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Major thanks to my wonderful beta, Lourenda.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Rory was walking out to her car after the staff meeting when Eric caught up to her.
"So, you finally agreed to go on a date with Tristan?"
Rory glanced at him, "Something like that, yeah."
"Good, now he can stop obsessing over why you won't date him."
"I'll try to answer his questions, but I am just praying for no long awkward silences, they bother me."
Eric let out a laugh, "Yeah, me too." He paused slightly, "but if you need something to talk about you can always ask him about Bree."
"Who's Bree?"
"Breelynn is Tristan's sister; she's the only one in his family, besides his grandfather, that he can tolerate. They are pretty much each others support system."
'What's with rich blonde boys having close relationships with their sisters?' Rory thought. "Is she younger or older?"
"She's eighteen." Eric told her.
"Is she nice?"
Eric got a dreamy look on his face, "She is really sweet."
Rory immediately took notice to his change in attitude, "Looks like someone has a crush."
"I do not!"
"Eric, I might not have known you long, but the goofy grin playing on your lips proves that you like her."
Tristan had told Eric that there was no way to win a fight when it came to Rory Gilmore so he decided to give in. "I do," he conceded, "but I promised Tristan I wouldn't do anything. I mean it's his sister, I wouldn't want him dating my sister."
"Isn't your sister nine?" Rory questioned remembering a conversation she had with him when they had first met.
"Yeah, but that's not the point. The point is you shouldn't date your best friend's sister…without permission and I don't see being granted it anytime soon."
Rory smiled sympathetically at him. Tristan and Eric had the same bond that Logan, Colin and Finn did. "I'm sure if Breelynn is anything like Tristan then she's stubborn and won't stop till she gets her way."
"That's what I'm hoping for." Eric said as they began to near their cars.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Eric." Rory said with a wave, putting her stuff in the backseat of her car.
"Bye, Rory!" He called back getting into his truck and driving off.
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"So…What does this mean?"
"If I knew what it meant do you honestly think I'd be asking my little sister?"
"I'm only two years younger." Breelynn protested.
"You're still younger than me."
"That means you'll die first." She informed him.
Tristan shook his head, "That's the sibling love that would make our parents proud."
"Since when do you want to make mom and dad proud?"
"Just forget it, Bree."
"Ok…Anyways…Back to the topic at hand."
"The topic at hand is the girl that I've pathetically liked since my sophomore year of high school asked me out on a sort of date after talking to her ex-boyfriend."
"Is he hot?"
"Is who hot?"
"Her ex-boyfriend!"
"I'm not gay, Breelynn."
She rolled her eyes and her brother's macho attitude, "Just because you notice if another guy is physically attractive doesn't mean you are gay. I notice that other girls are pretty all the time and I like boys very much. So?"
"It's different with girls…I mean girls walk down the street with their arms linked or go into the dressing room with each other and that's normal, guys do that and get strange looks."
"Whatever, what's her ex's name?"
" Logan Huntzberger."
"He's absolutely gorgeous!" Breelynn gushed. "She's got amazing taste in guys…What does she see in you?"
"You truly know how to boost my confidence."
"Yeah, that's exactly what you need: a confidence boost." Breelynn scoffed.
"You're not helping."
"Tris, you've been on dates with tons of girls and slept with half of them. Why is she any different?"
Tristan looked at his sister; she had brought up the question that had been on his mind since he first saw her walk into Chilton. Rory was just different, she had a different allure to her than all the other girls he'd met.
"She's different. The girls I've dated just don't seem to compare to Rory."
Breelynn understood where her brother was coming from; there was something special and indescribable about Rory to him. She just wished he would understand that that was how she felt about Eric.
"Sort of like you know that there are smarter, more attractive, funnier people out there but for some reason that person is perfect to you?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah," Tristan said, surprised that she had nailed exactly how he was feeling. "How'd you know?"
Breelynn stood up, "Because that is how I feel about Eric." And with that she left his apartment.
Tristan leaned back and closed his eyes, he trusted Breelynn and he trusted Eric, but the two of them together he wasn't so sure about. He knew his baby sister wasn't a virgin; he personally kicked the guy's ass when he had found out. But he still wanted to protect her, he wanted to keep her the same little girl that walked into his room when she was scared of the monster under her bed or when their parents were fighting.
He loved his little sister and he'd do anything in the world for her, but he couldn't seem to give his blessing for her to date his best friend. Eric was a good guy, he would never take advantage of her and he would treat her with the utmost respect, but it was a harsh reality to Tristan that Breelynn was not a little kid and that men were actually finding his sister attractive.
Sitting up, he decided after his date with Rory was over he'd talk to Eric or Breelynn, which ever one seemed more approachable and discuss it with them. They were both amazing people who deserved to be happy and if they made each other happy then who was he to stand in the way.
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The next day of camp went by quickly. Rory and Tristan had been put in charge of the outdoor living class, but due to the extreme heat they ended up playing Worst Case Scenario in the shade all day.
