❝ROUND TWO❞
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ chapter twenty-six,
Gilmore Girls — Season Five

𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟒
―୨୧⋆ ˚ LUCY'S POV
( happy december!!
hope you enjoy the longer chapter :) )

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

𝐈 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑, 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐀𝐒 𝐈 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐆𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒. She watches in complete fascination, staring at me in the mirror as I focus on getting these pigtails right. She asked me last night if, for her first day back to school, I could do her hair and I obviously accepted. I've only really ever done my hair, and sometimes Addy's in the past, so I couldn't decline Lisa's offer.

I just don't want to mess them up. I want all of her friends to be jealous of how unbelievably beautiful she looks today. She's not too excited to go back to school── nobody ever is── but she looks great in her uniform, and I've told her that a thousand times.

Lindsay steps into the bedroom, pop tart in between her teeth as she pulls her own hair into a ponytail. "How do I look?"

Both Lisa and I peer at her. "Amazing," I say while Lisa utters a small, "Fine." Teenagers don't really offer much, do they?

"Should I definitely go with the blue?"

"Always go with the blue," I say, smiling kindly as she steps to the mirror, pulling at the shirt she's wearing. Over the top of the shirt sits a light blue blazer── a blazer that I picked out for her, and until this morning, she believed it was the perfect choice. Now she's not so sure.

She groans in frustration, storming out of the bedroom and tugging the ponytail out of her hair. "What's up with her?" Lisa asks, wincing when I pull a little too tight on her hair. "Ow."

"Sorry," I whisper, securing one pigtail with a hair band. "She has that interview today."

"Oh." Like I said before, teenagers don't exactly offer much as you can see.

Lindsay has an interview today for a job at a restaurant in New Haven. The position she's applying for is to work on the kitchen staff as she picked up a liking for cooking through her mother and through making meals for Dean throughout the course of their relationship. She's cooked Tristan and me dinners repeatedly over the two months she's been living here, and I won't lie, she's incredible. She's definitely nervous about the interview, but I assured her that she just needs to be honest and be herself.

I have a lot of faith in her. I believe she'll get the position, and if she doesn't, there will always be other opportunities.

Tonight I am working as it's the first day back to Yale, and Logan is, of course, hosting a party to celebrate, and because I'm still on the bartending staff, I will be working.

Speaking of Logan, he's visited the apartment a few times, and he's even interested in buying one of the places on the higher floors. It would be pretty fun living near to him, especially for Tristan's sake because he definitely loves having Logan around, as does Lisa as he's apparently her favourite cousin── sorry, Honor.

Anyway, Logan is well, and we'll be seeing him tonight. Lindsay is going to stay at the apartment and look after Lisa while Tristan and I are at the party which we obviously appreciate. Tristan is dropping Lisa off at school this morning, so he may be late to his first class, but there's nobody else to take her as Lindsay has her interview, I have classes, and Logan is, well, doing God knows what at this hour.

Lisa has practically moved in, and I think it's taking a toll on her. She's spent the entire summer here, so she's struggled to see her friends because they're back in Hartford and she's here with her brother and his girlfriend. I feel bad for her, I do, but until Tristan figures out how to deal with his mother, Lisa will be staying here. Tristan doesn't like the idea of leaving his sister in a house that's empty. He's really trying hard to make everything as easy as possible for Lisa, as have I as I want to make her feel welcome.

Tristan peers into the bedroom. "Hey, you guys ready to go?"

"Nearly done," I say, and he nods before ducking out. He seems stressed, no surprises there. He's tried to call his mother several times over the past two weeks, and she hasn't responded to a single call or text. He's even contacted her friends but none of them have spoken to her in months. He visited the house a few times, checking to see if she was home, but she wasn't. He's been stressed, and now he's back at school so there's that added bit of stress. He's not coping too well at the moment, and I wish I could do something to help.

Although, some good news, we received a published copy of his book from the bookstore that published his book── Truncheon Books. They made five-hundred copies, so I handed out several copies to people in Stars Hollow and forced Andrew to put the book on display in the bookstore to support Tristan. I gave a copy to Dad, but I don't think he'll actually read it. I also sent copies to Addy and Nathan, and I got in contact with Jess just so I could send him a copy.

