Man, I start fic's like there's no tomorrow. Unfortunately, I update like there always will be. Anyway. As is the norm, thanks Nat for betaing, we can make out later or something. When I stop piking on ya.
Enjoy.
Rory Gilmore was a pain in the ass.
More specifically, she was a pain in Tristan Dugrey's ass. And unlike every sane red blooded female at Chilton, it wasn't his ass she was interested in. In fact, she wasn't particularly interested in anything to do with him, and that annoyed him to no end.
There was the initial interest in the new girl. Then there was the intrigue when she ignored him, coupled by the amusement he drew in getting a rise from her. Finally, he realized that he wasn't very interested in her at all. She wasn't particularly beautiful, she wasn't very mysterious and despite what many girls believe, being an ice cold bitch isn't the way to any guy's heart. Playing hard to get will only get you so far.
His interest was once more piqued when a friend pointed out that if a guy like Tristan Dugrey couldn't get a piece of tail like Rory Gilmore, he was officially shit at everything. The helpful lad pointed out that the guys at school (and many outside of it) looked up to Tristan as somewhat of a master with the ladies, and this would be a giant disappointment to them. He would be stepping all over the dreams of young men every where, it would be saying that there are girls out there that are immune to good looks, money and charm. It would be saying that the unconquerable will remain unconquered. If he couldn't do it, who could? And that would be like saying that Tristan Dugrey was a giant loser.
So, Tristan had once more set up camp just outside the border of Rory Gilmore's life. This time however, he was determined to get in. By whatever means possible.
XXX
First step of the mission was to gather all relevant information.
There was a strict hierarchy, with Tristan sitting right up the top. His job, while requiring the least amount of footwork and thinking, was probably the hardest. He would be the one who had to actually get the girl, and in doing so he would have to be nice and charming and all around good guy - something that would quite clearly take effort. So it was only fair that everyone supply him with the ammo and cater to his every whim in preparation. He was, after all doing the male population of Chilton a giant favor by getting into the Gilmore chicks pants. It's what he did; dated the hot ones before the rest got a chance. His endeavors into these dealings were well documented on the men's bathroom walls. And some optimistic soul (arguably Tristan himself) had already written Rory's name down with the others.
Dave - football captain, Keg King and Tristan's best friend, was assigned to the task of assigning tasks.
"We've got Matt working on her schedule. Eric'll find out what she likes doing, where she hangs and who she hangs with, he'll have a full report by lunch. Jason's gonna get Louise to find out what she likes in a guy and Dan's working on rigging some class assignments."
Tristan nodded, impressed by how fast everything was coming together. He'd be fucking her in no time.
XXX
"Well boys, what's the verdict?"
They sat at their usual table in the middle of the cafeteria, located beside that of the girls who were seen as their equals. The chicks of course got the better table, citing a vantage point of seeing the unfortunate losers and criticizing their every move. Other girls would walk past every few moments, throwing not so subtle looks at the group of boys, hoping their name would be called and they would be invited to sit down. Usually the ones with the shorter skirts and the flickier hair would be, but today was all business.
Matt slid a piece of paper toward Tristan, "Her schedule, the buses she catches, where she eats lunch, where she goes during her frees and her locker combination."
"How does this help me exactly?"
"It doesn't, but it will come handy in future." He grinned triumphantly and nodded his head, finalizing the significance.
"Right."
They all turned expectantly to Eric, who was pulling papers out of his English folder. "I got a print out of all the books she's borrowed from the library this week, thought it would do as conversational material." He pulled out a smaller paper from his back pocket, "She dropped this on the way to class."
Tristan took the small card, reading the elegant print "Dragonfly Inn?"
Eric shrugged, "Hey man, I just deliver."
Jason piped up, "I asked Louise, she said Gilmore's mom owns the joint."
Dan, who had been sitting quietly absorbing the information suddenly broke out into a grin, "Excellent," he drawled out, nodding his assent, "free room."
The others had not considered this advantage but were shortly grinning along side him, images of various uses of the room dancing in their minds.
Tristan checked his watch, lunch would be over soon, they had to move on. "What else've you got? Suthers?"
Jason leaned forward, nodding enthusiastically while still chewing his cafeteria sandwich "Louise has confirmed your suspicions, Rory has broken up with her boyfriend. She was also extremely gracious in providing me with this." Jason dug around in his school bag, moments later a thin blue book fell onto the table.
Tristan grabbed the navy blue regulation homework planner, flipping through it. The diary contained nothing but a long list of homework that had to be completed each night. Unlike the other girls who had a penchant for gluing in crap, Rory put minimum effort in hers. Not surprising really.
