A/N - So I died. No, not really. Just finished finals thank god. Yet I can never seem to escape school, or summer school. Anyways this seemed so much longer when I was bored in class and wrote it all out on paper. So normally when people don't have required obligations, i.e. school, updates come a lot faster. Sorry not one of those people but I will try which is contrary to my work ethic.
Rory closed the door to her house and slumped down onto the floor, confused by the night's events. Noticing a presence above her one eye, at first, slowly opened to be greeted with the sight of a very interested and curious Lorelai. A long, distraught groan escaped her lips as Lorelai dragged her up and into the kitchen where fresh coffee was waiting. Not wanting to have to hammer out the confusing details of her now chaotic life, Rory's forehead hit the table as soon as she had drained her coffee.
"Damn it, child, I gave birth to you. I have every right to know every singe,tiny, insignificant, unimportant detail that happened tonight or I will torture you for weeks. Besides you leave the house with no explanation besides 'Took the jeep. Have to go to Tristan's. Be back soon.' I mean who knows what could have happened in that huge, giganto mansion that he probably has. You went to this random guy's house without the slightest intention of telling me, your mother and not to mention one of your best friends, what happened even though you were supposed to...go out with him," she trailed off with a confused look on her face. "So I'm guessing that could qualify as your date?'
"We babysat his little sister and he almost kissed me." Rory put her head up long enough to choke that out and then another 'thud' was heard in the awkwardly silent kitchen.
"So he tried to force you? I am going to kill, dismember, and boil that little, stuck-up, preppy, wannabe bad boy th-" Lorelai was unceremoniously cut off by another head-raising from Rory.
"He called me amazing and we leaned in and his little sister screamed because she dropped her popsicle," Rory clarified in a not-so-clear manner then walked to her room where she proceeded to pass out on her bed.
"A little boy is in love with my little girl." Lorelai smiled wearily after processing what Rory believed to be an explanation. Vowing to finish the conversation later she finished her coffee then went to her room.
Rory woke up late Saturday morning or technically early Saturday afternoon, partly because she had an exhausting week at Chilton and partly because her mind was unconsciously avoiding the utterly confusing issue of last night. Desperate for a coffee fix she stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes because of the blindingly bright sun. Finding an almost, threateningly written note from her mother to finish last night and go to Luke's for dinner Rory grabbed a cup and went into her room to change. With the more fulfilling parts of her day planned she settled into a Saturday ritual of reading a book while eating ice cream until she noticed a little blinking light on the answering machine. Quickly subsiding from an unnecessary panic that it might be Tristan Rory reasoned that since she had woke at one in the afternoon it could be anyone calling for anything. Too bad those Gilmores aren't known for their good reasoning.
"Hey Rory, it's Tristan. I was wondering if you could call me back cause um...yeah, I just...want to uh...talk to you so...um...bye."
Getting a message from Tristan, especially a nervous, stuttering Tristan, wasn't exactly high on her priority list at the moment so she fled...to Luke's.
Once inside the restaurant Rory plopped onto a stool and let her forehead hit the counter.
"You're scaring the customers," Jess offered after one too many beats of silence.
"Like you care, Jess. Coffee. And don't you dare try to give me decaf," she all but growled letting her frustration of certain events show.
"What happened to you?" Jess asked cautiously, not really willing to deal with an emotionally disturbed Rory. Watching her inhale a cup of coffee he knew enough to refill before expecting a coherent answer.
"I almost kissed the bane of existence, the spawn of Satan, the devil reincarnate, Lucifer himself," she cried out, receiving exuberant looks from the few out-of-towners.
Jess glanced around almost self-consciously as if not wanting anyone to see his concern for her. "I'm guessing Tristan," he said refilling her empty-again coffee cup.
"You know the way I talk about him I'm surprised you even know his real name," she answered without the slightest hint of seriousness in her voice.
"I'm trying to contain the obligatory emotions for example pound the crap out of him," he answered in the same sarcastic, cynical voice that she used.
"Mom offered death. I'm amazed you could tone it down that much," Rory answered remembering the somewhat one-sided conversation she had last night.
"I'm sure Luke could do worse than death," he said, amusingly, referring to Luke's fatherly instinct towards Rory. "Seriously though does someone need to go hit him?" This time his tone was serious and the look in his eyes hinted at protectiveness.
Rory easily laughed at Jess' sudden attitude change, marveling in the differences of when he had first moved here. "If that had happened do you think our conversation would have lasted this long? You would have already been drafted in the regimen to kill Tristan."
Immediately his demeanor was more relaxed and his voice was once again light with an underlying tint of concern. "Then what's the problem with it?"
"You mean besides the fact that I had more than platonic feelings towards my sworn mortal enemy? Did I not say almost kissed? As in unfinished? As in I get to work out my feelings and talk to him. Do you know how difficult it is to talk to Tristan DuGrey? Of course not, you've never even met him."
Jess blocked out the rest of her babbling, having already picked out the important parts. At a pause in her rambling he quickly interjected, "So now I guess you call him."
"Now," she squeaked uncharacteristically, "I haven't even figured out what to say, hell, I haven't figured out what I think, especially about him. What if he acts like the same jerk he is at school?"
Jess came out from behind the counter and gently steered the reluctant Rory towards the door. "If he's an asshole, hang up. If not, the words will come to you." She was now completely out of the diner and heading in the general direction of home. "That, or you'll stutter yourself to death," he added under his breath, watching her walk sullenly away.
Upon reaching the living room Rory hoped a telephone search would stall the upcoming events. "Damn," she muttered under her breath when the phone was very obviously under a pile of magazines. Rory paced the room, phone in hand, while she started trying out what to say. A shrill ring interrupted her thoughts, startling her, and the phone went flying...only to land safely on the couch.
"Hello," she answered breathless from the previous fright.
"Rory? It's Tristan."
