Story summary: Tristan just wants to make things right with Paris, so that he can follow his heart in its quest to win back Rory.  And Paris’ life gets a little more interesting when Jess enters into the picture.

 

Disclaimer: The characters in this story do not belong to me. The characters are the sole property of the WB writers and creators of the Gilmore Girls.

 

EXT: TRISTAN’S HOUSE-DAY

 

Tristan is sitting in his car in the driveway. Contemplating the events of the day.

 

TRISTAN: (to himself) DuGrey you are officially…a bastard.

 

Tristan reaches into his glove compartment and pulls out his cell phone. He dials Rory’s number half way and then stops. He dials another number and waits for someone to pick up.

 

TRISTAN/PARIS: INTERCUT

 

PARIS: Hello?

 

TRISTAN: Hey Paris…it’s me.

 

PARIS: What part of I don’t want to talk about this did you not get?

 

TRISTAN: It’s just…I think we should talk about it.

 

PARIS:  Well…I think we both made a huge mistake. End of story.

 

TRISTAN: So then that’s it…your upset and nothing I say matters?  

 

PARIS: I don’t know if upset is the right word. I have to go now.

 

TRISTAN: Paris…if it helps…I’m sorry.

 

PARIS: It doesn’t.

 

Paris hangs up the phone on Tristan and Tristan closes it and puts it back in his pocket. He exits his car and walks up to his front door and enters the house.

 

Inside the house Tristan is met by one of his father’s assistants.

 

DELIA: Tristan…your father would like to see you in his office.

 

TRISTAN: Fine.

 

Tristan walks through the house to his father’s office and knocks lightly.

 

MR. DUGREY: (OC) Come in.

 

Tristan walks in and stands in front of his father’s desk.  

 

TRISTAN: You wanted to see me?

 

MR. DUGREY: Yes. Your presence has been requested at the Gilmore’s tonight and I accepted on your behalf.

 

TRISTAN: You want me to go to Rory’s house tonight?

 

MR. DUGREY: No. Emily and Richard Gilmore requested you join them for dinner.

 

TRISTAN: Why?

 

MR. DUGREY: I have no idea, but your Grandfather would not take kindly to you refusing an invitation from such a prestigious family…so you *will* be there.

 

TRISTAN: Is Rory going to be there?

 

MR. DUGREY: I’m not privy to the guest list.

 

TRISTAN: I don’t want to go.

 

MR. DUGREY: What you want is of no consequence here. You will be dressed and ready to leave by 6:30 pm. Fernando will drive you.

 

TRISTAN: I can drive myself.

 

MR. DUGREY: Judging by your reluctance I will feel much better having Fernando drive you. End of discussion.

 

TRISTAN: Yes sir.

 

Tristan leaves the office and heads directly up to his room. He turns the stereo on and lies back on his bed.

 

INT: PARIS’ HOUSE-DAY

 

Paris is in her bedroom sitting on her bed. She opens her nightstand drawer and takes out her daily journal. Opening it to today’s page she picks up a pen and starts writing.

 

Journal Entry: Have I completely lost my sense of right and wrong? I may profess that Rory is not my friend…and really she isn’t. But she is someone who has earned my respect and rightfully so. She stands up for herself and she doesn’t take my strong personality as a threat. So why today…and why Tristan? I guess I have to be honest in saying I know why Tristan…he has been my goal since I was ten. I have imagined numerous times what being with him would be like. But today…the reality…it was all wrong. In my dreams he loved me and wanted to be with me forever. The reality…the reality is he is completely in love with Rory Gilmore. The insanity here is that I don’t love Tristan…not in the slightest. Not anymore. And the sad part is…I wanted my first time to be something special…with someone who it meant something to that I had saved myself for that moment. Instead my first time having sex has left me morally bankrupt. No one can know about this EVER!

 

INT: GILMORE HOUSE-NIGHT

 

Rory is getting ready to go to her grandparent’s house when there is a knock on her bedroom door.

