AN - Hey, lookie there, my first really quick-like update. Well, ok, ya,
I'm really tired, so I don't know about it, but let's give it a whirl. OK,
not a lot of Trory interaction, but next chapter I promise a lot more. I
promise. Thanks so much for all the reviews, especially: bella, Liz, piper-
h-99, klm111a, and Tristanlover59.
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Disclaimer - nope, not mine.
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Chapter 2: Closure
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Rory picked up her cell phone and called her dad at home to tell them the change in plans. He said they'd meet the girls at the Gilmore residence in 45 minutes. Rory hung up the phone and let the chair recline.
She looked over at her mother then up at the roof of the car and shut her eyes. She knew where they were going, and she could really use a Starbucks coffee at the moment. When her mom pulled the car to a stop and started getting out Rory asked her.
"Hey mom, can you just bring one out to me, I'm too comfortable to move."
"Alright sweetie."
She was all alone in the car and she knew that if she just got into the driver's seat she wouldn't have to deal with him. She had avoided him half of her senior year, and then she had to avoid him in college, because he chose Harvard.
It wasn't too hard to do in college; he had an entirely different major, so they had no classes together. She had seen him around though, and she knew he had seen her, since he attempted to talk to her numerous times. She had always had an excuse, class was about to start, she had an appointment, things like that could keep them separated.
She could feel the tears welling up inside as her mom came back out with three coffees. She quickly wiped her eyes, mentally slapping herself. She hadn't cried over him in so long, and now she was dreaming about him again, and she found herself missing him.
"Hey Rory, I got three, thinking we could share the third."
"Sounds good mom."
"So do you just wanna drive around until we have to be there?"
"Sure, I guess, lets go."
"Alright then," Lorelei said as she started the car up.
They drove around for around five minutes before Lorelei spoke up.
"If you really don't want to go, I'll tell them you weren't feeling well."
Rory looked over at her mother, "No, I'll have to face him sooner or later, and plus, grandpa needs me there."
"Alright, only if you're sure."
"Ya, I'll go, it's no big deal, really."
They drove in silence for another ten minutes when Lorelei pulled over to the side of the road and looked at her daughter.
"Sweetie, you have got to tell me once and for all what really happened between the two of you."
"It's no big deal really, I broke up with him. He apparently wasn't too attached, considering we broke up when I caught him making out with another girl."
"What?? What do you mean, you two went out for a year and a half, you don't go kissing other girls when you've been going out for that long."
"Well, I have a feeling it wasn't all him, he was at Madeline's party, and he was probably drunk. He had gone alone, so girls were probably all over him."
"Rory, why did you wait so long to tell me about all this?"
Rory sighed and leaned her head back, "I didn't think it was so important, you were too busy to hear about all of it."
"Rory, sweetie, I'm never too busy to listen to you. I've always been here for you, and I'll be here until the day I die."
"I know mom, I just, I didn't want to talk about it back then, and it never really seemed like a conversation piece after it was all said and done."
"Alright now, are you ready to head on over to your grandparent's house?"
"Ya, lets go, we may get something for being early."
Lorelei raised her eyebrows, "Hey, ya, lets get going."
They went the rest of the way just cracking jokes with each other and just laughing about nothing. When they got there, they saw Lorelei's Jeep already parked in the driveway.
"Uh oh, what do you think they've said about us?"
"I don't know, but let's get in there before they can say anymore," Rory said, practically jumping out of the car.
The two of them raced to the front door and Lorelei ended up winning, since Rory fell in her heels. They were laughing uncontrollably when they reached the door.
"OK mom, we have to remember why we're here, not to laugh, but for a funeral after party."
"Is it really an after party, or just an after gathering, because we aren't really partying about the fact that Fred died."
"Whatever, we just have to not be laughing as we go in there, ok?"
"Ok, let me laugh just once more," Lorelei said as she broke into a fit of giggles.
After they had laughed a bit more Rory straightened up, "Ok, now we've really got to get in there."
"Alright," her mom said as she straightened her dress and wiped the tears out of her eyes.
The two linked their arms and rang the doorbell. Emily answered and pulled the two inside.
"Hello girls, how have you two been?"
"Good," the two replied simultaneously.
