A/N: I don't own 'Echo' by Trapt.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Do I expect to change
The past I hold inside
With all the words I say
Repeating over in my mind
Some things you can't erase,
No matter how hard you try
An exit to escape
Is all that there is left to find
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rory sat on Louise's bed Thursday night, thinking to herself and flipping through a magazine as the blonde went through all of her clothes to try to find something to wear to Tristan's party.
She looked up at Rory, "What do you think about this?"
Rory looked from the latest issue of Seventeen, the only magazine she could find in her friend's room. She glanced over at the tight jeans and teal shirt that said 'More Parties, More Boys, More Kissing'. She shrugged, looking down, "Baker'll rip it off after about an hour so what's it matter anyway?"
Louise laughed, "Just tell me what you think."
"It looks great." she said, without looking back up.
"You pick something."
Rory looked up, "You're on birth control, right?"
Louise whipped around, surprised by the question out of nowhere, "What?"
"You're on birth control."
"Yeah..." she trailed off, unsure where this was going.
"And your parents don't care?"
"They don't know." she sat beside Rory, "Why? You want to go on birth control?"
"I've been thinking about it." she said, looking down.
"Did Tristan say something?" she asked softly.
"No." she said quickly, "I mean, I know he wants to, but I don't know..."
"Do you want to?"
"Kind of. I don't spend hours contemplating it or anything, but I really want to give him that, I don't know why, though."
Louise smiled, "Only have sex with him if it's what you want. He would rather you want it just as much as him."
Rory nodded, "How did you get a prescription without your parent's permission?"
"There's a clinic about fifteen minutes away that gives teenage girls birth control without parental permission."
"Where?"
"Hartford. I could take you. When do you want to go?"
Rory shrugged, "How late are they open?"
"Until seven. We have two hours, come on." she grabbed her keys and Rory followed her out the door.
Rory sat in the examination room, Louise standing beside her. She looked down at the sheet they'd asked her fill out.
Name: Rory Hayden
Age: 15
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 110 lbs.
She filled out the rest of the sheet, occasionally asking Louise a question. The doctor walked back in ten minutes later and took the sheet from her. He looked over it and asked a few questions before he did a normal physical exam. He nodded, handing her a prescription paper, "Take one everyday at the same time. I'd suggest with your breakfast or right before you go to bed. And just take this to any pharmacy, they'll get it for you. When you run out come back and we'll do another exam to get you a new prescription."
She nodded, "Thank you." and slipped off the table.
Once they were in the car, Louise asked, "You want to take it now? We can get it filled in an hour."
"Louise, you have no idea how much I love you right now."
She laughed, "Oh, I think I do." Five minutes later they pulled into a parking lot, and went inside the store.
Rory walked to the pharmacy counter and handed them the slip. The woman ripped a ticket in half and handed on half to Rory, "Your number is 2293. It will be ready in an hour."
She nodded and walked over to Louise, "We've got an hour. What do you want to do?"
The blonde looked around, "There's a toy display over there."
"Yeah..."
"I wonder if there are any huge balls..."
"Why?"
"I've always wanted to put one in my shirt and pretend like I'm going into labor..."
One hour later, after causing a scene by pretending Louise was going into labor, having a woman call the paramedics, and gathering a huge crown by laying on the ground and screaming that the baby wasn't coming out, and them having the ball 'accidentally' slip out from under her shirt, they'd walked away casually, simply saying 'That's odd' and had disappeared to avoid the very annoyed people.
They were now walking back to the car and trying to avoid people's glares, laughing like idiots. Rory sat in the passenger seat, staring at the flat oval shaped container as Louise turned on the car, "What time are you going to take it?"
"Around eight, I guess. What time is it?"
Louise glanced at the dashboard, "Eight." Rory grabbed the water bottle out of the middle console and popped out the pill beside the space with 'Day 1" beside it. Louise looked over at her, "How do you feel?"
She shrugged, "Normal. How long does it take to work?"
"A month." Rory looked down at the package, nodding before turning on the music.
NEXT MORNING, CHILTON
Rory was at Paris's locker the next morning, discussing their history project, when Tristan came up behind them and leaned against the lockers behind Rory, not alerting her of his presence. Paris could see him, but gave no indication to Rory. They continued their conversation, "I still think that it would be better to do it on the Roman Empire."
"Why is that so much better than ancient Egypt?"
Paris shrugged, "The Romans had more class."
"Oh, right, class alright-"
"At least they didn't worship cats!"
"Good one Paris." she said, joking around.
"Besides, the Romans had young male gods." she said, glancing over Rory's shoulder before closing her locker and walking away.
Rory opened her mouth, confused, and turned around, running into Tristan's chest. She stumbled backwards and he grabbed her, steadying her, "You alright?"
She glared and slapped him in the chest playfully, "That was evil! Listening in on my conversation! I should kill you..." she trailed off, narrowing her eyes and looking him up and down.
He laughed, "I'd let you kill me anytime." he whispered, leaning down. "As long as I got rewarded for it." and he captured her lips in a slow kiss, pulling her close. She smiled against his lips, patting his chest quickly before pushing him away gently.
"I have to get to the library." He groaned. "Don't be such a baby!"
"You don't have to go."
"Yeah, I do. I have to wok on my project for 'Ancient Rome'. Unless of course you want to fall prey to Paris."
"You're letting Paris win?" his eyebrow arched.
