Disclaimer : The usuals apply here, just like they did in chapters 1-10.
Feedback : Should I even have to say anything anymore?
A/N : Posted a day early! Yay. I hope this chapter is satisfactory. Sorry for making you wait so long for the troryness, in this sense at least. Any suggestions for future chapters is desperately needed and welcomed. Writers block has overcome me :( Someone hand me my inspiration back, please.
"Don't Say You Love Me"
Chapter 11
Later That Night
Much to the dismay of Tristan, Lorelai ran into Summer and her boyfriend shortly after they had, and being as friendly as she is, invited them to join them at the house for the fireworks. At Rory's insistence, Tristan helped getting things ready for their guests, even lending Luke a hand in the kitchen. It was dusk when the two arrived.
Rory was arguing with Lorelai over something or another when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," she hollered, jogging to the door. Outside stood Summer with a tall dark haired man. "Hello," she greeted cheerfully.
"Hey, Rory," Summer echoed, smiling as they were let into the house. "Let me introduce you to Jake. Jake, sweetie, this is one of my dearest friends, Rory Gilmore."
Jake graciously shook her hand, smiling charmingly. "Its a pleasure, Miss Gilmore."
"Rory, please. Its nice to meet you too, Jake," she replied with a grin.
Just then Lorelai appeared behind her daughter. "Oh, you're here! Come, sit, meet the others," she greeted, leading them through the house and out back where Luke and Tristan were manning the grill.
"Lookie, we found people. Normal people from Hartford. Not an easy feat," Rory quipped, shooting a meaningful look in Tristan's direction.
Tristan, slipping into his trademark smirk, sauntered in their direction. "Almost as hard as finding one in Stars Hollow," he quipped back.
Protests came from Lorelai and Luke, but Rory merely grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment, thank you."
"You should," Tristan whispered in her ear before turning to Summer and Jake.
The smile disappeared from Rory's face as she watched him interact with his ex. Remnants of the tingling sensation he had caused when he had whispered to her were still coursing through her veins. Since when had Tristan made her tingle?
Lorelai watched from a few feet away, a knowing smile spreading across her visage as she saw the emotions filter across Rory's face. Turning to Luke, who was standing behind her, the prior mentioned smile intensified. "How much longer, you think?"
Luke glanced from her to the group of younger adults thoughtfully. "Soon. Early as tonight, possibly."
"Willing to put money on that?" Lorelai asked suggestively.
Luke just rolled his eyes. "You've definitely been living in that town for too long."
*****
Half an hour later, the group had been fed, the addicts had consumed a record (even for them) amount of caffeine and were now sitting on the back patio waiting for the fireworks display to start. Once he had overcome his initial discomfort, Tristan became more relaxed around Summer. Much to her delight, and for reasons unfathomable to her, the dismay of Rory. Jake was oblivious to he pairs past, just taking their playfulness as old friends getting reacquainted. Rory, however, knew and grew more and more irritated as time went by. Finally, when Summer seductively popped a chilled strawberry in Tristans mouth, she excused herself from the group, taking a blanket down onto the lawns staring up at the night sky. Confusion stung her mind, questions as to why she was so bothered by her friends interaction with each other. From the time Lorelai had informed them that they would be joining them, she had been after Tristan, making him promise he'd try to be nice to Summer and he had kept that promise. So why was she so... so.. - NO. She was not jealous. What on Earth did she have to be jealous of? Tristan was her friend afterall. A stream of light suddenly shone above her, breaking her train of thought. Sighing, she laid back to watch the show.
*****
Tristan was outright ignoring her. Summer frowned and followed his gaze, sighing as it came to rest on her friend. So the guy was still in love with her and she was as oblivious as ever. Reaching over, she poked him in the side, causing him to jerk his attention abruptly back to her. "What?"
"Maybe you should go talk to her," Summer said, tilting her head in Rory's direction.
Glancing over at her, he slowly shook his head. "I dont know. I think she wants to be alone."
Summer gave him a look. "You still love her."
"What? No, I don't." Tristan objected, knowing full well he was lying through his teeth.
"I know you too well, Tris," Summer replied, grinning. "Go on. Don't make the same mistake you made in high school. Tell her."
"I can't," Tristan sighed, slouching down in his chair.
"You have to, DuGrey. Otherwise she'll find someone else and you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what if."
"Since when have you become so philosophical?"
Summer shrugged. "You know I'm right. Don't wait too long to her how you feel about her." She said, standing up. "Im going to go help Lorelai with the drinks. Think about what I said."
