The Best Of You – Chapter Four
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. So please don't sue. Thanks.
Monday came too quickly for Rory. She scrambled out of bed and headed straight for the washroom, knowing that if she stopped, even for just a minute, her thoughts would be of him and their inevitable encounter later that day. She showered and brushed, taking her sweet time. Dressed in her usual uniform, she emerged from her bedroom and smiled at the heavenly scent of coffee.
Lorelai looked at Rory, then down at her watch and then at Rory again. "You're ten minutes early," she stated matter-of-factly.
"You're keeping track?"
Lorelai grinned, amusement evident in her eyes. "It's just that… well I noticed this months ago."
Rory yawned, wrapping the warm mug around her hands, she inhaled the intoxicating scent and looked up at her mother. "Noticed what?"
"That you finish getting ready at the same time… school day after school day. Seven thirty, never a minute early or late."
"Mom, that's a little creepy… even for you," she stated, having finished half her coffee already.
Lorelai shrugged, "I'm just observant, always have been" she replied.
"No you're not."
"Yes, yes I am."
"No, no you're not."
"This could go on forever kid."
"Alright," Rory set her empty mug down, "Do you want an example?"
Lorelai nodded.
"Luke."
Lorelai shot her daughter a puzzled yet amused look. "Are you saying I don't observe Luke enough?"
"Yes, yes I am."
Lorelai laughed loudly, she then grabbed the half empty coffee pot and poured her daughter more. "You, my child, are very coffee deprived… which is obviously affecting your brain. How? God only knows…"
Rory laughed at her mother's obvious attempt to change the subject, "What I'm saying is if you really are as observant as you claim to be, then why haven't you noticed the way Luke looks at you?"
"The way Luke looks at me? I wasn't aware of the fact that Luke looked at me differently."
"Oh he does, trust me… he does."
Lorelai rolled her eyes, pouring her daughter more coffee. "Would you care to enlighten mommy?"
Rory paused, looking thoughtful. She looked down, as if she were pondering her response. She then looked up; her facial expression caused Lorelai to jump up from her chair.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lorelai exclaimed, grabbing onto the kitchen counter for support.
Her shoulders shook from her attempt to hold her laughter in, "I was just making a point."
"And what point would that be?"
"That Luke is in love with you… and has been for many, many years."
"You're trying to prove that point to me by looking at me like you did a few seconds ago?"
"No, I was imitating the way Luke looks at you everyday."
Lorelai sighed, "You're so coffee deprived that it's affecting your vision. My poor child," she responded sympathetically.
Rory sighed at her stubborn mother. "I'll stop… can we go have breakfast now?"
"Glad to have you back, my darling daughter!"
-
Tristan woke up, only to be welcomed by a massive headache. He groaned and rested his head against the feather pillow, soon after, he felt someone stir beside him. Confused, he looked to his right and memories of last night flooded him instantly. Groaning again, he shook her gently.
The blonde girl stirred softly before opening her hazel eyes. She met Tristan's eyes and smiled seductively. She reached behind his neck and pulled him close. Her lips found his neck, kissing the exposed skin.
"I had fun last night," she purred in his ear.
Tristan nodded, "I did too," was his reply. He found his boxers quickly and slid them on.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you think? Getting ready for school," he muttered, ignoring his pounding head.
Christina couldn't hide the disappointment on her face, "I was thinking we could skip school… and finish what we started last night," she licked her lips and grinned mischievously.
Tristan scowled, "Maybe some other time Chris."
"But today is the perfect time. I know how much you hate Monday's… might as well make it a long and pleasurable weekend."
Tristan laughed, "I think I'll pass… I have something I have to do today. Oh and… by the time I get out of the shower, I expect you gone. No hard feelings though, okay babe?"
Tristan closed the door in time, barely missing the flying cognac bottle.
-
Rory entered the school hesitantly; the only thing calming her nerves was the large cup of coffee she clutched firmly. She had decided on the bus that she was going to try her hardest to avoid a confrontation with Tristan DuGrey. She looked around before entering the semi-busy hallway. Rory headed for her locker, she trashed her empty cup at a nearby garbage can and continued to walk at a rapid pace. She opened her locker quickly… she growled loudly as the metal compartment refused to open. Rory eyed her classmates, making sure that he wasn't anywhere near where she agitatedly stood. Glaring at her locker, she used her fists to bang on the compartment repeatedly.
"Gilmore!"
Rory jumped at the sound of her name… or rather, her surname. She turned to face her sometimes friend, sometimes-arch nemesis.
"Paris," the brunette acknowledged.
"Emergency meeting for The Franklin today at four o'clock. Don't be late Gilmore," the blonde hissed, with her head held high she turned the other way.