"Is that so surprising?"
"Yeah, actually. You're extremely pig headed most of the time."
"Ah!" her jaw dropped in mock anger, "I'm leaving now."
"Fine, leave me, I'll just go fine entertainment somewhere else!"
She rolled her eyes, "Have fun with that."
THAT NIGHT
Rory and Blake wolfed down their food at their grandparents, the rest of the family staring at them. "I knew you two got your appetite from me, but even I'm not THAT bad." Lorelai said.
Rory swallowed the chunk of food in her mouth, "You said we couldn't go out until we ate dinner."
"So we're eating, just faster than normal." Blake finished for her as they went back to their food.
"Oh for god's sake, you're going to kill yourselves. Just go." Emily said.
The twins froze and looked up to their parents who shrugged and nodded. They sprang out of their chairs and ran to their grandmother. "Thanks grandma." they said in unison and kissed her on either cheek before sprinting out the door.
Rory froze when they got outside, "Blake..."
"Yes?"
"We have no car."
"What?"
"We're only fifteen."
"Shit. We are, aren't we?"
Rory laughed, "I'll be right back." she disappeared into the house and came out a few minutes later holding a set of keys.
She dangled them in front of him and he snatched them away, "How did you get the keys to the Maxima?" he asked, dumbstruck.
"Grandpa keeps all his keys on a key ring in the garage, all you have to do is look for the one you want and grab it. Grandpa won't miss it, and we'll return it later."
"Do you have any idea how deep of shit we're going to be in?"
She threw the keys at him, "Just drive."
STARS HOLLOW
Rory and Blake stood in the foyer, "What all do you have to do?" she asked.
"Just change. You?"
"Same, but we both know I'll take longer, so can you call Jess and Lane and tell them to get their asses over here?"
"Will do." they went up to their rooms, and twenty minutes later, all four were in the car, Jess driving, and on their way to Tristan's.
They pulled up at ten thirty and the party was in full swing. As soon as they cam inside, Blake and Lane were whisked away, leaving Jess to find Paris, who turned up a few minutes earlier, talking to Rory for a few minutes and confessing that she didn't know where Tristan was, before walking away with Jess in tow. She sighed, looking around. There were people dancing and making out, but no Tristan. She walked through the whole main floor, pushing her way through people, but never seeing Tristan.
Finally, when she looked in the basement, she found him in the game room, playing pool with Baker. He was wearing baggy blue jeans and a long sleeve dark red shirt, and you could see the white collar of an undershirt. She came up behind him and wrapped one arm around his waist, whispering seductively into his ear, "Do I get to kill you now?"
He grinned, turning around, "You know you could never kill me. I'm too pretty." he whispered, leaning down to capture her lips in a slow kiss. He rested his hands on her hips, pulling her closer. Her hands moved from his waist up to his chest and clenched at his shirt, deepening the kiss. Fire shot down her spine as his tongue swept against hers and his grip tightened on her hips possessively. He finally pulled away, needing air, "Hey."
She grinned, "Hey."
"Did you just get here?" he asked, keeping one arm around her, as her arms dropped from his neck to wrap around him from the side.
Yeah. It was hilarious. We had to go to dinner at my grandparents, and grandma was afraid me and Blake were going to choke on our food we were beating so fast, and then told us to leave so we stole our grandpa's car."
He looked down at her, grinning, "You're joking, right? About the car?"
She unwrapped her arms, "Do I look like I'm joking?"
He laughed, "You stole Richard's car?"
"We're gonna give it back."
"Mary..."
"Yes?"
"You're crazy." she glared and poked him in the ribs. "Ouch." he grabbed his side, pretending to be hurt.
"I hope that stings."
"You should make it feel better."
"Why would I want to make you feel better when I'm the one who caused the pain?"
"Because you can't stand to see me suffer, I'm too amazing and beautiful and hilarious and-"
She rolled her eyes, "Get over yourself, Dugrey."
He grinned, "Never."
Rory walked away, "I'm going to talk to normal people now."
"Hey!" he called as she walked farther into the game room.
Roy walked past pool tables and old arcade video games, looking around. She'd only been to Tristan's house once, mainly because his parents didn't like her. Lane and Henry were leaning against the wall and talking to Louise and Baker, all four laughing. She went over and they turned to her, "Hey." Louise smiled at her, Rory had asked her friend not to say anything to anyone about the birth control, she didn't want people to know, and it would be kind of weird if Tristan found out about it from someone else.
"You aren't with Tristan? I thought you two made up." Baker said, looking around for her boyfriend.
"We did, but I refuse to talk to him at the moment because-"
"I'm so beautiful and amazing and she can't stand it." Tristan said, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"You do realize that you just called yourself beautiful, right?" she asked.
"Yes, I know."
"Women are described as beautiful, not guys."
"Well I'm an individual."
"You can say that again."
"I'm an-" Rory covered his mouth, cutting him off, and she could feel him smirk under her palm.
"I'm going to get a drink." she said, leaving the group.
"She keeps walking all over the place...she's impossible." Tristan said before following her.
"And yet he'll follow her no matter where she goes." Henry pointed out.
Tristan caught up with her a few moments later, "Do you ever stay in one place?" he asked, wrapping one arm around her waist.
"Occasionally. I depends on wither one place can entertain me for long enough."
"So if you get bored you just leave?"
"I'm not bored, just..." she trailed off and grinned, "socially incorrect."
