Date:1/15/02 12:41:33 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:miss_wales@hotmail.com

Title: Into the Night
Author: Meghan (miss_wales@hotmail.com)
Rating: PG-13 to R
Spoilers: Season One; it’s now their junior year, but nothing of Season Two 
has happened.
Pairing: R/T
Starring: Rory and Tristan
Guest Starring: Lorelai and Paris
Special Appearances By: Luke and Coffee
Summary: Rory has a bad day that may take a turn for the worst. How will she 
recover?
Disclaimer: Damn, foiled again. All right I did it, me me me. I stole the 
characters. But I am making no money. I was just playing with them. Their 
are my marionettes. They do nothing without me knowing, so there has been no 
illegal activity on their part. No officer, he was born that way. Yes I 
agree it should be illegal to be that good looking. I promise I’ll return 
them, I was just borrowing them for the time being.
Warning: An abundance of sexual tension.
Feedback: It makes my ordinary day a holly jolly Christmas. Please send it.


“Hi Rory, it’s Madeline. Look I know were not huge friends and all, but I 
was just calling you to invite you to this party I’m having tonight. You 
don’t have to come, but I just thought it would be nice to have you there, 
despite what Paris says you’re not that bad. So show up or not, Party’s at 
8.” The message continued with directions to Madeline’s
house. Rory was stunned, a party... a Chilton party... maybe she should go. 
For where there were Chiltonites, there was always entertainment, there was 
nothing more interesting then watching people be fake all evening.

Rory contemplated the decision for all of two seconds before heading to her 
room to get ready. After leaving a note to her mom, she grabbed the keys to 
the Jeep and was out the door. Maybe a night of being around mindless 
socialites would do her some good.

END PT 2

The party was already in full swing when Rory parked her car in an empty 
spot on the driveway. She took a deep, calming, breath before swinging her 
bare legs out of the jeep. The pale blue skirt of her dress blew about her 
legs in the light breeze of the night. Soft
clicks of her heels echoed through the night as she walked to the front 
door.

Rory was on a mission. During the drive to the party Rory decided that 
tonight she wasn't going to have a care in the world. Tonight she was going 
to have fun, whether it be with Chilton's snobs or not. Tonight she would be 
a carefree teenager. But before that could happen she would have to put Part 
A of her plan into action first. Find Tristan and
apologize for her earlier actions.

Rory was about to ring the doorbell when the door flew open in front of her. 
She staggered back a few steps as a few drunken teens stumbled out into the 
night. Rory peered into the house through the open door. She was slightly 
frightened by the large crowds of people she saw inside. Her instincts told 
her to turn around, that no good would come of being at a Chilton party, but 
she pressed on.

A few people gave her stares of astonishment as she walked through the 
entrance way. Rory’s eyes darted across the room nervously. Any eye contact 
made with another human being did not last long.

The house was gigantic, but the rooms seemed small, too many people to 
little space. Rory pressed herself against the wall in an attempt to pull 
away from the thronging masses. Music blared from speakers that seemed to 
surround the house. The walls seemed to vibrate with sound and laughter. 
Somewhere off in the distance Rory could make out faint splashes, the party 
continued on into the pool.

The small space around her seemed to close even more. Were the walls 
attempting to crush her? Her head spun with confusion about what to do.

Why hadn’t she brought Lane with her? This would have been so much easier if 
she had. Maybe it would just be easier to leave now. Tristan’s apology could 
wait. Rory turned to head for the door.

“Rory?” The question came from a female voice a few feet away from where she 
stood. Rory looked up and her eyes landed on Madeline, the hostess. “Wow, I 
didn’t think you’d come but I’m glad you did.”

Rory nodded silently in response, her eyes drifting to the hardwood floor.

“Who’s this Madeline?” Rory looked up when she heard the new voice.

“Zach this is Rory. Rory, my boyfriend Zach.” Madeline beamed at Rory.

“Rory. Nice to meet you welcome to the party.. However you can’t officially 
be apart of the crowd until you....”

“Zach, she doesn’t have to.” Madeline pushed her boyfriend’s hand away from 
Rory. In his grasp was a shot glass that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

“...until you drink this.” Zach continued on despite Madeline’s protest. He 
held up the glass to Rory. She took it from him. The liquid was a deep 
yellow. Rory had no idea what it was, some form of alcohol would be her only 
guess.

“Rory you don’t have to drink this. Zach can be an idiot, an adorable one, 
but an idiot none-the-less.” Madeline looked at her sympathetically. Rory 
still stared at the glass. Drinking was not a normal activity for her. What 
harm could come from it? She was a
teenager, she could be reckless and daring. Besides, if she was going to 
stay around, perhaps the alcohol would get rid of the pesky feelings she was 
having about talking to Tristan.

To her surprise, and Madeline’s, Rory downed the shot in one gulp. The 
bitter liquid stung it’s why down her stomach, but Rory felt the 
satisfaction of being a rebel.

“Welcome to the party Rory.” Zach shook her hand before slipping her arm 
around Madeline’s waist and steering her away. Rory set the glass down on a 
nearby table. She surveyed the room with new determination.

Her eyes landed on Tristan. He was leaning against the wall on the opposite 
side of the room. His arms were crossed and he did not look happy. A scowl 
was etched upon his face. Rory wanted to wrap him in a hug, that was a new 
feeling for her. Tristan and hugging, bad idea, yet somehow utterly 
appealing.

Rory was not thrilled with his attitude. She began to make her way over to 
him, determined to accomplish what she had come here for. Something in her 
made her back away though. A nervous feeling mixed with something else. Rory 
continued to back up, right into a table. Her hands shot out to steady 
herself. Something wet slid around her
fingers.

She turned her head to see what she was touching.  Her steps had ended up 
backing her right into a beverage table. Every type of liquor available 
seemed to be on that table. Rory looked back over at Tristan. Anger seemed 
to radiate from him. A friend moved to talked to him, but Tristan merely 
brushed by and fled into another room.

Rory looked, down at the table. One more drink couldn’t hurt her.

END PT 3