Chapter 5: Love Song for No One



Over the next few weeks Rory and Tristan practiced constantly with their lines together. Sometimes without realizing it they'd contain conversations similar to Jamie and Landon. Though one day Tristan would throw it all away. Tristan was leaning against his locker and talking to many of his friends. They were the friends of his that Rory hated. The other rich snobs, Tristan was different she had convinced herself. The truth would soon come out and a rift would be formed between the two of them.

 "Hey Tristan," greeted Rory with a slight smile. Tristan only gave her a condescending gaze that almost made her turn and walk away but she didn't.

"So I'll see you after school?" she saw the other guys around her raise their eyebrows but Tristan soon ended that rudely and glance over at Tristan.

"Maybe in your daydreams baby, if you get lucky," he could see her eyes widen in surprise at him, it soon turned into a knowing gaze. She nodded and quickly, briskly walked away from him. As she stood at her locker she could feel the tears coming. One more glance down the hallway she saw he was out of sight. She sighed and quickly grabbed her books. She couldn't handle the rest of the day now.

"Hey Rory," Paris's cold voice interrupted her.

"Not now Paris," she said quietly.

"Did you write your article for the Franklin?"

"Yes, here," she said shoving it to her.

 "Pass it in yourself," she snapped.

"Paris I said not now okay!" Rory shouted, her voice echoing in the hallway.

"I have to go," Rory mumbled and dashed out of school.

"Rory!" cried out Paris.

"I'm going home Paris, please don't tell Mr. Medina!" she yelled back. Minutes later, Paris arrived in English class full of bewilderment from Rory's behavior.

"Ms. Gellar do you know where Ms. Gilmore is?" Mr. Medina questioned.

"I don't know Mr. Medina," she lied. Tristan had over heard the whole encounter and suddenly he felt horrible. Why the hell had he said such a mean thing to Rory? She hadn't deserved, she had been helping him out of the kindness of her heart and yet he messed that up. He really was in love with her, in his heart he knew that Rory was hurt.

"Excuse me, Mr. Medina?" interrupted Tristan from his conversation with Paris. "Yes, Mr. DuGrey?"

"Could I please have a bathroom pass," "Here, come right back" Mr. Medina replied handing it to him.

"Thank you," Paris knew that Tristan was going to stay in school. "Could I have a bathroom pass too?" asked Paris.

"Okay." Paris quickly grabbed it and scooted out of the room.

"Tristan!" she whispered franticly but he continued his way down the hall. "TRISTAN!" he stopped and turned.

"What Paris?"

"I know where Rory went,"

"Where?"

 "She looked like she was about to cry and then I talked to her about her article and then she gave it to me, dashing out of school and she said she was going home,"

"Thanks Paris," he said softly and continued back down the hallway to his car.

"Your welcome Tristan," and in that instant she knew he was in love with Rory, nothing would change that. Also, in that instant Paris wasn't in love with Tristan anymore he was just a friend to her.

Rory began crying when she made it onto the highway. He had hurt her cut her so deeply that she didn't know what to think anymore so she just drove. She drove to Stars Hollow breaking almost every single driving law in the town. She finally arrived home and ran to her room. She dropped her bag onto the floor and landed on her bed. The sobs wracked through her body like she had never cried before. Maybe in your daydreams baby, if you get lucky. It echoed in her mind over and over. She continued to cry why was she so upset? Tristan had made that remark, Tristan Arrogant Ass DuGrey. She didn't like him right? NO!!! No, no, no. Why hadn't she been able to make a catty comment back at him? Why had he been so damn cruel to her? What had she done? Help him with his lines because she had decided to give him a shot. Suddenly she remembered the kiss; it had been only a month ago when he had admitted he liked her. It made her cry even harder.

Tristan was racing down the highway at about 80 miles an hour way above the speed limit. When he arrived in Stars Hollow he didn't even pause for a second. Even when there was a red light Tristan drove right through it. He didn't have time to stop so he just drove until he got to Rory's house.

"Rory!!" she heard frantic knocking and went to the door. She opened it and saw him. He saw her face, her red-rimmed eyes and the tears. She slammed the door shut in his face and leaned against the closet door right across the hallway.

"Rory please open the door," he begged her.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly opening the door.

"You've been crying," he said softly.

"No, I haven't," she lied. "Don't like to me Rory,"

"Is this one of my daydreams? Must've gotten lucky, huh?" tears welled in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he told her sincerely. Rory didn't believe him if he was a jerk once couldn't he do it again.

"Tristan I'm going to quit the play. I can't do it with you,"

"You have to do the play with me!"

"Why the hell should I?" she snapped at him.

"People are flawed Rory. People screw up we're suppose to make mistakes. I was stupid enough to believe my rep's above friends,"

"It's always about you and your stupid rep isn't it?"

"Rory please don't do this,"

"Tristan," she shook her head at him.

"Tristan I never have understood you. Last month you said you liked me a lot and then we kissed. Now."

"It's still the same," he stepped closer to her. He reached his hand out to her cheek and wiped her tears away. Then he leaned down and kissed her, again. When they broke apart they stared at each other eyes wide with shock.

"I have to go," shoving him out of the way Rory ran away from him without looking back. She headed to the wooden footbridge one of her favorite places in the world. She took off her shoes and socks letting her feet dangle into the cool water.

"Ror," he said softly.

"What do you want Tristan?" came her sad reply.

"God, um."

"Why do you do this to me?"

"Do what?"

"Kiss me,"

"Because I like you," he tried not to start crying but it was useless. When Rory looked up at him his blue eyes filling up with tears she looked at him hard. Harder than before beneath his preppy, arrogant, egotistical exterior and she saw he was just a boy with a crush on a girl.

"Tristan. Look I don't know what to do around you anymore. I just need you to leave me alone for a while," she got up and walked away from him.

"What If I told you I loved you. Would it be different Rory?" he whispered, to no one.