Author's Note: This is my first Gilmore Girls fan fic, so please be kind.
Couples: Rory/Tristan a bit of Rory/Dean…
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino.
Moonlit Window
Chapter 4: Secret's Out
Rory slowly walked back to her house. Her heart was aching as she thought about Dean. Why didn't he believe her? And why couldn't Tristan keep his big mouth shut? Then she remembered that Tristan had seen the whole fight. I bet he's smirking and gloating at that sight. She thought. Rory turned around to Tristan and saw him trailing behind her, his backpack on his shoulder, his hands shoved into his pockets and his eyes to the ground. Conscious of her stare, he looked up, his face blank.
"I'm sorry," he whispered as he walked up and fell into pace beside her. Rory looked away, her anger rising again as she remembered that it was partly his fault that Dean was mad at her. She waked away from him.
"Umm… Rory, I'll leave you alone now." He said in a soft voice then turned to walk away from the house. Rory didn't even turn around to see him leave; she just kept on walking. But as she strode to the house, she thought about what Tristan had said. She could have told Dean that morning but she hadn't, and deep down she knew she had avoided it. It wasn't completely Tristan's fault; he was just being his jerkish self. She thought then felt bad again for thinking that. Perhaps the reason Tristan acted the way he did was because he had so much misery in his life that he could only think of ways to ruin other people's lives. As much as she wanted Tristan out of her life, she knew that it was wrong to just leave him out on the streets. Who knows where he would go? Rory turned around and started to follow the lone figure that was headed down the street.
Tristan walked slowly, feeling weight on his feet. He had seen it all, the fight, Dean't facial expressions, and Rory's eyes that were on the verge on tears. As much as he hated Dean, he felt bad for making Rory so upset. Nice going Dugrey, now she definitely hates you. He thought as he walked. But then again, he wasn't just leaving because he was hurting Rory, he was leaving because he was hurting himself. Just seeing her still unaware of his feelings was just torture. Hadn't he already showed enough of what he felt? Once again, it had been Dean who recognized that Tristan was in love with Rory. This is just stupid, why do I even try? He thought. All of a sudden he felt a hand on his shoulder, he quickly spun around to meet a pair of deep blue eyes.
"Tristan," Rory began. Tristan stepped back, uneasy.
"I'm leaving, ok? I'll pick up the pace." He offered. But Rory shook her head 'no'.
"Umm, ok, I'll hop on a taxi now so you won't have to see me," he said, taking out his wallet.
"Tristan, shut up!" she cried. Tristan jumped a bit, startled at her outburst.
"Ok," he said, confused.
"Umm… I'm sorry for you know…" she said, shifting her feet nervously. He looked at her, nodding his head for her to continue. "You don't have to leave, I mean the secret's out already, Dean's mad at me, and there's nothing I can do about it now. What's the point of you leaving if Dean's still going to be mad at me either way?" continued Rory. "I mean, he thinks there's something going on between you and me but there isn't and why is he so suspicious? There's nothing to…" she rambled but was stopped by Tristan.
"Ok, ok, I get it. You're just babbling." He said with a laugh. Rory looked to the ground. "As long as you're ok with me staying, because I could get out of your hair and stuff," he said. Rory nodded.
"No, it's ok," she said with a small smile. They started there way back to the house in silence. Finally Tristan broke the silence and grinned at her.
"So, Mary, I didn't know our relationship was such a big secret, I mean I knew you had feelings for me because you always got so nervous, but all the secrecy…" he began, resuming to his usual cockiness. Rory shoved him.
"Shut up Tristan!" she cried with a laugh. Her face was no longer sad as she smiled at Tristan.
***
Lorelai hummed to herself as she sat in the kitchen shuffling through the mail that had been on the table in the hall. It had been a hectic day at the inn. Michel had been his snooty self and since it was the weekend there were more guests to serve. She sat back, propping her legs on another chair and sipped on the cup of coffee that she had purchased at Luke's. She was trying as much as possible to enjoy the quiet before going over to her mother's. Another night with the Gilmore clan, whoo hoo, she thought sarcastically. Suddenly she heard the front door open.
"Rory, honey, is that you?" she called out, down the hall.
"Hey mom," Rory yelled back. Lorelai listened as she heard what sounded like two pairs of feet. She saw Rory approach her but heard the other pair of feet scamper to the living room.
"Who's that with you? Dean?" she asked, raising her eyebrow, a mischievous grin on her face as she stood up to see Rory.
"Umm, mom can I talk to you?" asked Rory, pushing Lorelai away from the doorframe, who was trying to catch a glimpse of who was in the living room. After a moment Lorelai gave in and sat down at the kitchen table with Rory beside her.
"Ok, shoot," said Lorelai, as she sipped some more of her coffee.
"Mmm…" said Rory, reaching for the cup, Lorelai pulled it away.
"Not until you tell me what's happening and who's in the living room." Said Lorelai. Rory sank back into the chair.
"Ok, umm… well, see… have you ever had a friend who was in trouble?" asked Rory, seriously.
"What kind of trouble? Like sick trouble or like bizarre trouble? You know, enjoys stalking or something like that." Said Lorelai. Rory shook her head.
"Umm… not like that but just some family trouble." Explained Rory.
"Ah! I have that. Crazy relatives that you can't stand!" said Lorelai with a chuckle.
"Mom!" cried Rory, calming her mother down.
"Ok, sorry," said Lorelai, focusing on Rory.
"See, I have a friend who's sort of having trouble at school, and this friend, well can't go home because their parents wouldn't be very understanding." Said Rory.
