*Disclaimer: I don't own the series Gilmore Girls or the characters. All I
own is my imagination and the plot.
*A/N: Hey!!! :-) Yes, this is the sequel to 'Truthful Web of Lies' and I hope you guys enjoy the first chapter. Please read the A/N at the end of this chapter.
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
Tristan sighed as he roughly pulled a shirt over his head. He nodded in the direction of the other guys, before grabbing his towel and leaving the locker-room. He had just finished another training out on the field and though he could only vaguely remember what he would normally do on a Friday afternoon, he still wasn't used to the competition and the orders that were being barked at him day in and day out. Of course there had been rivalry back at Chilton and of course he was used to being bossed around, by his father. Not by a handful of intimidating strangers.
The other thing he still had trouble getting used to, was the feeling of being covered in dust and dirt all the time, even after his shower. And no matter how many showers he took, it always felt as if the dust had permanently attached itself to his skin. The first couple of days just the thought of being covered by dust made him restless, causing him to shower at least three times a day, but by now he had accepted the feeling, knowing that he would be covered in sand again the next day.
The first few trainings and a variety of courses, he had also become more watchful and guarded. He often found himself looking for hidden glimpses of untrustworthy behavior towards him. Because anyone could be the enemy and every friend could sneak up behind you and stab you in the back. Tristan knew that those ideas were far-fetched and as far from logical as possible, but yet those were the words that were repeated to him over and over. And he was afraid that one of these days he wouldn't have to repeat them anymore, because they would be engraved in his mind, like a permanent memory. He was afraid that he might even start to believe those words, just like they wanted.
Tristan fished his set of keys out of his pocket, as he headed up the stairs to his room, though it was only a symbolic gesture. He wasn't allowed to lock the door, no one was. That way no one could hide anything from the eyes of 'authority'. For some reason it made him feel like a small child, who had kept a terrible secret from his parents and was now being punished for his lying. Some of the guys dared to call authority sadists behind their backs. But what would it make them, those who absorbed authority's information and acted like their clones ?
Tristan opened the door and stepped into his solemn room. He had his own room, just like all the other young men here. According to his teachers and trainers, everyone was given their own room to encourage independence, and an unbearable loneliness. Especially since they were only allowed to make one phone call a week and their letters read by the Principal of this school first. Of course there was a way around the system. During the weekend, when you were allowed to leave the large grounds of the school, you could take your letters and spare change with you and contact the people you had missed talking to for almost an entire week.
He put his keys on his night table and sat down on his bed with the plain white and army green sheets. He looked around the room, taking in the practical pieces of furniture and the few personal objects he had been allowed to bring. His eyes fell upon a worn looking book on the shelves across his bed. In less than four paces he found himself standing in front of those shelves. A boyish grin came upon his face and cracked his serious expression as he read the title; Romeo and Juliet. A simple yet complicated tale.
Tristan took the book from the shelf and opened it to the very first page. In his unusual neat handwriting, he had written down the address of a character that lived maybe not a life as dramatic as the characters of Romeo and Juliet, but definitely lived a life to be proud of. The first he had done after he had set foot in this room was copy her address from the fragile peace of paper that he had safely kept in his pocket. Her address was of too big an importance to just place on some table, like a short note someone had hastily jotted down. But unfortunately he hadn't gotten the chance or courage yet to contact her. And he had to admit that he had purposely let some of those chances slip through his fingers.
Tristan couldn't help but see the humor in his situation. He was being trained to be fearless and yet he was afraid of talking to her, afraid of her reaction. It had been four months already and he still hadn't picked up the phone to call her. If he wanted he could call her every week, since he had no other important call to make. The only call he did make, was to his parents, once month. Simply because he had promised his mother that he would.
He sighed as he returned the book to his place on the shelf. He had already memorized every digit of her number.....
*~*~*
Both Rory and Paris found themselves grimacing at the sight in front of their eyes, one that had quickly become almost a daily routine for the raven haired guy in this predicament.
''You would think they could be a little more conservative about it,'' Paris noted, crossing her arms.
''And more gentle,'' Rory said, as Zack pushed his current girlfriend roughly against a locker.
''God, he'll bruise her.''
''As disturbing as this might sound, I think that's what he wants,'' Rory said, wondering why guys like Zack always had to leave their mark on every single girl they dated.
Paris raised an eyebrow, as she shot the couple one more look. ''I think we better go, before we get caught up in our own little porn movie.''
''Amen to that.''
Rory quickly turned around, trying not to catch glimpses of the heavy breathing couple out of the corners of her eyes, and started to walk in the direction of their next class.