While it's good news that his book has been published, he hasn't had a second to actually celebrate because of just everything that's going on. Tonight at Logan's party, we're actually going to have time to ourselves for the first time in a while so we can celebrate then. I think he needs a night of just relaxation even if Logan's method of relaxation involves drinking till the morning.

I place my hands on Lisa's shoulders. "Okay. All done."

The corner of her mouth tugs up in a smile. "Thanks, Lucy." I squeeze her shoulders in a silent welcome, and then we step out of the bedroom to join Tristan in the living room. He's pacing, phone against his ear as he obviously tries to contact his mother again.

I step over to him, hand sliding up his back as Lisa moves to pick up her backpack from the kitchen floor. "No answer?"

He shakes his head, lowering the phone. "Nope."

I sigh, rubbing my hand against his back gently. "What about──"

"I need to go. I'll see you later, alright." He steps away from my touch. "Lisa, come on!" He then turns back to me, pressing a kiss against my cheek before he moves away, uttering the quietest goodbye. Lisa waves goodbye to me as she passes, moving for the door to follow after her brother.

He's not okay, that much I know, but I don't want to push even though I think I need to. If I push too much, I could lose him to whatever hole he's buried himself into. I don't want him to keep me at a distance, not when we're in this together── we always have been, but now that we live together, it seems more formal, if that makes sense.

Lindsay steps into the living room. "You okay?" I nod mindlessly, staring at the door that has since closed, leaving behind this horrible ache in my chest. "You sure?"

I clear my throat, bringing my attention back to Lindsay who I see hasn't changed out of the blue. Always stick with the blue, people. "You ready to go?" I ask, smiling.

"Yeah. Thanks for letting me borrow your car."

Tristan is using his car to drop Lisa off at school, so I let Lindsay borrow mine. She and Dean are sharing a car, so it's still a little complicated between them, but I insisted she just use mine as Yale isn't far from the apartment, and she really hates discussing with Dean why she needs to use the car that they're still sharing.

Obviously, their divorce is still not finalised, but they've both signed the papers, and besides the car, they don't share anything else between them, so the divorce should be finalised soon── we hope anyway.

Lindsay has definitely been doing a whole lot better since the split between her and Dean, and she's even come back to Stars Hollow with me a few times since. She's not so afraid to walk around the town anymore, and she's now getting out there and getting herself a job. She's doing a hell of a lot better without Dean who I still completely hate, by the way.

She smiles, grasping my shoulders. "Wish me luck."

"Luck," I say back. "You'll do great, Linds."

"I hope so." She sighs, dragging her hands through her hair that she's decided to leave down rather than tie it up. "When's your first class?"

"In a hour," I answer.

"I can give you a ride. I have time."

I shake my head, appreciating the offer for a lift in my car, but I actually think I want to take a walk. "No, it's okay. I'm just gonna walk there."

"Okay." She pulls me into a quick, much needed, two-second hug. "Have a good day, Luce."

"You too, Linds."

Shortly after that, Lindsay takes off in my car, waving a goodbye to me as I walk past her to head in the general direction of Yale University. It's a little breezy today with the summer weather settling and the gentle autumn wind kicking in, but it's actually quite a nice feeling to be out here. I find that I don't walk enough. Because I have a car, I'm always driving everywhere, so it's actually nice to just take a walk.

My cellphone buzzes in my pocket as I'm walking onto campus. I already know who it is before I even have to answer. It's a phone call I always anticipate, and it's a phone call I always look forward to hearing.

"Father," I deadpan.

"Daughter," he says in the same tone.

I grin, turning a corner and nearly walking into someone. "Now you're either calling because it's quiet in diner or Kirk is bothering you. I'm gonna go with the latter."

"Not Kirk."

"Damn it," I laugh. "Taylor?"

"Bingo."

"Ah, well, that's Taylor for you, I can't help with that, I'm afraid. I'm at school," I say, quite excited because look at me, I'm back in my favourite halls. From the looks on some faces that pass by me, they are not happy to be back, but I definitely, definitely am. I want some routine back in my life as everything lately has been so... chaotic, I guess.

"That's right. First day back. You okay?"

