AN: Remember: 1) This is old! =) that means no military school, no car accident, no fights.. AND 2) Underage drinking is bad. Don't try this at home kids.. AND 3) The song, like the characters, obviously isn't mine, it's just what I wanted Luke to think. It's left over from my country music phase. I know, I'm sorry, but everyone has a shameful secret right?...



The Games People Play

9. Untitled as yet.



The night of the ball.

Luke and Lorelai were just outside the ballroom at the club. Lorelai poked him, "we're going to a ball this time," she reminded.

"Right," Luke held his arm out to her, "I, ah, didn't say it before but you look nice tonight," he told her.

'Nice?!' Lorelai thought. She'd spent three hours that afternoon getting ready. She'd painted her nails, used something called a 'cleansing cucumber mask' that promised to reduce her pores but felt like she was peeling glue off her face and endured the pain of waxing her legs and plucking her eyebrows. She was exhausted already and all he could come up with was nice? Well, it was monosyllabic man.

Lorelai returned the compliment, "Thanks, you too. Not a bad choice of suit if I do say so myself."

"No," Luke agreed, "I was worried you'd bring me something with ruffles."

"Well it was tempting, but then I remembered I had to be seen with you," said Lorelai as they entered the already busy room.

"Thank goodness for that. Hey weren't you supposed to be here early to help or something?" he asked.

"Nah, they got it all under control. I don't know what the big deal is about organizing a ball. Hire a band for the first couple of hours and a DJ for after that, get some catering staff, some flowers. Piece of cake!"

"Did anyone ever tell you that you should go into the hospitality business?"

"Very funny."



Meanwhile, Rory was at home waiting for Tristan to pick her up. She snuck (sneaked?) a peak out the window when the doorbell rang. Wow, he did look good all dressed up. He obviously felt the same way about her.

"You look beautiful," Tristan said when Rory opened the door for him.

"Thank you," she replied shyly.

"I got you something," Tristan pulled a jewellery box out of his suit jacket and held it out to her.

"Tristan." Rory started.

"Just open it, please." Rory did and found a delicate diamond necklace.

"I knew you'd say you couldn't accept it," Tristan continued, "I was gonna get you the earrings, but this way you can wear the necklace tonight and it's still returnable."

"I can't wear it and then return it!"

"What do you think the movie stars to at the oscars?" Tristan asked, fastening the chain around her neck, "you could always keep it."

"Maybe if my conscience insists," Rory said, her mouth twitching into a smile as she admired the sparkling necklace.

"Great, now that you're properly dressed, let's get going,"

Rory gazed sadly out the window as they passed Lane's house on the way out of Stars Hollow, "I can't believe Lane's mom didn't let her go," she complained to Tristan.

"And Henry was so disappointed he'd sitting at home tonight too," he added, but there's nothing we can do now so will you promise not to stress over it tonight?"

"Thinking only happy thoughts," Rory assured him.

"Yeah and what might they be of?" he asked.

"Never you mind," Rory blushed.



"Hide!" Lorelai hissed to Luke as she saw Becky and Todd approaching, but it was too late.

"Hi Lorelai, hi Luke."

"Hi," Lorelai forced a smile, "I didn't expect to see you two at a Chilton function."

"It's for a good cause," Becky said.

"And she can't resist an excuse to buy a new dress," her husband added.

"Todd." Becky began, but thankfully Eva joined them just then.

"Eva, hi," Lorelai said, "you look great."

"Hi Lorelai, you too. Hi everyone,"

"How's everything going? Do you need me to do anything?" Lorelai offered.

"Oh, it's all under control, just relax and enjoy yourself, that's what I'm going to do now!" Eva turned to Luke, "so, Luke, may I have this dance?" she asked.

"Ah, thanks, but I don't think so," Luke looked desperately to Lorelai.

"Oh, Lorelai won't mind," Becky encouraged.

"Not at all!" Lorelai smirked.

Luke shot her a look that said 'thanks for all the help NOT'

"I can't dance," he explained.

"Really?" asked Becky.

"Not at all?" Eva said, disappointed.

"Nice excuse!" Todd acknowledged.

"Come on, Pookie, I'll teach you," Lorelai told him.

"You didn't think to teach me before tonight?" Luke asked her.

"Would you have agreed to lessons?"

"Nope, and I'm not going to now in a the middle of a crowded room!"

