Author's note 2004/05/12: Wow, thank you all for the reviews, it is always appreciated. As for many comments asking me not to make Rory forget about the kiss… I have another story where Rory loses her memory but not in this one. Enjoy!

Author's note 2004/06/02: I just uploaded the BETAed version, thank you Mai-Ahn.

The Thin Line Between Love And Hate Chapter 4: Late Night Talks

Slowly immerging from a weird dream where she was kissing and comfortable around Tristan, she hugs the pillow under her head only to realise that it lost its usual softness. Slowly opening her eyes, Rory tries to figure out her surroundings. She is lying in a bed that is not hers. Looking down she sees that her clothes have been stripped from her and that she's now wearing sweat pants and a sweatshirt. Turning on her back, she sees Tristan sitting under her on the bed. "No, no, no, no, no, no, this can't be happening, I had four, or five glasses of punch; how can that…"

Tristan cuts her off, "It's not what you think it is. Don't worry; nothing happened."

"What happened exactly?"

"You fell inside the pool and I rescued you."

Blushing, Rory whispers, "I don't know how to swim."

"I kind of figured that out when I saw you go down."

"Where are my clothes?"

"In the dryer."

"Who stripped me down?"

Tristan smirks at her and Rory's eyes grow bigger, horrified. "Even though I would have enjoyed being the one to strip you, Louise kicked me out of the room. Lane, Madeline, and Louise did."

Relieved, Rory looks at Tristan, "Make a mental note to thank Louise." Looking into his eyes, she adds, "Thank you for saving me."

Tristan gives her a genuine smile. "Anytime. After all, it's was mostly my fault that you fell in the pool to begin with."

Lane walks inside the room with Louise by her side, "Rory, finally you're awake! We were worried you would never wake up. Louise, I was looking for coffee and didn't find any; where can we find coffee in this house? I'm sure Rory would like some."

As Louise follows Lane out of the room, she mutters, "From the look of it, I'd say she needs more of Tristan's special care than anything."

Alone once again, their eyes are met and lock; Tristan slowly advances, unable to control his actions, brushes his lips against hers, unsure of what her reaction will be. He lets go of her lips to look into her eyes, scared to see tears in them. Instead, Tristan sees her smile. Her left hand rises slowly to his cheek, caressing it tenderly as it moves to the back of his neck bringing his face down to her. Her lips only inches apart from his, she whispers, "Thank you."

Tristan breaks the little distance between them, forces her to sit beside him to be able to have his arms surrounding her slim body and holding her in a warm embrace. As his lips finally meet hers again, he is surprised to feel her respond eagerly to his kiss. As tingles course through them, Rory wraps her arms around him, holding him tight. Rory opens her mouth slightly and Tristan takes the opportunity to explore and taste her. Rory welcomes the new feelings inside of her, accepting them instead of questioning them.

They break the kiss after a little while, needing to breathe. Tristan lies down on his back, bringing Rory to rest on his chest, a content smile over his lips. As Tristan plays with her hair softly, Rory asks, "If you're here right now, does it mean you are coming back to Chilton?"

"Yes."

"I haven't seen you today."

"I saw you."

Rory moves her head to look into his eyes, "When?"

"Outside, you were with Louise and Madeline, then later as you waited for the bus."

"You should have said 'hello'."

"I didn't know if you'd want me too. Anyways, I wasn't in classes either. I had spent the day in Charleston's office. He made me pass tests all day to make sure I would be up to Chilton's academic standard."

"Rory, your mom is here. We have to go." Rory tries to free herself from Tristan's embrace, a guilty look on her face but Tristan holds on to her. Lane finally enters the room, gasps at the scene she is witnessing. "I'll be waiting with your mom. Hurry up." Lane leaves the room.

Tristan tightens his hold on Rory, whispering, "I don't want you to go."

"I have to, my mom is waiting. I'll see you in school?"

Tristan kisses her one last time, releasing her against his own will, feeling the coldness invade his heart as she stands up, giving him one last smile before she leaves. As she walks out of the door, he closes his eyes, a genuine smile covering his features.

