Author note: I'm really glad I've gotten some positive feedback for this
story. I don't know if I would have had the courage to continue it if I
didn't get that feedback! Anyway, thanks a lot, and this one is for the
Trory's out there. And it will only become more Trory from here on out.
Thanks! PS-I'll use this font for their thoughts, hopefully it goes
through to the sites, unlike the italics that didn't!
The group mounted the stage to a hushed expectation from the crowd. Everyone who knew anything expected a good show from this group that had Chilton's top students in it. Of course, the group themselves had no idea that they would have the best presentation all night. They wanted to get through their lines, get an A, and go flop into their beds at home. All of them but one. The last thing on his mind was bed or a grade.
Oh no. What am I going to do? Well. This is one time when I can stick to the script, and it'll work for me. Alright DuGrey. Just stick to the script. Stick to the script. Stick to the script. Just keep telling yourself that, and maybe you'll actually do it! Grrr! This is not a big deal, it's not like it's your first kiss or anything. Just do it, and worry about what is going to happen afterwards when the time comes.
He wiped his palms on his pants, not registering how sweaty in they were in his mind. It had become commonplace for his palms to be sweaty since he met Rory.
Drink the poison, DuGray. Now, it's time for the kiss. Can I do this? Yes, I can! I have to go through with this if I want things to ever change between us. Tristan looks at Rory. She's in character, looking completely dead and innocent with that death. He was allowed to have a few moments to drink in her features unnoticed, since his character was supposed to be doing the same thing anyway. Even Dean couldn't have any objection to this kiss. Bag Boy will always be able to find a reason to be worried. He's so insecure it's almost funny. But now that I've met Rory, I'm just as insecure as he is. Tristan took his time moving in for the kiss, mentally preparing himself for the shock that would come when they touched. Their lips came together in a colossal landslide of energy, and the cosmos themselves seemed to reverberate with the contact. Tristan, who had known this would come, was still amazed at the shock that came when their lips finally met, seeming to lock perfectly together. He knew he would never find the same fit with anyone else, and that scared him.
Rory had no idea when the kiss would finally come. She felt Tristan's warm breath on her face as he came in for the kiss. Of course, since she was dead, she wasn't really supposed to kiss him back. But the shock that spread through her when the kiss came made it impossible to not react to the intensity she was feeling. She was returning his kiss without realizing it, making both their heart rates speed up. The kiss seemed to last for an eternity, but it seemed too short at the same time. The audience got a glimpse of the perfect theatre kiss, full of everything that the perfect kiss should be full of (passion, tenderness, love, and promise). It looked to perfect to Dean, watching from his spot in the back of the theater. When Tristan got the energy and nerve to break off the kiss, both of them felt disappointment at how short it had been. Rory was amazed at the intensity of her feelings, and Tristan was drained from holding himself back from asking for more; he stored the memory away, so that he could recall the moment when he needed it.
The closing of their act streaked by. Neither Rory nor Tristan took any notice of anything that happened after their kiss. They didn't notice the thunderous applause of the audience as they disembarked from the stage, isolated in their own hazes of reality versus fantasy. And neither had the willpower to break out of the haze. They wouldn't even turn to each other for fear of what they'd see in the other eyes.
She kissed me back. That wasn't in the script. I wonder why she kissed me back. Is it possible that she finally felt the connection between us?
I don't understand what's going on. I have Dean, and I love him. Right? Okay, maybe I just told him that to keep him from running away, leaving me alone again. But Tristan? Where did these feelings for him come from? And why, on Earth, did I kiss him back?
Tristan definitely would have been hurt if he dared to look in Rory's eyes. She was hurt, and that would send him on a trail of self-incrimination. But, if Rory had dared to look into Tristan's eyes she would have seen the care he had for her shining brightly in his deep, beautiful blue eyes. Maybe seeing that emotion would speed up the fate that awaited them when she finally cleared up her feelings and thoughts.
Paris finally broke into their veiled thoughts by walking up and saying, "That was good, but I know it could've been better." She left it at that. Walking away like a person who had a million other things to do before rest would come, but in a good mood despite that.
Rory, feeling a need to fill the silence that ensued after Paris' departure, said, "You did a good job tonight." As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she knew Tristan would use any innuendo teasing her about enjoying the kiss.
"Thanks," it was the first thing that came into his mind, so he said it, and he meant it.
