Chapter Five
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first annual CCB-LDB inter society event!" Tristan announced with a dazzling smile at 8:30 on the fine Monday morning. Tremendous incoherent cheering and whistling engulfed the hotel, its origin being the 80 university students currently occupying the spacious lobby. They were about to make history and no one wanted to miss a second of it. Tristan waited for the cheering to die down a little before continuing.
"I am Tristan DuGray, team leader of the Crimson Challenge Brigade. Beside me is Logan Huntzburger, team leader of the Life and Death Brigade. We will be your hosts for this scavenger hunt in Mexico City." Tristan graciously waited for another round of applause to die down.
"The objective of the hunt is simple. Find as many of the other team's hidden tokens as you can within the five-day time frame. There are as many as a hundred tokens each team has hidden throughout the city and clues have been provided for each one. The game will start 9AM today and end at 4PM Friday. Of course, the hunt will end each day promptly at 5 so that you may all enjoy your vacation in this beautiful city. There will be a closing ceremony Friday night to announce the winner and allow the two teams a last chance to mingle." Excited whispers riveted the crowd as Tristan handed Logan the microphone.
"Now, it is highly encouraged for each member to observe the rules of good sportsmanship." Logan began with equal charisma. "So seeking local help and sabotaging the other team is highly discouraged. However, there are no official rules to hinder the game. It's a free for all." Loud approving whistles punctured his speech.
"Each team will meet briefly for half an hour after this. The LDB will meet in the pool area while the CCB will remain in the lobby. Now let us exchange clues!"
A tense silence settled over the room as the two blonde leaders traded thick manila envelopes stuffed with 100 slips of paper and sample tokens to aid in the search. After, the two engaged in a crushing handshake filled with hostility. But the audience did not notice. They nodded in approval at the good sportsmanship the two leaders were trying to emphasize. It was all for optics.
"Let the hunt begin!" Tristan announced, undaunted by the ordeal he just came out of with Logan. The other blonde was equally unaffected. The crowd erupted into a final cheer, sending the very foundations of the hotel shaking. It was a good thing that the hotel staff was used to the sudden outbursts by now.
Efficiently, the LDB members began to file out with excited grins while the CCB remained seated in the lobby, just as eager to get the game underway. Mark and Ryan took their customary spots beside Tristan at the front of the room. The leading blonde quickly flashed the brunette sitting at the front table a smile before facing the audience again. Everyone waited in anticipation for Tristan's plan of attack in this game.
"Since the founding of the Crimson Challenge Brigade, it has been agreed upon between our forefathers that this society will be based upon structure. This means good leadership and responsible government." Tristan began firmly. "In light of this, it is best for this team to function as a collective unit with a guiding central group. Each member's talent will be maximized for the benefit all." Murmurs of agreement swept through the captivated crowd.
"Now, I have organized each member according to their talent." He continued. "Fifteen people, in three groups of five, will be staying behind to determine the clues. Twenty-four people, in partners, will be field agents receiving their instructions from the groups on retrieving tokens whose locations have been determined. This means that I need three pairs located on each side of the city: north, south, east and west. I will act as a liaison and facilitator between the groups and field agents. Mark and Ryan, being my seconds, will of course lead the field expedition. Are there any objections?"
The room remained silent. Each member had absolute trust in Tristan's tremendous leading abilities. After all, it was why they elected him as the new head despite the strong objections of their former powerful leader. Miles Hayden was definitely not one of Tristan's many fans. Taking the silence as permission to continue, Tristan smirked in satisfaction.
"Now I will let Ryan read out the names of the 15 people that will be staying behind. Everyone else may find themselves a partner and start heading to different corners of the city. Carpe Diem!" A spontaneous cheer erupted from the eager crowd. Tristan took the applause gracefully with a nod before motioning for Ryan to begin reading the names.
"What do you think, Mary?" He asked with a smirk as he made himself comfortable beside the brunette sitting at the front.
"Very organized" Rory replied, highly impressed. "I'm actually surprised how you managed to put such an elaborate event together without even a minor glitch. The Tristan from the Chilton days would never have been able to pull this off."
