AN- Hey guys, sorry its so short and that its taken so long. My computer wouldn't let me online... so. But here it is! Enjoy. Ps. Thanks to La for betaing and to everyone who reviewed!
Recap
"Hey, Mary, it's okay." Tristan soothed.
"No, he's right!" She was crying lightly.
"Why? Why is he right?" He soothed again. Finn had backed off, giving them some space.
"I'm a horrible girlfriend!" She wailed.
"No. No you're not." He brushed her hair out of her face. "You're perfect." He whispered.
She looked up at him in shock, and they stayed in that moment as long as they could, before they were forced to separate. The two begrudgingly said good-bye, both unwilling to leave the other. Finn was only too happy to go home, after all the day's drama, although Rory made him promise to be in school the next day.
Unfortunately, the peace the threesome had found would be shattered, soon enough.
Chapter 3: There's Something in the Way
Tristan arrived home that evening with a small smile gracing his lips. A real, true, honest to god smile. Teresa walked out to greet him and was shocked at the sight.
"Are you okay?" She inquired, with a raised brow.
"Fine. Amazing. Perfect, maybe. No, not perfect, but close." He said, his eyes looking as though he was in a daze. Terri rushed over to him, placing her hand on his forehead.
"No, you aren't sick." She paused. "Are you on drugs?" She asked seriously. He waved away her question, with a small chuckle.
"No, I'm actually happy." He said the smile stayed on his face.
"Didn't you get into a fight with Damien…or is that why you're happy?" She asked carefully, not wanting to ruin his good mood.
"Sort of." He said with a slight cringe. "I…uh…the girl... Mary?" He said as he began to fidget. "She's…uh…we're friends. I guess. She came to find me after I left…and we... uh, hung out and yeah. I'm not exactly sure why I'm so happy! But I am! That's the important part!" He said practically jumping out of his skin.
"This girl... she's got an effect on you. I like her already." She said giving her nephew a warm look.
"Yeah, she's proving to be a great friend..." He said almost sadly.
"Oh, what's wrong?" Terri asked, noticing his tone, as he headed for the stairs.
"Her boyfriend." He tossed over his shoulder.
The following morning came too quickly for some, and too slow for others. Both Rory and Tristan were anxious to get to school, while Finn wanted to crawl into a hole and not come out. Rory walked into school feeling somewhat nervous, yet giddy at the same time. She really wanted to see Tristan. She knew she should probably be upset right now, seeing as how she and Dean fought after Tristan and Finn left. He started calling her rude names and they eventually just called an end to their relationship.
At first, like many people did, Lorelai thought Rory was putting entirely too much faith in Tristan and thought that breaking up with her boyfriend, over her very newly found friendship with Tristan, was absurd. Rory, however, was able to quickly justify her actions with the following arguments:
1. Dean hadn't a right to tell her who to hang out with. It wasn't just Tristan and Finn. He'd tried numerous times to get her to stop hanging out with Jess as well.
2. He'd insinuated things when he said, and she quotes, 'Ya know, back in Chicago, a girl hanging out with so many guys had a reputation.'
3. The relationship wasn't what it used to be. After a year together, it was a little much for high school.
4. He didn't share many of her common interests, such as Jess, and couldn't keep up in her banter such as Tristan.
5. He was jealous of her friendship with her future cousin, (at this comment, Lorelai had made a face) and was completely blind to their platonic affection.
6. Most importantly, he was too needy and too jealous.
Lorelai still argued that it was a little strange, but accepted it. She didn't force the wallowing, and accepted that Rory would wallow when she was ready. Like normal, however, Rory wasn't going to wallow.
She just wanted to find Tristan. Although she wouldn't admit it, Rory had been harboring a very, very deep crush for Tristan since he first called her Mary. However, she knew it wasn't right, and kept him at a distance. While she was with Dean the first time, she was able to keep her feelings in check. The more she was around Tristan, the more she found it difficult to hide. Of course, as of this moment, she still wouldn't and couldn't tell Tristan the truth of her feelings, for two main reasons. A) It was far too soon after her break up with Dean…and
B) He was still with Summer.
