Title: Touched
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for my racy thoughts.
Rating: R
Rory was scribbling notes furiously as class was coming to an end. She wouldn't admit it but European History was proving to be more difficult than she had expected. The only person Rory was comfortable asking for help was Paris, but shockingly Paris had been struggling as well. When the professor ended lecturing Rory shuffled her way up to his podium.
" Professor Williams, my name's Rory and I was just wondering if there was any way I could come by and get a little extra help, I'm having a hard time grasping-"
"Look, I just lectured for 2 ½ hours I don't have the time to tutor each individual student." He brushed her off with a flick of his wrist.
Slightly taken aback, Rory tried again, "I didn't necessarily mean right now, maybe tomorrow or the next day just for a half hour or so…"
The professor looked up from his papers with a strained smile planted on his lips,
"Rory, right? If I spent a half hour with each of my 300 something students I wouldn't have time to sleep, or eat, or hell, even go to the bathroom. Yale is a competitive school, if you can't keep up by yourself I suggest you join a study group or get a tutor. Or maybe this just isn't the school for you, but it isn't my job to baby you. Now, please I am a busy man."
Rory, now thoroughly disgusted, stalked off. 'Who did he think he was saying she needed a tutor? She wasn't asking him to baby her. She didn't need a tutor. She'd never had a tutor in her life.'
Rory pushed through her door, still in a rotten mood. She had gone to get coffee thinking that would make her feel better, but she couldn't get that professors words out of her head.
" Paris, you won't believe what Professor Williams said to me today."
Paris came out toweling off her hair. "What did he say?"
"I went to ask him for help and he practically bit my head off, talking about babying me and how Yale is a competitive school, like I didn't already know that, and then he said I should get a tutor or join some study group!"
Paris shook her head. "Yeah he can be an ass."
"I know! I couldn't believe it! I've never needed a tutor before. Even when I came to Chilton late I caught up just fine. I've been in Yale three years now and no professor has ever thought I need a tutor. One asked me to tutor someone else once! But no I never needed a tutor! Jeez!
"Rory sit down. You're making me dizzy pacing around."
Rory sat down, just to stand right back up again. "And a study group? Who goes to those? Those are just for people who have no faith in themselves. So they join a study group to latch on to other people, because they don't feel as stupid in numbers!"
Paris whipped around. "Excuse me, what's your problem with study groups, Rory?"
Rory stopped pacing to look at Paris. "What?"
"What you are to good for study groups now? Do you just think you are better than everyone?"
"What? Paris where is this coming from? There isn't anything wrong with study groups for some people. But, they just aren't for me."
" Okay, I see how it is! So now you are better than me?" Paris spat.
"Paris! What are you talking about? When did I say that?"
"Well, almighty Rory, I am one of those stupid people who belongs to a study group!" Paris turned on her heel and slammed the door.
Rory sighed, putting her head into her hands. 'What have I done now?'
Once she composed herself, Rory knocked on the door Paris had just recently slammed in her face. When she heard no answer she let herself in to find Paris sitting on her bed, pretending to read. Cautiously sitting on the foot of Paris's bed, Rory began to speak.
" Look Paris I'm really sorry."
No reply.
Rory pulled down the book Paris was so intent on reading, uncovering her face.
"I'm really really sorry." Rory said with a timid smile.
Still no reply.
"I'm really really reeeeeally sorry."
Paris went back to "reading", with no reply.
Rory sighed. "Paris you know I don't think you're stupid."
"Hmph."
'Well that's progress' Rory sighed.
"Okay, honestly I got scared. I didn't tell you that the professor said that Yale might not be the school for me. Hearing that was just terrifying after all of the hard work I've put in here. You know how I get, I think if I make one false move, if I fail one test, I'll never become a journalist. You know I swore off guys until I graduate, because I'm so afraid of becoming distracted and loosing sight of my dream, my dream of becoming a journalist." Rory could see Paris starting to soften, " So I'm sorry that I came home and I dumped all of that on you, I know that's not fair, and that you have yourself to worry about to, and I swear I had no idea you were in a study group" ---
"Exactly! Why would I want to tell you I'm in a study group-knowing what you think of them." Paris snapped.
Rory sighed again. 'Had she really just thought that Paris was getting soft? No such luck.'
"Okay, look, I apologized, and I meant it. You know I think your beyond intelligent, and I'm very sorry I hurt your feelings when I said those things about study groups"-
"You didn't hurt my feelings" Paris huffed.
"Okay I'm sorry for whatever it is that I did, please let me make it up to you."
Paris was silent for a moment. "How?"
"I don't know, you tell me and I'll do it"
Paris put down her book and rubbed her hands together. Then she smiled; a kind of plotting smile that made Rory gulp.
" Oh I know," Paris said in sickeningly sweet voice, "You can come with me to my study group."
