Chapter 9: Hung up

As soon as the door shut behind them Lorelai was standing in front of Tristin hand stuck out in front of her. "Hi I'm Lorelai Gilmore - Rory's hott older sister."
Rory's eye's widened instantly. "Mom!" She looked from her mother to Tristin frantically.
Tristin laughed good-naturedly, while shaking her hand. " Tristin DuGrey. It's a pleasure to meet you Lorelai. "
Smiling Lorelai stood silently for a few seconds while twisting her hands behind her back. "Sooo Tristin ... You single?"
Rory dropped her head into her hands and let out a long groan, Tristin simply laughed again. "Yes, I am - but I have a very strong feeling that you are not."
Lorelai smiled wickedly. "Who said I was asking for me?"
Rory's head shot up instantly. "MOM!" Grabbing her mother by the wrist she pulled her into the kitchen.
As they were walking away, Tristin herd Lorelai whispering rather loudly to Rory. "Was he that hott in high-school?" Which was followed by another groan from Rory. "What the hell were you always complaining about?! If the guy looks like that - you let him call you whatever he wants." They were now in what he assumed was the kitchen and he could still hear them.

"What - is there not enough girls at Harvard to feed that huge ego of yours?" Tristin turned to see Paris sitting in a chair in the living room.
Smiling he walked into the room. "Hey their only feeding what you started - correct me if I'm wrong here - but I believe it was you, who first told me just how amazingly gorgeous I am."
Paris rolled her eye's while remaining seated. " Spare me - We were in kindergarten, and I believe what I told you was that I liked your eye's because they were blue which is my favorite color, and your hair because it's the same color as mine."
Tristin laughed and stretched his arms out, signaling for her to give him a hug. Paris rolled her eye's once again before getting up and falling into his tight embrace. As he felt her body slowly begin to shake, he began to rub her back."Shh ... hey it's ok. Everything's going to be all right I promise." He whispered softly to her.
Paris pulled away and rubbed her hands over face trying to rid her eye's and cheeks of any sign of tears.Then with an exasperated groan she fell back into her chair - her hands never leaving her face. "God what is wrong with me?! Why can't I stop crying?" Tristin sighed and sat down on the coffee table in front of her. Reaching out he slowly pulled her hands away from her face, but she wouldn't meet his eye's. He began to talk anyway. "I don't know ... I mean you think - maybe you might still-"
Shooting forward Paris cut him off. "No."
Tristin simply tried again. "Look all I'm saying is-"
Paris held a hand up as if to silence him. " Tristin I'm warning you - do not even go there." Her voice held a murderous edge to it.
He sighed in defeat. "OK. I'm sorry." After pausing for a second, he stood up. " You know what Paris? I don't know what to tell you. ... Except ... get over it."
Paris looked up at him and narrowed her eye's. "Excuse me?" She stood up, her hands automatically on her hip's.
Looking down at her he tried to hold back his laughter at their height difference. He had to help her get through this, and this was the only way he knew how. "You herd me. Get Over It. It's been 8 years! How can you possibly still be hung up on it? I mean unless your still in love with him?"

Hallway

They had been listening sense Tristin walked into the living room. Hiding behind the wall separating them and the living room. Both Lorelai and Rory had gasped when he told her to get over it, but Rory quickly realized what he was doing, Lorelai however' mouth was hanging open in shock. Rory knew that the only way to get through to Paris was to challenge her. He was good she had to give him that. And if he was as smart as she thought, he expected the slap across his face that came right after his last words, just like she did. She herd her mom gasp in surprise. Looking over at her she held a finger to her mouth, silently telling her to be quiet. In response Lorelai stuck her tongue out at her. Tristin's voice brought their attention back to the ongoing conversation.

'Wow. Now that was weak ... I guess this whole Logan thing affected you more then I thought. You've lost your fire Geller."
Lorelai looked over at her daughter not understanding why she wasn't in there sticking up for her friend.
"Now you listen to me. Not now or ever again will I ever feel anything but disgust towards that thing you call a cousin."
'You mean Logan?"
Silence. 'Come on Paris say his name."
"I do not love - Logan."
Each word was forced and came through gritted teeth.
'You see how easy that was?'
"What are you doing here DuGrey?"
'You asked me to come.'
They herd the playfulness in his voice, and they knew as well as he did, that it was only making her angrier.
"Your high - I did no such thing."
'If you didn't want my help you wouldn't have called me."
"I called you to tell you off because I knew - excuse me - know that you knew he was transferring to Yale. And you just so happened to forget to tell me."
'You mean like how you to forgot to tell me that you and Rory are roommates?'
"Talk about still being hung up on people."
Silence. "It's been 5 years!" She threw his earlier words back at him.

Now it was Rory's mouth that hung open in surprise. "How did I get brought into this?" She whispered to her mom, who mimicked her by holding a finger to her mouth.

