Trapped

By: Meagan

Email: crazy_sparkleness@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own the Gilmore Girls and I don't see why any of you would think I did...why would I write fan fiction if I owned a TV show?...you people *shakes head*...oh...this takes place after It Should've Been Lorelai...I know that it was a long time ago but bear with me...oh, and I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the cartoon Invader Zim (it will make sense later)...

Summary: So far Chloe has moved to town and caught the eyes of both Jess and Tristan, who is back from Military school. Rory has basically dumped Dean but it is not official yet. She finds that she is attracted to both Jess and Tristan but they aren't paying that much attention to her. Jess tells Chloe and Tristan his big news, he is going to Chilton now. Time for the fireworks to fly.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. Stupid work and vacation. I am finally forcing myself to sit down and update. School starts this Wednesday so don't expect any updates during the week. I am changing thoughts to single quotes, i.e. ' '. They are much easier to use. Ok, on with the story. I hope to make it a lighter mood this time. Lots of laughs, I hope.

~~~Gilmore House~~~

Rory rolled over and looked at her clock. It was ten minutes before her alarm was set to go off. She groaned before getting out of bed. She didn't feel too tired but she was a little unnerved by her dreams. I got to talk to mom about them. She quickly dressed before going into the kitchen to make the coffee.

Lorelai bounded down the stairs, trying to locate the wonderful smell that filled the house. Set on the table was a cup of coffee and a pop tart. Rory was sipping her coffee waiting for her mom. Lorelai raised an eyebrow but sat down anyway.

"Ok, what is with the coffee and food?" Lorelai took a sip of her life energy.

Rory smiled. "Just wanted you to be comfortable when I ask you to listen to my dream I had last night."

Lorelai nodded. "Spill my chica."

Rory sighed. "Ok. It starts with me going to Chilton but I have the Jeep. I get to class and no one is there. The whole school seems deserted. I go to the library to find Tristan and Jess waiting for me. They say I have to choose. And then Dean shows up and says he can't believe I am thinking of cheating on him. I tell him we have broken up but he starts to advance on Tristan and Jess. Chloe runs in and tries to stop him. He says she can only save one of them. She can't decide so she asks me to save one of them so she could save the other.

"I keep looking back and forth trying to decide. Tristan says to pick Jess because Jess needs more help. Jess disagrees and says that Tristan needs more help because he is injured. I ask why they are saying that and they say because they want Chloe to save them. I start to cry. Dean shoves Chloe and Tristan and Jess run to help her. I try to stop Dean but he pushes me aside. I hit a table but no one notices. Jess stands up to fight Dean while Tristan tries to help Chloe out of the library. Jess fights Dean and Tristan and Chloe leave. Jess wins the fight and runs off to find Chloe and Tristan. Dean leaves without looking at me."

Lorelai looked shocked but not too surprised. "I thought this might happen. Good thing it was only a dream. Sweetie, you are just worried that only Dean is interested in you and that even he is losing that interest, which might not be such a bad thing. But still, you feel neglected. You think that Chloe is getting all this attention and that no one likes you anymore. Don't worry too much. I am sure those guys still find you attractive. They just don't know that you are free from the confines of a boyfriend. Once it is official that you are single again, they will pay more attention to you."

Rory's mouth dropped. "This is twice in a week that you have said something almost profound and worthy of a traditional mother. I am shocked. See my mouth open, that means I am shocked. I must close it now." Rory made her mouth close.

Lorelai laughed. "I am glad to be so unpredictable. Now, I think you should get to school. Remember, you got a new friend to make. Mustn't be late, no, that would lead to a bad first impression."

Rory grinned. "Thanks mom. See you after school." Lorelai shooed Rory out of the house.

Lorelai sighed into her cup. "I am glad I am not here. This could be too nerve racking. I hope she comes out ok. Great, now I am talking to myself. Better than the coffee or toaster." She took one last sip before getting ready for work.

~~~Chilton~~~

Rory trudged to her locker. She looked both ways to see if Tristan and Chloe were there yet. They weren't. She sighed and forced her feet to take her to her class. She plopped down in her seat and looked at the desk usually occupied by Mike. She wondered who would be sitting there now that he was gone.