"But, Baby-cakes, we're at a ball, what are you gonna do all night?"

"I don't know, Angel-face, I'll think of something."

"Aw, Muffin-man's scared of a little dancing," Lorelai provoked him.

"I'm not scared!"

"Burger-boy's scared."

"Why is it muffin MAN but only burger BOY?"

"I'm going for alliteration here Danish-dude."

"Wow the rest of the world disappears when you guys get started," Eva commented, interrupting their banter.

"Excuse us, I'm gonna teach my Coffee-cutie how to dance," Lorelai dragged Luke on to the dance floor.

"How do you manage to con me in to all of this?" Luke asked with a sigh.

"I don't con you into anything!"

"You con me into everything!" Luke said suspiciously, "I think you have evil mind-altering powers."

"I wish! That would make it so much easier to teach you how to dance. Put your hand on my waist," Lorelai instructed, "no, wait, I'm leading, put your hand on my shoulder."

"I don't know anything about dancing, but I do know the guy's supposed to lead," Luke said as Lorelai struggled to think how to start.

"You getting all macho on me now?" she asked.

"You don't know what you're doing!"

"Neither do you!"

"This is never gonna work," Luke said.

"Yes it will," Lorelai insisted, "I just have to get used to being the guy."

"Lorelai what are you doing?"

"Damn, it's that pesky voice in my head again," Lorelai turned around, "hi Mom, how are you?"

"Hello Mrs Gilmore," Luke said.

"Lorelai, Luke, what are you doing?" Emily repeated.

"We're dancing," Lorelai explained, "an activity frequently undertaken at a ball."

"That's not dancing, that's a mess!"

"I'm trying to teach Luke. Hey where's dad?" Lorelai changed the subject.

"You father's speaking to Rory and her charming date."

"Charming?"

"Yes Lorelai, just because you've never had one doesn't mean they don't exist. Excuse me, I have to speak to Biddy." Emily walked off.

"Should I be offended?" Luke whispered to Lorelai.

"I'd take it as a compliment," she told him as they went back to their table, acknowledging that ballroom dancing wasn't going to work for them right now.



Tristan WAS charming. He was on his best behaviour and Rory was very impressed. After talking to Rory's grandparents they endured several conversations with family friends.

"Tristan DuGrey, how are you?"

"Good thank you Mrs Fergurson, hello Mr Fergurson, how are you?"

"Fine thank you, who's your lovely date?" "This is Rory Gilmore."

"Richard and Emily's granddaughter?"

"That's right, good to meet you."

"Are you two dating? That's so sweet," Mrs Fergurson gushed.

Rory and Tristan just looked at each other, holding back laughter.

"As long as they keep up with their school work of course," her husband added.

"Yes, how is school going dears? I always enjoy Chilton events."

"Good thank you," Tristan and Rory chorused.

"That's good, now excuse us dears."

Tristan held his hand out to Rory, "let's dance and maybe then people won't feel the need to talk to us." He was a good dancer too, which made it easy for Rory. She was really enjoying herself and Tristan made her laugh as they spent the next couple of hours dancing. Later in the evening Rory was so comfortable in his arms she was tempted to rest her head on his shoulder and close her eyes but Tristan wouldn't allow it. He held her chin and brushed his thumb over her lips.

"May I kiss you?" he asked politely.

Rory smiled, "You may."

Tristan leant in but Rory pulled away, "not here," she glanced around the room, "we don't need an audience."

Tristan took her hand and led her out of the ballroom, "what do you say we find that office again?" he said mischievously.

Having found all the office doors locked, Tristan and Rory ended up outside, strolling across the golf course in the moonlight.

"This is the perfect night," Rory sighed happily gazing at the stars.

"Yeah?" Tristan was looking pretty pleased with himself.

"Well except for you of course," Rory joked.

"You sure know how to make a guy feel good about himself."

"You don't need me to do that!"

"I do," Tristan said seriously, "I need you to feel good about me."

"Well you've been such a gentleman tonight how could I not?"

"Does that mean I can finally kiss you?"

Rory kissed him sweetly on the mouth, "yes," she said softly.

Tristan ran his hands along her bare back and returned the kiss, "are you cold?" he murmured as Rory shivered slightly with his touch. She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his back underneath his jacket so they were sharing it, "not anymore."

Tristan hugged her close and kissed her again, very gently.

"I won't break you know," Rory told him.

