Title: The Waiting Room
Summary: Tristan comes back to Chilton, creating an awkward situation for Rory and Dean. What event will drive Rory into Tristan's arms?
Pairings: R/D, R/T, L/L
Rating: As of now, PG-13
Genre: Romance/Angst
Spoilers: I suppose up to "Run Away Little Boy"
Disclaimer: Do you hear me? It's mine. All of it. Except for the names, places, history, and oh yeah: everything.
Feedback: Yes please. I enjoy constructive criticism, as long as it's that: constructive. In plain English, that means: No flames! Keep reviewing, my lovely lovely readers. They're great motivation! I know it's not unique yet, sillies, but I'm hoping it will be in the future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~THE WAITING ROOM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
********************************Chapter Three: Livid Language********************************
"Happiness."
"For the millionth time, NO." Rory sighed as she climbed into Tristan's sleek silver Lexus.
"It's simple. Easy. Endless possibilities," Tristan explained his choice as he started the engine.
"It's cliché. Common. Way too many people will do it," Rory said impatiently, as if she had said it many times before. "I still say we use ironic."
"But I don't know what it MEANS." Tristan said jokingly, pulling out into the street. Rory let out a gasp as he stepped on the accelerator and they sped off.
"Tristan—" She said in an annoyed tone when she regained her breath.
"Yeah, yeah," Tristan cut in. "I know."
"Ok, when we get to Stars Hollow—"
"You have to spin around three times and sing Old MacDonald?"
"TRISTAN!"
"Right."
"Go into the diner, get food or something. I'll be going to the market—"
"To lock passionless lips with Bag Boy."
"To TELL him you are here."
"Sounds like a party. I want to come."
"No, as I have said before, you will stay far, far away."
"In the diner," Tristan said. "Hey, I remembered! Gold star for me."
"Order me coffee." Rory told him.
"Coffee. Right."
"Get a table."
"Noted."
"Sit down. Start narrowing the list of words down. Do not speak to anyone, do not look at anyone, do not antagonize the people working there."
"I don't antagonize anyone," Tristan said defensively.
"Of course you don't. Just don't."
The car drove down the main street of Stars Hollow. Tristan parked abruptly and the two of them got out.
"Diner. Over there. Be nice."
Tristan saluted and swaggered of to Luke's. Rory took a deep, calming breath and went into the market.
"Hey, Rory!" Dean said as she walked up to him. He leaned down and they kissed quickly.
"NO public displays of affection!" Taylor ordered.
"How was school?" Dean asked.
"School. Right. That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about." Rory said, glad he'd given her a way into the conversation.
"You don't have a more interesting topic?" Dean said jokingly.
"No." Rory said seriously, not understanding his quip.
"So what about it?"
"We got assigned this stupid project. Well, not actually stupid. It's pretty fun. We choose a word, any word, like love or happiness, but happiness is so overdone, I want to do ironic. But we pick a word, a feeling or something and we have to do a film—"
"Rory? Do you just want to talk to me about the project?" Dean asked, a twinge of apprehension creeping into his words.
Rory paused, short of breath. "We have partners."
"Okay…."
"And the teacher won't let us switch partners."
"Okay…."
"My partner's Tristan."
"A different Tristan? The accountant's at military school."
"No….that Tristan."
Dean clenched his fists, and pursed his lips. "You have to work with him?"
"Yes. He's in the diner," Rory said guiltily.
"I do NOT want you working with him!"
"Dean, I really don't have a lot of choice here! She won't let us switch!"
"I don't care, Rory! That guy has a thing for you, and you can not work with him. Do it separately." Dean said, his voice rising. He lowered it as Taylor turned toward the couple.
"Dean, I have to do this! If I don't….do you want me to fail?" Rory begged him.
"No, I don't want you to fail." Dean said, calming down a bit. "But I don't want you working with that jerk."
"This is a huge project, and believe me, I don't want to work with him, but I have to."
Dean nodded. "Just work as little as possible with him. And keep him away from me."
"That's one of the rules." Rory nodded. Dean kissed her softly. "I should probably go to the diner."
"Right," Dean moaned, rubbing his temples.
"Love you," Rory smiled, hugging him. She exited the market. Breathing a sigh of relief, she crossed the street and entered Luke's.
"No," Luke told her as she opened her mouth to speak.
"I just want a burger." Rory said innocently, shrugging her shoulders.
"Liar," Luke said. "You're trying to trick me. Your mother already tried today. It won't work."
"Coffee?" Rory asked Tristan as she turned to him. Tristan smirked and handed it to her. "Luke, burger please."
"I don't like you," Luke told Tristan threateningly. Tristan's eyes grew a tiny bit wider at the menacing look on Luke's face.
"Leave him alone, Luke," Rory laughed. "I have to do a project with him. You kill him, I fail. That's just no good."
