CHAPTER 5

Silence filled the room. For the longest time, Rory and Tristin avoided eye contact. The tension was so taut; a knife could slice through it.

"You didn't say goodbye," Tristin said to break the ice.

"I'm sorry," Rory said, taking a few steps away from Tristin. "I was going to call you," she added.

"And then what, Rory?" Tristin asked.

Rory never got to respond. Graham walked back into the room and told them to hop into his truck. They rode to the burger joint in silence.

Rory and Tristin carried on with Graham without missing a beat. Acting out in front of Graham was harder than they thought. They tried talking to each other with their eyes. They knew they needed to do more than that.

They got into the mom and pop burger joint without any hassle. Inside, Graham got them into a round booth, putting Rory between the two gentlemen.

"So, Rory Gilmore, what can you tell us about yourself?" Tristin asked looking over the rim of his cup as he took a swig out of his soda.

"Yes, Rory. What can you tell us about yourself?" Graham asked.

"What do you want to know?" Rory asked. She knew it was a loaded question but she was willing to risk it.

"Where are you from?" Tristin asked.

Graham sighed. He was about to answer for Rory when she spoke up.

"I'm from a little town called Stars Hollow, about thirty minutes away from Hartford," Rory said.

"Really? I live near Hartford. What a coincidence!" Tristin responded. His eyes, mocking her.

"So you've heard of Stars Hollow," Rory asked, playing Tristin's game.

"Didn't you used-," Tristin cut off Graham.

"So how do you know Graham?" He asked mockingly.

"My grandmother and his mom are friends," Rory said matter-of-factly.

"Aunt Cassie set you up," Tristin said mischievously shifting his sight between Graham and Rory.

"I don't think mom approves of my choices in women," Graham said.

"Aw, that's not a nice thing to say about your mom. I am part of the little set up, too, you know. Maybe my grandmother thought I had bad taste in men!" Rory said between sips of her iced tea.

"I'd say," Tristin whispered loud enough for Rory to hear over the blasting music.

Rory kicked Tristin on the shin.

"Ouch!" Tristin yelped.

"I'm sorry," Rory said without remorse.

Their eyes met. It seemed that the unsaid words between them became a challenge. Graham was still oblivious to the chemistry between his cousin and Rory.

"I hope you have a great time here in the Catskills," Graham said. Do you ride horses? We have a few in the stable," Graham added as he thanked the waiter for serving them their dinners.

"Rory's afraid of horses," Tristin said as he took a bite off of his burger.

Rory elbows him sharply. Tristin looked at her. He added, "Aren't you?"

Graham was confused.

"I told Tristin I wasn't fond of being on a beast," Rory lamely responded.

"When?" Graham asked suspiciously.

"Uh, on our way here we saw a horse headed to the barn. She was thinking out loud," Tristin lied.

Rory's appetite disappeared as soon as Tristin tried to cover up for her. This shindig in New York was going to be harder than she thought.