"That's nice, and Rory, we haven't seen you for a few months now, how nice it was of you to come down for you grandfather."
"It was no problem grandma, really, I'm glad to do it for the two of you."
"Well, everyone is all in the family room; we were just waiting on the two of you."
"But, we were early, by 15 minutes," Lorelei started whining.
"Well, it turns out everyone was 20 minutes early, or something, just never mind Lorelei, they're all waiting for us."
"Ok mom," Lorelei said, giving her best fake smile.
The three all walked to the family room, Lorelei and Rory's arms still linked, when they got in the room Christopher stood up.
"Well, if it isn't my two girls," he said as the two unlinked their arms.
"Hey Chris," Lorelei said as she walked up and gave him a quick kiss.
"Hey dad," Rory said looking over at Janlen and Tristan, "And Janlen, its nice to see you after all this time."
"Same with you Rory, how is New York working out for you?"
"It's really great; I was just promoted to lead reported for the times."
"That is excellent, say, you haven't run into Tristan since you've lived there, have you? He lives there too."
"Really," Rory said, raising an eyebrow and looking over at Tristan. "I don't think we've run into each other."
"Well, you two will have to arrange to meet," Richard spoke up.
"I'll see if I can fit it in," Rory said as she caught Tristan's look of delight at the idea.
"Well," Emily spoke up, "Dinner is ready, if you'll all come seat yourself in the dining room."
As everyone was going into the dining room, Tristan grabbed Rory by the arm and kept her back from the rest of the group.
"Hey Rory, can we talk for a minute."
Rory pulled away from his grip, "Tristan, I'm hungry, and everyone is probably waiting for us."
"Rory, please, just real a real quick talk."
"Not right now, I don't want to make people wait, I don't know, maybe later."
"Fine, but you have to at least let me talk."
"Alright, fine, whatever, I just want to get in there," Rory said as she walked off into the dining room leaving a frustrated Tristan behind.
Unfortunately for Rory, the only two seats left at the table were right next to each other. She took the seat next to her mother and left the one next to Janlen open for Tristan. She managed to leave Tristan behind, and while he was still making his way in she leaned over to her mother and whispered in her ear,
"Why couldn't you save a better spot for me?"
"Sorry Ror, I was the last one in here, besides you two."
"Fine," she said sitting back, before leaning back in, "You wanna switch?"
"Sorry honey, I've got to sit next to Kellan and Kurt, otherwise I would."
Rory sighed and sat back in her chair as Tristan took his seat next to her.
The dinner passed without Rory saying so much as a word to Tristan, though she caught him staring at her numerous times. Finally dinner was over and Rory got up and headed straight up to her room that her grandparents had kept for her.
She closed the door and laid down on her bed, knowing her grandparent's would keep her parents busy talking for at least another hour. She turned on the radio just so it wouldn't seem so quiet in the room and just laid there on the bed, thinking of nothing in particular.
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Lorelei had been watching her daughter all night, trying to read her, but she showed absolutely no emotion throughout dinner, and immediately after, she headed upstairs. She saw Tristan looking around for her, or so she thought, so she went up to him.
"Hey Tristan, you looking for Rory?"
"Hi Lorelei, ya, I am, do you know where she disappeared to?"
"Ya, I saw her go upstairs, but I'm not sure if she wants to be bothered right now."
"Well, she told me she would talk to me, so I'll go up there."
"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."
Tristan walked up the stairs, and then looked back down at Lorelei, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
"Third door on your left."
Tristan smirked, "Thanks."
---------------
Rory was lying on her bed when she heard the door open.
"I'm not in the mood to talk mom."
"Well, I'm not too sure, but last time I checked, I wasn't anyone's mom."
"Go away Tristan."
"No, I don't feel like it, you told me you would talk to me, and so now I'm here to talk."
"Fine," she said as she sat up, "I'll talk for a few minutes."
They sat in silence for a minute.
Finally Rory spoke up,
"Are you gonna talk, or just stare at me the whole time?"
"I don't know where to start."
"I would've thought you were going to start with explaining what happened way back when at Madeline's party."
"Actually, I was going to ask you why you've been avoiding me since Madeline's party, I've apologized numerous times, and I've tried to be friends, but you always seemed to be to busy to talk."
