"Tristan." The name was a whisper on her lips. She hadn't expected to see
him again. Something deep in her heart had missed him but she had convinced
herself that he would forget about her. If absence made the heart grow
founder it also made the mind grow weary. There was almost a shy smile on
his lips, as if he was unsure what her reaction would be. she shook her
head burying the hopeful thought with the other positive memories of him.
Tristan DuGrey was never unsure and it drove her crazy. Her eyes came to
focus on him once again and a gasp escaped her lips when she found him
standing right in front of her. His faced was graced the arrogant smirk she
knew so well but he seemed to figet slightly. Something was off, Tristan
never fidgets.
"Hello Rory." She looked curiously at him. Tristan also never used her
name. "Are you alright, you're not dying or anything are you?" She wanted
to shove her foot all the way down her throat to keep herself from making a
bigger embarrassment of herself. He looked stunned for a moment. "Why would
you say that?" "You called me Rory, and you're figetting." A deep blush
covered her cheeks as she babbled out her explaination. "I was half
expecting you to slap me when you saw me again." He chuckled, releaved by
her reaction. He still had some affect on her. Unfortunately she had
noticed one of his reactions to her. "Why would I want to do that?" She
cocked her head and studied him.
"For being such a jerk to you." His response was quiet almost vulnerable.
Her heart stopped and her hand shot out to feel his forehead. "Are you sure
you aren't dying?" HE was about to abandon ship when he noticed a sly smile
on her face. "I guess I deserved that." He smiled and she wanted to melt.
"How is everything?" "Good I guess, mom and Luke are dating, Paris still
hates me and Chilton still fosters to the Devil's offspring." She shrugged
with a laugh. "How are you and Dean?"
"Me and Dean? Uhhh.." the question sounded hollow to her, reminding her just how long Tristan had really been gone. "We're-ok.in a friendly type of way."
Tristan stood in a state of confusion as he watched the way she ducked her head down and looked anywhere but at him. "Well, being friendly is always good when you're dating," he observed.
"Yeah, it is," she agreed as she tried desperately to think of a graceful way out of this. "Also, if you're-well, friends." Since when was speaking so hard for her? She excelled at it. Her and her mom should be given medals for their amazing vocabulary skills!
"You guys broke up?" He would have had similar trouble talking if he hadn't been so incredulous. "I thought you were the amazing couple that would stick together through college and get married to raise your family in a cute little house with a white picket fence." Great, she threw him for one loop and he took them back to square one.
Rory, glad for the return of Cocky Tristan as opposed to Vulnerable Tristan, felt her eyes blaze as she reverted back to their vicious banter. "At least that was a possibility when we started dating. We didn't have some silent agreement that it would only last for a week before we moved on to new ground."
"You know what," he held up his hand, "forget it. We bring out the bitterness in each other and I'm still tired from my trip. You're mad, I'm gonna get there. I'll just walk away before this turns bloody."
"Tristan," she sighed as she reached out to grab his hand and swing him back around. His face was a controlled mask of indifference that didn't fool her one bit. "I didn't mean that. Yes, Dean and I broke up. I just wasn't content with 'us' anymore, but we still get along. Wanna start from there?"
He smiled slightly. She was trying. "So, you're mom and coffee supplier? That figures."
"Don't start with me," she warned.
"Maybe I should take a hint from him. I could open a chain of coffee shops and agree to give you free coffee for as long as you date me and free coffee for life if you marry me."
"You could have something there," she consented.
"Uhh.you seem to be the talk of the moment," Tristan nodded once to her grandmother and a group of her friends as they all watched the pair and talked excitedly.
Rory rolled her eyes. "Great, the Hartford gossip chain at their best!"
"You might want to go diffuse the situation before it gets too bad."
"You're probably right. Be back in a minute."
Watching Rory walk away from him, Tristan took a moment to observe her. Her long hair was pulled away from her face in a casual upsweep, complimenting her creamy skin, blue eyes and pink lips perfectly. She wore a jade green sun dress that reached above her knees and moved with every swing of her hips. She turned away from her grandmother and made her way back to him.
"Apparently, my exquisite taste in company has warranted permission for us to leave if we want," she told him with another small eye roll.
"Exquisite, huh?" the smirk took full steam and reached his eyes this time.
"Don't get too cocky, those were her words, not mine."
"Well, since your mom left and you're not exactly thrilled to be here anyway, how about we go get coffee or something?"
"Coffee would be great." Her eyes sparkled at the thought of ambrosia.
"Let's go Hebe."
"Hebe?"
"Don't know your Greek mythology do you?" She tsked playfully as they walked to their cars. "Tristan, I'm shocked, how did you ever make it into an Ivy league school?"
