Disclaimer: sadly, I do not own the Gilmore Girls
A/N: I'm so sorry this has taken me a looooong time to post. I've had family and personal issues I had to get through before I could write again. Plus there's always the computer that messes up from time to time. But, I've had this wrote three different times and deleted it 'em 'cause they weren't good. But here this one is, hope you guys like it!
Dedication: To my best friend, Rach. For helping me all through this. You're the best!
On with the story!
- - -
Fairy Tales
- - -
Rory grabbed her stomach and rolled out of bed, almost losing her footing and falling on her face. She hurriedly ran over to her door and threw it open, running to the bathroom. She dropped to the bathroom floor just in time for her stomach to empty its contents. She groaned as she reached up and pushed the handle down. She stood up only to drop back to the ground as that familiar feeling entered her stomach again. As she leaned over the toilet she held her side with one hand as the other held up her hair.
As she emptied the rest of her stomach she felt someone rubbing her back soothingly. She would have smiled and said 'thank you' if she wasn't throwing up. She waited a minute after the last heave before she reached up again and pressed the handle down. She turned slightly and rested her back against the back of the bathtub. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her forehead against them, feeling nauseous again. She heard Tristan get up and quietly shut the door. She briefly wondered where he went before she was leaning over the toilet again.
Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the tub after this round of 'how many times I can throw up in an hour'. She saw Tristan re-enter through her half lidded eyes. She caught a small glimpse of something in his hand but could not comprehend what it was at the moment. She jerked forward as her stomach churned again. She felt as Tristan held her hair back for her and slowly rubbed her back.
Ten minutes after the last flush, she stood up on shaky legs and turned towards the sink. Tristan kissed her temple before he left to let her clean up. She found a pair of her night pants strewn across sink. She had taken them off before she went to bed. She smiled at the simple gesture.
She slipped her legs through the pants before turning on the faucet and splashing her face with cold water. As she patted her face dry she noticed how pale she looked. She looked at her hair, making sure there was no vomit in it. She pulled her hair back in a messy bun before she brushed her teeth, wanting to get the disgusting taste out of her mouth. After she finished brushing her teeth she got on her knees, cleaning up the mess she'd made. After she made sure she got it all, she walked out of the bathroom for the first time in over thirty minutes.
As she walked out she noticed the sun was fully up now. She walked into the kitchen and saw it was 7:26. She groaned, she had taken off for the bathroom at six-thirty-one, which meant she had spent almost an hour in there, throwing her guts up. She turned around and walked into the living room to see that her mother had fallen asleep on the couch. "Mom." Rory said hoarsely, her throat still sore from all the acid she threw up. "Mom, wake up." Rory said, nudging her.
Lorelai woke up with a slight jump. "Damn kid, what the hell are you trying to do?!" Lorelai asked, placing a hand over her racing heart.
"Sorry. You fell asleep on the couch..." Rory said as she sat down in the arm chair. She tucked her feet under her and curled into the side of chair, to keep from shivering.
"Oh, right." Lorelai took in Rory's appearance and remembered why she had fallen asleep on the couch in the first place. "You ok kid? You look bad."
"Gee, thanks." Rory mumbled.
"That's not what I meant."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Rory mumbled, turning her head into the side of the chair.
"You didn't. Tristan did. I probably deserved it for using that pig alarm to wake you up weeks ago." Lorelai said, trying to lighten the mood.
After getting no response from her daughter, she continued, "I already called Charleston and told him you were under the weather and aren't going to make it to school today."
She nodded, biting her lip to keep from shivering.
"I sent Tristan to the store to get you some sprite and crackers. Of course he didn't want to at first, but I told him it would make you feel better."
"Ok, that's good." Rory mumbled, not wanting to talk.
"Now you," Lorelai said, pointing at Rory. "Need to get back to bed. You look like shit and could use the rest and you're shivering." she pointed out.
Rory nodded and slowly stood up from the chair and walked back into her room. She crawled under the covers, falling asleep in minutes as she warmed up.
