Star Wars and Testosterone Wars
By: Claire (clarese@earthlink.net)
Author's Note: I wrote this story (and the subsequent sequels) in the summer after the first season of Gilmore Girls. It's set right after the season finale. It was originally archived on Opposites Attract, and then I somewhat abandoned the Gilmore Girls fandom. I've begun to read trory fics again, however, and so thought I'd put this back up for the world to see.
Tristan watched Rory kiss Dean, not quite believing it. Any time now, Rory would slap Dean and run into his arms...
Or not. As the seconds passed, the scenario became less and less likely. Not that it had ever been that likely to begin with. And after a lifetime, he tore his eyes away from the happily reunited couple. He put Rory's books down gently on ground. He didn't know if she'd find them or if they'd stay there all weekend, but at that point, he didn't care.
He had only walked a few steps before he remembered the PJ Harvey tickets. He pulled them out and looked at them. All his hopes for tonight--gone. And it was probably his fault too, for acting like such a baby. In fact, that was probably the only reason Rory'd returned to that jackass. He had driven her to it.
He ripped the tickets into the tiniest pieces he could manage. Then he opened his hand and let the pieces slowly trickle out, swallowing hard against the sobs that were threatening to overtake him.
~*~
On Monday morning, Tristan waited by Rory's locker for her. He could almost hear her groan when she saw him, but although she didn't say hi, or even look at him, neither did she try to avoid him. Not that she ever had, he thought.
"Rory?" he said softly.
"What is it Tristan?" she said in reply, turning the dial on her locker.
He took a deep breath. "I just wanted to say I'm really sorry about the PJ Harvey concert. I acted like a jerk, and I'm sorry."
"Yes," she agreed, smiling almost to herself as she pulled a book out of her locker. "You did. But I accept your apology." She smiled again, looking directly at him for the first time that morning.
He let out the breath he had been holding, and smiled back. "All right, then. I'll see you in first." He began to walk away.
"Wait," she called. He turned around expectantly, flashed her a grin. "You want to come over next Saturday to watch movies? I mean, it wouldn't just be you and me, Dean would be there, and Lane, and maybe Paris, if she'll come. But still..."
"I'll check my schedule," he called back, still grinning. "Later, Rory." He turned and walked away, barely noticing the ground under his feet.
~*~
Dean shook his head. "I'm sorry, Rory, I can't."
"You can't?"
"I have to work this Saturday." He sighed. "I'll come after, okay?" Rory nodded silently, and he kissed her forehead. "So, who _is_ going?"
"Lane, Paris, maybe Henry..." She paused. He wouldn't like knowing about Tristan. Once again she regretting asking him to something she hadn't even thought of until the words were out of her mouth. "Perhaps some other students at Chilton... I'm not sure yet who exactly. A couple haven't really said whether they were coming or not." Well, not in so many words, she added silently.
"I don't know why you go through so much trouble to be Paris's friend when half the time she hates you," Dean said.
"Paris isn't so bad," Rory replied with a shrug. "You just have to get to know her."
~*~
Rory looked around one more time, checking to make sure the bags of microwavable popcorn were out and the dirty laundry hidden before everyone arrived.
The doorbell rang, and she went to answer it. Doorbell, that was a bad sign. That meant it was someone from Chilton, because Lane didn't ring the doorbell. Please, she thought, let it be Henry, let it be Paris. Please let it not be...
"Tristan."
"Good to see you too, Rory." He grinned and stepped inside. His grin got wider as he surveyed the empty house. "Nice place you got here. But you didn't say we'd have it all to ourselves."
Rory rolled her eyes and closed the door. "The others will be here soon." What had she gotten herself into? "So... What did you think about _A Tale of Two Cities_?" Rory asked to break the silence. Tristan was still looking around the room, _her_ living room, looking far easier and more casual in that setting than she expected. Where was everyone else?
Tristan sat down, finally. "The ending was sad. I couldn't believe Carton could sacrifice himself like that. But I guess, for the right girl..." he trailed off, and Rory could feel his gaze burning into her. She cleared her throat.
"Do you want popcorn," she asked, already heading toward the kitchen. "I'll start making it now, since Lane and Henry are late, and they have the videos."
