The next two days were a blur for Rory. She had been swamped in school and every free chance she got at home were spent preparing for the Debutante ball.
Tristan seemed to avoid her and for some odd reason she felt a little disappointed. When she arrived at her locker every morning to not see him leaning against it her heart sank a little bit. Of course, she didn't make an effort to talk to him either.
It was Friday afternoon and the last bell had just rang. "There is a god." Rory muttered to herself as she began to pack up her books.
"Yes, I know I am but it's always nice to be recognized." a voice from behind her said.
She recognized it immediately and even if she hadn't the self assured remark certainly would have tipped her off. She couldn't understand why her heart leapt as he spoke to her.
Turning around and bring her eyes up to reach his she smiled brightly. "Hey, Tristan."
"What? No words of hatred? No remark about me being a cocky jerk? No advice to dig a hole and die in it?" He asked feigning shock.
"I need you in one piece for tomorrow. But if you'd like I can write all my insults down and after the ball tomorrow we can sit down and I can lay them all out at once."
"No, That's ok. I can take the insults little by little because I have recuperation time in between. But if they weren't broken up my at least fifty minute increments, I might actually take your advice and kill myself."
"Ruin my fun." Rory whined as she picked up her book bag and began to walk towards the door with Tristan trailing behind.
"So, I was wondering do you want to go get something to eat? Help you get your mind off of the horrible hell we are going to have to endure tomorrow."
"Sure! Maybe if I say I am with you, my grandmother will even let me out of Friday night dinner." Rory said brightening at the idea. "What did you have in mind?"
"I know this Chinese place…" Tristan began.
"I had Chinese last night." She whined.
"Someone's feeling slightly persnickety today." Tristan commented smiling at how childish she cold act, of course that seemed to make her all the more adorable.
"Did you know that pernickety is a word that means the same thing as persnickety."
"I'll keep that in mind next time I play scrabble." Tristan smirked.
"It could be the difference between a double and triple word score."
"I could see how that's important."
"How about…Luke's again?" Rory suggested giving him her best puppy dog eyes.
"Oh, Now that's not fair! Those eyes will get you anything you want."
"So that means we can go to Luke's?" She asked brightly.
"Do you honestly think I'd say no?"
"Nope." She said linking her arm through his and skipping out of the school.
They got into the car and Rory immediately began talking a mile a minute about everything under the sun. At first Tristan thought she was nervously babbling but then it hit him, this was the real Rory Gilmore.
At school she always seemed shy and guarded because she didn't really trust the people at Chilton. She was there to learn and that was about it.
But right now, she was showing him her real personality. Which made him happy that she was becoming more comfortable with him, that she thought of him as more than just the guy who pisses her off everyday.
"Tristan! Answer my question!" Rory demanded.
"Which question would that be?" He asked glancing over at her then back at the road.
"I asked which you thought was better: ER or Grey's Anatomy."
"I like the older episodes of ER the ones when Abby and Carter are together but I like Grey's Anatomy more, now."
"Me Too! My mom likes Grey's Anatomy because she has a thing for Patrick Dempsey. She said that when I was a baby she watched 'Can't by Me Love' over and over again."
"What'd she think of the remake with Nick Cannon?" He questioned.
"She said and I quote 'Couldn't hold a candle to it.'" Rory said with a laugh.
"My mom said the same thing. She was actually considering writing a letter to the director telling him he ruined the concept for her."
Rory laughed she liked talking to Tristan. His mom seemed to be just like hers but she had always thought that most society mothers and sons were never very close.
"So, Your close to your mom?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, She's my biggest confidant. I know that may seem strange for her to be my best friend but I can tell her anything and she doesn't judge…she might add her two sense in but she doesn't disown me for it."
"And your dad?"
"Another story all together. He's Mr. Society and the moment he finds out I stepped out of line I get hour long lectures about what other people with think of the DuGrey family."
"Bummer." Rory said. She could tell that Tristan wished he was closer to his dad just by the tone in which he spoke but she wasn't going to pry. She was glad he was opening up to her.
"What about you?" He asked "You and your mom seem pretty close."
"She's my best friend, So I don't think it's odd that your best friend is your mom. I think it's actually pretty cool." She watched his reaction to her statement and his face seemed to brighten.
"And my dad…I love my Dad but he's not much of a paternal figure. My mom got pregnant when she was sixteen and where she cracked down and grew up in nine months so she could take care of me, my dad couldn't do that. So he comes and visits every so often and we e-mail but that's about it."
The car grew silent as they both had feelings of sympathy for one another until Rory broke the silence.
"So, Aren't you thrilled you have to get up at eight o'clock in the morning on a Saturday?"
"Oh yeah. Ecstatic." he replied dryly.
"I'm sorry, I really didn't ask my grandmother to arrange to get me an escort."