Just then Chloe and Tristan came in. Chloe's eyes darted around the room. She sighed when she didn't find who she was looking for. She shared a look with Tristan before sitting down herself. It was a look of disappointment.

Rory tapped Chloe on the shoulder. "Who were you looking for?"

Chloe could only smile evilly. "Oh, you will find out soon enough." She gave a little laugh before opening her binder. Rory shrugged and followed suit.

Tristan saw someone motioning to him from the door window. The figure disappeared. Tristan turned to Chloe. "You know who is waiting outside."

Chloe smiled. "Finally. You would think that he died or something. Oh wait, forgot he had a little meeting. Wonder what he was threatened with." They both laughed as she left the room.

Rory looked confused. "Wait, is she talking about the new guy?" Tristan shrugged. "Fine then. Don't tell me. See if I care." Rory glared at Tristan.

He laughed. "At least you won't bug me about who it is. Don't even try though. I won't crack."

Out in the hall, Chloe found the 'mystery man' leaning on a locker. "Smooth move. So, what did you want?"

Jess smirked. "Just wanted to make a big scene when I walked in there. Thought you could help." Chloe cocked her head to one side in confusion. "Ok, that and I was wondering if Rory had idea that it was me."

Chloe smiled. "Not a clue. So, shall we?" She waved her hand at the door. Jess draped his arm over her shoulder.

"If we must." Chloe chuckled and opened the door.

The look on Rory's face was priceless. Her mouth fell open and she tried to speak but she just looked like a fish out of water. Jess just walked past and went to the teacher's desk. Chloe followed, since he still had his arm over he shoulder. After some explaining from the teacher, Chloe led Jess to his desk. She whispered something in his ear and he nodded.

Chloe sat back down in her chair and waited for Jess to appear in the chair in front of her. He sat down backwards in it, so he was facing her. Rory finally found her voice.

"What are you doing here?!" She squeaked.

Jess smirked. "I am the new guy. I'm kind of surprised you didn't already figure that out. I guess that means we are partners."

Rory looked like she was about to faint. "Oh, yeah. That's right. Well, should we start on it during lunch? Oh darn. What are we going to do about the visit thingy?"

Jess shrugged. "We can discuss that during lunch. I got to get my binder in order. Oh, can I borrow your notes, Chloe?" She nodded and handed them to him. "Thanks."

"Anytime." Chloe turned to Tristan. "Maybe we can decide on our little weekend visits then too. One of these weekends, the one where you stay in Stars Hollow, will be the one we put our plan into action. Either that or do all the planning, depending on the weekend." He just nodded. The teacher started the class.

Rory whispered to Chloe. "What did you whisper to Jess earlier?"

