Title: What Lies Within Us
Chp. 5 Despite the best laid plans.
Disclaimer: I don't own nor am I associated with Gilmore Girls. I bet you are all shocked.
Introduction: I know I'm delusional….but Trory. Well, obviously not at first because that would be too easy, but I wanted to clarify. Basically set in the present, slightly altered to make things work.
Rating: Pg-13. rating will raise.
Author's note: I hate reviews (I'm also a really bad liar). Thanks to everyone who is actually reading this. Sorry took so long to update. In repentance, I've made the chapter longer. Well, that's a lie, it was going to be longer anyway. And, although I don't like to point this out, no matter how much editing I do, there were certain parts of this chapter I couldn't get to sound exactly the way I wanted.
Rory sat in the passenger's seat of Logan's car, idly fiddling with the radio stations as he drove. It was almost like a thing of pride with him, never to let her drive, as they always took his car. Dinner, as usual, had been amazing. Logan favoured fancy restaurants when they went out together. As often as they did it, Rory would more often than not be comfortable in a place like Luke's, but it was hard to complain when you were in the lap of luxury.
Logan stopped by her dorm, and she smiled, leaning over and giving him a quick kiss, "Thanks for supper, it was nice."
"Nice?" he raised his eyebrows at that. "Top of the line restaurant, and all you have to say is nice?"
"Very nice?" she asked innocently, kissing him again. "I'll try and give you a call sometime tomorrow, all right?"
"The Life and Death Brigade has an event tomorrow night," he told her, grabbing her hand before she could get out of the car. "Fun, frolicking and high drama. I assumed you would want to get the scoop, Ace."
Rory sighed, "Logan, I told you, I had to study. And as fun as it likely will be, this is slightly more important."
"Study in the morning," he replied with a hint of impatience. "Your next final isn't for a day or two. Then, you can come out tomorrow night and we'll have a good time. Besides, at the very least you need the experience for your article."
"I can't," she told him firmly, feeling a tug of guilt just like she did every time she had to turn his invitations down. "I really have to study Logan. I have to do well in my classes, and I can't just squeak by. I'm really really sorry, next time, all right?"
"Fine," he replied, disgruntled. One attitude she couldn't picture Logan Huntzberger taking often. But he seemed to put it aside. "I know you're heading back to Stars Hollow on the 23rd when your finals are done, but I have something for you." And he handed her a parchment envelope with her name one it.
"What's this?" she asked, even as she opened it.
"It's an invitation to my parent's annual Christmas party," he explained as she read the piece of paper before her. "They've wanted to meet you since word seems to have gotten around that we are dating. Hazard when your grandparents and my family know each other. Anyway, they decided Christmas would be the perfect time; it's actually the night of the 23rd. I'd like it if you'd come."
"Of course," Rory told him, putting the invitation back in the envelope. In truth she couldn't stop feeling a twinge of apprehension. Meeting the parents was never an easy thing. Meeting the parents at a society function was even harder. "Now, I'll talk to you tomorrow, I promise."
"Bye Rory," he said as she kissed him on the cheek before slipping out of the car, and leaving him sitting there.
Logan opened the door to his place. Tristan had just slipped out of the washroom, clad in nothing but his boxer-briefs and an old top to go to sleep. "Good thing my girlfriend didn't come back here," Logan told him pointedly, tossing his keys on a chair. Tristan just shook his head, knowing Rory had to study that night, as he flopped on the couch that he slept on.
"Just tired," he yawned loudly, but knew it would be futile to try and sleep since Logan was home. Not exactly a believer in the 'early to bed, early to rise' philosophy, Tristan was often up and about half a day before Logan even crawled out of bed.
"It's those stupid military hours," Logan shook his finger at them, "You think you could get out of the habit. For God's sake, it's not like some trumpet is going to go in the morning and wake you up at five."
Sometimes, he wondered exactly what Logan thought military life was like. Maybe like some updated version of MASH or something. In real life, what he had joined had been much different, and not half as heartwarming. But, he supposed it wasn't like he had ever mentioned how his wake up call some mornings in the past two years had been a car bomb. "If I tried to go with your social schedule anymore I think I'd die," he pointedly yawned again.
But Logan was ignoring him as he grabbed the message Tristan had pinned by his door. "Figured you'd get the message if I put it there," Tristan explained.
A person would have to be blind to miss the guilty look that crossed Logan's face, and Tristan felt understanding begin to dawn on him. "Are you cheating on Rory?" he tried to keep his voice calm and even. After all it was Logan that he was supposed to be friends with. Intellectually he supposed he shouldn't have been surprised, but he had seen them together, he had seen the way Rory smiled at him. Maybe he had just hoped it had been different with her.