"Enlighten me, Einstein." He grinned.
"Well for one thing, Einstein was a man, but I'm sure you knew that." She chuckled as he rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you don't know Hebe was a woman, a lesser god to be exact. She was responsible for serving ambrosia to the gods on Mt. Olympus."
"Your random bits of knowledge in all things relating to coffee never cease to amaze me. I bet you think Zeus drank espresso."
"Of course." She unlocked the jeep and crawled in. "Where to?"
"Follow me, I know this little hole in the wall with great coffee."
"Ah, the words are music to my ears."
"You have a problem Rory, you have a problem and you need help." He shook his head and turned toward his car. "Do you think they have a version of methadone for caffeine addicts."
"Traitor, you owe me two cups for that." She bellowed at the retreating form. after a quick drive into downtown Hartford Tristan pulled his car into one of the parking garages. He leaned against the hood waiting for her to join him. "So where is this place?"
"Around the corner from here. It's one of my hideouts." He lead her down the steps of the garage and into an alley. "
"You weren't kidding about the hole in the wall part were you?" She shivered slightly missing the warmth of the sun
"Nope. Come on in." He pushed open a glass door marked midnight cafe' and held it for her.
"Tristan?" A woman behind the counter squealed and ran to pull him into a hug. "I was starting to think you would never stop in again."
"Hey Kelly, is Rick in?"
"Yeah, he's in the back. You want me to go drag his sorry butt out here?"
"Yeah, tell him I found someone who will truly appreciate the art of his coffee."
"I'm guessing that is you?" Kelly peeked around Tristan's broad shoulders to find Rory waiting patiently at the door. "Come on in." "I'm Kelly, I used to take care of this brat when he was a baby." She pinched his cheek mischievously. "Rick, get out here. The prodigal son has returned."
"Tristan?" He popped his head around the corner and rushed to hug him.
"Hey Rick, I would like to introduce you both to Rory Gilmore, coffee aficionado."
"Fancy yourself an expert do you?" His eyes sparkled brightly.
"I can hold my own."
"If you can pass my simple test you can have a cup of my ambrosia on the house."
"Ooh, sorry Tristan you've usurped. Fire away Hebe."
"Ooh, Tristan, I like this girl. Hold on to this one." He rubbed his hands together anxiously. "Alright little lady, have a seat at the counter and we will begin. Each correct answer leads to half a cup of Joe." He set a mug in front of her and picked up with a pot of fresh coffee. "We'll start with an easy one. Biggest crime in the coffee world."
"Instant coffee." Rick smiled and poured her half a cup.
Ooh, she's good, didn't even bat an eyelash." Kelly laughed.
"I hope he's prepared to give away alot of coffee, she's the only one I've ever met that can hold a candle to him."
"Tell me the two varieties of coffee plants."
"Actually there are 32 species in the Coffea species, however Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora are the most commonly used in beverage production."
"Wow." Kelly whispered.
"I told you she was good." Tristan smirked as he poured her the rest of the cup. She sniffed the coffee longingly before taking a sip.
"God, this is good." She moaned sadly when the cup was empty. "Next question please."
"Where are Arabica beans grown?"
"Just pour more, that question wasn't even worth my time." She rolled her eyes.
"Fiesty aren't you, that's okay. I need a challenge." Rick pulled up a stool and the battle of wits had begun. "Best method for harvesting?"
"Selective method, very expensive and only used on Arabica, but ensures only ripe cherrys are taken. Best method for processing: wet method, ensures the intergirty of the bean, but of course costs a fortune. Very few companies use it. Hand over the brew magic man." Rory smiled sweetly.
"Tristan, you've definately found someone worthy of my coffee." Rick laughed and poured her another cup.
"They're going to be at this for hours you know that right?" Kelly smiled and poured him his own cup.
"Yeah, I know, she never backs down from a challenge. Gives me some to catch up with you." He sat at a table in the corner and smiled over at Rory, currently in a debate about the best retail brand. He turned back to Kelly and caught up on everything that happened while he was away at school.
"How long have you been in love with her?" Kelly whispered consiratorily across the table.
"What?"
She laughed at the stunned look on his face. "Oh please, I've known you since you were in diapers, and you have never brought any of your girl friends to meet me."
"She's not a girl friend."
Kelly noticed a sad look in his eyes. "Ah, but you want her to be. That and more."
"It will never happen."
"Why not?"
"I was horrible to her. The day I left for North Carolina was probably her best day."
Kelly reached over and took his hand. "She's here now." She chuckled. "You better go steal her away from my husband before he puts the moves on her." Tristan burst out laughing.
"Name the ten criteria for classifying coffee."
