A/N: I'm sorry that it has been so long, but my procrastinating on my
homework has come back to bite me. I'm not sure this chapter lives up to
the idea I had in my head, but I hope you like. Thank you to all of you who
have reviewed so far, it's what keeps me writing. :-D
Chapter 15
**********
"Hey, have you seen Grandma?", Lana asked walking into Luke's.
"No, I think 'Granny' is still at the Inn, but your mother is over there.", Jess smiled pointing to a table in the corner.
"Thanks Jess.", Lana returned his smile and walked over to her mother.
"Hi mom!", Lana saluted cheerily.
"Lana? What are you doing here?", her mother asked looking a little confused and surprised.
"Don't be so happy to see me."
"What are you doing here?", Rory asked more firmly.
"I...I asked Alex to meet me. It seems we need to talk.", Lana gave in slowly. After being so adamant about not wanting to talk to him last night, it was hard to admit she was wrong.
"She has seen the light.", the elder women commented sardonically.
"Stop before I start questioning you about your mystery man.", the younger warned.
"He's a tentative friend, not anywhere close to a mystery man."
"Some how I doubt that.", Lana smirked evilly.
"Don't smirk like that. The things your father teaches you.", Rory laughed with a slight residue of bitterness.
"Speaking of him, did you know he isn't going to be home tonight either?"
"Lana, when have I ever been interested in your father's personal life?"
"Up until now he has had none.", Lana narrowed her eyes.
"So when are you meeting Alex tonight?"
"You're changing the subject again."
"No I'm not. I simply would like to where my daughter will be. It's a dangerous world out there."
"It's Stars Hollow. Nothing has changed in over twenty years."
"Not true. They built another porcelain shop and Taylor made a new addition to the market.", Rory protested.
"You can't be serious.", Lana rolled her eyes.
"I'm dead serious. So when did Prince Charming agree to meet you?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that, Cinderella."
"Well, I'll be going to the ball around seven.", Rory conceded caustically.
"What a coincidence! I have to meet Alex at seven. I think I'll have enough time to meet the man of the hour."
"Lana."
"Fine, fine. I'll stay away.", she huffed.
"What time is it?"
"Um...it's about 5:15."
"I'd better get going, you know how long it takes me to find shoes."
"You go then. I still have to inform Grandma of me staying there tonight. Bye!"
"Bye.", Rory laughed as she walked out the door. Sometimes Lana was to smart for her own good.
Lana ordered a burger and fries, the usual. The diner was slightly crowded so something interesting was bound to happen. She just observed as she ate her diner. Kirk walked into the diner and sat at the counter waiting to order.
"What do you want?", Luke grunted.
"You know you have great service here. Really I mean I've been sitting here for ten minutes and...", Kirk rambled sarcastically.
"So, I ask again what do you want?", he asked grumpily.
"I don't know can I have a menu?", Kirk question, slightly scared. Luke, literally, threw a menu at him and stormed into the kitchen. Kirk rubbed his head where the menu hit and then looked it over. This time he made sure to order from Jess, at least he didn't resort to bodily harm.
"Grandpa Lucas!", Lana called as she made her way into the kitchen.
"Lana, remember what we agreed about the Lucas thing.", he answered gruffly.
"Okay, how is this: Grandpa Lukey? You know if you don't like it I have many others."
"Forget it. Should have known."
"Can you tell Grandma that I'm staying with you two tonight?", Lana asked sweetly.
"Sure." He decided not to ask any questions.
"Thanks. I've got to go. I'll see you later.", she smiled and walked away. It was almost six o'clock and she still needed to figure out what she was going to say to Alex.
Looks like Lana wasn't only one racing against the clock. Tristan had been zipping around the house trying to find his keys. It seemed as if they purposely eluded him today. If he didn't find them soon he was bound to be late and lateness was unacceptable tonight.
"DuGrey, think were can they be.", he told himself rationally, if talking to yourself is really rational.
He started out the door to see if they were in his car, when there hanging in the door knob were his keys.
"That's great. Really leave the keys in the door so any one can come in and walk off with your stuff. Yes it's much better than a plastic rock, much better. No one would ever think of looking for it there.", he berated himself sarcastically and got into his car.
Oddly enough Alex sat in his car watching his display of insanity, wondering what would compel the normally sane Mr. DuGrey to talk so animatedly to himself. Alex sighed and debated wither or not it was a good idea to go. Maybe he should show her how it feels to be ignored. He laughed when he realized how childish he sounded saying that. Lana was probably right, it was best to get this whole thing out of the way, but he could not be held responsible for anything he said or did tonight. That was what he afraid of.
