Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. This was a LONG chapter for me to type. Thanks goes to my reviewers who have convinced me to hurry this chapter to here it is.
Chapter Six: Friday
"So Luke has to come to the Gilmore Friday night dinner," I explain as Tristan and I walk to Chilton from the parking lot. "Interesting," he comments and I nod.
"Yeah,"
"Was there anyone else invited?"
"No," I lie. "Rory…" he warns. "Okay, yes. My Grandma wants you to come too,"
"Good,"
"Good?"
"Your grandfather all ready likes me remember?"
"That was before you were my boyfriend and he was drunk," I remind not even realizing that I had called him my boyfriend. "Is that what we are?" he questions softly.
"What?" I ask slightly taken aback and confused. "Are we boyfriend and girlfriend?"
"I don't know," I say quietly. "What do you mean? What's going on, Rory?"
"It's just all happening so fast Tristan. As great as this is I did just break up with Dean,"
"So now I'm just the rebound guy?" he inquires bitterly. "No, no you have to understand me on this,"
"I understand perfect," he says coolly as he turns on his heel and leaves me alone in the hallway. I head to my locker wondering how such a simple conversation had turned into a mess. I slammed my locker door shut causing heads to turn in my direction at the loud noise. First period passed quickly much to Rory's relief she wasn't in the mood for school today, but she couldn't afford to go home. Second period came, English class.
"Any distractions today?" Paris asks me before class starts. "Like I would know," I say gesturing to the empty seat next to me. "But the two of you have been joined at the lip for this past week,"
"Not anymore," I say bitterly and Paris looks concerned. "What happened?"
"Why would you care?" with that last comment the bell rings and Paris heads back to her seat before we have to get back into groups. Tristan hasn't appeared yet and I realize he's cutting class because of me it hurts. We get into groups for the project. Paris keeps talking but I'm not hearing her. My eyes keep wandering to the clock, his chair, and the door hoping he'd come into class but he didn't. Forty-five minutes later the bell rings dismissing us from class. Much to my dismay Bio is next, without Tristan if he's skipping again to avoid me. I start walking to the bio room and halfway the guy who had left me in the middle of the woods crashed into me. My books scatter all across the hall and suddenly Tristan appears. "Pick it up Graham," he says and I feel guilty. Now he's defending my honor to top it all off, what a wonderful day. "Hell no," Graham replies, despite Tristan's two inches in height above him he's not backing down. Neither can afford a fight in the hall otherwise a week's suspension will be handed out.
"Pick it up," Tristan repeats. "DuGrey, chivalry doesn't exist anymore," and with that Graham stalks off to biology class. Tristan leans down and helps me pick up my books.
"Thank you," I say timidly. "No problem, Graham's a complete ass," I realize as I stare at his shoes he doesn't know it's me. "Why weren't you in English?"
"I cut,"
"Why?"
"There's someone I'm trying to avoid,"
"Didn't know you cared, Tristan," I say meeting his gaze. "Rory," is all he says and I just stand there. "Look, umm…you don't have to come tonight since our fight, I guess,"
"I said I was coming. I don't break promises,"
"Right uh thanks," I say meekly. "Yeah, yeah," Tristan responds waving his hand in dismissal. "Bio calls," And I headed into Bio, Tristan right behind me.
* * *
"He's still coming?" Lorelai asks in surprise. "Yeah,"
"He still likes you sweetie,"
"Yeah right," I say with a snort. "Hey, have you seen the way he's looked at you?"
"Mom, I don't get it. He cut class to avoid me and yet he's coming to dinner voluntarily,"
"Who understands guys anyways,"
"Not me,"
"Me either. I found out why Dean dumped you babe. Want to talk about it?"
"Not really. Dean's the farthest thing from my mind right now,"
"What did you and Tristan fight about?"
"If we were boyfriend and girlfriend,"
"What was the problem?"
"It took a month for me and Dean to decide that,"
"Sweetheart, first thing is Dean and you are totally different from Tristan and you,"
"I know but still it's going so fast. Next thing you know he'll be saying I love you,"
"He does,"
"What!"
"I should've seen this the first time," my mom murmurs to herself. "Seen what?"
"I think you're trouble saying I love you comes from me. You know I'm not good at commitment. We're so alike our eyes, our coffee addiction, and our love of music, which I personally love. I didn't bring you up to not be able to say I love you, did I?"
"No, no. It's all me. I'm just scared. I don't want my love life to be like yours and Dad's,"
"Saying I love won't force you to have sex,"
"I know but Tristan's so much better at this opposite sex thing then I am,"
"He's not going to force you to do anything, you know that,"
"You're right I do. I think I'm in love with him, Mom,"
"Don't tell me that. You have to tell him yourself. Now come on before Luke thinks we died or something,"
"Thanks Mom,"
"For what?"
"Everything,"
"That's what Mom's are for,"
"I know,"
* * *
Tristan was waiting in his car when the three of us (Luke, my mom and me) pulled up. "Luke we're on time!" my mother wailed in disappointment. "It's rude to be late," came his gruff reply. "We're going around the block one more time then,"
"We're doing nothing of the sort,"
"Okay, but you're breaking Gilmore Amendment Number One,"
"Which is?"
"Be late to every function my mother is hosting,"
"Too bad," Luke replies ringing the doorbell. I can see Tristan glancing over at me before my grandmother answers the door. "Lorelai! You're on time,"
"Hey Mom," my mother responds somewhat reluctantly. "Luke, hello," my grandmother says pleasantly causing me and my mom to exchange looks. "Hi Mrs. Gilmore," Luke says and I try to hide my giggles. Luke calling someone Mrs. "Rory, darling," Grandma greets hugging me. "Hi Grandma. You know Tristan DuGrey, right?" I say quietly.
