The Past & The Present
by Angel Girl

MIXED FEELINGS & BAD TIMING

Present

Hey Tristan!

I'll write more later, cause we're about to go out to supper @ Luke's with him and Jess. Anyways, I just wanted to tell you…that I believe you. I thought I would need to see your face but I do believe you now. Just don't screw around or you'll end up in a headlock by Luke followed by the shooting and beheading by my mother!! This is just driving me crazy, having to talk to you through letters and email…I just want to see you. Okay this letters getting WAY to sappy for my taste…hey can u get on MSN there or AOL? It'd be a lot better talking to you without…all this crap.

Rory 3 (if I do say it, I have to see you…not through this letter…email…whatever the hell you wanna call it)

"Tristan you seriously need to get a life man. Waiting around for her to email you is no way to have fun!" Jerome complained throwing a pillow at me.

"Hey, Dumbass, we're at MILITARY CAMP. That just screams fun doesn't it? Besides at least I have a girl."

"Oh so she's your girl again?"

"Don't even start…"

"I won't. Hey want to get a smoke with some of the guys in Jordan's room?"

"Yeah sure" I said putting the computer on stand-by, and following him down the hall. All the drill sergeants were at their daily " briefing" so there was barely anyone around. There were already a couple guy sin there, laying around wherever there was space.

"Hey guys…come to join the party" Jordan asked, passing us the pack of smokes.

"Hey dude, you need girls for this to be party, cuz right now it's a pretty shitty party" Jerome said passing me one, and throwing the pack back to Jordan.

"Speaking of chicks…on Saturday we're going to sneak out and head to a club or wherever" a guy named Chris told us. "You in?"

I nodded while enjoying the first puff. "How we getting out" Jerome asked, "Cuz the way we used last time didn't work."

"Trust me…we'll be fine" Jordan added.

I didn't know what happened last time, but I wanted to get out of this stupid place.

Rory: I was sitting at the table at Luke's, waiting for my mom to finish flirting. Jess was sitting across from me, and we occasionally talked, but he seemed to be in a bad mood.

"Mom, are you done yet?" I called.

She glared at me and said "You can go home. The big scary monsters won't get you."

"Not alone she isn't. Jess go with her" Luke said in a gruff voice.

"Does that mean I get out work?"

"Yes."

"Then lets go Rory" he said reaching his hand out to me. I took it and he pulled me out of the chair.

"Ah, walking…I was comfy" I whined.

"Whining's not going to help."

"Yes it will, because then I can get the feeling out, and then I annoy you, which makes it better."

"Let me guess…there's Gilmore logic behind that?"

"Of course."

We started walking down the dark street.

"Okay, Jess…be honest okay?"

"Depends."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Yes, somethings wrong. You aren't your usual quick-witted smart ass."

"Well maybe you finally beat me at it."

"See! That lacked the usual…Jessiness."

"Jessiness? So I'm a fruit drink now?"

"Stop avoiding it. What's wrong?"

"Just stuff…"

"Real specific there."

"Nah, I just miss home. Not my mom just my friends and stuff."

"So what was so bad about that?"

"I don't tell people my business. They don't need to know."

"Understandable. Being up in other peoples business is never cool."

"Looks like we're here" he said sharply.

"Hey, before you go…quick question. I was going to rent Pretty Woman on Saturday and my mom was supposed to watch it with me, but she can't. So you want to come over? I could use the company."

"I guess…as long as theres nothing I need to steal or distrupt."

I glared at him and he said "Yeah…8?"

"Yeah, you better get back before Luke kills you."

"See ya."

"See ya."

I went inside, eager to write Tristan back.

Past

"Miss Smith?"

"Yes?"

"Well we have your results. Would you like your friend to be here?"

"Yes please."

He stuck his head out the door and Krysta appeared a second later. She came over to me and squeezed my hand.

"Well, you ARE pregnant…" he said, as my face dropped, "…but I will give you information on…young adult pregnancies."

I had told Krysta to ask the questions since I knew I wouldn't be able to muster the strength to do it. I was actually starting to believe I wasn't pregnant…wishful thinking. All the worries were starting to come back but I kept taking deep breathes and tried my best to listen to them talking. He handed me a ton of pamphlets and booklets, then shooed us out. Krysta had not let go of my hand, because I could tell she knew I wanted to run.

Once we got to the car, I started freaking out.

