*What is going on? What happened to her this weekend? She would never have asked me
to do something like this. And why the hell am I complaining?*

Tristan shook is head back and forth as he paced outside the front entrance of the school.
He had agreed to meet Rory here before they drove to the cinema. It was a beautifully
sunny afternoon, but Tristan didn’t notice. He was still pondering why Rory would even
think, let alone ask him to see a movie with her. The thought was almost beyond
comprehension.

Footsteps echoed down the empty hallway and made there way to his ears. He looked up
and saw Rory walking towards him. She was staring into her backpack, looking for
something, or what not. Her dark strands of hair blew about her face as she walked and
she brushed them back angrily with her hand. She completed her task with her backpack
and slung it over her shoulder.

She looked up and when she saw Tristan a wide smile spread across her face. Her eyes lit
up and she picked up her pace. Tristan smiled in return and stopped his pacing. He crossed
his arms as he waited for her to reach him... an amused smirk playing upon his lips. When
she reached him he stared down at her and tapped the face of his watch.

“You’re late?”

“You can deal.” Rory deadpanned.

“Touchy touchy.....Did you have a run in with Paris or is it that time of the month?”

“Funny Tristan... I got way laid in the hallway by some Freshman who had no idea how to
get to the library.” 

“And you had to be the kind student a show him there, instead of being a mean old
upperclassman and just pointing.”

“Exactly. So.... are you ready to see that movie now, or would you rather stand here and
spar with each other?”

“As much fun as this is... I’m getting a craving for snow caps... and you can only have
those with a movie.”

The got into Tristan’s car and drove over to the cinema. The conversation on the way
there consisted of random trivia facts passed between the two, each one trying to out
smart the other, only to be beat down again.

“You are so wrong.” Tristan cried in indignation as he and Rory walked the entrance of
the movie theatre.

“No.. it is you who are wrong pretty boy.... Shakespeare in Love won best picture, not
Saving Private Ryan, though even I will admit Saving Private Ryan was the better movie.”
Rory crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows at him.

“There is no way that a wussy movie like that won.” Tristan countered her verbal assault.

“Fine. I’ll make a deal with you. We ask one of the movie guys who won. Winner picks
the movie... and loser pays for the snacks.” Rory stuck out her hand, waiting for Tristan to
shake it. He glanced at her hand, and then back up at her amused face. His nose crinkled a
bit as he thought. “This is offer is limited so act now.”

“Fine. I agree... because I’ll win.” He took her hand and shook it firmly.

“You just keep on telling yourself that.”

***

Rory munched on her extra large bucket of popcorn rather contentedly in her seat. She
looked over at the slouched figure of Tristan next to her. He had his head buried in his
hands. He seemed to be mumbling something to himself. Rory smiled to herself.

“Something wrong Tristan?” Rory giggled. She only received an agitated groan as and
answer. “What was that Tristan? I couldn’t hear you.”

“I can’t believe I lost, and now I have to sit through this movie.” Rory saw his head shake
back and forth.

“It’s ok Tristan. I’m sure there’ll be other bets... I’ll win then too... so get use to it. And as
for the movie... I was told Pearl Harbor was decent...so deal.”

“I hate you right now.” Tristan glared at her from over his fingertips.

“Sure you do.”

“I do.” He mumbled into his hands.

“Uh-huh... when worms have ears.”

“What?” Tristan sat straight up in his seat and looked down at her smiling face.

“Nothing.”

“There was something.” The light in the room faded out as the screen crackled to life.

“Shhh... the movie is starting.” Rory hushed him by putting her finger to his lips. She had
forgotten how soft they were. The sparks that passed between them were not static
electricity. Rory had to remind herself to pull away her hand. She placed her focus on the
changing screen in front of her and not on the warm body next to her. Her eyes becoming
transfixed on the images, but her thoughts never straying to far from Tristan.

She tried to follow the plot of the movie, but it was much to difficult. She lost all of her
senses when she felt Tristan’s arm snake around her shoulders. The move was a bold one.
Sure she had asked him to see a movie with her, but she blamed that move on a moment
of insanity. Tristan’s move had to have been calculated. Rory turned her head slowly to
see if a smirk of any type was on her face.

She was surprised at what she saw. His gaze was focused completely on the screen. It was
like throwing his arm around her had been an unconscious move. Rory could feel his
fingers playing with her hair absently mindedly. The shock of his touch overwhelmed her
senses, and yet she felt an almost overbearing sense of comfort. Rory leaned into this
comfort, and before she knew it her focus was back on the movie, but her head was on his
shoulder.