- - -
Her head felt a mess of pain. She lifted it from her pillow only to fall back against it. She felt like she had the headache from hell. Her stomach churned. Probably from not having anything in it, after she lost all of it this morning. She turned her head, eleven-twenty-three.
She realized she had been stripped of her night pants and all she was in was her night shirt and hot pants.
There was a light knock on the door. She tried speaking up, but for the first time noticed how dry her throat was. She watched as the door was slowly pushed open, Tristan poked his head in. "Glad to see you're awake." he said, walking fully into her room with a bottle of Sprite.
He sat at the edge of her bed, "Here," he said, passing her the bottle.
He watched as she popped the top and took a long swig. "You are a life saver." she mumbled as she wiped a bead of sprite rolling down her chin. "How come you're not at school?" she asked, lifting herself onto her elbows.
"Well, there's this girl I really - I mean really like and she was kind of sick this morning and I, being the kind gentleman that I am, did not go to school to make sure she was okay and feeling better." he replied in his normal mordant tone.
Rory rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks. I think." she said in the same tone Tristan used.
Tristan reached his hand, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face. "You feeling any better, baby?"
Rory let her elbows fall from under her and closed her eyes, feeling the careful way Tristan stroked her cheeks, her jaw and smoothly brushed her hair back. She opened her eyes to see him staring intently at her, the look he had when he was thinking attentively. She offered him a small smile, hoping he would see it and not be too far off in another world.
Shaking her head at the non-responsive Tristan, she sat up, leaning forward, gently brushing her lips across his neck. Keeping her lips there, not moving against his neck, just resting. Feeling him shake his head of his thoughts, she pulled back and looked up at him. "Hi."
So soft. Her voice was so soft, just like her lips, her touch.
If he was able to go back six months and have someone tell him he was going to be in a relationship with the new girl, he would have laughed and said they were crazy. But here he was, in a six month relationship, with a girl he loved - or as much as you can love someone at sixteen.
Jeez. What was love? Was it those butterflies you get just by thinking about them? Was it the need to always see them? Was it that part inside you that misses them after you hang out with them? Was it the need to always be with them - not in the clingy way?
Is it what keeps you from sleeping when they're not in your arms? Is it the way you can get lost in each others eyes? Is it the minute you walk them to the doorstep after a date and you're already counting until you can see them again? Is it the way a single touch, a single look is all it takes to speed your heart rate up?
To tell you the truth, I don't think any one human can give the same description of what they think love is. Love is different to each individual and means something else for each of them. In my opinion, Tristan mused, no one really knows what love is. Everyone can agree that love is wonderful and that no one should have to live without it, but generally speaking, no one can decide exactly what love is.
He knew, somewhere deep in his gut, that he loved the girl beside him. He may not be able to tell you what love is or what he thought it was but he knew. And that's all that mattered.
When he asked her out that day, he never fathomed that she would willingly agree. He knew asking her out would break the stride in their friendship… or the beginning of it, anyway. He had been standing next to her locker, listening to her vent about the articles Paris had dumped on her. She was too cute, he watched as she angrily pushed her hair back as she shoved her books into her bag.
She had been going on about Paris "How does she expect me to do three articles when teachers are telling us to prepare for exams!" when he interrupted her, asking her on a date. He didn't even mean too, he meant to say something about Paris being Paris.
A blind-man could have caught the surprise look on her face, the way her jaw slacked. But he'll always remember what happened next…He stood up straighter as she whipped around to face him. "A date?" she repeated slowly, still shocked by the question.
Tristan bowed his head and shuffled his feet before nervously lifting his head and meeting her eyes. "Yeah, a date. What two people go on when they like each other. . . ." God, I'm such an idiot, like she was actually going to say yes, she has made it perfectly clear -more than once-that she doesn't like me and wouldn't go out with me, Tristan mentally kicked himself.
Shit, he thought as he saw the word forming on her tongue, he'd seen it before, he knew what she was about to say. "Look, just forget I asked." Tristan mumbled as he turned on his heel and walked towards the exit. Is it worth it, he mused, being rejected time and time again? He often asked himself, was it because he likes her that he wouldn't give up or was it because he had to boost his ego by getting the one who does not want you?
