Hola! Thanks again everyone whose reviewing and/or reading (Both is
nice ;)
I'd like to give a special thanks to my buddies Nicole E. and Mary B. (Even though they will never see this because I have forbidden them from reading my posted writing) But, it's the idea of the thing, so "Thanks guys! Without you, I never would have had the courage to write down any of my crazy thoughts; let alone post them." Also thanks to my parents, who did the editing I was unwilling to do.
Okay, I'm done babbling. By the way, I'd hoped you'd realized by now that I own none of this. : )
~
It was now the day before New Year's Eve. Rory was still employing her "Don't think of Dean" philosophy. So now there were only images of Tristan running though her head. For Rory, this caused a dilemma all its own. It led to the new "Don't think about Tristan" policy to be implemented. It involved lots of reading and lots of watching distracting movies. Perhaps it was because this policy was new, but so far, it wasn't working. Currently, Rory was on "Sleepless in Seattle." Lorelei had actually put the tape in, but had quickly abandoned it for a warm shower. Lorelei was truly enjoying the working water heater. She had actually taken up singing in the shower.
Rory did become concerned, however, when her mom's loud singing turned into a scream. But it didn't concern Rory enough to, you know, get up or anything.
Her getting up wasn't necessary anyway, because after a minute Lorelei exited the bathroom in only a towel. There was still shampoo in her hair. And some of it was beginning to flow dangerously close to her eyes. Rory gave a questioning look from her place on the coach.
"The water got cold." Stated the indignant Lorelei.
"That would explain the scream." Rory remained calm; one of them would have to.
"The water heater is broken again." Lorelei seemed to be on the verge of insanity, or maybe not on the verge, but already there. There was a strange little sparkle in her eye, which hinted at a lack of logic being there.
"Well, don't get huffy at me. This is obviously Luke and Tristan's fault."
Lorelei humphed. "Well what am I supposed to do now? I still have shampoo in my hair. And we have to act quickly before it gets in my eyes!"
Rory shrugged. "Finish your shower."
"Are you crazy? I know we've had four days of warm water bliss, but you couldn't have forgotten the suffering of cold water we endured already."
Rory blinked. "I remember."
"Good, then you know I will not be sticking my head back in that cold water."
Rory blinked again. "So, what are you going to do?"
Lorelei didn't seem to have an answer to that. "Okay, here's what we do, you go and get coffee from Luke's and I'll wash my hair in the sink, thus avoiding anymore cold than is necessary."
"Okay."
The mother and daughter stared at each other. "Go! Go now!"
"Okay!" With that Rory was up and running out into the cold night.
~
Rory rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She had gone to bed rather early last night. After Lorelei had gotten the shampoo out of her hair and drunken three cups of coffee, she had ranted about the cold water nonstop. And Rory had decided she couldn't listen to that anymore. Thus, the solution was bed.
Now, she got up and headed downstairs. Just as she was about to enter the kitchen, the doorbell rang. She shrugged, who really cares if she's in her pajamas, she was the closest to the door. Rory opened the front door. "Not again."
Tristan didn't wait for an invite to enter the house. "Rory, how nice it is to see you again, and those pajamas. Very nice. I don't now which pair I like better. It's just one of those decisions, stars or stripes."
Rory didn't let Tristan get to her this time. "Why are you here?"
"Your mom called me."
"Oh God, she didn't. I knew I shouldn't have gone to sleep last night."
Tristan patted her shoulder. "There, there all will be right in the world. I'm here." Rory gave him her "oh please" look. "Is Luke already here?"
Rory shrugged. "I just got up. I have no idea."
"Okay, well, I'll just head back there then."
"You do that." Tristan followed Rory to the kitchen and continued on to wherever the stupid delicate water heater was. He didn't return, causing Rory to make the grand assumption that Luke was already here. A minute later, Lorelei entered the kitchen. Rory took on an authoritative "I'm going to yell at you" stance. It was impressive that she was able to pull it off, since she was sitting in her pajamas, with unbrushed hair, and holding a Pop tart.
Lorelei took notice of the stance. "What?"
"I can't believe you called him!"
"Why wouldn't I? It's part of his punishment. You partially blamed him last night."
"It's New Year's Eve! And he's already spent a whole day working on the stupid water heater. Plus he paid you for half the price of getting the Jeep's bumper pounded out."
"Okay, first don't call the water heater stupid. It has feelings and it's been here longer then we have."
"Maybe we should get a new one."
"Not an option." Lorelei paused, trying to regain her train of thought. "What number am I on?"
"Two." Rory supplied.
"Second, when I called and asked him to come, he didn't complain. Or in anyway make me feel guilty for even asking." Lorelei seemed to be running last night's phone conversation through her head. "Which actually kind of surprised me. I mean, what kind of rich teenage boy doesn't complain?"
Mom. Loosing focus."