"Easy again. Type -- robusta, washed, arabica. Taste -- Strictly soft, harsh. Body -- lacking, too heavy. Acidity -- some, too much at the top. Age -- old to fresh. Defects -- sour, grassy, musty. Cup -- roast, watery, burned, old. Overall assessment -- neutral, spicy, hard. Aroma -- weak to strong. Fullness -- slight to considerable. Now pour, need more, need more." She was bouncing slightly in her seat.
"How much have you given her Rick?"
"What are we on question thirteen?" Rick shrugged and Rory nodded.
"You gave her six cups?"
"Yes. He is truly a coffee God."
"You are welcome in my shop anytime young Jedi." HE smiled.
"Oh Lord." Tristan rolled his eyes. "I hope you are prepared to scrape her off the ceiling."
Rory skittered across the room and sat down next to him. "Scoot over, your hogging the seat. Rick come, join, bring the coffee."
"You just made a friend for life." Kelly smiled at the girl. "No one's ever made it past question five." Rick walked over to the table with a mug of his own and a fresh pot. Rory smirked when he topped off her cup.
"See, Rick loves me, he gives me coffee. What have you ever done for me?" She scowled at Tristan's protest and pulled her mug safely within her grasp.
"Introduced you to Rick."
"Oh, yeah. Okay, I guess I'll keep you around then." She snuggled back into the soft cushions of the booth and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Wow, coffee really is the way to your heart. I should have thought of this alot sooner." He leered and she sighed.
"Tristan, learn to keep your mouth shut. You're ruining my grateful moment."
"Yes ma'am."
Rick and Kelly shared knowing smiles before sliding back out of the booth. "We're going to go finish up inventory. Tristan, come back soon and plan to spend a couple of hours here. Young Jedi, feel free to drink all the coffee you want," Rick said with a smile.
"With NO," Kelly looked sternly at Tristan, "interference from anyone."
"Yay! My two new best friends!" Rory cheered as she bounced in her seat.
"Oh, Lord," Tristan rolled his eyes, watching the couple disappear in the back of the shop. Looking down to the head resting on his shoulder, he couldn't resist a small nudge to her.
"Eh, stop! I'm comfy," she promptly complained.
"Yes, but I introduced you to someone who will never deny you coffee and worship you as a pious coffee mistress for all your days. You owe me."
"Never mind, I'll move," she grumbled, straightening in her seat.
"That wasn't the point," he sighed patiently as he reached to pull her back to him. "The point was to try and ask what else has been going on in your life while I've been gone."
"Well, let's see.Paris is Paris, homework still rivals all the ancient Roman manuscripts known to man and my mom has finally come to her senses and started dating the love of her life.yep, that's it."
"I didn't expect Paris to turn into Elvis while I was gone, Chilton wouldn't be Chilton without the homework, and you already told me about your mom. I was asking about you."
Rory reached to refill her mug and took a deep sip. "Well, I'm still working on the Harvard thing, not dating anyone, and Lane and I are spending most of our weekends hanging around town. There's not much to tell," she shrugged.
"How are the infamous Chiltonites treating you?" he asked quietly. His time of tormenting her as one of those Chiltonites weren't exactly his finest moments.
"Huh," she half laughed, half snorted as she studied her coffee. "Like typical Chiltonites. They're polite, a few are even friendly, but no phone number exchanges or slumber parties in our near future."
"I'm sorry," he told her as he reached to top her mug off and pour more for himself.
"We've done the sorry thing. Don't worry about it. Besides, you weren't here to do anything and you've been good since you got back. Without you, I may never have found this place!" she smiled, hoping it would bring his spirits back up. That he felt guilty for his past actions was obvious, but she was determined to make him get over it.
"Somehow I think coffee is going to be the key to winning arguments with you in the future."
"Good guess," she readily agreed.
"Come on. I need a little fresh air and you've had enough." She started to complain, but he was already pushing her out and prodding her forward. "Kelly, Rick!" They both came out and stood expectantly. "We're gonna go walk around for a while. I'll try to drop in tomorrow, though."
"Ok, great to have you back, Kid!"
"How much do I owe you?"
"It's on the house. The Young Jedi must have fuel to reach full strength," Rick winked at her and grinned when she winked back.
"Don't encourage her," Tristan warned as he hugged Kelly and reached back for Rory.
"Thank you, Oh Wise One. I'll be sure to drop in here until you threaten to throw me out," Rory promised as Tristan tugged her hand.
"Not likely," Rick scoffed. "Bring her back a lot, Kid!"
"Will do!" Tristan saluted, holding the door for Rory and smiling at his friends before leaving.
