Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Jason McPhee read the letter once more, his insides churning as his eyes landed on the initials. The uncomfortable feeling deep within the pit of his stomach ceased and was replaced by his deep laughter. A person who was miles and miles away would not intimidate him. He walked to the balcony connected to his bedroom and inhaled deeply; he then reached in to the pocket inside his school blazer for a cigarette. He was on an adrenaline high… he could not stop from smiling. He's ready to take back what was his? He scoffed, taking another drag. Tossing the cigarette over the balcony, he walked inside his bedroom and took a seat on the edge of his king sized bed. He looked around the enormous bedroom, he then grinned to himself before reaching for his notebook and pen.
You're right DuGrey, it is great. I love everything about being king.
But on another note, did you honestly think that your little threat could intimidate me? Come on T, you've known me since we were four years old… surely, you'd know that it takes a lot more then that to scare me.
And finally, you honestly believe that you have a chance of coming back here? Come on DuGrey, don't be so god damn delusional.
J.M
He smirked, very much satisfied with the letter. Walking to his closet, he opened the door and reached for his stash. He then took a large swig of vodka. Jason ignored the fire in his throat and headed to school.
--
Two days later…Rory took a bite of her sandwich and forced herself to listen to Paris. She casually nodded to the girl sitting across from her and continued to eat. She sighed quietly and looked around the vast cafeteria. Her heartbeat increased as her blue eyes landed to where him and his group sat.
"Just don't be late for the meeting today okay? It's really important we get everything done by the deadline… since it seems like only you and I actually care about this stupid school newspaper. Louise and Madeline are well…"
"Yeah," Rory murmured.
"Rory, are you not paying me any attention?"
Rory's eyes shifted from Jason and his posse to Paris Gellar. "I am Paris…" she muttered, playing with the aluminum rim of her soda can.
"I beg to differ. You're too busy drooling over Jason McPhee."
"I'm not drooling," Rory argued "Far from it."
"Then why can't you seem to look away from his table?"
Rory shrugged, just as clueless as her friend. "I don't know…"
"Tell me the truth Gilmore."
Rory groaned, and opened her bag of Cheetos. "I am telling you the truth Gellar. I honestly don't know why I keep… looking at the jerk. I'm just shocked and a little angry at myself for… going out with the guy. And I guess I look at him because I'm questioning myself… my judgments at that particular time."
"So to make a long story short, you're asking yourself 'What the hell did I see in that guy?'"
Rory nodded, chewing on the cheesy corn chip thoughtfully "Pretty much."
"Have you spoken to Lorelai about it?" Paris asked, while she continued to organize her notes for The Franklin.
"Of course."
"And what did she say?"
Rory cast Jason one more look before looking Paris in the eye "She wants to kidnap him, kill him then chop his body into little tiny pieces and feed them to rabid dogs."
"Sounds like some plan," Paris replied sarcastically.
"Paris," Rory whispered suddenly, her voice sounding urgent.
"What?"
"Jason and his friends are looking over here."
Paris turned around and found that the group of boys was indeed looking at her and Rory… well just Rory. Paris continued to glare at the group, noting that they had not noticed or reacted to her death glares. Paris squinted her eyes to get a better look at them… she then looked to Rory and they both shared the same questionable gaze. Paris turned around once more and watched as Jason and his group walked out of the cafeteria.
"Okay, what the hell was that about?"
Rory shrugged "Jason looked a little disturbed."
"No," Paris let out a chuckle "He looked frightened."
--
"Mom, I'm home," Rory groaned, her shoulders sore from her heavy backpack. She entered the kitchen and grinned at the sight of two large foam cups of coffee from Luke's.
"Goody," Lorelai smiled "Your coffee was going to get cold and you know how cranky mommy gets at the sight of cold coffee," she shuddered.
Rory sat beside her mother, taking a large gulp of the warm liquid.
"How was hell?" Lorelai questioned, taking a large bite of her cherry Danish.
Rory groaned, finishing her coffee. "Fine I guess."
"You guess?" Lorelai looked at her with questionable eyes "Did something happen?"
"No not really. Just that at lunch Jason and his friends kept looking at me strangely."
"The evil little punk."
Rory shrugged "Let's not talk about him. I'm hungry… let's go to Luke's."
"Alright, let me just…" the shrill telephone ring interrupted her sentence "… answer that."
Rory watched her mom begin her search for the cordless phone. Lorelai exited the kitchen and headed for the living room to begin her hunt. Rory exhaled inaudibly, bringing her head down to the wooden surface of the kitchen table. She closed her eyes while she waited for her mother… never realizing that she was so tired until the moment her eyelids had shut.
Ten minutes had passed before Lorelai appeared from the living room with the phone wrapped tightly around her left hand. Rory picked her head up from the surface of the table and studied the almost zombie like state of the older Gilmore.
"Mom… what's wrong? You look uneasy."
"I just got off the phone with your grandmother," Lorelai swallowed.
"And…?" Rory egged on anxiously.
Lorelai ran her hand through her exceedingly straight hair "She was crying Ror… my mom was crying."
"What? Why?"
Lorelai took a seat beside Rory "A close friend of hers passed away yesterday. And… god Rory, I've never heard my mom that distraught before… she was crying. In front of me."
"That's horrible."
"I said no problem to when she requested that you and I go with her to the funeral. Dad can't make it. I hope it's alright…"
"Of course," Rory answered immediately.
Lorelai smiled, kissing her daughter's forehead quickly. "Now come on kiddo, let's go to Luke's."
--
Tristan smirked and looked down at the letter in his hands. He was about to start to reply to the letter but was sporadically interrupted by the telephone ring. He groaned and rose to his feet, answering it quickly.
"Yeah?"
"Tristan?"
Tristan swallowed the lump in his throat "Dad," he acknowledged.
"How's school?"
"Fine," he answered quickly "Cut the small talk and tell me why you're really calling."
"Alright," Tristan sensed a change of tone in his father's voice "Your grandfather's sister died yesterday."
Tristan couldn't respond. He had nothing to say. He could feel his heart get heavy… he did not know the woman… in fact, they were never formally introduced to each other… but he knew of her. His grandfather's sister… they were very close.
"So pack up, your flight leaves tomorrow morning."
"Pardon?"
"Pack Tristan… start packing."
Tristan snapped out of his trance like state. "How long am I staying?"
"We'll discuss that later."
"Okay," was all Tristan could say. He set the phone back to its receiver and blinked rapidly… almost instinctively, he touched the silver chain around his neck… it had been given to him by his grandfather before being shipped to North Carolina. He couldn't even begin to fathom what his grandfather was going through right now… he needed to be there for him… to be that rock by his side just like he had been for Tristan many, many times.
And suddenly… it hit him. Shit... I'm going back to Hartford.
--
I have a little tiny question … I can't quite remember but has Tristan's grandfather's name been said on the show or no? And another question… if your grandfather had a sister, what would she be to you? Great aunt? Argh… my mind's drawing a completely blank.
Thanks for all the reviews for the first chapter. Goodness… they are greatly appreciated and loved!
Leave a comment… or two. ;)