Authors Note: I just wanted to let you guys know how much I LOVE it when
you review! Please keep it up! Thanks.
***
"Yeah?" Lorelai answered the phone. She had just gotten home from work and was trying to take her high heels off while juggling the phone and her travel coffee mug fresh with Luke's coffee.
"Um, hi." The voice on the other end began nervously. "This is Tristan Dugrey ma'am. Could I please speak to Rory?"
"Oh hi Tristan." Lorelai threw her heels up the stairs in the general direction of her room, then began to make her way to Rory's room. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing well ma'am. And yourself?"
Lorelai lightly tapped on her daughter's door. "Oh, I'm doing just fine Tristan. One thing though."
"Yes?"
"This is Lorelai Gilmore, Rory's mother. Not her grandmother. Please do not address me as ma'am. It makes me feel very old, and I don't like to feel old." When Rory did not answer her door, Lorelai opened it quietly and looked inside. She wasn't there. "You can call me Lorelai. Everyone does and trust me, it's much safer."
"Okay."
"Just a minute Tristan. Rory's not in her room." Lorelai put her hand over the phone and yelled "RORY!" When there was no reply Lorelai picked up the phone again. "Tristan sweetie, Rory isn't
home. Would you like me to tell her to call you?"
"No, that's okay. I don't think that she has this number, and I don't remember what it is, so I will just call her back later if that's okay."
Lorelai walked over to the refrigerator and glared at the contents inside. "Not a problem. Hey Tristan?"
"Yes Lorelai?" Lorelai could almost hear the smirk that she had been told so much about.
"My daughter tells me that you are getting out of there soon." She pulled out a box of Chinese take out. Sniffing it, she made a gagging sound and tossed it into the trashcan.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah… I'm fine. I just got a bad whiff of some old Chinese food. It's a common hazard around this house."
"Oh, okay. I am going home in a week."
"That's great. I'm sure that you are ready to get out of that place." Lorelai pulled out a carton of yogurt and checked the expiration date. Deciding that it was safe she opened the utensil drawer and shuffled the contents around to find a spoon.
"Yes I am."
"Well… I will tell Rory that you called. Take care of yourself kid."
"Okay Lorelai. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Lorelai clicked the phone off. Grabbing her spoon and yogurt carton she sat down at the table. Hearing the front door slam shut she called out, "Hi Sweetie!"
Rory came into the kitchen toting a bag from Luke's. "Mom don't eat that!" she exclaimed when she saw her mother about to take a bite.
Lorelai quickly dropped the spoon from her mouth. "What? I checked the expiration date. I still have 8 days!"
Rory went over and picked up the carton. "This is a science experiment Mom. See those orange fuzzy things in there?"
Lorelai looked into the container. "Those peaches?"
"Those aren't peaches Mom. That's cultured fungus. I am suppose to be letting it grow." Rory recapped the contained and set it back in the refrigerator.
"You are growing fungus in our refrigerator!?!"
Rory rolled her eyes. "Mother, it is perfectly safe. I have it capped and it is in the back of the fridge. Besides," she added, "half the stuff in there is growing fungus!"
"Yeah, I guess that you are right. You went by Luke's?" Lorelai began looking through the bag that Rory had set on the table.
"Yeah," said Rory, pulling out two plates from the cabinet. "I came home and there was nothing to eat so I decided to make a trip down there." She placed a burger on each plate and a side of fries.
Lorelai took a bite of her burger, "You're such a good daughter," she gushed.
Rory sat to join her mother. "I do try."
"Tristan called right before you got home. He said that he would try again later." Lorelai watched for her daughter's reaction.
"Oh?" Rory hopped up from her chair to get the ketchup out of the refrigerator. "I wonder what he wants?"
"I don't know. He didn't say." Lorelai eyed her daughter.
Rory looked around self-consciously. "What?" She asked, "Did I get something on my face?"
"No," Lorelai assured her.
"Then why are you looking at me like that?"
Lorelai shrugged her shoulders innocently. "You and he seem to be spending a lot of time together."
