❝FIRST DATE JITTERS❞
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⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ chapter fifteen,
Gilmore Girls — Season One

November 6th, 2000

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[ LUCY'S POV ]

TRISTAN KNOCKS ON ADDY'S DOOR THAT EVENING and Addy answers before I even get down the stairs. Damn it.

     I'm still pushing my heels on, and hopelessly tying the straps which almost causes me to topple down the stairs. "You aren't..." He's holding a bouquet of white jasmine flowers and he's dressed smartly in a jumper and jeans. I look freaking overdressed...

     Addy stands at the door, her arms crossed over her chest as she examines the boy in front of her with beady eyes. She looks him up and down, humming quietly. "Nice to see you Addy."

     Addy hums, satisfied with how he's presented himself so far. "Have her home by midnight," Addy insists, going full mom-mode which I find amusing from behind her. "Or I'll hurt you."

     "Yes, ma'am," he promises, nodding his head politely as I walk towards the door, a hand sliding up to Addy's shoulder, signalling to her that she doesn't need to continue with the threats.

     "Okay, Addy, I'll be back soon." I squeeze her shoulder, moving past her to step out the door, smiling when I come face to face with him.

     Addy glares at Tristan until I shut the door behind me, and I chuckle, apologising for Addy's insane behaviour. She likes Tristan but she loves me, and she's very protective of me. To be honest, I act the same when Addy goes on a date with Nathan despite me being his friend too.

     "These are for you," Tristan says, holding the flowers out towards me and I smile widely, taking them from his hands, and instantly lifting them to my nose so I can smell the scent of these gorgeous flowers.

     "Thank you," I whisper, stepping down the steps with him beside me. "You look..." I try to find the words. "You look really good."

     "And you look beautiful," he replies, and I'm so glad that Addy convinced me to buy this dress. "Blue suits you."

     "I feel a little overdressed," I admit.

     Tristan shakes his head. "Nonsense, you look unbelievable, I assure you."

     My God, he knows what to say.

     We step over to his car, and he goes to open the car door for me, and I get in with with zero hesitation. I'm prepared for this. Now I'm here, sitting in his rather expensive car, and I'm somewhat overwhelmed by the fact that I'm on a date with someone like him— a rich, privileged, private school boy. I lean back in my seat, feeling very, very comfortable, almost too comfortable that I fear I may fall asleep.

     There's soft tunes playing through the speakers, and I watch Tristan climb into the car. I recognise the music, and I turn it up slightly, and Tristan visibly cringes. "Oh, my God. You listen to ABBA?"

     His head falls against the steering wheel. "It's something of a guilty pleasure for me," he admits, and I can see he's shameful.

     I snort a laugh. "Oh, my God. What's your favourite song?"

     "Lay All Your Love On Me," he replies, and I burst into laughter, my hand covering my mouth because the noises coming out are horrid, and he definitely won't want to date me after this. "Hey, you aren't allowed to laugh. I— Okay, what's your guilty pleasure?"

     I hum, and immediately say, "Billy Joel."

     Tristan looks pleased with the answer. "Uptown Girl?"

     "Vienna, thank you," I correct, and he chuckles.

     He smiles towards me as he starts up the car, his eyes never leaving mine.

     As I settles into my seat, I peer into the backseat and notice there's a basket, likely filled with drinks or food and I'm furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. "Now there's either food in there or weapons..." I comment, my eyes falling on his as he begins to pull away from the sidewalk, spinning the wheel smoothly.

     He chuckles but he doesn't deny the weapon comment, and I ask again, a little worried that he's actually planning on killing me. He won't, right? "Where are we going?"

     "Well, I gave it a lot of consideration, and I thought a restaurant would be too much for two sixteen year olds, and you didn't want to show me around your—"

     "Hey, I will one day," I interject.

     I feel a little guilty, but I didn't want to show him around my town on the first date.

After meeting him nearly three weeks ago at Addy's dance classes, I went to the following classes and we agreed to a date. I asked him what he'd like to do, and some part of him wanted to check out my town. I wasn't against the idea, but I certainly wasn't for the idea either. Showing Tristan around would result in me having to explain to my dad who he is, and I was definitely not prepared for that.

