Story summary: Tristan and Rory’s faith in each other is being put to the test. As Cassidy and Dean begin to figure it all out, Rory and Tristan begin to fall apart.

 

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. The characters belong to the writers and creators of the WB show “Gilmore Girls.”

 

INT: MOTEL ROOM: GOOD LUCK INN-DAY

 

Rory is sitting on the side of the bed dialing the telephone. Dean is still sleeping curled up in the chair.

 

After three successive rings the phone is finally picked up.

 

RORY/ LUKE: INTERCUT

 

LUKE: Luke’s diner.

 

RORY: Luke, thank God! 

 

LUKE: Rory?

 

RORY: Yes. Is my mother there?

 

LUKE: No. Not yet.

 

RORY: That’s just great.

 

Dean starts to stir in the chair…he yawns and carefully opens one eye and then the other.

 

RORY: Luke, can you do me a favor?

 

LUKE: Sure. What’s up?

 

RORY: Can you take down this number and the minute you see my mother give it to her?

 

LUKE: Okay. Are you in some kind of trouble?

 

RORY: Not exactly.

 

LUKE: Well what exactly then?

 

RORY: I’m just kind of stranded.

 

LUKE: Where?

 

RORY: Outside of Hartford. Dean had some car trouble and I’ve been trying to get a hold of my mother all night, but she hasn’t been answering.

 

LUKE: You were stranded in a car with Dean all night?

 

RORY: Motel.

 

LUKE: Excuse me?!

 

RORY: Okay…it is not like it sounds. It got late and we needed a place to stay.

 

LUKE: Tell me where you are right now. I’m coming to get you.

 

RORY: You don’t have to do that.

 

LUKE: No arguments Rory…the address.

 

Rory reluctantly gives Luke directions to where they are and then hangs up the phone.

 

RORY: Luke’s coming to get us…I’m sorry.

 

DEAN: You did tell him nothing happened. He is going to let me live…right?

 

RORY: Well he is sort of over protective. But I think you’re safe.

 

DEAN: Good.

 

RORY: At least I hope so.

 

INT: GILMORE GIRL’S HOUSE-DAY

 

Lorelai walks in to the kitchen. She is still wearing what she slept in. She goes over to the coffee maker and notices that it is not yet on.

 

LORELAI: Why is a warm pot of coffee not waiting to greet me? Rory?

 

Lorelai sets about making the coffee.

 

Lorelai shouts in the direction of Rory’s bedroom door. 

 

LORELAI: Rory hon…you’re going to be late for school.

 

As the coffee starts percolating Lorelai goes over to Rory’s closed bedroom door and taps lightly.

 

LORELAI: Rory?

 

Lorelai opens Rory’s bedroom door to get Rory and is met by the sight of someone half in and half out the window.

 

LORELAI: Freeze mister!

 

Slowly the person in the window extracts their head back inside and turns around with a sheepish grin on their face.

 

LORELAI: (cont.) Tristan?

 

TRISTAN: Morning Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: Don’t morning Lorelai me. What are you doing here and where the hell is Rory?

 

TRISTAN: It’s actually kind of a pathetic story.

 

LORELAI: Well I’m a pathetic listener…so spill.

 

EXT: GOOD LUCK MOTEL-DAY

 

Dean and Rory are waiting outside for Luke to pick them up. There is a noticeable awkwardness between them.

 

DEAN: Rory…about last night.

 

RORY: Its okay Dean…don’t worry about it. No harm done.

 

DEAN: It’s just that…well for a few minutes there you seemed pretty in to it. I wasn’t trying to cross any lines I swear. You have to know that.

 

RORY: I do.

 

DEAN: So we’re good then?

 

RORY: What happened…happened. Let’s not dwell on it okay?

 

DEAN: Okay.

 

Dean leans over and gives Rory a hug. Rory responds with a smile and Dean takes this as his cue to lean in and give her a kiss, which she avoids by turning her head at the last minute…giving him only cheek. Dean looks a little confused.

 

DEAN: You’re sure everything is okay?

 

Before Rory can answer Luke’s truck comes driving up and pulls up next to them. As Rory prepares to open the passenger side door she is surprised to see Jess driving.

 

RORY: Jess…hi.

 

JESS: Luke had to hold down the fort at the restaurant. He sent me to rescue your sorry ass.

 

DEAN: Could you be a little more unpleasant?

 

JESS: Give me a minute. I haven’t fully caffeinated myself for the day yet.

 

Dean pulls Rory aside.

