A/N: WOW, thanks for all of the reviews, I'm liking this story and
where it's headed. A huge thank you to Pearl, honey you're so sweet, I love
you! The Lorelai thing at the end of the last chapter: after Madeline's
party Rory told Lorelai everything about the extent of her relationship and
Lorelai wasn't exactly happy but after she freaked out about Rory having
sex, she switched from mother mode to best friend mode and from then on,
whenever Rory talked about Tristan, Lorelai was in best friend mode. Rory
was hoping that once she told her about their reunion, she would still be
in best friend mode. That wasn't written very well in the last chapter so
sorry if anyone was confused!
Tristan went to his room to get changed, purposely taking his time, he wasn't looking forward to what he was about to do. He wanted to be with Rory, more than anything, but at the same time, Katy was so sweet and she really liked him. She really believed that they would get engaged and married before college. He was about to break her heart and he didn't fell one bit proud of himself.
He made his way to her room and let himself in. she had given him a key when they checked in yesterday. It's not like her was a stranger to her room late at night, he had often paid her a visit, all of them when he needed something, anything to hold onto, on those long nights when he found himself longing for Rory.
'Hi.' She smiled when she saw him come in. she was sitting on the bed reading the latest issue of Cosmo.
'Hi.' He replied, somewhat awkwardly.
'I missed you last night.' She pouted.
Tristan avoided her gaze, guilt washing over him.
'Yeah, sorry about that. I know I said I'd come up but I needed some downtime.'
'It's okay, anything you want to talk about?'
The look of concern on Katy's face broke Tristan's heart. She got off the bed and walked over to him, she touched his chest lightly, playing with his shirt in an affectionate way.
'It's just weird being home again, seeing my parents and everything again.' He lied.
'I'll bet, are you sure that's it? You know you can talk to me.'
'Well, it's just, I ran into an old-'
Tristan was interrupted by a knock on the door. Katy looked at him apologetically and moved to answer the door.
'Katy, I don't suppose my son is with you is he?' asked Anthony DuGrey.
'Actually he is, come on in.' she smiled.
Tristan shook his head in disbelief. As usual, his father's time was impeccable.
'Tristan good, I was wondering if you and Katy would like to join me for lunch down in the restaurant, your mom is already down there with some friends of ours.'
Tristan just looked at Katy who nodded her consent. His momentum was broken now; he nodded his head in a defeated manner and followed his dad and Katy out of the room. It would have to wait until later. Tristan walked silently down to the restaurant, preparing for another round of introductions as 'Tristan and his girlfriend Katy.'
They were probably going to be eating with a couple of ancient DAR hags or something. Katy was babbling on about something or other, Tristan didn't bother listening, his thoughts were otherwise occupied. When he walked into the restaurant, Tristan immediately spotted his mother sitting at a large table with four others, four very familiar looking people. Two brunettes with their backs turned to them and what looked like the elder Gilmore's. He groaned inwardly, just his luck. Everyone stood up as they approached the table.
'Tristan, Katy, lovely to see you both.' Caroline DuGrey beamed.
'I'll take care or the introductions dear.' Anthony smiled.
'Richard and Emily Gilmore their daughter Lorelai and her daughter Rory, meet our son Tristan and his girlfriend Katy.'
Everyone smiled politely at each other, everyone but Tristan and Rory who did the best they could to avoid looking at each other without making it obvious; afraid their faces would betray them.
'Tristan, lovely to see you again.' Richard smiled.
'You too Sir.' Tristan replied shaking the man's outstretched hand.
Anthony looked at them with mild surprise while everyone took their seats.
'You have met before?' he asked them.
'Of course,' Richard replied, 'Tristan and Rory went to school together at Chilton. I met him at her birthday party a couple of years ago.'
'Really?' Caroline asked, genuinely interested. She and Lorelai had formed a friendship in the past year through meeting at parties and Chilton events. Even though Tristan no longer attended, she was still on the board of directors.
'Yeah,' Tristan answered 'We were only really getting to know each other when I left. Right Ror?'