''At least Tristan had the decency not to ram a girl right through a locker,'' Paris mumbled, loud enough for Rory to hear.
Though the two of them would never admit it, they were thinking about the same thing. Tristan's departure had left them with a few lingering what if's. Though Rory knew that Paris had it much harder than she did. Tristan was her best friend after all, though they had drifted apart throughout the years. And she and Tristan had just been starting to become friends when he left.
She had some restless nights because of him, wondering if military school was as horrible as she had pictured it in her mind. The worst part was, that she actually wanted the place to be horrible, so Tristan's parents would realize what they had done to their son and so Tristan would realize what he had left behind. Rory knew that it wasn't fair or rational to think like that, but she just desperately needed to find an answer to a question that had been forcing her mind to keep coming up with possible answers, cluttering her head, causing her to be unable to focus. Why hadn't he contacted her yet ? The only answer that seemed logical in her current frustration was that he wasn't allowed to call her. It was a safe answer, one that barely kept her away from thinking the worst.
Rory took a seat in the back, unlike Paris who always had to sit in the front row. It was amusing to see the teacher's faces when they realized who had chosen to occupy the front row. Rory on the other hand was done competing with Paris, they were a weird definition of friends now, and as long as she got the grades to prove that she was indeed clever, she didn't care.
Just as the second bell rang, signaling that the lessons were officially about to start, Zack Bradley walked in to the room, wearing his usual enticing grin, that reminded her so much of Tristan's playful smirk. Though those two were nothing alike, they couldn't even stand each other when Tristan was still here. They had been rivals, fighting for their position.
Zack had never liked the fact that Tristan managed to get to all the girls first and bedazzle them with his coy charm and impressive choice of words. Zack was the one who got the girls second hand, after Tristan was done with them. Rory knew that that sounded horrible, but the most girls that got used like that weren't afraid to break a few hearts themselves. And though she did feel sorry for some of them, she and Paris vowed to be smarter than that, which they had obviously proven to be.
Rory glanced at Zack and wondered if she could ever fall in love with someone like him. Pitch black curls, devilishly gleaming green eyes and an innocent looking face with a natural modest blush. His appearance was misleading, she had to admit. From afar he seemed like a nice guy, shy even. But luckily for her, his eyes and conceited attitude and behavior gave him away.
Suddenly Zack shifted in his seat and turned his head a little, so he could look at her. His eyes remained on her face for a couple of seconds, before he turned around, a grin still visibly tugging at his lips.
Rory looked away and stared at her reflection in the window. To her surprise she could make out a faint blush on her cheeks.......
*~*~*
During lunch, Rory took the opportunity to pay a visit to her locker, knowing that the halls would be practically empty, since the cafeteria was the place to be right now. Something always seemed to happen in there. Pranks had been pulled, people had been rejected and trays had been dropped, all in front of her eyes. And she had to admit that the sound of forks scraping against plates and people yelling was comforting in a way.
She got her books out of her bad, as she went around the corner, not aware of the green masterpieces casually observing her. When she did look up, she found Zack Bradley himself, leaning against her locker. Trying to hide her confusion and suspicion, she walked over to him.
''Hey.''
He grinned. ''Rory, right ?''
She nodded, as she looked around the corridor, trying to spot some of his friends. For some reason she always suspected his friends to go wherever he went, since they were his followers and all.
''What are you doing ?'' Zack asked, following her gaze around the corridor.
''Looking for........a sign.''
''A sign ?'' Zack asked, a little confused.
''Yeah, a sign of this being some sort of prank or something.''
Zack chuckled. ''I can assure you that this isn't a prank.''
''Then why are you here ?''
Zack shrugged, resting his eyes upon her distrusting figure. ''Do I have to have a reason ?''
''Normal people don't.''
''Well, I have a head, two arms and two legs, sounds pretty normal to me,'' Zack amusedly said.
''I'm sure it's just a cover,'' Rory said, as she looked at him, daring him to continue.
She had been through enough conversations like this with Tristan to know that Zack indeed had a hidden point to make.
''Could you please move, so I can get to my locker ?''
''Sure,'' Zack answered. ''I have to go anyway. I just wanted to introduce myself to you, since we have never really talked or anything.''
''Is there a reason to ?'' Rory asked suspiciously.
''Lighten up. I just wanted to be nice.......... I'm Zack Bradley.''
He held out his hand to her and looked at her, waiting for her response. Rory sighed and reached for his hand, knowing that he wouldn't leave her alone before she did this.
