A thousand apologies for the delay!
"Okay this is definitely better than some dorm party." Logan said, taking a shot of tequila.
"Glad you think so." Tristan responded, finishing his water.
"No drinking tonight?"
"One of us has to manage to get us back to school."
"Appreciate it."
"Alright, which one of you can drive?" Finn said lazily, sauntering up to the bar.
"Designated driver." Logan said, pointing to Tristan.
"Right. Take my keys, drive back, don't scratch the paint or I'll kick your ass. Any questions?" Finn said.
"Where the hell are you going?" Logan asked.
"Carla over there has invited me back to her place, because I am working college student who was going to have to take the bus alone all the way back to his dorm." Finn said, jerking his head towards a pretty brunette sitting at a table in the back.
"She bought that?" Tristan laughed.
"Hey, I never said she was smart." Finn said defensively, picking up the pitcher of beer he ordered.
"Good point. Exactly your type." Logan said.
"When should we expect you back?"
"If all goes well, never. I leave you, young DuGrey with all my worldly possessions."
"I'm hurt, Finn." Logan said.
"Yes well, I get to be his benefactor, Huntzberger. Goodbye forever." Finn said, heading back to his date.
"So we'll see you tomorrow?" Logan called after him.
Tristan laughed.
"Okay so those last few shots were a bad idea…" Logan complained, falling into his bed.
"I tried to warn you."
"And I will never listen."
"Noted." Tristan said as his cell phone rang.
"Arrrghhh" Logan grumbled, covering his head with the pillow.
Tristan chuckled and walked out into the main room.
"Hello?"
"Tristan?" Rory said.
"Rory, how did you…"
"Paris gave me your number."
"How did she…" He began to ask, but then decided it wasn't worth it.
"I need your help."
"Okay…"
"My car broke down and I need a ride to my grandparents. I know it's extremely late, and you're probably tired and you hate me but…"
"It's fine. And I don't hate you. Where are you?" Tristan smiled at her rant, it was almost like her old self.
"The…DAR office."
"Right. I'll be right there." He said as he hung up.
"I'm really sorry about this."
"No problem…why didn't you call your grandpa or something?"
"I don't want them to worry…and they're getting on my nerves a little."
"Too much control, eh?"
"Every single little detail of every day is planned. I mean, who does that?" Rory complained.
"Every person over the age of thirty in Hartford."
"…True."
"Trust me, I know." Tristan said, turning left.
"Look, I know you don't really like me right now…"
"I don't know the whole story with you and Logan."
"Well, I really want to talk to him about it."
"Good. You should call him."
"He's not going to talk to me."
"Sure he will. He's acting like this breakup isn't bothering him, but I can tell what he's doing. He's just throwing all his energy into things so he doesn't have to deal. That's what I do."
"Really?"
"Yeah, like when I broke up with Summer? I actually did schoolwork for once. And when I got sent to military school, I was upset about a lot of things, so I just put everything I had into it."
"It obviously worked for you." Rory remarked.
"Meaning?"
"Well, you've definitely changed a lot."
"For the better, you mean."
"Not necessarily. You just seem…a lot more responsible. And a lot less cocky." She grinned.
Tristan laughed.
"Well I suppose you're right, Mary. You've changed too."
"I know, I'm becoming a socialite, I've heard it all before." Rory said, rolling her eyes.
"No, I just mean…you've loosened up some."
"I was not that bad in high school."
"Oh, I know you weren't. But damn, you were uptight at times."
"Okay, maybe I was. Just a little."
"Yeah…just a little." Tristan said, grinning.
Rory laughed.
"Here we are." He announced, pulling into the driveway.
"Thank you. I know this wasn't exactly what you wanted to do tonight."
"I'm glad we got a chance to talk."
"Me too." Rory smiled.
"Well, goodnight."
"Night Tristan." She said. Then after a moment she leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Why thank you, Mary."
"You're welcome." She said, getting out of the car.
"Hey Mary." He said, rolling down the window.
"Yeah?"
"Call him. You know you want to."
"I will."