CHAPTER 6
Tristin was not able to stand the farce he and Rory have put up in front of his cousin.
"Damn her!" he said as he took a drag from his cigarette.
He had not smoked since his junior year. He really didn't remember how he started and why he did it. But he ended up with the nasty habit anyway. His last drag was in his Porsche before his dad took it away.
"I am so disappointed with you," his father said. "Smoking, drinking... I thought getting you a car would at least make you behave."
His dad pulled the cigarette off of his lips and crushed it on Bowman's driveway.
Tristin did not want to explain to his dad that buying him an expensive car would not change his behavior. That concept was foreign to his father. He spoke in financial terms. As long as he can put a nominal fee for every act that would save him from humiliation, he'd do it. And Tristin loved pushing the buttons that ticked his old man off.
"I hate to do this but I'm taking your car back. You have to learn about responsibility the hard way," his father said sternly.
That was the last conversation he had with his dad before heading to military school. That was the last time he took a puff.
Tristin hated the taste of cigarettes. He hated the scent and the acrid taste that followed the drag. It burned his lungs and he, at this moment, did not care.
"You know, you don't have to light up to make yourself look tough," Rory said behind him.
Tristin crushed the half smoked cigarette and tossed it in the waste bin.
"I thought you were coming out for some fresh air," Rory said.
"I did... I ran across the street, got me a pack... That's the extent of fresh air I need," he said, putting on his macho façade.
Rory stared at him, not knowing what to say.
"Where's Graham?" Tristin asked.
"He's settling the bill. He made it clear that he didn't want us to pay him back for dinner," Rory stated.
"We never finished our conversation," Tristin said.
"Want to talk about it over coffee?" Rory asked.
"You and your coffee. I'm surprised that your addiction doesn't make you wax philosophical," Tristin said.
"It's ten o'clock. What do you crazy kids want to do," Graham asked as he met the other two in front of the establishment.
"Graham, this place is pretty much a ghost town this time of the night," Tristin pointed out.
"So we're calling it a night?" he asked almost incensed.
"What do you suggest?" Rory asked as she wrapped her coat tightly around her waist.
Unconsciously, Tristin draped his arm around Rory and pulled her closer to him to keep her warm. Rory glanced at him before she refocused on Graham.
"A bar? Dancing?" Graham suggested.
"Dance... Hell, you might us well subject us to a karaoke," Tristin scoffed.
"Well, Rory needs to see the Valley," Graham argued.
"Seriously, Graham, I don't need to see the Catskills in one day. Besides, I am easily entertained," Rory said.
"I don't think watching me and Jonah and the guys in a drunken stupor constitute as entertainment," Graham said.
"Nope, but a good book and a cup of coffee would suffice," Tristin muttered under his breath.
"But it was better than staring at a big biker's hairy back." Rory glanced at Tristin. Trying not to be a drag, Rory suggested, "Why don't we go back to your place and play cards or billiards, or something?"
"Do you do air hockey?" Graham asked Rory.
"I've played it once or twice," Rory responded.
"Well we'll see who will win then," Graham challenged as he slid an arm around Rory's waist and led her to the truck.
Tristin's arm dropped from Rory's shoulders. He took a deep breath and followed the couple a few steps behind them.
At night, the Sullivan residence was not as ostentatious as it was in the day. The lights that beaconed out of the huge bay windows and stenciled glass made the house more welcoming. Graham was rambling about things he would like Rory to see the next day. Rory cannot seem to pay attention to anything he was saying. She was preoccupied with Tristin's thigh rubbing up against hers. Her legs felt like lead when they walked into the house.
"Children, you're home!" a well coiffed redhead greeted them.
Graham took two strides to her and kissed her on the cheek. "Mom! I thought you and dad won't be home until tomorrow."
"Well, with vacation started and the entire Yale calendar cleaned up for now, I thought collecting my thoughts before Friday will be the most peace and quiet I can get before heading out to Philly next week," Mrs. Sullivan said. "Tristin, what a pleasant surprise! How's my favorite nephew?" she asked as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Great, all things considered," Tristin said as he gave his aunt a hug in return.