He concluded, at the end of his mental debate, that living in fear wasn't really living, so he had to face it and let whatever happens, happen.
"No! He can't be here already!", Rory exclaimed to herself as the door bell rang. So much for Tristan being late.
She flung open the door.
"You know better than to be early.", Rory scolded good naturedly.
"Uh...sorry.", Tristan stumbled.
"You always did have a way with words.", she smiled grabbing her coat and joining him out side.
"Are you implying that I'm losing my touch?"
"I'm not just implying it.", she teased.
"That hurt Mar.", he in mock pain.
"You're ego will get over it. Now where are you taking me, my friend?", she asked, trying to get the 'friend' part across.
"You'll see.", he smirked opening the car door for her.
The ride into Hartford was filled with light hearted small talk, neither would dare drift to a subject that could disturb the tranquillity of them actually getting along.
They arrived at the restaurant not a moment too soon, it seemed the were running out of happy topics. At least now if things got awkward they would have food to stare into.
"Angelos.", Rory smiled when she realized where they were, but the happiness was fleeting when she recalled the exact memories this place held. Tristan, however didn't see, or chose not to see, the change in emotion.
"Come on, let's go eat.", he said leading her trough the doors.
"DuGrey party of two.", Tristan told the hostess. The lady nodded and showed them to their table
They took their seats and immediately Rory took to her menu.
"This place hasn't changed a bit.", Tristan mused trying to break the tension. Well, he managed to put a small dent in it.
"Barely.", she mumbled surveying the restaurant.
"So how's Lane?", he asked remembering that he had forgotten to ask before.
"The figment of her mother's imagination or the actual Lane?", she laughed easing into conversation.
"I'll take the actual Lane, as funny and twisted the fantasy one probably is.", Tristan smirked. He had met Mrs. Kim once and only once. She scared him and, despite the DuGrey charm, she had hated him.
" Your loss. Well the real Lane now owns a large record store in New York and loves it there. And she is determined as ever to let her mother have no say in how she raises her kids. Not much more to tell."
"Good to see I haven't missed that much."
The waitress came and took their orders, and that was when they conversation took a different turn.
"I want to start over.", Tristan stated, straying away from the happy topics.
"What?"
"You and me. I want to put the past behind us and start again from the beginning."
"Sounds reasonable, but there has to be a catch. There is always a catch.", she answered skeptically.
"How dare you think so little of me. I just think it's awkward and a fresh start might remedy that."
"Would this truce include more of these dinner?", she asked. He could tell another rant was coming.
"Maybe.", he replied reluctantly.
"Well then what do you think we should tell our daughter? She's already figured out we're here and is probably jumping to all kinds of conclusions. You know Lana. She will not be able to grasp that we're just going to be friends, and my mother, she's just like Lana in the department and..."
"Ror. Calm down. Breathe in, breathe out.", he laughed.
"Do not mock me DuGrey.", her eyes narrowed.
"Calm down. Take it one problem at a time. Let's eat our food and worry about everything later."
"You're right. So, friends?", she sighed and extended her arm to him.
"Friends." He took her hand and they shook on it, albeit leaving Tristan disappointed.
"You came.", Lana said letting out a small smile as she watched him walk onto the footbridge stopping next to her.
"Looks like it.", Alex deadpanned. That was when the awkward silence began.
"Did you want me to come here so we could stare at our feet, or do you have something to say?", he spoke up impatiently.
"I'm sorry.", Lana breathed slowly. It is never easy to admit you were wrong.
"Me too.", he replied harshly. Sarcasm, his favorite defense mechanism.
"What do you want me too say?", Lana sighed exhaustedly.
"Me? Nothing.", he shrugged nonchalantly. More silence ensued.
"I over reacted...", she started reluctantly.
"...and I...under reacted?", Alex interrupted.
"No...well you didn't react at all. That's the worst part.", Lana admitted.
"Is it? Tell me, how was I supposed to react?", he shot back, sounding more like a psychiatrist than himself. Lana's eyes narrowed. He always did this. He could conduct an entire conversation in a way that he said nothing and you said everything without even realizing it. Freud himself couldn't do it better.
"Some show of emotion would be better than...this. Look at the two of us.", she exclaimed with her arms flying as she talked. By now she was talking almost as fast as her mind was racing, trying to figure the best way to spin this situation, since Alex was giving her nothing to work with.
"Some show of emotion?", Alex questioned in a more human tone, walking closer to her. No turning back now.
"Anything to let me know what your thinking.", she said looking at him intently. If only she knew. Not a second after those words leaving her mouth Alex pulled her into him for the long awaited kiss. Talk about surprises. It was nothing that she expected, nothing like anything she had experienced.
