“Well as far as I can see you have two options?”
“Why is that?”
“You want to get back together with your boyfriend and according to you that can’t happen until we ‘date’. Thus you have option one come to Europe with me or option two you spend at least another month apart from Hutzberger.”
It had been a trying month for both Rory and Tristan. After that first phone call Tristan had tried setting up a time to meet up with her to get this ‘de-marying’ business taken care of, however their schedules just did not match up, and Rory was not taking the news very well. Every time one of them had to cancel, which was not always him, she would end up ranting for a good twenty minutes about how if he wasn’t such a boy-band, Elvis Presley, Rhett Butler, Mr. Darcy, bible boy they wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. For his part Tristan had no clue how any of those fictional (well half fictional) characters had anything to do with him, but he wisely refrained from commenting on that fact when Rory was ranting. He would let her rant, all the while sighing and rolling his eyes over this stupid web of a mess that he was sure everyone blamed him for creating. However the time came for his semi-annual business trip, a vacation of sorts that he refused to miss no matter what comes up. He even mad the point of stopping in at Paris and Rory’s apartment to tell her in person.
“By the way how is Hutzberger taking the news that you were claimed by a DuGrey?” Tristan said with a small smirk on his face. It was not the same cocky smirk of his youth, but it was close enough to drive Rory into a tizzy.
“For your information he is not talking to me right now, because he thinks it is my fault that our ‘dates’ are always being canceled. He even suggested taking over the newspaper.”
“An even better reason for you to take a week off.”
Rory thought about what Tristan was offering her. It would give everyone the appearance they were spending time together, making sure they were not compatible or whatever crap their dating is suppose to signify. But in reality being in Europe she could do her own thing, like when she went with her Grandma. There were so many more sites and people she could meet if she went. “I have a rather full load this semester, playing catch-up and all, plus the paper. I can’t just leave for a week.”
“You will be on Spring break,” Tristan said with a knowing smile. He was close to winning her over to the idea of going with him.
“The paper does not stop for break, and that does not mean I don’t already have plans to study all week. Or for that matter spend time at home with my mom or with Logan.”
“As far as I can see that’s not a problem.” Rory gave him a look that just screamed ‘how did you figure all this out?’ “Your boyfriend is already avoiding you until we take care of this, plus he has already offered to take care of the newsroom. Which if you are honest with yourself is a good thing since he will be running them for the rest of his life. And what he can’t handle or wants your opinion on he can call or e-mail to you. Truth be told if he can’t handle the Yale Daily Newsroom, he will never be able to run any other newsroom his father may give him. And as for your mother, she is more than welcome to come if she wishes.” Tristan had a disgusted look on his face when he talked about Logan, who would have thought that her current boyfriend and the guy that had a crush on her in high school were revivals or mortal enemies in society. However when mentioning her mother he seemed to be genuinely honest.
“Okay say I agree, and he agrees to take over the paper, what about my homework, papers, and research?” Now she was fishing for excuses and they both knew it.
“I only travel on business twice a year, and will more than likely be in meetings all day, usually well into the night. You will have plenty of time to do your school work or to sight-see, whatever you want to do really. Honestly I wouldn’t care if just told them you were going with me and then went on your own trip. It’s up to you Rory.”
Tristan just gave Rory the answer she was looking for. She would be going away with him, but never be with him. “So we would hardly spend time together?”
“Disappointed Mary?” It was the first time Tristan had called her Mary since this whole ‘business’ came up, and he said it with as much of his old high school cocky smirk that he could muster. Rory was not prepared for the return of the smirk, having learned to deal with his new equanimity persona that she was a bit thrown off and left speechless. Thankfully his smirk did not last and Tristan was back to being Mr. Insurance once again. “You were the one who said that we had to spend time together to erase the ‘Mary’ stigma, and everyone else will think that, isn’t that all that matters. What everyone else thinks?” Though he was being sarcastic his face did not change for the poker face that his once cute boyish face had turned into over the years. He had changed so quickly from the cocky Tristan to the cold Tristan that Rory was still left speechless wondering why hadn’t she inherited her mothers quick wittedness in times of pressure. Tristan finally sighed, “Rory we would be killing two birds with one stone.”
Finally she gained her voice but only to say, “How so?”
“You don’t want to spend time with me, but have to for the sake of your relationship. I on the other hand would not mind spending time with you, however can’t. So if we appear to be spending a romantic week in Europe together, people will think that we realized we would never work and you would loose the Mary title and I will be left alone to get back to work.”
Rory was surprise by how much his nonchalant attitude was hurting her. Sure he said he would like to spend time with her, but by following that comment with statement about what people thinking is happening really wouldn’t happened, made the lie seem…well just wrong. However she was not going to let Tristan know how he hurt her with his comments. “Okay so when does the plan leave.”
“So you agree.” It was a comment not a question. “My driver will pick you up and take you to the airport. My secretary, Helen I believe the two of you have become quite close these last few weeks, will contact you with details tomorrow.” With that being said he started heading to the door, assuming that their discussion was done.
Rory was not about to let him off that easily. “What do you want me to tell everyone?”
“The truth.”
“Which is?”
“That in order to answer the ‘Mary’ theory, or whatever they are calling it, we have decided to get away from those who know us and will impact or decision, to figure out if there is ever the chance of there being an us. Europe was the natural choice since it would provide us with that space.” He said simply while opening the door to leave.
“Tristan…” She said quietly, quickly as a way to stop him from just walking away. He stopped but did not respond. “I’m sorry.”
“So am I.”