Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone that y'all recognize from Gilmore Girls.
A.N. I know that I haven't written in forever. I am truly sorry for that but people have still been reading and replying which means a whole lot to me. I have totally revamped my story so I would recommend re-reading the previous three chapters ( the first chapter was changed the most.it sets the foundation more for the story that I want to write). I promise to continue writing on a more frequent basis now that I am stuck doing the whole waiting thing for colleges (since I've already applied and I don't feel like doing homework, I bet y'all know what that's like). So without further ado here is the next installment of Runaway Train.
Recap- Tristan has got a nice ass but, my man has a better one. Eww did I just say that he's mine? How high school is that?
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Tristan rushed back to his office. He felt excited to be going back into field work again. He remember at college when all he did was research breaking news stories. He remembered one particular story about a series of robberies at Yale. No matter how hard the campus police looked, they could never connect the anything from crime scenes to create a profile for the robber. The story became Tristan's life for an entire month. He laughed thinking about how lucky he was that the robberies didn't interfere with the exam schedule. In fact, the exam schedule was his first clue. Tristan became the story because he immersed himself in the story. He connected the seemingly unconnectable crime scenes. He cracked the case and loved every minute of the excitement. But he realized that he could never live his life completely involved in everything - he couldn't be a police officer who solves crimes daily.
He loved the research and the logic but not being personally involved by tracking down the criminal - that's why he chose his profession to be journalism, he gets the best of both worlds. He wanted to be in the background, the person no one hears about, but he knew that with his personality, he could never be in the background- so he learned how to be an observer while he was in the center of everything. He realized with that story that he is an observer of people. Normally people-watchers or observers were quiet but not Tristan.
(I don't fit a mold. At first that idea scared the shit out of me because I had always fit a mold. I went through elementary school being a Dugray even though I was short, unattractive, quiet, and nerdy people flocked to me. I mastered the game by middle school and even though I was already popular, I became Mr. Popular because puberty was very kind to me. I mean it kinda had to be. After all both of my parents are very attractive, the point of their marriage was to produce more beautiful rich offspring. They fulfilled their goals that concerned one another. I'm glad I figured out how to play that game before my little sister and brother could go through what I did and become as jaded as I was.
Anyway, I am glad I got to college before I could totally have a breakdown and gave into the whole rich people mentality in Hartford. Yale, even though the school is very ivy league, surrounded me with new people who didn't grow up the way I did. They weren't at Yale because they were legacies, they were there because Yale was their dream and they worked harder than anyone to fulfill that dream. And then that year abroad. My parents thought that I traveled all over Europe but in reality I was in South America. I lived in Bolivia learning the language and I helped out in a school in downtown La Paz. It was a humbling experience that gave me the will to put up with Hartford society and see the good in people. I became a rich, good looking person who has a conscience and who observes people. I don't fit any mold that anyone could come up with and now I like it that way.)
"Woah, I need to stop daydreaming or going down memory lane or doing whatever I was doing," Tristan said as he shook his head. "I need to get to work and to stop talking to myself." Tristan began checking the internet to verify the Gilmore story incase it was a fabrication or just gossip that Hartford is legendary for. He soon found out that the story was indeed true. He also rented a house down in Stars Hollow for a month so he could be in the town instead of a hotel where he would be separated from the hustle and bustle of Stars Hollow. He luckily got a house a block away from the center of town. "Hey maybe my house will be close to the Gilmore household. That would be quite nice and very convenient. I would say that it makes my job easier but I have a feeling that I should not underestimate the Gilmores. They do not seem like the type of people who would easily go along with this story."
"Are you talking to yourself again boy? And you said I was the one who talked just to hear myself speak. You're the one who is talking to no one. Isn't that the first sign of insanity?"
"Paris, darling. Don't you have someone to terrorize besides me? I love the attention but isn't it unfair that you are spending all this time with me and ignoring your other writers? And I was just thinking out loud so that I could hear every thought, I learned that from living with you, darling. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
"I was just on my way out and I wanted to say good luck on the assignment because I assumed that you would want to start going to where ever you have to go probably tomorrow. The only questions I have are: where are you going and how long will you be gone?"
