AN:This is awesome, I'm so pleased with all my reviews! Sorry I haven't updated for a little while, I went home to the country for my friend's 21st. It was hilarious, I swear, you can't make that stuff up. One of the boys, a slab of beer down and completely wasted grabbed his car keys, got into his ute and backed it in a wobbly line closer to the bonfire where we were all sitting. When we all looked at him questioningly he shrugged, said "I needed a seat," and sat down on the tray with a fresh beer.
Treenuh: You're getting it! You really are, I was hoping people would pick up on Rory being oblivious to the changes people see in her!
Strawberrigashes: Thank you for your review, I'd love to know what you think is going on with the group!
Joise: Ha ha, I'm glad I've got you hooked!
Bowlfull-Of-Wisdom77: I loved "Real Stories", did you see them explaining the street accountant scene on Rove Live? The guy Andy pash was actually gay and had to call his partner to check if it was okay to do it! He he. Oh and the entire street accountant skit was filmed outside my house! How awesome is that? Mum called me and said "isn't that your garage door?" I loved the skit where Hamish had "Slowmotia".
harvard-bound-hopefully2010: The Icon is a new character I've introduced, you'll learn more about he ad Rory's relationship in the next two chapters.
And a huge thank you to everyone who has reviewed, it's been really cool and I'm really beginning to enjoy writing this story now.
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Disclaimer: I don't own GG, we'll all just hae to learn to deal with it. Similarly, I don't own SR-71 or their delightful song "My World".
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...Now I wrap myself around you like a blanket full of doubt...
Rory stared at herself critically in the mirror. She was ready, at least, she thought she was ready. She was clad in a pair of skin-tight black skinny jeans, with a new top she and Louise had chosen earlier in the week. It was corsolette style, with a sheer, black back but the front was cream and black lace. She ran her fingers through her hair which she'd fluffed up so it curled in soft halos around her head and leaned further into the mirror to inspect her black eyeliner.
"Perfect," Came the voice from the doorway.
Rory turned and smiled at Lorelai, doing a half-turn and spreading her arms in a pose. Lorelai mimed taking a picture and moved to sit down on Rory's bed.
"Jeez kiddo, gone are the days of me having to prise you off the couch to go out huh?"
Rory shrugged good naturedly.
"Welcome to your teenager having a social life mom," She said with a giggle.
Lorelai fell silent and contemplated her daughter. She'd never expected to see the girl who went to Chilton parties in knee-length skirts and sensible shoes, clad in a barely there corset and skinny jeans. It wasn't the clothes that bothered her though, in fact, she couldn't quite pin point what it was that bothered her. She liked Rory's friends which was more than any parent of a teenager could hope for, she was confident Rory wasn't taking in anything more harmful than a beer every so often. Rory hadn't been in any more trouble than any other kid and her grades had remained stellar through everything. But there was something that did trouble Lorelai, and it wasn't even the tattoo she'd been horrified at first to discover on her daughter's shoulder.
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Rory pushed the sleeves of her jumper up a little. Lorelai raised her eyebrow, she herself had stripped off to a pair of shorts and a tank top in the summer heat.
"I know Nicole Kidman jogs in jumpers to lose weight, but you're not hankering to become ajockey are you?" She asked her daughter.
"What?" Rory asked, not taking her eyes off the television.
"It's the middle of summer Ror, and you're wearing a sweatshirt...what gives?"
Rory sighed.
"I have something to tell you mom,"
Six words a parent never wants to here. Lorelai's entire demeanour changed. She'd been leaning back on the couch, a pint of chunky monkey on her lap but now she set the ice cream on the table and leant forward, her face serious.
"Spill,"
Rory sighed again and slowly unzipped her sweatshirt, taking it off to reveal a patch of white gauze on her shoulder-blade.
"Oh Rory," Lorelai whispered.