''Lorelai Gilmore.''
They briefly shook hands, before Rory pulled hers back.
''Lorelai huh ?''
''Can you please move now ?'' Rory almost pleadingly asked.
Zack nodded and moved aside. ''I have to get going anyway. It was nice meeting you, Lorelai.''
''Yeah, same here.''
He grinned at Rory once more, before heading off to the cafeteria. Rory quickly put her books in her locker, as she wondered if he really just wanted to meet her. Cause if he was telling the truth, then he was actually pretty nice and not at all like he pretended to be.
*~*~*
While Rory made her way over to her usual seat at the counter, thoughts were crowding her head, intruding in her daily routine.
She hadn't noticed Zack or cared about noticing him until now.......... Or maybe she unable to notice him, because of Tristan's presence and all the people that were looking up to him. Maybe she didn't notice Zack, because he seemed to stay in the background, until Tristan's departure. But still........why didn't he catch her attention earlier, why today. Though the answer was painfully clear, she chose to ignore it and decided to come up with another one instead. After four months, she was finally starting to get over the fact that Tristan wasn't here anymore and that she didn't have to feel guilty about forgetting him, because she doubted she would ever see him again. Especially since she had made an effort to stay in touch. Rory faintly smiled, satisfied with her answer.
''Hey Jess,'' Rory greeted, as she sat down.
Jess nodded at her, before placing a cup of coffee in front of her.
''Yes, I'm psychic,'' Jess said, before Rory could say anything.
''Can you predict my future while you're at it ?'' Rory asked, before taking a sip of her coffee.
Jess studied her expression for a short while. ''You look...........different. Something happen at school ?''
Rory shook her head. ''Nope.''
''Fine,'' Jess sighed, as he wiped his hands on a rag. ''Is he cute ?''
Rory remained quiet. How could she respond when she didn't know which one he meant, or which one she meant for that matter.
*R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? I know this chapter may seem a little confusing, but I had to give you guys an idea of what's going through Tristan's head, as well as through Rory's. And I also wanted to give you a glimpse of Zack's character. I hope I did an okay job and you all like it so far. If you don't tell me and I'll stop writing this. *And the Trory action won't be happening for a while, because I have a plot in mind and I don't want to rush things.* I hope you'll understand and bare with me. Thanks!!! :-)
*A/N: Hey!!! :-) Yes, this is the sequel to 'Truthful Web of Lies' and I hope you guys enjoy the first chapter. Please read the A/N at the end of this chapter.
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
Tristan sighed as he roughly pulled a shirt over his head. He nodded in the direction of the other guys, before grabbing his towel and leaving the locker-room. He had just finished another training out on the field and though he could only vaguely remember what he would normally do on a Friday afternoon, he still wasn't used to the competition and the orders that were being barked at him day in and day out. Of course there had been rivalry back at Chilton and of course he was used to being bossed around, by his father. Not by a handful of intimidating strangers.
The other thing he still had trouble getting used to, was the feeling of being covered in dust and dirt all the time, even after his shower. And no matter how many showers he took, it always felt as if the dust had permanently attached itself to his skin. The first couple of days just the thought of being covered by dust made him restless, causing him to shower at least three times a day, but by now he had accepted the feeling, knowing that he would be covered in sand again the next day.
The first few trainings and a variety of courses, he had also become more watchful and guarded. He often found himself looking for hidden glimpses of untrustworthy behavior towards him. Because anyone could be the enemy and every friend could sneak up behind you and stab you in the back. Tristan knew that those ideas were far-fetched and as far from logical as possible, but yet those were the words that were repeated to him over and over. And he was afraid that one of these days he wouldn't have to repeat them anymore, because they would be engraved in his mind, like a permanent memory. He was afraid that he might even start to believe those words, just like they wanted.
Tristan fished his set of keys out of his pocket, as he headed up the stairs to his room, though it was only a symbolic gesture. He wasn't allowed to lock the door, no one was. That way no one could hide anything from the eyes of 'authority'. For some reason it made him feel like a small child, who had kept a terrible secret from his parents and was now being punished for his lying. Some of the guys dared to call authority sadists behind their backs. But what would it make them, those who absorbed authority's information and acted like their clones ?
Tristan opened the door and stepped into his solemn room. He had his own room, just like all the other young men here. According to his teachers and trainers, everyone was given their own room to encourage independence, and an unbearable loneliness. Especially since they were only allowed to make one phone call a week and their letters read by the Principal of this school first. Of course there was a way around the system. During the weekend, when you were allowed to leave the large grounds of the school, you could take your letters and spare change with you and contact the people you had missed talking to for almost an entire week.