He laughed, "You don't seem very socially incorrect to me."
"Don't lie." they fell into silence until Rory asked, "So, where are the drinks?"
"See, I just said I'd have the party here. I didn't actually do anything for it. I don't even control the music. People brought drinks, but I wouldn't trust them. Come on, you can have something in the kitchen." he led her through a swinging door and into a very luxurious kitchen, all the cabinets were made out of dark cherry, it reminded her of all the stereotypes of mansions. There were also a few couples in the room, although you couldn't see their faces because they were 'occupied' at the moment. They hadn't even noticed the door opening and two more people walking in. Tristan opened the fridge and Rory saw an assortment of drinks, she just grabbed a wine cooler and he took a beer. He smirked, "Well, I must say I'm surprised."
Rory pulled the bottle away from her mouth, "Why?"
"I didn't know you drank."
"Only on the rare occasion." she smiled, "You seem to bring out the worst in me."
He grinned, whispering as he leaned down, "Bad Mary? I think it's one of my better accomplishments." and he caught her lips in his. He slowly deepened the kiss, backing her into the counter. She leaned back over the counter without breaking the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. He rested his hands on the counter top, trapping her.
Her warm tongue moving against his was the sweetest torture he'd ever felt, and her small hands sliding from his neck to rest on his arms, rubbing them lightly, it was the most innocent relationship he'd ever been in, but god, what he'd do to her if given her permission. He didn't even want to think about it, not at the moment. That's what made it such torture, he had to work for everything he got from her, and she wasn't going to just do something if she didn't want to the way so many other girls would. But that's also what made it interesting, and fun. With other girls he got bored, they'd give up in a banter. They'd fuck a guy after one day. They acted helpless and kissed a guy's ass to make them like her. That's not that way Rory was. She'd never give up a fight if her life depended on it. She'd never have sex until she wanted to, no matter what the guy felt. He couldn't picture her being the damsel in distress. Hell, she'd be the dragon holding the princess hostage.
She moved her hands from his arms to his chest. Damn, she was constantly moving, wasn't she? Her hands explored his chest through his shirt, her fingers raking along it. He groaned into her mouth, his hands moving to her hips. She smiled against his lips and raked her fingernails over it again. His grip tightened, so this was the bad side to Rory? He definitely liked it. Her hands slipped lower, and he kept repeating to himself, 'if she feels it she'll freak out, if she feels it she'll freak out.' That was the only thing stopping him from getting a boner. Her fingers slipped under his shirt, moving over his defined abdomen and chiseled muscles. But how in god's good name had she ever learned to do that? She'd been with Dean for crying out loud, and he knew for a fact this type of situation had never happened with the ex boyfriend. He deepened the kiss, if that was possible, kissing her harder. Suddenly, the pressure of her fingers decreased and they were barley skimming him, making the muscles jump at her slight touch.
He didn't want to scare her, but couldn't stand not touching her at all in the way she was to him. One of his hands kept a firm, possessive hold on her hip, while the other moved up the back of her shirt slowly, not wanting to have the same reaction Dean had gotten, although he knew he wouldn't. Strangely enough, this was the first time they'd ever done anything like this. He'd never wanted to scare her, but suddenly, he didn't think he would. In that moment all he wanted was to be alone with her. With a bed. Not necessarily having sex, but he wanted it to just be her, no one else. God, what he'd do to her if they were alone. His hand slid further up her shirt and to the front. He cupped her breast, through the bra, and she felt an aching, wanting the material separating his hand from her gone. Suddenly she pulled away, pushing him back.
He snatched his hand away, obviously regretfully. "I'm sorry Rory," he whispered, thinking she was about to run away, "I didn't mean to push-"
She put her finger over his lips, silencing him, "It's not that." she whispered, and he looked relieved, kissing her fingertips lightly, "There are too many people here." she was breathless, looking him over with clouded eyes.
He looked down at her and their eyes met, making a silent promise. Later. Everything would happen, but later. Rory grabbed her drink as Tristan leaned down, kissing her gently before grabbing her hand and leading her out of the kitchen.
They were on their way back to the game room when a familiar brunette passed by them. Summer stopped, "Oh, Rory, Tristan, it's so nice to see you!" she gushed, disgustingly fake. She got on her tip toes to kiss Tristan on the cheek, but he put his right hand squarely on her shoulder, pushing her away, while his left arm remained around Rory's waist protectively. Dean, who was attached to Summer's side, pulled her back, obviously unhappy with that little show. Summer looked between the two boys, grinning. She wanted to make Rory and Dean jealous, and tempt Tristan. Unfortunately for her, only one of those things was happening. She shrugged, "Happy birthday, Tristan." came out in a seductive purr.
"My birthday was week ago." he said, taking Rory's right hand in his own and playing with it, ignoring Summer after that, but keeping his left arm draped around Rory's hips.
"So, you're sixteen..." she trailed off, and he didn't answer. Rory grinned, looking at him playing with her hand. His gaze raised and their eyes met, but he looked back down after smiling faintly, and resumed playing with her fingers. "Nice party." he ignored her. "Remember what happened at the first party of our Freshman year, when we were dating?" Tristan froze, looking back up at Rory, who turned to Summer.
Tristan pulled her closer and wrapped both his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder, "Yeah. I remember."
"Good times, huh?"
"Summer, what are you playing at?"