"Third, I highly doubt Tristan misses the money for the bumper. So, his only real punishment is all this working. And two days of labor, not too bad."
"You don't know that for sure." Rory attempted to argue.
Lorelei endeavored to continue despite the distraction. "And fifth-"
"You skipped fourth."
Lorelei looked confused, "What?" then realization hit. "Whatever. The point is, Rory, that I want hot water. And I want it before the New Year. I will not have us beginning a year with only cold water. It would be against the laws of nature."
"What law of nature is this?"
"Rory, I am wiser, older, and not to mention your mother. Just trust me on this."
"I'm surprised Luke agreed to help you in this craziness."
"Well he did. I only had to say please about a dozen times."
"Not too bad."
"No, then he wouldn't let me thank him for too long either."
Rory had a suspicion, "What time did you ask him for help last night?"
"It was only about 11:30, but he sounded tired."
Rory sighed, leaving her mother to go and do the changing thing in her room. She then proceeded to call Lane. As usual Mrs. Kim answered.
"This is Rory, may I please speak with Lane?"
"She's studying." Came the usual, and Rory was sure automatic answer.
"Please, it will only take a minute." Rory pleaded.
"Alright, but I time you. Lane!"
A few seconds later, Lane picked up on the line. "Hey. Everything still on for tonight?"
"Yep." Over two weeks ago Rory and Lane had planned a little New Year's bash at Rory's house. The party had been planned to consist of her, Dean, Henry, and Lane. Now, there was no Dean. But Rory wasn't going to let that stop Lane from seeing Henry. "I just wanted to warn you that there's a chance there may be no hot water."
"Well, consider me properly warned. Did the stupid water heater die again?"
"Yes, but don't call it S-T-U-P-I-D in my house. My mom may have to stab you with the nearest sharp object. She doesn't feel the stupid thing is stupid. And she is willing to defend her view with violence."
"Oh no, that would suck to get stabbed with a pencil on New Year's Eve. I'll keep that in mind. So, how much longer do you think it will be before the heat returns to your water?"
"Undetermined. Luke and Tristan are working on it as we speak. Can't you hear the banging?"
"No. Tristan? As in Evil Tristan? As in "was away to military school, but came back just to irritate you and cause damage to your mother's jeep" Evil Tristan?"
"The one and hopefully only."
"I gotta go. My mom's making weird faces at me. I'm pretty sure she wants me to get off the phone. Or to only speak in Korean. But I'd prefer to test the phone theory first."
"See ya tonight."
"Bye."
That done, Rory picked up a book to read and turned on her CD player to drown out the banging sounds from downstairs.
~
Rory didn't surface until late that afternoon when Lane arrived looking to escape her mother. Rory was quickly amused by her best friend, who was rather cheery due to the eventual arrival of Henry. Rory and Lane went into the kitchen to snack on Pop tarts. Soon after the munching began, Lorelei ran through mumbling something about needing to go to the inn for some food crisis Sookie was having. Soon after that a sweaty Luke and an irritated looking Tristan came through announcing they were taking a break to get food and were going to Luke's since Lorelei's kitchen had the bare minimum of "real food."
Tristan's brief passing through the kitchen caused Lane's comment of "That's Evil Tristan? He's hot!"
Rory looked suddenly uncomfortable. "Don't say that."
"Why not? He is!"
My mom said about the same thing. And frankly I'm trying to avoid thinking about Tristan's hotness. I'm trying to recover from Dean over here."
"Lane wasn't buying it. "Uh-huh, so what's the deal with him?"
"Dean? You know the deal."
"No! Tristan."
"Nothing. No deal." Rory began to play with the remains of her Pop tart.
"Did you guys kiss?"
"Not since last year. You know that."
"Would you consider kissing Tristan again?"
Rory did her "oh please" look. "Can we have a new topic?"
"You want to kiss him! I knew it! I say go for it!" Lane was smiling, in Rory's opinion, like an idiot.
"Have you seen our decapitated snowwoman?" Rory asked.
"You're changing the subject!" Lane accused. "You really like him! This is so exciting!"
Rory was silent for several seconds, "So, have you seen our decapitated snowwoman?"
This time Lane allowed the subject change. "Is that what that was?"
"Yes. We didn't mean for it to be decapitated. It's just the head wouldn't stay on." The girls got up and headed for their coats, with the hope of ending the snowwoman's slight decapitation problem.
~
"You know, I can't remember it being this difficult to attach a snowwoman's head when we were younger." Lane observed.
"I know, I'm beginning to think she's cursed."
"But who would curse a snowwoman? In the grand scale, aren't they considered pretty innocent creatures?"
Rory shrugged. "I don't know. But whoever did it would have to be extremely evil."
Lane looked at their surroundings. "Speaking of evil things, here comes your love interest."
Rory was about to ask Lane what she meant when Tristan stepped up to her side. "So, you like to fight losing battles."
"What do you want, Tristan?"