She came back a moment later holding a bag of popcorn, but as she walked past where Tristan was sitting, she tripped and fell. The popcorn landed on the floor, where the bag burst open, and Rory landed lying across Tristan's lap. He laughed.
"Wow, literally falling for me now, huh?" She glared at him.
"You tripped me," she accused, trying to pick herself up while still retaining some shred of her dignity.
"I did no such thing."
"The least you could do is help me up," she muttered. He poked her side playfully. She jerked away, falling off his lap onto the floor.
"Hey, you're ticklish!"
"No I'm not," Rory replied, glaring at Tristan from the floor. He laughed, and leaned forward to poke her again. But instead, she grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the floor too. Suddenly she realized just how close he was to her, and how sexy he smelled--like vanilla, or something. She'd never thought of vanilla as sexy before, but it was. He looked straight into her eyes as he reached forward to touch her cheek, and without thinking, she covered his hand with her own. His eyes were very blue.
"I knocked, but no one answered," said an icy voice overhead. "Now I think I know why."
Rory dropped her hand and looked up immediately. Tristan drew his hand back slower, not that it mattered now anyway. Paris had already seen more than enough to draw any conclusions she wished.
"Paris," Rory said, getting up.
"Rory."
"I tripped."
"On purpose?" It wasn't a question.
"Why does everyone, including Tristan himself," shooting him a glare, "assume I'm anxious to be with him? I have a boyfriend."
"So you say, but it's a pretty big coincidence that you just happened to have tripped, or whatever other excuses you use, almost every time I see you together."
"Coincidences do happen," Rory replied. It wasn't the greatest argument, but it was true.
"Rarely. And you know what, Rory? It wouldn't be so bad if you just stopped pretending that you didn't like him."
"I DON'T!" Rory exploded.
"Not that I don't love having two beautiful ladies fighting over me..." Tristan began. Rory turned to glare at him. "But could you please, at least stop referring to me like I'm not here."
"I'm leaving anyway," Paris said. "You two can get back to your... _coincidences_. "
"Hey guys, we're here," Lane said, opening the door.
"We brought Star Wars," Henry added. "Lane said she'd never seen it, and it's just a crime to grow up in America--"
"Wow, what happened?" Lane interrupted in an awed voice. "It's like a war zone in here."
Rory shook her head. "Nothing. Please, can't we just watch the movie?" She looked pleadingly at Paris, who shook her head and then left without another word. Rory sighed and looked back at Lane and Henry. "What did you get, again? Star Wars?"
Lane nodded. "Henry's a big fan, and I'd never seen it--"
"It's not that I'm such a huge fan, it's just that no one should grow up in this day and age and not see Star Wars!"
"I've never seen it either," Rory confessed. Henry shook his head in disgust.
~*~
Star Wars was probably as good as it was reputed to be, but Rory couldn't concentrate on the movie. She and Tristan were sharing a bag of popcorn, and they were sitting on the floor next to each other, with the popcorn between them. Every so often, they'd both reach into the bag at the same time, brushing fingers, and sending tingles up Rory's arm.
More than once, she found herself watching Tristan out of the corner of her eye, and when Luke, Han, and Leia were in the Death Star's trash compacter, she actually turned her head to look at him straight on.
Of course, the one time, and he caught her. He grinned lazily and winked. She blushed and turned her attention back to the movie.
But Tristan picked up the bag of popcorn and scooted over until he was right next to Rory. She breathed in deeply. Vanilla. And still sexy.
"I'm sorry about Paris," he whispered.
"It's okay. She just misunderstood."
"I didn't _try_ to trip you."
"I know."
Tristan licked his lips. For a moment Rory thought he was going to kiss her again. She wondered what she would do if he did.
"I really want to kiss you right now," Tristan said. Rory ducked her head.
Oh boy, she thought.
"But I'm not going to, because I don't want to make you cry again."
"Oh, no," Rory said, perhaps a little too loudly. She lowered her voice. "I mean, last time, there was a reason I cried, and it had nothing to do with the kiss."
Tristan chuckled softly. "So it would be okay for me to kiss you now."