 

RORY: Come in.

 

Lorelai enters the room.

 

LORELAI: Hey sweets. How was shopping with Emily?

 

RORY: Great. Lane and I had a terrific time and you would be so proud of me.

 

LORELAI: How so?

 

RORY: My dress cost $280 dollars. At first I had a hard time letting Grandma pay that much…but it really is the greatest dress.

 

LORELAI: Ooh…let me see!

 

Rory goes to her closet and pulls out her dress for the dance. It is sexy, red slip type dress with thin spaghetti straps and sparkles all throughout the dress.

 

LORELAI: And Emily approved of this dress? 

 

RORY: It’s very flowing and beautiful.

 

LORELAI: And mature.

 

RORY: Hardly. Half the dresses in the shop were two-piece, belly baring…very little material dresses. This is tame by comparison.

 

LORELAI: Well as long as you compromised. You should probably finish getting ready. Your dad will be here any minute.

 

RORY: You mean he didn’t try and back out?

 

LORELAI: Oh he tried. But I can be very persuasive.

 

RORY: I’m sure.

 

LORELAI: So did you tell Grandma about your rousing writing success?

 

RORY: Mom…it’s just a school award…it’s no big deal.

 

LORELAI: Yes it is. You are receiving an award for a piece on the schools concrete repaving. Only a truly gifted person could make a piece like that award worthy.

 

RORY: The irony is Paris really wanted this award and I got it for a piece she forced me to write. A piece she thought was back page fodder. Life is good.

 

LORELAI: Yes it is.

 

Doorbell rings.

 

LORELAI: (cont.) That’s probably your dad now.

 

Lorelai goes to the front door and opens it. Christopher is standing there dressed in a suit and looking mighty fine.

 

LORELAI: Hubba!

 

CHRIS: Darn. And I was hoping to render you speechless.

 

LORELAI: Close…very close.

 

Chris gives Lorelai a kiss and a hug.

 

CHRIS: Are you guys ready?

 

LORELAI: Her highness is just putting on the finishing touches.

 

CHRIS: Does she know?

 

LORELAI: No…it’s still a secret. I was hoping to be able to talk Emily out of it…but no luck.

 

CHRIS: She’s just proud of her granddaughter.

 

LORELAI: I know. But she forced me to give her a list of Chilton people too.

 

CHRIS: Did you put Tristan on the list?

 

LORELAI: Hardly. But he was first on Emily’s list.

 

CHRIS: But isn’t Dean going to be there too?

 

LORELAI: I know. Like I said…I tried to talk her out of it. But you know Emily when she gets an idea stuck in her head…no amount of shaking her profusely will help.

 

CHRIS: Maybe we should warn Rory.

 

LORELAI: I know our daughter…she would refuse to go and I would incur the wrath of Emily.

 

CHRIS: Good point.

 

Rory comes out of her bedroom. She is wearing a tan dress that accentuates her young figure.

 

CHRIS: Rory…every time I see you are more and more grown up. Stop it.

 

RORY: Sorry dad. But nature has a way of doing it all without my permission.    

 

INT: GRANDPARENT’S HOUSE-NIGHT

 

Inside the house quite a few people have been gathered. Jess, Lane and Dean are there from Stars Hollow and most of Rory’s semi-friends from Chilton are there…including Tristan.

 

In the distance the doorbell rings and in a matter of seconds Paris is ushered into the room. Tristan sees her and overcome with guilt looks quickly down. Paris doesn’t miss the maneuver and it irritates her.

 

As the doorbell rings again Emily rushes into the family room where everyone is gathered and hushes them. In a minute or so Emily comes into the family room with Lorelai, Chris and Rory as everyone yells surprise. Rory can’t help but be startled.

 

RORY: Oh my gosh. (turns to Lorelai) Did you know about this?

 

LORELAI: Guilty.

 

Rory looks at her grandmother.

 

RORY: Why are all these people here?

