Story Summary: Having just received a huge and hurtful surprise Rory is faced with a tough decision.

EXT: PRESLEY’S HOUSE-NIGHT

Rory is standing by her car tears flowing trying frantically to find the right key for her car when Tristan comes up behind her.

TRISTAN: Rory...wait!

Rory turns on him anger evident in the stance of her body and voice.

RORY: Get the hell away from me Tristan!

TRISTAN: Can we just talk about this? Please?  

RORY: Believe me you don’t want to hear what I have to say!

TRISTAN: This isn’t what it seems like...you’re overreacting.

RORY: Really...overreacting??? Okay let’s put the shoe on the other foot asshole...you just walked into a room full of people and found me straddling some guy with my hands all over him...reaction?

TRISTAN: Okay first of all my hands weren’t all over her...just her waist.

RORY: Not helping your case.

TRISTAN: Can we please not do this here in front of the Chilton gossip machine?

RORY: Right because your behavior in there wasn’t going to be front page news.

A large group of party goers have gathered at the front door with Louise, Madeline, Anders and Paris front and center.

LOUISE: God are they hot together or what?! I so envy her.

PARIS: You’re seriously twisted Louise if you think public humiliation makes for a great relationship.

ANDERS: It’s a shame...boy really screwed up in there.

PARIS: And yet none of you morons thought to oh...I don’t know...stop him.

ANDERS: Right...because he’d listen to me.

PARIS: Or maybe this is what you wanted.

ANDERS: Sheath the claws mother lion...your she cub is going to be fine, her and the golden boy will work it out.

PARIS: Don’t be so sure.

ANDERS: Believe me when I say DuGrey always comes out smelling like a rose.

In the driveway Lane stands on the other side of the car unsure what to do.

RORY: Get in the car Lane.

LANE: You have the keys.

Tristan reaches out for Rory’s arm.

TRISTAN: You can’t go...!

RORY: Watch me.

Once again Rory begins frantically trying all the keys, her tears greatly hindering her process.

Lane walks over and takes the keys from her hand and starts trying them in the lock.

TRISTAN: Don’t do this Rory...let me explain...please.

Rory at last looks up at Tristan, searching his eyes for something, anything to tell her that it’s okay.

TRISTAN: (cont.) Let me take you home.

Then out of the corner of her eye she sees her standing there...the girl who minutes before had been sitting so intimately with Tristan....Presley.

RORY: No...no. I don’t want to hear what you have to say. It is what it is.

TRISTAN: And what’s that?

RORY: Over...it’s over.

TRISTAN: Okay what the hell are you talking about? I didn’t do anything with her. It was harmless. Stupid...but harmless.

RORY: And if I hadn’t shown up?

TRISTAN: What?

RORY: You heard me...what would have happened if I hadn’t shown up? Would it have been harmless then?

TRISTAN: Yes...of course. Rory I love you.

RORY: Then why did you lie to me? And why…why were you caressing her?

There it was...hanging him out to dry...the guilt over the lies...all the lies. Unsure what to say Tristan remains silent.

RORY: (cont.) I’m going to need a better answer than that.

Swallowing over the lump in his throat Tristan knows the next few things he says will make or break the outcome of the night.

TRISTAN: I’m sorry. I screwed up in there...I did. But I do love you Rory and I’m sorry that I lied.

RORY: So what’s the truth?

TRISTAN: The truth?

RORY: Foreign concept I know, but you didn’t want me here for a reason so tell me why did you lie to me? Was it so that you could come here and be with her?

TRISTAN: Presley is the family obligation I told you about, my dad has given me the ultimatum to mend fences with her or else...and I knew you wouldn’t like it if I told you and I’m just so damn sick of fighting with you.

By the front doors Anders starts clapping lightly.

ANDERS: Bravo....he does it again.

PARIS: Does what?

ANDERS: Turned the whole thing around, boy was sitting in that kitchen getting all cozy with his ex, definitely crossing some lines, but now it’s her fault....he’s a master. I’m almost starting to like him again.

Over by the car Rory visibly backs up from Tristan like someone slapped her the shock evident on her face.

RORY: So this is my fault?

TRISTAN: You have to admit we have been fighting a lot about Presley.

RORY: Which clearly you validated with your behavior tonight!

TRISTAN: Please just give me a chance to explain... (looking around at the crowd that has gathered) Somewhere else...more private preferably.

Rory turns to Lane...maybe looking for answers, maybe a way out.

LANE: I can take the car home if you want....or I can take you home. It’s your call Rory.

Rory turns again to look at Tristan.

RORY: You’re an ass you know that right?

TRISTAN: Yes. I fully acknowledge that.

RORY: Fine...we can go talk. But I’m not making any promises.

TRISTAN: Fair enough.

Tristan starts to take Rory’s hand but she pulls away. A little hurt he leads her silently towards his car.

Outside Amy walks up to Presley who is leaning up against a tree.

AMY: I know that look...it’s the “Tristan just broke my heart” look.

PRESLEY: I’m fine.

AMY: Sure you are...and denial is a beautiful thing, not many people can wear it as well as you.

PRESLEY: I don’t like Tristan.

AMY: Yeah me either...I’m just after his body. But...that’s a story for another day. Right now you look like you could use a good ear and I’ve got two.

Presley gives Amy a hug.

PRESLEY: I really have missed you.