"Well, world peace, you, a new winter jacket, to put that pathetic snowwoman out of its misery, but mainly to not have to go back to work right now."
Rory attempted to ignore the "you" in that comment; the weird itchy tingly feeling that "you" gave her in her chest; and the excited "see, he loves you" look, Lane was giving her. It's hard to ignore three things at once. "My mom has her heart set on warm water before the New Year. That doesn't give you much time."
"We'll get it done."
"Ever the cocky one. I'll laugh when you're not done and my mom kills you at the stroke of midnight."
"I bet you'd be sad if I died. Besides, she wouldn't kill me. She knows you like me too much. She wouldn't risk you suffering through loosing me." Rory almost dropped the snowwoman's head that she had just picked up in yet another attempt to re-attach it to its body. "Where did you get that idea?"
"What idea?"
"That-that I liked you?"
Tristan just smiled, took the head from Rory, placed it on the body, and told Rory and Lane to pack some snow around the transported head. After snow was quickly packed on and the head appeared to be staying on, the three teens backed up.
"It could pass as a scarf." Rory smiled.
"Oh my God! It's staying!" Lane jumped excitedly.
"Don't jump! The vibrations could cause it to fall again." Tristan warned. Lane immediately stopped jumping.
Rory looked at the snowwoman in all her glory. All three, slowly began to back away from the snowwoman. Then, without warning, one of the charcoal eyes fell out and cracked into itsy-bitsy pieces one the ground.
Lane seemed truly saddened. "We were so close."
Rory took a frustrated breath. "Wait one minute, I'll get another piece. I'm not giving up on her." With that said Rory quickly tiptoed inside, leaving Tristan and Lane by the ill-fated snowwoman.
Once inside, Rory heard Luke call her, or more so calling Tristan. "Hey, Tristan!"
"No Luke, it's Rory. Tristan's still outside." She heard what could very easily be interpreted as Luke swearing.
"Will you go get him? I could use a hand here."
"Sure." Rory quickly grabbed a piece of charcoal and headed back outside. Tristan and Lane were laughing. They stopped when they noticed Rory, making her instantly suspicious. Both gave her innocent smiles, causing her suspicion to build. "Luke wants your help."
"And I will give it, as soon as our lovely snowwoman has her eye back."
"Our? All you did was put her head on. Big deal, she was fine without it, maybe even better."
"Hey, she's recognizable as human because of me, and now three-year- olds won't scream in fear at the sight of her."
"Only the shallow ones would have screamed before." It's a good process for choosing the nicer, deeper, more intelligent little kids. Besides, we're lucky she didn't fall to pieces when she was unlucky enough to have you touch her."
"Hey, can I help if I have that effect on woman?"
Leave Tristan to turn an insult into a positive reflection of his effect on women. Rory just rolled her eyes. She'd walked right into that one. She quickly stuck the new eye into place. All three waited for something else to fall. Amazingly, nothing did.
"Quick inside! If we don't see anything fall, that means it didn't happen." At Rory's urging they ran back inside. Tristan continued through the house to help Luke.
"Henry should be here soon. Let's wait in your room." Suggested Lane.
"Okay." They began heading through the kitchen. "So, what were you guys talking about while I was getting the replacement eye?"
"Oh nothing." Lane replied absently. "He totally likes you, you know. Just like you like him."
Rory held her breath for a second to stop herself from questioning Lane in a shriek. "How do you know this?" Good. Her voice managed to sound civil. Almost as though her insides weren't turning in swirls waiting to hear the answer.
Lane shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it's because I'm like a third party." Rory made a "you're being weird again" face. "You know, I'm not like, emotionally involved. So I can see clearly."
"Ah-huh."
The doorbell rang. Lane squealed and ran through the kitchen to let Henry in.
Eventually, everyone (Lane) calmed down and they sat down to watch the beginning of the New Year's presentation on T.V.
Lorelei rushed in. "Ohh sorry, Sookie couldn't decide between peaches or plums. Very back and forth issue, eventually, she was forced to make both. Hey Henry. Have I missed anything good?"
Rory smiled up at her frazzled mother. "Nope, just beginning."
"Finished!" Everyone turned to see a tired-looking Luke and Tristan enter the room. "Lorelei, we are proud to tell you, we were yet again successful in saving your ancient water heater. You have warm water and before the New Year. Congratulations." Luke smiled.
"Oh my God yes!" Lorelei ran into the closest room with a faucet, which happened to be the kitchen, and proceeded to run warm water over her hands, eventually returning to the living room to hug both Tristan and Luke. (With wet hands) "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Come, I'll buy you dinner. I don't care that you own the restaurant. Tonight, you'll be a guest. Plus, this way, I can have good coffee first thing in the New Year." A smiling Lorelei began to drag Luke out of the house. "That invitation is open to you too, Tristan."
"No thanks, I'll stay here." Tristan proceeded to jump onto the coach and sit next to Rory.