Rory didn't try and deny it. She had been over to see him several times. So often, in fact, that she had ended up staying up very late several nights to finish her homework. "Yeah… we have." Rory noticed the gleam in her mother's eyes. "We are just friends Mom."
"Okay."
"We are!" Stated Rory adamantly.
"I never said anything." Lorelai took another bite of her burger. "He's a very nice boy."
Rory nodded her agreement. "He can be. Other times he can be completely obnoxious and rude. But he is getting better," Rory hoped that her mother would drop the subject.
Lorelai sat quietly. "Okay."
"We are just friends!"
"I understand Rory. I believe you."
"Good."
Mother and daughter sat in silence while finishing off their dinner. When they got up to clean off their plates Lorelai asked, "So, what do you have planned for tonight?"
"The usual. Hours and hours of homework."
Lorelai looked at her daughter sympathetically. "Aww… sweetie. If you need anything I'll be in the living room." Lorelai walked to the living room and Rory headed towards her room.
"Hey Rory!" Lorelai shouted.
Rory poked her head out the door, "Yeah?"
"'Survivor' 8 o'clock. Don't forget!"
"Okay Mom." Rory closed her door and heaved her book bag up onto her desk. Pulling out the books she would need for that night, Rory settled down to work.
Later that evening the phone ringing interrupted Rory. "Hello?"
"Hi. This is Tristan. May I speak to Rory please?"
"This is Rory." She closed up the book that she was reading from in order to focus on the conversation. "How did you get my number Tristan?"
"I have my ways."
"I don't know if I should be flattered or terrified." Rory leaned back in her chair so she was propped up on the back legs.
"Oh be afraid. Be very afraid."
"It didn't involve the removal of someone's head did it?"
"No, it didn't. Listen, I was thinking," Rory bit back a smart remark, "what are you doing on Friday?"
"I am having dinner with my grandparents, and then I will probably come back home and do some homework. Why?" Rory began tapping the pencil that was in her hand on the desk.
"I was thinking that you might want to come over here for a movie night. I got my parents to bring over a VCR to attach to the TV."
"Movie night?"
"Yeah. It could be kind of a celebration. We could call it the 'Tristan's getting out of prison in 5 days' movie night."
"Movie night?"
"Didn't you ask that already? Yes. A night where we would watch movies and eat lots and lots of junk food. I gotta tell you, that's the most appealing part. I haven't had anything but over cooked broccoli and steamed carrots for a little over two weeks now. You were talking about it the other day and I just thought that it would be fun. Come on Rory, I am so bored."
Rory considered for a moment. "I have to be at my grandparents at 7:00, but I could probably be there by 8:30."
"That would be great."
A thought dawned on Rory. "Wait a minute Tristan, what about visiting hours? They won't let me be there that late."
"Rory, my grandfather was one of the founders of this hospital. I am sure that I can pull a few strings. It won't be a problem."
Rory leaned back a little too far in her chair and she toppled to the ground with a groan.
"Are you alright?"
Straightening up, then moving to sit on her nice stable bed, Rory answered, "Yeah. I just… fell over."
"You fell over? Are you having problems walking Rory?"
"No I am not having problems walking Tristan," she mimicked into the phone. "I will have to check with my mother, but I am sure that that will be fine."
"Great!" Rory smiled at his enthusiasm, then his voice got serious. "I am trusting you with the movie selection."
Rory replied, just as seriously, "I accept the challenge."
"I have never trusted anyone with the movie selection before. I always pick the movie. This is a very difficult thing for me Rory. It is making me relinquish control."
"I understand. I will do my very best."
"Okay. Hey Rory?"
"What?"
"Under no circumstances will you be permitted to enter my room with a chick flick."
"Yes sir." She saluted, but then realized how dumb it was because no one was in the room for her to salute to, and Tristan couldn't see her over the phone.
"This is not a laughing matter. This is serious Rory."
Rory just rolled her eyes. "You sound like my mother."
"I will take that as a compliment."
