Runaway Train
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine..yet.yeah I wish..
A/N: I want to thank everyone for reading my story, it's a great feeling to share something very private with others and they are supportive (I am not sure I just made sense but I hope at least someone understands what I meant.everything always sounds SO much better in my head and I try to verbalize.doesn't work so well, maybe I should get that fixed..) Anyway, onto a sadder note, I was going to update later (as in next week) but I just can't sleep tonight - I am thoroughly dreading tomorrow because it will be my grandfather's funeral and it won't be a happy one (like my grandmother's because she was put out of her misery) and it hasn't really hit me yet that he's gone and I just don't want to be asleep and thinking about it.sorry bout that.anyway onto the recap and then story
Recap: Tristan leaves for Stars Hollow while Paris gets ready for her date.
************************************************************************
Paris gets out of the bathtub feeling luxurious and clean. She puts on the outfit that Rory recommended, the sleeveless maroon shirt with the calf- length black skirt and no shoes and minimal jewelry. It's been awhile since I have really felt pretty, it's a nice feeling. I'm glad that that bath really calmed my nerves. Now I am just excited to see Jess again. Wow, twice in one day. Paris put on her make-up like someone not used enhancing her appearance a lot, but still does a good job with a light hand. She used a light shiny nude-pink blush to give her a natural looking blush and enhanced her brown eyes by using light silver with a hint of purple eyeliner and eyeshadow. As she was clasping on her necklace that fell at the base of her neck there was a knock at her door. She knew who it was but it confused her for a second as to how he got into the building without being beeped in.
"Who's there?" She called anyway, seeing how he would answer. She had given him an open invitation to pull a Lorelei and say something crazy, she hoped that he wouldn't let her down.
"Hi, I am Kama Sutra instructor and your office had a raffle and guess what? You won. So I am here to teach you everything you need to know in my area of. specialty."
At the same time both thought, Kama Sutra, did he/I just say that? and Paris continued to think Get those bad thoughts out of my head. I asked for it didn't I? Yes and here I am thinking very very improper thoughts about a man I don't know very well ( a big dilemma for Paris). I have to think of something nice and calm and safe.The paper, Tristan and his woman story.haha that will be funny. "Hey, um, Paris are you still there?" Jess asked in a worried voice.
"Ya estoy. Give me a second." Paris replied, trying to think of non sexual thoughts. "Did I just go spanglish on you?"
"Si, un poco pero yo se el español. I'm chill don't worry about it. We could totally have a spanglish conversation inside your apartment as we could with a door separating us."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot that minor detail." As Paris opened the door she smelled his enticing cologne and almost closed the door in his face. She started getting nervous and feeling out of place. I'm not the type of girl who guys wanted to date, especially twice in one day. She was feeling insecure again, something that she never really got over from high school. Yeah I could be the smartest person in the room and have the most impeccable records but try to get me to carry on a flirty conversation and exhume confidence and sexiness, not going to happen. I hate when I feel this way. It is so unnerving. She turned to smile at Jess who was smiling at her, assuring her that getting lost in her thoughts was fine with him. He also had that predator look in his eyes that heightened ever fiber of her awareness towards him. He is pleased with what I have done with myself. Yeah bath!.
"You look very nice tonight, Paris. I didn't think it was possible for you to look sexier than you did today in the power suit but you do now, I think it must be the lack of shoes." He complimented her and made her laugh in the same breath, which made her not feel uncomfortable about the compliment. This boy is dangerously smooth, I need to watch out for him.
"Thank you. How about I help you carry those things to the kitchen. Oh and on your way you can take off your shoes too and see if your sex appeal gets any higher. It's right through here." I try to be smooth and all I end up doing is sticking my bare foot in my mouth. "After we set stuff down how about I give you a tour of the apartment and you can tell me how you got passed the doorman and security. I am really interested to know. I always have to show my id it's very time consuming."
"Didn't Rory tell you? I'm Superman. I have skills like you can't even imagine." As Paris rolls her eyes, Jess laughs and starts walking around her kitchen.
"You have skills that I can't even begin to imagine. Oh no( A/N -said in the sarcastic way that I always do)! You just said that. I am thoroughly amused."
"Are you making fun of me? And here I am about to compliment your kitchen. But I shall be the adult here and ignore the petty childishness. Humph." He pretended to sulk as he uncorked the wine.
"Isn't it oxymoronic to be sulking like a child while uncorking a bottle of wine? I just find the actions to be so incongruous. I'm confused. Anyway, how about we start making the food. I have the best pasta sauce known to this side of the free world."
"So is the sauce better in the slave part of the world?" He teased.
"What? Oh, that was just an expression. And you interrupted me, mister. I do not like my train of thought to be interrupted, then I get all caflunky." Paris replied in a psuedo-snooty tone. "Back to the menu. I think soup, then salad, then my pasta. Then you can do your thing with dessert because that is my area of sitting-back-and-watching. What do you think? Any suggestions?"
"You are such a planner. And no I don't know if I am saying that as a compliment or insult. I think your plan is great. Did Rory help you on it? She knows that I am the world's best soup maker, and I have a killer salad dressing - both come from working years at a diner. But then again Rory wouldn't know because she never ate soup or salad, well at least Lorelei never did."
