Disclaimer: See prologue page.
Chapter 5: Tripping Inwards
Tristan and Rory made their way up the walk to Shelly and Jordan's house. Rory saw Shelly and Jordan bound out of the house to her.
Shelly hugged Rory. "Hey, girl."
Jordan smiled at Rory. "Hey."
Rory let a tear slip down her cheek and smiled. "Hey."
Shelly mouthed 'thank you' to Tristan and he nodded in response. Rory saw Jess making his way to her. She released herself from Shelly and ran to Jess, throwing herself into his arms.
"I got scared," she explained, crying.
Jess held Rory tightly. "I know. I know."
Tristan watched the exchange and took it as his cue to bow out. He knew Rory needed Jess right now.
"I'll see you guys later," Tristan stated.
Shelly and Jordan nodded and smiled. Shelly gave Tristan's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Thank you, Tristan," she said.
Tristan smiled. "No problem. Tell Rory I went home and I'll see her tomorrow."
Shelly nodded. "Will do."
Tristan turned around and walked away. He looked back and saw Jess, who was holding Rory, looking at him. Jess mouthed a 'thank you' and a nod to Tristan. Tristan smiled and waved.
He knew Rory would see him in the morning, but right now she needed Jess.
Jess and Rory sat on the porch swing later in the evening. After realizing Tristan had left and why, Rory had suggested that she and Jess go get ice cream. After they'd returned, they'd taken their Ben and Jerry's out onto the porch and had been there since.
"So, what did you think of him?" Rory asked.
"He went after you," Jess stated simply. "I have more respect for him than I did Dean."
Rory shifted uncomfortably. Jess rested his hand on hers. She looked at him and saw his trademark smirk and smiled back.
"I liked him," Jess responded. "It kind of made me sad, though."
"Why?" Rory asked, concerned.
"It made me realize that I'm not always going to be there for you," Jess replied. "Rory, you are my best friend, but I may not always be there for you. I'm glad he'll be there for you, though."
Rory smiled. "Me, too."
Rory scooted closer to Jess and rested her head on his shoulder. The sun had set hours ago, when she'd been with Tristan. Now, the stars were in clear view and she was with her best friend.
"So, you got into Harvard, huh?" Jess asked.
"Yeah," Rory replied. "I'm so excited. I'm finally getting out of my house."
"Huh," Jess responded. "How would you feel about having a friend join you there?"
Rory looked at Jess. "Excuse me?"
"You know I was Stars Hollow High's class salutatorian, right?" Jess asked.
Rory nodded. "Yeah."
"My grades were good enough for Harvard," Jess said. "I'm going to Harvard."
Rory's eyes widened. "You got in?"
Jess smiled. "I got in."
"Jess got into Harvard!" Rory exclaimed, jumping off of the swing. "Jess got in!"
Jess smiled. "I got in."
Rory threw her arms around Jess. "You got into Harvard!"
Jess hugged Rory back. "Jess got into Harvard."
Shelly and Jordan came out onto the porch. "What happened?"
Rory smiled at her sister. "Jess got into Harvard!"
Shelly gasped. "Jess got into Harvard?"
Rory nodded. "Yep."
"Jess got into Harvard!" Shelly screamed, hugging Jordan.
Jordan gave Jess a sympathetic smile as Rory and Shelly started dancing together.
"Jess got into Harvard!" Rory giggled.
Shelly nodded, putting her arm around Jess. "You can protect Rory from the evil that is our mother and father."
Rory laughed. "My very own knight in shining armor."
Jess shook his head. "Geez."
"Honey," Jordan called. "Why don't you and I go in and let Rory and Jess have some time."
Shelly looked at Jordan and mock pouted. "Fine."
Jess rolled his eyes. "Drama queen."
Shelly hugged Jess. "Congratulations, Jess."
"Thanks, Shelly," Jess replied.
Rory and Jess sat down on the porch swing again.
Rory smiled contentedly as she rested her head on Jess's shoulder. "Congratulations, pal"
Tristan walked up the driveway to Shelly and Jordan's house the next morning to meet Jordan. He saw Rory and Jess asleep on the porch swing and shook his head at the ice cream cartons sitting under them.
He quietly made his way into the house and saw Jordan pouring some coffee into a cup. Shelly looked dead as she took a sip of her own coffee.
"Wow, you look amazing," Tristan joked.
Shelly looked at him. "Thanks. I think I may become a model. Are Rory and Jess still on the front porch?"
Tristan nodded. "Looked like they had a party out there."
"Jess got into Harvard," Shelly stated, rubbing her eyes.
"Oh," Tristan replied. "That's good."
Shelly nodded, yawning. "It means she won't have to put up with mom and dad."
Tristan looked at his watch. "Let's hit it, Jordan."
Jordan nodded, grabbing his thermos. "We'll be home for lunch, okay?"
Shelly smiled and nodded as Jordan leaned in to kiss her. Tristan smiled, knowing Shelly would probably be taking a nap when they came back for lunch.
Tristan heard footsteps and saw Rory walk in through the front door. "Hey."
Rory smiled. "Hey. Were you going to leave without greeting me?"
Tristan shook his head. "I would never even dream of it."
Rory hugged Tristan. "Good morning."
Tristan kissed the top of Rory's head as he hugged her back. "Good morning to you."
"You'll be back for lunch?" Rory asked.
Tristan nodded. "Yeah, I will."
"Good," Rory responded. "Shelly, can I have some coffee?"
Shelly nodded and got up to get a cup for Rory. "Sure thing, sis."
"See you at lunch," Tristan said.
Rory smiled. "Okay."
Tristan kissed Rory on the cheek. "Bye."
Rory watched as Tristan and Jordan silently made their way out of the house. She sat down on a stool opposite Shelly.
"Looks like Rory's got a boyfriend," Shelly stated, setting a cup of coffee in front of her.
Rory smiled and took a sip of her coffee. She heard the front door open and close and then heard Jess muttering to himself as he walked into the kitchen.
"Hello, Harvard boy," Rory greeted. "Coffee?"
Jess nodded and Shelly handed him a cup. "I can't believe we slept on that stupid swing."
"Don't let Swingy hear you say that, you might hurt his feelings," Shelly said.
Rory rolled her eyes and drank her coffee. Jess drank his coffee and didn't respond to Shelly's talk of inanimate objects with feelings.
Rory's thoughts went to Tristan. She hoped he had seen the change in her. She was ready to have a relationship again. She was ready to fall in love. She hoped it could be with Tristan.
Tristan and Jordan sat in the truck on their way to work. Tristan's thoughts were on Rory. He noticed a change in her. She seemed different when she'd hugged him that morning. He knew things were different. He knew Rory was ready for this relationship. He knew she was ready to fall in love. What she didn't know was that Tristan was already in love with her.