At first, he admitted, it was all about who could get the Mary, but the more he did, something happened. He wasn't sure when or where it happened but, he knew when Summer offered to blow him against the lockers, something wasn't right. It wasn't Summer nor was it that fact she offered a blow job in the hall. It was something within him.
When he was around her he could not help but want to better himself.
Yeah, Tristan thought, it was all for nothing.
"Tristan! Wait!" Tristan stopped dead in his tracks. Was he hearing right? Was Rory really calling after him or was it in his head? He turned his head, looking over his shoulder, there she was, Rory Gilmore. And she was jogging after him. He mentally saved the picture before continuing to the front doors of the school.
He was not going to let her do this. She could not get bent out of shape when he walks away from her after she rejected -or was going to-reject him. He was not doing it again. He let her play her role after Madeline's party, but not this time. He did not care if he sounded like a selfish bastard, he knew that kiss on the bench meant more than she was willing to admit. And he just put it all out there, he was going to fly or fall with one word.
He didn't have to hear her say it, he'd seen before and knew she was going to say no. And that was the word that made him fall. At this moment, he knew he didn't love her but he knew he liked her.
"Tristan! Please wait!"
Whether he meant to or not, his pace slowed, giving her the chance to catch up with him if she really wanted too. Somewhere along the stone steps, he realized if she only stopped him because she was going to apologize, it would crush him. He didn't know if he was ready to go through that. Whether he was willingly going through it or not he also realized he didn't want to know the outcome of it.
He was half way through the courtyard at the beginning of the school when he felt fingers dig into his shoulder, urging him to turn around. He knew all the had to do was shrug her hand off and walk away, that it would all be over. Before he could take that first step forward he felt himself spinning on his other foot, twirling to meet her.
His face was serious, maybe a little hurt but she also saw his eyes swirling with emotion. She'd seen his eyes like that once before and it made her as breathless as she was feeling from jogging to keep up with him. She chuckled nervously, "In the hall it never seems like you walk that fast."
"Is that why stopped me?" he asked, making sure no hint of his emotions leaked through.
Rory looked down at her feet, shuffling them, refusing to meet his eye. "No….um, not really." she said quietly.
Tristan shoved his hands in his pockets, he damn sure wasn't going to make the first move here. If she wanted it done she would have to do it herself.
His face took on an annoyed expression but he was anxious on the inside. Hoping that she had stopped him for a good reason… not to apologize. He knew she could see the depth of his eyes, all the emotions that were there to be read if desired.
He watched as she nervously tugged on her hair, trying to get it to stay in one place from the wind whipping around. He noticed she looked slightly paler. Noticed the way she kept shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Noticed her fingers were shaking slightly as she wrapped them around locks of hair and pull them back.
- - -
Rory looked at him, really looked at him. He looked… tired. Like each second he was standing here was draining him. She noticed his lips were set in a grim line. He stood there, with his hands shoved in his pockets like he was on the edge of boredom.
Rory lowered her eyes from his face to the ground. She knew what he was doing. He was making her take that step she always hesitated on taking. The step that everyone around her always took for her. "Why did you run?" she whispered. She didn't think. She didn't want to because she knew if did she would run. She never understood how Rose could just let go when she was around Jack.
But she was beginning too.
- - -
Tristan's gaze hardened at her question. "What do you mean 'why did I run'? You were going to say no, so I saved myself the trouble of having to hear it." he snapped.
Rory winced slightly under his hard tone. "How do you know I was going to say no?"
So weak, he thought. Her voice sounded weak like she was about to break any second. "I've watched the way your mouth moves and you've told me no enough in the past to realize when you're about to tell me no again." his voice was softer.
He watched as she bit her lip, deciding what to say. He watched as she twirled a piece of hair around her fingers.
"I guess this is it…" Tristan broke the minute of silence.
