Author: IndianSummer

Title: Running From the Past

Pairing: Either Lit or Trory…I'm considering letting the reviewers decide

Summary: At Yale, Rory is asked to research someone…a person she might rather forget.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls, Stars Hollow, and I definitely don't own Yale. So in essence, all I own is my wild imagination.

September 2003; Yale University, New Haven, CT; First Day

"Rory!"

Rory jumped at the sound of the voice, startled out of a high school reverie. She turned around to find the blonde boy who had tormented her through high school. "Tristan DuGrey. Please tell me this is a nightmare and I'll wake up soon."

"In the flesh." Tristan flashed a toothy grin, looking her up and down. "You're looking good, Rory."

If she were still in high school, she would have blushed at the compliment. But she was at Yale now. She smiled slightly, taking in Tristan. His tousled blonde hair was a little shorter and a little less tousled than when she had seen him last, and his blue eyes were shining. Looking him over, she had to be honest. "Thanks. You're looking pretty good yourself, DuGrey."

Tristan laughed, falling into step next to her. "Where are you heading?"

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Lets think about that, Tristan. I'm carrying three suitcases and six containers of Folgers. Where could I possibly be going?"

Tristan took two of her suitcases and a few of the coffee cans. "Dorm room. I'll come with you."

Rory smiled graciously. "Thank you." She stared at him intensely for a minute. "You seem different."

He laughed. "I'd hope so. I'm eighteen. The last time you saw me was over a year and a half ago."

The two walked on in silence until Rory finally spoke again. "No, I mean you seem more human. Less spoiled playboy-ey."

"I guess I've grown up."

"I hope so."

When Rory and Tristan reached her dorm room, the door was already open and a girl was in the room. Rory took in the girl before entering. She had thick blonde hair down to her butt and light blue eyes. She was tall and thin, probably three inches taller than Rory herself. Body by Victoria's Secret. Rory sighed. It figured her roommate looked like a supermodel. Rory felt inadequate standing near her. The girl glanced up and smiled. Even her teeth were straight and white. "Hey, I'm Callista Winthrop. You must be Rory."

Rory nodded, finally stepping into the room. She dropped her suitcases on the floor by the empty bed and placed the coffee cans on her desk. "Yeah. It's nice to meet you." Turning to Tristan, she added, "This is Tristan."

Tristan grinned flirtatiously at the girl and Rory rolled her eyes. Apparently he hadn't changed as much as he'd led her to believe. Rory sighed, plopping down on the bed. It was her first day and already the year wasn't looking very promising.

December 2003; Yale University, New Haven, CT; Three Months Later

"Hey, wake up, Rory, we have class in half an hour." Tristan elbowed her gently, and Rory stirred slightly. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. "You fell asleep during the movie," Tristan explained. "What time did you get to bed last night?"

Rory shrugged. "I did homework until about three. Why?"

Tristan sighed, clearly concerned. Running a hand through his hair, he said, "I don't want you to work yourself right into a mental breakdown. What would the point have been of working your butt off all through Chilton just to ruin it now?"

Rory nodded, standing up. "I know what you mean." She pulled her shirt off over her head, knowing Tristan would look away. She had learned he had become chivalrous since she had last seen him. "But I'll be okay. I promise." She grabbed a blouse and pulled it on.

Tristan nodded, looking back at her. "Ror, if it gets to be too much or you just need to talk-"

"I know. You're there for me," she interrupted, having heard these words hundred of times in the last few days since she had passed out from exhaustion last week. "Any anyway, after today I have a little break. I have five days off." She paused. "Are you coming to Stars Hollow with me? I already know Callie is." She had formed tentative friendships with both Tristan and her roommate, and she knew Tristan was planning on returning home to Hartford to spend his break with his cold and unfeeling family.

"Yeah, I guess so. I'll even drive. We can take my new car."

Rory smiled. "If we're taking that car, can I drive it? I love that car." Tristan had bought a Porsche 911 Turbo on a whim, and Rory was the only one who had really driven it so far.

