Title: The ultimate curve ball

Author: Joy

A/N: I can only assume the people who still ask me if this is a Trory or a Rogan are attempting to see if I will flip out or have an aneurism. The perpetual migraine these days is a constant.

10. Controlled spontaneity

Rory and Tristan continued eating for a few minutes in silence getting to the end of the meal. Tristan nudged her, "So when do I get to pick on you for dating a guy that looks like me, talks like me, acts like me, and gives you a cute little nickname like me?"

"Never," Rory stated.

"Oh come on. Not even a little?" he asked. "I mean there isn't the slightest possibility that you are using Logan to deal with unresolved feelings for me?"

"I concede that there may be some resemblance physically but he is far better at banter. He can beat me at a debate...you can't," she stated.

He smirked, "You and I bantered about you and I dating. You have no idea if I could formally debate you... But as I recall on our walk I argued quite successfully my position, did I not?"

"Yes you did," she responded.

"I always kept up with you when we would banter, right?" he teased.

"Yeah."

"Now, Logan can beat you in a debate. You have conceded that point," he said setting up his next point.

"Yes. Where are you going with this?" she asked.

Tristan's face broke into the smirk she had come to associate with him. "Logan can beat you...I've beaten Logan in at least two if not three debates today alone. I imagine given further opportunity this trend would continue... So logically if Logan can beat you, and I can beat Logan then it would stand to reason that I could beat you!" he stated eloquently and triumphantly.

Rory sat for a moment, mouth slightly gaping. Tristan DuGrey had just won a debate on being able to debate her. All was not right with the world. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Beat me...I didn't even get a chance to argue...I am not this slow. Did you drug my tea? What just happened here?"

Tristan took her hand in his and raised her knuckles to his lips. "Now Mary," he murmured between tiny kisses on her hand, "I needed to prove my mind to you...we both know you like my body." Rory went to wrench her hand out of his but he held tight, "Kidding."

"Deep down you are still a smooth operator."

"I think my lack of dates would say differently."

Rory made a face, "Why didn't you date?"

Tristan looked at her, "Well there weren't that many girls around. Any girls I met at clubs or parties were club or party girls. I didn't want that scene again. I finally was living outside the bubble, I didn't want to go back."

"Quality over quantity. I tried to tell you about that in high school."

"The only quality girl I wanted was completely oblivious," he said pointedly. "Hey look, still the same quality girl after all these years."

"I hope I'm not too much of a disappointment?" she groaned.

Tristan intertwined their fingers, "You could never be a disappointment."

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Rory sighed and switched topics; "So...were you serious?"

"We have talked about a great many things in the last few hours. What topic are we on?"

"The internship."

Tristan sat for a moment. Not for a million years would he have guessed that this would be something she might consider. "Yeah Rory...I...that would...I would love that."

"You aren't making false promises are you?" she asked quietly.

"Well I didn't actually promise...but part of my job is doing public relations work. I know a few people at the different papers in the area. I know one reporter really well, who has gone with some of my friends to Afghanistan and back. Nothing like a war for overseas reporting," he tried to make light but truly hated the prospect of Rory ever going to a war-torn country...but it was her dream.

"So this could really happen?" she asked innocently.

"This could really happen," he agreed.

Rory sipped her tea a moment mulling something over in her own mind. She then nodded her head to herself and looked at the blond in front of her, "If I were to consider doing an internship for the summer in North Carolina I would need proof that I would enjoy it there."

Tristan let the tangent stand for the moment, "I think that would be wise. I would hate for you to be disappointed in the beautiful scenery, charming people, and general environment... I think you should definitely visit."

She nodded her head. "I agree...but when?" she said in a leading fashion.

He smiled, "This weekend would be good...On Sunday, Chapel Hill is having Apple Chill...it's a local festival. Very cool. Lots of fun... And the wisteria is still in bloom so Duke gardens will be even more beautiful."

Rory gave Tristan a look.

"What is that look for?" he asked.

"I was expecting you to say 'Right now'. Take me away from Logan...you know be spontaneous," she stated.

Tristan laughed, "If you want me to whisk you away from Logan that can be arranged in much closer proximity...Controlled spontaneity is a good fit for you."

"Hey, I will have you know I can be spontaneous...I jumped off a scaffolding in a formal dress."

"Was it collapsing?"

"No."

"Then why on earth would you do that?"

"It was fun...Be ready for anything."

"Oh dear god, he's actually brainwashed you," Tristan stated.

