Author's note: A HUGE thanks to all my reviewers. Believe me you're having my type faster. I'm on a roll!! Hehe. Well keep on reviewing and I'll keep on typing. Next update can be expected somewhere between Wednesday to Saturday! Enjoy!
Chapter 11: A birthday to remember
3:04, the red numbers glowed in Rory Gilmore's room, one more minute until Tristan officially turned eighteen. Yawning she grabbed the phone and dialed an all too familiar number.
"Hello?" he mumbled sleepily.
"Happy Birthday Tristan!"
"Rory?" he grumbled.
"Yeah, it's me,"
"What time is it?"
"3:05," she said proudly.
"You remember," he commented somewhat surprised.
"Of course!" she said with a laugh as she leaned back on her elbows.
Lorelai heard laughter as she quietly entered the house. She had spent the night with Rory despite her protests. Then at one Lorelai had sneaked out of the house to see Luke.
"Tristan!" Rory said laughing again. Rory liked him a lot, she could tell. Rory had of course inherited the Lorelai Gilmore skill of denial and Christopher Hayden's stubborn streak, a devious combination especially when it came to boys. "I'll see you at nine, okay?" Rory laughed again and Lorelai had to smile. Rory hadn't been this happy in months and it thrilled Lorelai. She was standing there leaning against the wall when she realized Rory's voice wasn't talking anymore. She glanced around to see Rory standing at her doorway staring at Lorelai.
"Hi," Lorelai said weakly pushing a hair behind her ear. "Who was that?"
"Tristan,"
"Really…" Lorelai commented wiggling her eyebrows.
"Mother! I only called him to wish him a happy birthday,"
"Even though you'll see him in a few hours?"
"That wasn't the point!"
"Whatever you say,"
"Where have you been anyways?" Rory questioned turning the tables onto Lorelai.
"Sitting here in the kitchen looking for a bathing suit to match my bust size for this year," Lorelai said innocently.
"You're wearing jeans," Rory pointed out.
"Damn," muttered Lorelai.
"You were out to see Luke, weren't you?" Rory accused.
"No," Lorelai lied.
"I'll let this go Lorelai, but next time you're going to get in big trouble young lady,"
"Thank you Mom!" Lorelai mocked and the two girls burst into giggles.
"I should get to bed," Rory said gasping for breath. "Tristan and I are going to the mall tomorrow while you and Sookie decorate,"
"Night babe," Lorelai said kissing her on the forehead before heading to her own room.
11:00 AM—Tristan's B-day
"Tristan!" cried out Rory jumping on his bed.
"Go away," he groaned.
"No can do birthday boy. We've got places to go, now come on,"
"What time is it?"
"Eleven. I spent two hours hanging out with Emma letting you sleep in,"
"Okay, Gilmore. I'm up," he said pushing her off the bed as he got up. Rory glanced at him to see him shirtless and she blushed. She hated the fact that Tristan had this effect on her it made her vulnerable.
"Emma made you breakfast," she said to him tilting her head as her slipped on his blue Abercrombie and Fitch t-shirt.
"She did?" he responded as he walked out of the room with Rory right behind him.
"Happy Birthday!" Emma greeted as they entered the kitchen.
"Thanks Em," Tristan said happily leaning over and kissing her on the cheek.
"Good coffee," Rory commented as Tristan smiled at her.
"Did you tell her about Uncle George?" Emma questioned.
"Nope,"
"What about him?"
"You're grandmother and my Great Uncle had a romance as well,"
"Really?" Rory questioned eagerly as she continued to drink her coffee.
"Yeah,"
"That's so weird," Rory commented.
"They were engaged but then Emily met your grandfather,"
"I can't wait to tell my mom!" she said excitedly.
"Do you want to go to Star's Hollow instead?"
"NO!" he looked at her amused from her outburst and she flushed red again. "I mean no, it's your day. We'll go later,"
"If you're sure," he replied wondering why Rory would turn down another day in Stars Hollow.
* * *
"So what do you want?" Rory asked as they walked through the mall.
"I don't need anything," he replied.
"Nothing?" she asked in disbelief.
"Spending the day with you is fine," he replied simply.
"I'm flattered Tristan. But come on! I see you all the time," she said rolling her eyes.
"How about we check out the bookstore?" he asked pointing.
"Okay," she agreed nodding. An hour or so later, Rory had a bag full of books and Tristan still had nothing. She sighed what would Tristan want?
"Let's hit the food court, Mare," he suggested he said glancing at his watch.
"Yeah, I'm starved," Rory, said as her stomach growled. They settled down at a table as they waited for their number to be called from McDonald's.
"I still can't believe you got a McSalad Shaker Tristan!" she chastised. He smiled as she began to ramble on and on about how McDonald's wasn't supposed to serve salad, just burgers and fries.
"Want to know why I bought it?" he asked with a grin.
"Why?" Rory asked eating a fry.
"So I could steal yours,"
"I should've known," she replied with a roll of her eyes. After lunch they continued to walk around the mall with Rory complaining about Tristan not needing anything until they reached the pet store.
