Spend My Life With You

Chapter Ten: Overhearing

A/N: I know people are telling me to update my other stories, and although my other stories have lots more reviews this story is one of my favourites because its so fun to write! In this chapter some things will be explained that have been quite vague for a while and yeah. It's a little short but I hope you enjoy it and thankyou to all the people who reviewed- I really appreciate it! J

"But one of her favourite colours is red!" Tristan bellowed, his arms flailing out like what he was saying was the most obvious thing in the world. "So wouldn't it make sense to paint it red?"

"Yeah, I guess, but I still think you should just stuff the red and paint it blue! Five buckets of blue paint, Tristan. I didn't waste my thirty-three bucks on this stuff for nothing!" Darrel bellowed back just as angrily as Tristan.

"It's not my fault that you bought five buckets instead of five tubes. I wanted blue paint but not that much blue paint." Tristan grumbled, and turned around jus in time to see Rory pour the entire bucket of red paint into a bucket of blue paint. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked, his eyes bulging out of his head.

Darrel smirked, and slapped Tristan on the shoulder. "Don't worry, we still got four more cans of blue paint left." He grinned, but Tristan just glared at Rory.

"You knew that I wanted to paint the sign red." Tristan yelled, motioning at the 'Happy Birthday Kristie' sign, presently devoid of all colour. Melody, Sharon and Laura, who were chatting happily in a corner of the room, became silent.

"You asked for my help," Rory said quietly. "And now you're criticising me?"

"Yeah, I damn well am," Tristan shouted. Sharon jumped to her feet and stepped between the two former Chilton buddies.

"That's enough, you guys," she said.

"No, it's okay Sharon," Rory said. "Let's hear what Tristan has to say." Rory looked up at Tristan expectantly.

"I can criticise you if I want," Tristan continued his venomous rampage. "You keep on thinking I was who I used to be. I'm not your friend, anymore Rory. In fact, if it weren't for Kristie I would've headed on straight out of Harvard as soon as I saw you. Don't look at me like you expect me to talk to you like we used to, that's over. Just get that through your head."

Rory stood motionless for a second. Her stomach churned, a huge lumped made swallowing hard, and her eyes filled up with tears, making her blue eyes sparkle. The way Tristan said it made it sound like he hated her.

"I don't know what that has to do with the red paint," Rory said finally, her voice quivering, hurt obviously written on her face. She bent down slowly and picked up the bucket of paint, showing it to Tristan. "I was trying to make purple!" she screamed out suddenly, the words just bursting out of her. Then with a streak of anger that didn't seem like her own, she threw the entire bucket of paint at Tristan. He tried to dodge it but was too slow. With a thunk as the bucket hit his left cheek and a splash as the paint splattered all over him, Rory fled out of Kristie's house.

Holding his hand to his cheek he stared after her dumbly. Feeling a bruise begin to spread, he winced, and turned to the four onlookers. Their harsh glare hurt him worse than the bruise on his cheek and he turned away, walking briskly out of the house. Behind him her heard someone follow him, but didn't care enough to turn around.

*

Rory cried silently, unseen behind Darrel's car. She stifled her sobs as two people came out of Kristie's house. Listening softly she heard two voices- Tristan and Darrel's.

"Why did you say that to her, you jerk?" Darrel was yelling. There was a heavy thump as muscle hit muscle, and then a groan. Darrel had slammed Tristan up against his car. Rory closed her eyes as the car swayed, hoping that they wouldn't find her.

"Why did you do that? She didn't deserve it! You've been treating her like trash and I don't recall her doing anything to you!" Darrel said, his voice full of rage. "I'm tired of all your orders, I want some answers."

Tristan whispered something Rory could hear and Rory heard Darrel punch Tristan, by the sound of it, in the face. The car swayed again, and Rory stayed very quiet. "You're going to answer any damn question I ask." Darrel glowered. This time there was no response from Tristan.

"First, what the hell did she ever do to you?" Darrel said, his voice soft and dangerous.

"Nothing." Rory could hear Tristan's voice now. "She didn't do anything."

"Then why do you treat her so badly?"

"You wouldn't understand!" Tristan exclaimed, shoving Darrel back.

"Try me," Darrel said.

