Story summary: The dance is over, but the fun has just begun.

 

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

 

 

INT: CHILTON DANCE-NIGHT

 

As Rory and Tristan remain on the dance floor lip locked, Dean comes back into the dance from the outside. His first reaction is to turn and go, but conflicting emotions propel him forward towards the happy couple.

 

As the lingering kiss between Rory and Tristan ends they gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes still somewhat oblivious to the crowd of onlookers surrounding them.

 

TRISTAN: Is this for real?

 

RORY: Most definitely.

 

TRISTAN: Good…because to be honest with you it almost seems too good to be true.

 

RORY: I know what you mean.

 

As Tristan reaches up a hand to caress Rory’s cheek, both are surprised to see someone reach out and grab it. With one swift motion Dean lands a punch to a surprised Tristan’s face and sends him reeling backwards.

 

RORY: Dean! What are you doing?!

 

DEAN: Something I should have done a long time ago. Good luck with your pretty boy.

 

Dean turns and heads away from the crowd to make his exit and he is almost home free when he runs right into Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: Talk about bridges burned.

 

DEAN: It’s not like it’s a bridge I was ever going to get to cross again anyway.

 

LORELAI: I understand your pain Dean…

 

DEAN: No you don’t. How could you?

 

LORELAI: Okay…maybe I don’t. But I’m trying to.

 

DEAN: I appreciate the concern Lorelai…but there’s pretty much nothing you could say to make this situation not suck…so let’s not try.

 

LORELAI: Fair enough. So…do you need a ride home?

 

DEAN: I’m going to go with “yes” on that one.

 

In the center of the Dance floor Chris hands a towel to Tristan to wipe the small trickle of blood from his nose. A concerned Rory stands right beside him.

 

RORY: Is there anything I can do?

 

TRISTAN: Not that’s coming to mind right now.

 

RORY: I’m so sorry.

 

TRISTAN: It’s not your fault Rory.

 

Rory takes the wet towel from Tristan’s hands and uses it to gingerly wipe his face. Vicky comes walking in during this tender scene.

 

VICKY: What the hell is going on here?

 

TRISTAN: Vicky…I guess I owe you some sort of explanation.

 

VICKY: Save it Tristan…I think I’ve been humiliated enough for one night. I want to go home.

 

CHRIS: How about if Lorelai and I drop you off?

 

Lorelai walks up as Chris is making the offer and cringes.

 

LORELAI: I uh…offered Dean a ride home.

 

CHRIS: Good idea.

 

VICKY: You know you two are lousy chaperones.

 

LORELAI: Yeah? And red is so not your color…so what.

 

Vicky looks at Lorelai with a look of disdain and Lorelai just smiles sweetly.

 

LORELAI: (cont.) Car’s outside…follow me.

 

As Lorelai and Vicky walk off Chris turns to his only daughter.

 

CHRIS: So are you okay?

 

RORY: Yeah. I’m okay.

 

CHRIS: Okay…I guess we will see you at home then. And Tristan…I guess we’ll be seeing more of you.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…it looks like it.

 

CHRIS: Okay…well I’m just going to go then.

 

Chris reaches over and kisses Rory on the forehead.

 

CHRIS: Don’t stay out too late.

 

RORY: Night Dad.  

 

EXT: CHILTON DANCE-NIGHT

 

Outside Lane and Henry open the door to the limo as a startled Paris breaks quickly away from Jess.

 

LANE: Oh…sorry.

 

HENRY: Yeah…we uh…we can come back.

 

PARIS: No…we…this isn’t…what it…looks…

 

JESS: Coherent sentences escape her at the moment. Jump in.

 

Reluctantly Henry and Lane enter the limo and sit down. Jess puts his arm back around Paris and looks over at them.

 

JESS: So I’m guessing…either the dance is over or…you two were looking for a place to be alone. Which is it?

 

Lane blushes at Jess’ comment.

 

Before anyone can comment the limo door opens and Tristan and Rory enter. The sight of the couple is completely different than anticipated and Paris reacts.

 

PARIS: Oh my gosh! Tristan…what happened to your face?

 

TRISTAN: Dean happened to my face.

 

PARIS: Dean hit you?

 

TRISTAN: He sucker punched me.

 

JESS: Join the club. For a big guy he sure likes the sneak attack.

 

Tristan turns to Rory.

 

TRISTAN: You mean he’s done this before?

 

RORY: Yeah…did I forget to mention that?

 

TRISTAN: So tell me Rory…what was it like dating a homicidal maniac?