"No, of course not, I would never do that to Rory," Logan sounded indignant enough at the accusation that Tristan found himself believing him. He watched as Logan took the piece of paper and tore it up. "Listen Tristan, I'm not, but it's not for lack of trying on Laurie's part. She's an old friend, and we've hooked up before. This time, I've told her I had a girlfriend, and she's just having a little problem accepting it's not going to happen. It's not a big deal, just annoying."
Tristan nodded, accepting it, knowing that Logan had no reason to lie to him. He was the friend, not the girlfriend. The confidante. Despite knowing that Tristan had known Rory long ago, if he had two girls going at the same time he probably wouldn't hesitate to brag about it. "Want me to tell her anything next time she calls back?" he just asked, not prying further.
Logan shook his head, "I can handle the situation with her. Like I said, it's no big deal. I've turned down girls before. Not many mind you, but I have done it."
Tristan smirked at that, and bet he could count on one hand the number of girls that Logan had turned down. At the same time, he knew that he was at least at some level mostly relieved that Logan wasn't screwing around on Rory. She was with him, and didn't deserve the hurt that would cause her.
Logan headed off to his room, apparently for once deciding to leave Tristan alone and give him some quiet to go to sleep. "Don't get up too early," he warned Tristan as he stopped in the doorway.
"Any particular reason this time?" Tristan asked, "You've only told me that every night since I've got here."
"You're coming out tomorrow night," Logan explained, "I'm not going even pretend that you don't know about The Life and Death Brigade…your father, and father's father etc. were in it. It's time you picked up the family torch and joined, now that you're a Yale man. And besides, it'll be a good time. We need to get your social life started here."
When he put it that way, there was little else that Tristan would find less desirable to do, except perhaps a root canal. But he wasn't going to let his bitterness over his father shape his life, and Logan seemed fairly insistent that he go. "Fine, I'll come," he replied, knowing there was little else he could do.
The next morning, Rory sat in the coffee shop near her dorm, snacking on a muffin and coffee for breakfast. It was early in the morning, and the only people up and about were those who had a final to write that morning and wanted to get some last minute cramming in. She had been at the library late the night before, and was headed back there again. Technically one wasn't supposed to take coffee or other beverages in there, but generally the library security looked the other way.
She had the routine down now. She hated the early morning study periods, but it was no different from a morning class. And sometimes there was just stuff you had to do. There were only a few finals left, and then it was home for Christmas, another term at Yale done.
She looked up when a shadow fell over her table. "Tristan," she said in surprise, shocked to seem him there, "What are you doing up so early? Last time I checked you were the only one not obligated for any reason to be up before noon."
He plopped down in the chair across from her, "Habit," he explained, setting down the book he had been carrying. Rory noticed it was a course calendar for Yale. He noticed her staring at it and added, "I went to officially register for my classes this morning. There were a couple I couldn't get into, but I worked most of it out.
"What specifically are you taking?" she asked, sipping at her warm coffee. "I imagine I could scrounge up some old textbooks from friends if you're interested. I know other pre-meds who would have taken the same classes."
It still shocked him to even be referred to as 'pre-med', but he shook himself out of it. "That would be great if you could. I'm taking basic biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, psychology and anatomy."
"Not exactly a light course load," she commented. "Not even throwing that simplified required English in there are you? Well, I suppose it'll be a break come next year. I'll be sure to see what I can do."
He watched as she drank her coffee, knowing it was her needed kick in the morning. Well, morning, noon, night, it was all the same. "I assume you'll be studying all day?" he asked, motioning towards the backpack she carried.
Rory nodded, "No surprise there. Next final is my 18th Century English Lit class, so that's what I'm focusing on today. It's back to the library where I can't be bothered by the pesky vitamin D sun gives, and where I can get a headache from the flickering fluorescent lights. I don't want to know what you're doing with your day of freedom, it will be too depressing."
"Nothing exciting," he said, then added enigmatically because he didn't know what she had been told about Logan's secret life. "Then I'm, uh, going out with Logan later."
"To the Life and Death Brigade thing?" she asked in all innocence, finishing off her muffin and tossing the wrapper in the garbage.
"You know?" he asked, a little surprised.
"Let's just say I'm a bit of an honorary member," she replied wryly, adding some more sugar to her coffee. "Don't worry, you're not spilling any top secret stuff. I know it all. Was invited tonight but decided my education was little more important. Sure getting right into the thick of it all fast, aren't you? I hope you have a tux."
There had actually been a note out this morning instructing him to get one. He really had no idea what went on at these stupid fraternity things, or whatever it was that the Brigade was. He had known about it from his grandfather, but never had been much interested at the time. He couldn't picture Rory fitting in with those spoiled rich kids having a good time, but who knew.