"I am very okay," I say, moving past a group of people and sitting down at the bench in the courtyard. "My first class is in half an hour, and then tonight I'm working."

"Bartending again?" I know Dad hates that I'm a bartender even if I get paid a ridiculous amount of money to literally do little to nothing. He has this stereotype of what a bartender is like, so naturally, he hates the idea of his daughter being one even if I tell him that bartending is completely innocent and harmless. I just like doing something with my time other than school.

"Yes, father, I am bartending again."

"Well, be careful alright, kid."

"I'm always careful, Dad." I lean back against the wall, phone tucked between my shoulder and ear. "I'm coming this weekend, is that still okay?"

"Definitely. You bringing anyone else?"

"Why? Do you need your salt and pepper shakers filling?" I ask, grinning.

He clears his throat. "Maybe..."

"Wow." I shake my head. "You know, Lisa has a life, Dad. She can't just come and fill the shakers whenever you want."

"Well, Lisa changes them better than you."

I gasp dramatically, head continuing to shake. "Excuse me? I filled those shakers every month from the ages of eight to fifteen. I was, and still am, the Shaker Queen of Luke's diner."

"I told you to drop the Shaker Queen thing."

"I will never drop the Shaker Queen thing. I had a badge and everything."

"Yeah, I haven't forgot the Shaker Queen ceremony of ninety-seven."

"My crown is still in the closet." I sigh contently as Dad laughs down the line. "Hey, when I come this weekend, I might wear my crown again."

"I think it's too small for your head."

"Rude," I breathe out. "We have the same head."

"My head is not as big as yours," Dad argues, earning another gasp from me. How dare he, my head is an average size... I think. "When you were a kid, you were always falling over because of your head. Always so unbalanced."

"Dad!" I scoff, offended yet amused. "I'm just gonna take my big head and hang up the phone."

He laughs. "I'm kidding, kid."

I roll my eyes. "Uh, it's Shaker Queen to you, thank you."

"Right. Shaker Queen. I love you." I huff out a laugh, satisfied. "Have a good day. I'll call you later, alright?"

"I'll answer later." I stand up, holding my phone tightly. "Love you, Dad." I hang up, and push my phone back into my pocket, checking the time on my watch to see my class is still not for another twenty minutes, so on that note, I decide to walk around hopelessly like I'm lost or something because I so don't wanna be the first one to class.

When I was younger, I used to drag my dad to school so early, claiming that the teachers wanted to meet just so I could be the first one at school, but now that I'm older, I guess I'm not all that bothered about being early to my classes. I don't want to be late to class, of course, but who the hell does?

I know I share a few classes with Tristan once again this year, so it's inevitable that we'll see each other outside of our home that is not just our home, it's also Lisa and Lindsay's home. It is a shame that Tristan and I haven't really had that chance to live in our new place properly, but family and friends always come first for us. We need to be on their side, just like they'd be on our side, so we've taken in two people we love.

However, we are now sleeping in our bedroom rather than on the sofa, thank God. Lisa sleeps in the spare bedroom, and most of her stuff is in that room now as she's been staying all summer, and I imagine she'll continue to stay over the course of the year. Lindsay sleeps on the pull-out sofa bed in the living room as she insists she will not be staying much longer, and that she does not need an official bed. I tell her she can stay for as long as she wants, but she's insistent on leaving as soon as she can. Should I be offended?

I turn the corner, heading towards the room I'm in. I spent all last night revising my timetable── don't judge, okay── so I know where I need to be almost instantly. I turn another corner, and I knock shoulders with somebody. "Sorry," I utter, glancing forward to see a face I haven't seen all summer.

My steps falter as I stare forward at the face that is supposed to resemble mine in some way, but even as I look, I can't find any similarities between us, I don't think I ever will find one. I clear my throat, taking a step back. "Sorry."

"Lucy, I──"

"I have to go," I force out, moving away from her before she says what I already know she's going to say.

She'll want to know why I haven't responded to the text messages she's sent me over the past three months. She'll want to know why I'm not reaching out. She'll want to know if I ever want to talk to her. I could block her messages, but every time I try to, I end up backing out, and I wish I could understand why.

