"What's wrong Tristan you seem distracted?" Rory asked as they walked in the garden.
"Well my father gave me a rather odd gift today and told me to give to the girl of my dreams. I would give it too you but I have a feeling that you'll be freaked out so I want to know about our future. Where do you see us going?"
"Are you breaking up with me?"
"Oh no!" He turned towards her and kissed her. "I wouldn't dream of breaking up with you. I just want to know where you think we're going. I mean I want to see if we feel the same."
"Well I guess I see us being together through college. I mean I love you Tristan and last year proved that distance does make the heart grow fonder. I fell madly in love with you last year and couldn't picture my life without you in it. That may sound cliché but it's the truth. I want to be with you."
"At least we feel the same." They chuckled a little and sat down on the bench. "I want you to know that I love you no matter what." She blushed as they locked eyes.
"We should get back to the party."
"Wait I have to give you an early graduation present." He handed her a piece of paper from inside his suit jacket. She slowly opened the piece of paper and read it fast.
"Why did you give me a piece of paper with information about New York City?"
"I thought that maybe you would want to spend a weekend with me in New York City after graduation."
"That is so thoughtful Tristan." She threw her arms around him and it started to drizzle. "Come on let's go before we get wet." She turned to go but he stopped her. It started to rain and Tristan slipped a simple silver band on her finger as the rain fell down around them. Rory looked up at Tristan bewildered as to the band on her right hand ring finger.
"It's a promise ring, see I have one to. It shows that I want this to work between us." Rory just smiled as Tristan moved a wet piece of her hair out of her face. The rain fell down harder around them as they shared a kiss. "Now we should go inside." He interlaced their hands and walked back into house. They walked in soaking wet and dripping water all over the floor.
"Tristan son why are you all wet?"
"We got caught in the rain."
"Well go dry off and change before our guests leave." Tristan nodded and the two walked upstairs to throw robes on. Tristan stood at the door and shook everyone's hand making his father proud. Rory just stood next to him smiling at all the guests and saying farewells. Her mother stopped before them and put her hands on her hips.
"What's wrong mom?"
"What is that on your finger?"
"It's a promise ring that's it."
"So you're not gonna run away and get married?"
"No."
"Good see I knew your grandmother was wrong."
"Tell her to stay out of my business."
"Oh trust me I will, good night honey, will I see you later?"
"Yeah."
"Okay love you."
"Love you too."
"So what was that about?"
"My nosy grandmother can't keep her mouth shut. She thinks we're getting married and I think she's already starting planning it. It's like she has no life of her own, why can't she just stay out of mine!" Rory exclaimed as Tristan tried to calm her. "No this isn't okay I mean she's a scheming witch who can't bear to think of me doing something by myself. I'm not gonna let her run my life anymore just so she can keep up appearances in this stupid society."
"Mary chill, I know you don't like your grandmother but you seriously need to relax you're starting to freak me out. You angry is not fun for me, its like you're going to beat me up at any second."
"I'm sorry but she's been trying to control my life since I started going to Chilton."
"Why since then?"
"When I got accepted to Chilton my mom couldn't pay for it so she went to my grandparents for the money and ever since then she's been trying to control my life."
"I never knew." Rory sank down next to him and put her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah and now that I've turned 18 its been all like let's find Rory the perfect husband, the perfect school, I just want to live away from the society."
"Well I could talk to my grandparents if you want, I mean he could probably loan me the money. I don't want you to feel the pressure of society."
"I don't know Tristan."
"I'll talk to him tomorrow okay?"
"What if he says no Tristan? I mean my grandmother will be more than furious if she finds out."
"I know but maybe we can come up with a lie like he's helping us with school or something."
"I don't know."
"Trust me okay?"
The next morning Tristan woke up and left to go to his grandfather's house. He made a quick detour to Stars Hollow to find Rory on the steps of her porch with four coffee cups in a carry-out tray waiting for him. She smiled when she saw him and quickly got into the car. The drive to his grandfather's house was more than nerve wrecking for Rory. She desperately wanted this to work to escape her grandmother's claws of death.
When they pulled into the driveway Rory let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as they walked to the door. His grandfather opened the door and smiled down at them.
"What are you two doing here?"
"Um….we have to talk to you."
"Let's go in the study." He ushered them in and they sat down across from his desk and grabbed hands. "Now what can I do for you?"
"Well um…you see Rory's kinda in a bad position."
"She's not pregnant, is she?"
"No nothing like that more like demonic grandmother already our wedding."
"Oh. So what can I do to help?"
"Pay off Rory's tuition to Chilton so she can give part of the money back to get her grandmother off of her back."
"What brought this about?"
"Last night when my grandmother saw the promise ring she freaked out and thought we were running away to get married so she couldn't plan the wedding."
"Ah your grandmother thought that too but didn't see the diamond, so I can see where she was coming from."
"So can you help us?"
"Well I appreciate your willingness to help Rory escape society but I think she can handle it for a little while longer. I'm sorry that I can't help you I would love to but I can't."
"Why not?"
"Tristan the Gilmores are as predominate in this society as we are I can't just undermine them and ruin them." Tristan's smile faded into a scowl before standing up and leaving the room. Rory apologized before running to find Tristan.
"Tristan! Tristan! Please talk to me." She yelled at Tristan's retreating figure.
"He's just like my father! He's all nice to me but the minute I need something he acts all uncaring. I thought at least he could help us, I mean he was the one person I could always count on."
"Tristan baby please stop."
"I can't stop because seeing you hurt hurts me. I can see the hurt in your eyes whenever you are with your grandmother. I can tell you hate it and that you just want to break away. She's doing the same thing to you that my father does to me."
"Tristan please relax, you're scaring me."
"I'm sorry." He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as she cried in the driveway. "I'll figure something out, I'll get you out of her grasp."