TITLE: Lost in the Shadows 11/?
AUTHOR: Jennie
EMAIL: jennieln@pacbell.net
WEBSITE: http://jessifanfic.com/links
DISCLAIMER: College student... need I say more?
PREVIOUS PARTS: http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=492824
PAIRING: Tristan/Rory but will have elements of Dean/Rory, Jess/Rory, and ?/Rory
SUMMARY: This story follows the trials and tribulations of love, sex and friendships of Rory and her close nit group of friends in a time when adulthood is swiftly approaching. Can a friendship overcome a potentially disastrous start?
RATING: R for sexual situations and will be constant throughout the story.
SPOILERS: All of the first season. Yes, Tristan and Rory were in that Shakespeare play together but no, he did not get sent to military school. My Tristan is too smart for that. :o)
NOTES: Big thanks goes out to my beta'ers Jewls13 and Julie and of course to everyone who feedbacked. Believe me, it's what keeps me writing!
AUTHOR NOTE #2: SHAMELESS PLUG!! Please go visit Trory Addiction's new message board (mainly geared towards fanfiction) at: http://pub82.ezboard.com/bgilmoreaddiction We are in desperate need of fic writers in all genres, not just Trory!
Also, I have my author alert active so if you put my author ID # (132709) in your author alert. When I update, you will receive an email. Happy reading!
ROMANCE
She stepped out of the shower, the water droplets sliding down her skin causing her to shiver despite the heavy humidity in the room. Downstairs she could hear the faint rumblings of people talking and she instantly knew she had taken too long under the steaming water.
The insistent knock on the door confirmed it. "Rory? You didn't drown yourself, did you?" The Prom's not going to be THAT bad."
Quickly piling her hair up on top of her head and slipping into her robe, she opened the door for her mom.
"It didn't feel like more than a half hour," she mumbled as way of explanation.
"It wasn't. You know my mother. She arrived with the cavalry ten minutes ago. Luckily, Sookie was prepared and had appetizers ready."
"Calvary? Do I want to know?"
"Probably not, but I'll tell you anyway because I can't wait to see your reaction," Lorelai said and Rory groaned knowing it couldn't be good. "Downstairs waiting for you is a makeup team that could rival that of 'Lord of the Rings.'"
"Headache," Rory whimpered, pointing to her temple. "Please tell me this is all some horrible joke—or a nightmare! Yeah, a terrible, terrifying nightmare and I will wake up at any moment."
Lorelai leaned against the door jam. "No such luck, kiddo. Now once you put on some clothes, the hair stylist and manicurist will see you first. After that, the makeup artist, a very flamboyant guy named Billy with very nice skin, has his turn and by then the whole town should have gathered by the front door with their cameras, rivaling that of the paparazi's."
Squeezing past her mom, Rory started to the stairs. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you."
Her mother acted as though she were offended although the mischievous gleam in her eyes said otherwise. "I never! Taking pleasure in my only offspring's misery? How could you ever think such a thing?"
Rory ignored her and tromped downstairs. At the bottom, she found herself hesitating. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate what her grandmother did for her, it was just that she hated being fawned over. It made her uncomfortable.
"Do you want me to run interference?" her mom whispered from behind her.
"Please." She didn't say it enough but she really did love her mom.
Rory waited where she was, listening, as Lorelai hopped into the kitchen, literally.
"Martha Stewart is down the street!" she heard her squeal.
"Lorelai, take your hands off of me."
"But it's Martha Stewart!" Rory snorted. Her mom was weird. The door opened as shut but she could still hear the two women arguing.
"That's not Martha Stewart, that's your neighbor. What happened to Rory? Is she ready yet?"
Rory darted through the kitchen doorway, waving at a dumbfounded Sookie, spoon in hand, and ignoring the confused looks sent her way but the quote- on-quote beauty staff who were eating some sort of stuffed mushroom appetizer. Rory closed her bedroom door just as the kitchen one opened.
She idly wondered why her mom had chosen Martha Stewart. Odd choice for a celebrity. But then again she needed a name that Emily would recognize…
Her attention was soon drawn to her dress, hanging on the molding above the closet. Even though she had seen it two times before that week while her mother was altering it, the sight of it still took her breath away. Delicately, she fingered the wispy material that made up the skirt. It was unlike anything she or her mom ever thought she would have the guts to wear. The deep ruby bodice was tight and strapless and as Lorelai had put it, "Didn't leave much to the imagination." Which, of course, was why her mom loved it.