When Rory didn't respond, Tristan nodded to himself, confirming. He slowly yet swiftly turned from her. His head hung low in defeat. This was defiantly, Tristan decided, a moment Trip Fontaine could relate too.
He had only taken a few steps when she spoke, "What if I was going to say yes?"
Her voice may have been louder but it was still frail. Tristan slowly turned around, hoping that maybe this was real and she meant what she said. He stood in front of her, took a breather before he spoke, "Don't do me any favors, Rory."
She closed her eyes. Picturing he wasn't here, that she was talking to herself, "Who says I am?"
"I don't want you to agree to go on a date with me 'cause you pity me. I want you to go 'cause in some small way, you might like me too." Shit, since when do I sound like a girl? Tristan mused.
She kept her eyes closed as she reached up to rub the bridge of her nose. "What if… in that small way… I actually do like you?" she whispered.
Tristan could not help the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips and the soar of hope he felt. "But in the hall…"
She opened her eyes to look at him. "I know. And I was going to say no. But it was kind of a reflex. We've had it going since I got here… you ask me out… I say no." she admitted sheepishly.
That put a small grin on his face. "But you were going to say…" he felt like such a wuss. She had already said she -in a small way- liked him. So why couldn't he finish the sentence?
"Yes?" she filled in. He nodded. "Yes, I was going to say yes."
Tristan gave her an impish look. "I was hoping you would."
"You're feeling better, right?" he asked quietly as he ran a hand up and down her clothed back.
Rory smiled at his concern. "Yeah. I just have a headache and my stomach hurts a little."
Tristan shifted his weight, resting more comfortably on her bed, leaning toward her a little. He reached up, tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ear. "Are you up for Luke's?"
She thought a second before answering. "Mom probably stopped by there before she went to work and told him I spent the morning vomiting. So, if we were to go… he'd constantly ask if I was okay. And would also hover over us the whole time we were there"
Tristan chuckled lightly to himself. "Rore, babe, he's always hovering over us if I'm there."
Rory groaned to herself, knowing he was right. "True. Oooh, how about that little hole-in-wall Chinese place in New Haven? That place is so good."
Tristan laughed at her excitement. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers before whispering, "Anywhere."
- - -
"Someone, please make that thing stop ringing!" Michel whined, rubbing his temple.
"You always could." Lorelai replied as she checked over the inventory sheet.
"Why can't you do it?"
"One, because I'm busy doing something else. Two, it's what you're paid to do."
"Oh fine, I'll answer the blasted thing." He grumbled. "Independence Inn. Michel speaking."
"Yes, my I uh, please speak with Lorelai?"
"Hold one second." He held the phone out. "It's for you."
Lorelai sighed, she set her list down on the desk. "This is Lorelai. How can I help you?"
"Lorelai, it's Luke. I wanted to talk to you about Rory."
- - -
"I'm stuffed." Rory groaned, leaning back on the leather interior of Tristan's car.
"Me too." Tristan replied as he leaned back in his seat.
"I think I ate too much." Rory moaned from her seat.
Tristan lifted his head, his eyes sparkling. "You ate too much? My ears must be deceiving me."
"Urgh, it's not funny. My tummy hurts." she whined, rubbing her stomach.
"So, if I said I wanted to take you out for ice cream, you'd turn me down?"
Rory sat up straighter in her seat. Her eagerness shining through.
"So, ice cream it is." Tristan stated, smirking to himself.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Nice. Real nice." Tristan commented dryly.
Rory rolled her eyes, a smile gracing her lips. She reached over, turning the music down a little. "You never told me how you got to stay home from school today."
"Ah, it shall stay with me." he joked. "Nah, I called my mom and told her what happened, she said she would only allow that to happen once."
"What did you tell her?"
"That you spent an hour in the bathroom, throwing your guts up and that I wanted to stay with you."
Rory felt her heart warm from the sincerity in his voice. She never could have guessed she would be in any type of relationship with him. Looking back on it, she never would have done something like that before him. Standing in front of him, telling him she liked him. She'd never done anything like that before.