Chloe grinned and shrugged. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She turned back to her work. Rory glared at her but then decided it wasn't important enough to get caught talking in class. She would just have to corner Jess about it later. She groaned remembering she was his partner. It was going to be a long end of the school year.

~~~Library~~~

Chloe rushed to the spot she had dubbed 'Their spot', those included in the 'their' were Tristan, Rory, herself, and now Jess. Rory followed behind with Jess trailing and Tristan taking the rear. Tristan laughed when he saw Chloe in the chair she had claimed as hers, stroking it.

"Did you miss me? I am so sorry I have been neglecting you. How can I make it up to you?" She asked the chair. Rory sat down in her chair and looked almost scared at the sight of Chloe talking to a chair.

"Chloe, it is just a chair. Don't make me call the guys at the insane asylum. They might find you a perfect candidate for a padded room." Jess tried to calm her down.

Chloe glared at him before consoling her chair. "Don't listen to them. They don't understand. They are just stupid humans. They don't know anything." She continued to pet the arm of the chair.

Tristan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Um, I hate to break it to you, but you are a human just like us. Sorry if that bursts your bubble."

Chloe looked shocked and slightly offended. "How dare you call me human. How do you know that I am a human? I could be an alien or some half demon. I wouldn't jump to conclusions if I were you. It might be dangerous to your health." She said that completely serious. Rory was beginning to wonder if Chloe really did need to go to an insane asylum.

Jess just shook his head. "You need to stop reading those science fiction books of yours. They are dangerous to your health. What next, you saying that you are a vampire?"

Tristan added something to that question. "A vampire that can go in the sun light and has a reflection of course."

Chloe looked appalled. "One, I will never stop reading those types of books. Second, if I was a vampire then this whole school would be my personal snack bar. Third, what fun is it to be a vampire if you can go in the sun and see yourself? It would totally ruin the whole vampire atmosphere. No, I like to think that I am an alien trying to gather info to help my fellow aliens conquer this planet. Oh, I am like Invader Zim!"

All three listening looked confused. "Who is that?" Tristan asked.

Chloe looked shocked, again. "You don't know of Invader Zim, the best cartoon ever?" Three nods. "You deprived children. I must get you to watch it when you guys come over. I got all the episodes on tape. At least, all the ones they have played. Marissa is my GIR. She hates that. So if you want to annoy her just call her GIR."

Tristan shook his head. "I am beginning to think that you really do need help."

Chloe smirked. "Not really. I just act really insane to freak people out. It is fun to see people react to me when I try to convince them of things totally absurd and ridiculous. You should have seen my third grade teacher when I told her my sister was a German Shepard and kept trying to tell me some kid named Timmy was stuck in a well. She totally freaked and called my mom."

Jess laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised. But down to business." He turned to Rory. "About this project, what are we going to do about those visits?"

Rory shrugged. "I guess we could do the weekend stays. My mom won't mind, since you live in town and all. But would you want to stay over at my house on the weekend. And according the paper we got, we would have to spend most of that time together, doing stuff we would normally do when it is the weekend. That would mean following my mom and me around shopping and watching movies while eating an insane amount of food."

Jess shrugged. "I could handle that. But then you would have to stay in the apartment over the diner. Remember that we are remodeling. I don't know where you would be able to sleep."

Rory shrugged. "It can be worked out. We just have to ask my mom and Luke. They get the make the final decision."

Chloe cut in. "What weekend should Tristan and I be in town? If it is this weekend then we would use it to make out plan for operation Get Lorelai And Luke Together. If it is next weekend then we would use it to put our plan into action. So, which will it be?"

Jess thought carefully. "Next weekend. We should give ourselves enough time to execute this plan as possible. We can use next week to plan it and possible this weekend if we plan on calling each other."

Tristan nodded. "My thoughts exactly. Hmm, then maybe we need to think of what the plan will be so you guys can choose what weekend you spend where." He said that directed at Rory and Jess.

Rory nodded. "True. If we give them my house then they might head to my mom's room. Maybe we should give them the diner. Set up a little late night dinner or something like that. Plus then we would have my house to hang out in afterwards."

All three nodded. "Then it is settled. You come over to my 'house' this weekend and then I go to your house next weekend." Jess used air quotes just like Tristan.

Chloe groaned. "What is it with guys using air quotes?"

Tristan laughed. "We use them because they irritate you. If you don't act like you care then we will stop."

She thought about that. "Nah. Too much fun this way."

Just then, Rory had a thought. "Hey, Jess. How did you get here? You didn't take the bus. I would have seen you."

Jess smirked. "I got Luke to let me use the truck. Though I don't think that will last. I need another way to get here. I would take the bus but I would rather not if I could avoid it."

Chloe smiled. "That would mean that you would have to come with me. We could use that time to think of ways to get Lorelai and Luke at the same place at the same time." Jess nodded.

Tristan looked at the papers in front of him. "Maybe we should get to work. This homework won't get done by itself."

Chloe looked like she had an idea. "Since I am an alien like Zim, then I can create a robot to do our homework for us." Tristan just shook his head.

Jess smirked. "Nice try, but no. I don't see that happening to soon so we really should get to work. Rory and I are behind everyone else. We have to work hard to catch up." Rory nodded and all four began to work.

~~~Luke's~~~

Chloe drove the four teens to Luke's Diner for coffee and a chance to regroup. Chloe and Jess had come up with two ideas to get Luke and Lorelai together and wanted to tell the others. They sat in the back table and kept a steady eye on Luke so he wouldn't hear.

Chloe started. "Ok, I was thinking about the dinner here idea. Getting Luke here is not a problem seeing as he owns the place. And getting Lorelai here is not that hard either seeing as she needs the coffee from here to live. But getting her here after hours is the tough part. So, I figured maybe Jess and Rory could be here getting some stuff for a project and call Lorelai saying they need her to come over. And then wham, they are stuck in the diner together with a fancy dinner setting on one of the tables. Don't ask me how we do that, because I didn't get there."

