Disclaimer: Amy and Daniel Palladino, along with the rest of the WB, own Gilmore Girls. I'm just borrowing the characters.
Leni- Thank you. I really tried to get into the L&R spirit, and was really hoping it sounded like an actual conversation that they'd have. That's the hardest part. Also, I love Doyle, and I love Jonathan, so any excuse to put him in is fine with me. g
Ms. Vaughn- Wow! Thank you! This is going to sound like total brown-nosing, but I used your story "Only Hope" for inspiration with mine.
More thank you's to Andyra, DoRK47, smile1, Kristy Anne Halliwell (Krissy), Sarah, and OTHlover04. Thank you all so much. I loved your reviews!
A/N: I'm going out of town on Saturday, so I won't be updating at all next week. I'll try to get another chapter done by then, but I make no promises, sorry. Ok, this started out with me wanting it to be a R/D with slight Trory, but due to popular demand, it's changed. Just switch the 'ships around. So it's gonna be Trory with slight R/D. Or something to that effect. I don't know, so just read the story. Please?
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He was waiting for her after her last class. She didn't even want to know how he knew her class schedule, but she figured Paris had something to do with it.
"Why are you here? Don't you have your friend to bug?" Rory asked, slightly irritated. The debate in her last class had not bidden well with her.
"Nah, he's at work," Tristan replied, falling into step with her as she quickly made her way to the closest coffee stand.
"Some friend he is, leaving you by yourself at Yale. Especially with people who are unfortunate enough to know you," Rory muttered.
"Mary, if you keep talking like that I'm going to start thinking that you don't like me," Tristan said sardonically.
Rory got to the stand, and groaned when she saw the line. Despite the uncomfortable silence, Tristan stayed by her. Finally, half out of boredom and half out of sheer interest, Rory asked, "How was military school?"
He looked at her, genuinely surprised. But in a blink of an eye, his features shifted into his usual cocky grin. "Why, Mary, I didn't know you cared."
Rory groaned again. "I knew it'd be impossible to have a civil conversation with you."
Tristan inwardly kicked himself. For once, she was trying to have a decent conversation with him, and he was an arrogant asshole yet again. So he tried again. "I hated it."
"What?" Rory asked, turning to look at him.
Disdain evident, he repeated, "I hated it. Who actually likes military school? I had to get up at 5:30 every morning, and then there was lots of work."
Rory giggled lightly. Tristan looked at her in mock annoyance. "Why are you laughing? Is my pain that funny?"
"Yeah, it actually is." She laughed again. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'm trying to imagine you working."
And then, before he could stop himself, out came the crude comment, complete with a leer. "Well, you don't have to imagine anything, if you'd like."
Rory rolled her eyes. "One coffee."
"Two," Tristan added, getting out his wallet. It was his way of apologizing for the remark. He was better than that now. There was just something about Rory Gilmore that brought out the crude part of him. The part reserved for when he was with his friends, or if someone really pissed him off.
They were walking in silence, when Tristan asked, "So what's so important about going back to that little town tonight?"
"Town meeting," Rory replied, as if that would explain everything. "My mom's new boyfriend won't throw food at people with her."
Tristan raised an eyebrow. It was amused questioning. "You throw food at people? Mary, I didn't know you had it in you."
"I don't, actually. My mom throws the food. I just comment on what Taylor talks about with her. Apparently tonight's issue is going to end in blood shed," she said, sipping her coffee.
Tristan took note. She likes the town meetings. He wasn't really sure about the town meetings, seeing as he had never actually been in a small town for more than a couple of hours, and that was when he practiced for the play there. She had many quirks that drew him to her. Her coffee addiction for one thing. He didn't know anybody that could drink more coffee than her. Then again, for what he'd heard, she got it from her mother, so maybe there was someone out there as crazy as she was when it came to coffee and eating.
"Tristan?" Rory asked, putting a hand on his arm. "You haven't said anything in about two minutes, which would usually be fine, but I thought that we were having an actual conversation that didn't end in my wanting to strangle you."
