Blah blah blah, the technical stuff. These characters aren't mine, etc. No infringement intended, etc. If you're looking for an "I hate Dean" piece you'll be disappointed because I think Dean is great, I think Tristan is great, and I think Jess is great. Mainly this is about Rory- the guys just happen to be a big part of Rory's life.
Six Months LaterRory had been careful to not think about him. Careful to avoid where his locker had been, careful to stay away from Madelyn's house. Careful to duck out of conversations involving the words "Tristan" or "DuGrey." But when she picks up the mail on Friday, she is unable to be careful anymore.
Among the mess of catalogues and credit card applications is a standard business envelope with her name printed in clear, boyish handwriting: Rory Leigh Gilmore. Rory blinks at the return address. North Carolina. Tristan.
She stands in the yard for a minute or two, staring at the letter as if she expects it to vanish at any second like Tristan did. Finally she walks into the empty house and dumps her heavy backpack in the entryway.
"Mom?" she calls, even though the jeep was not in the driveway, even though she knows there is an event tonight at the Inn and Lorelai won't be home until 7:00 when they have to leave for Hartford. But Rory wants to be certain of her privacy before ripping into Tristan's letter. She starts coffee. With Lane still grounded from the Henry incident and the recent split up of she and Dean over kissing Jess at the wedding, Rory never questions that her only Friday activity will be dinner with the grandparents.
Coffee brewing, Rory carries the letter into her bedroom and flops on the bed she's had since she was eight. The letter is a single page and it is obvious to Rory that it has been edited and revised many times- it is carefully worded and written with meticulous handwriting.
Dear Rory,
I have thought of writing you several times since I came to North Carolina, but I could never think of what to say. It's not as if my days are full of exciting events I'm desperate to share with anyone- I go to class, I train, I sleep. One thing is for sure, I'm not pulling the pranks I was back in Hartford.
There's a lot of time to think here. Initially I thought a lot about myself- poor Tristan shipped off to military school, poor Tristan living with no family, no friends. That went on for a good month or so. Then my father started talking to me again. Nothing earth shattering, nothing like what you and your mother have, but it is something. My father sends me the Chilton newspapers. I see you are to be the student body vice president and I think that's really great. I loved reading all your articles- you definitely have a way with words.
Anyway, there's not much else to say. Just hello and that I'm thinking about you. Give me a call sometime.
Take care,
Tristan
Rory reads the letter twice more before pouring herself a cup of coffee. She is eager to hold the mug in her hands, to feel something familiar as she processes the letter. Rory reads the letter again and stares at the phone number written beneath his signature. What would she say to him? She wasn't the same girl he'd left in Connecticut six months ago. Six months ago she was too afraid to get involved with someone like Tristan- someone with a reputation, someone experienced, someone who made her heart roll around her chest. Six months ago, something like kissing Jess never would have happened, she never would have let herself be attracted to him, the way she never allowed herself to be attracted to Tristan.
Rory picks up the phone and dials. She imagines him miles away in North Carolina lying on a twin bed, listening to music. Or reading. Or writing letters. An unfamiliar voice answers the phone.
"Is Tristan there?" she asks, her voice embarrassingly grainy.
"Yeah, hang on," the guy says. She hears muffling, then the familiar sound of Tristan's voice.
"Hello?" he sounds more gruff than usual, as if she'd woken him up.
"Hi, it's Rory," she says. "I got your letter."
"Rory, hey," he sounds surprised. Like he never thought she would actually call. "Wow that got there faster than I expected it to. I just sent it on Wednesday."
"Wow," she answers. She doesn't know what to say. So much time has passed, so much has changed in her life and she assumes in his as well. He clears his throat.
"Sorry, it always takes my vocal cords a bit to warm up after I've been sleeping."
"Oh did I wake you up?"
"Yeah, but it's fine."
"Sorry."
"It really is fine," Tristan insists.
"So is that your room mate?" Rory asks after a brief silence.
"Yeah it sure is."
"What's his name?"
"Hang on let me step out in the hallway."
"Okay."
He whistles as he exits, she hears the creaking of the door and then the quiet click of the doorknob.
"Okay," Tristan says.
"Okay," Rory repeats.
"His name is Christian."
"You like him okay?"
"Yeah, he's all right."
"That's good. At least he's not real annoying or anything."
"Yeah not real annoying. So…when do you head for Washington?"
"How do you know about that?"