Walking to her locker, Rory found a half asleep Finn sitting at the bottom of it, with coffee and a rose in hand.
"Finny?" Rory teased. He woke up rather quickly.
"RG, love!" He stood up and handed her the coffee and the rose. "These are a thank you for yesterday."
Rory drank the coffee and smelled the rose. "It's pretty. Thank you. And yesterday was no biggie. Um, the coffee would've been enough. The rose isn't necessary." He could tell she was getting the wrong idea.
"Oh, doll, the rose is from TJ." He said quickly.
"Oh. Really? Tristan gave me a rose?" She was smiling brightly at Finn. Finn felt a little guilt, knowing Tristan should be the one receiving that beautiful smile, not him.
"Yes, but he had to talk to his teachers, so he asked me to wait here. The coffee is from him too, Irish Creme?" He said, gesturing to the coffee cup in her hand. She began to eye it warily.
"Finnegan, that better not be Irish coffee!" She said, with a small frown.
"If it was, I'd have drank it already!" He said laughing.
As the halls began to fill up with people, rumors began flying. Finn and Rory were seen leaving school together yesterday, and now he'd given her a rose!...They'd make a cute couple, and she was already making him attend school…But what would Finn's best friend Tristan think?... Wasn't he in love with Miss Mary?... Where was he? The two were completely oblivious to all the whispers that were going on around them. As the bell rang, Finn grabbed Rory's books and threw an arm around her shoulder. Upon reaching their class, (they had most of them together with Tristan) they were instructed by their teacher, to go to the principal's office.
Upon entering they found Tristan sitting there. He wouldn't look at them, considering Finn's arm was still around Rory.
"Hey, mate. Why are we here?" Tristan just looked dead a head. Rory moved out from under Finn's arm and sat down next Tristan.
"Tris, what's wrong?" He just kept looking ahead. "Come on, talk to me." She started poking his ribs.
"Stop." He snapped at her. Rory recoiled, not expecting that.
"I…I'm sorry." She muttered.
"Whatever." He said, still not looking at Rory or Finn.
"TJ, what's wrong?" Tristan still wasn't answering. "Tristan..." Finn waved his head in front of the boy's face, but it was quickly smacked away by that same boy's own hand.
"Fuck of…" He gritted out, before being cut off.
"Mr. DuGrey. Mr. Morgan. Ms. Gilmore." Charleston opened the door at that moment. "Come in."
The three all took seats, Tristan, then Rory and finally Finn. After a few moments of silence Rory spoke up, "Why are we here?"
"Well, Miss Gilmore , after Mr. DuGrey's outburst yesterday, you and Mr. Morgan left school property. This wouldn't be abnormal for Mr. Morgan, but you. I'm curious as to why?" He said, waiting for her response.
"Mr. Morgan," Rory began mocking him, "asked me to help find Mr. DuGrey. His hand looked pretty bad. We wanted to make sure he was alright. We were just concerned for his physical and mental well being. Mr. DuGrey shouldn't have been presented with such a situation. It wasn't at all fair. I would have thought a school as prestigious as Chilton would have looked into this boy, what's his name again? I never can remember it." She said, snapping her fingers as if trying to recall.
"Damien Lucas." Finn supplied for her.
"Ah right, Damien's record and seen that he should not be in a class with Tristan." She said finishing her previous thought.
"You are quiet right, Ms. Gilmore…" the headmaster began, before Rory cut him off.
"I'm not done. Also, Tristan should in no way be held accountable for the altercation. The only one to blame is the person who put together Mr. Lucas' schedule. Personally, I think all of Damien's classes should be changed to ensure this type of thing doesn't happen again." Rory made a point of gesturing to the three of them.
"Well, Miss Gilmore. That's quiet a speech." The headmaster said, taking in each teen.
"Thank you." She replied politely.
