a/n : This idea popped into my head when I was watching 'When Harry met Sally'.
Some things you probably would wanna know: It's summer holiday right after first year of college.
Everything so far has happened, except for the Rory-Dean thing.

Enjoy... (hopefully)

Disclaimer. I'm sure everybody knows but I'm gonna say it anyway: I do not own Gilmore Girls, just my fantasies

Love, maybe… - Chapter 7 – Being Honest

When Rory first woke up she had to think a couple of seconds to remember where she was. But then she heard someone's voice, a male voice.
'Good morning sunshine, did you sleep well. Off course you have, with me sleeping in the room'

That voice, those words, those bad, bad curtains and that horrible smell. It all came rushing back.
She was on her way to LA, to see Paris kick some people's butts in some debates. She stayed in a motel last night, where the food sucked and the stairs… well no need to elaborate on that one. And the most remarkable thing about the day was the company. None other than Tristan Dugrey, one of the most annoying people in high school, was driving with her to LA. Another remarkable thing was that Tristan didn't turn out to be the jerk that he used to be. Only in some 'special' occasions.

'Don't be so full of yourself Dugrey, you kept me awake more than asleep.' And when she said that she knew she could've expected the following…

'Mary, if you're so in love with me that the thoughts of me keep you awake all night, you should just tell me. I know these exercises, and after you're done with them, you fall right asleep.'

Rory smiled sarcastically 'Ha ha… you're hilarious Bible Boy. Let me rephrase, you kept me awake all night because of your incessant snoring and that phone call. Aaah so annoying! When I finally slept your phone rings, who was that anyway?'

'You pay me attention' Tristan tried to provoke more bantering. Rory decided wisely not to get into that one.

'All right, you're not a morning person. It was Paris on the phone last night, bugging me about time schedules and planned gas stops and stuff like that. All typical Paris interfering in somebody else's business.'

Rory yawned 'Oh off course, who else would call in the middle of the night.' She tried to get herself out of the bed, but failed all of her two attempts. 'Man, I'm too clean, I need coffee.'

And all of a sudden a cup of hot steaming coffee was held in front of her face. 'Here you go…' Tristan smiled '… I figured you would be cranky without your coffee so I got you some already. For both of our sakes.'

Rory quickly took the mug and took a sip or ten. 'Tris, you this was really sweet of you. You didn't mean to do this.'

'No I know, but I feel like I owe you. Because of me we had to walk last night, we got lost due to me and last but not least I dropped you on the stairs like a billion times. And it's not only for your sake…' he smiled a little '… if you don't get your coffee on time you get dangerous.'

'Yeah I kinda do get dangerous, but I still think it's sweet of you. And yesterday was a little your fault.' And while she put her already empty cup on the nightstand her hand hit slightly Tristan's. A little electric shock went through both of their bodies.

Tristan tried to cover his insecurities and said 'Sometimes I can be sweet too you know.'

'Now I do' Rory smiled.

'So 1, 2, 3, take my hand and come with me, because you look so fine, and I really wanna make you mine.'

'Roryyy, please stop singing.'

Rory smirked 'Why don't you like it? Oh, 4, 5, 6, c'mon and get your kicks, now you don't need that money when you look like that, do ya honey.'

Tristan was looking a little irritated 'No, I don't really enjoy you singing. Could you please STOP?'

'No sorry can't do that. Why don't you sing along with me: I said, are you gonna be my girl.'

'Please Ror, you're really driving me insane. And no I don't want to be your girl.'

'You're no fun Tristan.' Rory childishly said. 'Alright I'll quit singing, if you tell me a secret nobody else knows about you.'

Tristan tried to hide his smile, Rory and her coffee. 'Fine, I guess I have no choice right.'

'You do have a choice. I really like this song though.' Rory smirked.

'Fine, fine! I don't think I have a choice. I guess I'll go for the secret '

'I think you made a wonderful choice Mr. Dugrey' Rory said in some kind of game show host-voice.

'Why do I think I'm going to regret this then?'

'Well I don't know, I won't mock you or anything' Rory said with an evil glint in her eyes.

'No I bet you won't. So, are you going to ask me a question or do I have to come up with one on my own?'

Rory smiled evilly 'It's not going to be too easy, so you have to make one up on your own.'

'Fine, I'll think of one myself.' He paused a couple seconds for dramatic effect. 'I once borrowed my dads car… and I trashed it.' He tried to look shocked, but kind of failed when he saw Rory's face.

