Chapter 9- Two Sides to Every Story

Rory ran from her car to the front door; it was the most physical activity she had done since gym class in the 8th grade.

"RORY!" Lorelai jumped up and down once she heard the front door close. "I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I

KNEW IT!"

"Knew what?" Rory asked, who started jumping up and down once her mother grabbed hold of her hands.

"KNEW THAT YOU LIKED TRISTAN AND THAT YOU ARE GONNA GET MARRIED AND HAVE SOME DAMN GOOD LOOKING

KIDS!"

Rory stopped jumping, "Mom, it was a kiss."

Lorelai stopped also, trying to calm herself down. "Yeah, just one kiss," she said, trying hard not to smile.

Rory closed her eyes tight, "Or maybe two." she replied.

Lorelai grabbed Rory's wrists again, "TWICE! YOU KISSED HIM TWICE! OH MY GODDDDDDDDDD!"

Rory couldn't help but smile, her mother's excitement was contagious

"And they weren't completely horrible either." she said, still grinning.

"Oh thank goodness... because if you were to tell me that he was a bad kisser then I think I would have to go drown my head in a

fish tank."

"Mom, we don't have a fish tank."

"Well... it doesn't matter now does it? Because Tristan is fineeee and from what I hear a magnificent kisser." she said with a smile

spreading from ear to ear.

Rory laughed and made her way into the kitchen, Lorelai following her every move like a little puppy.

"So... tell me everything!" Lorelai said as she sat at the kitchen table.

"Okay," Rory started as she grabbed two sodas from the fridge, "so I went into his room to apologize,"

"Wait, apologize for what?"

Rory shook her head, "umm, nothing important, I just forgot to change his pillow cases." she lied.

Lorelai wrinkled her face in disgust, "Yuck, you left him with grungy pillow cases,"

"That's not the point. Anyway," she said continuing, "when I went in, Trevor was already there. He was leaving and just said 'see

you tomorrow.' So I went in and asked him what tomorrow was and he said it was his birthday."

"Ohhh! This is getting good! Are we almost at the kissing part?" Lorelai asked, downing her soda.

"Mom! Shh! Ok, so he said it was his birthday and I sat in this chair that is right next to his bed.

"Ok, ok." Lorelai said, getting up and grabbing the box of Ritz Bits.

"And I'm sitting in this chair and I asked him if he wanted anything special for his birthday and-"

"Oh, did he say something dirty? I bet he said something dirty!" Lorelai exclaimed with a mouth full of crackers.

"No, he did not say anything dirty." Rory said, giving her mom a look.

"Ok, so tell me what Brad said then!"

"Ok, after I asked him if he wanted anything special he said that he already got what he wanted and leaned in closer. When I asked

what that was, he moved closer and said 'you.'

Lorelai sighed, "Awww, that is soooo cute. He is so adorable!"

"And then he leaned in closer and kissed me."

"Awwww, Roryyy!"

"But then, of course, Delia burst in saying that his grandfather was there and wanted to speak to him. And so then I ran out,

avoiding D and that's when I ran across the hospital to call you."

"Ughh... Rory, you make me so depressed, which makes me pig out, which makes me get to be like 5,000 pounds. So when I'm 80,

it's gonna be all your fault that I am huge and can't get through a door, okay?"

Rory laughed, "How is this depressing?"

"Because... now you have a hot boyfriend and are gonna spend all your time staring at his pretty face, which only leaves me home

alone with these fine fellows," she said pointing to the box of Ritz Bits crackers.

"He is not my boyfriend, it was just a kiss."

Lorelai put her hand up to correct Rory, "No, it was not 'a kiss' it was two kisses. And you have to tell me about the second one!"

Lorelai said, getting excited again.

"Oh.. yeah. Ok, so I went back to his room to give him his dinner and he acted all cool saying that I was the one who kissed him and

that I couldn't control myself around him or whatever... and so we were kind of fighting--"

"Your first fight! Rory, write this stuff down, you'll want to remember it when you're married and have a billion Brad look-a-likes."

