Disclaimer: 'Gilmore Girls' does not belong to me. It belongs to the WB and other people. Definitely not to me.
Author's Note: I noticed something very funny in the last chapter. I guess I didn't read it before posting, but Rory says, "It was mean, deceitful, and you tried to hide it from me." Talk about redundant. Instead of deceitful, make it thoughtless.
Chapter Three: Romeo and Juliet?
Paris waited in the meeting room of the Franklin. They had a meeting, and she would talk to Rory there. Rory was editor, and she loved meetings. She never missed them. Sure enough, Rory walked in, looking miserable.
"All right, let's get this meeting over with." Rory handed everyone a piece of paper. "There are the details or your articles. Deadlines of submission, final draft… they're all on the paper. Any questions?"
No one spoke.
"Meeting adjourned," Rory sighed.
Everyone stared at each other, shooting curious glances at Rory. "What are you all waiting for? Leave!" Rory snapped at them.
This shocked everyone even more. Rory was acting strange. She never yelled at them, she handled everything in a very professional manner. But their editor now looked like she was about to loose it. So, everyone picked up their bags, and left the room, wondering what the hell was wrong with Rory Gilmore.
Rory sat down on the table with a sigh.
"That wasn't like you Rory," Paris said cautiously, sitting down in the chair in front of the table.
Rory stood up again. "Paris, I know you're here to talk to me about Tristan. I don't want to talk about him, or the break-up,"
Paris walked ahead to close the door before Rory could pass. "Rory, please. I'm sure that Tristan feels awful. You guys were so close…"
Rory scoffed. "So close that he cheated on me,"
"It wasn't like he had this long secret relationship with Summer behind your back. He was very upset, he thought he lost you, you have to-"
"Now you're on his side?" Rory asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Rory, I'm not saying what Tristan did was right. But no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. Are you really going to let Tristan pay for one little mistake?"
"Are you calling what he did a little mistake?" Rory said incredulously.
"No! It was a huge mistake," Paris said quickly. "But that's all it was, a mistake. Rory, can't you forgive him?"
Rory stared at the other girl. "Tristan told me a few weeks after we got together that I changed him. That because of me he saw no point in his superficial ways. He said he was a whole new Tristan," Rory said bitterly. "And I told him that that was good, because I fell in love with that new Tristan. Well now the old Tristan is back, and I could never love the person that Tristan was before,"
Paris took a deep breath. "Rory, the old Tristan is not back. Tristan for now, is a very sorry guy who would grovel at your feet if that's what it would take to get you back,"
"Note that you said 'for now.' Yes, he will be sorry. Only until the next Summer shows up. Then, he'll forget all about me, and start sleeping with anyone who shows an interest."
Paris was getting increasingly frustrated. "Rory, what do I have to tell you to make you believe that Tristan still loves you?" she cried. "I'll say it straight. Rory, Tristan loves you, and he is very sorry for what he did. What else do you want to hear?"
"Paris… if Tristan loved me, do you think he would sleep with another girl? I can forgive a lot of things, but I can't forgive that. I don't want to hear an apology, I don't want to hear anything as a matter of fact. I want to forget," Rory concluded. And with that, Rory brushed past Paris and walked out of the building.
Paris took out her cell phone. "Lane? No. She didn't listen. Your turn to make her see sense,"
Paris paused, listening to Lane.
"We can't support any of them. We can accept what they did to each other, but we can't choose sides. It would ruin our friendships,"
"What I think?" Paris sighed. "I don't think so."
"I know. It seems… hopeless."
"Hey!" Mark called out to Tristan just before leaving their last period.
Tristan set down his bag. "Yeah?"
"Uh… look Tristan,"
"If this is about Rory, I don't want to hear it. I messed up. I know. I don't need a lecture from you too," Tristan stated and picked up his bag.
"No, I don't want to talk to you about Rory," Mark said hurriedly.
Tristan turned around, and raised his eyebrows, waiting for Mark to speak.
"Uh…" actually, what Mark said had been a lie. He really did want to talk to Tristan about Rory. "Uh, How are you?"