"I already told you that I will be going outside of Hartford, right near our old stomping grounds, goodness, we spent forever there. I thought we would finally leave for college but no, we ended up at Yale RIGHT THERE. Wow, so many memories. And I have rented a house for a month, starting Friday, tomorrow Friday. I will give you all the details when I get into the thick of the story, but right now I want to keep everything to myself. Is that ok?"
"I know all I need to know, hun. Eventually I will die if I don't find out but I think I can survive a few days. Maybe a day. I don't know if I can handle not knowing, but at least I'm trying."
"Don't worry I will tell you soon. But for now just because I am a nice person, I'm telling you to think of the mystery lunch date who you are going to have a dinner date with tonight. I think you should make your fantastic roasted green bell pepper soup to start off with. Then you should make the field green salad with that homemade vinaigrette, you know, the green one. Or maybe the salad should come first and then the soup. The main course should be light, something like that fantastic yellow rice with steak. And you shouldn't bring out the wine until you serve the main course because the soup doesn't mix with wine, red or white. How does that sound?"
"Wow are you gay? Because you are really good at this. When did you learn how to wine and dine? Wait never mind, you have always known about that. How come you never did that for me? Ah, I don't really care. You have a game plan for me and that rocks. I really needed help because I was going into this making dinner date blind. What is this guy doing to me? I have no lists, no plans!" Paris started to stutter and freak out a bit.
"Sweetheart don't worry about it. And before you ask me where I found out about your date, you talk loudly on the phone and I eavesdrop extremely well. I'm glad that you have only gone out on one date with this unknown man and he has already gotten under your skin. He did more than I ever could and I am very glad that he has gotten you so jumbled." Tristan said smiling.
"Are you kidding me? he is not under my skin. What are you talking about? I am just frazzled because of you and your whole little thing.what is it called? Your piece! That's it. You and your piece are on my mind. My job is the most important thing right now, no men. Goodness, don't you know me at all?" Paris huffed. Tristan knew that he had hit the problem right at its core.
"I'm sorry Paris. But I am going to go home now and get packed. You should get home and wait for the groceries that you got Ceci, your assistant if you forgot her name on one of your lists," he joked bobbing his eyebrows up and down, "Don't look at me like that. I know everything that goes on in this office. Well, I know everything important that goes on. So go. I think you should go home and take a bath before the mystery man gets there. Hopefully the bath will calm your nerves and make you smell pretty, cuz from this standpoint you could use a bath, smelly girl, whew." Tristan laughed as Paris got a mortified look on her face. She then began to chase him around his office, trying to hit him over the head with a packet of papers.
"You! YOU! YOU.I can't even think of something bad enough to call you. I smell!?! Oh oh oh I can't even begin to process anything I am so mad at you."
"Well I am going to go home so I can pack but you have fun with your man. I would have figured out his name by now if you weren't so careful and didn't use his name in your phone conversations at all. I'm dying to know his name. What is it?"
"You honestly think that I will tell you that after you tell me that I smell? Yeah that will never happen, Satan. Well I am not going to let you leave first, I need to make my exit." Paris flounced out of the office causing quite a stir when she wasn't looking where she was going and ran into Tristan's assistance desk. She refused to look back at Tristan's laughing figure, she would not give him the satisfaction. Paris stopped thinking about her injured hip and started getting excited about her pending date.
(What am I going to wear? What is it going to be like? Should I go out and get more wine? I think I might and then I can get after dinner wines or sherry so we can sit and talk. I really want to learn about this man. Can he really be getting under my skin? Tristan knows me better than anyone and he said so, but can he be right? Oh no I am getting all anxious and nervous again. And then I will start to sweat and what if HE wants to hold my hand or something and I am all clammy? That would be gross.