Rory smiled, and punched his arm lightly. "No, that's not what I meant either." She sighed. "I don't know what I meant. If it weren't for Dean... I don't know."
"So beautiful," Tristan murmured. Rory felt the blood rush to her cheeks again, and she looked back at the TV screen. They finished watching the movie in silence, but Rory still couldn't concentrate on it.
~*~
After Star Wars was over, and Rory had agreed with Henry that it was a great movie, (luckily he didn't quiz her on the contents) she pulled Lane into the kitchen to "make some more popcorn." In other words, girl-talk.
"La-ane," Rory said in a whisper. "You have to help me. I thought I loved Dean, but now all I can think about is Tristan.'
"But you hated Tristan," Lane said, munching on a handful of popcorn.
"He smells like vanilla."
"And he _is_ awfully gorgeous," Lane said dreamily. She popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth.
"Maybe that's all it is, then. Physical attraction," Rory said.
"Maybe," Lane replied.
"He did act like a jerk about the concert," Rory said.
"And don't forget about Dean," Lane added.
"Dean," Rory said. It was almost a sigh.
"Good sigh or bad sigh?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe you should talk to Lorelai," Lane suggested. She snitched another piece of popcorn.
"That's a good idea," Rory said.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Lane asked suddenly. Rory listened.
"And why don't you stay _away_ from my girlfriend, you creep," someone said in the livingroom. Rory closed her eyes and groaned. It was Dean.
When she opened them a moment later, Lane was staring wide-eyed at her.
"What are you going to _do_," she whispered.
"I don't know," Rory said. She sat down heavily, and put her head on the table.
~*~
"If you were really secure in your 'love,' you wouldn't need to threaten me just because Rory and I are friends," Tristan snapped back. Henry watched in amazed silence.
"I threaten you only because you don't listen to anything else!"
"If Rory told me to stay away, I would, but when you do it, it just seems like you're the classic overprotective-bordering-on-obsessive boyfriend.'
"I don't obsess! And in case you've forgotten, she did tell you to stay away, many times, and you never did!"
Tristan shrugged it off. "That was before. I've changed. And who did she turn to when you dumped her on your three-month anniversary? How sensitive was _that_, farm-boy?"
ClichŽ as it was, if looks could kill, Tristan was willing to bet he'd be pretty dead at that moment.
"People don't change," Dean finally got out.
"I'd better tell Rory that so she can get rid of you before you dump her on your next three-month anniversary.
"You two, STOP IT!" Rory yelled. Both boys turned to the doorway to the kitchen immediately, where Rory was standing, arms crossed.
"Uh-oh," Henry said quietly. He crossed the room to watch from the kitchen with Lane, safely out of the way of crossfire.
~*~
"Would either of you like to explain?" Rory said in a quiet voice that didn't quite belie the anger underneath.
Tristan glanced at Dean, who glared back. Neither spoke.
"Well?"
"Rory, who is it?"
All her anger turned to confusion at Dean's question. "Huh?"
"Who do you love? Him or me?"
Her anger returned. "We're friends!"
Tristan looked at Dean, resisting the impulse to say, "I told you so."
"He's an asshole!"
"No he's not." Rory couldn't believe she was saying it even as she spoke.
"You like him," Dean stated. "Don't you?"
Rory opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. "We're friends," she repeated.
"Him or me?"
"Stop asking that!" Rory was ready to cry in frustration.
"It should be a simple answer."
"Hey, lay off," Tristan said. "Can't you see, she doesn't want to answer."
"And you're pleased, of course, because the longer she takes, the more likely it is that I'm not her choice after all." He turned back to Rory. "Isn't that right."
"I didn't say that," Rory protested.
"You didn't say otherwise."
Silence. Rory struggled to find an answer as the seconds ticked past.
"What do you see in him?" Dean asked finally.
"I could say the same about you," Tristan snapped.
"At the moment," Rory replied in a tightly controlled voice. "I don't see very much in either of you, except for a couple of testosterone-driven adolescent males who seem to have nothing to do except ruin my life. You want to know whom I choose? Neither. And so I want both of you out. Now."
Dean and Tristan stared at her blankly. She pointed at the door. And after a few more seconds, they left.
As soon as the door closed, she collapsed onto the floor and sobbed.
