CHAPTER 21

Rory's lips were numb when she took another sip of her amaretto sour. She was heady and all she wanted to do was get the night over and done with. She aspirated the last of her drink. 'What was that, the fourth glass?' she asked herself. She droned out to the boisterous room. For all she cared, she was another faceless person in the crowd.

Despite her state of drunkenness, she was aware that he was around somewhere. Almost like a reflex, she reached out for the pendant that rested on her chest. She had to see him.

The thought of it happening made her sick and giddy at the same time. She asked herself, 'What are you going to say if you do see him?' With that, her conscience answered her with silence.

Her thoughts ran amuck with the conversation she and her mother shared that afternoon before getting to the aforementioned party.

"I cannot believe we're going through this again," Rory remembered exclaiming to her mother as she threaded a golden hoop earring through her pierced lobes. "It feels like Groundhog Day only I don't think we actually went back in time."

"I can't either, but then who are we to change it? Besides that means that you have to go through the whole Logan mortification again," Lorelai responded out loud while applying the Vicious Trollop on her lips. "Do you think this time it'll be a better party since dad and mom aren't sponsoring it?"

"God, I hope so!" Rory thought out loud.

Lorelai giggled. "Wouldn't it be amusing if the same guys that were in the party last Thanksgiving would be the same people in this party?"

"That's not funny, mom. It would really shoot my chances of making a clean breakaway," Rory admitted, creasing her forehead.

Despite Lorelai's attempts of making light of the situation, she could tell that Rory was trying hard to appear unfazed. She admired her daughter's resilience. She knew that if she was in her daughter's shoes, she wouldn't even consider going out on a night like this.

Rory stood in front of the full-length mirror and flattened out the imaginary creases on her satin, sleeveless, turquoise dress. It was elegant and regal at the same time. The scooped neckline gave her the illusion of an enhanced chest while the soft fabric accentuated her tiny waist. Rory chose the outfit just to match the pendant that nestled itself comfortably right above the valley of her breasts.

"Hmm, you know, you're the only person I know other than Heidi Klum that could wear that color,"� Lorelai broke through her thoughts. She noticed the new piece of jewelry her daughter chose to adorn her neck with but bothered not to ask an explanation for the religious symbol.

"Well I wish I had her body and pocket book,"� Rory responded nonchalantly.

"Wouldn't we all?" the elder Lorelai responded. Lorelai didn't look bad herself as she shimmied into a cream body hugging number with a slit that rode up her thigh.

Rory stole the lipstick her mother applied earlier and painted her lips with it. "Are you glad that Logan and I have broken up?"

'Elated! Euphoric! On seventh heaven!' These words popped into her head when Rory asked her the loaded question. Lorelai had to stop the urge to respond with such enthusiasm.

"I was disappointed that it happened this close to the season," Lorelai answered with mocked dignity. "I thought it was sad though that he blames dad and his grandfather for his current engaged status to that Sydney chick."

"Me too," Rory sulked.

Lorelai casually glanced towards her daughter's direction to see her sit contemplatively on her bed. She knew Rory enough to know that she was thinking of ways she could have circumvented the situation.

"Hey, kid, don't think that all that went down was your fault," Lorelai advised her. "You just became a victim of circumstance."

"I know,"� she muttered. "But why does it always happen to me? Even Paris has better luck in the dating department than me."�

"That's because cupid received a memo that he'll wake up to a horse's head if she ever got steered to the wrong man,"� Lorelai snorted.

"You're mean, mom," Rory chuckled.

The sound just made Lorelai happy. She just hoped that Rory just let her guard down for once.

"You know, I won't be surprised if Santa gave you and extra super present under the Christmas tree this year," Lorelai commented.

"Why'd you say that?" Rory inquired, staring at her mother's reflection on the vanity mirror.

"Because you've been a good kid," she simply stated.

"That's such an overrated response from a mother," Rory said as she rolled her eyes. A smile crept on her lips. "Have you been sitting on Santa's lap again?"

"Do you want the censored version of the story?" Lorelai insinuated with a glint in her eye.

"Oh brother," Rory heaved in disbelief.

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Tristin just closed his eyes and let the three consumed vodka tonics he consumed affect his system. He finally gave in and let his guard down. He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled slowly. He was just tired.

He didn't know what to expect that evening. All he remembered was robotically preparing himself for his parents' soiree. The annual DuGrey gala was a lavish get together his family throws every year and for the first time in long while he felt alienated and lonely.

He cursed Logan for not copping up to the deceit sooner so that he could've invited Rory to the event with no pretenses. Alas, things never went his way. With his current streak of luck, he might as well imagine himself doing Jell-O shots with Paris Geller.

