*Disclaimer: I don't own the series Gilmore Girls or the characters. All I
own is my imagination and the plot.
*A/N: Hey!!! :-) How are all of you doing ? I hope better than me...I've been a little down these last weeks and I don't really know why. Maybe it's because they don't have rainbow colored M&M's ? Could be. :-) Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. (just like you like M&M's or whatever.)
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
As soon as Rory entered the classroom, a wave of voices came crashing down upon her, filling her ears thoroughly, like a choir could make a church seem too small with their strong and symphonious voices. However, this classroom hadn't been designed to be acoustical, so the voices lowered themselves to a pleasant volume as soon as Rory's ears had adjusted to them. She got bits and pieces of the various conversations as she walked over to an empty seat. Rory set her books down on her desk, while she was trying to make rational sentences with the words she had gathered from sources all around her. But she couldn't discover anything familiar in them. So, she gave up and decided to ask one of Chilton's best 'private eyes' for the story.
''Louise, what's everyone so excited about ?'' Rory asked, as she turned sideways to look at the blond circulator behind her.
Louise stopped talking to Madeline and glanced in Rory's direction with a small smile on her face.
''Tristan's parents found out about the party and because he has been such a bad boy, he'll be send to some boarding school.''
''A military school,'' Madeline cut in.
''Whatever, ask her for details,'' Louise said, as she twirled a strand of hair around her neatly manicured finger and fixed her eyes on someone behind Rory.
Rory turned her head and was surprised to see that Louise's gaze had been intended for Paris, who had just entered the classroom.
''Paris ?'' Rory asked unbelievingly, as she looked at Louise again.
''Yep, she knows all the details, right Madeline ?''
''Oh yeah,'' the raven haired girl answered, before engaging in another conversation. Louise, however, just leaned back and looked at Paris with the smile still on her face.
Rory looked at Paris again, who had taken a seat next to her, and saw the worried, almost panicked expression on her face.
''Paris, what's wrong ?''
Paris shook her head and lowered her gaze to her hands. ''I didn't mean to. I only told Louise and Madeline, but of course they couldn't keep their mouths shut.''
''Hey, we crossed our fingers,'' Louise said.
Madeline shot Paris an apologetic look, but didn't pay any further attention to it.
''What exactly did happen ?'' Rory asked, looking at Paris curiously.
Paris sighed. ''Last night I overheard my mom talking to Tristan's mom, on the phone.''
''Are you sure you overheard correctly ? I mean...........''
Paris nodded. ''My mom used sending, Tristan and military school in the same sentence.''
Rory remained quiet, she didn't know what to say or what to feel for that matter. She had imagined Chilton without Tristan before, but she couldn't really see herself walking through the halls and eating her lunch, without spotting Tristan out of the corner of her eyes.
''It's all my fault. I couldn't keep it to myself.''
''It's not your fault,'' Rory started. ''Besides, eventually people would have noticed his lack of presence.''
''Tristan will never forgive me,'' Paris continued. ''Now he'll remember me as the girl who stabbed him in the back with the sword he gave me...........''
''Paris, we're talking about Tristan here,'' Rory interrupted.
''I know, I just betrayed one of my friends.''
''Tristan DuGrey.''
''You reciting his name over and over isn't helping, you know ?'' Paris said.
Rory had the urge to roll her eyes, but took a deep breathe instead. After all, she had never seen Paris like this before. Paris was actually feeling guilty about something she had said.
''Paris,'' Rory said in a soft voice. ''He will forgive you. You two have been friends too long for him not to.''
Finally it seemed as if Rory had gotten through to Paris, cause she raised her head and met Rory's eyes. ''You think ?''
''Yeah..............''
Rory wanted to say more, but was cut off by their teacher, Mrs. Snyder, as she started to calm the class down. After a couple of minutes she had succeeded in getting everyone quiet and starting with her lesson. And Rory was left with a deafening silence, but it didn't take long for her thoughts to come crashing through and shattering it.
*~*~*
Halfway through Mrs. Snyder's class, the door opened and Tristan DuGrey himself walked in. This caused for most of the heads in the classroom to raise. He was carrying a note and surprisingly a blank expression. Mrs. Snyder was about to say something about his belated arrival, but stopped when Tristan handed her the note, without making one of his usual bold remarks. Mrs. Snyder had obviously been taken back, as she unfolded the note and read it. It took her a couple of seconds to go through the neat handwriting, before she looked at him again.
