"Rory wake up! Prince Charming arrives shortly."
"5 more minutes..." a sleepy Rory replied rolling over. She was still wearing Tristan's sweatshirt.
"Tristan called, he's picking you up at 9:30. Its 8:30 now, if you want to shower I suggest you get up now."
"Fine...fine." Rory said rolling out of bed.
She got up, got her shower and got dressed and did her make-up. Just in time too. Tristan showed up at 9:30 on the dot.
"Your annoyingly punctual." Rory said opening the door still running a comb through her hair.
"You look really pretty Rory." Tristan said.
If the complement caught her off guard, she didn't show it. "Well, when I woke up this morning, it was a completely different story."
"You ready to go?" Tristan said motioning towards the car.
"Yeah I guess."
"What's wrong?"
"My mom drank all the---"
"Coffee?"
"Yeah how did you know?"
"You always had a cup of coffee with you last year at Chilton."
"Yeah well now I'm Coffee less in Connecticut."
"Someone sounds bitter." Tristan teased.
"I'm going through withdraw."
"Well then I guess it's a good thing I already picked up some coffee for you."
"I love you."
"Ah, you don't know how long I've waited to hear you say those words." Tristan said putting his hand over his heart for dramatic flare. It was true though. He'd been waiting for Rory to tell him that she loved him... it was nothing but a dream though. She was above him. She was determined and smart. She was going somewhere. She didn't need him like he needed her.
"Yeah well don't get too used to it."
"I guess I'll just have to buy you coffee more often." Tristan said walking out to the car. Rory shut the door and locked it behind her and followed him to his car.
"Depends on how good the coffee is." Rory said climbing into the passenger side of his car. Rory took the coffee cup that was in the holder and took a drink. "Ah yes, you should most defiantly buy me coffee more often! This is amazingly good."
Tristan started the car and headed for the hospital.
"So if I get you coffee everyday you'll have to profess your love for me everyday?" Tristan asked,
"I might even let you be my valentine."
"Is that a promise?"
"Bring me this coffee everyday, and it will be an oath."
"Ok, I'm holding you too that. Valentines Day is next month."
Rory looked over and Tristan and smiled.
"So when do you start Chilton?"
"Well, my dad called the headmaster last night and got it arranged that I start Monday."
"Well that's good."
"Yeah... great." Tristan said sarcastically.
"Don't you want to come back?"
"I have a feeling you'll be my only friend." Tristan said.
"Well, we can start our own club."
"Can I be president?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Fine, fine you can be president."
"Thank you. So you really gave up your womanizer ways?"
"Once and for all. I'm going to show this girl that I'm really in love with her."
"She's really lucky."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. I admire this woman. Whoever can tame the wild Tristan beast has earned my everlasting respect."
They talked and laughed the rest of the way to the hospital. Rory found herself sometimes unable to tear her eyes away from Tristan. He was much more good looking without his snooty attitude. When the finally got to the hospital, Rory sat quiet.
"I don't know if I can do it, Tristan." Rory said her eyes brimming with tears. Tristan took off his seat belt so he could reach over to Rory. He grabbed her and wrapped her in a hug.
"You can do this Rory, your one of the strongest people I know."
"I'm not this strong." Rory said still wrapped in his arms. Was it wrong that Rory was enjoying this moment?
"Come on, let's go in." Tristan said gently pushing her.
"Ok." Rory said looking into Tristan's eyes. They were so close. She could feel his breath on her face. She wanted to kiss him, but the reality of Jess in the hospital put her mind back where it belonged. Tristan had hoped Rory would see the love he had for her in his eyes, but as she backed away and headed out the door, the reality sunk in. She would never love him. He was going to have to be a friend to her right now. Tristan got out of the car and walked into the hospital with Rory.
"Luke!" Rory said running and hugging Luke. "How is he?"
"He's looking a lot better than he was last night that's for sure."
"So... good?"
"You can go see him, but you've gotta be out of there in 20 minutes. Damn rules. Driving me nuts. Room 321."
"Thanks Luke... Tristan you coming?"
"Yeah, sure I guess."
Rory walked to Room 321 and hesitated before she walked in. She finally got enough courage to walk in, and there was Jess lying in a hospital bed. Hooked up to machines with IVs in him. His body may have been down, but his spirits were up.
"Rory!"
"Jess! Oh my God, you scared me so much!"
"Yeah well apart from a few minor injuries, I'll be fine."
"Minor? What are all these machines for then?" Rory said amused.
"The nurses just want to keep me around longer."
"Oh I'm sure that's it." Rory said nodding. "Oh Jess, this is Tristan, Tristan this is Jess."
"Hey." Tristan said.
"Hey. I'd offer to shake your hand, but I currently can't feel it."
"Its all good."
"So Rory you come all this way to see you and you me bring another man. Seriously, I'm hurt." Jess teased.
"Well ya know, Dean just wasn't up for the trip today." Rory threw right back at him.
"It's a good thing, or else I'd have to hurt him with my unfeeling arm." Jess said looking at his helpless arm.
"Well, just look at it this way, if he punched you, you couldn't feel it."
"All too true. I like the way you think Rory."
"As do most men who are currently in hospital beds all drugged up." Rory teased.
"So I was in Hartford. I WAS going to rescue from your dinner at the grandparents."
"How did you plan on doing that? Sneaking me out of the window."
"Good plan, I'll keep that in mind for next time. But I was going to give you that book over there on the table. I had just finished reading it, and I thought you might like it. That's when I hit the patch of ice, then that damn tree just seemed to jump in the way of my car."
"So you drove all the way to Hartford to give me a book so I wouldn't be bored at my grandparents house?"
"Hey what are ex-boyfriends for?"
"To make my life more fun filled I suppose."
"You suppose right."
The nurse entered the room.
"Visiting time is over. You can come back in 2 hours." She said going and sticking another needle in Jess' arm.
Tristan had been watching the exchange of the two friends. Rory looked happy talking to Jess. Tristan felt a pang of jealousy as Rory reached over and kissed Jess' forehead.
"Well, immobile man, our visiting time is up."
"Don't forget the book." Jess said leaning his head over towards where the book was placed.
"Wouldn't dream of it. Bye Jess see you in a few hours."
"Bye Rory. Later Tyson."
"Its Tris--" Rory started to say.
"Ah, let it go, he won't remember me in at all in an hour." Tristan laughed. Tristan and Rory walked out of the room and found Luke.
"How is he?" Luke asked.
"In very good spirits. You could have come in and visited him with us."
"Rory you know how I am with people in hospital beds and tubes and wires... no I'm just here for moral support."
Rory knew all too well how bad Luke was in hospitals. He had come to this same hospital when Rory's grandfather had been put in the hospital for his heart.
"Well we've got 2 hours to kill." Tristan said.
"Yeah I think I'll go into town and open up the diner for a couple hours. Bye Rory." Luke said turning and walking out the door.
"Bye Luke." Rory called after him.
"So what do you want to do?" Tristan asked Rory.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to stay here." Rory said taking a seat.
"Or we could go to my house and grab something to eat and come back in 2 hours." Tristan suggested.
"I like the way you think, Tyson." she teased.