He glared at his reflection on the mirror. He deftly secured the ends of his bowtie around his neck. He was methodical and precise. Over and over again, the screaming match that unfolded at the Gilmore parlor played in his head. How could he be so foolish to think that Rory would come after him on the aftermath of her break up?

"You're a fool for wishing," he mocked his tired reflection while Ben Folds sang "Brick" in the background. He stared at himself on the mirror. His eyes were dull from lack of sleep. They were lackluster and grayish. It matched his mood and he was miserable. His scowl was evident. He ran his fingers through his tousled mane and that too would not go his way.

He turned around and stared at his bedside clock. It was quarter past eight. He was already late for the rendezvous and he didn't care. He lifted the tux jacket that was hung neatly on the wooden hanger: cleaned and pressed for the occasion. He smiled sadly. If only Rory's scent on it lingered on.

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Somewhere between the argument of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Baby" did Rory's heart do a back flip. Tristin walked into the room from a side door. He was breathtaking despite his haggard state. She watched him scan the room with tired eyes before leaning up against the wall to talk to a voluptuous blonde. He didn't see her as she expected. She was partly relieved and at the same time disappointed that he didn't try hard enough to search for her.

'She is stunning,' Rory said to herself. Admitting those words made Rory's mouth dry. In fact, the memory of Chilton halls all of a sudden made her realize that she deluded herself. How she wanted to believe Logan that Tristin cared for her! Just like that, she took another drink from the tray being passed around and found herself a nice wallflower spot in the enormous room.

"Jessica, I am surprised to see you here," Tristin acknowledged the sexy blonde who sauntered towards him. Oddly, he didn't find her attractive despite her seductive outfit.

"Oh, Tristin, you think I will miss this party for the world?" she asked him. She was dressed in a silver number that only someone with her curves would dare wear. She was three sheets to the wind and not aware of the stares she's been getting.

"Jess, don't you think you've had enough to drink?" he queried her after he pulled her aside so he didn't have to yell.

"Honey, this is the only way I could prevent myself from looking for you," she pouted. She pressed her chest up against him knowing that he could not resist her assets. She ran her naughty red manicured finger on his jaw line. "Take me back, Tristin, and I'll take you to places you've never been before."

"Jessica," he called out, sequestering her playful hand and put it to her side. "I've moved on."

"That's what you think," she threatened, walking away from him. She sashayed to the man that sat on the piano and whispered something on his ear. She walked up to another guy in the room who wore a Santa hat and plucked the ridiculous article from his head so she can wear the garment. With the microphone in one hand and a cranberry cosmopolitan on the other, she situated herself in the middle of the crowd. Several introductory notes later, the blonde bombshell crooned to "Santa Baby."

Rory felt like throwing up. The girl she regarded as competition hypnotized her. She was stunning and had perfect pitch. She can't think of any word to describe her except for a word that rhymed with 'witch'.

"Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me," she crooned in her best Marilyn Monroe impression. She walked seductively towards Tristin and ran her index finger down his chest. "… I've been an awful good girl. Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight."�

If that wasn't enough, she hooked the same finger on his belt and led Tristin to the middle of the room as she sang the next couple of verses.

"Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible too, light blue. I'll wait up for you dear. Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight," she sang beautifully.

The whole room broke into chorus as the song progressed. Everyone seemed to be entertained by the girl's antics.

Tristin hated being the subject of Jessica's frolics. She was the epitome of brattiness, using the audience as her ally at the moment. She wants to show him that if everyone wanted her, he should consider himself lucky for her to choose him.

"Santa honey, I wanna yacht and really that's not a lot," she sang as she turned her back against him. Almost immediately, her curvy bottom replaced her finger that traveled down his pants. She was milking out as many catcalls she can surmise.

Tristin rolled his eyes at his ex-girlfriend's almost striptease routine. Yes, he felt himself getting aroused by Jessica but that was not what he wanted that night. He wanted Rory and Rory alone.

By some trick of fate, two other men from the crowd emerged and led Jessica by the hand to a section of the room that ironically looked like Madonna's "Material Girl" video. She all of a sudden was oblivious to his presence.

Rory knew she should do something to end her masochistic tendencies towards herself. Slowly, she weaseled her way through the jovial horde. She was now right behind him, so close she could smell his aftershave and cologne. The performer in front of them spellbound everyone. Before she could lose her nerve, she snaked her fingers around his and tugged him away. He looked surprised but he allowed her to lead him away from everyone else. They exited through the door that was well camouflaged by the fragrant fir Christmas tree. Both held their breaths until they left the room unnoticed.

"Rory," he stated breathlessly.

Rory was still on a high from her successful kidnapping. So she pinned Tristin against the wall and kissed him. She felt and heard his head slam up against the wood paneling but she didn't care. She wanted him and she didn't care how she got it.