Rory had found that lately she hadn't been so self-conscious about her body. In the past, if her shirt showed a sliver of her stomach, she would wear a sweatshirt over it. Well, either that or give it to her mom. Now, she was surprised to find that it no longer embarrassed her. In fact, she kind of was enjoying the attention it brought her.
She often thought about what could have spurred the change, yet she stopped when her mind dwelt on that night with Tristan, almost four months before. Although she had only experienced it once, she really didn't see what the big deal was. Sex. It had been such a taboo in her mind for so long and now it was just… sex. Sure, it had been an amazing moment that she was honestly glad that she had experienced, especially since she had gotten an interesting alliance with Tristan out of it. But she still didn't see why, besides the consequences if you weren't careful—and Rory vowed that she would be more mature the next time—but why did people make it such a forbidden subject?
Everyone did it.
She scrunched her eyes closed, trying to squeeze back the thoughts as well. Her mind had been in a constant turmoil and lately she had been skirting around her feelings for both Tristan and Dean. Tristan was this boy who could be amazingly cocky yet vulnerable at the same time. He intrigued her and pushed her to her limits. But he was new. She was sure that once she had become better friends with him, her infatuation with him would end just like what happened with Jess. Not that she would get the chance to become better friends with him even though they were headed to the same college. Harvard was a huge school and the chances that they would be even remotely close to each other were highly unlikely.
And Dean. Her feelings for Dean confused her even more. She missed him. Well, at least she thought she missed him. Sometimes she thought that she didn't miss him as much as she missed the comfort of him. It was hard to tell these days.
Rory turned to face the floor length mirror that was mounted on the back of her door. Dark auburn strands of hair escaped her messy bun, falling into her pale face. She looked at herself, scrutinizing, trying to see herself as others saw her. Everything about her was plain and average.
Gently, she stepped out of her robe and pulled on a pair of panties and glanced at the clock. She still had nearly three hours until she and Jess needed to leave. If she had known that this was to be an all day affair, she might've changed her mind about going. Who was she kidding? She still would've wanted to go.
A movement behind her, reflected in the mirror caused her heart to skip a beat then rapidly thrash in her chest as if to make up the missing thump.
"Rory, you gotta help me—shit!"
She became painfully aware of her state of undress and she groped for her robe on the floor and clutched it tightly to her chest.
'Please let the floor swallow me now,' she thought, her eyes squeezed shut. Unfortunately, the gods did not hear her because she remained fast where she was.
Practically prying her eyes open, she peeked into the mirror and saw that the window behind her was now empty. Rory pulled the robe back on and cautiously tiptoed to the open window and spied Jess pressed against the side of the house, his eyes closed, breathing erratic, and face flushed.
Seeing his obvious discomfort at walking in on his friend practically naked, she quickly tried to overcome her embarrassment. "What's the matter, Jess? I don't think I've ever seen you speechless before."
Holy crap! Was that her voice? Even to her own ears it sounded weak and forced. God, she was such a wimp. This was her best friend. There was absolutely nothing to be nervous about. Unfortunately, her stomach didn't particularly agree and continued it's insistent churning.
He took a deep breath and hesitantly looked into her eyes. He cleared his throat and visibly composed himself. "Just surprised. My little Rory is growing up." He pinched her cheek comically and gave a half-assed attempt at a chuckle.
Rory sighed with a dramatic flair to ease the tension. "What are you doing here?"
Jess relaxed and rested his forehead against the top edge of the windowsill. "Luke's driving me crazy. I wanted you to remind me again why I'm doing this."
"Because you are my friend and you love me." She stepped aside and let him climb through the window. She was still slightly uncomfortable and found that she couldn't meet his eyes, instead choosing to examine a stain in the carpet that she had been to lazy to clean for like three years.
"You okay?" he asked, touching her shoulder gently.
Before she could stop herself, she had jerked away from his hand. Guiltily, she looked up to see his eyes brimming with hurt. She sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed, wrapping her thin robe tighter around her body.
She found it difficult, if not damn near impossible, to guard herself against a friend who could read emotions and expressions so easily, so she didn't even try. "Not really. Well, maybe. I don't know. I just feel… different since, well, you know."
The bed shifted as he sat next to her. He didn't speak and she didn't blame him. He had no idea what she was going through.
"You miss Dean, don't you?"
She glanced over at him, surprised. When did he become so astute?
"Sometimes I wonder, you know? Did I make a mistake breaking up with Dean? I mean, he loved me, he wanted me, but then there's that thought in the back of my mind that my true love is still out there." Rory collapsed back on the bed. "I want romance," she whined pitifully.
