Sugar and Spice: Everything Changes
By Misha
Disclaimer and Notes in Chapter One.
Chapter Seven: Let's Party
"Hey gorgeous." Tristan greeted Christa with a grin as soon as she walked through the door.
"Were you waiting for me?" She teased.
Tristan shrugged. "There's no one else here who interests me." He told her with a grin. "You know, I could have picked you up."
"Yeah, but my dad is in town and he's gotten all weird," Christa dismissed, "if you'd picked me up, he would have given you the 3rd degree." She neglected to mention that Christopher had met Colin and Logan the night before. There was no reason to share that piece of information, though she found it kind of odd that her father hadn't asked about meeting Tristan.
Tristan accepted her answer at face value and pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss. "Want to go find a nice quiet corner?" He suggested when they pulled apart.
"No, I want to go dance." Christa told him. "After all, we're at a party." She grinned. "Then we'll find a nice quiet corner."
"Your wish is my command." Tristan told her, leading her onto the dance floor.
Christa melted into his arms. She really liked Tristan and it felt so good to be with him. Almost too good. She was very glad that Colin existed, otherwise had the feeling that she'd be in danger of falling for Tristan and strings were not part of her plan.
"Look who just came in," Tristan muttered a moment later. "Why'd she bring him?"
Christa rolled her eyes, knowing he was talking about Rory. "Because he's her boyfriend. You're not going to be a jerk about it, are you?"
"Who me?" Tristan asked innocently. "Of course not, I just think Farm Boy sticks out like a sore thumb."
"Is that jealousy?" Christa demanded. "Because I have no interest in going out with a guy who is hung up on my sister."
"I'm definitely not hung up on Rory," Tristan assured her, looking her directly in the eye. "I mean, yeah, I had a thing for her when she first came to Chilton, but that was before I met you. As I told you before, I prefer spice to sugar."
Christa knew he was telling the truth. After her first weeks at Chilton, Christa hadn't seen any indication that Tristan was interested in Rory at all. He'd even stopped teasing her.
"But you still don't like Dean?"
"I just think she can do better." Tristan said with a shrug. "I mean, he's obviously not in her league. Look at you, look at her, and then look at him. She can do better. You know that. I mean, I don't see you dating any bag boys."
Tristan had a point, at least about Christa. She had a very specific type that she went out with. Boys like Colin or Tristan or Robert. Trust fun brats who lived to break the rules. She wasn't sure if it was a snob thing or simply that those were the types of boys she'd always been exposed to.
However, just because he wasn't her type, it didn't mean that Christa didn't seen the appeal in a guy like Dean. Dean was a very nice, hard-working guy who treated her sister like gold. Christa didn't hold his lack of trust fund him against him and she knew that Rory would never give it a moment's thought.
"Rory and I are very different," Christa pointed out, though she was relieved that Tristan's objection were rooted in snobby, not jealousy. "Dean's a nice guy."
Tristan just shrugged and then he grinned. "We should go greet them."
Christa rolled her eyes at the glee in his voice. "The less of a jerk you are, the better chance you have of finding out what color bra I'm wearing." She whispered.
Tristan grinned. "I'll keep that in mind."
As he took her hand and they headed towards Rory and Dean, Christa wondered if there was any chance of Dean learning the same thing about Rory and decided that the answer was a definite no. While both Gilmore-Hayden twins were virgins, Rory was a lot more pure than Christa. Mary and Magdelene.
Christa and Tristan quickly reached Rory and Dean, who were talking to Louise or Madeline. Or rather, Rory was talking to Madeline and Louise was making a pass at Dean.
"Hey, Ror." Christa greeted. "Hi, Dean."
"Hey Christa." Dean told her and then his eyes narrowed when he noticed Tristan.
"You remember Tristan, right?" Christa asked, leaning into the blond boy, who wrapped an arm around her waist.
"We've met." Dean acknowledged.
"It's nice to see you again." Tristan said politely. He turned to Rory and then blinked. "Nice dress."
"Oh, you guys look alike!" Madeline announced, as if it had just occurred to her.
"It's very quaint." Louise said with a smirk and then turned back to Dean. "Would you like to dance?"
"Uh, um, not really." He said awkwardly. "I'm kind of thirsty."
"Is Paris playing soda monitor again?" Christa inquired.
"Until 10 o'clock." Louise confirmed. She turned to Tristan. "I don't suppose you'll dance with me?"
"No way." Tristan said with a smirk. "I have a dance partner."
Louise rolled her eyes and then flounced away, Madeline trailing after her. Christa suddenly wondered if there was any history between Louise and Tristan. It was certainly possible, though she doubted it. If only because strangely Paris seemed to be the alpha bitch in that friendship and she'd never have forgiven Louise for hooking up with Tristan.
"Speaking of dancing," Tristan said after a moment, breaking up the awkward silence that had developed, "l think I can go for another round."
"Ok." Christa said with a smile, "I'll see you later," she told Rory and Dean as Tristan pulled her back towards the dance floor.
"So Christa's dating that jerk?" Dean asked as he sipped his soda. They had been at the party for almost twenty minutes and were just standing there, talking to each other. Christa and Tristan were nowhere to be found and Rory hadn't seen anyone else she knew well enough to chat with. She was actually feeling pretty out of place, so she could only imagine how Dean must be feeling.