"No, I don't remember you ever apologizing, and I've just been busy every time you've tried talking to me."
"I don't believe that, and I know I've apologized numerous times, you just weren't paying attention. I have no explanation for the party thing, maybe it was the alcohol or something, it just wasn't me. I would never do anything to hurt you, you know that."
"No, you see, I thought that up until that night. You killed me that night. I couldn't stand to see you after that. That's why I avoided you, why I never bothered to contact you. That's why it hurts to have you sitting here with me right now. I was in love with you, and you killed me."
"I know I did, and I've tried to apologize, I've tried. I want to at least be friends with you, I don't want to be completely shut out of your life."
"Tristan, it's been five years and I'm still not over you. I've tried so hard, but I just can't, and it still hurts to be sitting in a room with you, why can't you understand it?"
"No, you see, that's just it, I do understand, and I'm hurting too, but we can get past it. We can start over as friends again."
Rory sat there, silent for a moment. "I'm not sure if I could do that."
"Rory, please, you don't know what my life has been like without you," Tristan said as he moved closer to Rory on the bed.
"Oh believe me Tristan; I think I have some idea."
"C'mon, we both live in the city, it can work. It's just a friendship."
"Fine, I guess, but only a friendship, ok, because I'm not setting myself up again."
"Alright," Tristan said as he got even closer to Rory, looking into her eyes, "Only a friendship, if that's what you want."
"Ya," Rory said, getting lost in his blue sapphire eyes, "That's what I want." As she continued talking her voice got softer as Tristan reached his hand to brush the hair out of her face.
"You know the thing I regret the most?" He asked her, his voice quiet, yet deep.
"What?"
"The fact that I never got to kiss you goodbye. You know, I've had a couple of girlfriends after you, yet I have to compare them to you, and none of them were even in the competition."
Rory sat there looking at him, trying her hardest not to lean over and kiss him. She knew it would tear her up inside. She finally gave in and realized he had beaten her to it. The kiss was soft and gentle at first, and grew more intense. Finally Rory realized what she was doing and pulled away.
"Just friends," She said, not being able to make eye contact with him.
"But we are so good together, we can't fight it. At least, I can't, I'm drawn to you like a magnet."
"You gave me up five years ago at the party, you lost me forever that day, and no matter how much it takes from me, I can't go through it again."
"I know, but I've changed, I don't drink, I haven't since that night. I know I screwed up before, but you've got to take me back."
"Tristan, you know it's not that easy for me, I can't just forget about before."
"I know, but no one compares to you. Without you I'm alone, forever."
"You know what, lets be friends, maybe, if I can you can earn my trust, then just maybe, something could happen, but not now, you can't just kiss me and think I'll give in that easily."
"I know, I just had to, only you can make me weak at the knees."
Rory got up and went over to her desk and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote down her phone number and address.
"Here, it's my number and address of my building."
He looked up at her, "Thanks," he said getting up.
Rory walked over to him and hugged him, "I've missed talking to you."
"Me too."
Rory pulled away and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, "I'm gonna go now, call me sometime, we'll get together."
With that Rory left Tristan in the room by himself. He looked around the room, taking in everything around him. Everything was still the same from five years before. All the same posters and everything. He walked over to her desk and opened the top drawer. On top of everything he saw a notebook. He opened it up and saw what looked like a journal inside. All of a sudden he looked up and saw his grandfather in the doorway.
"Are you ready Tristan?"
"Ya, I'll be right down, ok grandpa?"
"Alright, I'll be outside waiting."
"OK," Tristan said, as he put the notebook under his arm and looked around one more time before leaving.
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Rory walked downstairs to find that her parents and her brothers had already left. She walked to the side table and picked up her keys with the note her mother had left her. 'Hey Rory, sorry we had to leave early, but the boys were getting restless, and I figured you didn't want to be disturbed, the door will be unlocked when you get back, love, mom'
Rory folded the note and walked out to her car. She decided to go to Starbucks and get another coffee for the ride home. She was happy with herself, sure she had cried in the room, but she felt complete now that she had resolved things with Tristan.