Tristan watched her head into the house, glancing over at Jake who was still doing business negotiations over the phone. She was right, he knew. He just didnt know if he could take the risk of losing the friendship that had come so far. Exhaling, he gazed over at Rory who was still staring up at the fireworks, and his heart ached. It was then he resolved to tell her before the weekend was over.
******
"Hey, kiddo," Lorelai said, plopping down next to her daughter and handing her a drink.
Rory took it gratefully and smiled. "Hey. Thanks."
Lorelai returned the smile. "No problemo, Moe. What in tarnation are you doing way out here all by your lonesome?" she asked with a bad - very bad - western accent.
"Moe?" Rory repeated with a smirk. "Nevermind, I don't want to know."
"Three Stooges, ya'know?" Lorelai said. "Anyway, you didn't answer my question. Why are you way over here and not with your cronies?"
"I don't have cronies."
"You're avoiding my question. I want answers and now, missy."
Rory shrugged in response.
Lorelai sighed and draped an arm around her shoulders. "Whats wrong, Ror? And don't tell me nothing, I think I know you just a wee bit better then that."
"She still loves him," Rory spat out with more venom then intended.
"Who?" Lorelai asked, feigning confusion. Of course she knew who she was talking about.
"Summer. She still loves Tristan."
"And this bothers you?"
Rory hesitated but eventually nodded. "I guess."
"Well, either it does or it doesn't," Lorelai pointed out.
"It does. I don't have the slightest clue why, but it does."
"Does he still have feelings for her?"
"I don't know. He said he didn't, but he keeps flirting with her." Rory sighed. "Why is this bugging me so much? They're two of my closest friends!"
Lorelai paused, knowing she could very well be treading in dangerous waters here, but said it anyway. "Maybe because you wish it was you he was flirting with instead?"
Rory turned to look at her mother, "Thats insane."
"Is it?"
"Mom..."
"What?" Lorelai said, eyeing her offspring. "I know you're just friends, sweetie, but I've also saw the way you were watching them earlier. Jealousy isnt a very becoming emotion on you."
"Im not jealous!" Rory spat out, her eyes showing the exact opposite.
"Okay, you're not jealous." Lorelai finally conceded, obviously not a believer. One look at Rory's face would tell you that she wasn't quite a believer either.
*****
When another hour had passed, along with the finale of the fireworks and Rory still hadn't returned to the group, Tristan finally decided to go talk to her. She had moved from her spot on the lawn and was now standing at the edge of the lake that the house was situated on, watching the fireworks the people across the lake from them were setting off. As he drew nearer, his heart began to beat erratically, watching her face bathed in the different colors from the lights. Taking a deep breath, he took the final step so he was standing next to her.
"Hey."
Rory turned and smiled when she saw him. "Hey."
"Whatcha doing?"
"Watching them. Aren't they beautiful?"
Tristan gazed up at the sky as another exploded above them. "Yeah, they are."
"Tris.." Rory began, her eyes meeting his. "I'm glad you're here," she finished lamely.
But he knew she had intended to say something other then that. Lifting her chin with his finger, blue melted into blue. "I'm glad I'm here too. Now what were you really going to say?"
Rory sighed. "You really don't still have feelings for her, do you?"
Pleasantly surprised by her question, Tristan shook his head. "No. I never really had true feelings for her. I only dated her to get another girl off my mind."
She didn't respond right away, but was in silent thought. After a few moments, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped a little. "Me?" She asked softly. Just by the look in his eyes, she didn't have to wait for him to answer.
"Yeah, you."
"Why didn't you tell me how you felt?" Rory questioned.
Tristan gulped. "I didn't know how. We weren't exactly on the best of terms."
"Yeah, thats true. When," Rory stopped, unable to believe she was going to ask this. "When did you stop liking me, like that, I mean."
A million thoughts ran through his head when this question was popped. He had not expected for her to ask him that and he cringed, knowing that at this moment he couldn't hide his feelings anymore. He couldn't lie to her, when she so blatantly asked. "Never," he said quietly.
"Never?" Rory gasped.
Tristan nodded, his eyes burning holes in hers. "I've never stopped liking you, Rory. You know the saying that distances makes the heart grow fonder? Yeah, well, its true."
Rory was about to say something, but seemingly changed her mind at the last minute. Instead she turned on her heel and ran back into the house. Tristan stood there, crushed.
*****
Aww. And on that note, this concludes this edition of updates. Reviews will get you more (hopefully, as long as writers block doesn't kill me) and sooner, so if thats what you want, clickityclick. Tata for now.
