Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Rory was reading in the piano room at Madeline's house. She didn't care or even acknowledge that a rowdy party was occurring all around her. She barely noticed as she shifted slightly on the piano bench. She studied the text before her, wishing that she could focus on it. Her mind was elsewhere entirely, in Stars Hollow, with Dean. She had really blown it. She should've just said four words: "I love you too." It should have been natural. She was contemplating this when Tristan entered the room. She looked up from her book, and he motioned to the bench.
"Do you mind if I join you?" he asked quietly. She shook her head. He sat down beside her. "Why aren't you out there?" he inquired. "You don't seem like a party girl, but still...." A thought occurred to him, one that delighted him. "You and the Beav didn't break up, did you?" he asked, gently mocking her. Rory nodded mechanically, unable to even produce tears. She was still in shock. "Oh, Rory." he sighed. "I'm sorry."
"What do you care?" she snapped. "You never liked him anyway."
"What happened?" he asked.
"He told me he loved me. And I just sat there like a moron. I couldn't say it back to him."
"Wow."
"I know, right? I'll kiss a guy, call him my boyfriend, and the whole package, but I can't say 'I love you' to him? Stupid, right?"
"Well..." Tristan sighed. "A little, but I know this great guy." he cracked a smile, trying to cheer Rory's spirits. "He would be perfect for you."
"So help me, Tristan, do not go there." Rory didn't like the direction Tristan was taking, and he immediately retreated into the shell he had created to protect himself from Rory.
"Fine." he conceded. "What are you going to do?"
"I have to tell him I love him, because I do. I really do." she realized. Her words penetrated Tristan's shell as if it didn't exist in the first place.
"I love you." he said almost vehemently. "What do I have to do to prove that? I've loved you since you walked through the doors at Chilton. Why can't you see it?"
"Tristan, you don't love me." Rory tried to reason with him. "I'm a game to you."
"No. It seems that I'm a game to you." the fire which had burned in his eyes flickered and was extinguished as he blinked once. His eyes were stormy and gray now. "I have been trying for six months to get you to give me a chance. I love you, Rory, and I always will." Rory finally saw the truth, barren and obvious, in his eyes. He looked pained as he stood, as if he had the weight of his world on his shoulders. He began to walk away, but Rory caught him by the hand. He snatched his hand out of hers as if she had burned it.
"Tristan." she spoke his name and he had no willpower to leave the room. He was frozen, halfway to the door.
"What do you want, Rory?" he asked, honestly. No games now. "Do you want to triumph over me? Brag that you finally got Tristan's cold, cold heart to show some emotion and then took pleasure in shattering it?"
"No." she admitted. "I don't." She stood so she was close to him, interlaced her fingers with his, drew him in, and kissed him on the cheek. She slipped her arms around him, and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked.
"Yes, and no. I'm ready to see." she nestled against him, feeling safe in his arms.
"Okay." he nodded, realizing that that was just fine with him.
A/N: She didn't kiss him on the lips because she's still getting over kissing Dean. It's a transition thing. :)