Disclaimer & Summary : See chapter 1.

The Seventh Stranger
Chapter 12: Can't tell the real from reflection

Gabrielle took one last look at Rory before she dropped the mascara stick, "Wow! Rory, you really look stunning tonight."

Rory looked at the expensive red dress Gabrielle had insisted that she wear and seemed uncertain, "I appreciate all the work that you did but, I really can't wear this."

Gabrielle took the brush on the desk to make a last adjustment to Rory's hair, "Why not?"

Rory turned around and watched her full size reflection in the mirror, "I can get clumsy sometimes, and I really don't want to ruin your dress."

Gabrielle waved Rory off, "Come on Rory, I'm giving it to you, it looks better on you than on me."

Rory turned to face back her companion, "But this is formal, and we agreed to get something semi-casual, semi-formal."

Gabrielle laughed as she stated, "Well, you have a first date with my brother, believe me, this is semi-formal."

Rory's eyes widened, "What would be a formal dress then?"

Gabrielle laughed, "You don't want to know but if things go well between the two of you, I'm afraid you'll find out soon enough." Rory opened her mouth to speak but Gabrielle shut her up by adding, "Plus with Tristan being Tristan, he'll do everything in his power to impress you."

Rory sat down carefully trying not to ruin the dress and blushed furiously "I would be impressed with pizza and coffee."

Gabrielle lay on her back and whispered softly, "Maybe you should tell him that. You should have seen the date he had planed for you six years ago." A tender smile covered her features as stars filled her eyes, "I remember that week, I was twelve and he went through every little detail. He was a nervous wreck, all the evening was planned to impress you and make you like him just a little, but he couldn't gather the courage to ask you out. I knew then that I wanted to have someone care about me as much as he liked you."

Rory bit her bottom lip uncomfortable with the conversation, "Why are you telling me this?"

Gabrielle stood up with a devilish smile, "Because you said 'yes' this time, and I just wonder what he'll plan this time to impress you.'

&&&

Tristan stood in front of Rory's suite, he felt like a nervous wreck, his hands were wet but he breathed deeply and raised his fist to knock on the door.

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Gabrielle ran out the room to answer the door she passed by the living area and opened the door hurriedly. She feigned disappointment at seeing Tristan, "Oh! It's just you." She walked back in the living area to sit on a couch and asked nonchalantly, "What are you doing here on a Saturday night?"

He walked inside uninvited and kicked the door behind him; he looked around the room and declared cockily as he sat beside her, "I have a date with Rory."

She feigned shock and sadness she reached out a 'consoling' hand, "But she left about an hour ago, said something along the line that she had to meet her mom." Tristan's face fell and disappointment clouded his eyes. Gabrielle burst in laughter and exclaimed as she slowly stood up, "You're way too easy, big brother."

A devilish smile appeared on Tristan's feature as he stood up, "And you are asking for trouble little sis." Slowly, he walked toward Gabrielle while she backed up with laughter filling her eyes, "And why would you play such a sick trick on me?"

Gabrielle realized that she was almost cornered and whispered, "To help you take your nervousness away."

Tristan more close asked self-assured, "And pray tell, why would I be nervous?" He took a step further, trapping Gabrielle just like he wanted, "Now, how will I punish you for playing tricks on me?"

Gabrielle realized that she was trapped between Tristan and the wall. A smirk appeared on her lips before she screamed wildly, "Rory! Help me! I'm being attacked by a cave man!"

Rory ran into the room just in time to see brother and sister fighting playfully. Tristan took one look at Rory and let go of Gabrielle, his eyes devoured the beautiful sight in front of him. Rory blushed under the intensity of his stare and whispered, "It was Gab's idea, but if it's too dressed up, I can go change."

Since Tristan wasn't moving, Gabrielle pushed him a little to make him advance. Almost tripping, he heard a chuckle from behind him, putting an imaginary post-it to get back at Gabrielle before advancing toward Rory. He took Rory's hand to kiss it softly, "Actually, you're perfect."

&&&

"What is the name of this restaurant?"

Tristan opened Rory's door to gallantly help her climb out of the car, "The View."

A valet took the keys out of Tristan's hand. Rory followed Tristan's lead to walk to the front entrance, "And let me guess, the restaurant got its name because it is situated on the top level giving it an exquisite view."

Tristan opened the door to let Rory enter and followed her shortly after, he put his left hand on the small of her back to guide her gently. "That among other reasons."

They stopped in front of a glass elevator and Tristan pressed the call button. Rory looked at her surroundings with wide eyes, admiring the beauty of the whole place, "What other reasons?"

The elevator slowly came to a halt in front of them, the doors opened slowly, "You'll find out soon enough, Milady." He let her get inside the elevator first and followed closely.

&&&

The elevator's doors opened and Rory's breath caught in her throat at the view in front of her. The walls were all made of glass; the sundown over New York City illuminated the crowd in the restaurant with a soft orange light. She whispered, "It's beautifully amazing."