'Yes. I hope you enjoyed London Tristan, we've missed you around school.' She smiled, trying to keep her expression neutral.
'I'll bet.' He smirked.
'You and Tristan are old friends? What a coincidence!' Katy exclaimed.
'Yes.' Rory replied, plastering her face in a fake smile 'It's a small world.'
'So Tristan,' Lorelai began, 'did you keep in tough with anyone while you were in London?'
'Some people, not many though, unfortunately I never managed to contact Rory, something always came up.' Tristan said evenly, knowing Lorelai was just testing him. He had no doubt that Rory had told her mother everything.
'That's a pity, especially since you were so close by the time you left.'
'That's my one regret, not keeping in touch.' Tristan answered honestly, looking Lorelai in the eyes, willing her to believe him. The hardness in her eyes softened but didn't leave completely. Tristan knew he faced an uphill struggle to win her over.
'So Katy, how are you enjoying New York?' Anthony asked.
'I think it's amazing, it's so big, I just can't get over it. I thought London was big enough but I have totally fallen in love with New York.'
'Are you looking forward to seeing Connecticut?' Emily asked innocently.'
'Yes, very much so, I can't wait to see where Tristan grew up. I bet he and Rory will have lots of stories about growing up in Hartford.'
'Actually Rory and I don't live in Hartford. I grew up there but I moved out when I got pregnant. We live about thirty minutes away.'
'Oh, I can see why you and your husband would move, my parents moved away from the city when I was born too.'
'Actually, it was just Rory and I, Rory's father lives in Boston with his girlfriend.'
'I see. So Rory, have you got any embarrassing stories about Tristan? You must know something; I mean he won't tell me anything.' Katy smiled while looking at Tristan with adoring eyes and taking his hand in hers.
'Not really, you know Tristan, he's Mr. Cool.'
'Why do I get the feeling this is turning into a conspiracy to make me look bad?' Tristan asked, a little panicked at the interaction between both girls.
'Because it is silly, all I know about you is what you were like in London, now I get to ask your friends.'
'They'll all tell you the same thing, that I was just as gracious and handsome and pop-'
'Popular and modest.' Rory finished for him, the smile on her face reassuring everyone that she was sharing a private joke with Tristan who shot her a smirk.
'Don't listen to a thing this girl says, she pretends to hate me but really, she loves me.' He smiled playfully before he realised what he was saying. He looked away, feigning interest in their surroundings.
Rory cleared her throat and concentrated on her menu, wondering when the waiter would show up.
'So Tristan, Katy we were going to leave this until later but what the heck, we'll tell you now.' Anthony smiled.
'We spoke to your parents Katy and we've decided that if it's okay with both of you, for senior year, you would both move back here.' Caroline informed them, obviously delighted at the thought.
What nobody knew though was that really, she was just happy to have Tristan back, she wanted Rory and Tristan to get together, not that she had anything against Katy, it was just because she and Lorelai got on so well and Rory was such a sweet girl.
Tristan didn't know what to say, he was delighted at the prospect of coming home, but if Katy came, then what would that mean for his relationship with Rory?
'Wow, mom, dad, I really don't know what to say, of course I want to come home wow, I really didn't expect this. Katy, what do you think?'
'I don't know, it's so huge thank you so much for the offer but I think I need some time to consider it.'
'Well that's only natural dear; you take as much time as you want.' Caroline smiled, secretly hoping she would want to return to London.
'Well you would have Rory to keep you company so don't worry about friends, you'd help her settle in wouldn't you Rory dear?' Emily asked.
'Yeah, no problem.' Rory smiled weakly.
'Rory, hon, you okay? You look kind of pale.' Lorelai asked concerned, although she had a feeling she knew the cause.
'I'm just not feeling too great. May I be excused for a minute?'
'Of course, do you need me to come with you?' Lorelai answered.
'No, it's fine.' Rory replied before standing up and leaving the table.
When she was gone, Lorelai shot Tristan a look that made him feel like he was going to be sick.
'Excuse me for a minute.' He said standing up.
He made his way towards the bathrooms, knowing Rory would be hiding in the ladies room. He had to talk to her but he knew he couldn't go in so his prayers were answered when a waitress walked by and opened the door.