"Glad I can bring that kind of reaction out in you, Mary," Tristan replied with a smirk. Rory just shook her head and took her hand off his arm. Tristan wanted to protest, liking the way her hand felt, but he resisted. Such things could lead to awkward questions that he'd rather avoid.
Rory suddenly shoved her books into his arms and dove into her purse. "It's harder than it looks to hold coffee and books and be looking through your purse for your dorm key," was her explanation.
Tristan looked down at her books. On the top was a novel he assumed wasn't part of the curriculum. "Main Street?"
"It's a good book," Rory defended playfully.
"I know. I just never pegged you for one that would read a satire of small towns." Tristan found the irony way too amusing to let go.
Rory looked at him, amazed. "You've read Main Street? You've read anything that doesn't have half-naked girls on the cover?"
"Ha ha, Mary," he replied. "I've read more than Playboy."
"Could've fooled me," Rory muttered. She had paused halfway to the door when Tristan started talking about the book she was reading for the fifth time. She pushed the key into the door and opened it. She turned back around and took her books back. That's when she noticed how close she was to Tristan. His cologne smelt really good. She hated when he got all close to her like that. She stepped back into the threshold.
Tristan inaudibly sighed, and was about to leave when he thought of something. "Hey, Mary, when do these town meetings of yours actually start?"
"At seven. But mom always makes us late because she insists on bugging Luke at the last minute," Rory replied. "Why?"
"So I'll know when to come annoy Paris without your interruptions," Tristan said.
"I'll let her know to be on the look out," Rory said.
And then he was there, staring at the door, cursing his luck for the twentieth time that the girl he spent three years trying to get over was at Yale instead of Harvard, like she was supposed to be.
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Halfway to Stars Hollow, Rory's cell phone rang. "Hi, mom."
"Hello, darling daughter. When are you getting here?" Lorelai wanted to know.
"I'm about twenty minutes away," Rory replied.
"Perfect!" Lorelai exclaimed. "We'll have plenty of time to be late. How was school today?"
"Mom, I'm gonna be home in twenty minutes," Rory pointed out.
"Yeah, but I'm bored now. Tell me a story!" Lorelai decided.
Rory sighed. "Mom, how old are you?"
"Four," Lorelai happily replied. "Tell me a story!"
Rory paused a moment, trying to decide whether or not to tell her mom about Tristan coming back just yet, when she heard something in the background. "Mom, what are you listening to?"
"Styx," she replied.
"Why are you listening to Styx?" Rory questioned. "You told me that you've hated them since the summer dad went through his classic rock phase and sang the chorus of 'Lorelei' to you every time he saw you."
"It's Luke's," Lorelai finally admitted. "I told him he didn't like Styx, and he didn't take it too well."
"Who knew? Luke, a closet Styx fan. Did you tell him why?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, and then he told me that one song isn't enough to go on, and then told me no more coffee until I listened to at least a whole CD from them," Lorelai pouted.
"I'll see you in a few minutes, and then we can gang up on Luke together," Rory suggested.
"I love you, hon," Lorelai said.
"Love you, too, mom," Rory replied, hanging up.
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Rory pulled up to Luke's diner with seven minutes to spare. Her mom was at the counter leaning over it and asking Luke for coffee, claiming in her defense that she listened to a whole Styx CD.
"Hi, mom," Rory said.
Forgetting her coffee quest for the moment, Lorelai rushed over to her daughter and enveloped her in a tight hug. "Tell me all about Yale!"
Rory laughed. "It's still the same."
"Hi, Rory," Luke said.
"Hi, Luke," Rory cheerily replied. "Coffee?"
"It's scary how much you're like your mom," Luke stated. He turned his attention to the last customer. "We're closing for the town meeting."
"Well, I can't miss that," the customer replied.
Rory froze. There was no way. He couldn't be here. "Tristan?"
The arrogant smirk made its appearance. "Hello, Mary."
"Are you stalking me?" she asked in disbelief.
"Well, Mary, I was here first, so technically you're stalking me," Tristan pointed out.
