Rory closed here eyes after finishing her article for the paper. It was late at night and the snow was slowly falling down. She had just finished a pile of work and couldn't wait to hop into bed. She stared at the invitation on her desk that Beth had dropped into her locker.

It was for a party at Beth's family cottage in the mountains. It was to celebrate the end of the winter term, possibly the hardest term out of their high school lives. As March 1st approached, Rory knew that Beth would want an answer soon. Rory wasn't even sure if she would be able to go. Although a part of her didn't want to go and be reminded about her failed friendship with Tristan. She decided to leave it for another day.

That day at school, while the cafeteria was buzzing about term finals, Rory felt very sick. She decided to go outside in the fresh winter air. While she sat on the steps in front of her school, she smelled a stifling scent of marijuana smoke coming from her left. She turned and saw Tristan, staring off into space with a cigarette in one of his hands, and the other hand in his school jacket pocket.

She mustered up her courage and walked over to him.

"Hi Tristan, what are you doing out here?"

Tristan, surprised to see her replied, "I could ask you the same question."

"Look Tristan, I hate this. I miss you a lot."

Tristan sighed, "It doesn't matter anymore. I know I was being an ass. I couldn't stand Jamie anymore. She wouldn't let go," he said with a smile.

"So I guess you aren't together anymore."

"Nope, I guess not. How's Eric?"

"Don't start with him Tristan."

"I'm not. If we're going to be friends, I guess I can ask about your love life right?"

"Yeah. I guess. I don't know how things have been. I've been kind of busy."

He eyed her suspiciously and said, "Well, you at least did something for the 14th right?"

"Yeah, of course." She quickly changed the subject, "So, are you going to Beth's party?"

"Yeah. She insisted on it. You?"

"I don't know yet. I still have to talk to my mom. It's pretty far."

"Catch a ride with me, Beth, and Derek then."

"How will I get back?"

"Well, aren't you taking Eric too?"

"I didn't think about it."

"Oh. Well, I can take you back I guess. Just make sure I don't have too much to drink," he said with a mischievous wink.

Rory smiled and both of them continued to look at each other. Then, Tristan broke the awkward silence by throwing his cigarette on the ground and put it out with his shoe.

"I'll see you around then. Let me know okay?"

"Okay."

Rory sadly watched him go inside.

"So Gilmore," Rory turned around. It was afterschool, and she was heading towards her bus stop. Beth smiled at her.

"So are you coming?"

"Yeah, I think I am."

"Good. I'll let Tristan knows someone else is going to need to drive you."

"Oh, I think Eric is going to drive me."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah."

Beth shrugged and said, "Great, see you there. If you need directions, give me a call."

Rory was sitting comfortably on the couch with her mom, watching The Way we Were.

"You know, I can never get over why Barbara Streisand never got together with Robert Reford after this movie."

"I know Mom. Their chemistry is so real." Both of them laughed out loud.

"Could you hand me the bon bons hon." Rory grabbed the box and put it in her mother's eager hands.

"So, where is this party you want to go to?"

"Beth has a house in the mountains."

"How far is it?"

"About and hour and a half away."

"And Eric's taking you?"
"Yes mom."

"He doesn't drink does he?"

"No mom."

"Just making sure. You are my only child."

"I love you too mom. Watch the movie."

Rory was in her room, putting on a baby blue v-neck sweater when the doorbell rang. She knew Eric was here. She just let her mom entertain him while she decided which skirt to wear. She quickly put on her favorite pair of blue earrings and grabbed the directions Beth had given her off her desk.

She smiled as Eric opened the door for her. They talked about their exams on the way up and the latest movies they had seen. She hadn't been able to talk to him for a while since both of them were extremely busy. He held her hand complacently for a majority of the time.

When they arrived, Rory was glad she had brought a coat because the crisp March air pierced her cheeks as she got out of the car.

"Wow, what you can buy with money huh?" Eric said.

"What are you talking about? You have a beach house in the Virgin Islands."

"Yeah, well, I'm just making a statement."

He took her hand and both approached the front door, which was slightly open. Music was blaring and the usual party scene was taking place in front of them.

"So, what should we do first?" Eric said.

"I don't know, I'm really thirsty."

"I'll get you something to drink."

"Okay."

Rory stood nervously, not really sure what to do next. Beth came by to say hi.

"Where's your boyfriend?"

"He went to get me something to drink."

"Oh. Gosh, Tristan was driving like a maniac up here. You should have heard Jamie yelling at him. It was hilariously. I guess that's what happens when you have racers driving you someone."

"Oh, she came up here with you guys?"

"Yeah, don't worry. She sat in the back with me. Derek sat in the front with Tristan."

"I wasn't worried."

"Yeah, well, I saved a room for you and Eric."

"What?"

"Geesh Gilmore. I wasn't telling you to sleep with him. I'm sure he'll get drunk tonight and you wont be able to get home."

"No, I have to go home. My mom is expecting me at three in the morning."

"Good luck with that. Most of the guys will be so pissed by ten."

"Thanks." Beth left Rory alone to go make out with Derek. Rory couldn't find Tristan anywhere.

Eric came with her drink, and they started walking around to see who was there. Eric found a couple of his friends and went to go talk to them. Rory sat down on an empty spot on one of the couches and sipped her fruit punch.

Then she saw him, coming in from the patio, smiling at some girl she didn't know. Her heart sank a little bit, but she smiled when he waved to her.

"Hey Rory, this is my cousin Emily. She's visiting for spring break."