Tristan insisted on picking up Rory at seven thirty. So Rory had been in a hurry to get home and get ready before he arrived.
"Mom! I don't know what to wear!" Rory yelled.
"What do you want me to do about it?"
"Do what you did when I didn't know what to wear on my first date with Dean! Look through the clothes I've already looked through 10 times and find an outfit on the first try!"
"You are exploiting my talents." Lorelai pouted.
"I'll buy you coffee tomorrow morning."
"Ok, show me the clothes." Lorelai said, walking into Rory's bedroom which was sporting a carpet made of clothing.
"Remember, it's supposed to be casual and that it's very hot outside." Rory said, not wanting to be in clothes that would make her uncomfortable all night long.
"How about this?" Lorelai said holding up a classy but still casual midnight blue tube top that had silver sparkles on it with a light denim skirt. "You can wear my sparkly flip flops and pull you hair back with a clip."
"My god how do you do that?"
"It's a secret and maybe one day when you are ready I will share it with you."
"I don't think I'll ever be so worthy." Rory deadpanned, closing the door to get ready for her date with Tristan.
Tristan arrived at Rory's house right on time, but stalled at the door for a moment. He was nervous to say the least but it was his own fault, he insisted on picking her up. Seconds after knocking on the door a woman who was a slightly older version of Rory opened the door.
"Bible Boy!"
"Excuse me?"
"You called my daughter Mary, so we in turn called you Bible Boy."
Lorelai explained gesturing for him to come into the house, "I'm Lorelai, not Miss Gilmore, just Lorelai."
"Well, hello Lorelai. I usually go by Tristan, but I suppose if Bible Boy makes you happy who am I to complain?"
"I already like you much better than I liked the last one." She told him.
"Logan?"
"Yeah, limo boy," Lorelai mumbled before walking into the kitchen.
Tristan stood in the doorway of the living room and peered in. He immediately noticed all the pictures that covered the tables, shelves and walls. None of them looked stiff or uncomfortable like all of his family portraits, but they all looked like they wanted to be with each other. He recognized the Korean girl, Lane from the party at Madeline's house, but everyone else was a mystery to him.
The house smelled like coffee and popcorn, which was something he loved. His families home always smelled and looked sterile, nothing that would even be considered 'Home Sweet Home' material.
"Hey." A voice said, catching his attention. Turning he was greeted by Rory, whose appearance left him speechless. She was wearing a tube top, due to the warm weather he assumed, and it looked amazing on her. Her skirt and shirt were tastefully covering everything unlike many of the other girls he'd picked up for dates on summer nights that had everything hanging out this way or popping out the other.
"You look beautiful." Tristan said genuinely hoping she didn't think it was a line.
A light blush crept up on her cheeks "Thanks, you look good too." She said noticing his appearance. 'Is it possible he looks even better than he does at work?'
"Thanks," he smiled at her. "You ready to go?"
"Um, yeah," Rory said, grabbing her purse, "Mom! We're leaving!"
"Bye! Have fun! Don't do anything I wouldn't!" Lorelai called from the kitchen.
"Why do I have a feeling that Lorelai would do a lot more than normal people?" Tristan asked once they got into the car.
"Because she would." Rory laughed.
"So, where we going?"
"You're the guy!"
"This was your idea." Tristan laughed.
"I arranged the date, but it's your job to think of a festivity."
"Fine, I know where we'll go."
"Where?"
"Do you honestly think I'm going to tell you?"
"No, but it was worth a try." Rory laughed.
The two feel into easy conversation about random things like music and movies. Rory learned that Tristan liked a majority of the same things she did and realized she had read him all wrong in high school.
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Arriving to their destination, Tristan turned off the engine "We're here."
"Where is here?" Rory asked.
"The beach."
"Perfect."
"I thought so." Tristan said getting out of the car and opening the door for Rory.
"Such a gentleman."
"Don't get used to it." he teased.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"How about we get some ice cream and then we can walk on the pier and talk?" Tristan suggested.
Rory nodded, "Sounds like a plan."
Rory didn't know if it was the heat or her nerves, but for the first time in her life she didn't really feel like eating her ice cream.
"Is something wrong?" Tristan asked as they walked down the pier.
"No, I was… um, just thinking we should probably talk."
"I second that."
"You start." Rory said, as her nerves began to worsen.
"Ok, we'll start simple…Where do you go to college?"
Rory took a deep breath, "I went to Yale."
"Went?"
"Yeah, I'm taking some time off."
"I see." Tristan said, processing the information.
"What about you?"
"I actually go to Columbia ."
"New York ?"
"It's far enough away from Hartford my parents won't visit just to check up on me and close enough that I can still get home in a timely fashion if there is an emergency."
"Practical." Rory stated.
"Why are you taking time off?"
"I need to readjust my priorities."
"How come?"
