Tristan walked into the bar. It was a Thursday night and for once he wasn't working. His friends had convinced him to come out and experience bar night from the other side. They had decided it was time to shake him out of his self induced hibernation. For the past few weeks he had basically spent his time either in his room, in class or working. He had only relented to come out as it was the last party before mid semester exams.

After his encounter with Jess at the bar he had just become even more confused. Hell, he thought he knew girls but Rory was no ordinary girl. Avoidance had become the only answer. Anyway the ball was defiantly in her court. Maybe he should just go back to being the old Tristan as the new one who was open with his feelings was not doing any better, with her at least.

"Tristan" a voice called from across the room. "I'm glad you made it, here first shots on me" Phil continued handing me what looked like tequila.

"Man, I gotta tell ya I'm totally gone. I've been here since one o'clock, me and Bob came straight after Law, it's going to be a killer night man" Phil continued draping his arm around my shoulder.

"Sure, I guess. Have you seen Josh" he asked, feigning enthusiasm.

"He's right over there talking to some chick" Phil informed me pointing over to the back corner. I turned around and spotted Josh at a table with a group of guys we both knew. He was leaning over talking to a brown haired girl who at the moment turned her head to look towards the exit. It was of course Rory. Great, just what I need. She was leaning back in her chair with her feet propped up on Josh's. He was gesturing emphatically and receiving a wry grin in return. She was dressed simply in jeans, flip flops and a black tank but somehow looked amazing. Josh leaned in to whisper something in her ear over the music and I felt a pang in my stomach. There was no way I could face her.

"Hey Phil, lets head over to the bar, I'm sure my buddies will hook us up with some free drinks"

"Right on Dugray" Phil replied.

I was actually having an alright time. Kristin had dragged me to the last bar night and it was packed. We had finally managed to find some seats at a table with some of Tristan's friends although to my immediate relief he wasn't there. That's what I had decided, that I didn't want to see him. Although ever few minutes I found my head swinging towards the exit.

Tristan roommate Josh was entertaining me with tales of his crazy forays into the dating world. It seemed every girl he tried to pick up had some kind of physco type boyfriend lurking in the shadows.

My resolution had been to forget about Tristan. It was just to confusing to do anything else. I just couldn't understand him; he was either tormenting me or professing some kind of affection. Most of which I assumed to be typical sleaziness. I mean that's what he did right, messed with girl's heads until they fell for him and anything I was feeling was probably a result of those mind games. I didn't like him but for some reason I had to keep reminding myself of that.

"Rory, come dance" Kristin asked getting up and heading to the dance floor with a couple of Josh's friends. "I'm fine maybe later" I replied.

"Ok, Josh, keep her company for me" Kristin asked.

"If I have too" Josh replied smiling sarcastically.

We were joined by some more of Josh's mates; one was a red haired guy with a nice smile named Phil.

"So how are things going here, not getting up to any trouble are we" Phil leered jokingly.

"Nah, this is Rory she knows Dugray" Josh replied.

"Speaking of, have you seen him around anywhere, he got a bit carried away at the bar, man that kid can't hold his liquor" Phil laughed.

"He needs more practice like you" Josh quipped.

"Steady on, so Rory do you go to school here" Phil asked.

"Uh, huh" I replied somewhat distracted.

So Tristan was here. And he was drunk. Great. I had learned my lesson last time and was seriously pacing myself. Last time, when Tristan had been such a gentleman. God I was thinking myself around in circles. Dave's advice had been to just kiss him and get it over with. Have a fling, so what if he was a player just have fun. But that wasn't me I was not the type of girl that would just hook up with a guy for no reason. There had to be something there, not just something, everything.

"There he is" Josh yelled shaking me out of my thoughts.

"Well, the gangs all here" Tristan proclaimed as he wandered towards us.

"There's a Josh and a Phil and a Rory,Rory,Rory" Tristan continued as he shook the two guys hands and leaned down and grabbed me from behind while whispering in my ear "How's it going Mary".

"So guys what's up, your keeping little Rory all to yourself, where's the love" Tristan slurred.

"You are wasted" Josh replied, shaking his head in laughter.

"Who's a  wasted, I'm as sober as a school boy, scouts honour" Tristan replied attempting to cross his hand on his heart which in turn caused him to spill his drink.