I have to calm down and think happy, calming thoughts. I think Tristan is right about me taking a bath, but not because I smell. I am going to take a bath and put some smelling salts in it and then put lotion on afterwards so that I have a nice soft smell on my skin and not something overpowering like perfume.) Paris continued to think as she stepped out of the Times building and walked home. (Then I am going to wear a form fitting shirt that has a scoop neck to emphasize my neck and then I'm thinking about a calf length skirt with no shoes. That would be comfortable and not too dressy but nice and not sloppy. Oh goodness I am going to have to call Rory and Lorelei for advise.)
Paris pulled out her cell phone and placed a call to Stars Hollow. "Rory? Is that you?"
Rory, running downstairs from her mother's room grabbed for the phone, clicking it on but dropping it in the process of answering the phone. After she picks it up she is greeted with Paris' concerned voice on the other end of the line. "Hey Paris. Yeah you are right I did drop the phone again. Mom has been a little anxious today because she's not liking the fact that.oh my goodness I haven't told you yet! MOM'S PREGNANT WITH TWINS! Can you believe it? All through college we were trying to get her and Luke together and finally they see what has been in front of them and got together and I am going to have TWO siblings."
"Breathe Ror, breathe. Oxygen is a good thing to have once in awhile. But yeah, Jess told me about them having twins. I hardly know the guy and have only been out with him once and he tells me on the phone after our date the big news. I am just wondering why you didn't tell me?"
"I am so sorry that I haven't had time to call you. I have been neglectful. So much to do and learn about the diner and the whole still working at the Boston Globe but just not physically there. Don't mind me and my complaining. I'm sorry I shouldn't lay everything on you. You work very hard and had a date today. I haven't had any socializing or gossiping that was outside of Stars Hollow so your date today. how was it by the way?"
"You are the most random person I think I will ever meet. Wait I take that back. I stand corrected, your mother is. But anyway I thank you for setting up the date. I had a fantastic time and Jess isn't a "play by the rules" type of dater. He called me later this afternoon after our date to set up another one tonight. Isn't that exciting. I am on my way home to prepare and I don't know what to wear. Tristan has already told me what Jess and I should cook, since we are making dinner together, but I don't know what I should wear. I have ideas but you are my fashion guru. Ever since my first real date you have been helping me with clothing, hair, and make-up and I need you now more than ever. I really want to impress this one." Paris sounded like a giddy sixteen year-old, something she most definitely never was.
"Hun, that is so great. I am incredibly glad that you had such a good time. He called you back so soon? Wow that does not sound like the Jess I know. He plays the game better than anyone I know. He must really like you and is dying to try to figure you out. Two dates in one day, and the first two dates I might add, interesting. I am glad to see that you want to see him again tonight as much as he wants to see you. Now I'm thinking that you should wear a maroon stretchy shirt, sleeveless, you know the one Mom got you last year, and that calf length black skirt that looks so good on you. If it is at your apartment, no shoes, but if it's at his, wear those dark pink slip on sandals so that you can take off your shoes easily. You all should eat outside on your deck because New York is gorgeous in the fall and it's not too cold outside I don't think. Stick to pinks for your make- up and I know you will use a light hand. Also use that buff sparkly looking bronzer all over your face so that you look fresh. Now go home and take a bath. Wait is that the bath I hear running or am I losing it?"
"You have been losing it for quite awhile now dear but yes, I am at home and it is the bath. Thank you so much for the advice, I truly appreciate it. I think I should use the winter current with thyme tea scent in the bath don't you think?"
"Oh that sounds marvelous and I am even going to ignore your meanness for it. So what did Tristan plan for dinner? I was just about to ask you if I know him but I remember him now because you were married to him and we went to college with him. You never chilled with the girls and Tristan as I recall. You kept your New York life separate from the rest of your life during the Tristan era, so I hardly know the man. Is his judgment good enough for a wowing date?"