Tristan resisted the urge to jump when he felt Rory lean on him. He looked over at her and
was about to ask her what she was doing, but was caught by surprise when he found that
his arm was around her. He didn’t exactly know how it got there, but at the moment he
didn’t care. He rubbed her shoulder a bit. Rory sighed happily in response.

Tristan smiled to himself before leaning his cheek on Rory’s head. His fingers further
intertwined themselves gently into Rory’s hair. He pulled her a bit closer to him, and
settled in to watch the rest of the movie.

***

The movie credits were rolling by on the screen and the theatre lights were coming up, but
neither Tristan nor Rory made any effort to move. There was only one other person left in
the theatre, and he was all the way up in the front row. Tristan lifted his cheek off of
Rory’s head. 

Rory immediately frowned, missing the warmth of feeling him close to her, but was still
enjoying his fingers running through her hair. Tristan nudged Rory’s chin up off his
shoulder gently with his hand. Her eyes caught his. Starling blue meeting startling blue.
She smiled at him, and he beamed one back at her.

“Want to go for coffee?” His voice was soft and tender, and his breath tickled her face.
Rory’s smile grew even wider.

“Do you even have to ask?”

“No.” Tristan said with a laugh. He stood up and reached his hand out to her. She grabbed
it, and he helped her stand up. Rory grabbed her coat off the back of the seat and walked
out into the aisle as she tried to put it on.

She felt Tristan place his hand on her shoulder and she stopped moving. He grabbed the
coat from her. He opened it wide and helped her slip it on one arm and then the other. He
leaned closer to her back as he pulled her hair out from inside her collar. The silky strands
ran through his fingers, and the aroma of her fruity shampoo intoxicated his senses. 

Rory’s breathing became erratic as she felt the warmth of his fingers on her neck. Working
in slow sensual circles on her skin, releasing any tension she had felt. Tristan’s hand trailed
slowly from her neck down to the small of her back where it came to rest. He put a gentle
pressure on her back. She took his hint and they began to walk out of the theatre, but not
before a voice stopped them.

“I see that you’ve moved on.” 

Dean! “Dean!” Rory practically screamed as she turned around see him. She was met with
a face void of an expression.

“Rory.... Tristan I believe.” Dean cocked his head to the side and studied the man who
was with his ex-girlfriend. An ex that he still had feelings for. Tristan saw the adoration
Dean had towards Rory and he had to fight himself from just punching him right there.
Jealously was not a feeling Tristan was use to, and it wasn’t a feeling that he liked.

“Bagboy... I mean Dean. Nice to meet you again.” Tristan was clenching his teeth as the
sickeningly sweet tone came out of his mouth.

“The pleasure is all mine.” Dean returned the same tone to Tristan. Rory just stood there
watching the two men as they stared each other down. Daring the other to make a move
that could be countered with a victory. Tristan was the first to break eye contact. He
turned to Rory and saw the hurt expression on her face. It was then that he forgot Dean
even existed and he focused solely on helping Rory.

“You ok?” He grabbed her hand a squeezed it gently. Rory nodded a yes to him. “Let’s go
get that coffee.” He tugged on her hand gently as they walked to the door. Dean refused
to lose again.

“Rory he’s only going to hurt you. Get out now before it’s to late. I still love you, I think I
always will.” He called after the pair. Rory paused for a second to hear his words. She
wanted to turn to talk to him, but she saw the pleading look in Tristan’s eyes and just
walked away.

***

Tristan closed Rory’s door behind her and walked around to his side of the car. He let out
a deep sigh before he climbed in himself. He looked over at Rory for a moment as he
slipped the key into the ignition. She was staring out the window. The light from a
lamppost dancing off her dark hair, and the single tear that rolled down her cheek.

“Do you want to skip the coffee and just go home?” Rory turned to face Tristan and saw
the understanding written in his eyes.

“Do you mind?”

“No.” His face moved from serious to a small smile, “As long as we do it some time
later.”

“Sure.” Rory smiled a bit before looking out the window. Tristan started the car and drove
out of the parking lot and onto the highway leading to Stars Hollow. He tapped his fingers
gently on the steering wheel. He wanted to know what happened between Dean and Rory,
but he wasn’t sure if it was right to ask, so he skirted around the issue.

“Rory?”

“Hmmm.” She was still watching the scenery pass by.

“If you want to talk... I’m great at listening.” No answer. “Just thought I’d let you know.”
There were more moments of silence. They weren’t as awkward as before, Tristan had
placed his invitation out in the open and it was up to her whether or not she wanted to
accept it. 

