Disclaimers: If I did own GG, would I really waste my time writing it in fanfic?
- - - - - - -
Author's Note: I'm so sorry on the delay… I put all the blame on J because this chapter has been written for so long, she made me tweak it then her computer crashed and had to wait for her new one. So, finally, this chapter is out and I hope you enjoy it.
Special thanks to Jayde (Coffeechick87) betaing this thing even if it took forever and, to Arlene (AngelMoonPrincess) for helping cheering me up when I think my writing completely sucks.
Shout out to the reviewers thank you for taking the time to comment: abh, princetongirl, emmy, Carrie, Fallen Heart, Jayde, LoVe23, trory-bear1, mchs-angel08, Kylie1403, gilmore girl lover, KeitaWolf, piper-h-99, trorylove, Mary, P, Alenor, BumpyRider, Kat, smile1, Jobanana, Laurenmlbc, XxAnimeLover14xX, Jenna, What Lies Beneath The Truth, Angelgirl0910, anonymous, Angel Moon Princess, JesseLover, LadyJustice, soph.
- - - - - -
How
To Break a Triangle of Tension
Chapter 9: I Never…
- - - - - -
For the past two hours Rory had succeeded in avoiding Tristan completely, and Paris had been able to successfully evade them both. Much to Tristan's irritation. He smirked as he caught sight of Rory just as she moved to hide a yawn as she listened to Headmaster Charleston drone on. As he approached her silently from behind, he caught what Charleston was saying; "I don't understand how it is possible that these kids got drunk in the first place. How am I supposed to explain this to their parents? They'll now think that Chilton is no better than any," He paused before he forced out the most hated word, "public school. They will probably pull their children from Chilton, and enroll them in another private school; do you know what this could do to the school's reputation?"
Rory sighed, "I know: 'Failure is a part of life; but not a part of Chilton'."
Charleston quirked an eyebrow, "I'm glad to see that you remembered that simple quote, Miss Gilmore." He glanced behind Rory and added, "I'm also glad that you've taken my advice to socialize more with Chilton's students. I would advise you, however, to choose the people you socialize with more wisely if you don't want to go down the wrong road."
Rory blushed as she turned around and saw Tristan standing behind her. Headmaster Charleston glared at Tristan and said his goodbyes, "I bid you two a safe trip home."
He was walking away just as the DJ announced that it was time for the final dance of the evening. Tristan took Rory's hand in his, "Dance with me?"
She was about to refuse but she looked into his eyes and saw the sorrowful look of a child awaiting punishment. She smiled slightly, "Of course."
Tristan led her to the dance floor and hesitantly took her in his arms. He felt the distance between them and hated it; she was avoiding his eyes and kept as far away from him as she could while still dancing. He asked her quietly, "How much do you hate me right now?"
Rory finally looked at him with neutral eyes, "I don't."
He gently pulled her closer against him, not breaking eye contact, "I'm sorry if I overstepped your bounds. I won't try again, I promise."
She stopped dancing and looked seriously into his eyes, "You didn't really force me into anything I didn't want to do, Tristan. I might have been hesitant at first but I asked you to not stop. So, don't worry about it."
Tristan started to dance again, leading her as he went along to the music, "Then why were you avoiding me?" Rory looked down but stayed silent, and then it hit him, "There's no girl named Mary." He whispered and saw her raise her head to look at him, "You are not just another notch on my belt… bedpost," He paused long enough that she looked at him, and smiled, trying to lighten the mood, "sock drawer."
Rory relaxed a bit and smiled softly before she rested her head against his shoulder. "I know there's no Mary." She paused. "You're still working on trying to change me into a Magdalene."
- - - - - - -
Paris, Rory, and Tristan were all standing by the entrance, when Tristan suddenly handed his car keys to Rory, "I need to have a word with Gabrielle, make yourselves comfortable." He then went to the group of girls surrounding Gabrielle as both Paris and Rory left the hall.
"Gab, we're leaving."
Gabrielle looked at her friends, "I'm going to spend the night at Sophia's," She glanced at Tristan innocently, "Dad didn't tell you?"
He only smirked in response, "You know very well that he told me to make sure I get you home safe and sound. You want to sleep out, you deal with Marissa." Gabrielle pouted, "Look, you come right now, and that's final."
Gabrielle forgot about her friends and yelled, "Why do you always want to ruin everything for me?"
His eyes flared dangerously as her attitude tested his already small amount of patience, "Because tonight you ruined things for me." She blanched but he didn't give her time to speak, "Yes, you annoying little brat, do you really think I would talk about my love interest with you around in the house so you could go gossip about it and speculate to your friends?" Tears began to surface in Gabrielle's eyes and Tristan immediately softened down, "Come on, pest. Let's get you home."
