Chapter Four
Rory was sitting on the couch idly flicking through channels on the TV when Lorelai came and sat next to her sighing loudly to get her daughter's attention.
"Boy, have I had a long day," she exclaimed. "Major emergencies at the Inn and on top of that Michel refused to take a booking because he claimed the person on the phone was rude."
Rory laughed.
"What ya watching?" Lorelai asked.
"Nothing."
"Why aren't you out? You're young and hip. You should be out."
"Lane's Mom set her up on another date. I'm waiting for the distress call," Rory explained. "Besides I have a ton of work I should be doing."
"And instead you're sitting here watching T.V?" Lorelai reached over to check Rory's temperature. "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"I think Tristan's rubbing off on me. Damn him and his relaxed attitude."
"I knew that boy was a bad influence."
"No, what you said is 'That boy is hot, you should keep him around,'" Rory reminded her.
"And I'm so proud of you, you actually took my advice."
"I did not!"
"You've been spending an awful lot of time with him lately," Lorelai pointed out.
"We had a project to do."
"That finished over a week ago."
They had worked solidly that week so that Paris would have nothing to complain about and they made a great team. They had received an A grade and Rory had been so relieved. But even after the project had finished they had continued to spend time together. Rory had actually grown to like spending time with him, as weird as it was.
"We're friends," she said simply.
"Who would have thunk it, huh?"
"Yeah, it is a bit weird. But good, I guess."
"What about the other boy in your life?"
"Dean isn't in my life anymore," Rory said. "I never thought you could avoid someone in a town this small, but he's managed it."
"You miss him, huh?"
"You know, I thought I would. And I did at first, but it's just gotten easier. Does that make me a bad person? I couldn't tell him I loved him, and now that he's not around I'm not missing him like crazy?"
"No, that doesn't make you a bad person, Rory. Dean was a good guy, and you liked him. But it doesn't have to mean the world. You can't help the way your heart works."
"But what if…"
"You know, just because you didn't love him, doesn't mean you didn't care about him. He'll always be special to you. But when you fall in love, you'll know."
******
Rory thought about what Lorelai said later. After Dean broke up with her she felt a bit guilty that she couldn't just say "I love you" to him. All he wanted was to hear three words and she couldn't do that. But then she knew she couldn't lie either. It wouldn't be right. And then she had adjusted to life without him again. She thought it was the end of the world when he broke up with her, but it didn't feel like that anymore.
"What were you thinking about?" Tristan asked Rory as the bell for their last class went.
"Nothing," she lied. She did not want to share her thoughts with Tristan of all people.
"You were. You were making a face."
"I do not make faces when I worry," Rory argued. She gathered her things and headed for her locker while Tristan followed.
"So, you were worrying about something?"
"No!"
Tristan laughed. "Fine, keep it from me. I'll wear you down eventually."
"Because you have great powers of persuasion," Rory said sarcastically.
"I got you to be friends with me, didn't I?" Tristan grinned.
"Yeah, I'm still not sure about that one. I think I need my head examined."
"Ouch," Tristan rubbed his hand over his heart as if he was really injured by her words.
"You'll live."
"Anyway, you want a lift home?" Tristan asked as they headed outside. "I have to meet my grandfather in Stars Hollow anyway. He's doing some work there."
"You sure?" She was never one to turn down a free ride, but she felt bad accepting lifts from him.
"Yeah. I just want to go home and change first," he told her.
They headed outside together and got into Tristan's stylish car. Rory felt the tension of the long week leaving her body as she relaxed in his leather seats. It was weird how comfortable she was in his presence these days. Even when she had gotten used to his teasing, being around him used to unnerve her, but ever since they became friends she realized how easy he was to talk to.
The DuGrey mansion was only a five minute drive from Chilton, but Rory had never been there before. The house was big and furnished with the most extravagant and beautiful pieces. It looked more like a show room than a house. It reminded Rory of her grandparent's house, but somehow less friendly and welcoming.
