I still don't own anything but my thoughts...

Thanks again for the reviews. Now what I really need is opinions and ideas or even criticism.

CHAPTER 15

The next morning Rory and Lorelei woke up to the very appealing smell of coffee and food. They both got up and got dressed as fast as they could before heading towards the aromas.

There, standing in front of the stove was Tristan. He was making some eggs and pancakes with bacon and sausages. The table was set for three and on it there was a pot of coffee and a jug of orange juice.

"This is what I like to wake up to in the morning. Hi there Tristan. Or should I call you Mr. Cook?" Lorelei greeted him with a big smile.

"Well, good morning you two. Sleep well? I thought you'd be hungry so I made some breakfast."

"It sounds and smells great Tris. Thanks again for the surprise, I really needed this." Rory told him with a huge grin on her face.

"It's my pleasure girls. And I'm talking about the breakfast and the surprise. We're friends right Ror?"

"Of course we're friends." She smiled at him.

"I just want you to be happy and well fed."

"I am very happy but I'm starved." They all laughed at that.

There were no big conversations during breakfast, just small talk. Lorelei wanted to talk to Rory alone. It wasn't that she didn't like Tristan it's just that she didn't know him well enough and she thought Rory should hear this first.

"Well, I got to get to work. What are you two ladies doing today?"

"Mom and I are going to go for a walk so that I can show her the store and stuff. Then we'll probably just come back here."

"Okay well, I'll let you two spend some time alone. I will find something to amuse myself tonight." Tristan said to them.

"Tristan, don't stay away because of us. We're having a movie night tonight and we'd love it if you joined us." Rory looked at him with that little pout. Hearing those words made him really happy. He knew how much the movie nights meant to her and her mother and it was really special for him to be invited.

"Thanks Ror. Of course I'll be here. See you later. You two have fun, but stay out of trouble."

"Later bible boy." Lorelei said after him. She just couldn't help but use the nickname. Tristan was a great guy and she could really see the sparks between him and her daughter.

"Earth to mom!!" Rory said with a laugh.

"Huh? What sweetheart?"

"Well, aren't we going now? I wanted to show you around, are you coming?"

"Actually Ror I thought we could talk some more before leaving the apartment."

"Okay mom lets sit down. You look a little worried, what's going on?" Rory was getting kind of worried.

They both sat on the sofa. Neither one said anything. Rory was waiting for her mother to finally say something. Lorelei just didn't know where to begin.

"Mom, what's going on? Is someone sick? Come on say something." She just had to break the silence she couldn't take it anymore.

"I don't even know if it's something that important that I have to tell you. Either way I think you'd be mad if I didn't tell you."

"Just tell me already will you? What's this about?"

"It's about Jess actually. After he came to see you at Yale he went to New York and he met a girl."

"Oh, okay. Anything else?" she asked a little worried.

"Yeah there is. One week ago she found out she's pregnant and now he's moving back home with her."

"Where's home mom?"

"London, hun."

"Oh! When does he leave? Has he left already?"

"They move next week. I'm sorry hun. Are you okay with this? Should I have just not told you?"

"No mom I'm glad you told me. It's nice that he's moving on. I did love him though and in some way he'll always be special to me but he's in the past. I came to North Carolina to put the past behind me and Jess moving on just makes it that much easier."

"You're taking this rather well sweetie. Are you sure that you're okay?"

"It's a little strange and a little soon but I think I'm going to get used to it. I've never really seen Jess with a real girlfriend except for me. Hopefully for that girl he doesn't run away." Those last words came out kind of harshly.

Even though it had been months and all it still hurt that he had just left like that without a word. Now he was moving on with someone who wasn't her and they would be living together. It all made her feel like she hadn't meant that much to him after all.

"He did care about you Ror. It's just that it didn't work out between the two of you." Lorelei tried to reassure her daughter.

"Whose fault is it that it didn't work out huh? It's Jess' s fault, not mine." Rory was upset but she didn't know why. She didn't have feelings for Jess anymore so why even care?

"I never should have told you. Now I've upset you. This is supposed to be a happy three days." Lorelei felt really bad for her daughter. When would she be happy again?

"No mom I'm glad you told me. It just tells me that it's okay to move on now. I can start living my life without feeling guilty about what Jess or Dean may feel."

"Now that's my Rory talking. So what do we do for fun? We could run around this building and knock on all the doors and then run away before they answer. What do you say?" Lorelei was getting a little excited.

"I think we shouldn't. Unless your idea of fun is getting arrested."

"Ooh by cute police officers?" there was a hint of mischief in Lorelei's voice.

"You're really hopeless mom. I think we should go for that walk around town now."

"Okay then. But you're no fun." Lorelei finally agreed.

