Author's Note: Thank you reviewers!! (Sorry not in the mood to go through every one…) Thanks for the support!! J Keep reviewing please! On with the show!
These Summer Days
Chapter Six: Awkward Moments, Questions and more
"Oh my god!" Rory said sitting up right with a start. This was Tristan's room and she was sitting in his bed. Her head ached as she tried to piece together what had happened the night before. She couldn't have slept with him, right?
But then, an image flashed in her brain and it was her kissing Tristan. She groaned putting her head in her hands. She hurried into the bathroom and splashed some cool water on her face. Rory stared into the mirror and had to admit she looked awful. She then quiet crept out of Tristan's room and sneaked down the hall. She was halfway down the grand staircase when a feminine voice cut through her thoughts.
"Hello," the female greeted to the younger one standing on the stairs. Rory glanced down to see a girl in a wheelchair with bright red hair and brilliant blue eyes that reminded her of Tristan, resurfacing another bout of guilt.
"Hi," Rory said weakly finishing her descent from the stairs. She realized again, that this girl was in a wheelchair and remembered Tristan's story from the afternoon before.
"You must be Emma, right?"
"Yeah, that's me. How do you know that?"
"Tristan," Rory replied simply.
"Of course," Emma replied nodding her head. Rory swallowed it was terribly awkward. 'She must think Tristan and I slept together…but I can't call her on it because I don't know myself…'
"You must be Rory, right?"
"Yeah, that's me," Rory replied nervously.
"Would you like some coffee?" Emma asked trying to make the girl feel like she was at home.
"Like my oxygen," Rory responded a small smile gracing her lips.
"Another coffee addict?" the older female teased, her tone took on an air of a friend, rather than someone Rory had just met.
"It's my mother's fault," Rory blamed. "She brought me up with it like a life support machine,"
"I see," Emma, replied thinking how perfect this girl was to have her brother so infatuated with her.
"Are you and your mom close?" Emma asked curiously.
"We're best friends," Rory said softly, her relationship with her mother, although sometimes unbelievable to most was one of the best things in her life.
"Wow,"
"She's only thirty-four," Rory explained as if Emma was having problems with believing her. The two girls continued to talk…talking about almost everything EXCEPT Tristan. After about an hour Tristan came ambling into the kitchen clad in his boxers and an unbuttoned shirt revealing his washboard abs and tanned stomach. Rory blushed as he caught her staring for a moment.
"Morning Mary," he greeted the teasing in his voice evident along with his leering grin.
"Her name's Rory, Tristan," Emma reminded in somewhat confusion and curiosity. But the reminder was lost on either teen.
"Bible Boy," was Rory's response. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she caught his smirk at her. The doorbell rang and Emma with much reluctance excused herself and headed to the door.
"Like what you see?" he whispered and she blushed deeply, turning more red than she had already been from just seeing his tanned abdomen, but her sarcastic and bantering responses kept on coming.
"I've seen better," Rory quipped grinning at him.
"Right," Tristan replied rolling his eyes as in disbelief.
"Brad Pitt's is better," she pointed out as he leaned against the counter. There was a lull in the conversation for a moment and Rory had to ask.
"Umm…Tristan?" Rory questioned while looking at her coffee. "Yeah?"
She mumbled the question the first time so Tristan couldn't understand. "Rory...I didn't get any of that," Rory sighed in obvious exasperation. "Did we sleep together?" There she had asked him. He laughed for a second and Rory looked at him warily. "No," was Tristan's response and she relaxed visibly. "But," There was a pause that made her jump to conclusions. "You kissed me and told me you were in love with me," her smile faded and she felt the need to groan. "I'm sorry," she said quietly not looking at him. "The kiss wasn't that bad, Ror," Tristan teased trying to make the matter lighthearted. "Plus, no one's told me they're in love with me when they're drunk," Rory flushed at the comment. "Well, aren't you special, then," she said smiling at him once again.
"Rory!" the distinct voice of Lorelai Gilmore echoed through the empty rooms of the DuGrey mansion.
"How does my mom know I'm here?" Rory asked in surprise.
"I called her last night," he offered offhand.
