Disclaimer : I own zilch.
Feedback : I like feedback, yes. The more positive reviews I get, the more I'm inspired to write. Constructive criticism
and negativity is welcome as long as you don't slaughter me. Thanks :)
Author Note: Big thank you to all the reviewers, you give me life. A special thank you goes out to, once again, to
Casti for her thoughts and to inmyeyes for her itsybitsy (okay, big) help. Thank you :)
... and without further ado...
"Baby, Be Mine"
Chapter 08
Later That Night...
"Its an evil ploy to make us their mindless puppet dolls," Lorelai whined.
"We're going," Rory said firmly, putting the finishing touches on her hair.
"I don't wannaaa!"
"Don't care, we're going. Come on, Grandma will kill us if we're late again." Rory announced, pushing her reluctant
mother out the front door.
Lorelai stuck her tongue out and climbed into the drivers seat. "Hey, if she kills us, we won't have to go to dinner anymore."
"Mom.."
"Meanie."
*****
Dinner that night went reasonably well, with only a few moments of silence, mostly due to something Lorelai said or did that
went over her parents head and the tiny fight that ensued when Christopher didn't show up, though he called explaining that he had to go back to Boston for the night to get things ready for his move. Emily and Richard cautiously skated over the incident they had inadvertently caused, only asking how she was doing and if there was anything they could do for her. Rory remained silent for most of the meal, her thoughts a million miles away, her subconscious fighting off memories that threatened to take over her life. And as they did, more often than not, her thoughts traveled to Tristan. She wondered where he was, what he was doing and who he was with. It wasn't until the ride home that Rory laid it all out for her mother.
"I like him."
Lorelai gave her a sideways glance. "Who can blame you? That mohawk is the sexiest thing I've ever laid eyes on. And those tattoos, ooh. Aww, my baby is growing up."
Rory smiled in spite of herself. "Mom, focus."
"Oh, right. Who were we talking about again?" Lorelai asked before blowing up in a tirade about how some people were just not meant to drive.
"Tristan." Rory admitted lowly.
Lorelai looked over at her, a knowing expression on her face. "Evil Bible - Boy, huh? Can't blame you there, sweetie, who would've known that the devil incarnate could look so good. And why you didn't share such vital information with me before escapes my understanding, but I'll let that slide, for now. But back to this liking him thing, are you sure?"
Rory nodded slowly. "I think so. It so frustrating though! I mean, this is Tristan, I'm not supposed to be falling for him! First we're kind of friends, then we're enemies, then we're kind of friends, then.. we're nothing and now this. When he's around, I can't imagine being anything more than friends, but when we're apart I can't think of anything but him and his gorgeous eyes."
Lorelai wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Are you sure his eyes are all you think about?"
Groaning, Rory leaned against the window, staring out at the dark, snow covered world that flashed before her eyes. "I just don't understand him. Before all this happened, it was like he was avoiding me, but then he just showed up, acting all contrite, apologizing for being such a jerk and now we're friends. Sometimes he acts like there's nothing in the world he'd rather be doing then spending time with me, and then he reverts to Evil-Tristan and drives me crazy. But I like him."
"He likes you too, honey," Lorelai said, patting Rory's knee in a motherly fashion.
Rory didn't respond, just sighed and continued to stare out the window.
*****
"Why are you getting all dressed up, I thought you were only studying?" Lane inquired, watching her best friend scurry around her room in a vain attempt to find something decent to wear.
Rory whirled around, her blue eyes wide. "I...I'm not getting dressed up. I'm just getting dressed," she protested lamely.
Lane eyed her curiously. "Ooo..kay. There's something you're not telling me."
"No, there's not. You know everything, all caught up. Nothing new that you haven't been told. See, I'm not not telling you anything." Rory objected, sounding a little bit too much like her mother.
"Rorrrrry, you don't tell me anything anymore," Lane complained, flopping down onto her friends bed, flipping through a fashion magazine.
Rory slipped her choice of a shirt over her head before turning back to Lane. "Okay, I wasn't completely honest with you about who I'm studying with."
"Spill it."
"Tristan's coming over and -"
"Wait, Tristan? The Evil-Person from Chilton? That Tristan?" Lane exclaimed.
Rory nodded soundlessly.
Lane stood up, her hands on her hips. "I can't believe you didn't tell me! I mean, this is like big, whoa there, news. How could you not tell me?"
Rory sank down on her bed. "I don't know, I'm sorry. I guess I've just been trying to figure it all out."
Catching the confusion in Rory's voice, Lane sat down next to her. "Figure all what out?"
"How I feel. I mean -"
"Whoa, how you feel? Do you like... have a thing for him?"