"He also went to high school with us dear. He was and still is the Casanova that knows how to wine and dine a lady in style. Tristan and I made mistakes during our marriage. We tried to have lives together and lives separate but that just didn't work, everything has to overlap but we couldn't handle that. We thought that everything fit in neat little boxes but lives and people can't do that. Especially the Gilmore people." Rory chuckled at how true Paris was. "But anyway, now we are great friends who work well together, which is good since I am his editor. He told me that we should make a field green salad with my homemade dressing, my quick and easily and very spicy roasted green bell pepper soup, and then a light entrée consisting of yellow rice and steak cut up into it. And before you ask, Jess is taking care of the dessert. I wonder what he'll bring."
"He is good with desserts. I am so excited that you all will be making this together and I am sure that if some of it doesn't work out you will be fine with playing everything by ear. Oh I just thought of something. Wear a light pink button down so you can protect your pretty shirt while you are cooking. You will still look nice but at least you won't have to worry about spilling. And even though red wine should be served with meat I think you should serve a good white because both of you like whites over reds. But if you choose a red, no shiraz, they are too dry, try a merlot."
"You are a lifesaver. Thank you so much."
.
While the girls continued to plan Paris' evening with the still mystery guy to Tristan, Tristan ordered carry-out and started to pack for his long trip. He knew that he needed nice clothing as well as the "hey I am just a normal guy who fits into this small town" clothes so that he won't stand out like a sore thumb. The nice clothes will be for when Tristan's parents find out that he's in town and they order him to go and visit them. Tristan also wants to go and visit his grandfather who is never anything but impeccably dressed and Tristan will not let an old man out shine him, it had been their long running joke since forever. "What else should I bring? I have all the necessities here and all different kinds of shoes, and the nice clothes which I hope I won't have to wear too often. Damn, I just remembered, I don't know if the house will have sheets and pots and toilet paper or not. I guess I will have to bring all of that stuff too. My car will be so very packed. Oh and cds, I really need to bring all of my cds. Who knows what kind of mood I will be in down there. I have my laptop and plenty of paper. I also have a tape recorder so that I can get every word for interviews. I don't need to bring food because I can always buy it there. Oh No! I forgot about my pets." Tristan has a dog and a cat. They stay in his apartment with him and are the best kind of roommates to have. They listen to you all the time and cuddle when you need it. They never talk back or forget to tell you who called. All they want is love, food, and water and they give love in return, unconditionally.
"I can't believe I forgot about Circe and Sundae. Sundae, come here my little beagle. Circe, you gorgeous feline, what kind of cat, I have no clue but you are a pretty girl." The cat and dog pounced on Tristan and the stuff he was packing. He pulled out yet another suitcase to fill with all the animals stuff. ( I really hope this house that we are going to be staying in has a fence built around it so Sundae can run around freely. These are the best two girls I know, well, besides Paris.) Tristan wondered about Paris and her pending date and all of a sudden got anxious. He wanted to hit the road that night. He wanted to be able to get to Stars Hollow by morning so that he wouldn't waste the entire day driving and getting settled. And since the keys to the house he would be staying in were placed under the doormat, Tristan could go there anytime he wanted.
He slowly packed up his car, since Sundae sensed that they were going somewhere got excited and got in Tristan's way as he carried everything out to the parking lot. Finally after 11 o'clock, Tristan was ready to leave. The girls were already inside the car and eager to start on their new journey. (I should call Paris and tell her that I'm leaving. But I don't want to interrupt her date, she would hate me for that and I don't want her to feel like I am the meddling ex-husband who wants to ruin her love life. I'll call her in the morning after we are all settled in. Who knows, Sundae and Circe might help me get an in with the people of Stars Hollow. I know everyone loves animals, or, well, most everyone so those who do will be friendly to me and Sundae, since I can't really walk a cat.)
Tristan drove out of the garage and into the loud music and bright lights of New York on a Thursday night. He drove passed all the excitement and into the night away from the city and towards a small town, something he was afraid of and excited to encounter, especially since this story would rock the New York Times. Little did he know that it would flip his world into chaos and out of those little boxes he tried to create for it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone that y'all recognize from Gilmore Girls.