Some of which landed on my top.

"Opp-sie, looked like I spilled, why don't you take that of and I'll go clean it" Tristan continued leering at me.

"Oh yea that's a great idea, I'll just sit here half naked" I replied glaring at him.

"Well, we won't mind, will we guys" Tristan replied grinning.

"Come on man lets go get you some fresh air" Josh calmly stated while getting out of his chair and turning Tristan towards the courtyard.

I sat there watching the two of them wander off; there was the Tristan I knew and loathed right in the annoying flesh. And with that thought in mind I went to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

"Man, you were acting like an ass" Josh stated as he sat Tristan down at an outside table.

"Moi" Tristan replied resting his head in his hands.

"Yes you, you're drinking yourself into a coma, why, Whats up?" Josh asked concerned.

"Nothings up, everything's fine, nothings changed" he replied.

"What does that mean" Josh asked.

"It means nothing, I'm done with her, I'm ready for something new" he continued.

"Done with who, Rory?" Josh prodded.

"Who else, who else is there"

"Well, have you told her…"

"Yes, she knows, she knows I like her she would have to be insane not to, I've done everything. Its simple she just doesn't like me, but there's nothing I can do, I feel how I feel so there." Tristan rambled.

"So the answer is drinking" Josh asked.

"Yes"

"Drinking doesn't solve things; it just makes you look like an ass in front of the girl you like"

"So"

"So, that's not going to help things, ok'

"Ok"

"I'll get you some water, will you be alright out here"

"I guess"

Rory finished cleaning up her top and headed back out to the bar. She decided to get some air and wandered outside where she immediately spotted Tristan hunched over a chair. She quickly tried to turn back but was stopped by him calling out her name.

"What" she asked.

"Can I talk to you for a second" he asked quietly.

"I guess" she replied sitting down next to him.

"I'm sorry about your top"

"That's ok, who doesn't like smelling like a brewery, it sure helps attract guys" she replied.

"Well I'm glad I could be of service"

They sat there for a few minutes silently just staring at each other.

"So, hows classes" Rory asked.

"Fine" he replied.

"And your um, family how are they" she continued.

"Good" he murmured

"Wow, chatty today aren't we, you certainly weren't shy back there"

"What can I say I'm a loser?"

"You're not a loser; you're just a bit um…"

"Stupid, sad, sarcastic" he ventured.

"No, I was going to say drunk" Rory replied back laughing a little.

"Oh" Tristan replied.

"Hey remember me this same place a few months back, I wasn't exactly little miss together"

"I remember" Tristan replied softly.

"Yea, so um is…" Rory began before Tristan interrupted her.

"What, hows my job, its good, school, once again fine, why do you feel the need to make chit chat with me" Tristan said turning to face me.

"I, I'm just being polite"

"Yea well don't; don't be nice to me, its not going to help"

"What help what?"

"How can you be so clueless?" Tristan shot back raising his voice.

"Don't yell at me" I replied.

"Fine your right I'm going to go before I start saying things I shouldn't"

"Shouldn't say what, God I don't get you" Rory shot back getting up to leave.

"Well finally something we can both agree on, you don't get me, you don't want me, I know but that doesn't change the fact I want you" Tristan replied. And with that he stood up and stormed back into the club.

I sat down again. I felt like punching something. Why were we going around in these circles? Why did it keep ending up like this? Me and Tristan we weren't simple, our personalties just seemed to clash and the result was some kind of blow up. But what did he mean, I don't get him. I get him, he's playing with me, trying to make me like him and so what if I did. We didn't work; it wasn't going to go anywhere. With Dean it had been simple, that's what love was supposed to be like. But then that hadn't worked. I had fallen for Jess and gone against all rational judgement and that hadn't worked out any better. And now Tristan, he's been there all along, in the back of my mind. I had pushed out any thoughts of us together, I had forced myself to do that. I knew he was wrong for me but here he is three years later and he's still there and against all my better judgment I still get the pang in my stomach when I think of him, I thought it was hate or some kind of loathing but maybe not. As the cliché goes there's a fine line between love and hate and an indistinguishable one at that. So what now, run after him or let another three years go by? Well that was the question. All I know is that it's my choice.