She feigned irritation. "Why are you still here? Don't you have plans or something?"
"Oh, I have plans. Lane invited her to spend New Year's with her, her boyfriend, and her best friend." Tristan said pointing at each person he had described in turn.
Lane gave the most innocent smile she could muster. Rory just glared. "I don't see how she could do that, considering this isn't her house, and thus not her party."
Henry decided to save his girlfriend from total annihilation by changing the subject. "Hey Tristan. Long time no see."
"Yeah, how are you doing?"
"Good. I have the best girlfriend in the world." Henry gave Lane's shoulder a squeeze, while Lane blushed. "I heard a rumor about you right before break started though."
Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yep, heard you might be coming back to Chilton."
"That's not a rumor, it's almost a fact."
"Cool. What caused the change from military school?"
"Well, despite most beliefs, military school is not fun." Tristan glanced at Rory. "Plus, I had motivation to come back."
~
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
The four teens counted along with the people in New York. "Happy New Year!" Lane and Henry kissed. Rory decided to abandon her namesake of "Mary" and kissed Tristan. On the cheek. So it wasn't a complete abandonment. But none the less, it surprised him and there were several seconds of major eye contact, in which Rory wondered if Tristan was going to kiss her on the lips. Rory didn't doubt his confidence to do it. But, Rory was distracted by Lane leaning over and hugging her, thus ending the moment of potential kiss wondering.
Within an hour of when the New Year had begun, Henry and Lane left. Henry would be giving Lane a ride home. Naturally, they would be parting ways a block from Lane's house, consequently avoiding any risk of Mrs. Kim seeing them together.
Since half of the party was leaving, it seemed natural for the last quarter that could leave, to leave. Rory walked Tristan out to his car.
"So, where was what's his name?" Tristan questioned with his hands in his pockets, as an attempt to be casual.
"Dean is in Chicago. Where he will be living come the new semester." Rory tried not to think about the content of her own words.
"Bummer." Tristan gave his condolence, but he didn't look too sad.
Rory decided a subject change was appropriate. "Thanks for not being too scared by my mom's psycho request, and coming to help Luke."
"Your mom's not that insane. I think she has some moments of clarity."
Rory raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Well, I'd have to say she was very sane when she said you liked me." Tristan gave a Cheshire cat grin.
Rory, in contrast, looked like a horrified tomato, in that her face had reddened and she had a horrified wide-eyed expression on her face. "When did she say that?" Rory was suddenly mad at herself. She voice had come out high and shaky, nowhere near the in control sound she had been hoping for.
"Just a little something she said after the accident, you know after she sent you into the Jeep and gave me directions."
"No. I'd say that was one of her more insane moments." Rory sounded more in control, but her eyes were still slightly wide.
Tristan shrugged. "It's a possibility, she did threaten to kill me, if I ever hurt you." The grin was back. "But I still think it was a moment of clarity."
"Huh, I'm going to kill her."
"Don't do that, your grandparents might send you to a military school or something. And trust me, as the voice of experience, it's not fun. Plus, with killing your mom, you might kill your chance at Harvard. I think they frown upon murder.
Rory decided it was, yet again, time for a subject change. "When do you go back to the evil military school?"
"The day after, well, today. It is one in the morning, so I leave tomorrow. But don't worry, I should be back in time for the beginning of the second semester at Chilton."
Rory smiled. "Rather presumptuous aren't you?"
"Always." Tristan smiled back.
"How can you be so sure? There's still time for you to screw it up."
The smile became jaded. "Thanks Mary. But I actually have you to thank for my inevitable return, well, you and your mother." Tristan took Rory's questioning look as a sign to continue. "By being here, I've been kept out of any trouble I might have gotten into over break. Now, all I have to do is survive exams, and after outlasting exams at Chilton, I know I can handle these ones."
"So, Mr. Confident, I won't say good luck then."
"Good decision, luck will in no way be necessary. I think I might actually even be motivated to study this year."
"Really?" Rory feigned shock.
"What can I say, I miss having you in the same school to irritate."
Rory blushed. "I can't believe I'm going to say it, but I miss having you in the same school, so I can be irritated. Paris just doesn't do it right."
They smiled at each other. "Well, goodbye Tristan."
Tristan made a "tsk" noise. "You can't get rid of me that easily." He held his arms out wide for a hug. Rory rolled her eyes, but obliged. The hug ended and Tristan opened the door to his car. "See ya Mary."
"My name is Rory!" Rory exclaimed wit her usual venom.
Tristan got in his car, gave Rory a memorable grin, closed the car door, and was soon gone.
Rory smiled. This had been a great Christmas break. And now she was looking at her return to Chilton with excitement. After all, the sooner she was back at Chilton, the sooner she'd be taking exams, and the sooner it would be second semester, and the sooner she would see Tristan.