"Yes I do. Hello Tristan how is your grandfather?"
"He's good. Looking after my little brother right now,"
"Wonderful. Why don't you two wait in the library before dinner?"
"Great," I murmur to myself as I lead the way to the library. We settle down in chairs facing each other in silence. I finally get up and start looking at books. Searching for anything to get my mind off Tristan, which is the only thing I've been able to think of all day. "Has anyone told you how beautiful you look tonight?" he questions and I turn, a blush creeping up my cheeks. "I was hoping my boyfriend would tell me that,"
"Boyfriend?"
"You heard me DuGrey,"
"Come here," Tristan, says motioning for me to come over to him. I do and he pulls me into his lap. He kisses me and I kiss him back for a long time. "Tristan, Rory…guys break it up!" I jump out of Tristan's lap quickly. I fall miscalculating the distance from the chair to the floor. "You're so graceful," my mother teases shaking her head. We head back into the dining room with Tristan's arm snaked around my waist. "Did you two make-up?" Emily questions and I shoot my mother a look.
"I didn't tell her," she claims raising her hands in mock surrender to me.
"Janlan called to warn us that Tristan was in a bad mood. When I inquired why he assumed the two of you had gotten into some fight,"
"They made-up all right, out too,"
"Mother," I hissed but neither grandparent noticed. Just Tristan and Luke. "Excuse me Mrs. Gilmore? Dinner is served,"
"Thank you Norah," and the six of us head to the dining room ready to eat dinner.
* * *
"Bye Tristan," I say and my mother stops me. "Whoa hold up, Ror. Tristan has something for you,"
"Here," he says handing me a pair of tickets. I read them and my eyes widen in surprise. "You didn't!" I shriek in excitement jumping up and down.
"Anything for my girlfriend," he says with a smile. "Oh. My. God." And then suddenly it just slips out of my mouth before I can think it through. "I love you," my mother's mouth drops open and Tristan looks at me shocked. "What did you say?"
"I love you," I repeat smiling. "I love you too," he whispers, then meeting my lips in a kiss. When he pulls away from me I realize my dilemma. "What am I going to wear to a PJ Harvey concert?"
"Here," Lorelai says pulling a bag from the trunk of the jeep. "Oh mom you rock,"
"I know now go before I steal your ticket and your boyfriend," my mom teases. "You wouldn't!"
"I would babe, I would,"
"Let's go Tristan!" I say worriedly and Tristan grins. "Don't worry, I won't let her steal me from you,"
"I'm not worried about you, silly! It's the tickets,"
"Of course. Because the tickets are so much more important then me,"
"Be home by one!" my mom calls out from the window as she and Luke pull out of the driveway. "Thank you," I say softly to him kissing him one more time before we got in his car. "No problem," he replies smiling at me before pulling out of the driveway as well. "We're stopping at your house right?" I ask.
"Yes," I heave a sigh of relief and Tristan looks at me amused. We finally arrive at the DuGrey mansion within minutes. "It's huge," I comment.
"Yeah well I wasn't the one who chose it," he mutters as he leads me through the foyer to the main hall. "Tristan!" Kevin shrieks running down the hall to his older brother. "Hey there buddy," he greets hugging him. "Hi Rory," Kevin says shyly wiggling out of Tristan's grasp to come over and hug me. "Hi Kevin,"
"Tristan is that you?" an elderly man's voice calls out. "Hey Gramps," Tristan as Kevin is telling me about his day. "Did you and Rory make-up?"
"Yeah, Rory this is my grandfather. Grandfather this is Rory, my girlfriend,"
"Nice to meet you Mr. DuGrey," I say getting up from my spot on the floor. "Janlan, please,"
"Okay," I reply smiling at the older man. "Sorry to cut the visit short but Rory and I have to change,"
"Glad to meet you Rory,"
"Same here Janlan," I say over my shoulder as Tristan takes me down the hall some more to the door of the bathroom. "I'll be back," he promises leaving me and continuing his way. "Wait," I call and he turns around. "I love you," he smiles.
"Love you too, now hurry,"
"I am!" I shout as I shut the door behind me with my foot. Tonight was going to be incredible.
* * *
"I can't believe we were the only ones there!"
"So you liked it?"
"Liked! I loved it,"
"Good. I thought you would," he replied grinning. "Don't let that ego of yours inflate to much," I warn taking his hand in. "How could I with you putting me down so much?"
"Aww, sweetie," I tease as his cars pulls up into my driveway. I sigh wondering how such a wonderful evening could come to a close so quickly. He turns the car off and faces me. "What are you thinking about?"
"How great tonight was," he smiles and kisses me. "Come on," Tristan said after a moment of quiet. I head to the house with him following. "I'm sorry about this morning," I whisper. "Forget about it we're together now aren't we?" he says his tone husky. Then he kisses me and I feel all tingly. "I love you," I murmur.
"I love you too," one more kiss and he's gone. Slipping into the house I see my mother asleep on the couch, which is still facing backwards to the television from my rearranging of furniture two weeks prior. Grabbing a blanket from the closet I drape it over my mother while leaving a kiss on her forehead. I then head to my room and straight to bed. Someone is in love with me, my lips curve into a smile. I was suddenly giddy with happiness as I change into my pajamas. Settling into bed I close my eyes and wait for sleep to come over me.
-End Friday
COMING SOON: Saturday, the study session from hell. Tristan, Rory, Paris and Jim…will they survive?