"Oh, in some things you definitely should. But in this particular case I was referring to the inclination that you both seem to have to become slightly neurotic at times."
"I am not neurotic. I am concerned. There is a difference."
Rory rolled her eyes again. "Whatever you say, Tristan."
"Practice that line. I want you to become very comfortable with saying it."
"I am not even going to try to figure out what kind of lewd sexual innuendo you were referring to by that." Rory paused. "So, I will be over there about 8:30 on Friday night bearing movies and junk food. Is that alright with you?"
"Yeah, that's sounds great. Listen, I have to go now. I hear the metallic clanging that makes its way down the hall as a sign of my impending doom and despair."
Rory grinned. "Is Nurse Gertrude coming?"
"The one and only."
"Have fun. Hey Tristan?"
"Yeah?"
"Remember, it hurts much more when you move so try to stay calm," Rory teased.
"Thanks for the tip."
"You're welcome. I will see you on Friday then." Rory began to hang up the phone but stopped when she heard his voice.
"Rory?"
"Yes Tristan?"
"Remember, absolutely no chick flicks."
"Goodbye Tristan," she said with mock exasperation. When she hung up the phone her mother shouted from the living room.
"RORY! It's 8:02! You're going to miss it!" Rory popped up from her bed and ran to join her mother on the couch.
***
Thursday and Friday passed quickly. School was fine, Paris was on Valium and the dinner with her grandparents was… stale. Better than hostile, Rory reminded herself. Lorelai dropped Rory off at the hospital and, after handing her the cell phone and some money to take a cab home, told her to have a good time. "Be home no later than 1 AM."
Rory smiled, then leaned over to give her mother a quick hug. "Thanks Mom." She reached in the back of the Jeep to grab a bag of stuff then hopped out of the Jeep.
When she reached Tristan's room she found him lying in bed on his stomach. "Hey."
Tristan eyes flew up to meet hers. "They don't want me to get bed sores on my ass," he said as a way of explanation.
"And this is where we reach the point of way way more information than I wanted to know," Rory declared.
Tristan blushed slightly. "I was just trying to explain."
Rory held up a hand in innocence. "I wasn't asking."
"They said that they would flip me over when you got here."
"That's great." She held up the bag that she way carrying. "While you do your little flippy thing I am going to change in the bathroom."
Tristan looked at her to fully take in her attire. She was wearing a short black skirt and a pretty blue sweater. "You look very nice."
"Yeah, well, I have to dress up for family dinners. It's a requirement. But comfort," Rory said, moving towards the bathroom, "is a requirement for movie night so if you will excuse me…" she ducked into the restroom and closed the door behind her.
While she was pulling her tights off she heard the shrill sound of Tristan's whistle and the patter of feet that followed. Rolling her eyes, she continued to undress. After pulling on a pair of thick socks, windbreaker pants and a Harvard sweatshirt, Rory emerged to find Tristan sitting up right in the bed.
"So what did you bring?" He asked as she deposited her bag of cloths on a chair.
Pulling another chair closer to his bed she replied, "'Emma' and 'Sense and Sensibility'."
"Get out," was the immediate response.
Rory looked at him in disbelief. "What?"
"Remember my stern warning? You would not be permitted in my room with chick flicks." Tristan pointed towards the door.
"These," Rory held up the two movies. "Are not chick flicks. They are classics. At least, they were taken from classics. There is a big difference."
"Not in this room."
Rory smiled sweetly, "Tristan. Open yourself up to a little culture."
"Culture?"
Rory nodded her head. "Yes."
"I don't want culture. I want explosives, guns, and women wearing skimpy clothing. Not," he said, pointing to the cases of the movies, "women wearing petticoats."
"You are such a guy," Rory said, narrowing her eyes.
"If you are just now figuring that out then it is obvious I have done something very wrong."
"You know what I mean! Come on Tristan…" she pouted, "these are my favorites. Please?"
Looking at her sad puppy dog eyes Tristan relented. "Fine. But when I get out of here I get to pick the movie."
Rory grinned in victory. "Deal."