"Want company for the afternoon?" he asked, actually as surprised himself as she looked to hear the words coming out of his mouth. As if he felt the need to justify it, "I'm bored out of my mind here Rory. I can quiz you or something, I promise not to be a distraction, well at least not too much." Besides, studying was platonic and safe. He wouldn't feel like he was betraying anyone doing that.
She thought about it for a moment, knowing she would probably get more done without him there. At the same time, it was lonely holed up in the library studying all day, and it would be helpful to have someone there to help her go over things. She couldn't believe that he wanted to do this rather than spend the day in freedom, but she supposed boredom did that to people. "You promise I'll actually get some work done?" she asked, rather sternly.
"Kick me out any time you want," he promised, "There won't be anyone up at Logan's for hours yet, and I need something to do. Really, anything will suffice."
"Fine, but I swear watching water boil would be more exciting than going to the library with me," she warned, gathering up her books to stand. She knew it was because he was desperate, and he didn't know anyone else here yet, but all the same she looked forward to spending some time with him, even if it was only studying.
"Ok, I give up. Brain on permanent meltdown status. Brain cortex saturated with new information," Rory mimicked in a robot monotone voice as she leaned forward in her chair, resting her head on her crossed arms on the table.
"Ten more Rory, then break time. Your rules." Tristan reminded her, picking up her notes again. They were in the basement of the law library on campus, Rory's favourite study spot. Fairly deserted, and usually quiet, it also allowed them the opportunity to talk out loud without getting yelled at.
"Fine," Rory said, shaking her arms out as an athlete does before a run, "Give me the next one."
"Who wrote Jane Eyre?" he picked a random question out of his head, rather than one of the pre-approved material she had given him.
The look she gave him was withering, "This is a university English class Tristan, not ninth grade language arts. I somehow doubt that Professor Alden's questions will be fill in the blank. It'll be something more along the lines of "Compare and contrast Austen's differing views on the characterization of the female protagonist in Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice."
"Do that then," he suggested, with a smile, leaning back in his chair.
Rory just shook her head, then looked at him with a slight smile on her face. "Let's change the rules," she suggested as he flipped through her notes, looking for a topic to review with her. When he looked up at her words, she seemed a little bit embarrassed, but continued on. "I get the answer wrong, you can ask me anything you want and I have to answer. I get it right, I get to ask you anything."
Tristan leaned back, and crossed his arms. He could see where she was going with this. She wanted to talk, go deeper than the pleasantries they tended to exchange, and she was looking for an excuse. She had never been comfortable with the touchy-feely, and didn't know how to bring it up. "Rory," he said as she looked at him expectantly, "We can talk without the premise of a game. If there's something you want to talk about, just ask me. I may not answer, but you can ask. Besides, if we went that route you'd be asking all the questions while I just got put on the hot seat."
She hesitated for a moment, twirling her pencil around her fingers. Despite being around all the time, he was still an enigma to her. Since he'd come to Yale there was a lot she had wanted to ask him, but it was hard to just blurt most of it out, especially when he didn't seem comfortable talking about most things relative to him. "Fine, we'll start off with something basic. Favourite author?"
"Don't really like to read," he answered honestly, knowing he probably dropped a few notches in her estimation with that one. "I'll read stuff by Grisham or Stephen Frey when I'm really bored, but that quality literature stuff isn't for me."
"It doesn't have to be classic-worthy to be good," she was insistent as she went on, "Some of my favourite books have never been taught in any classroom."
The look he shot her showed his disbelief, and she shot back, "Have you ever heard of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. One of my favourites."
Tristan snorted sarcastically, "No Rory, never heard of that one. And, I hate to break it to you, but that's been taught in a bunch of classrooms. I think our school gave that to the girls to read rather than have a real health class."
She laughed, acknowledging the truth in his statement, "Fine, but you get my point, not exactly Austen now is it?"
He shook his head, "Let's just leave it that reading for me is something to do to pass the time when there's nothing else available. I'm not illiterate, it's just not my favourite activity, like it is for you."
Rory leaned back. It wasn't like she was looking for him to give a different answer; he hadn't become a completely different person. It had just been an easy question to start with, rather than lead off with something deep and personal right off the bat. And, because of who she was, she had to argue her opinion.
She looked at him expectantly, awaiting his question of her, but he didn't seem to even be paying that close attention to her. He wouldn't look at her directly, and his shoulders were distinctly shaking. "What is it?" she asked.
All he gave in response was a snort of laughter, and replied, "Nothing."
