Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story; they are the property of the CW Network and Gilmore Girls.

“Friends…are you kidding me?!” Presley practically screamed at Tristan as they stood face to face with each other in her room.

Both Rory and Tristan had mutually agreed that telling both Anders and Presley about their new found friendship right away was the only way to go and true to his word Tristan had done just that.

An action he was some what regretting now as Presley stood fuming at him.

“No…I’m not.” Tristan said feeling his decision needed no further explanation.

“Then you’re an idiot!” Presley said her anger at the boiling point now.

“I don’t happen to think I am.” Tristan countered a little pissed that he had to defend his actions.

“You see that’s the problem – you don’t think…because if you did you would realize this is a really dumb idea and so completely unfair to me and Anders.” Presley added.

“I’m not really concerned with being fair to Anders.” 

Presley knew that was true and a part of her wondered if maybe this was an attempt to get back at him – but the other part of her knew this was more – this was Tristan yet again finding a way to hang on.

“Then you obviously don’t care about my feelings either.” Presley sadly realized.

Tristan was at his breaking point now.

“I told you I had nothing to offer you – I warned you that I was a mess because of Rory. You still chose to stay. You even told me you had no expectations, so don’t try guilt tripping me now.” Tristan reprimanded her.

“So you admit you don’t care about me or my feelings.” Presley said on the verge of tears now.

“That’s not what I said! Dammit Presley – I’m sorry that I don’t love you like I loved Rory – I can’t help it! But I’m not completely immune to you either – you’re feelings matter.”

“Prove it.” Two words spoken solemnly with so much hidden meaning behind them they gave Tristan cause for concern.

“How?” he asked cautiously.

“Give Rory up – if you truly want this to work – God, Tristan please…let her go.” Now the tears did freely fall.

She loved him so much and had for so long that to have what she wanted so close but so unattainable was heart wrenching.

He knew it was probably selfish of him to keep hanging on to Rory – he could see it literally destroying Presley but he had a selfish nature – it was a fact.

Rory was the one he wanted.

But even worse than being selfish – he was stuck. He couldn’t move forward with out Rory in his life in some way.

And she didn’t want to be his girlfriend – that was why she was his friend now.

He knew he was playing both sides of the fence – hedging his bets now.

Did he hope time would change Rory’s mind? probably…definitely, but he couldn’t count on that which was why he had allowed Presley back into his life.

He didn’t want to think he was using Presley but the fact of the matter was that this early on in their new found connection he probably was.

He didn’t want to be in love again – not even on a small scale.

And he knew Presley believed herself in love with him – and knowing that he knew he should probably back away from a relationship with her.

It was the right thing to do – to let her go. Although it did seem a bit sad to end them before they had ever really started.

Summoning up his nerve, Tristan took a deep breath before proceeding with the bad news “I’m sorry Pres…I’m not ready to give Rory up. So if you need to leave – I understand.” he admitted as he silently hoped that Presley’s veiled threats had been just empty ones.

Presley knew now that Tristan was calling her bluff and that any attempt to expunge Rory from his life had failed.

She had two options now…and she weighed them heavily against each other.

Stay and deal with the fact that Rory was once again going to be a fixture in his life or leave and never get this opportunity again.

She reluctantly chose to stay.

“I’m not leaving. Just call me a glutton for punishment.” Presley said sitting heavily down on her bed now defeated.

To his surprise Tristan found that he was oddly relieved. He didn’t know or understand Presley’s exact purpose in his life – still he knew she had one.

Purposefully he walked over to sit down beside her on the bed and slowly he lifted her chin with his fingers until she was looking him in the eyes.

“Thank you for at least trying to understand.” He said before he gently planted the beginnings of a soul stirring kiss on her lips.

Things had worked out well for him.

Rory however was not having quite the same luck.

Anders was livid and sitting in his car refusing to let her in.

Rory tried rapping on the window again. “Come on Anders please open up – let’s just talk about this.”

The music in the car was actually so loud that Anders had no idea what Rory was saying but he knew what the gist of it was.

And all he could think was why the hell had he gotten involved with her in the first place.

He didn’t need this bull.