"I read it in the article that you and Paris will be down there for some leadership conference."
"We leave in a week."
"How long will you be there?"
"Six weeks."
"Long time."
"Yeah I know."
"I bet Dean's just thrilled by that," Tristan says. It's a leading statement and Rory knows it. She clears her throat.
"I don't think he really cares. We broke up."
"Oh wow…when?"
"Last week. Tomorrow would have been our one year anniversary."
"That sucks."
"Yeah it does suck," Rory thinks about the day her and Dean got back together- Tristan holding her books and watching as she tried to tell Dean she loved him.
"Who broke up with who?"
"It was mutual…I kissed someone else."
"Oh my gosh," Tristan says. He is surprised and why shouldn't he be? It surprised her when she did it.
"Yeah…" Rory says, desperate to fill the silence.
"Who did you kiss?"
"Just some guy, you don't know him. He lives in Stars Hollow."
"That just seems so unlike you."
"Yeah I know. It just happened I just…I don't know."
"Wow," Tristan says. "So are you dating this other guy or anything?"
"Jess? No. I can't even stand to be around him right now. All it does is remind me of this awful thing I did to Dean."
"We're all human, Rory, it happens."
"I know. Just never to me."
"You kissed me at Madelyn's party."
"You said you didn't remember that," Rory says.
"I did?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Right before you left!"
"I did not."
"Yes you did. It was when we were doing Romeo and Juliet and Dean was going to be coming to rehearsal and I asked you not to tell him that we kissed and you said you didn't remember."
"Maybe I was lying," Tristan says.
"Maybe."
"No I'm sure I was lying. That was such a freakin' weird night I will never be able to forget that."
"Why did you lie to me and say you didn't remember?" Rory asks.
"I don't know," Tristan says. She knows he is lying once again and she knows him well enough and yet not enough to be brave enough to push the issue.
"You do to," she insists. Tristan laughs.
"It's really stupid," he says.
"I don't care."
"It makes me sound like I was 5 years old."
"Tristan, it's fine. You can tell me."
"I guess I didn't want you to know that it meant something to me."
"The kiss?"
"Yeah," Tristan says.
"Why wouldn't you want me to know that?" Rory asks.
"Because you humiliated me."
Rory doesn't need to ask how, she knows how.
"I didn't mean that I hated you. I was just frustrated, that's all."
"And you were in love with Dean."
"Yeah, that too."
"And that's what humiliated me," Tristan confesses. "I knew you didn't hate me, I knew you were just trying to keep Dean there. And I was embarrassed that you chose him over me. Not that you should have done things any differently, I was just hurt, that's all."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, it was my fault."
"How was it your fault?"
"Because it was."
"And I was afraid you were going to be vague about this," Rory says and Tristan laughs.
"Okay, I'm going to try to be more specific but under no circumstances can you laugh at me or hold this over my head."
"Deal," Rory says, propping her feet up on the coffee table and allowing her body to relax into the couch. Tristan sighs and clears his throat.
"If I were you, I wouldn't have chosen me either," he begins. "I mean Dean respected you and told you he loved you and made you feel special and I…well, I didn't. I mean I gave you such a hard time at first and then even after I started liking you I acted like a five year old."
"You liked me?" Even though she already knew. She had known ever since she tried to set him up with Paris when he said to her "Is it better that I keep dating her even though I like somebody else?" "Oh," she said. "I didn't realize. So you're still not over Summer yet?" And then Tristan said "Yeah I'm not over Summer yet," and rolled his eyes. And somehow that was when she became afraid of him. The moment she realized that Tristan wanted more than a one night stand with her.
"You know I liked you," Tristan says. "You're smart enough to know."
"I guess I did," Rory says. She thinks about Tristan leaving for military school- the tightness in his voice when he said "Well, I imagine you're overwhelmed with the relief that soon I will be gone." She remembers the frustration that had risen inside her, that he thought she would be happy that he was leaving.
"I, uh…I gotta go to dinner," Tristan says.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Well I'll call you later," Rory volunteers.
"Good," Tristan says. "I'll talk to you later."
"Hey, Tristan?"
"What?"
"No, never mind."
"No, tell me."
"Never mind."
"Oh come on."
"Do you think maybe we could see each other when I'm in Washington? I mean North Carolina isn't too far away, is it?"
"I'm sure we could arrange something," Tristan answers. "Bye, Rory."
"Bye," she answers.