"It's okay mom," She said quietly as she peeled off the gauze, revealing a perfectly formed Tara's Crown in thick, black ink. "It stands for loyalty, friendship and love," She said quietly, her voice heavy with the tears threatening to spill. Lorelai felt her own coming on. "That's not the only one," Rory whispered as she rolled up the leg of her shorts to display the tri-quetra on the inside of her thigh. "That one means unending love, and this one..."
Lorelai wanted to ask how many Rory was hiding but she couldn't seem to make her voice work.
"This one is the wheel of balance, we got this one because it's a five-fold pattern, just like us now".
When Lorelai looked up from Rory's hip she saw the silent tears streaking down her daughter's face.
"We?" Lorelai asked quietly, Rory could hear the beginning of understanding in her mother's voice.
"We all got it, afterwards..." She trailed off and let the l of her shorts fall back down.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lorelai couldn't bear it if she thought her daughter was hiding things because she was frightened of her.
"I...we...it was something the we did, together. They're ours and...I don't know, they were just ours".
Lorelai reached out her arms and Rory fell into them like the little girl she still was in some ways.
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"It healed well," Lorelai said, staring at the intricate pattern on Rory's shoulder.
"Huh?"
"The tattoo,"
"Oh...yeah, they all did,"
"Do you need a ride tonight?"
Rory smiled.
"That'd be great."
Lorelai dropped Rory off out the t of th club.
"Are the other's already here?" She asked, slightly concerned. Rory shrugged.
"I suppose so, they left for here a while ago, if not they won't be far away, don't worry, I'm well looked after here." She leaned over and kissed Lorelai good-bye, sliding out of the passenger seat and sauntering towards the club. There was already quite a line-up but se made her way straight to the front.
"Hey Mikey," She greeted the bouncer.
"Ror! You here for Blake's?"
Rory nodded and Mikey, a huge bald guy with a face like a truck had run over it but a heart of gold, unclipped the barrier for her while the people in the line groaned. She grinned and patted his shoulder,
"Thanks you doll."
Tristan raised his eyebrow as he watched Rory get ushered into the club, since when had she commanded that kind of service? And where the hell had that tattoo come from?
The club was up a wide flight of stairs nd Rory ran her fingers along the walls which were covered in thick, dark blue carpet. She made it to the top and pushed open the swinging door which led into the club. She quickly scanned the dancefloor and th two levels above, accessible by the suspended staircase. She couldn't see them, but she did spy the birthday boy and Madeline's brother Tim standing at the bar. She stalked over to them and wrapped her arms arnd Blae's torso from behind. He jumped a little and grabbed her hands, turning in her loose embrace. His dark brown eyes that she'd once likened to melted chocolate lit up when they saw her. He lifted her up in a hug.
"Rory Gilmore! You came!" He exclaimed, setting her down.
She ruffled his messy black hair.
"Of course I did, hell we all even pitched in and got you a present, The Icon's bringing it"
"Oh...he's coming is he?" Blake asked, disappointment evident in his voice.
Rory cocked her head on the side and looked at him disappointedly.
"Come on Blake, we've been through this, and anyway, you can't put 'Plus One' on an invite for us girls andexpect us not to bring him, Finn and Paris,"
"Paris is alright," Blake muttered.
Rory chose to ignore him and turned to greet Tim instead.
The boys had Rory set up with a drink in record time and Louise had sent her a text message, promising to be there as soon as possible. Rory stood on the second tier of the club, and was tere, leaning on the bannister when Tristan walked in with Luna. He looked good, effortlessly good like he always did in a pair of black slacks and a red-wine coloured shirt left untucked. She watched him greet Blake, she'd forgotted that they had known each other at Chilton despite Blake being older. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to greet some kids she knew distantly through The Icon.
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Luna looked around her in wonder. She had doubted that they would even get in. Sure, Tristan could pass for 21, but no matter how skilled she was with make-up or what she wore, she always looked about 15. Still, it hadn't been a problem, they'd not been queried, just let straight inside. She moved closer to Tristan and he slung his ar around her shoulder.