He started to walk away, thinking she would follow and moments later she joined him, running and embracing him tightly, "Please Tristan, say you don't hate me. I have nothing without you."
Tristan turned around and hugged his sister, "I know, but do you really have to try and set me up with your annoying friends all the time? Do you really have to forget to think before speaking all the time?" He felt her shake in sobs in his arms, "I really like Rory I just want her to like me on her own terms." Now he heard the distinct sound of crying, "Gab, don't cry, just stop spying on me."
Gabrielle, her eyes red rimmed with tears flowing down, broke the hug, "I'll go tell her that you really like her!"
He grabbed her arms before she went too far, "I'll deal with her. Just make sure you don't say anything." Gabrielle still tried to break free of him but he smirked and asked, "You can tell her if you want, but be warned that if you do, I'll just tell Jeremy's parents that he abused a thirteen year old while at my house over the summer." She stopped and glared, "You'll stay quiet?"
Gabrielle crossed her arms and asked, "How did you found out about me and Jeremy? He told you?"
Tristan smirked, "No, you just did." Then he thought about his best friend and his little sister and anger took control over his emotions. They were by now in the middle of the parking lot. He turned and made Gabrielle look at him, "Please Gab; tell me you didn't sleep with him."
She blushed and studied her feet; she could feel the hatred Tristan was emitting. Hurriedly, she whispered, "He didn't want to do that to you." Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and hid her face against his chest, "I really like him. We kissed a bit, but nothing else. He said that if we did more than kiss, you would never forgive him."
Tristan snorted and held his annoying little sister closer, "Like I'll ever forgive him, anyway." Then thinking more "Is it over?"
"We email, and chat."
He broke the embrace and they resumed their walking, "Just promise me you'll take that slowly and be very… careful. I don't want to have to crush his bones for breaking your heart." He let go of her and muttered to himself, "It still doesn't mean I won't crush his bones anyway."
She smiled happily and asked the same question that always marked the end of one of their rows, "Does it mean you don't hate me?"
He chuckled and told her his regular answer, "I can't stand you and you annoy the hell out of me, but I could never hate you."
She laughed happily as she climbed in the backseat beside Paris.
- - - - - - -
Rory let herself fall on the couch, followed closely by Paris. Tristan came in shortly after them and asked, "So, what should we do tonight?"
Paris yawned and said, "I never…?"
Tristan saw Rory's confused look, "It's a game to get drunk, you say things starting with 'I never'… and the others, if they already done what you hadn't, drink."
Rory shook her head, "I don't want to get drunk again."
Paris quirked an eyebrow, "Then if you never did it, you do it."
Rory's eyes widened, "I don't want to play."
Tristan sat in front of them, "Why not?"
She pretended to think, " Well, suppose I say 'I never… had sex" …I'll have to have sex. No, thank you."
Paris giggled, "Okay, then we play with no sexual remarks or daring touches." Rory hid her head in her hands and Tristan stayed quiet. "Come on, just for the fun, no funny touching, and no making anyone have unwanted sex or make out."
Tristan muttered, "I'm in."
Rory banged her head against her knees, "I'm in, but only if I can have some of that bubbly stuff we had last night."
Tristan stood up to go grant her wish and Paris mimicked, " 'I don't want to get drunk' ?"
Rory shrugged and whispered, "I won't get drunk; I'll just sip."
- - - - - - -
Rory yawned for the thirteenth time as she stared at the pool through the window; it looked so inviting and she wanted to go relax in it. Not that swimming was something she liked to do in the first place, but it would just make her get out of the room filled with escalating tension. But no, her two partners in crime were playing it way too boring, not that she was livening it up, her mind was just in a place that didn't feel like playing a game. So, the statements were all about, I never colored my toes nails red (Tristan now had red painted toes nails), or I never ate a peanut butter with jam and chocolate chip sandwich (Paris was now completely grossed out by the sandwich she had just ate). And there had been at least twenty 'I never' statements already, all more boring than the one before. She felt Paris pinching her arm, great it was her turn. She was about to say, 'I never got hit by a deer' to make them disappear, when the inviting little waves of the pool and the steam over shadowing the pool made her feel daring, "I never went skinny dipping in the middle of the night."
Rory giggled as she saw her two companions' mouths drop open and walked out of the pool house, she took off her shoes and dress, and dived in the pool. She swam naked in the pool, enjoying the water surrounding her. It was so cool and relaxing; she started to swim on her back but stood up in the pool to hide her nudity as she saw the two people watching her as they stood at the side of the pool. Tristan started to undo his tie and whispered, "I never went skinny dipping in November."