"Actually my friend Tristan helped me make the menu. He is good at that sort of thing. So let's get started. How about you start the soup and I'll do the salad stuff. And all the while my sauce will be getting ready. You are going to be blown away by this sauce, let me tell you. I'm good." She said blowing on her knuckles. She realized that she was acting very non- Paris-like around him. A lot less neurotic than normal. This guy makes me excited and nervous but not scary Paris that usually scares guys off, hence the name. I like what he does to me. I feel comfortable already and I am really surprised. Ehh, I will just play this out and see how it goes. I'm happy and we've only been on one and a half dates, exciting.
"That sounds like a plan. So over lunch we never really got into what we do and how we know Rory. I was just curious how you two women became such good friends. I was probably told somewhere along the line by Rory or Lorelei but sometimes they confuse me to the point where I can't really tune into what they are saying in fear for my sanity."
"Well, it all began."
***
Tristan, Sundae, and Circe arrived in a sleepy Stars Hollow early Saturday morning, before anything was open and anyone was awake. "Girls, this is a pretty town that we are staying in. Both of you will get a chance to see what small town life and walking outside in the grass and seeing nature that is not contained in a park. You all will be spoiled and never want to go back home. But this is a nice change of pace. Everything looks so peaceful and lacks deadlines and smog. I might like it here. Now how do we get to the house. It's right around the town square, but it looks like everything is right around town square, so that's no help. Goodness Circe, you have the map! Help me." The cat merely meowed in response. "I get no love, no help. Women!" Tristan laughed.
He pulled up to a beautiful gray house with a rap around porch and plenty of yard space. "Sundae, you have your own yard." Tristan parked the car, grabbed the two animals and the key and walked into the house. Circe, you have a huge window with a fat sill that you can watch town life go by at. Wow you two are spoiled rotten here." Tristan let the cat and dog wander while he checked out the rest of the house. The place was completely furnished and had a very comfortable looking living room. The kitchen was well equipped and vast, a very country style kitchen. I really need to get more guy friends. Paris and her love for the Home and Garden channel has rubbed off on me and I know too much about this house and what's in it already and it's scaring me. I should watch football or something equally testosterone filled. He went through the rest of the house and found that the upstairs bedroom was a perfect fit for him and the downstairs one had a desk that faced the window looking towards the center of town, which was a perfect place for him to write.
All of a sudden a wave of sleepiness and he realized that he hadn't slept since Thursday night. He quickly brought as much stuff in as he could without falling over from being so tired. He finished unpacking the car, which consisted of throwing everything into the foyer and he pulled out a blanket and fell asleep on the couch. Sundae and Circe soon joined him because they too had not slept much that night.
***
Paris and Jess had finished making the soup and salad and already eaten both since they had worked up an appetite and were now waiting on the pasta too be ready. The were sitting on Paris' plush couch talking about their favorite Lorelei stories. Both had a fascination with that woman because she was such an unexplainable or definable enigma.
"I remember when Lorelei and my uncle Luke were dancing around each other. They hadn't gotten together but Lorelei was finally seeing what had been in front of her since the day she moved into Stars Hollow, Luke. Well, she was testing the waters so she came into the diner about twelve times in the span of maybe three hours, wearing different alluring outfits to see if Luke was interested. He thought that she was insane changing so much but her stories about why she had to change were priceless. The look on Uncle Luke's face when she wore those cut-offs was one I wish I had a picture of. I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head. And she was prancing around trying to be all sexy. She sat on the counter but the cut-offs were too tight and she couldn't sit so she ended up sliding off the counter looking so ridiculous. I think that was the closest I ever came to rolling on the ground laughing, which was a huge step up from the sullen-no emotion showing teenage boy I was at the time. I had to run upstairs so I could laugh in private or else my reputation would have been ruined."
Paris laughed at the very Lorelei-like situation and Jess' admission. "So young and so foolish. I was so neurotic back then. Even worse than I am now. I think I would have killed you being all laid back and chill and all 'I show no emotion' back then. But I'm a big girl now and looking back, I am just amused. Good story, true Lorelei. I remember when Rory and I were in our first year at Yale and Lorelei came to visit. Both of us had this one professor that was killing us and no matter how much work we did or how well we did it, he would not consider giving us anything higher than a B minus. Me! B Minus. Well I have gotten over it now but still, we were mad. So Lorelei came to the rescue. First she tried to 'seduce' the professor, who she thought was hot, but he completely rejected her advances. She thought that he must have been gay since he refused her, the most beautiful in the land so she tried to get him a guy so he would loosen up. She chased him around talking about setting him up with a guy and scared the professor so much that he got a restraining order and never gave either of us a hard time about our work again. She scared him to the point where he became a chicken. It was priceless, especially when he would ask Rory in class how her mother was doing. He got all sweaty and shifty-eyed when he would ask. I think Lorelei gave him a nervous twitch too. It was so funny. Sorry that the professor got messed up but still, Lorelei's handy work leaves the weak in her path."