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Fin
Ok, what did you think? Was alcohol the real reason for what Tristan did? (no) What happens when they get back to New York? Don't forget to review, It's what keeps me going. That's all folks
Randi (mountain_dew_4u@msn.com)
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Disclaimer - nope, not mine.
------
Chapter 2: Closure
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Rory picked up her cell phone and called her dad at home to tell them the change in plans. He said they'd meet the girls at the Gilmore residence in 45 minutes. Rory hung up the phone and let the chair recline.
She looked over at her mother then up at the roof of the car and shut her eyes. She knew where they were going, and she could really use a Starbucks coffee at the moment. When her mom pulled the car to a stop and started getting out Rory asked her.
"Hey mom, can you just bring one out to me, I'm too comfortable to move."
"Alright sweetie."
She was all alone in the car and she knew that if she just got into the driver's seat she wouldn't have to deal with him. She had avoided him half of her senior year, and then she had to avoid him in college, because he chose Harvard.
It wasn't too hard to do in college; he had an entirely different major, so they had no classes together. She had seen him around though, and she knew he had seen her, since he attempted to talk to her numerous times. She had always had an excuse, class was about to start, she had an appointment, things like that could keep them separated.
She could feel the tears welling up inside as her mom came back out with three coffees. She quickly wiped her eyes, mentally slapping herself. She hadn't cried over him in so long, and now she was dreaming about him again, and she found herself missing him.
"Hey Rory, I got three, thinking we could share the third."
"Sounds good mom."
"So do you just wanna drive around until we have to be there?"
"Sure, I guess, lets go."
"Alright then," Lorelei said as she started the car up.
They drove around for around five minutes before Lorelei spoke up.
"If you really don't want to go, I'll tell them you weren't feeling well."
Rory looked over at her mother, "No, I'll have to face him sooner or later, and plus, grandpa needs me there."
"Alright, only if you're sure."
"Ya, I'll go, it's no big deal, really."
They drove in silence for another ten minutes when Lorelei pulled over to the side of the road and looked at her daughter.
"Sweetie, you have got to tell me once and for all what really happened between the two of you."
"It's no big deal really, I broke up with him. He apparently wasn't too attached, considering we broke up when I caught him making out with another girl."
"What?? What do you mean, you two went out for a year and a half, you don't go kissing other girls when you've been going out for that long."
"Well, I have a feeling it wasn't all him, he was at Madeline's party, and he was probably drunk. He had gone alone, so girls were probably all over him."
"Rory, why did you wait so long to tell me about all this?"
Rory sighed and leaned her head back, "I didn't think it was so important, you were too busy to hear about all of it."
"Rory, sweetie, I'm never too busy to listen to you. I've always been here for you, and I'll be here until the day I die."
"I know mom, I just, I didn't want to talk about it back then, and it never really seemed like a conversation piece after it was all said and done."
"Alright now, are you ready to head on over to your grandparent's house?"
"Ya, lets go, we may get something for being early."
Lorelei raised her eyebrows, "Hey, ya, lets get going."
They went the rest of the way just cracking jokes with each other and just laughing about nothing. When they got there, they saw Lorelei's Jeep already parked in the driveway.
"Uh oh, what do you think they've said about us?"
"I don't know, but let's get in there before they can say anymore," Rory said, practically jumping out of the car.
The two of them raced to the front door and Lorelei ended up winning, since Rory fell in her heels. They were laughing uncontrollably when they reached the door.
"OK mom, we have to remember why we're here, not to laugh, but for a funeral after party."
"Is it really an after party, or just an after gathering, because we aren't really partying about the fact that Fred died."
"Whatever, we just have to not be laughing as we go in there, ok?"
"Ok, let me laugh just once more," Lorelei said as she broke into a fit of giggles.
After they had laughed a bit more Rory straightened up, "Ok, now we've really got to get in there."
"Alright," her mom said as she straightened her dress and wiped the tears out of her eyes.
The two linked their arms and rang the doorbell. Emily answered and pulled the two inside.
"Hello girls, how have you two been?"
"Good," the two replied simultaneously.
"That's nice, and Rory, we haven't seen you for a few months now, how nice it was of you to come down for you grandfather."
"It was no problem grandma, really, I'm glad to do it for the two of you."