*~* Shay *~*
Feedback : Should I even have to say anything anymore?
A/N : Posted a day early! Yay. I hope this chapter is satisfactory. Sorry for making you wait so long for the troryness, in this sense at least. Any suggestions for future chapters is desperately needed and welcomed. Writers block has overcome me :( Someone hand me my inspiration back, please.
Chapter 11
Later That Night
Much to the dismay of Tristan, Lorelai ran into Summer and her boyfriend shortly after they had, and being as friendly as she is, invited them to join them at the house for the fireworks. At Rory's insistence, Tristan helped getting things ready for their guests, even lending Luke a hand in the kitchen. It was dusk when the two arrived.
Rory was arguing with Lorelai over something or another when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," she hollered, jogging to the door. Outside stood Summer with a tall dark haired man. "Hello," she greeted cheerfully.
"Hey, Rory," Summer echoed, smiling as they were let into the house. "Let me introduce you to Jake. Jake, sweetie, this is one of my dearest friends, Rory Gilmore."
Jake graciously shook her hand, smiling charmingly. "Its a pleasure, Miss Gilmore."
"Rory, please. Its nice to meet you too, Jake," she replied with a grin.
Just then Lorelai appeared behind her daughter. "Oh, you're here! Come, sit, meet the others," she greeted, leading them through the house and out back where Luke and Tristan were manning the grill.
"Lookie, we found people. Normal people from Hartford. Not an easy feat," Rory quipped, shooting a meaningful look in Tristan's direction.
Tristan, slipping into his trademark smirk, sauntered in their direction. "Almost as hard as finding one in Stars Hollow," he quipped back.
Protests came from Lorelai and Luke, but Rory merely grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment, thank you."
"You should," Tristan whispered in her ear before turning to Summer and Jake.
The smile disappeared from Rory's face as she watched him interact with his ex. Remnants of the tingling sensation he had caused when he had whispered to her were still coursing through her veins. Since when had Tristan made her tingle?
Lorelai watched from a few feet away, a knowing smile spreading across her visage as she saw the emotions filter across Rory's face. Turning to Luke, who was standing behind her, the prior mentioned smile intensified. "How much longer, you think?"
Luke glanced from her to the group of younger adults thoughtfully. "Soon. Early as tonight, possibly."
"Willing to put money on that?" Lorelai asked suggestively.
Luke just rolled his eyes. "You've definitely been living in that town for too long."
*****
Half an hour later, the group had been fed, the addicts had consumed a record (even for them) amount of caffeine and were now sitting on the back patio waiting for the fireworks display to start. Once he had overcome his initial discomfort, Tristan became more relaxed around Summer. Much to her delight, and for reasons unfathomable to her, the dismay of Rory. Jake was oblivious to he pairs past, just taking their playfulness as old friends getting reacquainted. Rory, however, knew and grew more and more irritated as time went by. Finally, when Summer seductively popped a chilled strawberry in Tristans mouth, she excused herself from the group, taking a blanket down onto the lawns staring up at the night sky. Confusion stung her mind, questions as to why she was so bothered by her friends interaction with each other. From the time Lorelai had informed them that they would be joining them, she had been after Tristan, making him promise he'd try to be nice to Summer and he had kept that promise. So why was she so... so.. - NO. She was not jealous. What on Earth did she have to be jealous of? Tristan was her friend afterall. A stream of light suddenly shone above her, breaking her train of thought. Sighing, she laid back to watch the show.
*****
Tristan was outright ignoring her. Summer frowned and followed his gaze, sighing as it came to rest on her friend. So the guy was still in love with her and she was as oblivious as ever. Reaching over, she poked him in the side, causing him to jerk his attention abruptly back to her. "What?"
"Maybe you should go talk to her," Summer said, tilting her head in Rory's direction.
Glancing over at her, he slowly shook his head. "I dont know. I think she wants to be alone."
Summer gave him a look. "You still love her."
"What? No, I don't." Tristan objected, knowing full well he was lying through his teeth.
"I know you too well, Tris," Summer replied, grinning. "Go on. Don't make the same mistake you made in high school. Tell her."
"I can't," Tristan sighed, slouching down in his chair.
"You have to, DuGrey. Otherwise she'll find someone else and you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what if."
"Since when have you become so philosophical?"
Summer shrugged. "You know I'm right. Don't wait too long to her how you feel about her." She said, standing up. "Im going to go help Lorelai with the drinks. Think about what I said."
