Summary: Tristan is back from military school and ready to purse "Mary" for the second time. But is Rory willing to prove the age old testimony; "love conquers all?"

Disclaimer: I own nada.

Rating: PG-13

Author's Note: I would highly recommend just skimming through the last chapter as a refresher. Big thanks to my beta-reader, Caitlin. And my best friend, Gilly, who scolds me for short chapters and picks me up off my ass to write.

Just Throw It All Away

Chapter 14: Phone Ditch

-Rory-

          "Dean… hi," I let out a weak laugh.

          "So… how are you?" I questioned, panicking

.

          "I'm okay, you?"

          "Uh… fine, thanks." My God, if this is what conversations on the phone are supposed to sound like between couples, I think I'll prefer to stay single for the rest of my life.

          Ding-dong!

          "Er… hang on a sec, okay?" I didn't wait for an answer and bolted for the door, even though my mom is completely capable of answering the door herself.

          I flung the door open. Thank God!

          "Is this the…" the delivery guy from the Thai restaurant checked the order, but I interrupted him before he got to it.

          "Gilmore? Yes."

          "Okay, that'll be $12.67."

          I searched the couches slowly for my purse, not exactly wanting to finish giving the guy money and have to face Dean again. 

          "Uh… Miss, I'm sorry, could you hurry up a little bit? I have other deliveries."

          "Oh, yes. Sorry." Stupid guy. You are never supposed to rush someone to get their money.

          With a feeling of compunction I handed him fifteen dollars and told him to keep the change.

          I walked, okay, that's a lie, I more like crawled, back to my room and picked up the receiver.

          "Hello?"

          I was greeted by the monotonous voice of the machine, "Please hang up and try again…"

          You see, I'm very good at avoiding people. I can make people hang up on me in seconds flat. Great. My thoughts dripped with sarcasm. What a talent. I don't think I should brag about that fact.

          I flung myself onto my bed and laid spread eagle style.

          "Honey?"

          I grunted in response to my mom.

          "Who was that on the phone?"

          "Oh… nobody. My boyfriend or ex-boyfriend… form your own opinion because I'm not sure," I said as if I was giving her the weather report.

          "Dean? Tristan? You keep switching guys. I'm getting a little lost."

          "I never switched. I just… forgot to do that." I dragged my answer out. "It was Dean."

          "Ah… so you finally dumped him for Tristan, huh?"

          "Well… not exactly."

          "What'd you do then?"

          "I kinda… ditched him on the phone."

          "Ah… the old 'I'll be right back' line." Mom said with a laugh.

          "Mom! This isn't funny." My mother, as cool as she is, does not understand my current predicament.

          "Okay, okay…Did you not wait for an answer from him either?" My mom gave me a mischievous smile.

          "Mom!"

-Tristan-

          "Mary, are you avoiding me?" I teased. It was Friday and Rory had successfully managed to avoid me since Tuesday afternoon till… well, now. I had finally managed to corner her in between my arms, and backed her up against the lockers.

          It's a good thing she stays after for all that newspaper stuff. She looked like a deer caught in headlights.

          "N- No!" She stammered pathetically. But cute pathetically.

          She bit her lip and tucked her hair behind her ear. Her trademark habit. She looked exceptionally kissable right about now.

          I bent down, closer to her face and gently tilted her chin so I could see her eyes.

          "You know, you're a horrible liar," I whispered against her lips, brushing them softly with each syllable.

          "No, I'm not." Her cheeks went rosy, and she lowered her eyes again, hiding them behind a fringe of long, dark eyelashes. I lowered myself to catch her eyes.

          "Please refer to my previous statement," I whispered, this time not even touching her lips, but the slightest bump could end us in lip lock.

          I saw her eyes flicker towards my lips. Her tongue instinctively flickered out to moisten her own lips.

          "You're killing me, Mare."

         I caved. I told myself that she'd kiss me first. Just so I wouldn't get the two of us in a tangled mess again. But I gotta say, it was worth it. She's too irresistible. For someone who looks that innocent, she sure as hell doesn't kiss as if she's the Virgin Mary.

          "I can too lie!" she said breathlessly as we pulled out of our heated kiss.

          "Sure." I raised my eyebrows, mocking her.

          She pouted.

          "Okay, well, repeat after me." I smiled playfully. "I…"

          She looked at my confused but repeated nonetheless, "I…"

          "Rory Gilmore..."

          "Rory Gilmore…"

          "…worship…"

          Now I was getting suspicious looks, "…worship…"

          "…and adore…" I said.

          "…and adore…"

          I grinned, "…Tristan DuGrey."

          "… Tristan DuGrey."

          "Ha!" She shot me a conquering look, "I told you I can lie!"

          "Liar."

          I kissed her thoroughly again. She looked amused.

          "What?" I asked her.

          "I wonder what you'd do if I could lie."

          "Go ahead and try me."

          "Tristan DuGrey is the world's sweetest, most innocent blonde prep I've ever met." An innocent smile played at her lips.

          I pouted, even though I knew it was childish, "Now… that wasn't very nice."

          She laughed at my antics. She had a beautiful laugh. It rang out clearly. It was refreshing and genuinely happy.

          "Awww… want me to kiss it and make it all better?"

          "Oooh… Rory the Nurse. Kinky."

          "Keep this up, buddy, and you won't even make it to the hospital."

          "We'll see…" Finally, we got to the smooching. I have to admit I like this side of Rory.

          "Oxygen, Tristan," She sounded strangled. "Oxygen..."

          "Right, right. We need air."

          "Very good. So what are you doing Friday night?"

          I was a little surprised. Now that was an understatement. "Why, Mary, are you asking me out?" I winked suggestively.

          She rolled her eyes.

          "Don't be like that. I'm all yours Friday night."

          "Good, I'll see you then," she ducked out of my arms and briskly walked down the empty hallway, backpack slung over her shoulders, towards the exit.

          "Goodbye Rory."

          She turned around and gave me a smile and a wave.

          I smiled to myself and continued out of Chilton myself.

A/N 2- Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I have to clear a thing or two up. The incident with Summer's new tutoring job and Rory trying to ask Tristan out occurred on Tuesday, and remember, Rory walked away? And this is Friday afternoon, so Rory avoided Tristan like the plague. She's upset with him because of his PDA (Public Displays of Affection) with Summer.

          Okay, I'm glad I got that cleared up. I was a little confused myself. Big thanks to the reviewers. They're part of the reason I continue writing because there praise is very sweet and it motivates me to produce more work. Thank you guys! Leave a comment or two… it's much appreciated.