The Past & The Present
by Angel Girl15

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY OF RELATIONSHIPS

~*~*~*~*~Both relationships went on for 3 months.~*~*~*~

Lorelei & Chris- Haven't had sex yet (even though they've gotten pretty close to it). It was coming up to both her birthday and homecoming ***authors note- don't know when Lorelei's birthday is, and I know all the timings a bit messed up***** Chris actually got Lorelei to hang out with some of his friends, but she basically steers clear of them. Chris started more hanging out with her friends. Oh, they both said they loved one another after 2 months.

Rory & Tristan- still keeping it slow, Rory won't allow him to go farther then making out. Rory actually was friends with Amanda, Kristin & them. The first couple weeks they were together both were gossiped about constantly since Tristan's reputation, but once they stuck together after all of that, people just let it go. Except Paris and some of the "Use and Pass" group, who still wanted Tristan, but nothing had happened…yet.

Past

"Come on Lorelei…it'll be fun" Chris pleaded.

"No it won't."

"How do you know?"

"I'm a mind reader."

"Well then what am I thinking?"

"You are thinking that you are just SO lucky to be my boyfriend that understands when I don't want to go to something!" I said.

"Yes and you should know that we should go, since we didn't exactly make it to the last dance…"

"That was not my fault!!"

"Oh yes, the fact that you ripped your dress on the tree, then made me drive all over town looking for somewhere to get a new dress. Then when we got to the dance it was over. And then the we ended up making out in the car, followed by a bunch of my friends coming up to the car and seeing that."

"It wasn't my fault, it was the tree's fault," I said crossing my arms.

He just gave me that stare that made my legs go weak. I hated when he was right and then he pulled that out.

"Fine…we'll go…but you owe me…and my birthday is coming up…" I not so subtly hinted.

"Hmm, like you've let a day go by in the last 2 weeks without telling me that…"

A knock on my door startled us both.

"Who is it?" I asked while I waved Chris onto the balcony.

"It's your mother."

Once I saw that Chris was hidden I said "Come in" as I dove onto my bed, and started flipping through a magazine.

"Lorelei, we need to talk about what you want to do for your birthday. I was thinking of a party like last year…" she said, sitting down on the edge of my bed.

"Mom, I don't want to do anything!! I'll just go to the movies with Chris, Krysta and the rest of my friends.

"Lorelei, this is not up for discussion. We have already hired the caterers and sent out invitations."

"Mom, its MY birthday!! It's the one day that is my special day. Can't I do something I want to do?"

"You can in the morning…but then the party WILL go on, and you will show up. If you don't their will be some big consequences."

I knew their was very little point in arguing anymore so I just said fine.

"Good. I'm going to get a dress for you tomorrow…" she said as she left the room.

"One that I won't wear…" I said to the air.

I saw Chris poke his head in the open door. "Is it safe?"

"Yeah" I said picking my head off of the pillow. He came over and lied next to me on the bed.

"You okay?"

"I just can't wait till I can get out of here. The day I turn 18, I'm out of here…there's nothing to keep me here."

"What about me?"

"Yeah but I don't have to be in this house for that. My mom drives me crazy."

"Are you going to show up for the party?"

"Oh yeah, but for like 20 minutes, then I'll escape up here, and sneak out like always."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Yeah well, one day the time I escape and sneak out it will be forever…"

Present

"Hey Rory, where's your worser half?" Austin asked as I sat down next to Amanda, and across from him.

"Oh he had to talk to Miss Stevens. He'll be here any minute."

"You going to the Valentine's Day thing at Austin's?" Amanda asked.

"Depends…I might have to help my mom out with a party at the Inn."

"You'd rather spend Valentine's Day with your mom then your adoring boyfriend?" I heard Tristan say as he slid into the seat on my other side.

"Yeah well, unless there's a giant stuffed animal in it for me, I think my mom's better company…" I said giving him a kiss.

"Doesn't that make you feel special Tristan, dissed for a mom…" Justin put it.

"At least I have a girlfriend."

"Well, just give it a day or two…"

"More like a month or two."