"Yes, well, the Tristan from the Chilton days never dated a girl that made him want to work harder and become a better person" Tristan commented with a smile. "Although it wasn't through his lack of trying, I might add." Rory chuckled. The relentless way he pursued her in high school had become a long humorous topic for the couple.
"Good to know that I make you a better person. Hey-did I just hear my name being called by Ryan?"
"What?" Tristan asked incredulously. "You think I'm going to let brains like yours go to waste? How dumb do you think I am?"
"Oooh, calling me smart and telling me how I changed you for the better…" Rory gushed with a mischievous grin. "My, Mr. DuGray, you really have upped the standards…"
'And saved you from Huntzberger's clutches,' Tristan thought to himself while smiling in reply. Really, he didn't need to over-react that much yesterday. All he had to do was keep her within his sight at all times. It would be easy with her being in here and Huntzberger being out there.
Sometimes he really marveled at his own genius.
(Break)
Logan regarded the assembled group under the bright morning sunlight in satisfaction. Everyone seemed alert and eager to get started. Things were looking good.
"Alright everyone, this is a monumental event!" Logan began. "I'm not going to waste our precious game time with a pep talk, but just remember, victory means glorious recognition in history. Future LDB members will be regarding this unprecedented event in awe and it is both our right and our duty to set an example! "
"We are anarchist by nature, and anarchist we shall remain. There will be no structural leader, only 40 people trying to have fun and win. There are exactly 100 tokens, so if we divide into groups of two, there will be 20 groups that will each have five clues to figure out. That averages out to about one clue per day, which should be an easy feat for our brilliant minds. With this system, victory should be in our hands in no time!"
The crowd erupted into wild cheers.
"Now, let us divide into groups and Colin will hand out the clues. Remember my friends, In Omnia Paratus!" The crowd cheered once more and Logan bowed theatrically.
'Now onto more important matters' Logan thought to himself as he watched the groups quickly being assembled. 'Where the hell would Rory Gilmore be today?'
(Break)
Miles Hayden was always a realistic man. Sure he was arrogant, condescending, and sometimes just down right cruel, but he was never accused of being naïve. No, those rose-colored lens of childhood were crushed the moment Lorelei Victoria Gilmore walked out of his life.
Sure, like any abandoned 5 year old, he initially entertained the fairy tale of his parents getting back together so they could be one huge happy family again. But as time went by, the cold reality of life set in and the truth became evident. His parents were not getting back together. His mother and little sister were gone forever.
He supposed it was better this way. At least his situation was brutally honest. Sure there was gossip about his mother leaving, but it could be worse. If his mother had stayed, then they would have been just another society family smiling together at parties to cover up their cold indifference towards each other. His father would be working long hours while banging his secretaries, his mother would be busy heading charity boards while seeing the pool boy on the side, and his sister would be just another broken girl resigning herself to the fate of a trophy wife. And the cycle would continue. They would be one of the many. Perhaps it was for the best that things turned out this way.
When Rory came out into society at sixteen because of Chilton, it was the first time he laid eyes upon her for 15 years. A natural protective instinct manifested in him and he took his new role as the protective older brother full force. Marveling at the new feeling, he got to know her and ingrained himself in her life. If he were honest, he was much closer to her because of the estrangement. It allowed him to appreciate the new found sibling bond rather than growing up with it all his life and not giving it a moment's thought. She became a consistency in his life.
His mother, on the other hand, was a completely different story. The old saying of once bitten twice shy was certainly true with Miles in this case. Already experiencing the hard pain of her abandonment once, Miles had no desire to repeat it. So to protect himself, he trained himself to deal with her in a politely indifferent way, as if she were just a passing acquaintance of the family. After all, unlike Rory, she could never be a consistency in his life. She shunned their society, the place she grew up in. The place he adored.
So priding himself in being realistic, it was not until recently that Miles found himself questioning the reality he lived in.
Accepting that his parents will never reconcile ever since early adolescence, he had moved on with his life. After all, there were no feelings present from either side towards the marriage, only a sense of obligation. However, armed with his recent observations, Miles wasn't so sure of this anymore. The question of could his father possibly still have feelings for his mother reverberated through his mind constantly. Could Chris' string of casual relationships and phobia to remarry have anything to do with the lovely Lorelei Gilmore?