''Very well Mr. DuGrey, you can take your seat.''
Tristan nodded and took a seat in the last row on the right of the classroom, obliquely across from Paris and Rory.
Throughout the remain of the lesson, Rory found her eyes traveling in Tristan's direction, and out of the corner of her eyes, she saw that Paris was doing the same thing. As Rory returned her eyes to her desk, she couldn't help but think that Paris must have overheard wrong and that this was nothing but another rumor.
*~*~*
Rory was lost in thought as she followed the other students out of the classroom. But as soon as someone grabbed her by her arm and pulled her away from the classroom, she jumped off of her train of thoughts. Rory looked up and was glad to see that it was only Paris.
''Paris !'' she said, as she pulled her arm free.
Paris immediately let go of Rory's arm and looked at her with a nervous expression.
''He's there, now's my chance to apologize,'' Paris said.
''Who are you talking about ?''
''.........Tristan.........,'' Paris said, as she glanced in the direction of the lockers.
Rory traced Paris' invisible line and rested her eyes upon Tristan, who was standing by his locker. He was emptying it out by the looks of it. The sad compassionate feeling, that Rory had carried with her for a while now, awakened once more. She couldn't help but to feel sorry for Tristan. She felt sorry for what he was going through, and for the fact that he had to go through it all alone.
''I'm going to go talk to him,'' Paris said, making her mind up out loud.
Rory nodded. Paris turned around, but as soon as her glance reached Tristan, she turned around again and looked at Rory.
''Come with me.''
It was more of a demand than a request.
''No, I...............,'' Rory started.
''You won't intrude and you won't have to say anything. All you have to do is stand there.''
Rory closed her mouth and nodded. She silently followed Paris, as she headed over to Tristan, making sure to stay a couple of steps behind Paris to give them at least a glimpse of privacy.
''Tristan.......''
Tristan raised his head and looked over at Paris. ''What ?''
''Can we talk ?''
Tristan's eyes shifted from Paris to Rory and back again. ''Sure, entertain me while I pack.''
Paris looked at Rory, before hesitantly moving closer to Tristan.
''I may bite, but I promise I won't leave any visible marks,'' Tristan said.
He sadly grinned and returned his eyes to his locker.
Paris lowered her eyes as she started to talk.
''I just wanted to apologize for my actions. I just had to tell someone when I heard and.........''
''What are you talking about ?'' Tristan asked, interrupting Paris.
Paris slowly brought her eyes up to Tristan's figure.
''I overheard my mom talking to your mom last night. And obviously I couldn't keep it to myself.''
Tristan stopped with what he was doing and looked at her. A crooked smirk started to appear on his face. ''I never imagined you as a gossip queen.''
''Me neither,'' Paris said softly, as she lowered her eyes again.
''Paris,'' Tristan said, as he turned around so he could properly look at Paris. ''It's okay, at least they'll remember me.'' He warmly smiled at his friend, who had been there all this time, if only he had taken the time to recognize her.
Paris didn't return his smile, instead she took a couple of steps toward him and awkwardly hugged him. And to both Rory and Paris' surprise he hugged her back. He buried his head in her hair, taking in the smell of her vanilla shampoo. Ever since she was a little girl she had used the same shampoo. Dear and stubborn Paris, his only and remaining childhood friend. He remembered going over to her house after school, just to escape his parents. Not that hers were any better, they just hid it better. But at least they had had each other to rely on. He even remembered practicing his pick-up lines on her and how she had laughed at every single one of them. Somehow they had lost track of each other in high school. Different friends, different priorities.
Finally Paris let go of him. She quickly mumbled a goodbye, before turning around and heading back to Rory, who had stayed in the background all this time. Tristan just smiled at her behavior, promising himself that he would have to call her tonight, and went back to emptying his locker.
''Are you okay ?'' Rory asked when Paris approached her.
Paris nodded. ''I'm okay.''
Rory glanced at Tristan and made a decision.
''Paris, is it okay if I join you in a little bit ?''
Paris nodded and left without questioning any further.
Rory gathered every piece of scattered courage she could find, before quietly heading over to Tristan's locker.
''Hey,'' she softly said, as she leaned against the locker next to Tristan's.
''Hey,'' Tristan said, not taking his eyes away from what he was doing.
''So, you're really leaving huh ?''
