Note: Thanks you guys! It is great to hear that some of you really love my story. I think I will be finishing this story soon though (it has dragged on long enough, don't you think?). But you never know, maybe I'll start another story that picks up a couple of years after this one finishes. Anyway here is the next chapter.
Chapter 24:
Rory was immensely enjoying herself during dinner. She looked around at all the people sitting around the table. Paris and Jess were having one of there heated discussions, and although the waiter seemed worried by it, nobody else seemed to be bothered by it, if anything they were just highly amused.
Marty and Lisa were talking softly to each other. They had been hanging out a lot, but so far nothing had really happened yet between the two of them. But Rory could see that Lisa really liked Marty and Marty really liked Lisa, he was just to shy to act on it. Maybe they should help them out a bit; she thought to herself and smiled.
Tristan sees her smile and bends over to her.
"Are you having a good time, Mary?" He whispers in her ear.
Rory feels his breath on her skin and gets the shivers. She tries to hide it and turns to him with a big smile.
"Yes I am. Thanks for taking me."
"The evening has just begun. And if you want I could show you an even better time than this, Mary!" His words are full of innuendo and he has a big smirk on his face.
Rory just laughs. She can't believe that she used to find him so obnoxious, cause now it just feels like playful bantering to her. Maybe they really did change over the past couple of years.
"You've really found yourself some great friends, ET." Rory says, motioning to Jake, Derek, Lisa, Bridget and Gloria.
"So have you, Mare! But to be honest I consider all of them to be 'our' friends."
"Yeah, I guess your right." Rory replies. They have been hanging out a lot and it seemed to turn into a tight group. Rory smiles. She's happy. She feels like she finally really belongs somewhere.
Bridget gets up from the table. "Listen up everybody. I want to suggest we pay the bill and start to get ready for this party."
Jake just shakes his head. "Why don't you girls just go ahead and we pick you up in about an hour."
Bridget gives him the stare. "One hour isn't nearly enough time for us to get ready."
Rory mouths to Paris: "One hour isn't enough?"
But Paris just shrug's her shoulders.
"Okay make that one and a half hour, but not a minute later." Jake tells Bridget.
Bridget gives him a smile. "I guess we better get started then. Come on girls." After which the girls all leave the restaurant.
xxx
Once they get back at the campus, Rory starts to walk to her dorm.
"Hey where do you think your going?" Paris asks her.
"Aren't we supposed to get changed?" Rory answers.
"Yes we are, but we are all changing at Lisa and Bridget's place. They were afraid you wouldn't want to come so they made me take some of your clothes and make-up up to their place."
"You did what?" Rory replies.
"Yeah, we weren't letting you get out of this one, so we decided to take matters into our own hands." Bridget replies with a big grin on her face, which makes Rory smile.
90 minutes later, Rory was sitting on a chair and Lisa was doing her make-up. She couldn't believe it had actually taken them this long to get ready. She used to make fun of those girls who spent so much time on their looks, but found she truly enjoyed it. It wasn't really about the make-up and the clothes. It was about bonding and girls having some pre-party fun.
"Okay, I'm finished. You want to see it?" Lisa asked Rory.
Rory walked over to the mirror and was truly amazed about the job Lisa had done. The colors she had used were totally natural, but somehow it brought out all the great aspects of Rory's face.
"Wow, this is awesome, Lisa! And my eyes look so big!"
Lisa smiles proudly. "My mom used to be a beauty queen and thought me everything about make-up, hairstyles and how to complement some features."
They all turn when the doorbell rings.
"That must be the guys! Is everybody ready?" Bridget says and walks to the front door to open it.
xxx
15 Minutes later they are all at the party. Everybody has got something to drink and they are all laughing and talking. Soon as the beat turns up some of them want to start dancing.
"Are you coming Rory?" Jake asks her.
"No I'm not that much of a dancer. I'll stay here with Paris and Jess and see you guys later."
"Alright, and what about you Dugrey?" Jake asks him.
"I think I'll sit this one out also and get the girls another round of drinks."
"No, you don't have to do that. You love to dance, I know you do. Just go dancing and have some fun." Rory says to Tristan.
"Yeah don't worry about it, man. I'll get them something to drink." Jess also replies.