Tristan grinned wickedly, "I would have just thrown you to the ground but I didn't want to ruin your dress or my newfound reputation as a gentleman."

"I think the grass looks pretty clean down there, and as for the gentleman part, I already knew it was an act."

The well-maintained green looked so soft and inviting that Rory flopped down and lay on her back, staring up at the stars.

"Come make a wish," she said.

Tristan lay down beside her, picked a star and closed his eyes.

"What did you wish for?" asked Rory.

"If I tell you does that mean it won't come true?" he wondered.

"Nah, that's only true of birthday cakes," she assured him.

"Okay then, I wished," Tristan said slowly, "that you were my girlfriend."

"Really?"

"Well, I was gonna wish for Natalie Portman but you gotta start somewhere," he teased, "so what do you think my chances are?"

"With Natalie Portman? None in this lifetime."

"What about with you?"

"hmm," Rory pondered, rolling over so she was lying on top of him with one arm resting either side of his head, "I think they're pretty good?"

"Is that right?" his hands moved to her hips to hold her steady.

"uh huh, of course there are some rules," Rory began listing them off, "no smoking, drinking, lying, cheating, bank robberies, random acts of violence or animal sacrifices."

"You wouldn't want to change me at all would you, Mary?"

"Just a few minor improvements," she gazed into his warm eyes as her face hung just above his.

"Improvements? I've never had any complaints before!" Tristan closed the distance between their lips and showed her why.



As the DJ announced the last songs of the night, Luke finally agreed to dance with Lorelai in a darkened corner of the room. Luke relaxed as Lorelai wrapped her arms around his neck. This kind of dancing he could manage. His arms slid around her waist and she rested her head on his shoulder. Her bare neck lay inches away from his lips. Luke couldn't help himself. He planted a feather-light kiss just below her ear. Lorelai nuzzled his neck and did the same. He responded with another kiss and she in turn, moving across his jawline. Eventually their lips met, softly at first but the kiss soon deepened. Lorelai felt like a teenager at a high school dance as Luke's tongue entered her mouth and his hands slipped below her waist. She pushed her body against his and hoped her mother wasn't watching.

"you shouldn't kiss me like this, unless you mean it like that or I'll just close my eyes and I won't know where I'm at, we'll get lost on this dance floor, spinning around and around and around and around. They're all watching us now, they think we're falling in love, they'll never believe we're just friends. When you kiss me like this I think you mean it like that, if you do baby kiss me again."

Luke wished, not for the first time, that he could read Lorelai's mind but he didn't have a clue. He could have held her forever but when the song finished Lorelai pulled away as everyone around them started to leave, "we should, ah, go find Rory," she said casually. A dazed Luke just nodded and followed, wondering how she could turn it on and off so quickly.



When Lorelai and Luke met up with Rory and Tristan outside, Luke looked suspiciously at Rory's disheveled hair and grass-stained dress, "having fun Rory?" he asked pointedly.

"Only about as much as you, Luke," she replied sweetly, pointing out the lipstick on the corner of his mouth.

Luke hurriedly wiped it away while Lorelai, Rory and Tristan just laughed. Rory gave her mother the address of the party.

"Okay honey, have fun. Call me sometime before the sun rises and we'll come pick you up," Lorelai told her before turning to Tristan, "and you," she said warningly, giving him her best impression of an evil glare, "you may be cute, but that will not protect you, understand?"

"Oh, absolutely Ms Gilmore," Tristan nodded his head in bemused agreement.

"Bye mom, bye Luke," Rory rescued Tristan and the two couples headed to their respective cars.



Tristan and Rory drove to the party and sat outside in his car making out for a couple of minutes.

"Let's not bother to go inside," Tristan said when they finally came up for air, "I'm happy riiiight here."

"Well I'm not."

"You're not?" Tristan looked shocked and disappointed.

"Nope, the handbrake's sticking into my stomach," Rory explained.

"Sorry about that," Tristan got out of the car and opened the passenger door for her. He had taken off his jacket and tie and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone while Rory's hair was now in a loose ponytail and she was barefoot.

"Ouch," she rubbed a blister on her foot, "there should be a warning on that golf course, 'not suitable for high heels,'" she complained, kicking her shoe in disgust, "I can't put those back on."

"Aw, poor thing. I'll have to carry you inside then."

