Disclaimer: To keep it short and sweet, I own nothing :)
Authors note: Thank-you so much for all of the reviews! I definitely was not expecting all the feedback, but it is very much appreciated. Keep it coming, it only encourages me more, and I enjoy any kind of constructive criticism you may have for me, but please keep it tasteful. Enjoy the second chapter.
* * * * *
"For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate. . . the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation."
* * * * *
"Hey babe, what took you so long?" Lorelai asked as soon as she spotted Rory walk through the doors. She took her by the arm, dragging her to a more remote part of the room and shot her daggers. "I had to stand there in front of all these weird people I'd never met before, smiling and nodding like a fool. I did it for so long that I think my face may be stuck like this." Lorelai flashed an exaggerated smile as if to prove her point.
Rory shook her head sympathetically, but laughed. "Wow, I am sorry."
"Yeah, you sound it," Lorelai replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "So, what do you say we blow this popsicle stand?"
"I'm with you on that one," Rory agreed, and the two began to weave their way through the groups of people.
"So, I'll ask you again; what took you so long?" Lorelai repeated.
"Oh, well it was hot. You know how I start to walk slowly when it's hot," Rory smiled meekly.
Lorelai narrowed her eyes and stopped walking for a moment, placing her hands on Rory's shoulders and turning her body so it faced her own. "Uh huh. . . why do I not believe you?"
"I don't know, it's a very plausible story."
"So, tell me again why you took so long?"
"It was hot." Rory took a deep breath, shifting uncomfortably from side to side, managing to avoid any eye contact with her mother.
"You lie," Lorelai gasped, pushing her index finger on Rory's shoulder. "Your eyes are doing that squinty thing they do."
"Drat," Rory replied, sighing. "Fine, some guy was hitting on me out on the patio, and it just wasn't a story I wanted to relive, thank-you-very-much."
Lorelai's eyes lit up and she laughed. "A guy hit on you? That's so fun! What was his name? What did he look like? Was he cute?"
"See, this is why I didn't want to tell you. . . because I knew we would play twenty questions. Yes, a guy hit on me. He was good looking, I guess, but he was the most obnoxious person I've ever met in my life. He was so conceited." Rory began playing with a strand of her hair and looking around the room. "So can we go now?"
"Sure," Lorelai said, a smirk playing on her lips. "Right after you tell me his name."
"Tristan something-or-other. . . DuGray maybe," Rory replied. "Happy now?"
"Very, let's go." They turned towards the door, almost running into Emily. "Ah, mom! Jeeze, way to give your daughter and seventeen year old granddaughter a heart attack."
"Don't be dramatic, Lorelai," Emily sighed, and then turned her attention to Rory. "What's this I hear about Tristan DuGray?"
Rory felt a blush begin to creep into her cheeks. "Oh, it's nothing Grandma."
"Are you friends with him? He comes from a very respectable family. He would be a wonderful suitor." She clasped her hands together. "Oh, I can see it now. . ."
"Mom, before you start writing the wedding invitations, Rory is not friends with him, they just met out on the patio. Although I think he might be interested in showing her a good time," Lorelai joked, nudging Rory with her elbow.
"Mom," Rory hissed, "Stop."
"What do you mean?" Emily questioned, her concerned glance moving between the two girls.
"Nothing, mother. Listen, I think we're going to take off now," Lorelai said, changing the subject. "Thank-you for insisting we come, we had a lovely time." She flashed her rehearsed fake smile. "See you next week for dinner."
"Yes, good-bye Lorelai, Rory. Have a nice week."
* * * * *
"Wow, that week flew by," Lorelai said, standing awkwardly at the door to the Gilmore mansion. Rory nodded from beside her as they each stared at the door.
"You knock," Lorelai said.
"No, you."
"I said it first."
"I knocked last week."
The door swung open and Emily smiled at the two. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you two. Come in, come in." She ushered them into the foyer and turned to them. Her smile seemed to get bigger by the second.
