Chapter 5
The rest of the day went by slowly for both Tristan and Rory. During lunch, Tristan had tried to talk to Rory and explain himself. With every attempt he made, she turned on her heels and left him standing there. Finally Tristan gave up. He realized that Rory wasn't going to talk to him.
*Good job DuGrey.* Tristan cursed himself silently.
* * *
Rory was on her way to her locker. It had been a long day. Avoiding Tristan had been harder than she had first thought. Every corner she turned, he was there waiting to talk to her. She wouldn't have it though. After what she had seen that morning, she couldn't bring herself to face him and let him explain. After trying several attempts to open her locker, she finally gave up and banged her head on it. *Stupid, stupid locker! Why won't you ever open when I need you to? Now I've missed my bus and I'll have to stick around here for another half an hour!*
"Do you need some help with that Rory?"
Rory looked up and saw Tristan standing there.
"Please." She moved away to give him better access to the locker. After banging just above the handle a couple of times it flew open.
"Thanks." When she looked in it, she saw a little note inside and a yellow rose. She picked up the note and began reading it. Tristan stood by watching her expression.
Dear Rory,
I'm sorry. This was the only way that I could explain myself without you running away from me. I wanted to explain myself to you today countless times, but every time I would approach you, you would turn and walk away. I know that I screwed up and that I might not get a second chance, but at least let me explain.
This morning, before you came to bring me back my jacket, the guys were hassling me about the goofy smile I had on my face. So I told them that I went on a date with you. Then you showed up with my coat. I didn't realize that everyone else was smirking until I saw the tears start to form in your eyes and I watched you turn and leave. I looked at the guys and saw that they were all smirking like I was, only I was smirking because I thought you looked cute. I really am sorry.
The yellow rose is me asking for forgiveness. I went to the florist and asked them what I could possibly get someone I was asking to forgive me. The lady handed me a yellow rose telling me it stood for forgiveness. So here I am, asking you for your forgiveness. I don't expect you to really give me a second chance, but I am asking for one.
Tristan Rory turned to Tristan and again, her eyes were moist.
"Rory, I really am sorry."
Rory looked into his eyes and saw the sincerity there. She saw the hope and the hurt mixed together. *Would it really be that bad for me to give him a chance?*
"I accept you apology Tristan. I guess it wasn't really right of me to jump to conclusions."
"No, you had every right. So, ummm... can I drive you home? I mean, since the next bus won't be here for another 20 minutes."
"You wouldn't mind?"
"No, not at all." After retrieving all her needed books, Rory walked with Tristan to his car. By now all the students had left, along with the teachers. Tristan's car was the only one left. As Tristan drove away, silence fell between the two. It was awkward and neither knew how much more they could stand. Both had questions to ask but didn't have the nerve to ask them. Finally Rory gave in and started to say something.
"So..."
"So..."
"OK, that was the part where you fill in the empty space with a topic of conversation."
"Oh, sorry. OK, I didn't really want to bring this up just yet, but where are we?"
"Umm, just about 15 more minutes until Stars Hollow."
"No, I mean... where does this leave us?"
"Oh." Rory stopped to think for a second. "Where do you want us to end up?"
"I asked you first, so you have to answer first."
"What are we? In the third grade? " Rory and Tristan laughed together and rid some of the tension between them. "Well, what did you mean by a second chance?"
"Ummm... well it short of had a double meaning to it." When Rory looked at him with a confused expression he continued. "I was hoping for a second chance at 'us' and if you weren't willing to do that, than at least friends." Tristan turned his gaze back to the road and focused extremely hard on driving.
"Oh..." was all Rory said again. She didn't know what to say. She was having an inner battle within her head. *What should I do? Should I give another chance at "us" or should we just stay friends?*
Tristan's mind was a mess also. *She doesn't want to give us another chance. She doesn't want anything to do with me. Good going Tristan.*
"OK."
"What?"
"OK, I'll give us another chance."
*She said OK! She said yes? You're so lucky DuGrey. Don't mess this up!* Tristan's mouth cracked up into a huge smile. By this time they had pulled up to Rory's house. He stopped the car and turned it off. They sat next to each other for a little bit.
"So, do I get to take you out on another date?" Rory smiled brightly.