The reconnaissance effort was cut short as the bell rang and they headed toward English, a pop quiz awaiting their arrival.
XXX
Rory had had a weird day. No question about it. Her things were going missing, people she never associated with were coming up to her and asking odd questions, guy's that never looked twice in her direction were suddenly sending her winks and acknowledging nods. Louise was being friendly and inquisitive. Something was definitely up. Something Carrie-esque.
She sighed and started to take books out of her locker in search of her homework diary, without it she wouldn't be-
"Hey, Gilmore."
Rory pulled her head out from behind the locker to venture a peek at the lazy voice... and immediately stuck it back in.
"Are you just going to ignore me?"
Tristan heard a sigh, whether of frustration or surrender was difficult to tell. A moment later though, she closed the locker and began shoving books into her bag, "I was, but obviously you are not to be deterred."
"Persistence is key."
"To unlocking my murderous side maybe." She muttered, than in a much more irritated voice, "Was there something you wanted, or was this just part of the daily annoy Rory routine?"
"Just wanted to say hi." he grinned, before sauntering off.
Rory looked perplexed for a moment, before shrugging it off and heading to her next class.
XXX
"Yo, Dugrey! Hold up man."
Tristan turned around to see Dave strutting toward him, the crowd obediently parting. He took in his friends proud expression, automatically realizing developments were afoot.
"What've you got for me Parker?"
"Miss Rory dropped this." His cheeky grin did not go amiss by a nearby female who later swore he was smiling at her and her heart skipped a beat and she was totally in love and they were definitely going to prom together!
Dave presented Tristan with a large paperback, Tristan glanced at the cover 'Dead Famous - Ben Elton'. A little to un-Jane Austenish for him to have picked for her, but at least he had read it before.
"She dropped it or someone did some light fingerwork?" he raised an eyebrow inquiringly.
Dave shrugged, walking backward into the throng of people "Don't question the source, just use it."
XXX
Tristan had spent the last five minutes of the last class of the day planning his next move. He would give her back either her homework planner or her book. But which one? She would be grateful for the book, unless she was finished reading it in which case she would just be grateful for its return rather than the added gratitude that would be expressed were she to be somewhere in the middle of reading it. On the other hand, the homework diary would be of more concern to her at this stage.
The back of his chair was kicked hard from behind and he whirled to glare at whoever dared disrupt his extremely important decision making process. It was Dave.
He rolled his eyes at Tristan's obvious distress, and ever so helpful pointed to Rory's homework diary.
Well that settled it.
XXX
"Hey Rory, wait up!"
Sighing again – something she had been doing a lot of today, maybe it was because she had just had her eighteenth birthday the week prior and old age had brought with it a certain irritation – but nevertheless, she did stop. Tapping a foot as Tristan materialized beside her.
She quickly glanced at her watch, waiting for him to begin speaking.
"You know, now is probably not the best time for you to start slacking off."
Rory raised an eyebrow, having no clue as to what he was on about. Maybe he had snuck off from last period to get high or something. Before she could voice her concern, Tristan continued. "I mean, college isn't far off, and I'd think you of all people would be studying like mad."
"Ok I give in. What are you talking about?"
He grinned and she couldn't help noticing that he was extremely cute when he did so. Of course, she had noticed this several times but he very rarely smiled at her; he smirked condescendingly, he smirked arrogantly, he smirked while leering and leaning. But sometimes she happened to see him smiling. Suddenly a smile began to make its way onto her own face as she realized what he was holding. She had never been so happy to see a plastic covered spiral notebook in her entire life!
"Where did you find it? I've been looking everywhere!" She began to reach for it but Tristan held it just beyond her grasp.
"You left it in class. I'll give it to you for a price."
Rory was suddenly all too aware of who she was dealing with. This wasn't the savior of her homework diary, this was Tristan Dugrey and he was most definitely going to request a favor of the sexual sort. Did she really need the diary? Surely she could remember her homework. And she could, she knew she had to read a book for English and write and essay. But what the essay was she had no clue, having absently scrawled it down. Not to mention the myriad of work for every other class. She waited expectantly.
"Well? I'm not going to make out with you, so don't even-"
"A simple, 'Thanks Tristan' would suffice." He stared her down, and she quickly came to realize with some embarrassment that making out (with her at least), was never on his agenda.
"Thank you, Tristan."
He tried to stop the smirk from showing at her obvious discomfort and handed her the book, sauntering away toward his car, "Anytime." As he got out of her hearing range, Tristan turned and glanced back. Rory was placing the diary in her bag, a sort of dazed smile on her face. He chuckled, shaking his head, "This is going to be easier than I thought."
Well uh, tell me what you think?