A.N. I know that I haven't written in forever. I am truly sorry for that but people have still been reading and replying which means a whole lot to me. I have totally revamped my story so I would recommend re-reading the previous three chapters ( the first chapter was changed the most.it sets the foundation more for the story that I want to write). I promise to continue writing on a more frequent basis now that I am stuck doing the whole waiting thing for colleges (since I've already applied and I don't feel like doing homework, I bet y'all know what that's like). So without further ado here is the next installment of Runaway Train.
Recap- Tristan has got a nice ass but, my man has a better one. Eww did I just say that he's mine? How high school is that?
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Tristan rushed back to his office. He felt excited to be going back into field work again. He remember at college when all he did was research breaking news stories. He remembered one particular story about a series of robberies at Yale. No matter how hard the campus police looked, they could never connect the anything from crime scenes to create a profile for the robber. The story became Tristan's life for an entire month. He laughed thinking about how lucky he was that the robberies didn't interfere with the exam schedule. In fact, the exam schedule was his first clue. Tristan became the story because he immersed himself in the story. He connected the seemingly unconnectable crime scenes. He cracked the case and loved every minute of the excitement. But he realized that he could never live his life completely involved in everything - he couldn't be a police officer who solves crimes daily.
He loved the research and the logic but not being personally involved by tracking down the criminal - that's why he chose his profession to be journalism, he gets the best of both worlds. He wanted to be in the background, the person no one hears about, but he knew that with his personality, he could never be in the background- so he learned how to be an observer while he was in the center of everything. He realized with that story that he is an observer of people. Normally people-watchers or observers were quiet but not Tristan.
(I don't fit a mold. At first that idea scared the shit out of me because I had always fit a mold. I went through elementary school being a Dugray even though I was short, unattractive, quiet, and nerdy people flocked to me. I mastered the game by middle school and even though I was already popular, I became Mr. Popular because puberty was very kind to me. I mean it kinda had to be. After all both of my parents are very attractive, the point of their marriage was to produce more beautiful rich offspring. They fulfilled their goals that concerned one another. I'm glad I figured out how to play that game before my little sister and brother could go through what I did and become as jaded as I was.
Anyway, I am glad I got to college before I could totally have a breakdown and gave into the whole rich people mentality in Hartford. Yale, even though the school is very ivy league, surrounded me with new people who didn't grow up the way I did. They weren't at Yale because they were legacies, they were there because Yale was their dream and they worked harder than anyone to fulfill that dream. And then that year abroad. My parents thought that I traveled all over Europe but in reality I was in South America. I lived in Bolivia learning the language and I helped out in a school in downtown La Paz. It was a humbling experience that gave me the will to put up with Hartford society and see the good in people. I became a rich, good looking person who has a conscience and who observes people. I don't fit any mold that anyone could come up with and now I like it that way.)
"Woah, I need to stop daydreaming or going down memory lane or doing whatever I was doing," Tristan said as he shook his head. "I need to get to work and to stop talking to myself." Tristan began checking the internet to verify the Gilmore story incase it was a fabrication or just gossip that Hartford is legendary for. He soon found out that the story was indeed true. He also rented a house down in Stars Hollow for a month so he could be in the town instead of a hotel where he would be separated from the hustle and bustle of Stars Hollow. He luckily got a house a block away from the center of town. "Hey maybe my house will be close to the Gilmore household. That would be quite nice and very convenient. I would say that it makes my job easier but I have a feeling that I should not underestimate the Gilmores. They do not seem like the type of people who would easily go along with this story."
"Are you talking to yourself again boy? And you said I was the one who talked just to hear myself speak. You're the one who is talking to no one. Isn't that the first sign of insanity?"
"Paris, darling. Don't you have someone to terrorize besides me? I love the attention but isn't it unfair that you are spending all this time with me and ignoring your other writers? And I was just thinking out loud so that I could hear every thought, I learned that from living with you, darling. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
"I was just on my way out and I wanted to say good luck on the assignment because I assumed that you would want to start going to where ever you have to go probably tomorrow. The only questions I have are: where are you going and how long will you be gone?"