I turned away from them and started talking to Amanda.

"I hate being alone on valentine's day" she complained.

"Ask someone then…like you know who", the who being Justin.

""But he'd just say no."

"Have you asked him?"

"No."

"Then how do you know?"

"And who are you girls talking about? I assume its about me?" Tristan asked leaning his head over my shoulder.

"Yeah, we're planning on how I'm going to make a fool of you by throwing a pie at you later. But shhhh! Don't tell you okay?"

"Okay I won't say a thing to myself about it."

"Ugh, you guys are so cute, it kills me" Amanda groaned. She turned to talk to Kristin, and I turned to face Tristan.

"Do you want to go to the party?" he asked, looking into my eyes.

"Yeah. Just I might not come till late since some crazy person is having a wedding at the inn, and my mom asked me to help setup. But she promised she'd let me go early since she figured I'd have plans with you."

"You better have plans with me! Or do you have a secret boyfriend I should know about?"

"Oh yes, in fact I have 3. And they are all MUCH better kissers than you."

"Is that so? I think I'm about to give them some stiff competition…" he said kissing me deeply. Since we were at school it had to be short since they can get pretty strict on displays of affection.

"Hey you two love birds want to play poker?" Austin asked, waving his hand in the space between our heads.

"I'm up for it…I haven't played in awhile, but I'll beat you all…" Tristan bragged.

"Yeah…and you've lost how much money and clothes in this game?" Austin shot back.

"Less than you."

"Hey guys, check the ego's and deal" Amanda said.

Justin, Austin, Amanda, Eloisa, Brad, Tristan and myself were all playing. I lost horribly but we were only playing with M&M's. I stole a few from Tristan, although he protested, he couldn't watch them the whole game. Once I ran out of those I snuggled myself under Tristan's arm and tried to figure out what to get him for Valentine's Day. I never was good with gifts and what am I supposed to get the guy that has everything? I've only been to his house a couple of times but it's absolutely huge. He has a I met his dad, briefly as I was leaving one day, and he was a big sweetheart, like Luke. He was like 6'8, and very muscular. At first I was scared of him but I talked to him for a couple minutes and he was full of laughs.

Too bad I can't just snap my fingers and have the perfect gift for him…I'll drag Lane and Amanda or Kristin to the mall to help me.

"I got to go to my locker" I told Tristan.

Okay I'll see you in class then?"

"Yeah. Bye guys" I said walking out of the caf. I hurried up the steps to my locker, passing the "Use and Pass" group.

"Hi Rory…" I heard a sing-song voice call. I turned around and saw Summer and one of her lackies, Jessica, who was a tall blond, glaring at me.

"Hi Summer."

"Where's Tristan?"

"Why would you want to know?"

"Well I want to talk to him about getting back together…but I haven't been able to since you've been attached to his hip for the last couple months."

"Talk to him whenever you want…he'll just turn you down, since the way you dumped him."

"Which time would you be referring to?" she said with a smirk.

"I've got to get to my locker. I'll leave you to your imagination."

"You know he's the best kisser at this school…and well he's great with other things too. But you would know wouldn't you? Well I guess not since your little miss virgin."

"At least I'm not the school slut sleeping with every guy I see."

"Hmm…I can't believe Tristan's lasted this long…well I guess that'll make my offer more…intising…"

"Bye Summer…oh bye the way you got some salad in your teeth, and well I thought I'd tell you since that's all you are going to eat today" I said turning on my heel and going up the rest of the stairs, leaving her there with her hand on her hip and running her finger along her teeth.

Past

"That's a gorgeous dress!" Krysta exclaimed as I twirled around in the department store.

"You sure?" I said running my hands down the smooth fabric.

"Yeah. Its so simple, it just looks elegant yet fun at the same time."

It was a full-length black dress that was some slightly shimmer fabric with multi-coloured stars lining the bottom and top hem. It had spaghetti straps, and was actually really comfortable.

"You double sure?"

"If you don't buy it, I'll hit you over the head."