Jess continued. "I thought of that actually. I figured someone else could figure out how to get Lorelai there. If we did go with your idea, while I am upstairs getting stuff Rory could distract Luke so you two," indicating Tristan and Chloe, "could get the table set up down stairs. Then you could leave before Lorelai arrived and we could leave right after you. Lorelai will surely make enough noise to bring Luke downstairs and while there is confusion we can somehow make sure they are stuck."

Rory was amazed at his speech. She didn't think she had ever heard him say so much at one time. "Wow. That sounds good. But how can we get then to stay there? We would have to lock them in there, I just can't see how."

Tristan looked very pleased with himself. "I know how."

Rory scrunched up her face. "How?"

Tristan smirked. "We mess up the lock on the door. Possibly jam it so the door won't open. Luke won't try to jump through the door because there won't be an emergency that would make them need to get out. As long as you keep Lorelai from eating then she will be hungry, thus making them eat the wonderful dinner someone will need to prepare."

Rory's eyes light up. "Sookie!"

Chloe and Tristan looked confused. Jess had a light bulb moment. "Yeah, Sookie could make the dinner."

"Um, who is Sookie?" Tristan asked.

"Oh!" Rory exclaimed. "She is the cook at the Independence Inn, where my mom works. She is a wonderful chief. I am sure she would be glad to make something to help bring mom and Luke together."

"Then it is settled. We just have to get all the rest of the stuff, like candles and a nice tablecloth, together before next weekend. Oh, Rory, your mom is here." Chloe pointed Lorelai out as she walked in the door.

Rory stood up and walked over to her mom. Lorelai sat down in a stool. "So, what is up with you and the Scooby Gang?" Rory raised an eyebrow. Lorelai sighed. "Sorry, they had Buffy on FX the other night and I watched it. My bad."

Rory laughed. "Just making sure you weren't going insane. But we don't fight demons. Oh, that's right. Chilton is known as Hell and on Buffy they lived on the Hellmouth. Good one mom. And it is more appropriate now that Jess goes to Chilton as well."

Lorelai didn't look surprised. "Oh really? I thought so."

Rory looked shocked. "You figured it out but didn't tell me?" Lorelai nodded. "You aren't a nice mom. I want to disown you."

Lorelai pouted. "I sorry. Forgive me?"

Rory smirked. "Fine, but only if you let Jess and me do that weekend stay thing for out interview project. You know, where we stay the night at the other person's house and follow them around all weekend."

Lorelai pretended to think about it. "I knew you would ask that, so I already know that my answer is yes. I can't see the harm in that."

Rory hugged her mom. "Thanks. Well, much homework to complete and not enough hours in the day. Oh, and can it be that I stay here this weekend and Jess comes over next weekend?" Lorelai nodded before Rory left.

Lorelai shook her head as Luke placed a cup of coffee in front of her. "What was that about?" Luke asked.

Lorelai smirked. "You get Rory this weekend and I get Jess next weekend. Wow, that sounds like when parents divorce and switch the kids every week. But I don't remember getting married to you."

Luke looked confused. Then it dawned on him. "Oh, that project for Chilton. Jess told me about it and what the extra credit involved. I wondered if you would say yes or not." Lorelai took her turn to look confused. "Chloe had told Jess about it and when he realized that he would be Rory's partner he asked me about it. I said they could do that if you said yes."

Lorelai nodded. "This is going to be interesting. I wonder when Chloe and Tristan are going to be here in Stars Hollow. I bet they will spend all their time together. That will be fun to watch. I need to buy more popcorn."

"Why will it be fun to watch? What is so entertaining about teens that you would need popcorn?" Luke asked.

Lorelai laughed. "They are one very complicated love square. Not a triangle because there are four of them and we can't have triangles if one of them decides to wear purple."

Luke shook his head. "I don't understand you and I don't want to." He left to get the order from a couple that had just entered.

Lorelai jumped off her bar stool and walked over to the table with the teens. "Hate to do a Giles, but don't you have homework to do Rory?"