"I already told you that I will be going outside of Hartford, right near our old stomping grounds, goodness, we spent forever there. I thought we would finally leave for college but no, we ended up at Yale RIGHT THERE. Wow, so many memories. And I have rented a house for a month, starting Friday, tomorrow Friday. I will give you all the details when I get into the thick of the story, but right now I want to keep everything to myself. Is that ok?"
"I know all I need to know, hun. Eventually I will die if I don't find out but I think I can survive a few days. Maybe a day. I don't know if I can handle not knowing, but at least I'm trying."
"Don't worry I will tell you soon. But for now just because I am a nice person, I'm telling you to think of the mystery lunch date who you are going to have a dinner date with tonight. I think you should make your fantastic roasted green bell pepper soup to start off with. Then you should make the field green salad with that homemade vinaigrette, you know, the green one. Or maybe the salad should come first and then the soup. The main course should be light, something like that fantastic yellow rice with steak. And you shouldn't bring out the wine until you serve the main course because the soup doesn't mix with wine, red or white. How does that sound?"
"Wow are you gay? Because you are really good at this. When did you learn how to wine and dine? Wait never mind, you have always known about that. How come you never did that for me? Ah, I don't really care. You have a game plan for me and that rocks. I really needed help because I was going into this making dinner date blind. What is this guy doing to me? I have no lists, no plans!" Paris started to stutter and freak out a bit.
"Sweetheart don't worry about it. And before you ask me where I found out about your date, you talk loudly on the phone and I eavesdrop extremely well. I'm glad that you have only gone out on one date with this unknown man and he has already gotten under your skin. He did more than I ever could and I am very glad that he has gotten you so jumbled." Tristan said smiling.
"Are you kidding me? he is not under my skin. What are you talking about? I am just frazzled because of you and your whole little thing.what is it called? Your piece! That's it. You and your piece are on my mind. My job is the most important thing right now, no men. Goodness, don't you know me at all?" Paris huffed. Tristan knew that he had hit the problem right at its core.
"I'm sorry Paris. But I am going to go home now and get packed. You should get home and wait for the groceries that you got Ceci, your assistant if you forgot her name on one of your lists," he joked bobbing his eyebrows up and down, "Don't look at me like that. I know everything that goes on in this office. Well, I know everything important that goes on. So go. I think you should go home and take a bath before the mystery man gets there. Hopefully the bath will calm your nerves and make you smell pretty, cuz from this standpoint you could use a bath, smelly girl, whew." Tristan laughed as Paris got a mortified look on her face. She then began to chase him around his office, trying to hit him over the head with a packet of papers.
"You! YOU! YOU.I can't even think of something bad enough to call you. I smell!?! Oh oh oh I can't even begin to process anything I am so mad at you."
"Well I am going to go home so I can pack but you have fun with your man. I would have figured out his name by now if you weren't so careful and didn't use his name in your phone conversations at all. I'm dying to know his name. What is it?"
"You honestly think that I will tell you that after you tell me that I smell? Yeah that will never happen, Satan. Well I am not going to let you leave first, I need to make my exit." Paris flounced out of the office causing quite a stir when she wasn't looking where she was going and ran into Tristan's assistance desk. She refused to look back at Tristan's laughing figure, she would not give him the satisfaction. Paris stopped thinking about her injured hip and started getting excited about her pending date.
(What am I going to wear? What is it going to be like? Should I go out and get more wine? I think I might and then I can get after dinner wines or sherry so we can sit and talk. I really want to learn about this man. Can he really be getting under my skin? Tristan knows me better than anyone and he said so, but can he be right? Oh no I am getting all anxious and nervous again. And then I will start to sweat and what if HE wants to hold my hand or something and I am all clammy? That would be gross.