Jess was grabbing his stomach laughing so hard. "I can see this professor- type twitching at the mention of her. This is so great. I bet that she is so embarrassed about this. Thank you for the ammo. I can't wait to use it this weekend." There was a lapse in the conversation because both parties were a little unsure about each other and if they were going to Stars Hollow together for the weekend or not. Was this trip together a little soon? Or was it okay since they were not really going away together but going to visit friends?
And both were saved by the bell, well, the boiling over of the pasta water. They rushed over to the stove and worked like a sharply tuned machine, with Paris handing Jess the oven mitts and Jess putting them on in-stride to picking up the pot and pour out the pasta and water into the colander than Paris had just put into the sink. "Look at us. We are good at what we do, huh?" Jess remarked.
"What can I say, I'm good. I guess it rubs off on people around me." Paris joked.
"Oh, no ego there. Not you. I know see where Rory gets that."
"Hi, have you ever met Lorelei? Because that woman has the biggest ego I have ever seen, well in the female form. Rory gets nothing from me, except for her obsessive need to keep her room clean. Now that I can proudly say is what I gave her."
"No, but Lorelei and Rory are the same person but different spectrums. Your ego is totally different from the Lorelei one, trust me, even if it is fake. You rubbed off on her more than just superficially too. Just looking at you around your house I can see that some mannerisms are the same. What are they you ask? Well let me tell you. You always have to have something in your hand, where it be something to put away, eat, cook, or just use. You are always doing something. Now she used to just sit there and think hours upon end but now I notice that she rarely does that anymore, except when she is in her room. I have never seen you in your room so I wouldn't really know if you are the same way now would I? Oh yea, and she has also picked up on the whole cooking thing. She really enjoys it. I thank you so very much, it might make me cry." Jess laughed. "She always made me do everything culinary and then all of a sudden she starts doing things in the kitchen when she would come home from college."
"I have an affect on someone. That makes me feel so special, so loved. And now she acts like me? Wow, I must be some kind of major cool." And just to make fun of herself and add more comedy to the situation Paris laughed and added a snort. Jess dropped the colander of pasta back into the sink because he was laughing so hard. He covered his face and then did snort for real. "Oh did you just? That was priceless. Where is a camera when I really need one?" Paris continued teasing him as she looked for a camera. "I think you should re-enact that again so I can be prepared this time." Jess is still laughing as Paris finally finds a camera. "Ok think snort, come on you know you wanna." She pleaded. Jess couldn't help himself from continuing to laugh at the absurdity of this one-sided conversation.
"You.me.we're." he continues to laugh, "amusing. I don't think I have had this much fun making dinner or talking about random things in a long time. You're good for my sanity Gellar." Paris stopped trying to take the picture because Jess' innocent words flustered her. She didn't know what to do. Jess grabbed her and began to tickle her. She was quickly thrown out of her funk when he started tickling her sides.
"You really.don't.want to do that." Paris squeaked between gasps. Her voice kept getting higher as she tried to reason with her assailant. "I don't like it when. people.tickle ME! Please stop. Please please."
Jess didn't stop so Paris got it into her mind to tickle him. And they were quite a funny picture. An adult couple dressed in nice casuals were tickling each other in a New York City penthouse apartment in its turn of the century-style kitchen. There were incongruities up a creek in that scene. Oh, and the biggest one of all, Paris laughing and enjoying herself like a carefree teenager. Paris had never been a carefree teen, ever. Now Jess was helping her make up for lost time.
The pair suddenly stopped tickling each other and realized how close they were. Paris was in Jess' arms and really enjoyed being there, to the point where she wanted to run away and make him leave. But she didn't move, she couldn't she was looking at Jess' chest, because that was where she came up to him at, and slowly moved her eyes upward, carefully avoiding looking at his mouth. She tried to appear nonchalant by saying, "Oh we have left the pasta in the sink and it's getting cold," but she didn't move, not that Jess would have let her. He had his arms around her and was slowly stroking her back, an intimate gesture that he was subconsciously doing.
They both knew what was going to happen way before it actually happened. The world was moving in slow motion, to the disgruntlement and joy of Paris. She wanted to savor the moment but also wanted to actually let it happen. And she was also scared but she didn't let that emotion factor into the equation. Jess gave her a smirk that said he was in control but in fact neither of them were. He was moving slowly so that she would have time to turn away if she wanted to but he knew that she wouldn't. He was getting more nervous the closer he got to touching his lips to hers. He tried to quell his nervousness but it was the kind that made him want to run away and hide under a pillow until it was over. But he kept moving closer and closer to Paris. He could feel her breath quicken through her chest and her eyes shift, as if she was just as nervous as he was. And with some inhuman strength, he stopped a mere breath away from Paris' lips and said, "You know that I am going to kiss you right now, right?" Both smirked.
And Paris replied, putting a little distance between them, "Not if I kiss you first." With that remark she gently grabbed his face and pulled it towards her own. Her lips took his captive and they kissed for the first time. Jess was still smiling through the kiss since it was Paris that was the initiator. He really liked that quality about her. He was thinking about how not-Paris it was to start a kiss and to have it in her kitchen, but all thoughts soon dissipated as Jess tried to take control of the situation and delve a little bit deeper into the kiss. He wanted to remember this, especially her taste because he was so affected by her. She wowed him.
