CHAPTER 7: LIFE AT THE CROSSROADS
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. This chapter has a lot of references to Junk food and such, but I don't own them either. Nor do I own Britney (it will make sense after you read it). Umm…That's it.
A/N: Sorry this chapter's kinda short, but I had a gazillion things to do so…
I promise more next time. Reviews would be greatly appreciated. Enjoy!
Tristan jumped in his car and started driving. He didn't know exactly where he was going or what he was doing; he just wanted to drive. To get away from everything. He drove a lot to get away from his parents. He flipped on the stereo and PJ Harvey blared out of the speakers. Immediately his mind turned to Rory.
*Damnit! I can't stop thinking about her. She drives me crazy. Her long soft hair, deep blue eyes and perfectly pink lips…stop it brain, stop it!*
He turned off the music and concentrated on driving. He finally made it on to the freeway.
*What has she done to me? I was so confident around girls, cocky even. I can get any girl I want. I'm Tristan DuGrey.* He sighed. *I can have anyone but her.*
It wasn't long before Tristan saw a sign for an exit.
STARS HOLLOW 5 MILES
Tristan got back to thinking. *I want her so bad. Not just to get into her pants. I care about her. It's different. But she doesn't know that.*
STARS HOLLOW 2 MILES
*I don't know how much longer I can control my feelings.*
EXIT: STARS HOLLOW
A wave of emotions came over Tristan. He swung the steering wheel and exited the freeway.
* * * * *
Luke and Lorelai stood out the front of the theatre, debating about what they should watch.
"Come on Luke, just for fun!"
"I am not watching Crossroads"
"Luke please! Young pretty girls wearing next to nothing! I only want to make fun of them! Throw popcorn at the screen!"
"Why are you so eager to watch it anyway? You're not exactly a Britney fan" He stopped and looked at her. "Are you?"
"I am officially offended"
"Well you do have an *NSYNC CD…"
Lorelai punched Luke on the arm.
"Ow!"
"I told you I would hurt you if you mentioned it. Come on" She dragged him over to the ticket stand. Luke reluctantly bought the tickets.
"I can't believe you're dragging me in to see this damn movie…" Luke looked around, only to find that Lorelai wasn't there. He caught sight of her eyeing the popcorn and lollies.
"Oh no" He dragged himself over to her, knowing they would enter the theatre with practically every type of junk food known to man.
"I want popcorn and M & M's and goober's and those cute little Willy Wonka lollies and, lemonade and cotton candy and…that's it. How 'bout you Luke?"
"Are you sure that's all you want?"
Lorelai shrugged sheepishly. "For the time being"
"I thing I'll pass"
She shrugged again. "It's your loss"
Once they had finally made it into the theatre, they had trouble finding seats.
Lorelai groaned. "This is ridiculous. Who would actually want to watch this movie?"
Lorelai turned around to find half the theatre glaring at her.
"Well that came out a lot louder than it should have"
Luke rolled his eyes and pointed out two empty seats. They sat down and waited for the movie to begin.
* * * * *
Tristan, after three wrong turns and a right at a giant rooster, had finally made it to Stars Hollow. His sleek BMW seemed extremely out of place in the quaint little town. While he was wondering around aimlessly he saw a sign for coffee.
*Coffee, a sure way to get into her good books*
He found a parking space and walked into the diner self-consciously. Before he stepped in he noticed that the coffee place had a sign for Williams hardware.
*God this is a weird town*
He swung the door open to find two people sipping coffee in a corner table and a guy about his age reading a book behind the counter. He approached the guy nervously.
"Hey"
The guy didn't look up from his book. "Yeah?"
"Could I please have two coffee's?"
He finally looked up from his book and sighed. "Whatever"
He turned his back and put the coffeepot on.
"You'll have to wait"
"No problem"
Tristan took a seat. One of the customers waved her hand at the teen.
"Jess, sweetie, more coffee please"
"In a minute Miss Patty"
Tristan did a double take.
"You're Jess?"
"Yeah. Who the hell are you?"
"Uh, I'm Tristan"
Jess raised an eyebrow. "Oh, boot camp boy"
"That would be me"
"You came to see Rory?"
"Uh-huh"
There was a two-second lull on the conversation.
"I thought you were a girl"
Jess frowned. "What?"
"Rory told me about you, she just didn't mention you were a guy"
"Well, surprise"
"No kidding"
Silence.
"She seems to really like you"
Jess shrugged.
"Is there anything going on between you guys?"
Jess looked amused. "Between me and Ror? No, definitely not" He laughed. "She's more like my sister"
Tristan nodded.
Jess's face suddenly turned serious.
"I love Rory to death. So help me God, if you hurt her, I swear I'll break your…"
"Jess, the coffee's done!"
"Thanks Miss Patty" He turned to face Tristan. "I think you catch my drift"
Tristan nodded seriously. Jess handed Tristan the cups of coffee.
"Thanks man"
"It's ok"
Tristan made his way to the door.
"Hey"
He turned around.
"Yeah?"
"She really likes you"
Tristan smiled and made his way out of the diner.
* * * * *
Lorelai laughed as she and Luke made their way out of the theatre.
"So what did you think?"
Luke shrugged. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be"
"Admit it! You liked it!"
Luke groaned.
"You loved it! You think it deserves an Oscar!"
Luke continued to drag Lorelai away from the theatre.
"So are we going for food?" She asked eagerly.
"Your body mechanics baffle me. How can you still fit anything in your stomach?"
"It's a gift" Lorelai said proudly.
"So what do you feel like?"
Lorelai smiled devilishly. "Burgers"
"Let's go then"
A look of aghast appeared on Lorelai's face. "What? No objection from the healthy police?"
"Not tonight"
Luke grabbed Lorelai's hand and they walked slowly towards Burger King.
* * * * *
After directions from a cute perky Korean girl called Lane or something to that effect, he had finally reached the Gilmore residence. He stood outside, debating whether he should ring the doorbell or not.
*Well, I've come this far*
He took a deep breath and approached the door.
*Here goes nothing*
Halfway through the night, Rory heard the doorbell ring. A smile spread over her lips.
*Chris must have decided to come*
Rory opened the door smiling. She did not see what she expected. What she did see was a tall, blond, blue eyed guy holding two cups of coffee.
"Tristan?"
"Rory"