"Why so happy, mom? Did you suddenly realize that you had a bridge club meeting and we won't be able to have dinner this week?"
"No, Lorelai."
"Oh right, I'm sorry, that's what would make me happy. What's up, mom?"
"Nothing is up. I have a surprise for the two of you."
"Oh, a surprise," Rory jumped in. "Is it a pony?"
Emily flashed her a confused look. "I swear, you grow more and more like your mother everyday."
Rory smiled. "Well, I try."
"I ran into Janlen DuGray the other day, and I invited his family to dinner tonight," Emily said excitedly, looking at their blank expressions. "I thought it would give you and the DuGray boy a chance to catch up."
"What? Catch up? But we barely said two words to each other," Rory replied, her eyes pleading with Lorelai and Emily desperately.
"Well then it will give you an opportunity to get to know one another, won't it? Let's go, they are in the living room."
As she proceeded to get a drink on her way, Rory grabbed Lorelai's wrist to hold her back. "Mom, this is so embarrassing! I don't want to have to face him again. Please don't make me go in there."
"I'm sorry, sweets. Maybe he isn't as bad as you think," she suggested. "You know, sometimes people can give you a surprisingly wrong first impression, but once you get to know them, they are actually very interesting people. At least, that's what I hear about myself." She laughed.
Rory sighed. "Fine. Let's go."
As soon as Rory saw him sitting on the sofa, she wanted to scream; he looked so damn sure of himself, which ordinarily wouldn't be a bad thing if he hadn't sent an implying wink in her direction. Avoiding eye contact with him, she chose to sit herself in a chair on the opposite side of the room. She folded her hands in her lap and sat, trying to look interested in the conversation that was taking place, but she couldn't seem to stop her eyes from wandering to Tristan.
He smiled and mouthed the word 'Hi'.
Sighing, she mouthed it back. Maybe he would behave tonight. Maybe he would make up for how he had acted the previous week.
'You look good,' he mouthed, skimming his eyes over her body.
Rory rolled her eyes. Maybe not. After a few moments of his awkward and direct glances, they finally moved into the dining room for dinner.
Just as Rory was about to slide into her seat, Tristan had beat her to it, and he glanced up at her with a smirk playing on his lips. Rory sighed. "Fine, sit here."
"We can share," he replied, raising his eyebrows.
"No, you can have the stupid chair if you want it."
"Oh I want it, alright," Tristan said, his voice barely above a whisper in her ear, ". . . just not the chair."
Rory felt her cheeks redden and she rubbed her ear on her shoulder in effort to rid the tingly feeling his breath had caused. "You are such a creep," she hissed before sitting herself beside him as it was the only spot left.
"So Rory, your grandmother tells me you plan on attending Harvard?" Janlen inquired.
"Oh, well I haven't really decided yet. I've been accepted to both Yale and Harvard, so it's sort of a toss up between the two."
"She gets both her beauty and her brains from me," Lorelai joked, her voice holding a modest tone.
An impressed look came over Janlen's features. "Yale is a wonderful school. A long line of DuGray's have graduated from there. It would be a wonderful opportunity for you. Perhaps I could tell you about some of my past experiences there."
"Oh, that would be great," Rory replied enthusiastically. At least someone in the DuGray family held some sort of manners. As she and Tristan's grandfather continued their conversation about post secondary education, she felt something brush up against her right leg. She soon realized that it was Tristan's foot, and she felt a sigh of annoyance rise up in her as she kicked him away.
"Feisty," he whispered to her. "I like it."
"Excuse me," Rory announced, tossing her napkin onto her plate. "I'm going to go. . . freshen up." She pushed her chair away and exited the room, making her way to the bathroom. She could feel his eyes watching her, and she shivered.