I have to calm down and think happy, calming thoughts. I think Tristan is right about me taking a bath, but not because I smell. I am going to take a bath and put some smelling salts in it and then put lotion on afterwards so that I have a nice soft smell on my skin and not something overpowering like perfume.) Paris continued to think as she stepped out of the Times building and walked home. (Then I am going to wear a form fitting shirt that has a scoop neck to emphasize my neck and then I'm thinking about a calf length skirt with no shoes. That would be comfortable and not too dressy but nice and not sloppy. Oh goodness I am going to have to call Rory and Lorelei for advise.)
Paris pulled out her cell phone and placed a call to Stars Hollow. "Rory? Is that you?"
Rory, running downstairs from her mother's room grabbed for the phone, clicking it on but dropping it in the process of answering the phone. After she picks it up she is greeted with Paris' concerned voice on the other end of the line. "Hey Paris. Yeah you are right I did drop the phone again. Mom has been a little anxious today because she's not liking the fact that.oh my goodness I haven't told you yet! MOM'S PREGNANT WITH TWINS! Can you believe it? All through college we were trying to get her and Luke together and finally they see what has been in front of them and got together and I am going to have TWO siblings."
"Breathe Ror, breathe. Oxygen is a good thing to have once in awhile. But yeah, Jess told me about them having twins. I hardly know the guy and have only been out with him once and he tells me on the phone after our date the big news. I am just wondering why you didn't tell me?"
"I am so sorry that I haven't had time to call you. I have been neglectful. So much to do and learn about the diner and the whole still working at the Boston Globe but just not physically there. Don't mind me and my complaining. I'm sorry I shouldn't lay everything on you. You work very hard and had a date today. I haven't had any socializing or gossiping that was outside of Stars Hollow so your date today. how was it by the way?"
"You are the most random person I think I will ever meet. Wait I take that back. I stand corrected, your mother is. But anyway I thank you for setting up the date. I had a fantastic time and Jess isn't a "play by the rules" type of dater. He called me later this afternoon after our date to set up another one tonight. Isn't that exciting. I am on my way home to prepare and I don't know what to wear. Tristan has already told me what Jess and I should cook, since we are making dinner together, but I don't know what I should wear. I have ideas but you are my fashion guru. Ever since my first real date you have been helping me with clothing, hair, and make-up and I need you now more than ever. I really want to impress this one." Paris sounded like a giddy sixteen year-old, something she most definitely never was.
"Hun, that is so great. I am incredibly glad that you had such a good time. He called you back so soon? Wow that does not sound like the Jess I know. He plays the game better than anyone I know. He must really like you and is dying to try to figure you out. Two dates in one day, and the first two dates I might add, interesting. I am glad to see that you want to see him again tonight as much as he wants to see you. Now I'm thinking that you should wear a maroon stretchy shirt, sleeveless, you know the one Mom got you last year, and that calf length black skirt that looks so good on you. If it is at your apartment, no shoes, but if it's at his, wear those dark pink slip on sandals so that you can take off your shoes easily. You all should eat outside on your deck because New York is gorgeous in the fall and it's not too cold outside I don't think. Stick to pinks for your make- up and I know you will use a light hand. Also use that buff sparkly looking bronzer all over your face so that you look fresh. Now go home and take a bath. Wait is that the bath I hear running or am I losing it?"
"You have been losing it for quite awhile now dear but yes, I am at home and it is the bath. Thank you so much for the advice, I truly appreciate it. I think I should use the winter current with thyme tea scent in the bath don't you think?"
"Oh that sounds marvelous and I am even going to ignore your meanness for it. So what did Tristan plan for dinner? I was just about to ask you if I know him but I remember him now because you were married to him and we went to college with him. You never chilled with the girls and Tristan as I recall. You kept your New York life separate from the rest of your life during the Tristan era, so I hardly know the man. Is his judgment good enough for a wowing date?"