"So, where are we headed?" Rory asked as he pulled her out into the sunlight.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know. I've never been here." She shrugged. She and her mother stuck to the mall and the movie theatre when they visited Hartford. She had never seen the downtown area.
"You've never been here?" Tristan graced her with a huge grin and grabbed her hand dragging her down the street. He had a plan to put another chink in her armor. "I know just the place to start."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise." He was glad she hadn't tried to pull her hand away from him. They wove through the lunch hour crowd of pedestrians and came to stop in front of another small shop with no windows beyond the door. "Here."
"Here?" She read the sign on the door and turned to him cautiously. "Over the Rainbow? Tristan is there something you aren't telling me?"
"Yeah cause that wouldn't get your ass kicked in military school." He rolled his eyes. "Welcome to Oz, Mary." He pulled her into the shop before she could protest. It took her a minute to adjust to lack of light in the store but once she did her eyes went huge.
"Wow." Any misgivings she might have had from the humble storefront flew out the window. Before her sat a two story bookstore.
"It's all antique books, mostly fiction." Tristan whispered.
"How did you find this place?" She whispered back with the reverence on would find in a church. To Rory, this place was as holy as they come.
"Kelly brought me when I was old enough to get my first real book." He shrugged. "Don't just stand there, look around." He watched her slip up and down the aisles, brushing her fingers over the spines like a soft caress.
"So tell me about you. How was military school?"
"Exactly how you would expect it to be, early mornings, screaming drill sergeants, bad food in the mess hall." He shrugged. "Chilton with different uniforms and a shooting range."
"A Shooting range at Chilton would definitely be a bad idea. There would be some very dead socialites." He chuckled slightly and nodded in agreement. "How is the family?" She missed the dark look in his eyes as she studied an old copy of Crime and Punishment.
"Avoidance is key." She looked at him waiting for him to explain. "They are in Europe."
"You're staying all by yourself in that museum?"
"Are you volunteering to keep me company, Mary?" He smirked out of habit.
"No, but I'm you could find someone on this short notice. Louise perhaps."
"No thank you." He chuckled. "I'm staying with my grandparents."
"Ahh. That's better anyway right? I mean you like your grandfather."
"Yeah, it's definitely better than a summer with my parents. You know, except for not being able to parade me around like some circus pony, I think they were relieved they didn't have to deal with me all summer."
"My mom rented a circus pony for a party one summer." She blushed furiously realizing that she had truly spoken the words out loud.
"Oh yeah? And what did the infamous Lorelei Gilmore want a pony for?"
"To get back at my grandmother. She put a sign on the saddle that said Lorelei Leigh Gilmore and paraded it around one of my grandmother's garden parties."
Tristan felt a bubble of laughter fighting to break loose. "How old was she?"
"Twenty nine. I was in the saddle." Rory frowned, then started to chuckle. "She was always rubbing grandma's nose in it, you know? That they didn't support when she needed it." Rory shrugged. "I could count the number of times I saw them on one hand before I started at Chilton." She smiled sadly.
"Do you wish they had been around more?"
"Yes and no. I mean I wish I knew them better, but I like the way I grew up. You can't beat Stars Hollow. The people are great." She started to laugh. "Could you imagine my mother and I at all of those society functions hyped up on coffee and sugar."
"They would have been a hell of a lot more interesting that's for sure."
"I think I'll take that as a compliment." Rory smiled brightly. "So what are your plans for the summer?"
"Seduce you." He shrugged lightly.
"What?" He was positive the veins in her neck were going to burst, they were bulging dangerously close to the surface as it was.
"Well, you know, I have to finish what I start."
"And off all your unfinished projects," she half glared, "you're choosing THIS one?"
"I have to keep bringing you by to see Rick and Kelly, so why not? Besides, this one's the most fun."
Rory's face scrunched as she turned to go up the staircase, "You are an unbelievable jerk sometimes, Tristan."
He followed closely and pulled her behind a bookshelf at the top. "Would you rather I simply keep bringing you back and let the coffee seduce you?"
Seeing the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, she relaxed and took a moment to consider it. "Meaning you'll let me have coffee and behave like a gentleman?"
"As much as I possibly can," he agreed.
"That's not very encouraging."
"I refuse to make promises I can't keep," he shrugged.
"Ok, fine. You keep bringing me by for coffee, be on your best behavior and I'll-"
"Keep the claws in?" he finished.
"As much as I possibly can," she smirked in return.
"Great," he rolled his eyes. "Now you're picking up habits of mine that you've always hated."
"Payback's a bitch," she quoted.
"And you're no angel," he whispered in her ear before sauntering down another aisle. Rory stood pondering his statement a moment before giving up and following after him. Sometimes he was so confusing.
