| TIME BEING |
| TITLE: Time Being AUTHOR: Adrienna Wilson RATING: P.G. (MAYBE P.G.-13) SPOILERS: Up to RUN AWAY LITTLE BOY, Dean and Rory never got back together. She never said I love you and thats the end of that chapter. Night of Romeo and Juliet play. PAIRING: Tristan & Rory, Romance SUMMARY: What if Rory ran into Tristan before he left? Would Tristan and Rory's fate be the same? Or would they have a chance at something more? When Mr. DuGrey interferes with his sons life, will it ruin any chance of a future between Rory and Tristan? DISCLAIMER: I do not own GILMORE GIRLS they are products of Amy Sherman- Palladino and the Warner Brothers network. The song "I HOPE YOU DANCE" is by Leanne Wolmack. (Is that how you spell her name?) WARNING: None. This is for entertainment purposes only. A few kissing scenes. Maybe. You`ll see!!! Where was he? I swear if he ruins this for me and sends Paris off on a tangent, then I will seriously have his head mounted on a silver platter... Rory was thinking up ways to detach Tristan' s head permanently from his body when she heard a heated argument coming from the next hall. It sounded like male voices and they seemed angry. Two to be exact. Although, the second voice, the voice with more youthfulness in his expressions, seemed oddly familiar. Rory held her breath as she rounded the corner, only, she knew she wouldn't be shocked when she seen who was on the other side, she would only be shocked at the reason for the yelling match, because quite frankly, it wasn't something that you heard about everyday in the halls of such a prestigious school such as Chilton. Rory rounded the corner and was immediately thrown into a strong lean body that could only be mistaken for Tristan DuGrey. She looked up timidly and when she finally confirmed that it was in fact Tristan DuGrey, did she allow herself to look him in the eye. Tristan still held Rory in the position she had banged into him. Hands clasped over her arms, her body slightly touching his. Tristan looked down and met her inquisitive eye. When Rory finally came to her senses and shook the thoughts of Tristan's body so close to hers and how good it felt she managed to utter her first words. "Whats going on Tristan?" Her words were no more than a whisper, suited for only Tristan's ears. Tristan was silent for a moment, at least until her words were registered inside his head. Thoughts of the heated argument with his father vanished from his mind and all he could concentrate on was the girl in his arms, at least partially in his arms, even if not for the reasons he wanted, anticipated. "I got into some trouble." He mumbled and when the reasons and memories flooded into his mind once again she pulled back suddenly, jerking his hands away as if burned. "Trouble? Involving..." Rory dreaded what he was about to say next. Rory, even though she wasn't with Dean, she shouldn't be dreading what Tristan of all people was about to say. Besides, it couldn't be all that bad, could it? He was after all part of one of the most influential families in Hartford. Surely his parents would never sink that low, cause such upstir in society...would they? "Duncan and Bowman, and Bowman's dads safe." Rory looked behind Tristan. There stood a man, no doubt Tristan's father. He was grabbing stack fulls of paper from his sons locker, browsing through them carefully, then throwing them into the garbage can that lay only a foot away. Into that can went binders, papers, old notes anything Mr. DuGrey could get his hands on that wasn't school property. Rory guessed that the pictures of the naked siamese twins had already been thrown out. "No. Why Tristan? I thought you were above all that? You went ahead and ruined everything you had going for you?" Rory was in shock. She thought she actually may, just possibly may have gotten through to him earlier today. She just proved herself wrong. That skull of his couldn't penetrate anything deeper than all the compliments thrown his way, every day at school. "Rory, look I am tired ok? I already have my parents all over my back throwing orders around at me like I'm on death row, just please, I thought you of all people would understand. I thought you knew." Tristan whispered hoarsely. He wanted someone to understand what he was going through. Even if that meant letting someone in. He just couldn't keep this up, this facade, the endless popularity contest... He just wanted out. And hell if quitting was considered cowardly, then he may as well just give himself up. Let people see what was beneath that tough exterior. The looks only penetrated to underneath the skin. Inside, no one knew. No one knew the desperate battle for control he fought with himself everyday. The truth behind him. Why he acted the way he did. Not for attention, well maybe some of it was for attention, but mostly it was something he'd grown so used to, he forgot the reason he held himself higher than all of the other rich snobs that attended Chilton. He needed to tell someone. Anyone. Just so they'd know he was real. Not some fake that wore a mask. An invisible one that kept him hid from the world. Only, he just didn't think people would care. Their innocence was lost. No longer was being true to yourself admitting the girl you liked was rumored to have cooties, but being true to yourself was something each of them, including Tristan, had forgotten. But thats history. Its like in those Disney movies, how they all start out Once Upon A Time, well thats were they where they are. And Tristan didn't think he could deal anymore. He just wanted to give up. Did that make him a coward already? Admitting defeat before actual defeat? He didn't know, and truthfully, he didn't care. "Whats your father doing?" Rory managed to whisper, her words barely audible. "He's considering pulling me out. He wants to send me away to South Carolina. There's a school their that deals with kids like me, or so he says." Rory noticed that no compassion entered his voice. His words nor expression gave any hint as to whether or not he cared about his situation. He preferred to leave it that way, but felt the ever-present desire to tell her. I hope you never lose your sense of wonder "Oh. Well are you still doing the play? Paris sent me looking for you. She wants your head. You realize that right?" "I know. I'm supposed to finish the play. As long as my old man doesn't get all mad and keeps his cool, you know..." his words trailed off. He ducked his head and prepared to say good-bye. Just incase. Besides it was easier than having to say it all at once. He didn't think he could handle that. And as one door closes, I hope one more opens... "I`ll talk to him. Tell him you were, I don't know, going through something. It was a phase. Just don't leave. Please." Rory couldn't believe these words were coming from her mouth. She shut it at record speed after the last words escaped her lips. I hope you give faith a fighting chance "Why? Its no use. Besides since when do