"Well, she doesn't think he's a jerk," Rory told him, "And she'll be first to say that they're not dating, but… Yes, they go out sometimes."
Dean nodded and then looked around. "Why are we here, Rory?"
"I thought it might be fun." Rory said weakly. "Plus I told Christa I'd come."
Of course, her sister had promptly abandoned her, so it wasn't like they were having quality twin-time.
"Where is the evil twin?" A voice asked from behind her.
Rory turned around to see Paris standing there.
"I can't imagine that she'd skip a party," Paris continued, "after all she's all about the party."
"She's around somewhere," Rory said vaguely, deciding it wouldn't be a good idea to tell Paris that her sister was probably off somewhere shoving her tongue down Tristan's throat.
Just then, as if by magic, Christa appeared, hand-in-hand with Tristan.
"I decided I was thirsty." Christa declared. She turned and gave Paris a bright smile. "Paris, how nice to see you."
Paris raised her eyebrow at the sight of Christa. "Matching dresses. How quaint."
"I like it." Tristan said with a grin, letting go of Christa's hand to wrap his arm around her waist. "So alike and yet so different."
"Of course you like it," Paris said pointedly, "I'm sure you're playing out all the disgusting twin fantasies in your head."
Rory blushed while Dean looked uncomfortable at Paris' suggestion. On the other hand, Christa smirked and Tristan simply looked bored.
"Not my cup of tea," he answered with a shrug. "So Dean-o, what are your plans for the summer"
"Just working," Dean said, obviously trying to be polite. "You?"
"Summer school." Tristan said with an eye roll, "then a few weeks in the Hamptons with family and of course, a lot of partying."
"I'm surprised that you're letting school interrupt your partying," Paris said acidly, "oh, wait, that's because the school is forcing you to go to summer school." She turned to Christa. "And you, did you get that polite letter as well?"
"No," Christa told her, "my grades were more than satisfactory. But I am going to summer school for extra credit."
"You mean extra make-out sessions," Paris muttered before flouncing away.
"Do you ever get the feeling that she doesn't like me?" Christa joked.
"Does she like anyone?" Rory asked. She felt a little bad for Paris, despite the fact that Paris often liked to make her life miserable. Still, Paris had a crappy home life, no social skills and an unrequited crush. As awful as she usually was, it was easy to feel bad for her—though Rory knew if Paris detected any sympathy she'd just commit to make her life even more miserable.
Christa cast a meaningful look at Tristan and smirked.
He rolled his eyes. "Seriously, it was one date," he complained, "and it was your idea," he reminded Rory.
"What?" Dean asked, looking from Rory to Tristan.
"Rory convinced Tristan to ask Paris out," Christa told him, "it didn't go well and it made Paris even more of a witch to be around."
Dean continued to look confused, obviously trying to figure out where Christa fit into all this, and Rory remembered that it had all gone down after they'd broken up.
"Rory, do you have a minute?" Christa asked, filling the sudden silence.
Rory cast a doubtful look at Tristan and Dean, not really wanting to leave them alone.
"Don't worry, Mary, I don't bite," Tristan assured her, "besides, I have incentive to be nice." He and Christa exchanged a look that Rory couldn't decipher.
"Incentive?" Rory asked as they stepped away from the boys.
Christa just shrugged. "Reward is a good motivator," she answered mysteriously, "anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you don't have to stay at the party for me. Dean is obviously miserable."
"Are you sure?" Rory asked. "I mean, we don't have a lot of time left to hang out together."
"We both know Tristan's going to monopolize me all night," Christa pointed out, "and I don't think hanging out with Tristan will ever be Dean's idea of a good time." Rory laughed, knowing she was right. "Besides, I've got Tristan to be on his best behavior, but that can only last so long."
Rory nodded, knowing that Christa was right. "Can we hang out tomorrow, then?"
"No can do." Christa told her. "I'm going to a BBQ at Colin's, but you can come with me if you want."
Rory wasn't surprised that Christa already had plans. Her sister seemed to have a packed social calendar. Sometimes Rory wondered what it would be like to have life be a constant party, but most of the time she was convinced that she would hate it and was grateful for her quiet life in Stars Hollow.
"I think I'll pass." Rory told her. "Monday?" Summer school ran Tuesday through Thursday.
"I can do Monday," Christa assured her. "It'll be just you and me. I'll even sleep-over Monday night and we can drive to Hartford together."
"Ok," Rory agreed. She gave Christa a quick hug. "Thanks for the out."
"No problem." Christa said with a laugh as they headed back to their dates.
"How do you feel about leaving?" Rory asked Dean quietly, "Maybe going to get some coffee or something before we go home?"
He looked relieved. "Are you sure?" He asked. "I mean, you go to school here, don't you want to stay and socialize?"
"Not really," Rory assured him. She turned to Christa. "I'll see you on Monday." She nodded at Tristan and then led Dean away. She knew that she should go find Louise and say goodbye, but she decided to spare Dean, besides she doubted Louise would care.
As they headed towards Dean's car, Rory wondered if she would have had a better time if she'd come alone. The party had actually been fine, except for the fact that Dean had seemed so uncomfortable and out of place…