Paris took out her shoes then her dress and dived into the pool while Tristan struggled with his clothes. Rory laughed and went back to swimming on her back.
It was weird how when Rory was the only one naked in the pool, she had wanted to hide her nudity in prudery while when both of her companions were also naked with her, it didn't matter if they did see every inch of her skin or not. Rory shook her head, she'd have plenty of time to think about that later, when she was alone.
Tristan finally jumped in the pool and Rory slipped under the water and pulled on his feet, tugging him under, as well. As she broke the surface of the water laughing, Tristan rose, smirking and whispered, "You'll pay for that." But instead of coming after her, he just swam and enjoyed the cool water against him.
Paris pushed on Rory's shoulder from behind and as Rory moved out of the water glaring at Paris, "Oh, you are so going to regret this!"
She went after Paris and they both struggled together, Tristan leaned across the pool, happy enough to enjoy the view.
- - - - - - -
After a splashing contest that lasted a little over ten minutes, the girls both regained their breath. Tristan smirked and approached Rory, "My turn to make you pay now."
Rory swam away from him and screamed, "In your dreams!"
He caught her in the middle of the pool and turned her around to make her face him. She was laughing as she tried to fight his strong hold on her arms. Slowly, he was moving her to the edge of the pool and pressing his body against her. Her eyes widened in surprise as she felt his hard erection against her thighs. She became serious and pleaded, "Stop that, Tristan."
He closed the gap between their faces, "Kiss me and I'll let you go." Rory pecked his lips softly but he wouldn't settle for only that: he trapped her between his arms as his elbows rested against the edge of the pool, "Come on, I know you can do better than that."
She blushed but licked her lips teasingly, then pressed her damp, open mouth against his; that was all it took for him to press closer to her, and invade her mouth with his tongue. She moaned as she held onto his shoulders, carefully staying above water as he let go of the side of the pool to hold her tightly.
Paris, watching sadly from the other end of the pool knew it was her moment to let go. She didn't know anymore if her dream was being the one for Tristan one day, or her newly found realization of her attraction toward Rory. She just knew that in both scenarios, they would never see her the way she saw them. She also realized, in that precious instant, that the only thing that has been standing in the way of Rory and Tristan's relationship for the past two years was her…and Dean. At this flash of realization and clarity, she felt anger toward herself, for what she had become. Selfish and controlling, she liked to see herself as a model, or a leader, but she couldn't deny how unfair she had been to both of her friends. Now was the time to make her exit proudly and let them break their own tension.
She looked around on the concrete and realized that none of them had the judgment to bring towels out. Well, she would sacrifice herself the pleasure of the comfortably cool pool to go get towels.
- - - - - - -
Paris came out of the pool house fully dressed with two overlarge white fluffy towels. She tapped Tristan's shoulder to try to bring his and Rory's attention away from devouring the others' lips, and said harshly, "You both should wrap yourself up before you catch cold or," She smirked at Rory, "something else."
Rory blushed and climbed out of the pool, taking the offered towel and wrapped it around her body hurriedly as the cold wind blew against her skin. She shivered and muttered, "Thanks, it's so cold."
Tristan came out of the pool and accepted his own towel, tying it loosely around his hips and asked Rory, "Why aren't you like other girls?" He saw her confused look and added teasingly, "Usually girls wrap their hair before the rest."
Paris laughed as Rory's mouth dropped open, "It's not my fault that Paris only brought me one towel!"
Paris looked offended that her kindness was taken the wrong way but was cut off by Tristan whispering, "As I said, shame, you should have covered your hair first." Rory gaped at him and he smirked, "I'm going for a shower, that chlorine makes my skin crawl."
He went back inside while Paris and Rory stood stoic by the pool. A flash of golden hair appeared from afar coming from the mansion, Paris shook her head, "It's a good thing I came with the towels when I did. Imagine how scarring it would be if she saw her brother coming out of the pool naked?"
Rory hung her head down and cursed, "Not her!"
Gabrielle came running over to Rory and said, "I need to speak to you." She glared at Paris, "Can you leave us alone, please?"
Paris smirked, "No way, I want to enjoy the show."
Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders indifferently, "Whatever." She turned to Rory, "He really likes you, don't pay attention to all that rubbish I said about Mary…" She stuttered, "I… I… invented… her to make…" She gulped "…to make myself interesting."
Paris laughed out loud, "Come on Gabby," if looks could kill, Paris would have died by Gabrielle's eyes, "you know as well as me that you're lying. There is a Mary and we all know it."