Never one to leave a question unanswered for long, Miles decided to put his theory to the test. With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he looked up at his father busily going over a national court case while gulping down his coffee at the breakfast table.
"So dad, about your recent appointment to the Supreme Court," Miles began casually. "I was thinking it would only be appropriate for us to throw a dinner party in your honor. Grandma Francine absolutely insisted."
"Then she will be organizing it, I presume?" Chris looked up with an arched eyebrow.
"She could," Miles continued tactfully. "But then she would go off on another rant about how you need a wife for these things because she won't be here forever and how you should have remarried a long time ago. She's been perpetually moody ever since grandpa's passing last year."
"Isn't it about time she moved away from my marital status to yours?" Chris asked in exasperation.
"She has energy for both" Miles replied nonchalantly.
"Fine, then what do you suggest we do to avoid the lecture and have the party planned?"
"Well, I hear Emily Gilmore is very good at organizing these events." Miles supplied in innocence. "She is still rather fond of you too, despite the divorce, so I'm sure she'll be happy to help. After all, she is still my grandmother."
"Somehow I feel that my mother will take that as an infringement upon her territory." Chris replied with a frown.
"Nonsense, grandma could use a rest from planning your events."
"Maybe if you got serious and finally found yourself a wife, then she wouldn't have to plan them alone." Miles frowned at the not so subtle hint.
"Or you could let Emily Gilmore plan this one." Miles promptly replied. Chris paused while regarding his son with skepticism.
"Suppose I were to entertain this idea, what then?"
"I could contact her right away." Chris replied. "After all, she would be more than happy to hear from her favorite grandson."
"Or only."
"All the necessary arrangement would be made." Miles continued, ignoring his father's comment. "And you would, of course, have to expect the Gilmores on the guest list."
"Nothing new, they've always been invited to Hayden events." Chris commented with a shrug.
"And of course, mom will be invited" Chris to tired sneak in casually. But Christopher Hayden was nothing if not astute.
"Wait, Lorelei?" He asked in bafflement, picking up on it right away. He sat up abruptly and gave the conversation his full attention. "Why? She never comes to these events. Issuing her an invitation would just be a waste of paper."
"It's only appropriate. She was your wife at some point and still is the mother of your children. She should be here to celebrate your high achievement. I'm sure Emily and Richard will agree."
"Forget it, she'll never show." Chris stated with certainty. It was clear he was in a somewhat defensive mood as well.
"But an invitation should still be issued for propriety's sake." Miles insisted. "It's her own choice if she doesn't come though."
"Fine. Whatever…" Chris muttered, going back to his reading. But Miles wasn't fooled. He knew his father was trying to sulk inconspicuously and stored the strong reaction in his mind for a later analysis. The younger man smirked in satisfaction at getting his own way again.
Hey, if things went well, maybe he'll even get his mother on board for convincing Rory to dump that loser DuGray.
(Break)
Rory could not help but feel that she was here for an ulterior reason. Sure she was smart and helped figure out quite a few of the clues, but the other 14 people currently in the room with her were much better at it. Puzzles have never been her forte as a child. She was much better at investigation and being in the thick of things, which meant fieldwork. However, she shook off the skepticism and placed her full trust in her boyfriend's judgment. Perhaps she was just the weakest of the herd but better compared to everyone else out there. Who knows? Sometimes Tristan's thought pattern worked in very strange ways.
"My beauty is simple, marveled by all. Water surrounds me, from God's graces I fall." Read the man beside her. Silence once again settled over the group as everyone began to contemplate.
"It must be an angel of some sort" A girl interpreted. "Being in God's graces and all." Everyone in the group nodded.
"Then it must be a fallen angel," another boy stated. "Because if fell from grace."
"So a fallen angel admired by all…" somebody pondered. "Could it be a statue?"
"Sure, but it could also be a painting, a tapestry, anything really."
"But let's assume it's a statue and surrounded by water, an angel statue in the middle of a fountain seems to be a very plausible place to hide something." Rory hypothesized. This is how the group worked. They built their ideas upon each other's.