If Rory wanted to be with Tristan, than she needed to just do it and to stop jerking him around.

Having reached that decision Anders reached over and turned off the music and got out of the car to face her.

The last time they’d had a Tristan conversation he’d been calmer, but now he just wanted to lash out.

As Rory walked towards him, he put out a hand to stop her.

“You can’t keep doing this to me!” Anders said angrily.

“I ….Rory started only to be quickly cut off by him.

“You went behind my back and saw him again after you promised me you wouldn’t!” Anders spat out his temper close to boiling over now.

Rory didn’t know what to say his interpretation of the situation was true – she had broken her promise, something that was just way too easy to do when Tristan was around.

“I just want to be friends with him – that’s all I promise you.” Rory said in an attempt to try and defuse the situation.

“Considering how faithful you were to your last promise I’m not feeling a whole hell of a lot better.” Anders stated punctuating every word for emphasis.

“I don’t know what you want me to say Anders.” Rory admitted.

“It’s not what I want you to say – it’s what I want you to do…I want you to stay away from him!”

Rory knew that what Anders wanted wasn’t going to happen and it made her sad to think this might very well be the end of them, but being with Tristan on that beach had made her realize that even though they weren’t dating any longer she still enjoyed having him in her life.

The truth was that Rory was a little more deluded regarding her feelings for Tristan, than Tristan was with his for her.

Whereas Tristan knew he would take Rory back in a heartbeat Rory entertained the idea in the back of her mind and continually filed it away as not possible because of the trust issues.

“I can’t.” They were two simple words that pierced straight to the heart and forced Anders hand.

“I think that’s the first honest thing you’ve said to me tonight.” Anders sighed.

He knew he was an idiot if he stayed at this point, she had just admitted that Tristan still had a hold on her.

The problem was that regardless of that – Anders still wanted to be with her, but he probably still would have cut his losses if not for her next sentence.

“I know you think that Tristan has an ulterior motive – but you’re wrong he’s already moved on.” Rory told Anders.

“Moved on with who?” Anders said unable to contain his shock but remembering all the same how Amy and Presley had been talking and giggling conspiratorially all afternoon.

The bastard was going to use Presley yet again – it irked Anders.

“With Presley.” Rory said trying not to let that feeling of dread well up in the pit of her stomach again.

It was such a played out game between Anders and Tristan and he was almost tired of it.

He’d given up on being in a relationship with Presley long ago for the very same reason that haunted him now – Tristan.

All though Presley had been much less open about it, he’d suspected all along what his sister Amy had so recently confirmed – that Presley had never let go of the thought that she and Tristan would one day be back together.

It annoyed Anders that he’d never once had a girl fall as deeply for him as he’d seen both his sister and Presley fall for Tristan and now you could add Rory to that list too.

He was confident that he could make Rory fall in love with him, but he knew deep down he would never possess her soul the way Tristan did – still if Tristan was going to attempt things with Presley again it seemed foolish to walk away knowing he might be the only thing between Rory and Tristan finding their way back to each other.

He’d put his heart out there and he wasn’t ready to let Tristan win so easily.

Presley and Tristan had shared a strong bond when they were together before, so it didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that they might be able to forge it again.

And once Rory saw that Tristan was happy with Presley maybe she would finally let go.

It was a stretch of huge proportions but he was willing to stay based on that very possibility.

“Fine…I don’t trust him, but if this is what you want – I’m not going to try and stop you.” Anders relented and Rory smiled as she walked into his waiting arms.

“Thank you. I promise you won’t regret this.” Rory stated.

“No more promises okay…we’ll just take it one day at a time.” Anders said skeptical.

Rory knew she couldn’t ask for more than that.

It was with elation that Tristan and Rory met the next afternoon for lunch at the club.

Both had decided that a public place would make their current dating partners feel a lot better and the club was the hub of gossip, if either of them stepped out of line it would immediately get back to Anders and Presley.

“You look great.” Tristan said as he got up from his seat and pulled out the chair for her as she joined him at the table.

“Thanks.” Rory said already starting to feel a blush cross her cheeks.