Tristan led Rory through the house and up the grand staircase towards his room. When he opened the door to his room, Rory was surprised at what she saw.
The room was like a typical boy's room and the furnishings matched Tristan's personality perfectly. However it was very unlike the rest of the house. Books were cluttering his tables. Clothes were left around the place and his bed was unmade.
"I don't let anyone touch my room," he told her, noticing her look. "I like it like this."
"It's very you," she agreed.
Tristan smiled. "Thanks."
"That wasn't a compliment," Rory teased.
It felt weird standing in Tristan's room, with all his things surrounding her. This was his space and it felt weird that she was in it. Even though she had been spending a lot of time with Tristan at her house she had never let him in her room.
Tristan opened his closet and got out some clothes before heading to his attached bathroom to change.
Rory took the opportunity to look around closely. She didn't want to think about Tristan changing in the next room. She had made herself stop thinking about Tristan like that lately and she didn't need to go there again. She liked spending time with him without feeling flustered. She liked just being his friend.
"Done inspecting the place?" Rory jumped as Tristan came up behind her.
"You scared me!"
"Sorry," he said, but he was grinning.
Rory turned and tried to hit him playfully, but he grabbed her wrist to stop her. She was going to say something else, but when she looked up at him he had a serious expression on his face. His eyes didn't have that playful glint in them anymore. The tension seemed to crackle in the air between them, and Rory felt helpless against what was going to happen next.
She couldn't stop herself from seeking out his lips, just as he couldn't help leaning forward to kiss her. It wasn't clear who kissed who first, just that they were kissing like it was as necessary as breathing. This was nothing like their first kiss. This was crazy and electric and they weren't thinking about anything other than each other.
His lips were soft, his tongue demanding, and Rory felt herself responding to his eagerness. His arms came around her waist, pulling her body against him as he kissed her deeply. Rory wasn't thinking about anything as she kissed him back. All rational thought flew out of her mind. Tristan was kissing her and it felt good. Really good. She really didn't want to stop.
"Rory…" he mumbled, in between kisses.
She didn't want to stop, but hearing him say her name bought Rory crashing back to reality. What the hell was she doing?
"Tristan!" She pushed away from him gently.
"What? Did I do something…?"
"No! No. I just…We can't…" She trailed off, not even knowing what she was thinking.
Tristan got the idea though. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. One minute Rory was kissing him eagerly, as if she really wanted this, and the next moment she was shutting him down again.
"I'm sorry," Rory said.
"Don't be," he said, trying to smile at her.
He didn't understand all these mixed signals between them. He wanted her so badly but he knew she wasn't ready. But if she wasn't ready, why had she kissed him back?
He turned away from her, going through his closet, looking for a jacket to wear, but really he was just trying to catch his breath before he faced her again.
"Tristan…" She felt the tension between them, but she didn't know what to say to make it better. She was so confused. Tristan was her friend, sort of; she didn't want to ruin that.
"Let's go," he said, closing the closet and heading for the door without looking at her. "I better drop you home."
Rory nodded, not saying anything else. It was obvious Tristan did not want to talk about it now, and Rory was actually grateful because she didn't know what to think.
They got in the car and drove all the way to Stars Hollow in pretty much silence. Even the normal conversation that usually flowed between them wasn't there.
"See you on Monday," Rory said as they reached her house.
Tristan just nodded so she got out of the car quickly. He didn't wait for her to go inside before he drove off.
He didn't really know what to say to her. He hated getting frustrated with her just because he couldn't keep his hormones in check. But god, he wanted her so badly. Every time he was near her he wanted to kiss her, and touch her and do a lot more.
But they were friends. And it seemed Rory wanted to keep it that way.
He had to keep reminding himself because it was getting harder not to kiss her every time he was near her. When they had started spending time together he didn't think he would be able to be just friends with her, but it had actually been easy.
