Disclaimer: Nothing is mine except for the plot.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and encouragement! Personal thank yous can be found at the end of the chapter. Once again I apologize for taking forever but I think I've finally overcome my writers block so the ideas are pouring out now. So read and review, thanks again!
Chapter Seven: Damn
"This
old world well/ Don't it make you wanna think damn/ This cold girl well/ Don't
she wanna make you scream, damn/ What's the matter girl /Don't you think I'm
good enough/ This old heart's had a whole lot a breakin' down /She's got all
these reasons in her head/ All that time she knew if I lied/ You can bet she
will/She's taking her time 'til I thought I would die/And I can't sit still/
Things got turned 'round /Don't know where I started from, damn/
Can't eat, can't sleep /Could have been a bigger man, damn"
~Matchbox20
Paris tried to keep calm as she approached Stars Hollow, but as many had noted, being calm and rational wasn't one of her strong points. She tried to concentrate on the road ahead of her but all her thoughts kept going back to Tristan. Like it or not that boy had always been a part of her life. From a childhood friend to an extreme crush to an adversary and then a friend again, she loved Tristan, in one form or another, she had and always would love him.
She passed the site where the welcome to Stars Hollow sign used to reside. The remnants of the accident turned her stomach. But she forced her fear down to the pit in her stomach, where all her repressed emotions went, and focused on the task at hand.
Jess waited outside of the dinner and once again a cigarette hung from his lips. He was so lost in his own thoughts he didn't even notice the expensive car until it swerved in front of him. His head snapped up and met angry flashing brown eyes. Yep it was Gellar.
"Get in Marino." She ordered tersely. And he just gave her that lazy smile. Oh how she hated that smile, that slow grin that dripped of condensation, she hated the way it made her heart do that stupid fluttering thing.
Jess picked up the two bags at his feet and put them in the car. His movements were slow, almost idle. He could see the color rising in her face as she tried to keep her temper in check. He loved pissing her off. It was almost as fun as kissing her. But he tried not dwelling on that.
"Don't get your panties in a bunch Gellar. I'm coming."
She gave him another deadly glare and muttered obscenities under her breath as she sped off. Damn that boy and his effect on her…
Rory had been trying to busy herself around the house as she waited for Jess and Paris to get back. After his admission she had dried her tears and he drifted off into a fitful sleep. She had covered him with her mom's Hello Kitty blanket and put his bloodied shirt in the washer.
Now there was nothing to do but wait. God, she hated waiting. She sat down on the floor next to the couch and began stroking his hair. She looked at him and felt that stirring in the pit of her stomach. No matter how long he was gone or how mad she was at him or whom she was dating she always felt that…rumble…some kind of recognition. Before she had always dismissed it as digestion or as she became a little more mature as just simple attraction. But now she wasn't so sure that was all it was.
"Rory?" he called out groggily.
"Right here."
"Good."
"Can I get you anything?"
He tried to smile. "A new life?"
Her mouth opened but she didn't know how to respond. She couldn't make herself joke about this whole situation. Something was very wrong here and she had no idea what she was supposed to do to fix it. Or even if she could fix it.
Tristan saw her at a loss for words and cursed himself. What was he thinking? She was a nice girl, a good girl, and there was no way she could understand what he was going through. There was no reason for him to put her through any more of this tragic farce he called his life.
"Just forget it. I'll be out of your way soon." He said his voice rough with exhaustion and pain but Rory didn't miss the fact that he was dismissing her. After all the worrying she had gone through and was still going through he had the nerve to dismiss her as if she was some servant.
"You asshole." She yelled before she even thought. Now she was pissed off. "I don't know what the hell your problem is but don't you dare think you can treat me like hired help. I am not at your beck and call and I am sure as hell not here to be treated like crap."
"Why are you here Rory?" he asked getting more upset. "Why should you care what happens to me, other than you're such a good person."
"Don't you mock me Tristan DuGrey!"
"I'm not a fucking DuGrey!" he screamed back at her.
"What are you talking about?" she asked frustrated beyond belief.
"Nothing." He answered sullenly as all the yelling was making his head hurt worse. "It's nothing you'd understand."
Rory let out a frustrated growl. "Why do you keep acting like we're from totally different worlds? Like there's no way I can have any comprehension of what you're going through?"
"Cause you can't."
"How do you know that? You don't know me, Tristan."
"Sure I do." He mocked. "You're perfect Mary Gilmore. Everyone's angel who lives in this magical little town where nothing goes wrong. And life is just peachy keen."
Rory gave a dry laugh and sat down again. She looked him in the eyes and said, "Like I said before, Tristan you have no idea."
He looked into her solemn blue eyes and saw a weariness that shocked him. Maybe his Mary's life wasn't quite as perfect as he thought.
She looked at him and her heart just broke. He looked like a little lost boy. A little lost boy with no Peter Pan or Neverland in sight.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. Her hand reached out to brush the hair off his forehead but his own hand captured hers. He pulled her closer and she made no move to resist. Her lips landed on his beginning this gentle, almost chaste kiss, she was careful of his bruised face and slightly swollen lips. But even this soft kiss, made her feel like her heart was about to explode, sensory overload. And he felt the same way.
They broke apart as the door opened. But not before he brushed her cheek with his hand and murmured, "Best medicine ever."
"It's no wonder we weren't in an accident. Jesus, Gellar, who ever let you have a license was a complete moron."
"Unlike the half-wit who gave you yours Marino. Cause I seem to remember Rory wearing a cast after driving with you. So I wouldn't be throwing stones." Paris raged back completely oblivious to the moment they had just interrupted.
