"I lose my way... no one cares, the words I say no one hears. My life it seems is a world of dreams." The words came from an animated mouse on the screen. They seemed to fit perfectly. It was as if someone were mocking him.
The only thing was that someone did care... Rory. A smiled played upon his lips. He tormented her for months, and yet she seemed to genuinely care about what happened to him. He wondered if she had thought about him since he had left. Tristan pulled out a tablet and began to write.
Rory sat on her bed lost in thought. The medallion on her wrist gave her pause. It was a lot like Dean--Solid, strong, and annoyingly present. Her eyes wandered over to the plaque on her wall containing a set of new US quarters. She thought of Jess.
Jess. The one person who could rival Tristan in his witty banter. The one she could talk to on her own level. "What do you and Dean talk about?" That one question had been bugging her for over a week now.
"Rory?" Lorelei called out interrupting her thoughts.
"Yeah?"
"Who do you know in North Carolina?"
"Um... no one right off hand. Why do you ask?" Rory walked into the kitchen wondering what was going on.
"'Cause you have a letter here postmarked Charlotte, North Carolina."
"Let me see that." She snatched the letter from Lorelei to look at the address. Mary, c/o Rory Gilmore, Stars Hollow.
"Tristan?" Rory said in disbelief as she tore open the letter.
Dear Mary,
How is life at Chilton? Dull? You probably have your hands full with Paris and the paper.
Military school isn't as bad as I thought. Well, except for the hair cut they made me get. I would send you a picture but knowing you, you would either laugh or use it as a dart board. If you promise not to do either, I will have my roommate take a picture and send it to you.
Why am I writing? I know that is what you are thinking. Well, my little Juliet, the truth is that I can't stop thinking about you, and since there is like a thousand miles between us, I can say what I want without you trying to kill me.
The day you started Chilton, I knew... I knew that I would fall in love with you. I knew that you were not like anyone I ever met. I knew that if I spent five minutes in your company, I would fall... fast and hard. I was right. I couldn't get enough of you.
You are smart, funny, clever, and you keep me on my toes. Not to mention, you are the most beautiful person I have ever met. I don't mean just physical beauty. You have a caring side to you like no one I know. You are the only one I said good bye to... did you know that? No one at the school deserved it... no one but you.
As much as I teased you... you are the only one I would consider a true friend. I know I am stepping over a lot of boundaries here, but like I said... there isn't anything you can do about it (ha, ha).
Well my roommate is drooling over your picture... I better go rescue it before he ruins it. Please write me back. I miss you.
Yours always,
Romeo Tristan
"Mom, you have to read this," Rory said not believing the letter. Tristan... in love... with her. It took a few seconds for the words to sink in.
"Wow, I can't believe it." Lorelei said after scanning the letter. "Are you going to answer it?"
"Yeah, I guess I should," Rory said, "But what should I say?"
"Just let it come from your heart."
Rory went into her room and began to write.
Dear Tristan,
That sounds weird. Granted yeah, I have said it before, but still... Evil Tristan... Yeah, that sounds better.
How is my tormenter doing down in military? Found anyone down there to torture yet? Or are you going to make a special trip up here just to see me again. Okay, so kidding.
I have to say that you caught me by surprise. I didn't expect to hear from you. I figured by now you would surrounded by a new group of groupies and have completely forgotten about me.
I have missed you though. I didn't really plan on it... it was just something that kind of happened. School isn't as fun without you to banter with. But I guess I will just have to get used to it.
Paris and I are forming a tentative friendship. Maybe you could write her and put in a good word for me? Um, scratch that, then she would know I am talking to you. I don't think I want to share you with the rest of your groupies just yet. Did I just say that?
Okay, I admit it... I like you. There I said it... now stop doing that happy dance. I am still with Dean... although I don't think it is going to last too much longer. I don't know why I told you that. I guess because we are friends.
Okay, I am babbling, I admit it. You do that to me...even if you are like a thousand miles away. I better go. My mom is pitching her 'I need coffee now so stop writing and get in here so we can go to Luke's' fit. I will explain some other time.
Write back soon.
Your Friend,
Juliet Rory
PS I would love that picture, but I can't promise I won't laugh.
Rory came out of the room handing the letter to her mom, "Mail this before I change my mind."
"Good girl," Lorelei grinned. "Now coffee?"
"Coffee."
"Luke's?"