Rory stood watching her classmate walk away, her navy eyes filled with amazement and annoyance.
-
Rory involuntarily shuddered under his scrutinizing gaze. She fought with herself to keep from blushing and groaned inwardly, attempting to concentrate on her schoolwork. She looked down at her half finished notes and shivered once more... he was still looking at her. Shaking her head, she returned to jotting down her notes... she was proud of herself, this was the second last class of the day and she had managed to ignore him in every possible way. She turned the other way when it looked like he was making his way toward her in the hallways and she blatantly ignored him when he called her name in the Courtyard at lunch.
And so, Rory Gilmore sat, rather impatiently in her English literature class, tapping her pen against the wooden desk... anxious for it to end. She turned her head slightly to his direction, flashing him her best glare.
He merely smirked and looked away, his eyes grazing his notes.
Her eyes furrowed and she looked away... he was so infuriating!
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she tapped her foot against the metal leg of the desk, her patience wearing thin. The bell rang loudly, and she jumped out of her seat, she gathered her belongings quickly and exited the classroom.
-
Tristan stood from his seat, very determined. He followed her out of the classroom and paused, his icy blue eyes watching her every move. His eyes darkened slightly, thinking about what had happened earlier... when he called out her name in hopes to get her attention, and to his annoyance, she looked up, met his eyes and looked down again to the opened book sitting on her lap.
He found himself behind her, only a few feet away from where she stood. His lips grazed her right ear tenderly, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're avoiding me," he whispered softly, his right hand fiddled with a strand of her dark hair.
She turned around, looking angry. He took note of her sapphire eyes blazing with fire, and her reddening cheeks. He grinned... she was blushing.
"Are you?"
It took her a second to comprehend his question. She looked up at his smirking face and her frown deepened. "Why yes, yes I am," she answered curtly.
Tristan's grin refused to diminish, "Why? Are you afraid that if you uttered one word to me... or better yet, even looked at me... you'd fall in love with me all over again?"
"I'm not and never will be in love with you Tristan, get over yourself," she flashed him an innocent smile before walking past him, their shoulder's bumping into one another.
Tristan bent down, retrieving the book she had just dropped. He now had a reason.
--
He found her outside the school... she sat, alone on a bench waiting for her bus. Five minutes had passed before he gave in to his urge. Flicking the half smoked cigarette on the floor, he reluctantly walked to the bench, clutching onto the English textbook tightly. He sat at the other side of the bench, careful not to disturb her. She could be so oblivious when she had her nose deep into a book. He sighed and leaned back, getting himself more comfortable.
Tristan looked to his side to find her still reading. He frowned, resting the textbook on his lap.
"Don't think I don't know you're there, DuGrey."
Tristan's grin wavered, just slightly. "Damn, and here I thought I was being sneaky."
"Not really, I noticed you in the parking lot."
He smirked. "So you've been watching me... a little freaky, but I like it."
Rory finally looked up from her book, "Not as much as you've been watching me today."
"You noticed that? And I thought you were oblivious to everything around you."
"You think a lot of wrong things," she observed, closing her book.
"Finally! You've decided to pay attention to me."
"Wrong again," she laughed, "My bus should be here any minute."
"How about I give you a ride home?"
Rory stopped with her fiddling and eyed him suspiciously. "Why?"
"Why not?" he countered.
"Because it wouldn't be like... you."
Tristan groaned, "You always have an answer for everything, don't you?"
Rory shrugged, a secret smile adorned her rosy lips. "Is that my textbook?"
Tristan held the book in front of her, "This? I don't know... is it?"
"It looks like it," Rory replied, attempting to take it from his grasp.
Tristan got to his feet to keep her from grasping the book. He flipped through the pages, as if he were studying the somewhat damaged textbook. "Oh right here... Rory Gilmore," he grinned at her, "You don't mind if I borrow this, do you?"
"Actually, I do... my notes are in there and I need to review."
"For what? We don't have a test tomorrow," he called out from his shoulder as he was already making his way to his car.
"Where are you going?" Rory called. She turned her head and caught sight of her bus, and she turned her head to where Tristan stood, her textbook lay on top of the car. She bit her lip... having an inner battle with herself. Cursing her need for straight A's, she grabbed her book bag and followed the blond boy painfully.
"Tristan..."
The blond turned and he could not stop his mouth from widening a little, his cigarette dangling lifelessly from the edge of his lips. He didn't actually think she would follow him... it was after all, only a textbook. Tristan recovered from the surprise, and smiled, taking the cigarette from his mouth. He noticed her face contort from exasperation to absolute revulsion.
