The weekend went by quickly. Christopher had stayed there all weekend, much to Rory's dismay. Why was he staying so long? Rory knew she sounded like a brat but she really was mad at him. He ALWAYS left just when he and Lorelai and him were starting to heat up again. It made her mad, real mad.
It wasn't that she hated her father; it's just that she WAS mad at him and right now was NOT the best time for him to show up trying to act responsible. Rory really needed to talk to her mom about her pregnancy, but HE was always around.
It was Monday morning. Rory walked through the school corridors looking for her best friend, Paris Geller. She was nowhere in sight. Rory walked to her locker and took out her books.
Suddenly out of nowhere Tristan DuGrey appeared. He leaned on the locker next to hers. She turned to him, not in the mood for him.
" What do you want Trist-stan?" Rory asked.
" I just came to see you, Rory." He leaned closer to her.
Rory grabbed her books for her next class, then slammed her locker shut. She glared at him, then walked away, hoping he'd give up. Unfortunately, he didn't take the hint. He followed like a hurt puppy. Not a usual feeling for Tristan DuGrey.
Tristan grabbed her hand. She stopped walking and looked up at him, surprised.
" Don't you ever think about our first kiss at Madeline's party?"
" Tristan…" Her voice trailed off as he lowered his head and kissed her. She froze. He was kissing her for the second time now? Now, when she was pregnant?
She broke away, then turned and ran the other way. Tears started to form in her eyes as she ran. She couldn't see clearly and suddenly bumped into someone. Rory muttered a "Sorry" and continued to run. The figure grabbed her arm to stop her.
" Rory, what's wrong?" the figure asked softly. Rory looked up to see the friendly face of Paris.
" Come with me, hurry." Rory grabbed Paris' arm and pulled her into the girls' bathroom. Rory released Paris' arm then checked to see if anyone else was in there with them. They were alone.
" Paris. Tristan kissed me, again." Rory looked at Paris for help.
" Again? You mean you've kissed him before?" Rory told her everything. Why hadn't she told her about Tristan kissing her before?
" Yes. Tristan kissed me at Madeline's party a few months ago. I had just broken up with Dean, and him with Summer, so we kissed. It was nothing, Paris, really. I swear, it meant nothing, at least not to me," Rory told her friend honestly.
" Oh, and you didn't tell me, why?"
" Well, we weren't really friends then. It was nothing, but now he just kissed me again, in the hallway."
" I guess he thought that it WAS something at Madeline's party. Did you ever tell him that it meant nothing to you?"
" Yes I did. Like the next day. I think I hurt his feelings." Rory was the sweetest person Paris knew and hated making people sad or hurt. As for herself, she usually couldn't care less about people, unless they were her close friends.
The bell rang, noting that class had started. The girls looked at each other.
They were late for class. Rory wiped her face then they ran out of the bathroom and ran toward their class. They both had Literature next with Mr. Max Medina. Rory turned to Paris as they ran.
" Don't worry. Mr. Medina likes us; we are definitely his favorite students. Especially me since he was engaged to my mother." It was weird: Mr. Medina was still incredibly nice to her even though her mom had called it quits on their wedding day.
Paris nodded and soon they were at their classroom door. Rory knocked. They waited. Mr. Medina opened the door.
" Rory? Paris? You are both late. Class started two minutes ago." He frowned at them. Tardiness was not accepted at Chilton. " I have to send you both to the office for being late."
Rory thought quickly. She turned to Mr. Medina and said in a low voice,
" Mr. Medina, it was a huge mistake. And if you're going to send me to the office please don't send Paris. It was my fault she's late."
" Really? I wouldn't have expected such a thing from you, Rory." He frowned again.
" Please, something horrible happened to me this morning, and I needed to talk to someone. I asked Paris if we could talk and then we lost track of the time. Please sir, don't send her too."
Mr. Medina looked at Rory concerned. " Are you alright Rory?" he asked quietly so her classmates wouldn't hear. Yes, she had hit a nerve.
" Well, I was a mess at the time, but now I'm ok I guess." She laid it on thick.
" Alright. Well since this IS the first time for you guys this year, come in. Just don't be late again or I WILL have to send you to the principal."
The girls nodded as they walked into class. Rory kept her head down as she walked to her desk. A few seats behind her was Tristan. He'd make fun of her if he knew why she was late. She couldn't manage to look at him.
Class started and she forgot all about Tristan and her problems. She loved Literature class and she really liked the teacher. She had been mad at her mom a little when they had broken up, but she had soon accepted her mom's decision. He just hadn't been the right man for her. Rory sighed, wondering if Dad was the one for her.
At the end of Literature class Rory picked up her books and left fast, trying to avoid Tristan. But fate would listen to nothing of the sort. Tristan caught up.
" Rory, we need to talk," he said sincerely. Rory looked at him and nodded. He looked really hurt.
" Meet me at my locker at lunch, ok?" Rory asked. Tristan nodded then walked off. He usually hung out around her until she yelled and told him to get lost. Wow, she thought, I must have hurt him bad.
At lunch they met at her locker, then walked outside and sat down under a tree, in a far away corner. They were silent for a few minutes. Then Tristan spoke up.
" Rory. Why do you hate me so much? I never really did anything to you, did I, other then a little playful teasing at the beginning of last year." Rory thought about it for a few minutes.
At the beginning of last year, when she had started Chilton, Tristan had constantly called her Mary instead of Rory. It HAD been annoying.