* * * * *
Tristan listened as Rory and his grandfather chatted, trying to hold an expression of boredom on his face. In reality, he was actually very interested to hear Rory talk about her future. He laughed inwardly to himself as he remembered pegging her for a ditz when he had met her at the club. To be accepted to both Yale and Harvard. . . 'Not only a beautiful woman, but intelligent, too. This will be fun.'
Picking at his food, Tristan removed his shoe, reached his foot out and began to run his foot up Rory's pant leg. He smirked when he heard her intake of breath, but he forced himself to maintain a straight face. He heard Rory excuse herself and he watched her leave. Oh, the body that girl had. Tristan cleared his throat and stood up. "I think I'm going to get some fresh air, I'll be back soon."
Hoping he wasn't being too obvious, he slipped out of the room and into the main foyer. He glanced around at the paintings that were hanging on the wall until he heard the click of the bathroom door and then saw her walking in his direction.
"What are you doing out here?" Rory asked as a weary expression formed on her face.
"Just checking out the house and it's views," he returned, his eyes taking her in. Rory sighed. "Please don't."
"Why?" Tristan asked, walking towards her. "You are so beautiful."
"You're making me uncomfortable," Rory stammered. She felt herself hit the wall behind her, and he was so close to her that she could feel his breath on her cheek. She inhaled sharply.
Tristan smiled and traced his hand over her face. "Just admit that you want me."
"You are the last thing I want. God, you are so arrogant. You're probably used to getting everything you want, huh? You think you can just show girls your car and lure them in with your good looks? Well let me tell you, Tristan DuGray, I am not like most girls." His smell was intoxicating, but she couldn't help but enjoy the scent as she breathed it in.
"So you admit that I'm good looking?"
Rory blushed. "No, I didn't mean that. What I meant was. . ." She was cut off by the most sensual feeling of his moist lips pressed against hers. He gently took her hands and placed them over her head, pinning them against the wall.
With all the strength and will power she could muster, she managed to push him off her. Her head felt dizzy from the intense moment that had just occurred, and she ran her hands through her hair as she took in a shaky breath.
Closing her eyes, she whispered, "Please, leave me alone," before retreating back into the dining room.
Authors note: Thank-you so much for all of the reviews! I definitely was not expecting all the feedback, but it is very much appreciated. Keep it coming, it only encourages me more, and I enjoy any kind of constructive criticism you may have for me, but please keep it tasteful. Enjoy the second chapter.
* * * * *
"For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate. . . the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation."
* * * * *
"Hey babe, what took you so long?" Lorelai asked as soon as she spotted Rory walk through the doors. She took her by the arm, dragging her to a more remote part of the room and shot her daggers. "I had to stand there in front of all these weird people I'd never met before, smiling and nodding like a fool. I did it for so long that I think my face may be stuck like this." Lorelai flashed an exaggerated smile as if to prove her point.
Rory shook her head sympathetically, but laughed. "Wow, I am sorry."
"Yeah, you sound it," Lorelai replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "So, what do you say we blow this popsicle stand?"
"I'm with you on that one," Rory agreed, and the two began to weave their way through the groups of people.
"So, I'll ask you again; what took you so long?" Lorelai repeated.
"Oh, well it was hot. You know how I start to walk slowly when it's hot," Rory smiled meekly.
Lorelai narrowed her eyes and stopped walking for a moment, placing her hands on Rory's shoulders and turning her body so it faced her own. "Uh huh. . . why do I not believe you?"
"I don't know, it's a very plausible story."
"So, tell me again why you took so long?"
"It was hot." Rory took a deep breath, shifting uncomfortably from side to side, managing to avoid any eye contact with her mother.
"You lie," Lorelai gasped, pushing her index finger on Rory's shoulder. "Your eyes are doing that squinty thing they do."
"Drat," Rory replied, sighing. "Fine, some guy was hitting on me out on the patio, and it just wasn't a story I wanted to relive, thank-you-very-much."
Lorelai's eyes lit up and she laughed. "A guy hit on you? That's so fun! What was his name? What did he look like? Was he cute?"
