Jess hadn't spent the night. At 9:30 he'd left the girls dorm and gone to sleep above Luke's. Rory spent the entire hour he was there in suprised happiness. Could this day have possibly gotten any better? She didn't mention her day with Tristan to Paris or Jess, she wanted to talk to Jess first. However, it looked like she didn't have much of a choice.
"So, Gilmore, I hear you're the new flavor." she said right after Jess left. Rory sighed with resignation. At least Paris had waited for Jess to leave the room.
"I'm not an ice cream, Paris." Paris clicked her tongue and shook her head.
"I'm disapointed, Gilmore. I thought you were above DuGrey's antics, I really did."
"Hey, be fair. Things are really weird right now." Rory fell back onto her bed, enjoying the relaxation she felt even as she met Paris' hard glare.
"Weird because he's making you buy the condoms?" she arched one eyebrow in disapproval.
"No!" Rory protested. "Weird becuase neither of us knows what we are. At least...I don't..." Paris' eyes softened slightly.
"You're a glutton for misery, if you keep seeing this kid."
"How did you even know?"
"News travels fast. Besides, you two weren't exactly descreet today, skipping around like a pair of newlyweds." Rory blushed. "What did you do when he tried to go down on you?" Rory was shocked.
"He didn't! Why would you..."
"Wow." Paris cut her off. "That must be the longest he's even been with a girl without doing anything. Your sure you were with his all day?"
"Paris, be serious."
"I am." Rory gulped.
"So..." she floundered. "New topic."
"Alright, how about the man meat who surprised you tonight?" Paris asked, trying to appear nonchalant. However, the interest was apparent on her face. Rory decided to end that before it started.
"He's gay." she said seriously. Paris' face fell slightly, her disappointment tangeable in the silence. Suddenly her mouth formed a reuful grin.
"Gee, Gilmore, I sure know how to pick 'em." she said wryly. "Alright, scratch that off my to do list. Now I have time to start studying for my Latin mid year." Rory giggled. She made the strangest friends.
-
The next morning she went to Lukes, and was greeted by a very perplexing sight. Tristan sat at the bar, calmly conversing with Jess. Jess stood behind the counter, wiping out mugs.
"Hey, ror!" Jess called when he saw her enter, and she cautiously approached the pair. Tristan turned and grinned at her.
"Hey, Mary," he said, standing and kissing her softly on the lips. Her skin warmed at the nickname. Suddenly she didn't hate it so much anymore. It was over almost before it began, just a fast hello kiss. Rory loved that he did the 'hello kiss.'
"Oh..." Jess said with new interest in his tone, "Are you two a thing?" Tristan stuttered.
"We're...uh..." Rory had no idea what to say. They stood in awkward confused silence, which Jess thankfully broke.
"Ambiguous, got it. Nice." he moved on to the enxt coffee mug. Rory sat down next to the blond guy, and looked expectantly up at Jess.
"Yeah, yeah, it's coming. You're the only one who takes extra espresso shots, so I need to let the machine warm up."
"Jess, before I left, there was this guy." Rory announced suddenly, flad she remembered. She had been feeling guilty about not telling her best friend ever since that fateful day.
"Matt? Yeah, I know. We were...I don't know. It didn't last very long." Rory sighed.
"Sorr, that sucks."
"I know! He was the worst kisser I have ever met." he pouted, throwing Rory into a fit of laughter.
"Oh, that kind of 'sucks.'" she corrected herself.
"It's alright though, I bounce back fast." Jess said urbanely. He handed Rory a piping cup, which she gratefully accepted. Tristan grinned at her. She was starting to enjoy it, he never smirked at her anymore. Just genuine smiles. She took a long sip, smiling right back at him. Jess took in the cloying sight and rolled his eyes. Just then, Luke came down the stairs.
"JESS WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!" he thundered. Jess blinked.
"I shut off your alarm," he said mildly, "you needed sleep."
"Oh...uh...thanks," Luke said, sufficiently deflated.
"Don't, just looking at you was making me tired." Jess said. Luke scowled again. He looked around, searching for something to be mad about.
"Why is the espresso machine on?" he asked suspiciously. His gaze fell on Rory. "No! You're going to kill her with that stuff!" he harped, and Jess shrugged.
"Hasn't happened yet," he reasoned. Rory smiled sweetly up at the surly man.
"What do you want?" he turned and asked Tristan agressively. Tristan shook his head.
"Nothing, thanks."
"Then quit squatting in my diner." he ordered, and stomped back up the stairs. Rory and Tristan stood to leave, just before Colin and Logan entered through the windowed door.
"Hey!" Logan greeted.
"We saw you come in and figured there was some reason for it." Colin said, looking around the diner with some distaste. "Still not sure what that is...exactly..."
"Hey," Jess announced his presence from behind the counter. "Do you guys want anything?"
