*Disclaimer: I don't own the series Gilmore Girls or the characters. All I
own is my imagination and the plot.
*A/N: Hey!!! :-) I don't have a lot to say, except that I know this chapter is a little on the short side with a lot of large paragraphs, but I couldn't write it any other way. But I still hope you guys like it. :-)
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
Rory came down the steps in a hurry and continued her steady pace as she headed towards her locker. She easily avoided the crowds of plaid, which were frequently just leaning against a locker and giving her a look when she passed them. Mostly the neutral look was accompanied by a small smile. After all, they felt a certain respect towards her, even though they all clung together in groups. Rory even had a theory about the different groups that could be found in practically every high school. She was of the opinion that they all huddled together in groups, because they were stronger together. That, and nobody wanted to be caught dead eating alone in the cafeteria. A situation which Rory was confronted with every day. But it didn't bother her. She would rather eat alone than sit at a crowded people, knowing that they weren't really her friends. Some times, when she glanced at Tristan's overcrowded table, she wondered if all those muscular jocks and overly cheerful cheerleaders really liked him, or only sat with him, because they felt obligated too. Hoping to become as 'mighty' as Tristan.
Rory had the urge to roll her eyes at that, but didn't. Two things stopped her. The first was the sight of Tristan, who was leaning against a locker across from hers, and the second was the remembrance of Tristan's sad and apologetic eyes when he tried to apologize to her last night. That particular thought had kept her awake during large part of the night. She also couldn't get the eerie sound of glass shattering out of her mind.
She stopped and glanced in Tristan's direction, trying to make a rapid and right decision. Suddenly, almost as if he was reacting to her touch, Tristan briefly looked up and met her eyes. For a barely noticeable second, she thought she could see regret in his eyes, but as soon as his friends realized that he wasn't paying attention to the conversation anymore, Tristan winked at her. His lips quickly moved, indicating that he had said something to his friends. Immediately they started to laugh and he lowered his eyes, with a what seemed to be pleased grin.
Rory turned around, so her back was facing Tristan and his sickly loyal assemblage, and opened her locker with one single try. Usually it would take her at least two hard pulls, but today she had her confusion and frustration to help her. Mindlessly, she started to put books in her locker, once again getting lost in last nights thoughts. She was trying to connect the dots, but she couldn't seem to find the right order.
Meanwhile, Tristan was stealing glances at Rory, wondering if she would forgive him for last night, and more important, understand why he did it.
The bell rang, which caused Rory to break out of her trance. She closed her locker and headed for her first class. She heard Tristan yell something at his friends before following her. She knew he was behind her, because of the way he walked. He always walked in a laid-back pace, which fitted his personality, cause he never seemed to care about grades and school in general. His never ending detention record proved that. Unconsciously Rory started to walk a little faster, as if she was afraid he would catch up with her.
She nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and focused her eyes on the floor, as she entered the classroom. She walked straight over to her seat in the back, not paying any attention to her surroundings.
Tristan lowered his gaze to the empty seat beside her. It was incredibly tempting, but for once he fought against his temptation and decided on a seat at the other end of the class.
Rory let out a sigh of relief, but she had a sad look in her eyes as she did this. She quickly got her books out of her bag, trying to keep busy, but soon enough she found herself looking in Tristan's direction. He was staring out of the window with a look so cold and distant, it made Rory question the fact of his mental presence here. She lowered her eyes to the floor, feeling the guilt take over. Making her question her choice of running last night. Maybe she should have stayed there, with him and helped him.
Tristan silently observed Rory with angry eyes. But the anger was misplaced. He knew that his anger wasn't meant for her, never for her.......
*~*~*
Tristan loosely held his car keys in his fingers as he walked through the corridors of Chilton, causing them to jingle and produce a sound that could accompany him on his journey through this silent corridor. Everyone else had already left. And though he had wanted to leave after the last bell, he couldn't. Mrs. Raven had stopped him and called him in to her class room, once again. After a few amusing comments from his side, the conversation got serious. Mrs. Raven talked to him about his grades and had actually asked if everything was okay at home. Of course he had tried to avoid that question at first, but at the end he did give her a vague and worthless answer. She had just shook her head and told him that he could go. No lecture, nothing. But he had seen that disappointed look in her eyes, the same look he had seen in his parents' and Rory's eyes. It was a heartbreaking look, one he vowed never to be the cause of again.