~END~
Read the sequel: "How Rory Spent Her Spring Break"
(Hee Hee Hee)
I'd like to give a special thanks to my buddies Nicole E. and Mary B. (Even though they will never see this because I have forbidden them from reading my posted writing) But, it's the idea of the thing, so "Thanks guys! Without you, I never would have had the courage to write down any of my crazy thoughts; let alone post them." Also thanks to my parents, who did the editing I was unwilling to do.
Okay, I'm done babbling. By the way, I'd hoped you'd realized by now that I own none of this. : )
~
It was now the day before New Year's Eve. Rory was still employing her "Don't think of Dean" philosophy. So now there were only images of Tristan running though her head. For Rory, this caused a dilemma all its own. It led to the new "Don't think about Tristan" policy to be implemented. It involved lots of reading and lots of watching distracting movies. Perhaps it was because this policy was new, but so far, it wasn't working. Currently, Rory was on "Sleepless in Seattle." Lorelei had actually put the tape in, but had quickly abandoned it for a warm shower. Lorelei was truly enjoying the working water heater. She had actually taken up singing in the shower.
Rory did become concerned, however, when her mom's loud singing turned into a scream. But it didn't concern Rory enough to, you know, get up or anything.
Her getting up wasn't necessary anyway, because after a minute Lorelei exited the bathroom in only a towel. There was still shampoo in her hair. And some of it was beginning to flow dangerously close to her eyes. Rory gave a questioning look from her place on the coach.
"The water got cold." Stated the indignant Lorelei.
"That would explain the scream." Rory remained calm; one of them would have to.
"The water heater is broken again." Lorelei seemed to be on the verge of insanity, or maybe not on the verge, but already there. There was a strange little sparkle in her eye, which hinted at a lack of logic being there.
"Well, don't get huffy at me. This is obviously Luke and Tristan's fault."
Lorelei humphed. "Well what am I supposed to do now? I still have shampoo in my hair. And we have to act quickly before it gets in my eyes!"
Rory shrugged. "Finish your shower."
"Are you crazy? I know we've had four days of warm water bliss, but you couldn't have forgotten the suffering of cold water we endured already."
Rory blinked. "I remember."
"Good, then you know I will not be sticking my head back in that cold water."
Rory blinked again. "So, what are you going to do?"
Lorelei didn't seem to have an answer to that. "Okay, here's what we do, you go and get coffee from Luke's and I'll wash my hair in the sink, thus avoiding anymore cold than is necessary."
"Okay."
The mother and daughter stared at each other. "Go! Go now!"
"Okay!" With that Rory was up and running out into the cold night.
~
Rory rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She had gone to bed rather early last night. After Lorelei had gotten the shampoo out of her hair and drunken three cups of coffee, she had ranted about the cold water nonstop. And Rory had decided she couldn't listen to that anymore. Thus, the solution was bed.
Now, she got up and headed downstairs. Just as she was about to enter the kitchen, the doorbell rang. She shrugged, who really cares if she's in her pajamas, she was the closest to the door. Rory opened the front door. "Not again."
Tristan didn't wait for an invite to enter the house. "Rory, how nice it is to see you again, and those pajamas. Very nice. I don't now which pair I like better. It's just one of those decisions, stars or stripes."
Rory didn't let Tristan get to her this time. "Why are you here?"
"Your mom called me."
"Oh God, she didn't. I knew I shouldn't have gone to sleep last night."
Tristan patted her shoulder. "There, there all will be right in the world. I'm here." Rory gave him her "oh please" look. "Is Luke already here?"
Rory shrugged. "I just got up. I have no idea."
"Okay, well, I'll just head back there then."
"You do that." Tristan followed Rory to the kitchen and continued on to wherever the stupid delicate water heater was. He didn't return, causing Rory to make the grand assumption that Luke was already here. A minute later, Lorelei entered the kitchen. Rory took on an authoritative "I'm going to yell at you" stance. It was impressive that she was able to pull it off, since she was sitting in her pajamas, with unbrushed hair, and holding a Pop tart.
Lorelei took notice of the stance. "What?"
"I can't believe you called him!"
"Why wouldn't I? It's part of his punishment. You partially blamed him last night."
"It's New Year's Eve! And he's already spent a whole day working on the stupid water heater. Plus he paid you for half the price of getting the Jeep's bumper pounded out."
"Okay, first don't call the water heater stupid. It has feelings and it's been here longer then we have."
"Maybe we should get a new one."
"Not an option." Lorelei paused, trying to regain her train of thought. "What number am I on?"
"Two." Rory supplied.
"Second, when I called and asked him to come, he didn't complain. Or in anyway make me feel guilty for even asking." Lorelei seemed to be running last night's phone conversation through her head. "Which actually kind of surprised me. I mean, what kind of rich teenage boy doesn't complain?"
Mom. Loosing focus."
"Third, I highly doubt Tristan misses the money for the bumper. So, his only real punishment is all this working. And two days of labor, not too bad."
