Chapter 15:
Yale
Julie is in Rory's room talking to Rory. She had enjoyed herself from the moment she arrived and she had really hit it of with all of his friends, especially Rory. She could see why Tristan became so close to her.
She had missed Tristan very much these last couple of weeks, but they had decided it was for the best for him to go to Yale. She had been very excited, when Tristan told her about Rory and Paris and that they had rekindled their friendship. That was one less worry. But now she is a bit worried. When they had just met, Tristan and she had talked about the former loves and crushes in their lives. Tristan had told her about all the girls in his past and how he had used them. But when she had asked him if he ever had been in love, he had told her that he'd never been in love. He did have a big crush on a girl named Mary once, who also went to Chilton, but apparently she wouldn't give him the time of day. So naturally she assumed that it was a thing from the past. That was until last Sunday, when Tristan introduced her to his friends and she heard him call Rory Mary. She had observed the two of them and although they just seemed to be good friends and they were both very into their own girl-/boyfriend, she had also noticed the tension between them, when they were talking. So now she was confused and she just had to know for sure.
"Thanks for lending me this dress Rory. I traveled light and didn't know we were going to this function." Julie told her.
"No problem, Julie. So tell me, why are you going to this thing, I thought Tristan had broken all contact with his family."
"Yes, he did break contact with his parents. But he still keeps contact with his grandfather, Janlen Dugrey. And it is he who asked us to come."
"Well, I hope you'll have fun. Logan is also going to some family function thing, but as usual he's going without me. We've been arguing about this, but he says he doesn't want to bore me. But I can't help it; sometimes it feels like he doesn't want me to meet his family, like he's ashamed of me."
"No, I'm sure he's telling the truth. The guy is crazy about you and you about him. Anyone can tell you that. He probably just wants to keep you to himself."
Rory sighs. "I guess you're right. And it does give me the opportunity to spend more time with my mom, who will love my company."
Julie wants to ask Rory about Tristan but doesn't now how to start.
"Rory? What's your deal with Tristan?"
Rory is shocked. "What do you mean? He's my friend. And although he didn't used to be at Chilton, we became pretty close when he transferred here a couple of weeks ago. I'm sorry. I hope that isn't bothering you. But you don't have to worry, we're just friends." Rory says looking into Julie's eyes.
"Why does he call you Mary?" Julie asks her.
"He used to call me that at Chilton. He was a big player back then and he thought me innocent, like the Virgin Mary. Hence the name Mary. He thought I would make a nice conquest for his list. So you can imagine he wasn't one of my favorites back then. But he has really changed since then. I guess he still calls me Mary for old sakes."
"You didn't know he had a crush on you back then?"
"No, don't be silly. Tristan was totally into Summer back then."
"But he did kiss you once, didn't he?" Julie asks her.
"He told you about that?" Rory smiles. "Yeah, he did kiss me once. We were on a party. My boyfriend had dumped me the day before and Summer broke up with him right at that party. We were both feeling miserable and were talking about it, when we kissed. It was a very short, sweet, innocent kiss, after which I ran out crying. I must have scared the hell out of him. Afterwards we talked about it and decided that it didn't mean anything, since we were both feeling miserable at the time."
Julie considered all she had just heard. "Thanks for talking to me, Rory."
"Just don't worry about it, okay. Tristan loves you; he adores the ground you walk on."
"Yeah I know he loves me. I guess I should get going. I don't wanna be late and make a bad impression. Thanks again for everything, Rory."
xxx
Tristan and Julie were talking to Janlen Dugrey, Tristan's grandfather. They had already done the rounds, so now they could stay and talk to his grandfather. Janlen was totally smitten with Julie and he was telling her nice anecdotes of Tristan as a kid. Julie was laughing at his stories and Tristan only listened with one ear. Suddenly he sees Logan walking in, with his arm around some blond chick.
"I can't believe it." He mutters softly.
Not soft enough though, because both Julie and his grandfather turn to look at what he's talking about.
"I'm glad my grandson finally came to his senses and became a one woman man, unlike some guys like Logan Huntzberger. And I'm even more glad that he chose to be with a wonderful girl like you, Julie." Janlen says to her. "Can I get you something more to drink?" And both Julie and Tristan both just nod.
Logan is walking around with Natasha. Her parents were doing business with his parents and they told him to show her a good time. When he looks up he sees Tristan and Julie staring at him. "This is just great" He mutters to himself. Of all the people here, he had to meet Tristan. "Be a doll, will you Natasha, and get us something to drink." She walks away and Logan walks over to Tristan and Julie.
"Tristan! Julie! What a nice surprise to see you guys here. And here I thought this party was gonna be dull."
"Who is she, Logan? And why are you walking around with her and not with Rory?" Tristan is standing there with his fists clenched.
"Oh that's Natasha, a relative of the family. My parents asked me to entertain her tonight."
"And you just play along with whatever they ask of you? Is that why you won't take Rory with you? Afraid that they won't approve of her?"
"Hey, of course they will approve of Rory. Rory's great, but I know the moment I'll introduce her as my girlfriend they will start planning my wedding and will suck her into this life and I know she wouldn't be happy there."
