Learning the Laws of attraction

three

"And this is Paris' friend," Rory said, pointing at the blonde who currently had their back to both Rory and Colin. At the attempt at an introduction they turned around.

"Tristan!"

"Hey Mare!" Tristan said with a bright smile on his face.

"Ugh, So Colin, this is Tristan the bane of my existence in high school, who never bothered to learn my name."

"Now from what I hear Mare you currently have so many names that it is bound to be tough for even you to keep up with them," Tristan responds with an eyebrow raise, causing Rory to flush.

"Right, well, Let's order that pizza shall we? Tristan, feel free to grab a beer from the fridge." Rory said while walking back towards the couch. "Sorry in advance for anything that happens that makes you uncomfortable tonight, Colin. Tristan and I weren't exactly friends at Chilton." Rory whispered to Colin, who had sat back down, but on the same couch as her this time.

"I'm sure it will be fine, I can always throw my society mask on, I haven't used it since the last awful set up that my stepmother tried." Colin retorted, trying to make light of the situation, he was happy to see some of the worry that had been present on Rory's face lift.

"You're right, society setups are the worst. We had a deal that saved me from them for High School and Yale, but now I'm in Law school. It's no holds barred if I go visit a Grandmother."

"My last one was so bad I was actually glad when Finn rang and needed me to bail him out of jail!"

"Seriously?" at Colin's nodded response, Rory followed it up by leaning closer to him and asking, "What did he do?"

Colin leaned in conspiratorially and whispered back "I'll never tell."

"COLIN!" Rory shouted, as she hit him playfully on the arm.

"I can't tell you what Finn is like yet, I don't have any other friends here yet to put up with me when you run in the opposite direction as me."

"I'm sure it's not that bad."

"I ordered your usual, and some extras so if you don't like anything deal with it," Paris announced in her usual abrupt manner as she plopped down onto a couch with Doyle and Tristan hot on her heels, both carrying a beer each.

"So Tristan, Military school to Harvard?" Rory asked, having decided to tear the band aid off.

"Yep, I had a lot less distractions in an all male school," Tristan said while wiggling his eyebrows, as both Paris and Rory snorted. "Meant I graduated top of my class, went to Princeton and now here I am."

"Well I'm glad you grew up, I seem to remember telling you that you could be smart if you tried when we were sophomores."

"Yes, but I would never have listened to you back then. Nice place you guys have here, you were lucky to find a rental in this building." Tristan said, surveying the open plan apartment.

"It's not a rental," Doyle responded.

"Oh well then nice place you have here Doyle." Tristan said.

"It's actually -"

"Mine," Rory interrupted Paris, she wasn't sure which name Paris was going to say but Colin only knew her as Leigh, and it might be simpler to stay that way for now. She wasn't hiding anything but she also didn't want to get into her full Hartford connection yet.

"Wow Mary, trust fund kick in early?" Tristan joked while eyeing her in a newfound light.

"Nope, just some inheritance money I had access to. I haven't touched any trust funds. Plus it's impolite to discuss money." Rory's tone was almost daring him to challenge her response.