"IM DEAD IM DEAD IM DEAD!!!"

"Lor, its okay. You can do this."

"No I can't. SHIT!!!" I said hitting my head on the dashboard.

"Okay, first decide, tell parents or Chris first?"

"Chris. Otherwise he might find out another way."

I couldn't stop wringing my hands. I was scared. All I wanted to do was run away. Run far, far away.

"Its going to be okay, Lor…"

I whispered to myself "no its not" then continued to stare out the window watching the scenery whip by.

~*~*~*~*~Monday @ School~*~*~*~

I had been trying to talk to Chris all weekend but he had gone on a trip and I couldn't reach him. I had to tell him then or I would lose it. My parents could already tell something was a bit wrong, but neither had directly mentioned it…yet. I finally saw him before first period.

"Hey" he said leaning in to give me a kiss but I pulled away.

"What's wrong?",he asked a look of concern on his face.

"We need to talk. NOW!"

"Okay, I take it this is not a good talk."

I just glared at him. The first bell rang so I took his hand and led him out of the school.

"Are we breaking up?"

"No. There's…something you need to know."

"What?" he said, sitting next tome.

I had this urge to move, I couldn't sit still, so I paced. He grabbed both my wrists, and looked at me.

"Chris…I'm pregnant."

He dropped my wrists and got this shocked look on his face.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"When did you find out?"

"This weekend."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't. I didn't want to unless I was sure."

"Oh god! I'm dead!"

"Hello! So am I!"

"Its not the same…"

"No shit it isn't. You aren't the one that's going to be walking around with a huge belly having these weird cravings."

"Dammit Lorelei. I need to think."

That shocked me. He had never sworn at me.

"Fine then think by yourself…cause I'm not going to be around here" I said turning on my heel and stomping towards school.

Present

Rory:

The doorbell rang and I hurried and opened the door.

"Hey Jess. Right on time."

"Would I be late for Pretty Woman? Oh and the movie too."

"Flattery…good choice."

"So can I come in? or do I have to watch the movie from the window…cause that just screams stalker."

"Bad stalker or good stalker?" I said, stepping out of the way and motioning for him to come in.

"Is their a good type of stalker?"

"No, but you could be a nice one…"

"You need coffee" he said pulling a giant cup of coffee from behind his back.

"Ohh…I knew I invited you here for a reason" I said, as we sat down on the couch.

Tristin:

"You ready?" Jerome asked.

"Yeah…hold on a second."

"Hurry up!"

"Chill…we don't have to meet at the fence for 15 minutes."

"Yeah but if we get their early, less chance of getting caught."

I just grabbed my wallet and coat, and we climbed out the window. I jumped to the ground and followed Jerome. The night guards were light tonight so we had a good chance. I caught up with him behind a bush.

"Okay, we have to cut across this part, right to where that tree is" he said pointing to a big oak tree.

"Problem?"

Guards. Stay low, and go quickly. If you hear anything just go flat, wait, if you think your going to get caught, run away from everyone else so we all don't get caught. Wait till I get across before you go."

I nodded and watched him get down on all fours and hurry across.

Rory:

"Oh, it's the saddest part…they won't let her shop" Jess said pretending to wipe a tear away.

I threw a pillow at him and he just laughed.

"Ahh..the sad, sad music…the drama of it all. Not being able to shop!! The snotty sales lady dissed the hooker…" he concluded.

"You seriously are like my mom in a teenaged, male form with this movie."

"Being compared to a mom…that's encouraging."

"My mom though!"

"Yeah…great…"

"It is!" I said throwing another pillow at him.

"Your going to run out of pillows soon…"

"Then I'll just start kicking you."

"Oh that will hurt," he said as I threw my last pillow at him.

"Ah, your out, and now I have all the pillows" he said grabbing them all and shoving them behind his back.

"Yeah like you would throw them at sweet little me" I said turning back to the movie.

Then out of the corner of my eye I saw the pillow come flying at me.

"Oh you didn't" I said as it hit me.

"But I did…and what are you going to do about it?"

I threw the pillow at him, and he threw about 4 at me and I screamed and ducked behind the couch.

"Rory do you really think hiding behind the couch is going to stop me from hitting you with all these pillows?" he asked as I grabbed one of the ones that he had thrown at me.

I knew he was on the couch, so I slid the pillow behind me and stood up.

