Author's note 2004/05/17: Just a quick thank you for all the wonderful reviews. It's always appreciate.

Author's Note 2004/06/09: Just uploaded the BETAed version, thank you Mai-Ahn.

The Thin Line Between Love And Hate
Chapter 6: Wallowing night



From a previous experience, Rory concluded that when a break-up happens, wallowing is better then going out and making stupid mistakes. This is how Rory finds herself eating pizza and ice-cream while watching a sappy movie even if Lorelai had to leave the house to help an emergency at the Independence Inn and if Lane is stuck at home praying. The whole purpose of wallowing is to help free the sadness surrounding the heart of one; but for Rory, the only sadness she feels is the sadness of being relieved that her relationship with Dean is over. "I'm a horrible person; I've cheated on Dean twice, with two different guys. I'm horrible."

The phone rings and fortunately for Rory, it is on the cushion right beside her. Pressing the 'talk' button, she answers, "Hello… Hi Paris… I can't tonight… I told you already today; let's forget about that for the weekend… You're what?… How am I supposed to un-bore you?… I told you already, I can't… Because I am trying to wallow… It's a long story, one that would make you fall asleep… No really, you don't have to come over… WHAT?" Rory press the 'END' button while she stands up to go watch out the window. Seeing Paris coming out of her car, she sighs, "Can this day get any worse?"

Rory opens the door, patiently waiting for Paris to reach the front door. Paris walks inside and sits on the couch. "When I started to drive over here, I took my lactose pills with me, just in case. It's been so long since I've eaten that kind of junk."

Rory joins Paris on the couch, takes her spoon, and resumes eating ice cream. "I think that was when you invited yourself to study when I had the house for myself."

As Paris munches on a slice of pizza, "We should definitely do that more often. Where is your mom?"

"Emergency at the Inn."

"Why don't you tell me that long and boring story of yours? I can be a good listener when I want to."

"Geez, thanks, Paris. When you put it that way I really feel like telling you my story."

"Fine, I won't force you. Actually, I came here because I wanted to discuss something with you."

"Hum, hum."

"See, all the meetings I wanted to have, they were fake. Just a reason to speak to you face to face."

"We shared the same room all summer, Paris. Couldn't you have found the time to tell me about that then?"

"I didn't know about it then. See, when you came into Chilton two years ago, I thought you were there to take my place. As you once told me, I had everything. But I never had the popularity, people are scared of me, they don't like me."

"Where are you going with all of this?"

"Just let me finish. We are almost identical, the major difference between us is that you are nice and people like you."

"That is a scary thought."

"I know, but what I wanted to say is that I don't want us to have any conflicts this year."

"Okay, and why would we have any conflicts this year?"

"Tristan is coming back Monday."

Rory blushes, "I know."

Paris looks incredulously at Rory, "I won't ask how you knew just yet. We need to be honest with each other right away in order to be able to trust each other."

Uncertainly, Rory says, "Okay."

"Now, you've always known my feelings for Tristan. Obviously, he doesn't like me that way but he seems to like you. Did you like him back then?"

"Okay, stop the questions. I'll tell you everything but you have to listen to me completely and promise not to be mad."

"Go on."

"I didn't liked him, I found him obnoxious and annoying. He was always teasing me and I couldn't stand him at all. Until that party, Dean had broken up with me and Summer had dumped him in front of everyone. We were sad and I saw a different side of him and he kissed me."

"He what?"

"He kissed me and I ran away crying. Later that week we talked and decided to be friends. Everything was going well and I realised that Tristan wasn't pure evil until he decided that he wanted more. He went to buy concert tickets, trying to trick me into going with him. Then you know the rest. I went back with Dean, Tristan stayed away from me after that."

"That's it?"

"No, Tristan and Dean don't like each other. I asked Tristan to keep our kiss a secret between us. He agreed until I must have said something to change his mind. On Romeo and Juliet rehearsal, it seemed to everyone that Tristan was playing me while all along he was trying to get to Dean and expose our secret. And then he left."

"So, that's it?"

"No, he was at the party yesterday, I fell in the pool, and he rescued me. Madeline had spiked my punch, and Tristan and I kissed again."

"What about Dean?"

"He broke up with me."

"I'm sorry."

"That's my problem; I'm kind of relieved. I don't have to hide anymore secrets from him."

"Are you and Tristan a couple now?"

"No. You know how he is; he's probably going to move on to another conquest by tomorrow night. The Rory Gilmore challenge is over."

"Do you like him?"

"I don't know."

"If he asks you out, what will you say?"

"I don't know. I just broke up with my boyfriend because I kissed another guy that I thought I liked, but that I like as a friend. Therefore, I lost a boyfriend and a friend at the same time. I don't want to add anything else in the equation for the moment."

"Okay. Just so you know, I would be okay with you and Tristan."

"You would?"

"I can't force him to like me, if anyone is to be with him, why not you?"

The doorbell rings, Rory walks to the door to open it with the ice-cream bucket in her hands. As the door opens, she sees Tristan leaning on the doorframe.

"Tristan?"

"Can we talk?"

Rory looks over her shoulder at Paris, "I'm not sure it's such a good idea, Paris is here."

From the living room, Paris's voice is heard, "Don't let me hold you. Just bring the ice-cream back!"

Rory looks at Tristan, "Just give me a minute." Going back in the living room, Rory whispers to Paris, "What are you doing?"

Paris takes the ice-cream bucket, whispering back, "Pushing you into his arms."

Giving Paris a deadly glance, Rory goes outside to meet Tristan.

Sitting on the bench on the porch, Tristan feels nervous, not really knowing what he's doing there in the first place. In the afternoon, when he drove back to Hartford, he had promise himself that this year Rory wouldn't be on his mind and that he was competing against two other guys to gain her affection. As he got in his house, he had called back one of his groupies, knowing that she wouldn't mind getting used if it might help her climb the society ladder. As they were waiting for their meals to be served, Tristan was already bored out of his mind. Caroline Shepherd was a real beauty, perfect face, perfect hair, perfect body, but absolutely no conversation. After an hour of listening to Caroline talk about how offended she was that she hadn't been able to buy the pair of shoes she really wanted because they were on sale and that no sane person in the world should wear shoes that cost less than five hundred dollars, Tristan excused himself to attend the bathroom. He had called his butler asking him to call him back with the news of an emergency. Caroline was disappointed that he couldn't stop by her house to receive his reward for bringing her in a fancy restaurant.

Sitting down on the bench beside Tristan, Rory asks softly, "What did you want to talk about?"

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed, next chapter coming up shortly. Feel free to give feedback.
Siaram