Their mouths meshed into one. Her tongue did the searching this time. They assertively sought his tongue out until she felt his in her mouth. She sucked on it like her life depended on it. Her brazen hands reached for his nape and massaged the muscles that supported his head. When he moaned, she sucked his lower in her mouth. She allowed him a second or two to catch his breath before she resumed nibbling his swollen lips.

"Baby… Baby, slow down," he said in hushed tones.

Rory realized that she was possessed when she attacked Tristin. She could see the passion in his eyes. Both of them exhaled almost in unison. Rory's blue eyes met with his when she realized she was deluding herself.

"I'm so sorry," Rory cried out, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

She turned around and started walking away. Her heart pounded so loudly that she was surprised that she could still hear his voice.

"You are not walking away from me again, Gilmore," Tristin warned.

It was a voice Rory had never heard before.

"I made a mistake," Rory rambled on. "I thought… I thought I could come here with the pretense of being your friend but when I saw that girl all over you…"

"Rory, I didn't even know you were going to be here," he explained.

"All the more," she said. "If I wasn't here, you'd be with her right now."

"No I won't!" he vehemently denied.

"You're just saying that," Rory tried to convince herself by yelling at him.

Tristin realized they were getting loud. He let out an exasperated sigh before he pulled her into the solarium.

The moment Tristin turned the lights on, he swung Rory around and gave her a version of the kiss he wanted to give her. He leaned up against the windowpane and pulled her on top of him. In one fluid motion, he cradled her hips against his pelvis and guided her head to meet his.

Compared to Rory's hungry kiss, his was slow and deliberate. Each nibble was accompanied with a rub. Each sigh was accompanied by a groan. Their bruised lips searched for virgin skin after they realized that they had to slow down.

"Rory," he sighed when he licked the pulsating vein on the side of her neck. She could feel a smile forming on his lips. His kisses traced the necklace that adorned her neck. "You love me."

"What?" Rory asked breathlessly.

"You love me," he chuckled as he kissed the pendant that hung right above her breast. He watched the small globes rise and fall as she panted.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied.

"If it's any consolation, I love you, too," he admitted, cupping her behind in the palms of his hands. He wanted her to be closer than she already was. He wanted her to feel how much he wanted her to be with him.

"A little arrogant, are we?" she confronted him smugly.

"I think you know the answer to that," he responded as he nuzzled her neck that smelled of vanilla and lilies.

"Are you glad that I'm here?" Rory asked timidly.

"Ecstatic," he mumbled.

"Were you expecting me?" she asked again.

"Only Santa can answer that," he responded between nibbles.

"You conned my mom!" Rory acted offended.

"What are you talking about?" Tristin asked.

"Mom said that Santa…" Rory tried to say before Tristin grabbed her back into his bear hug.

"Santa helps those that have been nice," Tristin recited the creed.

"Are you sure you didn't coerce my mom to have me here?" Rory asked with guarded suspicion.

"No," he said somberly. "But when we snuck out near the Christmas tree, I knew that Santa granted me my Christmas wish."

"And what was that?" she asked, almost too scared to breathe.

"You underneath my Christmas tree," he said, kissing her again.

Rory's heart felt like bursting. She was grateful that somehow, things worked out the way they did.

Between tongue duels and heated moans, she felt his fingers around the necklace she wore.

"No, don't," she whined.

He stopped kissing her. "Why not?"

"Because… I've grown accustomed to it," she confessed. "I know it's a loaner but…"

"But it has served its purpose," he said.

"And that is?" Rory inquired.

"St. Christopher guided you back to me," he simply stated. "Now, I can put on your neck your real New York souvenir."

From his pant pocket, he pulled out a silver necklace. Rory gasped and pulled away.

"I can't take that from you," Rory said meekly.

"Yes you can, and I insist you have it. Otherwise I would be forced to find someone named Rory to wear it," he insisted.

A little Tiffany padlock charm adorned the light chain. On the padlock the inscription read: If Rory is lost, contact Tristin.

"Wow. Aren't we presumptuous," Rory laughed out loud after she read the words. For once, the feeling of possession was liberating.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" she asked as he fastened the necklace on her.

"Positively," he responded with confidence.

Rory let out a loud sigh before she took both of his hands into hers. Without any warning she said, " I love you. Don't ask me when I realized it but I love you."

"Any regrets?" he asked as he flashed her a dimpled smile.

"Only that it took be this long to admit it," she said.

Tristin and Rory left the room in silence basking in their newfound romance. Halfway between the karaoke room they escaped from and the adults' parlor, Tristin asked, "What are you doing New Year's?"