'Excuse me Miss?' he said to get her attention.
'Yes Sir?' she replied.
'I don't suppose you could do me a favour? There is a friend of mine in there, her name is Rory, could you ask her to come out? Tell her Tristan wants to talk to her. This might seem really weird but please, it's important.'
'Sure, I'll tell her.' The waitress answered, seeing the worry in his eyes.
'Thanks.'
The waitress went in and shut the door, leaving Tristan all alone. He paced for a minute before Rory came out, to a casual observer, she would've looked normal but to Tristan, who had spent the better part of a year observing her and then another year picturing her face every time he closed his eyes, she looked like she had been crying.
'So that was Katy huh? She seemed nice, sweet.'
'Rory I am so sorry, I was about to tell her when my dad interrupted us. I decided to tell her tonight.'
'And was that before or after your parents asked her to move here? Are you honestly telling me that that changes nothing?'
'If anything, it makes it easier because now I know I have to talk to her as soon as possible.'
'Whereas before you were just going to string her along for a while is that it?'
'No, Rory you're taking everything I say the wrong way!'
'How am I supposed to take it? From where I'm standing you've been lying to us both!'
'That's not true and you know it.'
'No I don't. When I think about it, what do I really know about you? Katy knows you better than I do and you claim that I'm the one you care about.'
'You are. Rory, it's you I care about, it's always been you.'
'Yeah, prove it.'
Without another word, Rory walked away, leaving Tristan alone. She went over to the table and made her apologies, saying she had to go back to her room, that she really didn't feel well. Within a minute of Rory leaving, Tristan emerged from the same direction as Rory had and he looked a little worse for wear. Caroline looked at Tristan and then at Lorelai who was also looking at Tristan and she made the connection, shortly after, Lorelai excused herself and went after Rory.
A/N: There you go, sorry again that it took me so long to get this out, I've been so busy this week, I'm torn between two directions for this story but this crazy thing in my head that I like to call a brain is starting to form a compromise so it shouldn't be long before the next chapter is out, hope you all enjoyed it!
SPECIAL NOTE: this is for those of you that have read my other story; Smile (if you haven't, go read it). The votes are in and the overwhelming majority have voted for a sequel and I'm starting to formulate a plan so bear with me...I'll have it up at some stage in the relatively near future.
Tristan went to his room to get changed, purposely taking his time, he wasn't looking forward to what he was about to do. He wanted to be with Rory, more than anything, but at the same time, Katy was so sweet and she really liked him. She really believed that they would get engaged and married before college. He was about to break her heart and he didn't fell one bit proud of himself.
He made his way to her room and let himself in. she had given him a key when they checked in yesterday. It's not like her was a stranger to her room late at night, he had often paid her a visit, all of them when he needed something, anything to hold onto, on those long nights when he found himself longing for Rory.
'Hi.' She smiled when she saw him come in. she was sitting on the bed reading the latest issue of Cosmo.
'Hi.' He replied, somewhat awkwardly.
'I missed you last night.' She pouted.
Tristan avoided her gaze, guilt washing over him.
'Yeah, sorry about that. I know I said I'd come up but I needed some downtime.'
'It's okay, anything you want to talk about?'
The look of concern on Katy's face broke Tristan's heart. She got off the bed and walked over to him, she touched his chest lightly, playing with his shirt in an affectionate way.
'It's just weird being home again, seeing my parents and everything again.' He lied.
'I'll bet, are you sure that's it? You know you can talk to me.'
'Well, it's just, I ran into an old-'
Tristan was interrupted by a knock on the door. Katy looked at him apologetically and moved to answer the door.
'Katy, I don't suppose my son is with you is he?' asked Anthony DuGrey.
'Actually he is, come on in.' she smiled.
Tristan shook his head in disbelief. As usual, his father's time was impeccable.
'Tristan good, I was wondering if you and Katy would like to join me for lunch down in the restaurant, your mom is already down there with some friends of ours.'