"NO, Tristan, I don't need you to carry me!" Rory protested as Tristan lifted her over his shoulder and jogged towards the house.

"Tristan! Put me down!" Rory shrieked with laughter. He complied only once they reached the front door.

Upon entering the party, Tristan said hi to a few friends, one of whom handed him a beer and offered one to Rory, who shook her head. Tristan sat down on a couch and pulled her into his lap. This was it, Rory thought, an announcement to the whole school. Oh well, she hadn't cared what everyone at Chilton thought of her before, why should that change now? She relaxed as they talked to Louise and her latest boyfriend.

Tristan offered Rory a sip of his beer, "you weren't serious before were you?" he asked.

"Nah, I guess not," Rory conceded, "although you do have to choose between smoking and kissing."

"No contest," he assured her. Rory took a sip of the beer and wrinkled her nose at the taste.

"Do you actually like that stuff or is it just part of the image?" she asked him.

He shrugged, "I guess it's an acquired taste."

"Try this," Louise handed Rory her bottle of premix.

"Girl's drink," her boyfriend scoffed.

"Tastes just like softdrink," Rory said, handing it back.

Tristan motioned for Rory to move so he could get up, "wait right there, and I'll find a drink you'll really like," he told her. He returned a couple of minutes later.

"Coffee!" Rory's eyes lit up as he handed her a mug. "mmm, what's in it?" she asked.

"Baileys," Tristan answered.

"It's good!" Rory took another sip, "are you trying to get me drunk Mr DuGrey?" Tristan emphatically denied the allegation, "You're not gonna get drunk on that, Miss Mary," he promised her.



"So where are we headed now?" Luke asked as he and Lorelai drove around Hartford.

"Hmm we'll find something," she replied.

"That's the plan? Drive around aimlessly?"

"It's not aimless, the aim is to find something to do."

"Right." "

Look! Pull over!" Lorelai instructed.

"Bowling?" Luke looked out the window doubtfully.

"Yep! I never go bowling!" Lorelai jumped out of the car and went inside, turning a few heads in her ball gown.

"So do you think these shoes match my dress?" she asked Luke, lifting the dress to her calf and pointing her toe, displaying the red and white bowling shoe.

"Very nice," he told her.

Lorelai picked up a bowling ball, "okay, so how does this work?" she asked, walking delicately to the edge of the lane, holding the hem of her dress off the ground with one hand. With the other she dropped the ball onto the lane. It hit the ground with a loud crack and began rolling slowly towards the gutter. Luke hid his eyes as other bowlers looked over at the sound. Luckily there weren't that many of them at this time of night.

"It fell in the hole," Lorelai complained, "I want those bumper things."

"They're for kids!" Luke protested.

"No, they're for inexperienced bowlers," she corrected, "that's what I am."

Luke gave in and on her next shot Lorelai purposefully bounced the ball off the side so that it zig zagged down the lane. She managed to knock down eight pins with that method.

"Yes!"

"That's it!" said Luke, "you wanted to teach me how to dance, I'm going to teach you how to bowl!"

Luke guided her through the motions, but Lorelai preferred her own, unique style, so they continued with a somewhat wacky game, which Luke won.



Rory and Tristan didn't get drunk, but many of their classmates did, so Rory was content to just sit and laugh at everyone.

"You're friends are funny," she told Tristan.

"Yeah," he agreed, but Tristan had more important things on his mind. Like kissing her again.

They were kissing on the couch when Louise brushed past them, "get a room guys!" she said, "Rory, you're as bad as your mother!"

"My mother?"

"Yeah, at the ball, while she was dancing with that guy."

"Mom and Luke? Hmmm."

"Come on," Tristan said to Rory as they stood up.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"To get a room!"

"Are you sure this is okay?" Rory asked as they entered a spare bedroom.

"It's fine, no one will mind," Tristan assured her.

"Okay," Rory lay face down on the bed and closed her eyes, "ah, soft."

Tristan sat down beside her and kissed her back, "don't fall asleep on me now," he whispered into her ear.

"That tickles," Rory said of his warm breath and rolled over. Her fingers slipped between the buttons of his shirt and tickled his stomach. Tristan squirmed and captured her hands in his, pinning them above her head as Rory lay on her back. He dropped kisses on her forehead, nose and finally lips, releasing her hands as their tongues tangled playfully. As they kissed, his hands stroked her shoulders, sliding the thin straps of her gown down.