"Well, everyone is all in the family room; we were just waiting on the two of you."
"But, we were early, by 15 minutes," Lorelei started whining.
"Well, it turns out everyone was 20 minutes early, or something, just never mind Lorelei, they're all waiting for us."
"Ok mom," Lorelei said, giving her best fake smile.
The three all walked to the family room, Lorelei and Rory's arms still linked, when they got in the room Christopher stood up.
"Well, if it isn't my two girls," he said as the two unlinked their arms.
"Hey Chris," Lorelei said as she walked up and gave him a quick kiss.
"Hey dad," Rory said looking over at Janlen and Tristan, "And Janlen, its nice to see you after all this time."
"Same with you Rory, how is New York working out for you?"
"It's really great; I was just promoted to lead reported for the times."
"That is excellent, say, you haven't run into Tristan since you've lived there, have you? He lives there too."
"Really," Rory said, raising an eyebrow and looking over at Tristan. "I don't think we've run into each other."
"Well, you two will have to arrange to meet," Richard spoke up.
"I'll see if I can fit it in," Rory said as she caught Tristan's look of delight at the idea.
"Well," Emily spoke up, "Dinner is ready, if you'll all come seat yourself in the dining room."
As everyone was going into the dining room, Tristan grabbed Rory by the arm and kept her back from the rest of the group.
"Hey Rory, can we talk for a minute."
Rory pulled away from his grip, "Tristan, I'm hungry, and everyone is probably waiting for us."
"Rory, please, just real a real quick talk."
"Not right now, I don't want to make people wait, I don't know, maybe later."
"Fine, but you have to at least let me talk."
"Alright, fine, whatever, I just want to get in there," Rory said as she walked off into the dining room leaving a frustrated Tristan behind.
Unfortunately for Rory, the only two seats left at the table were right next to each other. She took the seat next to her mother and left the one next to Janlen open for Tristan. She managed to leave Tristan behind, and while he was still making his way in she leaned over to her mother and whispered in her ear,
"Why couldn't you save a better spot for me?"
"Sorry Ror, I was the last one in here, besides you two."
"Fine," she said sitting back, before leaning back in, "You wanna switch?"
"Sorry honey, I've got to sit next to Kellan and Kurt, otherwise I would."
Rory sighed and sat back in her chair as Tristan took his seat next to her.
The dinner passed without Rory saying so much as a word to Tristan, though she caught him staring at her numerous times. Finally dinner was over and Rory got up and headed straight up to her room that her grandparents had kept for her.
She closed the door and laid down on her bed, knowing her grandparent's would keep her parents busy talking for at least another hour. She turned on the radio just so it wouldn't seem so quiet in the room and just laid there on the bed, thinking of nothing in particular.
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Lorelei had been watching her daughter all night, trying to read her, but she showed absolutely no emotion throughout dinner, and immediately after, she headed upstairs. She saw Tristan looking around for her, or so she thought, so she went up to him.
"Hey Tristan, you looking for Rory?"
"Hi Lorelei, ya, I am, do you know where she disappeared to?"
"Ya, I saw her go upstairs, but I'm not sure if she wants to be bothered right now."
"Well, she told me she would talk to me, so I'll go up there."
"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."
Tristan walked up the stairs, and then looked back down at Lorelei, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
"Third door on your left."
Tristan smirked, "Thanks."
---------------
Rory was lying on her bed when she heard the door open.
"I'm not in the mood to talk mom."
"Well, I'm not too sure, but last time I checked, I wasn't anyone's mom."
"Go away Tristan."
"No, I don't feel like it, you told me you would talk to me, and so now I'm here to talk."
"Fine," she said as she sat up, "I'll talk for a few minutes."
They sat in silence for a minute.
Finally Rory spoke up,
"Are you gonna talk, or just stare at me the whole time?"
"I don't know where to start."
"I would've thought you were going to start with explaining what happened way back when at Madeline's party."
"Actually, I was going to ask you why you've been avoiding me since Madeline's party, I've apologized numerous times, and I've tried to be friends, but you always seemed to be to busy to talk."
"No, I don't remember you ever apologizing, and I've just been busy every time you've tried talking to me."
