hola people. i have absolutely nothing to say because its summer and

i'm really bored. so, yah.

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disclaimer: if i owned gilmore girls would i be writing this?

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chapter 6: Always and Forever

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"Honest answer," Rory said to Tristan as they sat drinking their

coffee at the coffee house. They had already finished catching up on

the past year and a half, and Tristan was filled in on the Lori story.

"Okay," he said.

"Why did you ask me here today instead of Lori? I mean, she's

generally the type of girl you like."

"Honest answer?" he asked.

Rory nodded.

"She's not you. I came back to Hartford wanting a second chance

at friendship with you. I have no desire to get to know her."

"Why?"

"You intrigue me, Rory. And she's not you. She's just another

girl. But you're different. You're special," Tristan said, wanting to

tell her how much he loved her, but also knowing he had to hold back.

He hoped this answer would satisfy her without making her angry and

shattering their delicate friendship.

Rory smiled. "Have you been watching Barney lately?"

"No," he answered, still being serious.

"You really think I am then?" she asked, growing serious.

"Always and forever," he replied.

Rory reached across the table and put her hand over his.

"I missed you," she said.

"I missed you too." The small gesture that Rory had made touched

Tristan deeply, and he found within himself newfound hope that maybe,

just maybe, someday they could be more than friends.

*****

Lori sat in the cafeteria, picking at her salad. She wasn't

paying attention to Summer's detailed version of the school hierarchy.

Instead, her mind was far away, thinking of what she could do to get

back at Rory.

In Lori's eyes, the fact that Rory ran off with Tristan was

unacceptable, even though she knew very well that Rory had found him

first. And she was jealous. Because Lori wanted Tristan. She wanted him

with everything inside of her. Her mind had been full of dirty little

fantasies of him for the first half of the lunch period. But now she

was focusing on punishing Rory. Because in Lori's world, you don't fix

things, you get even. Even when nothing was ever really wrong in the

first place.

But that's just how Lori's mind worked.



*****

Tristan and Rory showed up at school just as the bell signaling

the end of lunch rang. Lori happened to see her sister in the hallway

as she was headed to her next class. She wasn't shocked to find them

back so soon, because she knew Rory would never go off and do something

with another boy when she had a boyfriend. Or ever, for that matter.

And that's when it hit her.

What would Jess say to Rory's little lunch date?

An evil grin spread across Lori's face. She hurried to class so

that she could sit there and plan the whole encounter.

***

a/n: another short chapter. many apologies on my part. but the next one

should be longer. sorry again!