"Okay" I said, disappearing back into the dressing room, changing back into my clothes.

"I can't believe your going to the homecoming dance…"

"Well I'm not going to the game…Chris is going, then he's going to pick me up."

"Well this weekend's just going to be hell on you. Friday, homecoming dance, and then Saturday, the lovely birthday party."

"You are sneaking out with me right?" I asked as I walked out of the change room with the dress.

"Course. We can just go to Banderes and get coffee."

"Coffee…that reminds me, we got to go get some after I pay for this."

"Big surprise."

"Hey you're the one that mentioned coffee. You know I'm addicted."

"How did that happen anyways?"

We went to the counter and I paid for it.

"Well basically I used to always sneak into the kitchen to escape from my parents and when I'd get in there, all the help would be drinking coffee. So I tried it, and always drank it when I was hiding in there. So I got hooked."

"I know, I've seen you when you go into withdrawal. It's not a pretty sight."

I gave the girl at the counter my credit card, and we waited for her to finish up, then we left the store.

"Off to the coffee shop…" I said waving my hands wildly.

"Again…"

Present

It took me awhile but I finally found the perfect gift for Tristan. It was actually 2 things, but I had a feeling he'd love them. Although whatever I got him, he'd pretend to love it anyways, but I wanted to get him something he would actually love.

"Rory? You can go now…the wedding's all done, so now it's the easy part" my mom told me.

"Sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure…go enjoy your date with Tristan. But be back at a decent hour or I will have to hunt him down and then display him in the living room…"

"Don't worry. Sookie's going to drive you home?"

"Yeah, if she doesn't kill herself in the kitchen before…"

Just as she said that we heard a clatter come from the kitchen.

"Okay, love you, have fun," she said giving me a kiss on the cheek then running into the kitchen yelling "SOOKIE!!!"

I ducked into the bathroom and double-checked my outfit. I was wearing a long black skirt and a red fuzzy turtleneck sweater. I then ran out and hopped into the jeep. The clock flashed 8 so I knew by the time I got there, the party would just be picking up. I had a weird feeling, like the night I was with Dean and he dumped me, but I just shook it off. I couldn't wait to see him. Just getting a look at him made my heart flutter. He's been so good about me not wanting to rush things, and he actually has been the one to break up heated make-out sessions, to ask if I wanted to stop. I turned up the radio, which was blaring a PJ Harvey song and drove to Austin's house.

When rory arrives…

I walked into the house, with some boy band music blaring, and people everywhere. I walked around looking for either Tristan or anyone I knew. I finally spotted Eloisa, Kristin and Christina sitting in a sitting room.

"Hey guys!" I said.

"Hey Rory! You just get here?" Eloisa asked.

"Yeah, my mom let me free. Where's Amanda? I'm surprised she's not with you guys, trying to work up the courage to ask Justin to ask."

"Oh my god!! You missed it!!! She actually did it…well after Christina here 'accidentally' pushed her into him."

"Ah…wish I'd seen that. Why you guys sitting here?"

"Taking a dance break…we've been dancing since we got here."

"Good job. Have you seen Tristan?"

"Haven't seen romeo since I got here" Eloisa said.

"Okay well I'm going to see if I can find him…if not I'll be back."

"Bye" they said as I walked right onto the dance area. I had to make my way through the mess of bodies, trying to get to the edge.

"Rory!" I heard a voice call. I looked around and saw Amanda waving to me, her arm around Justin. I made my way over to them.

"Well look who finally got together" I said.

Hey well at least it happened" she said.

"Have you guys seen Tristan?"

"Yeah. He just was here. He went that away" Justin said pointing towards the deck.

