AUTHOR - Rianna

TITLE - Dear Tristan (Part 4)

E-MAIL - papayahead_98@hotmail.com

SPOILERS - Um...probably anything up to "Run Away, Little Boy"

SUMMARY - Rory waits for a response to her letter

RATING - PG

CONTENT - nothing bad

PAIRING OR CHARACTER - Trory

DISCLAIMER - I don't own the show or any of the characters, they belong to the WB and Amy Sherman-Palladino, and all those people.

AUTHOR'S NOTE - Okay, I know they probably wouldn't have a carnival in Connecticut in the middle of January, but.it's my story! :-P .Just pretend that it's indoors, or that it's summer or something.

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Rory rolled over again in her bed, trying to get comfortable. She was working at the Chilton carnival the next morning, and then hanging out there with her mom, Sookie, and Lane later in the afternoon. Lane was excited to go, since she was going to hang out with Henry while Rory was working, but Rory wasn't looking forward to it so much. Especially since she couldn't sleep and she knew she'd be exhausted the next day. After tossing and turning for almost an hour, she gave up and went in the kitchen to pour herself a cup of coffee, before plopping down on the living room couch. Rory turned on the T.V. and started flipping channels, hoping to find something to distract her from all the thoughts running around in her head. She finally stopped on a "Dawson's Creek" rerun, thinking maybe she'd get so caught up in who's doing who this episode, that she'd forget all about her own problems. All she seemed to be able to focus on, though, was how much Jen's new boyfriend looked like Tristan.

Rory groaned in frustration. Tristan. It had been a week since she sent him that letter, and she had yet to get a response. She'd been checking the mailbox everyday since she sent the letter, hoping to find an envelope for her tucked in with all the bills and junk mail. She knew it was stupid, that she shouldn't get so worked up over it. She knew that he might not have gotten it yet, or just hadn't had time to write back yet, or something. In the back of her head, though, was the thought that she had made a mistake. Maybe he had thrown it away before even reading it. Maybe he'd shown it to all his new friends, and they were having a good laugh at her expense. Maybe he'd been too busy building up a new fan club to even give her a second thought.

She had been thinking about him, though, ever since he left. School was so different without him there. Rory never thought she'd say this, but she missed his smirks and his smart-ass remarks. She even missed him calling her "Mary", though she would never admit it to anyone. There were rumors flying all over the place about Tristan's mysterious "disappearance". Rory seemed to be the only one who knew what had really happened, and she kind of liked it that way. It was like something special, just between the two of them. Paris had been glaring at her even more than usual, if that was possible, as if Rory was somehow to blame for Tristan being gone. Worst of all, though, Rory couldn't seem to focus in class. She was thinking of Tristan all the time, alternating between never wanting to see him again, and missing him so much that she would give anything just to have him back here. She just wished she knew whether he was thinking of her.

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Rory woke up the next morning curled up on the couch, with a blanket pulled up to her chin. She sat up slowly, stretching to relieve the stiffness in her back and neck, and went into the kitchen for coffee. On the kitchen table there was a cup of coffee and some pancakes from Luke's, along with a note from her mom.

Rory-

There was a mix up at the Inn, I had to go in to straighten everything out. The keys for the jeep are by the door, you and Lane can take it to the carnival. Sookie and I will meet you there for lunch at one, at the front entrance. Have fun, and look for lots of cute guys. Especially if they've got cute, single dads! I love you, babe!

-Mom

Rory smiled as she read the note, then ate her breakfast and headed upstairs for a shower.

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"Okay, so tell me again exactly what you said in the letter."

Rory sighed.

"Lane, come on. I've told you at least five times already! Besides, it's not that big of a deal. Can't we just change the subject now?"

"Not that big of a deal? Are you crazy? You just broke up with Dean because you realized you're in love with the Evil One, who just got shipped off to military school. This is a very big deal!"

"I didn't break up with Dean because of Tristan, I broke up with Dean because he didn't trust me. And I'm not in love with Tristan, I just like him. A lot. And I've been selling greasy food to Chilton snobs all morning, so I really want to just relax and have fun now, so can we please, please, please talk about anything else?"

Lane smiled and shook her head.

"Okay, whatever you say. So, what do you want to do next? Do you want to play some games, or check out some of the exhibits, or what?"

Rory checked her watch.

"Well, I want to do the balloon darts, but we're supposed to meet my Mom and Sookie in a few minutes. How about we just go get some coffee and meet them out front?"

"Sounds good to me. Besides, I think Henry's working at the coffee stand"

Rory rolled her eyes and laughed at her friend as they walked off in search of coffee. Once they found the coffee stand, Rory ordered four cups while Lane flirted shamelessly with Henry. Then they headed up towards the front entrance to wait for Lorelai and Sookie.

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"Hi Mom, Hi Sookie"

"Hi Sookie, Hi Lorelai"

"Hey guys, how's the carnival? Are you having fun so far?"

"Yeah, it's okay. I like it a lot better now that I don't have to work here anymore. And I know Lane loves it, just because she gets to see Henry every time we go by the coffee booth. Which, knowing us is going to be quite often. Speaking of which, here, I got you a cup."

Lorelai clapped in delight and grabbed the cup from her daughter

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! It's been almost thirty minutes since my last cup, I was starting to show signs of withdrawal. Did I ever tell you what a wonderful child you are?"

She took a huge gulp of coffee, as Rory laughed and handed Sookie her cup.

"Mom, you know you're only saying that because I gave you coffee."

"Well, yes. But that doesn't make it any less true! I was gonna be mean and make you wait for this, but since you did give me coffee.Here you go."

Lorelai reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope, handing it to Rory.

Rory froze for a minute, then reached out to take the letter. Lane and Sookie watched her curiously as she turned it over to look at the return address, and her face broke out in a grin. Tristan Dugrey.