"You don't know that for sure." Rory attempted to argue.
Lorelei endeavored to continue despite the distraction. "And fifth-"
"You skipped fourth."
Lorelei looked confused, "What?" then realization hit. "Whatever. The point is, Rory, that I want hot water. And I want it before the New Year. I will not have us beginning a year with only cold water. It would be against the laws of nature."
"What law of nature is this?"
"Rory, I am wiser, older, and not to mention your mother. Just trust me on this."
"I'm surprised Luke agreed to help you in this craziness."
"Well he did. I only had to say please about a dozen times."
"Not too bad."
"No, then he wouldn't let me thank him for too long either."
Rory had a suspicion, "What time did you ask him for help last night?"
"It was only about 11:30, but he sounded tired."
Rory sighed, leaving her mother to go and do the changing thing in her room. She then proceeded to call Lane. As usual Mrs. Kim answered.
"This is Rory, may I please speak with Lane?"
"She's studying." Came the usual, and Rory was sure automatic answer.
"Please, it will only take a minute." Rory pleaded.
"Alright, but I time you. Lane!"
A few seconds later, Lane picked up on the line. "Hey. Everything still on for tonight?"
"Yep." Over two weeks ago Rory and Lane had planned a little New Year's bash at Rory's house. The party had been planned to consist of her, Dean, Henry, and Lane. Now, there was no Dean. But Rory wasn't going to let that stop Lane from seeing Henry. "I just wanted to warn you that there's a chance there may be no hot water."
"Well, consider me properly warned. Did the stupid water heater die again?"
"Yes, but don't call it S-T-U-P-I-D in my house. My mom may have to stab you with the nearest sharp object. She doesn't feel the stupid thing is stupid. And she is willing to defend her view with violence."
"Oh no, that would suck to get stabbed with a pencil on New Year's Eve. I'll keep that in mind. So, how much longer do you think it will be before the heat returns to your water?"
"Undetermined. Luke and Tristan are working on it as we speak. Can't you hear the banging?"
"No. Tristan? As in Evil Tristan? As in "was away to military school, but came back just to irritate you and cause damage to your mother's jeep" Evil Tristan?"
"The one and hopefully only."
"I gotta go. My mom's making weird faces at me. I'm pretty sure she wants me to get off the phone. Or to only speak in Korean. But I'd prefer to test the phone theory first."
"See ya tonight."
"Bye."
That done, Rory picked up a book to read and turned on her CD player to drown out the banging sounds from downstairs.
~
Rory didn't surface until late that afternoon when Lane arrived looking to escape her mother. Rory was quickly amused by her best friend, who was rather cheery due to the eventual arrival of Henry. Rory and Lane went into the kitchen to snack on Pop tarts. Soon after the munching began, Lorelei ran through mumbling something about needing to go to the inn for some food crisis Sookie was having. Soon after that a sweaty Luke and an irritated looking Tristan came through announcing they were taking a break to get food and were going to Luke's since Lorelei's kitchen had the bare minimum of "real food."
Tristan's brief passing through the kitchen caused Lane's comment of "That's Evil Tristan? He's hot!"
Rory looked suddenly uncomfortable. "Don't say that."
"Why not? He is!"
My mom said about the same thing. And frankly I'm trying to avoid thinking about Tristan's hotness. I'm trying to recover from Dean over here."
"Lane wasn't buying it. "Uh-huh, so what's the deal with him?"
"Dean? You know the deal."
"No! Tristan."
"Nothing. No deal." Rory began to play with the remains of her Pop tart.
"Did you guys kiss?"
"Not since last year. You know that."
"Would you consider kissing Tristan again?"
Rory did her "oh please" look. "Can we have a new topic?"
"You want to kiss him! I knew it! I say go for it!" Lane was smiling, in Rory's opinion, like an idiot.
"Have you seen our decapitated snowwoman?" Rory asked.
"You're changing the subject!" Lane accused. "You really like him! This is so exciting!"
Rory was silent for several seconds, "So, have you seen our decapitated snowwoman?"
This time Lane allowed the subject change. "Is that what that was?"
"Yes. We didn't mean for it to be decapitated. It's just the head wouldn't stay on." The girls got up and headed for their coats, with the hope of ending the snowwoman's slight decapitation problem.
~
"You know, I can't remember it being this difficult to attach a snowwoman's head when we were younger." Lane observed.
"I know, I'm beginning to think she's cursed."
"But who would curse a snowwoman? In the grand scale, aren't they considered pretty innocent creatures?"
Rory shrugged. "I don't know. But whoever did it would have to be extremely evil."
Lane looked at their surroundings. "Speaking of evil things, here comes your love interest."
Rory was about to ask Lane what she meant when Tristan stepped up to her side. "So, you like to fight losing battles."
"What do you want, Tristan?"
