Rating: Teen, for implied sexual situations including rape and situations involving the tragic disorders of anorexia nervosa and bulimia
Summary: There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it. AU Trory.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea for this story and any characters not recognized. All else is the property of Amy Sherman-Palladino. The quote in the summary is by George Bernard Shaw. "Dirty Little Secret" belongs to All-American Rejects.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for your reviews. Tristin finds out the secret, and tries to help. Will he succeed? Read to find out.
Chapter 3: Dirty Little Secret
Tristin and Rory sat in the coffee shop staring intently at their respective beverages. Tristin reached his hand across the table to Rory's. She smiled faintly at him.
"Want food?" he asked. "I know how you love the triple chocolate muffins from here."
Rory shook her head. "No thanks. I'll probably be having a big dinner with the grandparents tonight."
"I know you, Rory," Tristin said. "You could eat three muffins plus dinner plus dessert."
"I'm good Tristin," Rory responded. "I'm not hungry."
"You, Rory Hayden, are always hungry," Tristin stated.
Rory sighed and drew her hand away from Tristin's. "I'm not hungry."
"Yes you are," Tristin said. "You're a bottomless pit."
"Tristin!" Rory yelled. "Read my lips. I. Am. Not. Hungry."
Rory ran out of the building. Tristin ran after her.
He caught up to her outside. She was sitting on the curb holding herself.
"Rory?" Tristin asked, almost tentatively.
He noted how she was rocking violently back and forth. He saw tears streaming down her cheeks.
He sat down next to her. "Rory?"
"It hurt," she whispered. "It hurt so much. I was so scared. He said no one would believe me."
Tristin rested his hand on the small of Rory's back. "Who? What happened?"
"I was so scared, Tristin," Rory repeated. "I couldn't tell anyone."
"Rory, what happened?" he asked again.
"Caleb," she whispered. "Caleb Prescott happened."
"What did he do to you?" Tristin asked. "Please, tell me."
Rory leaned into Tristin. "He… he… raped me."
Tristin froze as Rory began to sob heavily. He regained his composure quickly and held tightly to her as she cried into his chest.
"I was so scared," she cried. "It hurt so much. I needed you. I couldn't scream."
Tristin stroked Rory's hair. "I know. Shh, it's okay, Mary. I'm here now."
Anyone who saw them would think they'd just broken up. But to Rory, it was the beginning of a long and painful healing process. She knew Tristin would be there to help her.
Tristin willed himself not to go into an all out rage. For now he would hold his Mary, and later he would take care of Caleb.
Paris stood outside of her house that night worried. Tristin had called her and told her nothing but to wait for him. He'd drop Rory off first at Madeline's, who had also called but told her nothing, and then be at her house.
She shielded her eyes from the bright headlights of Tristin's too-expensive sports car, and ran over to him once the engine was off.
"What the hell is up, DuGrey?" she asked. "You call me telling me that you're dropping Rory off at Madeline's and then nothing else. Then Madeline calls and tells me nothing but to not question you. I'm questioning. I want answers, and I better get them."
"Rory was raped, Paris," Tristin responded. "Caleb Prescott did it, and I wanted to tell you so that you and I could find a way to kill him and not get shipped off to prison for it."
Paris's eyes widened. "I want to strangle him."
"I voted for a hanging," Tristin stated. "I just… I can't believe this happened."
Paris folded her arms over her chest. "I'll kill him and gladly admit it."
"We need you, though, Paris," Tristin replied. "Rory needs you."
"How is she?" Paris asked.
Tristin shrugged. "She cried. I got her to stay the night at Madeline's and she promised me she'd eat a little bit."
"Are her oh-so-dependable parents home?" Paris inquired.
Tristin rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Europe for the month. I called Lorelai and left a message."
"What about that Luke guy she dated while she and Chris were separated? He may want to help," Paris stated.
Tristin shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't think of him. Do you know his number?"
Paris shook her head. "No, but I know where he lives."
"We'll go talk to him in the morning," Tristin said. "In the mean time, why don't you and I plot the death of Caleb."
Paris smiled. "You really care about her, DuGrey."
Tristin looked out into the distance. "Yeah. I do."
"What's this?" Rory asked, looking at the assortment of foods in front of her.
"Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the past seven months," Madeline said. "Any other questions?"
Rory heard her stomach grumble. "What's the first course?"
Madeline smiled. "Oreo's good for you?"
"How about we start small, Mads," Rory responded.
"Carrots?" Madeline offered.
Rory took the bag from her. "Thanks."
Madeline sat down on her bed next to Rory. "Anything for you."
Rory looked at the food in her hand. She gingerly brought it to her mouth and took a bite.
"So, Mads, do you ever have anyone in the house?" Rory asked.
Madeline shook her head. "No. My parents are always gone. My brother moved out of the house a few years ago. Now he's a Nylon."
"A what?" Rory asked.
"A New York Londoner," Madeline clarified. "He's never in the states for more than a few days."
Rory nodded. "I'd rather be like that than in my house."
"Parents always gone?" Madeline asked.
"Yeah," Rory responded. "When mom was dating Luke she and I got along better. But dad came and swept her off her feet. Now she's just like everyone else in this stupid society."
Madeline smiled sympathetically at Rory. "It gets better as we get older, apparently. My brother says he never has to go to any of those society galas. He also doesn't come home except for holidays. He told me last Christmas that he wished he could see me more often, but he doesn't really like the parents."
Rory smiled. "I'll be like that someday. No worries, just me and whatever I need."
"Yeah, you will, Rory," Madeline said. "You can do what you want."
Rory smiled and yawned. "I think I'm going to hit the hay."
"Okay," Madeline said. "Night, Rory."
"G'night," Rory responded, laying her head down on the pillow.
Tristin knocked softly on the door to Madeline's house. Madeline silently opened the door for him.
"Is she okay?" Tristin asked.
Madeline shrugged. "She ate some carrots. She's sleeping now."
"I want to see her," Tristin said.
Madeline nodded and led Tristin to her bedroom. "Here she is."
Tristin sat down gently on the bed and watched her. She was so thin. He couldn't think of how he didn't see. He took her hand and kissed it. She didn't stir. He easily got up without disturbing her. He would fix this, he would fix her. And she would be fine. He had to believe that. If she wasn't fine, he wasn't.