As he entered the last corridor, he gripped his keys tight, causing the annoyingly cheerful sound of their jingling to come to an abrupt stop. She stood with her back facing him and immediately his eyes wandered to her hair, that was sprawled across her back. He smiled as he turned his eyes away from her and passed her without saying a word. When the heavy doors fell closed behind him, Rory turned around and looked at them, as if he was still standing there, looking at her. She had deliberately waited until he left. She had consciously made up her mind about talking to him.
*~*~*
Tristan parked his car right behind his dad's in the driveway. His lips remained in a thin line as he killed the engine and glared at the behemothic mansion that seemed to be towering over him. It seemed unreal. He grew up in this mansion, but he never looked at it as his home. He hardly ever invited people to come over to 'his house'. Except if he was throwing a party, but that was different, impersonal.
He opened the car door and got out. With one last glance at the house in front of him, he made his way inside. He routinely placed his keys on the dresser and stopped by the kitchen to greet Paola, before heading towards the stairs. He had just placed his hand on the banister, when he heard the familiar ticking of his mom's heels.
''Tristan,'' she said, as she entered the hallway.
Tristan turned around to face her and nodded. ''Mom.''
Before he knew what was happening, Carolyn walked up to him and awkwardly hugged him. Tristan didn't hug her back and she pulled away from him.
''So......the funeral was beautiful. You should have been there,'' Carolyn said, as she nervously pressed her red lips together, realizing her mistake.
Tristan looked at her with emotionless eyes. ''Yes, I should have been there.''
''Tristan...........''
Tristan put his hands in his pockets and looked at his mother, waiting for the rest of her sentence, but it never came. This was how it always went. She knew that she should apologize, but there was something inside of her that always seem to stop her. Or better yet, there was something missing inside of her. At least he knew where he got his careless attitude from. He turned around and started to head up the stairs. But half way, he was forced to stop by his father's voice.
''Where are you going ?''
''Upstairs,'' Tristan answered, still not moving.
''No, you're not, '' his father said.
''Tristan, we haven't seen you for a couple of days and we would like to spend some time with you,'' Carolyn soothed.
Tristan shook his head and turned around so he could look at his 'parents'.
''That's a first. Are some of your friends coming to dinner ? Do you need to put up an act and show them that you are excellent parents ? Cause there's something wrong with that picture.''
''How dare you be so disrespectful,'' Alexander said, his jaw tense.
''I'll show you some respect when you do the same for me,'' Tristan stated simply.
''Sweetheart,'' his mother started.
''I'm not a little kid, mom.''
''Then stop acting like one !'' his dad yelled.
Carolyn took a step forward and pleadingly looked at Tristan.
''Tristan, sweetheart, we only do what we think is best for you. I wish you would understand.''
''That's the whole point ! I do, but you don't !''
And with that the 'conversation' had come to an end. Tristan stormed up the stairs, feeling defeated and triumphant at the same time. He had gotten the last word, but that hadn't been the end of this. He slammed the door behind him, knowing that his mom always cringed when he did that and looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes stood tired. He sat down on his bed. This was all the cause of the fact that his father forbid him to go to Janlan's funeral. The bad grades, the frustration, the hate. Some times he didn't even understand how his father and Janlan could have been related. He ran his hand through his hair, just as there was a knock on the door. Tristan didn't say anything and watched as the door opened and Paola came in to his room.
''Paola,'' Tristan sighed. ''Did my parents send you up here ?''
Paola nodded as she looked at him with a concerned look on her face.
''They want to know if you're coming downstairs for dinner ?''
Tristan shook his head and Paola, who had already expected this answer, nodded in understanding.
''Would you like me to bring your dinner up here ?''
Tristan nodded. ''Yes, thanks.''