 

DEAN: You’re not seriously considering riding back with him are you?

 

RORY: You’re kidding right? We are stranded Dean. Jess is our only option.

 

DEAN: He’s an ass.

 

RORY: He’s my ride back to town. Are you coming or not?

 

DEAN: Fine. But you’re not sitting next to him.

 

Dean starts to get in the truck next to Jess and realizes with the stick shift in the middle there is no way he can ride in the middle. Reluctantly he gets out and lets Rory into the middle and then he climbs in after her which causes her to shift even closer to Jess.

 

DEAN: Tell you what. I think I’m just gonna ride in the back of the truck.

 

RORY: You don’t have to do that. I’m fine.

 

DEAN: It’s okay. It will be better that way.

 

Dean gets out of the front of the truck and hops into the back. Rory takes the opportunity and scoots back over.

 

JESS: I won’t bite.

 

RORY: Well that’s good to know. Can we please go home now?

 

JESS: Rough night?

 

RORY: Confusing night.

 

JESS: Care to explain?

 

Dean knocks on the window. Jess reaches back and opens the sliding window.

 

JESS: Yeah?

 

DEAN: It’s freezing back here…could you maybe drive now and talk later?

 

JESS: As you wish.

 

Jess closes the sliding window and starts the car back towards Star’s Hollow.

 

INT: RORY’S BEDROOM-DAY

 

LORELAI: So let me get this straight. You think Rory spent the night at a motel with Dean?

 

TRISTAN: Yes.

 

LORELAI: Are you high?

 

TRISTAN: I’m telling you that’s where she called me from.

 

LORELAI: Okay…regardless. I’m sure there is a very logical explanation here.

 

TRISTAN: Like?

 

LORELAI: Like you heard wrong…maybe your phone had too much static and she said she was in a hostel in Queens. You know like the sprint commercials…how he tells her to bring home soup from the store and she brings home a soap opera star. It’s possible…right?

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…not likely. The connection was static free.

 

LORELAI: I know Rory. She’s not the motel type. Worse case scenario…she’s a hotel girl.

 

TRISTAN: I know what I heard. And I didn’t like it.

 

LORELAI: So you came here to wait for her?

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…that’s where the pathetic part comes in. Especially considering she never actually made it home.

 

LORELAI: Won’t your parents be worried about you?

 

TRISTAN: They never have been before. Why start now?

 

The phone in the kitchen starts to ring.

 

LORELAI: I should get that.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah. I’m going anyway. I have to go home and change for school. Please don’t tell Rory I was here.

 

LORELAI: Fine. But you need to do me a favor also.

 

TRISTAN: Anything.

 

LORELAI: Stay out of my daughter’s bedroom. It kind of freaks me out.

 

TRISTAN: Okay.

 

The phone stops ringing and Lorelai’s cell phone starts ringing.

 

Tristan starts to climb out the window.

 

LORELAI: You can use the front door.

 

TRISTAN: Right…sorry.

 

Tristan exits the bedroom and Lorelai goes to her purse and gets out her cell phone.

 

LORELAI: Hello.

 

LORELAI/LUKE: INTERCUT

 

LUKE: Lorelai…it’s me.

 

LORELAI: Me who?

 

LUKE: Luke.

 

LORELAI: Luke…hi. What’s up?

 

LUKE: Rory called me. Seems she’s been trying to get a hold of you but you weren’t answering.

 

LORELAI: She didn’t per chance call you from a motel did she?

 

LUKE: How did you know that?

 

LORELAI: Lucky guess. Did she give you directions so that I can go get her?

 

LUKE: Actually Jess volunteered to go pick them up.

 

LORELAI: Oh.

 

LUKE: You okay?

 

LORELAI: I don’t know. Should I be okay that my sixteen year old daughter stayed out overnight in a motel with her boyfriend? Or should I be freaked out?

 

LUKE: I’d go with freaked out. But that’s just me.

 

LORELAI: Yeah…me too.

 

INT: DUGREY MANSION-DAY

 

Tristan comes in the front door and starts to head up stairs to his room. As he is going up the stairs he runs smack into his father coming down.

 

MR. DUGREY: Breakfast is on the table.

 

TRISTAN: I’m not very hungry.

 

MR. DUGREY: No matter. You’ll wash your face and join the rest of the family. Understood?

 

TRISTAN: Perfectly.

 

Tristan heads up the stairs into his bathroom and turns on the water. He splashes the cold water on his face and grabs a hand towel to dry it. He considers shaving before he goes down but decides to show a little rebellion…knowing his father expects him to be clean shaven. 