Luke nodded, saying to Tristan, "I'm watching you."
Rory sat down next to Tristan, who was sitting quietly. "That's Luke."
"So I gathered. How's bag boy?"
"DEAN is okay with this."
"Sure he is. That's why he's staring at me through the window." Tristan said. Rory flipped around and caught sight of Dean standing on the sidewalk, a fuming look in his eyes. He turned and entered the door.
"I was hungry," He shrugged when Rory looked at him crossly. "I had a break."
"We need to work," Rory sighed as Dean sat down, never taking his eyes off of Tristan.
"I'll be quiet," Dean shrugged.
"Fine," Rory sighed, turning to Tristan, who was now engaged in an eye lock with Dean.
"If you two are done with your third grade staring contest, can we work?" Rory asked impatiently after a minute of the staring each other down.
"Right," Tristan said, looking away. Though in most cases that would signify his losing, it made Dean frustrated that he'd appeared less immature to Rory.
"So did you have any ideas?" Rory asked glancing at Dean as she spoke to Tristan.
"Some," Tristan said, pushing his notebook towards Rory.
"Pressure. Good….anger. If we could come up with a good idea for it, maybe. Gratitude—" A snort came from Dean's side of the table.
"Do you find something funny about this?" Tristan asked.
"Kind of. But carry on."
"Dean…."
"Rory, those ideas are stupid and you know it."
"Let's hear some of your ideas then, bag boy."
"You don't want to go there," Dean said ominously, getting on his feet.
Tristan shrugged. "Hey, maybe your hick high school teaches you big words, like PRETTY. Should we do pretty, Rory?" He said sarcastically as he stood, facing Dean.
"Stop!" Rory begged, jumping to her feet also. "Dean, please, We can't work if you're here."
"Fine," Dean said angrily, walking away. He pushed pass Jess as the he entered.
Jess watched him storm off curiously, and turned to Rory and Tristan. "Something the matter with Frankenstein?"
"Jess—" Rory protested.
Tristan laughed. "Frankenstein. Almost as good as bag boy."
Jess nodded. "So many good names, right?"
"Argh!" Rory yelled in frustration.
"Sorry, Rory."
"Sorry, Rory," Jess repeated.
"Tristan, Jess, Jess, Tristan," Rory said, waving her hand between the two.
"Nice to meet you," Tristan nodded, sitting down.
"Likewise."
Rory begged, "Can we get back to work, please?"
Summary: Tristan comes back to Chilton, creating an awkward situation for Rory and Dean. What event will drive Rory into Tristan's arms?
Pairings: R/D, R/T, L/L
Rating: As of now, PG-13
Genre: Romance/Angst
Spoilers: I suppose up to "Run Away Little Boy"
Disclaimer: Do you hear me? It's mine. All of it. Except for the names, places, history, and oh yeah: everything.
Feedback: Yes please. I enjoy constructive criticism, as long as it's that: constructive. In plain English, that means: No flames! Keep reviewing, my lovely lovely readers. They're great motivation! I know it's not unique yet, sillies, but I'm hoping it will be in the future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~THE WAITING ROOM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
********************************Chapter Three: Livid Language********************************
"Happiness."
"For the millionth time, NO." Rory sighed as she climbed into Tristan's sleek silver Lexus.
"It's simple. Easy. Endless possibilities," Tristan explained his choice as he started the engine.
"It's cliché. Common. Way too many people will do it," Rory said impatiently, as if she had said it many times before. "I still say we use ironic."
"But I don't know what it MEANS." Tristan said jokingly, pulling out into the street. Rory let out a gasp as he stepped on the accelerator and they sped off.
"Tristan—" She said in an annoyed tone when she regained her breath.
"Yeah, yeah," Tristan cut in. "I know."
"Ok, when we get to Stars Hollow—"
"You have to spin around three times and sing Old MacDonald?"
"TRISTAN!"
"Right."
"Go into the diner, get food or something. I'll be going to the market—"
"To lock passionless lips with Bag Boy."
"To TELL him you are here."
"Sounds like a party. I want to come."
"No, as I have said before, you will stay far, far away."
"In the diner," Tristan said. "Hey, I remembered! Gold star for me."
"Order me coffee." Rory told him.
"Coffee. Right."
"Get a table."
"Noted."
"Sit down. Start narrowing the list of words down. Do not speak to anyone, do not look at anyone, do not antagonize the people working there."
"I don't antagonize anyone," Tristan said defensively.
"Of course you don't. Just don't."
The car drove down the main street of Stars Hollow. Tristan parked abruptly and the two of them got out.
"Diner. Over there. Be nice."
Tristan saluted and swaggered of to Luke's. Rory took a deep, calming breath and went into the market.
"Hey, Rory!" Dean said as she walked up to him. He leaned down and they kissed quickly.