Tristan just looked at Katy who nodded her consent. His momentum was broken now; he nodded his head in a defeated manner and followed his dad and Katy out of the room. It would have to wait until later. Tristan walked silently down to the restaurant, preparing for another round of introductions as 'Tristan and his girlfriend Katy.'
They were probably going to be eating with a couple of ancient DAR hags or something. Katy was babbling on about something or other, Tristan didn't bother listening, his thoughts were otherwise occupied. When he walked into the restaurant, Tristan immediately spotted his mother sitting at a large table with four others, four very familiar looking people. Two brunettes with their backs turned to them and what looked like the elder Gilmore's. He groaned inwardly, just his luck. Everyone stood up as they approached the table.
'Tristan, Katy, lovely to see you both.' Caroline DuGrey beamed.
'I'll take care or the introductions dear.' Anthony smiled.
'Richard and Emily Gilmore their daughter Lorelai and her daughter Rory, meet our son Tristan and his girlfriend Katy.'
Everyone smiled politely at each other, everyone but Tristan and Rory who did the best they could to avoid looking at each other without making it obvious; afraid their faces would betray them.
'Tristan, lovely to see you again.' Richard smiled.
'You too Sir.' Tristan replied shaking the man's outstretched hand.
Anthony looked at them with mild surprise while everyone took their seats.
'You have met before?' he asked them.
'Of course,' Richard replied, 'Tristan and Rory went to school together at Chilton. I met him at her birthday party a couple of years ago.'
'Really?' Caroline asked, genuinely interested. She and Lorelai had formed a friendship in the past year through meeting at parties and Chilton events. Even though Tristan no longer attended, she was still on the board of directors.
'Yeah,' Tristan answered 'We were only really getting to know each other when I left. Right Ror?'
'Yes. I hope you enjoyed London Tristan, we've missed you around school.' She smiled, trying to keep her expression neutral.
'I'll bet.' He smirked.
'You and Tristan are old friends? What a coincidence!' Katy exclaimed.
'Yes.' Rory replied, plastering her face in a fake smile 'It's a small world.'
'So Tristan,' Lorelai began, 'did you keep in tough with anyone while you were in London?'
'Some people, not many though, unfortunately I never managed to contact Rory, something always came up.' Tristan said evenly, knowing Lorelai was just testing him. He had no doubt that Rory had told her mother everything.
'That's a pity, especially since you were so close by the time you left.'
'That's my one regret, not keeping in touch.' Tristan answered honestly, looking Lorelai in the eyes, willing her to believe him. The hardness in her eyes softened but didn't leave completely. Tristan knew he faced an uphill struggle to win her over.
'So Katy, how are you enjoying New York?' Anthony asked.
'I think it's amazing, it's so big, I just can't get over it. I thought London was big enough but I have totally fallen in love with New York.'
'Are you looking forward to seeing Connecticut?' Emily asked innocently.'
'Yes, very much so, I can't wait to see where Tristan grew up. I bet he and Rory will have lots of stories about growing up in Hartford.'
'Actually Rory and I don't live in Hartford. I grew up there but I moved out when I got pregnant. We live about thirty minutes away.'
'Oh, I can see why you and your husband would move, my parents moved away from the city when I was born too.'
'Actually, it was just Rory and I, Rory's father lives in Boston with his girlfriend.'
'I see. So Rory, have you got any embarrassing stories about Tristan? You must know something; I mean he won't tell me anything.' Katy smiled while looking at Tristan with adoring eyes and taking his hand in hers.
'Not really, you know Tristan, he's Mr. Cool.'
'Why do I get the feeling this is turning into a conspiracy to make me look bad?' Tristan asked, a little panicked at the interaction between both girls.
'Because it is silly, all I know about you is what you were like in London, now I get to ask your friends.'
'They'll all tell you the same thing, that I was just as gracious and handsome and pop-'
'Popular and modest.' Rory finished for him, the smile on her face reassuring everyone that she was sharing a private joke with Tristan who shot her a smirk.
'Don't listen to a thing this girl says, she pretends to hate me but really, she loves me.' He smiled playfully before he realised what he was saying. He looked away, feigning interest in their surroundings.