Rory was surprised when he didn't make fun of her. But the only outward sign she made of her surprise was to arch an eyebrow. Tristan noticed the tiny gesture, and hoped she would mull over the few words they had spoken. She might realize that he wasn't acting like a jerk anymore. Then, maybe, just maybe, he'd have a chance with her. Meanwhile, he needed to get away from her, before he grabbed her to hold against him, reveling in the way their bodies seemed to mesh together. He murmured a hasty, "See you tomorrow," and took his leave from Chilton's crowded theatre.
*******
After Tristan left, Rory set out to find her mom. She pivoted to head toward the back of the crowded theatre, and ran right into a chest. Looking up, she saw that the chest belonged to Dean. And he wasn't looking at her happily. Rory gave a mental grimace, and knew she was about to get grueled about Tristan.
"Hey Dean." She said feigning happiness.
"Rory, I'm only going to ask you one more time. What is up with you and Tristan?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't feign ignorance. You know everything that goes on. That kiss seemed just a little too real and too long."
"I knew this was going to bother you. If you remember, I asked you not to come, repeatedly."
"Do you love me?" he asked deciding to switch to another subject that was equally as touchy.
"I. Uh. I don't know."
"Do you hate him?"
"I assume 'him' is Tristan?" At his almost imperceptible nod she replied "No."
"Do you love him?"
"I don't know." Rory said the words before she thought about what she was going to say. And she was surprised by her answer, but only for a second. Then, she admitted to herself that she didn't know what was going on, but she did know that there was more to her relationship with Tristan than she had discovered yet. She sensed the kiss they'd shared today was just the tip of the iceberg, and much was hidden below the surface of the seemingly calm waters. "Dean, I think we should break up. Our relationship didn't go back to the way it was before you broke up with me. You've been untrusting and entirely too demanding." She said those words without thinking about them either, but she wasn't that surprised when they came out, and she knew them for the truth.
He acted like he was going to say something for a moment, his mouth gaping open like a fish that had been caught hook, line, and sinker. In the end, he only shut his mouth and stalked off.
I hope we can be friends eventually. He's not a bad guy, he's just a bad boyfriend. Rory almost snickered to herself, and was surprised that she felt curiously free. She wasn't that upset. She actually felt more like a bird whose wings had been clipped too long, and was now soaring free again.
She resumed her search in the back for her mom.
The group mounted the stage to a hushed expectation from the crowd. Everyone who knew anything expected a good show from this group that had Chilton's top students in it. Of course, the group themselves had no idea that they would have the best presentation all night. They wanted to get through their lines, get an A, and go flop into their beds at home. All of them but one. The last thing on his mind was bed or a grade.
Oh no. What am I going to do? Well. This is one time when I can stick to the script, and it'll work for me. Alright DuGrey. Just stick to the script. Stick to the script. Stick to the script. Just keep telling yourself that, and maybe you'll actually do it! Grrr! This is not a big deal, it's not like it's your first kiss or anything. Just do it, and worry about what is going to happen afterwards when the time comes.
He wiped his palms on his pants, not registering how sweaty in they were in his mind. It had become commonplace for his palms to be sweaty since he met Rory.
Drink the poison, DuGray. Now, it's time for the kiss. Can I do this? Yes, I can! I have to go through with this if I want things to ever change between us. Tristan looks at Rory. She's in character, looking completely dead and innocent with that death. He was allowed to have a few moments to drink in her features unnoticed, since his character was supposed to be doing the same thing anyway. Even Dean couldn't have any objection to this kiss. Bag Boy will always be able to find a reason to be worried. He's so insecure it's almost funny. But now that I've met Rory, I'm just as insecure as he is. Tristan took his time moving in for the kiss, mentally preparing himself for the shock that would come when they touched. Their lips came together in a colossal landslide of energy, and the cosmos themselves seemed to reverberate with the contact. Tristan, who had known this would come, was still amazed at the shock that came when their lips finally met, seeming to lock perfectly together. He knew he would never find the same fit with anyone else, and that scared him.