 

RORY: He just lost his temper.

 

JESS: He does that a lot. You may never be safe.

 

Tristan looks at Rory a little worried.

 

RORY: He’s kidding.

 

PARIS: So where to now?

 

JESS: It’s still early…and this limo is extremely comfy…I say we just drive.

 

PARIS: Is that okay with everyone else?

 

Everyone nods their heads in agreement so Paris informs the driver to just drive until further notice.

 

As the center partition of the limo window goes up the lights in the limo dim, leaving the couples in semi darkness to enjoy their own private, intimate conversations.

 

Tristan has his arm around Rory and her head is snuggle up against his firm chest.  

 

TRISTAN: What are you thinking?

 

RORY: I was just thinking…I’m glad the charade is over. No more lies.

 

TRISTAN: I second that.

 

Rory turns her head slightly to look into Tristan eyes. In the dimly lit limo she drinks in the sight of him. As her gaze reaches the soft swelling that has begun on his eye she reaches up and brings his head down toward hers and their lips meet in an exquisite kiss.

 

Across the limo Jess and Paris are already engaged in a deep and sensuous kiss.

 

While in the back of the limo Henry and Lane remain awkward…unsure what to do. Henry tries to inch closer to Lane…but it seems eternally slow compared to the other limo couples.

 

Lane watches as her best friend runs her hands through Tristan’s hair and can take it no more. Without warning Lane lunges at Henry and plants one on him. Henry is shocked for a second but then returns the kiss. Unlike the other couples though the intimate connection just isn’t there and they awkwardly part and sit on separate sides of the limo seat counting the seconds of utter discomfort as they tick by.

 

INT: LORELAI’S CAR-NIGHT

 

Lorelai and Christopher are driving Vicky and Dean home. What they expected to be a ride of silence is actually far more uncomfortable. As they watch in fascination Dean and Vicky first commiserate with each other and minutes later fall into each others arms and begin making out.

 

LORELAI: (whispering to Chris) Shouldn’t we stop this? We are the chaperones.

 

CHRIS: What’s your plan…jump over the back seat and sit between them?

 

LORELAI: Hey…at least I have a plan.

 

CHRIS: Oh yeah…and it’s a good one. Go for it!

 

LORELAI: What if Rory finds out about this?

 

CHRIS: Lorelai…he’s nursing a broken heart and a wounded ego…if he wants to make out with Tristan’s date to the dance…I say…let him.

 

LORELAI: You mean…you think he wants Rory to find out?

 

CHRIS: I’d put good money on it.

 

LORELAI: So how are we supposed to find out where she lives?

 

CHRIS: That…is an excellent question.

 

INT: JACKSON’S CAR-NIGHT

 

ETHAN: So…would that be the typical high school dance here?

 

SOOKIE: Minus the fist in face.

 

ETHAN: So this Rory girl seems pretty popular.

 

SOOKIE: It’s not like it looked. Rory is a great girl.  

 

ETHAN: Looked like she was doubling dealing some guy.

 

SOOKIE: Okay…it was a little like it looked. But I stand by the Rory is a great girl quote.

 

JACKSON: So Ethan…where can I drop you?

 

ETHAN: Actually…I’ve sort of been staying in my car.

 

SOOKIE: In your car?!

 

ETHAN: Yeah…it’s a VW minibus. So it’s not too uncomfortable.

 

SOOKIE: You have to come stay with us.

 

JACKSON: Sookie!

 

SOOKIE: He’s been staying in his car Jackson…out in the cold.

 

JACKSON: And yet…he’s still here…alive and well.

 

ETHAN: I don’t want to cause any problems. My car will be fine.

 

SOOKIE: Nonsense sweetie…you’re not causing any problems. Right Jackson?

 

JACKSON: Define problems?

 

SOOKIE: He’s kidding.

 

ETHAN: I’m not so sure about that.

 

JACKSON: We’ll at least if he’s a serial killer, he’s a bright serial killer…what the heck…pull up a sofa and stay for a while.

 

SOOKIE: Thank you Jackson. You won’t regret this.

 

JACKSON: Don’t make promises you can’t keep Sookie.

 

INT: LIMO-NIGHT

 

The limo has pulled into Star’s Hollow and Lane and Henry exit the vehicle. Henry walks Lane to her door and Lane immediately extends her hand for a handshake.

 

LANE: Thanks for the dance.

 

HENRY: Sure…so should I call you later?