"You better! Besides, I think you have a debt to work off buddy!" With that she got out of the car and reached for her bag that was in the back seat. As she went to pull it out, Tristan grabbed her arm. He slowly leaned in and kissed her softly.
"Bye... Mary." She smiled.
"Bye Tristan." She left and went inside as Tristan pulled out of the driveway, neither of them noticing the female figure watching them from the window inside the house. As Rory walked through the door, Lorelai busied herself with a magazine on the couch. When Rory walked into the living room Lorelai called to her, "So, now he's driving you home too? Why didn't you wake me up to tell me the details of your date?"
"I missed my bus so he offered to drive me home and because it was late and you looked so innocent sleeping. I think that's the only time you're innocent."
"I resent that!"
"And besides, if you wanted to know so badly why didn't you ask me yesterday? It was Sunday after all."
"I didn't ask you missy because you were at Lane's before I woke up and then I had to go to Hartford to get some stuff for Sookie! So spill now!!"
"Fine... at least let me go change." She walked into her room and began the process of putting on something that wasn't plaid and uncomfortable. Outside Lorelai found the single yellow rose that Rory had brought in with her. *Must be from Tristan* She picked it up and placed it a vase. *What's with this guy and flowers? He should be bringing us coffee instead!*
After grabbing a bag of chips, Lorelai settled back on the couch just as Rory came back out.
"So where do I begin?"
*~ Chilton the Next Day ~*
Rory walked down the halls in Chilton. She hoped that today would go over much more smoothly than it had the day before. She turned the corner and saw Tristan leaning against her locker with a coffee in hand.
"Morning."
"Hey. Here, I thought you might like this." He handed her the coffee which she began to drink immediately.
"Thanks, I really needed that. I didn't get a chance to stop by Luke's this Morning."
"Luke's?"
"It's the dinner that keeps me and my mom alive. I live for his coffee. It's better than Starbuck's!"
"This, I don't believe. I mean Starbucks has different kinds of coffee, not just the normal kind."
"Well believe it. The next time you're in Stars Hollow, I'm taking you to have some, but be warned! You might get addicted."
"OK, I'm warned. So, how's after school for ya?"
"What?"
"Coffee. After school, I could drive you home and then we could have coffee."
"Sounds good." Rory closed her locker and started to walk as Tristan followed her. When they entered the class they received curious glances and whispers from their classmates. Rory thought nothing of it and settle in her seat waiting for the class to start.
*~ Lunch ~*
"Hey DuGrey! Wait up man!" Alec came running down the hall towards him.
"What's up White?"
"What's going on with you and that Gilmore chick? I heard you finally got her to crack!"
Tristan tried to refrain a crude comment from escaping his lips, so instead he just shrugged.
"Aw, come on man. You've got to fill me in. I've known you far too long for you to pull this. What's up with you two?"
"Nothing. We're just going to the dance together that's it." As soon as he said this, he knew it was a mistake. Rory hadn't really consented to this.
"The dance eh?" Alec smirked at Tristan.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just, we all know what happened at the last dance." Tristan looked at him puzzled then realization dawned on him. After their Christmas dance, his date Danielle had insisted that they go back to her place. He agreed without any hesitation. Well, you can guess what happened.
"That's not going to happen this time. Besides, Rory's different. We would never."
"Have you finally fallen for a girl? One? Meaning, no more dating every girl in school, but just one?"
"Of course not! Come on, you know me better than that. Well I got to go. I need to discuss some things with my date, later White."
"Yeah later man." Tristan walked around the school in search of Rory. He needed to make sure she was still going to go to the dance with him. After 10 minutes of searching, he finally found her outside leaning against a tree reading. He plopped down next to her.
"Hey, whatcha reading?"
"Hmmm? Oh, The Diary of Anne Frank."
"Isn't that the one where she, her family and another are all living above her father's factory because they were Jews and people were looking for them? Cuz you know, the whole Nazi thing?"
"Yeah. So what's up?"
"Well I was just talking to some friends and we happened to come on to the topic of the spring dance. Are we still going... together?"
"I guess so. I mean, I did agree didn't I?"
"Not really by choice, your grandmother sort of answered for you..."
"I would love to go with you." She smiled brightly at him. She seemed to be doing that a lot more lately. *She's gorgeous.*
"OK, well we better head in. Class is going to start any minute now. Come on." He helped her up and they walked in, hand in hand.