"Tristan, what are you doing," Rory warned, breaking away and rolling over so her back was to him.

"Nothing," he told her, "Rory, I'm sorry. I really like you. Really really like you. More than any other girl ever. You're special. You're sweet and smart and I want to do the right thing by you. I know I'm not good enough, I don't know how to treat a girl right, not really. But I don't want to hurt you, I promise. I don't want to stuff this up." Tristan finished his spiel and got no response, "Rory?"

She had fallen asleep while he was pouring his heart out. Tristan just smiled slightly and lay back beside her.



When the bowling alley closed, Luke and Lorelai sat in the carpark.

"I'm sure Rory will call soon," Lorelai yawned and rested her head on Luke's shoulder as they talked.

"Can I ask you a question?" she asked him.

"Hmm?" Luke replied absently.

"A personal question?" she added.

"What?" he asked suspiciously.

"Was Rachel the first girl you loved?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Do you miss her?"

"Nah, I'm fine."

"But you don't date."

"Why the interest?" Luke wanted to know.

"Just making sure my coffee supplier's happy," Lorelai responded lightly.

"Well Stars Hollow isn't exactly bursting with eligible women," he explained.

"Miss Patty's always on the lookout for another husband," she suggested.

"I'll keep that in mind," Luke replied dryly.

"I guess it doesn't help that you suck at dating."

"Excuse me? How would you know? I do not suck at dating!" he said indignantly.

"Of course you do, we both suck at dating, remember?"

"Well you can't suck that much, you were engaged."

"Must have been some bizarre fluke," Lorelai scoffed, "who would be crazy enough to marry me?"

"Easy! You're infectious," Luke told her. "Like a disease?"

"More like a drug addiction," he said.

"Much better analogy," said Lorelai sarcastically.

"Yeah," Luke continued, "no matter what, you just can't help yourself. You're hooked. You keep coming back for more."

"Sounds familiar."

"You thinking of Rory's dad?" he asked.

"Yeah," she admitted.

"Think you two'll get back together?" he asked cautiously.

"No, Chris is a huge part of my life, and Rory's, but we're not gonna end up together. I think we're too similar in some ways," she reflected.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, maybe I'm just the terminally single type. I'll be one of those crazy old women with blue hair and 15 cats. And I'll still come into the diner every day for coffee and scare the customers!"

"Blue hair?"

"Yeah, like Marge Simpson!" Lorelai was getting carried away now, "and you'll have these mini Lukes running around the diner in backward baseball caps! I can just see it!"

"Where am I gonna get them from?"

"You want me to draw you a diagram?" Lorelai asked with a grin.

"Not necessary thank you. But I thought I didn't know anything about parenting?"

"Well you are a mere novice compared to moi, but Jess is actually more like a human being these days so you must be doing something right," she smiled up from his shoulder. Luke's head dropped to rest his cheek on the top of her head, "thanks," he said simply.

"Thanks to you too," said Lorelai.

"What for?" Luke asked.

"I don't know, anything, everything. I like talking to you."

"Good." They sat in comfortable silence and Lorelai could feel herself falling asleep so she jerked her head up and checked the time.

"It's past 2 am, why hasn't Rory called?" she was getting worried.

"I'm sure she's fine," Luke assured her.



Rory was fine. She was curled up with Tristan's arm wrapped protectively around her. When she woke up she lifted his arm and twisted it so she could read the watch on his wrist. 2:20.

"Tristan, we have to go," she announced, shaking him.

"Hmm, no, not yet," Tristan was reluctant to wake from his Rory-shaped dream.

"Yes," she insisted, "I'm calling my mother."

"Now that's a romantic way to wake a guy up."

"Get up," Rory insisted.

"One more kiss?" Tristan begged. Rory kissed him quickly, just to assure him that things were good between them.

Tristan walked her outside to meet her mom.

"Nite Tristan," Rory yawned as she climbed into the car.

"Nite Cinderella," her replied.

She looked at him questioningly, why the new nickname?

"You're shoes are still in my car," he explained.

"Oh," Rory couldn't be bothered to retrieve them now, "you don't have some weird shoe fetish I should know about do you?" she asked.

Tristan shook his head, "I'll bring them to school on Monday."

"See ya then."



TBC..

Review now if you like it! Or even if you hate it! =p And pretty please, any suggestions for a title for this chapter? My brain's too fried to think of a good one at the moment!