'Nooo, you're not supposed to do that. I meant a secret secret. That probably can be found in a police record.' She looked at him as if it was a normal thing to trash your dads car. 'You have to come up with a real secret. Or else I can start singing again you know.'

Tristan sighed, Rory wouldn't buy al his crap so he had to come up with something real. And why shouldn't he. He could trust Rory, she wouldn't tell. He just needed a deep breath and a couple of seconds to start.
'At boot camp… I was really alone.' He couldn't believe he was telling her his deepest secret, a secret he never told anybody else before. 'Most of the kids there gave me a really hard time. I was one of the rich kids that got sent to military school for pulling some stupid pranks. But there were a couple of real criminals there who made my life and the lives of a couple others a living hell. The thing that kept me standing in those times was thinking of you, and how life would be if I had the life that you have. A life with a mom who loves you more than anything, real friends and a dad who doesn't think you're just the heir to his throne.'

He held his breath now, he looked at Rory to see her reaction. Would she laugh, mock, cry, pity him. When he saw her face he let his breath that he was holding escape.

Rory couldn't say anything. She only could feel sorry for him. So that's what she wanted to tell him, that she was so sorry he had to go through all that crap. But she simply couldn't speak. And he could see that in her eyes, so there was no need for her to speak. He already knew what she meant.

They drove in silence for a couple of minutes just listening to the music when Tristan said something.
'Why did you agree to me coming with you?'

'I'm sorry?' Rory asked confused

'Why did you agree on me coming with you in the car all the way to LA? I mean, you didn't really like the idea first but then you agreed anyway. Why?'

Rory didn't know what to say for a moment, for she didn't really know why she did what she did. 'I guess because what you said about Paris, and that she wouldn't let us drive together if she thought we were going to kill each other. And uuh, I guess I was curious to know if you had changed or not.'

'Really, that's it?' Tristan looked at her suspiciously.

Rory hesitated, should she tell him. Not that is was such a big deal, but did he need to know. Could she trust him? He had just trusted her.

'Ror, I know that's not the full reason. I mean it's reason enough if you don't want to tell me, but there's more. You know it and I know it. You don't need to tell me, I'm just saying, you can if you want to.'

'Thanks Tris. I know that, and I appreciate that.' She started to concentrate on the road again, and Tristan didn't expect her to say anything further, until he suddenly heard a soft voice.

'You're right, there is a little bit more. It's nothing big, nothing big at all. But it is a reason.' Rory took a breath. 'My mom kind of ordered me to go and she didn't want to see me back home after the conference we're going was over. She also kind of threatened me to better take the mystery passenger.'

Tristan smiled, in a little more than a day he already heard a lot about Lorelai and her crazy ways of handling stuff. 'Why would she do that?'

'Because she I afraid I'm going to be alone for the rest of my life or something.' Rory smiled at Tristan a little uncomfortable and not quite convincing that she actually thought it was funny.

'And why would your mom think that? You're beautiful, you're funny and nice and sweet. Why would she think you're going to be alone for the rest of your life?'

Rory blushed a little when he said that, he however seemed not to have that problem (in her eyes though) 'Well, I had this relationship, we had fun and I think I loved him, but then he left me without saying goodbye and returns a year later to tell me he loves me and expects me to drop everything and come with him.' She couldn't believe she was telling him all this. She looked at him to see if he was mocking her or something but he really seemed to listen. 'Since then I haven't had a boyfriend and now my mom thinks I'm going to be an old cat-lady if I don't get out more. So that's why she ordered me to take whoever was sent by Paris. Except if it was be a big biker filled with tattoos or something like that.'

Tristan was silent for a couple of seconds, if he would ever find the bastard… 'Well, I'm really sorry about this idiot. You seem to attract them, first bag boy and then this guy…' he said teasingly '…but I'm seriously sorry for what he did. And I think your mom is right. I'm glad she threatened you to take me to LA. Remind me to thank her for that when we get back.'

Rory smiled, glad he didn't make fun of her and really listened to her. 'I'll remind you. I'm glad you're with me though, or else I wouldn't have known you really changed. I never would've thought that you would actually listen to me once and not mock me or that you would tell me something very personal. You're becoming a better friend every second you know.'

'Don't be so sentimental Mare' Tristan said. But he thought it was really sweet of her though, and really glad she saw that he changed.

I won't be able to update for almost two weeks, cuz I'm going skiing! But I'll update as soon as I'm back

I hope you enjoyed... and you will review... please... pretty please with sugar on top.
xxX Hanneke
And Heather - Thanks for the grammar-check