Rory had no idea when the kiss would finally come. She felt Tristan's warm breath on her face as he came in for the kiss. Of course, since she was dead, she wasn't really supposed to kiss him back. But the shock that spread through her when the kiss came made it impossible to not react to the intensity she was feeling. She was returning his kiss without realizing it, making both their heart rates speed up. The kiss seemed to last for an eternity, but it seemed too short at the same time. The audience got a glimpse of the perfect theatre kiss, full of everything that the perfect kiss should be full of (passion, tenderness, love, and promise). It looked to perfect to Dean, watching from his spot in the back of the theater. When Tristan got the energy and nerve to break off the kiss, both of them felt disappointment at how short it had been. Rory was amazed at the intensity of her feelings, and Tristan was drained from holding himself back from asking for more; he stored the memory away, so that he could recall the moment when he needed it.
The closing of their act streaked by. Neither Rory nor Tristan took any notice of anything that happened after their kiss. They didn't notice the thunderous applause of the audience as they disembarked from the stage, isolated in their own hazes of reality versus fantasy. And neither had the willpower to break out of the haze. They wouldn't even turn to each other for fear of what they'd see in the other eyes.
She kissed me back. That wasn't in the script. I wonder why she kissed me back. Is it possible that she finally felt the connection between us?
I don't understand what's going on. I have Dean, and I love him. Right? Okay, maybe I just told him that to keep him from running away, leaving me alone again. But Tristan? Where did these feelings for him come from? And why, on Earth, did I kiss him back?
Tristan definitely would have been hurt if he dared to look in Rory's eyes. She was hurt, and that would send him on a trail of self-incrimination. But, if Rory had dared to look into Tristan's eyes she would have seen the care he had for her shining brightly in his deep, beautiful blue eyes. Maybe seeing that emotion would speed up the fate that awaited them when she finally cleared up her feelings and thoughts.
Paris finally broke into their veiled thoughts by walking up and saying, "That was good, but I know it could've been better." She left it at that. Walking away like a person who had a million other things to do before rest would come, but in a good mood despite that.
Rory, feeling a need to fill the silence that ensued after Paris' departure, said, "You did a good job tonight." As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she knew Tristan would use any innuendo teasing her about enjoying the kiss.
"Thanks," it was the first thing that came into his mind, so he said it, and he meant it.
Rory was surprised when he didn't make fun of her. But the only outward sign she made of her surprise was to arch an eyebrow. Tristan noticed the tiny gesture, and hoped she would mull over the few words they had spoken. She might realize that he wasn't acting like a jerk anymore. Then, maybe, just maybe, he'd have a chance with her. Meanwhile, he needed to get away from her, before he grabbed her to hold against him, reveling in the way their bodies seemed to mesh together. He murmured a hasty, "See you tomorrow," and took his leave from Chilton's crowded theatre.
*******
After Tristan left, Rory set out to find her mom. She pivoted to head toward the back of the crowded theatre, and ran right into a chest. Looking up, she saw that the chest belonged to Dean. And he wasn't looking at her happily. Rory gave a mental grimace, and knew she was about to get grueled about Tristan.
"Hey Dean." She said feigning happiness.
"Rory, I'm only going to ask you one more time. What is up with you and Tristan?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't feign ignorance. You know everything that goes on. That kiss seemed just a little too real and too long."
"I knew this was going to bother you. If you remember, I asked you not to come, repeatedly."
"Do you love me?" he asked deciding to switch to another subject that was equally as touchy.
"I. Uh. I don't know."
"Do you hate him?"
"I assume 'him' is Tristan?" At his almost imperceptible nod she replied "No."
"Do you love him?"
"I don't know." Rory said the words before she thought about what she was going to say. And she was surprised by her answer, but only for a second. Then, she admitted to herself that she didn't know what was going on, but she did know that there was more to her relationship with Tristan than she had discovered yet. She sensed the kiss they'd shared today was just the tip of the iceberg, and much was hidden below the surface of the seemingly calm waters. "Dean, I think we should break up. Our relationship didn't go back to the way it was before you broke up with me. You've been untrusting and entirely too demanding." She said those words without thinking about them either, but she wasn't that surprised when they came out, and she knew them for the truth.
He acted like he was going to say something for a moment, his mouth gaping open like a fish that had been caught hook, line, and sinker. In the end, he only shut his mouth and stalked off.
I hope we can be friends eventually. He's not a bad guy, he's just a bad boyfriend. Rory almost snickered to herself, and was surprised that she felt curiously free. She wasn't that upset. She actually felt more like a bird whose wings had been clipped too long, and was now soaring free again.
She resumed her search in the back for her mom.
