Story summary: Rory’s guilt gets to be too much when she’s forced to face the reality of how cheating on someone can make you feel. A revelation which will put the Tristan vs. Dean triangle in a tailspin with a very hazy outcome.

 

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

 

 

INT: ENGLISH CLASS: DAY

 

Rory and Tristan enter their English class which is already under way. Cassidy comes in immediately behind them. Their usual teacher Mr. Medina is replaced by a substitute for the day.

 

MR. CASTOR: Aw…latecomers…Glad you could join us. Take a seat.

 

Rory and Tristan quickly glance at one another before Rory walks over to take her seat…followed by Tristan on the way to his.

 

As Mr. Castor continues the class Louise finishes up on a note she has been writing. She slyly hands it to Rory and whispers to her to pass it on to Cassidy. Reluctantly Rory takes the note and as she is about to pass it to Cassidy, Mr. Castor confiscates it.

 

MR. CASTOR: What’s so important that it couldn’t wait till after class young lady?

 

RORY: I have no idea.

 

MR. CASTOR: I have a policy against class disruptions. Would you like to hear it?

 

RORY: Honestly…the note isn’t mine.

 

Mr. Castor is now in full swing, acting as if he hasn’t heard Rory he continues on.

 

MR. CASTOR: Class disruptions are rude and intolerable. So my rebuttal to your argument of impoliteness is this. Stand up and share your note with the class. (glances at the seating chart Mr. Medina has left for him) Miss…Gilmore.

 

Mr. Castor walks over and hands the note back to Rory.

 

MR. CASTOR: Go ahead…do the honors.

 

RORY: But…

 

MR. CASTOR: No buts Miss Gilmore…enlighten us.

 

Rory reluctantly takes the note and stands up. She unfolds the note and begins to read.

 

RORY: (clears her throat) Hey Cass…kudos on last night.

 

Rory looks up embarrassed.

 

MR. CASTOR: Go on.

 

Rory looks down at the note and then back up at Mr. Castor…it is clear that she is very uncomfortable with the contents of the note.

 

MR. CASTOR: (cont.) Something wrong Miss Gilmore?

 

Rory nods her head no.

 

MR. CASTOR: Continue then.

 

Hesitantly Rory begins reading again

 

RORY: Tristan is scorching….

 

As Rory continues to read the note Tristan realizes what it is about and starts to sink down in his seat.

 

RORY: (trying not to sound upset) so I heard it through the grapevine that last night was not one…but two hours of pure passion…Could this possibly be true? Good looks, wealth and stamina…

 

The entire class is laughing hysterically, boys are hooting and applauding Tristan, and as everything in Rory’s world starts to come crashing down the teacher finally rescues her.

 

MR. CASTOR: That’s enough Miss Gilmore. I think we get the picture.

 

Mr. Castor walks over and takes the note from Rory. Rory sits back down in her seat crestfallen.

 

MR. CASTOR: So class, unless we have any further insights or notes to share I’d like to continue my class uninterrupted.

 

Overcome by emotions Rory gets up and leaves the classroom without asking. Mr. Castor looks annoyed. Tristan starts to get up to follow her but Paris stands up in front of him.

 

PARIS: May I be excused to see if she’s alright?

 

MR. CASTOR: Fine…ten minutes…no more.

 

INT: GIRLS RESTROOM-DAY

 

Rory is standing in front of the mirror in the girl’s restroom wiping the fast escaping tears from her eyes when Paris walks in.

 

Rory turns around and looks at her and tries to hurriedly wipe away all her tears. Paris walks up and hands her a couple of Kleenex.

 

PARIS: Here you go.

 

RORY: Thanks. But why are you being so nice? What’s the catch?

 

PARIS: No catch.

 

RORY: This is the part where you tell me “I told you so”…isn’t it?

 

PARIS: I suppose it could be. But I’m not going to.

 

Rory leans up against the wall and dabs her eyes with the Kleenex.

 

RORY: You know what the sad part is…I believed him.