"Nothing. Just reminiscing about our fun."
"You say as your boyfriend stands beside you and I'm with my girlfriend."
"Dean knows I do the same thing with him. And as for Rory," she paused, looking at Rory with cruel eyes, "Have you added the Magdalene to her Mary yet?" she asked.
Tristan's eyes darkened dangerously, "Summer, just because you feel the need to fuck every guy after you've been in a relationship with them for a week, that doesn't mean everyone does." he bit out, tightening his grip on Rory and rubbing slow, comforting circles in her thigh, the same way he did when introducing her to her to his parents. It was kind of the way he assured her that everything was alright, it was intimate, no one ever noticed, and it was the special thing between them.
She rolled her eyes, "You mad because you've had to be sweet and gentle for so long, baby? Tired of keeping it in your pants for the little Mary?"
Tristan rolled his eyes, "Go suck bagboy's dick, Summer. And stay out of my life."
She bit her lip and arched her eyebrows suggestively before walking away. Tristan slowly turned the unmoving Rory around to face him. She looked up at him nervously, biting her lip. Not in a seductive way Summer always did, but in the nervous way that he loved. She started to turn to walk away, but he grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him, wrapping one arm around her, not letting her move away, and touching her face lightly with the other, "Don't walk away from me again, baby." he whispered, his face inches from hers, "Not because of Summer." he closed the space between their lips and kissed her gently, not using his tongue.
She clenched the front of his shirt, holding on so hard her fingers began to ache. She felt a burning in her stomach that spread throughout her entire body like wildfire. Summer's words rang through her head *have you added the Magdalene to her Mary yet?* that just made it all feel so degrading, like if she ever did do anything with Tristan, he would think it was only to prove Summer wrong. *Tired of keeping it in your pants for the little Mary?* but then she wanted to prove Summer wrong, she wasn't a prude, was she? Had Tristan expected her to do more by now? He knew she was a virgin, and didn't seem to mind, but you never know. The image of Summer and Tristan together burned at her mind and she felt tears trickle down her face slowly. She didn't want to cry, not again, but she couldn't help it.
Tristan pulled away when he tasted salty tears on her lips. He looked over every inch of her face, tracing her cheek gently. "Do you have any idea how much I hate you sometimes?" she whispered, staring into his eyes.
"Almost as much as you love me all the time." he said back softly, pulling her closer to him.
She looked down, "God, I feel so stupid."
"Why?" he put two fingers under her chin and lifted it up so that she was looking at him.
She shook her head, "I keep crying, and I never used to cry. But with this whole thing I just.....keep crying."
"Mary, Summer messes with people's heads. It's what she does best. Just don't let her get to you."
"That's what everyone tells me, but I can't help it."
"Even though you know what's happened, she still gets to you?"
"Yes, I mean, I know that you had sex with her, but I keep picturing it when she says things like that-"
"Rory," he cut her off, "You don't have to worry. She is part of my past, I don't even think about Summer. She is absolutely NOTHING to me. After I broke up with her she became a slut, and that's it. You never have to worry about me ever doing anything with anyone else."
"Do we seem to be having the same conversation constantly?"
He grinned, "We won't once you get it through your thick head that you'll never have to worry."
She shook her head, looking down. Tristan wrapped his arms around her waist and began moving slowly, "Did you realize that we're in the middle of the dance floor?" he whispered into her ear.
Rory looked around, grinning, "No." she rested her head on his shoulder, "Tristan..." she said after a few minutes.
"Hmm?"
She looked up at him, "What's going to happen after we have sex?"
"What?" he looked at her, surprised.
"I mean, we both know it's going to happen, but.....after, are we just going to break up, or what?"
"Why would we break up?"
"I don't know, stuff happens."
"Rory, you know I don't care when it happens, right? I don't want to do anything until you're sure that you're ready." he whispered.
"I know, it's just, I know that you want to, and I want you to have it."
"Don't throw your virginity away. I don't want you to regret it."
"You think I'd blame you?" she asked.
"I know you would."
"Tristan-"
"Rory, your first time will hurt, you know that. It will hurt really bad. I'm not going to lie, I do want to be your first, but not sooner than you're ready."
She looked down, "I will be."
He kissed her temple lightly, "I know." he held her closer, listening to the music.
----
I think about your face
And how I fall into your eyes
The outline that I trace
Around the one that I call mine
Time that called for space
Unclear where you drew the line
I don't need to solve this case
And I don't need to look behind
Close my eyes
Let the whole thing pass me by
There is no time
To waste, asking why
I'll run away with you, by my side
I'll run away with you, by my side
I need to let go
Let go
Let go
Let go of this pride
Do I expect to change
The past I hold inside
With all the words I say
Repeating over in my mind
Some things you can't erase,
No matter how hard you try
An exit to escape
Is all that there is left to find
Close my eyes
Let the whole thing pass me by
There is no time
To waste, asking why
I'll run away with you, by my side
I'll run away with you, by my side
I need to let go
Let go
Let go
Let go of this pride
Until this echo
Echo
Echo
Echo in my mind
Until this echo
Echo
Echo
Echo can subside
So I close my eyes
Let the whole thing pass me by
There is no time
To waste, asking why
I'll run away with you, by my side
I'll run away with you, by my side
I need to let go
Let go
Let go
Let go of this pride
Until this echo
Echo
Echo
Echo in my mind
Until this echo
Echo
Echo
Echo can subside
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Do I expect to change
The past I hold inside
With all the words I say
Repeating over in my mind
Some things you can't erase,
No matter how hard you try
An exit to escape
Is all that there is left to find
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rory sat on Louise's bed Thursday night, thinking to herself and flipping through a magazine as the blonde went through all of her clothes to try to find something to wear to Tristan's party.