Across The Street
"No, I want to know who he is," the woman whined as she stomped her foot at the man in front of her.
"And you'll find out..just as soon as she goes home and tells you," he assured her in his most patronizing manner.
"Come on, Lukey, you wanna know, too!"
"Not enough to stalk Rory. Come on, Lorelei, I'm taking you home.and keeping you there until your poor daughter gets home."
"But what if he's some serial kjller who we'll hear about when they find Rory's mutilated body?" she persisted as he pushed her backwards towards his truck.
Luke squinted his eyes as he regarded the crazy woman in front of him. "You get the most disgusting ideas. Where do you come up with this stuff? I take it back! I don't want to know. Come on." He opened the door and waited until she flopped in the seat. Crossing her arms over her chest, she frowned petulantly as she looked out the window. Luke took one last look at her, sighed, and started the car. This should be a fun car ride.
"Me and Dean? Uhhh.." the question sounded hollow to her, reminding her just how long Tristan had really been gone. "We're-ok.in a friendly type of way."
Tristan stood in a state of confusion as he watched the way she ducked her head down and looked anywhere but at him. "Well, being friendly is always good when you're dating," he observed.
"Yeah, it is," she agreed as she tried desperately to think of a graceful way out of this. "Also, if you're-well, friends." Since when was speaking so hard for her? She excelled at it. Her and her mom should be given medals for their amazing vocabulary skills!
"You guys broke up?" He would have had similar trouble talking if he hadn't been so incredulous. "I thought you were the amazing couple that would stick together through college and get married to raise your family in a cute little house with a white picket fence." Great, she threw him for one loop and he took them back to square one.
Rory, glad for the return of Cocky Tristan as opposed to Vulnerable Tristan, felt her eyes blaze as she reverted back to their vicious banter. "At least that was a possibility when we started dating. We didn't have some silent agreement that it would only last for a week before we moved on to new ground."
"You know what," he held up his hand, "forget it. We bring out the bitterness in each other and I'm still tired from my trip. You're mad, I'm gonna get there. I'll just walk away before this turns bloody."
"Tristan," she sighed as she reached out to grab his hand and swing him back around. His face was a controlled mask of indifference that didn't fool her one bit. "I didn't mean that. Yes, Dean and I broke up. I just wasn't content with 'us' anymore, but we still get along. Wanna start from there?"
He smiled slightly. She was trying. "So, you're mom and coffee supplier? That figures."
"Don't start with me," she warned.
"Maybe I should take a hint from him. I could open a chain of coffee shops and agree to give you free coffee for as long as you date me and free coffee for life if you marry me."
"You could have something there," she consented.
"Uhh.you seem to be the talk of the moment," Tristan nodded once to her grandmother and a group of her friends as they all watched the pair and talked excitedly.
Rory rolled her eyes. "Great, the Hartford gossip chain at their best!"
"You might want to go diffuse the situation before it gets too bad."
"You're probably right. Be back in a minute."
Watching Rory walk away from him, Tristan took a moment to observe her. Her long hair was pulled away from her face in a casual upsweep, complimenting her creamy skin, blue eyes and pink lips perfectly. She wore a jade green sun dress that reached above her knees and moved with every swing of her hips. She turned away from her grandmother and made her way back to him.
"Apparently, my exquisite taste in company has warranted permission for us to leave if we want," she told him with another small eye roll.
"Exquisite, huh?" the smirk took full steam and reached his eyes this time.
"Don't get too cocky, those were her words, not mine."
"Well, since your mom left and you're not exactly thrilled to be here anyway, how about we go get coffee or something?"
"Coffee would be great." Her eyes sparkled at the thought of ambrosia.
"Let's go Hebe."
"Hebe?"
"Don't know your Greek mythology do you?" She tsked playfully as they walked to their cars. "Tristan, I'm shocked, how did you ever make it into an Ivy league school?"
"Enlighten me, Einstein." He grinned.
"Well for one thing, Einstein was a man, but I'm sure you knew that." She chuckled as he rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you don't know Hebe was a woman, a lesser god to be exact. She was responsible for serving ambrosia to the gods on Mt. Olympus."
"Your random bits of knowledge in all things relating to coffee never cease to amaze me. I bet you think Zeus drank espresso."
"Of course." She unlocked the jeep and crawled in. "Where to?"
"Follow me, I know this little hole in the wall with great coffee."
"Ah, the words are music to my ears."
"You have a problem Rory, you have a problem and you need help." He shook his head and turned toward his car. "Do you think they have a version of methadone for caffeine addicts."
"Traitor, you owe me two cups for that." She bellowed at the retreating form. after a quick drive into downtown Hartford Tristan pulled his car into one of the parking garages. He leaned against the hood waiting for her to join him. "So where is this place?"