"So, anyone hear anything about a fallen angel fountain in Mexico City?" The man who first spoke asked the group. Everyone thought even harder, trying to make the connection. Some poured over the city maps while others typed furiously into their laptops, hoping for the all-knowing Internet to solve their lament.
"Wait!" someone suddenly cried out in excitement while reading off his laptop screen. "There's an angel fountain in Reforma Avenue. It's inconspicuous compared to the other landmarks, but it's notable nonetheless. Since it's so old, half the wings on the stone angle have fallen off and the locals have taken to calling it the fallen angel."
"Bingo!" The first man cried with a grin. "We've got it! Now who's covering that section of the city? Call them up right away. We have another token to find!"
"I'm on it!" A member of the group quickly called.
"That was an easy one." The man remarked before reaching over for another slip of paper in the heavy manila envelope. Everyone concurred. However, before they could get into another clue, Tristan interrupted the busy atmosphere.
"All right guys, we have 8 tokens so far." Tristan informed the crowd proudly. "We're far ahead of schedule." Everyone immediately began to cheer, satisfied at the teamwork. "It's 12:20 right now. Why don't we break for lunch and reconvene here are 1:30?" Muttered agreements swept the chamber as the crowd began to quickly disperse. It was a beautiful day and everyone was more than eager to go outside and breath in some fresh air.
"Where do you want to go Mary?" Tristan asked good naturedly as he left the room together with his girlfriend.
"Why don't we try that place we were going to eat at yesterday?" Rory suggested. "I still haven't tasted their food."
"Sounds good. And I promise not to piss you off this time before the food arrives."
"You better." Rory muttered darkly. Tristan laughed before being interrupted by his ringing cell phone.
"Hello?" Tristan answered while putting an arm around Rory's shoulder, leading her through the lobby to the sliding entrance doors. "Really?" He got excited all of a sudden. "Yeah, I'll be there right away!" He promised as he hung up.
"What's up?" Rory asked, sensing his suddenly animated state.
"Mark and Ryan found something I've been looking for in a store five blocks from here." Tristan explained ambiguously. "I'm just going to run over quickly and check it out, okay Mary?"
"Want me to come with you?"
"No, you go on to that place." Tristan suggested. "We'll meet you there in 20 minutes."
"Alright…." Rory replied, a little thrown off. "I'll be waiting."
"Thanks Mare, I'll try to be there as soon as I can." Tristan promised before placing a quick peck on her cheek. "And don't wait for us to order!" He called before dashing off.
Rory regarded his running figure in confusion. What was that all about? What exactly could prompt Tristan to abandon her during lunch? She sighed before continuing on her way slowly. To be honest, she wasn't thrilled about spending half of lunch alone. Tristan better try to make it up to her for this!
As she walked down the familiar busy tourist street, she was suddenly tackled with a crushing hug.
"Hello love!" An accented greeting followed. Finn grinned wickedly at her surprised look.
"Finn!" Rory cried after a second, a smile coming over her face. She was so glad that yesterday's hostility did not drive away the crazy Australian. He was still as friendly as ever.
"Where is such a beautiful lady headed to alone?" Finn asked flirtatiously. "Where's your darling boyfriend?"
"He ran out to get something." Rory replied. "I'm heading for lunch."
"By yourself?" Finn gasped.
"Yeah, it would seem so."
"Why, that's a travesty!" Finn cried dramatically. "An insult to the natural order of things! The laws of nature clearly state that a beautiful girl should never eat alone. So, I'm doing humanity a kindness by inviting you to lunch with us."
"Um, I'm supposed to meet Tristan somewhere." Rory tried to decline politely. Despite what she told Tristan, she still felt slightly awkward hanging out with them after yesterday. Especially now that she knew they were the rival LDB and Tristan's history with Logan.
"Nonsense." Finn replied with a wave of his hand. "I'd be doing your boyfriend a favor by inviting you. A beautiful girl would be bombarded with thousands of propositions while eating by herself. I can't let you be sent out to the wolves. You're a very innocent lamb." Rory laughed at his analogy. Finn grinned in satisfaction, much like he always did when he knows he'd won a point.
"Fine, I'll come." Rory agreed in between giggles. "But only for a little while. Your friends wouldn't mind, would they?"