The rest of the day went by slowly for both Tristan and Rory. During lunch, Tristan had tried to talk to Rory and explain himself. With every attempt he made, she turned on her heels and left him standing there. Finally Tristan gave up. He realized that Rory wasn't going to talk to him.
*Good job DuGrey.* Tristan cursed himself silently.
* * *
Rory was on her way to her locker. It had been a long day. Avoiding Tristan had been harder than she had first thought. Every corner she turned, he was there waiting to talk to her. She wouldn't have it though. After what she had seen that morning, she couldn't bring herself to face him and let him explain. After trying several attempts to open her locker, she finally gave up and banged her head on it. *Stupid, stupid locker! Why won't you ever open when I need you to? Now I've missed my bus and I'll have to stick around here for another half an hour!*
"Do you need some help with that Rory?"
Rory looked up and saw Tristan standing there.
"Please." She moved away to give him better access to the locker. After banging just above the handle a couple of times it flew open.
"Thanks." When she looked in it, she saw a little note inside and a yellow rose. She picked up the note and began reading it. Tristan stood by watching her expression.
Dear Rory,
I'm sorry. This was the only way that I could explain myself without you running away from me. I wanted to explain myself to you today countless times, but every time I would approach you, you would turn and walk away. I know that I screwed up and that I might not get a second chance, but at least let me explain.
This morning, before you came to bring me back my jacket, the guys were hassling me about the goofy smile I had on my face. So I told them that I went on a date with you. Then you showed up with my coat. I didn't realize that everyone else was smirking until I saw the tears start to form in your eyes and I watched you turn and leave. I looked at the guys and saw that they were all smirking like I was, only I was smirking because I thought you looked cute. I really am sorry.
The yellow rose is me asking for forgiveness. I went to the florist and asked them what I could possibly get someone I was asking to forgive me. The lady handed me a yellow rose telling me it stood for forgiveness. So here I am, asking you for your forgiveness. I don't expect you to really give me a second chance, but I am asking for one.
Tristan Rory turned to Tristan and again, her eyes were moist.
"Rory, I really am sorry."
Rory looked into his eyes and saw the sincerity there. She saw the hope and the hurt mixed together. *Would it really be that bad for me to give him a chance?*
"I accept you apology Tristan. I guess it wasn't really right of me to jump to conclusions."
"No, you had every right. So, ummm... can I drive you home? I mean, since the next bus won't be here for another 20 minutes."
"You wouldn't mind?"
"No, not at all." After retrieving all her needed books, Rory walked with Tristan to his car. By now all the students had left, along with the teachers. Tristan's car was the only one left. As Tristan drove away, silence fell between the two. It was awkward and neither knew how much more they could stand. Both had questions to ask but didn't have the nerve to ask them. Finally Rory gave in and started to say something.
"So..."
"So..."
"OK, that was the part where you fill in the empty space with a topic of conversation."
"Oh, sorry. OK, I didn't really want to bring this up just yet, but where are we?"
"Umm, just about 15 more minutes until Stars Hollow."
"No, I mean... where does this leave us?"
"Oh." Rory stopped to think for a second. "Where do you want us to end up?"
"I asked you first, so you have to answer first."
"What are we? In the third grade? " Rory and Tristan laughed together and rid some of the tension between them. "Well, what did you mean by a second chance?"
"Ummm... well it short of had a double meaning to it." When Rory looked at him with a confused expression he continued. "I was hoping for a second chance at 'us' and if you weren't willing to do that, than at least friends." Tristan turned his gaze back to the road and focused extremely hard on driving.
"Oh..." was all Rory said again. She didn't know what to say. She was having an inner battle within her head. *What should I do? Should I give another chance at "us" or should we just stay friends?*
Tristan's mind was a mess also. *She doesn't want to give us another chance. She doesn't want anything to do with me. Good going Tristan.*
"OK."
"What?"
"OK, I'll give us another chance."
*She said OK! She said yes? You're so lucky DuGrey. Don't mess this up!* Tristan's mouth cracked up into a huge smile. By this time they had pulled up to Rory's house. He stopped the car and turned it off. They sat next to each other for a little bit.
"So, do I get to take you out on another date?" Rory smiled brightly.