Rory shook her head while Chloe snorted. "I was just discussing it with my Gang. If you are Giles, who am I?"

Chloe perked up. "I want to be Buffy. Wait, but then I would have to have died. Can't be Willow, unless we forget that she likes girls more than guys. I refuse to be Cordelia..."

Tristan broke in. "Why don't we discuss this later? Like this weekend or at school on Monday." Chloe sighed and nodded.

Rory stood up and grabbed her stuff. "Lead the way, oh smart British guy that everyone makes fun of."

Lorelai glared at her. "Not funny." Rory laughed as they left the diner.

Jess stood up. "I better get to work on my room if I am going to have Rory over. See you guys next week." And with that he left.

Chloe stood up as well. "Ok, to the car and my house we go."

Tristan smirked and followed her. "Enjoy your house while you can. After dinner you are coming to my house." His face dropped a little. "Just don't expect much. My mom and dad are usually very busy on the weekends. If you are lucky you might see them more than once."

Chloe frowned. She turned the car on and started to drive to her house. "Are you ok? You seem sad when you talk about your parents."

Tristan shrugged. "I guess I wish they would stop being so busy with their little clubs, organizations, and get-togethers that they could spend some time with me for once. The last time we had a family dinner was a month ago and the last time we spent some quality time together was over seven years ago."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I wish I could do something to help." Chloe pulled the car into the driveway.

"Don't be. You can't help it. I am just glad that I got sent to Military school. It helped me become a better person and accept my parents. If they don't care then I won't either. As long as I have friends then I will be fine." Tristan smiled. Chloe grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

"Don't worry. You have a friend in me. Rory too. And if you work it right then Jess as well." They both smiled before going into the house, after Chloe let go of Tristan's hand first of course.

~~~Gilmore House~~~

Lorelai flopped down on the couch. "I am starved. Rory, could you heat up those leftovers from Al's?"

"Sure. They will be ready in no time." Rory dropped her stuff off in her room before heading into the kitchen.

Lorelai got up and went into the kitchen herself. "So, when are you going over to Luke's to stay the weekend? Tonight or tomorrow morning?"

Rory sheepishly grinned. "Um, we were thinking of tonight? That is when Chloe plans to go the Tristan's so Jess thought it would be good for me to come then too."

Lorelai nodded. "I thought as much. So, then you will have to pack after dinner. Want me to help?"

Rory raised an eyebrow. "What, you aren't mad that I didn't tell you sooner?"

Lorelai shook her head. "Why should I? It makes perfect sense. Just make sure you have clean clothes for Monday if you decide to stay that long."

Rory shrugged. "As long as you are ok with it. The food is done." They ate in silence before going into Rory's room to pack.

Lorelai grinned mischievously. She held up a shirt with a very look cut neck that Rory had been hiding from her mom. "How about this shirt? You will be sure to get Jess's attention if you wear it."

Rory blushed. "Um, no." She grabbed it and stuffed it back in a drawer.

Lorelai laughed. "Fine. You can wear it next weekend so you can catch Tristan's attention as well." She snatched it back.

Rory gasped. "I will do no such thing. You give that back right now!"

Lorelai giggled and ran out of the room. Rory smirked. "Fine. But then I will get to tell Luke that you bought it so you could wear it to the diner."

Lorelai stopped in her tracks. "Evil child. Fine. Don't wear it. I don't care. But you will have to do something if you want them to notice you."

Rory nodded grimly. "After Monday, when I find out if Dean and I will be official broken up or not. I have a feeling we will. Even if he tries to be better, I can't see us together anymore."

Lorelai sat down next to Rory and wrapped her arm around Rory's shoulder. "You don't have to act strong. You can cry."

Rory shook her head. "I don't need to. This was coming; I just didn't want to see it. It was inevitable. Unavoidable. I just hope the town doesn't think they will need to comfort me or kick Dean out of town."

Lorelai shook her head. "They won't, because I won't let them."

"Thanks mom."

~~~Chloe's House~~~

Chloe closed her duffel bag and headed to the car. Marissa was sitting in the living room with Tristan and her parents.

"So, you guys are now the Scooby Gang? Would that make me Dawn? Because then Chloe would be Buffy."

