The Twists and Turns of Life
A/N: Sorry if all the switching POV's is kind of confusing, but it was easier to write this way to get the whole story across. I hope you like this chapter.
Disclaimer: I only own Tom, Maggie, and this story.
Chapter 6: Too Many Tears
He won't talk to me now. It's been two days since our…argument in the classroom. He hasn't looked at me or talked to me. He's gone out of his way to steer clear of me that I've barely even seen a lock of his hair. I miss him. Even more than before. I couldn't help thinking what he meant by that - "Because I want you!" Sure, there was the obvious meaning, but Tristan seeing me in any other way besides a friend? That just seemed weird. I told mom; she didn't say anything, she just gave me a hug and told me to follow my heart. I wish I could. I would love nothing more than to know what my heart wants and to just go with whatever it decides, but I have yet to hear what it wants.
* * *
She was wrong; this was hell. Before Tristan's little declaration to Rory came out, at least people left her alone. But now, guys were hitting on her, telling that she deserved better than Tristan, telling her that they were the ones that could make her happy. And the girls, wells the girls were anything but nice. Some yelled at her, saying that Tristan didn't need to be treated the "horrible and bitchy way" she had apparently treated him. Some had that look in their eyes, the look saying "I'm going to kill you if you even try to look in my direction" or "You're going to pay for what you did to our precious Tristan". They all hated her because she was the one that had Tristan's heart.
* * *
And the hits just keep coming. Mom got a call today. I wasn't sure who it was at first, but judging by the look on her face, it wasn't good news at all. I remember how my heart sank even further when I heard her say those words - "Your uncle Tom passed away." I loved him. That much was clear. He lived in Massachusetts, not that far from us. When I was younger, my dad and I would visit him every other weekend. He was one of the few uncles I could tolerate and now he was gone. I cried. Dad told me that it was just his time. Maybe that was true, but it didn't hurt any less. Mom and dad made arrangements to take us all out there next week for his funeral; thank God it will be spring break by then.
* * *
I had to talk to Tristan. Tell him at least that I was going to be gone. I wasn't even sure that he would care, but I had to try. I probably looked like crap. It was a miracle that I was even able to stop crying, but today was the last day 'til break and I didn't want to miss it for no apparent reason. I waited for him by his locker after arriving at school 10 minutes earlier than usual to make sure that I would catch him. I guess he didn't notice me there or was trying to avoid me, as usual, because he just went straight for the lock and exchanged all of his books without muttering a single word.
I stared at him for a few seconds, seeing him fully for the first time in days. "Tristan," I stated softly. He still didn't look at me. Tears came to my eyes again. I hated the fact that it never took a lot to get me to cry. "Tristan, please…"
He slammed his locker and turned to me. "What the hell do you want?" He sounded so cold. I didn't even know him anymore.
I didn't dare look up into his eyes. Instead, I just muttered, "Never mind" and walked away. The rest of the day passed by slowly, painfully slowly, but I refused to go home. There was just more sadness there waiting for me.
* * *
Guilt. That's what I felt. Sure, I was a little mad at her for not trying to speak to me after the declaration I had made to her a few days ago, but I guess that I am partly at fault for that; I have been avoiding her. And she did just try to talk to me earlier today. And what do I do? I yell at her. Jerk Tristan never fails to make an appearance when it counts… She looked so sad, like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders and I wanted nothing more than to be the person that took that burden away.
"Didn't you hear?"
I rolled my eyes. The girls at Chilton never did have anything better to do than gossip.
"Hear what?"
"The Gilmore chick-" That caught my full attention. "Apparently some relative of hers died or something. I heard from…" So that's why she looked like hell run over twice. Maybe that's why she had come to me…to seek comfort…and all I did was turn her away from me.
One of the girls scoffed. "It serves her right, after what she did to Tristan."
I got mad at that. I yelled at them, what words, I'm not sure, but they did seem scared. I can count on them never saying anything like that about Rory again.
The bell rang, the last bell of the day. I ran out of the classroom and out of the school, hoping against hope that I could catch her. She was walking, no, dragging, herself across the parking lot to her car. She was crying, still, again, I wasn't sure, but I knew that I was part of the reason for that. I yelled out her name, but she didn't seem to hear me, that, or she was ignoring me, a weapon that both of us had been using lately. I tried running to where she was, but that didn't help either. Before I knew it, she was in her car and driving out of the lot.
* * *
I slung the bag over my shoulder. It had a couple pairs of pajamas, a black dress, a few other outfits. Mom told me that we were only going to be staying in Massachusetts for a couple days, but I had a feeling that dad would want to stay there longer. Maybe to talk to family members, try to comfort Maggie, Tom's wife. Or maybe we would come back in a couple days. I didn't really know. I walked down the stairs and saw my dad sitting on the couch, his head in his hands. He was crying. I have never seen him cry. But it makes sense. He and uncle Tom were the closest brothers could be, and my dad had lost him.
"Hey, dad," I whispered as I sat down next to him.
He looked at me, giving me a sad smile before pulling me into a hug. "Hey, kiddo. How are you doing?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" I found that jokes were a good way to make a situation lighter; I knew that it wouldn't work now, but I was desperate to see anyone I was close to smile.
He gave me a sad smile too before giving me another hug. We held each other for the whole twenty minutes before we actually had to leave. We didn't want to let go.
* * *
I got home at four. I would have gotten there sooner, but Paris had to talk to me. I can't remember what she said, but she implied that it was a life or death situation. I'll have to remember to ask her tomorrow what she said to me. I drove by her house, Rory's, but their car wasn't there. I figured that they all went somewhere for dinner or something.
I walked up to my room, immediately going to the balcony door to look through the drapes. I did that every day. I couldn't find enough courage to speak to her, but just seeing her was somehow enough to last me through the night, even though I couldn't hold her anymore. That's when I saw it - an envelope.
I opened the door and pulled it from the window where it was held up by tape. The front simply read Tristan. It was her writing. I tore the envelope open and read:
Dear Tristan,
I tried to talk to you this morning and you turned away, in fact, I don't even blame you. I tried so hard to not listen to what everyone at school was saying, but I couldn't. They kept on saying that you deserve better than me, Tristan, and the truth is that you do. I could never live up to be the person who could make you happy, the person that you could love with all your heart. I just can't.
I'm on my way out of the state, to where, I won't bother you with or why, but I'm considering moving there. It is just too painful to be here, Tristan, too painful, and I don't think that my heart can handle any more pain. I hope you can forgive me and just move on. I wish with all my heart that I won't be the reason why you are holding back from something or someone that you want. I can't tell you how sorry I am for the past few days; I'm sure you're hurting as much as I am.
Goodbye,
Rory
What? She wants to move? I could barely even breathe without her for the last few days and now she's going to move? I couldn't take it anymore. For the first time in my life, I cried.