That was until she looked at him like that. Like he was more than just a friend. When she looked at him like that he couldn't not kiss her.
But that was twice she had freaked after kissing him. He really needed to get the message already. Why was he such a glutton for punishment?
******
Rory didn't tell Lane or her mother what had happened between herself and Tristan on Friday. In fact she was doing her best to forget it had happened. It had just been a lapse in judgment, right? A mistake.
Why was it becoming a habit, kissing Tristan and then forgetting about it? Although this time it had been more than just a quick kiss. This time she couldn't forget about the way Tristan's lips felt against hers. She couldn't forget the way she responded to his touch. She couldn't forget how much she wanted him.
She couldn't stop thinking about him all weekend. Not speaking to him for two whole days suddenly became strange to her and she was overcome with a need to have him around. She didn't understand it.
Sure, in the last few weeks they had become friends, but she never needed him in her life before. Now she was suddenly missing him. And she couldn't stop thinking about kissing him. And Rory didn't do this. She didn't worry about boys and kissing. She worried about books and what college she was going to go to.
She got upset over failing a test, not kissing one of her friends.
But she was upset. And confused. She didn't know what to do.
Was this lust? Was it just her body reacting to his touch? It couldn't be anything more, right? But Rory didn't just kiss a guy without meaning it. She knew that. And this had meant something. Even if she didn't want to admit it. But just what exactly did it mean?
Kissing him once in a moment of weakness she could explain. She had been upset, he had been upset and they had ended up kissing at Madeline's party. But what did it mean when it happened again? She hadn't been upset. He was perfectly fine. Yet she would have been quite happy to continue kissing him.
God, it was just like him to do this to her. He was so annoying.
By Monday Rory was feeling nervous and jumpy. When her mother had casually asked her if Tristan was coming over later she had answered so quickly and erratically that Lorelai got the distinct impression something was going on.
When Rory got to school she didn't know whether she wanted to find Tristan and talk to him or run away and avoid him. She didn't even know what she was going to say.
She couldn't admit to him that she couldn't stop thinking about him all weekend. But she couldn't be with him, right? They were so wrong for each other. And Rory wasn't ready for this. This scared her. This wasn't the sweet and innocent first kiss she had had with Dean. This was a completely different feeling and it scared her.
As she walked into school she saw Tristan straight away. She stood still for a second, contemplating what to do. And then just as he turned and noticed her she quickly turned and walked off in the other direction.
Tristan watched Rory see him and then walk the other way. He sighed, realizing that he got the answer to the question that had been bugging him all weekend. Had he messed everything up by kissing her? The answer was obviously yes.
But she had kissed him too. It wasn't entirely his fault. Rory was pulling him in all directions lately and he didn't know what to make of it. Sure, they were friends, but Tristan knew there was something more between them. He felt it every time he spoke to her. They had this chemistry that seemed to explode between them every time they spoke.
And it had finally been too much on Friday. One minute they were friends, the next they were kissing.
He hated that one girl had such an affect on him. He had told himself after he had kissed her at Madeline's party that he wasn't going to pine after her. If Rory didn't realize what was right in front of her, then it was her loss.
It was his loss too, but he wasn't the type of guy to stand around and wait for her to notice him. He liked that they were friends, but being just friends with her was a lot harder than he thought.
And now that he seemed to have stuffed that up too, he had had enough. He needed to get over this obsession with Rory, because that's all it was. A crazy obsession. And it was going to be his downfall.
******
Rory and Tristan avoided each other for the next couple of days. Rory didn't want to admit it, but she was really starting to miss having him around. But she didn't know what to say to him anymore. She had convinced herself that kissing Tristan had been a mistake, but her heart was having a hard time believing it. However Tristan seemed to have no problem moving on from her because she saw him flirting with Lucy Rickman on Wednesday, not even caring that Rory was standing right there.