'That is certainly something to work with.', she thought as she pulled away regaining her lost rational. She had to remember that this was Alex, but then how could she forget.
Chapter 15
**********
"Hey, have you seen Grandma?", Lana asked walking into Luke's.
"No, I think 'Granny' is still at the Inn, but your mother is over there.", Jess smiled pointing to a table in the corner.
"Thanks Jess.", Lana returned his smile and walked over to her mother.
"Hi mom!", Lana saluted cheerily.
"Lana? What are you doing here?", her mother asked looking a little confused and surprised.
"Don't be so happy to see me."
"What are you doing here?", Rory asked more firmly.
"I...I asked Alex to meet me. It seems we need to talk.", Lana gave in slowly. After being so adamant about not wanting to talk to him last night, it was hard to admit she was wrong.
"She has seen the light.", the elder women commented sardonically.
"Stop before I start questioning you about your mystery man.", the younger warned.
"He's a tentative friend, not anywhere close to a mystery man."
"Some how I doubt that.", Lana smirked evilly.
"Don't smirk like that. The things your father teaches you.", Rory laughed with a slight residue of bitterness.
"Speaking of him, did you know he isn't going to be home tonight either?"
"Lana, when have I ever been interested in your father's personal life?"
"Up until now he has had none.", Lana narrowed her eyes.
"So when are you meeting Alex tonight?"
"You're changing the subject again."
"No I'm not. I simply would like to where my daughter will be. It's a dangerous world out there."
"It's Stars Hollow. Nothing has changed in over twenty years."
"Not true. They built another porcelain shop and Taylor made a new addition to the market.", Rory protested.
"You can't be serious.", Lana rolled her eyes.
"I'm dead serious. So when did Prince Charming agree to meet you?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that, Cinderella."
"Well, I'll be going to the ball around seven.", Rory conceded caustically.
"What a coincidence! I have to meet Alex at seven. I think I'll have enough time to meet the man of the hour."
"Lana."
"Fine, fine. I'll stay away.", she huffed.
"What time is it?"
"Um...it's about 5:15."
"I'd better get going, you know how long it takes me to find shoes."
"You go then. I still have to inform Grandma of me staying there tonight. Bye!"
"Bye.", Rory laughed as she walked out the door. Sometimes Lana was to smart for her own good.
Lana ordered a burger and fries, the usual. The diner was slightly crowded so something interesting was bound to happen. She just observed as she ate her diner. Kirk walked into the diner and sat at the counter waiting to order.
"What do you want?", Luke grunted.
"You know you have great service here. Really I mean I've been sitting here for ten minutes and...", Kirk rambled sarcastically.
"So, I ask again what do you want?", he asked grumpily.
"I don't know can I have a menu?", Kirk question, slightly scared. Luke, literally, threw a menu at him and stormed into the kitchen. Kirk rubbed his head where the menu hit and then looked it over. This time he made sure to order from Jess, at least he didn't resort to bodily harm.
"Grandpa Lucas!", Lana called as she made her way into the kitchen.
"Lana, remember what we agreed about the Lucas thing.", he answered gruffly.
"Okay, how is this: Grandpa Lukey? You know if you don't like it I have many others."
"Forget it. Should have known."
"Can you tell Grandma that I'm staying with you two tonight?", Lana asked sweetly.
"Sure." He decided not to ask any questions.
"Thanks. I've got to go. I'll see you later.", she smiled and walked away. It was almost six o'clock and she still needed to figure out what she was going to say to Alex.
Looks like Lana wasn't only one racing against the clock. Tristan had been zipping around the house trying to find his keys. It seemed as if they purposely eluded him today. If he didn't find them soon he was bound to be late and lateness was unacceptable tonight.
"DuGrey, think were can they be.", he told himself rationally, if talking to yourself is really rational.
He started out the door to see if they were in his car, when there hanging in the door knob were his keys.
"That's great. Really leave the keys in the door so any one can come in and walk off with your stuff. Yes it's much better than a plastic rock, much better. No one would ever think of looking for it there.", he berated himself sarcastically and got into his car.
Oddly enough Alex sat in his car watching his display of insanity, wondering what would compel the normally sane Mr. DuGrey to talk so animatedly to himself. Alex sighed and debated wither or not it was a good idea to go. Maybe he should show her how it feels to be ignored. He laughed when he realized how childish he sounded saying that. Lana was probably right, it was best to get this whole thing out of the way, but he could not be held responsible for anything he said or did tonight. That was what he afraid of.
He concluded, at the end of his mental debate, that living in fear wasn't really living, so he had to face it and let whatever happens, happen.
