Chapter 6: Arriving in Fiji:

On December 18th, Rory woke up and realized it was late. Lorelai had left a note on the table saying that they had gone to Luke's and that Dean had called. Rory decided to walk to Luke's and call Dean back later. But just as she walked out of the house, Dean walked up to the house.

"Hey, Rory," He greeted her.

"Hey, Dean," Rory replied.

"I ran into your mom and dad at Luke's. They said you were still sleeping," Dean said.

"I just got up. I'm actually headed over to Luke's now," Rory said.

"Can we go talk somewhere before you head to Luke's please?" Dean asked with a slightly pleading tone, "I want to get what I have to say out before you leave for Fiji."

"Sure...we can go talk at the bridge," Rory replied.

"Great," Dean said, "So how's school?"

"Great. Really great...I got on the Harvard News. Next year, I'm hoping to get the Features column," Rory replied smiling, "How's school for you?"

"Busy. My roommate plays soccer and basketball so along with classes and work I went to his games...basketball games...Soccer season in Chicago doesn't start until May," Dean explained.

"Sounds like a lot of fun," Rory remarked.

"Believe me, it was," Dean said, "Juggling school, work and basketball games."

"So what did you want to talk about?" Rory asked changing the subject as they finally reached the bridge.

"Well, I know this is kind of weird coming from me because I was the one who said we should break up but I was wondering if there was any chance of us getting back together," Dean rambled, "So is there?"

"I don't know, Dean. You're great, but right now I think I just need to be me and think things through. Maybe someday, but not today," Rory answered with an apologetic tone.

"Okay...just so you know...even though I broke up with you and said it was better that way, it isn't. I think about you all the time. And whenever Greg and Tracey are around it's really hard to not miss you. I do all the time. It sucks," Dean said.

'I really wish I could say that it served you right...but I can't.' Rory thought sadly, 'I miss you too. More than I'd ever admit to you right now.'

"I wish I could say there's a chance for us right now but I really don't think there is," Rory said, "I think we both need to be on our own for awhile...see who we can be without each other for awhile...plus, you're in Chicago. The distance would a huge problem...the reason we broke up in the first place."

"I guess," Dean accepted, "So if we can't be a couple, could we at least be friends?"

"Do you even have to ask that, Dean? You've always been one of my best friends," Rory replied, "And even if we never get back together, you'll always be one of my best friends."

"Good. I don't think I could stand not being friends," Dean admitted.

"Hopefully, we'll never have to worry about that," Rory said, "So is that all you wanted to talk about?"

"Well...I was also wondering if you'd go to a movie with me tonight," Dean said, "As friends?"

"Sure...why not? It's not like I have anything to do tonight anyway," Rory agreed.

"Aladdin is what's playing," Dean said.

"Should be interesting," Rory said.

"Very," Dean remarked.

"Okay, I should go now...see if my mom and dad are still at Luke's and if mom is terrorizing Luke for more coffee," Rory said with a laugh.

"Always, Ror," Dean said, "I'll walk with you. I have to go to Doose's anyway to pick up some groceries for my mom."

"Okay," Rory said.

Three days later, Rory and her parents were on the way to Fiji when she checked her e-mail.

To: Rory Hayden
From: Lane Kim
Subject: Have a great vacation!

Hey Rory,

By the time you get this you may already be in Fiji. Have a great vacation and bring me back something really authentic of Fiji culture.

Miss you already,
Lane

There were also e-mails from Paris, Madeline and Louise. Also from a girl she'd met in her American Literature class just after school started.

To: Rory Hayden
From: Alicia Matthews
Subject: GUESS WHAT!

Hey Rory,

Guess what! Jason asked me out! He's coming to my dad's company family Christmas party with me! It will be so much easier with him there! So anyway, have a great time in Fiji!

Alicia

To: Alicia Matthews
From: Rory Hayden
Subject: RE: GUESS WHAT!

Hey Alicia,

That's great! Have fun on the date. Fiji should be great! I'll send you a post card from a bunch of different Fiji sites...or a few. Just email me your mailing address. Ttyl

Rory

With that Rory closed her email and went back to reading her book. A few hours later, the plane landed at Nadi International Airport. From there they would head to Fiji Islands Diving. They were all jet lagged and wanted a nice bed to sleep in ASAP. The next day they would be diving and sailing in huge sailboats. Rory, her parents, and both sets of her grandparents were looking forward to a vacation without snow for once. Connecticut was always covered in snow.