My dad didn't know I was on a date.

I made a plan with Addy to avoid my dad finding out. I hated lying to him but, until there was something to tell, I wouldn't discuss Tristan with him.

Since it was a Friday night, me and Addy decided to have a sleepover to cover up the fact that I would be going on a date. Addy's mom is at bingo night, meaning she won't be back till late, and my dad obviously lets me sleep at Addy's whenever so the plan should work beautifully.

And now I'm here, with him, and I feel comfortable. I feel safe surprisingly, and we hardly know each other. We've only spoken at Addy's dance classes, but now we're alone for the next few hours, and I really hope I don't screw this all up.

If this date goes well, I hope for there to be many more, and then he can maybe see my town. He can meet my dad, and everything will be great. I think...

I turn to look at him in the driver's side. He looks beautiful, if one would describe a boy like that, and I admire him quietly. His hair falls against his forehead, his eyes are a gorgeous brown colour, and the streetlights we pass illuminate his face in the most beautiful way. I can capture every freckle, every dent and dimple.

He glows, and I feel creepy watching him, but I can't take my eyes off him. This all feels surreal, like I'm having a fever dream, and if I pinch myself, he'll disappear.

It doesn't seem believable that he of all people would be interested in a girl like me.

But here is he...

"So," Tristan begins, snapping me away from my thoughts. "I thought I'd take you somewhere more private. There's food and soda in the back, don't worry. You won't be returning home with an empty stomach."

I nod, a gentle smile on my face because it seems he has prepared, he has thought this through.

Tristan turns to look at me, and our eyes hold for a moment, just staring, and I feel myself pull towards him subconsciously. There's something drawing me to him, but we're driving and I don't wish to crash right now. "Keep your wild eyes on the road, mister," I insist, and Tristan turns away with a knowing smile on his face.

"Can't help it," he toys, and my face turns red from embarrassment because nobody has ever flirted with me. It feels strange, but I'm not repulsed by it. "You really do look beautiful, Luciana."

"Lucy," I insist, my voice firm because nobody— unless I'm being told off— calls me Luciana.

He shakes his head, a grin on his face. "Oh, come on, I like your name, Blue."

Over the past few weeks, Blue has become Tristan's nickname for me since he looked me in the eyes the first day we met. Honestly, I'm not against the nickname. In fact, I find it sweet, like all his other names for me but I hate hearing my first name from anybody.

We continue to drive in a comfortable silence until we arrive at our destination, and my mouth falls open when I realises where we are.

He's brought me to a drive-in movie theatre, somewhere I've dreamed of going my entire life.

"You know, I've always wanted to go to one of those drive-in movie theatres," I say, turning my attention towards Tristan who has his eyes already laser-focused on me. "Like the one in Grease."

"You'll be the Sandy to my Danny?"

I roll my eyes at the insinuation, pulling my eyes off him. "Shut up."

"Drive-in movie theatre, huh?"

I turn towards him, my cheeks a ridiculous shade of pink. "Does this make me your Sandy?" I laugh, and Tristan grins at the idea.

I've always loved the idea of this movie thing. It always looks so fun, so thrilling in the movies, and to spend this time with Tristan is just a reward in itself.

Tristan leans close to me, and I turn my face to find that we're inches apart, staring at one another. "I'm guessing you like it?"

I nod. "I do."

I pull myself away, my eyes looking out to the giant screen that is projected up onto the back of an old shed. Nobody has ever done this for me before, and I feel overwhelmed in a way because it's the sweetest thing. It's perfect. "What are we watching?"

"Unsurprisingly, Grease," he announces, and I turn back to him with a wide smile because of course we are.

"Will you sing?" I ask, nudging him, and he shakes his head. "Oh, come on. Not even one song? I won't make fun of you," I tease.

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't," he toys, leaning back in his chair.

He better sing. The date will only be better if this boy sings Grease songs for me.

"Thank you," I whisper, settling into my chair comfortably. "This is incredible."

"The date's only just starting, Blue."

Tristan reaches into the backseat, pulling the basket full of snacks and drinks to the front. I immediately reach in for the Red Vines and Twinkies, and I admire that he knows my favourite snacks. These are the exact snacks I bring every week to Addy's classes, and he's noticed. He's been watching.