"You know this isn't fair to Rory. She is upset because you won't take her with you. She feels like you're hiding her like you're ashamed of her or something. You can't keep doing this, sooner or later you will have to make a choice."
Now Logan was getting really upset. He hadn't liked the fact that Tristan and Rory had become such close friends lately, especially since he got the impression that Tristan has a thing for Rory. But Rory had assured him that that was not the case and that she was crazy about him and he was crazy about Julie. And he had been happy to meet Julie; they seem to love each other very much. But still he could feel the connection between Tristan and Rory and it bothered him.
"Who are you to tell me what to do? You would like that, wouldn't you? You would like to see the two of us split up, so then you could have her all to yourself. I know you have a thing for her." Logan is trying not to yell at Tristan, because he doesn't want to make a scene.
"Rory is my friend and I don't want to see her get hurt. And you're already starting to cause her some grief. Maybe it is not bad yet, but it will get worse and worse and you know it."
Tristan and Logan are now glaring at each other. At this time both Janlen Dugrey and Natasha get back with the drinks.
"Logan Huntzberger! It's nice to see you, son." Janlen says, while shaking his hand.
"It's nice to see you, Mr. Dugrey." Logan says. "Let me introduce you to Natasha! Natasha this is Janlen Dugrey and his grandson Tristan. And this lovely lady is Julie, Tristan's girlfriend."
"It is nice to meet you all." Natasha responds.
"Mr. Dugrey did you happen to see my parents? I've been looking for them." Logan asks Janlen.
"They are over there by the fire place."
"Well if you will excuse us?" And with that he leads Natasha away from them.
xxx
Rory is at her mom's. There going over the test run next week.
"So? Have you got a final guest list for me, so I can book a room for them?" Lorelai asks Rory.
"Yes. I do. I will be bringing eleven guests with me. That will be: Paris, Jess, Logan, Colin, Finn, Stephanie, Tristan, Jake, Derek, Lisa and Marty. And if it is possible I would also like to ask you if Lisa could bring two of her friends; Gloria and Bridget."
"No, that's not a problem. I've still got two rooms left, in case anybody gets kicked out by their other half. So in total it is now up to 83, cause I've also have some guest arriving who are friends of the other people that work here." Lorelai is still writing it all down. "Can you also write down their last names and phone numbers?" She asks while she passes the pen and paper to Rory.
"Sure, no problem." And Rory starts scribbling it all down. "What are your plans for entertainment?" She asks her mother.
"That's for me to know and for you to find out when you get here." Lorelai says, with an evil grin on her face.
"You're mean! You know I hate surprises." She says pointing her pen at Lorelai.
"What are you talking about? You love surprises! I've been surprising you all my life" Lorelai says looking totally innocent.
"Yeah that must be why I don't like them anymore." Rory shrugs her shoulder. "So you're not gonna give me some clues?" She says pouting.
"Okay, I'll tell you what the program will look like. On arrival next Friday, there will be time to get settled, this will be followed by dinner and live entertainment. The next morning everybody can sleep as long as they like, cause the first thing on the program will be a scavenger hunt in the afternoon. Then of course there is dinner again, which will consist of a big barbeque outside. And for the evening program people can choose of sitting at the campfire outside or watch the movie marathon inside. So what do you think?" Lorelai is glowing all over.
"Wow! That sounds great mom. You went all out for this didn't you?" Rory says proudly to her mother.
"Yeah, I want this to be a success, just like the Dragonfly was." Lorelai replies.
"So Logan is also coming, huh?" Lorelai smoothly changes the subject. "That would be nice, considering the fact that I haven't been properly introduced to him; because I didn't count the incident at your grandparents wedding as aproper introduction."
"Yes, he's coming." Rory says, blushing slightly. "But you have to promise me that you'll be nice to him. I know you don't like him very much, but I do, so I want you make an effort."
"Of course, I'm always nice." Lorelai replies, which gets her a big frown from her daughter.
"Mom! Promise me."
"Okay, okay, I promise, Mussolini! I'm just glad that things seem to be working out for the two of you. But what's up with you and Tristan. I've seen they way you two held each other, while you were sleeping and the way he looks at you."
"There is nothing going on with me and Tristan. We're just good friends. Why can't people just believe me when I say that?" Rory starts to get a bit upset.
"Okay, okay, hold your knickers on." Lorelai says in a British accent. "Just friends, I get it." Lorelai starts to snicker. "I can't remember Logan that well, so I can't judge him, but you have to admit though, that ET is very cuteand that he has a really nice ass."
"Mom!" Rory cries. "Are you checking out my friends?"
"Sorry, hon, I can't help it! Not when you have such a gorgeous hunk as a friend."
Rory starts to blush. "Yeah, he is kind of gorgeous, is he? Well, wait till you meet Logan."
xxx
A/N1: As you might have noticed I'm a big Logan and Tristan fan. People have been asking me if this is gonna be a Trory or a Rogan, and I can tell you that I was planning on it to be a Trory. However, I don't want to paint Logan as the bad guy. But if you people really want it to be a Rogan, we can always have a vote on it.
A/N2: Thank you ProFfeSser for your reviews and the names (and website) for the Inn you suggested.