 

Tristan walks into the dining room and sits at the table. Rosie immediately set his breakfast in front of him and then quickly leaves the room. Mr. DuGrey is eating his toast and sipping his coffee as he reads the morning paper. As Tristan starts to butter his toast his father lowers his paper.

 

MR. DUGREY: You could have shaved.

 

TRISTAN: Forgot.

 

MR. DUGREY: Must you always be so mono syllabic with me?

 

TRISTAN: Sorry. I didn’t realize you were looking for an actual conversation with me. It has been years after all.

 

MR. DUGREY: Well now that the pleasantries are done…I have some news for you.

 

TRISTAN: Let me guess…you’ve arranged to marry me off to a rich foreign national’s daughter.

 

MR. DUGREY: You don’t amuse me Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: I don’t even exist to you…how could I amuse you?

 

MR. DUGREY: I’ve had enough of the attitude Tristan. I am not the villain here.

 

TRISTAN: Another subject we don’t agree on. So what’s the big news?

 

MR. DUGREY: I finished the deal with Mr. Holiings. You’re free to date whomever you choose.

 

TRISTAN: It’s over?

 

MR. DUGREY: Yes. Sign, sealed and delivered. I thought this news would make you happy.

 

TRISTAN: Let’s just say being your deal maker took its toll. And losing Rory was the price I paid.

 

MR. DUGREY: Well…no matter. There are plenty of other young women out there. You’re too young to be tied down anyway.

 

TRISTAN: Why should this surprise me…you *not caring*…shocking.

 

Tristan gets up from the table and heads out of the dining room. He goes upstairs to his room and lies down on the bed…looking up at the ceiling.

 

INT: CHILTON-DAY

 

Tristan is at his locker when Paris comes walking up to him.

 

PARIS: So I guess you had a pretty late night.

 

Tristan continues sifting around in his books.

 

TRISTAN: No idea what you’re talking about.

 

PARIS: You know…for a minute there you almost had me fooled.

 

TRISTAN: Get to the point Paris. I’ve got a raging headache and I’m not in the mood for games.

 

PARIS: I almost believed Rory was special. How naïve am I?

 

TRISTAN: Really not following you. So if this little discussion is over…I’m out of here.

 

PARIS: Okay…I never thought I’d say this, but Rory is a decent person…I really thought she penetrated the DuGrey defenses. Guess I was wrong.

 

TRISTAN: This is about Rory?

 

PARIS: So what tripped the trigger this time Tristan? Did she *give in* and you lost interest? Or is it the other way around…chaste for life and you got bored?

 

TRISTAN: I have zero idea what you’re alluding to Paris…so could you maybe speed this up. Tell me what’s really bothering you so I can get on with my life?

 

PARIS: I can’t believe you’re going to try and play last night off like it was no big deal. When Rory finds out…and she will…she is not going to be happy. So I have to ask myself…knowing this…why would you do it?

 

TRISTAN: Do what? What are you talking about?

 

PARIS: Oh I’m not the one doing the talking.

 

TRISTAN: Then who?

 

PARIS: Cassidy.

 

TRISTAN: Cassidy?

 

PARIS: Every gory detail. So I guess true lust wins out over true love. Could have predicted that.

 

Paris walks away from the Tristan…leaving him speechless. Tristan closes his locker and goes in search of Cassidy.

 

INT: LUKE’S TRUCK-DAY

 

JESS: So you and the beanpole had a wild night in the motel huh?

 

RORY: His car broke down. We were stranded.

 

JESS: Yeah…but does that really answer my question?

 

RORY: I didn’t realize I was obligated to answer your questions.

 

JESS: I am giving you a ride back to town. That should score me something.

 

RORY: Oh…right. Thank you.

 

JESS: Not gonna spill huh?

 

RORY: Not even if you were wearing black robes, a collar and people called you father.

 

JESS: Very extreme. That just tells me whatever you’re hiding is much juicier than I first anticipated.

 

RORY: How about we change the subject?

 

JESS: Fine. You choose.

 

RORY: Do you dance?

 

JESS: Do I dance? Talk about your left fields. Or…is this going somewhere?

 

RORY: Possibly. Just answer the question.

 

JESS: Fine. Yeah…I dance.

 

RORY: Would you like to take a friend of mine to the Valentines Day dance at Chilton?

 

JESS: Ambushed.

 

RORY: It’s a simple yes or no answer.

 

JESS: Is she ugly?

 

RORY: No.