"Logan and Colin? Nah, they'll be happy to have you." Finn assured while grasping hold of her hand and dragging her to the direction of their lunchtime rendezvous.
(Break)
"Why aren't they here yet?" Colin asked in irritation. "I'm getting hungry!"
"You know how Finn is," Logan sighed. The two were currently sitting at a nice restaurant with a view of the beach. Distant laughter could be heard and the salty sea smell wafted through the breeze. "Always late. And Steph probably got distracted by a store on the way. They'll be here soon." Colin grunted something under his breath, no doubt a sarcastic comment about their friends' less than stellar punctuality. When Colin is hungry, he is also very moody. Much like Finn is when drunk.
"Where do you think Ace is?" Logan asked out of the blue after a moment's pause. Colin looked at him oddly.
"Probably with DuGray." Colin shrugged. "And you should probably stop calling her endearing nicknames right in front of him. I don't want to have to take you to the hospital after he beats the shit out of you."
"What makes you think I'm the one that'll need to go to the hospital?" Logan asked defensively. "Why not him"
"Oh, you'll both need to" Colin assured nonchalantly. "It's just that his friends will take care of him. We'll go our separate ways." But before Logan could supply a retort, a jolly greeting interrupted him.
"Don't panic, don't panic. We're here!" Finn announced dramatically as he flopped down beside Logan, pulling an exasperated Rory down beside him. "Steph took off shopping with her girlfriends." He added in an afterthought.
"Figures…" Colin muttered under his breath before speaking up curtly "About time. Now we can start." Then he promptly picked up a menu and began leafing through it, all the while keeping a curious eye on Logan.
"Hey Ace!" Logan greeted, his trademark smirk already in place. "What have you been doing this fine morning?"
"The same as you." Rory replied. "The scavenger hunt."
"And how many tokens has your team acquired?" Logan inquired pleasantly.
"That, my blonde friend, is something I'm not at liberty to reveal." Rory laughed. "But rest assured, it's at the double digits."
"Good, good." Logan nodded before sarcastically asking "And where is that admirable boyfriend of yours?"
"He had to go get something."
"It seems like this is a frequent occurrence," Logan observed with a sneer.
"What do you mean?" Rory asked in confusion.
"Now, the lunch yesterday," Logan supplied with a shrug. "You've only been here for two days and it seems like you're abandoned every lunch by your oh so loving boyfriend."
"He's not like that usually." Rory protested. "I guess he must be busy with CCB stuff here, but he's usually a lot more caring."
"If you say so…" Logan replied in a singsong tone. "But if you were my girl, I would never leave you like that." Rory regarded him with a deep frown.
"So what's good on the menu, Colin?" she asked, abruptly changing the topic. Logan frowned. Finn snickered quietly. Colin shrugged.
"Nothing special," Colin shrugged.
"Colin, Finn, why don't you guys get us some drinks?" Logan suggested not so subtly. Colin looked at him with skepticism.
"But why don't we just call the waiter over?" Finn asked innocently.
"Because he seems to be preoccupied at the moment." Logan quickly answered. "It'll be much faster if you go get it inside."
"But-" Finn began, but before he could finish, Colin stood up and dragged him up by the arm.
"Come on Finn, it'll be faster. I'm really thirsty." And the two left to go inside, leaving a smirking Logan and a frowning Rory behind.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Rory asked suddenly, breaking the tense silence.
"Um, is that a trick question?"
"Because that was about as subtle as putting an elephant in the room." Rory continued angrily, ignoring his comment. "If you wanted to talk to me alone, then pull me aside. Don't shoe away your friends. And besides, whatever you wanted to say to me in private can be said to Finn and Colin as well."
"Wow. As I said before, angry really works for you." Logan commented with a smirk.
"Well, annoying doesn't work for you!" Rory replied while crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. "Now, what is it you wanted to say to me so badly?"
"Dump him."
"Excuse me, what?" Rory asked in confusion.
"Obviously DuGray is not treating you right." Logan explained. "So dump him."
"So I can be with you?" Rory supplied dryly.
"Hey, if you want me, who am I to deny a gorgeous woman?" Logan replied arrogantly with raised hands. Rory's sapphire blue eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. Once again, Logan was struck with the familiarity of the orbs.