 

EMILY: It’s to celebrate your writing award.

 

RORY: You really didn’t have to do this.

 

EMILY: (hugs Rory) I wanted to share your success with your friends.

 

LORELAI: (whispers to Chris) Translation…lets rub it in their faces sweetie.

 

Rory walks into the crowd of people extremely uncomfortable. Dean walks straight up to her as Tristan watches from the sidelines.

 

DEAN: (kisses her lightly on the lips) Congratulations.

 

RORY: You should have told me about this.

 

DEAN: And ruin the surprise?

 

RORY: Right. 

 

Lane walks up beside Dean.

 

LANE: Congratulations Rory.

 

RORY: Thanks. This is kind of embarrassing.

 

LANE: Yeah…your grandmother doesn’t really do things on a small scale does she?

 

RORY: Not that I can ever remember.

 

Paris comes walking up to Rory and in the corner Tristan tenses up.

 

PARIS: Congratulations Rory. You really deserved the award. It was a fabulous piece.

 

RORY: Thanks Paris. Hey…come with me. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.

 

PARIS: Okay.

 

Tristan watches as Paris and Rory walk off together. Nervous that Paris is about to tell Rory everything he silently follows them.

 

Rory walks Paris up to Jess who is lounging in a corner with one her grandfather’s books.

 

RORY: Jess.

 

Jess looks up at Rory and smiles.

 

JESS: Hey Rory. I hear congratulations are in order.

 

RORY: Thanks. Jess…this is Paris.

 

Jess stands up as Rory says this.

 

JESS: The illustrious date. Good to finally meet you.

 

PARIS: You too.

 

Paris looks at Jess and is instantly interested. He is attractive with an air of seductive intelligence surrounding him. Paris smiles at him and he gives her a slow grin that lights up his eyes. Jess is equally intrigued by Paris. His imagination had her riding the line between ugly and bearable to look at, so he is pleasantly surprised that she is easy on the eyes and he can’t help but noticed she is trying desperately to hide what he imagines to be a fabulous body.  

 

RORY: So…I’m going to leave you two to talk. I need to get back in there.

 

JESS: Later Rory.

 

Rory walks away from the two who are already deep in conversation. As she rounds the corner she comes face to face with Tristan. Steeling herself for an uncomfortable conversation she is surprised by Tristan’s reaction to seeing her.

 

TRISTAN: Rory. Hi.

 

RORY: Hi.

 

TRISTAN: I was just going to get a soda. I’ll see you.

 

Tristan walks quickly around Rory and into the dining room. Rory watches him go confused by his behavior.

 

Rory walks back into the family room, followed by Emily who announces that dinner is ready to be served. She informs everyone that there is a place card where they will be sitting. Emily has set up two long tables out by her rose garden and the view is lovely. Rory sits down in her seat and reads the place card next to her…its Tristan. Just as Rory realizes this Tristan finds his seat.

 

TRISTAN: I can move.

 

RORY: It’s fine.

 

Tristan takes his seat and Rory leans over to him.

 

RORY: Are you upset with me?

 

TRISTAN: Should I be?

 

Dean comes over to Rory assuming the seat on her other side would be his and is surprised to see Lane’s name.

 

DEAN: I guess your Grandmother didn’t know I was coming. I don’t see my name anywhere.

 

Paris is now standing across from Tristan and Rory on the other side of the table.

 

PARIS: It’s right here.

 

Paris holds up the place card of the seat next to her.

 

DEAN: Thanks.

 

Dean walks sullenly around to the other side of the table. He is upset that he is sitting across from Rory instead of beside her. Meanwhile Tristan would much rather have Paris sitting anywhere but across from him where he is forced to face her.    

 

As the dinner progresses everyone seems to be having a great time. Rory has finally managed to reach a comfort zone with Tristan so close. But his earlier brush-off still has her very confused.

 

Jess has bargained with people until he is finally sitting next to Paris and Rory is pleased to see them getting along so well.

