CHAPTER 7

Rory was hoping for a break... Soon. The trip to the mall was uneventful except for the three phone calls she got from Tristin trying to convince her to hang out that evening. All three times she politely declined. The fourth time, she decided to have her voice mail pick up his call.

The packed Mecca of commerce was hot and annoying. Strollers bumped her, whiny customers irritated her and grumpy sales personnel got to her. Three hours and several bags later, Rory was ready to give her mother an ultimatum.

"Mom, I need to get a drink," Rory said.

"Come on, we still haven't gone to Restoration Hardware," Lorelai commented.

"Who are you getting a present for at Restoration Hardware? Grandpa? Sookie? Luke?" Rory asked, irritated.

"Wow, you are crabby," Lorelai noted. "Okay, wanna go to Gloria Jean's?"

"Please!" Rory exclaimed.

When they came upon the coffee shop, Rory found Logan occupying a table with three chairs. For a second, he looked up from the paper he was reading and beamed her a smile.

"Logan!" Rory exclaimed, leaving her mother to greet him with a hug and kiss.

"Hey, Ace," he greeted, opening his arms for her to jump in. "I'd figure you'd eventually end up near a coffee shop."

Rory planted a wet kiss on his lips, which he met with equal passion. For all they cared, the mall was empty to them.

"Well, well, well, wasn't expecting your pretty head to rear in this corner of the world," Lorelai quipped sarcastically when she caught up with the couple.

Logan broke the passionate kiss. Dropping his hands to Rory's waist, he flashed Lorelai a grin. "Hello, Lorelai."

"Logan," she curtly responded. "Rory, what do you want to drink?"

"I'd suggest the Peppermint Mocha. It's really good," Logan informed Rory.

"Then a Peppermint Mocha it is," Rory told her mother.

"Logan?" Lorelai asked.

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking," he politely responded.

Lorelai deposited her bags close to the couple before walking into the coffee shop.

Logan sat back on his metal chair while Rory sat on his lap.

"So what do I have to do to get to your mother's good side? Was she like this with the rest of your boyfriends?" he asked her.

Rory leaned to the side of diplomacy and dared not to answer the latter of the questions asked. "That's just my mom: very protective. Suggestion, if she starts having conversations with inanimate objects, just go along with it."

"Okay," Logan said slowly.

"So, did you find the place easily?" Rory asked, changing the topic.

"Hmm, it got easier when I saw you," he smoothly responded, nuzzling her neck. The warm breath on her neck tickled her.

"Stop that," she said in a husky voice.

"Stop what?" Logan asked, now moving to nip on her earlobe. "I missed you last night."

"I missed you, too," Rory sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Come home with me tonight," he urged her.

"You know I can't," Rory told him.

"I know," he hummed, leaning his head on her shoulder. "I hate it that I usually lose you on the weekends."

"You knew that was going to happen when we started dating," Rory pointed out.

"Don't remind me," Logan huffed. "I think I am getting really jealous."

"Don't be. I'm still yours," Rory reassured him. Then, a vibration jangled on Rory's side.

"Damn!" Logan cursed as he reached for his ringing cell phone.

"Hello?" her responded. "Who?" another pause.

"Rory, it's for you. It's your cousin?" Logan handed her his cell phone, a confused look on his face emerged.

"Cousin?" Rory herself was confused. She took the phone and walked away from Logan's lap.

"Hello?" Rory answered.

"You really look like a very cute couple snuggled up like that," the male voice from the other end said.

"Who is this?" Rory asked.

"Look a little to your right," he instructed.

Rory moved around and weaved through people until she saw Tristin who waved at her. He was standing at the cellular store across from where they sat.

"You know, you're close to being put on stalker status," Rory teased him. "And cousin? Come on now."

"Well, it's the only way I could get you to talk to me," he said.

"Well if you'd drop the idea that I'm going out with you in the next couple of days, I probably would be more civilized to you!" she said. She tried to look at him again but he had left the spot she last saw him.

"Fine. I won't ask you out anymore. I get the hint. Can we at least have coffee?" Tristin asked, a little annoyed.

"One drink?" she asked.

"One drink, I promise," he swore.

"Fine," Rory huffed. "Call me tonight."