"Well... it wasn't a fight, we were just joking around. So anyway, he started calling me Mary again and I told him that he hadn't called

me that in a couple of days. Then he said that that was when he was trying to win me over and now that he has me, he can go back

to the old nickname."

"Oh he is so smooth." Lorelai said, stuffing her face with Ritz Bits again.

"And so then I was like 'Now that you have me? Since when?' and he was like 'since you kissed me,' and then I got all worked up

again saying that I didn't kiss him and that he kissed me and then," Rory said taking a breath.

"Then what? COME ON RORY, Mommy's gonna have a heart attack!"

"And then... he kissed me, again."

Lorelai leaned back in her chair. "Yup, I am definitely going to grow old and obese because my only daughter is going to abandon

me for a huge, hot movie star." she said as she pushed the box of crackers away from her.

"Mom, I will not let you grow old alone. Plus, we're not getting married or anything, we're not even going out. Hell, I don't even

know if he likes me." Rory said, starting to feel unsure.

"Rory, he's kissed you twice in one day, I think it's safe to say that he likes you."

"Well the poor guy is locked up alone in a hospital room all day, he's probably gone crazy... plus why would he like me?"

Lorelai reached out and put her hands on Rory's. "Because you're smart, beautiful, nice, and he'd be lucky to have you."

Rory nodded.

"Plus, you're probably the only nurse he could score... the only hot nurse that is."

"Mom, stop!" Rory replied with a wide grin.

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Tristan awoke from his nap when he heard the door close. He looked up to see who it was, but then quickly looked back down

when he noticed it was Delia.

"Hey kid, how you doin?" she asked, walking in with medicine.

"Fine, thanks." he replied, keeping his eyes on his lap.

"What's wrong? You're usually more talkative..."

Tristan looked up, not really knowing what to say, "Just tired," he found himself saying.

"That's a bunch of bullshit, if I've ever heard any." Delia replied with a small smile.

Tristan nodded.

"It wouldn't be because you know that I saw your little makeout session with Gilmore today, now would it?"

"No," Tristan said, looking back down quickly.

Delia laughed, "Ahh, looks like I've struck a nerve." When Tristan didn't look back up Delia continued, "so, do you care about

her?" she asked.

Tristan looked up at her with honest eyes and nodded yes.

Delia met his gaze, "You better not be lyin' to me, because you know, I do control what food you eat."

Tristan smirked, "Do you think I would lie when gourmet hospital food is involved?" he asked smiling but with a serious,

underlying tone.

"Well, good. I know if you asked any other doctor they'd probably frown upon you and Gilmore being together, but I approve." she

said with a knowing smile.

"Thanks... I guess. But we're not dating." he replied.

"Man, you kids today. You make everything so complicated. If you two like each other then you should go out." Delia said as she

dumped different variations of pills on a little desk to sort.

"Where would I take her? I think I'm pretty much stuck here for a while."

"Your bed is on wheels you know." Delia said with a smirk.

"You know, you used to freak me out, but I think I'm starting to like the way you think." Tristan said honestly.

Delia looked at him with a furrowed brow, "I'm guessing that was a compliment?"

"Yeah, it sounded better in my head, sorry."

Delia nodded as she walked over to his bed with the handful of pills and a glass of water.

"So you're serious about her?" she asked, handing over the medicine.

Tristan looked down at his hands. Was he serious about her? Boy, that was an understatement. But he would never say that

aloud, much less to Delia. "I'm not gonna hurt her, if that's what you're getting at."

Delia gave a nod of approval, "Good, that's what I like to hear."

Tristan took a swig of water as Delia made her way towards the door and then turned around, "but hey, you remember one thing,"

"Yeah?" he said looking up.

"You break her heart, I break your hip... again."

Before Tristan could respond, Delia walked out, no where to be seen.