What's worse than knowing she'll be working in this school is that my dad still does not know. He has no idea that I've met my... mother nor does he know that she's contacted me several times over the past three months in the hopes of meeting with me for some unknown reason that I don't want to find. I hate that my dad doesn't know, but every time I think I can tell him, I end up backing out in the same way I can't block Violet's number from my phone.

I'm petrified of him finding out on his own, but I'm more petrified of actually telling him the truth. One day he's going to realise as the weight of this secret will come crashing down, I just know it will.

Only three people know── Jess, Addy and Lindsay. The other important people in my life── Dad, Maisie and Buddy── have no idea, and it pains me, it does, but I just can't get the words out whenever I'm around them.

Great start to my freaking day, let's just say that.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

𝐔𝐒𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘, 𝐈 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄. No, after seeing Violet this morning in the hallway, my day has just plummeted, and I didn't think it was possible for it to get any worse than it currently is, but oh, how I was wrong.

Since seeing Violet this morning, I've broke two pens, spilt hot coffee all over my white shirt that doesn't even belong to me, and I've tripped over my feet several times throughout the day. When I finished my classes, I had to rush to the bartending gig without having a chance to head home, so before the party kicks off, I'm scrubbing my stained shirt in the sink of the bathroom, wishing for life to suddenly turn around.

That damn woman pisses me off.

If I didn't love Yale, I'd freaking transfer schools to get away from her. No. No, I can't even think that. I won't stoop to her damn level. No, I am stronger than most, I'd like to think, and I am going to tackle this problem alone as I haven't told my father or boyfriend about the situation so I kind of have to tackle it alone.

Ah, how I've buried myself into a hole.

I'm such an idiot.

I'm an idiot who's scrubbing her white shirt with a bastard cloth. I know for a fact that this stain will not leave this shirt that I know does not belong to me. Is it Lindsay's? Is it Tristan's? Hell, it might even be Lisa's shirt. I have no idea.

A knock breaks me out of my thoughts. "Blue?" Another knock rings in my ears. I breathe out a sigh of relief upon hearing his voice after this crappy, crappy day. I haven't seen him all day, and even though I'm sure we had a class together today, I sadly didn't see him.

I move away, shirt dumped in the sink as I go to unlock the bathroom door. I find Tristan standing there, eyes wide when he sees me answering the door without a shirt on. "Well, it's good to see you too, Blue." Tristan winks, a grin on his lips which brings an eye roll out of me.

I step forward, snatching his arm and yanking him into the bathroom so I can close the door and lock it before somebody sees us. Once I've locked the door, I storm back to the sink with my wet, gross shirt laying in it.

"What's wrong, Blue?"

"Spilt coffee on my shirt, and I can't..." I squeeze the water out of the shirt, finding that the gross brown stain is still prominent. "I can't get the damn stain out."

"First of all..." He steps up behind me, a hand on my hip as he peers down at the shirt in the sink. "That's my shirt, baby."

I sigh, pouting. "I knew it wasn't mine." My head falls forward into my hand. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. It's old." He squeezes my hip, trying to soothe me, but I feel tense, and I haven't even started working yet. "Second of all, here." He tugs his shirt off, bringing my head up from my hand. He pushes the material into my hands.

"But..." I stare down at the shirt that is now in my hands. "What will you wear?" He leans forward, taking the wet shirt that I stole from him. "Tristan, no."

"There's a hand drier, Luce, I'll dry it."

"But it's dirty and stained and gross," I grimace.

"Well, you're more important than being clean, Blue." He moves away, wet shirt in his hand as he steps over to the hand drier. I watch, head shaking as I pull his clean and dry shirt over my head. "Also, I looked too good today, so it's only fair I end the day dirty and gross."

"You're so full of it." I step over to him, watching as he lifts the shirt under the hand drier. "That will never dry," I yell over the sound of the drier whirring.

He shakes his head. "Yes, it will!"

I'll skip ahead to when Tristan realises that the shirt will not dry before the party kicks off. It remains damp, and despite that fact, Tristan still chooses to wear it even if going shirtless to one of his cousin's parties isn't one of the most scandalous things that have happened. No, worse has happened than Tristan going shirtless, believe me, but he wanted to keep his dignity in tact so he walked out, proud and smiling with a damp, coffee-stained shirt that did belong to him while holding my hand.