"No worries. In all honesty if Friday came and you didn't have a date I probably would have offered anyways." He told her.
"Really?"
"Yep, No girl deserves to be presented to society with bug boy." He smirked.
Truth be told, he was going to offer on Tuesday when they were at the diner but he chickened out. Then he was going to ask her again right before he left but again his nerves got the better of him.
"Thanks, Tristan. It really means a lot to me." Rory said shyly.
Tristan grabbed her hand and squeezed it but he didn't say anything. Rory's hand was tingling, his touch was driving her crazy but yet she had no desire for him to remove it.
Turning to him she smiled "I'm hungry."
He just laughed, he had witnessed her eating habit's the other day and concluded that she was probably always hungry. "We're here, So lets get you some food."
Hesitantly she let go of his hand and got our of the car. The moment she began to walk next to him she gathered all the courage she could and grabbed his hand again.
Tristan was Shocked by her actions, but he decided not to question them. He knew that would probably only make her push away from him.
After eating they had went back to the Rory's house to watch movies.
"Oh, Put the TV on mute I've gotta watch call my grandma and get me and mom out of Friday night dinner."
Tristan did as instructed with a amused smirk on his face, he'd never seen anyone so anxious to get out of dinner with their grandparents.
"May I please speak to Emily Gilmore, It's her granddaughter Rory." Rory said politely.
"Look at the manners on you." Tristan teased.
"Bite me." Rory retorted as a look of horror came over her face "No, Grandma I wasn't talking to you."
Tristan stifled a laugh as she glared at him.
"Grandma, I was calling to ask if you would allow me and mom to skip dinner tonight." Rory rolled her eyes. Her grandmother was giving her a lecture about how they made this agreement.
"I know it's just…Tristan is here and we were going to practice dancing again so I don't look completely clueless out there tomorrow and Mom is going to help me get my dress and everything ready."
"Really? Thank you so much Grandma! I'll see you tomorrow!" Rory hung up the phone and jumped on the couch giving Tristan a hug. "You are a life saver. From the moment I said your name I was off the hook."
Pulling away Rory realized she was straddling Tristan's lap and his arms were wrapped around her waist. It was one of those situations that you aren't aware of how you got in it but your kind of glad you are.
Tristan leaned in and brushed his lips against hers surprised that she responded so quickly. Her arms wrapped around his neck pulling him closer to her.
His tongue skimmed her bottom lip asking for entrance and she happily obliged.
Rory didn't know how long they had been kissing but all of a sudden the door swung open and her parents walked through the front door.
Rory jumped off of Tristan's lap but fell back and landed on the floor with a large thump.
"I'm going to guess by the panic on their faces, their swollen lips and Rory sitting on the floor. That they were kissing." Lorelai teased.
"They could have been doing worse." Chris reasoned.
"Yeah, like we were when we were left alone in a big empty house."
"They better not have been!" Chris said eyeing Tristan who stood up and pulled Rory off the ground.
"I've got to get going. I've got homework I should to before tomorrow, not to mention I have to make sure my tux is ready and everything. I'll see you all tomorrow." he said quickly before leaving the house in a hurry.
Rory sat on the couch trying to process everything that had just happened. She got off the phone with her grandmother, jumped onto Tristan's lap to give him a hug then ended up making out with him for…Rory glanced up at the clock and was shocked "Twenty minutes!"
"What's in twenty minutes?" Lorelai asked sitting on the couch next to her daughter.
"Nothing, I made out with Tristan for twenty minutes." Rory said still slightly shocked.
"I'm impressed your father and I could only go for about fifteen. Obviously, we don't have as good of a lung capacity as you two do."
"Whose lung capacity?" Chris asked entering the room with two cups of coffee.
"Rory and Tristan's they beat our record by five minutes."
"If it were any other couple I would have been impressed but I am not sure how much I like my little girl sucking face with some guy." Chris stated.
"Oh my god. We're not a couple…that means I am another one of his locker whores only…without the locker!" Rory panicked.
"Ror, Why don't you calm down while I try to figure out a way of getting out of dinner tonight." Lorelai said trying to comfort her daughter.
"Already did it."
"Did what?" Lorelai questioned confused.
"Got out of dinner. I told grandma me and Tristan had to practice dancing and you were getting my dress and stuff ready so she excused us."
"That's my little liar! Chris, Look I finally achieved my goal of making the ultimate mini me." Lorelai said proudly.
"I fear for the world. There are two Lorelai's walking around." Chris teased.
"Technically, There are three."
"Oh Yes, Who can forget the eldest Lorelai Gilmore." Chris shuttered. Richards mother had really flipped out on him when Lorelai got pregnant. He was scared for his life.
"Ha ha, Grams scared you. That's still as funny today as it was seventeen years ago." Lorelai said laughing.