"Rory has a thing, Rory has a thing," Lorelai sang, as she came bounding into the teens room and instantaneously, their conversation. "Rory so has a thing!"
Rory shot her mother a baleful look. "You're not helping, Mom."
Lorelai quieted down, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of them. "You should see this boy, Lanie-pooh. What I would give to be sixteen years younger..."
"Okay, gross." Rory interrupted. "I would rather not have the mental image of you and him while we're studying, thank you very much."
Lorelai smirked. "She'd rather have the mental image of her and him," she said to Lane.
Rory threw her hands in the air. "Im beginning to regret telling you anything."
Lorelai ignored her. "Not that I blame her, I mean, he's a total Ken doll, with these amazing blue eyes. And his hair.."
Lane leaned forward, obviously interested in what Lorelai was explaining.
"...And he's going to be here shortly, so if you two could please stop talking about him like that, otherwise I'm not going to be able to look at him," Rory said, pushing her way into her mothers description.
Lorelai giggled and jumped to her feet. "Okay, okay, I get your point Evil-Mini-Me. I've gotta get to work, call me if you need anything."
Rory nodded absentmindedly as her mother winked at Lane and turned to leave.
*****
"Thats Tristan? Your mom wasn't kidding when she said he was hot. Why did you not tell me he was hot?" Lane asked excitedly as she and Rory peered down from the upstairs window at the person who had just pulled into the Gilmore driveway.
"I don't, I mean.. Sorry," Rory mumbled, cursing herself for not being able to form correct sentences. She was already a fumbling mess and he hadn't even knocked yet.
Lane grinned and closed the curtain. "Well, I'll let you introduce us and then I'll be on my way. My mom will kill me if I spend time in a house with a very hot strange male being without parental supervision."
Rory giggled and jumped as the echo of a knock rang throughout the house. "Okay, come on."
*****
Tristan stood on the other side of the Gilmore's front door, nervous as could be. Why had he suggested they study together? It was just going to make things harder for him. Seeing her, looking so beautiful and not being able to reach out and touch her like he so desperately needed to. It had been nearly impossible to keep from kissing her the day before, as she stood there, her chestnut hair glimmering in the winter sun. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand to knock again, only to have the door fly open in front of him. There she was, the dark navy shirt she wore enhancing the blue of her eyes ten times over. They stood there for a few moments, just staring in awe when suddenly a bubbly dark haired girl jumped out from behind her.
"Hi, you must be Tristan. I'm Lane, Rory's friend. But I gotta get going, nice meeting you. I'll call you later, Rory." She called, making her way out of the house.
Tristan stared after her. "It was uh, nice meeting you too." He said, turning back to Rory. "Hey."
Rory smiled and stepped aside, letting him in. "Hey. You're late," she said, not accusingly.
"Woke up late," Tristan shrugged, trying not to notice the way she was looking at him, trying not to imagine what that look could mean. He couldn't let his thoughts wander that way, it would be too hard.
Rory nodded, rocking on her heels nervously. After finally admitting her feelings to someone other than herself, she wasn't sure how to act around him. A few more minutes passed before Tristan finally broke the uncomfortable silence.
"We should get to work."
Agreeing, Rory led him into the living room and they sat down on the couch, the accidental brush of his arm against hers sending flames through both of their veins. They worked steadily, mostly in silence for a good hour when Rory finally sighed and closed her book. "This sucks."
Tristan gave her a weird look. "Of course it sucks, its homework."
"No, thats not what I mean. I mean, us."
"Us?" Tristan asked, pretending to be ignorant. Of course he knew exactly what she was referring too.
"Yeah, us. Yesterday we were like best friends and today... its just..." Rory paused, trying to find the right words.
"Weird? Different?" Tristan supplied.
"Yes. I don't want it to be weird or different between us. What we had yesterday was good, today is bad. Can we please go back to that way?" Rory asked.
Tristan nodded and grinned. "Of course we could make things even better between us," he teased.
Rory rolled her eyes, hitting him over the head with a pillow. "You just don't change, do you?"
Giving her a smug look, he laughed. "Oh, Mary, Mary...."
*****
"I had fun today, thank you for coming over," Rory said, walking Tristan to the door.
"It was my pleasure. Its not everyday I get to spend my time with such a beautiful girl," Tristan said in a teasing manner, but the underlying truth was apparent to both of them.
Rory blushed, glancing down at the floor and it was all Tristan could take. Without comprehension of his actions, he lifted her chin with his finger, his eyes meeting hers. Slowly his hand moved down, winding with hers and she stared at him expectantly. Searching her face for permission, he leaned down, his lips inching closer to hers....