"You won't regret it," he promised before hanging up.

Rory walked back to Logan and handed his phone back.

"I didn't know you had a cousin," Logan said.

"Well, we don't talk to him much," Rory fibbed. "He was actually looking for mom and since I don't have my cell phone..."

"So he calls me?" Logan asked.

"I hope you don't mind. I pretty much told him that if he can't get in touch with me, he'd call you to get to me," she lamely responded.

Logan thought about what she said. "That's actually smart!"

Rory was just glad Logan didn't see through her white lie.

"Ooh, look at what Santa dropped in my goodie bag!" Lorelai exclaimed, carrying a tray of coffee cups with her.

Logan and Rory looked up from their cozy position only to be met with another set of knowing blue eyes. Tristin's.

"Hey," the couple chorused. Rory immediately got off Logan's lap and sat on the chair right next to him.

"I told him he can join us," Lorelai said.

Logan stood up from his chair and offered his hand over the table. "Nice to see you again. It's Tristin, right?"

"Yes it is," Tristin muttered, returning his handshake. "Nice seeing you again, Logan."

"I'm glad to see that everyone's acquainted," Lorelai said as she distributed cups around.

"So," Lorelai started to ask, a wicked gleam in her eye, "Did you get home well last night?'

Tristin, not knowing what Rory said to Lorelai said, "Uh, I got home well, Ms. Gilmore, thank you."

"Tristin, what did I tell you? It's Lorelai. None of that aged, honorary greeting, "she corrected him. "I hope Christopher didn't give you a hard time, you know, with Rory being his baby and all," Lorelai fibbed.

Rory and Tristin exchanged glances. "No, Christopher was actually really nice to me."

"What happened?" Logan asked.

"Oh, Tristin here, pulled a funny last night by kidnapping Rory from the party. It was rather hilarious," Lorelai recounted without taking a breath.

"I left with him because grandma made you leave," Rory defended herself to Logan.

"And I stole her father's bike," Tristin threw his two cents worth quickly.

"Oh you two, I don't even know why you even play the cat and mouse game. Have sex with each other and get it over with," Lorelai scoffed.

"Mom!"

"Lorelai!"

Tristin and Rory yelled at her in unison.

"What?" Lorelai acted innocently.

Rory was fuming. Logan tried to assuage her rage by cloaking her hand with his.

"I don't know where you got that impression, Lorelai," Tristin tried to play it off. "I am just here to do some shopping!"

Lorelai popped a chocolate covered coffee bean in her mouth. "Uh-huh. Is that what you told Rory in high school?"

"Mom!" Rory yelled.

"Don't stop now. This is getting interesting," Logan encouraged Lorelai.

"Well, young Tristin over here used to give my Rory a hard time in high school. He actually gave her this nickname. What was it again?" Lorelai played dumb.

"Mary," both Tristin and Rory filled in the blank.

"Yes, Mary," she said. "Now, five years, and three boyfriends later, Rory is being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Now who should I go for, the son of a newspaper magnate or my daughter's former bane of existence? Who to choose, who to choose."

Feeling the uncomfortable pressure, Tristin decided to get away from the group before Lorelai opened up another can of worms.

"Uh, I think I overstayed my welcome," Tristin informed them all as he got up and retrieved his purchases.

"I hope you're not leaving on my account," Logan said, standing up from his seat.

"No, I just have to go," he mumbled. "It was nice to see you again, Lorelai. Rory, have a great Christmas break if I don't get to see you again."

"Yes," Rory said, getting up herself. "You, too."

Awkward tension came between the two. He said his goodbyes once more and walked away.

"Well, I should follow his cue and take off, too," Logan said.

"Ah, so soon? You just got here," Rory whined. "I should take off with you after the stunt mom pulled." Rory eyed her mother.

"Hmm, if you do, I'll never be on your mother's good side," he responded, looking at Lorelai.

"By George, he got it!" Lorelai sarcastically said.

He kissed Rory once more on the lips and walked away.

"What got into you?" Rory asked slapping Lorelai on her shoulder.

"Payback's a bear, isn't it?" Lorelai said sweetly. "Now, how about a visit to Restoration Hardware?"