I Need You

Chapter 5: Rory "The Human Tomato" Gilmore!

"Come on."

"I don't want to go to the country club, Tristan."

"Rory, please…" he whined.

"Rory, you can even drive my car."

"Well, as much fun as that sounds," she started sarcastically, "I don't know how to drive stick and that's what your car is."

"Oh, well," he started, smirk growing on his face, "I can teach you how to drive a stick."

She groaned. "Why am I friends with you?" She playfully shoved him away from her, only to have him take her into his arms again.

"Because you love me." His voice was so serious and calm that she didn't know if he was being serious or not. Before she could say anything, Lorelai came in screaming something about getting coffee and how evil Michel is. The two teens followed silently to the diner.

* * *

"I don't get it, Rory - how do you put up with him?" Lorelai asked with a playful tone in her voice.

"I don't know…but lately I've been getting sick of him." She smiled up at him, letting him know that she was only joking. "I was thinking about selling him. What do you think, mom - could I sell him?"

"Well," Lorelai started, circling him and inspecting him as if he were actually up for sale, "maybe for a pretty nickel."

"Hey!" he protested. He then turned to Rory. "I'm worth more than that…right?" he pouted playfully.

"Oh, yes, definitely. I'd say you're worth a pretty dime," she smirked at him while taking her hand up to his hair and rubbing it playfully.

"Gee, thanks," he said sarcastically.

"Oh, baby…" she put on her best 'sorry' face, "I'm sorry…I'd pay a dollar for you…if that makes you feel any better."

He smiled at that. "A lot." She smiled sweetly back at him.

"Okay, kiddos, how about we watch Willy Wonka? Never mind - I don't even know why I'm asking you - of course we're going to watch Willy Wonka; it's only the best movie ever!" Tristan and Rory, while laughing, followed Lorelai into the living room, taking a seat on the couch next to each other as Lorelai started the movie.

* * *

After the movie, Lorelai had gone upstairs to take a shower, while Rory and Tristan stayed downstairs, lying down on the floor.

"I should probably head home," he said while sitting up.

"Okay." She sat up too.

"So…"

"So…" she mimicked him.

"Are you going to come to the country club tomorrow night?"

She groaned. "I don't know…"

"Please…?" He pouted, something he knew she could never turn down.

"Fine," she finally gave in..

He smiled hugely. "Great. I promise that you'll have fun."

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "I'm going to hold you to that promise."

He chuckled. "Alright." They walked to the door and he awkwardly turned around to face her after he opened the door. "So…I'll see you tomorrow?"

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion at his sudden nervousness. "Sure…" He chuckled tensely and pulled her into a hug. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He ran a hand through his hair then tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

"I don't know," she replied leaning into his touch.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?"

She smiled. "You already asked that."

He smiled as well. "I guess I did. Bye."

She leaned up and gave him a kiss on the corner of his mouth. "Bye."

He stood there shocked for a few moments before moving out the door and heading to his car. She watched him drive away before shutting the door silently, then slouched down against it. "Oh, God…" she whimpered, bringing her hands up to her face.

"'Oh, God', what?" Lorelai's voice asked from the kitchen.

"I kissed him." Her response was slightly murmured due to her position.

"Wait, I'm sorry…" Lorelai came to the front door where Rory was and sat down in front of her, "…did you just say that you kissed Tristan? Like on the lips?"

"No…yes…kind of. I kissed the corner of his mouth."

"Huh," was Lorelai's only response.

"'Huh'? What's 'huh'?"

A smile broke out on Lorelai's face. "I knew you loved him!"

"Mom!" Rory quickly got up and headed toward her room. "I do NOT love him!"

"Ha! You are so dead set against it! If you weren't, then you wouldn't be all defensive and turning red!"

"I'm not being defensive and I'm not turning red!" But true to Lorelai's word, she was as red as she'd ever been.

"I think I shall change your name to 'Tomato' now!"

"Mom!"

"Or 'Cherry'!"

"Stop, mom!"

"Don't worry, sweetie, I'll come up with a good name."

"Bye, mom," she said through closed teeth, while proceeding to slam her bedroom door. She leaned against the door as she heard Lorelai singing "My red-faced daughter loves Tristan!" on her way up to her room. She banged the back of her head against the door a couple times before closing her eyes. "What am I going to do?" she whispered to herself.