Rory Gilmore was beaming. As she walked across the Georgetown University
campus towards the student union, she reflected on her latest
accomplishment: she had been accepted at Harvard Law School. Sure, she had
previously received an acceptance from the university in high school. But
this time, she knew Harvard was where she belonged.
Her four years at Georgetown had been amazing--the epitome of what college should be. She had majored in International Relations, minored in Government, and spent a large amount of time interning on Capitol Hill. Her junior year abroad in Spain had ignited her interest in travel and all things European as well as introduced her to her boyfriend of one year, Andrew. Since they met in Madrid while on a school-sponsored study abroad program, they had been constant companions. Rory had taken advantage of many of the things that Georgetown and Washington, DC had offered her, and felt ready to move on to the top law school in the country.
As Rory entered the student union, she turned automatically towards the bookstore and the campus coffeehouse beyond that. Walking through the center, Rory waved left and right to those students she recognized, and realized how much she would miss the comfort of this relatively small community. She purchased a large coffee and settled into one of the comfy chairs that covered the large student lounge. After a few minutes of procrastinating, Rory opened her book and started to read about Game Theory, her final International Relations capstone subject.
*******************
Tristan DeGrey strode through the student union confidently, as was his habit every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. After the limited freedoms of military school and the US Naval Academy, he thoroughly enjoyed wearing civilian clothing, eating what and when he chose, and having the opportunity to walk slowly and take in everything around him, if only for a couple of afternoons a week. His Public Policy class at Georgetown ended at 3:00 p.m. and he was not expected to return to Annapolis until 7:00 p.m., leaving him to time to study at the Georgetown University library before meeting up with his fellow cadets and heading back to the Academy for dinner. Being a top senior at the Academy had its privileges.
Tristan had changed a great deal since he left Hartford his junior year of high school. He planned to head to start his six-years of active duty in July--he was proud of his accomplishments and looked forward to continuing his record of exemplary service to his country. While his parents hadn't been thrilled that he chose to attend the Naval Academy instead of Yale, they had finally accepted the fact that Tristan did not plan to live their lives. He looked forward to seeing them at his graduation and hoped that they would be proud--at least on the surface. But that was a concern for another time. He had an hour and a half to himself that he planned to enjoy to the fullest.
Tristan entered Uncommon Grounds, purchased a small coffee, and searched the student union for an empty chair in which to spend his few hours of freedom before heading back home.
*******************
Rory's studying was interrupted by her cell phone.
"Hello, Mom," she answered automatically. "It's only been a half hour since the last time you called. I know you are excited about my going to Harvard, but these constant calls have to stop."
Lorelei Gilmore ignored the exasperation in her daughter's voice. "My little girl is going to Harvard. All of your life you have dreamed of this, and now it is finally going to happen. I'm so proud of you, honey."
Rory rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Mom. I'll see you in a month or so at graduation and then we can talk about Harvard. Until then, I want to focus on my life here in Washington, DC. I love you."
"Love you too, pumpkin," Lorelei responded with a smile in her voice.
After she hung up, Rory briefly questioned her decision to move back to New England. Sure, she loved her mom, but after a few years apart she had grown to appreciate her privacy and freedom. She would worry about that later. For the next few months, she planned to take advantage of all that DC had to offer her. As soon as she finished her mountain of reading.
*******************
After bribing herself to finish two more chapters, Rory headed for her prize: another steaming cup of hot coffee. It wasn't quite Luke's, but close. As she exited Uncommon Grounds and headed towards her chair, she heard a voice that was familiar, yet somehow out of context.
"Mary?"
Rory stopped and looked around. She knew that voice, would recognize it anywhere. What the hell was Tristan doing at Georgetown?
"Tristan?" she said questioningly.
He moved towards her for an embrace. "Mar. I mean, Rory. It's wonderful to see you! Do you go here?" He enveloped her in a tight hug.
As Rory tried to gather her thoughts, she hugged Tristan tightly. He seemed larger and stronger somehow. And his formerly tousled hair was cut short, almost military like.
After they untangled themselves and Rory took a sip of coffee, she responded to him. "Yep, I graduate next month. I am majoring in IR, err, International Relations, and I intern for Senator Feinstein. Of California. You wouldn't believe the large number of issues that a senator deals with--it's incredible. I hope to someday use this experience to." she babbled, "but, I guess you really don't need to all know all of that right now. What have you been up to?"