He put his keys on his night table and sat down on his bed with the plain white and army green sheets. He looked around the room, taking in the practical pieces of furniture and the few personal objects he had been allowed to bring. His eyes fell upon a worn looking book on the shelves across his bed. In less than four paces he found himself standing in front of those shelves. A boyish grin came upon his face and cracked his serious expression as he read the title; Romeo and Juliet. A simple yet complicated tale.
Tristan took the book from the shelf and opened it to the very first page. In his unusual neat handwriting, he had written down the address of a character that lived maybe not a life as dramatic as the characters of Romeo and Juliet, but definitely lived a life to be proud of. The first he had done after he had set foot in this room was copy her address from the fragile peace of paper that he had safely kept in his pocket. Her address was of too big an importance to just place on some table, like a short note someone had hastily jotted down. But unfortunately he hadn't gotten the chance or courage yet to contact her. And he had to admit that he had purposely let some of those chances slip through his fingers.
Tristan couldn't help but see the humor in his situation. He was being trained to be fearless and yet he was afraid of talking to her, afraid of her reaction. It had been four months already and he still hadn't picked up the phone to call her. If he wanted he could call her every week, since he had no other important call to make. The only call he did make, was to his parents, once month. Simply because he had promised his mother that he would.
He sighed as he returned the book to his place on the shelf. He had already memorized every digit of her number.....
*~*~*
Both Rory and Paris found themselves grimacing at the sight in front of their eyes, one that had quickly become almost a daily routine for the raven haired guy in this predicament.
''You would think they could be a little more conservative about it,'' Paris noted, crossing her arms.
''And more gentle,'' Rory said, as Zack pushed his current girlfriend roughly against a locker.
''God, he'll bruise her.''
''As disturbing as this might sound, I think that's what he wants,'' Rory said, wondering why guys like Zack always had to leave their mark on every single girl they dated.
Paris raised an eyebrow, as she shot the couple one more look. ''I think we better go, before we get caught up in our own little porn movie.''
''Amen to that.''
Rory quickly turned around, trying not to catch glimpses of the heavy breathing couple out of the corners of her eyes, and started to walk in the direction of their next class.
''At least Tristan had the decency not to ram a girl right through a locker,'' Paris mumbled, loud enough for Rory to hear.
Though the two of them would never admit it, they were thinking about the same thing. Tristan's departure had left them with a few lingering what if's. Though Rory knew that Paris had it much harder than she did. Tristan was her best friend after all, though they had drifted apart throughout the years. And she and Tristan had just been starting to become friends when he left.
She had some restless nights because of him, wondering if military school was as horrible as she had pictured it in her mind. The worst part was, that she actually wanted the place to be horrible, so Tristan's parents would realize what they had done to their son and so Tristan would realize what he had left behind. Rory knew that it wasn't fair or rational to think like that, but she just desperately needed to find an answer to a question that had been forcing her mind to keep coming up with possible answers, cluttering her head, causing her to be unable to focus. Why hadn't he contacted her yet ? The only answer that seemed logical in her current frustration was that he wasn't allowed to call her. It was a safe answer, one that barely kept her away from thinking the worst.
Rory took a seat in the back, unlike Paris who always had to sit in the front row. It was amusing to see the teacher's faces when they realized who had chosen to occupy the front row. Rory on the other hand was done competing with Paris, they were a weird definition of friends now, and as long as she got the grades to prove that she was indeed clever, she didn't care.
Just as the second bell rang, signaling that the lessons were officially about to start, Zack Bradley walked in to the room, wearing his usual enticing grin, that reminded her so much of Tristan's playful smirk. Though those two were nothing alike, they couldn't even stand each other when Tristan was still here. They had been rivals, fighting for their position.
Zack had never liked the fact that Tristan managed to get to all the girls first and bedazzle them with his coy charm and impressive choice of words. Zack was the one who got the girls second hand, after Tristan was done with them. Rory knew that that sounded horrible, but the most girls that got used like that weren't afraid to break a few hearts themselves. And though she did feel sorry for some of them, she and Paris vowed to be smarter than that, which they had obviously proven to be.
Rory glanced at Zack and wondered if she could ever fall in love with someone like him. Pitch black curls, devilishly gleaming green eyes and an innocent looking face with a natural modest blush. His appearance was misleading, she had to admit. From afar he seemed like a nice guy, shy even. But luckily for her, his eyes and conceited attitude and behavior gave him away.