 

PARIS: Its not you…believe me. He just has that something about him that makes you *want* to believe him. This might surprise you but he and I used to be really good friends.

 

RORY: What happened?

 

PARIS: Junior high. He became popular and I became unnecessary.

 

RORY: That must have hurt.

 

PARIS: The point is…I got over it and so will you. Tristan will just become a life lesson. I have to say I admire you though.

 

RORY: You do?

 

PARIS: Yes…you saw what you wanted and you went for it. Tristan is a hard case…nothing really penetrates with him. It was a risk but you took it.

 

RORY: Yeah…and cheated on my boyfriend in the process. The last thing I deserve is someone’s admiration. What I did wasn’t something to be proud of.

 

PARIS: I guess if you look at it that way.

 

RORY: I do. I was blindsided by Tristan and his charm…but not any more. I’m going to make things right with Dean and put this whole mess with Tristan behind me.

 

Rory goes to the sink and splashes water on her face to try and cover the tears she shed. 

 

RORY:  Thanks for listening Paris…it was…unexpected.

 

PARIS: Don’t mention it.

 

Rory starts to leave and turns back around at the door.

 

RORY: By the way…My friend Jess said he would go with you to the dance.

 

PARIS: Really?

 

RORY: Yeah…you’ll like him. He loves to read and he is really very cute.

 

PARIS: And he said yes?

 

RORY: You sound surprised.  

 

PARIS: I guess…I am. But pleased…I’m actually looking forward to this dance. Thanks Rory. You didn’t have to do it.

 

RORY: You we’re blackmailing me Paris.

 

PARIS: But that’s not really why you did this for me…is it?

 

RORY: Who knows? If we keep this up one day we might even be…friends.

 

PARIS: Let’s not get too carried away.

 

RORY: Sorry…just lost my head there for a moment.

 

Rory smiles at Paris and leaves, Paris turns towards the mirror and takes in her reflection. She smiles at herself…pleased with the day’s turn of events.

 

INT: INDEPENDENCE INN-DAY

 

Lorelai walks into the inn and heads straight for the kitchen. Sookie is at her usual post making food for the inn.

 

LORELAI: Sookie!

 

Lorelai goes up behind Sookie and gives her a big bear hug. Sookie giggles at the show of affection and turns around.

 

SOOKIE: Spiking the coffee again are we?

 

LORELAI: It’s just such a beautiful day…don’t you think?

 

SOOKIE: Okay. So is there anymore information forthcoming…or it that it? Beautiful day…end of sentence.

 

LORELAI: Okay…I’ll tell you…but you’re going to think I’m a terrible person.

 

SOOKIE: Of course I won’t. You’re my favorite.

 

LORELAI: Rory and Tristan are no more…whee!

 

SOOKIE: Oh Lorelai…that’s terrible.

 

LORELAI: Did you miss the whee? Should I have made it more distinct…like Yahoo?

 

SOOKIE: No…I got that you’re excited…I’m just thinking about poor little Rory. Her heart must be broken in like a million tiny pieces.

 

LORELAI: Way to kill my buzz.

 

SOOKIE: I’m sorry sweetie, but you have to know this is gonna destroy Rory. Don’t you think?

 

LORELAI: Destroy seems like kind of a strong word. But…yes…of course it is. I am officially the world’s worst mother.

 

SOOKIE: There are worse mothers Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: Then I’m first runner up. I have sunk to new lows. I forgot about my daughter’s happiness in my state of exultation.

 

SOOKIE: So what happened?

 

LORELAI: Oh…Rory spent the night in a motel with Dean and Tristan found out.

 

SOOKIE: Come again?

 

LORELAI: It’s nothing. Harmless. Rory and Dean got stranded outside of Hartford. I know Rory…nothing happened.

 

SOOKIE: But Tristan doesn’t believe that?

 

LORELAI: Something like that. Are you baking brownies?

 

SOOKIE: Yes…are you avoiding the subject?

 

LORELAI: Just a little bit…Fine. You got me. World’s worst mom had the chance to ease Tristan’s fears, but I didn’t.