The road was practically empty and Tristan was finding it difficult to concentrate on
driving. It was driving him insane to not know what had happened. But he couldn’t ask, it
wasn’t his place, even though that place was where he wanted to be. 

“I broke up with him.” The surprise of Rory speaking almost made Tristan drive off the
road. He didn’t answer because she spoke again before he could get a word in. “You
know how we got back to together near the end of school last year?”

*How could I not? You broke my heart for the umpteenth time that day when you two
started making out in the courtyard. Hell yeah I remember it!*

“Yes.” Tristan’s voice was calm, which was quite the opposite of what he was.

“This summer it seemed to me like we were mending the holes that had appeared in our
relationship. But I was feeling differently than I had in the courtyard. I thought I loved
him, but I didn’t. I don’t know why, he really is a great guy and all, but something was
missing. I still don’t know what.” She paused for a second and Tristan braced himself for
what might be next. “So I decided to end it before I got in any deeper than I already was. I
broke up with him. I thought it would be so hard. I was scared that he would lash out, or
refuse to accept it. But he just stood there staring at me, like he wasn’t comprehending the
words that were coming out of my mouth. I didn’t want to hurt him, that’s why I ended it
when I did. He just turned around, and I didn’t here from him for a week. Then he called
me. He thanked me. I still don’t know why. I don’t know if it was for not hurting him, or
not leading him on, or what. That was a week before school started. I still see him around
town, and things are really awkward. I don’t where to go from here.”

Tristan pulled into her driveway. He stopped the car and turned to face her. She was
staring numbly ahead. The tears had stopped, she appeared to be in a deep thought.

“Rory?” Nothing. “It was better to get out before you got hurt again.”

“I know.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“I thought that seeing him again might make me fall for him again, or make me hate him.
But I was wrong. I just want to be his friend.” Rory turned to face Tristan, he was leaning
his elbow against the steering wheel, holding his chin in his hand. “Is that normal. Or am I
being stupid for even thinking about that option?”

“I don’t know what’s normal or not, because normal has never existed.” That comment
made Rory let out a small laugh. “But what I can tell you is that if he turns down your
friendship than he is a complete and utter moron. Come on, I walk you to your door.”

They got out of the door and slowly made their way up Rory’s front steps. The porch light
was on, and Lorelai was with out a doubt spying on them in some fashion. Rory couldn’t
make herself go inside yet, things were still unresolved between her and Tristan.

“Thank you.” Rory’s voice was gentle as she looked into his eyes.

“No problem. You would have done the same for me.” Tristan smiled and Rory returned
the gesture.

“Goodnight Tristan.”

“Goodnight.” Rory opened the door a crack but stopped. She turned around a placed a
gentle kiss on Tristan’s cheek. She smiled and walked inside.

***

Tristan walked to his car and opened his door. He leaned against the door frame for
support. Rory had just kissed him. Granted it wasn’t exactly what he wanted but still.
Rory had kissed him. Rory Gilmore, the girl who once hated him, had kissed him. He
almost couldn’t comprehend that idea.

He slowly settled himself into the car, closing the door behind him. Tristan placed the key
in the ignition and started the car. He placed his hands on the steering wheel, but one
withdrew up to his cheek. He set it gentle on the place where Rory’s lips had met his skin.
The spot still tingled with warmth. Tristan smiled to himself as he pulled out of the
driveway.

Rory leaned against the door for support as her legs gave out from underneath her. It had
only been a kiss on the cheek, but it still made her weak all over. Why she had kissed
Tristan... Rory had no idea. It just felt right, and the feelings that she was having right now
felt right.

Rory slid down the door as she placed her fingers gently on her lips. The shock that had
passed through her made her want to kiss him again, and again. This was so new to her.
She never got this sort of feeling from Dean.

*Dean!* 

Rory’s hand dropped from her lips as she remembered the look on his face in the theatre.
It hurt her to think that she had caused that pain. It would have been worse if she dragged
it out though. Rory brought her knees to he chest and dipped her head as she thought.
This was how Lorelai found her a few minutes later.

“Rory honey? You ok?” Lorelai hunched down to inspect her daughter.

“I’m fine.” Came the muffled reply.

“Then why are you sitting like that?” Lorelai sat down. Rory’s eyes appeared over the
tops of her knees.

“I have no idea, but it is rather comfortable.” Lorelai raised one eyebrow at her daughter.