"He also went to high school with us dear. He was and still is the Casanova that knows how to wine and dine a lady in style. Tristan and I made mistakes during our marriage. We tried to have lives together and lives separate but that just didn't work, everything has to overlap but we couldn't handle that. We thought that everything fit in neat little boxes but lives and people can't do that. Especially the Gilmore people." Rory chuckled at how true Paris was. "But anyway, now we are great friends who work well together, which is good since I am his editor. He told me that we should make a field green salad with my homemade dressing, my quick and easily and very spicy roasted green bell pepper soup, and then a light entrée consisting of yellow rice and steak cut up into it. And before you ask, Jess is taking care of the dessert. I wonder what he'll bring."
"He is good with desserts. I am so excited that you all will be making this together and I am sure that if some of it doesn't work out you will be fine with playing everything by ear. Oh I just thought of something. Wear a light pink button down so you can protect your pretty shirt while you are cooking. You will still look nice but at least you won't have to worry about spilling. And even though red wine should be served with meat I think you should serve a good white because both of you like whites over reds. But if you choose a red, no shiraz, they are too dry, try a merlot."
"You are a lifesaver. Thank you so much."
.
While the girls continued to plan Paris' evening with the still mystery guy to Tristan, Tristan ordered carry-out and started to pack for his long trip. He knew that he needed nice clothing as well as the "hey I am just a normal guy who fits into this small town" clothes so that he won't stand out like a sore thumb. The nice clothes will be for when Tristan's parents find out that he's in town and they order him to go and visit them. Tristan also wants to go and visit his grandfather who is never anything but impeccably dressed and Tristan will not let an old man out shine him, it had been their long running joke since forever. "What else should I bring? I have all the necessities here and all different kinds of shoes, and the nice clothes which I hope I won't have to wear too often. Damn, I just remembered, I don't know if the house will have sheets and pots and toilet paper or not. I guess I will have to bring all of that stuff too. My car will be so very packed. Oh and cds, I really need to bring all of my cds. Who knows what kind of mood I will be in down there. I have my laptop and plenty of paper. I also have a tape recorder so that I can get every word for interviews. I don't need to bring food because I can always buy it there. Oh No! I forgot about my pets." Tristan has a dog and a cat. They stay in his apartment with him and are the best kind of roommates to have. They listen to you all the time and cuddle when you need it. They never talk back or forget to tell you who called. All they want is love, food, and water and they give love in return, unconditionally.
"I can't believe I forgot about Circe and Sundae. Sundae, come here my little beagle. Circe, you gorgeous feline, what kind of cat, I have no clue but you are a pretty girl." The cat and dog pounced on Tristan and the stuff he was packing. He pulled out yet another suitcase to fill with all the animals stuff. ( I really hope this house that we are going to be staying in has a fence built around it so Sundae can run around freely. These are the best two girls I know, well, besides Paris.) Tristan wondered about Paris and her pending date and all of a sudden got anxious. He wanted to hit the road that night. He wanted to be able to get to Stars Hollow by morning so that he wouldn't waste the entire day driving and getting settled. And since the keys to the house he would be staying in were placed under the doormat, Tristan could go there anytime he wanted.
He slowly packed up his car, since Sundae sensed that they were going somewhere got excited and got in Tristan's way as he carried everything out to the parking lot. Finally after 11 o'clock, Tristan was ready to leave. The girls were already inside the car and eager to start on their new journey. (I should call Paris and tell her that I'm leaving. But I don't want to interrupt her date, she would hate me for that and I don't want her to feel like I am the meddling ex-husband who wants to ruin her love life. I'll call her in the morning after we are all settled in. Who knows, Sundae and Circe might help me get an in with the people of Stars Hollow. I know everyone loves animals, or, well, most everyone so those who do will be friendly to me and Sundae, since I can't really walk a cat.)
Tristan drove out of the garage and into the loud music and bright lights of New York on a Thursday night. He drove passed all the excitement and into the night away from the city and towards a small town, something he was afraid of and excited to encounter, especially since this story would rock the New York Times. Little did he know that it would flip his world into chaos and out of those little boxes he tried to create for it.