{}{}{}

They left the building and headed for the bookstore. Rory showed her all around the different departments before finally settling at a table for a cup of coffee.

They were deep in conversation when a certain blonde haired, blue eyes, hottie came to sit with them. He asked them what they had been up to and Rory told him all about Jess and his new girlfriend. At the mention of her ex-boyfriend Tristan couldn't help but feel a tiny bit jealous again. Not only had he been jealous when his Mary had slept with Dean but now he was jealous of the feelings she had had for her other ex. He knew that the chances of that girl ever having those kinds of feelings for him were slim and that really broke his heart

"So Ror, how do you feel about Jess moving on like that?" He asked with obvious concern in his voice.

"Actually it hurts a little but at the same time it kind of makes me happy. Now I know that it's okay for me to move on too."

He smiled at her then. He deeply wished that he would be the one she'd move on with.

"Glad to hear that. Anything I can do?" He had a gleam in his eyes when he asked this. A guy could hope right?

"Tristan when do you finish work today?" Lorelei asked him. She had a little plan in mind.

"Well, I cold finish up pretty soon. Why do you want to know?" He was a little scared by the tone in her voice.

"I was looking around the apartment this morning and I couldn't help but notice of it lacks in personality. I mean sure it's really well decorated and all but it lacks warmth. It really needs a personal touch."

"Okay... And how do you advise that we change that?" He was doubting her a little.

"I say we get a camera and go have some fun. We'll take picture of fun moments and whatever and then we can use them to decorate the place. Then you'll have pictures to remind you of this week."

"Sure, I guess. Can it wait say, half an hour?" He wasn't really sure about her idea, it kind of sounded lame but it gave him an excuse to be around Rory so it was good.

"No problem. We'll just have a few more of these great beverages." She responded lifting her cup of coffee.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. Try not to miss me too much when I'm gone." He looked straight at Rory when he said this. Then he walked away with his famous smirk plastered on his face.

"Wow, I can't believe what I just saw." Lorelei exclaimed as soon as Tristan was out of earshot.

"Oh, and what exactly is it you think you saw, or do I even want to know?" She just knew that look in her mothers eyes.

"There were so many sparks flying around this room to start fireworks."

"What exactly are you talking about mom?"

"Bible Boy has feeling for you. It is so obvious when he looks at you."

"Are you completely nuts? He was the biggest flirt in high school. I don't think he feels that way about me. It's just the way he always looks at girls." Rory just couldn't believe her mother.

"Rory sweetie, how long have you been staying in North Carolina?

"1 ½ months why is it important?" she just had no idea where he nut of a mother was going with this.

"How many dates had this flirt had in the last 1 ½ months?"

"None. Why is this important again?" There was starting to be annoyance in Rory's voice.

"I think Tristan has changed a lot since his high school days. I don't think he's as sex-crazed as he was back then."

"Maybe he has changed but that's still Tristan we're talking about."

"You were talking about me Mare? How sweet?" Tristan had just heard his name mentioned and he was intrigued.

"I was just telling my mother what a pain you are, so don't flatter yourself." Rory told him with a sweet, teasing smile.

"Ow, how you wound me Mary." Tristan put his hand to his chest in mock pain.

Across the table her mother was sending her a look that simply said I'm telling you he likes you but Rory just wouldn't believe her. Why would this hot guy like a quiet girl like her? 'We are just too different types of people. I'm so not his type' Rory thought to herself as she stole a glance at Tristan.

Before heading out for their day of fun Rory excused herself to use the restroom. While she was gone Lorelei jumped on the opportunity to talk to Tristan.

"Okay Tristan I'm going to be blunt with you and I will absolutely not accept any lies from you.

"Okay Lorelei did I do anything wrong?" There was that fear of her again.

"Not yet no. Tristan, what exactly are your feelings where my daughter is concerned.?"

"Ummm... Well, rory and I are friends I guess." He responded, not really sure as to what she was getting at.

"Oh, don't you give me that we're friends crap. I see how you look at her."

"fine, fine. I have feelings for her. I've always had feelings for her but there's no way she'd ever have the same feelings toward me."

"when are you planning on telling her this?"

"How about never? I cannot deal with her turning me down. If I don't tell her things won't get weird."

"Maybe not but then you'll never get a chance to be with her and you'll never know how she might feel." Lorelei was using her best I have to convince him voice.

"I don't know Lorelei. We live in the same apartment and we'd have to face each other every day." The look on his face said it all. He was really torn about all of this.

"Tristan, I think rory should know."

"Rory should know what exactly, Tristan?" Rory had reappeared from nowhere and unfortunetly she had heard the last thing her mother had said.

"Well, ummm...."

Sorry guys... I guess you'll just have to stay tuned. Let me know what you think please.