"See, this is why I didn't want to tell you. . . because I knew we would play twenty questions. Yes, a guy hit on me. He was good looking, I guess, but he was the most obnoxious person I've ever met in my life. He was so conceited." Rory began playing with a strand of her hair and looking around the room. "So can we go now?"
"Sure," Lorelai said, a smirk playing on her lips. "Right after you tell me his name."
"Tristan something-or-other. . . DuGray maybe," Rory replied. "Happy now?"
"Very, let's go." They turned towards the door, almost running into Emily. "Ah, mom! Jeeze, way to give your daughter and seventeen year old granddaughter a heart attack."
"Don't be dramatic, Lorelai," Emily sighed, and then turned her attention to Rory. "What's this I hear about Tristan DuGray?"
Rory felt a blush begin to creep into her cheeks. "Oh, it's nothing Grandma."
"Are you friends with him? He comes from a very respectable family. He would be a wonderful suitor." She clasped her hands together. "Oh, I can see it now. . ."
"Mom, before you start writing the wedding invitations, Rory is not friends with him, they just met out on the patio. Although I think he might be interested in showing her a good time," Lorelai joked, nudging Rory with her elbow.
"Mom," Rory hissed, "Stop."
"What do you mean?" Emily questioned, her concerned glance moving between the two girls.
"Nothing, mother. Listen, I think we're going to take off now," Lorelai said, changing the subject. "Thank-you for insisting we come, we had a lovely time." She flashed her rehearsed fake smile. "See you next week for dinner."
"Yes, good-bye Lorelai, Rory. Have a nice week."
* * * * *
"Wow, that week flew by," Lorelai said, standing awkwardly at the door to the Gilmore mansion. Rory nodded from beside her as they each stared at the door.
"You knock," Lorelai said.
"No, you."
"I said it first."
"I knocked last week."
The door swung open and Emily smiled at the two. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you two. Come in, come in." She ushered them into the foyer and turned to them. Her smile seemed to get bigger by the second.
"Why so happy, mom? Did you suddenly realize that you had a bridge club meeting and we won't be able to have dinner this week?"
"No, Lorelai."
"Oh right, I'm sorry, that's what would make me happy. What's up, mom?"
"Nothing is up. I have a surprise for the two of you."
"Oh, a surprise," Rory jumped in. "Is it a pony?"
Emily flashed her a confused look. "I swear, you grow more and more like your mother everyday."
Rory smiled. "Well, I try."
"I ran into Janlen DuGray the other day, and I invited his family to dinner tonight," Emily said excitedly, looking at their blank expressions. "I thought it would give you and the DuGray boy a chance to catch up."
"What? Catch up? But we barely said two words to each other," Rory replied, her eyes pleading with Lorelai and Emily desperately.
"Well then it will give you an opportunity to get to know one another, won't it? Let's go, they are in the living room."
As she proceeded to get a drink on her way, Rory grabbed Lorelai's wrist to hold her back. "Mom, this is so embarrassing! I don't want to have to face him again. Please don't make me go in there."
"I'm sorry, sweets. Maybe he isn't as bad as you think," she suggested. "You know, sometimes people can give you a surprisingly wrong first impression, but once you get to know them, they are actually very interesting people. At least, that's what I hear about myself." She laughed.
Rory sighed. "Fine. Let's go."
As soon as Rory saw him sitting on the sofa, she wanted to scream; he looked so damn sure of himself, which ordinarily wouldn't be a bad thing if he hadn't sent an implying wink in her direction. Avoiding eye contact with him, she chose to sit herself in a chair on the opposite side of the room. She folded her hands in her lap and sat, trying to look interested in the conversation that was taking place, but she couldn't seem to stop her eyes from wandering to Tristan.
He smiled and mouthed the word 'Hi'.
Sighing, she mouthed it back. Maybe he would behave tonight. Maybe he would make up for how he had acted the previous week.
'You look good,' he mouthed, skimming his eyes over her body.