By: Claire (clarese@earthlink.net)
Author's Note: I wrote this story (and the subsequent sequels) in the summer after the first season of Gilmore Girls. It's set right after the season finale. It was originally archived on Opposites Attract, and then I somewhat abandoned the Gilmore Girls fandom. I've begun to read trory fics again, however, and so thought I'd put this back up for the world to see.
Tristan watched Rory kiss Dean, not quite believing it. Any time now, Rory would slap Dean and run into his arms...
Or not. As the seconds passed, the scenario became less and less likely. Not that it had ever been that likely to begin with. And after a lifetime, he tore his eyes away from the happily reunited couple. He put Rory's books down gently on ground. He didn't know if she'd find them or if they'd stay there all weekend, but at that point, he didn't care.
He had only walked a few steps before he remembered the PJ Harvey tickets. He pulled them out and looked at them. All his hopes for tonight--gone. And it was probably his fault too, for acting like such a baby. In fact, that was probably the only reason Rory'd returned to that jackass. He had driven her to it.
He ripped the tickets into the tiniest pieces he could manage. Then he opened his hand and let the pieces slowly trickle out, swallowing hard against the sobs that were threatening to overtake him.
~*~
On Monday morning, Tristan waited by Rory's locker for her. He could almost hear her groan when she saw him, but although she didn't say hi, or even look at him, neither did she try to avoid him. Not that she ever had, he thought.
"Rory?" he said softly.
"What is it Tristan?" she said in reply, turning the dial on her locker.
He took a deep breath. "I just wanted to say I'm really sorry about the PJ Harvey concert. I acted like a jerk, and I'm sorry."
"Yes," she agreed, smiling almost to herself as she pulled a book out of her locker. "You did. But I accept your apology." She smiled again, looking directly at him for the first time that morning.
He let out the breath he had been holding, and smiled back. "All right, then. I'll see you in first." He began to walk away.
"Wait," she called. He turned around expectantly, flashed her a grin. "You want to come over next Saturday to watch movies? I mean, it wouldn't just be you and me, Dean would be there, and Lane, and maybe Paris, if she'll come. But still..."
"I'll check my schedule," he called back, still grinning. "Later, Rory." He turned and walked away, barely noticing the ground under his feet.
~*~
Dean shook his head. "I'm sorry, Rory, I can't."
"You can't?"
"I have to work this Saturday." He sighed. "I'll come after, okay?" Rory nodded silently, and he kissed her forehead. "So, who _is_ going?"
"Lane, Paris, maybe Henry..." She paused. He wouldn't like knowing about Tristan. Once again she regretting asking him to something she hadn't even thought of until the words were out of her mouth. "Perhaps some other students at Chilton... I'm not sure yet who exactly. A couple haven't really said whether they were coming or not." Well, not in so many words, she added silently.
"I don't know why you go through so much trouble to be Paris's friend when half the time she hates you," Dean said.
"Paris isn't so bad," Rory replied with a shrug. "You just have to get to know her."
~*~
Rory looked around one more time, checking to make sure the bags of microwavable popcorn were out and the dirty laundry hidden before everyone arrived.
The doorbell rang, and she went to answer it. Doorbell, that was a bad sign. That meant it was someone from Chilton, because Lane didn't ring the doorbell. Please, she thought, let it be Henry, let it be Paris. Please let it not be...
"Tristan."
"Good to see you too, Rory." He grinned and stepped inside. His grin got wider as he surveyed the empty house. "Nice place you got here. But you didn't say we'd have it all to ourselves."
Rory rolled her eyes and closed the door. "The others will be here soon." What had she gotten herself into? "So... What did you think about _A Tale of Two Cities_?" Rory asked to break the silence. Tristan was still looking around the room, _her_ living room, looking far easier and more casual in that setting than she expected. Where was everyone else?
Tristan sat down, finally. "The ending was sad. I couldn't believe Carton could sacrifice himself like that. But I guess, for the right girl..." he trailed off, and Rory could feel his gaze burning into her. She cleared her throat.
"Do you want popcorn," she asked, already heading toward the kitchen. "I'll start making it now, since Lane and Henry are late, and they have the videos."