"Oh," Rory said, a bit relieved, "Nice to meet you."

They had small talk for a while. Rory could feel Tristan's piercing eyes on her the entire time and it gave her a chilling effect.

"So, according to Beth, you should be drunk in about half and hour."

"Really? I've only had one drink tonight. But, we'll see how it goes."

Rory laughed, "Yes. We'll see."

"So, where's Eric," Tristan asked cautiously. "Lounging about with the other losers."

"Tristan, don't start."

"I'm just kidding Rory, relax."

"I think he's somewhere with his friends."

Rory got up and walked about with Tristan and his cousin. Emily was a really talented artist Rory found out. After a while, Rory didn't feel so well. Her right arm started to shake a little. Her head began to spin as they entered into the living room where she saw Eric holding a drink and playing pool with a couple of his friends. Rory leaned on Tristan a little bit to regain her balance. She put her hand on her head as she felt the blood rush right up to it.

"Are you all right?" Emily asked her.

Tristan glanced down at Rory who was looking very pale.

"Come on Rory, we'll find you somewhere to sit down a little." He put his arms around her waist and put her arm around his shoulders to give her support. At that moment, Eric glanced over in their direction. He angrily took one last sip of his drink and put down his pool stick and approached the three of them.

"Thanks Dugrey, I got it from here."

"I was just trying to help while you were over there with your buddies."

"Tristan, you promised you would be nice."

"Whatever Rory," Tristan said, walking to the other side of the room.

"Come on Rory." Eric tightly gripped her waist, and Rory could smell the strong scent of beer in his breath.

"How are you supposed to take me home tonight?"

"What do you mean, we have a nice room all to ourselves."

"No, I have to go home Eric."

"Aww, come on. Let's go up to the room now."

Rory, gathering the strength in her voice, "I don't want to go up to the room. I think I need to lay down somewhere."

"In the room," Eric said.

"No, I need to go home."

"You will do anything for Dugrey, but you wont do anything for your boyfriend will you Rory?"

Rory, looking terrified, glanced up at Eric to find him extremely agitated.

"What are you talking about?"

"You, walking around with him. Just confess it."

"Eric."

"If it isn't true, prove it. Let's go up to the room."

Rory, stumbling now, her head spinning like crazy in the stuffy air of the room.

"No Eric, please. I just want to go home. What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me!" he exclaimed. Everything in the room turned silent. Tristan, and Emily were all watching the scene unfold.

Rory, shaking and embarrassed tried to regain herself. "Don't make a scene Eric. Please."

"What the f is wrong with you? I have no clue what I'm doing with you."

Rory, tears streaming down her face cried out, "Eric, stop it."

Eric let go of her, and Rory, not strong enough, almost tripped over, but Beth had come over to help her out. "Eric, leave now." Eric shrugged them both off and left the room.

Rory sadly watched him go while Beth took her over to Tristan.

"Watch her. I'm going to get some cold water and a blanket."

Rory who was moving in and out of consciousness, still crying, could no longer make out their faces or their words. She just felt someone guiding her outside in the cold air. Rory felt strong arms place wrap themselves around her. Then, someone splashed freezing cold water on her face.

"What are you doing? She's going to catch a cold."

"Trust me," Beth said.

Rory felt Tristan placing a warm, wool blanket over her, and tightly wrapping her in it to keep her from catching pneumonia.

Rory came back to consciousness for a while. She shook a little and realizing what had just happened, began to sob.

"I think he put something in her punch."

"What!" Tristan exclaimed.

"It's all the signs of GHB."

"That a. I'm going to kill him."

"Shush Tristan. We need to take care of Rory first. I'm going to get her something to eat and something warm to drink."

"Okay."

Rory was still crying when Beth left. Tristan was trying his best to calm her down. "I trusted him."

"Sshh. It's okay."

"What would have happened it…?"

"Don't talk about it." He brought her closer to him and she rested her cheek against his chest. He wrapped the blanket around both of them. Eventually, Rory stopped sobbing.

"Tristan, I'm sorry."

"About what?"

"Not listening to you about him."

"No, I didn't know he would sink this low. I was just jealous I guess."

"Oh," Rory said, now glancing up at him. Both of them locked eyes. Then, Tristan leaned in first. Their faces getting closer and closer, until, their lips touched. It was a gentle kiss, their lips just brushing for a few seconds, but it was real. They parted a little. Rory saw that Tristan was smiling, and he leaned in again, this time for a longer kiss. After, he embraced her again and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Beth came out with a tray of sandwiches and tea.

"You should eat this. I think it will make you feel better."

"Thanks Beth." Rory said.

"Yeah, thanks Beth. You can go now."

"Why?" she asked. Tristan gave her a look. Then, she turned around and left.

Rory, ravenously grabbed the sandwich and took a bite. Tristan smiled at her.

"So, where does this leave us now?"

Rory looked up at him, swallowed, and gave him another kiss, and went back to her sandwich.

"I guess that's a good answer." When she was finished, she asked, "Do you think you can take me home?"

"Yeah."

"What about the others you took up here?"

"Well, I'll get Emily to come back down with us. Derek and Beth are probably going to stay up here for the night."

"What about Jamie?"

"No clue. But, I care more about how you get home."

"Okay, I need to get my coat from inside." They both walked in to find Emily who was looking concerned when she saw Rory.

"Are you okay?"

"She's fine," Tristan said, kissing Rory's hair.

They got their belongings together and climbed in Tristan's SUV. Rory slept complacently in the front seat while Tristan drove, never letting go of her hand.