“Ooookkkk.... did I just see Tristan leave?” Rory nodded a yes. “Care to fill me in?”

“Can I give you the cliff notes version?” Rory peered over at her mother who was now
mimicking her position.

“Sure. Oh you’re right, this is comfy.”

“Tristan me movie. Fun. Coffee offer. Dean. Bad. Cheek kiss. Tingles.”

“Wow. That was almost poetic.”

“Eliotish?”

“Mmmm... more Dickinson. So wow, that was... wow.” Lorelai threw her arm around
Rory’s shoulders and pulled her closer.

“Yeah.”

“Do you like him?” She began combing her fingers through Rory’s hair.

“Which one?”

“The one that gave you tingles.”

“I don’t know.” Rory let out a sigh at her indecision.

“Tingles usually mean something.”

“I know.”

“So... do you?”

“I really have no clue... but I’m sure I’ll get one soon.”

***

“So yesterday was fun.” Tristan slid up behind Rory as she got her books out of her locker
for first period. Rory jumped back a bit when she was startled by his voice.

“I can agree with you on that.”

“So does this mean we’ve hit the friends stage?” Rory turned to face Tristan as he
questioned her.

“I think so.” Rory’s voice was shivering at Tristan’s close proximity to her. Tristan
enjoyed the effect he was having on her. He rested his hands on the lockers, one on either
side of her head, trapping her in.

“Do you think we could ever move beyond the friends stage?”

“I’m... I’m not sure.” Rory’s heart almost beat out of her chest as Tristan leaned his lips
into her ear.

“Think it over.” Then he pulled away and sauntered down the hall. Leaving Rory in a
confused haze of emotion.

***

It had been three weeks since Tristan had cornered her with his offer, but he hadn’t
mentioned it since then. The were in an odd stage of their friendship, Rory wasn’t even
sure if she could still call it that. They went out to the movies or to get coffee so often that
some people thought they were dating. Rory wasn’t sure if she was ready to take that step
yet.

Tristan hadn’t forced her into anything. He hadn’t made a move, flirting was minimal. In
fact he was being almost like a gentleman. He had treated like human being, she hadn’t
been called Mary in so long that she almost forgot about it.

Rory often found herself thinking about him when he wasn’t around, and when he was
around he was all she thought about. She often pushed those thoughts aside so that she
could concentrate on school and quiz team.

Quiz team. Those words made her smile everytime she thought of them. So many
wonderful memories were associated with her trivia crazed friends. She could even call
Paris a friend now. Rory still saw the jealous glow in her eyes whenever Tristan was near,
but no homicidal looks were thrown her way.

Steve was the moderator and jokester of the team. Whenever things got tough he would
calm everyone down. Rory laughed to herself when she remembered that Steve had
decided to cheer them all up by eating an entire large pizza and 50 buffalo wings all by
himself. That boy was as skinny as a beanpole but he claimed to still be hungry even after
all that.

It was through their collective trivia loving minds that Rory found herself where she was
now. It was six in the morning and Rory had been up since four. She was trying to keep
her drooping eyes open as she looked at a calm and collected Tristan reading the New
York Times. They were sitting in the Hartford Airport waiting for their flight to Baltimore
to arrive. They were headed off to the National Quiz Bowl tournament in New Orleans.

“Tired?” Tristan’s voice came from behind the newspaper. She could hear the smirk in his
voice.

“Yes. And damn you to hell for being so chipper.” Rory crossed her arms and pouted.

“I’m glad to see that you aren’t cranky in the morning.” Tristan pulled the paper down so
that he could see Rory.

“Bite me.”

“I’d love to doll, but this is neither the time nor place.” He raised the paper back up and
continued to read.

“Has anyone ever told you that you were evil?”

“Many a time my dear, many a time.” Rory was about to come back with an attack of her
own, but the boarding announcement was made for their flight. “Grab your stuff and let’s
go. You can take a nap on the plane how does that sound?”

“Like heaven.” Rory bent down to get her backpack yawning loudly as she did so. She
stood up and began to walk towards the boarding terminal. Each step seemed harder, and
she grew even more tired. Tristan noticed her head droop and rushed by her side. He
threw his arm around her waist to steady her. He knew this move would only torture
himself, but she was irresistible to him.

Rory made it even worse for Tristan when she buried her tired eyes into his shoulder.
Tristan almost let out a groan at the intimate contact. He took Rory’s ticket from her hand
and, along with his, handed them over to the flight attendant. She smiled at the pair and
motioned for them to board the plane.