"Okay, you win, I surrender I said holding my one hand up."

"Good girl" he said slding back on the couch, his head just turned away from me. I took my pillow and continuely hit him in the head with it, until he was able to grab my hands.

"Your going to get it now Gilmore…"

Tristan:

I saw Jerome get across fine. I was about to go when I heard something behind me, so I hit the ground and strained my eyes to see if it was a guard. I could see 2 figures a few metres away from me, but one of them was blocking the light, causing there faces to be shadowed. One of them looked familiar but I couldn't place them. Then they turned and I saw that it was one of our drill sergeants and one of the head drill sergeants. They were talking and I couldn't move or I would risk them seeing me. "Come on, leave…" I thought as they slowly were walking beside the building.

Jerome:

"Where's Tristan?" Jordan asked me.

"I don't know. I told him to wait till I crossed before coming. He should be here."

"Where'd you leave him?" Ryan asked.

"Over there" I said pointing.

"Well I don't see him…"

"Just a couple more minutes…"

"We got to go now or we might get caught" Jordan said, motioning for some of the others to slide under the fence.

"Fine" I said staring across the field until it was my turn to go under.

Rory:

Jess grabbed my wrists and flipped me over the couch.

"No I'm delicate!!! Don't hurt me!" I said squirming on his lap, trying to get out of his grip.

"I've got you now, my pretty" he said in his best impression of the wicked witch of the west.

"SCARY!! Please let me go?" I said, putting on the most innocent look I could muster.

"Sure" he said letting go, but as I was sliding off his lap he hit me with a bunch of pillows.

"MEAN!!" I said, throwing them at him.

"Oh no you don't" he said, grabbing the pillows as I ran into the kitchen, standing on the far side of the table.

We stared each other down, until he threw a pillow and I tried to run past him in the family room. He grabbed me around the waist and we both fell onto the couch. Both of us were laughing and then it hit me. Jess was right on top of me. His face inches from mine. Both of us stopped laughing.

Tristan:

Finally!!! They were gone. I looked around, then hurried across the field. I got to the fence and no one was there. I wanted to scream but then I would get caught, so I bit my tongue. I looked up and down the fence and saw nobody. A piece of the fence was lifted and there was a hole underneath it. That must have been how they got out. I wanted to join them, but I didn't even know where they were going. I just turned around and crossed the field, and snuck back to my room. I climbed into the window and just collapsed onto the bed.

Rory:

Our eyes met, and my breath got cut short. He started to move in, his eyes fluttering closed. I was about to lean in but then it hit me. Tristan.

"We better start watching the movie again" I said, sliding out from beneath him.

I started to rewind the movie when Jess said "Sorry about that. I know you and Tristan are…and there's Lisa…"

"Its okay. Its my fault to…lets just forget about it. Who's Lisa?"

"Oh, right…I didn't tell you…"

"Is that why you've been out of it?"

He nodded… "Wait! Lisa Johnson?"

"Yeah…how do you…"

"Oh I knew her when I went there…she seems like your type…"

We both managed to muster smiles, both of us still feeling the awkwardness. I had the urge to just run onto my computer and write or talk to Tristan. All I wanted to do was see him.

"You know what…I'm going to go now…Luke probably needs me to work" he babbled on a bit more.

"It's okay…I'm tired…" I said inwardly happy. I like him but it was just awkward. I walked up to the door and let him out. I started to close the door but he called out "Rory?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's just forget it okay?"

"Forget what?" I said smiling.

He did a half smile then slowly strutted down the street. I closed the door, and curled up on the couch, thinking about Tristan.

Past

I got out of my 2nd last class and was hurrying down the hall when someone grabbed me.

"You want to lose that hand?" I said, not even bothering to turn around.

"Lorelei, its me."

I stopped and turned to face him.

"Before you say anything, I was a jerk earlier…it just all…took a minute to hit me."

"Yeah well it better have hit you now because…"

"Don't go on. I'm sorry okay?"

I nodded then turned to walk to chem. class.

"Wait! Don't go yet…"

"I have a test…" I said turning around again. Then I saw him get onto his knee. Everyone in the halls turned and watched.

"Lorelei, will you marry me?" he said pulling out a box, with a small ring in it. I couldn't get my mouth to move. Then the bell rang, and I realized I had to get to my test, so I ran down the hall to him calling my name out as I hurried into the class just before the teacher closed the door.