 

SOOKIE: Runner up.

 

LORELAI: What? Oh…right Runner up mom had the chance…but she too led him astray.

 

SOOKIE: What are you going to do about it?

 

LORELAI: I’m going to talk to Rory tonight. She’s a smart girl…she’ll have the answers. And hopefully she won’t hate me for not doing the right thing.

 

Sookie goes over and pulls the cooling brownies off the shelf and puts one on a napkin which she hands to Lorelai.

 

SOOKIE: Here you go sweetie…this is definitely a brownie moment.

 

LORELAI: Thanks Sookie. You’re the best.

 

SOOKIE: And you’re the runner-up.

 

Lorelai takes a bite of her brownie and smiles with the brownie all over her teeth, which causes Sookie to start giggling again.   

 

EXT: CHILTON-DAY

 

Rory walks outside and heads over to the bench on the side of the school. She sees Tristan and walks over to him.

 

TRISTAN: I see you got my note.

 

RORY: Yes.

 

TRISTAN: Do you want to sit?

 

Rory sits down next to Tristan making sure to keep some distance between them.

 

TRISTAN: I was afraid you wouldn’t show up.

 

RORY: You asked me to be here…so I’m here.

 

TRISTAN: Right. I think we need to talk Rory. I think we both have some unanswered questions.

 

RORY: I’ll answer your questions Tristan, but I want you to know right up front…I’m really angry and hurt right now.

 

TRISTAN: And you think I’m not?

 

RORY: I think you jumped to a lot of the wrong conclusions.

 

TRISTAN: You’re not serious? You call me at like midnight and tell me you’re in a motel with *him* and then you hang up on me when I call back.

 

RORY: Actually you hung up on me.

 

TRISTAN: That’s not the point. The issue here is that you were in a motel with Dean. Right?

 

RORY: It’s only an issue if you make it one.

 

TRISTAN: So you’re going to sit there and tell me that *nothing* happened with Dean last night? Rory…I heard him in the background. Am I suppose to think when he says “Now where were we?” he’s talking about anything other than sex?

 

RORY: I don’t know what you want me to say.

 

TRISTAN: I want the truth. If you tell me that nothing substantial happened in that room between you and Dean…I will believe you.

 

RORY: I don’t see where it really matters at this point. Even if I could make you feel better about Dean…I don’t think there’s anything that you could say that would make me okay with what happened with you and Cassidy.

 

TRISTAN: This is unbelievable. You honestly believe I would sacrifice every thing for…what was it supposedly...two hours of passion with Cassidy?

 

RORY: Why would she lie?

 

TRISTAN: Nothing has really changed for us. Has it?  You still think I’m that guy you met the first day of school. You believe Cassidy because you want to. Because if you have to admit to yourself for one minute that I’ve changed…that what you and I have is really great…you’ll have to feel guilty about last night. Isn’t that right?

 

RORY: No.

 

TRISTAN: Then look at me Rory and tell me that. Don’t keep playing these hurtful games. You have to know that the thought of you messing around with Dean…it kills me.

 

Rory looks at Tristan and then down to the ground.

 

TRISTAN: (cont.) Rory? Nothing happened. Right?

 

RORY: It’s not like it was something I planned. It just…happened.

 

TRISTAN: What are you saying?

 

Rory continues to look down at the ground; until Tristan can take it no more…he gently puts his finger underneath her chin and uses it to tilt her head up until she is face to face with him. Tristan is surprised to see tears in her eyes.

 

TRISTAN: Rory?

 

RORY: Tristan…I…I’m sorry. But…I can’t tell you what you want to hear.

 

Rory’s answer stuns Tristan momentarily and he sits back heavily against the bench.

 

TRISTAN: (absolute shock) Did you have sex with Dean?

 

RORY: No!

 

TRISTAN: Then whatever happened in that room can’t possibly be that bad. So please tell me.

 

RORY: Can’t we just leave it at “I did not have sex with Dean.”?