I think I do not want to analyze what just happened right now because that was more than a kiss. So instead Jess said, "So, how about we get that pasta that before it gets all congealed and eat because I have worked up quite an appetite." He gave her a cheeky grin before picking up the colander of pasta and separating it into bowls. "Where is this pasta sauce that is supposed to wow me?" will it wow my stomach as much as you wow me? I think not.
"Yea, it's right over here. Oh, you better be prepared, this is fantastic sauce. I don't think your taste buds will be able to handle the fantastic assault I am about to lay on them."
"But I thought you just did that.oh you meant with the sauce. Oh yeah I can't wait. " Again with the cheeky grin. Why does he have to look so cute while being so "evil." Ugh, I am acting like a teen. And I kissed him? What is this. I would never do that, and in my kitchen! What is he doing to me?
Their banter continued throughout a relatively non-eventful date that ended with another fantastic kiss. Wow, I am going to have to keep kissing him because it is.DAMN. Oh I didn't just think that. I am going to have to call Rory and be all girl talk because this guy is amazing. I'm gushing, this is not good. Her thoughts were interrupted by Jess waving a hand in front of her face. "Hello? Anybody home? I know my kiss rocked but.well ah what can I say I'm good." she hit him as he continued. "Hey that hurt. Anyway, are we still going to Stars Hollow this weekend? Because I could pick you up tomorrow morning and then we could stay at Lorelei's. What do you think?" He said kind of nervously.
"That sounds great. I am excited. I want to be able to get to know you more and I think this is the perfect opportunity. Wow, I sounded like one of those scary women who want to get married after one date. Ah, I get to see Rory and the Gilmore. So exciting. What time are you going to pick me up?"
"Hey, I'm still here aren't I?" He asked while Paris was giving him a quizzical look. "I would be running away from you if I ever thought that you were one of those scary women who decide that 'we' are getting married after only one date. They give me nightmares." He shivered. "How about I pick you up at nine and then we will get there mid-afternoon?" Paris nods in agreement. "Now I'm going to go home and sleep. I don't plan on getting any sleep this weekend because Rory and Lorelei will keep us up doing random crazy stuff. And, you will get to meet her fiancé. I don't like him but hey, I don't think he's good enough for her. She hasn't found anyone good enough yet."
"That's right I haven't met him. Oh this is exciting. I should get sleep too." She paused, thinking, I thought he was going to make the whole not sleeping thing this weekend into some sexual innuendo but he didn't, interesting. Just when I thought that I had him pegged. then realized that he was still standing there. "I am surprised that Rory hasn't already found a guy good enough, she's had enough chances, I mean three weddings, no husband. I thought that one of them was going to stick, even though I didn't meet all of the prospectives."
At that Jess coughed nervously, "Yeah well they were all mistakes, she realized it and did something about it which is more than I can say about the guys. She just has some hold over guys."
"I know. I have been with her through college and the boys there. Ahh well. We will just have to pester her and tease her about it tomorrow. So go! Sleep. You need your rest. Bye." And with that Paris gave him a simple peck and leaned back smiling. "Goodnight Jess, see you tomorrow." Jess smiled as she closed the door. This is the start of something very interesting, she does intrigue me.
***
Tristan slept through most of the morning until one of his precious baby girls, as he called them, jumped on him, and whined to go outside. He figured that he could get up and go on his run with Sundae. He could get in the exercise that he promised himself that he would get during this hiatus and also could get a feel for the town.
He got ready and met Sundae at the door and the dog was wagging her tail profusely, with the leash in her mouth. "Where did you learn how to do that trick?" Tristan asked the dog. The two left the house and began their workout. After running around the outskirts of the town square, Tristan lead Sundae into the center of town to look around. He had already been running for a good half of an hour and had discarded his shirt when they passed by the house on the way to the square. Hopefully these people will take notice that I am a stranger and maybe a really curious one will talk to me, I need a way in. They need to come to me because if I go to them, they will think like I am invading their town. Yes, my logic is completely sound.I am totally pulling it out of my ass.
Ms. Patty's noon yoga class had just let out when Tristan came running by. "Who was that beautiful specimen of man I just saw running by?" Patty asked to the group. "I just want to take him home and."
Babette, who joined the class because of a new years resolution, answered, "I don't know hunny. I don't think I have seen him around here before. Could he be for Rory? The girl has good taste but wait, she's already engaged. I have no idea who he is. Hopefully the young man will know that" she says in voice that carried to Tristan, "Luke's Diner is the best place to go for food and to see everyone in town. Hopefully the boy heard me and got the hint to go into Luke's."
"Babette, darling, you are simply the smartest predator ever. I would never have thought of that. Pure genius. Oh and look at that adorable puppy he has running with him. The dog looks like it needs WATER, which he could get for his dog at LUKE'S."
"Patty, subtlety is not your best quality. I think he got our drift." Babette laughed. Once was enough to plant the seed of thought into the unknown man's mind, two times was borderline obsessively curious/scary, hard to tell with Ms. Patty.
Tristan, who picked up on the obvious hints, slowed his pace down to a walk and calmly walked around the gazebo so he and Sundae could catch their breaths. "Sundae, I think we are going to go to Luke's and see what's going on."