She looked up at Rory, "What do you think about this?"
Rory looked from the latest issue of Seventeen, the only magazine she could find in her friend's room. She glanced over at the tight jeans and teal shirt that said 'More Parties, More Boys, More Kissing'. She shrugged, looking down, "Baker'll rip it off after about an hour so what's it matter anyway?"
Louise laughed, "Just tell me what you think."
"It looks great." she said, without looking back up.
"You pick something."
Rory looked up, "You're on birth control, right?"
Louise whipped around, surprised by the question out of nowhere, "What?"
"You're on birth control."
"Yeah..." she trailed off, unsure where this was going.
"And your parents don't care?"
"They don't know." she sat beside Rory, "Why? You want to go on birth control?"
"I've been thinking about it." she said, looking down.
"Did Tristan say something?" she asked softly.
"No." she said quickly, "I mean, I know he wants to, but I don't know..."
"Do you want to?"
"Kind of. I don't spend hours contemplating it or anything, but I really want to give him that, I don't know why, though."
Louise smiled, "Only have sex with him if it's what you want. He would rather you want it just as much as him."
Rory nodded, "How did you get a prescription without your parent's permission?"
"There's a clinic about fifteen minutes away that gives teenage girls birth control without parental permission."
"Where?"
"Hartford. I could take you. When do you want to go?"
Rory shrugged, "How late are they open?"
"Until seven. We have two hours, come on." she grabbed her keys and Rory followed her out the door.
Rory sat in the examination room, Louise standing beside her. She looked down at the sheet they'd asked her fill out.
Name: Rory Hayden
Age: 15
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 110 lbs.
She filled out the rest of the sheet, occasionally asking Louise a question. The doctor walked back in ten minutes later and took the sheet from her. He looked over it and asked a few questions before he did a normal physical exam. He nodded, handing her a prescription paper, "Take one everyday at the same time. I'd suggest with your breakfast or right before you go to bed. And just take this to any pharmacy, they'll get it for you. When you run out come back and we'll do another exam to get you a new prescription."
She nodded, "Thank you." and slipped off the table.
Once they were in the car, Louise asked, "You want to take it now? We can get it filled in an hour."
"Louise, you have no idea how much I love you right now."
She laughed, "Oh, I think I do." Five minutes later they pulled into a parking lot, and went inside the store.
Rory walked to the pharmacy counter and handed them the slip. The woman ripped a ticket in half and handed on half to Rory, "Your number is 2293. It will be ready in an hour."
She nodded and walked over to Louise, "We've got an hour. What do you want to do?"
The blonde looked around, "There's a toy display over there."
"Yeah..."
"I wonder if there are any huge balls..."
"Why?"
"I've always wanted to put one in my shirt and pretend like I'm going into labor..."
One hour later, after causing a scene by pretending Louise was going into labor, having a woman call the paramedics, and gathering a huge crown by laying on the ground and screaming that the baby wasn't coming out, and them having the ball 'accidentally' slip out from under her shirt, they'd walked away casually, simply saying 'That's odd' and had disappeared to avoid the very annoyed people.
They were now walking back to the car and trying to avoid people's glares, laughing like idiots. Rory sat in the passenger seat, staring at the flat oval shaped container as Louise turned on the car, "What time are you going to take it?"
"Around eight, I guess. What time is it?"
Louise glanced at the dashboard, "Eight." Rory grabbed the water bottle out of the middle console and popped out the pill beside the space with 'Day 1" beside it. Louise looked over at her, "How do you feel?"
She shrugged, "Normal. How long does it take to work?"
"A month." Rory looked down at the package, nodding before turning on the music.
NEXT MORNING, CHILTON
Rory was at Paris's locker the next morning, discussing their history project, when Tristan came up behind them and leaned against the lockers behind Rory, not alerting her of his presence. Paris could see him, but gave no indication to Rory. They continued their conversation, "I still think that it would be better to do it on the Roman Empire."
"Why is that so much better than ancient Egypt?"
Paris shrugged, "The Romans had more class."
"Oh, right, class alright-"
"At least they didn't worship cats!"
"Good one Paris." she said, joking around.
"Besides, the Romans had young male gods." she said, glancing over Rory's shoulder before closing her locker and walking away.
Rory opened her mouth, confused, and turned around, running into Tristan's chest. She stumbled backwards and he grabbed her, steadying her, "You alright?"
She glared and slapped him in the chest playfully, "That was evil! Listening in on my conversation! I should kill you..." she trailed off, narrowing her eyes and looking him up and down.
He laughed, "I'd let you kill me anytime." he whispered, leaning down. "As long as I got rewarded for it." and he captured her lips in a slow kiss, pulling her close. She smiled against his lips, patting his chest quickly before pushing him away gently.
"I have to get to the library." He groaned. "Don't be such a baby!"
"You don't have to go."
"Yeah, I do. I have to wok on my project for 'Ancient Rome'. Unless of course you want to fall prey to Paris."
"You're letting Paris win?" his eyebrow arched.
"Is that so surprising?"