Tristan exhaled, and then said more calmly, "I like Rory. She's one of the nicest people I know. And that makes it hard for me."

"Hard to make you act like a jerk?" Darrel said, poison in his voice.

"Yeah, exactly," agreed Tristan, surprising both Rory and Darrel. Tristan lowered his voice and Rory strained to hear it. "Look, what I say here, you can't tell anyone, okay? Especially not Rory." Rory's heart started beating faster.

"Okay, okay, I swear I wont tell." Darrel said. "But it better be a pretty damn good reason."

"Three years of military school." Tristan began.

"Been there, done that." Darrel said, like it was nothing.

"It was easy for you!" Tristan objected. "You'd been going there ever since you were a little kid. You made all your friends there. You grew up there. I didn't."

"Yeah, so what?" Darrel asked.

"You didn't have anything to leave behind. Anyone."

"What is your point exactly?" Darrel sighed, starting to sound disinterested.

Tristan's voice shook, but not from anger, as he replied, "Do you know how hard it was for me?" he asked Darrel. "I thought about her every single night that I was there. Do you know how much it hurt not being there with her? It's called regret."

"So wouldn't you be happy to see her now?" Darrel asked, his voice less harsh.

"Don't you get it? I had to let her go if I was going to survive in that place. Ferocious training in the day and never sleeping at night is not a good mix. I had to convince myself to let go. For three years I was alone, then I met Kristie. She changed me, and things were just right between us. I owe her so much. But then Rory comes waltzing back in the picture and suddenly I can't sleep at night again. I'm feeling the pain all over again because I'm not going to cheat on Kristie. I can't just be friends with her, because I wouldn't be able to control myself. I have to let Rory go." Tristan's voice trailed off. Darrel was silent. "I knew you wouldn't understand." Tristan said bitterly, and walked off. Darrel turned silently and went back into the house, leaving Rory alone behind the car with very confused thoughts.

Her pager beeped. It was Jess. Wiping the tears from her face she walked shakily back into Kristie's house. Darrel was talking anxiously with Sharon, Laura and Melody. When they spotted Rory the girls rushed over to her, but Darrel hung back. Melody was first to reach her and engulfed her in a huge hug. Laura started scheming ways to take down the Dugrey's many companies and shame his family name, and Sharon was supportive, ever calm Sharon.

When Melody finally pulled away from Rory, Rory shot a glance at her. "Mel, can I borrow your mobile?"

Melody looked confused, but obligingly tossed her phone to Rory. Rory caught it and immediately dialled Jess' number. He picked up instantly.

"Hey," he said. "I was hoping you would call."

"I kinda got the message when my pager started beeping like crazy," Rory sniffed.

"Are you okay? You sound like you've been crying," Jess asked, suddenly concerned.

"I'm fine." Rory said a little too quickly.

"Because if something's wrong there's nothing stopping me hopping on a bus and coming to wherever you are." Jess offered earnestly.

"Thanks for doing the whole 'concerned boyfriend' thing, but I'm fine. Really." Rory reassured him. "So, why did you want me to call?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I missed you. And that I love you." Jess said, his voice suddenly quiet. Rory smiled, and blushed.

"I love you too." As an afterthought, she said, "You know all that stuff they say about long distance relationships? It's so not true."

"Yeah, total bull." Jess agreed. "But you better not jinx it. Knock on wood."

"Okay." Rory said obligingly. "Hold on a sec." Covering the receiver, she then said, "Laura come here!"

Laura walked over next to Rory, a puzzled look on her face. Rory hit her head with her fist lightly. "There," Rory said to Jess. "All done. I'd better go, I'm using someone else's phone."

"Okay," Jess said, and Rory could just picture his face falling in disappointment.

"I'm sorry. I'll call you as soon as I get home. Wait! No, sorry I can't, I've got a paper due tomorrow. I'll call you tomorrow night." She said.

"Okay," Jess said half-heartedly, and hung up the phone.

Rory hung up the phone as well, and threw it back to Melody. Looking around at Kristie's house, she said, "Well, what are we all waiting for? There's a party to organise!"

*

In Stars Hollow, Jess sighed as he stared at the phone, which was next to a picture of him and Rory together. Giving his attention to the picture, he said softly, "I hope you're right about long distance relationships, Rory."