Disclaimer: As usual I don't own anybody or anything. The characters and script aren't mine and the song is Nickelback's How You Remind Me.
Authors Note: Don't worry people, it's not a songfic chapter. I also changed some things around a bit. I'm pretending the scene where Tristan says goodbye never happened. And I'm creating an annual Chilton talent show where students of the school get to do something (songs/skits/etc) if they feel like it. Hope you like it. Please r/r.
A Second Chance
By Angel
Chapter 3: Discoveries
~Miss Patty's Place~
"Here's to my love. Oh true apothecary, thy drugs are quick. Line?" Tristan glanced over at Dean. He loved making him squirm. He knew that Dean knew very well what was coming up, and he wanted to torture him with the wait.
"Thus with a kiss, I die. How hard is that to remember?" Paris said, getting more annoyed by the minute.
"Thus with a kiss, I die. Right. And then I kiss her, right?" Tristan smiled at the uncomfortable look Dean wore. He loved rubbing this in the bag boy's face.
"Yes. You say 'Thus with a kiss, I die.' Then you kiss her and die. Why are you smiling? You think this is a joke? The performance is tomorrow." Paris was yelling now, ready to kill Tristan on the spot.
"Wait, tomorrow? Oh my God. I totally missed it the first 47 times you said it."
"I warned you. I am not going to fail this because of you. I will replace you with Brad in a second."
"Oh, dear God, no." Brad whimpered in the background.
"Can we just get through the scene?" Rory asked from the table where she had been "dead" for the last fifteen minutes.
"Fine. But yell line once more and you're out. Start memorizing." Paris ordered Brad, who began frantically turning the pages of his script.
"Oh true apothecary, thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss, I die." Tristan paused, wanting to savor the moment.
"What?" Paris's shrill voice cut through his thoughts.
"Well, it's just, with this being our last kiss and all, it makes me think about our first kiss. You know, at the party." He had to do it. He couldn't stand this torture, and he wanted to hurt Rory as much as he had hurt him earlier that day. The kiss at the party had meant the world to him, and she wished that it had never happened! He still couldn't believe it. Now was his chance for revenge.
"What?" Rory exclaimed as she sat up, ignoring Paris's cries that she was supposed to be dead.
"You remember the kiss. In Act 1 at the Capulet's masked party? Well, I was just trying to think of something that would make this kiss as special as that one." Tristan continued, despite the panic filling Rory's eyes.
"Tristan." Rory's voice was a mixture of anger and pleading. He almost stopped then and there, but he couldn't stop himself. He had to continue. She had to feel at least some of the pain that she had inflicted on him.
"I thought she could cry." Tristan said, ignoring the confused expressions around him. "Yeah, no one would expect her to cry." Tristan said bitterly, watching Rory's eyes widen as he came close and closer to revealing their secret.
"I would." Dean said taking Tristan's bait.
Tristan knew bag boy wouldn't pass up the opportunity to insult him. And in doing so he gave Tristan the opening he needed. "You know, funny you should say that…"
Rory could not believe this was happening. What was wrong with Tristan? She had asked him not to tell Dean about the kiss and here he was, about to spill the beans. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to interrupt before Tristan could ruin her relationship with Dean. "I need to take five" she blurted out getting off the table.
"You know what? Let's all take five. That way you can all cancel whatever plans you had tonight because we are staying here until we get this right." Paris's frustrated tone filled the room as she stormed off.
"He is unbelievable." Dean said as Rory came over to him.
"Dean, I really need you to leave." She had to get him to leave, or else Tristan would tell him. She knew he would.
"What?" Dean asked, confusion filling his voice.
Rory sighed. "The play is tomorrow, and it's fifty percent of my grade, and you standing there staring at Tristan, it's like a challenge or something."
"Well, I don't like the way he's messing with you."
"I don't like it either but we have to get through this scene and we can't get through the scene with you standing there. So, Dean, please."
"Fine. Call me later." Dean agreed, kissing her and reluctantly leaving the studio.
Rory gave an inner sigh of relief. She didn't know what she would have done if he had refused to go.
"Now I noticed you didn't cry when you kissed him. I'm starting to feel a little insecure." That annoyingly smooth voice came from behind her.
Rory spun around, her blue eyes flashing with anger. "What is wrong with you?"
Tristan backed away a little. The anger in her eyes surprised him. He had never expected to see that. "Whoa, I think I liked you better comatose."
"I thought you weren't going to say anything."
"Did I say that?" He asked innocently.
Rory couldn't take it anymore. The frustration that had been building up suddenly exploded. "Why? Why did you have to go and do that? You knew that if he found out, we would have broken up again. I asked you because I wanted to specifically avoid that unhappy scenario. I mean it's not enough to make me go through hell in my first year is it? No, you couldn't just torment me, and make up stupid nicknames and get everyone in school to hate me. Now you have to go and almost tell my boyfriend that we kissed. Do you have some wish to cause me pain? Do you want to see me suffer?"