"No! He can't be here already!", Rory exclaimed to herself as the door bell rang. So much for Tristan being late.
She flung open the door.
"You know better than to be early.", Rory scolded good naturedly.
"Uh...sorry.", Tristan stumbled.
"You always did have a way with words.", she smiled grabbing her coat and joining him out side.
"Are you implying that I'm losing my touch?"
"I'm not just implying it.", she teased.
"That hurt Mar.", he in mock pain.
"You're ego will get over it. Now where are you taking me, my friend?", she asked, trying to get the 'friend' part across.
"You'll see.", he smirked opening the car door for her.
The ride into Hartford was filled with light hearted small talk, neither would dare drift to a subject that could disturb the tranquillity of them actually getting along.
They arrived at the restaurant not a moment too soon, it seemed the were running out of happy topics. At least now if things got awkward they would have food to stare into.
"Angelos.", Rory smiled when she realized where they were, but the happiness was fleeting when she recalled the exact memories this place held. Tristan, however didn't see, or chose not to see, the change in emotion.
"Come on, let's go eat.", he said leading her trough the doors.
"DuGrey party of two.", Tristan told the hostess. The lady nodded and showed them to their table
They took their seats and immediately Rory took to her menu.
"This place hasn't changed a bit.", Tristan mused trying to break the tension. Well, he managed to put a small dent in it.
"Barely.", she mumbled surveying the restaurant.
"So how's Lane?", he asked remembering that he had forgotten to ask before.
"The figment of her mother's imagination or the actual Lane?", she laughed easing into conversation.
"I'll take the actual Lane, as funny and twisted the fantasy one probably is.", Tristan smirked. He had met Mrs. Kim once and only once. She scared him and, despite the DuGrey charm, she had hated him.
" Your loss. Well the real Lane now owns a large record store in New York and loves it there. And she is determined as ever to let her mother have no say in how she raises her kids. Not much more to tell."
"Good to see I haven't missed that much."
The waitress came and took their orders, and that was when they conversation took a different turn.
"I want to start over.", Tristan stated, straying away from the happy topics.
"What?"
"You and me. I want to put the past behind us and start again from the beginning."
"Sounds reasonable, but there has to be a catch. There is always a catch.", she answered skeptically.
"How dare you think so little of me. I just think it's awkward and a fresh start might remedy that."
"Would this truce include more of these dinner?", she asked. He could tell another rant was coming.
"Maybe.", he replied reluctantly.
"Well then what do you think we should tell our daughter? She's already figured out we're here and is probably jumping to all kinds of conclusions. You know Lana. She will not be able to grasp that we're just going to be friends, and my mother, she's just like Lana in the department and..."
"Ror. Calm down. Breathe in, breathe out.", he laughed.
"Do not mock me DuGrey.", her eyes narrowed.
"Calm down. Take it one problem at a time. Let's eat our food and worry about everything later."
"You're right. So, friends?", she sighed and extended her arm to him.
"Friends." He took her hand and they shook on it, albeit leaving Tristan disappointed.
"You came.", Lana said letting out a small smile as she watched him walk onto the footbridge stopping next to her.
"Looks like it.", Alex deadpanned. That was when the awkward silence began.
"Did you want me to come here so we could stare at our feet, or do you have something to say?", he spoke up impatiently.
"I'm sorry.", Lana breathed slowly. It is never easy to admit you were wrong.
"Me too.", he replied harshly. Sarcasm, his favorite defense mechanism.
"What do you want me too say?", Lana sighed exhaustedly.
"Me? Nothing.", he shrugged nonchalantly. More silence ensued.
"I over reacted...", she started reluctantly.
"...and I...under reacted?", Alex interrupted.
"No...well you didn't react at all. That's the worst part.", Lana admitted.
"Is it? Tell me, how was I supposed to react?", he shot back, sounding more like a psychiatrist than himself. Lana's eyes narrowed. He always did this. He could conduct an entire conversation in a way that he said nothing and you said everything without even realizing it. Freud himself couldn't do it better.
"Some show of emotion would be better than...this. Look at the two of us.", she exclaimed with her arms flying as she talked. By now she was talking almost as fast as her mind was racing, trying to figure the best way to spin this situation, since Alex was giving her nothing to work with.
"Some show of emotion?", Alex questioned in a more human tone, walking closer to her. No turning back now.
"Anything to let me know what your thinking.", she said looking at him intently. If only she knew. Not a second after those words leaving her mouth Alex pulled her into him for the long awaited kiss. Talk about surprises. It was nothing that she expected, nothing like anything she had experienced.
'That is certainly something to work with.', she thought as she pulled away regaining her lost rational. She had to remember that this was Alex, but then how could she forget.