Suddenly Zack shifted in his seat and turned his head a little, so he could look at her. His eyes remained on her face for a couple of seconds, before he turned around, a grin still visibly tugging at his lips.
Rory looked away and stared at her reflection in the window. To her surprise she could make out a faint blush on her cheeks.......
*~*~*
During lunch, Rory took the opportunity to pay a visit to her locker, knowing that the halls would be practically empty, since the cafeteria was the place to be right now. Something always seemed to happen in there. Pranks had been pulled, people had been rejected and trays had been dropped, all in front of her eyes. And she had to admit that the sound of forks scraping against plates and people yelling was comforting in a way.
She got her books out of her bad, as she went around the corner, not aware of the green masterpieces casually observing her. When she did look up, she found Zack Bradley himself, leaning against her locker. Trying to hide her confusion and suspicion, she walked over to him.
''Hey.''
He grinned. ''Rory, right ?''
She nodded, as she looked around the corridor, trying to spot some of his friends. For some reason she always suspected his friends to go wherever he went, since they were his followers and all.
''What are you doing ?'' Zack asked, following her gaze around the corridor.
''Looking for........a sign.''
''A sign ?'' Zack asked, a little confused.
''Yeah, a sign of this being some sort of prank or something.''
Zack chuckled. ''I can assure you that this isn't a prank.''
''Then why are you here ?''
Zack shrugged, resting his eyes upon her distrusting figure. ''Do I have to have a reason ?''
''Normal people don't.''
''Well, I have a head, two arms and two legs, sounds pretty normal to me,'' Zack amusedly said.
''I'm sure it's just a cover,'' Rory said, as she looked at him, daring him to continue.
She had been through enough conversations like this with Tristan to know that Zack indeed had a hidden point to make.
''Could you please move, so I can get to my locker ?''
''Sure,'' Zack answered. ''I have to go anyway. I just wanted to introduce myself to you, since we have never really talked or anything.''
''Is there a reason to ?'' Rory asked suspiciously.
''Lighten up. I just wanted to be nice.......... I'm Zack Bradley.''
He held out his hand to her and looked at her, waiting for her response. Rory sighed and reached for his hand, knowing that he wouldn't leave her alone before she did this.
''Lorelai Gilmore.''
They briefly shook hands, before Rory pulled hers back.
''Lorelai huh ?''
''Can you please move now ?'' Rory almost pleadingly asked.
Zack nodded and moved aside. ''I have to get going anyway. It was nice meeting you, Lorelai.''
''Yeah, same here.''
He grinned at Rory once more, before heading off to the cafeteria. Rory quickly put her books in her locker, as she wondered if he really just wanted to meet her. Cause if he was telling the truth, then he was actually pretty nice and not at all like he pretended to be.
*~*~*
While Rory made her way over to her usual seat at the counter, thoughts were crowding her head, intruding in her daily routine.
She hadn't noticed Zack or cared about noticing him until now.......... Or maybe she unable to notice him, because of Tristan's presence and all the people that were looking up to him. Maybe she didn't notice Zack, because he seemed to stay in the background, until Tristan's departure. But still........why didn't he catch her attention earlier, why today. Though the answer was painfully clear, she chose to ignore it and decided to come up with another one instead. After four months, she was finally starting to get over the fact that Tristan wasn't here anymore and that she didn't have to feel guilty about forgetting him, because she doubted she would ever see him again. Especially since she had made an effort to stay in touch. Rory faintly smiled, satisfied with her answer.
''Hey Jess,'' Rory greeted, as she sat down.
Jess nodded at her, before placing a cup of coffee in front of her.
''Yes, I'm psychic,'' Jess said, before Rory could say anything.
''Can you predict my future while you're at it ?'' Rory asked, before taking a sip of her coffee.
Jess studied her expression for a short while. ''You look...........different. Something happen at school ?''
Rory shook her head. ''Nope.''
''Fine,'' Jess sighed, as he wiped his hands on a rag. ''Is he cute ?''
Rory remained quiet. How could she respond when she didn't know which one he meant, or which one she meant for that matter.
*R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? I know this chapter may seem a little confusing, but I had to give you guys an idea of what's going through Tristan's head, as well as through Rory's. And I also wanted to give you a glimpse of Zack's character. I hope I did an okay job and you all like it so far. If you don't tell me and I'll stop writing this. *And the Trory action won't be happening for a while, because I have a plot in mind and I don't want to rush things.* I hope you'll understand and bare with me. Thanks!!! :-)