"Like we would go anywhere else, mother."
"Good girl. I have taught you well."
Dean came up as they were leaving the house. "Hey, can I join you?"
"We are going to Luke's."
"Sounds good."
"Are you going to behave?"
"What do you mean, Rory?"
"You aren't going to give Jess dirty looks because he talks to me."
"You mean you would willing talk to that hothead?"
"Dean. Stop."
"What?"
"First Tristan, now Jess? Why am I not allowed to have male friends?"
"I never said that."
"You act like it." Rory countered as they stopped in front of the diner.
"What are you saying? I love you."
"I am saying that you don't trust me around any male that isn't you."
"Dean, I have to agree with her. Those were some pretty mean looks you gave Jess at the Inn a few weeks ago."
"What is this a mother-daughter breakup?"
Lorelei and Rory looked at each other. "Yeah, that is what this is," they both answered and walked inside, leaving Dean dumbstruck.
"Luke, we need coffee."
"No, Lorelei."
"Aw, come on, we just broke up with Dean."
"We?" Jess was curious about this.
"Yeah. We both just broke up with him."
"Ah, that explains the look of confusion on his face," Jess said as he got them coffee.
"Hey," Luke said.
"What?" Jess asked in a defensive tone. "They deserve it. Look at the simpleton standing outside."
They all looked out the window. Dean was still standing there trying to figure out what just happened.
"So, Ror, what are we going to do tonight?"
"Well, I think I need to change some things I wrote in that letter... then how about a movie?"
"With massive quantities of junk food?"
"Do you have to ask?"
"Luke, you and Jess want to join us?"
"Uh... not tonight. I have something to take care of," Luke answered.
"Oh, okay," Lorelei looked crestfallen. "Jess?"
"Sorry, I don't think today is good for me... Maybe next time."
"Okay. Come on, Rory, I don't feel too popular now."
"Me neither."
Dear Tristan,
God, it is soo good to hear from you. I have missed you. I was thinking about you earlier. Thinking 'God, I wish I had someone decent to talk to here' and I got a letter from you. How strange is that.
Okay, so maybe you weren't my first choice, but it is still good to hear from you. Things on the paper are good, and Paris and I have finally stopped trying to kill each other with looks. She actually stayed for dinner over break.
I wish you could have been here. It was great. All those pretty costumes... speaking of costumes... Romeo... you still owe me a kiss, actually two. One for the performance and one for good-bye.
Okay, sit down and stop making a fool of yourself and tell your roommate I said hi... So do you know of any cute blond hair, blue eyed guys that might be interested me? Yes, I did say that. Calm down. I seem to be hinting at something here. I guess I better just say it.
Tristan, I like you. A lot. And this isn't just because my mom and I broke up with Dean today. I have been thinking... (yeah, I know nothing new there) thinking about you... about the kiss... about PJ Harvey... about Romeo and Juliet... about the banter... about everything that you and I have shared. I think there could possibly be something there.
Okay, I have to go... my mom just swallowed a pack of gummy worms without chewing.
Please write back.
You're Friend (possibly more?)
Juliet
"Okay, Mom, I finished it. Now where can I mail it?"
"Put it on the table, I will take it with me tomorrow, or you could mail it on your way to school tomorrow."
"I think I will opt for the latter. Movie time. What did you get?"
"Jane Eyre."
"I get it. I am Jane and Tristan is my Mr. Rochester?"
"Something like that," Lorelei answered with a grin.
Tristan lay on his bed. One week. It had been one week since he bared his soul. One week since he wrote her. He didn't go down to check the mail. He didn't think she would write. He doubted that she even read what he had written. His roommate, Jason Douglas, came barging in interrupting his thoughts.
"Hey, DuGrey, What was the name of that chick you wrote to last week?"
"Rory. Why?"
"Oh, no reason," he said with a grin.
"What? Douglas, why are you looking like the cat that just got the canary?"
"Um, you got mail." He tossed the letter on the bed near Tristan's head. "I don't think it is from your parents."
"Yeah, like they would write. Okay, Detective, who is it from?" Tristan asked not moving.
"Lorelei Gilmore."
Tristan reached for the letter, "You are warped, man. She wouldn't write me back, she probably burned the letter."
"Fine, if you don't want to read it, I will read it to you." Douglas reached to take the letter, but Tristan wouldn't let him.