Tristan had been trying to get Rory to notice him, but she didn't appear to be affected. He had hoped that she might approach him if she realized that he wasn't going to wait around forever. She had started ignoring him, so he hadn't tried to force her to talk to him either. He was being stubborn, but he wanted her to come to him first.
Rory likewise wanted him to come and talk to her. If he would just come and say something to her she would put the entire stupid kissing thing behind her and be his friend. Because she was sure that was all there was between them.
"Stupid, flirting moron," Rory mumbled as she sat down in the Chilton library. She had just witnessed Tristan flirting with Lucy Rickman again!
"Could you keep it down?" Paris glared at her from across the table.
Rory glanced at the other girl. She hadn't even noticed her there. "Sorry."
She took her books out and tried to get some work done, but her mind was not cooperating.
"Rory!" Paris reprimanded. "Stop it."
"What? Oh." She hadn't realized she was tapping her pen against the table.
She put her pen down and sighed. Paris looked over at her, knowing what was bothering her, but not wanting to say anything. She was still kind of mad at Rory.
"He's not worth it, you know," Paris said, not being able to help herself.
"That's funny, because you used to think he was worth everything," Rory said back, knowing exactly who she was talking about.
"Well, things change."
"I doubt that."
"Things have obviously changed if you're upset over him."
"I'm not upset over him."
"I think the words you used were "stupid, flirting, moron"."
"Well, he is," Rory argued.
"Right," Paris nodded.
However much she hated it, she could tell Rory had developed feelings for Tristan even if she tried to deny it. And she knew Tristan always had a weird fascination with her.
"It's true. And anyway I'm not upset. He's just annoying. We had a fight, that's all."
"Yeah, I don't really care," Paris said, realizing she really didn't want to know.
"Fine. I wasn't going to tell you anyway," Rory muttered.
Knowing she wasn't going to be able to concentrate anymore she grabbed her things and left the library. Just as she was coming around the corner she went straight into someone.
"Sorry…I…" She stopped suddenly, realizing it was Tristan of all people.
"Hey Ror."
Tristan smiled at her. He knew he wanted her to come to him and talk to him, but he couldn't just ignore her when fate had thrown them together, literally. She looked so flustered and confused he almost felt bad for her.
"Tristan," Rory replied, all her confusion over him coming back. "I…uh…"
"Need to watch where you're going," Tristan told her. "You'll end up bumping into someone who isn't so hot and forgiving."
"How do hot and forgiving even belong in the same sentence?" she asked him.
"Well, I'm hot. And I forgive you for bumping into me," he explained jokingly.
Rory rolled her eyes ignoring him. She loved that things just fell into place when she was with him. But she couldn't just let last weeks events hang in the air between them. She needed to know what was going on.
"Listen Tristan about Friday…"
"It's fine, Rory," he cut in quickly, surprising her. "It was a mistake, right?"
Rory was a bit taken back that he had accepted it was a mistake so quickly. Was she worrying about this all week for no reason? Was she stupid to think it might have meant more to him? And why was she disappointed that it hadn't meant more to him? This was what she had wanted, right? No complications.
"Yeah, right." She nodded. "So, we're okay?"
"We're fine, Ror," he told her. He didn't know why he couldn't just tell her that it wasn't fine and he wanted her so badly that it was starting to become a problem. "You're not the first woman to fall helpless under my charm."
Rory groaned. "Please, Tristan. You have no charm."
He laughed. "If that's what you want to believe."
Rory elbowed him as they headed to their class.
"You know, you really should control your violent tendencies," Tristan teased.
"I only get violent around you. I wonder why that is."
"I have no idea."
******
The day had been pretty good after that and Tristan's mood had improved. He didn't know exactly where he stood with Rory anymore, but at least she was talking to him. Despite his insistence that it was a mistake, he knew something was developing between them that he wouldn't be able to deny much longer.
However his good mood went downhill when he got home. His father had been waiting for him with some bad news. Tristan hadn't wanted to hear it. He had ended up shouting at his father and going upstairs and slamming his door shut.