He lay down next to her and laced his fingers through hers. "Romance?" he asked and she couldn't tell if he asked it sarcastically or not.
"I want a love that makes your finger tips tingle when you touch and your heart flutter when you kiss. Romance."
Jess chuckled. "Honey, I hate to crush your idealistic dreams but love like that only exists in movies, bad boy band songs and the overactive imaginations of hopeless romantics like you."
"I'm not so sure. There has to be something more out there, otherwise what's the point?"
Before he could answer, a knock erupted from the door. "Rory, sweetie. I don't want to panic you, but it appears as though Jess is missing—" her grandmother's voice cut off as Luke spoke up.
"Is he in there? He is, isn't he! Jess, you can't run from me forever!"
After quickly kissing Rory's forehead, he sighed and slipped out the door with a smirk firmly in place. She lay there listening as Luke and Jess' muffled arguing grew fainter and fainter.
"Rory, are you alright?"
She sat up startled. She hadn't even heard her grandmother come in. Since when had she become Ms. Sneaky Spy?
"Yeah, just thinking," she replied, forcing herself to smile.
"Anything I can help with?"
Instinctively, she went to say no but she caught herself.
"How did you know grandpa was the one?"
Her grandmother smoothly sat on the bed much the same way Jess had done not too long before.
"I loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him. He was so tall and handsome, and his shoulders. He had such strong, broad shoulders. I loved his shoulders."
Rory nibbled thoughtfully on her lip. "So you knew instantly?"
Her grandmother softly stroked Rory's hair. "No. I knew I loved him but I didn't realized that he was the one I wanted to marry, to spend the rest of my life with until I had a dream. I dreamt about the future, happy together with a family. When I woke up, I dismissed it as one of those silly dreams us girls have but later that night, your grandfather kissed me. He had kissed me on occasion before but this one, this one was magic. It was like I opened myself up to him and the sensations instead of running from them. I was no longer afraid."
Rory lay there in silent contemplation, enjoying the feel of the older woman's hands running through her hair.
"You ready to go get your hair done?" her grandmother asked gently.
Rory smiled up at her despite her impulse to say no.
"Sure."
*****
TBC…
I live off of feedback :0)
REMINDER: Go to Trory Addiction's Message Board at: http://pub82.ezboard.com/bgilmoreaddiction
Thanks!
Jennie
AUTHOR: Jennie
EMAIL: jennieln@pacbell.net
WEBSITE: http://jessifanfic.com/links
DISCLAIMER: College student... need I say more?
PREVIOUS PARTS: http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=492824
PAIRING: Tristan/Rory but will have elements of Dean/Rory, Jess/Rory, and ?/Rory
SUMMARY: This story follows the trials and tribulations of love, sex and friendships of Rory and her close nit group of friends in a time when adulthood is swiftly approaching. Can a friendship overcome a potentially disastrous start?
RATING: R for sexual situations and will be constant throughout the story.
SPOILERS: All of the first season. Yes, Tristan and Rory were in that Shakespeare play together but no, he did not get sent to military school. My Tristan is too smart for that. :o)
NOTES: Big thanks goes out to my beta'ers Jewls13 and Julie and of course to everyone who feedbacked. Believe me, it's what keeps me writing!
AUTHOR NOTE #2: SHAMELESS PLUG!! Please go visit Trory Addiction's new message board (mainly geared towards fanfiction) at: http://pub82.ezboard.com/bgilmoreaddiction We are in desperate need of fic writers in all genres, not just Trory!
Also, I have my author alert active so if you put my author ID # (132709) in your author alert. When I update, you will receive an email. Happy reading!
ROMANCE
She stepped out of the shower, the water droplets sliding down her skin causing her to shiver despite the heavy humidity in the room. Downstairs she could hear the faint rumblings of people talking and she instantly knew she had taken too long under the steaming water.
The insistent knock on the door confirmed it. "Rory? You didn't drown yourself, did you?" The Prom's not going to be THAT bad."
Quickly piling her hair up on top of her head and slipping into her robe, she opened the door for her mom.
"It didn't feel like more than a half hour," she mumbled as way of explanation.
"It wasn't. You know my mother. She arrived with the cavalry ten minutes ago. Luckily, Sookie was prepared and had appetizers ready."
"Calvary? Do I want to know?"
"Probably not, but I'll tell you anyway because I can't wait to see your reaction," Lorelai said and Rory groaned knowing it couldn't be good. "Downstairs waiting for you is a makeup team that could rival that of 'Lord of the Rings.'"
