I do not own the show. I just make up stuff about it.

This takes place after the end of the first season, however Dean and Rory never got back together and Tristan really did steal Rory's books.

Rory stepped off the bus and grabbed the cup of coffee from her mother's out stretched hand. Lorelei was involved in yet another bicker match with her mother. Rory smiled and sipped, amused with what could be heard one sided.

"Mom, can't you and Dad just go to the fundraiser thingy by yourselves. I mean it's only one Friday night. No harm, no foul… OK I understand that… Have I ever once in the past ten months forgotten that you are paying for Rory's school… No I do not want to break our agreement… Fine but we get to choose our own outfits… yeah yeah yeah… Bye Mom." She very quickly closed the phone and turned to her daughter. "Hello Spawn of Mine. How was your first day back in hell?"

Rory handed her a large book and smiled. "My new passion."

"Italian, huh? I thought we were taking French. If you take Italian, I'm never going to get to brush up on my dirty words. I won't be able to insult Michel back when he starts mumbling about me in French." Lorelei made a snooty face to give Rory the full effect.

"Don't worry. I'm taking both. That way when we go backpacking…yay… I will be able to actually talk to the natives."

"Both? Isn't that a bit much? You don't want to confuse your pizza with your French fry."

"Mom, when in my lifetime, have I ever mislabeled food, particularly classic junk food? Plus Frnech fries are way more American not French."

"But French is in the name…"

"Well then yes mother it must be French."

"Fine, fine. You win. But you have to teach me naughty things in this one too."

"Oh I will." Rory grabbed her mother's arm and started to drag her to Luke's for a refill.

Lorelei whined the whole way. "But missy when someday I get Melvil Poupaud into my bed and I say the wrong thing you will be in soooooo much trouble."

This is where we'd cue the theme song, but since I can't exactly do that, hum in your head and proceed to the next chapter.

Rory hurried to her new functional locker and placed her books inside with one hand while dropping the ones she needed into her book bag with the other.

"Where's the fire, Mary?"

She groaned inwardly and turned with a forced smile on her face. "No fire, just trying to avoid moments like these."

"Ouch. And here I was trying to start the year off with a clean slate. I even brought your books back." He produced them from behind his back with his thousand watt smile.

"Considering I have already paid the school a hundred and twenty four fifty for them I appreciate this." She grabbed the books and stuffed them with the rest of her collection in her locker. "You've done your good deed. Leaving now."

She turned on her heel and began walking toward her next classroom. Tristan smiled as he watched her walk right into his next class. 'At least I have one class with her… so far anyway.'

Gino, the Italian foreign exchange student that his parents had arranged to stay with them for the year, came up and tapped him on the shoulder. "Ready to learn some Italian, Tristan?"

"You have no idea." Personally, he thought Gino was the coolest idea his parents had ever had. Not only did he have the greatest imported cigarettes, but he definitely was great with the ladies. A big plus in Tristan's book. "Let's get in there the bell is about to ring."

As if on cue, the bell rang.

"Good morning class, glad to see that everyone is here today. Mr. Dugrey, I trust that your day off was well spent. Would you mind introducing the reason why you were not present yesterday?"

"Not at all Mrs. Ryder." He stood up and motioned for Gino to follow him. "Everybody this is Gino Siena. He is staying with my parents and me until May. I'll let him tell his own story though." Tristan patted Gino on the back and sat to survey the female reaction.

"Buon Giorno.(Good morning)" He slightly bowed to the class. "I am eighteen years old. My father is the ambassador to France from the Italian government. I am not so sure what you would like to know from me." He looked to the teacher with a questioning look seeming to completely miss that every female, with the exception being Rory, drooling over his dark Roman good looks.

"How about what part of Italy you live in." Mrs. Ryder suggested.

He nodded. "I live in Roma during the school year, where I intend a Catholic Private School, though it is much different from the U.S. schools. In the summer, I live in the outskirts of Siena, where my family had a principality until Italy adopted its democratic system. It is a small artist colony between the rolling hills and a vineyard."

"Well then, that's lovely. If you would like to sit down now, I will begin to discuss the brief reminder of the outline of the class to everyone for Tristan and Gino's benefit." Gino took his seat that was next to Rory's and the teacher began to talk about basic outlines. "Gino in the beginning will observe all of you and correct with my teaching. In a few weeks, we will begin one-on-one sessions. Two students per class will join Gino and hold a discussion completely in Italian. This will better help your speaking skills. Every month you will be given a written exam and there will also be on oral part."

Rory quickly wrote a note of welcome down on a small slip of paper and passed it to Gino. 'Benevento a America e Chilton.'(Welcome to American and Chilton) He read and turned with a smile. They nodded to each other and returned their attention to Mrs. Ryder. One blonde haired Adonis looked on, rethinking the benefits of having the Roman around.

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