''Yeah, Chilton may never recover.''
Rory smiled and watched him stuff some personal objects in to his bag. A silence was slowly closing in on them, threatening the comfortable feeling between them, that they were making out of scratch.
''Tristan, I'm sorry,'' Rory said, chasing the dreading silence away.
Tristan paused his actions.
''I know it wasn't fair of me to just walk away that night, but............''
''You needed time,'' Tristan finished.
He closed his locker and faced her. ''That's the case most of the time when people are trying to find a nice way to avoid you.''
''I'm sorry, I just didn't know what to say. And I figured it would be awkward if we just sat there without saying anything, so I decided to make things easier. Besides this way I had some time to think about your situation.''
''So, how does my situation look ?'' Tristan asked, as he placed his hands protectively in his pockets.
Rory didn't say anything and just looked at him.
''That bad, huh ?''
''Tristan, I'm sure there's a way for you to......''
Tristan smiled. ''No matter how nice and charming my parents may find you, they won't change their minds. I knew this was coming. I have pushed my luck over the line with them. Especially with my dad.''
''Maybe, but military camp ?''
''That's my dad,'' Tristan stated.
''He doesn't sound like a nice person.''
Tristan chuckled at her choice of words.
''He sounds like a jerk,'' Rory said again.
''Guess that's where I get my attitude from,'' Tristan neutrally said, making it impossible for Rory to determine if he was serious or not.
''You are nothing like your father,'' Rory said.
''Thanks.''
Their eyes found each other a couple of unheard seconds. Rory was the first to look away and that was Tristan's sign to cover up the silence.
''I have to go to the headmaster's office.''
Rory nodded. ''Bye.''
Tristan winked at her as a grin took over his features. ''Bye Mary, I'll see you in your dreams.''
Tristan turned around and started to walk away, his grin already replaced by a sad look. This was probably going to be the last time he would be walking away from her, knowing that her eyes were on him. Unless faith had a little surprise in store for him, of course.....
*R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? :-) Do you know that these A/N's are the last things I write before I upload the chapter ? So, I can't really say something like; I was in a weird mood when I wrote the first A/N, cause I wrote this one as soon as I was done with the first one. So, I apologize for the weird A/N and the short chapter. Thanks again!!! :-)
*A/N: Hey!!! :-) How are all of you doing ? I hope better than me...I've been a little down these last weeks and I don't really know why. Maybe it's because they don't have rainbow colored M&M's ? Could be. :-) Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. (just like you like M&M's or whatever.)
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
As soon as Rory entered the classroom, a wave of voices came crashing down upon her, filling her ears thoroughly, like a choir could make a church seem too small with their strong and symphonious voices. However, this classroom hadn't been designed to be acoustical, so the voices lowered themselves to a pleasant volume as soon as Rory's ears had adjusted to them. She got bits and pieces of the various conversations as she walked over to an empty seat. Rory set her books down on her desk, while she was trying to make rational sentences with the words she had gathered from sources all around her. But she couldn't discover anything familiar in them. So, she gave up and decided to ask one of Chilton's best 'private eyes' for the story.
''Louise, what's everyone so excited about ?'' Rory asked, as she turned sideways to look at the blond circulator behind her.
Louise stopped talking to Madeline and glanced in Rory's direction with a small smile on her face.
''Tristan's parents found out about the party and because he has been such a bad boy, he'll be send to some boarding school.''
''A military school,'' Madeline cut in.
''Whatever, ask her for details,'' Louise said, as she twirled a strand of hair around her neatly manicured finger and fixed her eyes on someone behind Rory.
Rory turned her head and was surprised to see that Louise's gaze had been intended for Paris, who had just entered the classroom.
''Paris ?'' Rory asked unbelievingly, as she looked at Louise again.
''Yep, she knows all the details, right Madeline ?''
''Oh yeah,'' the raven haired girl answered, before engaging in another conversation. Louise, however, just leaned back and looked at Paris with the smile still on her face.
Rory looked at Paris again, who had taken a seat next to her, and saw the worried, almost panicked expression on her face.
''Paris, what's wrong ?''
Paris shook her head and lowered her gaze to her hands. ''I didn't mean to. I only told Louise and Madeline, but of course they couldn't keep their mouths shut.''
''Hey, we crossed our fingers,'' Louise said.
Madeline shot Paris an apologetic look, but didn't pay any further attention to it.