"Listen well, Huntzberger, because I'm only going to tell you this once. I'm with Tristan. Now I know you and him don't' get along, and that's fine. However, I will absolutely not tolerate you hitting on me to get back at him. I want to be friends, but I will not tolerate any crap. You make one inappropriate advance on me and I will make you seriously regret it. Am I making myself clear?"
Logan gulped, deeply disturbed about how dangerous her voice just sounded. And sexy.
"Crystal." He replied lowly, penetrating her with an intense gaze. She looked back unflinchingly. "But you have to promise me something."
"What?" Rory asked skeptically.
"That you will keep your word on wanting to be friends and come hang out with us often."
"I can do that." Rory replied, a smile slowly spreading on her face.
"Good" Logan smirked, before leaning back in his chair and picking up his menu. The serious moment was broken. "Now, what do you feel like eating?"
"Um, I actually have to go." Rory responded. "I told Tristan I'd meet him somewhere in twenty minutes. I only came over to say hi and make sure that everything was fine between us."
"It's great!" Logan assured.
"Good, then I have to go," Rory beamed before getting up. "I'll probably see you all tonight at the hotel. Tell Finn and Colin that I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer. Bye Logan!"
"Later Ace" Logan replied. He watched the retreating figure of Rory Gilmore in a contemplative silence.
"She sure laid down the rules" Colin commented behind him, joining him in his observation.
"Nothing I can't handle." Logan assured.
"Um… Logan, hate to break this to you, but she just basically told you to fuck off if you're going to hit on her."
"Minor setback." Logan replied nonchalantly.
"What are you planning?" Colin asked cautiously, looking at his smirking friend.
"Colin, with all the time she promised to spend with us, do you not think that I'll get closer to her?"
"I suppose you grow on people." Colin acknowledged.
"Trust me my friend, all I need is time." Logan stated arrogantly. "I'll break them up by the end of the week."
(Break)
"Guys, we're running out of time!" Tristan yelled in frustration. "The anniversary is this Thursday!"
"Relax, we'll find something." Ryan assured exasperatingly as they walked on the busy street.
"Like how you thought we just found something now?" Tristan asked dryly.
"Hey, it's not out fault you're so picky!" Ryan protested.
"I have to be! I have to get her something special! And I can't just keep leaving her in the middle of lunch, " Tristan cried out in frustration. "What with Huntzberger's greedy hands around. Especially since she decided to be friends with that bastard! And I need to find the perfect present to win her completely. And I think I might love her. And if I don't get this pre-"
"Wait-did you just say that you love her?" Ryan interrupted in shock. Silence greeted his inquisition. "Tristan…"
"Yeah…." Tristan realized belatedly after a pause. "I guess it slipped out."
"So, you've been feeling this for a while now?" Ryan probed.
"Since a month ago." Tristan admitted. "I just haven't found the right opportunity to tell her yet."
"This is serious stuff, you do realize that Tristan?"
"Yes, I know." He sighed.
"Are you sure you feel that way about her?" Ryan tried to confirm.
"Yes, I'm positive." Tristan assured. "I know what you're thinking. The player DuGray cannot possibly love a girl. He uses them and discards them. But it's just that…it's different with her. I feel things for her I've never felt for any girl before. And I want to hold onto this feeling, you know what I'm saying?"
"No, but I can pretend." Ryan replied before breaking out into a grin. "Holy shit, do you know what this means?"
"Um, what?" Tristan asked in puzzlement.
"This means a huge step in your relationship!" Ryan exclaimed. "Now I know Rory will defiantly be around next year. Maybe you two will move in together next semester as well."
"Hey, actually that's a good idea!" Tristan laughed. "And yeah, I always knew somehow that if I ever dated Mary, I'll be serious."
"And yet you still did it instead of running the other way," Ryan commented teasingly.
"I tried to at first." Tristan admitted abashedly. "I ran as fast as I could, but in the end, I always ended up right in the same spot. Wanting her."
"Deep. I frankly can't understand it, but hey, whatever floats your boat." Ryan replied with a shrug.
"Guys, I think I found something!" Mark suddenly cried from a distance, running towards them excitedly. He was like child that had just found a coveted new toy.