Was that a crappy cliffhanger? Yeah, it was. I'm sorry. Will they kiss? Will they be interrupted? Time will only tell. Let me know what you think :)
*~* Shay *~*
Feedback : I like feedback, yes. The more positive reviews I get, the more I'm inspired to write. Constructive criticism
and negativity is welcome as long as you don't slaughter me. Thanks :)
Author Note: Big thank you to all the reviewers, you give me life. A special thank you goes out to, once again, to
Casti for her thoughts and to inmyeyes for her itsybitsy (okay, big) help. Thank you :)
... and without further ado...
Chapter 08
Later That Night...
"Its an evil ploy to make us their mindless puppet dolls," Lorelai whined.
"We're going," Rory said firmly, putting the finishing touches on her hair.
"I don't wannaaa!"
"Don't care, we're going. Come on, Grandma will kill us if we're late again." Rory announced, pushing her reluctant
mother out the front door.
Lorelai stuck her tongue out and climbed into the drivers seat. "Hey, if she kills us, we won't have to go to dinner anymore."
"Mom.."
"Meanie."
*****
Dinner that night went reasonably well, with only a few moments of silence, mostly due to something Lorelai said or did that
went over her parents head and the tiny fight that ensued when Christopher didn't show up, though he called explaining that he had to go back to Boston for the night to get things ready for his move. Emily and Richard cautiously skated over the incident they had inadvertently caused, only asking how she was doing and if there was anything they could do for her. Rory remained silent for most of the meal, her thoughts a million miles away, her subconscious fighting off memories that threatened to take over her life. And as they did, more often than not, her thoughts traveled to Tristan. She wondered where he was, what he was doing and who he was with. It wasn't until the ride home that Rory laid it all out for her mother.
"I like him."
Lorelai gave her a sideways glance. "Who can blame you? That mohawk is the sexiest thing I've ever laid eyes on. And those tattoos, ooh. Aww, my baby is growing up."
Rory smiled in spite of herself. "Mom, focus."
"Oh, right. Who were we talking about again?" Lorelai asked before blowing up in a tirade about how some people were just not meant to drive.
"Tristan." Rory admitted lowly.
Lorelai looked over at her, a knowing expression on her face. "Evil Bible - Boy, huh? Can't blame you there, sweetie, who would've known that the devil incarnate could look so good. And why you didn't share such vital information with me before escapes my understanding, but I'll let that slide, for now. But back to this liking him thing, are you sure?"
Rory nodded slowly. "I think so. It so frustrating though! I mean, this is Tristan, I'm not supposed to be falling for him! First we're kind of friends, then we're enemies, then we're kind of friends, then.. we're nothing and now this. When he's around, I can't imagine being anything more than friends, but when we're apart I can't think of anything but him and his gorgeous eyes."
Lorelai wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Are you sure his eyes are all you think about?"
Groaning, Rory leaned against the window, staring out at the dark, snow covered world that flashed before her eyes. "I just don't understand him. Before all this happened, it was like he was avoiding me, but then he just showed up, acting all contrite, apologizing for being such a jerk and now we're friends. Sometimes he acts like there's nothing in the world he'd rather be doing then spending time with me, and then he reverts to Evil-Tristan and drives me crazy. But I like him."
"He likes you too, honey," Lorelai said, patting Rory's knee in a motherly fashion.
Rory didn't respond, just sighed and continued to stare out the window.
*****
"Why are you getting all dressed up, I thought you were only studying?" Lane inquired, watching her best friend scurry around her room in a vain attempt to find something decent to wear.
Rory whirled around, her blue eyes wide. "I...I'm not getting dressed up. I'm just getting dressed," she protested lamely.
Lane eyed her curiously. "Ooo..kay. There's something you're not telling me."
"No, there's not. You know everything, all caught up. Nothing new that you haven't been told. See, I'm not not telling you anything." Rory objected, sounding a little bit too much like her mother.
"Rorrrrry, you don't tell me anything anymore," Lane complained, flopping down onto her friends bed, flipping through a fashion magazine.
Rory slipped her choice of a shirt over her head before turning back to Lane. "Okay, I wasn't completely honest with you about who I'm studying with."
"Spill it."
"Tristan's coming over and -"
"Wait, Tristan? The Evil-Person from Chilton? That Tristan?" Lane exclaimed.
Rory nodded soundlessly.
Lane stood up, her hands on her hips. "I can't believe you didn't tell me! I mean, this is like big, whoa there, news. How could you not tell me?"
Rory sank down on her bed. "I don't know, I'm sorry. I guess I've just been trying to figure it all out."
Catching the confusion in Rory's voice, Lane sat down next to her. "Figure all what out?"
"How I feel. I mean -"
"Whoa, how you feel? Do you like... have a thing for him?"
"Rory has a thing, Rory has a thing," Lorelai sang, as she came bounding into the teens room and instantaneously, their conversation. "Rory so has a thing!"