"Yeah, actually. You're extremely pig headed most of the time."
"Ah!" her jaw dropped in mock anger, "I'm leaving now."
"Fine, leave me, I'll just go fine entertainment somewhere else!"
She rolled her eyes, "Have fun with that."
THAT NIGHT
Rory and Blake wolfed down their food at their grandparents, the rest of the family staring at them. "I knew you two got your appetite from me, but even I'm not THAT bad." Lorelai said.
Rory swallowed the chunk of food in her mouth, "You said we couldn't go out until we ate dinner."
"So we're eating, just faster than normal." Blake finished for her as they went back to their food.
"Oh for god's sake, you're going to kill yourselves. Just go." Emily said.
The twins froze and looked up to their parents who shrugged and nodded. They sprang out of their chairs and ran to their grandmother. "Thanks grandma." they said in unison and kissed her on either cheek before sprinting out the door.
Rory froze when they got outside, "Blake..."
"Yes?"
"We have no car."
"What?"
"We're only fifteen."
"Shit. We are, aren't we?"
Rory laughed, "I'll be right back." she disappeared into the house and came out a few minutes later holding a set of keys.
She dangled them in front of him and he snatched them away, "How did you get the keys to the Maxima?" he asked, dumbstruck.
"Grandpa keeps all his keys on a key ring in the garage, all you have to do is look for the one you want and grab it. Grandpa won't miss it, and we'll return it later."
"Do you have any idea how deep of shit we're going to be in?"
She threw the keys at him, "Just drive."
STARS HOLLOW
Rory and Blake stood in the foyer, "What all do you have to do?" she asked.
"Just change. You?"
"Same, but we both know I'll take longer, so can you call Jess and Lane and tell them to get their asses over here?"
"Will do." they went up to their rooms, and twenty minutes later, all four were in the car, Jess driving, and on their way to Tristan's.
They pulled up at ten thirty and the party was in full swing. As soon as they cam inside, Blake and Lane were whisked away, leaving Jess to find Paris, who turned up a few minutes earlier, talking to Rory for a few minutes and confessing that she didn't know where Tristan was, before walking away with Jess in tow. She sighed, looking around. There were people dancing and making out, but no Tristan. She walked through the whole main floor, pushing her way through people, but never seeing Tristan.
Finally, when she looked in the basement, she found him in the game room, playing pool with Baker. He was wearing baggy blue jeans and a long sleeve dark red shirt, and you could see the white collar of an undershirt. She came up behind him and wrapped one arm around his waist, whispering seductively into his ear, "Do I get to kill you now?"
He grinned, turning around, "You know you could never kill me. I'm too pretty." he whispered, leaning down to capture her lips in a slow kiss. He rested his hands on her hips, pulling her closer. Her hands moved from his waist up to his chest and clenched at his shirt, deepening the kiss. Fire shot down her spine as his tongue swept against hers and his grip tightened on her hips possessively. He finally pulled away, needing air, "Hey."
She grinned, "Hey."
"Did you just get here?" he asked, keeping one arm around her, as her arms dropped from his neck to wrap around him from the side.
Yeah. It was hilarious. We had to go to dinner at my grandparents, and grandma was afraid me and Blake were going to choke on our food we were beating so fast, and then told us to leave so we stole our grandpa's car."
He looked down at her, grinning, "You're joking, right? About the car?"
She unwrapped her arms, "Do I look like I'm joking?"
He laughed, "You stole Richard's car?"
"We're gonna give it back."
"Mary..."
"Yes?"
"You're crazy." she glared and poked him in the ribs. "Ouch." he grabbed his side, pretending to be hurt.
"I hope that stings."
"You should make it feel better."
"Why would I want to make you feel better when I'm the one who caused the pain?"
"Because you can't stand to see me suffer, I'm too amazing and beautiful and hilarious and-"
She rolled her eyes, "Get over yourself, Dugrey."
He grinned, "Never."
Rory walked away, "I'm going to talk to normal people now."
"Hey!" he called as she walked farther into the game room.
Roy walked past pool tables and old arcade video games, looking around. She'd only been to Tristan's house once, mainly because his parents didn't like her. Lane and Henry were leaning against the wall and talking to Louise and Baker, all four laughing. She went over and they turned to her, "Hey." Louise smiled at her, Rory had asked her friend not to say anything to anyone about the birth control, she didn't want people to know, and it would be kind of weird if Tristan found out about it from someone else.
"You aren't with Tristan? I thought you two made up." Baker said, looking around for her boyfriend.
"We did, but I refuse to talk to him at the moment because-"
"I'm so beautiful and amazing and she can't stand it." Tristan said, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"You do realize that you just called yourself beautiful, right?" she asked.
"Yes, I know."
"Women are described as beautiful, not guys."
"Well I'm an individual."
"You can say that again."
"I'm an-" Rory covered his mouth, cutting him off, and she could feel him smirk under her palm.
"I'm going to get a drink." she said, leaving the group.
"She keeps walking all over the place...she's impossible." Tristan said before following her.
"And yet he'll follow her no matter where she goes." Henry pointed out.
Tristan caught up with her a few moments later, "Do you ever stay in one place?" he asked, wrapping one arm around her waist.
"Occasionally. I depends on wither one place can entertain me for long enough."
"So if you get bored you just leave?"
"I'm not bored, just..." she trailed off and grinned, "socially incorrect."