"Yes, I do!" Tristan burst out, shocking both Rory and himself.
Despite herself, Rory's eyes filled with tears at the surprise that anyone could dislike her that much to want to cause her so much pain. "Why?" she asked softly.
"Because…" Tristan began, and then sighed. He may as well get it out and over with. "Because I wanted to hurt you the way you hurt me."
"Hurt you? How and when did I ever hurt you?" Rory asked, her head spinning in confusion.
"You hurt me when you ran away crying after we kissed. You hurt me when you said you hated me and told that stupid bag boy that you loved him. You hurt me when you said that our kiss meant absolutely nothing to you. You don't know the pain you've put me through Rory. You can't even begin to understand." Tristan said bitterly.
"Why would any of those things hurt you? You don't care about anything!"
"They hurt me because I love you Rory. I…love…you" There. He finally said it. He can't believe he blurted it out like that. What would she think?
There was a moment of silence while Rory digested this new and shocking piece of information. 'Could this be true? No it isn't. It can't be. Tristan doesn't love anything except himself. He must be still trying to make me his next conquest. If he can say he got me to break up with my boyfriend for him, he would have yet another notch on his proverbial belt.' At this thought Rory became really angry. How dare he use such sacred and beautiful words so shamelessly. He really would do anything to get what he wanted.
"I don't believe you. You're just trying to get me to break up with Dean and fall for you. Well it isn't gong to work Tristan. You can't say those words. You don't even know what they mean. You're just a self-centered little rich boy. You're only aware of what you want. You're never considerate of what anyone else needs. You only care about your stupid reputation. If you think I'm going to be another conquest then think again. I will never ever go out with you Tristan. Not even if you were the last man on earth. You're the biggest jerk I've ever met, and you make me wish that I never met you." Rory spat out, her anger causing her to breathe in short gasps.
Tristan felt his whole world turn upside-down. This isn't what he thought would happen. 'Well what did you expect DuGray? You haven't exactly made her life easy have you?' The little voice in his mind asked. 'Did you think she would fall at your feet? Especially after all you've done? Would've taken a miracle.' He couldn't take it anymore. The voice was taunting him, laughing at his mistakes. "Rory……I……" Tristan's anguished voice faltered and petered out. He didn't know what to say. For the first time in his life he was speechless. So Tristan did the only thing he could think of. He turned and ran out of the studio, leaving Rory staring after him.
~Chilton Hallway~
(Friday, the day after the showing of the projects)
The whole school was a buzz of excitement. They actually got to skip half of the day's classes for the annual Chilton Talent Show. It was always fun to watch people get up and do stuff. The most surprising people had the most amazing talent. And there was a rumor that this year's show was going to be the best yet.
Rory sighed as she walked out the classroom. Now all she had to do was sit through a bunch of students doing their "thing" and then she could go home. What a relief. This week had been so horrible. The only good thing about it was that after that incident at Miss Patty's she hadn't seen Tristan at all. Opening her locker, she began to put her books away before heading to the auditorium.
"Where the hell were you?" Paris's angry voice traveled down the hallway. "You weren't there and I ended having to sub in for you. Did you know you could have cost me my entire grade?!"
"Aaaawww, poor little Paris. Couldn't handle it if your grades fell could you?" That familiar smooth voice floated to Rory's ears.
"Tristan! This isn't funny. You nearly cost me my entire grade! I don't ever want to deal with you again!" Paris shouted.
"Well that's no problem. You won't have to see me anyway. I'll be gone from this stupid place after today." With that Tristan turned away from Paris and walked down the hall.
Rory had stopped putting her books in her locker, and was listening to the conversation. Looking down the hall she saw Tristan coming her way. Just as he passed by her curiosity got the better of her and before she knew it she had reached out and grabbed his arm, halting his progress down the hall. "What did you mean by that?" she asked.
Tristan looked in surprise at her hand on his arm and then into her questioning blue eyes. "What did I mean by what?" he asked, keeping his voice steady.
"By that comment. That you'll be gone from here after today. What did you mean by that?"
"That, Mary, means that I'll never be in this stupid school again. It means that the police caught me and Duncan and Bowman going through Bowman's dad's safe. And so it means that as punishment my dad is sending me to military school in North Carolina" Tristan said emotionlessly.
"Why would you do a stupid thing like that?" Rory asked, surprising both Tristan and herself by asking.
Tristan's heart fluttered for a second. Did she actually care? Then he remembered her words from the other night. His expression hardened even further. "Why do you even care Mary?" he said coldly. "I'm an inconsiderate jerk. You hate me remember?" With that he wrenched his arm free from her grasp and walked away, leaving Rory staring at his retreating form for the second time in three days.
