part 2

Name: Meg (tenismyidea@hotmail.com)
Title: I Must Be Dreaming part 3
pairing: R/T or R/J not sure
summary: Rory tries to get over a tragic event, but it is a slow process.
Feedback please. Good and Bad. Also, I need more ideas.
rating: PG 13

part 3
Just Another Bad Chilton Party

Tuesday Night Lane's house.

"Sooo?" Lane prompted. Her and Rory had been there all day discussing everything that was going on. Tissues were all on the floor from when they cried over Dean. Lane hadn't been able to go to the funeral, but his death had affected her just the same. After all, he was her friend. Now they were on a more cheerful topic, Tristan and the DuGrey's party tomorrow evening.

"So what? It's not a date." Rory said, very self-assured. She ate her ice cream slowly and watched Lane look at her with doubt on her face.

"It sounds like one. You are getting dressed up. He's picking you up. And so on."

"Well it's not. I don't even know why I agreed, anyway. I doubt we'll make it the whole evening without fighting. We might not even make to his house without fighting. I really don't like him that much."

"Then why are going?"

"Trying to be nice. I mean, I could give it a shot at friendship. At least then, I'd have someone at Chilton."

"Yeah that sounds good." Lane said, finally convinced it wasn't a date.


Wednesday Morning 9:00 am

Rory awoke to an annoying ringing that wouldn't stop. It was her phone on her nightstand. Her own private line, Lorelai had finally gotten her one. She groaned and glared at the phone then sat up and grabbed it.

"I demand to know the brave soldier who would dare wake up Rory Gilmore on a break from Hell known as Chilton this early in the goddamn morning?" She barked.

"Brave soldier, Mary? Hmmm, I didn't know you knew how to swear, my little sweet, innocent--" Tristan was interrupted.

"What do you want?" Rory snapped.

"Fiesty, Mary. Well, I wanted directions to your house. I'm supposed to pick you up at six tonight, right?"

"Unfortunately," Rory stated.

"I'm wounded. My perfect Mary wounded me." Tristan said in a mock-hurt voice.

"Sorry," the tone in her voice made it evident she wasn't.

"I'll forgive you if you kiss me tonight. You know, kiss me to make it better?"

"I can live without your forgiveness, thank you." At that, she gave him directions and hung up, immediately going back to sleep.


Later That Day 1:00 pm Luke's

"Luuukkkkkeeeee!" Lorelai whined. "Why not?" She gave him a puppy dog face.

"Bad for you," Luke grunted.

"But I'm a grown woman, so it can't stunt my growth! Come on, Lukey. I've only had five cups, today! That's good for a Gilmore girl!!" She pouted at him and he poured her coffee.

"Now, shut up, please," he ordered.

"Meanie," Lorelai threw at him."Hey babe!" She called to Rory and went over to sit a table with her.

"Mommy!" Rory whined as they sat down. "I don't wanna go! I don't wanna!"

"Then why'd you agree?"

"I don't know! Tristan just made his argument sound convincing, I guess."

"Hmmm, well you know what we have to do right, kiddo?"

"NO, Mom! We are NOT playing Fashionably Late this time! It's Tristan! We only use that for dates!"

Lorelai looked at her daughter. "We are SO playing that game, missy. You made me play it with Luke, and that wasn't a date!"

"SO! Mom, you're evil."

"I guess Tristan and I would get along fine, then."

"True."


Later Later That Day 6:00 pm

"Haha, Rory, you have to do it!" Lorelai said triumphiantly. "Because it's six and he's not here! Yes!"

"No, mom, no!"

"Yep, you can't get out of it!"

"Fine."


6:10 PM

"Rory, the doorbell rang!"

"Go get it!"

"No, you have to, o' daughter of mine, because we're playing the game."

"Argh!" Rory emerged from her room and went to the front door. She threw it open and before Tristan could say anything, she flung her arms around his neck. "I love you, I love you, I love you!" she squealed. "You're fashionably late, therefore, a Gilmore dream date!" She planted kisses on his cheeks and hugged him tightly. Then she pulled away and yelled to the living room from the porch. "Okay, mom, I did it, but you owe me."

"Bye, sweetie." Lorelai called back.

Rory turned to face Tristan who had a smirk on his face. "Well, Well, Mary, just can't keep yourself off me, huh? You love me? I'm flattered, Mary, very flattered." The truth was, his whole body had went into an explosion of sparks when she did that. And he bared it painfully when she kissed his cheek, he wanted to pull her away and kiss her senseless, but let her carry on.

"Shut up, DuGrey, it's a game my mom and I play." She climbed into the car and he sat in the driver side and took off.

"Care to explain?"

"Fine, just to wipe that smirk off your face. And prevent any ego inflation that may happen. You see, my mom and I have this game called Fashionably Late. We play it when one of us has a date. If the guy is on time, we don't do that, but we tell him never to come on time again. If he's fashionably late, then we tell him we love him three times, and sing-song that little rhyme 'You're fashionably late, therefore a Gilmore dream date' and hug him and kiss him."