"Who are you?" Logan asked curiously. He was the same age as the students, yet definitely didn't attend Chilton.
"Jess. Visiting. Coffee?" his response was short.
"Thanks. No." Logan matched the tone.
"Okay then can we please leave? This place just reeks of oil." Colin whined. Rory smiled a goodbye at Jess and allowed herself to be guided out by Tristan. She was going to be late for class, anyway.
-
Tristan exited his calculus class with strong resolve. He had to talk to Marty, there was no more putting it off. Everytime he was with Rory he spotted Marty. Or at least, it felt that way. Either Marty was following them around, or he was thinking way too much about this.
He waited for Marty on the steps, having set up the meeting earlier that morning. He told himself it was nothing, that perhaps Marty had meant something different, or possibly had just been confused. After all, he was Marty. However, just the sight of the curly haired head emerging from the throng of students filled him with uncontrollable rage.
"Marty." he said through clenched teeth. Marty paused at the blond boy's cold tone, but sat on the bench next to him.
"Hey, Tristan," he said cheerily.
"Why did you lie?" Tristan asked. There was no point in beating it around the bush, and besides, he didn't have that much patience.
"Lie about what?"
"Mary." he said her name softly, suddenly lacking breath. He awaited his answer.
"Look...uh...I..."
"Marty!" Tristan raised his voice slightly.
"I saw you with her, you know," Marty said, his face darkening. "I saw you with her. You can't hide it."
"What?" Tristan said in disbelief. "Of course! We're...close. Why did you lie?"
"I love her, Tristan, you know that. You know what that means." Marty's voice tembled with intensity.
"Are you kidding me!" Tristan scoffed.
"Stay away from her, buddy? For me?" now the smaller boy pleaded, his voice taking on a wheedling note.
"Marty she's with me. Okay?"
"No! She's different!"
"Exactly. So leave her alone, or you'll find yourself in quite a lot of pain." Tristan said, standing to leave. He couldn't take anymore of this. Marty wa slosing his mind, or something.
"Tristan!" Marty squirmed, his voice anguished now. Tristan clamped his jaw firmly shut and walked away, deliberately turning his back on the pathetic character on the bench.
-2 days pass...-
"Tri...s..." Rory moaned. He kissed her again, moving to her neck. She arched into him, her head tilted to give him better access. His mouth trailed all over her neck, leaving soft kisses, leaving soft bites. He moved back up to her lips, and she kissed im back hungrily.
He leaned further in, sandwiching her between his own body and the wall of the chimeney. She caressed his tongue with her own, and he clasped his fingers in hers. Slowly he pushed her hands above her, eventually pinning them to the brick above her head. She was in heaven.
"Mare," he said breathlessly, leaning his head on hers and catching his breath, "You are a treasure."
"Yeah, I get that a lot," she said with a smile, accompanied by a golden laugh. After a minute she grew pensive, or at least as much as she could given the proximity of his body.
"Tristan...what are we?" she asked. They had danced around the question for several days, but it was clear;y on both of their minds.
"Don't be silly," he said, and kissed her once on the side of her neck. "You're my girlfriend." he kissed the other side. Rory grinned.
"Marty will be so disappointed," she said wryly, and was surprised when he suddenly pulled away, serious now.
"What?" he asked.
"Um...I don't know...he just follows me a lot, that's all." Tristan's blue eyes took on a darker cast, and Rory suddenly regretted having been the cause. She leaned forward and kissed him softly.
"It's no big deal, okay?" she whispered, and he closed his eyes and nodded.
"It's getting pretty late," he said then, lowering her hands and looking around at the starry sky. The roof had become Rory's favorite place in the world, and she snuck up here with Tristan whenever she had the chance.
"Yeah," she admitted regrettfully. He put and arm around her, adn together they went back into the school.
-
The next morning Rory went to Lukes, and found it nearly empty. Her friend was clad in flannel pjs, and rolled his eyes when she grinend at him.
"Don't say it," he warned.
"What?" Rory asked innocently.
"I forgot to pack PJs, and these are Luke's."
"Would I tease you?" she asked, her eyes wide in mock sincerity.
"Just cause you're cute doesn't mean I wont pop you at the word lumberjack." Rory laughed.
"I'm serious. Mention anything about a pet ox and I'll give you decaf."
"!" Rory gasped in horror, "You wouldn't!" he handed her a cup, and she hesitently took a sip. It was safe. She sat at the bar for a few minutes, and then Jess spoke. His voice was quiet, as if he was suddenly afraid she'd run away.
"Ror," he said.
"Yeah?"
"We need to talk." This was it, the conversation she had both anticipated and dreaded.
Hah!
You have to wait for that one.
I'm sorry this took so long, but I have exams these days.
I call this phase 2 of the story, and I think there will be 3. 4. 3 1/2.
I'll try to have the next chapter out fast, please read and respond!