She smiled to herself, she was glad for it. She didn't know what would have happened if she had let him walk away from her but she didn't want to imagine it. These past few months had been some of her best. Because of him.
At one point in time, she had felt that way about Dean. Nevertheless, all those feelings, died out, like a dying flame. He complained whenever she went to the book store, knowing how she is around books. Always being standoff-ish whenever her and Lorelai did something quirky. He cavilled about that fact that she goes to Chilton.
From the first mention of Tristan, he asked her if he bothered her that day. Though at first, she thought it was sweet the way he cared. Gradually, it grew tiring and chafing. Slowly, all the things she found sweet, she soon found annoying. She tried her best to make the feelings that disappeared, resurface, but alas, nothing worked.
For the first time in weeks, she was happy and excited to go on a date with him. Their three month anniversary. From the beginning of the date, all her old feelings for Dean returned but she couldn't help but feel a nagging in the pit of her stomach. She ignored it and continued on.
When he brought her to the junk-yard, the nagging feeling came out full fledge. When he said those three little words, her breathing stopped. She couldn't believe it. She had opened her mouth to respond but her vocal cords stopped working. She couldn't say it back 'cause she didn't love him. But if he had given her time, she could have.
Sad thing was, he didn't want time. The time she wanted to gain those feelings for him. He wanted it right then and there. But she could not give him what he wanted because she didn't feel the same.
That was the night she learned first hand, things in Stars Hollow were not always perfect.
She looked over at Tristan while he drove. His left arm rested against the window, drumming his fingers along with the beat. While his right smoothly glided across the steering wheel. He was relaxed. She watched as he lipped the lyrics that were gently pouring from the radio.
Tristan. Just saying his name brought a smile to her lips, butterflies to her stomach. Passion in her heart.
And for her, that's all she needed.
- - -
Rory walked into her house, giggling as she licked the ice cream off her finger as Tristan trailed behind her with two gallons of ice cream. "I can't believe your mom said that to him."
Tristan smiled, kicking the door shut with his foot. "She did. At the time, I didn't find it funny, I was embarrassed as hel-"
"Rory! Thank God you're okay!" Lorelai yelled, interrupting Tristan as she ran from the kitchen to throw her arm around her baby. "I was so worried about you."
"I'm okay mom." Rory mumbled into her mothers jacket as Lorelai continued to crush Rory to her chest.
Lorelai pulled Rory from her grasp, settling her hands on her shoulders. "He called and said you weren't here, he heard you weren't feeling well and brought something over and that you were nowhere in the house. I was so scared something had happened." Lorelai said, pulling Rory into another bear hug.
Rory pushed back from her mother, taking a few steps back. "First of all, how many cups of coffee have you had?"
"Five. But that's not the point! You scared mommy half to death and I'm too young to die."
"Now that we've got that out the way, what were you talking about and who is 'he'?"
"Luke!" Lorelai exclaimed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What about Luke?" Rory asked, confused about her mothers actions.
"Gah." Lorelai threw her hands up in the air. She turned and marched back into the kitchen.
"Wha…." Rory trailed off, she hasn't seen her mother act this weird since… she broke up with Dean. When she was walking on eggshells around her and not wanting to say anything that might upset her.
"C'mon," Tristan said from behind her, nudging her.
"You can put those in the freezer." Rory said, pointing to the cartons of ice cream.
She walked into the kitchen and watched her mother as she poured herself a mug of freshly brewed coffee. "Can you tell me what you were talking about because I'm still a bit confused."
Lorelai took a drink from her coffee, hoping the hot drink would soothe her tight muscles. "I was at the Inn, going over the inventory list when the phone rings. Michel starts whining about it and I said something to him and he answers it. The caller asked for me. It was Luke."
"Yeah…" Rory says, pulled a chair out from the table. Out of the corner of her eye she can see Tristan placing the ice cream in the freezer.
"And he told me how he thought since you were home, not feeling well, he would bring you some of his home-made chicken soup. Only to find you not there. He said he looked all over the house and nothing. Checked out some of the places he knows you like to go and still nothing."