'What was that all about?' Rory asked herself. 'Why do I even care?' 'Because you regret saying some of the things that you did the other day. And despite everything, you don't actually think Tristan is as horrible as you always say he is.' The voice said in the back of her mind. 'That's……ok, so I do regret some of the things I said that day,' Rory admitted, 'but it's not like we were good friends or anything. So there's no harm done. I mean its Tristan. He doesn't care what I say anyway' 'Do you really believe that?' The voice asked. Remembering the hurt look on Tristan's face, and the anguish in his voice Rory found she didn't know what do say. 'Oh shut up' Rory told the voice as she walked towards the auditorium.
Finding a seat on the bleachers Rory sat down and watched the different acts. Some of them weren't half-bad. Two students did a cute little skit, and another girl sang. Soon the afternoon was almost over. "Students, for our last and final act, we have a last minute entry. Let's hear it for Mr. Tristan DuGray."
The stage was pitch black. Slowly a spotlight turned on and was focused on Tristan. He stepped up to the mike and nodded towards the sound booth. The background music he had gotten started to fill the auditorium. He took a deep breath and began to sing.
Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
Tired of living like a blind man
I'm sick inside without a sense of feeling
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me of what I really am
This is how you remind me of what I really am
Tristan looked at Rory while he sang. He had chosen this song because of her. He had made a realization after he had gotten caught breaking into the safe. He really was a self-absorbed, conceited jerk. How could he expect Rory to care for him if he was such a horrible person?
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking
I've been wrong, I've been down
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream, "Are we having fun yet?"
Yet, yet, yet, no, no
Yet, yet, yet, no, no
Rory stared at Tristan while he sang. He had an amazing voice. And this song was sung with such feeling. She could hear the pain behind the words. And knew that those words were meant for her to hear.
It's not like you didn't know that
I said I love you and I swear I still do
And it must have been so bad
Cause living with me must have damn near killed you
And this is how you remind me of what I really am
This is how you remind me of what I really am
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking
I've been wrong, I've been down
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream, "Are we having fun yet?"
Yet, yet, yet, no, no
Yet, yet, yet, no, no
Yet, yet, yet, no, no
Yet, yet, yet, no, no
As she continued listening to the words, Rory was filled with a sense of regret. She hadn't meant everything that she had said the other day. And she didn't know it would affect him so much. I mean, it was Tristan. He wasn't supposed to care about anything. 'Now who's being stereotypical now?' The voice asked. 'I thought I told you to shut up' Rory growled and continued to listen to Tristan sing.
Tristan thought of the words that he was singing at the moment. They fitted his life perfectly. He was never able to achieve anything to anybody's satisfaction. His life was meaningless and empty. He never cared about anything in his life until he had met Rory Gilmore. She was the only thing he could actually care about. And the one time he actually tried giving a girl his heart, it was cruelly broken into a million little pieces. There was no happy ending for him. He couldn't even succeed at being a decent human being. And Rory had finally opened his eyes to that. He should be grateful for her insight. Yet why did such revelations come with so much pain?
Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
This is how you remind me of what I really am
This is how you remind me of what I really am
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking
I've been wrong, I've been down
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream, "Are we having fun yet?"
Yet, yet
Are we having fun yet?
Yet, yet
Are we having fun yet?
Yet, yet
Are we having fun yet?
Yet, yet
As the music faded, the lights dimmed and Tristan walked off the stage listening to the cheers of his fellow schoolmates. They didn't get it. They only heard his wonderful voice. She did though. He had seen her expression as she listened to the song. And that was all he had wanted. Packing away his things, Tristan stopped before the doors to the school. 'This is it.' He thought. 'Time for a new beginning.' And with one last look around he departed, closing the doors to that part of his life forever.
~Rory's House~
Entering her house, Rory was glad for once that her mother wasn't home. She wouldn't be able to talk right now, and her mother would bother her until she told her what was wrong. What was she supposed to say? 'Well for one thing, you can say that you regretted some things that you said to Tristan.' The voice in her head said. 'Yeah but I didn't think they would hurt him!' Rory exclaimed to the voice. 'Now who's making cruel assumptions now?' The voice asked her. 'Aaaahhh. Will you stop already? Alright I admit it, I regret saying those things. I regret hurting Tristan, and I regret never being able to tell him that. Satisfied?' Rory asked the voice. When she didn't get an answer she sighed in relief. Why had Tristan's song cut into her so deeply? 'Because you know that he was serious when he offered you his heart, and you cut him apart.' The voice piped up again. 'I don't know if he was serious or not.' Rory argued. 'Yeah, but you never gave him a chance to clarify did you?' The voice asked. Rory groaned again, why did this voice in her head have to ask all these stupid questions that she couldn't answer? She was so confused right now, with all this stuff from the past few days running through her head. Rory curled up on her bed, not even bothering to move the stuff on her bed. 'Why am I so confused? I don't like Tristan……do I? Then why do you care that you hurt him?' she asked herself as she fell asleep, clutching her copy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
~Please review! I'd love to hear what you think!~