God, he couldn't believe this. He needed to get out of the house.
He grabbed his car keys and then snuck past his Dad and out the front door. He was in Stars Hollow is a record twenty minutes. He didn't know why he needed to see her. He had never needed anyone before. But the first thing he had thought of was her beautiful face, and he knew it would make him feel better.
Luckily Rory answered the door. She instantly knew something was up.
"Tristan, what's wrong?" she asked, opening the door for him to come inside.
"What makes you think something's wrong?" he asked.
"I don't know. Maybe because you don't have your usual cocky grin on your face."
"Oh. I'll have to work on that," Tristan said. "What were you doing?"
"Studying."
"Do you ever do anything else?" he teased.
"Not since starting Chilton," she replied.
"You want to take a break?" he asked, a mischievous look in his eyes.
"Not really."
"Come on, Ror. Let's get out of here."
She watched him carefully. He was being jumpy, like he just needed to escape. She felt herself faltering under his gaze.
"Let me just go change." She turned to walk to her room and Tristan started to follow. "You wait here!"
Tristan laughed and stopped following her. She came out of her room, quickly wrote Lorelai a note and got into the car with Tristan.
They drove for ages, not really having a destination in mind. When Rory questioned him about where he was going, all he said was "nowhere" and surprisingly she didn't question him again.
After about an hour Tristan parked the car. They were in a deserted field that Rory didn't recognize.
"Where are we?" she asked Tristan as they got out of the car.
"I don't know," he said truthfully.
"Maybe we should go. This could be private property."
"It's not. There would have been a sign," Tristan assured her.
He went and sat on the hood of the car and Rory came and sat next to him. It was dark now and the field was empty, nothing else but green could be seen all around. It felt like they were the only two people in the world.
Rory didn't know what had happened to put Tristan in this strange mood, but she was glad she was there with him. It seemed like something was on his mind, but he didn't want to talk about it. She knew how that felt. Sometimes you didn't want to talk about it; you just wanted someone to be there with you.
Tristan wasn't saying anything; he was just looking out at the empty feel. Rory didn't know why she did it, but she felt the need to take his hand in her. When she lifted his hand and wrapped it between her two smaller ones Tristan looked at her, raising his eyebrows in question. She just smiled at him, not letting go.
They sat like that, in silence for a while, until Tristan finally spoke. "My grandfather had a stroke," he whispered so quietly that Rory was sure she didn't hear right. But he carried on. "He was in Boston on business."
"Is he okay?"
"I think so. But I wanted to see for myself. My Dad said no."
"I'm sorry," Rory said, not knowing what else to say.
"I told him to cut back, but he's really stubborn."
"I'm sure he'll be okay," she assured him. "And if you're anything like him, then I understand the stubborn thing," she said lightly.
"I'm not stubborn," Tristan disputed.
"Yeah, you are."
"How?"
"You wouldn't stop harassing me until I finally succumbed and became your friend."
Tristan laughed. "Yeah, well, I never back down from a challenge."
"Is that all this is then?" Rory asked.
"Of course not." he said sincerely.
He realized Rory was still holding his hand and she seemed to realize it at that moment too, but she didn't move her hands.
"We should probably get back," she said.
"Yeah." Tristan got up and the put his hand out for Rory to take so she could get down. She ended up tripping and falling against him.
He held her for a second and then let go. Rory's heart started beating faster and she tried to calm down as she got back into the car.
It was pretty late by the time they got back to Stars Hollow.
"Do you want to come inside?" Rory asked as they pulled up outside her house.
"No, I better go. I wasn't supposed to go out anyway."
"Oh." She started to get out of the car, but the stopped. "Will you be okay?" she asked.
Tristan smiled, feeling weird that someone actually cared how he was feeling. "I'll be fine," he assured her. "Thanks for coming with me."
"Anytime."
She turned back to him and kissed him softly on the cheek, feeling that he needed some affection at that moment. She smiled softly and then left the car.
