Disclaimer: Story mine, show not, orginal characters not, my characters mine (lol must have taken a genius to figure that one out)
At chilton
Rory is standing at her locker as usual, trying to open the stubburn thing but with no success. As she continues to pull on it time and again, she starts to try to cokes it with her words.
RORY: stupid locker...I hate you...I was just kidding, I don't really hate you, I love you, your a wonderful locker, now will you open?...please?
Tristan, whom had walked over at the beginning of Rory's rant, started laughing at brunette and her locker that seemed to refuse to ever open for her.
TRISTAN: wow, Mary, you're never going to be able to open this thing without me are you?
Rory jumped and spun around with surprise and embarassment, just noticing that the blond king of the school had been standing behind her as she talked to herself.
RORY: geez, don't do that
TRISTAN: oh sorry, need a little help?
RORY: no, I'm fine by myself thank you
She was still trying to open it with no success, Tristan just shakes his head, still gently laughing at the almost everyday occurance.
TRISTAN: if you say so
As her starts to walk away Rory finally lets go of the locker and gives it one final glare before turning in the direction Tristan had began to walk.
RORY: well maybe a little help would be nice
He slowed to a halt, the smirk seeming a part of his everyday features. He stood there for a moment thinking about whether to help her out after all, though he knew there was never really a question of it. So he slowly turned around, the smirk still evident on his face.
TRISTAN: I thought you'd see it my way
Rory just rolls her eyes and turns back around to where she is again facing her locker but taking a step to the side so that Tristan can get by.
RORY: whatever
TRISTAN: there you go my lady, locker opened
He comments after having hit the locker only once, not hard enough to do any damage or even to hurt his hand, though some other guys may have had a slight sting afterwards.
RORY: why thank you kind sir
PARIS: what is this, have you two been sucked back into the renaissance time?
TRISTAN: I don't know Paris, but if we were and your talking to us, then wouldn't that mean that you came along?
PARIS: very funny tristan
TRISTAN: I thought so
RORY: me too
Paris threw Rory an evil glare that was meant to be a warning but which just made Rory and Tristan start to laugh, making Paris glare even harder at the both of them.
TRISTAN: well maybe we should get to class before someone gets hurt
Paris rolles her eyes and finally stomps away, mumbling something about teenage immaturaty these days.
TRISTAN: well that was interesting
RORY: isn't a conversation with Paris always?
TRISTAN: good point
They went silent for a while as they made their way through the small crowds, always assembled in the hallway at any given time, in order to be on time for their first class.
TRISTAN: so how are you doing?
RORY: what?
TRISTAN: with the whole Jess thing
RORY: oh, that, he apoligized so we're good
Tristan put on a fake smile, not hard after years of having to trick people of thinking he felt one way when usually feeling the total opposite.
TRISTAN: that's good
RORY: did you like, say anything to him?
TRISTAN: why do you ask?
RORY: well he was acting kind of strange, like he did something he really regreted
TRISTAN: well he did get in a fight with his girlfriend
He said his last line while flinching, even having to think of Rory as someone elses girlfriend was not exactly a pleasentry.
RORY: I don't mean like that, he was acting like he did something else, something he would NEVER want to do. I mean we've gotten into fights before but he's never been like THAT
TRISTAN: well I might have
RORY: what did you say?
TRISTAN: just something to make him rethink something he said
RORY: well thank you for whatever you said, and for coming to see that I was ok
Tristan shrugged, remembering that though he may have went to check on her, she had wanted him to leave though she hadn't straight out said it in those words exactly.
TRISTAN: it was nothing
RORY: no, it was really nice, it's not like you were obligated to help me but you did anyway
TRISTAN: yeah well, what are friends for right
RORY: friends...I like that
TRISTAN: good
They had long before reached their classroom and had just stood to the side of the door talking, now they finally enter the classroom together and take their seats
The next two months go by basically the same, Rory go's to Luke's for breakfast where she see's Jess, then she goes to school and hangs out with Tristan and Paris, then she comes home, gets changed and goes to the diner to be with Jess, and then she goes to be with her mom or Lane.
A week later Rory gets up as usual, goes to Lukes and then off to school but today at school...doesn't exactly go as normal
RORY: Tristan hey
TRISTAN: hey
RORY: so did you finish that project for U.S History? It was really tough
TRISTAN: yeah i finished it
The warning bell rings and a few individuals start scurrying off to class. Rory watches them for a moment and then shrugs and turns back to Tristan.
RORY: well I guess I should get to class, I'll see you at lunch?
TRISTAN: actually I have something I need to do during lunch but I need to talk you after school ok?
RORY: yeah ok see ya
TRISTAN: yeah
Tristan said the last thing more to himself than to Rory.
Rory finally finishes with all her classes for the day and walks outside. She sits down on the bench waiting for Tristan and looks around, watching the rest of her peers pairing off, seldom ever would their be someone walking by themselves, and walking to their expensive cars that anybody else would find amazing but which the owners saw as just another sign of their wealth. As Rory is absorbed in all of this, Tristan walks up behind her smiling at how oblivious she is to anything but her own thoughts at the moment.
TRISTAN: hey
Rory jumps at the sound of the familar voice behind her, waking her from her own deep thoughts.
RORY: god, what is with you and the sneaking up?
TRISTAN: sorry
Though it didn't sound very sincere to Rory considering she could hear the laughter that Tristan was subtley trying to keep from coming but she decided to ignore it.
RORY: so anyway what is it that we need to talk about?
TRISTAN: can we get away from the crowd?
