Just one
Black and every colour of the rainbow swirled around Rory Gilmore as the crème of society danced to the classical strains of Mozart.
As always, Rory felt hot and uncomfortable as the midnight blue dress and elbow length white gloves which clung to her like a second skin. She was beginning to feel the effects of her third glass of champagne as she walked as gracefully as possible out to the moonlit garden.
Tristan DuGrey was inhaling the cool night air and enjoying the feeling of being alone, as a beautiful woman walked out of the ballroom and onto one of the swings in the garden. He moved out of the shadows to watch her breathe a sigh of relief.
"I didn't realize anyone was out here" said Rory, surprised, as a tall, blonde haired man stepped out from the shadows.
"I was just wishing for some company, but you've saved me from returning to that unbearably stuffy ballroom" he replied, folding his long body into the swing beside her.
"Well I'm not an answer to your wishes kind of girl, but I guess for tonight I can be Jeannie" she said smiling
"How kind of you, what should I wish for?" he asked
"The stars?" she guessed.
"They're already here, in your eyes"
Rory laughed
"Would you like to dance?" he asked gesturing to the patio where soft music could still be heard
"Thanks but you're not my type" she said dismissively
"What is your type then?" he asked
"Not you"
"You pretend to know so much about me yet you've only just met me"
"I know your type"
"And what type is that?"
"The type who ruled their high school, a suitably rich and elite school. The type who had a different girl every week, a rich, gorgeous girl who would fall hopelessly in love with you. The type that would move on from these girls without a second thought and never be thought less of. The type to inherit daddy's money and live his lifestyle"
"Is that so? A tad harsh but mostly accurate. Well let me guess your type" he said, pausing to ponder.
"The type who was quiet in school but endlessly endearing to those close to you. The smart type, the top of the class results and college degree. The type who works hard and would do anything to get the job they wanted and planned their life for. The beautiful type that my type would have teased and secretly wanted but never got a chance" he said leaning closer to her and looking straight into her eyes at the last part
"Tristan DuGrey" she said smiling
"Rory Gilmore, or Mary I should say" he said smirking
"You haven't changed a bit" she said touching the side of his face to indicate his smirk
"Disappointed?" he asked as she removed her hand
"Surprisingly no" she replied
"I knew you always secretly loved me"
"How was military school?" she asked, ignoring his last comment
"Dull" he said
"No girls obviously" she said with a smirk
"No ring I see"
For a second Rory looked at her bald left hand with sadness. "No, no ring" she said with a false brightness
"What happened to stock boy?"
"He got a ring" she replied staring out into the garden
"How nice for him" said Tristan with a smile
"What about you?" she asked
"This?" he said holding up his hand which wore a silver ring "Just sentiment, it was my grandfathers"
"Divorced from the trophy wife already?"
"No, I kinda skipped that part, much to my parent's disgust"
"But to the happiness of most available women in Hartford society" she said
"Just most Mary?" he asked, disappointed
"Just most, DuGrey, we wouldn't want your head getting any bigger"
"Very amusing Mary dearest, will you now accept a dance with me?" he asked, leaving the swing and offering her his hand
"Just one" she replied taking his hand as they waltzed around the patio to the strains of Mozart.
"Dad!"
Tristan almost jumped out of his skin as his seventeen year old daughter stood in front of him. She was the picture of her mother at that age, the same piercing blue eyes and coffee coloured hair; though the modern version had hers cut into layers and wore a shorter Chilton skirt.
"What were you thinking about?" she asked "I said good morning but you were a thousand miles away"
"Just thinking" he said as Lorelai Emily DuGrey or Elle as she was more affectionately known, bent forward to straighten her fathers tie
He never looked quite as sharp ever since he divorced from her mom
He now wore small silver glasses which matched the grey hair that was beginning to form at his temples, he looked tired, he always did now.
Her twin, Janlen Lucas DuGrey or Jay as he was known to be, strode through the door and sat in front of the steaming pile of scrambled eggs and toast their German housekeeper Gusti had placed their only moments before.
"Morning Dad" he said as he loaded his eggs onto a fork
"Morning Jay" replied Tristan sorting through the papers on the kitchen table to find the finance section "Elle, did your mother say when she was coming to stay again"
"Umm" she replied munching on a pop tart "I think she said she doesn't know, apparently they're introducing a new section into the paper and things are crazy so she doesn't know when she'll get away"
Rory had achieved her life long dream two years ago and became editor of the New York Times.
It was ironic as far as Tristan was concerned, instead of him being the workaholic who didn't spend enough time at home, it was Rory and in the heat of an argument he asked her to choose between him and the paper
Needless to say she chose the paper
He didn't blame her, he still loved her after 16 years of bliss, but it was her dream, it made her survive Chilton and Yale it made the years of being the lowest person on every newspaper in the city worth it.
"God damn it Tris don't make me chose"
"Its me or the paper, I cant live with a woman who I love desperately but doesn't have time for me anymore, I just cant Rory"
"Then you've made my choice haven't you?"
He blamed himself, he loved so much he couldn't bear share her with anyone, let alone a newspaper
"Bye dad!" Jay called as he gathered their bags together and Elle gave her father a kiss goodbye
"C'mon lets go!" Jay said to his sister
"You only want to get to school on time to flirt with Chrissie Symond!" teased Elle as she picked up her thermos of coffee
"Hey can I help it if all women find me irresistible?" he asked sounding remarkably like his father
He gave Gusti, the housekeeper, a smacking kiss on the cheek "Right Gusti?"
"Filthy shwine" she said in her heavy German accent and whacked him on the arm
Jay grinned
"Off you go" said Tristan trying to hide his amused grin behind his cup of coffee
God he loved those kids
Tristan sighed and took of his glasses
They were the only thing that made life worth living at the moment
Hmmm…. what's a girl to do? Continue or not to continue? – it's up to you
laughs evilly as she strokes her car
Sorry just had to have a Dr Evil moment there – so what do you think? Reviews are very very much appreciated.
P.S 1,227 words!! For those of you who have read my work b4 you know what an achievement that is
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