He laughed, "You don't seem very socially incorrect to me."
"Don't lie." they fell into silence until Rory asked, "So, where are the drinks?"
"See, I just said I'd have the party here. I didn't actually do anything for it. I don't even control the music. People brought drinks, but I wouldn't trust them. Come on, you can have something in the kitchen." he led her through a swinging door and into a very luxurious kitchen, all the cabinets were made out of dark cherry, it reminded her of all the stereotypes of mansions. There were also a few couples in the room, although you couldn't see their faces because they were 'occupied' at the moment. They hadn't even noticed the door opening and two more people walking in. Tristan opened the fridge and Rory saw an assortment of drinks, she just grabbed a wine cooler and he took a beer. He smirked, "Well, I must say I'm surprised."
Rory pulled the bottle away from her mouth, "Why?"
"I didn't know you drank."
"Only on the rare occasion." she smiled, "You seem to bring out the worst in me."
He grinned, whispering as he leaned down, "Bad Mary? I think it's one of my better accomplishments." and he caught her lips in his. He slowly deepened the kiss, backing her into the counter. She leaned back over the counter without breaking the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. He rested his hands on the counter top, trapping her.
Her warm tongue moving against his was the sweetest torture he'd ever felt, and her small hands sliding from his neck to rest on his arms, rubbing them lightly, it was the most innocent relationship he'd ever been in, but god, what he'd do to her if given her permission. He didn't even want to think about it, not at the moment. That's what made it such torture, he had to work for everything he got from her, and she wasn't going to just do something if she didn't want to the way so many other girls would. But that's also what made it interesting, and fun. With other girls he got bored, they'd give up in a banter. They'd fuck a guy after one day. They acted helpless and kissed a guy's ass to make them like her. That's not that way Rory was. She'd never give up a fight if her life depended on it. She'd never have sex until she wanted to, no matter what the guy felt. He couldn't picture her being the damsel in distress. Hell, she'd be the dragon holding the princess hostage.
She moved her hands from his arms to his chest. Damn, she was constantly moving, wasn't she? Her hands explored his chest through his shirt, her fingers raking along it. He groaned into her mouth, his hands moving to her hips. She smiled against his lips and raked her fingernails over it again. His grip tightened, so this was the bad side to Rory? He definitely liked it. Her hands slipped lower, and he kept repeating to himself, 'if she feels it she'll freak out, if she feels it she'll freak out.' That was the only thing stopping him from getting a boner. Her fingers slipped under his shirt, moving over his defined abdomen and chiseled muscles. But how in god's good name had she ever learned to do that? She'd been with Dean for crying out loud, and he knew for a fact this type of situation had never happened with the ex boyfriend. He deepened the kiss, if that was possible, kissing her harder. Suddenly, the pressure of her fingers decreased and they were barley skimming him, making the muscles jump at her slight touch.
He didn't want to scare her, but couldn't stand not touching her at all in the way she was to him. One of his hands kept a firm, possessive hold on her hip, while the other moved up the back of her shirt slowly, not wanting to have the same reaction Dean had gotten, although he knew he wouldn't. Strangely enough, this was the first time they'd ever done anything like this. He'd never wanted to scare her, but suddenly, he didn't think he would. In that moment all he wanted was to be alone with her. With a bed. Not necessarily having sex, but he wanted it to just be her, no one else. God, what he'd do to her if they were alone. His hand slid further up her shirt and to the front. He cupped her breast, through the bra, and she felt an aching, wanting the material separating his hand from her gone. Suddenly she pulled away, pushing him back.
He snatched his hand away, obviously regretfully. "I'm sorry Rory," he whispered, thinking she was about to run away, "I didn't mean to push-"
She put her finger over his lips, silencing him, "It's not that." she whispered, and he looked relieved, kissing her fingertips lightly, "There are too many people here." she was breathless, looking him over with clouded eyes.
He looked down at her and their eyes met, making a silent promise. Later. Everything would happen, but later. Rory grabbed her drink as Tristan leaned down, kissing her gently before grabbing her hand and leading her out of the kitchen.
They were on their way back to the game room when a familiar brunette passed by them. Summer stopped, "Oh, Rory, Tristan, it's so nice to see you!" she gushed, disgustingly fake. She got on her tip toes to kiss Tristan on the cheek, but he put his right hand squarely on her shoulder, pushing her away, while his left arm remained around Rory's waist protectively. Dean, who was attached to Summer's side, pulled her back, obviously unhappy with that little show. Summer looked between the two boys, grinning. She wanted to make Rory and Dean jealous, and tempt Tristan. Unfortunately for her, only one of those things was happening. She shrugged, "Happy birthday, Tristan." came out in a seductive purr.
"My birthday was week ago." he said, taking Rory's right hand in his own and playing with it, ignoring Summer after that, but keeping his left arm draped around Rory's hips.
"So, you're sixteen..." she trailed off, and he didn't answer. Rory grinned, looking at him playing with her hand. His gaze raised and their eyes met, but he looked back down after smiling faintly, and resumed playing with her fingers. "Nice party." he ignored her. "Remember what happened at the first party of our Freshman year, when we were dating?" Tristan froze, looking back up at Rory, who turned to Summer.
Tristan pulled her closer and wrapped both his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder, "Yeah. I remember."
"Good times, huh?"
"Summer, what are you playing at?"
"Nothing. Just reminiscing about our fun."