"Well, world peace, you, a new winter jacket, to put that pathetic snowwoman out of its misery, but mainly to not have to go back to work right now."
Rory attempted to ignore the "you" in that comment; the weird itchy tingly feeling that "you" gave her in her chest; and the excited "see, he loves you" look, Lane was giving her. It's hard to ignore three things at once. "My mom has her heart set on warm water before the New Year. That doesn't give you much time."
"We'll get it done."
"Ever the cocky one. I'll laugh when you're not done and my mom kills you at the stroke of midnight."
"I bet you'd be sad if I died. Besides, she wouldn't kill me. She knows you like me too much. She wouldn't risk you suffering through loosing me." Rory almost dropped the snowwoman's head that she had just picked up in yet another attempt to re-attach it to its body. "Where did you get that idea?"
"What idea?"
"That-that I liked you?"
Tristan just smiled, took the head from Rory, placed it on the body, and told Rory and Lane to pack some snow around the transported head. After snow was quickly packed on and the head appeared to be staying on, the three teens backed up.
"It could pass as a scarf." Rory smiled.
"Oh my God! It's staying!" Lane jumped excitedly.
"Don't jump! The vibrations could cause it to fall again." Tristan warned. Lane immediately stopped jumping.
Rory looked at the snowwoman in all her glory. All three, slowly began to back away from the snowwoman. Then, without warning, one of the charcoal eyes fell out and cracked into itsy-bitsy pieces one the ground.
Lane seemed truly saddened. "We were so close."
Rory took a frustrated breath. "Wait one minute, I'll get another piece. I'm not giving up on her." With that said Rory quickly tiptoed inside, leaving Tristan and Lane by the ill-fated snowwoman.
Once inside, Rory heard Luke call her, or more so calling Tristan. "Hey, Tristan!"
"No Luke, it's Rory. Tristan's still outside." She heard what could very easily be interpreted as Luke swearing.
"Will you go get him? I could use a hand here."
"Sure." Rory quickly grabbed a piece of charcoal and headed back outside. Tristan and Lane were laughing. They stopped when they noticed Rory, making her instantly suspicious. Both gave her innocent smiles, causing her suspicion to build. "Luke wants your help."
"And I will give it, as soon as our lovely snowwoman has her eye back."
"Our? All you did was put her head on. Big deal, she was fine without it, maybe even better."
"Hey, she's recognizable as human because of me, and now three-year- olds won't scream in fear at the sight of her."
"Only the shallow ones would have screamed before." It's a good process for choosing the nicer, deeper, more intelligent little kids. Besides, we're lucky she didn't fall to pieces when she was unlucky enough to have you touch her."
"Hey, can I help if I have that effect on woman?"
Leave Tristan to turn an insult into a positive reflection of his effect on women. Rory just rolled her eyes. She'd walked right into that one. She quickly stuck the new eye into place. All three waited for something else to fall. Amazingly, nothing did.
"Quick inside! If we don't see anything fall, that means it didn't happen." At Rory's urging they ran back inside. Tristan continued through the house to help Luke.
"Henry should be here soon. Let's wait in your room." Suggested Lane.
"Okay." They began heading through the kitchen. "So, what were you guys talking about while I was getting the replacement eye?"
"Oh nothing." Lane replied absently. "He totally likes you, you know. Just like you like him."
Rory held her breath for a second to stop herself from questioning Lane in a shriek. "How do you know this?" Good. Her voice managed to sound civil. Almost as though her insides weren't turning in swirls waiting to hear the answer.
Lane shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it's because I'm like a third party." Rory made a "you're being weird again" face. "You know, I'm not like, emotionally involved. So I can see clearly."
"Ah-huh."
The doorbell rang. Lane squealed and ran through the kitchen to let Henry in.
Eventually, everyone (Lane) calmed down and they sat down to watch the beginning of the New Year's presentation on T.V.
Lorelei rushed in. "Ohh sorry, Sookie couldn't decide between peaches or plums. Very back and forth issue, eventually, she was forced to make both. Hey Henry. Have I missed anything good?"
Rory smiled up at her frazzled mother. "Nope, just beginning."
"Finished!" Everyone turned to see a tired-looking Luke and Tristan enter the room. "Lorelei, we are proud to tell you, we were yet again successful in saving your ancient water heater. You have warm water and before the New Year. Congratulations." Luke smiled.
"Oh my God yes!" Lorelei ran into the closest room with a faucet, which happened to be the kitchen, and proceeded to run warm water over her hands, eventually returning to the living room to hug both Tristan and Luke. (With wet hands) "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Come, I'll buy you dinner. I don't care that you own the restaurant. Tonight, you'll be a guest. Plus, this way, I can have good coffee first thing in the New Year." A smiling Lorelei began to drag Luke out of the house. "That invitation is open to you too, Tristan."
"No thanks, I'll stay here." Tristan proceeded to jump onto the coach and sit next to Rory.