you care. Last I checked you hated me. Why the sudden need for me to stay?" Tristan was doing it again. Pushing her away before she got to close, before anyone got to close. And if you get the chance, to sit it out or dance "I don't hate you Tristan I was upset. And your right I have no need for you. All I meant was that I care." She was growing impatient. She had no time for his cocky additude and if he was going to be like that then she'd pack his bags for him and buy him the airplane ticket to South Carolina. �A one way ticket' she thought menacingly. "Why?" he countered with a leer. Why was he doing this? He knew what he should be doing but no, let her leave you here without a second glance and hatred radiating from her. That would after all be easier, right? Who was he kidding, it would tear him apart in the end. But what if she never knew? The pain of her never knowing caused more grief than driving her away ever would, or could for that fact. He made his decision. I hope you dance, I hope you dance... "Because no one else seems to." Tristan couldn't quite rap himself around what she was saying. He was vaguely reminded of something his grandfather once told him: Every woman and man alike are afraid of something, thats how you know they love you, when their afraid of losing you. He held his breath for a few seconds but before he could respond he heard a cough from behind him. He slowly turned and came face to face with his father. He let out the breath he had been holding in. When he met his fathers eye he held his gaze defiantly. From behind Tristan, Rory could sense the hostility and years of turmoil boiling up inside of both men. Rory knew that they didn't get along. She had heard them arguing earlier and the look in the elder Du Grey's eye told her that he thought very little of his son. She soon came to realise that although Tristan may have been the most adored person at Chilton, he had to strive to win his parents affections. And she sensed that Tristan had since given up trying to please his father. She knew how influential his father was to Hartford society. Tristan did deserve some credit. He wasn't truly horrible. He actually had good points to things, he was simply someone that Rory could talk to. Someone she considered a friend. Although she knew for a fact Tristan would never settle for simply friends. He'd implied all he wished to imply the day of the PJ Harvey fiasco. "What?" Tristan all but spat. "Don't give me that lip. Hurry up. We have to get out of here so we can decide what to do with you." "Ooh, I thought you were going to ship me off huh? But I suppose you couldn't bear to let me get in the way of all you and mom had planned for me. After all, whats the use in having a son if you can't parade him around, as a prized possession none the less?!" Tristan was getting angry and that temper that was waiting to overblow finally was at the tip of the sword. "Wait! You two don't have to argue." Rory stepped up from behind Tristan. When Rory seen Tristan's amazed and quizzical look and Mr. DuGreys intimidating glare she went on. "I mean, uh, you two are worse than brother and sister. No offense or anything sir, I apologize if I offended you. But cut your son some slack. He's, um, been feeling sort of under the weather lately and um..." "A Gilmore will not dictate to me about how to raise my son. After all look were that terrific advice got your parents Miss Gilmore. Don't you dare try to tell me how to raise a child." Mr. DuGrey interrupted fiercely. "Sorry Sir. I understand." Rory bowed her head in pure embarrassment. "I was just heading towards the washrooms when I heard your um, heated argument. I am sorry sir." Tristan tried to wipe the smug look off his face after Rory stood up for him. His look changed to anger as he heard his fathers retort. "You ungrateful..." Tristan began but before he could continue his father put up a hand to silence him and pointed his finger hard at his sons chest. "Miss make your way to the washroom and do it fast. You had no business to be overhearing conversations that don't and will never concern you." Rory remained silent as she slowly nodded her head. She knew all to well that she probably made things worse on Tristan's behalf. I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, As she walked slowly ahead she looked back to see Tristan looking at her, in a way she couldn't quite place, but all the same, she knew what she had to do. She had to let him live the rest of his life without her. Because she knew that tonight would be the last time she ever saw him. _______________________________________________________________ As she rounded the corner she heard footsteps behind her. She quickened her pace knowing all to well who it was. She stumbled a few feet and realized that Tristan was on her heels. She turned and put her back against a random locker. "Why?" he questioned. "Because, you...you...you don't deserve to be treated like that. You deserve more." she replied shyly. "I don't deserve you." his tone was final, as if excepting it for the first time himself. She shuddered at the thought. "Well, I, uh, look Tristan, I..." Rory looked to the grounds. When she got nervous the babbling was sure to follow. "Rory?" "What?" "Shut up." I hope as one door closes one more opens, I hope you give faith a fighting chance, and if you get the chance to sit it out or dance... Tristan leaned in a kissed her. Rory felt the warmth of his lips from her toes to the top of her head. Her heart lurched and she surrendered herself to Tristan's touch. As the tilted her head up, he wondered vaguely whether this was what it was like to die and go to heaven, or whether this was simply a dream. It was more than either had hoped for. As they moved their lips against one another Rory realized that this was a million times better then their first kiss. Oh a million times better. Tristan was in heaven, finally he knew what it was like when they said that with a true kiss you could feel it in the tips of your toes and the ends of your fingers. Because truthfully, it was pretty damn close to what he was experiencing now. He reluctantly broke away. He looked down at her and his eyes silently begged her not to run. She met his glance. " I have to go." he whispered in her ear as he leaned in yet again. "No. You cant. What was the purpose of that then Tristan? You can't just leave and then expect me to wait for you." "I don't. I just needed to feel those lips on mine once more. I am good now. I'll be fine." "Good-bye." "Bye" Deep down Rory knew that this was the end. She knew she'd never see him again. And yet she was OK with that. At least for the time being. Tristan smiled to himself. He was all right. At least for the time being. I hope you dance, I hope you dance..... And they did. They danced. With each other every night, in their dreams. Because Disney also has a line that goes alongside Once Upon A Time. It's Happily Ever After.For the time being. The End |