"And who is this friend? Because apparently this 'friend' has no sex, oooh, is your friend a cross dresser who wants to reveal themselves to their parents but know they'll be shunned?" asked Lorelai, excitedly.
"No." said Rory, looking at her bizarrely as she tried to picture Tristan in women's clothing. Rory started laughing to herself. Lorelai just sat there and stared.
"Umm… get on the with story." Said Lorelai.
"My friend needed a place to stay because they ran away from school and couldn't go home so, my friend stayed over last night," said Rory, finally.
"Why wasn't I aware of this?" asked Lorelai.
"I tried to tell you this, this morning but you just ran out the door," explained Rory.
"Aww… you should have told me when they came so we could have had a slumber party!" cried Lorelai, happily. Rory rolled her eyes and grabbed her mother's arm and dragged her to the living room.
"Mom, meet Tristan," said Rory as she pushed her mother into the living room. Lorelai's jaw dropped as she stood there staring at the boy who sat on her couch. Tristan looked up, startled. He quickly stood up and offered a hand to Lorelai.
"Hi, I'm Tristan." He said, as he shook her hand. Lorelai just stared at him. Rory nudged her mother to get her out of the shock.
"Hi, so you're Tristan." Said Lorelai, looking at him curiously.
"Oh, Rory's mentioned me?" he asked, pleased.
"You're the jerk who's been picking on my baby," said Lorelai, with a hint of anger. Tristan stepped back, the smile on his face disappeared. Things were now sort of tense.
"Mom, stop it." Pleaded Rory. Lorelai dropped her shoulders and the scary look on her face disappeared as she looked at Rory.
"Tristan needed place to stay," said Rory. Lorelai looked at him carefully in the eyes.
"Where did you sleep Tristan?" she asked.
"Oh this couch," he replied, pointing to the couch.
"Didn't go anywhere near my daughter?" she asked, moving closer to him.
"No, m'am." He replied, nervousness written all over his face.
"M'am," said Lorelai with a laugh, as she pulled away and smiled. Tristan let out a sigh of relief.
"So, what brings you to Stars Hollow?" asked Lorelai as they all sat down on the couch.
"Well, I had been shipped to military school and needed to escape," he explained, saying his words carefully. Rory stifled a laugh, for once Tristan was really nervous and was almost in a lost for words.
"That sure bites." Said Lorelai. And so, Tristan continued with his story. After about an hour; things were beginning to feel much more comfortable. Lorelai had been upset that Tristan had tortured Rory's life at Chilton but then as she got to know him she enjoyed his witty charm. She realized that his teasing was just his way of flirting with Rory. Too bad Rory doesn't realize that Tristan has a thing for her, thought Lorelai, a smile forming at her lips. Lorelai quickly looked at the clock in the hall.
"Gosh, Rory, we better get ready to go to your grandparent's. Ugh, I do not need another lecture from Emily about tardiness." Whined Lorelai, as she got up and headed for the stairs. Rory followed but then stopped as she reached the stairs.
"Have fun," said Tristan as he crossed his arms behind his head and stretched, an amused look on his face.
"Mom!" cried Rory, up the stairs. "What about Tristan?" she asked. Lorelai popped her head down the stairs and looked at Tristan who was lounging on the couch.
"Don't worry about me ladies, I've got some snacks and the TV." He said with a slight wave of his hand. Lorelai and Rory looked at each other, a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.
"Oh Tristan, it would be lovely if you joined us," said Lorelai, in her best Scarlet O'Hara voice, fluttering her eye lashes like a damsel. Tristan groaned.
"Do I have to?" he whined, looking at both Rory and Lorelai.
"Like I'd leave you alone in my house," said Lorelai, sarcastically as she marched back to her room. Rory still stood by the stairs and looked at Tristan amused.
"Come on, it'll be fun!" she said in a mock cheerful voice.
***
While Tristan changed in the bathroom, Rory was in Lorelai's room, sitting on the bed as Lorelai pulled out something to wear.
"Mom, I need to talk to you about something," started Rory. Lorelai looked at her from the mirror.
"Oh no, not another mystery guest? Who is it now? Muffy von Smitten from Chilton got kicked out of her mother's country club?" joked Lorelai. Rory looked at her bizarrely.
"Who?" asked Rory, fiddling with the bedspread.
"Never mind, tell me what's wrong." Said Lorelai as she put on her blouse.
"You know how Dean and Tristan don't get along, right? See, Tristan went to Doose's and told Dean about him staying here before I got a chance to, so Dean thought I was hiding something from him so he came because he didn't believe Tristan and when he came it was the truth…" spurted out Rory, rapidly.
"Oh, slow down there," said Lorelai with a laugh. Rory looked up at her mother.
"Let me get this straight, Tristan told Dean, Dean didn't believe, he came here found you and Tristan, then he got mad, right?" asked Lorelai. Rory nodded.
"Well, the only thing I could tell you to do is let Dean cool off. Honey, Dean loves you and I'm sure deep down that he trusts you, it's Tristan that he doesn't trust." Said Lorelai, as comforting as possible. Rory nodded.
"But Dean has nothing to worry about. I only care for him. Anyway, Tristan doesn't even like me, he's just here because he has no where else to go." Explained Rory. Lorelai smirked.
"That boy has a thing for you," said Lorelai matter-of-factly.
"Dean? Of course he cares about me," said Rory, oblivious.
"No, I meant Tristan." Said Lorelai, surprised at how dense Rory could be.
"No he doesn't, why does everyone keep saying that?" asked Rory, frustrated.
"Because it's true," said Lorelai, putting on her earrings.
"Ugh, I'm going to go get dress now," said Rory, shuffling to the door. Lorelai watched her, amused by her daughter's naivety.