Disclaimer: Jamie and I own nothing. The characters belong to Amy Sherman Palladino and the WB. Take it up with them if you have to.

Authors: Susie and Jamie (Mrs. Witter)

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Paris/Tristan/Rory

Chapter 2: Same Old

Tristan made his way through the guests, holding two champagne flutes in his hands. It had taken him longer to get them something to drink because of the hordes of people who had stopped him, making small talk or digging for gossip on where he had spent the summer. A few women had blatantly hit on him and it had taken him more time than should have been necessary to fend them off.

When he finally spotted his date for the evening, she was talking to a brunette who's faced was obscured by Paris's head. She looked familiar enough but he couldn't place it.

"Actually, I do have a date. I'm not sure if you remember him, but he went to Chilton with us; Tristan DuGrey," he heard Paris say as he approached.

He grinned widely. An ex-Chiltonite. "Present and accounted for, Gellar." He smirked down at her as he handed her a flute and then turned to face the mystery guest from the past. He felt his pulse trip as his own eyes met surprised blue ones. "Rory Gilmore."

Rory tried to remain nonplussed by Paris's revelation, but the second her eyes met Tristan's her attempt failed miserably.  She had avoided thinking about him since he left and as the years past the task became easier but she couldn't deny the part of her that had always wondered what had become of him and here he was and he had spoken to her and there she was standing like an idiot eyes wide, mouth slightly agape.  Regaining what she could of her composure she managed to speak, "Tristan, hi.  It's been a while." 

Suddenly, he felt sixteen again. "Yeah, uh, the play was it?"

Paris rolled her eyes as she watched the scene before her unfold, if she were nine years younger she would have probably interjected in a fit of rage, instead she continued to watch in amusement as they struggled to hold the simplest of conversations.

Rory smiled for a moment, pleased that he remembered their last meeting, only for it to turn into a frown as she recalled that evening.  "Yeah, the play," she mimicked his words adding, "when you were carted off to military school."   

Tristan bit back a frustrated sigh along with a teasing jab, what was it about her that brought out the worst in him? "That was a long time ago. I guess things do change, I would never have expected you to be at one these shindigs."

She shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm not exactly here by choice."

"Only people with high thresholds for pain are here by choice, Rory," Lex quipped as he came up from behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist and then turning to her companions. "DuGrey, glad you could make it. Paris, nice tan."

Rory elbowed him lightly, smiling apologetically at Paris who was rolling her eyes, even though she blushed. "Don't pay any attention to my boyfriend. He spent too long in the sun today."

Tristan grinned wryly as he watched the exchange between the two brunettes. Boyfriend, of course. Rory Gilmore always had a boyfriend. He asked what every busybody at a party would ask, "So, Clayton, how'd the two of you meet anyway? You two don't travel in the same social circles."

"Actually, we do," Rory interjected, "sort of."  She grinned at the memory of their first meeting before continuing, "At least my grandparents do, he knocked me off my feet at my grandmother's Christmas party, literally."

Lex rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Well, if you'd been looking where you were going, I wouldn't have crashed into you. She had her nose stuffed in one of her books."

"Well, some parties give her a chance to catch up on her reading." Tristan didn't totally understand how or when the memory returned to him but when his gaze locked with her, he knew that she was remembered too. "Isn't that right, Gilmore?"

A blush crept over Rory's face, coloring her cheeks as Tristan's words struck her, his eyes penetrating her own, and she knew they were both thinking the same thing.  She quickly adverted her gaze to the ground, she knew that the path they were headed down could be dangerous, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to get there just yet.

Sensing the mounting tension between her date and former nemesis Paris spoke up, "I think Rory uses everything as a chance to catch up on her reading." 

The brunette shot her a grateful smile before turning back to Lex, "Besides my head might have been reading but that doesn't change the fact that you were obviously not looking where you were going either."

Lex chuckled, lightly flicking the tip of her nose with his finger. "Well, at least I was lucky enough to have bumped into a beautiful woman than another member of DAR."

"Still have a way with the ladies, don't you, Alexander?" Tristan scoffed.

Lex grinned. "So tell me, how'd the two of you hook up?"

Deciding she didn't want to find out what misguided attempt at lewd humor Tristan would retort with, Paris took it upon herself to answer Lex's question.  "We're not together, well we are here together but we're not together," she cringed as the words escaped her mouth, what was she saying?  Perhaps she should have just let Tristan answer the question.

Tristan smirked at her flustered state and swung an arm around her shoulder, playfully. Teasing her had always been so much fun "Aw, honey, you wound me. And to think of all of those night we spent together."

Her arms crossed over her chest as her mouth curved into a scowl, "Night, Tristan, it was one night." Her mouth snapped shut as she registered what she had just said, the look of shock on Rory and Lex's faces and the amusement and laughter erupting from Tristan.  And in that moment she wished the world would swallow her whole, why was it that Tristan seemed to be the only person who could push her like this, and time had done nothing to wane his effect. 

Tristan saw her blush prettily and felt pity. "What my date is trying to say is we also 'bumped' into each other in Hawaii. And we were both on the same plane back, returning for the same party. It was only natural I ask her out."