"You better! Besides, I think you have a debt to work off buddy!" With that she got out of the car and reached for her bag that was in the back seat. As she went to pull it out, Tristan grabbed her arm. He slowly leaned in and kissed her softly.
"Bye... Mary." She smiled.
"Bye Tristan." She left and went inside as Tristan pulled out of the driveway, neither of them noticing the female figure watching them from the window inside the house. As Rory walked through the door, Lorelai busied herself with a magazine on the couch. When Rory walked into the living room Lorelai called to her, "So, now he's driving you home too? Why didn't you wake me up to tell me the details of your date?"
"I missed my bus so he offered to drive me home and because it was late and you looked so innocent sleeping. I think that's the only time you're innocent."
"I resent that!"
"And besides, if you wanted to know so badly why didn't you ask me yesterday? It was Sunday after all."
"I didn't ask you missy because you were at Lane's before I woke up and then I had to go to Hartford to get some stuff for Sookie! So spill now!!"
"Fine... at least let me go change." She walked into her room and began the process of putting on something that wasn't plaid and uncomfortable. Outside Lorelai found the single yellow rose that Rory had brought in with her. *Must be from Tristan* She picked it up and placed it a vase. *What's with this guy and flowers? He should be bringing us coffee instead!*
After grabbing a bag of chips, Lorelai settled back on the couch just as Rory came back out.
"So where do I begin?"
*~ Chilton the Next Day ~*
Rory walked down the halls in Chilton. She hoped that today would go over much more smoothly than it had the day before. She turned the corner and saw Tristan leaning against her locker with a coffee in hand.
"Morning."
"Hey. Here, I thought you might like this." He handed her the coffee which she began to drink immediately.
"Thanks, I really needed that. I didn't get a chance to stop by Luke's this Morning."
"Luke's?"
"It's the dinner that keeps me and my mom alive. I live for his coffee. It's better than Starbuck's!"
"This, I don't believe. I mean Starbucks has different kinds of coffee, not just the normal kind."
"Well believe it. The next time you're in Stars Hollow, I'm taking you to have some, but be warned! You might get addicted."
"OK, I'm warned. So, how's after school for ya?"
"What?"
"Coffee. After school, I could drive you home and then we could have coffee."
"Sounds good." Rory closed her locker and started to walk as Tristan followed her. When they entered the class they received curious glances and whispers from their classmates. Rory thought nothing of it and settle in her seat waiting for the class to start.
*~ Lunch ~*
"Hey DuGrey! Wait up man!" Alec came running down the hall towards him.
"What's up White?"
"What's going on with you and that Gilmore chick? I heard you finally got her to crack!"
Tristan tried to refrain a crude comment from escaping his lips, so instead he just shrugged.
"Aw, come on man. You've got to fill me in. I've known you far too long for you to pull this. What's up with you two?"
"Nothing. We're just going to the dance together that's it." As soon as he said this, he knew it was a mistake. Rory hadn't really consented to this.
"The dance eh?" Alec smirked at Tristan.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just, we all know what happened at the last dance." Tristan looked at him puzzled then realization dawned on him. After their Christmas dance, his date Danielle had insisted that they go back to her place. He agreed without any hesitation. Well, you can guess what happened.
"That's not going to happen this time. Besides, Rory's different. We would never."
"Have you finally fallen for a girl? One? Meaning, no more dating every girl in school, but just one?"
"Of course not! Come on, you know me better than that. Well I got to go. I need to discuss some things with my date, later White."
"Yeah later man." Tristan walked around the school in search of Rory. He needed to make sure she was still going to go to the dance with him. After 10 minutes of searching, he finally found her outside leaning against a tree reading. He plopped down next to her.
"Hey, whatcha reading?"
"Hmmm? Oh, The Diary of Anne Frank."
"Isn't that the one where she, her family and another are all living above her father's factory because they were Jews and people were looking for them? Cuz you know, the whole Nazi thing?"
"Yeah. So what's up?"
"Well I was just talking to some friends and we happened to come on to the topic of the spring dance. Are we still going... together?"
"I guess so. I mean, I did agree didn't I?"
"Not really by choice, your grandmother sort of answered for you..."
"I would love to go with you." She smiled brightly at him. She seemed to be doing that a lot more lately. *She's gorgeous.*
"OK, well we better head in. Class is going to start any minute now. Come on." He helped her up and they walked in, hand in hand.