuff (losing control) God Luke…Rory is not old enough for this yet.

 

LUKE: Did Dean do something to Rory?

 

LORELAI: I wish.

 

LUKE: You’ve lost me.

 

Lorelai takes the front of Luke’s shirt and pulls his face within inches of her and whispers under her breath.

 

LORELAI: It’s Tristan.

 

LUKE: Who?

 

LORELAI: The Chilton bad boy…the annoying…irritating…She could me she couldn’t stand him…Tristan.

 

LUKE: What about him?

 

LORELAI: He’s set his sites on Rory.

 

LUKE: Is that all your worried about Lorelai? Rory is a smart girl…she’ll just put him in his place.

 

LORELAI: Oh…dear, sweet…naïve Luke. If only it were that easy. (whispering again) I saw them kissing.

 

LUKE: What?!

 

LORELAI: Side yard…by the tree. Sookie saw them too.

 

LUKE: What…we’re you selling tickets or something?

 

LORELAI: Huh…I’ll have to remember that for the future.

 

LUKE: And what did Rory say about it? I mean maybe it was just him kissing her.

 

LORELAI: No it was definitely a two-way…a really steamy two-way.

 

LUKE: Didn’t need the details.

 

LORELAI: Right…sorry.

 

Dean walks by the diner window and waves at Lorelai and Luke. Luke and Lorelai paste phony smiles on their faces and awkwardly wave back.

 

LUKE: (lowering his voice) Does Dean know?

 

LORELAI: No. He is adorably out of the loop.

 

LUKE: This doesn’t sound like Rory.

 

LORELAI: She is being drawn by a force far greater than you could possibly imagine.

 

LUKE: I think you’re underestimating Rory.

 

LORELAI: And I know that you are underestimating the power of sexual magnetism. And Tristan has that in spades.

 

LUKE: You’re exaggerating.

 

LORELAI: Oh really? The boy shook my hand and I saw myself…years ago with Christopher. Unable to form a coherent thought whenever he looked at me.

 

LUKE: Is that bad?

 

LORELAI: Rory is in big trouble. (Lorelai looks down at her watch) Oh…I’ve got to get to work.

 

LUKE: Give me his address…I’ll go talk to him.

 

LORELAI: Tempting. But probably not the best way to go. Thanks Luke.

 

Lorelai walks out of the dinner and gets into her jeep.

 

INT: CHILTON CLASSROOM-DAY

 

Rory is sitting in English class when Tristan walks in and takes the seat behind her. Just having him that close is causing Rory’s breathing to become more shallow. Tristan leans forward and whispers into her ear which causes Rory to close her eyes in frustration.

 

TRISTAN: You look particularly stunning today Rory.

 

Tristan sits back with a satisfied look on his face. Paris who is sitting next to Rory looks over at her curious as to what’s going on. Mr. Medina is getting ready to start the class when an aide comes in and hands him a slip of paper.

 

MR. MEDINA: Tristan? Seems you are wanted in the Headmaster’s  office.

 

TRISTAN: What for?

 

MR. MEDINA: Apparently he wants to talk to you about your unexcused absence yesterday.

 

Tristan gathers up his books and as he passes Rory he looks back at her. Rory realizes that even though she got away with ditching because her mom wrote her a note…Tristan isn’t going to. Tristan takes the pass from Mr. Medina and heads out of the classroom. As soon as the door shuts Rory makes a decision and raises her hand.

 

MR. MEDINA: Yes Rory?

 

RORY: I need to use the restroom.

 

MR. MEDINA: Fine. Don’t forget to take the hall pass.

 

Rory gathers up her books, backpack and hall pass and leaves class…heading for the Headmaster’s office.

 

INT: HEADMASTER’S OFFICE-DAY

 

Tristan is sitting in a chair in front of the Headmaster’s desk. The Headmaster is sorting through papers on his desk looking for something.

 

HM CHARLESTON: Ah…here it is.

 

He is holding Tristan’s file.

 

HM CHARLESTON: Mr. DuGrey…being new here I wanted to acquaint myself with your file before bringing you down here. Not exactly light reading. So I have just one question.

 

TRISTAN: This should be fun.

 

HM CHARLESTON: Lose the attitude young man or you and I will NOT be getting along.

 

TRISTAN: Shucks…and I’m such a likeable fellow.

 

HM CHARLESTON: The DuGrey name will not keep you out of trouble with me. Understand. I am not impressed with your father’s economic status or connections  in any way. I am here to insure you manage to stay in this prep school. So far you are not making this task easy. Can you explain your absence yesterday that your father assures us he in no way knew about?