Annoyingly, he pulls off the whole dirty t-shirt look way better than I did.

"Luce!" An arm falls around my shoulders. "You are looking good tonight. It's great to see you." I look to Logan, smiling politely. "And you, T, you look..." He peers at the stain on his shirt, his head tilting in confusion. "Could have dressed a little better, no?"

"It was either this or my crop top and booty shorts," he deadpans, earning a much deserved laugh from me.

"Yeah, I don't wanna see that." Logan squeezes my arm, his arm slipping off my shoulders as Tristan glares at him, his hand seeming to tighten around mine. "Don't work too hard, Luce. You gotta have some fun, alright?"

"Yeah. It's great to see you, Logan." We've seen him a few times over the summer, and every time we have, he always had some big story to tell us about how he ended up drunk, or how he wrecked his father's boat, or even how he ended up on a plane to another country── Spain is where he, Colin and Finn found themselves this summer "accidentally". How is that even possible?

I've encouraged Tristan to spend more time with Logan especially since he's in college and he's supposed to be having fun but he's been stuck this summer, caught in between the family difficulties between his sister and mother, and working hard to boost sales of his book as he wants it in bookshops across the country, not just in Philadelphia. Everybody's gotta start somewhere, and having a book published at nearly twenty years old is a massive achievement regardless of where in the country the book is published.

He needs to relax. He needs to celebrate the news.

"Hey, Logan." I slip my hand out of Tristan's. "We are celebrating tonight, so the first drink is on me."

"What are we celebrating?"

"Hello, you had your book published," I scoff, gently slapping my hand against his arm.

"Yeah, that's right, man." Logan claps his hand over Tristan's before they share that weird, man-bro hug thing that I just don't understand, but whatever. "Your girl's right, you gotta celebrate."

I smile proudly. "Damn right. Get your drink on!" I push them both forward, moving us towards the bar. "First drinks are on me, boys, do enjoy."

The party officially kicks off shortly after Tristan and Logan down their first drinks. I'm then rushed off my feet immediately as everybody in Yale seems to want a drink. I've never seen so many people accumulated in one place, but I am definitely not complaining as I'm enjoying the tips as is Marty who is, of course, expert help.

Despite being rushed off my feet, I still keep an eye on Tristan who actually seems to be having fun with Logan, Finn and Colin. Speaking of Finn, he's tried to hit on me several times── accidentally, he claims── as he doesn't seem to remember who I am. I swear, if he comes over and asks, "Have we met before?" one more time, I will, in good conscience, throw my drink at him.

Colin, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be happy that, at every single party Logan hosts, there never seems to be an attractive single girl for him as everybody is coupled up. He's asked if I have a boyfriend a few times over the night, and Tristan has informed him── repeatedly── that I'm taken.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that jealous Tristan is actually very attractive.

Colin claims these parties are "incestuous" and maybe he has a point. From where I stand behind the bar, I can see at least five couples kissing or holding hands or dancing together. Poor Colin doesn't stand a chance in a crowd like this, but I'm sure some girl will fall for his charms much like some girl will likely fall for Finn too.

I'm glad Tristan appears to be having fun. He's on his fourth drink (not that I'm counting or anything...). I'm just keeping an eye on him, alright, even if Logan is──

Standing on the other side of the bar in front of me. "He's fine, Luce." He pushes the empty glass towards me, silently asking for another drink.

"Things have just been a bit tense for him lately," I say, pouring whiskey into a new glass.

"I know."

"Has your dad really not heard from her?" I ask, secretly hopeful that Tristan's mother has contacted somebody. I mean, she's got to have called someone. Someone has to know where she is, right?

He shakes his head. "No. I've asked him, and all he's told me is that she's a bit... flighty, always has been."

Logan's dad, Mitchum Huntzberger, is Tristan's mother's brother── if you didn't already know that. Mary Dugray has three siblings── two brothers, one of them being Mitchum, and a sister. Tristan says the only sibling of hers that she still talks to is Mitchum, so it would make some sense if she contacted him, but apparently she hasn't. It's frustrating not knowing where she is, but everybody keeps telling Tristan that she's likely still abroad somewhere. That makes the most logical sense, but to not get in contact with anyone... I mean, how can she do that to her son and daughter.

