Story summary: Tristan and Dean do some male…non bonding. Meanwhile Rory sits on pins and needles waiting for the first blow.

 

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. The characters in the story belong to the WB and its affiliates.

 

 

INT: HOLLING’S GAME ROOM-DAY

 

The game room is at the back of the house and it has a huge plate glass window on one side. The window looks out on the Hollings backyard patio, which is where the dance committee has chosen to have their meeting. 

 

Tristan walks into the game room ahead of Dean. He walks over to a refrigerator in the room and opens the door, he grabs a beer out of the refrigerator and starts to close it…on a whim he takes another beer out and offers it to Dean.

 

TRISTAN: I have a feeling it’s going to be a long two hours…you want one?

 

DEAN: Aren’t we too young to be drinking beer?

 

TRISTAN: Oh…kay. Just thought I’d ask.

 

Tristan pops the top off the beer and tosses it onto the top of the bar. Dean is still standing in the doorway of the game room.

 

TRISTAN: (cont.) I realize you want to be here about as much as I want you to be here…but do you have to keep doing that looming thing? What are you like eight feet tall?

 

Dean walks over and sits down on the couch.

 

DEAN: So Cassidy is your girlfriend?

 

TRISTAN: Much to your relief I’m sure.

 

DEAN: What’s that suppose to mean?

 

Tristan takes another swig of his beer.

 

TRISTAN: Nothing…it means nothing.

 

DEAN: Then why did you say it?

 

TRISTAN: I just think you’d prefer if Rory had no male friends. That’s all.

 

DEAN: I don’t care if Rory has male friends. I care about the guys who pretend to want to be just friends. I think you know what I’m getting at.

 

TRISTAN: Sounds really…overbearing to me.

 

DEAN: Yeah…well no one asked you.

 

TRISTAN: The fastest way to lose a girl is to hang on too tight.

 

DEAN: Look…when I want your advice…I’ll beat it out of you.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…you talk big.

 

DEAN: And I can back it up…so don’t push me.

 

TRISTAN: I was just trying to give you some friendly advice.

 

DEAN: Why do you always have to be such a jackass?

 

TRISTAN: Was I being a jackass?

 

DEAN: Have you ever been any other way?

 

TRISTAN: I guess it’s just part of my charm.

 

DEAN: And you wonder why Rory can’t stand you.

 

Tristan finishes his beer and pops open the other one…he takes a rather large swig and sets the bottle down on the counter. He knows he should just drop this line of conversation…but knowing that Dean still has access to Rory is just eating away at him and he wants so bad to just knock him down a peg or two.

 

TRISTAN: I wouldn’t be too sure of that.

 

DEAN: Is that so?

 

TRISTAN: Yes Dean…much to your dismay…Rory and I have become friendly with each other. You could even call us…pals.

 

DEAN: (motioning towards the beer in Tristan’s hand) How many of those have you had? Cause you could not be more wrong. So it must be the alcohol.

 

TRISTAN: Can’t face the truth?

 

DEAN: I know the truth…if you and Rory were friends now…she would have told me. Rory doesn’t lie.

 

TRISTAN: Right.

 

Tristan and Dean both look out the window at Rory as she sits with the committee. Instinctively Rory turns and sees the two men in her life standing side by side…watching her. Rory grows uncomfortable and turns back around. Cassidy who is sitting beside her chooses this moment to speak to her.

 

Paris continues directing the meeting.

 

CASSIDY: (leaning over and whispering) Rory…your beau is really cute.

 

RORY:  Thanks.

 

CASSIDY: Of course no man can top my Tristan in the looks department.

 

RORY: I’m sure.

 

CASSIDY: And the way that boy can kiss…it sets me on fire.

 

RORY: Hooray for you.

 

CASSIDY: What about Dean?

 

RORY: What about him?

 

CASSIDY: Well…for starters…can he kiss?

 

RORY: Yeah…sure. 

 

CASSIDY: Tristan’s kisses are electric…I have never had so much chemistry with any guy before.

 

Rory is growing seriously uncomfortable with this conversation and does the only thing she can think of…she stands up at the table.

 

RORY: Could we maybe take a quick break?

 

PARIS: The more breaks we take the longer we will be here.

 

MADELINE: The break thing sounds good to me. I’ve had like three sodas and well…a break would be good.

 

PARIS: Fine…twenty minutes…not a minute more. I will be timing you.

 

RORY: Thank you.

 

Rory jets away from the table as fast as she can…she heads into the house trying to figure out where exactly the game room might be located. She wants to separate the two boys as soon as possible. Or at least try to gauge how bad the situation is between them. Rory finally locates the game room and walks in. Tristan is playing a game of darts and Dean is sitting in a chair flipping the channels on the big screen…relieved Rory walks in.

 

RORY: Hey.

 

Dean turns around at the sound of Rory’s voice.

 

DEAN: Are you guys done? Can we leave this place now?

 

RORY: No…we’re just taking a break. I just wanted to see how you were doing.

 

DEAN: Better now that you’re here.

 

Dean reaches over and pulls Rory into a hug. Over his shoulder Rory gazes at Tristan. Tristan merely takes a swig of beer and smiles at her. Rory is torn. She hates this charade that is being played out…she wants so much just to go up to Tristan and show him how much she wants to be in his arms…instead of where she is. Dean finishes hugging Rory and plants a kiss on her lips.

 

DEAN: So how long is your break?

 

RORY: Only about ten more minutes. I should probably get back. I just need to find a bathroom first. This house is huge.

 

TRISTAN: I was just on my way out to find Cassidy…I’ll show you the way.