She came back a moment later holding a bag of popcorn, but as she walked past where Tristan was sitting, she tripped and fell. The popcorn landed on the floor, where the bag burst open, and Rory landed lying across Tristan's lap. He laughed.
"Wow, literally falling for me now, huh?" She glared at him.
"You tripped me," she accused, trying to pick herself up while still retaining some shred of her dignity.
"I did no such thing."
"The least you could do is help me up," she muttered. He poked her side playfully. She jerked away, falling off his lap onto the floor.
"Hey, you're ticklish!"
"No I'm not," Rory replied, glaring at Tristan from the floor. He laughed, and leaned forward to poke her again. But instead, she grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the floor too. Suddenly she realized just how close he was to her, and how sexy he smelled--like vanilla, or something. She'd never thought of vanilla as sexy before, but it was. He looked straight into her eyes as he reached forward to touch her cheek, and without thinking, she covered his hand with her own. His eyes were very blue.
"I knocked, but no one answered," said an icy voice overhead. "Now I think I know why."
Rory dropped her hand and looked up immediately. Tristan drew his hand back slower, not that it mattered now anyway. Paris had already seen more than enough to draw any conclusions she wished.
"Paris," Rory said, getting up.
"Rory."
"I tripped."
"On purpose?" It wasn't a question.
"Why does everyone, including Tristan himself," shooting him a glare, "assume I'm anxious to be with him? I have a boyfriend."
"So you say, but it's a pretty big coincidence that you just happened to have tripped, or whatever other excuses you use, almost every time I see you together."
"Coincidences do happen," Rory replied. It wasn't the greatest argument, but it was true.
"Rarely. And you know what, Rory? It wouldn't be so bad if you just stopped pretending that you didn't like him."
"I DON'T!" Rory exploded.
"Not that I don't love having two beautiful ladies fighting over me..." Tristan began. Rory turned to glare at him. "But could you please, at least stop referring to me like I'm not here."
"I'm leaving anyway," Paris said. "You two can get back to your... _coincidences_. "
"Hey guys, we're here," Lane said, opening the door.
"We brought Star Wars," Henry added. "Lane said she'd never seen it, and it's just a crime to grow up in America--"
"Wow, what happened?" Lane interrupted in an awed voice. "It's like a war zone in here."
Rory shook her head. "Nothing. Please, can't we just watch the movie?" She looked pleadingly at Paris, who shook her head and then left without another word. Rory sighed and looked back at Lane and Henry. "What did you get, again? Star Wars?"
Lane nodded. "Henry's a big fan, and I'd never seen it--"
"It's not that I'm such a huge fan, it's just that no one should grow up in this day and age and not see Star Wars!"
"I've never seen it either," Rory confessed. Henry shook his head in disgust.
~*~
Star Wars was probably as good as it was reputed to be, but Rory couldn't concentrate on the movie. She and Tristan were sharing a bag of popcorn, and they were sitting on the floor next to each other, with the popcorn between them. Every so often, they'd both reach into the bag at the same time, brushing fingers, and sending tingles up Rory's arm.
More than once, she found herself watching Tristan out of the corner of her eye, and when Luke, Han, and Leia were in the Death Star's trash compacter, she actually turned her head to look at him straight on.
Of course, the one time, and he caught her. He grinned lazily and winked. She blushed and turned her attention back to the movie.
But Tristan picked up the bag of popcorn and scooted over until he was right next to Rory. She breathed in deeply. Vanilla. And still sexy.
"I'm sorry about Paris," he whispered.
"It's okay. She just misunderstood."
"I didn't _try_ to trip you."
"I know."
Tristan licked his lips. For a moment Rory thought he was going to kiss her again. She wondered what she would do if he did.
"I really want to kiss you right now," Tristan said. Rory ducked her head.
Oh boy, she thought.
"But I'm not going to, because I don't want to make you cry again."
"Oh, no," Rory said, perhaps a little too loudly. She lowered her voice. "I mean, last time, there was a reason I cried, and it had nothing to do with the kiss."
Tristan chuckled softly. "So it would be okay for me to kiss you now."
Rory smiled, and punched his arm lightly. "No, that's not what I meant either." She sighed. "I don't know what I meant. If it weren't for Dean... I don't know."