"What?" Tristan asked in interest.
"Something that screamed Rory!" Mark informed. "I think she'll love it!"
"Really?" Tristan was getting excited now as well.
"Come on guys!" Mark called, before running back. The other two followed, Ryan albeit a little reluctantly. This is why he didn't get into relationships. It turned once proud men like Tristan into complete schoolgirls.
As the three entered a brightly lit jewelry store, a smiling clerk immediately sidled up to them.
"Can I help you sirs?" He inquired in a deeply accented English.
"Yeah, show them the necklace I just saw!" Mark demanded while jumping up and down. "It was gorgeous!"
"Oh yes sir, right this way!" The clerk replied with suppressed mirth at the prospect of selling one of the most expensive pieces in the store. "If you'd all just follow me…"
The three friends were led to a counter at the back of the room displaying the most impressive pieces in the store. The elegant gold necklace immediately attracted Tristan's attention. He held his breath in anticipation as the clerk carefully slid it out of its display case.
"Wow…" Ryan marveled, affectively voicing the exact thought going through Tristan's mind at the moment. It might as well have been made for Rory. It was perfect for her.
"This is a 14 karat gold. The stone is a 4 karat sapphire." The clerk introduced in a professional tone.
"It'll match her eyes." Tristan murmured in awe. The sparkling sapphire stone was the exact shade of her eyes.
"Beg a pardon sir?" The clerk asked in confusion.
"We'll take it" was Tristan's simple demand.
"Excellent!" The clerk cried in exhilaration, not for a moment doubting that the young man can afford the exquisite piece of jewelry. The Mexican could smell money off this guy a mile away.
"See! I am useful!" Mark was quick to point out to his friends.
"Must be a blue moon," Ryan muttered off hand.
AN: Many of you have expressed an interest in knowing what pairing this story is going to end up with. Unfortunately, I cannot divulge this information because I feel that it will ruin the effectiveness of the ending. I can, however, give you a preview of the events that will take place throughout this story in random order. I leave the quotations up to your personal interpretation, for now.
As Logan regarded the happy couple, a bitter alien feeling began to pool at the pit of his stomach. It was not until much later that he identified it as envy. And then he promptly denied it.
"You let her die!" Mitchum screamed, finally letting out two decades of pent up anger. "You let the woman I love die, DuGray!"
"Richard is in the hospital," Emily sobbed into the phone. Rory was scared shitless. She had never heard her always-composed grandmother sound such a mess.
"I'm transferring to Yale, Tristan" Rory informed uncomfortably.
"Why do you hate me so much?" Tristan asked the older man bluntly. Miles regarded him in silence, blue eyes narrowing into tiny strips of fury.
It was useless to deny anymore. Logan Huntzberger had fallen head over heels in love with Rory Gilmore. He had fallen so deep that he could not longer even see the light at the top anymore.
"What happened to us, Lore?" Chris asked quietly. "We used to be so happy together."
"The reason you're in this love dilemma is because they are so much alike." Doyle informed. Wow. Even her oblivious editor had noticed. Things were really starting to get sad. "They look the same and they act the same. They're like the same person. Heck, if one day DuGray decided to show up at the newspaper for Huntzberger, I wouldn't even notice the difference."
"I think Tristan is much better suited for you than Logan is." Lorelei replied honestly. "And I think, for once, your grandparents might agree with me, their prodigal daughter from hell."
"Don't repeat my mistake, Logan." Mitchum warned passionately. "Do everything in your power to get her. Knock her up if you have to. Don't let DuGray win!"
"Dump his ass." Paris suggested bluntly. "You deserve better than Huntzberger, Rory. Give Tristan another chance."
Tristan looked at the beautiful diamond ring for the umpteenth time. Thoughts of a blissful future began to flash in his head. Funny, he never pictured himself as a family man, but somehow this fit.
"I'm not giving you up!" Logan wowed to Rory. "I love you too much to do that."
"You set me up, Huntzberger" Tristan whispered as the realization finally hit him. "You set me up to steal my girlfriend!"
He could feel his heart shatter into a million pieces. Oh how the fates loved to toy with humanity.