Imagine Me Without You (Chapter 10)

Title: Imagine Me Without You (Chapter 10)
Author: gigi
Rating: I am not responsible for any kind of rating. PG-13 and R is sure to pop up for upcoming series that include cussing and blah blah blah.
Summary: you have to read to find that out. The title of this series was inspired by Jaci Velasquez's
ballad "Imagine Me Without You". It's long, I know, but, give me credit!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for MY story line. James, Will, and Kevin and the names of Tristan's parents, Evenln and Christian, belong to me!
E-mail: gigi@xquisite.net
Etc.: I'm really aiming for 20 chapters in this series but I'll be satasfied/fed up if I get to 15. Sorry to keep many of you waiting! Please do read & review, it helps a lot with the writing process!

Chatper 10: So?!?!

Friday had come too soon. Tristan lay in his bed for a few moments, going over the start of his week. Monday, he came back to Chilton, only to be whisked away by the sweet Rory Gilmore. He sighed at the memory the two shared alone at the quarry. On Tuesday, he went to class for real this time, to end it in the library on a rather highly strange but interesting conversation with the goddess. Wednesday went drone, when secrets were hidden and exposed. He learned that the angel had gotten a date with Poker Boy (as he and Rory now referred to), which turned ugly yesterday night. But thanks to Paris, he had averted harm from Rory away from Poker Boy. He had also met the equally beautiful and highly-characterized Lorelai Gilmore. She had already taken a liking to him and saw that he was more than in-like with her daughter. And there he was on a Friday morning, letting all his thoughts mesh together.

"You might actually want to get up from your bed if you want to make it to school my boy." Christian stood at the door entrance, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Oh" sitting up in bed, running a hand through his bed-head and inhaling the unfamiliar scent of coffee, "I suppose you're right. Wow, you've downgraded to coffee. Whatever happened to scotch on the rocks?" he yawned. Rubbing the sleep off his eyes, he pushed off the bed and headed torwards his desk to pick up the towel slung over the chair. Swiping it up, he met up with his father still standing aside.

"It's early and your mother isn't home." he replied, slurping up a gulp. "You look rather charming this morning. I say, what time did you get home?"

Throwing the towel over his shoulders, "Uh, quarter to 2 in the morning." Excusing himself around his father, he walked torwards the bathroom.

"Tristan?" he echoed out in the hallway.

"Yeah?" he perked out the door of the bathroom.

"I will not have you coming home at such a proposterous hour." Christian said as he adjusted his posture, "I don't care whatever the reason is. You didn't let anyone know where you were at all. What makes you think that you can come and go as you please?"

Placing the towel on the sink, he stepped out and walked back into the hallway. "You didn't care before." Tristan waited for his blunt retort to be answered.

"Well I do now." The words coming out of his mouth sounded too weird for both of them. "I didn't bring you back so you could pick up your old habit in meddling with bad people and trouble."

"So you think because you care now, that makes you a good parent?" It was too early to get into an argument. Tristan, calm down. He's trying. Suck it up. No low-blows, just stick to what's relevant. "Look, it's early, I don't want to argue. Believe me though, I'm not meddling in any kind of trouble."

"I didn't say you were, as it should stay that way."

"Right." rubbing his hand through his hair, "Umm, I'm going to take that shower now. I'll see you when I get home." Waiting to receive a nod, his father blinked, and turned back torwards the bathroom.

"What could posess a boy to stay out until 2 in the morning?" Christian thought to himself walking down the stairs.
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"It's always nice to get away" he said aloud in the empty classroom. Although the walls were thourougly decorated with posters and notices, he took no note of them.

Tristan had gotten to school rather early today and instead of stopping by his locker, he proceeded to class. It was rather empty but sitting in his seat in the silence was rather pleasing. There were no girls to fend off or guys to get stabbing looks from. Removing his eyes off the chalk board, he looked at the doorway to see Rory holding a cup of coffee.

"Hey." she said softly, still standing in the doorway. She didn't want to step into his privacy without permission. "You're looking chipper."

"Mary." He knew he looked horrible only having an hour or two of sleep. When he had gotten home and into bed, he found it difficult to sleep. Not because of a nightmare but because he was thinking about her. She was always on his mind but she probably knew that already. "Not bad yourself." He noticed that she still hadn't walked in. "It's a public room Rory. I don't have a disease. Come in already!"

Walking up the row, she placed her oversized backpack on the desk to Tristan's left.

"You know, you just took her seat." he told her before she could sit down, referring to Paris.

"Oh, well, umm, I'll just move then." Before she could pick up the backpack, his hand made a dart to hers.

"NO! No, uh, it's ok. I just wanted to tell you that that's her seat. I'm sure she won't mind."