'You know what - that's not the issue here. The issue is you and Logan. Now tell me, are you over it?'

Living room

Paris stood silent, her arms crossed in front of her chest and her head hung.
He had to strain to hear her when she whispered her reply. "Excuse me, I didn't get that."
She looked up at him, her eye's filled with tears, and her face showing nothing but anger. "I said - no."
Sighing, he turned around and sat on the couch. "Paris-" He started to reason.
She cut him off. "He cheated on me Tristin." He couldn't look at her. "I told him I loved him, and he cheated on me!" He stayed quiet, and Paris sat beside him. "How am I supposed to just get over that?" She asked quietly."He was my Best Friend."
Tristin wrapped his arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder. "You mean after me of course."
Rolling her eye's Paris gave a patronizing nod. "Of course." They both let out a low laugh. When Tristin began to approach the subject again, Paris lifted her head. "Are you guy's hungry?" His face showed nothing but confusion until he herd Lorelai sigh loudly from a few feet away.
'Finally I thought it was just me!'
When she emerged from behind the wall he saw Rory's arm shoot out in an attempt to pull her back. "Mom!"
Lorelai grabbed the outstretched hand and pulled her from her hiding place. 'It's pretty late - there's nothing really open...'
Rory and Tristin's eye's locked automatically, she gave him a half smile and let go of her mothers hand.

Apparently they had been staring longer then either of them had thought because by the time they turned their attention back to the conversation, a meal had been chosen and both Paris and Lorelai were making their way to the kitchen.
Tristin sat quietly, while Rory stood twisting her hands in front of her. They began to speak at the same time.
'I'm'
"How"
They both gave a nervous laugh. But Rory was the first to try again. 'I'm really sorry about that... I don't usually listen in on peoples conversations."
Tristin gave a small nod."How long were you back there?"
'Oh not long at all. We didn't hear anything if that's what your wondering. Well, I mean we herd the end of it - but that's all.'
She answered quickly.
Smiling he shook his head. "Your a horrible liar."
Laughing she sat down next to him. 'Get over it.' Shock overtook his face, and a small smile began to form. Before he could respond Rory picked up the remote that was sitting on the coffee table and tucked both legs beneath her. 'Wanna watch a movie?'
"Sure. But uh - I choose!"
He reached over and took the remote from her.
'Hey! My house my remote!' She reached over and tried to get it back from him.
"You mean kind of like how it was my conversation?"
Roryautomatically drew back and rolled her eye's at Tristin's triumphant smile. After a moment of silence she turned to look at him."You do realize that you played that card way to soon right? I mean my guilt over that was pretty bad - and now you can never use it again. HA!" She smiled brightly, happy that she no longer felt guilty for eavesdropping.
Trisitn smiled slightly and gave a small thoughtful nod. "Never again huh?"
While shaking her head, her smile seemed to grow. 'Nope.'
"Why Rory Gilmore - is that your way of telling me that you've decided to keep me around?"
He put a hand to his heart and let out a loud sigh.
Not being able to help it - she laughed. Then after a few seconds she gave a small nod. 'Ya know, I think it is.'
Tristin who had been flipping through the channels, stopped and looked over at her, she was smiling. "What?"
She turned her body so that she was facing him. 'What I mean is ... well your not 16 anymore Tristin. We can be friends.'
Tristin gave her a funny look before he copied her sitting position and looked at her. He laughed and shook his head. "I'm sorry - did you just insult me and offer me friendship in the same sentence?"
Rory laughed and tilted her head to the right. 'You know what I mean.'
"No - I don't. I think I need you to explain it to me.'
He smirked at her and Rory looked down in embarrassment.
Then with a sudden burst of courage she met his eye's. 'You were an Ass.' She said in an obvious tone.
Tristin's eye's grew wide but he couldn't help but smile. "Wow very nice."
Rory rolled her eye's. 'You were a jerk and you know it.'
"And if I hadn't I sure do now."
'Whatever I can do to help.'

Before he could respond, she looked over at the TV and began to squeal. 'Yea Willy Wonka!' Off of Tristins confused look, Rory pointed to the TV. 'Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory!'
When he looked at the TV their was a man in a hat singing some song ... he kept changing colors. If he had to be completely honest he would admit that at first the man kind of creeped him out. But he just shrugged his shoulders and sat the remote down on the table. "OK."
She couldn't believe the look on his face. He looked so confused. 'How can anybody grow up without ever seeing Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory! That's insane!' 'Please tell me I'm just imagining things. Tell me you've seen this movie before.'
"I've seen this movie before...?" He replied slightly embarrassed.
The room was silent, Rory sat staring wide eyed at Tristin who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. After about a minute she stood up. 'I'm going to change into something a little more comfortable...'
Tristin smirked and opened his mouth to say something but stopped when he saw the look she was giving him. "What? All I was gonna say was it's about time. I mean you smell like Paris Uncle Rick."
Deciding not to comment on that she continued as if he had said nothing. 'And then I'm going to come back and we're going to watch the DVD.' With a shake of her head and a held back smile, she turned and walked out of the room.