RORY: yeah sure, umm..how about under that tree over there?
She suggested pointing to an old willow tree set away from everything else. It looked like a nice place to sit and read sometime without being disturbed Rory thought. Tristan looks over and nods before they walk over and sit down beneath the seemingly protective limbs.
RORY: ok so spill
TRISTAN: actually I'm not really sure how to say this
Neither one of them say anything for about five minutes, making Rory even more curious as to what needs to be discused.
RORY: you realize that if I'm not home after so long Jess is going to get worried
Tristan still doesn't say anything, he just keeps looking at his hands. Rory is getting more and more worried by Tristans actions, he never has trouble saying whatever he wants to say regardless of how it sounds.
RORY: Tristan...what is it?...what's wrong?
TRISTAN: Rory, we can't be friends
RORY: what?
She asked though she hadn't really processed what had just been said. It had come as a shock and it took Rory a few minutes before the reality of the situation sank in and she was able to find what she really wanted to ask. Tristan, knowing that Rory didn't even know what she was saying, didn't answer her previous question, she wasn't even listening right now and he definitely did not want to have to repeat it.
RORY: Why?
TRISTAN: we just can't
RORY: Tristan, I don't know what's wrong but whatever it is we can still be friends
TRISTAN: there's nothing wrong Rory, I just can't do this anymore
RORY: what, can't be my friend! Why! And don't tell me "just because", I won't except that, I want an actual reason, the REAL reason.
Rory is so shaken by the whole thing that she is on the verge of tears, not understanding what she did that made Tristan respond this way.
TRISTAN: fine! you want the REAL reason rory, i'll tell you! I can't stand being your friend anymore, that's not what I want to be to you!
Rorys soon-to-be tears subside and she just sits there for a moment, a little shocked and confused by Tristans answer.
RORY: w-what? I don't understand?
TRISTAN: well whether you understand it or not, there ya go..that's the reason Rory, the REAL reason
Rory is trying to keep from crying again, forgetting her confusion in a last attempt to salvage the friendship that seemed to be all too easily slipping away.
RORY: but Tristan
TRISTAN: don't Rory, please don't make this harder then it already is
Not being able to hold the tears back any longer Rory puts her hands to her ears and starts to shake her head as though if she shakes it hard enough than the previous conversation might come back out and disappear and make everything ok again.
RORY: stop...please stop...whatever I did, I'm sorry, just ple
Tristan cuts her off before she can finish, he's so upset himself because of how upset he's making Rory that he can't stand to hear anymore about it.
TRISTAN: Rory! God you don't understand, it's not your fault...it's just how it has to be
RORY: I won't accept that
TRISTAN: you have to...I'll see ya around Rory
He gets up slowly so as not to fall back down from the exhaustion the conversation had placed on him. He felt like if he tried to move to do anything too quick then he wouldn't be able to hold his own weight.
RORY: what, not even gonna leave me with my nickname?
TRISTAN: it's easier that way, no more sitting together at lunch, no more phone calls...no more nicknames
RORY: I hate you
She said it barely above a whisper but to Tristan it felt like the words were stabbing him, it couldn't have hurt any more than if she had actually used a knife. He knew what she said, he knew all too clearly, but he couldn't stop himself from whispering
TRISTAN: what?
RORY: I hate you!
She shouted at him while getting up and running to her car, which her mother had bought her so she could stop taking the bus, leaving a destroyed Tristan still standing under the shade of the willow. She sits behind the wheel, just crying for about twenty minutes before she's able to drive.
When Rory finally gets back to Stars Hollow she runs stright home but instead of getting changed and going to Lukes as she normally would, she just falls on her bed and countinues to cry. She knows that people are probably worried about her, it's already 4:30, but she just can't face them right now, they'll want to know all about what happened and she just isn't ready to talk about it. Besides...it will make them all mad at Tristan and she doesn't want that, no matter what she said to him, she doesn't hate him, she was just so angry with him.
After a few minutes of silence except for the faint sound of crying, someone comes running through the front door
JESS: Rory!
He yelled, his voice filled with concern, scared that he might find she wasn't there, but he got no answer
JESS: Ror!
He looks around the living room only for a second before running into her room
JESS: Rory! Where have you been, your mom and I have been all over this town searching for you, your mom's driving up to Chilton right now looking for you!
RORY: I'm sorry
JESS: Rory you scared us
RORY: I said I'm sorry!
Jess was confused by Rory's sudden outburst and wondered what had made her so upset and irratable.
JESS: Rory are you ok?
RORY: do I look like I'm ok!
JESS: you've been crying, what happened?
RORY: nothing
JESS: Rory, what is it? You can tell me
RORY: I know I can
JESS: then what happened? Who made you cry?
RORY: Tristan
JESS: what!
RORY: just forget it ok?
JESS: no! What did he do! You two were close friends
RORY: yeah well not anymore!
Up until this point Rory had been whispering all of her answers, knowing that she couldn't trust herself to stay in one piece. Jess stayed silent for a long time, not wanting to upset her further
RORY: I-I'm sorry Jess, it's just too much for me to handle, I just lost one of my best friends
JESS: why?
RORY: I'm not even sure, I just want to think ok?
JESS: ok
RORY: so I'll see you tomorrow?
JESS: of course
Now they were both whispering everything, almost as if they raised their voice above that than the room would open and swallow them. A tiny smile was starting to form on Rory's lips after Jess' last response, she looked up at him and silently thanked him.
RORY: bye
JESS: bye
He gave her a kiss on the head before getting up and leaving her in silence once again.