I made my way across the room to the drapes that separated the house and the marble mass that is the deck. I saw a few couples making out, and lots of people milling around. I then saw a flash of blond hair walking along the grounds. I walked down the steps and tried to find him. I heard voices before I could see anyone. The voices stopped as soon as I reached an area surrounded by tall bushes. I looked in the opening and saw Tristan standing there…attached to Summer at the lip. I couldn't move for a second. I thought it was a dream…it felt like hours even though it was only a few seconds. I reached into my bag and pulled out the tiny box that held Tristan's gift. I threw it at his back, then I ran back to the house. I heard him call my name a couple times, but I made it into the house before he could catch up to me. My eyes were starting to tear, so I knew I had to get out of here as soon as possible. I passed Kristin who was coming onto the dance floor. She tried to grab me, but I shook her off and went out the front door. I ran to the car and started it. I had to get out of there, before I completely broke down. Or before Tristan caught up with me. After a few fumbles I finally got the car to start, and I raced out of the driveway. I drove as fast as I could without exceeding the speed limit. The tears were starting to come but I was also filled with rage.

"Do not break down!!! I will not break down!!! He's just Tristan…the guy I hated…DO NOT BREAK DOWN!!!" I repeated to myself. The ride seemed to take forever, even though I probably made the best time ever. I pulled into the driveway, and shut the car down. Then it came over me. I leaned against the steering wheel, and the tears started to flow. I knew my mom wouldn't be home yet, since I had been gone for only about an hour, since I was at the party for like 10 minutes, not even. Once I had a pause in the crying, I got out and stumbled inside. Every tear made me angrier and angrier. I had opened myself up to him and he betrayed me. He didn't even do it with someone decent. He did it with the girl that he had said he used to make me jealous. He said he never cared about her. I should have known better.

I got up off of the couch and grabbed the container of chocolate ice cream and sat down. I turned the TV on but I barely acknowledged it. My brain was on overload. I wanted to scream, run, cry, punch something…and if Tristan doesn't call either tonight or tomorrow, I'll know how he truly feels…

Past

"You sooo better have an absolutely amazing gift for me tomorrow" I said as we were walking up the hall where the homecoming dance was being held.

"And why would that be?"

"Because you dragged me here."

"Don't worry, you'll like your gift."

"I better…otherwise your going to have to start all over with your teasing of some other girl."

"Yeah I think that takes too long…"

"Well its worth it…at least it better be" I said glaring at him.

Chris gave our tickets and we went into the ballroom. I jus took a deep breath then plastered a smile on my face.

Present

"RORY?" my mom yelled the second she got into the house. I heard her throw down her stuff then come into the family room.

"Rory are you okay??"

"Yeah it just was a horrible night."

She sat down next to me and I layed my head on her lap. I could sense she wanted to know more but I couldn't bring myself to tell her what had happened.

"It's okay…I saw the jeep and wondered why you were home so early. Did something happen?"

I nodded my head and the phone rang. She reached for it but I stopped her.

"Let…the…machine get…it."

Beep!! Hi this is the Gilmore Girls. We have lives so we aren't here right now. We might call you back…"

"Rory? Are you there? Why'd you run out?? You looked so upset I hope your okay. Please call me back…it's Kristin…"BEEP!!!

"Mom…it…was…horrible…" I tried to tell her what was wrong but couldn't.

"It's okay Rory. You can tell me in the morning…"

I closed my eyes, and tried to think of anything but…him.

~*~*~Lorelei~*~*

Whatever that boy did to her, I'll kill him. First Dean then whatever he did. But whatever it was it had to be bad or Rory wouldn't be so upset. I hope she doesn't have the bad relationship luck I've had…at least she didn't rush in like me. And if she did, and he broke her heart, he will not see daylight again.

Past

"Can we have everyone's attention as we announce the homecoming court" the band leader said.

"Otherwise known as the parade of the superficial" I said to Chris as we broke apart from dancing.

"Hey what if I end up there…"

"Then I change it to the parade of the self-absorbed."

"Now for Homecoming court. For freshman class the prince is…Aaron Sheld. The princess is…Fundisha Hamilton."

Everyone clapped politely as they stood on stage.

"For the sophomore class…the prince is…Matthew Roberts." Chris cheered wildly for one of his close friends. "…And the princess is…Lorelei Gilmore."

I had automatically started to clap. Then what he said sunk in.

"Go up there" Chris said pushing me towards the stage.

