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. "You and I Both" belongs to Jason Mraz.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for your reviews. I hope everyone likes this chapter. Okay, the moment you have all been waiting for. And no, this is not the last chapter. Only two more to go, though!
Chapter 14: You and I Both
Rory and Jess walked into the party and found themselves the immediate center of attention. Paris soon joined them. As did Louise, Madeline, Oliver and Matt.
Rory scanned the crowd. No sign of Tristin. She turned to Paris and gave her a questioning look. Paris shrugged.
"So, punch anyone?" Madeline asked.
"Yeah," Rory said.
Everyone looked at her. She gave them the same cautious glance.
Jess put his arm around her. "You want punch?"
Rory smiled at Jess. "It's my last high school party. I have to do something fun."
Jess sighed. "I understand. Just stay close by."
"Here, Rory," Madeline said, offering Rory a plastic cup.
Rory took the cup and drank from it. Jess watched her and she smiled at him.
"I'm going to go get another," Rory said.
Jess watched her walk away. Unbeknownst to him, though, was she was already being watched. The boy with blue eyes made sure no one tried anything.
Almost three hours into the party, Rory was talking to a very interesting person. She just couldn't remember his name. Or where he was going to school.
Dan (or was it Jake?) was starting Princeton (or Stanford?) in the fall (that she knew for sure).
"So, you want to dance?" he asked.
Rory looked around to make sure that Tristin wasn't near. She'd been doing that all night, trying to see if he was around. She was going to let him know tonight exactly how she felt.
But she hadn't seen him at all that night.
She nodded to Dan/Jake, and followed him to another room where people were practically having sex instead of dancing.
Jake/Dan pulled her closer and began to put his hands on very intimate areas of her body. Places that hadn't been touched since…
The thought of Caleb's hands on her body struck her quickly. She tried pushing Jake/Dan away, but he persisted in returning his hands back to their original spots. Rory shook her head and tried, yet again, to push his hands away.
"No…" she whimpered. "Please…"
"I'm just having fun," he said.
Rory shook her head again, still trying to push his hands away. He pulled her closer and she was instantly sobered up. At least she felt that way. The memories from the night of her rape flooded her mind. She began looking around for Jess, Tristin, or anyone she knew. No such luck.
He began kissing her neck and she saw Caleb's eyes flash in her mind again. She kept shaking her head and trying to get away from him, but he wouldn't let her go.
That's when it happened. He was by no means an angel, but he was there to protect her. He grabbed Rory's hand led her away from the crowd to another room. She remembered seeing the piano, but after that, she blacked out.
She saw his blue eyes first. "Mary…"
She felt his comforting arms around her waist. "Mary…"
He kissed her temple. "It's okay. I'm here."
She looked up at him. "Tristin."
Tristin smiled at her. "Hey, Mary."
Rory turned herself around, slowly, to look him in the eyes. "You saved me."
Tristin smirked. "Not hardly. I just got you away from Jordan."
"That was his name," she said.
Tristin pulled her closer, into a hug. She hugged him back and rested her head on his shoulder.
"You're okay now," he whispered. "I'm here."
Rory began to cry. "It was horrible. I was back in tenth grade. You weren't there. This time it was my fault, though."
"Nothing happened," Tristin said. "I made sure nothing happened."
Rory rested her hands on either side of Tristin. "I know. You're here. I'm okay."
Tristin smiled as Rory nestled herself into him. He put his arms around her waist.
"I'll always be here," he assured her. "I promise."
Rory smiled. She felt sleep overcome her again. She had a feeling she wouldn't be going home tonight, but would instead be staying right there with Tristin. She didn't mind, though. She was safe.
In the morning, she would tell him what she'd wanted to tell him that night. Now, though, she would enjoy the feeling of him.
Rory was awakened by the smell of coffee. Brazilian. Or maybe Folger's. She wasn't sure at the moment. She took in her surroundings and knew suddenly she was in Tristin's room. The PJ Harvey poster gave it away.
She shivered and put on his sweatshirt that was laying at the foot of his bed, then proceeded downstairs to the kitchen, where Tristin was sitting. He looked up at her and smirked. The plot began to form in her head at the sight of his trademark.
"Hey," she greeted. "Good morning."
Tristin looked up at her. "Hey, little Miss Party Girl."
Rory looked down at the floor. "Sorry."
Tristin kept his gaze on her. "Just don't do it again."
Rory nodded. "Promise."
"Good," Tristin said. "I don't think I'll be able to bail you out like this in college."
Rory laughed. "I promise."
Tristin got up. "You want some coffee?"
"Do you have to ask twice?" Rory asked.
Tristin set a cup of coffee down in front of her. "So, how's your speech coming?"
Rory took a deep breath, taking in the scent of her coffee. "Wonderful."
"The speech or the coffee?" Tristin inquired.
"The speech is almost finished," Rory replied. "I wanted to read it to you, actually. If you didn't mind."
Tristin sat down across from Rory. "Lay it on me."
Rory stood up and walked over to him. She sat down next to him and looked into his eyes.
Tristin gulped. "Mary…"
Rory smiled. "I love you, Tristin DuGrey."
Silence filled the air. Rory looked expectantly at Tristin. He took her hands in his.
"Is that your speech?" Tristin inquired.
Rory shrugged and smirked. "That's it so far."
Tristin smiled. "It's a good start. Maybe you could strip or some…"
He was cut off by Rory's lips on his. He responded just as hungrily. He cupped Rory's face in his hands. She moved her hands to the middle of his back and pulled him closer to her.
Tristin smiled into the kiss and his tongue entered her mouth. Rory was startled, but recovered quickly.
Breathing became necessary, and they pulled apart and rested their foreheads together.
"That's a good ending," Tristin said..
Rory shook her head and smiled at Tristin. "That was just the beginning."
Tristin smirked. "I love you, too, Mary."