"Coincidence," Lex stated, smiling widely. "I think not."

Paris struggled to control her laughter at Lex's comment, coincidence or not, the boy was corny.  "So, you think it was Fate that brought us together, do you, Lex?" she asked doing her best to keep a straight face.

Lex waved his hand in a dramatic gesture. "Fate, destiny, kismet. Why not?"

"So you believe that if two people were meant to be," Tristan paused to rest his eyes on Rory again "they'd eventually find their way to each other, huh? That we don't choose who we love?"

Rory felt her cheeks burn once again as Tristan's gaze settled upon her, what was he trying to do?  He was here with Paris, she had a boyfriend, a boyfriend whom she liked very much, and then there was Tristan who for whatever reason seemed to be pushing something, but why?  Deciding it was best not to dwell on the blonde, she turned towards her boyfriend awaiting his answer to the question.

"I'm not sure. I'm just trying to sound sensitive," Lex answered, wiggled his eyebrows at his girlfriend and then leaned in to lightly kiss her lips. "Girls dig that shit, right Gilmore?"

Paris rolled her eyes at the scene before her, watching the small smile curve Rory's lips before she leaned back into Lex, allowing him to kiss her more fully. I guess some girls do dig that shit, Paris thought dully, taking a sip of her champagne as she turned her gaze to her date.  She knew that he had had a thing for Rory back in high school, but it was becoming glaringly obvious that he might never have truly gotten over her.  Shaking her head in disgust she announced, "I'm going to get some air," before walking heading out towards the garden.

Glad to have found a way out of there, Tristan shrugged his shoulders at the nauseating sight in front of him and followed Paris outside. "Hey Gellar, wait up! Whoa, where's the fire?"

Paris stopped suddenly, whipping her body around to face Tristan, her actions causing him to grab hold of her waist to keep from knocking into her.  Ignoring his touch she bit out, "I got tired of reliving high school."

He ran a hand through his hair. "What are you talking about?"

"What do you think I am talking about?" she seethed through clenched lips her hurt and anger only growing as he stared at her perplexedly.  "You and Rory, that scene back there, lose a few years, change Lex to Dean and we're just where we were nine years ago."

Maybe because the words hit a little too close, the denial was quick and reactionary. "You're cracked, Paris. Besides, Lex looks nothing like her high school boyfriend."

"You can't even say his name Tristan; Dean, his name was Dean.  And Lex and Dean look similar enough not to mention their sickeningly sweet and perfect relationship with Queen Oblivious.  But not to worry, if history repeats itself perhaps you'll get to be the one to cause their breakup," she ranted, turning back on her heel and out the glass doors to the back before he could stop her.

***

After their embrace had been broken Lex gave Rory one last quick kiss before he headed across the room to meet and greet some more of his parents' friends, hoping the sooner he got it over with the sooner they could bolt.  Turning around Rory was surprised to find that Paris and Tristan were no longer there.  She took a moment to look around the room trying to find a familiar face, not finding one she took a champagne flute from a nearby waiter before weaving her way through the crowded room trying to locate Paris.

Finally she saw her, a flash of blonde hair on top of a petite, confident frame.  Rory was behind her in two strides when she turned around, nearly knocking Rory down, if it hadn't been for the man behind her.  Her face fell when she realized the confident blonde was not Paris but instead an older woman in her late forties.  Straightening up, she turned to thank the man whose arms she was still entangled in only for her words to die on her lips as her gaze caught his, blue on blue, and for a moment she forgot how to speak. 

"Looking for someone, Rory?" Tristan drawled lazily, noting with amusement that Rory's lips were slightly parted and she looked a little dumbfounded.

Tearing her eyes from his she somehow found her voice, "Actually, I was looking for your date," she replied her voice sounding bitter to her own ears.

He had to bite his tongue to stop the 'jealous, are we?' comment that he was about to snap back at her. He wasn't sixteen anymore and they were too old for petty mind games. "Well, it looks like we both had the same idea. She's angry with me and I don't know why. God, she hasn't changed a bit."

Despite her unfound dislike for the idea of Paris and Tristan dating, she couldn't hold back her laughter at Tristan's comment.  "But that's part of her charm," she supplied as she managed to keep her laughter in check.  "Isn't it?"

"It is. I didn't realize how much I had missed her until I saw her again," he replied a little wistfully. His gaze met Rory's curious one, snapped out of his nostalgia and he shrugged. "I guess the saying's true. Anyway, what have you been up to these past couples of years?"

She stopped herself from calling him on the blatant change in topic, realizing it was a blessing in disguise, as she really had no desire to discuss what Tristan liked about Paris with him.  "I write a column for the New York Times," Rory answered, her face lighting up as she thought about the column she had finally attained after working her way up from writing obituaries.  "What about you?"

He racked his brain, trying to remember if he had ever read he column without noticing the byline. "I, uh, have my own company. Which column do you write?"

"A Taste of Manhattan," she replied automatically, then added, "it runs twice weekly in the arts and leisure section.  I love it because I can pretty much write about whatever I want, despite the title, it's not just food."