"NO public displays of affection!" Taylor ordered.
"How was school?" Dean asked.
"School. Right. That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about." Rory said, glad he'd given her a way into the conversation.
"You don't have a more interesting topic?" Dean said jokingly.
"No." Rory said seriously, not understanding his quip.
"So what about it?"
"We got assigned this stupid project. Well, not actually stupid. It's pretty fun. We choose a word, any word, like love or happiness, but happiness is so overdone, I want to do ironic. But we pick a word, a feeling or something and we have to do a film—"
"Rory? Do you just want to talk to me about the project?" Dean asked, a twinge of apprehension creeping into his words.
Rory paused, short of breath. "We have partners."
"Okay…."
"And the teacher won't let us switch partners."
"Okay…."
"My partner's Tristan."
"A different Tristan? The accountant's at military school."
"No….that Tristan."
Dean clenched his fists, and pursed his lips. "You have to work with him?"
"Yes. He's in the diner," Rory said guiltily.
"I do NOT want you working with him!"
"Dean, I really don't have a lot of choice here! She won't let us switch!"
"I don't care, Rory! That guy has a thing for you, and you can not work with him. Do it separately." Dean said, his voice rising. He lowered it as Taylor turned toward the couple.
"Dean, I have to do this! If I don't….do you want me to fail?" Rory begged him.
"No, I don't want you to fail." Dean said, calming down a bit. "But I don't want you working with that jerk."
"This is a huge project, and believe me, I don't want to work with him, but I have to."
Dean nodded. "Just work as little as possible with him. And keep him away from me."
"That's one of the rules." Rory nodded. Dean kissed her softly. "I should probably go to the diner."
"Right," Dean moaned, rubbing his temples.
"Love you," Rory smiled, hugging him. She exited the market. Breathing a sigh of relief, she crossed the street and entered Luke's.
"No," Luke told her as she opened her mouth to speak.
"I just want a burger." Rory said innocently, shrugging her shoulders.
"Liar," Luke said. "You're trying to trick me. Your mother already tried today. It won't work."
"Coffee?" Rory asked Tristan as she turned to him. Tristan smirked and handed it to her. "Luke, burger please."
"I don't like you," Luke told Tristan threateningly. Tristan's eyes grew a tiny bit wider at the menacing look on Luke's face.
"Leave him alone, Luke," Rory laughed. "I have to do a project with him. You kill him, I fail. That's just no good."
Luke nodded, saying to Tristan, "I'm watching you."
Rory sat down next to Tristan, who was sitting quietly. "That's Luke."
"So I gathered. How's bag boy?"
"DEAN is okay with this."
"Sure he is. That's why he's staring at me through the window." Tristan said. Rory flipped around and caught sight of Dean standing on the sidewalk, a fuming look in his eyes. He turned and entered the door.
"I was hungry," He shrugged when Rory looked at him crossly. "I had a break."
"We need to work," Rory sighed as Dean sat down, never taking his eyes off of Tristan.
"I'll be quiet," Dean shrugged.
"Fine," Rory sighed, turning to Tristan, who was now engaged in an eye lock with Dean.
"If you two are done with your third grade staring contest, can we work?" Rory asked impatiently after a minute of the staring each other down.
"Right," Tristan said, looking away. Though in most cases that would signify his losing, it made Dean frustrated that he'd appeared less immature to Rory.
"So did you have any ideas?" Rory asked glancing at Dean as she spoke to Tristan.
"Some," Tristan said, pushing his notebook towards Rory.
"Pressure. Good….anger. If we could come up with a good idea for it, maybe. Gratitude—" A snort came from Dean's side of the table.
"Do you find something funny about this?" Tristan asked.
"Kind of. But carry on."
"Dean…."
"Rory, those ideas are stupid and you know it."
"Let's hear some of your ideas then, bag boy."
"You don't want to go there," Dean said ominously, getting on his feet.
Tristan shrugged. "Hey, maybe your hick high school teaches you big words, like PRETTY. Should we do pretty, Rory?" He said sarcastically as he stood, facing Dean.
"Stop!" Rory begged, jumping to her feet also. "Dean, please, We can't work if you're here."
"Fine," Dean said angrily, walking away. He pushed pass Jess as the he entered.
Jess watched him storm off curiously, and turned to Rory and Tristan. "Something the matter with Frankenstein?"
"Jess—" Rory protested.
Tristan laughed. "Frankenstein. Almost as good as bag boy."
Jess nodded. "So many good names, right?"
"Argh!" Rory yelled in frustration.
"Sorry, Rory."
"Sorry, Rory," Jess repeated.
"Tristan, Jess, Jess, Tristan," Rory said, waving her hand between the two.
"Nice to meet you," Tristan nodded, sitting down.
"Likewise."
Rory begged, "Can we get back to work, please?"