Tristan responded with a smile. "You haven't changed a bit. You're still the same woman who knows way too much about everything and drinks too much coffee for her own good. Why don't we sit down for a few minutes and catch up before I have to catch my ride back to the Academy?"
"Academy? As in the Naval Academy? Wow, I would have never guessed that they allowed former delinquents in there."
Tristan laughed as they sat down. "I guess I've changed a bit since I left Chilton. Two years in military school and another four at the Academy have certainly opened up my eyes. I'm heading to Germany after graduation next month to start active duty. I imagine I will end up in the Middle East before long."
"Wow! I can't imagine moving abroad to fight for my country. I'm heading to Harvard Law in the fall to continue my cushy education."
It was Tristan's turn to be impressed. "Harvard Law School? You do realize it is close to impossible to get in there, right? You must have really impressed some people here in DC. I'm not surprised though-you always were heads and shoulders above our peers at Chilton."
Rory blushed and smiled. Not only was she talking to Tristan DuGrey, her former nemesis, she was enjoying it.
"Well, thank you for the compliment. I have worked hard to get into Harvard, and I know that having a degree from such an institution will help me make the contacts I need to really succeed in my career."
Tristan looked at Rory questioningly as she continued. "I know that sounds very Paris Gellar-like, but living in DC has shown me how many problems there are in this country. I had such a sheltered upbringing in Stars Hollow that I didn't realize how many people suffer in this world. I am going to work as hard as I can to change the problems that I have seen over the past four years."
"Well, Rory," Tristan responded with a genuine look on his face. "That is the greatest life plan I have heard. I am so impressed.and late," he said as he looked at his watch. "I have to run, but I would love to get together with you soon. Can I call you?"
"Of course," she responded, enthusiastically. She was surprised to realize that she was genuinely excited about talking to him further.
Rory wrote down her cell phone number and tore the sheet out of her notebook. Tristan grabbed the jagged-edged paper, gave her a quick hug, and took off towards the exit in a light run. As she watched him jog through the building, Rory said quietly to herself "Tristan DuGrey. Who would have guessed?"
************
Rory reflected on her earlier meeting as she crossed the front of campus in the moonlight. She noticed that she had a spring in her step and that she was eagerly anticipating a call from Tristan. She couldn't wait to find out how "Bible Boy" had ended up at the Naval Academy. This story was going to be a good one.
Her four years at Georgetown had been amazing--the epitome of what college should be. She had majored in International Relations, minored in Government, and spent a large amount of time interning on Capitol Hill. Her junior year abroad in Spain had ignited her interest in travel and all things European as well as introduced her to her boyfriend of one year, Andrew. Since they met in Madrid while on a school-sponsored study abroad program, they had been constant companions. Rory had taken advantage of many of the things that Georgetown and Washington, DC had offered her, and felt ready to move on to the top law school in the country.
As Rory entered the student union, she turned automatically towards the bookstore and the campus coffeehouse beyond that. Walking through the center, Rory waved left and right to those students she recognized, and realized how much she would miss the comfort of this relatively small community. She purchased a large coffee and settled into one of the comfy chairs that covered the large student lounge. After a few minutes of procrastinating, Rory opened her book and started to read about Game Theory, her final International Relations capstone subject.
*******************
Tristan DeGrey strode through the student union confidently, as was his habit every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. After the limited freedoms of military school and the US Naval Academy, he thoroughly enjoyed wearing civilian clothing, eating what and when he chose, and having the opportunity to walk slowly and take in everything around him, if only for a couple of afternoons a week. His Public Policy class at Georgetown ended at 3:00 p.m. and he was not expected to return to Annapolis until 7:00 p.m., leaving him to time to study at the Georgetown University library before meeting up with his fellow cadets and heading back to the Academy for dinner. Being a top senior at the Academy had its privileges.
Tristan had changed a great deal since he left Hartford his junior year of high school. He planned to head to start his six-years of active duty in July--he was proud of his accomplishments and looked forward to continuing his record of exemplary service to his country. While his parents hadn't been thrilled that he chose to attend the Naval Academy instead of Yale, they had finally accepted the fact that Tristan did not plan to live their lives. He looked forward to seeing them at his graduation and hoped that they would be proud--at least on the surface. But that was a concern for another time. He had an hour and a half to himself that he planned to enjoy to the fullest.
Tristan entered Uncommon Grounds, purchased a small coffee, and searched the student union for an empty chair in which to spend his few hours of freedom before heading back home.