It was the next day, and Rory was sitting under her study tree. Usually, when she rested against the tree's trunk, with a slight breeze against her skin, it created the perfect studying environment, but today she couldn't concentrate. So, who better to call than Lorelie?
"Hey mom."
"Hey offspring, how ya doing?"
"Ugh, kinda frustrated actually."
"Oop, hold on one sec, I think Luke may be trying to tell me something, he is making large, angry gestures. Oh, he's waving frantically at the 'no cell phone' sign. I'm guessing this is gonna take more than a second, so I better go outside and put an end to the charades. Wouldn't want Luke to pull a muscle or tear his flannel or anything."
Rory couldn't help but crack a smile at her mother's antics.
"Alright, I escaped alive. Now you have my undivided attention. What's up babe?"
"I can't study."
"Go to your tree."
"Already there."
"Get some coffee?"
"Had three cups already."
"Good girl. Eat some pop tarts?"
"I'm can't. I'm on a strict college diet of Easy Mac, Roman Noodles, Lucky Charms, and coffee."
"College diet? That's the Gilmore diet. But, seriously now, what are you studying for?"
"European History."
"Do you have a test?"
"No, not until midterms in five weeks."
"Do you have a paper due?"
"No, just turned one in two days ago."
"Remind me again why you need to study."
"For a study group."
"For a study group?"
"Yes."
"Let me get this right. You're studying for study group? Isn't that what study group is for? To study?" Lorelei asked completely baffled.
"Yeah, I know, I know, but I don't want the people in the stupid group to think I'm dumb."
"Mhmmm, wait, I thought the whole studying with people thing, well I thought it wasn't your thing."
"Oh, believe it's not. Paris guilted me into it."
"Oh, well good. Maybe you'll meet a guy."
"Mom, you know I'm not dating."
"Mhmmm, why is that again?"
"You know why. I don't want to get distracted."
"Rory, come on. As hard as this may be for you to believe, college isn't only about the education part. You need to socialize too."
"I do socialize. I see Paris."
"She's your roommate, that doesn't count."
"I hang out with Marty sometimes."
"Yeah, but what's fun about that? You guys are just friends." Lorelie whined mockingly.
"Well, I'm sorry I'm not fun enough for you."
"I just think you need to lighten up a little bit. A casual date wouldn't hurt. Gasp you might even enjoy yourself, instead of worrying about studying for study group."
"This isn't funny. I really don't want to go to this thing."
"Then don't go."
"I have to, or Paris will hate me."
"Well you wouldn't want to loose half of your social circle."
"Ha-ha"
"Okay, I'm sorry. You know what I think you should do? I think you should tear yourself away from your study tree, not worry what the stupid study group people think of you, go for Paris, and get it over with. Then, treat yourself to a nice, relaxing bath."
"Ooohkay" Rory sighed.
"Oh! Oh! You can burn those monkey candles I got you!"
"Monkey candles? Hopefully not scented…"
"Ha-ha there's my girl. I'll see you Friday, okay?"
"Yup, love you mom."
"Love you too."
"You're not going to wear that are you?"
"What? What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Rory smoothed down her long sleeve tee.
"I just don't think you should wear that."
"You didn't tell me your study group had a dress code, Paris."
"It doesn't. Here we go. Why don't your wear this skirt?" Paris plucked a black mini off of a hanger.
"A skirt? Why would I wear a skirt to study?"
"And I'll let you borrow my blue cashmere sweater. It will look great with your eyes."
" My eyes? What are you up to Paris?" Rory said, starting to get annoyed.
"I'm not up to anything. What are you talking about?"
" Why do you suddenly care how my eyes look?"
"There are a few cute guys in the group." Paris shrugged, trying to be nonchalant.
"Ugh! You are just like my mother! I don't need to be set up. I don't want to be set up. How many times do I have to say that?!" Rory cried through gritted teeth.
"Alright, calm down Gilmore. Forget it, there was this one guy in particular I thought you'd hit it off with, but never mind." Paris smiled with a glint in her eye; a glint that Rory missed.
Rory shivered. The sun was setting quickly, and the air had a chill to it. For a second Rory was glad Paris had convinced her to wear her sweater instead of the long sleeve tee shirt. She and Paris were walking to the library to meet with Paris's study group. Rory absentmindedly watched a leaf twirl to the ground and wondered how she got here. Not to the library, but here at Yale, in the fall of her junior year, walking in comfortable silence with Paris, a girl she had once disliked. Now, Paris was one of her best friends, and she really did appreciate their relationship. Rory sniffled. She really did feel bad for hurting Paris's feelings. Not that Paris would ever admit she had. Right then, she decided she really would try her best to be pleasant tonight at the study group. Rory was shaken from her thoughts when Paris opened the library door.
"Come on Gilmore, nothing to be scared of."