AMY: That’s really sweet...so now what’s your plan?

PRESLEY: My plan?

AMY: You want him back I know you do...so please tell me you’re not just going to roll over and play nice with Rory.

PRESLEY: I’m not like you; I don’t have that cutthroat thing going for me. I actually felt bad for her tonight.

AMY: Yeah...boo waah...she’s playing in the big leagues she’s going to need a tougher skin. Boys are jerks and that’s the bottom line, you can’t win if they have the power and believe me when I say Tristan has the power in that relationship.

PRESLEY: It didn’t look that way tonight.

AMY: Tonight doesn’t count, he has to relinquish his power because he screwed up so royally, but believe me...he’s in charge, no question.

PRESLEY: And why should this matter either way since he obviously wants to be with Rory. I don’t stand a chance.

AMY: Didn’t look that way to me in the kitchen, he couldn’t keep his hands off you.

PRESLEY: That was tequila inspired, he has no problems otherwise.

AMY: You can be really stupid you know that?

PRESLEY: I’m being realistic.

AMY: Here’s the real scoop princess...you’re getting to him and it’s killing him. You are the itch he doesn’t have permission to scratch. He wants you even though he knows he shouldn’t.

PRESLEY: Okay wake up from that fantasy, if Tristan wanted me, nothing would stop him.

AMY: Maybe old school Tristan, the one you remember...this Tristan...he’s actually grown a conscious and some morals...disgusting I know, but true.

PRESLEY: You really think he likes me?

AMY: Okay you really need to work on the whole confidence thing. You used to have the boy panting after you...you can do it again. Tonight was proof of that.

EXT: TRISTAN’S SUV-NIGHT

RORY: Give me the keys.

Tristan reaches into his pocket and pulls out the car keys handing them over to Rory.

TRISTAN: I wasn’t planning on driving.

RORY: Good, cause you’re not. Get in.

Tristan walks around to the other side of the car and gets in. In the drivers seat Rory starts the car.

TRISTAN: Where are we going?

RORY: I have no idea.

TRISTAN: We can’t go to my house my parents are home. Wait...I have an idea.

RORY: What?

TRISTAN: We could go to the Hartford Radisson, my dad has a work suite there and they’ll give me the key no questions.

RORY: And you know this how?

TRISTAN: I’ve never taken anyone there if that’s what you’re implying. It’s where he takes what he likes to call his female business associates. They keep his comings and goings confidential and he stays happy.

RORY: He’s married.

TRISTAN: Never seemed to stop him.

RORY: Like father, like son.

TRISTAN: Okay you’ve earned the right to be a bitch, but don’t ever compare me to my father. I am not like him!

RORY: I’m sorry...that was wrong…I didn’t mean it.

TRISTAN: I screwed up Rory...I get it. You have to tell me how to make this better.

Tristan reaches over to caress Rory’s cheek, slowly the tears that have been forming behind her eyes start to fall causing Tristan to sober up a little.

The harder Rory tries not to cry the harder she actually cries.

Tristan reaches over and pulls her into his arms.

TRISTAN: I didn’t mean to hurt you babe...I didn’t. Please don’t cry.

INT: PRESLEY’S HOUSE-NIGHT

Anders and Paris are out on the terrace kissing when his sister Amy walks out.

AMY: Oooh...gross Anders could you two just give it a rest please? I just ate.

ANDERS: Thanks for the interrupt Ames; what can I do for you?

AMY: Can I talk to you...alone?

Anders turns to Paris and gives her a small kiss.

ANDER: Remember where we left this.

PARIS: I can do that.

Anders takes Amy’s arm and drags her off the terrace into a room.

ANDERS: You’re timing stinks.

AMY: So does your taste.

ANDERS: Could you give it rest? I kind of dig her. She’s different and way beyond the word challenging.

AMY: You always were a sucker for the charity cases. Besides it’s for a good cause, you’re taking one for the team. 

ANDERS: Yeah...about that....

AMY: Oh do not tell me you are actually starting to really go for Paris....that’s revolting.

ANDERS: Let’s just say it’s not completely in the realm of the impossible.

AMY: I can’t believe you’re going to do this to me. You’re giving up.

ANDERS: It’s actually a little more...I’m kind of not caring anymore what DuGrey does.

AMY: You can’t be serious.

ANDERS: I am. I’m enjoying myself with Paris and I kind of have him to thank for it.

AMY: You’ve lost me.

ANDERS: If I wasn’t trying to tick him off I never would have asked Paris out.

AMY: Unbelievable...just don’t ask me to like her.

ANDERS: I wouldn’t dream of it.

INT: TRISTAN’S SUV-NIGHT

Rory has stopped the hysterical crying and is just lightly sobbing now; taking her chin in his hand Tristan lifts her face to his.

As he gazes into her eyes he takes a chance and brings his lips down to meet hers immediately tasting the salt of her tears as their mouths meld together in a tender, heartbreaking kiss. But as he really starts to kiss her Rory pulls away.

RORY: Please no...not tonight...there’s too much wrong with us right now and this would definitely complicate things.

TRISTAN: We can fix this Rory...we can.

RORY: I’m not so sure.

Rory starts the car and heads toward the Hartford Radisson, willing to talk it out but somehow suspecting that nothing Tristan has to say will erase the mental picture of him and Presley in such an intimate position clearly enjoying each others company.