Tristan reaches in for the bag of popcorn before retrieving a soda from the basket to pass over to me. "Thank you," I say, taking the soda from his hands as he grabs his own.

The song, "Grease" starts, indicating that the film is beginning, and I'm lowly humming the song to myself peacefully as it starts.

In the first ten minutes of the film, Tristan's hand finds its place in mine, and I thought I'd be adamant to touch him, but I find myself welcoming it. I feel instantly warmed from how delicate his finger runs over my hand, tracing the indents of my knuckles. It's a soothing feeling, having my fingers intertwined with a boy who I like, with a boy who likes me, and a boy who is already giving me a wonderful first date.

Tristan shifts in his seat, his hand never leaving mine as he moves slightly closer to speak lowly, "Hey."

I bring my eyes off the film, my eyes on him. "You don't have to speak in a whisper," I say matter-of-factly. "We're in a car, Tristan."

     "Oh, yeah." He laughs, and it's a beautiful sound that I could definitely get used, and before I can utter another word, Tristan is speaking again, his voice soft, "Tell me something... A secret or something."

     "Why?" I ask, my eyes still on his despite the film playing. Whatever, I've seen it a million times before, and this is a date after all. I'm here to get to know him, and he's here to get to know me so the film can wait.

     "I just want to know you. This is a first date after all, you know?" I nod, my lips pressed together as I try to formulate an appropriate response.

     I'm unsure on what to tell him, unsure on if I should be honest or tell him something I think he wants to hear. I sigh, my eyes moving away from his for a quick second as I decide what to admit. "This is my first date, like, ever," is what I choose to admit, and I hear him shift in his seat. "That's my secret. I've never dated nor been interested in it until, well, now."

     "Well, there's something about me being your first ever date that's extremely attractive to me," he admits, and I scoff, a raise in my brow as I look to the soft grin on his face. "I find it very hard to believe though."

     "I've never had the opportunity, I guess," I say, and I hope I'm not oversharing, but he continues to look at me with admiration, so I keep talking, "I think some guys have liked me, I don't know. I never give anyone a chance because... well, I've never felt anything towards anyone. And most guys are terrified of my dad, so they often stay away." I laugh casually, and Tristan squeezes my hand.

     "I've told you I'm very persuasive," he says, and I know he is— I mean, I'm on a date with him— but convincing Luke Danes is much harder than he thinks, and Tristan doesn't know what my dad is like at all. "I would like to meet him one day, if you're okay with that."

     "Well, doesn't this have to go well first?" I say without considering the response, and I clamp my mouth shut immediately.

     "And isn't it?"

     I nod, and Tristan runs his thumb over my knuckles. "Yeah," I utter. "You're a lot different from what I imagined you were."

     "And you imagined me to be a stuck-up dick I'm assuming?" I pull my eyes off him, feeling somewhat guilty for ever assuming that he would be one. He just seems like the type, and that's horrible of me to assume as he appears to be the complete opposite right now.

     "Just a little..." I feel shameful admitting it but I'm a girl who's brutally honest even if people don't want me to be. "But now I think there's a side to you that not a lot of people see."

     "And what side is that, Blue?"

     I blush at the nickname, and Tristan squeezes my hand. "Your gentle, kinder side that I'm seeing right now," I say, and Tristan's facial expression softens. "The side that would bring a girl to a drive-in movie."

     He shifts in his seat, and I find that we're closer to one another than we were before. I feel as if I've gravitated towards him since we began our conversation, and he's continuously moving towards me. His eyes remain laser-focused on me, and I think I see him look from my eyes to my lips. It happens so fast, I don't know if I'm hallucinating.

     His arm rests on the back of my seat, and I squeeze his hand that holds onto mine. His breathing sounds staggered, and I inhale sharply at how close we've found ourselves. Tristan clears his throat before he speaks, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you've not had your first date, I'm amusing you haven't had your first kiss."

     The insinuation catches me off guard, but I manage to stutter out something of a response, "Well, I... I... I actually kissed Nick Freeman when I was nine on a dare and..." I'm rambling and he's chuckling, completely infatuated by me, and I don't know how. "Basically I haven't kissed anyone... I guess."