 

TRISTAN: You seriously want me to use my imagination to fill in the blanks?

 

RORY: We both made some mistakes last night Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: I didn’t. I could have…the opportunity was definitely there. But all I could think about was how that would screw things up with you. How stupid am I?

 

RORY: I don’t know what else to say except that “I’m sorry.”

 

Tristan gets up off the bench.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah well…that’s not enough.

 

RORY: I know it’s not.

 

Tristan starts to walk away but his anger and frustration make him turn back around.

 

TRISTAN: Why the hell would you do this Rory? After everything we’ve gone through…Why pick now to *explore* your feelings for Dean again? I don’t get it.  

 

RORY: This isn’t about Dean.

 

TRISTAN: Then what is it about?

 

RORY: It’s about me…the person I became to be with you. I didn’t like her.

 

TRISTAN: That’s just your guilt talking Rory. Once we move Cassidy and Dean out of our lives…the guilt will just be a memory.

 

RORY: It doesn’t matter anymore Tristan. Even if we had been able to follow the original path…It wouldn’t have changed the way we started. That’s the part I don’t want to live with anymore.

 

TRISTAN: What are you saying?

 

RORY: I’m done. Not because of Dean…because of me. Because I hate what I did to get to this place with you. I can’t explain it any better than that.

 

TRISTAN: So that’s it? We’re inches away from everything we wanted and you’re just going to quit on me?

 

RORY: When the teacher was making me read that note…I really thought you had cheated on me.

 

TRISTAN: But I didn’t. You can’t punish me for something that never even happened.

 

RORY: It made me realize something…if I could be that hurt by your supposed infidelity…what I’ve been doing to Dean is ten times worse. I’m a hypocrite Tristan. I can’t take the heartache…but I’m not above dishing it out.

 

TRISTAN: Dean doesn’t have to know about us Rory.

 

RORY: Every moment I spend with you is a moment Dean could find out about. And every time I tell him no makes him more and more suspicious.

 

TRISTAN: You’re overanalyzing Rory. Yeah…maybe it sucks for Dean the way you and I connected…but it happened.

 

RORY: Don’t you see? It shouldn’t have.

 

TRISTAN: It was inevitable.

 

RORY: We both know that you went after me because I was different. Because I didn’t swoon all over you and beg you to notice me. It was a game to you.

 

TRISTAN: Maybe…in the beginning. But it’s not the reason I’m here now. You talk about how you don’t want to hurt Dean. Do you even care what your leaving would do to me?

 

Tristan takes Rory’s hands in his and pulls her off the bench until she is standing just right in front of him. Rory tries to avert her eyes away but Tristan gently put his hand on her face and turns it back towards him. The warmth of his hand penetrates her face and he encourages her to look into his eyes and realize the depth of feeling he has for her.  

 

TRISTAN: (cont.) It’s simple Rory…it would wreck me.

 

Tristan leans in and slowly meets Rory’s lips with his. The kiss is gentle and inviting and It sends electric sparks through both of them. Tears start to slide down Rory’s face and the saltiness of her tears mingles with their connected lips. Tristan remembers a kiss long ago that elicited the very same reaction from her and he wills the outcome to be much different this time…only to be disappointed.

 

Rory breaks away from Tristan.

 

RORY: I’m sorry.

 

TRISTAN: Don’t say that…stop saying that. Just tell me what I need to do to fix this. I will do it…no questions asked.

 

RORY: It isn’t going to work Tristan. I can’t live with the guilt and I can’t stop it…I just need to go.

 

Rory gets up off the bench and starts to walk away until Tristan’s words stop her and turn her around one last time.

 

TRISTAN: Don’t do this Rory. Please.

 

Rory looks at Tristan and walks back to him. She reaches out and hugs him a long…extended hug which she reluctantly lets end.

 

RORY: Goodbye.

 

Rory kisses Tristan on the lips a sad…lingering reminder to him of all that he is losing…as he watches her walk away.

 

TRISTAN: (to himself) This isn’t over.