Rory cleared her throat and concentrated on her menu, wondering when the waiter would show up.
'So Tristan, Katy we were going to leave this until later but what the heck, we'll tell you now.' Anthony smiled.
'We spoke to your parents Katy and we've decided that if it's okay with both of you, for senior year, you would both move back here.' Caroline informed them, obviously delighted at the thought.
What nobody knew though was that really, she was just happy to have Tristan back, she wanted Rory and Tristan to get together, not that she had anything against Katy, it was just because she and Lorelai got on so well and Rory was such a sweet girl.
Tristan didn't know what to say, he was delighted at the prospect of coming home, but if Katy came, then what would that mean for his relationship with Rory?
'Wow, mom, dad, I really don't know what to say, of course I want to come home wow, I really didn't expect this. Katy, what do you think?'
'I don't know, it's so huge thank you so much for the offer but I think I need some time to consider it.'
'Well that's only natural dear; you take as much time as you want.' Caroline smiled, secretly hoping she would want to return to London.
'Well you would have Rory to keep you company so don't worry about friends, you'd help her settle in wouldn't you Rory dear?' Emily asked.
'Yeah, no problem.' Rory smiled weakly.
'Rory, hon, you okay? You look kind of pale.' Lorelai asked concerned, although she had a feeling she knew the cause.
'I'm just not feeling too great. May I be excused for a minute?'
'Of course, do you need me to come with you?' Lorelai answered.
'No, it's fine.' Rory replied before standing up and leaving the table.
When she was gone, Lorelai shot Tristan a look that made him feel like he was going to be sick.
'Excuse me for a minute.' He said standing up.
He made his way towards the bathrooms, knowing Rory would be hiding in the ladies room. He had to talk to her but he knew he couldn't go in so his prayers were answered when a waitress walked by and opened the door.
'Excuse me Miss?' he said to get her attention.
'Yes Sir?' she replied.
'I don't suppose you could do me a favour? There is a friend of mine in there, her name is Rory, could you ask her to come out? Tell her Tristan wants to talk to her. This might seem really weird but please, it's important.'
'Sure, I'll tell her.' The waitress answered, seeing the worry in his eyes.
'Thanks.'
The waitress went in and shut the door, leaving Tristan all alone. He paced for a minute before Rory came out, to a casual observer, she would've looked normal but to Tristan, who had spent the better part of a year observing her and then another year picturing her face every time he closed his eyes, she looked like she had been crying.
'So that was Katy huh? She seemed nice, sweet.'
'Rory I am so sorry, I was about to tell her when my dad interrupted us. I decided to tell her tonight.'
'And was that before or after your parents asked her to move here? Are you honestly telling me that that changes nothing?'
'If anything, it makes it easier because now I know I have to talk to her as soon as possible.'
'Whereas before you were just going to string her along for a while is that it?'
'No, Rory you're taking everything I say the wrong way!'
'How am I supposed to take it? From where I'm standing you've been lying to us both!'
'That's not true and you know it.'
'No I don't. When I think about it, what do I really know about you? Katy knows you better than I do and you claim that I'm the one you care about.'
'You are. Rory, it's you I care about, it's always been you.'
'Yeah, prove it.'
Without another word, Rory walked away, leaving Tristan alone. She went over to the table and made her apologies, saying she had to go back to her room, that she really didn't feel well. Within a minute of Rory leaving, Tristan emerged from the same direction as Rory had and he looked a little worse for wear. Caroline looked at Tristan and then at Lorelai who was also looking at Tristan and she made the connection, shortly after, Lorelai excused herself and went after Rory.
A/N: There you go, sorry again that it took me so long to get this out, I've been so busy this week, I'm torn between two directions for this story but this crazy thing in my head that I like to call a brain is starting to form a compromise so it shouldn't be long before the next chapter is out, hope you all enjoyed it!
SPECIAL NOTE: this is for those of you that have read my other story; Smile (if you haven't, go read it). The votes are in and the overwhelming majority have voted for a sequel and I'm starting to formulate a plan so bear with me...I'll have it up at some stage in the relatively near future.