"Around the corner from here. It's one of my hideouts." He lead her down the steps of the garage and into an alley. "
"You weren't kidding about the hole in the wall part were you?" She shivered slightly missing the warmth of the sun
"Nope. Come on in." He pushed open a glass door marked midnight cafe' and held it for her.
"Tristan?" A woman behind the counter squealed and ran to pull him into a hug. "I was starting to think you would never stop in again."
"Hey Kelly, is Rick in?"
"Yeah, he's in the back. You want me to go drag his sorry butt out here?"
"Yeah, tell him I found someone who will truly appreciate the art of his coffee."
"I'm guessing that is you?" Kelly peeked around Tristan's broad shoulders to find Rory waiting patiently at the door. "Come on in." "I'm Kelly, I used to take care of this brat when he was a baby." She pinched his cheek mischievously. "Rick, get out here. The prodigal son has returned."
"Tristan?" He popped his head around the corner and rushed to hug him.
"Hey Rick, I would like to introduce you both to Rory Gilmore, coffee aficionado."
"Fancy yourself an expert do you?" His eyes sparkled brightly.
"I can hold my own."
"If you can pass my simple test you can have a cup of my ambrosia on the house."
"Ooh, sorry Tristan you've usurped. Fire away Hebe."
"Ooh, Tristan, I like this girl. Hold on to this one." He rubbed his hands together anxiously. "Alright little lady, have a seat at the counter and we will begin. Each correct answer leads to half a cup of Joe." He set a mug in front of her and picked up with a pot of fresh coffee. "We'll start with an easy one. Biggest crime in the coffee world."
"Instant coffee." Rick smiled and poured her half a cup.
Ooh, she's good, didn't even bat an eyelash." Kelly laughed.
"I hope he's prepared to give away alot of coffee, she's the only one I've ever met that can hold a candle to him."
"Tell me the two varieties of coffee plants."
"Actually there are 32 species in the Coffea species, however Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora are the most commonly used in beverage production."
"Wow." Kelly whispered.
"I told you she was good." Tristan smirked as he poured her the rest of the cup. She sniffed the coffee longingly before taking a sip.
"God, this is good." She moaned sadly when the cup was empty. "Next question please."
"Where are Arabica beans grown?"
"Just pour more, that question wasn't even worth my time." She rolled her eyes.
"Fiesty aren't you, that's okay. I need a challenge." Rick pulled up a stool and the battle of wits had begun. "Best method for harvesting?"
"Selective method, very expensive and only used on Arabica, but ensures only ripe cherrys are taken. Best method for processing: wet method, ensures the intergirty of the bean, but of course costs a fortune. Very few companies use it. Hand over the brew magic man." Rory smiled sweetly.
"Tristan, you've definately found someone worthy of my coffee." Rick laughed and poured her another cup.
"They're going to be at this for hours you know that right?" Kelly smiled and poured him his own cup.
"Yeah, I know, she never backs down from a challenge. Gives me some to catch up with you." He sat at a table in the corner and smiled over at Rory, currently in a debate about the best retail brand. He turned back to Kelly and caught up on everything that happened while he was away at school.
"How long have you been in love with her?" Kelly whispered consiratorily across the table.
"What?"
She laughed at the stunned look on his face. "Oh please, I've known you since you were in diapers, and you have never brought any of your girl friends to meet me."
"She's not a girl friend."
Kelly noticed a sad look in his eyes. "Ah, but you want her to be. That and more."
"It will never happen."
"Why not?"
"I was horrible to her. The day I left for North Carolina was probably her best day."
Kelly reached over and took his hand. "She's here now." She chuckled. "You better go steal her away from my husband before he puts the moves on her." Tristan burst out laughing.
"Name the ten criteria for classifying coffee."
"Easy again. Type -- robusta, washed, arabica. Taste -- Strictly soft, harsh. Body -- lacking, too heavy. Acidity -- some, too much at the top. Age -- old to fresh. Defects -- sour, grassy, musty. Cup -- roast, watery, burned, old. Overall assessment -- neutral, spicy, hard. Aroma -- weak to strong. Fullness -- slight to considerable. Now pour, need more, need more." She was bouncing slightly in her seat.
"How much have you given her Rick?"
"What are we on question thirteen?" Rick shrugged and Rory nodded.
"You gave her six cups?"
"Yes. He is truly a coffee God."
"You are welcome in my shop anytime young Jedi." HE smiled.
"Oh Lord." Tristan rolled his eyes. "I hope you are prepared to scrape her off the ceiling."
Rory skittered across the room and sat down next to him. "Scoot over, your hogging the seat. Rick come, join, bring the coffee."