She liked Tristan. He wasn't really that bad, just not really her type. She liked Tristan as a good friend, but nothing more; but how to tell him that without breaking his heart? It was even more impossible now when all she could think about was her pregnancy.
" Tristan, it's not that. I like you a lot, but only as a friend. I didn't mean to run away this morning, it's just that I thought of something else…" She looked away as tears started rolling down her cheeks.
" What? What is it Rory? Tell me, maybe I can help." He looked at her hopefully.
" Tristan, nothing you say or do can help this matter. Not you, not anyone."
" Rory… just tell me. Does it have anything to do with why you were late to class this morning?"
" No. It doesn't." She turned her head back and faced him. She needed comfort but couldn't get any from anyone. Everyone who knew was in Stars Hollow. " Tristan… I'm pregnant," as she said the words tears fell down her face.
He stared at her for a moment, shocked. Rory, his Rory, hadn't seemed like the type that fooled around and got pregnant. Unless…
" Are you alright?" he asked softly. Rory blushed. He still thought she was a goody- goody. She nodded. Regardless of what Rory felt about him, she needed a hug right now. So he reached over and pulled her against his chest and hugged her. To his surprise she didn't struggle out of his grasp.
Tristan had only held her in his arms for a few moments when Paris strolled up. Rory sprung away from Tristan and looked up at Paris, who stood there looking shocked.
" Umm…. Hi, Paris," Rory managed, and then looked away quickly, remembering that she had just been crying. But she didn't move quickly enough. Paris had seen her face.
" Rory, what's wrong?" She ignored Tristan's presence next to Rory and sat down in front on her.
" You didn't tell her yet?" Tristan looked over at Rory. Rory had told him before she had told Paris. Weird.
Paris stared at Tristan then turned her head back to Rory, waiting for an explanation.
" I did tell her. I told her before. Umm, Paris, did you want something?"
" Umm…yes. I came to bring you your chem. notes. Thanks for letting me borrow them." She handed them to Rory and got up. " Bye Rory, Tristan."
" Bye," the said to Paris as she left.
Rory looked down at her shoe.
" I didn't tell Paris, I faked it. You are the first person outside of Stars Hollow that knows."
" Umm… what did your mom say when you told her?" Tristan asked as he took her hand.
" She was there. I got hit by a car and was rushed to the hospital this weekend. They told me there. She was a little upset, but now we're even. Inviting HIM over without asking me. How rude is that?" Rory suddenly remembered that she wasn't alone and blushed. " She invited my dad over. We aren't very close."
" Oh." Tristan looked at her. She held her chem. notes in her hand. Tristan stood up, pulling her up as well. " You must be hungry. I'm sorry I kept you out so long." He turned to walk away.
" Tristan, wait!" Tristan looked back to her. " Thanks for being here for me. I really needed to tell someone. It meant a lot to me." He nodded then walked away.
Rory went inside as well and tried to find Paris. Rory bet that Paris would want to know all the details about why she was outside with Tristan. Rory sighed. After lunch she had chem. lab anyways. She could talk to Paris then.
Sure enough, the minute Rory stepped into chem. lab Paris pounced on her.
" Rory, what was that all about outside? I thought you didn't like him." Rory was about to answer when Madeline and Louise came in.
" Who is it that Rory doesn't?" Louise asked, joining in on the conversation. Rory glared at Paris. " It's nothing, Louise. I was just talking to Tristan earlier today."
" Tristan? We thought you hated him." She glanced at Madeline who nodded.
Rory shrugged. " He's nice enough, but I have a boyfriend." She paused at the words. Did she actually have a boyfriend? She guessed that things between Jess and her were done, but Dean would take care of her and the baby, right? She felt sick to her stomach every time she thought about the baby. Rory looked away and went to sit down. Paris, Louise, and Madeline followed. Paris took the seat right next to Rory, Louise and Madeline sat right behind them.
Suddenly Rory felt the need to eat an apple. She freaked. She usually hated any type of fruits, but know that all she could think about. She looked at her watch. There was still 10 minutes until the bell rang. Thank goodness she came to class early. She took out her cell phone and dialed her mom's cell number.
" Rory? Are you ok, Hun?" asked her mom on the phone.
" Umm… sure I'm fine, considering…. I can't talk long, class is going to start soon, but we need to get apples."
" Apples? I guess those food cravings are kicking in."
" Yes, I guess they are. Also get cherries. Oh, and strawberries." Lorelai laughed. " Ok I'll buy out Doose's market's fruits. Luke will be happy to know that you are finally eating fruits."
" Yes, I'm sure he will be." There was a gasp on the other line. " Mom, you ok?"
" I just remembered something. I totally forgot to ask you this weekend. Do you think Jess told Luke about…" she paused. Rory guessed someone had passed by. " About your pregnancy."
" Umm… maybe. Mom, I umm… told Luke myself." Rory paused as Paris gave her a funny look. Rory waved her off. " I told him Saturday. I ran into him after I talked with Jess."
" Oh… I though you wouldn't want anyone to know."
" Mom, it's ok. I got to go now. Talk to you later." She closed her phone just as the bell rang. She put it in her purse. Paris was still looking at her funny.
" You never eat fruits, Rory," she whispered as the teacher did attendance.
" Umm… so?" Rory looked away.
" And what with all the 'I told him' stuff? Is that what Tristan was talking about?"
" Look, Paris, class has started. I'll talk to you after." Paris glared but turned her head to face the teacher.