"You win. I will read it. It is probably her mother telling me not to write again."
Tristan opened the letter and started jumping up and down with excitement. "It is from her. I can't believe it." As he read the letter, a smile, a real smile was on his face.
Since Tristan was locked into the letter, Jason decided to take full advantage of it. He broke out his Polaroid camera and snapped a few pictures. He didn't know who this girl was, but he knew that she was just what Tristan needed in his life.
"Hey, I am going to run down to the PX. You need anything?"
"Yeah, pick me up some stamps." Tristan handed him a ten. "Thanks, man."
"Sure, no problem."
Tristan sat down to write her back. He didn't hear the click of the camera. He was completely oblivious to his roommate's antics.
Jason's photographic memory was about to help Tristan more than he knew. He quickly jotted down Rory's address on an envelope and slipped the pictures inside. Ten minutes later, he was at the checkout line in the PX.
"Rory, get your cute butt in here."
"Mom, I can't believe you just said that."
"Sorry, babe. I just wanted to make sure that you got these while I still had a chance to watch your reaction." Lorelei handed her two envelopes post marked North Carolina. "One is from the former Chiltonite. I don't know who the other one is from." Rory opened the letter from the mystery person first.
Rory,
You don't know me, but I am the roommate of DuGrey. He would kill me if he knew I did this. So please, don't tell him.
Over the past few weeks, I have gotten to know DuGrey pretty well. He has always been able to hide his emotions. He has been acting defeated. I don't know exactly what he did or why he did it. I can only tell you that he was shutting himself off from everything. I don't know what you said to him, but I want to thank you. Whether you know it or not, your letter was the first he has gotten since he has been here. When he opened your letter, he actually smiled. It is the first time I have ever seen him without a smirk or scowl. I snapped a few pictures so you can see for yourself.
Thank you for proving that he is indeed human.
Should you wish to discuss this, my email is (yes I have the messenger)
Jason Douglass
Rory handed the letters to her mom as she thumbed through the pictures. It was obvious that Tristan didn't know that his picture was being taken. He looked so happy reading her letter. Rory couldn't remember ever seeing Tristan that happy. She passed the pictures over to her mom and opened Tristan's letter.
Dear Rory,
I must say that you really caught me by surprise. I never thought that you would actually read my letter, let alone respond.
You and your mom broke up with Dean? I have the feeling there is an interesting story behind that. You have to tell me what happened. I can't really say that I am surprised that you broke up. He never did deserve you. As to that I am not sure that any man does.
So you and Paris are playing nice together, huh. I never thought that would happen. I wish I could have seen that. By the way… who took my place as Romeo? I hope for your sake it wasn't Paris.
So I owe you two kisses? Well maybe I can find a way up there to make payment. I hope you are planning on charging interest on those because it will probably be a couple months before I can get back. Maybe if you could talk to my grandfather, the process could be speeded up.
I can't in all fairness ask you to wait for me, but I will never be able to look at another woman without comparing her to you. You are my ideal woman. I will always love you. I hope that when I get out of this place, you and I can get together. Who knows? We might just be able to make it work.
Yours always,
Tristan
Lorelei, true to her impatient nature, snatched the letter out of her hand. "This boy's got it bad. What are you going to say to him?"
"I will let you know after I go online."
ILoveCoffee: Jason, are you there?
JD461978: Who wants to know?
ILoveCoffee: It's Rory.
JD461978: Tristan's Rory?
ILoveCoffee: um… I guess you could say that.
JD461978: Ah, I see you got my letter
ILoveCoffee: yeah, thanks for the pictures.
JD461978: What can I do for you?
ILoveCoffee: I need to talk to Tristan. Are you guys allowed to have phone calls?
JD461978: Afraid not. We have visitation the first weekend of the month. Other than that, no phone privileges. Would it help if I got him online for you?
ILoveCoffee: I guess. It's just that I kind of wanted to hear his voice again.
JD461978: Well, I might be able to work something out. Do you have a wav player?
ILoveCoffee: You aren't going to do anything bad to him, are you?
JD461978: No, I am just going to find a way for you to hear the sound of his voice.
ILoveCoffee: I don't think I want to know. Brb…. I need coffee.
JD461978: With the screen name ILoveCoffee I am really not surprised
ILoveCoffee: I guess that is a given with this name, but it is better than my other one
JD461978: Roommate alert. Back in a few