"Okay, alright. See you guys later." Tristan says and joins the rest of them on the dance floor.
So Rory and Paris stay behind. They sit there silently, watching the others dance. The moment Tristan steps on the dance floor, he gets surrounded by girls who try to get his attention. Rory sees this and frowns. Tristan seems very comfortable there and jokes around with them and makes them laugh. Rory's frown even turns deeper.
Paris had also noticed the scene play out before them and was now watching Rory.
"Are you gonna tell me that that doesn't bother you?" She asks her.
"What do you mean?" Rory asks playing dumb.
"Oh don't play dumb with me. You know I'm talking about Tristan." Paris says in an angry tone.
"Why should it bother me? Tristan can do whatever he wants. I want him to enjoy himself. You know we are just friends." Rory replies.
"Oh who are you kidding, Gilmore! We both know you like him more than that and we also know that he likes you more than that. But if you keep up this act of being oblivious to it, he will move on."
"I really don't know what you're talking about." Rory says, while closing her arms in front of her as to show that it was the end of the discussion.
"Yeah, whatever Gilmore! It's your life." Paris replies. Then she smiles at Jess, who is just returning with their drinks.
After the next song finishes, everybody returns back to the table to get something to drink.
Tristan drops next to Rory and casually drops his arm around her. Rory feels a shiver go through her entire body.
"Wow, it has been a long time since I did that. I forgot how much work you have to put into it." He says and gives her a smile.
Suddenly Rory feels butterflies going wild inside her stomach. She doesn't trust her voice enough and just stays quiet and finishes her drink in one sip.
"Whoa, take it easy there, Mary. Before you know it you'll be drunk and start dancing on the table."
Rory has to laugh at this idea. "Well be sure to make pictures for Lorelai, because she never would forgive you if you didn't."
Tristan also has to laugh at this, until he gets interrupted by Gloria.
"Hey Tristan, I would like you to meet somebody. Her name is Mary and she has been dying to meet you." She says, while she takes his arm.
Tristan really doesn't feel like it. He much rather sit here with Rory and make her laugh. But he cannot be rude to Gloria, so he just follows her to her friend Mary.
Tristan walks over to her and gives her one of his famous smirks. She sure looks very pretty, but she also looks like she is on the prowl. She looks nothing like a Mary at all.
He decides to play like a jerk in the hope she will get sick of him soon. "Hey there Mary, I heard you thought I was a god and were dying to meet me." He expected her to be revolted by that comment, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"Yes I have, and I'm a bit disappointed you haven't tried to get in contact with me. But you can make it up to me by dancing with me." She tells him. And right at that moment a slow song starts to play.
Tristan curses inside his mouth when she grabs him and starts dancing. O well. Once dance doesn't hurt, but he has to find a way to get rid of her soon.
Meanwhile, Rory is still sitting at the table, watching Tristan and this Mary. All kinds of feelings were roaming through her body. When she heard Gloria mention the name Mary, she froze. But now she was looking at this Mary at was disgusted by the way she acted. She was no Mary and she would never be his Mary, because he already had a Mary.
Suddenly she stands up and walks over to the dancing couple. Everybody at the table stops talking and is now watching Rory walk over to Tristan.
Rory starts tabbing the girl on the shoulder.
"Excuse me! I would like to cut in." She says to the girls.
The girl is too amazed at what just happens doesn't have a quick reply ready.Rory takes this time to grab Tristan and start dancing with him, leading him away from the girl.
"Why, Mare! I knew you were dying to dance with me." Tristan says with a big smirk on his face. He was totally amused by the whole situation.
"Oh, just shut up Dugrey." And she grabs his head and starts to kiss him.
Everybody at the table starts to whistle and applaud loudly at the able, but Rory and Tristan don't seem to notice. Mary was still standing there, watching them, but now quickly turns around and walks away.
When they return to the table, everybody starts to whistle and yell again, making Rory turn a nice shade of pink and Tristan grin from ear to ear.
"Well it's about time, you two!" Paris tells them; making Rory blush harder and Tristan pull Rory even closer to him.
xxx
A/N: Okay I'll leave it at this. I know I said I would write more about Lorelai, but it didn't fit in this chapter. But the next chapter though, will be about Lorelai's return to stars hollow. I hoped you have enjoyed this chapter. Please review!