Tristan watched her head into the house, glancing over at Jake who was still doing business negotiations over the phone. She was right, he knew. He just didnt know if he could take the risk of losing the friendship that had come so far. Exhaling, he gazed over at Rory who was still staring up at the fireworks, and his heart ached. It was then he resolved to tell her before the weekend was over.
******
"Hey, kiddo," Lorelai said, plopping down next to her daughter and handing her a drink.
Rory took it gratefully and smiled. "Hey. Thanks."
Lorelai returned the smile. "No problemo, Moe. What in tarnation are you doing way out here all by your lonesome?" she asked with a bad - very bad - western accent.
"Moe?" Rory repeated with a smirk. "Nevermind, I don't want to know."
"Three Stooges, ya'know?" Lorelai said. "Anyway, you didn't answer my question. Why are you way over here and not with your cronies?"
"I don't have cronies."
"You're avoiding my question. I want answers and now, missy."
Rory shrugged in response.
Lorelai sighed and draped an arm around her shoulders. "Whats wrong, Ror? And don't tell me nothing, I think I know you just a wee bit better then that."
"She still loves him," Rory spat out with more venom then intended.
"Who?" Lorelai asked, feigning confusion. Of course she knew who she was talking about.
"Summer. She still loves Tristan."
"And this bothers you?"
Rory hesitated but eventually nodded. "I guess."
"Well, either it does or it doesn't," Lorelai pointed out.
"It does. I don't have the slightest clue why, but it does."
"Does he still have feelings for her?"
"I don't know. He said he didn't, but he keeps flirting with her." Rory sighed. "Why is this bugging me so much? They're two of my closest friends!"
Lorelai paused, knowing she could very well be treading in dangerous waters here, but said it anyway. "Maybe because you wish it was you he was flirting with instead?"
Rory turned to look at her mother, "Thats insane."
"Is it?"
"Mom..."
"What?" Lorelai said, eyeing her offspring. "I know you're just friends, sweetie, but I've also saw the way you were watching them earlier. Jealousy isnt a very becoming emotion on you."
"Im not jealous!" Rory spat out, her eyes showing the exact opposite.
"Okay, you're not jealous." Lorelai finally conceded, obviously not a believer. One look at Rory's face would tell you that she wasn't quite a believer either.
*****
When another hour had passed, along with the finale of the fireworks and Rory still hadn't returned to the group, Tristan finally decided to go talk to her. She had moved from her spot on the lawn and was now standing at the edge of the lake that the house was situated on, watching the fireworks the people across the lake from them were setting off. As he drew nearer, his heart began to beat erratically, watching her face bathed in the different colors from the lights. Taking a deep breath, he took the final step so he was standing next to her.
"Hey."
Rory turned and smiled when she saw him. "Hey."
"Whatcha doing?"
"Watching them. Aren't they beautiful?"
Tristan gazed up at the sky as another exploded above them. "Yeah, they are."
"Tris.." Rory began, her eyes meeting his. "I'm glad you're here," she finished lamely.
But he knew she had intended to say something other then that. Lifting her chin with his finger, blue melted into blue. "I'm glad I'm here too. Now what were you really going to say?"
Rory sighed. "You really don't still have feelings for her, do you?"
Pleasantly surprised by her question, Tristan shook his head. "No. I never really had true feelings for her. I only dated her to get another girl off my mind."
She didn't respond right away, but was in silent thought. After a few moments, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped a little. "Me?" She asked softly. Just by the look in his eyes, she didn't have to wait for him to answer.
"Yeah, you."
"Why didn't you tell me how you felt?" Rory questioned.
Tristan gulped. "I didn't know how. We weren't exactly on the best of terms."
"Yeah, thats true. When," Rory stopped, unable to believe she was going to ask this. "When did you stop liking me, like that, I mean."
A million thoughts ran through his head when this question was popped. He had not expected for her to ask him that and he cringed, knowing that at this moment he couldn't hide his feelings anymore. He couldn't lie to her, when she so blatantly asked. "Never," he said quietly.
"Never?" Rory gasped.
Tristan nodded, his eyes burning holes in hers. "I've never stopped liking you, Rory. You know the saying that distances makes the heart grow fonder? Yeah, well, its true."
Rory was about to say something, but seemingly changed her mind at the last minute. Instead she turned on her heel and ran back into the house. Tristan stood there, crushed.
*****
Aww. And on that note, this concludes this edition of updates. Reviews will get you more (hopefully, as long as writers block doesn't kill me) and sooner, so if thats what you want, clickityclick. Tata for now.
*~* Shay *~*