I walked up the steps with Matt helping me. We stood off on the corner of the stage. I looked out at Chris who seemed to be enjoying my misery.

"Congratulation" Matt whispered.

"Who the hell voted for me? This is the last place I want to be."

"I don't know…"

The rest of the court was announced. We watched the queen and king dance and then we had to be pulled off to the side for a ton of pictures. First the group, then just the princess's, then us in pairs…it went on and on. I saw Chris laughing at the glare I gave to the camera each time.

Finally they let us go and Chris came up to me.

"Congratulations…"he said giving me a kiss.

"That was a cruel, cruel joke."

"Oh it was no joke. You seriously won, and no I did not stuff the ballot box."

"I'm going to kill whoever arranged that. Do you realize, for like the rest of the year, my glaring face is going to be on that stupid spirit wall?"

"Oh yeah and you can remember this night forever."

"And all the damn pictures. I swear they must have just LOVED my glare and no smile. Now I need something to drink, and something to eat" I said, dragging Chris with me to the refreshment table. I grabbed a plate, and filled it with sugary treats.

"That better be for the both of us…" he said, carrying over a cup of coffee and 2 other cups.

"Dream on, this is all for me…you can get your own plate…"

"Yeah then you can get your own coffee then" he said with a smirk.

"Fine, fine…but I get the most!"

"We'll see. Lets go sit down" he said walking towards the table with some of his friends.

"Oh joy…" I mumbled to myself as I followed him. By the time I got there, Chris was saying hi to everyone.

"Oh my god!! Lorelei, you are so lucky!" a perky girl named Kim said.

"Why?" I said, sitting down next to Chris and her.

"Because you were this years princess!"

"Oh, yeah, that."

"I sooo wish I had won" a girl named Theresa added.

"So do I" I said with a half snarl, half smirk.

She got a confused look on her face but then she replaced it with a big stupid smile. I avoided any more talking by shoving food into my mouth. This continued for about an hour. I danced with Chris once but I knew the main reason we were here was because he wanted to hang with his friends. So I just played little mind games, like how many times Kim said "oh my god" in 10 minutes. Her record was 12. Finally they announced that it was time for us to all leave.

"Thank god" I whispered to myself. I stood up and Chris put his arm around my shoulders.

"You okay?" he asked as we walked to his car.

"Yeah why?"

"You've been quiet all night."

"Yeah well being a princess is exhausting…"

"Seriously…"

"Look this was your thing…I'm not, and never am going to be Miss High School."

And that's a good thing" he said opening the door for me.

"Where to now?" I asked once he got into the car.

"My balcony" I said with a smile.

Present

The weekend passed without a call from Tristan. I was ready to kill him. I had called Kristin back, but had just left a message that I was hanging with my mom this weekend and I was going out of town for the rest of it. I knew she'd pass that along to Amanda, Ashley, Eloisa and Christina, so at least I wouldn't have to deal with those calls. If Tristan heard it, he knew it would be a lie since I actually was supposed to go to the movies with him on Saturday night, even though that did not happen. I had told my mom the whole story, and I think she wants to kill him, but I told her I had first crack.

I grabbed my bag and hurried out the door. I had enough time to run by Luke's and get a cup of coffee. I ran from Luke's to the bus stop, just as it pulled up. I hopped on and enjoyed my coffee and my newest book.

Finally we pulled up to school. It took all my strength to walk off that bus with my head up. I refused to look at the ground, since if anyone had seen what had happened, it would be all over campus. I walked inside quickly and headed up to my locker. I did see a lot of people looking at me, then turning and talking but that also could have been my imagination. I purposely avoided walking by Tristan's locker. I did not want to see him, at least until I could hold myself completely together. I got to my locker and it actually opened fine. I slowly put my books in. I heard familiar voices down the hall. I turned and saw Amanda, Ashley, Eloisa and Kristin walking towards me, with looks of concern on their faces.

"Are you okay?" Kristin asked right away.

"Yeah I think so. Do you know what happened?"

"To Tristan, Brad, Kevin, Summer and Shannon? Yeah…why you ran out on the party, no clue."