"Ah," Tristan said, "so you're finally admitting I'm your date?" He smirked.

"Argh! No! This is going to be a long night!"

"Are you suggesting something, Mary? Was that an invitation? I never took you for that kind of girl, but I have to say--"

"No you don't have to say anything, Evil One! Shut up!" She glared at him and he started laughing then reached over and held her hand in his, massaging it with his thumb for the rest of the way there. And for once, he gave her a geniune smile.


The DuGrey Mansion

Rory had been at this party for an hour now and it was almost nine o clock. She had told Tristan to go visit the other Chiltonites and not depend on her so much, so with much reluctance, he left. She sat alone by the refreshment table when she was approached by a boy her age. He was tall and had floppy brown hair, and resembled Dean alot. Rory stared at him and couldn't believe the resemblance. Her eyes clouded a little, but she pulled herself together.

"It's Lorelai Gilmore, right?" The boy approached her and asked.

"Yes, well, it's Rory, really." She smiled at him, but tried not to stare. She didn't need a reminder of Dean right now.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Mike Sanderson. I go to Chilton, too." He shook her hand. "So, Rory, where do you plan to go to college?"

"Harvard, but I haven't you know got my letter, yet."

"Oh, cool, so do you know what you want to major in?"

Rory smiled at him. She rarely met a nice Chiltonite without some sort of motive, but it was nice to have a friend. "Journalism. What about you?"

"Business at Princeton."

"Nice. So do I have any classes with you?" Rory really never looked around in classes, so she didn't know.

"Don't think so, but I've seen you around, so I decided to learn about you for myself. All I've heard is 'bookworm'." He gave her an electrifying smile.

"Oh, I guess you could say that. Actually, you can say it again. I love books."

"You're very unique, Rory. Are you here with someone?"

"Tristan DuGrey, actually. I mean, just as friends."

"Oh, him. Yeah, he has a thing for you."

Rory looked at him. This was too much for her. He resembled Dean and now he sounded like him, too! Tears started streaming down her face. "I-- uh-- nice talking to you." She choked out then ran off to an empty room, sat on the bed and let the tears escape her. The flowed freely and numerously. Her body started to shake. Dean had died a week ago, and she had just realized how much she missed him.

Tristan had observed the last part of the scene from across the room. The part where Rory ran off crying. *Asshole. What did this Chiltonite do to her?* He thought angrily as he eyed the very confused Mike standing there. Tristan made his way toward Mike. "What did you do to her?!" Tristan demanded. "I swear! If you---"

"Nothing, T!" Mike spat out. "I was talking and asked who she was here with, she said you, and I said 'Oh yeah, he has a thing for you' then she started crying!"

Tristan was shocked at this, surely Rory didn't hate him that much that she cried when she heard he liked her? "Oh," Tristan said before heading to the room Rory had escaped into. He knocked. No response. "Rory?" He said softly through the door. He opened it to find her sitting on the bed, crying. He closed it behind him.

"Tristan?" Rory asked softly. "Thank God," she breathed. She stood up and made her way over to him. Then, to both of their surprise, she put her arms around his neck and pulled him to her, crying on his shoulder. He frowned in confusion and put his arms gently around her waist, still frowning. He had always dreamed of this, of Rory crying on his shoulder, and him holding her in his arms, it felt so right that he be the one to comfort her. But not when he had caused her pain.

"Rory? Maybe we should talk?" He was mentally preparing himself for explaining everything to her. She pulled away and he grabbed her hand, sitting with her on the edge of the bed. "What's wrong, Ror? I mean, Mike told me what he said to you." His voice was soft and soothing,

"Now he thinks I'm stupid," Rory said through tears. "It's just, he looked so much like Dean. And then he said exactly what Dean said about you. Those exact words. It was just to much for me to handle. I'm sorry, Tristan. I hate for you to see me like this. I don't want to burden---."

"Ssshhh," Tristan cooed. "It's okay, Ror. What did Dean and Mike say?"

"I quote 'He has a thing for you'. I just broke down, that's all. I didn't want to be reminded of Dean."

Tristan had wanted Rory to confide in him about Dean's death ever since she was told in the hospital a week ago. And now, she was. He loved it. "And you shouldn't be, I'm sorry, Ror. Maybe I shouldn't have made you come."

"No, I agreed, didn't I?"

"Yes, and I'm glad. I didn't get to tell you how beautiful you look, did I?"

"I look dumb in this dress with this cast on." She had a simple, yet beautiful dress that didn't have sleeves on, the dress went right to her knees. It was all one piece and fit her curves perfectly.

"You could never look dumb, you're too smart....and beautiful." He added.

"Thanks, but I don't want to hear what you tell every other girl just to get her to go out with you. Just be my friend, please."

"Okay, but for the record, I don't say that to every girl. All I say is 'Wanna go make out?' And they go out with me. I say it to you because I like being honest to you, for once."