Rory followed Paris to a table where two guys and girl were already sitting. Once Rory had sat down and been introduced to the group she was feeling pretty good about the whole situation.
"So are we going to get started?" Rory asked.
One of the guys responded, "Yeah we're just waiting for Tristan."
"For who?" confused, Rory looked up. She looked up right into the bright blue eyes of Tristan Dugrey.
"Oh Mary, don't tell me you forgot who I am."
Rory was stunned. She never thought she would see Tristan ever again. And, she wouldn't admit it, but she had thought about him over the years. Once Rory realized that she had in fact seen Tristan Dugrey, and that she wasn't hallucinating, he had sat down across from her and opened his books. Rory was confused, and actually a bit disappointed. 'That was it? That's all they were going to say to each other?' She knew they hadn't been the best of friends, but she had thought their unique relationship meant more than that.
Paris stood up, avoiding eye contact with Rory, "Okay, I think we can get started now."
'Paris! She had known about this the whole time! Why hadn't Paris told her she knew Tristan? Why hadn't she warned her that he would be here? He was the reason Paris had wanted her to dress up! She couldn't believe it! She had been manipulated!'
"Um, Paris, can I talk to you a minute?" Rory fumed.
"Rory, this is a study group, we'll talk later." Paris stated, not letting on that there was anything unusual going on.
"No, I think we need to talk now."
"Rory, we're studying, it can wait."
Just as Rory was opening her mouth to protest Tristan cut in, "Rory, I'm surprised, you always took your studying so seriously at Chilton."
"I'm surprised you noticed that Tristan, what with your tongue being shoved down a new girls throat every week." Rory quipped.
Everyone around them were staring now, so Paris interrupted, " Okay, you love birds, don't make a scene."
Rory folded her arms across her chest, and scoffed loudly in disgust, which just made Paris chuckle, and Tristan smirk.
Tristan looked across the table at Rory. She was pouting, with the occasional sniffle. It had been a half hour since their little exchange, and all Tristan could think about was Rory. Sitting across from her, he couldn't believe she still had this effect on him. When he walked in and saw her sitting there in a blue turtleneck, with rosy cheeks from the cold, his breath had caught in his chest. Paris had let him know Rory would be there tonight, but nothing could have prepared him for how amazing she had looked. He had been delighted when he saw Rory's look of disappointment when he had been so casual about their reunion. It might have seemed like he was brushing her off, but really he'd been trying to fight off the immediate reversion back to his high schools day, when he was Rory Gilmore's love sick puppy. He had lost that battle when he saw Rory getting so fired up at Paris, remembering how much he loved to get a rise out of her. Paris had quickly ended their bantering, and now Rory was still sitting, sulking. As adorable as Rory looked with her pouty lower lip, Tristan thought she looked even cuter blushing.
With a devious smile, Tristan set to work. In one very quick, fluid motion Tristan grazed Rory's leg with his own. Rory glanced up, interpreted it as a mistake, and went back to minding her business. Tristan waited a minute and did it again, this time a little slower. Rory looked around again, this time with a furrowed brow. When Rory looked down again, Tristan slipped his foot from his shoe, pushed it up inside of her jeans and ran his toes all the way up to inside of her knee. Rory's head snapped to attention and she pulled her leg back in a flash. This time she looked up and stared directly at Tristan, challenging him. Tristan stared back, acting confused. He shrugged his shoulders and mouthed 'what?' He saw Rory was getting angry, but something flickered in her eyes and he decided to raise the stakes. If she wanted a challenge he would give her a challenge. He used one foot to capture her leg and hold it in place, as he used the other foot to rub a trail from her ankle, to her calf, behind her knee, and in between her thighs. Rory was blushing furiously now, and squirming all over. Tristan pressed even further, pushing open her thighs, as Rory tried in vain to keep them closed. He smirked and started to trace lazy circles on the inside of her thigh, but when he felt the heat radiating from her core he began to feel a little dizzy. Even though Rory was glaring at him, looking like she wanted to kill him, she unconsciously bit her lip. Tristan saw this, and almost groaned as he felt a tightening in his pants. Suddenly, having enough with tracing circles on her thigh, Tristan used his heel to grind against her center. Rory gasped, and jumped up violently, her knees banging loudly against the table.
"My god Rory! What is wrong with you?" Paris hissed, completely oblivious to the little game Tristan had been playing.
Tristan had never seen anybody so red. "I'm s-s-sorry, P-paris I don't feel s-so well all of a sudden", a completely mortified Rory managed to stammer, "I'm just gonna go back to the dorm."
Everyone was dumbfounded as Rory practically ran from the library, and Tristan couldn't help but chuckle.
I want to apologize now for my bad grammar. I hope it doesn't interfere with the story. I would love to hear what everyone thinks of the chapter, thanks )