"You just made a friend for life." Kelly smiled at the girl. "No one's ever made it past question five." Rick walked over to the table with a mug of his own and a fresh pot. Rory smirked when he topped off her cup.
"See, Rick loves me, he gives me coffee. What have you ever done for me?" She scowled at Tristan's protest and pulled her mug safely within her grasp.
"Introduced you to Rick."
"Oh, yeah. Okay, I guess I'll keep you around then." She snuggled back into the soft cushions of the booth and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Wow, coffee really is the way to your heart. I should have thought of this alot sooner." He leered and she sighed.
"Tristan, learn to keep your mouth shut. You're ruining my grateful moment."
"Yes ma'am."
Rick and Kelly shared knowing smiles before sliding back out of the booth. "We're going to go finish up inventory. Tristan, come back soon and plan to spend a couple of hours here. Young Jedi, feel free to drink all the coffee you want," Rick said with a smile.
"With NO," Kelly looked sternly at Tristan, "interference from anyone."
"Yay! My two new best friends!" Rory cheered as she bounced in her seat.
"Oh, Lord," Tristan rolled his eyes, watching the couple disappear in the back of the shop. Looking down to the head resting on his shoulder, he couldn't resist a small nudge to her.
"Eh, stop! I'm comfy," she promptly complained.
"Yes, but I introduced you to someone who will never deny you coffee and worship you as a pious coffee mistress for all your days. You owe me."
"Never mind, I'll move," she grumbled, straightening in her seat.
"That wasn't the point," he sighed patiently as he reached to pull her back to him. "The point was to try and ask what else has been going on in your life while I've been gone."
"Well, let's see.Paris is Paris, homework still rivals all the ancient Roman manuscripts known to man and my mom has finally come to her senses and started dating the love of her life.yep, that's it."
"I didn't expect Paris to turn into Elvis while I was gone, Chilton wouldn't be Chilton without the homework, and you already told me about your mom. I was asking about you."
Rory reached to refill her mug and took a deep sip. "Well, I'm still working on the Harvard thing, not dating anyone, and Lane and I are spending most of our weekends hanging around town. There's not much to tell," she shrugged.
"How are the infamous Chiltonites treating you?" he asked quietly. His time of tormenting her as one of those Chiltonites weren't exactly his finest moments.
"Huh," she half laughed, half snorted as she studied her coffee. "Like typical Chiltonites. They're polite, a few are even friendly, but no phone number exchanges or slumber parties in our near future."
"I'm sorry," he told her as he reached to top her mug off and pour more for himself.
"We've done the sorry thing. Don't worry about it. Besides, you weren't here to do anything and you've been good since you got back. Without you, I may never have found this place!" she smiled, hoping it would bring his spirits back up. That he felt guilty for his past actions was obvious, but she was determined to make him get over it.
"Somehow I think coffee is going to be the key to winning arguments with you in the future."
"Good guess," she readily agreed.
"Come on. I need a little fresh air and you've had enough." She started to complain, but he was already pushing her out and prodding her forward. "Kelly, Rick!" They both came out and stood expectantly. "We're gonna go walk around for a while. I'll try to drop in tomorrow, though."
"Ok, great to have you back, Kid!"
"How much do I owe you?"
"It's on the house. The Young Jedi must have fuel to reach full strength," Rick winked at her and grinned when she winked back.
"Don't encourage her," Tristan warned as he hugged Kelly and reached back for Rory.
"Thank you, Oh Wise One. I'll be sure to drop in here until you threaten to throw me out," Rory promised as Tristan tugged her hand.
"Not likely," Rick scoffed. "Bring her back a lot, Kid!"
"Will do!" Tristan saluted, holding the door for Rory and smiling at his friends before leaving.
"So, where are we headed?" Rory asked as he pulled her out into the sunlight.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know. I've never been here." She shrugged. She and her mother stuck to the mall and the movie theatre when they visited Hartford. She had never seen the downtown area.
"You've never been here?" Tristan graced her with a huge grin and grabbed her hand dragging her down the street. He had a plan to put another chink in her armor. "I know just the place to start."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise." He was glad she hadn't tried to pull her hand away from him. They wove through the lunch hour crowd of pedestrians and came to stop in front of another small shop with no windows beyond the door. "Here."
"Here?" She read the sign on the door and turned to him cautiously. "Over the Rainbow? Tristan is there something you aren't telling me?"
"Yeah cause that wouldn't get your ass kicked in military school." He rolled his eyes. "Welcome to Oz, Mary." He pulled her into the shop before she could protest. It took her a minute to adjust to lack of light in the store but once she did her eyes went huge.