"You say as your boyfriend stands beside you and I'm with my girlfriend."
"Dean knows I do the same thing with him. And as for Rory," she paused, looking at Rory with cruel eyes, "Have you added the Magdalene to her Mary yet?" she asked.
Tristan's eyes darkened dangerously, "Summer, just because you feel the need to fuck every guy after you've been in a relationship with them for a week, that doesn't mean everyone does." he bit out, tightening his grip on Rory and rubbing slow, comforting circles in her thigh, the same way he did when introducing her to her to his parents. It was kind of the way he assured her that everything was alright, it was intimate, no one ever noticed, and it was the special thing between them.
She rolled her eyes, "You mad because you've had to be sweet and gentle for so long, baby? Tired of keeping it in your pants for the little Mary?"
Tristan rolled his eyes, "Go suck bagboy's dick, Summer. And stay out of my life."
She bit her lip and arched her eyebrows suggestively before walking away. Tristan slowly turned the unmoving Rory around to face him. She looked up at him nervously, biting her lip. Not in a seductive way Summer always did, but in the nervous way that he loved. She started to turn to walk away, but he grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him, wrapping one arm around her, not letting her move away, and touching her face lightly with the other, "Don't walk away from me again, baby." he whispered, his face inches from hers, "Not because of Summer." he closed the space between their lips and kissed her gently, not using his tongue.
She clenched the front of his shirt, holding on so hard her fingers began to ache. She felt a burning in her stomach that spread throughout her entire body like wildfire. Summer's words rang through her head *have you added the Magdalene to her Mary yet?* that just made it all feel so degrading, like if she ever did do anything with Tristan, he would think it was only to prove Summer wrong. *Tired of keeping it in your pants for the little Mary?* but then she wanted to prove Summer wrong, she wasn't a prude, was she? Had Tristan expected her to do more by now? He knew she was a virgin, and didn't seem to mind, but you never know. The image of Summer and Tristan together burned at her mind and she felt tears trickle down her face slowly. She didn't want to cry, not again, but she couldn't help it.
Tristan pulled away when he tasted salty tears on her lips. He looked over every inch of her face, tracing her cheek gently. "Do you have any idea how much I hate you sometimes?" she whispered, staring into his eyes.
"Almost as much as you love me all the time." he said back softly, pulling her closer to him.
She looked down, "God, I feel so stupid."
"Why?" he put two fingers under her chin and lifted it up so that she was looking at him.
She shook her head, "I keep crying, and I never used to cry. But with this whole thing I just.....keep crying."
"Mary, Summer messes with people's heads. It's what she does best. Just don't let her get to you."
"That's what everyone tells me, but I can't help it."
"Even though you know what's happened, she still gets to you?"
"Yes, I mean, I know that you had sex with her, but I keep picturing it when she says things like that-"
"Rory," he cut her off, "You don't have to worry. She is part of my past, I don't even think about Summer. She is absolutely NOTHING to me. After I broke up with her she became a slut, and that's it. You never have to worry about me ever doing anything with anyone else."
"Do we seem to be having the same conversation constantly?"
He grinned, "We won't once you get it through your thick head that you'll never have to worry."
She shook her head, looking down. Tristan wrapped his arms around her waist and began moving slowly, "Did you realize that we're in the middle of the dance floor?" he whispered into her ear.
Rory looked around, grinning, "No." she rested her head on his shoulder, "Tristan..." she said after a few minutes.
"Hmm?"
She looked up at him, "What's going to happen after we have sex?"
"What?" he looked at her, surprised.
"I mean, we both know it's going to happen, but.....after, are we just going to break up, or what?"
"Why would we break up?"
"I don't know, stuff happens."
"Rory, you know I don't care when it happens, right? I don't want to do anything until you're sure that you're ready." he whispered.
"I know, it's just, I know that you want to, and I want you to have it."
"Don't throw your virginity away. I don't want you to regret it."
"You think I'd blame you?" she asked.
"I know you would."
"Tristan-"
"Rory, your first time will hurt, you know that. It will hurt really bad. I'm not going to lie, I do want to be your first, but not sooner than you're ready."
She looked down, "I will be."
He kissed her temple lightly, "I know." he held her closer, listening to the music.
----
I think about your face
And how I fall into your eyes
The outline that I trace
Around the one that I call mine
Time that called for space
Unclear where you drew the line
I don't need to solve this case
And I don't need to look behind
Close my eyes
Let the whole thing pass me by
There is no time
To waste, asking why
I'll run away with you, by my side
I'll run away with you, by my side
I need to let go
Let go
Let go
Let go of this pride
Do I expect to change
The past I hold inside
With all the words I say
Repeating over in my mind
Some things you can't erase,
No matter how hard you try
An exit to escape
Is all that there is left to find
Close my eyes
Let the whole thing pass me by
There is no time
To waste, asking why
I'll run away with you, by my side
I'll run away with you, by my side
I need to let go
Let go
Let go
Let go of this pride
Until this echo
Echo
Echo
Echo in my mind
Until this echo
Echo
Echo
Echo can subside
So I close my eyes
Let the whole thing pass me by
There is no time
To waste, asking why
I'll run away with you, by my side
I'll run away with you, by my side
I need to let go
Let go
Let go
Let go of this pride
Until this echo
Echo
Echo
Echo in my mind
Until this echo
Echo
Echo
Echo can subside