"Hey," Rory fussed. "That is a great memory."

"Yeah and no one can or should take that away from you, but part of the reason the memory is special is because it was an odd occurrence," he pointed out. "Look obviously you have been exposed to LDB or some other similar organization...I can only assume by Logan."

Rory said nothing, just looked oddly ticked.

Tristan looked at her hard before saying, "Okay let me tell you about my feelings about what they do since I know you're curious... Most of these guys are just like me...always the heir never a child. Life hurts and so they find expensive and often dangerous ways to numb their pain. Eventually they are just numb all the time and so it never seems like they are really living. Adrenalin rushes are one of the only ways they can feel anything. They become junkies to it. They build organizations around it. I lost my ways of dulling my pain and suddenly I found the real world, the one outside the bubble."

When Rory neither argued nor agreed the point, Tristan continued to talk. "Now if you are looking for someone to act out with I will leave you to play games with Logan. I am sure you will have fun on probation at some point...But I want you to at least understand that these guys think of stealing things (being small trinkets to boats), breaking into things to prove they could, doing dangerous stunts...all as a way to feel alive is a game that comes at high cost. They just don't have to pay it."

Rory's eyes met Tristan's in question, "Trinkets that get nicked cost maids their jobs...jobs they need. Nannies find drugs in kids' rooms and dump them only to get fired because now they know too much. Boats get sunk and take fishing communities down with them...The point is they never deal with the consequences. Someone else cleans up the mess for the sake of their thrill ride...I know. I did this for a long time. Forgive me if I am concerned seeing you willing you take that route."

Rory was still watching him carefully as he spoke so he continued, "I am not opposed to random acts of spontaneity. You know I very much enjoy living unscripted...this meal, being with you, supports that point quite well... but not like it used to be. Now my suggestion was spontaneous but also mindful of you and your life. If it was left to you, you would plan and plan and plan...we can't have that so we go with my thought...it leaves you enough time to organize a few things like telling your mom you're leaving the state, figuring which books to bring, and how the hell you are going to explain all this to Paris...but it doesn't give you enough time to chicken out since we would leave tomorrow." Rory gazed at him softly. Tristan smiled back at her, "I am here to work with your structure...not change you...just stretch you."

"I'm glad..." she admitted.

"I'm glad too... Now any comments on my soapbox commentary," he asked.

"I actually knew all that...but it was a good reality check...or more non-reality check," she stated.

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Rory bit her lip, "Before I agree to this weekend, I need to request a few things."

Tristan smirked, "This ought to be good if you are doing the nervous lip bite."

She blushed, "I need to see your phone."

"My phone...my cell phone?" he clarified.

"Yeah."

Tristan motioned to the waiter to remove the plates in front of them. Once that commotion was over he opened his satchel and brought out his laptop, an address book, and an appointment schedule. He then laid his phone down with the other items.

"What's all this?" Rory asked.

"My life...have at it...but you have to give me your cell phone number. Agreed?" he asked.

She took the phone from him, "I'll program it in."

"That's fine."

Rory scrolled through the numbers other than obviously female family members there were two or three girl's numbers in it. Tristan was completely un-phased by this seemingly invasion of privacy. "Don't forget the bag... I might hide something in there...like a little black book."

"I'll stick to this for now," she commented even as she opened the address book. There were more women's names in it but it seemed like a standard address book rather than a full on 'hook up' list. "It could be wherever you are staying."

He looked at her quizzically, "If I was interested in hooking up with someone on Yale's campus shouldn't I have it on me for reference or to add to?"

Rory continued to flip through the book until she found herself with her address at Star's Hollow listed. She didn't notice Tristan playing with his phone all the while.

"I'm in here," she stated.

"Of course...and now you're in here," he said holding up his phone to show her number no longer under Rory but 'Mary'.

"Why didn't you write me or something?"

He cleared his throat and actually blushed a little. "I wanted to make something of myself before I did something like that," Tristan explained.

"Are you done with that yet?" Rory echoed his earlier statement.

"What?"

"From where I stand you have already made something of yourself."

Tristan smiled softly at Rory, "Why don't you call Becca?

"Who?" she asked.

"One of the now three females not related to me in my speed dial."

"Ah...why am I doing this?"

He smirked, "You'll understand once you talk to her...I promise."

TBC...

Next chapter: We meet Becky (OC). It's slightly text heavy on Tristan's life in North Carolina and Rory's role as idealized woman.

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