Oh, yes, Rory thought with a groan. He's here and just as infuriating as ever. Damn.
Leni- Thank you. I really tried to get into the L&R spirit, and was really hoping it sounded like an actual conversation that they'd have. That's the hardest part. Also, I love Doyle, and I love Jonathan, so any excuse to put him in is fine with me. g
Ms. Vaughn- Wow! Thank you! This is going to sound like total brown-nosing, but I used your story "Only Hope" for inspiration with mine.
More thank you's to Andyra, DoRK47, smile1, Kristy Anne Halliwell (Krissy), Sarah, and OTHlover04. Thank you all so much. I loved your reviews!
A/N: I'm going out of town on Saturday, so I won't be updating at all next week. I'll try to get another chapter done by then, but I make no promises, sorry. Ok, this started out with me wanting it to be a R/D with slight Trory, but due to popular demand, it's changed. Just switch the 'ships around. So it's gonna be Trory with slight R/D. Or something to that effect. I don't know, so just read the story. Please?
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He was waiting for her after her last class. She didn't even want to know how he knew her class schedule, but she figured Paris had something to do with it.
"Why are you here? Don't you have your friend to bug?" Rory asked, slightly irritated. The debate in her last class had not bidden well with her.
"Nah, he's at work," Tristan replied, falling into step with her as she quickly made her way to the closest coffee stand.
"Some friend he is, leaving you by yourself at Yale. Especially with people who are unfortunate enough to know you," Rory muttered.
"Mary, if you keep talking like that I'm going to start thinking that you don't like me," Tristan said sardonically.
Rory got to the stand, and groaned when she saw the line. Despite the uncomfortable silence, Tristan stayed by her. Finally, half out of boredom and half out of sheer interest, Rory asked, "How was military school?"
He looked at her, genuinely surprised. But in a blink of an eye, his features shifted into his usual cocky grin. "Why, Mary, I didn't know you cared."
Rory groaned again. "I knew it'd be impossible to have a civil conversation with you."
Tristan inwardly kicked himself. For once, she was trying to have a decent conversation with him, and he was an arrogant asshole yet again. So he tried again. "I hated it."
"What?" Rory asked, turning to look at him.
Disdain evident, he repeated, "I hated it. Who actually likes military school? I had to get up at 5:30 every morning, and then there was lots of work."
Rory giggled lightly. Tristan looked at her in mock annoyance. "Why are you laughing? Is my pain that funny?"
"Yeah, it actually is." She laughed again. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'm trying to imagine you working."
And then, before he could stop himself, out came the crude comment, complete with a leer. "Well, you don't have to imagine anything, if you'd like."
Rory rolled her eyes. "One coffee."
"Two," Tristan added, getting out his wallet. It was his way of apologizing for the remark. He was better than that now. There was just something about Rory Gilmore that brought out the crude part of him. The part reserved for when he was with his friends, or if someone really pissed him off.
They were walking in silence, when Tristan asked, "So what's so important about going back to that little town tonight?"
"Town meeting," Rory replied, as if that would explain everything. "My mom's new boyfriend won't throw food at people with her."
Tristan raised an eyebrow. It was amused questioning. "You throw food at people? Mary, I didn't know you had it in you."
"I don't, actually. My mom throws the food. I just comment on what Taylor talks about with her. Apparently tonight's issue is going to end in blood shed," she said, sipping her coffee.
Tristan took note. She likes the town meetings. He wasn't really sure about the town meetings, seeing as he had never actually been in a small town for more than a couple of hours, and that was when he practiced for the play there. She had many quirks that drew him to her. Her coffee addiction for one thing. He didn't know anybody that could drink more coffee than her. Then again, for what he'd heard, she got it from her mother, so maybe there was someone out there as crazy as she was when it came to coffee and eating.
"Tristan?" Rory asked, putting a hand on his arm. "You haven't said anything in about two minutes, which would usually be fine, but I thought that we were having an actual conversation that didn't end in my wanting to strangle you."