She feigned irritation. "Why are you still here? Don't you have plans or something?"
"Oh, I have plans. Lane invited her to spend New Year's with her, her boyfriend, and her best friend." Tristan said pointing at each person he had described in turn.
Lane gave the most innocent smile she could muster. Rory just glared. "I don't see how she could do that, considering this isn't her house, and thus not her party."
Henry decided to save his girlfriend from total annihilation by changing the subject. "Hey Tristan. Long time no see."
"Yeah, how are you doing?"
"Good. I have the best girlfriend in the world." Henry gave Lane's shoulder a squeeze, while Lane blushed. "I heard a rumor about you right before break started though."
Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yep, heard you might be coming back to Chilton."
"That's not a rumor, it's almost a fact."
"Cool. What caused the change from military school?"
"Well, despite most beliefs, military school is not fun." Tristan glanced at Rory. "Plus, I had motivation to come back."
~
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
The four teens counted along with the people in New York. "Happy New Year!" Lane and Henry kissed. Rory decided to abandon her namesake of "Mary" and kissed Tristan. On the cheek. So it wasn't a complete abandonment. But none the less, it surprised him and there were several seconds of major eye contact, in which Rory wondered if Tristan was going to kiss her on the lips. Rory didn't doubt his confidence to do it. But, Rory was distracted by Lane leaning over and hugging her, thus ending the moment of potential kiss wondering.
Within an hour of when the New Year had begun, Henry and Lane left. Henry would be giving Lane a ride home. Naturally, they would be parting ways a block from Lane's house, consequently avoiding any risk of Mrs. Kim seeing them together.
Since half of the party was leaving, it seemed natural for the last quarter that could leave, to leave. Rory walked Tristan out to his car.
"So, where was what's his name?" Tristan questioned with his hands in his pockets, as an attempt to be casual.
"Dean is in Chicago. Where he will be living come the new semester." Rory tried not to think about the content of her own words.
"Bummer." Tristan gave his condolence, but he didn't look too sad.
Rory decided a subject change was appropriate. "Thanks for not being too scared by my mom's psycho request, and coming to help Luke."
"Your mom's not that insane. I think she has some moments of clarity."
Rory raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Well, I'd have to say she was very sane when she said you liked me." Tristan gave a Cheshire cat grin.
Rory, in contrast, looked like a horrified tomato, in that her face had reddened and she had a horrified wide-eyed expression on her face. "When did she say that?" Rory was suddenly mad at herself. She voice had come out high and shaky, nowhere near the in control sound she had been hoping for.
"Just a little something she said after the accident, you know after she sent you into the Jeep and gave me directions."
"No. I'd say that was one of her more insane moments." Rory sounded more in control, but her eyes were still slightly wide.
Tristan shrugged. "It's a possibility, she did threaten to kill me, if I ever hurt you." The grin was back. "But I still think it was a moment of clarity."
"Huh, I'm going to kill her."
"Don't do that, your grandparents might send you to a military school or something. And trust me, as the voice of experience, it's not fun. Plus, with killing your mom, you might kill your chance at Harvard. I think they frown upon murder.
Rory decided it was, yet again, time for a subject change. "When do you go back to the evil military school?"
"The day after, well, today. It is one in the morning, so I leave tomorrow. But don't worry, I should be back in time for the beginning of the second semester at Chilton."
Rory smiled. "Rather presumptuous aren't you?"
"Always." Tristan smiled back.
"How can you be so sure? There's still time for you to screw it up."
The smile became jaded. "Thanks Mary. But I actually have you to thank for my inevitable return, well, you and your mother." Tristan took Rory's questioning look as a sign to continue. "By being here, I've been kept out of any trouble I might have gotten into over break. Now, all I have to do is survive exams, and after outlasting exams at Chilton, I know I can handle these ones."
"So, Mr. Confident, I won't say good luck then."
"Good decision, luck will in no way be necessary. I think I might actually even be motivated to study this year."
"Really?" Rory feigned shock.
"What can I say, I miss having you in the same school to irritate."
Rory blushed. "I can't believe I'm going to say it, but I miss having you in the same school, so I can be irritated. Paris just doesn't do it right."
They smiled at each other. "Well, goodbye Tristan."
Tristan made a "tsk" noise. "You can't get rid of me that easily." He held his arms out wide for a hug. Rory rolled her eyes, but obliged. The hug ended and Tristan opened the door to his car. "See ya Mary."
"My name is Rory!" Rory exclaimed wit her usual venom.
Tristan got in his car, gave Rory a memorable grin, closed the car door, and was soon gone.
Rory smiled. This had been a great Christmas break. And now she was looking at her return to Chilton with excitement. After all, the sooner she was back at Chilton, the sooner she'd be taking exams, and the sooner it would be second semester, and the sooner she would see Tristan.
~END~
Read the sequel: "How Rory Spent Her Spring Break"
(Hee Hee Hee)