Lorelai and Rory had sent Chris on a run for all the junk food they could possibly consume and movies because they were having a movie night to get Rory's mind off of Tristan.
Rory was terrified that she had just become one of Tristan's locker mates…minus the locker. That by kissing him she was just as bad as the girls she had constantly made fun of.
Tristan walked into his house needing to talk to someone. He needed insight on a situation that was driving him insane.
"MOM!" Tristan yelled.
"In the kitchen!" Alyse answered.
Walking into the kitchen he sat on the stool next to his mother and dropped his head on the counter.
"That's not a good sign." Alyse teased.
"I kissed Rory."
"I thought that would be a good thing."
"I kissed her and then left."
"Why the hell would you do that!" Alyse asked lightly smacking Tristan in the back of the head.
"Her parents came home."
"So? I met Lorelai yesterday, she doesn't seem like the type of mother to bug out if she walked in on her daughter kissing boy…All you did was kiss right?" Alyse questioned panicked.
"Yes, All I did was kiss her. And your right, Lorelai didn't mind neither did Christopher. In fact they commented about that there worse things that we could be doing, like the things they did."
Alyse laughed. She had only met them once but Chris and Lorelai seemed like pretty interesting people, they were nice not to mention she admired them for getting out of society.
She had followed her families plan and married a wealthy business man, She now regretted it because she knew eventually that world would suck Tristan into it.
That was one of the reasons she wanted Tristan to be with Rory. Rory had substance and cared more about Tristan's feelings and thoughts than what he could buy her on Christmas.
Alyse ran her hand through her sons hair. He might have been seventeen years old but he was still her baby boy who was running to his mommy for help.
"You know, When you were little your problems were a lot easier to solve. Half the time all I had to do was give you a Popsicle and you'd forget all about it. I'm guess giving you a Popsicle won't help."
"Nope." Tristan sighed.
"How about a shot?" Alyse offered.
Tristan lifted his head and looked at his mother "Have you lost it?"
"No and I don't condone teenage drinking either but right now it might help." Alyse shrugged.
"Thanks for the offer Mom, but I'll pass."
"Oh my word! My son has passed up a chance to drink with his mother. I am so telling your friends!"
"A little insight on the situation might be helpful." Tristan told her.
"Well, What happened?"
"Well, First we were in the car talking about how I would have offered to be her escort even if you hadn't arranged it for me and she said that that really meant something to her so I took her hand and she didn't let go. Then when we got out of the car to go into the diner, she grabbed my hand again."
"Awww." Alyse smiled then motioned for her son to continue his story.
"Then, We were at her house and she called her grandmother to get out going to their house for dinner and Rory mentioned I was there her grandmother agreed. Rory was happy and jumped on the couch to give me a hug but she ended up on my lap. Then I leaned forward and I kissed her and she didn't pull away."
"How long did you kiss?" Alyse asked curiously.
"Do you want to know how long it took us to add tongue to?" Tristan retorted.
"Hey, I was just asking. Now if you want my expert opinion I'd suggest just giving her time to sort out her own feelings considering you already know yours. Then talk to her tomorrow, After all you are spending all day together."
"I guess that makes sense. Thanks." he said giving his mother a hug.
"No problem, Oh and here!" Alyse exclaimed getting off the stool and walked to the freezer.
Pulling out a red Popsicle she handed it to Tristan. "I know your not seven anymore but a mother can wish her baby boy's problems can still be solved with a Popsicle."
Tristan smiled and gratefully took it from his mother. "Mm, Red. My favorite." He kissed his mothers cheek before walking out of the kitchen.
He finished his Popsicle as he walked into his room and read the joke on the stick. "What has holes all over but still holds water."
He laughed to himself because he sadly remembered the answer "A sponge."
Throwing it away he laid on his bed. He hoped he hadn't screwed anything up with Rory. He really liked her and he felt his courage to continually pursue her weakening. He couldn't keep getting shot down, Eventually he'd have to realize that Rory didn't have feelings for him.
Sighing he closed his eyes and fell into a restless sleep.
Rory was laying on her own bed thinking about what had happened. She had held Tristan's hand in the car and at the diner, She had hugged him but ended up on his lap and she had kissed him for a lengthy period of time.
She liked Tristan, she had comes to terms with that but she wasn't sure if he liked her as more than a conquest. She knew that in the beginning that's all he was interested in was making her a mark on his bedpost but she had hoped that wasn't the case anymore. She had strong feelings for him and she hoped that she wasn't misguided by having them.
Alright, There is the next chapter. I don't think it's as good as the first two but my original 3rd chapter got deleted and I had to rewrite it.
There will probably end up being five chapters to this story so it's got a quick pace as some of you have noticed.
I obviously do not own any of the tv shows or movies mentioned in this chapter. It's sad though, I'd love to own Grey's Anatomy.
Reviews are always appreciated!