Tristan looked at the boarding passes and found their seat numbers. He couldn’t decide
whether or not he was lucky to be the one sitting next to Rory. He found their seats on the
small propeller plane.

“Lucky duck. You get the window seat.” Tristan whispered into Rory’s ear. Her head shot
up off his shoulder and her eyes met his. Rory was looking at him in disbelief.

“Did you say window seat?”

“Yes.” Rory groaned and dipped her head in response.

“What’s the matter?” Tristan lifted her chin up with his hand. He had to bite his lip to keep
from kissing her.

“Do you want the window seat?”

“Only if you don’t.”

“Please take it!”

“Ok.” He scooted into the seat and tucked his bag under the seat in front of him. Rory
took the seat next to him, and hastily buckled herself tightly in. When she was done she
gripped the armrests tightly, but Tristan could still see her hands trembling. “Are you
afraid of flying?”

“No... not exactly. I just don’t get how you get 200 ton hollow metal tube with wings up
in the sky. And then there are the parts about planes plunging to the ground that don’t
make me happy.” Rory pulled the strap on her seatbelt even tighter. Tristan looked down
at her hands as the worked at her waist.

“Well if the plane does crash it’s going to be of great service to you to be strapped to the
wreckage.” Rory’s face paled at his comment. She went to undo the belt but her hands
were shaking so much that she couldn’t hold on to anything. Tristan grabbed her hands
and brought them to his chest. “Calm down Rory. I’m sorry about that comment. I didn’t
know flying bothered you that much.”

Rory’s shaking hands were contained by Tristan’s strong grip. The warmth they provided
began to ease her tension. The trembling subsided but her fear did not. She slowly pulled
away from Tristan and leaned back into her seat. Her hands immediately clinging to the
arm rests, gripping them so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Tristan placed his hand over hers and slowly massaged the back of it with his thumb. Her
grip slackened a bit but immediately tensed up again when the plane began to taxi towards
the runway. Tristan leaned his lips towards her ear.

“It’s going to be fine. Just close your eyes and breath.” Tristan used his free hand to brush
back a strand of dark hair, his fingers making the slightest contact with the delicate skin of
her neck. Shivers shot down Rory’s spine as her grip on the arm rest became even
stronger. Tristan felt her reaction. “Didn’t I tell you to calm down.”

“No.”

“Well then... calm down.”

“As soon as we get this bird in the air I’ll be fine.”

“Liar.”

“What? I mean it. As soon as we are airborne I’m ok.”

“Then why do you still have a death grip on the seat?”

“Huh?” Rory was totally confused. Her eyes were sealed shut and she didn’t want to look
at anything.

“We’ve been in the air for a little bit now.” One of Rory’s eyes slowly opened followed by
the other. She glanced out the window briefly and noticed clouds not trees.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks for....”

“Don’t mention it.” Tristan smiled at her, giving her hand one last final rub. He pulled
away and grabbed a book from his page. Rory released her death grip and did the same. It
wasn’t long before the flight attendant came by.

“Can I get you anything miss?” The lady smiled politely.

“The largest and strongest coffee you have please.” Tristan looked over at Rory and
smiled. She never changed.

***

The landing was almost as bad as the takeoff, but Rory was not as scared because she
gripped Tristan’s hand like a vice until the wheels hit the ground. The moment the plane
came to a complete stop Rory let out a loud sigh of relief.

“One down, three to go.” 

“Three? Rory we’re only getting on one more plane today.” Tristan looked at her
questioningly as he unbuckled his seatbelt. Rory watched his sculpted hands set the belt
aside and wondered what it would feel like to have them touching her.

“W... w...what?” She shook her head to clear her mind of thoughts that she should really
not be having.

“We are only getting on one more plane today, where do they other two come in?”

“The return trip.”

“Oh.” Tristan was kicking himself for forgetting the fact that they would have to return to
Chilton and Rory, once again, would not be within touching distance twenty-four seven. 

They grabbed their bags and walked out into the terminal. Rory practically kissed the
ground. Her relief made Tristan laugh. It took them twenty minutes to find the terminal for
the next flight. Rory dropped her bag and collapsed on the floor getting ready to nap
during their three hour lay-over. She rested her head on her bag and threw her jacket over
herself like a blanket. Rory let out a loud yawn as she curled up against the wall that was
behind her.

“What are you doing?” Rory opened one eye and then the other, focusing on the pair of
shoes that were in front of her.

“I was about to fall asleep until you interrupted me Tristan.”