Paola nodded one more time before opening the door again.
''Tristan, are you alright ?''
''I always am,'' he answered, with a sad smile.
But as soon as Paola had shut the door behind her, the smile disappeared. He knew that he was lying to her and she knew it. Lately he, himself, had trouble believing his words.
*~*~*
Rory looked at her burger. She didn't feel like eating. Her mind kept wandering back to Tristan and his sad and lonely eyes. Desperate when he thought that no one was watching. But he forgot that at Chilton, eyes were always on him and that he always had to play his part. Right now, she knew that she was closer to the cause of his spontaneous depression, but she still couldn't quite grasp it.
Jess, who had been keeping an eye on her all this time, took the liberty to grab a chair and sit down across from her. For a while he didn't say anything. He just looked from her to her burger, thinking that something had to be seriously wrong if she wasn't eating her burger or drinking her coffee. He brought his eyes up to look at her again.
''Why aren't you eating ?''
''The burger,'' Rory answered.
''What's wrong with the burger ?''
''It tastes different from what I expected.''
''Huh ?'' was Jess' response.
''Yeah, I thought a burger would taste meaty and act like a burger, but apparently once it's too cooked, it tastes different too.''
''Does this theory revolve around this particular burger ?'' Jess asked, fighting the urge to make some very funny burger jokes.
Rory sighed, finally meeting his eyes. ''I'm becoming a vegetarian.''
Normally he could follow Rory, no matter what she said or how she put it, but right now he was completely lost. The only thing he could read from her expression was that something was wrong. Suddenly he got a serious expression on his face.
''What's wrong ?''
Rory lowered her eyes and before she knew it, tears were starting to form in the corners of her eyes.
''Rory.''
Rory brought her eyes up to meet Jess', trying to camouflage them with her hands.
''You wanna go for a walk ?'' Jess asked, now genuinely worried about her.
Rory nodded. Jess got up, yelled something to Luke and lead her out of the diner. While they were walking to the bridge, Rory kept on crying. Jess just kept glancing at her every now and then. He wasn't the most comforting or sensitive guy in the world, so he just decided to give her some space and be there for her, knowing that it would be enough.
He followed her on to the bridge and sat down next to her, the both of them still bathing in silence. Which meant that she had stopped crying. Jess waited a little while longer before repeating his earlier question.
''So, what's wrong ?''
''Well, I went over to Tristan's to help him study, remember ?''
Jess nodded, swallowing another one of his remarks.
''In the beginning everything was fine, I mean, he was acting a little weird, but I just brushed it off and thought it had to do with the fact that his friends weren't around or something.''
''But.........?'' Jess asked, urging her to continue.
''I saw the whisky, but I didn't................''
''Whisky ?'' Jess asked.
''Yeah, he was drunk. And he did something stupid and then I just.....left.''
''What exactly did Tristan do ?''
''Nothing, he............he kissed me, but he let me go.........when I started to cry. And of course I ran. All I do is cry and run,'' Rory said.
Jess didn't say anything, pretty sure that there was still more to come.
''I should have stayed.''
''And do what ?'' he patiently asked.
''Help him, listen to him,'' Rory answered, feeling guilty about leaving Tristan like that.
''What if he didn't wanna talk ?''
''Then he could have wrote it down, painted a picture, I don't care. I just wanna help him, Jess.''
Jess slightly smiled and looked at her. ''You always do.''
He brought his fingers up to her cheek. ''And knowing you........''
He carefully wiped away the remains of her tears. ''........you will.''
''Thank you.''
Jess nodded and pulled his hand back. ''Are you okay ?''
''Yeah.''
''Good, cause I hate it when you do this,'' Jess said.
Rory smiled, thankful for Jess' friendship and company. A peaceful silence was created between them and within this silence they understood each other. Giving them the chance to retreat in to the privacy of their own minds.