"Whoa, what about all them?"

"You didn't hear?" Ashley asked. "They were in a car crash the night of the party. Kevin was driving, he'd been drinking, and they hit a kid. He's in the hospital with MAJOR injuries."

"What happened to them?" I asked, having to lean on the locker to stop myself from falling down.

"We don't really know. They were put in jail for the night, but no one's heard anything" Eloisa said.

"Oh my god" I said sliding down the lockers to the floor.

"I can't believe Tristan didn't tell you" Amanda added, "Well unless he CAN'T tell you."

"Well the last time I saw him, it wasn't on the best terms" I said, the tears starting to come back.

The first bell rang, and Ashley and Amanda helped me up and we went to the bathroom. No one was in it. I sat down on the small couch, my head in my hands.

"What happened Rory?" Kristin asked.

"Basically I saw him kissing Summer when I got to the party. I threw his gift at him then ran. He called for me but I just ran."

All 4 of their faces just dropped. None of them said anything but "Wow…"

I had to get it all out. "She told me awhile ago that she wanted him but I just ignored it. Then I saw them kissing. Plain and simple. And now I don't even get a chance to talk to him…and now I don't think I will."

"Okay I have to at least tell you this. Tristan's a player, but this is the first time he's cheated with a girl he's going steady with. That does make sense why he got so smashed at the party after you left though."

The late bell rang but none of us moved.

"We better get to class though…are you going to be okay Rory?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah well now I really want to talk to him…"

"Here, I'll loan you my cell" Amanda said, grabbing it out of her purse.

"And we'll leave you alone" Eloisa added, standing up. They each gave me a quick hug then left me alone. I took a few deep breathes before dialling the number that is embedded in my brain. The phone just rang and rang till the machine picked up. I hung up and dialled his house number rather then his personal one. On the second ring, someone picked up.

"Hi, it's Rory. Is Tristan there?"

"Oh hi Rory. It's Clara" the maid said. "Tristan's…busy right now."

"Clara, can you please tell me what's going on? I haven't talked to him all weekend."

I could tell she was debating whether to say anything but finally she broke down.

"His parents are shipping him off to a military camp in North Carolina. He's been under house arrest and will be until he leaves."

I couldn't move.

"Rory?" she asked.

"Yeah I'm here…thanks a lot Clara. If you can, can you tell him I called?"

"I'll try miss. Good-bye" she said hanging up.

I hung the phone up, and just sat there. Now I can't talk to him. I can't know why he did what he did. No closure, no nothing. Now I won't see him again. Why he was so stupid to get into that car…and why was he in there with Summer? If he really cared, why would be with her…why didn't he try and reach me before. I guess he really didn't care. All he must have wanted was sex, and when I didn't give it to him, he went looking somewhere else for it. Then he's not worth my thoughts. He's worth nothing more then a piece of dirt. Too bad I just can't say "Good-bye" to his face. Then he'd know that I didn't care. And maybe, without him, that would become true.

Past

"Why do you sneak in, even after they know you've left?" Chris asked as we snuck onto the balcony.

"Because I'm late. They'll just come in the morning, see that I'm there, then not care. I do it all the time so they have just bothered trying."

He sat down on one of the chairs on the deck and I sat on his lap.

"Well, I don't mind. I'm sorry you had a bad time tonight though…"

"I'll live…"

"At least now you're a princess!"

"Oh yes, and doesn't that mean you have to do whatever I say?"

"Fine then…madame, what would you like?"

"Hmm…lets start simple…a kiss."

"Your wish is my command," he said.

The kiss deepened. We started making out completely. My body got goose-bumps.

"You cold" he whispered in a quick break from kissing.

"A bit."

I started kissing his neck, while he picked me up and took me into my room. He placed me down on the bed. My heart started beating wildly when he kissed me again. I can't describe the feeling. I pulled back for a second and Chris just stared at me. It was a caring stare, not a disappointed stare. I just nodded to him… "You sure?" he asked. I nodded my head again, and then kissed him deeply.