*******************
Rory's studying was interrupted by her cell phone.
"Hello, Mom," she answered automatically. "It's only been a half hour since the last time you called. I know you are excited about my going to Harvard, but these constant calls have to stop."
Lorelei Gilmore ignored the exasperation in her daughter's voice. "My little girl is going to Harvard. All of your life you have dreamed of this, and now it is finally going to happen. I'm so proud of you, honey."
Rory rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Mom. I'll see you in a month or so at graduation and then we can talk about Harvard. Until then, I want to focus on my life here in Washington, DC. I love you."
"Love you too, pumpkin," Lorelei responded with a smile in her voice.
After she hung up, Rory briefly questioned her decision to move back to New England. Sure, she loved her mom, but after a few years apart she had grown to appreciate her privacy and freedom. She would worry about that later. For the next few months, she planned to take advantage of all that DC had to offer her. As soon as she finished her mountain of reading.
*******************
After bribing herself to finish two more chapters, Rory headed for her prize: another steaming cup of hot coffee. It wasn't quite Luke's, but close. As she exited Uncommon Grounds and headed towards her chair, she heard a voice that was familiar, yet somehow out of context.
"Mary?"
Rory stopped and looked around. She knew that voice, would recognize it anywhere. What the hell was Tristan doing at Georgetown?
"Tristan?" she said questioningly.
He moved towards her for an embrace. "Mar. I mean, Rory. It's wonderful to see you! Do you go here?" He enveloped her in a tight hug.
As Rory tried to gather her thoughts, she hugged Tristan tightly. He seemed larger and stronger somehow. And his formerly tousled hair was cut short, almost military like.
After they untangled themselves and Rory took a sip of coffee, she responded to him. "Yep, I graduate next month. I am majoring in IR, err, International Relations, and I intern for Senator Feinstein. Of California. You wouldn't believe the large number of issues that a senator deals with--it's incredible. I hope to someday use this experience to." she babbled, "but, I guess you really don't need to all know all of that right now. What have you been up to?"
Tristan responded with a smile. "You haven't changed a bit. You're still the same woman who knows way too much about everything and drinks too much coffee for her own good. Why don't we sit down for a few minutes and catch up before I have to catch my ride back to the Academy?"
"Academy? As in the Naval Academy? Wow, I would have never guessed that they allowed former delinquents in there."
Tristan laughed as they sat down. "I guess I've changed a bit since I left Chilton. Two years in military school and another four at the Academy have certainly opened up my eyes. I'm heading to Germany after graduation next month to start active duty. I imagine I will end up in the Middle East before long."
"Wow! I can't imagine moving abroad to fight for my country. I'm heading to Harvard Law in the fall to continue my cushy education."
It was Tristan's turn to be impressed. "Harvard Law School? You do realize it is close to impossible to get in there, right? You must have really impressed some people here in DC. I'm not surprised though-you always were heads and shoulders above our peers at Chilton."
Rory blushed and smiled. Not only was she talking to Tristan DuGrey, her former nemesis, she was enjoying it.
"Well, thank you for the compliment. I have worked hard to get into Harvard, and I know that having a degree from such an institution will help me make the contacts I need to really succeed in my career."
Tristan looked at Rory questioningly as she continued. "I know that sounds very Paris Gellar-like, but living in DC has shown me how many problems there are in this country. I had such a sheltered upbringing in Stars Hollow that I didn't realize how many people suffer in this world. I am going to work as hard as I can to change the problems that I have seen over the past four years."
"Well, Rory," Tristan responded with a genuine look on his face. "That is the greatest life plan I have heard. I am so impressed.and late," he said as he looked at his watch. "I have to run, but I would love to get together with you soon. Can I call you?"
"Of course," she responded, enthusiastically. She was surprised to realize that she was genuinely excited about talking to him further.
Rory wrote down her cell phone number and tore the sheet out of her notebook. Tristan grabbed the jagged-edged paper, gave her a quick hug, and took off towards the exit in a light run. As she watched him jog through the building, Rory said quietly to herself "Tristan DuGrey. Who would have guessed?"
************
Rory reflected on her earlier meeting as she crossed the front of campus in the moonlight. She noticed that she had a spring in her step and that she was eagerly anticipating a call from Tristan. She couldn't wait to find out how "Bible Boy" had ended up at the Naval Academy. This story was going to be a good one.