*R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? :-) Three (or four) more chapters to go (I haven't made up my mind yet.) and then this story will be officially finito. The next chapter will be a long one, I think. Anyway, not your problem. Thanks again for the reviews!!! :-) And for the people who are reading my Lit, I think I'm going to finish this story first. So, spread the word! :-)
*A/N: Hey!!! :-) I don't have a lot to say, except that I know this chapter is a little on the short side with a lot of large paragraphs, but I couldn't write it any other way. But I still hope you guys like it. :-)
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
Rory came down the steps in a hurry and continued her steady pace as she headed towards her locker. She easily avoided the crowds of plaid, which were frequently just leaning against a locker and giving her a look when she passed them. Mostly the neutral look was accompanied by a small smile. After all, they felt a certain respect towards her, even though they all clung together in groups. Rory even had a theory about the different groups that could be found in practically every high school. She was of the opinion that they all huddled together in groups, because they were stronger together. That, and nobody wanted to be caught dead eating alone in the cafeteria. A situation which Rory was confronted with every day. But it didn't bother her. She would rather eat alone than sit at a crowded people, knowing that they weren't really her friends. Some times, when she glanced at Tristan's overcrowded table, she wondered if all those muscular jocks and overly cheerful cheerleaders really liked him, or only sat with him, because they felt obligated too. Hoping to become as 'mighty' as Tristan.
Rory had the urge to roll her eyes at that, but didn't. Two things stopped her. The first was the sight of Tristan, who was leaning against a locker across from hers, and the second was the remembrance of Tristan's sad and apologetic eyes when he tried to apologize to her last night. That particular thought had kept her awake during large part of the night. She also couldn't get the eerie sound of glass shattering out of her mind.
She stopped and glanced in Tristan's direction, trying to make a rapid and right decision. Suddenly, almost as if he was reacting to her touch, Tristan briefly looked up and met her eyes. For a barely noticeable second, she thought she could see regret in his eyes, but as soon as his friends realized that he wasn't paying attention to the conversation anymore, Tristan winked at her. His lips quickly moved, indicating that he had said something to his friends. Immediately they started to laugh and he lowered his eyes, with a what seemed to be pleased grin.
Rory turned around, so her back was facing Tristan and his sickly loyal assemblage, and opened her locker with one single try. Usually it would take her at least two hard pulls, but today she had her confusion and frustration to help her. Mindlessly, she started to put books in her locker, once again getting lost in last nights thoughts. She was trying to connect the dots, but she couldn't seem to find the right order.
Meanwhile, Tristan was stealing glances at Rory, wondering if she would forgive him for last night, and more important, understand why he did it.
The bell rang, which caused Rory to break out of her trance. She closed her locker and headed for her first class. She heard Tristan yell something at his friends before following her. She knew he was behind her, because of the way he walked. He always walked in a laid-back pace, which fitted his personality, cause he never seemed to care about grades and school in general. His never ending detention record proved that. Unconsciously Rory started to walk a little faster, as if she was afraid he would catch up with her.
She nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and focused her eyes on the floor, as she entered the classroom. She walked straight over to her seat in the back, not paying any attention to her surroundings.
Tristan lowered his gaze to the empty seat beside her. It was incredibly tempting, but for once he fought against his temptation and decided on a seat at the other end of the class.
Rory let out a sigh of relief, but she had a sad look in her eyes as she did this. She quickly got her books out of her bag, trying to keep busy, but soon enough she found herself looking in Tristan's direction. He was staring out of the window with a look so cold and distant, it made Rory question the fact of his mental presence here. She lowered her eyes to the floor, feeling the guilt take over. Making her question her choice of running last night. Maybe she should have stayed there, with him and helped him.
Tristan silently observed Rory with angry eyes. But the anger was misplaced. He knew that his anger wasn't meant for her, never for her.......
*~*~*
Tristan loosely held his car keys in his fingers as he walked through the corridors of Chilton, causing them to jingle and produce a sound that could accompany him on his journey through this silent corridor. Everyone else had already left. And though he had wanted to leave after the last bell, he couldn't. Mrs. Raven had stopped him and called him in to her class room, once again. After a few amusing comments from his side, the conversation got serious. Mrs. Raven talked to him about his grades and had actually asked if everything was okay at home. Of course he had tried to avoid that question at first, but at the end he did give her a vague and worthless answer. She had just shook her head and told him that he could go. No lecture, nothing. But he had seen that disappointed look in her eyes, the same look he had seen in his parents' and Rory's eyes. It was a heartbreaking look, one he vowed never to be the cause of again.