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine..yet.yeah I wish..
A/N: I want to thank everyone for reading my story, it's a great feeling to share something very private with others and they are supportive (I am not sure I just made sense but I hope at least someone understands what I meant.everything always sounds SO much better in my head and I try to verbalize.doesn't work so well, maybe I should get that fixed..) Anyway, onto a sadder note, I was going to update later (as in next week) but I just can't sleep tonight - I am thoroughly dreading tomorrow because it will be my grandfather's funeral and it won't be a happy one (like my grandmother's because she was put out of her misery) and it hasn't really hit me yet that he's gone and I just don't want to be asleep and thinking about it.sorry bout that.anyway onto the recap and then story
Recap: Tristan leaves for Stars Hollow while Paris gets ready for her date.
************************************************************************
Paris gets out of the bathtub feeling luxurious and clean. She puts on the outfit that Rory recommended, the sleeveless maroon shirt with the calf- length black skirt and no shoes and minimal jewelry. It's been awhile since I have really felt pretty, it's a nice feeling. I'm glad that that bath really calmed my nerves. Now I am just excited to see Jess again. Wow, twice in one day. Paris put on her make-up like someone not used enhancing her appearance a lot, but still does a good job with a light hand. She used a light shiny nude-pink blush to give her a natural looking blush and enhanced her brown eyes by using light silver with a hint of purple eyeliner and eyeshadow. As she was clasping on her necklace that fell at the base of her neck there was a knock at her door. She knew who it was but it confused her for a second as to how he got into the building without being beeped in.
"Who's there?" She called anyway, seeing how he would answer. She had given him an open invitation to pull a Lorelei and say something crazy, she hoped that he wouldn't let her down.
"Hi, I am Kama Sutra instructor and your office had a raffle and guess what? You won. So I am here to teach you everything you need to know in my area of. specialty."
At the same time both thought, Kama Sutra, did he/I just say that? and Paris continued to think Get those bad thoughts out of my head. I asked for it didn't I? Yes and here I am thinking very very improper thoughts about a man I don't know very well ( a big dilemma for Paris). I have to think of something nice and calm and safe.The paper, Tristan and his woman story.haha that will be funny. "Hey, um, Paris are you still there?" Jess asked in a worried voice.
"Ya estoy. Give me a second." Paris replied, trying to think of non sexual thoughts. "Did I just go spanglish on you?"
"Si, un poco pero yo se el español. I'm chill don't worry about it. We could totally have a spanglish conversation inside your apartment as we could with a door separating us."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot that minor detail." As Paris opened the door she smelled his enticing cologne and almost closed the door in his face. She started getting nervous and feeling out of place. I'm not the type of girl who guys wanted to date, especially twice in one day. She was feeling insecure again, something that she never really got over from high school. Yeah I could be the smartest person in the room and have the most impeccable records but try to get me to carry on a flirty conversation and exhume confidence and sexiness, not going to happen. I hate when I feel this way. It is so unnerving. She turned to smile at Jess who was smiling at her, assuring her that getting lost in her thoughts was fine with him. He also had that predator look in his eyes that heightened ever fiber of her awareness towards him. He is pleased with what I have done with myself. Yeah bath!.
"You look very nice tonight, Paris. I didn't think it was possible for you to look sexier than you did today in the power suit but you do now, I think it must be the lack of shoes." He complimented her and made her laugh in the same breath, which made her not feel uncomfortable about the compliment. This boy is dangerously smooth, I need to watch out for him.
"Thank you. How about I help you carry those things to the kitchen. Oh and on your way you can take off your shoes too and see if your sex appeal gets any higher. It's right through here." I try to be smooth and all I end up doing is sticking my bare foot in my mouth. "After we set stuff down how about I give you a tour of the apartment and you can tell me how you got passed the doorman and security. I am really interested to know. I always have to show my id it's very time consuming."
"Didn't Rory tell you? I'm Superman. I have skills like you can't even imagine." As Paris rolls her eyes, Jess laughs and starts walking around her kitchen.
"You have skills that I can't even begin to imagine. Oh no( A/N -said in the sarcastic way that I always do)! You just said that. I am thoroughly amused."
"Are you making fun of me? And here I am about to compliment your kitchen. But I shall be the adult here and ignore the petty childishness. Humph." He pretended to sulk as he uncorked the wine.
"Isn't it oxymoronic to be sulking like a child while uncorking a bottle of wine? I just find the actions to be so incongruous. I'm confused. Anyway, how about we start making the food. I have the best pasta sauce known to this side of the free world."
"So is the sauce better in the slave part of the world?" He teased.
"What? Oh, that was just an expression. And you interrupted me, mister. I do not like my train of thought to be interrupted, then I get all caflunky." Paris replied in a psuedo-snooty tone. "Back to the menu. I think soup, then salad, then my pasta. Then you can do your thing with dessert because that is my area of sitting-back-and-watching. What do you think? Any suggestions?"
"You are such a planner. And no I don't know if I am saying that as a compliment or insult. I think your plan is great. Did Rory help you on it? She knows that I am the world's best soup maker, and I have a killer salad dressing - both come from working years at a diner. But then again Rory wouldn't know because she never ate soup or salad, well at least Lorelei never did."