She wanted to return the compliment but she was a little afraid too go there – but he did look amazing.

He’d already managed early in the summer to somehow to acquire a nice golden tan and his hair had that sexy, carefree tousle going on that made her want to run her fingers through it.

Quickly Rory stopped her rampant thoughts – too easy to get in trouble that way.

“Are you okay?” Tristan asked concerned at the look that crossed her face now.

“I’m good.” Rory lied.

She actually was starting to feel a bit like she was suffocating now as the familiar rush of chemistry began to course through her.

She knew if she didn’t get these feelings in perspective pronto that she was in big trouble.

This friends thing was about to go down in flames.

Tristan knew with out having to ask what was going on with Rory, mostly because he was fighting much the same feelings as her in that moment too – so he decided to face it head on.

“Did you want to get out of here?” Tristan asked.

Instantly Rory looked up concerned. “What?”

Tristan realized immediately that she had misinterpreted his intention with that statement.

“No…no…no….not like that. I just meant that you look pretty uncomfortable – and that maybe it would be easier to talk somewhere else.

“Oh…right…I knew that.” Rory said embarrassed now that she had been so transparent in that moment.

“You can relax Rory I’m not going to bite.” Tristan teased her.

“I guess I just thought it would be a little easier than this.” Rory admitted honestly.

“It can be. “ Tristan said putting his hand over hers and immediately regretting that decision as he quickly pulled it back.”

“I don’t know. Maybe Anders is right – maybe we can’t be just friends.” Rory said sad at the thought.

“Well if we give up with out trying we’ll never know.”

It was a fair observation and she gave him credit for at least being willing to try.

Thankfully the waiter came over at that point to take their order and Tristan politely asked if they could be moved outside to the pool deck.

“Certainly sir – I have a very nice location waiting for you outside. Please follow me.”

“Why are we going outside?” Rory asked as she walked beside Tristan.

“Because I think a little sunshine will ease some of the tension.” Tristan admitted.

He couldn’t have been more right.

Outside with the sun and the kids playing in the pool the conversation began to flow and it started to feel a lot less like they were trying too hard to just be friends.

“So how is your mom doing – does she still hate me?” Tristan questioned.

Rory laughed causing Tristan to catch his breath – he really missed her laugh.

“She’s good. She’s in Boston with my dad right now – Sherry had a baby girl.” Rory informed him.

“As for still hating you – she’s working on that. She tends to hold onto grudges a little longer than necessary.”

“Well that’s comforting.” Tristan sighed.

“It will be fine – once she knows we’re friends she’ll cut you some slack.” Rory said.

“Really?” Tristan said relieved.

“Actually no she’ll crucify you as long as she can – but the bright side is she’ll eventually give up.” Rory finished.

“I’m not sure I’d exactly call that a bright side.” Tristan admitted.

‘Let’s put it this way I think she’ll take our being friends a lot better than…Anders?” Rory said confusing Tristan with the question mark she had attached to her statement.

“Well that’s good I guess…” Tristan started but Rory quickly cut him off.

“No…Anders is here with Presley.” Rory said still looking over Tristan’s shoulder to where they had just entered the pool area.

Tristan quickly turned and looked.

Sensing they’d been spotted Presley quickly turned to Anders. “I’d just like to go on record as saying that I think this is a very bad idea.”

“Calm down. We’re just two friends hanging out together at the club pool.” Anders reminded her.

“And ten minutes ago we were just two friends eating inside the club until we found out they’d moved – again this is a very bad idea.” Presley reiterated.

“We’re making a statement.” Anders offered as explanation now.

“We’re following them.” Presley corrected.

Unable to contain his shock Tristan turned back around to Rory.

“Did you tell Anders we were coming here?” he quizzed.

“I mentioned it…I never thought he’d show up here though.” Rory admitted.

It didn’t really matter to Tristan how they’d managed to find them in that moment only that they had. He didn’t like the idea that Presley had followed him.

Quickly Tristan got up from the table.

“What are you going to do?” Rory said worried.

“I’m going to talk to them.”

In a split second decision Rory got up to follow him knowing this had the potential to be a very ugly altercation if things got out of hand.