"I'm talking blood, gore, nudity… payback's a bitch Mary."
"Well," Rory responded, standing up to put the movie it. "I put up with you so it really shouldn't be that big of a deal."
"Just put the movie in before I change my mind." Rory did as he requested then returned to her seat. She propped her feet up on the end of his bed.
When the opening credits started Tristan looked sharply at Rory. "This isn't Emma."
"Really?" Rory feigned surprise.
Tristan looked back and forth between her and the TV screen. "I thought that you said we were watching Emma."
Rory turned to face him. "I was just teasing you, Tristan. I thought that you would like this better. It seemed to be one of those shoot 'em up bang bang, good cop bad cop movies."
"Oh. What is it?"
"'Training Day'. Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke… The guy at the movie store recommended it."
Tristan sat in silence for a moment before saying, "Thank you."
Rory continued to stare at the screen. "Don't thank me yet. I am making you watch Emma afterwards."
Tristan grinned. "Fine." They sat quietly for a moment, watching the movie. Tristan nudged Rory's shoulder. "Hey… why don't you grab some of that junk food you brought and join me up here." He scooted over and patted the spot next to him.
Rory looked at him skeptically. "I'm not going to bite. You can't be comfortable on that hard plastic chair," he reasoned.
Rory debated the move for a moment before complying. She reached over to grab a bag of pre-popped popcorn, then sat down next to him on the bed. She put the bag in between them.
The two sat and watched the movie in silence. About halfway through Rory rearranged herself so she was leaning against Tristan's shoulder. Tristan looked at her in surprise, but didn't object to the affectionate movement. Several times throughout the movie she hid her face behind his arm block out the scene in front of her.
"That was the most depraved thing that I have ever seen," Rory proclaimed as the movie ended.
Tristan grinned down at her, "Wasn't it great?"
"I think that you should be forced to watch two of my movies in return."
"It wasn't that bad Rory. It was good," Tristan tried to convince her, but she would hear none of it.
Rory flicked her hand then stood up to put her movie in. Pressing play, she returned to sit beside him. "I can't believe that I am watching this," Tristan said.
"I just watched 2 hours of depravity. Force yourself."
"At least my movie had a plot," Tristan accused.
"If you are implying that Jane Austen's novels are devoid of plot then you are seriously cracked. Shut up. I didn't talk during your movie, so stop talking during mine."
Tristan just grinned down at her. Rory sighed, then rested her head on his shoulder. "What am I going to do with you?" She mumbled. Before he could reply she held up a hand, "I don't want to know."
When the movie was over Tristan nudged Rory. "You okay?"
Rory nodded, "It's just so sweet. Didn't you think it was sweet?"
"Um…" Rory shot him a look. "Yes, Rory, it was very sweet."
Rory stood up and stretch. "I should probably be getting home. It's late." She gathered the empty bags of chips and popcorn off the bed. Tristan handed her his empty soda cans.
While she crossed the room to throw the stuff away her asked, "How are you getting home? Do you have your Jeep?"
Rory shook her head. "No, I am taking a taxi."
"But it's so late! You shouldn't go home by yourself this late. It's dangerous."
"Tristan, I'll be fine."
Tristan looked at her critically, trying to decide whether he should let her go or not. "I don't like it."
"Sorry buster, but that's the way that it's got to be." Rory began to gather her things to leave. She walked over to him, placing her hand over his. "I'll be fine Tristan."
"Okay. But you have to call me when you get home. If I don't hear from you in 30 minutes I am going to call the police. In fact, why don't you call me when you are in the cab and let me talk to the cab guy? Where is that number?" He began searching through the drawer in the nightstand. Finding it he held it out to her. "Take it."
Rory rolled her eyes, but took the slip of paper. "I will call you when I get home." She leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Stop worrying so much about me. I'll be fine."
"Alright. Goodbye."
"Goodbye Tristan." Rory left his room. When she was halfway down the hallway she heard his voice.
"Don't forget to call me!"
Tristan laid down in the bed and pulled the covers over him, but only after Rory called to inform him that she was home safely did he drift into a peaceful sleep.