"Look!" squealed Rory pointing at the puppies.
"Let's go in," Tristan said nudging her to continue in amused at her excitement. They walked in and Tristan spotted a little border collie puppy and instantly fell in love. Rory watched Tristan play with the dog for a while. Then she headed over to the cashier.
"How much is that dog?" she asked pointing over to the puppy.
"A hundred," the lady replied promptly.
"Could I buy her please?"
"Is it for your boyfriend over there?"
"Oh, he's not my boyfriend. He's just a friend and it's his birthday," Rory said awkwardly glancing back at Tristan and smiling faintly at the cashier. She paid for the dog and bought a leash and collar.
"Happy Birthday!" she said with an ear-to-ear grin as she placed the leash and collar in Tristan's lap.
"You mean?"
"She's all yours," Rory said still smiling.
"Thanks!" he said gratefully staring at Rory.
"So, what are you going to name her?" she questioned curiously avoiding his gaze.
"Juliet,"
"At least it's not Mary," Rory responded rolling her eyes.
"Don't be jealous Mary! Now, I have two Juliet's," he teased while picking up Juliet and grabbing Rory by the elbow to steer her out of the pet store.
"Star's Hollow?" she asked.
"Sure," Tristan replied as they headed to the car.
* * *
Half-hour later:
"I wonder where my mom is," Rory commented as they pulled into the driveway.
"Luke's?" he guessed.
"Probably. Now come on I want to play with Jules here," she said hopping out of the car smiling to herself. She knew where Lorelai was and almost the entire population of Stars Hollow. They were inside hiding no doubt. The three climbed up the stairs on the porch. Rory turned the doorknob and flicked on the light.
"SURPRISE!" everyone shouted and then…
"A PUPPY!" screeched Lorelai forgetting about Tristan for a moment. A few minutes later after Lorelai was properly introduced she remembered what she was suppose to be doing.
"Happy Birthday kiddo," Lorelai said hugging Tristan.
"Thanks Lorelai,"
"Here comes the cake!" came Sookie's voice from the kitchen.
"Move people!" Lorelai called letting go of Tristan.
"Wow, it's great Sookie," Rory commented it was going to be a great party.
"Tristan I have one more present," Rory said smiling shyly.
"Rory, the puppy and the party was enough,"
"Wait!" she said producing a certificate from her pocket.
"You're now an official honorary member of Stars Hollow!" Rory explained her grin getting bigger by the second. "Thanks Rory," he said quietly.
"No problem," Rory replied sitting down next to him as he kissed her quickly on the forehead.
* * *
"Was it a good birthday then?" Rory asked leaning against the door of the jeep as they stood in front of the DuGrey mansion as Tristan prolonged the inevitably of going back inside. "The best," Tristan replied grinning at Rory. "Good my mom and I spent all of Wednesday planning the entire thing,"
"Well be glad I was in New Hampshire then, huh?"
"Yeah. So, it's late and I should be getting home. See you tomorrow at the fair?"
"I'll be there," he promised as he hugged Rory. "Thanks for Juliet," he whispered as she climbed into the jeep and with a wave she was gone. He came into the house humming today had been awesome. "Emma!" he called out as he shut the door with his foot. "In the den!" Emma called back. He entered with Juliet hot on his heels. He was surprised to see Emma and his parents in the den.
"Happy Birthday little brother!" Emma said grinning at him. "What in the world." Tristan said in amazement. "Happy Birthday son," his father said hugging him. "Who's this dog Tristan?" Emma asked curiously as the little puppy jumped into her lap.
"This is Juliet. Rory got her for me,"
"She's adorable!" gushed his mother and he smiled. They were a real family again, just like old time.
* * *
"Your parents came back for your birthday?" Rory said happily.
"Yeah," Tristan replied smiling.
"That's great!" she said grinning up at him. It was their lunch break so they were sitting on top of a hill overlooking the fair while the two of them were both eating a ton of junk food. They finished eating lunch and wandered around together.
"Let's go on the Ferris wheel!" Rory squealed excitedly. "I don't know…" he said reluctantly but she dragged him along.
"Close your eyes," Rory soothed tangling her fingers with his. Her heartbeat accelerated but she ignored it thinking it was only a side effect of riding the Ferris wheel. Soon after they returned to the dunking booth to discover Luke was in the dunking booth and Lorelai was pitching the ball. She missed all three times and Rory wanted a turn. She missed once…and then twice. Then Tristan whispered some encouraging comments to Rory. She tossed it and BAM! She hit it right on the mark causing Luke to get dunked in the water. Lorelai started laughing as Rory's face turned to horror.
"Run," Tristan whispered as he grabbed her hand and they took off. They arrived at the gazebo breathless and full of laughter. "Did you see Lorelai?" he asked causing the both of them to burst into a fit of laughter. To an outside it looked like a young couple in love but to them it was only a moment between best friends.
- Finis Chapter 11
Coming up next…
Chapter 12: The story between Lorelai and Josh DuGrey, not to mention a date for Rory and it's not Tristan…