Title:
Miss Me?
Author: DaxisSteele
Rating: PG
Summary: Senior year, One bus, two enemies, 14 hours together.
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Characters do
not belong to the author.
Chapter Nine: Blueprint In My Mind
"Mom, why do we have a giant fish in our basement?" She lifted the swordfish for her mother to inspect.
"New Years party, two years ago."
"The mermaid one?"
"Yeah."
"Oh right, you stumbled around in a fake tail all night."
"If I remember correctly you were quite the sight in you purple polka dot bikini."
"You promised never to mention that again."
"What was wrong with mentioning you in a bikini." Tristan leered at her.
"Mom set it on fire with a sparkler and my hair almost caught on fire. I was burned in some not so nice places."
"Ouch."
"That was never proven!!!"
"Yes it was. The entire town witnessed it. Including Dean."
"He was just mad because he had to watch his dreams of copping a New Year’s feel go up in flames." Lorelei chuckled. "I should have lit Bag Boy on fire." Tristan couldn’t help but chuckle. "Knock it off Bible Boy or you will be wearing the much dreaded donkey hat." She snickered and picked up the item in question. It looked like a mask out of a Mid Summer Night Dream.
"You’re kidding right?"
"Nope, it signifies that you will be the designated ass of the party, subject to much ridicule and torture."
"Is she serious?" Tristan turned to Rory.
"Very. Luke tried to take it off one day after being chosen as the village donkey and Mom shaved a stripe down the middle of his head while he was asleep."
"Is this just an arbitrary decision, or is there a science to it." Tristan glanced nervously between the pair.
"It’s a lottery, but if I feel someone is truly deserving I just rig it." Lorelei shrugged and turned back to searching through boxes. "Personally I think your grandmother should have to wear it this year."
"Mom, why do we still have the cross bow? You promised you would get rid of it after you almost shot Taylor in the head."
"Do I want to ask?"
"My mother, July 4th and William Tell, need I really say more?" Rory smirked at him.
"No please don’t." Tristan shook his head and held up a set of chains. "I’m definitely sure I don’t want to know about these."
"You found them." Lorelei came skipping across the basement. "Rory, you found the whip and the executioner’s mask right?"
"Is this the part where I start getting scared?"
"Stuff it Bible Boy, we’ve got work to do. Grab those old work clothes and board games."
"Ooh, I think I know where you are going with this!" Rory got a mischievous look in her eyes." She pulled her mother aside and whispered. "Only if you rig it though. Miss Patty is not getting her hands on him."
"What about you my lovely daughter?"
"You wouldn’t!"
"Better be nice to me." Lorelei waved the chains in front of her.
"Excuse me I’m going to go brew a pot of coffee." Rory dashed up the stairs like her hair was on fire.
"Smart girl learns fast."
"Um, care to fill the clueless guy in?"
"No clueless guy, it’s a surprise. Be afraid! Be very afraid." She laughed manically as she ran up the stairs. "Rory, take junior here to get his clothes. He is staying the weekend."
"You don’t trust me to get them by myself?" Tristan smiled a poured a cup of coffee.
"It means she wants us both out of the way." Rory rolled her eyes at her mother and chugged her coffee. "You think your parents would mind?"
"They are in Spain for the week. They won’t even notice."
"Shall we go then?"
"I’m staying tonight too?"
"Of course. You are being drafted into the pre-party construction with Luke." Lorelei giggled like a mad woman.
"I’m not coming out of this unscathed am I?" Tristan set his mug in the sink and pulled out his car keys.
"No one ever does." Rory followed him to the door.
"I don’t want to see you brats for at least two hours."
"Whatever you say Mom." Rory called behind her as she closed the door. As soon as they were gone she picked up the phone and called Sookie.
"Come play with me, it’s party planning time." There was a squeal on the other end of the line before it went dead.
"You’re house is very intimidating you know that right?" Rory walked around the living room.
"Why do you say that?"
"It makes you feel tiny and insignificant."
"That’s the look Dad was going for." Tristan shrugged. "Likes to make himself feel powerful." He grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs. "Come in let’s get moving." He pulled her into a large bedroom that, unlike the rest of the house, looked lived in.
"Your room I’m guessing." She smiled at the pile of clothes on the floor.
"Sorry it’s a mess. I wasn’t expecting company."
"Please, you’ve seen our house." Rory laughed. "Not exactly a tribute to Martha Stewart."
"Yeah, but from what I hear you party like rock stars, so I guess I can excuse that little lapse." He pulled her in for a kiss. She smiled as she leaned away from him with teasing eyes.
"How kind of you. Now hurry up. I don’t trust my mother."
"Now I’m really starting to get scared."
"She’s insane, you knew that. But I think I know what she is planning, and I don’t think she should be left alone too long."
"That good?"
"Yet another epic Gilmore bash, it will be impressive if she pulls this off."
"Just as long as I don’t have to wear the donkey mask." Tristan laughed as he threw some clothes into a bag.
"Trust me you won’t, she needs the ladies to see your pretty boy face."
"Hmm, pretty boy face?"
"So, I’ve been told. I’ve never seen it as that though." She shrugged noncommittally.
"Really." He looked almost hurt. "And how do you see it?"
"More, Greco-Roman godliness."
"Really?" He sauntered over to her with his trademark smirk.
"Yeah, which one was the grossly disfigured one?"
"Ouch, ego officially deflated."
"Ah poor baby, come here and let me hook that air hose back up to your head." Tristan could only laugh.
"I love it when you do that."
"Knock you down a peg?" She looked at him confused.
"No, well I guess it is a good thing, keeps me grounded in the real world. But I was talking about the quick wit." He scooped her into his arms. "What can I say, I’m a sucker for a beautiful woman with a quick wit."
"Are you fooling around with my mother behind my back?"
"Never." He chuckled. "She’s in love with Luke."
"You noticed that too?"
"I think while we are cowering in fear from your mother’s party plans we should play a little game or two with her."
"Ooh, get back at mom? I like how you think." She rubbed her hands together, smirking evil.
"Come on, we can plot in the car on the way back."
"Yeah, we need to make a few stops too." She got the same look in her eyes that Lorelei had graced him with earlier.
"God you two are scary when you’re plotting. Are you sure you don’t want to put it to some good use at school?"
"Now there’s a thought." She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the stairs. "Come on we’ve got a lot to do." She pulled out her cell phone. "Dad, it’s Rory, I need your help."