***
"Yeah?" Lorelai answered the phone. She had just gotten home from work and was trying to take her high heels off while juggling the phone and her travel coffee mug fresh with Luke's coffee.
"Um, hi." The voice on the other end began nervously. "This is Tristan Dugrey ma'am. Could I please speak to Rory?"
"Oh hi Tristan." Lorelai threw her heels up the stairs in the general direction of her room, then began to make her way to Rory's room. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing well ma'am. And yourself?"
Lorelai lightly tapped on her daughter's door. "Oh, I'm doing just fine Tristan. One thing though."
"Yes?"
"This is Lorelai Gilmore, Rory's mother. Not her grandmother. Please do not address me as ma'am. It makes me feel very old, and I don't like to feel old." When Rory did not answer her door, Lorelai opened it quietly and looked inside. She wasn't there. "You can call me Lorelai. Everyone does and trust me, it's much safer."
"Okay."
"Just a minute Tristan. Rory's not in her room." Lorelai put her hand over the phone and yelled "RORY!" When there was no reply Lorelai picked up the phone again. "Tristan sweetie, Rory isn't
home. Would you like me to tell her to call you?"
"No, that's okay. I don't think that she has this number, and I don't remember what it is, so I will just call her back later if that's okay."
Lorelai walked over to the refrigerator and glared at the contents inside. "Not a problem. Hey Tristan?"
"Yes Lorelai?" Lorelai could almost hear the smirk that she had been told so much about.
"My daughter tells me that you are getting out of there soon." She pulled out a box of Chinese take out. Sniffing it, she made a gagging sound and tossed it into the trashcan.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah… I'm fine. I just got a bad whiff of some old Chinese food. It's a common hazard around this house."
"Oh, okay. I am going home in a week."
"That's great. I'm sure that you are ready to get out of that place." Lorelai pulled out a carton of yogurt and checked the expiration date. Deciding that it was safe she opened the utensil drawer and shuffled the contents around to find a spoon.
"Yes I am."
"Well… I will tell Rory that you called. Take care of yourself kid."
"Okay Lorelai. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Lorelai clicked the phone off. Grabbing her spoon and yogurt carton she sat down at the table. Hearing the front door slam shut she called out, "Hi Sweetie!"
Rory came into the kitchen toting a bag from Luke's. "Mom don't eat that!" she exclaimed when she saw her mother about to take a bite.
Lorelai quickly dropped the spoon from her mouth. "What? I checked the expiration date. I still have 8 days!"
Rory went over and picked up the carton. "This is a science experiment Mom. See those orange fuzzy things in there?"
Lorelai looked into the container. "Those peaches?"
"Those aren't peaches Mom. That's cultured fungus. I am suppose to be letting it grow." Rory recapped the contained and set it back in the refrigerator.
"You are growing fungus in our refrigerator!?!"
Rory rolled her eyes. "Mother, it is perfectly safe. I have it capped and it is in the back of the fridge. Besides," she added, "half the stuff in there is growing fungus!"
"Yeah, I guess that you are right. You went by Luke's?" Lorelai began looking through the bag that Rory had set on the table.
"Yeah," said Rory, pulling out two plates from the cabinet. "I came home and there was nothing to eat so I decided to make a trip down there." She placed a burger on each plate and a side of fries.
Lorelai took a bite of her burger, "You're such a good daughter," she gushed.
Rory sat to join her mother. "I do try."
"Tristan called right before you got home. He said that he would try again later." Lorelai watched for her daughter's reaction.
"Oh?" Rory hopped up from her chair to get the ketchup out of the refrigerator. "I wonder what he wants?"
"I don't know. He didn't say." Lorelai eyed her daughter.
Rory looked around self-consciously. "What?" She asked, "Did I get something on my face?"
"No," Lorelai assured her.
"Then why are you looking at me like that?"
Lorelai shrugged her shoulders innocently. "You and he seem to be spending a lot of time together."