A maitre d'hôte welcomed them before Tristan could answer Rory, "Good evening, may I ask under which name the reservation was made?"

"Tristan DuGrey"

He looked inside an open book and graciously checked a name with his golden pen, he then retrieved two leather bond menus from two different piles, "Miss, Mr. DuGrey, follow me please."

Tristan put his hand on Rory's back making sure that she was walking a little bit in front of him. The maitre d'hôte stopped in front of a table, beside the glass wall. Tristan pulled a chair, motioning Rory to sit down and he, himself walked around the table to sit down. The maitre d'hôte distributed the menus, "Your waiter should be with you promptly, enjoy your evening."

Rory opened her menu and looked at the different kind of plates the restaurant had to serve when another man, all dressed in black approached the table. "Good evening, welcome to 'The View'. My name is Roberto and I'll be at your service tonight. Would you like something to drink while you take time to look at the menu?"

Tristan looked at Rory and asked, "Do you prefer Red or White?"

Rory was a little confused, but after a little pondering she answered shyly, "Red."

Tristan ordered one bottle of red wine. Roberto left to seek the wine and Rory excused herself, "Tristan, do you know where the washrooms are?"

He pointed to the direction they came from, "You'll find them near the elevators."

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Gabrielle was watching a movie as she waited for her date to pick her up when the phone rang. She put the movie on hold and answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Gabrielle! I don't know what to do, I feel out of place!"

"Rory?"

"Yes, Rory! Who did you think it is?"

"Did my brother do something stupid yet?"

"No! Everything is perfect."

"Why aren't you with Tristan instead of over the phone with me then?"

"We are at this incredible restaurant…"

"…Which one?"

"The View."

"How many turns have you made yet?"

"Turns?"

"Forget about that; just tell me what the problem is."

"See, I got my menu and there's no prices marked anywhere. How can I know if I can afford any of the food I'll eat?"

"Rory, don't worry about the bill. Tristan will take care of it."

"But what if I don't want to cost him too much?"

"Ask him to lend you his menu."

"Why?"

"Well, it's kind of sexist, but the man gets the menu with the prices while the woman just has to enjoy the food. You should go back."

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks Gab."

"Rory, do you remember where your table was?"

"Yeah, straight ahead."

"You might want to go slightly to your right when you come out of the washroom." Gabrielle hung up, as Rory stared at her cell phone confused.

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As Rory approached the table, Tristan stood up to pull her chair out. She sat down and whispered, "Thank you, but you didn't have to do that."

Tristan sat back in his chair, "Well, it would've looked bad if I didn't."

Rory smiled before she looked at the menu.

&&&

As they ate and made small talk, Rory was getting more comfortable. The city of New York was now illuminated by the street lamps since the sun had finally set. Rory took another sip of her wine as she admired the view when a beautiful woman approached them.

"Tristan, dear. I didn't know you were back from Germany."

Tristan closed his eyes for a second to control his temper, stood up in front of the woman and told her, "Mother, it's nice to see you, too. As you might have forgotten, Gabrielle was starting Yale this week." He looked apologetically at Rory as she stood up, "Mother, I'd like you to meet Lorelai Gilmore, Rory; this is my mother, Clarisse DuGrey."

Clarisse DuGrey observed Rory suspiciously, "It's nice to meet you, Lorelai. Aren't you Richard and Emily's daughter? I would have figured you would have looked a lot older."

Uncomfortable, Rory extended her hand to the woman, "It's nice to meet you Mrs. DuGrey. Actually, they are my grandparents, Lorelai is my mother."

Tristan tried to change the subject to break the obvious tension, he asked his mother, "Are you here with Father?"

Mrs. DuGrey's smile faded, "No, I came here with an associate. It's a business meeting. It was nice to meet you Lorelai. Tristan, wish your sister good luck on her fresh start in Yale for me, will you?"

Clarisse DuGrey left them alone without waiting for an answer.

After they sat back at the table, Rory started to babble, "I don't understand how your mother didn't know you were back from London. Why did she say Germany? And why is…"

"Rory, let's not talk about my mom. She's probably here on a business meeting with her swimming teacher who is twenty years her junior. She doesn't know I'm back, because she doesn't care."

"But…"

"Let's talk about something else. Do you want dessert?"

"Only if you'll have some."

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Rory took her last bite of her dessert; she finished her glass of wine. "Tristan, I think I'm getting drunk."

Surprised, Tristan looked at Rory with questioning eyes, "And why would you say that?"

She motioned to the view and whispered, "I don't remember seeing water from where we were seated when we got here."

Tristan leaned closer to her and whispered in conspiracy, "That my dear, is because the restaurant is always moving around."

She squeaked, "What?"

"Where do you think the bathrooms are?"

She turned to face the elevators and saw the kitchen, "Wow, this is freaky."

"The elevator, the kitchen and the bathroom are in the center and aren't moving, the rest, is moving."

"Wow!"

"Impressed?"

"…I'm getting there."