     His hand that was resting on my seat moves to brush against my cheek, and I lean into the hand that feels so warm against my skin. I feel a gnawing, fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach. I've never felt like this. I can't even explain this feeling, it's strange but exciting.

     "Will you..." Tristan pauses, trying to read my eyes that move from his eyes to his lips. "Will you let me kiss you?"

     There's no hesitation in my voice when I say, "Yes."

The next few seconds pass by in slow motion as Tristan moves forward in his seat, a hand against my cheek. I look from his eyes to his lips and I swallow the lump in my throat as Tristan brings my face towards his.

The gap closes between us, and my breathing turns shallow the moment Tristan's lips fall on mine. A tingling sensation runs up my spine at how perfect and different this feels, and I run my hands up to touch his face so I can hold onto this moment right now. His lips move against mine with a gentle urgency and I attempt to follow his lead, smiling against his mouth in response.

Somehow, our kiss turn passionate and tender, and I feel our hearts are dancing perfectly in tune as our lips move freely, and I really hope I'm not messing this up. The world around us ceases to exist, and I feel me and Tristan are the only two people in this sea of pure, fervent emotion. This feels perfect.

Our kiss lasts for what feels like eternity, and our lips part briefly, but I wish I didn't have to pull away. My eyes remain closed for a quick second and Tristan's hand doesn't leave my cheek. He leans his forehead against mine and asks, "Was that okay?"

"Yes, I— Thank you," I laugh, feeling silly for thanking him. "Better than Nick Freeman..."

"Oh, thank God," he laughs, his thumb brushing against my cheek before he pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. He then pulls back, reaching for my hand that now rests in my lap.

Tristan leans back against his seat, his eyes falling back on the film, and I can't seem to keep my eyes off him.

My first date. My first kiss. Both perfect.

"Keep your wild eyes on the film, Blue."

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❝YOU SANG,❞ I TEASE, nudging Tristan who takes a sip of his coke, rolling his eyes at me.

Tristan sang multiple songs. At first, he just hummed to "Summer Nights" before singing quietly to Olivia Newton John's, "Hopelessly Devoted To You." He didn't raise his surprisingly beautiful voice until Stockard Channing began to sing "Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee."

We even duetted to "You're The One That I Want," which is something I'll remember for the rest of my life. He's the Danny I dreamed about having as a kid, and I'm Sandy. I laugh at the idea of it all, and Tristan laughs along with me.

The film ended ten minutes ago but we haven't moved from the car. I'm now sat cross-legged in my seat, my body turned to face Tristan who sits with one leg up on the seat.

"You are never allowed to tell anyone about that, okay?" Tristan demands, pointing his finger towards me and I smile innocently.

"But I have so many people to tell," I toy.

"Don't you dare," he threatens, and I laugh softly, falling silent for a moment to lean my head back against the seat.

I clear my throat. "Hey, I told you a secret earlier... so you have to tell me one."

Tristan sighs, and he shifts in his chair to turn his body towards me entirely. "I don't want to be apart of my family business," he admits, and I can't believe how quickly he admitted that to me. He didn't even hesitate, he just opened up easily. "My dad expects me to take over the business after college and..." He pauses, shrugging his shoulders. "I really don't want to."

"Don't," I say, and Tristan scoffs like it's the worst idea. "What?"

"My dad would never let me back down. I'm his son— his legacy— and I'm expected to be him when I graduate college," he informs, and I offer him a sympathetic smile, reaching my hand out to clasp his.

He squeezes my hand. "What do you want?" I ask, and he looks to me confused. "I mean, what's your dream, Tristan? What would you rather do than take over your family's business?"

"Honestly?" I nod. "I think I'd like to be a writer. I don't know why but..." He pauses, resting his head back. "I love to write, which is something I've never told anyone before."

He laughs awkwardly, and I intertwine our fingers together. "You can have that, Tristan," I promise him. "Don't be somebody you're not. Be somebody you can be proud of, who your sister can look up to. Be yourself, Tristan. If you don't want to be your dad, don't be your dad."