Rory didn't try and deny it. She had been over to see him several times. So often, in fact, that she had ended up staying up very late several nights to finish her homework. "Yeah… we have." Rory noticed the gleam in her mother's eyes. "We are just friends Mom."
"Okay."
"We are!" Stated Rory adamantly.
"I never said anything." Lorelai took another bite of her burger. "He's a very nice boy."
Rory nodded her agreement. "He can be. Other times he can be completely obnoxious and rude. But he is getting better," Rory hoped that her mother would drop the subject.
Lorelai sat quietly. "Okay."
"We are just friends!"
"I understand Rory. I believe you."
"Good."
Mother and daughter sat in silence while finishing off their dinner. When they got up to clean off their plates Lorelai asked, "So, what do you have planned for tonight?"
"The usual. Hours and hours of homework."
Lorelai looked at her daughter sympathetically. "Aww… sweetie. If you need anything I'll be in the living room." Lorelai walked to the living room and Rory headed towards her room.
"Hey Rory!" Lorelai shouted.
Rory poked her head out the door, "Yeah?"
"'Survivor' 8 o'clock. Don't forget!"
"Okay Mom." Rory closed her door and heaved her book bag up onto her desk. Pulling out the books she would need for that night, Rory settled down to work.
Later that evening the phone ringing interrupted Rory. "Hello?"
"Hi. This is Tristan. May I speak to Rory please?"
"This is Rory." She closed up the book that she was reading from in order to focus on the conversation. "How did you get my number Tristan?"
"I have my ways."
"I don't know if I should be flattered or terrified." Rory leaned back in her chair so she was propped up on the back legs.
"Oh be afraid. Be very afraid."
"It didn't involve the removal of someone's head did it?"
"No, it didn't. Listen, I was thinking," Rory bit back a smart remark, "what are you doing on Friday?"
"I am having dinner with my grandparents, and then I will probably come back home and do some homework. Why?" Rory began tapping the pencil that was in her hand on the desk.
"I was thinking that you might want to come over here for a movie night. I got my parents to bring over a VCR to attach to the TV."
"Movie night?"
"Yeah. It could be kind of a celebration. We could call it the 'Tristan's getting out of prison in 5 days' movie night."
"Movie night?"
"Didn't you ask that already? Yes. A night where we would watch movies and eat lots and lots of junk food. I gotta tell you, that's the most appealing part. I haven't had anything but over cooked broccoli and steamed carrots for a little over two weeks now. You were talking about it the other day and I just thought that it would be fun. Come on Rory, I am so bored."
Rory considered for a moment. "I have to be at my grandparents at 7:00, but I could probably be there by 8:30."
"That would be great."
A thought dawned on Rory. "Wait a minute Tristan, what about visiting hours? They won't let me be there that late."
"Rory, my grandfather was one of the founders of this hospital. I am sure that I can pull a few strings. It won't be a problem."
Rory leaned back a little too far in her chair and she toppled to the ground with a groan.
"Are you alright?"
Straightening up, then moving to sit on her nice stable bed, Rory answered, "Yeah. I just… fell over."
"You fell over? Are you having problems walking Rory?"
"No I am not having problems walking Tristan," she mimicked into the phone. "I will have to check with my mother, but I am sure that that will be fine."
"Great!" Rory smiled at his enthusiasm, then his voice got serious. "I am trusting you with the movie selection."
Rory replied, just as seriously, "I accept the challenge."
"I have never trusted anyone with the movie selection before. I always pick the movie. This is a very difficult thing for me Rory. It is making me relinquish control."
"I understand. I will do my very best."
"Okay. Hey Rory?"
"What?"
"Under no circumstances will you be permitted to enter my room with a chick flick."
"Yes sir." She saluted, but then realized how dumb it was because no one was in the room for her to salute to, and Tristan couldn't see her over the phone.
"This is not a laughing matter. This is serious Rory."
Rory just rolled her eyes. "You sound like my mother."
"I will take that as a compliment."
"Oh, in some things you definitely should. But in this particular case I was referring to the inclination that you both seem to have to become slightly neurotic at times."