 

LANE: Actually…my first thought would be yes…because you’re a boy…And you’re Korean…but then my second thought would be…probably not…because…I don’t want to lead you on.

 

HENRY: You didn’t have a good time? I knew it.

 

LANE: No…no. I had a great time…it’s just…well…I waited all night for you to kiss me.

 

HENRY: I should have kissed you first.

 

LANE: It might have helped…because for something I waited for all night…well…simply put…the kiss…lets just say it wasn’t all I had hoped for.

 

HENRY: You didn’t like the kiss?

 

LANE: (shocked) You did?

 

HENRY: Honestly…no.

 

LANE: Good…then we’re on the same page. So let’s just part friends and in the famous words of the Beatles…”let it be.”

 

HENRY: Okay…Thanks.

 

Henry turns and walks back down the path towards the limo.

 

LANE: (to herself) And so we end another Chapter of “Lane’s non-existent Love Life.”

 

INT: LORELAI’S CAR-NIGHT

 

LORELAI: So do you really think it was a good idea to drop Vicky off at Dean’s house?

 

CHRIS: She wasn’t being very forthcoming with the address of her house…what was I supposed to do?

 

LORELAI: Do you think Dean is going to be okay?

 

CHRIS: I’m thinking…it’s out of our hands Lor…let it go.

 

INT: DEAN’S CAR-NIGHT

 

DEAN: So we gonna drive all night or are you going to tell me your address?

 

VICKY: Turn right here.

 

Dean immediately turns the car right and Vicky continues giving him directions.

 

VICKY: Okay…now at the next corner turn left and park.

 

Dean does as he is told and finds they are at the top of a hill and several cars are parked there with couples inside steaming up the windows.

 

DEAN: What is this place?

 

VICKY: It’s a place to be alone.

 

DEAN: There’s like fifteen cars here…we’re hardly alone.

 

VICKY: Not one of those cars cares what we are doing in this one.

 

Vicky inches closer to Dean and begins aggressively kissing him. Dean starts to respond and then breaks away a little.

 

DEAN: You don’t even know me.

 

VICKY: That’s what makes this so easy…It’s just all about tonight Dan. You can go home and sulk about Rory or you can stay here with me and work off a little revenge heat.

 

DEAN: Actually…it’s Dean. But that aside…Let me get this straight…You’re saying…You want sex?

 

VICKY: Now you’re getting the picture.

 

DEAN: And you don’t care that you just met me tonight?

 

VICKY: It’s simple…if you’re looking for champagne and promises…then yeah…I’m definitely the wrong girl…if you’re looking to be satisfied and leave with a smile on your face…then seize the opportunity in front of you.

 

Vicky climbs into Dean’s lap and rubs her body up against his.

 

VICKY: What’s it gonna be Dean? The dream of Rory or the reality of me?

 

Dean looks at Vicky as the events of the night play through his head and in one single breath makes up his mind to get while the getting is good. With Dean’s show of acceptance Vicky begins her handy work. She’s a master in the art of pleasure and before he knows it Dean is swept away in a sexual tidal wave. Although he entered the car a boy with the help of Vicky he will be leaving it a man.  

 

INT: LIMO-NIGHT

 

Tristan and Rory are standing on her front porch saying their good nights.

 

TRISTAN: Pretty wild night.

 

RORY: Completely true statement.

 

Tristan puts his hand up to caress Rory’s cheek. The touch of his hand sends shivers down her spine. Lightly he pulls her into his embrace and gingerly touches his lips to hers. Rory sighs with contentment.

 

RORY: That was a good kiss.

 

TRISTAN: That was a tame kiss. Strictly a goodnight at the door kiss. Because if I followed my urges I’d be pressing you up against the house and sparking a fire.

 

RORY: Good thing you’ve got those tame kisses then…we don’t have fire insurance.

 

Tristan looks down at Rory in the moonlight and smiles.

 

TRISTAN: I should go.

 

Rory stands on tiptoe and plants another kiss on Tristan’s lips.

 

TRISTAN: Okay…I’ll call you tomorrow.

 

RORY: Promise?

 

TRISTAN: You can count on it.

 

Tristan gives Rory one last hug before he heads down the stairs and back to the waiting limo. Rory smiles as she watches Tristan waving at her from the limo window as it speeds off.

 

It was a rough night but Rory feels really good about the things to come in her life and sitting in the limo Tristan is equally happy by the nights turn of events. He may have a black eye for a while but the reality of that pain is nothing compared to his elation at finally being able to call Rory his.