I found it amazing that she was there. I was aware of every single thing going on around me, but at the same time, I couldn't feel a thing. It was like someone inside of me, a little man, in a droning voice was informing me that I was in the process of kissing the girl who plagued my mind.

She was so soft. And what was more amazing is she was completely comfortable. She rested so easily into me. Her hands were around my neck, she was on her tip toes.

Sensory overload, my body couldn't choose which sense to isolate because they were all equally amazing.

I stroked her hair and she leaned back and looked me strait in the eyes. "That was quite a clue."

I blushed. I could feel the red creeping up my cheeks. I couldn't believe I was the one blushing. She didn't look cocky or cool, but she definitely wasn't blushing. "Who would...believe..."

She smiled at me and touched my hand gently. "I've never imagined myself..."

We stood in the school hall. It was amazingly empty. It was the first time I'd stood in the Chilton halls, and known that the only person I was staring at, was the only person concentrating on me. And it was the best person to be alone with.

"Rory Gilmore."

"Mary." She corrected with a slight impish smile.

I laughed a little. "Why did you...come?" I had to ask, even though a movie would have taken the kiss as a given ending. I had to make sure…

"I like games." She flapped the clue a little in her free hand.

"Really?" I couldn't help but let the word be laced with teasing innuendo.

She grinned, but without blushing. "Tristan DuGrey, you'll never stop living in the ninth grade will you?"

I shuffled my feet and grinned at her. I looked down at my shoes. Then back up at her. I wasn't sure what to say. I felt like a little kid in love with the gorgeous baby sitter.

She blinked expectantly. "I took the bus...would you like to give me a ride?"

"Home?" I looked up again.

"Wherever."

"Can I take you out to coffee?"

She tilted her head and smiled shyly in response.

"All right." I took her hand. "M'lady?"

She grinned. "Why are you so nice to me?"

"Cuz you're pretty." I said as if it was the only reason. I gave her a sidelong look as we walked down the hall toward the parking lot.

"That was the most superficial compliment I've ever received."

"And liked?"

"Very much."

We walked down the empty hall toward my car.

"You know Rory." I paused. "I'll grow up and be an adult - for you. I'd do that for you."

"I don't want you to grow up you egotistic, satanic lump." She smiled. "I'd like you to come home with me and see my mother. Then I want you to take me to the movies."

"Platonic?" I raised my eyebrow teasingly.

"Perfectly platonic." She leaned over the table and kissed me lightly.

It tasted of coffee.