Disclaimer: See prologue page.
Chapter 6: Head Spinning
Two weeks had passed since Rory had run. Jess had met a few girls when he and Rory had gone to town one day. He'd gone out with a few, but nothing serious had happened. Rory and Tristan had become inseparable.
Tristan was always with Rory. When someone saw Rory, they knew that not far behind was Tristan, and vice versa. Shelly and Jordan had watched the romance blossom and were reminded of how similar it was to theirs.
Shelly and Jordan were sitting on the porch on the July fourth watching the fireworks. Tristan had taken Rory to a fireworks show and Jess had tagged along.
"Have you noticed the way he humors her coffee addiction? You should be more like him," Shelly joked.
Jordan rolled his eyes and smiled at Shelly. "Only because he's as much of a coffee nut as she is. I don't see why you don't just drink water once in awhile. Something that's actually good for you."
"Pish posh," Shelly responded, waving her hand at him. "Coffee's good for me."
"It's rotting away your insides," Jordan stated.
"You sound like Luke," Shelly retorted. "He used to always tell me that I needed hot tea or water. He sometimes wouldn't even give me coffee."
"Good man," Jordan said.
Shelly looped her arm through Jordan's and rested her head on his shoulder. "At least Tristan's good to her."
Jordan nodded. "Yeah."
"They are so much like us," Shelly said.
Jordan nodded again. "But their summer's going to end."
Shelly was silent and thought back to the smile that had become a permanent fixture on her sister's face. She knew her mother and father would never approve of Tristan. They didn't even give Jordan a chance.
Shelly sighed and kissed Jordan's cheek. "I love you."
Jordan looked at Shelly and smiled. "I love you, too, Shells."
Rory sat next to Tristan on the tailgate of his truck. Jess had met some girl named Leah and they had gone off somewhere. Rory could only imagine what would happen.
"I can't wait," Rory whispered.
"Have you ever seen fireworks, Ror?" Tristan asked.
Rory shook her head. "Never up close. Mom and Dad always took us out to some party on the fourth. Shelly and I would manage to find a TV somewhere to watch the fireworks. After Shelly left, I had to fend for myself and Mom would never let me leave her side."
Tristan put his arm around Rory. "Well, then you're going to love this."
Rory smiled and leaned against Tristan. "I hope so."
Rory looked in front of her and saw Jess and Leah sitting on the grass talking. Jess turned around and looked at her. He rolled his eyes, an indicator that Leah wasn't really his type.
"I guess Jess isn't having a good time," Tristan stated.
Rory shook her head. "Nope. He's probably wondering how someone could be so stupid."
Jess said something to Leah and almost ran over to Rory and Tristan. "How in the world can someone be so stupid?"
Tristan looked from Jess to Rory. "What planet do you two come from?"
"Jess and I just think alike, that's all," Rory responded.
"Will you please let me sit here with you?" Jess pleaded.
Rory laughed and made room for Jess on the tailgate. "Here."
Jess sat down next to Rory. "I asked her what her favorite band was."
"Oh, dear," Rory said.
"Well," Jess mocked. "I am so glad that Backstreet Boys are getting back together."
Tristan looked at Jess. "No way."
"Yes way," Jess replied. "She thinks Jimmy Eat World is part of the Communist Party. She honestly thought that Moby Dick was a porno flick."
"Jimmy Eat World? Communist?" Rory asked. "Oh, God. How in the world did you find that one?"
"Don't ask me," Jess responded.
Rory took Tristan's hand and looked at him. "Please tell me you know Jimmy Eat World."
"I know Jimmy Eat World," Tristan assured her. "I've been listening to it for three weeks straight."
"Oh, the best part," Jess started.
Rory buried her face in her hands. "I don't know if I want to hear this."
"Well, like, if I could be any fictional character," Jess mimicked. "I think I'd be Dr. Seuss."
Tristan stared at Jess. "She did not say that."
Jess nodded. "She did. I excused myself before I could hear anything else."
"DuGrey," Tristan heard.
Jess, Rory and Tristansaw a tall red-head walking towards them.
She stopped in front of Tristan. "Is this her?"
Tristan smiled and nodded. "This is her."
"I'm a her," Rory said to Jess.
"You're a her," Jess responded.
Tristan stood up, taking Rory with him. "Rory, this is my friend Joie Wrenner."
Joie smiled at Rory and extended her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Rory shook her hand. "Likewise."
"I've heard a lot about you. Apparently you stole his heart," Joie stated.
Rory smiled. "That's me, alright. This is my best friend Jess Mariano."
Joie looked Jess up and down. "Communist boy?"
"How would you know that?" Jess asked.
"I am an unfortunate member of Leah's family," Joie replied. "The unfortunate twin sister. I guess when God was giving out brains he forgot to give her some."
Jess laughed. "I guess so."
"Let me apologize for her stupidity," Joie said. "She skipped English class to go hang out with the football team."
Rory and Tristan watched Joie and Jess talking. Rory looked at Tristan and he shrugged. Joie looked from Rory to Tristan already knowing what they were thinking.
"Want to go watch the fireworks with me?" Joie asked. "I promise my sister won't be there."
Jess looked at Rory. "You okay?"
Rory nodded. "I'll call you if I'm in dire need of sarcasm."
Jess nodded. "I'll see you later."
"Bye," Rory and Tristan said.
They walked off and Rory looked at Tristan. "Please tell me you didn't plan that."
"Swear," Tristan replied.
"Good," Rory said. "When are they starting?"
"It's starting to get dark, so, soon," Tristan responded.
Rory leaned into Tristan again. "Wonderful."
When the fireworks started, Rory and Tristan had chosen to sit on a blanket in the grass. After nearly an hour, they'd opted to go make out instead of watching.
They'd found a spot away from everyone else in a darker area. Rory had initiated the kissing and had even pulled Tristan on top of her.
"I love you," Rory whispered into his ear.
Tristan looked into Rory's eyes. "I love you, too."
Rory smiled and started kissing him again.
Jess and Joie were sitting in the grass talking and watching the fireworks. Jess had seen Rory and Tristan walk off and knew what was happening.
"Guess they're enjoying themselves," Joie observed. "They're not back yet."
Jess nodded. "Rory knows how to have a good time."
"Big party girl?" Joie asked.
"Not in the least," Jess responded. "She's just… headstrong, I guess, is the word I'm looking for."
Joie nodded. "Oh."
"Ever since Dean I've worried about her, but I shouldn't because I know now that she can take care of herself," Jess said.
"I heard that story," Joie responded. "What an ass."
"That was only one of the words I used to describe him," Jess said. "Tristan's good to her, though."
"Yeah," Joie said. "He's a good guy."
Jess smiled. "You can scoot closer if you want. I promise not to bite unless you want me to."
Joie giggled and scooted closer to Jess. "It's so beautiful out here."
Jess nodded. "Yeah."
Rory lay next to Tristan watching the fireworks. "Tristan?"
"Yeah?" Tristan asked.
"If you still feel the same about me at the end of the summer --" she started.
"I will," Tristan cut her off.
Rory sighed. "Seriously, Tristan."
Tristan nodded. "Okay, Rory."
Rory took a deep breath. "If you still feel the same about me at the end of the summer, don't let me go to Harvard."
Tristan looked at Rory and saw how serious she was. "Really?"
Rory nodded. "Yes, Tristan."
Tristan put his arm around Rory. "I won't let you go down the street if I still feel the same."
Rory smiled and buried her face in Tristan's chest. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Rory," Tristan responded.
Rory smiled at the words. She felt safe. She hoped -- prayed -- Tristan would still feel the same about her at the end of the summer.