"Okay, and Tris, thanks for being there for me. I know we haven't exactly got along, and it was good of you to be so nice to me, anyway."

"Guess I'm nice to people who hate me."

"What?"

"It's okay, Ror, really."

"What's okay?"

"That you hate me."

"I don't."

"Oh, come on! You said that to Dean sophomore year!"

"I don't hate you, Tristan!"

"It's okay, really!"

"I don't!"

"Sure, sure."

"Shut up!"

"No!" Tristan was now being childish.

"Yes!" She put her small hands on his face and crushed her lips on his, sending waves of electricity through both of their bodies. He leaned closer and kissed back. Then her hands went to his hair, while his went to her waist. He laid her on the bed without breaking apart and rested on top of her. He put his tongue on her bottom lip, just begging for her to let him kiss her more deeply. His body was practically screaming. He just wanted to devour her and get lost in her. Her hands on his skin sent him up the wall with pleasure. She teased him a bit, but let his tongue enter. They kissed deeply and their tongues danced together. Much to her surprise, her whole body was on fire. Then the world came back to her. She pulled away quickly and Tristan groaned.

"I really shouldn't have done that!" She whined. She tangled herself from his grip and quickly walked out of the room. What was she going to do? Her mom was held up at work with Christmas festivities, and Luke's was still open. Lane couldn't drive, either. She quickly made her way to a phone and dialed some numbers.

"Hello this is Uncle Lukey's Diner. Jess speaking." She heard Luke yell at him in the background.

"Jess? It's Rory."

"Hey, Rory. How's it going?"

"Umm, bad. I have a huge favor to ask, but I understand if you're busy."

"Not for you, I'm not."

"Great. Can you pick me up?"

"In Hartford?" She had told him about her plans.

"Please, Dodger? I'll be your best friend!" *Since when do I use Mom's tactics?*

"Now that's an offer I can't turn down," Jess said sarcastically. "Okay, Be there in 30 minutes, Ror. DuGrey Mansion, right?"

"Yep, thanks so much! I'll owe you big time!" She hung up the phone. Then she saw Tristan coming toward her. *Shit!* She didn't see an escape route.

"Ror, can we at least talk?" He asked while trying to make eye contact. When he was successful he looked into her eyes and saw that she was frustrated.

"No! I really don't think that's a good idea! Look what happened last time we talked."

Tristan smiled and Rory glared at him. "Mary, that wasn't talking. That was pure passion speaking for us."

"Ugh! You're--- You're----so---"

"Handsome?" He teased with a smirk.

"Egotistical?" She couldn't deny that he was cute. *Did I just admit he was cute? This is Tristan! He's so confusing!*

"Ow, what did I say about wounding me? Well, you certainly did kiss it and make it better. Although, I have to say, Mary, I was kidding when I said that earlier. Guess you couldn't resist the offer."

"Yeah that musta been it, I have no other explination. Oh, wait, I do! I was trying to shut you up."

"There are other,more effective ways you can do that, Mar, although, you were close."

"Shut up!" Rory said, blushing furiously.

"Make me." Tristan said with a smirk.

"Fine!" Rory grabbed his shoulders and kneed him where it really hurts.

Tristan groaned and bent over, while tilting his head up to look at her. "Ow, Mary!" He squealed.

"Serves you right." Rory said triumphiantly.

"No, because now we can't have children, Ror!"

"Me? You? Mutual children?" Rory laughed. "Not in this lifetime!"

Tristan straightened himself and towered over her, putting his arms around her shoulders and looking into her eyes. "It could happen. You can't resist me."

"There goes the ego, again! You never cease to amaze me!" She was trying to wiggle out of his grasp, but he kept it firm.

"Yeah, I know." He said lightly and sighed. Then he let go of her.

Rory spotted Jess at the entrance. Then he spotted her. Rory turned to Tristan. "I'm going home now, if you don't need me."

"I always need you. Jacking off while dreaming of you doesn't count." He said with a smirk. Rory blushed furiously.

"You're impossible!"

"Well, do you need a ride?"

"No, I don't think that will be necessary." Rory said while Jess appeared at her side. "Ready to go, Dodger?" Rory asked him. "Oh, Tristan this is Jess. Jess this is Tristan." The two boys nodded but Tristan looked at Rory in amazement. *She must really hate me.* He watched her leave with the dark- haired boy and he grabbed a glass of champagne before going upstairs to his room. Once inside he spotted his framed picture of Rory that Paris had snagged for him. He threw his glass against the wall and let it smash to pieces. "ARGHHH! Why do I always lose my cool around her?? Great, DuGrey, you ruined your chances at friendship, even." He scolded himself out loud. He sat on his bed and picked up his picture of Rory from his nightstand. Leaning against his headbord, he kissed the picture and put it back, while staring at it. He slowly drifted off to sleep with the plan he had made a week ago fresh in his mind. He would get started on it tomorrow.


part 4