"Actually my friend Tristan helped me make the menu. He is good at that sort of thing. So let's get started. How about you start the soup and I'll do the salad stuff. And all the while my sauce will be getting ready. You are going to be blown away by this sauce, let me tell you. I'm good." She said blowing on her knuckles. She realized that she was acting very non- Paris-like around him. A lot less neurotic than normal. This guy makes me excited and nervous but not scary Paris that usually scares guys off, hence the name. I like what he does to me. I feel comfortable already and I am really surprised. Ehh, I will just play this out and see how it goes. I'm happy and we've only been on one and a half dates, exciting.
"That sounds like a plan. So over lunch we never really got into what we do and how we know Rory. I was just curious how you two women became such good friends. I was probably told somewhere along the line by Rory or Lorelei but sometimes they confuse me to the point where I can't really tune into what they are saying in fear for my sanity."
"Well, it all began."
***
Tristan, Sundae, and Circe arrived in a sleepy Stars Hollow early Saturday morning, before anything was open and anyone was awake. "Girls, this is a pretty town that we are staying in. Both of you will get a chance to see what small town life and walking outside in the grass and seeing nature that is not contained in a park. You all will be spoiled and never want to go back home. But this is a nice change of pace. Everything looks so peaceful and lacks deadlines and smog. I might like it here. Now how do we get to the house. It's right around the town square, but it looks like everything is right around town square, so that's no help. Goodness Circe, you have the map! Help me." The cat merely meowed in response. "I get no love, no help. Women!" Tristan laughed.
He pulled up to a beautiful gray house with a rap around porch and plenty of yard space. "Sundae, you have your own yard." Tristan parked the car, grabbed the two animals and the key and walked into the house. Circe, you have a huge window with a fat sill that you can watch town life go by at. Wow you two are spoiled rotten here." Tristan let the cat and dog wander while he checked out the rest of the house. The place was completely furnished and had a very comfortable looking living room. The kitchen was well equipped and vast, a very country style kitchen. I really need to get more guy friends. Paris and her love for the Home and Garden channel has rubbed off on me and I know too much about this house and what's in it already and it's scaring me. I should watch football or something equally testosterone filled. He went through the rest of the house and found that the upstairs bedroom was a perfect fit for him and the downstairs one had a desk that faced the window looking towards the center of town, which was a perfect place for him to write.
All of a sudden a wave of sleepiness and he realized that he hadn't slept since Thursday night. He quickly brought as much stuff in as he could without falling over from being so tired. He finished unpacking the car, which consisted of throwing everything into the foyer and he pulled out a blanket and fell asleep on the couch. Sundae and Circe soon joined him because they too had not slept much that night.
***
Paris and Jess had finished making the soup and salad and already eaten both since they had worked up an appetite and were now waiting on the pasta too be ready. The were sitting on Paris' plush couch talking about their favorite Lorelei stories. Both had a fascination with that woman because she was such an unexplainable or definable enigma.
"I remember when Lorelei and my uncle Luke were dancing around each other. They hadn't gotten together but Lorelei was finally seeing what had been in front of her since the day she moved into Stars Hollow, Luke. Well, she was testing the waters so she came into the diner about twelve times in the span of maybe three hours, wearing different alluring outfits to see if Luke was interested. He thought that she was insane changing so much but her stories about why she had to change were priceless. The look on Uncle Luke's face when she wore those cut-offs was one I wish I had a picture of. I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head. And she was prancing around trying to be all sexy. She sat on the counter but the cut-offs were too tight and she couldn't sit so she ended up sliding off the counter looking so ridiculous. I think that was the closest I ever came to rolling on the ground laughing, which was a huge step up from the sullen-no emotion showing teenage boy I was at the time. I had to run upstairs so I could laugh in private or else my reputation would have been ruined."
Paris laughed at the very Lorelei-like situation and Jess' admission. "So young and so foolish. I was so neurotic back then. Even worse than I am now. I think I would have killed you being all laid back and chill and all 'I show no emotion' back then. But I'm a big girl now and looking back, I am just amused. Good story, true Lorelei. I remember when Rory and I were in our first year at Yale and Lorelei came to visit. Both of us had this one professor that was killing us and no matter how much work we did or how well we did it, he would not consider giving us anything higher than a B minus. Me! B Minus. Well I have gotten over it now but still, we were mad. So Lorelei came to the rescue. First she tried to 'seduce' the professor, who she thought was hot, but he completely rejected her advances. She thought that he must have been gay since he refused her, the most beautiful in the land so she tried to get him a guy so he would loosen up. She chased him around talking about setting him up with a guy and scared the professor so much that he got a restraining order and never gave either of us a hard time about our work again. She scared him to the point where he became a chicken. It was priceless, especially when he would ask Rory in class how her mother was doing. He got all sweaty and shifty-eyed when he would ask. I think Lorelei gave him a nervous twitch too. It was so funny. Sorry that the professor got messed up but still, Lorelei's handy work leaves the weak in her path."