"Glad I can bring that kind of reaction out in you, Mary," Tristan replied with a smirk. Rory just shook her head and took her hand off his arm. Tristan wanted to protest, liking the way her hand felt, but he resisted. Such things could lead to awkward questions that he'd rather avoid.
Rory suddenly shoved her books into his arms and dove into her purse. "It's harder than it looks to hold coffee and books and be looking through your purse for your dorm key," was her explanation.
Tristan looked down at her books. On the top was a novel he assumed wasn't part of the curriculum. "Main Street?"
"It's a good book," Rory defended playfully.
"I know. I just never pegged you for one that would read a satire of small towns." Tristan found the irony way too amusing to let go.
Rory looked at him, amazed. "You've read Main Street? You've read anything that doesn't have half-naked girls on the cover?"
"Ha ha, Mary," he replied. "I've read more than Playboy."
"Could've fooled me," Rory muttered. She had paused halfway to the door when Tristan started talking about the book she was reading for the fifth time. She pushed the key into the door and opened it. She turned back around and took her books back. That's when she noticed how close she was to Tristan. His cologne smelt really good. She hated when he got all close to her like that. She stepped back into the threshold.
Tristan inaudibly sighed, and was about to leave when he thought of something. "Hey, Mary, when do these town meetings of yours actually start?"
"At seven. But mom always makes us late because she insists on bugging Luke at the last minute," Rory replied. "Why?"
"So I'll know when to come annoy Paris without your interruptions," Tristan said.
"I'll let her know to be on the look out," Rory said.
And then he was there, staring at the door, cursing his luck for the twentieth time that the girl he spent three years trying to get over was at Yale instead of Harvard, like she was supposed to be.
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Halfway to Stars Hollow, Rory's cell phone rang. "Hi, mom."
"Hello, darling daughter. When are you getting here?" Lorelai wanted to know.
"I'm about twenty minutes away," Rory replied.
"Perfect!" Lorelai exclaimed. "We'll have plenty of time to be late. How was school today?"
"Mom, I'm gonna be home in twenty minutes," Rory pointed out.
"Yeah, but I'm bored now. Tell me a story!" Lorelai decided.
Rory sighed. "Mom, how old are you?"
"Four," Lorelai happily replied. "Tell me a story!"
Rory paused a moment, trying to decide whether or not to tell her mom about Tristan coming back just yet, when she heard something in the background. "Mom, what are you listening to?"
"Styx," she replied.
"Why are you listening to Styx?" Rory questioned. "You told me that you've hated them since the summer dad went through his classic rock phase and sang the chorus of 'Lorelei' to you every time he saw you."
"It's Luke's," Lorelai finally admitted. "I told him he didn't like Styx, and he didn't take it too well."
"Who knew? Luke, a closet Styx fan. Did you tell him why?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, and then he told me that one song isn't enough to go on, and then told me no more coffee until I listened to at least a whole CD from them," Lorelai pouted.
"I'll see you in a few minutes, and then we can gang up on Luke together," Rory suggested.
"I love you, hon," Lorelai said.
"Love you, too, mom," Rory replied, hanging up.
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Rory pulled up to Luke's diner with seven minutes to spare. Her mom was at the counter leaning over it and asking Luke for coffee, claiming in her defense that she listened to a whole Styx CD.
"Hi, mom," Rory said.
Forgetting her coffee quest for the moment, Lorelai rushed over to her daughter and enveloped her in a tight hug. "Tell me all about Yale!"
Rory laughed. "It's still the same."
"Hi, Rory," Luke said.
"Hi, Luke," Rory cheerily replied. "Coffee?"
"It's scary how much you're like your mom," Luke stated. He turned his attention to the last customer. "We're closing for the town meeting."
"Well, I can't miss that," the customer replied.
Rory froze. There was no way. He couldn't be here. "Tristan?"
The arrogant smirk made its appearance. "Hello, Mary."
"Are you stalking me?" she asked in disbelief.
"Well, Mary, I was here first, so technically you're stalking me," Tristan pointed out.
Oh, yes, Rory thought with a groan. He's here and just as infuriating as ever. Damn.