Stifling an 'ok', she resumed her spot and slipped into the chair. "You want some?" offering her coffee in his direction. He lifted his hand to say 'no thanks'. Pulling back her offer, she placed the cup on the left ledge of the desk.

"So?" the two said in unison. Letting out a giggle, Rory told Tristan to go first.

"I didn't get much sleep."

"Why not?" taking back hold on the coffee.

"I was afraid that if I closed my eyes, a bag of Doritos and a container of Philadephia cream cheese would stab me with a plastic utensil." smirking, he looked to see a girl returning her own trademark smirk.

"You have bad taste. I hold my ground when I say that it tastes good." Finishing up her coffee, she stood up to go throw the paper cup away near the door. She stood there staring down at the trash bin, clenching her fists.

Rory, just ask him. It doesn't hurt to ask. He'll say 'yes'. Wait, are you sure he'll say 'yes'? Please let him say yes. Please please please! Well, you have to ask him first!? DUH! You dolt! Stop standing around and ask him! It's only Tristan! *rolling yes and letting out a sigh* It's Tristan.

When he saw that she didn't turn around and come back, he could tell that something was on her mind and that she was trying to sum up a correct way of presenting something. He must've stared at her too hard from behind because she swiftly turned around, went out, and came back in, closing the classroom door. Both her hands on the knob, she turned to look straight at the window and leaned her back on the door.

"Wow Mary, would you like to tell me what's going on? Should I be taking my clothes off for this?! I should've known girls like you had a Magdalene in them!" Before he could utter another word, she raised up her hand to him to stop. Letting go of the knob, she pushed back and made her way into the row Tristan sat in. He watched her sit in the desk in front of him and turned sideways to make eyecontact.

"I'm going to ask you something and I want to say everything without you interrupting or making silly faces at me. For five minutes, please don't be, how can I say this? Oh yes, you. It's all I'm asking."

"Do you know how fascinating you look when you talk on and on and on?" leaning his chin on his shoulder. When she babbled, he couldn't help but stare at her. He thought it was cute how her eyes would sparkle, how her soft lips would roll off each and every syllable, how cute her small nose was, and how cute she looked when her face scrunched up, especially when she was engrossed in something. "My effect on you is that strong, huh?"

"Umm, no" she said back uneasily. "I thought about this last night and you'll probably think this sounds stupid, crazy really, because there's no way you'd ever agree. I know you wouldn't. But my mom and Paris have been bugging me about this and I want to get this weight off my shoulders already."

He stood up more straight in his chair and leaned in closely to hear her. Please don't be something bad. Please don't be something bad. PLEASE don't be something bad. he told himself in his head.

Clearing her throat, she started once more. "Are we friends, Tristan?"

Pausing a brief moment, she looked in his eyes to see if he was filtering all of it in. "Umm, I guess so."

With his approval, she picked up. "Tell me, are we friends? Just say yes or no."

Dammit, what is this about? This is driving me nuts! "Yes."

"Ok, umm, so we're friends. We can go out and do stuff together, right?"

"Pretty much?" he sounded unsure of his answer because he didn't know where this conversation was heading. I can handle being her friend, you can do it Dugrey!!!

"UGH!" she let her response be heard out loud. She stood up and threw her arms in the air.

"Rory, what the hell is going on? Tell me! What did I do? What did I not do? Tell me?!?! Good, bad? Work with me here!"

Swallowing hard, she spit it out loud and clear. "Would you like to go out on a date?" Her long brown hair framed forward, exhibiting her bright blue eyes in exasperation. He sat there and grpped the desk with all his might. Did he really hear right?

Did I just hear right? Did Rory just ask ME on a date? Meaning, just us two?! OMG! I must be in heaven! Tristan just stared at her hopeful expression.

"Tristan? Tristan? If you don't want to, it's ok! I probably wouldn't want to go on a date with me either! Or, no, we, umm, you don't have to think of it as a date."

"Shhh" he stood up and placed a finger to her lips. No other words were muttered after that. After removing his finger off her lips, the two just stared into each other eyes, when then, the bell just rang.

He still hadn't answered and she was embarassed. Picking up her bag, she backed away and quickly walked down the aisle of closely-fit deskchairs. Stupid stupid stupid! she inquired while biting her lip. The door had burst open, students loudly filing into the class. Rory frowned and made her way to her usual seat and sat down. You're such a fool Gilmore. What the hell were you thinking?!

"So?!?! Are you going to pick me up?"

Over the loud chatter, she heard his voice. She perked up to see him turn around. Smirking, she replied back. "Not a chance in hell."

He turned around and spoke over the noise. "Thought so."

The bell had rang once more to start the day off. Rory and Tristan both turned their attention to the chalkboard, straightening themselves to the back of the seat. It only took a few minutes for their minds to flutter into a mindless daydream. Simultaneously out of relief, the two let out a private Yes!
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END CHAPTER 10