 

JESS: (to Paris) Fancy meeting you here.

 

PARIS: That’s not your seat.

 

JESS: It is now. It cost me five bucks so I’m counting on your conversational charm to make it worth it.

 

PARIS: You paid five dollars to sit next to me?

 

JESS: Does that impress you?

 

PARIS: Completely.

 

JESS: Good. So now where were we?

 

PARIS: You were telling me about New York.

 

JESS: Right. Would you like to take a walk with me?

 

PARIS: Right now?

 

JESS: I can’t think of a better time…carpe diem.

 

PARIS: Seize the moment.

 

JESS: Huh…is that what it means?

 

PARIS: Very funny.

 

JESS: So what’s the verdict on that walk?

 

PARIS: I hardly know you.

 

JESS: This is true. But I promise you…I’m semi-harmless.

 

PARIS: That’s not very reassuring.

 

JESS: Well…I’m not a saint…but my sins range in the fairly mild category. So…walk…yes or no?

 

PARIS: Yes.

 

JESS: Good choice.

 

Jess and Paris get up from the table and walk off together towards the rose garden.   

 

As the dinner is finishing up people begin walking off or gathering into groups. Rory is torn on what to do. She would like to talk to Tristan but with Dean so close it’s nearly impossible. Dean walks around the table and comes over to stand by Rory.

 

DEAN: How do you feel about a walk around the rose garden?

 

RORY: Sure.

 

Tristan watches Rory get up and walk away with Dean. He really hates his life right now. After Rory and Dean leave Tristan gets up and heads back into the house where he runs into Paris who has come inside to get a sweater.

 

TRISTAN: Paris…I know that you are otherwise occupied right now…but can we talk later.

 

PARIS: Why?

 

TRISTAN: Cause I feel like an ass right now.

 

PARIS: Good.

 

TRISTAN: Please Paris.

 

PARIS: Fine. Can you drive me home?

 

TRISTAN: My dad’s driver is picking me up. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.

 

PARIS: Alright we’ll talk then.

 

Paris walks past Tristan and back out into the rose garden in search of Jess. As she is standing in the middle of the garden looking for him a rose comes up from behind her. Paris turns around and is face to face with Jess.

 

JESS: For you.

 

PARIS: You’re not supposed to pick those.

 

JESS: One rose is not going to be missed. Work with me.

 

PARIS: You’re right. Thank you.

 

Jess reaches down and takes Paris’ hand in his. Paris is at first surprised but as the warmth of his strong hand penetrates hers Paris realizes that this might just be the start of something really interesting.

 

As Jess and Paris are walking they reach a small stone wall and Jess steers her toward it.

 

JESS: I feel like sitting.

 

PARIS: That sounds fine.

 

Jess straddles the wall so that he is facing Paris and Paris sits on the wall giving Jess a side profile.

 

JESS: It’s easier to talk to someone when you actually face them.

 

Paris realizes that she is extremely nervous and reluctantly turns to face him.

 

JESS: Much better.

 

PARIS: I don’t do this very much.

 

JESS: Don’t do what?

 

PARIS: Moonlight strolls, intimate conversations with boys.

 

JESS: Really? I never would have guessed.

 

PARIS: Are you making fun of me?

 

JESS: Did it sound like I was making fun of you?

 

PARIS: A little.

 

JESS: Then yeah…I was…a little. Just trying to break some of the tension we’ve built up here.

 

PARIS: It’s not working.

 

JESS: Then maybe this will.

 

Jess leans in and with his face inches from Paris’ he puts his hand around the back of her neck to pull her close. The kiss is slow and searching and Paris is in awe of how it makes her feel. Her mind whirls with mixed emotions as she sinks into Jess’ arms and begins to really enjoy their first kiss.

 

Jess being the experienced one is also a little surprised by his reaction to the kiss. As he brings Paris closer to him he deepens their kiss and starts to get lost in the passion of the moment. In his mind this kiss is going to be one of many for him and Paris.