"And you must be Rory," she said, kissing Rory on the cheek. "I'm Cassie Sullivan. Welcome," she greeted. "So, do you go by Lorelai, too? Your grandmother absolutely adores you. I'm sad to hear that your grandparents can't make it up here this year."
"They're greatly disappointed, too. But grandfather's been awfully busy recently," Rory said like a true diplomat.
"Well, I won't keep you guys long. Anyway, Graham, which room is Rory in?" Mrs. Sullivan asked.
"She's at the room near the back end of the house. Why?" Graham asked.
"The Carmichaels will be staying over the weekend and they can get a little loud. I don't want Rory hearing all that commotion," Cassie Sullivan admitted, blushing. "I hope you don't mind, Rory, if you get bumped to the other side of the house? I hope you boys don't mind."
"We're happy to oblige, Aunt Cassie," Tristin said, trying to contain his laughter.
The three of them broke into giggles at the mental picture they have individually conjured of the Carmichaels. Graham's mother became beet red. The three excused themselves as they ran out to the finished basement laughing so hard their sides hurt.
"I don't even know the Carmichaels and all I see are chandelier hanging sex fiends," Rory said between laughs.
"You will laugh harder when you see them," Graham said. "Your mental picture becomes one that is not that attractive afterwards."
"Air hockey or pool?" Graham asked.
"Air hockey... And I will play the winner," Tristin said as he took a couple of bottles from the refrigerator behind the wet bar.
"I guess Tristin means you and me, on the air hockey, now," Graham said, taking his position on one end of the air hockey table.
"What makes you think that I am horrible at this game?" Rory challenged taking a cold bottle from Tristin.
"Because," Graham said, "chicks are wimps!" as he launched the first strike on the table.
Rory was taken by surprise but saved the puck from sliding into the goal. The game was fast and furious. Mocked and barbed insults were exchanged in jest. Graham was competitive; sweating and cursing at Rory who was giving him a run for his money.
"Agh, you cheated!" Graham accused Rory as she won the winning goal.
"How could she cheat, man? She got you, 3 to 10! Give it up, partner," Tristin ribbed his cousin as he took a swig out of his drink.
"Ha! And girls do rule," Rory said wiping the sweat off of her brow. She took a drink out of the bottle before she realized what she chugging down.
"What is this?" Rory asked.
"Beer?" Graham pointed out the obvious.
"Do you want something else?" Tristin asked.
"No, beer's fine," Rory said mulling over his decision.
"Two out of three. You owe me that, Rory," Graham said.
"Should I give him the opportunity to redeem himself?" Rory asked Tristin.
"It's your call, sweetie," Tristin said back to her.
Taking another swig of her beer, Rory said, "You're on!"
The next round took a lot longer. It was still loud and obnoxious. More curses and swears flew from their mouths. Laughter contained the game room. Again, Rory wins, this time, by one goal.
"Graham, spit it out. A girl beat you," Rory said in a singsong voice.
"Give it up, buddy. Don't worry. I'll redeem our gender," Tristin said, putting his beer bottle down.
"Before we start, I need a refill," Rory said, topping off her bottle.
Graham handed her freshly opened bottle moments later.
"Cheers," Graham said.
Rory took his salutations and raised her bottle to his.
"C'mon, Rory. Let's get it on," Tristin beckoned.
"Hmm, I smell an ass whooping," Rory said bravely.
"You're on," Tristin said playfully.
The next round was harder on Rory. She was getting intoxicated literally and physically. The alcohol was getting to her brain. Tristin playing against her is not helping her concentrate on the game either.
"Game over!" Tristin said, polishing off his bottle.
"I'm just warming up. Ready for round two?" Rory challenged.
"Bring it on," Tristin said laughing.