He made a mental note to dig through some of the old newspapers he kept in his New York apartment to catch up on her old pieces. "Well you know me, I've never been an avid reader. I'll make sure to keep my eye out for your column though. So is it Rory Gilmore or Lorelai Gilmore to make it sound more official?"

"Rory Hayden actually."

"Hayden?"

Rory nodded, "It's my dad's last name.  My parents finally got married a few years ago and while I didn't actually change my name, I felt it was something I should do.  Besides, it has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

"That it does, Hayden." He grinned and surveyed the room before retuning his gaze to hers. "So, you and Lex must be real serious if he's got you to attend these parties. Willingly."

A smile crept over her lips at Tristan's question, "I wouldn't exactly say I'm here willingly," dropping her voice she whispered conspiratorially, "let's just say I was bribed."

"Bribed? I thought you had more will power than that."

"I do, generally, it just so happens Lex knows my weak spot."

Irritated by the little stab those words caused in him, she merely raised an eyebrow. He was raised to not let his emotions physically manifest themselves and he'd be damned if Rory Gilmore was going to make him lose his composure. Not after all these years. "Oh and what's that?

Despite his attempt not to lose his cool she could tell her comment had disturbed him and for reasons she was not willing to explore she took comfort in this fact.  With added confidence she shook her head, "I could tell you but what fun would that be?"

Well, she wanted to play, did she? He could do that. In fact, hadn't he invented the game? He pocketed his hands in his trousers and his lips curved into a smirk. "Once a tease, Rory, always a tease."

She caught his eye trying her best to keep the amusement off her face and look aghast at his comment, "I am not a tease, and I pride myself on the follow through."

He didn't even want to think about what that meant. "Like hell you do. Rory Gilmore, you haven't changed at all."

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" she attempted to keep her voice light but she truly was curious, she couldn't be sure if his comment was meant as an insult or something else entirely.

Glad that he could make her a little unnerved, he simply shrugged. "Exactly what it sounded like. You are just the same. Rewind eight years and nothing's changed."

She couldn't help but wonder on the shift in tone of the conversation and when this had become an attack on her, she wondered if it was simply a defense mechanism Tristan was using to push her away.  Determined not to let him get to her or allow him to push her away she responded with a smile, "I wouldn't be so sure of that." 

Before he could respond, he caught glimpse of a familiar dirty blonde across the room and her earlier words came back to him. Was it true? He wondered, glancing briefly at Rory's bemused expression. Was he the one that was still the same when it came to her? "Look, there's Paris. Maybe she's cooled down a bit."

Rory chuckled wondering what it was Tristan had done to cause Paris to lose her cool.  Knowing Paris, it could be anything.  "What happened?"

"I have no clue." It wasn't a complete lie. He really didn't know why Paris was pissed off. The reason she had given him was too ridiculous to make a twenty-five year old run away like that. High school was so long ago and they had all grown up. "One minute she's fine, the next you're playing tonsil hockey with Clayton and she's pissed."

Ignoring the twinge of bitterness in his tone as well as the bluntness of his comment she prodded, "So obviously whatever got to Paris had to do with my kissing my boyfriend and nothing to do with you, her date?"

He had forgotten how easily she could get under his skin. "How am I supposed to know? It's been eight years and that woman is still hard to figure out."

Rory nodded her head in agreement not about to argue the intricacies that comprised Paris Gellar.  Still, she reasoned, Paris had matured from the teenager she used to be and was almost positive she gave Tristan some sort of reason for her temper flaring.  Assuming that he didn't want to discuss it and not wanting to pry she said the first thing that came to mind, "But you're going to try?"  Noticing his confused expression she clarified, "You're going to try and figure her out?"

Tristan pondered the question for a moment; surprised that Rory had inadvertently read his thoughts. When he had first seen Paris Gellar in Hawaii, his initial reaction had been wonder. He wondered about what she had become, how she had changed. In fact, she intrigued him. It was quite shocking to find that he was pleased to reacquaint himself with a childhood friend - one, who he had a somewhat rocky history with. "Yeah, I am."

Rory forced a smile onto her face, somehow while she had been expecting his answer she hadn't been expecting the wistful tone in his voice and she certainly hadn't expected the mixed feelings his tone invoked within her.  "It's nice to see some things do change, who ever thought Tristan DuGrey would be pursuing a girl with substance?  Voluntarily."

"Well, it just seems that woman of substance are finally giving me a chance," he replied with a grin, although his comment was pretty pointed. "And thank you for proving my point."

She looked at him genuinely confused, "Proving what point?"

"That you haven't changed," he answered and when her brows furrowed in confusion, he elaborated carefully keeping the edge out of his voice. "You still think very lowly of me and it's been years. You always thought you knew me."

She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it abruptly dumbfounded.  Taking a moment to compose herself she responded, "I've never thought lowly of you.  Sure I thought your taste in girls was, well, lacking, but I've never thought lowly of you.  I can't believe you would even think that."

"You give me no reason to think otherwise, Gilmore." He sighed, somewhat irritably. The past had no place in the present and he wished he could just forget the end of this conversation. "I'm going to go look for Paris. It was nice seeing you again."

He turned abruptly and left before she could say anything else.