Disclaimer: I own nothing
"You lie!" Lorelei said with huge eyes.
"No, I'm not lying." Tristan said with a look of uncertainty in his eyes.
"Ok. We are pulling out all the stops. This calls for extreme measures. What is it with our men and movie nights?"
"I couldn't tell you." Rory said without a tone in her voice.
"Hard Bodies it is then." Tristan said with a laugh.
"Rory, you get candy and junk food. Pizza, Chinese, and all the regular staples." She saluted and grabbed the phone.
"You, Bibleboy, sit on this couch and tell me how you got to the age of 21 without seeing Hard Bodies!" He laughed.
"Rory showed me the old Inn today." Lorelei's face got sentimental, as if she could see the memories flashing before her eyes. "As I was standing there, watching her give me the tour of this tiny room, that was smaller than my bathroom, I thought about how lucky she was. The whole 'anything's better than there' philosophy. I get it. I lived that for 17 years, but I still can't imagine doing what you did."
"Oh, I know you do kid." Lorelei smiled encouragingly. "But you get out, and you learn from watching their mistakes, and you promise yourself you will never let your own kids ever feel that way. Someday, when you have a kid, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about."
"What are you talking about?" Rory asked with a smile as she entered the room with a huge amount of food.
"We were just getting acquainted." Lorelei said. "Where's the rest of the food?"
"There's more?" Tristan looked at them through wide eyes. They burst out laughing.
"Oh no." Lorelei looked over her shoulder. Rory had fallen asleep on Tristan's chest.
"It's ok. I'll move her to her room in a minute. She just fell asleep and I don't wanna wake her."
"Ok. You're more than welcome to stay here tonight if you don't want to drive." Lorelei said. "I can get you some sheets for the couch."
"No it's fine. Thanks though." He said moving Rory into a better position to hold her. He picked her up and carried her into her room. As he was tucking her in, she mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like suck up. He smirked at her ability to mock him while half conscious. He kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight Mary." He said in a warning tone.
"Night." She said with her eyes still closed.
Time flew by and soon it was time for Tristan to head back to North Carolina. She drove him to the airport. He held her hand but they remained silent the entire trip, both knowing that this was going to be the hardest part of their relationship. North Carolina was a long ways away, she thought. As he checked his bags, she turned and looked around. She heard him cough and she turned back around. She met his eyes with concern. When she looked down, there was a present in his hands.
"Don't open it til you get home." He said with a wink. She threw her arms around him and tried not to cry.
"I can't believe you're leaving already." She buried her head in his neck.
"I know, but I'll be back in 6 weeks. Until then we can talk on the phone and email and IM. It'll go by fast, I promise." When she heard them call his flight, she kissed him like she would never kiss him again.
"Just a little incentive to come back fast." She smiled.
"You have no idea how much I hope your right." He hugged her a little tighter and he kissed her again. "I love you."
"I love you too." She said as she let him go. He turned and walked away. He couldn't turn around and look at her. He knew that he would never leave. But he walked slowly as if each step was breaking his heart. As soon as he was out of sight, Rory opened the box he had given her. There was a note on top.
Dear Mary,
I know that if I turned around right now, I would see you opening this.
She smiled and kept reading.
Just know that I love you more than I ever thought possible. I've loved you since the very first day I looked into your eyes. I promise that I'll never leave you. You will always be with me, every time I see a cup of coffee or a Jane Austen novel, I'll forever think of you. With all of my heart, I wish I was able to stay with you right now. Be strong, and know that you're always on my mind. This kept me occupied in military school, I hope it helps you pass the time.
Forever yours,
Tristan
She wiped the tears out of her eyes and continued opening the box. It was a book. She turned it over and read the title and burst into tears again. Romeo and Juliet. From the looks of it, he had read this as much as The Great Gatsby. She opened it randomly to a page in the middle. He had written notes in the margins about her. She flipped to the end, where she knew they would have kissed had he stuck around long enough. As she read, she smiled at the notes. It was like having a piece of him with her. What he said was true. He had loved her from the very beginning. The guilt she had was overwhelming, she had said she hated him in front of Dean. It must have broken his heart. She was the reason he acted out. Hundreds of thoughts raced through her head. She needed to write him a letter.
Tristan had unpacked and gotten situated again. He was miserable without her. He needed to see her, to hear her voice, to touch her. It had only been a couple days but he was already planning his trip back. 6 weeks of this, he thought, is impossible. Just then his mail slot opened and the mail came pouring in. He went over and picked it up off the floor. Bills, junk mail, and bingo…a letter from Rory. He quickly tore it open.
Dear Tristan,
You were right, I opened the present as soon as you rounded the corner.
He smirked knowingly and kept reading.
It brought me to tears. I can't believe you have loved me this long. As I read, I felt guilty. I know I treated you poorly, and I know that your actions back at Chilton were partly my fault. I'm sorry if I ever did anything to hurt you. I love you more every day and I eagerly wait your return.
With all my love,
Your Mary
Tristan set the letter on the table after rereading it. He didn't want her to feel guilty. He wanted to thank her for everything she had done. Another letter was needed.
Dear Mary,
I NEVER want you to feel guilty about anything that happened in my past. Getting sent to Military school was completely separated from anything that you did. I deserved everything I got. And it was also the best thing that ever happened to me. I couldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't gone. I didn't deserve you back then. I had to grow up before we could have ever been together. I don't think you realize how much your letter means to me. (The fact that you signed it Your Mary completely turns me on by the way.) I miss you already and I don't know how I'm going to survive these next few weeks.
Forever yours,
Tristan.
Rory came into the apartment and grabbed her mail off the table. She was sure that he had written her back.
"Yes!" She said to herself as she tore the envelope open. She read the letter and laughed. Typical Tristan. She could practically see him smirking as she read it. Time to reply, she thought.
Dear Tristan,
Wipe that smirk off of your face. I can sign my letters anyway I please. How are your classes? Everything here is the same. Paris says hello. I miss you. I can't wait until summer vacation when I can see you everyday if I want.
Loving you more every day,
Your Mary
She sealed it up and wrote his address on the front. She opened her desk drawer to reveal she was out of stamps. Damn she thought. She picked up her coat and drove down to the post office. On her way back, she stopped at a coffee shop. As she sat reading a magazine, she heard a familiar voice. She looked up and saw Logan with a girl draped on his arm. She was gorgeous and obviously a model in some other life. She kept her head down and Logan glanced over. He froze as he saw her there. She looked great, coffee on the table and of course reading. Such a typical Ace picture. Rory turned a page as the girl caught Logan staring.
"Logan, what did you want to order?" She said impatiently.
"Whatever you're having." He said with a smile. He was used to faking his way through life. Just then her cell phone rang. She opened it and got a huge grin on her face as she answered.
"Hey! How did it go?" Logan knew she was talking to Tristan. His gut dropped. He wanted to love her, it was never meant to be between them, but she was so perfect. Even if he knew it would never work out, he wanted it to.
"You ok hon?" He nodded.
"Yeah, Let's go."
Rory smiled at Logan as he left the café. She wanted to let him know that he meant something to her. He smiled back as he held the door open for his date.