"I am not neurotic. I am concerned. There is a difference."
Rory rolled her eyes again. "Whatever you say, Tristan."
"Practice that line. I want you to become very comfortable with saying it."
"I am not even going to try to figure out what kind of lewd sexual innuendo you were referring to by that." Rory paused. "So, I will be over there about 8:30 on Friday night bearing movies and junk food. Is that alright with you?"
"Yeah, that's sounds great. Listen, I have to go now. I hear the metallic clanging that makes its way down the hall as a sign of my impending doom and despair."
Rory grinned. "Is Nurse Gertrude coming?"
"The one and only."
"Have fun. Hey Tristan?"
"Yeah?"
"Remember, it hurts much more when you move so try to stay calm," Rory teased.
"Thanks for the tip."
"You're welcome. I will see you on Friday then." Rory began to hang up the phone but stopped when she heard his voice.
"Rory?"
"Yes Tristan?"
"Remember, absolutely no chick flicks."
"Goodbye Tristan," she said with mock exasperation. When she hung up the phone her mother shouted from the living room.
"RORY! It's 8:02! You're going to miss it!" Rory popped up from her bed and ran to join her mother on the couch.
***
Thursday and Friday passed quickly. School was fine, Paris was on Valium and the dinner with her grandparents was… stale. Better than hostile, Rory reminded herself. Lorelai dropped Rory off at the hospital and, after handing her the cell phone and some money to take a cab home, told her to have a good time. "Be home no later than 1 AM."
Rory smiled, then leaned over to give her mother a quick hug. "Thanks Mom." She reached in the back of the Jeep to grab a bag of stuff then hopped out of the Jeep.
When she reached Tristan's room she found him lying in bed on his stomach. "Hey."
Tristan eyes flew up to meet hers. "They don't want me to get bed sores on my ass," he said as a way of explanation.
"And this is where we reach the point of way way more information than I wanted to know," Rory declared.
Tristan blushed slightly. "I was just trying to explain."
Rory held up a hand in innocence. "I wasn't asking."
"They said that they would flip me over when you got here."
"That's great." She held up the bag that she way carrying. "While you do your little flippy thing I am going to change in the bathroom."
Tristan looked at her to fully take in her attire. She was wearing a short black skirt and a pretty blue sweater. "You look very nice."
"Yeah, well, I have to dress up for family dinners. It's a requirement. But comfort," Rory said, moving towards the bathroom, "is a requirement for movie night so if you will excuse me…" she ducked into the restroom and closed the door behind her.
While she was pulling her tights off she heard the shrill sound of Tristan's whistle and the patter of feet that followed. Rolling her eyes, she continued to undress. After pulling on a pair of thick socks, windbreaker pants and a Harvard sweatshirt, Rory emerged to find Tristan sitting up right in the bed.
"So what did you bring?" He asked as she deposited her bag of cloths on a chair.
Pulling another chair closer to his bed she replied, "'Emma' and 'Sense and Sensibility'."
"Get out," was the immediate response.
Rory looked at him in disbelief. "What?"
"Remember my stern warning? You would not be permitted in my room with chick flicks." Tristan pointed towards the door.
"These," Rory held up the two movies. "Are not chick flicks. They are classics. At least, they were taken from classics. There is a big difference."
"Not in this room."
Rory smiled sweetly, "Tristan. Open yourself up to a little culture."
"Culture?"
Rory nodded her head. "Yes."
"I don't want culture. I want explosives, guns, and women wearing skimpy clothing. Not," he said, pointing to the cases of the movies, "women wearing petticoats."
"You are such a guy," Rory said, narrowing her eyes.
"If you are just now figuring that out then it is obvious I have done something very wrong."
"You know what I mean! Come on Tristan…" she pouted, "these are my favorites. Please?"
Looking at her sad puppy dog eyes Tristan relented. "Fine. But when I get out of here I get to pick the movie."
Rory grinned in victory. "Deal."
"I'm talking blood, gore, nudity… payback's a bitch Mary."