"I don't believe that, and I know I've apologized numerous times, you just weren't paying attention. I have no explanation for the party thing, maybe it was the alcohol or something, it just wasn't me. I would never do anything to hurt you, you know that."
"No, you see, I thought that up until that night. You killed me that night. I couldn't stand to see you after that. That's why I avoided you, why I never bothered to contact you. That's why it hurts to have you sitting here with me right now. I was in love with you, and you killed me."
"I know I did, and I've tried to apologize, I've tried. I want to at least be friends with you, I don't want to be completely shut out of your life."
"Tristan, it's been five years and I'm still not over you. I've tried so hard, but I just can't, and it still hurts to be sitting in a room with you, why can't you understand it?"
"No, you see, that's just it, I do understand, and I'm hurting too, but we can get past it. We can start over as friends again."
Rory sat there, silent for a moment. "I'm not sure if I could do that."
"Rory, please, you don't know what my life has been like without you," Tristan said as he moved closer to Rory on the bed.
"Oh believe me Tristan; I think I have some idea."
"C'mon, we both live in the city, it can work. It's just a friendship."
"Fine, I guess, but only a friendship, ok, because I'm not setting myself up again."
"Alright," Tristan said as he got even closer to Rory, looking into her eyes, "Only a friendship, if that's what you want."
"Ya," Rory said, getting lost in his blue sapphire eyes, "That's what I want." As she continued talking her voice got softer as Tristan reached his hand to brush the hair out of her face.
"You know the thing I regret the most?" He asked her, his voice quiet, yet deep.
"What?"
"The fact that I never got to kiss you goodbye. You know, I've had a couple of girlfriends after you, yet I have to compare them to you, and none of them were even in the competition."
Rory sat there looking at him, trying her hardest not to lean over and kiss him. She knew it would tear her up inside. She finally gave in and realized he had beaten her to it. The kiss was soft and gentle at first, and grew more intense. Finally Rory realized what she was doing and pulled away.
"Just friends," She said, not being able to make eye contact with him.
"But we are so good together, we can't fight it. At least, I can't, I'm drawn to you like a magnet."
"You gave me up five years ago at the party, you lost me forever that day, and no matter how much it takes from me, I can't go through it again."
"I know, but I've changed, I don't drink, I haven't since that night. I know I screwed up before, but you've got to take me back."
"Tristan, you know it's not that easy for me, I can't just forget about before."
"I know, but no one compares to you. Without you I'm alone, forever."
"You know what, lets be friends, maybe, if I can you can earn my trust, then just maybe, something could happen, but not now, you can't just kiss me and think I'll give in that easily."
"I know, I just had to, only you can make me weak at the knees."
Rory got up and went over to her desk and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote down her phone number and address.
"Here, it's my number and address of my building."
He looked up at her, "Thanks," he said getting up.
Rory walked over to him and hugged him, "I've missed talking to you."
"Me too."
Rory pulled away and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, "I'm gonna go now, call me sometime, we'll get together."
With that Rory left Tristan in the room by himself. He looked around the room, taking in everything around him. Everything was still the same from five years before. All the same posters and everything. He walked over to her desk and opened the top drawer. On top of everything he saw a notebook. He opened it up and saw what looked like a journal inside. All of a sudden he looked up and saw his grandfather in the doorway.
"Are you ready Tristan?"
"Ya, I'll be right down, ok grandpa?"
"Alright, I'll be outside waiting."
"OK," Tristan said, as he put the notebook under his arm and looked around one more time before leaving.
----------------------------
Rory walked downstairs to find that her parents and her brothers had already left. She walked to the side table and picked up her keys with the note her mother had left her. 'Hey Rory, sorry we had to leave early, but the boys were getting restless, and I figured you didn't want to be disturbed, the door will be unlocked when you get back, love, mom'
Rory folded the note and walked out to her car. She decided to go to Starbucks and get another coffee for the ride home. She was happy with herself, sure she had cried in the room, but she felt complete now that she had resolved things with Tristan.
==================
Fin
Ok, what did you think? Was alcohol the real reason for what Tristan did? (no) What happens when they get back to New York? Don't forget to review, It's what keeps me going. That's all folks
Randi (mountain_dew_4u@msn.com)