Immediately paranoid, she checked to make sure she hadn't gotten something embarrassing on her, like written on her face in pen. When she was reasonably satisfied there wasn't anything untoward about her appearance, she looked back at him, and he was laughing full out by then. "What is it?" she demanded, more insistent this time, wanting to know what the hell was going on.
He seemed to be laughing too hard for a moment to get out any words, but eventually he forced out, between hiccupping laughs and doing the movements from the book half-heartedly, "We must, we must, increase our bust."
When she caught on, she threw a pen at him in mock-disgust, but really she found the image of Tristan acting out a scene from Judy Blume more absurd and hilarious than anything she had seen in a long time. She burst out laughing too, and that just set him off again.
And that was how Logan found them a moment later. Laughing, their heads close together, her hand resting on Tristan's forearm. They didn't even hear him when he approached.
"Hey Rory," the words cut into their laughter, and she turned to see Logan standing there, looking down at them.
"Having fun?" was all he asked dryly, but there seemed an undercurrent to his tone. He kissed his girlfriend on the cheek, who had desperately tried to squelch her laughter. He faced her alone, "I had been trying to get a hold of you, and when your phone was off assumed you were holed up in some dank place on campus, cramming your head full of knowledge."
"I was," she gestured towards the notes. "Libraries aren't good for much else. But, as shocking as it was, Tristan was insanely bored and offered to help me review. We were just discussing, ah, literature." And it was all she could do not to start laughing again, and Tristan snickered from across the table, before reigning himself in and composing his face into its usual mask of implacability. When Logan looked a little perturbed, she just kissed him on the cheek, "I'll explain it to you later, but it'll lose a little in the telling."
"Well, killing two birds with one stone then," Logan replied, a bit of fake cheeriness evident in his voice as he looked at Tristan, "I've been looking for you as well. We're taking off soon, and I guess from the look of things you're still in need of a tux?"
Tristan nodded, closing Rory's notes that he'd had open in front of him. "Sorry about that, it's just that I've been here most of the day."
Logan didn't look thrilled by that statement, but just said "We'll find you something," and then turned to Rory, "Can I talk to you for a second?"
She nodded, looking a little bit confused, but followed him over to a different area of the library, leaving Tristan sitting there. "What's up?" she asked, leaning in to kiss him, but was hurt when he pulled away.
"Explain this to me Rory," he asked her as she looked at him, baffled, "You don't have time for me at all, not even to go out for a couple hours this evening because you have to study, but you have time to hang out with Tristan, and all day by his own admission."
She stared at him in shock, "For God's sake Logan, you heard me. We were studying, all day. He had nothing better to do, and decided to come. Weird, but true. You're welcome to come along with me any time, as long as I get studying done, you know that. You caught us after his making a joke, not a crime or any kind of infidelity, so chill out."
She watched him grapple with it for a moment, the wrapped his arms around her. "Sorry," he apologized, obviously out of practise with the act, "Overreaction, I know."
Rory was surprised that Logan had become upset at all. He had never really seemed like the jealous type. She supposed she had just assumed he didn't take this thing they had between them as seriously as she did; it didn't seem to be in his personality to do so. They had never said they loved each other, and it had seemed more about amusement rather than anything else. She felt bad for trivializing his feelings, assuming that was the cause of all this.
"It's fine," was all she replied, accepting his rather lame apology, "No harm done. Just remember, the only thing taking precedence over you right now is studying, ok? And that's just for a little while longer."
"I know, I know," was all he said, kissing her before pulling away, "Okay, Tristan and I do have to go though, don't want to be late. Last chance, sure you don't want to come? I know I can find some clothes for you."
She shook her head regretfully as she followed him back to where Tristan sat, "No, I have to stay here for a little while longer at least before I grab some supper and go back to the dorm to study there. You two can have a good time without me, you've done that often enough."
They approached the table, with Tristan looking uncomfortable as they walked up. Logan asked, "Ready to go?"
Tristan nodded, and stood. He pushed Rory's notes over to her. "Good luck," he told her with a smile as she sat back down at the table. He hesitated, then added, "I had a good time today. Weird thing to say about studying, but true anyway. We'll have to do this again sometime."
She laughed as she slid back into her chair, "If you're crazy enough, I have no objections. I'll see you guys later, have fun."
As Tristan smiled and turned from her to leave, he saw Logan looking at him and Rory, and his face had an expression that Tristan had never seen in relation to himself, and had never expected to see from Logan. In fact, had taken great pains not to see from Logan ever since he had realized he had feelings for Rory.
Logan was looking at him with distrust.
Oh, quick side note, obviously the 'bust' quote was from the afore-mentioned book. Just to clarify if people never read that Judy Blume book when they were younger.