"Luna, this is Blake, he's the birthday boy," Tristan explained.
Luna smiled at the cute, dark-haired guy.
"Happy Birthday, I'm Luna."
Blake smirked at her,
"You brought me back a souvenir from North Carolina?" Blake asked Tristan with a laugh.
Tristan glared at him.
"Down boy, she's with me."
Blake raised his arms in self-defense,
"Hey man, that's cool. I've got my eye on someone anyway."
"If you're talking about Rory Gilmore," Tim began, "I've told you before man, she was over you before you guys even got started."
Blake pouted then shook his head.
"Nah man, she wants me"
"You were with Rory Gilmore?" Tristan asked in surprise.
"Best four weeks of my life," Blake replied, a dreamy look swimming across his face.
"Don't let him fool you DuGrey," Tim added conspiratorially, "She dumped him after six dates"
"Seven dates Tim,"
"Whatever man."
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The others finally made their grand entrance. Louise and Madeline scanned the crowd until they saw Rory, each of them dashing up the stairs to get to her, with Paris following sedately behind.
"You came," Rory observed.
"I tried telling them I had polio," Paris said dryly.
"But we remembered she'd already used that excuse," Madeline said so proudly that Rory didn't have the heart to tell her that Polio hadn't been a problem for decades now. Paris rolled her eyes.
"Oh have a drink Paris," Louise admonished.
The party was a drag, it was the last place Rory wanted to be, but one must keep up appearances. She as just looking forward to getting back to Madeline's with just the group. They'd found a couch and were all talking amongst themselves, oblivious to the stares and whispers all around them. Finally Louise insisted it was time to dance. She grabbed Madeline and Rory's hands, knowing too well that Paris wouldn't come, and led them downstairs to the dancefloor.
"Just a minute," Rory said, pulling her arm free and making her way to where Tristan stood with some kids she recognised as old Chilton. She said his name quietly to get his attention,
"Dance with me?" She asked, looking up at him, her limpid eyes wide and imploring.
Tristan stared down at her silently.
"Come on," She wheedled, "for old times sake."
He nodded slowly then smiled, taking her hand and leading her onto the floor.
She tangled her arms arnd his neck.
"You look good tonight," She said, leaning into him so he could hear.
He laughed.
"You look...different,"
She stared up at him, trying to figure out what he meant.
"Good different,"He classified and she smiled gently.
"Is it good to be back?"
He shrugged in her loose embrace.
"It's different...just different. I kind of got used to military school,"
"You've changed," She whispered in his ear and he shivered, barey believing that this creature was the girl who haunted his fantasies a couple of years before.
"You're one to talk,"
She threw back her had and laughed, showing off her long, delicate throat.
"Touche"
The song finally came to an end and Rory took Tristan's hand.
"Come and have a drink with us?" She asked, scanning the room, "we'll rescue Luna on the way."
The petite blonde who'd told her off the day before had been cornered by Blake near the bar. Tristan laughed,
"Sounds good,"
They plucked Luna out of there and made their way back to where the group was.
"Well you know the girls, but these two gentlemen are Finn Morgan, and The Icon,"
Tristan nodded, shaking hands with the guys. "This is Tristan DuGrey, he used to go to Chilton," Rory explained to the boys as she settled herself on the couch with her vodka. Paris immediately started tryin to convince Luna to join The Franklin and Rory turned to Tristan,
"So what was it like? You know, military school?"
Tristan shrugged,
"It's hard to describe, very regimented, but not as strict as you'd think, we had our fun. What about you? What did I miss?"
Rory shrugged and leaned back on the couch.
"Has nobody filled you in?"
Tristan contemplated herin silence.
"Oh come on, somebody would have told you something. I've heard every rumour there is, 'nobody ever goes in and nobody ever comes out'? You have no idea how thrilled I was to earn my own 'Willy Wonka' reference" She took a sip of her drink, "Long story short, Finn and The Icon arrived and we became firm friends. I suppose they taught me to loosen up a little,"
"A little?"