"Wow." Any misgivings she might have had from the humble storefront flew out the window. Before her sat a two story bookstore.
"It's all antique books, mostly fiction." Tristan whispered.
"How did you find this place?" She whispered back with the reverence on would find in a church. To Rory, this place was as holy as they come.
"Kelly brought me when I was old enough to get my first real book." He shrugged. "Don't just stand there, look around." He watched her slip up and down the aisles, brushing her fingers over the spines like a soft caress.
"So tell me about you. How was military school?"
"Exactly how you would expect it to be, early mornings, screaming drill sergeants, bad food in the mess hall." He shrugged. "Chilton with different uniforms and a shooting range."
"A Shooting range at Chilton would definitely be a bad idea. There would be some very dead socialites." He chuckled slightly and nodded in agreement. "How is the family?" She missed the dark look in his eyes as she studied an old copy of Crime and Punishment.
"Avoidance is key." She looked at him waiting for him to explain. "They are in Europe."
"You're staying all by yourself in that museum?"
"Are you volunteering to keep me company, Mary?" He smirked out of habit.
"No, but I'm you could find someone on this short notice. Louise perhaps."
"No thank you." He chuckled. "I'm staying with my grandparents."
"Ahh. That's better anyway right? I mean you like your grandfather."
"Yeah, it's definitely better than a summer with my parents. You know, except for not being able to parade me around like some circus pony, I think they were relieved they didn't have to deal with me all summer."
"My mom rented a circus pony for a party one summer." She blushed furiously realizing that she had truly spoken the words out loud.
"Oh yeah? And what did the infamous Lorelei Gilmore want a pony for?"
"To get back at my grandmother. She put a sign on the saddle that said Lorelei Leigh Gilmore and paraded it around one of my grandmother's garden parties."
Tristan felt a bubble of laughter fighting to break loose. "How old was she?"
"Twenty nine. I was in the saddle." Rory frowned, then started to chuckle. "She was always rubbing grandma's nose in it, you know? That they didn't support when she needed it." Rory shrugged. "I could count the number of times I saw them on one hand before I started at Chilton." She smiled sadly.
"Do you wish they had been around more?"
"Yes and no. I mean I wish I knew them better, but I like the way I grew up. You can't beat Stars Hollow. The people are great." She started to laugh. "Could you imagine my mother and I at all of those society functions hyped up on coffee and sugar."
"They would have been a hell of a lot more interesting that's for sure."
"I think I'll take that as a compliment." Rory smiled brightly. "So what are your plans for the summer?"
"Seduce you." He shrugged lightly.
"What?" He was positive the veins in her neck were going to burst, they were bulging dangerously close to the surface as it was.
"Well, you know, I have to finish what I start."
"And off all your unfinished projects," she half glared, "you're choosing THIS one?"
"I have to keep bringing you by to see Rick and Kelly, so why not? Besides, this one's the most fun."
Rory's face scrunched as she turned to go up the staircase, "You are an unbelievable jerk sometimes, Tristan."
He followed closely and pulled her behind a bookshelf at the top. "Would you rather I simply keep bringing you back and let the coffee seduce you?"
Seeing the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, she relaxed and took a moment to consider it. "Meaning you'll let me have coffee and behave like a gentleman?"
"As much as I possibly can," he agreed.
"That's not very encouraging."
"I refuse to make promises I can't keep," he shrugged.
"Ok, fine. You keep bringing me by for coffee, be on your best behavior and I'll-"
"Keep the claws in?" he finished.
"As much as I possibly can," she smirked in return.
"Great," he rolled his eyes. "Now you're picking up habits of mine that you've always hated."
"Payback's a bitch," she quoted.
"And you're no angel," he whispered in her ear before sauntering down another aisle. Rory stood pondering his statement a moment before giving up and following after him. Sometimes he was so confusing.
Across The Street
"No, I want to know who he is," the woman whined as she stomped her foot at the man in front of her.
"And you'll find out..just as soon as she goes home and tells you," he assured her in his most patronizing manner.
"Come on, Lukey, you wanna know, too!"
"Not enough to stalk Rory. Come on, Lorelei, I'm taking you home.and keeping you there until your poor daughter gets home."
"But what if he's some serial kjller who we'll hear about when they find Rory's mutilated body?" she persisted as he pushed her backwards towards his truck.
Luke squinted his eyes as he regarded the crazy woman in front of him. "You get the most disgusting ideas. Where do you come up with this stuff? I take it back! I don't want to know. Come on." He opened the door and waited until she flopped in the seat. Crossing her arms over her chest, she frowned petulantly as she looked out the window. Luke took one last look at her, sighed, and started the car. This should be a fun car ride.