All drive long, Lorelai tried to have a conversation with the girls, but the only response she ever got was 'fine' or 'really great'. As she stops questioning the girls, she observes them. Rory just looks out of the window, lost in her thoughts, most of the time smiling. Lane watches Rory, her mouth opening periodically only to close again. As Lorelai gets bored with the scenario, she finally tries again. "So girls, I wanted your opinion. I was thinking of buying the newest Britney Spears CD. Have you listened to it; and if so, how is it?"

Still looking out the window, Rory says, "Dreamy."

Lane, still looking at Rory, says. "It must be wonderful."

As Lorelai finally ends this torturous drive by parking in her driveway, she stops the engine of the Jeep, opens her door, slams it, and walks to her house to make a pot of coffee in prospective of a long night of talking ahead of her.

Lorelai comes out of the house after a hot shower, wearing her favourite flannel PJ. She opens the Jeep's door, "Okay girls, coffee is ready. Get in the house right away, I want to know everything that has happened." Rory and Lane look at each other, not really knowing how and when they did get home.

When they are all comfortably installed in the living room, each of them with a cup of coffee in their hands, Lorelai asks, "Who wants to go first?"

Rory jumps in right away, "Lane met a guy, and his name is Matt Davis. "

"He is so good looking Lorelai, you wouldn't believe it. We danced all night together. Well, not all night, but we danced until the event with Rory happened."

Worried, Lorelai looks at Rory, "What event?"

"I fell in the pool."

"And she nearly drowned. If it wasn't for that amazingly good looking guy that rescued her to do mouth to mouth with her afterward."

"He was better to save me; he's the reason I fell in the pool in the first place!"

At this point, Lorelai just moves her head from Rory to Lane to Rory to Lane to… Trying to figure out the event of the night.

"What did he do, dare you to jump?"

"No, he tried to kiss me."

"And you had to jump in the pool to be sure to be kissed by him after jumping?"

Lorelai decides to jump in the conversation, "Slow down, I don't get anything you are saying. Rory, who was the guy?"

"Tristan."

"Should I remember about him?"

"Called me Mary, fought with Dean…"

"… Broke up with Dean, kissed Tristan at a party, then Romeo left after bad behaviour. He's back?"

Lane is the one getting confused, "Whoa! You kissed Tristan before? Rory! How many times do I have to tell you to share this kind of stuff to your best friend?"

"At that party where you met Henry, I was sad; Tristan was sad; we ended up kissing. No big deal."

"Then why haven't you said anything about it?"

"Because I cried."

Lorelai jumps in, "Okay, now I'm asking the questions from now on. Rory, where are your clothes you left with?"

"Probably still in Louise's dryer."

"Why did you jump into the pool fully dressed and might I add, without knowing how to swim?"

"I didn't jump, I fell."

"Why were you close to the pool?"

"Because I was drunk and didn't pay attention and Tristan surprised me. He's coming back to Chilton and… we kissed! I kissed Tristan again. Oh no! I just cheated on Dean again."

Rory hides her face in her hands, feeling horrible. Lorelai and Lane look at each other and say at the same time, "Again?"

"I kissed Jess at Sookie's wedding."

Silence fills the room.

Rory and Lane are lying in Rory's bed. Lane whispers, "Rory, are you asleep?"

"No, I'm trying to see the ceiling."

"It's dark."

"That's why I don't see it."

"Why did you kiss Jess?"

"I thought I liked him."

"Do you?"

"No."

"Why did you kiss Tristan?"

"I don't know, I was scared and he was there. Seemed like the thing to do."

"Do you like him?"

"Tristan? How can I? He's egocentric and superficial and just keeps on bugging me."

"I think he likes you."

"I doubt that. I'm just another conquest on his list to do. Maybe now, he'll forget about me."

"I doubt that."

"You'll see."

"We'll see."

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed, feel free to give feedback.
Siaram