"Oh…" Rory trailed off. She watched as Tristan eased himself out of the room, feeling it was something for mother and daughter.
"Yeah, and he calls me, freaking out 'cause you were nowhere to be found. Only to freak me out! Do you know how scared I was?! I was sick out of my mind, thinking something bad must have happened to you. Then, you come waltzing in here with your boyfriend, giggling."
"Mom, he took me to eat."
"What's wrong with eating in Stars Hollow? I tried calling your cell but nothing. So I get home, still trying your cell but when I walk in, I hear it ringing So I think, 'Oh, Rory must be back' only to walk into your room and see it still hooked to the charger!"
Rory cringed, hearing her mothers ire in her voice.
"So, I grab your phone, thinking I'll call Tristan but it goes straight to his voice mail because he apparently turned off his phone!" Lorelai didn't know which one made her madder, the fact that Rory went off without telling her or the she went off with her boyfriend without telling her.
Rory looked down, knowing Tristan was hearing the whole thing. Rory closed her eyes. "What do you want me to say, mom?"
Lorelai scoffed. "That's rich. Your boyfriend drags you off to God knows where and you ask a question like that."
Rory rolled her eyes. "He didn't drag me off. I willingly went."
"What was wrong with eating in Stars Hollow?" she repeated.
Rory's patience was running thin as her angry started to bubble in her veins. "If you want to know, I'm the one who suggested we eat at the place we went. He originally said Luke's but I told him no. Because I know you told Luke that I threw up all morning and he would be worried about me, and hovering over the table like a helicopter. And I didn't want to go to any place in town because I know how fast word travels around here and I just wanted to have a nice lunch, alone with my boyfriend. Without people asking me if I was okay all through the meal."
Some where in the middle of her rant, she had spread her palms out on the table and pushed herself back.
Lorelai's mouth formed an 'o', still in shock from Rory's outburst. Never had she spoken to her like that before now.
Rory shook her head, walking towards the living room. She found Tristan setting on the edge of the couch, his hands clasped in front of him, looking down at the floor from the space left from his arms. She slowly stepped forward, placing her hand on his shoulder. He still didn't look up.
Rory got down on her haunches, she carefully pulled his hands towards her, tucking his hands in hers. "Tristan." she said quietly. He still didn't look at her. "Tristan, please look at me."
When he did, her breath caught in her chest, he looked distraught. "Does she really hate me that much?" he asked in a horse whisper.
She closed her eyes, her lids burning from the tears that sprung up, begging to be released. At this moment, she hated her mother for making him feel this way. She leaned up, wrapping her arms around him, she buried her head in the back of his neck, keeping the tears at bay.
Neither of them saw the shadow from the door watching the entire exchange. Lorelai turned, pouring the rest of her coffee down the drain, suddenly sick.
She quickly wrote Rory a note, telling her she had to get back to work while keeping her own tears from falling as she quietly slipped out of the house.
- - -
"Okay, on December 23rd, my parents throw a Christmas party. We have it every year. Would you like to be my date for the night?" Tristan asked Rory.
A box of pizza, one and a half movies and one long talk later, Rory and Tristan was facing each other on the couch, talking. It was 4:09.
Rory had found Lorelai's note when she walked into the kitchen to retrieve the phone. Still angry with her mother, Rory just crumpled it up and threw it away.
"Sure. Is their a time I need to be ready?"
"8-ish."
"Sure. Mom always throws a party on Christmas Eve, come with me?" Rory asked with a twinkle in her eye.
"Yeah, no problem."
"So…"
"So?"
"So…"
"Is there a point here, Oh crazy one?" Tristan asked with a laugh.
"There's something that's been bugging me… I was wondering if you could answer it for me." She smiled at him sweetly.
Tristan gave her a bemused look. "Sure. Ask away."
Rory shifted her weight, moving until she was sitting in his lap, ankles locked behind his back. She smiled to herself when he groaned. "Y'know, you've called me crazy before but I know I went back to sleep with my night pants on. Care to explain why they were off?" she asked as she ran her fingers through his golden locks.