Gabrielle tried to protest but was interrupted by Rory sitting, her legs in the pool, holding onto herself to keep warm, "I'm telling you, there is no Mary and my brother likes you very much Rory."
Rory lay down on her back and whispered, "You know Gab," She closed her eyes before she could see the younger girl's reaction, "I know that there is a Mary, I also know that you should probably stop talking about what you don't understand." She slowly straightened and stood up, "Fortunately for you, I know about Mary, because I am Mary. Now, I'm getting cold, so I'm going back inside."
As Rory was walking toward the pool house, Paris stayed behind with Gabrielle; she tousled the younger girl's hair, knowing it would anger her. "You're still the same annoying little pest begging for attention aren't you?" Gabrielle's face became red with fury, "You should probably go back before Marissa finds you." Paris left a speechless Gabrielle by the pool and returned inside the house.
- - - - - - -
As Rory walked inside the house, she was welcomed by the sound of the shower running and the ringing of Paris' cell phone. She quickly grabbed the cell phone and answered, "Hello?"
She heard a woman's voice whispering sexily, "Hey beautiful, I was wondering if you would like to join me for a late night gathering? You know, you me and a bottle of Chardonnay?"
Rory blushed and gasped, "Uh, I don't think you have the right number."
The woman's voice on the other side sobered and asked, "Paris?"
Rory's eyes opened wide and she muttered, "Hold on, she just came back in." Walking toward Paris she handed her the phone, her cheeks red and her eyes avoiding the blonde girl's. "For you; a woman who just propositioned me - uh - you."
Paris chuckled and took the phone; moving in to the kitchen to talk privately.
- - - - - - -
When Tristan came out of the shower clad only in his boxers, he sat on the couch beside Rory, "Where's Paris?"
Paris came back in the room at the exact moment; she started to pick up her stuff lying around the room and put it in her bag. She avoided her friends' questioning eyes and whispered, "I… hum… there's an emergency, I have to leave."
Rory chuckled, "Does this emergency involve a bottle of chardonnay?"
Tristan raised an eyebrow questioningly as Paris took control of her emotions and exclaimed, "It's just something I have to do." Then she smiled at them both, "Plus, I don't think there's still a triangle of tension to break."
Rory answered nervously, "But that doesn't mean that you have to leave."
Paris sat between Tristan and Rory, "Maybe not, but I think you two need some alone time to figure out where you stand."
Rory closed her eyes thinking, 'But with you here, I don't have to deal with it right away.' She looked at Paris with pleading eyes, "Are you sure you have to?"
The blonde girl had to smile knowingly at that, "You know Rory; I have to deal with my own things." She turned to Tristan and kissed him softly on the lips, "Don't hurt her." Then she turned to Rory and kissed her softly on the lips, "Don't break his heart."
Paris stood up and picked up her bag, "I'll see you both on Monday."
Rory stood up and whispered, "I'll… go take a shower."
- - - - - - -
Rory came out of the bathroom only to hear Tristan arguing on his cell phone with someone, "I know that you find her amazing but she's only thirteen." He shook his head and tried to explain, "Fourteen, whatever, you have an age difference of four years! You are eighteen if you take it any further in the next four years it could be considered statuary rape." He let his head hang on his hand on the couch, "You know I would never, but that's my little sister we're talking about and you don't know my parents, if they ever found out-" Tristan groaned, "I know you know them but you know the well-mannered side of the DuGreys; not the power hungry ones."
Rory sat beside Tristan in her pajamas and started to comb her hair as Tristan's voice became angry, "It's my sister we are talking about, not just some random girl, Mr. 'I can get any girl to bed me right after I made paint their portrait'." He clenched his teeth, "We are not talking about me here! Why her? She's just an annoying little spoiled brat, but she is my sister!" Tristan stood up exasperated, "Do you know how much I would love to have you in front of me right now just to beat the crap out of you?" He sat back down under the amused glance of Rory, "Fine, I'll see you then." Rory placed her feet on the coffee table, "We'll see about that." Tristan looked into Rory's eyes, "Not a good time for that." Rory blushed, "Yeah, something like that."
Tristan closed his cell phone and turned to Rory, "Finally alone."
Rory forced a yawn and whispered, "I think I'm tired, I just want to sleep."
He stood up and extended his hand, "May I escort you?"
She looked down, "I was actually thinking of taking the couch for tonight. I'll see you in the morning, ok?" He looked dejected and she tried to explain as she stood up to hug him, "I just… need to be by myself for right now, to think." She kissed his bottom lip and smiled, "Goodnight."
He just watched her get comfortable on the couch and shrugged his shoulders and went silently to his room.
- - - - - - -
Author's
Note: I hope you enjoyed.
Didi