“I see.” Tristan said as he strode over to a chair that was three feet across from Rory. He
sat down and tipped his head to the side as he looked at Rory. Her dishelved hair cascaded
over her bag and her shoulders, with one strand falling in front of her face. Her body was
barely covered by her coat and Tristan saw her curl up in more in an attempt to get warm.
“You look like a bum.”

“Better than being one.” Rory covered her smirk with her hand. Tristan pouted in return
as he stood up again and walked towards her. “That wasn’t very nice.” Tristan slid his
back down along the wall and came to a rest near Rory’s head.

“Well you haven’t always been nice to me, just think of it as retribution.” Rory yawned

“You pain me.” Tristan looked down at Rory’s face. Her eyelids were beginning to droop.

“Good.” Rory almost jumped when she felt Tristan’s warm hand on her cheek. His fingers
caressing her soft skin. The touch of his skin trailed from her cheeks into her hair. Rory let
out a quite yawn that didn’t go unnoticed by Tristan.

“Get some sleep.”

“Yes sir.”

Tristan continued to run his fingers through Rory’s hair as she drifted off to sleep. He let
out a loud sigh and leaned his head back against the wall when he finally heard her
breathing deepen. This was going to be a long week. A good week, but a long week
none-the-less. Tristan had noticed signals coming from Rory. She knew that he had
changed. 

Tristan looked down at her peaceful face. The sun that was streaming through the
windows bounced off her face in a halo of dreamy light. A smile played upon his lips as he
plotted just the right moves he was going to make. There would be no second chance this
time.

***

The humidity of the south hit Rory in the face like a wet towel. She almost choked on the
thickness of the air. Their flight from Washington D.C. had only landed fifteen minutes
prior. After picking up their baggage the team made their way to where the airport shuttle
would pick them up. Tristan came up behind Rory and took a deep breath.

“Ahhh... I love the smell of car fumes in the afternoon.” Rory turned and gave him a weird
look. “What?”

“You are so weird.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Right.” Rory bent down and grabbed the handle of her suitcase. She rolled the luggage
over to where their van had just pulled up to the curb. Tristan trailed after her. Rory bent
down to lift her bag into the back of the van, but Tristan stopped her before she could. He
placed his hand over hers as she reached for the handle. Rory’s heart stopped for an
instant. The warmth of his hand on hers sent tingles quaking through her body.

“Let me get that for you.” Tristan’s voice was barely a whisper, but it echoed through her
ear. She could only manage a nod in reply having lost all speech capabilities. Rory closed
her eyes and willed herself to think of something other than the effects Tristan was having
on her. Rory pulled herself away from the site of Tristan and jumped into the van.

Paris came up behind Tristan as he loaded his and Rory’s bags into the van. She stared at
him silently for a moment, a scowl on her face. But the scowl disappeared when Tristan
turned to face her, replaced with a broad grin.

“Could you be any more obvious?” Tristan faced her, a perplexed look upon his brow.

“Run that by me again.”

“You.” Paris pointed to Tristan sharply. “Are being so obvious that I’m surprised she,”
Paris pointed to Rory through the van window. “Has not noticed.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Tristan knew exactly what Paris was referring to,
he just wished now that he hadn’t been as obvious.

“Are you a moron?” Paris struck a defiant pose, hands placed sternly on her hips.

“Depends on who you ask.”

“I give up. You are so freaking obvious that if something doesn’t happen on this trip
between you two, I’ll make something happen when we get back to Connecticut.” Paris
threw her hands in the air as she stalked off to the van door, but a smile dance upon her
lips.

It was a few more moments before Tristan made his appearance. He climbed into the van
and looked for a place to sit. The only open spot was next to Rory. Tristan threw a glare
in Paris’ direction, not because he had to sit next to Rory, but because Paris had found the
only weakness he had. Rory.

Paris caught Tristan’s glare, but merely smirked in return. If she couldn’t have him, she
might as well let him be happy with someone else. Despite her tough exterior Paris was a
hopeless romantic. Seeing Tristan happy would make her happy, and he was never happier
than when he was around Rory. She gave Tristan a wink as he sat down next to Rory
before she returned her attention back to Steve.

Rory looked at Tristan as he sat down next to her. She watched his sculpted hands as he
fastened his seatbelt. Her eyes drifted up his toned arm, over his broad chest, and came to
rest on his deep blue eyes. Tristan’s gaze drifted from his belt and into Rory’s eyes. Rory
gasped when she realized that she had been caught. She quickly turned her head away
from Tristan and looked out the window.

Tristan smiled at Rory’s reaction. He leaned forward, his body brushing against hers ever
so slightly.