Rory did not have a chance. Tristin beat her in less than five minutes. Tristin whooped in excitement. Rory hung her head in disappointment.
"So, time to pay the troll," Tristin said, sashaying toward her.
"Excuse me?" Rory asked.
"Pay up time," He whispered to her.
"Hello, guys, I'm in the room," Graham said. "Now I see how Tristin gets the girls," he responded shaking his head.
"And how's that?" Rory asked not taking her eyes away from Tristin.
"He makes them feel like they're in control. And when they're drunk with their power, he reels them in." Graham responded.
"Hmm, I'd like to think that there's more to it than that. I'd like to think that the girl would at least put up a fight before being snared," Rory argued as she sat on the couch.
"Tristin," Graham asked as Tristin took another pair of bottles from the refrigerator, "How many girls have turned you down?"
"None," he chuckled.
Graham took a swig of his drink and said, "I don't think so!"
"How do you figure?" Tristin inquired as he stood behind Rory's seat handing her another bottle of beer.
"Rory, check this out. Tristin was... I think in his sophomore, maybe junior year, he was so in love with this girl," Graham narrated.
Behind Rory, Tristin was making hand gestures to have Graham discontinue the anecdote. Unfortunately, Graham was liquored up not to get what Tristin was trying to imply.
"...that he actually attended classes to see her. He even admitted to getting girls to make out with him by her locker to make her jealous. I guess it didn't work!" Graham said.
Rory's heart skipped several beats. She did not know whether she should tell Graham that the girl he talked about was she. She froze in her seat. She wanted to face Tristin and ask him if it's true. But she was afraid that he'd deny it.
"Graham, when I do this, I mean, by all means, 'Stop'," Tristin said, covering his face.
"No, no, I want to hear the rest of this," Rory responded despite her slurred speech.
"Rory, you know the story," Tristin said.
"Well of course, Rory knows the story," Graham said, "She's one of the good girls. She knows when to stay away from rats. You players play the same game and the playbook's been left open for all to read."
"No, I mean, Rory knows me," Tristin confessed.
It took a few seconds for Graham to process the information. "Yes, the fake bad boy with the good heart."
Rory was laughing. "I don't think he's getting it, Tristin. I think you should just change the subject and get him to do something else other than talk in circles." And help her catch her breath. She blamed the alcohol for her inexcusable emotional rollercoaster. 'Focus, Rory. Focus!' she reminded herself.
"How about me whooping him on the air hockey table?" Tristin suggested.
"Don't change the subject... Rory, can't you tell him that you girls don't really like bad boys and that guys like me do have a chance out there in the dating pool?" Graham asked.
"Graham, just forget it. You're developing an ulcer just thinking yourself stupid. Let's just get the next game going. Okay?" Tristin asked as he diverted his cousin's attention.
Graham got up from his comfortable position and dragged his feet to the hockey table. The cousins sparred both physically and verbally. Rory tuned them out while she mulled over the revelation while scanning through the numerous books that lined the walls. She came upon a series of videos and DVDs that have seen better days.
"Oh, wow! I haven't seen this movie in ages!" Rory exclaimed.
The two guys playing stopped hitting the puck midway to listen to Rory.
"Which movie is it?" Tristin asked.
"When Harry Met Sally," she said. "I remember me and my mom watching it when I was younger. I was in love with Meg Ryan's character, Sally Albright," she reminisced.
"You know, you're not that old," Graham sarcastically reminded her.
Rory got up and took the video off the shelf. She walked toward Graham and smacked him on the shoulder. She said, "You suck."
Tristin scored as Graham tried to protect himself from Rory's physical abuse. "Hey, not fair!"
"I'll take all that I can get," Tristin said. "Thanks, Rory!"
"Not a prob, Bob," Rory responded. "So, where can I find an antiquated VCR in this house?" Rory asked as she headed upstairs.
"You're in luck. The room you're gonna be in has a VCR," Graham said, following Rory.
"And if you're really lucky, you also get a bed," Tristin teased.