Jess was grabbing his stomach laughing so hard. "I can see this professor- type twitching at the mention of her. This is so great. I bet that she is so embarrassed about this. Thank you for the ammo. I can't wait to use it this weekend." There was a lapse in the conversation because both parties were a little unsure about each other and if they were going to Stars Hollow together for the weekend or not. Was this trip together a little soon? Or was it okay since they were not really going away together but going to visit friends?
And both were saved by the bell, well, the boiling over of the pasta water. They rushed over to the stove and worked like a sharply tuned machine, with Paris handing Jess the oven mitts and Jess putting them on in-stride to picking up the pot and pour out the pasta and water into the colander than Paris had just put into the sink. "Look at us. We are good at what we do, huh?" Jess remarked.
"What can I say, I'm good. I guess it rubs off on people around me." Paris joked.
"Oh, no ego there. Not you. I know see where Rory gets that."
"Hi, have you ever met Lorelei? Because that woman has the biggest ego I have ever seen, well in the female form. Rory gets nothing from me, except for her obsessive need to keep her room clean. Now that I can proudly say is what I gave her."
"No, but Lorelei and Rory are the same person but different spectrums. Your ego is totally different from the Lorelei one, trust me, even if it is fake. You rubbed off on her more than just superficially too. Just looking at you around your house I can see that some mannerisms are the same. What are they you ask? Well let me tell you. You always have to have something in your hand, where it be something to put away, eat, cook, or just use. You are always doing something. Now she used to just sit there and think hours upon end but now I notice that she rarely does that anymore, except when she is in her room. I have never seen you in your room so I wouldn't really know if you are the same way now would I? Oh yea, and she has also picked up on the whole cooking thing. She really enjoys it. I thank you so very much, it might make me cry." Jess laughed. "She always made me do everything culinary and then all of a sudden she starts doing things in the kitchen when she would come home from college."
"I have an affect on someone. That makes me feel so special, so loved. And now she acts like me? Wow, I must be some kind of major cool." And just to make fun of herself and add more comedy to the situation Paris laughed and added a snort. Jess dropped the colander of pasta back into the sink because he was laughing so hard. He covered his face and then did snort for real. "Oh did you just? That was priceless. Where is a camera when I really need one?" Paris continued teasing him as she looked for a camera. "I think you should re-enact that again so I can be prepared this time." Jess is still laughing as Paris finally finds a camera. "Ok think snort, come on you know you wanna." She pleaded. Jess couldn't help himself from continuing to laugh at the absurdity of this one-sided conversation.
"You.me.we're." he continues to laugh, "amusing. I don't think I have had this much fun making dinner or talking about random things in a long time. You're good for my sanity Gellar." Paris stopped trying to take the picture because Jess' innocent words flustered her. She didn't know what to do. Jess grabbed her and began to tickle her. She was quickly thrown out of her funk when he started tickling her sides.
"You really.don't.want to do that." Paris squeaked between gasps. Her voice kept getting higher as she tried to reason with her assailant. "I don't like it when. people.tickle ME! Please stop. Please please."
Jess didn't stop so Paris got it into her mind to tickle him. And they were quite a funny picture. An adult couple dressed in nice casuals were tickling each other in a New York City penthouse apartment in its turn of the century-style kitchen. There were incongruities up a creek in that scene. Oh, and the biggest one of all, Paris laughing and enjoying herself like a carefree teenager. Paris had never been a carefree teen, ever. Now Jess was helping her make up for lost time.
The pair suddenly stopped tickling each other and realized how close they were. Paris was in Jess' arms and really enjoyed being there, to the point where she wanted to run away and make him leave. But she didn't move, she couldn't she was looking at Jess' chest, because that was where she came up to him at, and slowly moved her eyes upward, carefully avoiding looking at his mouth. She tried to appear nonchalant by saying, "Oh we have left the pasta in the sink and it's getting cold," but she didn't move, not that Jess would have let her. He had his arms around her and was slowly stroking her back, an intimate gesture that he was subconsciously doing.
They both knew what was going to happen way before it actually happened. The world was moving in slow motion, to the disgruntlement and joy of Paris. She wanted to savor the moment but also wanted to actually let it happen. And she was also scared but she didn't let that emotion factor into the equation. Jess gave her a smirk that said he was in control but in fact neither of them were. He was moving slowly so that she would have time to turn away if she wanted to but he knew that she wouldn't. He was getting more nervous the closer he got to touching his lips to hers. He tried to quell his nervousness but it was the kind that made him want to run away and hide under a pillow until it was over. But he kept moving closer and closer to Paris. He could feel her breath quicken through her chest and her eyes shift, as if she was just as nervous as he was. And with some inhuman strength, he stopped a mere breath away from Paris' lips and said, "You know that I am going to kiss you right now, right?" Both smirked.
And Paris replied, putting a little distance between them, "Not if I kiss you first." With that remark she gently grabbed his face and pulled it towards her own. Her lips took his captive and they kissed for the first time. Jess was still smiling through the kiss since it was Paris that was the initiator. He really liked that quality about her. He was thinking about how not-Paris it was to start a kiss and to have it in her kitchen, but all thoughts soon dissipated as Jess tried to take control of the situation and delve a little bit deeper into the kiss. He wanted to remember this, especially her taste because he was so affected by her. She wowed him.