"I wish it was that simple," he sighs. "God, I hate talking about him. Tell me something else."

I follow through with his wish, and I say, "Uh, my dad is my best friend." Tristan turns to me, and he stifles a laugh. "Shut up."

"I'm sorry," he chuckles. "It must be nice, you know, to get along with your dad."

I nod. "Yeah," I sigh. "I'm sorry your dad sucks. If it's any consolation, I don't think you're anything like him and I've never even met him."

Tristan smiles softly. "You're too kind, Blue."

"It's true, Tristan." I run my thumb across his knuckles. "You've been really sweet tonight, and you barely even know me. You're just a great guy, and I don't think you realise that."

He looks at me— really looks at me— and I look back, my lips upturned, and I let Tristan stay quiet for a moment before he finds his words, "You really know what to say, don't you?"

I chuckle. "I have a way with words."

"You certainly do."

     Tristan leans forward, and I move with him until his lips capture mine quickly. The world around us is meaningless as I kiss Tristan softly. To say I've never really been kissed, I've come to enjoy the act, especially with him— only with him.

     Our hands press together, and we pull away from one another with our foreheads pressed together. "I've had a really great night," he says, and I hum softly, my eyes fluttering closed. "Will you let me see you again?"

     "You might have to convince me a little more."

     Before I can utter another word, Tristan leans forward and catches my lips again, and he's harsh from the get-go. His tongue licks across my lips, tempting my mouth open for him, and I inhale sharply at the new feeling. His teeth pull at my bottom lip and he leans me back into the seat. His hands rest on my face, cupping my cheeks. My head feels fuzzy, and I decide to be ambitious, biting his own lip and catching a noise out of him.

When he moves away, he presses his thumb against my bottom lip. "Can I see you again?"

I nod carefully. "Of course you can."

"Thank God." He pushes a kiss against my lips quickly before pulling away entirely.

"But I'm kinda busy for the next month," I admit shamefully, leaning my head back. "I've got a few tests and things..."

Tristan shrugs it off. "That's okay. I'll wait for you, Blue, whenever you're ready."

"Okay," I reply quietly.

"So what's your plan?" he asks, and I turn to him with a brow raised, wondering what he means. "You know, your big plan in life. Where do you want to be? Who do you want to be?"

"A lawyer," I admit, and Tristan's smile grows, indicating that he admires my determination. "I'm going to go to Yale, study English, and then go to Stanford Law."

"A lawyer," Tristan repeats. "Admirable."

"Yeah?"

Tristan nods, humming softly. "Hell yeah, Blue. That's badass."

People always react like this when I tell them I want to be a lawyer in the future, and I'm relieved that he finds my passion admirable, it makes me feel acknowledged and special in a different way.

"Yale, huh?" I nod, and he huffs. "My dad wants me to go to Princeton like he did, like my grandfather did but..." Tristan shrugs. "I don't know, I always liked the idea of going elsewhere."

"Like Yale?" I ask, a knowing smile playing on face.

"Maybe..."

I should be freaked out. I should be afraid. This is our first date, and I feel like I've known him my entire life. We talk like we're best friends, like we're supposed to be together. He looks at me like nobody ever has before, and I look at him in the same way. I've never admired anyone as much as I admire him.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I like him because I really, really do, and before I get the chance to say anything, Tristan speaks, "This sounds crazy but..." He shakes his head, chuckling softly. "I feel like I've known you forever, I don't know." You and me both. "And I really, really like you, Luciana."

My face lightens, and I can't fight the smile on my face or the blush that creeps up my neck, highlighting my cheeks. "I really like you too," I assure him, and he reaches a hand out to brush a strand of hair past my ear. "A lot."

"I don't care when we have our second date as long as I get one," he says, and I nod. "And I want to see you every week at Addy's classes."

I have more of a reason to go. Sure, I would go for Addy but now I have somebody there that I want to be around constantly so I say, "Okay."

"And when you're ready for a second date, I'll be waiting, sweetheart."

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authors note:

this my seem a lil rushed (it is) but it's been a few weeks or so since they met and there won't be a second date until another month ish

also, tristan is hella sweet in this book idc