Rory rolled her eyes. Maybe not. After a few moments of his awkward and direct glances, they finally moved into the dining room for dinner.
Just as Rory was about to slide into her seat, Tristan had beat her to it, and he glanced up at her with a smirk playing on his lips. Rory sighed. "Fine, sit here."
"We can share," he replied, raising his eyebrows.
"No, you can have the stupid chair if you want it."
"Oh I want it, alright," Tristan said, his voice barely above a whisper in her ear, ". . . just not the chair."
Rory felt her cheeks redden and she rubbed her ear on her shoulder in effort to rid the tingly feeling his breath had caused. "You are such a creep," she hissed before sitting herself beside him as it was the only spot left.
"So Rory, your grandmother tells me you plan on attending Harvard?" Janlen inquired.
"Oh, well I haven't really decided yet. I've been accepted to both Yale and Harvard, so it's sort of a toss up between the two."
"She gets both her beauty and her brains from me," Lorelai joked, her voice holding a modest tone.
An impressed look came over Janlen's features. "Yale is a wonderful school. A long line of DuGray's have graduated from there. It would be a wonderful opportunity for you. Perhaps I could tell you about some of my past experiences there."
"Oh, that would be great," Rory replied enthusiastically. At least someone in the DuGray family held some sort of manners. As she and Tristan's grandfather continued their conversation about post secondary education, she felt something brush up against her right leg. She soon realized that it was Tristan's foot, and she felt a sigh of annoyance rise up in her as she kicked him away.
"Feisty," he whispered to her. "I like it."
"Excuse me," Rory announced, tossing her napkin onto her plate. "I'm going to go. . . freshen up." She pushed her chair away and exited the room, making her way to the bathroom. She could feel his eyes watching her, and she shivered.
* * * * *
Tristan listened as Rory and his grandfather chatted, trying to hold an expression of boredom on his face. In reality, he was actually very interested to hear Rory talk about her future. He laughed inwardly to himself as he remembered pegging her for a ditz when he had met her at the club. To be accepted to both Yale and Harvard. . . 'Not only a beautiful woman, but intelligent, too. This will be fun.'
Picking at his food, Tristan removed his shoe, reached his foot out and began to run his foot up Rory's pant leg. He smirked when he heard her intake of breath, but he forced himself to maintain a straight face. He heard Rory excuse herself and he watched her leave. Oh, the body that girl had. Tristan cleared his throat and stood up. "I think I'm going to get some fresh air, I'll be back soon."
Hoping he wasn't being too obvious, he slipped out of the room and into the main foyer. He glanced around at the paintings that were hanging on the wall until he heard the click of the bathroom door and then saw her walking in his direction.
"What are you doing out here?" Rory asked as a weary expression formed on her face.
"Just checking out the house and it's views," he returned, his eyes taking her in. Rory sighed. "Please don't."
"Why?" Tristan asked, walking towards her. "You are so beautiful."
"You're making me uncomfortable," Rory stammered. She felt herself hit the wall behind her, and he was so close to her that she could feel his breath on her cheek. She inhaled sharply.
Tristan smiled and traced his hand over her face. "Just admit that you want me."
"You are the last thing I want. God, you are so arrogant. You're probably used to getting everything you want, huh? You think you can just show girls your car and lure them in with your good looks? Well let me tell you, Tristan DuGray, I am not like most girls." His smell was intoxicating, but she couldn't help but enjoy the scent as she breathed it in.
"So you admit that I'm good looking?"
Rory blushed. "No, I didn't mean that. What I meant was. . ." She was cut off by the most sensual feeling of his moist lips pressed against hers. He gently took her hands and placed them over her head, pinning them against the wall.
With all the strength and will power she could muster, she managed to push him off her. Her head felt dizzy from the intense moment that had just occurred, and she ran her hands through her hair as she took in a shaky breath.
Closing her eyes, she whispered, "Please, leave me alone," before retreating back into the dining room.