She laughed,
"Okay, okay, alot."
Tristan smirked, the smirk she remembered from that time. It all seemed to easy now, those days, before Finn, before The Icon and St. Jimmy. Of course then, she'd thought her christening as "Mary" was the worst thing that had ever happened to her, but it was all just amusing looking back now. Although she still flushed when she thought about their kiss.
"What?" Tristan asked, she looked up at him, a question in her eyes. He ran his fingers through his hair, "you were a million miles away, what were you thinking about?"
"I was thinking about our kiss," She answered honestly and he looked surprised.
"Really?"
She nodded, pinching her lip.
"I still can't believe that I burst into tears,"
"Yeah that was a tough one for me as well," He said with an uncomfortable laugh.
"It's embarrassing really," She added.
"It was cute," He said, the words escaping before he could think and she grinned. Taking a deep breath she leaned closer to him and placed her left hand firmly on his thigh. He flinched and moved away quickly.
He looked up at her, her wide eyes full of confusion.
"What's up with you?" She asked.
"It's just...I..."
"What?" She demanded, her voice firmer now.
He shrugged.
"A couple of years ago you would've been thrilled to have me throw myself at you." She snatched her hand back from where it had fallen on the seat.
"I got over it," He said with a calous shrug, as though it were the most rational thing in the world. Perhaps it was.
"You got over it?" She asked, trying to keep the hysterical twinge out of her voice. He shrugged.
"What do you want me to say Rory? I had a crush on you, I don't anymore."
Rory nodded, picked up her drink, downed it and stood up.
"Fine," She said quietly but firmly, storming to the bar where she'd spied Blake.
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Rory was quiet on the ride back to Madeline's place. They'd put Paris in a separate cab back to her place, the room above the garage was their place. She stared out of the cab window, mulling over what had happened between her and Tristan. She wasn't sure when it was that she'd realised how much he'd liked her, maybe she'd been wrong about it. She squeazed her eyes shut, remembering the look in his eyes the night he'd been dragged from Chilton. Surely she wasn't imagining that? But how do you just getover something like that?
The cab came to a stop and they made their way wearily upstairs where Finn and Madeline promptly passed out. Louise laid down on one of the couches and Rory pulled off her shoes. Louise was rambling under her breath, apologising for something.Rory ran her fingers through her friends soft, blonde hair.
"It's okay honey, go to sleep,"
"Here," The Icon said, handing Rory a blanket which she spread over Louise.
"You want a drink?"
Rory nodded thankfully and The Icon poured them each and vodka. He sat on the couch, switching on the television quietly and patting the space next to him. She sat down, folding her legs beneath her and leaning into him. She took a sip of her drink,
"How are things going at home?" Rory asked suddenly, not taking her eyes from the television.
He had been expecting the question, they reserved their chats for times like these.
"Better than last time we talked," He replied honestly, he never hid anything from her, not about this.
"Your mom?"
He inhaled deeply.
"She's the same,"
"The pills?"
"Yeah...her doctor's put her on something else now but she just goes between all of the doctor's she's been seeing."
"What about your dad?"
The Icon shrugged and took a nonchalant sip of his drink.
"He's not around much...and when he is I'm not so it works well."
Rory was used to her friends not getting along with their parents. That's why they all loved Lorelai so much, but the shame about The Icon, was that his relationship with his parent's had once been every bit as close as her relationship with her mother. Once upon a happier time, a more innocent time, Rory had believed that time and circumstance didn't have the power to change something real, something beautiful. Now she knew better. She snuggled closer to The Icon and he put his arm around her.
"I'd ask if you miss him but..." She trailed off and he laughed.
"Everyday,"
"Yeah," She agreed softly.
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AN: So there you go, a little bit more information about the group revealed, and about Tristan's behaviour. Stay tuned for the next chappie, hoefully tomorrow evening sometime. Don't forget to R&R.