''What exactly did happen ?'' Rory asked, looking at Paris curiously.
Paris sighed. ''Last night I overheard my mom talking to Tristan's mom, on the phone.''
''Are you sure you overheard correctly ? I mean...........''
Paris nodded. ''My mom used sending, Tristan and military school in the same sentence.''
Rory remained quiet, she didn't know what to say or what to feel for that matter. She had imagined Chilton without Tristan before, but she couldn't really see herself walking through the halls and eating her lunch, without spotting Tristan out of the corner of her eyes.
''It's all my fault. I couldn't keep it to myself.''
''It's not your fault,'' Rory started. ''Besides, eventually people would have noticed his lack of presence.''
''Tristan will never forgive me,'' Paris continued. ''Now he'll remember me as the girl who stabbed him in the back with the sword he gave me...........''
''Paris, we're talking about Tristan here,'' Rory interrupted.
''I know, I just betrayed one of my friends.''
''Tristan DuGrey.''
''You reciting his name over and over isn't helping, you know ?'' Paris said.
Rory had the urge to roll her eyes, but took a deep breathe instead. After all, she had never seen Paris like this before. Paris was actually feeling guilty about something she had said.
''Paris,'' Rory said in a soft voice. ''He will forgive you. You two have been friends too long for him not to.''
Finally it seemed as if Rory had gotten through to Paris, cause she raised her head and met Rory's eyes. ''You think ?''
''Yeah..............''
Rory wanted to say more, but was cut off by their teacher, Mrs. Snyder, as she started to calm the class down. After a couple of minutes she had succeeded in getting everyone quiet and starting with her lesson. And Rory was left with a deafening silence, but it didn't take long for her thoughts to come crashing through and shattering it.
*~*~*
Halfway through Mrs. Snyder's class, the door opened and Tristan DuGrey himself walked in. This caused for most of the heads in the classroom to raise. He was carrying a note and surprisingly a blank expression. Mrs. Snyder was about to say something about his belated arrival, but stopped when Tristan handed her the note, without making one of his usual bold remarks. Mrs. Snyder had obviously been taken back, as she unfolded the note and read it. It took her a couple of seconds to go through the neat handwriting, before she looked at him again.
''Very well Mr. DuGrey, you can take your seat.''
Tristan nodded and took a seat in the last row on the right of the classroom, obliquely across from Paris and Rory.
Throughout the remain of the lesson, Rory found her eyes traveling in Tristan's direction, and out of the corner of her eyes, she saw that Paris was doing the same thing. As Rory returned her eyes to her desk, she couldn't help but think that Paris must have overheard wrong and that this was nothing but another rumor.
*~*~*
Rory was lost in thought as she followed the other students out of the classroom. But as soon as someone grabbed her by her arm and pulled her away from the classroom, she jumped off of her train of thoughts. Rory looked up and was glad to see that it was only Paris.
''Paris !'' she said, as she pulled her arm free.
Paris immediately let go of Rory's arm and looked at her with a nervous expression.
''He's there, now's my chance to apologize,'' Paris said.
''Who are you talking about ?''
''.........Tristan.........,'' Paris said, as she glanced in the direction of the lockers.
Rory traced Paris' invisible line and rested her eyes upon Tristan, who was standing by his locker. He was emptying it out by the looks of it. The sad compassionate feeling, that Rory had carried with her for a while now, awakened once more. She couldn't help but to feel sorry for Tristan. She felt sorry for what he was going through, and for the fact that he had to go through it all alone.
''I'm going to go talk to him,'' Paris said, making her mind up out loud.
Rory nodded. Paris turned around, but as soon as her glance reached Tristan, she turned around again and looked at Rory.
''Come with me.''
It was more of a demand than a request.
''No, I...............,'' Rory started.
''You won't intrude and you won't have to say anything. All you have to do is stand there.''
Rory closed her mouth and nodded. She silently followed Paris, as she headed over to Tristan, making sure to stay a couple of steps behind Paris to give them at least a glimpse of privacy.
''Tristan.......''
Tristan raised his head and looked over at Paris. ''What ?''
''Can we talk ?''
Tristan's eyes shifted from Paris to Rory and back again. ''Sure, entertain me while I pack.''
Paris looked at Rory, before hesitantly moving closer to Tristan.
''I may bite, but I promise I won't leave any visible marks,'' Tristan said.