 

JESS: Then why can’t she get her own date?

 

RORY: She’s a little…intense at times.

 

JESS: So she’s like the class reject…and I would want to take her to this dance…why again?

 

RORY: I was hoping you would do it as a favor to me.

 

JESS: I’ve got a black eye and a cut hand that *your* boyfriend gave to me. Not to mention I’m hauling you back from the brink of stranded. Do you really honestly believe I owe you any favors?

 

RORY: Ok…no. But you being at the dance would really piss Dean off.

 

JESS: Really?

 

RORY: Guaranteed.

 

JESS: She’s not a woofer?

 

RORY: No.

 

JESS: What the hell. Count me in.

 

RORY: Really?

 

JESS: Sure. Why not? A night of pissing off Dean and seeing how the highbrows live. It could be fun.

 

RORY: Thanks. I won’t forget this.

 

JESS: Sure you will. But every chance I get, I’ll remind you. Count on it.

 

Jess pulls into Rory’s driveway.

 

JESS: Score one for me. I got you *safely* home.

 

Dean jumps out of the back of the truck and stands next to Rory. Rory nudges him to say thanks.

 

DEAN: (reluctantly) Thanks Jess.

 

JESS: Don’t mention it. No really…I mean *don’t* mention it. I don’t want my friends thinking you and I are like buddies now. Rory…pleasure as always.

 

RORY: Bye Jess.

 

Jess guns the truck and drives away. Lorelai comes out of the house.

 

DEAN: I should probably go.

 

RORY: Ok.

 

Dean leans over and gives Rory a peck on the top of her head and then starts down the driveway. Rory walks up to the porch where her mother is standing.

 

RORY: Mom…I can explain.

 

LORELAI: This should be good. But you still have school and I still have work so we’ll have to pencil it in for later.

 

INT: CHILTON-DAY

 

Tristan walks into the gym and sees Cassidy. He walks over to her and the group of girls that she is with.

 

TRISTAN: Cassidy…can I talk to you for a second?

 

CASSIDY: Sure.

 

Cassidy and Tristan walk away from the group and go over to sit on the bleachers.

 

TRISTAN: I wanted to tell you that I was sorry about last night.

 

CASSIDY: Good.

 

TRISTAN: So question…you and I both know nothing happened last night…right?

 

CASSIDY: Of course.

 

TRISTAN: So then why does everyone else think it did?

 

CASSIDY: Because I told them it did.

 

TRISTAN: And why would you do that exactly?

 

CASSIDY: It’s simple really.

 

TRISTAN: This should be good.

 

CASSIDY: I finally figured it out.

 

TRISTAN: What?

 

CASSIDY: You’re seeing someone else. That’s why you didn’t show up last night…that’s why all the sudden sex is like a forbidden thing with you.

 

TRISTAN: Cassidy.

 

CASSIDY: No…don’t try and tell me that I’m wrong. Because I know I’m not. You screwed with the wrong girl Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: And that’s why you’re telling people we slept together last night?

 

CASSIDY: I know she goes here. I don’t know who she is yet…but she will hear about us and with your prior reputation…you don’t stand a chance in hell of convincing her that I’m the one who is lying.

 

TRISTAN: You can’t do this Cassidy.

 

CASSIDY: It’s already done. And once she’s out of the way we can continue what we started.

 

The bell rings signaling the start of Tristan’s English class.

 

TRISTAN: Okay…I’ve got to go now…but this is not over. We need to resolve this and you need to stop spreading rumors about last night. Please.

 

CASSIDY: Oh…well if you’re going to say please.

 

TRISTAN: Fine. Whatever.

 

Tristan walks quickly towards his English class, as he turns a corner he stops suddenly to avoid running into Rory who is also rushing to get to English class.

 

RORY: Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah. I know why I’m late…what’s your excuse?

 

RORY: It’s a long story.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…I’ll just bet it is. See you in class.

 

Tristan starts to walk past Rory but she puts her arm out to stop him.

 

RORY: Please…wait.

 

Tristan looks into Rory’s pleading eyes and exhausted from all the frustrated emotions gives in and leans up against the locker.

 

TRISTAN: Make it quick. I can’t afford to miss English class. I’m only pulling a “C” in there as it is.

 

As Rory prepares to tell Tristan her story the Headmaster comes walking down the hall.

 

HEADMASTER: Shouldn’t you two be in class? Yes. I think you should.

 

Rory looks at Tristan and the two walk to the door of the English class. The headmaster waits until the two are safely inside before heading off in another direction.