"However, since Mr. DuGrey attacked Mr. Lucas, it's only fair that Mr. DuGrey's schedule get changed." Finn saw Tristan tense.
"10...9... 8," Finn began counting quietly to himself.
Rory began speaking quickly, not yet having noticed Tristan's stiff posture. "Headmaster, with all due respect. That isn't a good idea. If he's still in class with Finn, another altercation may still arise…" Before Rory could finish her thought, Finn's voice interrupted her.
"2...1. Duck, love." Finn said to Rory, she did, just in time for a chair to go sailing over Rory and Charleston's heads.
"What in the world? Mr. DuGrey." Tristan was already half way out the door.
"Mr. DuGrey!" Tristan turned back, surprising Finn. Well, for a split second anyway as Tristan turned and punched the glass window of the door, shattering it to pieces.
"Fuck off, Charleston." He stood with his back to the rest. "You can't ever just help anyone, can you?" As the silence set in, Charleston was left speechless, and Rory was left to ponder, as Finn ran out after Tristan.
A few minutes later, Rory again found Tristan and Finn arguing in the hallway.
"Fuck off, Finn! Go to Hell!" Tristan said through clenched teeth, trying to reign in his anger.
"What the bloody hell did I do?" Finn said, obviously confused.
"You're so fucking full of it!" Tristan roared, losing hold of his anger, punching the wall, blood already pouring from his hand.
Almost whining, Finn cried, "What are you talking about?"
"Rory!" Tristan said, his voice full of pain and anguish, although Finn had a good idea it wasn't because his hand hurt.
"What about the lovely Miss Mary?" Finn said cautiously.
"You stole her!" Tristan said, looking visibly defeated.
"Mate, what the bloody hell are you talking about? Yes, I'm quiet taken by her. She reminds me of Ruby. But even if I had feelings for her, you've had your claim on her for awhile now. Besides…" He trailed off when a voice cut him off.
"Excuse me?" The boys turned to the smoldering mass known as Rory. "You have your 'claim' on me?" She seethed angrily.
"Uh, RG, darling. Taking my words too far. I merely meant he's liked you forever…" She cut him off again.
"Can it, Finn!" She turned to Tristan. "And if he's liked me for so long, he has a shitty way of showing it!" She stared him right in the eyes as the tears began to brim in eyes. "I can't believe you." She whispered angrily, before turning away from them and running, tears beginning to stream down her face.
Tristan turned and punched another wall. "God damn it!" He yelled, realizing what he'd just done.
"Mate, you might want to stop punching things. I think you've broken your hand enough for today. Let's get you to the hospital." Finn cringed the second the word left his mouth. Tristan shook his head vehemently.
"No. I have to get to Rory." He ran off a little ways before turning back around. "Uh, I don't think I can drive like this." He smiled sheepishly.
Finn smiled and walked up to him, throwing an arm around Tristan's shoulder. "Let's go get your girl back shall we." In the car, they sat in comfortable silence, until Finn broke it.
"She loved the rose by the way." He said as if talking about the weather. Tristan looked at him before responding.
"Did you tell her it was from me?" He asked, turning back toward the road, trying to sound indifferent.
"Of course." Finn said.
"I'm sorry about earlier." Tristan said in a soft voice.
"I know. I understood as soon as you said her name." Finn said, placing a hand on his shoulder, letting him know that everything was forgiven.
"It's just... that's what..." Tristan muttered, trying to get his thoughts straight.
"I know, TJ, I know." Finn said, squeezing his shoulder once for reassurance.
"You know Lorelai is going to kill us right?" Tristan said laughing lightly.
"Oh yeah. But see, you're the one who made her mad, not me." Finn said with a wide smile.
"Yeah well, what else is new?" Tristan muttered.
The boys sat in silence the rest of the way, each lost in their own thoughts. Hopefully, they'd be able to fix everything and Rory wouldn't get into too much trouble with the school. The last thing Tristan wanted to do was drag someone else into the spiraling, out of control, nightmare known as his life.