He sadly grinned and returned his eyes to his locker.
Paris lowered her eyes as she started to talk.
''I just wanted to apologize for my actions. I just had to tell someone when I heard and.........''
''What are you talking about ?'' Tristan asked, interrupting Paris.
Paris slowly brought her eyes up to Tristan's figure.
''I overheard my mom talking to your mom last night. And obviously I couldn't keep it to myself.''
Tristan stopped with what he was doing and looked at her. A crooked smirk started to appear on his face. ''I never imagined you as a gossip queen.''
''Me neither,'' Paris said softly, as she lowered her eyes again.
''Paris,'' Tristan said, as he turned around so he could properly look at Paris. ''It's okay, at least they'll remember me.'' He warmly smiled at his friend, who had been there all this time, if only he had taken the time to recognize her.
Paris didn't return his smile, instead she took a couple of steps toward him and awkwardly hugged him. And to both Rory and Paris' surprise he hugged her back. He buried his head in her hair, taking in the smell of her vanilla shampoo. Ever since she was a little girl she had used the same shampoo. Dear and stubborn Paris, his only and remaining childhood friend. He remembered going over to her house after school, just to escape his parents. Not that hers were any better, they just hid it better. But at least they had had each other to rely on. He even remembered practicing his pick-up lines on her and how she had laughed at every single one of them. Somehow they had lost track of each other in high school. Different friends, different priorities.
Finally Paris let go of him. She quickly mumbled a goodbye, before turning around and heading back to Rory, who had stayed in the background all this time. Tristan just smiled at her behavior, promising himself that he would have to call her tonight, and went back to emptying his locker.
''Are you okay ?'' Rory asked when Paris approached her.
Paris nodded. ''I'm okay.''
Rory glanced at Tristan and made a decision.
''Paris, is it okay if I join you in a little bit ?''
Paris nodded and left without questioning any further.
Rory gathered every piece of scattered courage she could find, before quietly heading over to Tristan's locker.
''Hey,'' she softly said, as she leaned against the locker next to Tristan's.
''Hey,'' Tristan said, not taking his eyes away from what he was doing.
''So, you're really leaving huh ?''
''Yeah, Chilton may never recover.''
Rory smiled and watched him stuff some personal objects in to his bag. A silence was slowly closing in on them, threatening the comfortable feeling between them, that they were making out of scratch.
''Tristan, I'm sorry,'' Rory said, chasing the dreading silence away.
Tristan paused his actions.
''I know it wasn't fair of me to just walk away that night, but............''
''You needed time,'' Tristan finished.
He closed his locker and faced her. ''That's the case most of the time when people are trying to find a nice way to avoid you.''
''I'm sorry, I just didn't know what to say. And I figured it would be awkward if we just sat there without saying anything, so I decided to make things easier. Besides this way I had some time to think about your situation.''
''So, how does my situation look ?'' Tristan asked, as he placed his hands protectively in his pockets.
Rory didn't say anything and just looked at him.
''That bad, huh ?''
''Tristan, I'm sure there's a way for you to......''
Tristan smiled. ''No matter how nice and charming my parents may find you, they won't change their minds. I knew this was coming. I have pushed my luck over the line with them. Especially with my dad.''
''Maybe, but military camp ?''
''That's my dad,'' Tristan stated.
''He doesn't sound like a nice person.''
Tristan chuckled at her choice of words.
''He sounds like a jerk,'' Rory said again.
''Guess that's where I get my attitude from,'' Tristan neutrally said, making it impossible for Rory to determine if he was serious or not.
''You are nothing like your father,'' Rory said.
''Thanks.''
Their eyes found each other a couple of unheard seconds. Rory was the first to look away and that was Tristan's sign to cover up the silence.
''I have to go to the headmaster's office.''
Rory nodded. ''Bye.''
Tristan winked at her as a grin took over his features. ''Bye Mary, I'll see you in your dreams.''
Tristan turned around and started to walk away, his grin already replaced by a sad look. This was probably going to be the last time he would be walking away from her, knowing that her eyes were on him. Unless faith had a little surprise in store for him, of course.....
*R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? :-) Do you know that these A/N's are the last things I write before I upload the chapter ? So, I can't really say something like; I was in a weird mood when I wrote the first A/N, cause I wrote this one as soon as I was done with the first one. So, I apologize for the weird A/N and the short chapter. Thanks again!!! :-)