"Yeah, sure."

"To prove our theories on social factors of the everyday life, you have to write papers on someone you haven't spoken to in a while, with up-to-date information on their lives, understand?" the sociology professor finished.

Rory groaned. So her break wasn't going to be as peaceful as she had hoped. Great. She quickly wrote the assignment in her planner before filing out of the classroom.

Rory caught up with Callie in the hall. "Callie, I need to write an accurate paper on someone I haven't talked to."

Callie raised an eyebrow. "Is that possible?"

"I don't know yet. Who should I write it on?"

Callie thought for a minute. "Who's that guy you knew from high school?"

"Dean?"

"No. The cute one."

"Jess?"

Callie nodded. "Yeah. That's it."

"But I haven't talked to him-" Rory stopped abruptly, realizing what she had just said. "Great. I'm going to need to talk to him." She frowned. Suddenly she didn't think this project was a good idea. At all.

December 2003; Tristan's Porsche 911 Turbo, I-91 N; The next day

"Argh, I have to go to the bathroom, T."

Tristan looked back at Callie, who sat in the back seat, staring at him. "What? We've only been on the road half an hour."


Callie shrugged. "Tell my bladder that. I didn't go before we left."

Rory laughed and Tristan groaned. "Fine. We'll pull over on the side of the road and you can go. How's that sound?"

Callie grimaced. "You mean, like, in front of everyone? On the highway?" The California beauty wrinkled her nose in distaste.

Rory laughed. "Callie, we'll be in Hartford in about fifteen minutes. Can you wait until then? We can run into Tristan's." She paused, remembering Tristan's relationship with his family. "That okay, Tris?"


Tristan rolled his eyes, not at all surprised Rory had volunteered his house. "Uh, sure. As long as we don't stay long."

Rory nodded in agreement. "So how do you like driving this car, Tris?"

He looked over at her quickly, and then looked back at the road. "It's nice." He laughed. "I'll let you drive from my house to Stars Hollow, okay, Rory?"

Rory nodded, content. "Thanks."

December 2003; The DuGrey mansion, Hartford, CT; Twenty Five minutes later

Rory gulped as Tristan pulled up to an expensive wrought iron fence. On either side of the gate, there were gargoyles, presumably watching over the house. Tristan stuck his head outside the window, and handing an idea to the guards, said, "Tristan DuGrey."

"Welcome back, sir," came the mechanical reply of a guard, and the gates swung open. Tristan drove through as Rory looked around in amazement.

The place made her grandparent's house seem miniscule. The manicured grass was green and gardens surrounded one side of the house. Tristan smiled. "There's a water fountain over there. That's where I always did my homework."

There was an enormous white gazebo set back on the other side of the house. Tulips and miniature sunflowers surrounded it. Tristan took in Rory's expression and laughed. "That was my sister's main hangout."

Rory looked at him oddly. She hadn't known Tristan had a sister. She turned to look back at the house. An enormous four-floor mansion, all stone, stood in front of her, dominating her view. "It's scary, isn't it?" Tristan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Half the third floor's been sealed off, a shrine to my mother. There are twelve bedrooms, even though there are only four people in my family. There are eight bathrooms, all of which have hot tubs. The sitting room's the other half of the third floor. The kitchen, dining room, and entrance way take up the first floor."

Callie sighed. "Sorry to break up this little 'look how rich I am' fest, but I really have to use a bathroom. Which of the eight should I use, Master Tristan?"

Tristan rolled his eyes. "Past the entry way, first door on the left of the east wing. You can't miss it."

Rory watched as Callie scurried ahead of them, smiling. "The house is beautiful, Tris."

Tristan nodded. "Yeah. But it's bland. It's like no one lives here." As they reached the front door, Tristan swung it open, gesturing for Rory to enter. What she saw had her in awe. Statues, most of which were probably more expensive than Tristan's car, and portraits adorned the floors and walls.