“I saw that.” His breath tickled her ear.

“Saw what?” Rory rolled her head away from Tristan’s lips, but she couldn’t get the feel
of him away from her. Tristan continued his pursuit to make her nervous. Her leaned in
close again, this time placing  a hand gently on her shoulder and brushing her hair back as
he spoke.

“I saw what you didn’t want me to see. I saw that nervous glint in your eyes.” Tristan
paused as he felt her shiver underneath his touch. “I saw your interest.”

Tristan pulled away from Rory and turned his attention to the world that was passing
outside his window. Rory let out a breath that she didn’t know she had been holding. For
the second time that day Rory’s heart had stopped. This trip was going to be hell on her
emotions.

She didn’t want to fall for his charm, or his wit, or his.....she didn’t want to fall for him.
She was afraid that she already had. Rory felt it in her, something was going to happen.
But she couldn’t tell if it was for the best or for the worst.

***

Rory flopped down on her bed and sighed in her complete relaxation. The team had just
been given a tour of the Loyola Campus, which was where they were staying and
competing. Rory felt like she had just run a marathon between the heat and her
uncomfortable shoes. Mr. Good hadn’t been lying when he said that sneakers were your
best friend.

Rory heard the click of the dorm room door open, but she was too exhausted to even lift
her head to see who it was. At this point Rory could have cared less who it was. The feet
of the unknown being shuffled across the floor and stopped. The next sound was of a body
collapsing onto a bed followed by a load groan.

“I feel your pain Paris.” Rory stated. Paris’ reply was a simple groan of exhaustion. Rory
lifted her head just slightly to read the time on her watch. She whimpered as she dropped
her head back down onto the bed. “We have dinner in five minutes.”

“I know.” 

“We should go.”

“Yeah.”

“The guys will wonder what happened to us.” Neither figure moved.

“Yep.” 

Rory heard the second hand on her watch tick by. Minutes seemed to pass.

“Are you getting up?” Rory asked Paris.

“No.”

“Me neither.”

“Do you think they’d notice if we skipped out?” Paris’ tired tone hung in the air.

“I don’t know.” Rory answered. There was silence once again in the room. That is until a
knock on the door floated through the room. “Who wants to get it?”

“Not me, I think my legs have fallen off.”

“Maybe they’ll go away if we ignore them.” There was a loud pounding on the door.” Or
not.”

“Give it a few minutes.”

“I know your in there girls.” Steve’s voice penetrated through the door.

“Come back later when were not dead.” Rory shouted out to as she burrowed her head
into her pillow.

“To bad.” Steve shouted through the door. “Get moving. We’re hungry, and I don’t want
to hear you complaining about missing dinner.” Steve pounded on the door again. “Come
on girls.” He was about to pound on the door again when it swung open.

“Ok slave driver, we’re on our way.” Paris was staring angrily into Steve’s eyes. Paris
slammed the door in his face. Steve turned around to face Tristan, he his hands up in the
air.

“Don’t look at me. You were the one that wanted to wake them up.” Tristan leaned back
against the hallway wall and crossed his arms. Steve took up the same position next to his
friend. Both of them had their eyes trained on the door. Steve tapped his foot anxiously.

“What’s taking them so long?”

“You know women they have to look perfect.” The door to the girl’s room opened and
out stepped a bed raggled Paris followed by and equally grubby Rory. “Well there goes
that theory.”

“You don’t look too bad yourself Tristan.” Paris spat at Tristan as she stalked off to the
stairs. Tristan’s eyes drifted from the unhappy Paris to Rory. She had managed to sneak
her way up next to him. Her eye lids drooping.

“What is it with you and being tired whenever you’re around me?” Tristan asked coyly. “I
didn’t know I tired you out that much.”

“You didn’t.” It took a second for Rory to compute the verbal barb. “It was Steve.” She
smirked at Tristan who looked at her in shock. He jerked his head toward Steve who was
still leaning against the wall. Steve blew on his nails then rubbed them across his shirt.

“What can I say... I got mad talent.” Steve smiled to himself.

“I didn’t say that.” Rory winked at him and followed the route Paris had taken. When she
had disappeared around the corner Tristan threw a glare at Steve.

“Jealous much?” Steve shot at Tristan as he followed the girls. Tristan just stared at his
figure as he followed the girls.

“I think I missed something.” He said to himself as he jogged to meet the trio.

***

Steve leaned back in his chair and rubbed his stomach. On the table before him sat three
empty plates along with three empty glasses. Rory and Paris, who were sitting across from
him, just stared at his empty place setting wide eyed.