Mothers suck lately. I'm not a fan.

"Hey." I lift my head, finding that I've just been staring at the glass of whiskey. "She'll come around, Luce. Everything is gonna fine."

"She's left Tristan with his fourteen-year-old sister. I mean..." I sigh, head shaking. "He's nearly twenty, he's got school and a life, and he shouldn't have to take care of her like this. He's not a parent, Logan, it's not fair on him."

"I know, but he can't leave Lisa alone, you know that. He's not that kind of guy."

"I know. I don't want him to. I just wish his mother wasn't so selfish." Ever since Tristan's dad died, it's been hard on Mary, that much is obvious even if she despised the guy, but I never expected her to just dump her children and run off. "So much good has happened, you know, with the book being published and us moving into a really great apartment, but he hasn't had the chance to just..."

"Enjoy it?" I nod, pushing Logan's drink towards him. "It may not look like it, but in his own way, he is enjoying it, Luce. All this stuff with Mary, it'll be solved, alright? We're gonna find where she is, and in the meantime, if you need any help with Lisa or-or you need money, I'm here."

I huff out a laugh, knowing I'd never accept money from Logan, but I appreciate his offer. "Thank you, but I think we need somebody a little more... mature to look after Lisa."

"Are you saying I'm not mature enough?"

"Yes," I deadpan. "No offence."

"All the offence taken." A laugh bubbles out of me, warming me instantly. I feel like I haven't laughed in a while, so it definitely feels nice to. "Seriously, you need anything..."

"You've got our backs, I know."

He nods, leaning off the counter. He places a hand on my arm in an affectionate way that, once again, tells me that he's always there for us regardless of what it is, and I nod back with a subtle smile on my face because I really do appreciate all that he's tried to do for us. As Tristan and Lisa's cousin, I know that he'll always be there for us, and he has no idea just how much we need his support.

Logan moves back into the crowd, greeting the new people who step through the door── with a date, might I add. Oh, how Colin will be devastated. Finn is chatting up a group of girls who don't look interested at all, and Tristan is moving back towards the bar to greet me.

He steps around the counter, laughter bubbling out of him. "Hey, Blue."

"You... are not allowed to be──" His head drops, mouth covering mine as his arm sweeps around my back to pull me flush against him. The sudden action surprises me, but I allow myself to fall into his threshold simply because I've missed this── the kissing, the touching, the comfort. Sure, we share a bed every night, but he's been a little distant lately, so after a few minutes of holding one another, he usually separates and turns away.

Now he's staying close, and while his breath isn't the most appealing due to the alcohol he's drank, I don't want to take my mouth of his. I'm a little fearful that I will end up drunk, but I really don't want to pull myself away. I want to stay in the safety of his arms and touch all night. I like having him this close to me, and even though he's drunk, I hope he still acts like this following the events of tonight.

I pull back, words dead on my tongue as I place my hands on his shoulders, balancing myself. "I'm sorry about everything lately," he breathes out, fingertips digging into the small of my back. "I-I've been a sucky boyfriend."

"Hey, we're roommates now," I joke, pulling my lip in between my teeth.

"Well, I've been a sucky roommate then."

I rub my palms against his shoulders. "You haven't been a sucky anything, Tristan, you've just been stressed, and I understand why."

"I-I don't wanna lose you, Blue."

"You could never lose me, Tristan." My hands slide up his shoulders, hands moving to rest on the back of his neck. "I've got you, alright?"

He nods, sniffling. "I-I'm gonna figure it out." He nods, sure of himself. "With my mom and Lisa and... everything. I-I'm gonna figure it out."

"You don't have to figure it out on your own, you know that, right?" He continues to nod, and a frown touches my lips as I slide my hand across his cheek, fingertips dragging along his jaw. "I've got you, Tristan, I always have."

"For life?"

A smile breaks out across my face. "For life."

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

soph speaks:

hey, happy december, i'm here with a new chapter

it was lucy's birthday yesterday . . . i realised i should've published this chapter yesterday lol,, anyway, it's here!!

hope you enjoyed :)

p.s. you'll be seeing a lot of lisa as i have some story ideas for tristan and lisa and their mother