Rory looked at each of the portraits carefully, before finally announcing, "That's you."

The portrait showed a five-year-old Tristan, but his face was unmistakable. Even then, his blonde hair was tousled carelessly, and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief. His face didn't have any of the normal baby fat, and even that early in his life, it looked chiseled and perfect. "You were cute."

"What about now?" Tristan grinned and Rory groaned. He laughed. "Just kidding, Rory. I know I'm still hot."

Rory rolled her eyes, surprised by his audacity. "Sure, Tristan."

Tristan was about to respond when Callie rejoined them. "Tris, will you give us a tour before we leave?"

"This is my bedroom."

Rory looked into the room, surprised by what she saw. The room itself was at least the size of her mother's house. But more importantly, the walls were covered with floor to ceiling bookcases. She walked up to one, picking up a random book. Don Quixote. Placing it down, she picked up the next book. Donne's Poetry. The next- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Zhivago. Dracula. Almost all original editions. "Do you own every classic every written?"

"Pretty much. Plus some."

She shook her head. "Who would have thought Tristan DuGrey would have such an astounding library." She looked around the rest of the room. A grand piano. She'd known he could play since sophomore year, when they had shared that kiss. She blushed and looked away quickly.

Tristan stifled a laugh. "Anyway, this ends the tour. You guys ready to go?"

December 2003; Luke's Diner, Stars Hollow, CT; Thirty-five minutes later

"Whoa, Rory, are you going to tell me why we stopped at a hardware store on the way to your house? I'm pretty sure nothing's wrong with T's car."

"I want to see my mom."

Tristan frowned. "I thought she didn't even know how to work a stove."

"She doesn't. That's why she'd be here." Rory bounced ahead of the others, leaving Tristan and Callie confused.

Throwing open the door, she saw her mother sitting on a stool, drinking a cup of coffee. "Mom!" As she ran over, Lorelai stood up to greet her daughter. The door swung open and Rory turned to find Tristan and Callie standing in the doorway, looking even more puzzled. She laughed. "Guys, it's a diner." Turning back to her mother, she added, "Mom, this is my roommate, Callie, and Tristan."

Lorelai greeted the two. "Anyone want coffee?"

Later that day, Lorelai had taken Tristan and Callie to her house to make up beds for the two. Rory had stayed behind at the diner. "Hey, Luke?"

"Mmm?" Luke mumbled, skimming over a menu.

"For my sociology class at Yale, we have to write a paper on someone we haven't seen in a while."

"Yeah?"

Rory took a deep breath. "What's Jess been up to?"

Luke looked up at Rory, startled. "Uh, stuff. Why?" He asked vaguely.

Rory shrugged. "Oh. Well he's the only person I could think of."

Luke nodded, taking a seat next to Rory. "Oh. Then what do you want to know?" Luke asked slowly.

Rory pulled out a list of questions she had written down. "Um…lets see. How about 'Where is he living today?'"

Luke looked at her oddly. "New York."

"Yeah, uh, I knew that," Rory said, a little embarrassed. "It's a required question…Okay, here's one. 'When's the last time you talked to Jess?'"

"Actually, he called last night."

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Jess communicated? Impressive…what did you talk about?"

Luke's lips curled up slightly. "Well, Rory, you can ask Jess these questions yourself. He'll be home tomorrow."

"Rory, I don't see what the big deal is. I think it will do you good to talk to the guy." Callie sat on Rory's bed, talking with Rory and Tristan.

Tristan nodded. "I have to agree with Callie, Ror. You broke up with the Beave for this guy."

Rory laughed at Tristan's reference to her high school boyfriend. "Okay, accountant, I get what you're saying…but Jess and I have a history. It's gonna be weird."

Tristan raised an eyebrow. "A worse history than ours?"

"Yeah. I'd say so."

Okay, people. That's the first chapter. I know it was kind of short, but the others will be longer. And as I mentioned, I'm not sure if it's going to be Lit or Trory yet, so don't ask. Feel free to make a suggestion though.