"We're in here, Mom!" Rory called out throwing Tristan a thank you look. "Babe!" Lorelai cried out as she entered the hi-tech kitchen and grabbing Rory's cup of coffee. "Mmm…" Lorelai said savoring the taste of the coffee. "Tristan," she greeted with a smile at him. "Lorelai," he replied his smile matching hers.
"Are you done here?" Lorelai asked somewhat politely.
"Yeah," Rory replied still feeling awkward about what she had thought. "See you later," Rory whispered as Lorelai grabbed her elbow and guided Rory out of the mansion. "Bye," he muttered after they had left.
"So, that was Rory," Emma said grinning at her younger brother. "Yep," he replied looking at Emma oddly.
"I like her," Emma said hoping to hit a sore spot.
"That's nice," Tristan replied calmly.
"Oh, come on! I know you're in love with her,"
"Emma," Tristan warned her but Emma continued against his protests. "It was that girl wasn't it? The one you wanted…the one that got away. The one that sent you packing for military school!" she crowed triumphantly but Tristan just sighed.
"Good-bye Emma," he said hurrying out of the kitchen but Emma's electronic wheelchair beat him out as he hopped up the stairs she took her ramp up following behind him the entire way.
"Tristan!" Emma whined as he shut the door on her. He fell back onto his bed taking in the wonderful and unique scent of Rory Gilmore.
"DuGrey!" Emma called out annoyed at him.
"Go away," Tristan responded.
"You're in love with her and I don't know why you won't admit it!"
* * *
"Are you going to tell me?" Lorelai Gilmore cajoled Rory.
"No," Rory responded glancing at her mother for a moment.
"Why not?" Lorelai whined.
"Because I said so,"
"That's not a good enough reason!"
"It is for me,"
"Then…did you two do it?" Lorelai asked excitedly her blue eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Oh, god Mom," Rory groaned in disgust.
"No?"
"It's Tristan for crying out loud!"
"Then tell me," Lorelai conned her daughter into telling her. "I got drunk," she said sullenly and Lorelai encouraged her to continue. "For the first time, ever I got drunk. I kissed Tristan and told him I was in love with him. I must've gotten sick there and he took me to his house because all I can remember is barfing the rest of my inner organs in his bathroom and when I woke up I was in his bed," Lorelai couldn't help but grin at her.
"He's got a thing for you,"
"No, mom he doesn't. It's a game to him,"
"But you could change him. Sweetie, I just want you to be happy. I know you miss having a boyfriend,"
"I do not!" Rory exclaimed but Lorelai threw her a look. "First you had Dean, and then you had Jess and now it's no one,"
"Who else knows?"
"The whole town,"
"Everyone's watching me," Rory moaned.
"That's our lovely town, darling," Lorelai said as they pulled into Luke's.
"I need a Danish!" Rory announced. "And a boyfriend," Lorelai muttered resulting in a dirty look from Rory. "You like him," Lorelai whispered softly to herself, now if only she could prove it…
* * *
"You're late," Emily Gilmore said as the two younger Gilmore Girls entered the house. "Hey there Mom! How are you? Me? Oh how sweet of you to think of me…I'm good thanks for asking,"
"Lorelai!" Emily scolded while Lorelai smiled at Rory, despite her small-mindedness over the whole 'spending the night at Tristan's' ordeal she managed a smile. "Lorelai, Rory!" Richard greeted cheerfully.
"Hello Grandpa," Rory greeted smiling at him.
"You ready for Harvard, young lady?"
"Yeah. I'm really excited,"
"That's great,"
"Excuse me, Mrs. Gilmore?" Daphne interrupted politely.
"Yes?" came Emily's response. "The guest room is all prepared,"
"Thank You, Daphne,"
"A Guest room mom?"
"Yes, Lorelai a guest room,"
"Why?"
"My mother's coming tomorrow," Richard announced.
"She is?" Rory asked surprised.
"Yes,"
"Do you think she'd mind if Tristan and I could interview her?" she asked eagerly.
"Sure,"
"How's Tuesday?"
"Great,"
"Come on you two!" called out Emily. Lorelai and Emily had already gone ahead much to Rory's surprise. "Coming!" Rory called back as she and her grandfather headed to another lovely, Friday night dinner.