Tristan just looked at Mark with a 'Get to the point' expression.
"Can I catch a ride home?"
Tristan rolled his eyes. "Sure."
Mark went in step with Tristan. "So back to my previous question. How are you?"
"I told you I didn't want to talk about Rory,"
"I'm not talking about Rory, you are. I'm talking about you. How are you holding up?"
"As well as can be expected,"
"Sad? Regretful? Angry?"
"What do you think?" Tristan snapped. "I let the most perfect woman I've ever known slip through my fingers,"
"So I take it, all of the above,"
"Yes,"
"So, since you introduced the topic… what do you plan on doing with Rory?"
"Do you really have to ask?"
"Move on with your life," Mark said understandingly. "But really Tristan, Rory's a great person. You guys were meant for each other-"
"Move on with my life? I was thinking along the lines of getting down on my knees and apologizing to her every day, groveling, begging, being her personal slave, you name it," Tristan sighed. "Because she deserves it,"
Mark didn't know quite what to say. "So you have no plans of getting together with Summer,"
"No!"
"That's good,"
"Did you really think I would?"
"I don't know… maybe if you were desperate enough…"
"Man, you have such a low opinion of me,"
"So even if Rory humiliates you in front of the entire school, dumps you again in front of the entire school, thus proclaiming to the female student body of Chilton that it is open season on Tristan DuGrey, you wouldn't start dating another girl,"
Tristan unlocked his door and stepped in. "No," he said confidently. "Nothing could ever make me date or even think about another girl other than Rory,"
Famous last words Mark thought. He hoped Tristan was right. It was a shame to see Chilton's perfect pair separated.
They drove in silence…
The next day at Chilton, Tristan waited for Rory. He wasn't leaning against her locker like he normally did, but he stood impatiently in front of it, trying to formulate a speech.
Rory walked in five minutes later, pointedly ignoring him.
"Rory, I'm sorry. What I did was uncalled for, it was in no way justifiable, I know that I'm a horrible person," Tristan said, trying to get Rory to look at him. Rory didn't. "Look, I'm sorry… and I love you with all my heart."
Rory froze, putting her book down.
There is a God. Tristan thought as he saw Rory stop. He leaned down to kiss her neck… she made no movement. Tristan went ahead, and kissed her lips. Here, Rory did react. She pushed Tristan away.
"No! You can't kiss me, and make everything right. You'll never be able to make this right!" Rory said desperately.
Tristan sighed, with a very pained expression on his face. "Rory, I have to try! I can't live with myself, knowing I made this mistake, I have to make this work with you. I need you Rory… you're one of the most important things in my life, I don't want to loose you,
"Please forgive me," Tristan begged.
Rory stared tearfully at him. "I can't," she whispered.
"Please," he said, staring at her with those blue eyes.
"Dammit Tristan! There are some things you just can't forgive," she cried. "Sometimes, all you can do is try to forget. I'm sorry, but I don't have it in me to forgive you, no matter how much I care for you," she whispered, and ran off crying.
Paul, Lane, Paris, and Mark watched the exchange from a few feet away.
"Well, that went well," Paul commented.
Lane, Mark, and Paris stared at him. "What? At least they're talking to each other," Paul said defensively.
"What are we going to do?" Paris asked.
Lane shrugged. "My talk with Rory was bad… she said she'd never date again…"
"What?" Mark sputtered.
"Not date seriously, I mean. She said she'd focus everything on Harvard."
"My talk with Tristan pretty much went along the lines of doing anything and everything until Rory forgave him," Paul contributed.
"You know honestly, after listening to this… I don't think there's any more hope for Tristan. When Rory sets her mind to something, she follows through," Paris commented sadly.
"I know," they all echoed.
One Week After
"Class, instead of a written exam, your final written exam would be only fifty percent of your final test. The other fifty will be in play, that you will perform here in Chilton, to the younger students, to your parents, and of course, to the Chilton school board, and other school's officials. I will not help you, all I will do is help choose your play and director," Mr. Medina announced at the start of the period.