Tristan laughed. "I will have to talk to Chloe and the others first. But that would make the most sense. But then who would Jess and I be? And would that make Rory Willow?"

Mr. Connelly chuckled. "A straight Willow at that. I don't know who would be fine with being Xander but then who would be Anya?"

Mrs. Connelly laughed. "I think we should just give up on this. I don't think you need to give yourselves new identities just because of a nickname for your group."

Tristan nodded. "Good idea. Well, I guess we should get going. We will see you on Monday." He ruffled Marissa's hair. "Later kid. Don't mess around with Chloe's room. I would hate to see her strangle you."

Marissa laughed. "I'll try."

Chloe stuck her head in the living room. "Time to get going. Later mom, dad. Love you lots. See you on Monday."

"Have fun." Her dad waved her off. Tristan hobbled out the door and into the car.

Chloe turned to face him. "Ok, lead on. You get to be my navigator."

Tristan laughed. "Gladly captain."

~~~Tristan's House~~~

"Wow!" Chloe could only gape at the sight of Tristan's house.

Tristan smirked. "It is no big deal. It is just to show off my parent's money. I wouldn't care if we had to live in a house like yours or worse. Actually, that would be nicer than this place. It isn't warm and lived in like your house."

Chloe stumbled out of the car. She grabbed her bags and Tristan's backpack. He walked over and stopped her. "Let Jeffrey get those. That is what he is paid to do. Plus, he loves any type of exercise. He would be more than glad to carry our stuff up to our rooms." Chloe nodded and left them next to the car.

Tristan rang the doorbell. As soon as his finger left the ringer, the door opened. Standing there was Jeffrey, the DuGrey's 40 something butler. He smiled. "It is nice to have to here Miss Connelly."

Chloe blushed. "Please, call me Chloe."

Jeffrey smiled. "Tristan said you would request that. Of course, we can't have you feeling uncomfortable." He saw the bags and went to retrieve them. "Show her the living room, library, and dining room Tristan. I think she will like to see them. And don't forget to show her the garden tomorrow morning."

Tristan mock saluted him. "Yes sir." Chloe giggled and followed Tristan into the foyer. Jeffrey closed to door behind him once he had all the bags in.

Chloe didn't hear anything around her. She was too busy staring at the spacious area. A set of stairs led up to the upper level on both sides of the room. A hallway in front of her led to the living room and beyond.

Tristan smirked. "Don't droll too much on the floor."

Chloe snapped out of it at that and the sound of Jeffrey laughing as he ascended the stairs to the right. "Not funny. Well, the man said to give me a tour. I am waiting."

Tristan chuckled. "As you wish my dear." He went a little ahead of her and started to show her the house.

~~~Luke's~~~

Rory dropped her bag on the couch in the apartment. She let herself fall next to it. Jess laughed. "Don't tell me you are tired already?"

Rory threw a pillow at him. "No. Just in need of rest. My mom can be very tiring."

Jess shook his head. "Well, you got blankets and a pillow. Oh, wait, no you don't. I have your pillow." He smirked.

Rory jumped up and tried to grab her pillow. "Jess, give it back!"

Luke entered the apartment to see Jess holding a pillow above Rory's head while she jumped, trying to get it. He came up behind Jess and grabbed the pillow. He handed it to Rory. "Play nice."

Jess smirked. "Just ruin my fun."

Rory smiled. "If he won't then I will."

Luke shook his head. "Go to bed. I have a diner to open in the morning."

Rory started to make her bed while Jess watched from his bed. It was going to be a very interesting weekend.

~~~Author's Note~~~

Wahoo! I have finished another chapter. I am proud of myself. I was only able to do this because work ended last week and school doesn't start until Wednesday this week. Oh, and tomorrow I take my driving test. *crosses fingers* Wish me luck! Ok, I can only update on weekends so don't expect a fast update. I am going to be very busy with school. Ok, remember to REVIEW! No one did for chapter 4 so I am worried no one is reading this anymore. Even if it is criticism, I will welcome it. Just don't say you think my story stinks. I don't want to hear that. It lowers my self-esteem and doesn't help me grow as a writer. If there is something that is off, then tell me. Ok, time to do other stuff. Bye for now. Oh, and sorry for all the Buffy references. I am reading a lot of those fan fics so they are stuck in my head.