"Headache," Rory whimpered, pointing to her temple. "Please tell me this is all some horrible joke—or a nightmare! Yeah, a terrible, terrifying nightmare and I will wake up at any moment."
Lorelai leaned against the door jam. "No such luck, kiddo. Now once you put on some clothes, the hair stylist and manicurist will see you first. After that, the makeup artist, a very flamboyant guy named Billy with very nice skin, has his turn and by then the whole town should have gathered by the front door with their cameras, rivaling that of the paparazi's."
Squeezing past her mom, Rory started to the stairs. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you."
Her mother acted as though she were offended although the mischievous gleam in her eyes said otherwise. "I never! Taking pleasure in my only offspring's misery? How could you ever think such a thing?"
Rory ignored her and tromped downstairs. At the bottom, she found herself hesitating. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate what her grandmother did for her, it was just that she hated being fawned over. It made her uncomfortable.
"Do you want me to run interference?" her mom whispered from behind her.
"Please." She didn't say it enough but she really did love her mom.
Rory waited where she was, listening, as Lorelai hopped into the kitchen, literally.
"Martha Stewart is down the street!" she heard her squeal.
"Lorelai, take your hands off of me."
"But it's Martha Stewart!" Rory snorted. Her mom was weird. The door opened as shut but she could still hear the two women arguing.
"That's not Martha Stewart, that's your neighbor. What happened to Rory? Is she ready yet?"
Rory darted through the kitchen doorway, waving at a dumbfounded Sookie, spoon in hand, and ignoring the confused looks sent her way but the quote- on-quote beauty staff who were eating some sort of stuffed mushroom appetizer. Rory closed her bedroom door just as the kitchen one opened.
She idly wondered why her mom had chosen Martha Stewart. Odd choice for a celebrity. But then again she needed a name that Emily would recognize…
Her attention was soon drawn to her dress, hanging on the molding above the closet. Even though she had seen it two times before that week while her mother was altering it, the sight of it still took her breath away. Delicately, she fingered the wispy material that made up the skirt. It was unlike anything she or her mom ever thought she would have the guts to wear. The deep ruby bodice was tight and strapless and as Lorelai had put it, "Didn't leave much to the imagination." Which, of course, was why her mom loved it.
Rory had found that lately she hadn't been so self-conscious about her body. In the past, if her shirt showed a sliver of her stomach, she would wear a sweatshirt over it. Well, either that or give it to her mom. Now, she was surprised to find that it no longer embarrassed her. In fact, she kind of was enjoying the attention it brought her.
She often thought about what could have spurred the change, yet she stopped when her mind dwelt on that night with Tristan, almost four months before. Although she had only experienced it once, she really didn't see what the big deal was. Sex. It had been such a taboo in her mind for so long and now it was just… sex. Sure, it had been an amazing moment that she was honestly glad that she had experienced, especially since she had gotten an interesting alliance with Tristan out of it. But she still didn't see why, besides the consequences if you weren't careful—and Rory vowed that she would be more mature the next time—but why did people make it such a forbidden subject?
Everyone did it.
She scrunched her eyes closed, trying to squeeze back the thoughts as well. Her mind had been in a constant turmoil and lately she had been skirting around her feelings for both Tristan and Dean. Tristan was this boy who could be amazingly cocky yet vulnerable at the same time. He intrigued her and pushed her to her limits. But he was new. She was sure that once she had become better friends with him, her infatuation with him would end just like what happened with Jess. Not that she would get the chance to become better friends with him even though they were headed to the same college. Harvard was a huge school and the chances that they would be even remotely close to each other were highly unlikely.
And Dean. Her feelings for Dean confused her even more. She missed him. Well, at least she thought she missed him. Sometimes she thought that she didn't miss him as much as she missed the comfort of him. It was hard to tell these days.
Rory turned to face the floor length mirror that was mounted on the back of her door. Dark auburn strands of hair escaped her messy bun, falling into her pale face. She looked at herself, scrutinizing, trying to see herself as others saw her. Everything about her was plain and average.
Gently, she stepped out of her robe and pulled on a pair of panties and glanced at the clock. She still had nearly three hours until she and Jess needed to leave. If she had known that this was to be an all day affair, she might've changed her mind about going. Who was she kidding? She still would've wanted to go.
A movement behind her, reflected in the mirror caused her heart to skip a beat then rapidly thrash in her chest as if to make up the missing thump.
"Rory, you gotta help me—shit!"
She became painfully aware of her state of undress and she groped for her robe on the floor and clutched it tightly to her chest.
'Please let the floor swallow me now,' she thought, her eyes squeezed shut. Unfortunately, the gods did not hear her because she remained fast where she was.