"Okay, the only people who qualify for directors are Paris, Rory, and Michael. Who would you rather be the director? On second thought, never mind. Paris, you will be director. Michael can act well, and Rory is our best public speaker."
The class nodded, some looking scared knowing Paris' reputation.
"Paris, could you take over," Mr. Medina said, standing aside.
"Okay. First thing is choose what play we'll perform. We want to make a good impression, especially on the Chilton school Board. The reputation of Chilton is on the line. If we mess this up, even the teachers from other schools look down on Chilton students."
"Nice pep talk. Is this supposed to encourage us?" Mark asked, grinning.
Paul, Tristan, and Mark laughed.
"Mark, if you don't have any suggestions, shut up!"
"Here's a suggestion," Rory supplied. "How about one of the tragedies? Othello, Macbeth, or Hamlet."
"No, they've been doing those too many times."
"How about The Tempest? Something light," Michael shrugged.
"Too light…" Paris returned.
"How about Romeo and Juliet?" Mr. Medina proposed.
"No… hasn't it been done so many times before?" Paris asked.
"Actually, I think Romeo and Juliet is a great idea," Lane put in. "It captures enough emotion, love, betrayal… if we pull it of correctly, we'd really impress them."
"Yeah…"
"It's a great idea…"
"Why not? It hasn't been done in along time…"
"That would be great…"
Paris looked around. "Romeo and Juliet it is then. Next order of business, casting. We have thirteen characters, plus various extras to be people at the party, citizens, that stuff. Probably five of those. We need people to plan music, costumes, and props. Any volunteers?"
Eight hands shot in the air. "Good." Paris commented. "Now to roles. For Romeo… any volunteers? Suggestions?"
"Tristan DuGrey," Patricia Johnson, another blonde that Tristan would have gone for in the past suggested.
The entire female portion of the class, except Rory Lane, and Paris, started speaking.
"Yeah, who else better?"
"I mean, he fits Romeo's description perfectly."
"No other guy in this class can match Tristan."
"He is Romeo."
Paris helplessly looked at Mr. Medina.
"What's wrong with Tristan, Paris?"
"Because Juliet will hate me," Paris sighed. "All right, Tristan it is. Juliet…"
At once, voices started arguing, and hands were raised in the air. Paris snuck a glance at Tristan. Paris could practically see Tristan praying Rory. He looked at Rory, almost desperately. Rory was pointedly looking away, taking down notes.
"Everybody SHUT UP!!!" Paris yelled. No one paid attention to her.
"People settle down," Me. Medina attempted.
Nearly all guys were laughing.
"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" Paris yelled. That did it. Everyone turned to look at her.
"I think Juliet should be the most qualified," Paris started.
"Who's the most qualified person, Mr. Medina?" Tristan interjected.
Paris, Lane, Mark, and Paul looked at each other. Could he be anymore obvious?
Mr. Medina blinked. "Um, the best public speaker would be… either Paris or Rory."
Paris stifled a giggle and pleased smile. Now they had to talk, and kiss… "Rory, you're our Juliet."
Everyone was silent, except Rory. "No! I don't want to be Juliet!"
"Why not?" a girl asked her. Her seatmate whispered in her ear. "Oh…" she said. "Never mind," she said to Rory.
Mr. Medina, not knowing why, stepped in. "Actually, Rory. It's very logical. Paris is already directing, and you're the best person for the job. This isn't only for your grade. You know, some people from certain colleges, come to these Chilton events."
"I'll be Juliet," Rory said to Paris.
"Okay… Tybalt, Mercutio, and Benvolio…" Tristan didn't hear Paris anymore, as he was struck by the realization that he would be working, talking, and holding Rory… he turned to say something to her.
"I'm doing this for Harvard. I didn't do it for you, nor do I want to get back together with you," she said flatly.
"I was going to say congratulations… you know… for becoming Juliet. If there are Harvard people there, I know they'll notice you…" Tristan said, trying to disguise the hurt.
Rory turned away.