"Well," Rory responded, standing up to put the movie it. "I put up with you so it really shouldn't be that big of a deal."
"Just put the movie in before I change my mind." Rory did as he requested then returned to her seat. She propped her feet up on the end of his bed.
When the opening credits started Tristan looked sharply at Rory. "This isn't Emma."
"Really?" Rory feigned surprise.
Tristan looked back and forth between her and the TV screen. "I thought that you said we were watching Emma."
Rory turned to face him. "I was just teasing you, Tristan. I thought that you would like this better. It seemed to be one of those shoot 'em up bang bang, good cop bad cop movies."
"Oh. What is it?"
"'Training Day'. Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke… The guy at the movie store recommended it."
Tristan sat in silence for a moment before saying, "Thank you."
Rory continued to stare at the screen. "Don't thank me yet. I am making you watch Emma afterwards."
Tristan grinned. "Fine." They sat quietly for a moment, watching the movie. Tristan nudged Rory's shoulder. "Hey… why don't you grab some of that junk food you brought and join me up here." He scooted over and patted the spot next to him.
Rory looked at him skeptically. "I'm not going to bite. You can't be comfortable on that hard plastic chair," he reasoned.
Rory debated the move for a moment before complying. She reached over to grab a bag of pre-popped popcorn, then sat down next to him on the bed. She put the bag in between them.
The two sat and watched the movie in silence. About halfway through Rory rearranged herself so she was leaning against Tristan's shoulder. Tristan looked at her in surprise, but didn't object to the affectionate movement. Several times throughout the movie she hid her face behind his arm block out the scene in front of her.
"That was the most depraved thing that I have ever seen," Rory proclaimed as the movie ended.
Tristan grinned down at her, "Wasn't it great?"
"I think that you should be forced to watch two of my movies in return."
"It wasn't that bad Rory. It was good," Tristan tried to convince her, but she would hear none of it.
Rory flicked her hand then stood up to put her movie in. Pressing play, she returned to sit beside him. "I can't believe that I am watching this," Tristan said.
"I just watched 2 hours of depravity. Force yourself."
"At least my movie had a plot," Tristan accused.
"If you are implying that Jane Austen's novels are devoid of plot then you are seriously cracked. Shut up. I didn't talk during your movie, so stop talking during mine."
Tristan just grinned down at her. Rory sighed, then rested her head on his shoulder. "What am I going to do with you?" She mumbled. Before he could reply she held up a hand, "I don't want to know."
When the movie was over Tristan nudged Rory. "You okay?"
Rory nodded, "It's just so sweet. Didn't you think it was sweet?"
"Um…" Rory shot him a look. "Yes, Rory, it was very sweet."
Rory stood up and stretch. "I should probably be getting home. It's late." She gathered the empty bags of chips and popcorn off the bed. Tristan handed her his empty soda cans.
While she crossed the room to throw the stuff away her asked, "How are you getting home? Do you have your Jeep?"
Rory shook her head. "No, I am taking a taxi."
"But it's so late! You shouldn't go home by yourself this late. It's dangerous."
"Tristan, I'll be fine."
Tristan looked at her critically, trying to decide whether he should let her go or not. "I don't like it."
"Sorry buster, but that's the way that it's got to be." Rory began to gather her things to leave. She walked over to him, placing her hand over his. "I'll be fine Tristan."
"Okay. But you have to call me when you get home. If I don't hear from you in 30 minutes I am going to call the police. In fact, why don't you call me when you are in the cab and let me talk to the cab guy? Where is that number?" He began searching through the drawer in the nightstand. Finding it he held it out to her. "Take it."
Rory rolled her eyes, but took the slip of paper. "I will call you when I get home." She leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Stop worrying so much about me. I'll be fine."
"Alright. Goodbye."
"Goodbye Tristan." Rory left his room. When she was halfway down the hallway she heard his voice.
"Don't forget to call me!"
Tristan laid down in the bed and pulled the covers over him, but only after Rory called to inform him that she was home safely did he drift into a peaceful sleep.