LET GO

Some say that looking into the eyes of someone is like looking directly into their soul. Others say that with the right look you can kill someone. Well Tristan DuGrey could vouch for both of those statements because the first time that Rory Gilmore looked at him on her first day of Chilton he knew that it was over for him. He saw everything he had ever dreamed of in her eyes and the old player in him died that day. Of course he couldn't just walk up to her and put his heart out there by proclaiming his undying love of her; no it wasn't that easy. So he reverted back to his old ways, hoping to get her attention so that if she looked into his eyes long enough she would see that it was all an act and that his daunting and teasing was just a ploy for the fact that he was madly in-love with her but didn't know how to go about it. Eventually he took his cries for attention way to far which now brings us to Tristan's present predicament.

Tristan stood in the middle of a hallway in Chilton trying desperately to gage Rory's reaction to what he was telling her….He knew she was upset…hell he was upset too….but he also saw something that he never saw there before….Regret with a little hint of love? No it couldn't be love….Rory didn't love him….she loved bagboy…..Did he love her?? Hell he didn't know….but he would sure like a chance to find out….not that he would get one now after he was punished for what he did.

"What do you mean he had you pulled out of school? What happened?" Rory said as she hopelessly crossed and uncrossed her arms as she tried to hide the fact that she was upset and on the verge of tears.

"Nothing. Just ticked the old man off, that's all." He replied as he shoved his hands into his pockets out of nervousness as he began to rock back and forth on his heals…God he would love to know what she was thinking right at that moment.

"By doing what? Tristan, come on, tell me."

"I got in some trouble."

"Trouble involving?" 'God he wasn't going to make this easy was he? Rory thought.

"Involving Duncan and Bowman, and Bowman's dad's safe. I mean, Bowman had a key. It was supposed to be no big deal. And the crazy silent alarm kicked in." Tristan said as he explained the whole thing to her while running a hand though his hair and then down his neck.

"Do you know how stupid you are? My Gosh…I can't believe you! Ug….this is so irresponsible Tristan!" Rory said now getting quite angry as she tried to shout some sense into him.

"You don't think I know that Rory? I'm not as dense as you think I am!"

"Well then why did you do it? You were doing so well…I just want an answer to why Tristan." Rory said now beginning to cry as she crossed her arms over her chest. 'I had been so stupid…I finally realize…or rather admit to myself that I have feelings for Tristan and he gets himself in trouble…GREAT! Well we can fix this…I know we can.' Rory thought to herself as she waited anxiously for Tristan's reply.

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU THAT'S WHY!" Tristan shouted at the top of his lungs as he threw his hands up in the air in defeat. "I love you and God damn it Rory…it hurts….every time I see you in the hall way or when Dean comes to pick you up and I want so badly to kiss you but I can't because Dean is there and would more than likely try to kick the crap out of me.." Tristan paused for a second to regain his breath before continuing. He saw the tears pouring out of Rory's eyes and wanted nothing more than to kiss them away…but she was still with Dean and he was still in trouble. 'Might as well get it all out know since I already told her I love her.' "So I thought that if I was a jerk to you I could get you to notice me and then if you did you would see that I really cared about you."

"You care about me?" Rory said unbelievingly as she started to cry even harder.

"Yea," Tristan said with a slight smile as he walked up to her to wipe away her tears. Dean or no Dean, he couldn't stand to see his Mary cry. "I'm an ass Rory….and I'm not used to feeling what I feel for you so I reverted back to my old ways thinking that I could handle this the same way." Tristan said as he continued to wipe away stray tears.

"Oh," Rory said as she looked down and blushed.

"Yea 'oh' Mary," Tristan chuckled as he continued to stare down at her.

Then Rory did something that came as a shock to both of them, "So why didn't you?" Rory said pulling away slightly to look up at him.

"Why didn't I what?" Tristan said genuinely confused.

Wake up
I have been waiting for you
to open your eyes
so that I can tell you

that I think I'm ready
I'm ready to freefall into
into the unknown
if you want to be with me

"Kiss me? I wouldn't have stopped you." Rory said as she suddenly felt really embarrassed and looked away.

"WHAT? Are you serious?" Rory nodded. "Well a lot of good that does us now..."

"What do you mean?" Rory said finally looking up at him.

"The punishment is that there letting our parents handle it. This means military school in North Carolina for me." Tristan said as he looked into her eyes for her reaction.

"Gosh you're so stupid!" Rory said as she began to cry again. "I mean I start to have feelings for you and you go and get yourself shipped off to military school!" Rory said as she stepped in and laid her head on Tristan's chest.

"I know I am Rory…believe me after what you just told me…I know I am.." Tristan said as he encircled her in a hug. "But do you think that, that offer to kiss you and you not stopping is still good?" Tristan said as he looked down at her and smirked.

"Yea" Rory said smiling but as Tristan leaned down to kiss her she stopped him.

"I thought you said you weren't going to stop me?" Tristan said as he laughed.

"I'm not….its just that we can't…not here at least." Rory said.

"Why are you afraid that someone will see?" Tristan said looking around for who she could possibly mean, and then it clicked, "Are you afraid Dean will see?" Tristan said looking at her.

"No…I'm afraid Paris will see. Dean and I broke up last night."

"What? Why?" Tristan said clearly confused.

"Well last night at practice I realized that I liked you and decided that I was going to act on it and tell you that I liked you and if you wanted to….I don't know maybe give it a shot….that I would….so I broke up with him and told him that it wasn't working and then left…." Rory said suddenly becoming quite uncomfortable and looking away.

Tristan just chuckled causing Rory to look up. "Oh what a pair we make Mare. I realize that I've loved you along but am to afraid to act on it rationally and you're to shy to act on it until it's too late…Gosh our timing is impeccable." Tristan said as he pulled her into a hug.

"Tristan! Its time to go! Your plane leaves in an hour." Mr. DuGrey shouted from down the hall.

"Walk me out Mare?" Tristan smirked as he nodded towards the door and tugged her out.

"So what are we going to do now Tristan?"

"What do you mean?" Tristan said looking down at her.

"Well I have feelings for you and I want to be together but with the distance…" Rory trailed off…she was opening up her heart to him and it was very un-Rory like…..she could loose a lot and that scared her.

"Well Mare….I have feelings for you too…."Tristan said pulling her too him, "And I want to give this a try….A real try…..so I was thinking that I could call you and email you and oh I don't know maybe you could come and visit?? You do know that there is this thing called a plane that gets people from place to place…And I'll be up for the holidays." Tristan said smiling at her.

Trust me
'cause I know it's terrifying
to open your heart and let it lead blindly

'cause when you let go
and let life take you where it wants to
give up control
let life take you where it wants to go
where it wants to go

"So what do you say Rory….do you want to give this hopelessly in-love delinquent a shot?" Tristan said as he smiled at her.

"Yea….I guess I could." Rory said laughing

"Now about that good-bye kiss Mare," Tristan said as he looked into Rory's beautiful blue eyes that looked so perfect in the night sky and then finally leaned in and did what he had been wanting to do for the past year and a half...He kissed his Mary.