Claustrophobia
Rory hadn't been all that excited about her partner in the "Famous couples in History" report/production project. Of course, as the dreaded Chilton seemed set on locking them together, Tristan was with her. Paris was with a sweet, but ugly boy named Ryan, set to play Marie Antoinette. Madeline was to be Marilyn Monroe, and Louise to be Cher. Rory and Tristan were the wonderful couple of Romeo and Juliet. Mr. Medina had said since they had done such a wonderful job in the play (AN: The Play in Run Away Little Boy went on as planned) they should try it here. They had to research the couple, thoroughly, then preform a scene from their romance.
Tristan was very excited to once again be Rory's Romeo. He knew that Dean wasn't very pleased about it, had been even more jealous of him since the passionate kiss at the end of Romeo and Juliet. Tristan was a good actor. Especially when the feelings he was trying to portray were true.
They met after school, like many other groups, to work on their project.
"Okay, seeing as were familiar with the love story we should go ahead and pick a scene to do."
"My votes for the love scene."
"Thats out, and so is any kissing scene."
"Were supposed to portray the passion of a couple by hugging and holding hands? Rory I do think you're letting feelings get in the way of a good grade. It's so unlike you!"
She ignored his comment, "There are boxes of Shakespeare interpretation in the Literature closet."
They crossed the hall to one completely uninhabited and started grabbing the books. Neither noticed that the door had shut behind them. Once they had them all Rory spoke, "Okay lets go!" Tristan tried the door. It didn't open. "It's locked!" he said. Rory thought he way lying, "No way." she tried it again. No opening. She started yelling, "Hello? Hello? Were locked in! Somebody help up??" Nobody came. After a few minutes Tristan, who had already made a seat on the floor stopped her. "Rory, nobody's out there. They'll figure we already left." She continued trying to yell for a few more minutes and finally sat down also.
"I cannot believe this!" she said.
"You're worst nightmare come true. Stuck in a closet with Tristan DuGrey" said Tristan.
"Wow, that was bitter." said Rory.
For a second he had unmasked the real Tristan, but he caught himself. "You probably planned this. Trying to seduce me Mary?" he asked, moving closer, "It's working."
"Will you just stop, please?" she asked
"Whats the matter, Mary?"
"Why don't we work on our project?"
"Practicing the kissing? Or maybe the love scene? I'm still up for the love scene."
"We obviously can't have any decent conversation so we might as well go ahead and work on the project."
"Whatever."
Rory looked at a book, "Oh, this is interpretations of every scene! Hmm.. what about the balcony scene "A famous portrayal of true love, of ones desire to see their true love.."
Tristan scowled, "Overdone. What about the death scene?"
"We've already done it, and there's a kiss. "
"Okay, whatever, lets just read through the scene descriptions, heres "The Party Scene.
One has just been dumped, and is nursing a heartbreak when he falls again in love. This time his object of affection is chaste, beautiful, and young. One is a stranger to the party, a odd take of events landing them there, and another familiar with the scene, fitting in. After few words, a fragile first kiss is exchanged.."
Tristan interrupted her, "and she runs out crying?"
Rory looked down, "Tristan."
Tristan looked into her eyes, "Come on Rory, this is obviously the scene for us. It's exactly like us!"
Rory stopped, "Tristan we are not Romeo and Juliet. Yes, sure the scene is similar to Madeline's party, but Romeo and Juliet were in love and were separate and..."
"I've told you before that i'm madly in love with you."
"I have a boyfriend."
"I know."
"Okay, so I guess we'll do this scene."
"It's not the same without the kiss."
"Kiss included. Just don't pull the full out passion on me like you did at the play."
"It's a passionate kiss."
"Okay."
"The only problem is how to keep you from crying."
"I didn't cry at the play."
"So it's only when its on you're own free will that kissing me brings tears?"
"You had just been broken up with, you were hurt, and I was the first person who comforted you. I had just been dumped, by somebody because they loved me, and "
"Rory, shut up," he said before wrapping her in another kiss. She kissed back, but only for a second before she pulled herself away.
"Dean!"
He stopped her with a whisper, "will never know."
They started to kiss passionately and didn't notice the door opening, or the people watching them. Lorelei, Dean, and Mr. Medina all were standing there.
Dean's voice broke the couple, "What the Hell?"
Rory recognized it and looked into Tristan's eyes, begging him to help her somehow.
Rory spoke first, "were uh, were Romeo and Juliet in Mr. Medina's class, and we picked our scene and we, we decided and we uh practiced, and that was practicing, it almost looked real, but were just good actors."
Dean put his arm around Rory's waist and said, "lets talk."
Somehow Tristan got that angry feeling, that one that always made him want to punch bag boy in the nose. He followed. Dean turned around, "Go away Tristan. Rory hates you."
Tristan felt the sting. Rory saw the war between the safe and sturdy boyfriend she had, and the passionate and angry man she had just kissed. Romeo. "I need to go home," she said.
Tristan said, "I'll give you a ride."
Dean finished, "Her mother will. I'm her boyfriend Tristan."
Tristan looked Rory in the eyes, "I forgot. See you tomorrow, Mary."