“You gonna eat that?” Steve motioned to the bowl of pasta salad in front of Rory.

“Go ahead.” Steve smiled at her as he took the bowl from her tray.

“How can you eat so much.... and still manage to be the size of a bean pole?” Rory
questioned her companion.

“Fast metabolism?” Steve shrugged.

“I am amazed.” Rory covered her mouth with her hand. Just watching Steve was making
her full.

“That’s nothing.” Tristan added to the conversation. “You should have been there the time
he ate fifty twinkies and three two-liter bottles of coke. That was amazing.”

“Ewwww.” Rory and Paris spit out at the same time.

“So girls what do you want to do?” Tristan asked.

“I saw this playground just off campus. The swings are calling me.” Rory said as she stood
up taking her tray with her. The other three followed suit. The group began to walk to
where they needed to drop off their trays. 

“I saw that too.” Paris chimed in. “Let me change my shoes and I’ll go with you.”  Rory
followed Paris to the entrance of the dorm chatting amicably with her along the way.
Tristan and Steve followed a few feet back having their own discussion. At the door
Tristan pulled Rory aside while Steve followed Paris up to the rooms.

“Rory, do you mind if Steve and I tag along, or is this just a girl thing?” Tristan stared at
his feet as he asked the question.

“I thought that you guys had already planned on coming.” Tristan raised his head to meet
Rory’s eyes. “Of course you guys can come.” 

“Besides....” Paris said as she walked up to the pair. “You can’t play a decent game of tag
with only two people. YOUR IT!” Paris slapped Tristan on his shoulder and took off
running towards the playground.

Tristan just watched Paris sprint down the sidewalk. Steve shrugged before chasing after
her. Tristan turned his attention to Rory. She was till watching Paris runaway, when she
turned towards Tristan she saw a devilish look in his eyes. Rory’s eyes became wide and
she slowly backed away from Tristan. A smiled tugged at the corner’s of his mouth as he
tipped his head to the side.

“It occurs to me that I’ve never seen you run.” Tristan became taking small, calculated
strides towards a frightened Rory.

“You haven’t?” Rory’s small steps became larger.

“No I haven’t.” Tristan broke into a full-fledge grin. “But I think I’m about to.” With that
he leapt towards her. Rory let out a shriek as she spun on her heel and ran in the opposite
direction from Tristan.

Rory was out of breath by the time they reached the swingset. Her legs were beginning to
slow and she could hear Tristan catch up to her. She finally stopped next to a large
weeping willow and fell back against its massive trunk. Rory breathed heavily, eyes closed
to the world, as her lungs tried to gain a sense of normalcy. Rory closed her eyes and
waited for Tristan to make an appearance.

A few minutes passed and Tristan still had not caught up with her. Rory had found that
odd because last she knew he was right on her heels. She opened her eyes and slowly
pushed herself away from the tree.

“Tristan?” She asked as she became to walk around to see what was on the other side of
the large trunk. “Tristan can you hear me? Tristan?”

“Yeah babe.” Rory screamed and jumped back against the tree, taking a startled Tristan
with her. Her back crashed against the trunk, but she didn’t feel the pain. Tristan’s hand
had gone instinctively behind her head to protect her.

“You ok?” His eyes scanned her face for any sort of mark, or sense of pain.

“I’m... I’m fine.” Tristan’s eyes drifted from his perusal to her eyes. The worried look that
they beheld scared Rory. She had seen almost every look out of him, but this one was
new.

“You sure?” Tristan fingers began to play with her hair.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Completely healthy.” Rory’s hands were shaking, and Tristan found that
out when he grasped them.

“Then why are you trembling?”

“Nerves I guess. Tristan I’m fine.” In all reality Rory’s legs had gone numb the minute he
had touched her. The only thing that kept her from falling to the ground was sure will and
the tree she was leaning against.

“You aren’t lying to me?”

“No Tristan. I’m fine... truthfully.” 

“Ok, I was just check....” Tristan’s voice drifted off as he became lost in the beautiful
vision that was Rory. Her face glowed in the soft evening light. She looked like an angel
that had managed to escape from heaven. Tristan’s arms wrapped around her waist and
for the first time in his life he felt complete. His eyes drifted to Rory’s slightly parted lips
and then up to her eyes. He was waiting for Rory to give him permission. This waiting
game was driving him crazy.

“Oh look... swings.” Tristan closed his eyes and winced in emotional pain as Rory darted
from his arms. She had won again.