"So beautiful," Tristan murmured. Rory felt the blood rush to her cheeks again, and she looked back at the TV screen. They finished watching the movie in silence, but Rory still couldn't concentrate on it.
~*~
After Star Wars was over, and Rory had agreed with Henry that it was a great movie, (luckily he didn't quiz her on the contents) she pulled Lane into the kitchen to "make some more popcorn." In other words, girl-talk.
"La-ane," Rory said in a whisper. "You have to help me. I thought I loved Dean, but now all I can think about is Tristan.'
"But you hated Tristan," Lane said, munching on a handful of popcorn.
"He smells like vanilla."
"And he _is_ awfully gorgeous," Lane said dreamily. She popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth.
"Maybe that's all it is, then. Physical attraction," Rory said.
"Maybe," Lane replied.
"He did act like a jerk about the concert," Rory said.
"And don't forget about Dean," Lane added.
"Dean," Rory said. It was almost a sigh.
"Good sigh or bad sigh?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe you should talk to Lorelai," Lane suggested. She snitched another piece of popcorn.
"That's a good idea," Rory said.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Lane asked suddenly. Rory listened.
"And why don't you stay _away_ from my girlfriend, you creep," someone said in the livingroom. Rory closed her eyes and groaned. It was Dean.
When she opened them a moment later, Lane was staring wide-eyed at her.
"What are you going to _do_," she whispered.
"I don't know," Rory said. She sat down heavily, and put her head on the table.
~*~
"If you were really secure in your 'love,' you wouldn't need to threaten me just because Rory and I are friends," Tristan snapped back. Henry watched in amazed silence.
"I threaten you only because you don't listen to anything else!"
"If Rory told me to stay away, I would, but when you do it, it just seems like you're the classic overprotective-bordering-on-obsessive boyfriend.'
"I don't obsess! And in case you've forgotten, she did tell you to stay away, many times, and you never did!"
Tristan shrugged it off. "That was before. I've changed. And who did she turn to when you dumped her on your three-month anniversary? How sensitive was _that_, farm-boy?"
ClichŽ as it was, if looks could kill, Tristan was willing to bet he'd be pretty dead at that moment.
"People don't change," Dean finally got out.
"I'd better tell Rory that so she can get rid of you before you dump her on your next three-month anniversary.
"You two, STOP IT!" Rory yelled. Both boys turned to the doorway to the kitchen immediately, where Rory was standing, arms crossed.
"Uh-oh," Henry said quietly. He crossed the room to watch from the kitchen with Lane, safely out of the way of crossfire.
~*~
"Would either of you like to explain?" Rory said in a quiet voice that didn't quite belie the anger underneath.
Tristan glanced at Dean, who glared back. Neither spoke.
"Well?"
"Rory, who is it?"
All her anger turned to confusion at Dean's question. "Huh?"
"Who do you love? Him or me?"
Her anger returned. "We're friends!"
Tristan looked at Dean, resisting the impulse to say, "I told you so."
"He's an asshole!"
"No he's not." Rory couldn't believe she was saying it even as she spoke.
"You like him," Dean stated. "Don't you?"
Rory opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. "We're friends," she repeated.
"Him or me?"
"Stop asking that!" Rory was ready to cry in frustration.
"It should be a simple answer."
"Hey, lay off," Tristan said. "Can't you see, she doesn't want to answer."
"And you're pleased, of course, because the longer she takes, the more likely it is that I'm not her choice after all." He turned back to Rory. "Isn't that right."
"I didn't say that," Rory protested.
"You didn't say otherwise."
Silence. Rory struggled to find an answer as the seconds ticked past.
"What do you see in him?" Dean asked finally.
"I could say the same about you," Tristan snapped.
"At the moment," Rory replied in a tightly controlled voice. "I don't see very much in either of you, except for a couple of testosterone-driven adolescent males who seem to have nothing to do except ruin my life. You want to know whom I choose? Neither. And so I want both of you out. Now."
Dean and Tristan stared at her blankly. She pointed at the door. And after a few more seconds, they left.
As soon as the door closed, she collapsed onto the floor and sobbed.