Second Chances – Part 5 [Picture Frame]
Disclaimer: I own nothing, you hear me?
--
That smirk. The infamous DuGray smirk. Rory swallowed, her cheeks flushed a deep red. She met his eyes confidently; her gaze wavered as she looked down at the shattered glass. Inwardly cursing, she crouched down, gently picking the sharp pieces. She forced herself to concentrate on cleaning the mess she caused, forcing herself to ignore his heavy footsteps coming closer. Soon, her nostrils met with his fragrant cologne, shutting her eyes, she took in a deep, deep breath.
"I'm so sorry," Rory muttered softly, continuing to collect the glass.
"It's alright," was his reply, helping her with the clean up.
Rory felt his eyes on her, uncomfortably, she locked her blue eyes on his, meeting his steady stare. "Ouch," she winced, suddenly looking down at her forefinger. Her eyes widened, staring at the tiny piece of glass imbedded on the tip of her finger.
"Are you alright?" his husky voice asked in a comforting whisper.
"Yes," her face turned pale, she hated the sight of blood, especially her blood.
"No you're not."
"Yes I am," Rory replied through clenched teeth, carefully pulling the piece of glass from her finger. Blood dripped down her slender finger as Rory frantically sought for a tissue.
Tristan handed her the tissue, smiling slightly. Glancing at the panicking girl wrapping her finger with the soft napkin. "You alright?"
"Yes, how many times do I have repeat myself?"
"Until I believe you."
"I'm really…"
"Yes well, I've been meaning to get that frame changed anyway," Tristan lied uneasily.
Rory nodded, her bleeding finger controlled by the tissue. She discarded the pieces of shard glass and walked to the chair she had been sitting on just minutes ago. She sat, forcing herself to brush the spine tingling feeling she'd always receive when his eyes were on her. Brushing pieces of hair tickling her face, she noticed Tristan seated in the chair across from her, examining her closely.
"You know, if you want, I can just pay for the frame…" Rory blurted, playing with the chain around her neck.
"I don't need it Rory," Tristan replied, resisting the urge to smile at her – still – innocent face.
"It looks expensive."
"I have others."
"Not like those," she argued.
"Do I look angry?"
"No, but you hide your emotions well."
"Will you just forget about the stupid frame?" Tristan asked.
"Forgotten."
"Broken frame aside, I'd like to ask you some questions about you, your cousin and July twenty seventh…"
"Ask away, Mr. Lawyer man."
--
"So you actually talked to him?"
"Yes mom, for the umpteenth time, I actually talked to him, face to face."
"How'd he look?"
"Mom!" Rory exclaimed, walking through her apartment in search for her coffee filters.
"What?"
"You're married."
"I can look, can't I?" Lorelai asked, feeding a smiling toddler "What happened?"
"Nothing, we just talked about Jess' case and I left."
"That's it?"
"Yes," Rory answered.
"Oh."
"You sound disappointed."
"I am, I was expecting a big emotional reunion… lots of lip action."
"I'm afraid to disappoint you but…"
"Yes well, oh senior mini-me, afraid I have to run… junior mini-me's getting a little stinky for my liking."
Rory laughed "Kiss Emma for me, alright?"
--
"So, did you, did you?" Lane asked merrily, jumping up and down the apartment.
"Did I what?"
"Kiss him?"
"No, I didn't!" Rory answered loudly, burying her head beneath mountains of feather pillows.
"Just a question, don't get so testy."
"I'm sorry," Rory muttered, "I'm all out of coffee filters."
"Why not drink instant coffee?" Lane suggested.
"Hush your mouth, Gilmore's do not drink instant coffee," Rory sighed.
"If they're desperate, they do."
"You do have a good point…"
The loud knocking coming from her front door interrupted Rory's sentence. Groaning, she sat up, causing several pillows to fall to the ground. She trudged to the door, opening it cautiously. What she saw made her heart beat relatively faster.
"What are you doing here?" she asked bluntly "And why are you so out of breath?"
--
He watched her leave his office, a tiny voice inside his head screaming at him, telling him to go after her. His fist tightened into a hard fist, watching her walk away.
"Tristan dear, I don't mean to be so nosy… but you seem to have taken a liking to that young woman."
Tristan smiled at Sandy, nodding slightly. "You have no idea Sandy."
"I think I do," she replied, taking papers in need of photocopying "I know more than you think dear."
"What do you mean?"
Sandy grinned, "What are you standing around for? Go after her, don't let her get away from you again."
--
"Well, I'm waiting," she looked at him expectantly.
"I'm here…" he panted "… for you."
Rory's eyes widened, looking around her. Quietly, she stepped from her apartment, closing the door behind her as silently as possible. The two stood, awkwardly in front of each other, Rory dissolving the words that came from his mouth. Her heart skipped a beat, though she chose to ignore the familiar feeling.
"No, you're not," Rory answered.
"Yes, yes I am."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not."
"Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Because Tristan! I've… gotten over it all. Over what happened," Rory said confidently, her steady voice even frightening herself.
"What?"
"I don't need you walking back into my life again. I don't need that."
"You know what Rory," Tristan smirked.
"What Tristan? Please enlighten me," she mumbled dryly.
"You don't know what you need."
"Excuse me?" Rory scoffed, her angry eyes glared.
"And, I know what you need."
"Oh really? Please tell me."
Tristan inched closer; his lips turned upwards in a tight smile "You need me, as much as I need you," he wanted to sound strong, sure of himself, sure of his sentence. Much to his dismay, his sentence came out as a soft, tender whisper. Who knew one mere sentence would be able to turn this elementary school teacher's world upside down.
This chapter came out better than I expected. Really, I expected it to come out so crappy that my three-year-old niece could write something better. I've been having problems, big problems that I can't take my mind off. It's just eating me up and it's pissing me off! I thought writing a chapter would make me forget, just for a little while, but alas, stupid brain!
Sorry for the mini rant, I'm just so damn pissed off right now. Been that way for about two days. Stupid problem has officially ruined my WHOLE summer (or at least, what's remaining of it).
So drop a line (or two), it doesn't even have to be about the chapter or story, just something to cheer me up.
Thanks and cookies to all!
- RockerFreak