 

TRISTAN: Would you believe I had a flat tire?

 

HM CHARLESTON: All day?

 

TRISTAN: No spare?

 

HM CHARLESTON: No phone?

 

TRISTAN: Let’s just cut to the chase here…you know I ditched. So just give me my penance and I’ll be on my merry way.

 

HM CHARLESTON: And then what would you have learned?

 

TRISTAN: You’re not going to punish me?

 

HM CHARLESTON: I didn’t say that. I just need to feel like this would not be a repeat performance. So you tell me what it is going to take to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

 

As Tristan is contemplating this there is a knock on the Headmaster’s door. Before anyone can say anything Rory bursts in.

 

HM CHARLESTON: Can I help you with something Miss?

 

RORY: Gilmore…My name is Rory Gilmore.

 

HM CHARLESTON: And why did you feel it necessary to interrupt this meeting Miss Gilmore?

 

Tristan looks at Rory like she is insane…then he realizes what she is about to do.

 

TRISTAN: Rory…don’t do this.

 

RORY: I have to. It’s not fair for just you to be punished when I did the same thing.

 

TRISTAN: But I made you. So you should just leave.

 

HM CHARLESTON: What’s going on here?

 

TRISTAN: Nothing. She’s this insane girl who has a crush on me. Ignore her.

 

RORY: (indignant) I do not! I came here to tell the truth and that’s what I’m going to do.

 

HM CHARLESTON: And what exactly is the truth?

 

RORY: I skipped school yesterday too…with Tristan.

 

The Headmaster gets out of his chair and goes over to his filing cabinet…He opens the second drawer down.

 

HM CHARLESTON: Gilmore did you say?

 

RORY: Yes.

 

As the Headmaster is going through the files Tristan leans over towards Rory.

 

TRISTAN: You never cease to amaze me.

 

HM CHARLESON: (opening Rory’s file) It seems you had a note for yesterday Miss Gilmore.

 

TRISTAN: See…I told you…she’s insane.

 

RORY: Stop saying that. (to the HM) I forged it.

 

HM CHARLESTON: It matches your mother’s signature perfectly. So who wants to tell me what’s really going on here?

 

RORY: It’s complicated.

 

HM CHARLESTON:  I’ve no doubt of that. So who wants to go first?

 

EXT: HALLWAY-DAY

 

Paris is standing in front of the Headmasters door with her ear to it. Trying to listen. As she is beginning to get frustrated that she can hear nothing the door starts to open. Paris ducks into the nearest door, which is the janitor’s closet and leaves it open a crack…eavesdropping.

 

Tristan and Rory walk out of the Headmasters office. The look on Rory’s face say it all.

 

TRISTAN: You shouldn’t have done that.

 

RORY: Yeah…hindsight is a beautiful thing. What is mom going to say…or my grandparents? I’m sure he’s on the phone right this very moment calling my grandmother. I have to get to a phone.

 

TRISTAN: Why did you do it Rory?

 

RORY: Cause apparently I’m insane.

 

TRISTAN: The real reason.

 

RORY: Honestly. I don’t know.

 

TRISTAN: I do. You did it for me.

 

RORY: Dream on.

 

TRISTAN: Admit it Rory…I’m getting to you.

 

RORY: The only thing you got me Tristan is detention. Something I have never had in my life.

 

TRISTAN: Two weeks of just you and me…alone…in a room. I couldn’t have made a sweeter deal if I tried.

 

RORY: I’m glad you are amused by this. I on the other hand will miss my bus everyday and have to stay at my grandparents who will undoubtly make me pay for my lack of judgment.

 

TRISTAN: I can take you home.

 

RORY: I don’t think that’s such a good idea.

 

TRISTAN: Think of the alternative. Two weeks of my company versus two weeks of smothering grandparents.

 

RORY: I’ll take the grandparents. They may be a bit *over the top* but at least my virtue will remain intact.

 

TRISTAN: What if I promised not to touch your virtue.

 

RORY: Still not a great idea.

 

TRISTAN: Right…because you can’t control yourself around me…so maybe it’s my virtue we should be worrying about.

 

RORY: Do you even know what the word means?

 

TRISTAN: Sexually stagnant?

 

RORY: It’s a person of good moral values…look it up.

 

Rory walks away from Tristan who is grinning from ear to ear. After Tristan leaves, Paris exits the janitor’s closet and immediately walks over to the fire alarm and sets it off. The Headmaster comes running out of his office to see Paris standing there in an admission of guilt.

 

HM CHARLESTON: (slightly shocked) Miss Geller? Perhaps we should talk in my office.

 

Paris follows the Headmaster into his office and the door closes.