 

RORY: Uh…sure. (gives Dean a small perfunctory kiss) I’ll see you later.

 

Tristan walks out of the room ahead of Rory and Rory dutifully follows him. He leads her down the hallway past several doors and finally turns to one and opens it. Rory steps inside expecting a bathroom and is stunned to see Tristan has lead her into a bedroom…but not just any bedroom…Cassidy’s. Tristan quickly follows her in and shuts the door. As soon as the door is shut Tristan gathers Rory into his arms and brings his lips down to hers. Her lips are moist and sweet and he is just a little light headed from the amount of beer that he has consumed. Rory can taste the beer on his lips…she knows he isn’t fully in control and that he is being irrational and risking everything just to be here with her…which just serves to make this moment of stolen passion even more stirring and sensual. As the kissing grows more intense everything around her begins to blur…without even a drop of alcohol in her Rory feels intoxicated by Tristan’s mere presence. Tristan doesn’t want this moment to end…the feel of Rory in his arms just emboldens him even more…he runs his hand up under the back of Rory’s sweater…the touch of her skin against his hand is working to make him just a little crazy…as he moves his hand around to the front and runs it across her stomach he is rewarded with a delicious sigh of content from Rory.

 

TRISTAN: I want to be with you so bad.

 

Tristan’s words begin to wake Rory from her dream state…this gorgeous man standing in front of her could he really have said those words?

 

RORY: Tristan…

 

TRISTAN: No…don’t…don’t spoil the moment by telling me it’s too soon…I already know that…I just need to hear you say that obstacles aside…you want me too.

 

Rory brings Tristan’s mouth down to hers and begins kissing him again…forgetting the time…just living for the moment…until the door opens and Paris walks in.

 

PARIS: Oh my god!!

 

Rory and Tristan literally jumped away from each other trying to force a perceived distance between them.

 

PARIS: I knew it! All this time you told me different but I knew it!

 

Tristan hurriedly closes the door.

 

TRISTAN: Could you maybe keep your voice down?

 

RORY: It’s not what you’re thinking.

 

PARIS: Please…I am a straight “A” student Rory…and I have 20/20 vision. I know what this is. You are having a secret liaison with Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: You have to promise not to say anything to Cassidy.

 

PARIS: What makes you two think I would aid and abed you in your little game of deceit?

 

TRISTAN: I will give you anything you want…just name it.

 

PARIS: Anything?

 

TRISTAN: Okay…within reason…as you can see I’ve got enough women on my plate right now.

 

PARIS: Don’t flatter yourself Tristan. I realized a long time ago that you were not good enough for me.

 

TRISTAN: Fine…what *do* you want Paris?

 

PARIS: It’s like this…I will keep your secret…for a date to the dance.

 

RORY: What?

 

PARIS: It’s simple…I don’t want to attend yet another Chilton Dance with a blood relative or the son of my parent’s colleagues. I want a real date…a good looking…intelligent…non boring date.

 

TRISTAN: I’d like to help you Paris…but we have all the same friends. And well…most of them don’t like you.

 

RORY: Okay…not helping Tristan. I can get you a date Paris.

 

TRISTAN: One that meets all the criteria?

 

RORY: For the most part…yes. We may need to clean him up a little…but it’s doable.

 

TRISTAN: Who?

 

RORY: My friend Jess. He’s never met Paris.

 

TRISTAN: Well then…he’s perfect. What do you say Paris?

 

PARIS: I’d say…we have a deal.

 

Paris extends her hand for Tristan to shake. Tristan takes it and shakes it.

 

INT: AIRPORT-DAY

 

Chris and Lorelai are standing in the terminal saying their goodbyes. Reluctant to part.

 

CHRIS: I am going to miss you so much Lor.

 

LORELAI: It’s my unbelievable charisma…isn’t it?

 

CHRIS: Among other things.    

 

LORELAI: My sexy, pouty lips? I bet you’ll miss those.

 

CHRIS: Undoubtedly.

 

Chris’s flight number is called over the intercom. Lorelai and Chris just look at each other…gazing at their future.

 

LORELAI: (getting a little weepy) Promise me that you’ll be back real soon.

 

CHRIS: I promise. Nothing will keep me away. You and Rory are my top priorities now.

 

LORELAI: What about Sherry…she can be pretty persuasive. I *almost* liked her.

 

CHRIS: Really?

 

LORELAI: Nah…just kidding…I hated her Giorgio Armani clad guts.

 

CHRIS: There’s the Lorelai I know and love.

 

LORELAI: (swoons) You are so good to me.

 

CHRIS: And for you.

 

LORELAI: We are good for each other. We’re Bonny and Clyde…but without all the guns, violence, and blood and bank robberies.

 

CHRIS: I think that’s my cue to go.

 

LORELAI: But wait…I was just about to reward you with some “Annie”…the sun will come out tomorrow...

 

Chris takes crazy Lorelai into his arms and begins kissing her…silencing her singing…and sealing their connection. To the outside observer this is a couple very much in love…which is true. Lorelai and Chris end the kiss and Lorelai runs her fingers through his hair.

 

LORELAI: (cont) Remember your promise.

 

CHRIS: Everyday.

 

Chris picks up his suitcase and slowly turns and begins walking towards his plane. As he is walking he halts and puts down his suitcase…he hurries back over to Lorelai and takes her back into his arms.

 

CHRIS: I love you Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: I love you too Christopher.

 

Chris kisses Lorelai one last time and walks back over to his suitcase and picks it up heading towards the plane that will take him back to Boston.