Tristan watched her go inside before pulling away from the house.
******
At school Tristan was back to his usual self. When Rory watched him from afar he seemed like the same Tristan. Talking and joking with his friends. Keeping up appearances. But Rory knew better. She knew the worries and things he hid underneath the surface. He showed her the real Tristan.
Rory didn't know why he felt okay telling her things that he clearly didn't tell anyone else, but she was glad he did. She liked that he was open with her. And in return she had been opening up to him about things too.
She bumped into him at the end of lunch and touched his hand softly. "Hey, how are you?" she asked.
Tristan smiled, feeling her genuine concern for him. "I'm fine. My grandfather is back in Hartford. I'm going to see him after school."
"Is he okay?"
"It was a minor stroke, but he still needs to take it easy."
"That's great news," she said as she walked to her locker.
"Yeah. He's a fighter," Tristan agreed.
"Like someone else I know."
"And I thought I was annoying, cocky, arrogant…"
Rory grinned. "Yeah, well you're those too. And a lot more not so nice words."
"Gee, your kindness astounds me."
"I'm going easy on you right now."
"I'd hate to be there when you're being hard," Tristan joked.
"I can be pretty ruthless," Rory agreed.
She finished getting her books and then headed to her class. Tristan watched her walk away, wondering why he had ever thought he could be her friend.
*****
Tristan was right, Janlan DuGrey was a fighter. When Tristan went to visit him in the hospital after school he was complaining about everyone fussing over nothing.
"You need to rest up, gramps," Tristan said.
"Pfft. It was a minor stroke. I'm good for a few years yet," he told Tristan confidently.
Tristan rolled his eyes. His grandfather never seized to amaze him. He was so full of life, that it was weird for Tristan to think he was sick.
"So, what's new for you lately, boy? Did you find yourself a real girlfriend yet or are you still chasing after anything in a skirt?"
"I don't chase after them, remember."
Janlan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You remind me so much of me, it's scary."
"Please do not tell me the story of how you met grandma again, I've heard it way too many times," Tristan complained.
Janlan just laughed. "So, who is the girl, anyway?"
"What girl?"
"The one you're smiling about. I noticed it last week too."
"There's no girl," Tristan lied. "Well, she's not my girlfriend."
"Why the hell not?"
"She doesn't want to be. And that's fine. We're just friends."
"Yeah, right." Janlan rolled his eyes. "When has it ever been like you to just stand back and let a girl slip through your fingers?"
"She's different," Tristan admitted.
Suddenly Janlan was interested. He had never heard Tristan talk about any girl being different. Although Tristan reminded him of himself when he was young, he had been waiting for the time Tristan would find a girl and really fall in love. Only then would he appreciate the great things life had to offer. And it looked like this girl was the one.
"What's her name?"
"Rory." Janlan raised his eyebrows. "Gilmore."
"Not Richard Gilmore's granddaughter?"
"Yep."
"I'm impressed. I remember her mother, Lorelai, she was a right firecracker."
"Rory's the same."
"So, why aren't you with her?"
"Haven't really tried to be," Tristan admitted.
"Why not?"
"She doesn't take me seriously," he said.
"Well, make her." Tristan didn't seem convinced. "Come on, Tristan. Be a man. Isn't it Valentine's Day coming up?"
"I guess. But she doesn't buy into that crap."
"All girls buy into Valentine's Day. Even if they don't admit it."
"I'll see what I can do," Tristan agreed.
"Good. I want to meet this girl. Anyone who has been able to knock you off your high horse is great in my book."
"Gee, thanks gramps."
******
A/N: Okay just a timeline point. I originally started this fic as part of a Valentine's Day Fic Challenge, but it got really long and turned into a series, thus the mention of V-Day.
I know The Third Lorelai actually aired in early March, but with all the hiatus's and stuff lets just pretend it is around early January in TTL. So Rory and Dean dated Nov – Jan. Hope I didn't confuse you.