I think I do not want to analyze what just happened right now because that was more than a kiss. So instead Jess said, "So, how about we get that pasta that before it gets all congealed and eat because I have worked up quite an appetite." He gave her a cheeky grin before picking up the colander of pasta and separating it into bowls. "Where is this pasta sauce that is supposed to wow me?" will it wow my stomach as much as you wow me? I think not.
"Yea, it's right over here. Oh, you better be prepared, this is fantastic sauce. I don't think your taste buds will be able to handle the fantastic assault I am about to lay on them."
"But I thought you just did that.oh you meant with the sauce. Oh yeah I can't wait. " Again with the cheeky grin. Why does he have to look so cute while being so "evil." Ugh, I am acting like a teen. And I kissed him? What is this. I would never do that, and in my kitchen! What is he doing to me?
Their banter continued throughout a relatively non-eventful date that ended with another fantastic kiss. Wow, I am going to have to keep kissing him because it is.DAMN. Oh I didn't just think that. I am going to have to call Rory and be all girl talk because this guy is amazing. I'm gushing, this is not good. Her thoughts were interrupted by Jess waving a hand in front of her face. "Hello? Anybody home? I know my kiss rocked but.well ah what can I say I'm good." she hit him as he continued. "Hey that hurt. Anyway, are we still going to Stars Hollow this weekend? Because I could pick you up tomorrow morning and then we could stay at Lorelei's. What do you think?" He said kind of nervously.
"That sounds great. I am excited. I want to be able to get to know you more and I think this is the perfect opportunity. Wow, I sounded like one of those scary women who want to get married after one date. Ah, I get to see Rory and the Gilmore. So exciting. What time are you going to pick me up?"
"Hey, I'm still here aren't I?" He asked while Paris was giving him a quizzical look. "I would be running away from you if I ever thought that you were one of those scary women who decide that 'we' are getting married after only one date. They give me nightmares." He shivered. "How about I pick you up at nine and then we will get there mid-afternoon?" Paris nods in agreement. "Now I'm going to go home and sleep. I don't plan on getting any sleep this weekend because Rory and Lorelei will keep us up doing random crazy stuff. And, you will get to meet her fiancé. I don't like him but hey, I don't think he's good enough for her. She hasn't found anyone good enough yet."
"That's right I haven't met him. Oh this is exciting. I should get sleep too." She paused, thinking, I thought he was going to make the whole not sleeping thing this weekend into some sexual innuendo but he didn't, interesting. Just when I thought that I had him pegged. then realized that he was still standing there. "I am surprised that Rory hasn't already found a guy good enough, she's had enough chances, I mean three weddings, no husband. I thought that one of them was going to stick, even though I didn't meet all of the prospectives."
At that Jess coughed nervously, "Yeah well they were all mistakes, she realized it and did something about it which is more than I can say about the guys. She just has some hold over guys."
"I know. I have been with her through college and the boys there. Ahh well. We will just have to pester her and tease her about it tomorrow. So go! Sleep. You need your rest. Bye." And with that Paris gave him a simple peck and leaned back smiling. "Goodnight Jess, see you tomorrow." Jess smiled as she closed the door. This is the start of something very interesting, she does intrigue me.
***
Tristan slept through most of the morning until one of his precious baby girls, as he called them, jumped on him, and whined to go outside. He figured that he could get up and go on his run with Sundae. He could get in the exercise that he promised himself that he would get during this hiatus and also could get a feel for the town.
He got ready and met Sundae at the door and the dog was wagging her tail profusely, with the leash in her mouth. "Where did you learn how to do that trick?" Tristan asked the dog. The two left the house and began their workout. After running around the outskirts of the town square, Tristan lead Sundae into the center of town to look around. He had already been running for a good half of an hour and had discarded his shirt when they passed by the house on the way to the square. Hopefully these people will take notice that I am a stranger and maybe a really curious one will talk to me, I need a way in. They need to come to me because if I go to them, they will think like I am invading their town. Yes, my logic is completely sound.I am totally pulling it out of my ass.
Ms. Patty's noon yoga class had just let out when Tristan came running by. "Who was that beautiful specimen of man I just saw running by?" Patty asked to the group. "I just want to take him home and."
Babette, who joined the class because of a new years resolution, answered, "I don't know hunny. I don't think I have seen him around here before. Could he be for Rory? The girl has good taste but wait, she's already engaged. I have no idea who he is. Hopefully the young man will know that" she says in voice that carried to Tristan, "Luke's Diner is the best place to go for food and to see everyone in town. Hopefully the boy heard me and got the hint to go into Luke's."
"Babette, darling, you are simply the smartest predator ever. I would never have thought of that. Pure genius. Oh and look at that adorable puppy he has running with him. The dog looks like it needs WATER, which he could get for his dog at LUKE'S."
"Patty, subtlety is not your best quality. I think he got our drift." Babette laughed. Once was enough to plant the seed of thought into the unknown man's mind, two times was borderline obsessively curious/scary, hard to tell with Ms. Patty.
Tristan, who picked up on the obvious hints, slowed his pace down to a walk and calmly walked around the gazebo so he and Sundae could catch their breaths. "Sundae, I think we are going to go to Luke's and see what's going on."