"You smoke?"
"Sometimes," he replied softly, tossing the cig into the flowerbeds behind him.
"It's a disgusting habit," she replied.
"I know."
"Then why do you do it?"
"For fun?"
"What a stupid reason to-"
"Relax. That was a joke."
Rory ignored his comment and retrieved her book. The moment of silence was tense, neither of them not really knowing what to say. Rory wordlessly stuffed the textbook into her already crammed book bag and Tristan stood, watching her every move. Rory was now used to the feeling of his eyes watching her... at first, it had made her uncomfortable and self-conscious... but now, she almost welcomed the strange new feelings. Almost.
"Stop looking at me like that," she mumbled.
"Stop looking at you like what?"
"Like... like you're trying to read me."
He merely shrugged, his eyes now glued to his silver car. "And what if I am?" he challenged.
"I suggest you stop it… it's infuriating," she replied tenderly.
He opened the front door of his vehicle and stepped inside. Tristan opened the glove compartment and found what he was looking for. He popped a mint into his mouth.
"Mint?" he offered.
Rory shook her head, declining his offer.
"Listen…" he started, chewing on the mint thoughtfully, "We haven't really finished discussing uh… the event a few nights ago."
Rory fought hard to keep her cheeks from turning rosy. "I thought we agreed that there's nothing else to discuss."
"No, you agreed with yourself that there was nothing more to discuss. I, on the other hand, disagree with you wholeheartedly," he now stood two feet away from her.
"Disagree all you want… it doesn't change the fact that I have nothing more to say," she whispered adamantly.
"Are all Gilmore's this stubborn?" Tristan let out a monotone groan.
"Yes."
"Why are you so against talking about this Rory? It's only sex."
His sentence seemed to add fuel to the already ignited fire. The flames could be seen in her eyes, her sapphire eyes dancing maliciously. "There! That's just it!" she exclaimed, pointing a finger toward the blond.
"What?"
"You think what happened between us is only sex. It means much more to me then that… so much more. I pictured losing my virginity to someone who I loved and cared about… not just some one nightstand," her breathing was sharp and excruciating.
Her words ate away at his heart painfully. His face hid his emotions of course. It looked as if her words had no effect on him… as if they just bounced off of him. Tristan met her eyes with the same intensity. He stepped forward, and instinctively, she took a step back. Rory turned around; her back was now against his car.
He bit back a groan as he stood, mere inches away from her. Out of habit, he licked his lips and he almost smiled as he noticed her reaction. The simple gesture had caused her blue eyes to widen and she let out a small inaudible gasp.
An excruciating minute had passed, both stood, rooted to their spot. With one sharp breath, his hand grazed her cheek softly, using his thumb; Tristan caressed a soft spot, vigilantly watching for her reaction. He licked his lips one final time before bending down. He placed soft kisses along her snow-white neck, while his hands impulsively wrapped around her waist securely. He started to nip and suck on one particular spot on her neck, a spot in which he knew she loved.
Rory closed her eyes, allowing him to do what he was doing. Her hands found the back of his neck and her ragged breathing seemed to only encourage him. His lips now left the spot (much to her dismay). He now was nibbling on her earlobe; he relished the moment and grinned inwardly.
He opened his mouth to speak… she shivered as his hot breath came in contact with her skin.
"It doesn't have to be a one night stand, you know," he whispered, his voice raw and passionate.
The sentence seemed to wake Rory up. She let out a disgusted snarl, and pushed him away.
Tristan was not expecting to be pushed. He staggered back, but he could not steady himself and he fell on the concrete.
He got to his feet rapidly, his breathing was ragged and his face hot as he fought to control his anger. "What was that for?"
"You're disgusting," Rory pushed past him and grabbed her back pack. "Don't ever, ever talk to me. I hate you Tristan DuGrey."
Tristan watched her go… her words replaying in his mind over and over again. I hate you… I hate you… I hate you. He leaned back against his car and closed his eyes, collecting himself and his thoughts. He reached into his pocket, and with shaking hands he took hold of a cigarette.
--
AN: Argh… I'm sorry for the long wait, I'm having some major writer's block. Which I think is clearly evident with this chapter… it didn't really go anywhere, and I'm extremely unhappy with it.
I cannot begin to thank you guys for your unbelievable comments and encouragement. Thank you so much! And please, do keep reviewing… they make me very, very, very happy.
And to answer a few questions/concerns… Rory's lying to her mother will very much become an issue later on. And sorry, no flashback in this chapter… but there will be one in the next. Promise. Also, I got this title from the Foo Fighter's song… I was just listening to it at the time and I just love, love, love the song.