Kitchen

Rory entered the kitchen just as the back door opened and Lorelai and paris walked in. They were each carrying 2 bags with Lukes written across the front. She looked at the purple watch wrapped around her wrist and then back at the two women who had yet to see her. They were whispering to eachother and trying to move as quietly as possible. "It's 4am." They both spun and met Rory with guilt filled eye's. "Where we're you two?" Each held up a bag. "How did you get those? Luke isn't open this late... Oh no - mom." Rory said in a motherly tone.
Lorelai sucked in her bottom lip, then stomped her foot like a child throwing a tantrum. 'He said it was for emergency's." She whined.
Rory crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Yea like if he leaves the gas on - not whenever you have a midnight danish craving."
Paris threw her arm in the air and snapped her fingers. "Danish's! That was what we forgot!"
'Ooooh yea...'
Rory dropped her arms to her sides loudly. "You forgot the Danish's?"
'Oh well look at little miss perfect over there, 'it's only for emergency's - blah blah blah'.'
She waved her hands around, danced around the kitchen and did her best Rory imitation.
Rory glared at her mother. "You know what we have a serious crisis going on in the living room - so I'll just be sure to tell Luke tomorrow." Lorelai stopped dancing and Paris eye's grew and her heart momentarily stopped, she automatically assumed it was something to do with Logan. "Tristins never seen Willy wonka and the Chocolate Factory! Can you believe that!"
Lorelai's mouth dropped open and even Paris whispered an unbelieving ' oh my God'. ' Your not serious right? ... Oh My God.' With that Lorelai walked past her daughter and into the living room.

Paris sat down at the kitchen table and started taking the food from the bags. Rory twisted her hands in front of her then sat down. "Hey Paris?"
'Hmm?'
"Who's your Uncle Rick?"
Paris glanced at her curiously before returning to her task. 'Dad's brother. He's a drunk.' After a second she looked up and sniffed the air. 'Ya know - you kinda smell like him.'
Rory rolled her eye's and stood up. She walked into her room and shut the door.

Paris took the last dish out of the bag then leaned back in her chair and laid her hands in her lap. 'There's something she isn't telling me.'
After a few more minutes Rory opened the door and walked out in sweats and a tank-top that read 'Take me I'm yours' on it and had a picture of a cup of coffee right under.. Her hair was sitting in a messy bun on top of her head.
She was only slightly surprised when she saw Paris still sitting there. She walked over to the table and sat back down. "We need to talk ... about Logan."
Paris dropped her head between her knees and rocked back and forth. 'Oh God - you slept with him.'
Rory stared in surprise - not knowing what to say she began to stutter. "Wh - I - I - I ..."
'Oh my God...'

Regaining some control Rory leaned forward, her arms wrapped around her stomach. "Paris!" She whispered harshly. "I did not sleep with him! Where would you even get an idea like that?!"
Paris head shot up. 'What? You didn't?'
"No, I didn't. But nice to know what you think of me."
She didn't try to hide the hurt in her voice.
Paris sighed and sat forward. 'Rory - that's not what I meant. It's not about you - it's him. I know how he is - it wouldn't matter that your my best friend - trust me.'
Realizing where that came from she sighed. "Hey - don't ever worry about that with me OK? You can trust me." Paris gave a small smile and nodded her head. "But ..." Rory continued. "Speaking of Finn."
Paris looked at her like she was crazy. 'Who was speaking of Finn?'
"Nobody - just go with it Paris."
Paris rolled her eye's and leaned back. 'God I swear your starting to think just like that slacker.'
"Paris"
'Honestly Rory why you ever talked to him in the first place is beyond me - you can and have done so much better then him.'
"Paris."
' Well Ok maybe you haven't yet - but I mean you can.'
"What's that supposed to mean!?"
'Nothing - God Rory stay on topic, this isn't about you.'
"Me - You - But - agh! Whatever anyway ...
SPEAKING OF FINN ... he called me this afternoon -"
'While the sun was still up?'
She moved her head back and her eye's slightly grew.
" Yea, it kinda worried me to at first. But uh funny thing - ha..."
Rory let out a nervous laugh.
Seeing the look of uncertainty wash over Rorys face Paris began to get worried. 'Why do I have a feeling that I'm not going to like where this is going?'
"Turns out
Logan knows Finn." Paris paled and and sat quietly."They apparently went to the same boarding school. Best Friends." She kept her eye's on Paris waiting for some type of reaction, when she got none she continued. "That's where I was tonight - Logan asked me if I'd go with him to meet them at the pub..."
'Them...'
She repeated in a soft whisper.
"Yea Finn and"
Paris cut her off with another whisper, this one a little louder, but choked. 'Colin...'