"Hey, Ror," Lorelai said noticing her daughter staring into space, "You okay?"

"Not really," Rory frowned, "I'm just hoping that this vacation will take Dean out of my mind once and for all."

"The other day didn't go so great did it?" Lorelai questioned, concerned.

"Nope," Rory sighed, "He broke up with me, and then four months later decides that he wants us to get back together because he claims to miss me practically twenty four/seven. Now he wants us to be friends and I told him we could, but I lied. I don't have any reason to want to be his friend."

"So then why did you tell him you guys could be friends?" Lorelai asked with her eyebrows furrowed.

"Because I can't be mean to anyone, even when I want to," Rory replied, "I'm just glad Dean goes to school in Chicago, or it would be harder to not be friends. With him miles and miles away, it will be easy to tell him I just got busy."

"You really don't want anything to do with Dean do you?" Lorelai concluded.

"No. And another thing...as soon as Christmas vacation is over and I'm back at school, I'm selling the car and getting a new one," Rory declared.

"Your grandfather and I could buy you a car. You could pick it out, any kind you want," Emily interrupted, having overheard the last part of Rory and Lorelai's conversation.

"Thanks for the offer, Grandma but you really don't have to," Rory said.

"It wouldn't be a problem, dear," Emily assured her.

"I know, Grandma, but I can probably find something that won't cost too much in Boston," Rory said.

"I know you could, but it would probably be an unreliable car that's also unsafe. Please let us buy you one," Emily said.

"Okay," Rory finally said throwing in the towel, knowing that Emily wouldn't give up until Rory said yes.

"Splendid!" Richard exclaimed, "You know we were going to buy you a car for graduation, but you had that other little car." "That stupid piece of junk that I should've sold in Stars Hollow so Dean could've found out. There's no way that his parents wouldn't have found out and told him," Rory ranted.

"You got to love small towns," Lorelai quipped.

After the Hayden's and Gilmore's got to the hotel they were staying at and unpacked some stuff, Rory headed out for a walk on the beach. She must have been deep in thought because the next thing she knew, she'd walked into someone.

"Walk into people all the time, Mary?" A voice asked.

"No, Tristan, just annoying players who can't get names right," Rory said," What are you doing here, anyway? I never thought I'd run into anyone I knew in Fiji."

"Whoa, someone's in a bad mood!" Tristan remarked," I happen to be on vacation, much like I'm assuming you are. Trouble in paradise, Mary?"

"Yeah...stupid Dean," Rory said.

"What happened with you and bagboy?" Tristan asked.

"Not that it really concerns you, but we broke up four months ago. He went to college in Chicago and decided the night before I left for Harvard that distance was going to mess everything up and he broke up with me. Then two days ago he told me he wanted to get back together," Rory explained.

"So did you?" Tristan asked.

"NO!" Rory exclaimed, "There's no way on earth that we'd ever get back together. Right after we broke up, that was all that I thought about. Now, I could really care less. Why do you want to know anyway?"

'Because I've been in love with you since sophomore year.' Tristan thought, though he'd never admit it.

"Just because you look really mad at the world," Tristan replied instead, "And I was wondering if there's any chance we could be friends."

"Interesting… Does Tristan DuGray know how to be 'just friends' with a girl?" Rory asked, "And I'm only mad at guys, not the world."

"Yes, I know how to be just friends with a girl," Tristan replied defensively.

"Sorry. I'm just in a bad mood right now," Rory said.

"So what are you up to while in Fiji?" Tristan asked.

"Basically island hopping. I'm here with both sets of grandparents and my parents," Rory replied, "You?"

"My 'family' is island hopping too. We're staying at Fiji Islands Diving," Tristan replied.

"So are we!" Rory exclaimed.

"Cool, so do you want to hang out sometime?" Tristan asked.

"Sure, when?" Rory asked.

"How about tomorrow afternoon? Around 1:30?" Tristan offered.

"Okay," Rory said, "But for now I think I should go. My mom wanted to do some shopping before the day ended."

This is the last beta version of a chapter. Until I get the last one I sent to my beta back. Enjoy. I have 8 more chapters left, including the last one my beta has, until all the one's I've written so far have been beat read and reposted.