"In a nutshell? I interned at a newspaper for Mitchum Huntzberger, Logan 's father, and he pretty much told me I don't have what it takes to be a journalist... I would be better off as a secretary."
To say Tristan was shocked was an understatement, he'd actually come across an article she had written for the Yale Newspaper and it was amazing. There was no way Rory didn't have what it took. "That's ridiculous."
"Yeah, or maybe not so much."
Disregarding that comment for the moment, he moved on "So, you dropped out of Yale because you were majoring in journalism and now you're not so sure, understandable. Now, what's with the police record?"
"I thought you weren't going to pry?"
"I lied." Tristan shrugged.
"I suppose it's better to get it out in the open…"
"Exactly!"
Rory gave a weak smile, "After Mitchum told me I didn't have it, I was upset."
"Understandable."
"Well, then I had to attend Honor Huntzberger's engagement party that same night. Which was being thrown on a yacht. Logan and I took someone else's yacht out to sea."
"You stole a yacht?" Tristan exclaimed in shock.
"Shhh!" Rory said looking around hoping no one had heard him.
"Mary stole a yacht!"
"I did not steal, I borrowed."
"What was your sentence?" Tristan said, remembering that when he broke into the safe his parents got to choose it.
"300 hours of community service."
"Damn."
"Yeah."
"You were afraid to tell me that?" Tristan asked as the two sat on a bench that overlooked the water crashing onto the rocks.
"That, among other things. I'm ashamed of the past year, Tristan. For more than one reason," Rory said quietly still thinking about if she wanted to reveal the Dean issue.
"Rory, you've got to understand. I am the last person that will judge you. I've done too many screwed up things in my life to even consider judging someone."
"It's just hard though," Rory began, "I don't want to disappoint anyone."
"And you won't as long as you are doing what you want to do. I've learned you can disappoint your loved ones, but even if they are disappointed the ones who truly love you will still stick around."
"You're right, I guess."
"For example, your mom. I am guessing she's not exactly thrilled you dropped out of college, I knew about your life's game plan. All of Chilton did, but she's still there for you."
"Yeah, I'm just…I don't know." Rory said, as she felt tears prickling her eyes. She didn't want to cry but for some reason all the emotion from the last year that had built up now wanted to come out and the last thing Rory wanted to do was cry in front of Tristan.
Tristan saw her eyes begin to get glassy; his intention was not to make her cry "Ror, I didn't mean to make you rehash bad memories."
Rory shook her head "It's my own fault…I haven't dealt with it…I think in the last year of everything I've done I've cried twice."
"Wait…Honor's engagement party was in late May…Something happened before that?"
Rory was silently hoping he wouldn't fill in that blank "Y-yeah."
Tristan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him; she rested her head on his chest and tried to get herself to stop crying. "I promised I wouldn't push and well…I did and I'm sorry, but I won't push about this."
"I…I'll tell you in time. I promise."
"Take your time and while we wait I can regale you with stories of my teenage years." He smirked trying to lighten to mood.
"I don't want to hear about the girls you've bedded, Tristan!"
"To tell you the truth, I can't remember most of them, but I meant my secret life."
"Secret life?"
"Yep, I'm like the chick on Alias."
"You have a red wig?"
"Red's not my color."
"I'm sorry." Rory said suddenly.
"That red is not my color?" Tristan said looking down at her, "It is a little depressing, the main reason I didn't go to Harvard is because their color is crimson."
Rory laughed slightly "No, not that, but for crying…for making you feel like you should pity me. You shouldn't I've done this all myself."
"Don't apologize because I don't pity you. I have a sister and she told me that girls are allowed to cry when they are upset, apparently it's a birthright that comes with being of the female persuasion."
"Breelynn, right?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Eric."
"Ah, yes."
"He likes her."
"And she likes him."
"You should leave them alone."
"Did I ask you're opinion?" He asked playfully.
"Even if you didn't I'd still give you it." She smiled.
"Why by all means Obi Wan, tell me what you think."
"I think he likes her, really really likes her and that he wouldn't disappoint you by treating your sister badly."
"You're right. I'm going to do something about it soon, I swear."
"Good." Rory said looking at him and realizing she was still wrapped in his arms. Despite the hot weather she was perfectly content in them. 'It's love when it can be 100 degrees outside and you still want to be as close as humanly possible to someone.' Rory remembered her mother saying one time. She pushed that thought to the pack of her mind, she did not love Tristan.
"We should be getting back, we've both got work tomorrow." Tristan said hesitantly, as he removed his arms.
"Yeah, we're on water games again tomorrow. This time I'm not letting my mom pack my bathing suit."
"Why not? I personally loved that bathing suit." He smirked.
"I happen to like my blue one better."
" Bikini ?"
Rory shook her head "Yes, it's the same style as the other one."
Tristan just smiled as they walked back to the car in a comfortable silence. He knew that there was more to the story. Something had happened a year ago that made Rory's life derail from its track, but he'd give her time to tell him. He knew she'd tell him when she was ready.
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