Disclaimers and summary: See chapter one.

The seventh stranger
Chapter 10: In the wake of such a lonely crowd

Rory woke up in the strange room, the sun flickered through the curtains, and she looked around and realized that she was alone, that Tristan had left her alone, in Hartford. She checked the time on her watch and calculated that she still had a couple of hours before her first class but to be there in time, she would have to either call her mom or her grandparents. She didn't find either situation appealing because they would raise too many questions as to why she was in a hotel room with a boy… She decided to figure the matter out in the shower.

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Refreshed by the shower, Rory was trying to comb her hair with her fingers when the smell of coffee hit her nostrils. She looked up and saw Tristan sitting on the unmade bed, his back resting on the wall as he held a tray with four cups of coffee. She smiled slightly, "I thought you left me to find my way back to Yale."

Tristan looked at her seriously, "I would never do that Rory. I brought you here, and I'll bring you back, are you trying to ruin my reputation?"

She sat on the bed beside him and smirked while she replied teasingly, "Isn't that what you usually do? Spend the night with a girl and leave before she wakes up and asks for more?"

Tristan chuckled, "Well, most of the time, but I didn't have my way with you yet."

Rory blushed and muttered through her teeth, "As if it would ever happen out of your dreams."

Tristan's face got closer to Rory's and he murmured in her ear, "I brought breakfast and coffee, shouldn't I get a reward?"

Rory eyed the coffee and brushed her lips to Tristan's ear, sending shivers inside his and her body, she whispered seductively, "What exactly would you have in mind?"

Swiftly, Tristan was on top of Rory as he made her lie down, he took hold of both of her hands and held them in position over her head then leaned his face close to hers whispering huskily, "A shower. Me, washing all of you, and then you doing the same for me."

Rory tried to move but his hold was too strong, she decided to play the game along, "Sorry, I just came out of the shower… You'll have to do give another suggestion then."

Tristan pressed his body against Rory's and raised his eyebrows suggestively, "A hot and wild make-out session then?"

Rory let out a laugh and said, "I'd rather starve!"

Tristan let go of her, took a cup of coffee and drank it under Rory's eyes. She said feigning indignity, "That is so cruel, to deprive a Gilmore from a morning coffee!"

He leaned closer to Rory, their lips almost touching, "You said it yourself; you'd prefer to starve, your choice, not mine."

Rory acted in an almost panic state, "Please! Just one, please!"

Tristan feigned to be thinking very hard as he drank the coffee, he licked his lips. "A kiss for a coffee?"

Rory got up to gather her belongings, certain that she had the upper hand on their game. "Not gonna' happen!"

Tristan's finished his coffee, squashed the empty cup and opened the door to leave. "I'll be waiting in the car, hurry."

She saw that he left the three left over cups of coffee, Rory took one, happy that she had won.

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The car ride was silent; Rory looked at Tristan and wondered what she did to make him mad. All of his features were tense and all she wanted was to find a way back to that morning's playful mood. She tried to talk to him but every time she did, he cranked the radio volume, a nice way to shut her up. She tried to take hold of his hand but he passed it through his hair. She even turned off the radio and asked him what was wrong and again, he quieted her by saying that he was through talking. For the rest of the ride, Rory kept looking out the window, as she fought the tears threatening to fall.

"We're here." Rory looked at Tristan and saw that he was staring straight ahead of him.

Seductively, she asked, "Are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?"

He still avoided to look at her, "No, but I'm sure you'll be relieved to be away from me."

She unclasped her seatbelt and sat more comfortably to face him. "What are you talking about Tristan? One minute we were having fun and the next, you're mad and won't talk to me! I want to understand what I did wrong."

Finally he looked at Rory, "Nothing, it's me. I disgust you."

Rory's eyes were now wide open, "Where the hell did that come from?"

"Last weekend, you were more than willing to kiss me. I almost strangled you and I told you secrets that I've never told anyone. Now, you won't kiss me anymore."

Rory put both of her hands on each side of his face and murmured, "You don't disgust me. In fact, I think I like you a little too much for my own sanity." Before Tristan could process what she had said, her lips were on top of his. Tristan's hands took hold of her waist to bring her closer to him.

He forced the entrance of her mouth awakening a passion he had forgotten he could feel long ago. He left her mouth to trail soft kisses down her neck and he felt her hands gripping on his neck to bring him closer. He smirked as he sat back on his seat and heard her groan in frustration "Does that mean I can take you out on a date? Tomorrow?"

"I can't."

Tristan, annoyed to no end at that point mimicked her voice, "I like you a lot Tristan but I can't date you. I wish we could stay friends though. You know maybe do each other's nails and hair. Yada, yada, yada. I know the story Rory, I invented it."

Rory kissed his cheek softly then whispered in an angry tone, "First, don't ever put words into my mouth again, I can speak for myself thank you very much." She opened the door, "I can't tomorrow because every Friday night, I'm held against my will for the rest of my life at my grandparents. What I was about to say before you so rudely cut me off, is that I would love to go on a date with you, Saturday!"

She climbed out the car as fast as she was able to. Tristan smirked as he opened his window, he screamed, "I'll pick you up at seven, hun!"

She turned around smiling in acknowledgment.