"Wouldn't want to damage that expensive glass house of yours." Jess mocked in a biting tone.
"Guys." Interrupted Rory exasperated, "Can you tone it down or at least go to your respective corners." She had forgotten how much Paris and Jess didn't get along.
"Sorry." Jess muttered.
Paris finally remembering where she was and why she was here rushed over to the couch. She winced when she saw Tristan's battered condition.
"Tristan, what have you done to yourself?" Paris questioned as she knelt down beside the boy.
He grimaced as he saw Paris's stern expression. "I messed up." As her eyes softened he decided to clarify a little more. "I am messed up."
Her heart broke for him. "Tell me something I don't know. So how are we going to fix this?"
"Don't think we can."
Rory moved away as Paris took her place. But as she went to the kitchen with Jess she called back. "Tristan, remember you're dealing with a Gellar and a Gilmore. Haven't you heard there's nothing we can't do."?
He laughed and then let Paris cluck over him like some militant mother hen.
"So what did you bring?" Rory asked Jess as they went into the kitchen.
Jess set the two bags down and pulled out various assortments of food, ice and coffee for Rory.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Oh I grabbed some extra clothes for the Preppy kid. I'm not sure if they'll fit but they're better than anything you have around here."
"Thanks again."
"Hey what are friends for?" he asked with a half smile. She smiled back gratefully.
Paris entered the kitchen and tried to control the flinch that naturally came when she saw Jess looking at Rory in that adoring way.
"Tristan wants to talk to us. All of us." She said shooting Jess a look.
They all sat around the sofa each with a cup of coffee.
"So what's this pow-wow about?" asked Jess kind of obnoxiously.
Tristan didn't even spare him a glance. He took a deep breath instead and began, "Knowing Gellar and Mary I'm not going to get any rest until I spill some of my guts so here it is. And then I want you to leave me alone to sleep."
Rory and Paris both offended began to open their mouths only to have Jess hit them both.
"Anyway, as I was saying. I was upset mixed my cocktails with the wrong kind of pills and mistakenly thought I could drive. Next thing I know I'm running into something. I wake up to find Surly standing over me. End of story."
"What were you thinking?" exploded Paris.
"Isn't obvious? I wasn't thinking."
"You could have killed someone. You could have killed yourself!"
"I know Paris!"
"Ease up Gellar."
"You, shut up!" sending a death glare to Jess.
"Tristan I know you're grieving but your Grandfather wouldn't want you acting this way."
The last vestiges of color were leeched from Tristan's face as he absorbed that blow.
"Don't talk about him." He growled.
"You know—"she began again.
Jess tired of this three-ring circus and grabbed Gellar and dragged her out of the room.
"Leave me alone!"
"Simmer down killer. You weren't helping in there."
She forced herself to take some deep breaths and admitted to herself that he was right. It was then she noticed that he was still holding onto her arms, but now instead of holding her in place they were lightly stroking up and down. She jerked herself out of his reach.
"Fine. I'll let it go. For now."
"Fine."
Rory crossed the room to where Tristan lay on the couch.
"You know she wasn't trying to hurt you. And she does have a point."
"Rory just let it go for tonight. Please." He asked not opening his eyes.
She looked down at him and immediately assented. He looked so defeated and tired. And she was tired and thanks to their kiss before she was also confused beyond belief. Everyone needed a break. She just hoped Paris and Jess hadn't killed each other.
"We're all tired so let's just get some rest." She said, as she made sure he was covered and brought him so more ice.
"Thanks Mary." He said his voice slurred as he began to drift off to sleep.
She squeezed his hand one more time, trying to reassure him; someway that everything was going to be all right. But his hand tugged her back and she found herself kissing him one more time. This time is was with more passion. With more passion than anyone, who was half asleep and half dead, had any right too but she found herself responding. And it was he who broke it off whispering "Goodnight Mary, sweet dreams."
Rory just blushed as she went to her room. There was no doubt about it she was in way over her head.
Mandie: You're such a loyal reviewer, thank you! Piper-h-99: Wow love the enthusiasm. Thanks and as you see there is more kissing to come! ELIZA: Glad you like it, thanks for taking the time to review. Marie: Sorry I didn't write more sooner. Hope your finals week went well! Halie: Thank you, I'm happy you like it. Carrie: Lol glad you like Trory action and don't worry lots more is on the way. And I have a feeling Paris and Jess may be a little preoccupied ;) TheCurlyOne2006: I'm glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for the compliment! Lola: Hope you enjoyed the minor Trory action there will be lots more I promise. And kudos to you for picking up on the Paris/Jess tension. I have plans for them. Deeta: Thank you for the kind words. You're such a sweetheart. My mom is doing better and while I didn't make it back to school this semester. I'm going to pick up classes in the summer. I'm a huge dork and I love school, so I'll be back. I suck at that work thing, lol. Effie: Thanks for the sweet review! Ellie: Hey girl! Glad you like this, do you have a new story up yet? Let me know. You know I love your work! Chevie Jane: Lol, sorry this took so long. I hate waiting for stories to update and here I am all guilty of not updating forever. I hang my head in shame. I hope you liked this and that the next part is out sooner! Jamie the Red Fish: Thanks hun for the encouragement. I appreciate it. Death-resurrected: Thanks for the compliments. I'm glad you think this is deeper. I'm trying! Crissy: Thanks for the review, emotions are tricky little buggers to write I'm glad I'm doing okay so far. Tristanschick: More Trory action is coming. Things will be heating up between our two favorite characters. Laine: Lol, yeah Nurse Mary does sound slutty. As soon as I wrote I heard Lorelai saying "dirty" in my head. Thanks for the review!