As he entered the last corridor, he gripped his keys tight, causing the annoyingly cheerful sound of their jingling to come to an abrupt stop. She stood with her back facing him and immediately his eyes wandered to her hair, that was sprawled across her back. He smiled as he turned his eyes away from her and passed her without saying a word. When the heavy doors fell closed behind him, Rory turned around and looked at them, as if he was still standing there, looking at her. She had deliberately waited until he left. She had consciously made up her mind about talking to him.
*~*~*
Tristan parked his car right behind his dad's in the driveway. His lips remained in a thin line as he killed the engine and glared at the behemothic mansion that seemed to be towering over him. It seemed unreal. He grew up in this mansion, but he never looked at it as his home. He hardly ever invited people to come over to 'his house'. Except if he was throwing a party, but that was different, impersonal.
He opened the car door and got out. With one last glance at the house in front of him, he made his way inside. He routinely placed his keys on the dresser and stopped by the kitchen to greet Paola, before heading towards the stairs. He had just placed his hand on the banister, when he heard the familiar ticking of his mom's heels.
''Tristan,'' she said, as she entered the hallway.
Tristan turned around to face her and nodded. ''Mom.''
Before he knew what was happening, Carolyn walked up to him and awkwardly hugged him. Tristan didn't hug her back and she pulled away from him.
''So......the funeral was beautiful. You should have been there,'' Carolyn said, as she nervously pressed her red lips together, realizing her mistake.
Tristan looked at her with emotionless eyes. ''Yes, I should have been there.''
''Tristan...........''
Tristan put his hands in his pockets and looked at his mother, waiting for the rest of her sentence, but it never came. This was how it always went. She knew that she should apologize, but there was something inside of her that always seem to stop her. Or better yet, there was something missing inside of her. At least he knew where he got his careless attitude from. He turned around and started to head up the stairs. But half way, he was forced to stop by his father's voice.
''Where are you going ?''
''Upstairs,'' Tristan answered, still not moving.
''No, you're not, '' his father said.
''Tristan, we haven't seen you for a couple of days and we would like to spend some time with you,'' Carolyn soothed.
Tristan shook his head and turned around so he could look at his 'parents'.
''That's a first. Are some of your friends coming to dinner ? Do you need to put up an act and show them that you are excellent parents ? Cause there's something wrong with that picture.''
''How dare you be so disrespectful,'' Alexander said, his jaw tense.
''I'll show you some respect when you do the same for me,'' Tristan stated simply.
''Sweetheart,'' his mother started.
''I'm not a little kid, mom.''
''Then stop acting like one !'' his dad yelled.
Carolyn took a step forward and pleadingly looked at Tristan.
''Tristan, sweetheart, we only do what we think is best for you. I wish you would understand.''
''That's the whole point ! I do, but you don't !''
And with that the 'conversation' had come to an end. Tristan stormed up the stairs, feeling defeated and triumphant at the same time. He had gotten the last word, but that hadn't been the end of this. He slammed the door behind him, knowing that his mom always cringed when he did that and looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes stood tired. He sat down on his bed. This was all the cause of the fact that his father forbid him to go to Janlan's funeral. The bad grades, the frustration, the hate. Some times he didn't even understand how his father and Janlan could have been related. He ran his hand through his hair, just as there was a knock on the door. Tristan didn't say anything and watched as the door opened and Paola came in to his room.
''Paola,'' Tristan sighed. ''Did my parents send you up here ?''
Paola nodded as she looked at him with a concerned look on her face.
''They want to know if you're coming downstairs for dinner ?''
Tristan shook his head and Paola, who had already expected this answer, nodded in understanding.
''Would you like me to bring your dinner up here ?''
Tristan nodded. ''Yes, thanks.''
Paola nodded one more time before opening the door again.
''Tristan, are you alright ?''