Rory shot her mother a baleful look. "You're not helping, Mom."
Lorelai quieted down, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of them. "You should see this boy, Lanie-pooh. What I would give to be sixteen years younger..."
"Okay, gross." Rory interrupted. "I would rather not have the mental image of you and him while we're studying, thank you very much."
Lorelai smirked. "She'd rather have the mental image of her and him," she said to Lane.
Rory threw her hands in the air. "Im beginning to regret telling you anything."
Lorelai ignored her. "Not that I blame her, I mean, he's a total Ken doll, with these amazing blue eyes. And his hair.."
Lane leaned forward, obviously interested in what Lorelai was explaining.
"...And he's going to be here shortly, so if you two could please stop talking about him like that, otherwise I'm not going to be able to look at him," Rory said, pushing her way into her mothers description.
Lorelai giggled and jumped to her feet. "Okay, okay, I get your point Evil-Mini-Me. I've gotta get to work, call me if you need anything."
Rory nodded absentmindedly as her mother winked at Lane and turned to leave.
*****
"Thats Tristan? Your mom wasn't kidding when she said he was hot. Why did you not tell me he was hot?" Lane asked excitedly as she and Rory peered down from the upstairs window at the person who had just pulled into the Gilmore driveway.
"I don't, I mean.. Sorry," Rory mumbled, cursing herself for not being able to form correct sentences. She was already a fumbling mess and he hadn't even knocked yet.
Lane grinned and closed the curtain. "Well, I'll let you introduce us and then I'll be on my way. My mom will kill me if I spend time in a house with a very hot strange male being without parental supervision."
Rory giggled and jumped as the echo of a knock rang throughout the house. "Okay, come on."
*****
Tristan stood on the other side of the Gilmore's front door, nervous as could be. Why had he suggested they study together? It was just going to make things harder for him. Seeing her, looking so beautiful and not being able to reach out and touch her like he so desperately needed to. It had been nearly impossible to keep from kissing her the day before, as she stood there, her chestnut hair glimmering in the winter sun. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand to knock again, only to have the door fly open in front of him. There she was, the dark navy shirt she wore enhancing the blue of her eyes ten times over. They stood there for a few moments, just staring in awe when suddenly a bubbly dark haired girl jumped out from behind her.
"Hi, you must be Tristan. I'm Lane, Rory's friend. But I gotta get going, nice meeting you. I'll call you later, Rory." She called, making her way out of the house.
Tristan stared after her. "It was uh, nice meeting you too." He said, turning back to Rory. "Hey."
Rory smiled and stepped aside, letting him in. "Hey. You're late," she said, not accusingly.
"Woke up late," Tristan shrugged, trying not to notice the way she was looking at him, trying not to imagine what that look could mean. He couldn't let his thoughts wander that way, it would be too hard.
Rory nodded, rocking on her heels nervously. After finally admitting her feelings to someone other than herself, she wasn't sure how to act around him. A few more minutes passed before Tristan finally broke the uncomfortable silence.
"We should get to work."
Agreeing, Rory led him into the living room and they sat down on the couch, the accidental brush of his arm against hers sending flames through both of their veins. They worked steadily, mostly in silence for a good hour when Rory finally sighed and closed her book. "This sucks."
Tristan gave her a weird look. "Of course it sucks, its homework."
"No, thats not what I mean. I mean, us."
"Us?" Tristan asked, pretending to be ignorant. Of course he knew exactly what she was referring too.
"Yeah, us. Yesterday we were like best friends and today... its just..." Rory paused, trying to find the right words.
"Weird? Different?" Tristan supplied.
"Yes. I don't want it to be weird or different between us. What we had yesterday was good, today is bad. Can we please go back to that way?" Rory asked.
Tristan nodded and grinned. "Of course we could make things even better between us," he teased.
Rory rolled her eyes, hitting him over the head with a pillow. "You just don't change, do you?"
Giving her a smug look, he laughed. "Oh, Mary, Mary...."
*****
"I had fun today, thank you for coming over," Rory said, walking Tristan to the door.
"It was my pleasure. Its not everyday I get to spend my time with such a beautiful girl," Tristan said in a teasing manner, but the underlying truth was apparent to both of them.
Rory blushed, glancing down at the floor and it was all Tristan could take. Without comprehension of his actions, he lifted her chin with his finger, his eyes meeting hers. Slowly his hand moved down, winding with hers and she stared at him expectantly. Searching her face for permission, he leaned down, his lips inching closer to hers....
Was that a crappy cliffhanger? Yeah, it was. I'm sorry. Will they kiss? Will they be interrupted? Time will only tell. Let me know what you think :)
*~* Shay *~*