"There is a simple explanation, Lorelai turned up the heater before she left. And I came to get a book out of your room -since nothing was on TV and there was nothing else to do- and you had kicked your covers off and you were looking…" he trailed off as he raked his eyes over her body. "a little hot and sweaty. So, I took them off for you, of course."
Slowly, one of her hands creeped down to the nape of his neck while the other rested on his chest. "Hmm…" she mumbled as she licked her lips as she watched his. "I bet you did." She whispered before kissing him full on the lips.
He moaned as he felt her tongue wet and hot against his lips, seeking entrance. He gripped the cotton of her shirt as they fought for control. He felt the wild beating of his heart, letting him know he needed air. He pulled back hastily, filling his lungs with the air he wanted.
He smiled as he felt Rory snuggle into his chest. "Hmm… your warm and cosy."
Tristan smirked, "I can think of a few things that will make you warm and cosy too."
Rory smiled, a light blush tinting her cheeks. She lifted her head up, slowly closing the distance between their lips. As they softly brushed against each others, the doorbell rang.
Tristan groaned when Rory got up to answer the door.
Rory swung the door open to reveal a bubbly, bouncy curly headed brunet. "Madeline?"
"Rory! Here." She said, shoving her homework at her.
Rory looked down at the file in her hand, containing all her homework for the day. "Thanks Mads, you didn't have to come all the way out here, though."
"It's no problem. Is Tristan here?"
Rory shifted her eyes, seeing that she had parked her car right behind his car. "Yeah, in here. You want to come in for a sec?" Rory asked, opening the door wider.
"Sure, I have Tristan's work here too."
Rory shut the door as she watched Madeline strut towards the living room. She walked in as she passed Tristan his file of work. "Thanks Mads." he said as she set it down on the coffee table.
"Where's Louise?" Rory asked as she entered the room.
"Oh. She was caught with Bobby Baker in the washroom. She's in detention."
Tristan stifled a laugh while Rory cringed. "So, um… How's Paris?"
"You know, still breathing."
Rory cracked a small smile. "So, how come you were the one stuck with bringing us our homework?" she asked curiously.
Madeline walked through the living room, trailing her hand over objects. "Paris was supposed to but she pushed it off on me." she replied nonchalantly.
"Oh." Rory's smiled disappeared. She knew why Paris pushed it off on Madeline. "Sorry about that."
Madeline shrugged, finally taking a seat at the end of the couch. "It's cool, don't worry about it." she cleared her throat, turning towards Tristan. "So, I went to bring you your homework by your house but I was told you were here. Since last night."
Tristan rolled his eyes. "Yes, I drove Rory home and fell asleep on her couch. She woke up and wasn't feeling well… So I stayed."
"Sure, keep telling yourself that." she replied absentminded.
Rory cleared her throat, speaking up, "Did you have trouble finding the place?"
Madeline looked over at Rory. "Nah, not really." At Rory's confused look she continued. "I have GPS."
"Mhmm." Tristan said from his seat. He and Rory shared a secret smile.
"Sorry to cut this short, but I have to go. I have a date tonight." Madeline said as she stood up, moving towards the front of the house. Rory walked ahead of her with Tristan behind her as she opened the door for her. "Oh and Rory?" she paused as she took a step out onto the porch. "Don't worry about Paris, she'll get over it. And I just wanted to let you know, me and Louise think you make a great couple. Plus, you two look cute together." she winked before stepping off the porch and heading towards her car.
Rory smiled as she shut the door. "Did Madeline just give us her and Louise's blessing?
Tristan smiled, stepping forward and placing a kiss on the top of her head as he wrapped his arms around her. "I think so."
- -
- -
Ta-da! Like it? Hate it? Let me know.
Once again, sorry it took me a long to get out. I don't know when the next chapter will be posted but I'm going to make sure it doesn't take as long as this one did.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On Cupid! On Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"
Be safe.
Kelli