''I always am,'' he answered, with a sad smile.
But as soon as Paola had shut the door behind her, the smile disappeared. He knew that he was lying to her and she knew it. Lately he, himself, had trouble believing his words.
*~*~*
Rory looked at her burger. She didn't feel like eating. Her mind kept wandering back to Tristan and his sad and lonely eyes. Desperate when he thought that no one was watching. But he forgot that at Chilton, eyes were always on him and that he always had to play his part. Right now, she knew that she was closer to the cause of his spontaneous depression, but she still couldn't quite grasp it.
Jess, who had been keeping an eye on her all this time, took the liberty to grab a chair and sit down across from her. For a while he didn't say anything. He just looked from her to her burger, thinking that something had to be seriously wrong if she wasn't eating her burger or drinking her coffee. He brought his eyes up to look at her again.
''Why aren't you eating ?''
''The burger,'' Rory answered.
''What's wrong with the burger ?''
''It tastes different from what I expected.''
''Huh ?'' was Jess' response.
''Yeah, I thought a burger would taste meaty and act like a burger, but apparently once it's too cooked, it tastes different too.''
''Does this theory revolve around this particular burger ?'' Jess asked, fighting the urge to make some very funny burger jokes.
Rory sighed, finally meeting his eyes. ''I'm becoming a vegetarian.''
Normally he could follow Rory, no matter what she said or how she put it, but right now he was completely lost. The only thing he could read from her expression was that something was wrong. Suddenly he got a serious expression on his face.
''What's wrong ?''
Rory lowered her eyes and before she knew it, tears were starting to form in the corners of her eyes.
''Rory.''
Rory brought her eyes up to meet Jess', trying to camouflage them with her hands.
''You wanna go for a walk ?'' Jess asked, now genuinely worried about her.
Rory nodded. Jess got up, yelled something to Luke and lead her out of the diner. While they were walking to the bridge, Rory kept on crying. Jess just kept glancing at her every now and then. He wasn't the most comforting or sensitive guy in the world, so he just decided to give her some space and be there for her, knowing that it would be enough.
He followed her on to the bridge and sat down next to her, the both of them still bathing in silence. Which meant that she had stopped crying. Jess waited a little while longer before repeating his earlier question.
''So, what's wrong ?''
''Well, I went over to Tristan's to help him study, remember ?''
Jess nodded, swallowing another one of his remarks.
''In the beginning everything was fine, I mean, he was acting a little weird, but I just brushed it off and thought it had to do with the fact that his friends weren't around or something.''
''But.........?'' Jess asked, urging her to continue.
''I saw the whisky, but I didn't................''
''Whisky ?'' Jess asked.
''Yeah, he was drunk. And he did something stupid and then I just.....left.''
''What exactly did Tristan do ?''
''Nothing, he............he kissed me, but he let me go.........when I started to cry. And of course I ran. All I do is cry and run,'' Rory said.
Jess didn't say anything, pretty sure that there was still more to come.
''I should have stayed.''
''And do what ?'' he patiently asked.
''Help him, listen to him,'' Rory answered, feeling guilty about leaving Tristan like that.
''What if he didn't wanna talk ?''
''Then he could have wrote it down, painted a picture, I don't care. I just wanna help him, Jess.''
Jess slightly smiled and looked at her. ''You always do.''
He brought his fingers up to her cheek. ''And knowing you........''
He carefully wiped away the remains of her tears. ''........you will.''
''Thank you.''
Jess nodded and pulled his hand back. ''Are you okay ?''
''Yeah.''
''Good, cause I hate it when you do this,'' Jess said.
Rory smiled, thankful for Jess' friendship and company. A peaceful silence was created between them and within this silence they understood each other. Giving them the chance to retreat in to the privacy of their own minds.
*R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? :-) Three (or four) more chapters to go (I haven't made up my mind yet.) and then this story will be officially finito. The next chapter will be a long one, I think. Anyway, not your problem. Thanks again for the reviews!!! :-) And for the people who are reading my Lit, I think I'm going to finish this story first. So, spread the word! :-)