Practically prying her eyes open, she peeked into the mirror and saw that the window behind her was now empty. Rory pulled the robe back on and cautiously tiptoed to the open window and spied Jess pressed against the side of the house, his eyes closed, breathing erratic, and face flushed.
Seeing his obvious discomfort at walking in on his friend practically naked, she quickly tried to overcome her embarrassment. "What's the matter, Jess? I don't think I've ever seen you speechless before."
Holy crap! Was that her voice? Even to her own ears it sounded weak and forced. God, she was such a wimp. This was her best friend. There was absolutely nothing to be nervous about. Unfortunately, her stomach didn't particularly agree and continued it's insistent churning.
He took a deep breath and hesitantly looked into her eyes. He cleared his throat and visibly composed himself. "Just surprised. My little Rory is growing up." He pinched her cheek comically and gave a half-assed attempt at a chuckle.
Rory sighed with a dramatic flair to ease the tension. "What are you doing here?"
Jess relaxed and rested his forehead against the top edge of the windowsill. "Luke's driving me crazy. I wanted you to remind me again why I'm doing this."
"Because you are my friend and you love me." She stepped aside and let him climb through the window. She was still slightly uncomfortable and found that she couldn't meet his eyes, instead choosing to examine a stain in the carpet that she had been to lazy to clean for like three years.
"You okay?" he asked, touching her shoulder gently.
Before she could stop herself, she had jerked away from his hand. Guiltily, she looked up to see his eyes brimming with hurt. She sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed, wrapping her thin robe tighter around her body.
She found it difficult, if not damn near impossible, to guard herself against a friend who could read emotions and expressions so easily, so she didn't even try. "Not really. Well, maybe. I don't know. I just feel… different since, well, you know."
The bed shifted as he sat next to her. He didn't speak and she didn't blame him. He had no idea what she was going through.
"You miss Dean, don't you?"
She glanced over at him, surprised. When did he become so astute?
"Sometimes I wonder, you know? Did I make a mistake breaking up with Dean? I mean, he loved me, he wanted me, but then there's that thought in the back of my mind that my true love is still out there." Rory collapsed back on the bed. "I want romance," she whined pitifully.
He lay down next to her and laced his fingers through hers. "Romance?" he asked and she couldn't tell if he asked it sarcastically or not.
"I want a love that makes your finger tips tingle when you touch and your heart flutter when you kiss. Romance."
Jess chuckled. "Honey, I hate to crush your idealistic dreams but love like that only exists in movies, bad boy band songs and the overactive imaginations of hopeless romantics like you."
"I'm not so sure. There has to be something more out there, otherwise what's the point?"
Before he could answer, a knock erupted from the door. "Rory, sweetie. I don't want to panic you, but it appears as though Jess is missing—" her grandmother's voice cut off as Luke spoke up.
"Is he in there? He is, isn't he! Jess, you can't run from me forever!"
After quickly kissing Rory's forehead, he sighed and slipped out the door with a smirk firmly in place. She lay there listening as Luke and Jess' muffled arguing grew fainter and fainter.
"Rory, are you alright?"
She sat up startled. She hadn't even heard her grandmother come in. Since when had she become Ms. Sneaky Spy?
"Yeah, just thinking," she replied, forcing herself to smile.
"Anything I can help with?"
Instinctively, she went to say no but she caught herself.
"How did you know grandpa was the one?"
Her grandmother smoothly sat on the bed much the same way Jess had done not too long before.
"I loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him. He was so tall and handsome, and his shoulders. He had such strong, broad shoulders. I loved his shoulders."
Rory nibbled thoughtfully on her lip. "So you knew instantly?"
Her grandmother softly stroked Rory's hair. "No. I knew I loved him but I didn't realized that he was the one I wanted to marry, to spend the rest of my life with until I had a dream. I dreamt about the future, happy together with a family. When I woke up, I dismissed it as one of those silly dreams us girls have but later that night, your grandfather kissed me. He had kissed me on occasion before but this one, this one was magic. It was like I opened myself up to him and the sensations instead of running from them. I was no longer afraid."
Rory lay there in silent contemplation, enjoying the feel of the older woman's hands running through her hair.
"You ready to go get your hair done?" her grandmother asked gently.
Rory smiled up at her despite her impulse to say no.
"Sure."
*****
TBC…
I live off of feedback :0)
REMINDER: Go to Trory Addiction's Message Board at: http://pub82.ezboard.com/bgilmoreaddiction
Thanks!
Jennie