Pairing: Tristan & Rory.

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own any of them. The characters belong to Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Hofflund/Polone in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Feedback: Please!!

Chapter Three - Some Things Never Change

Three weeks ago...

Tristan let out a short bitter laugh as he surveyed the scene in front of him. No more than a mere two hours since he stepped out of the plane in Hartford, had he been thrust upon the same old social scene.

Vanessa Pennington's seventeenth birthday party. One of those obligatory Chilton birthday parties. His parents insisted that he went, since the Penningtons were 'dear, old' friends of his father's. But Tristan didn't mind as much. He knew that she'd be there.

Rory. He hadn't thought of her for what seemed like an eternity. But the moment he boarded the plane, his mind was bombarded with memories of his crush on her. He remembered her ear, he remembered their kiss on the piano bench, he remembered everything. So when the opportunity knocked, he took it. He had to see her. Tristan needed to prove to himself once and for all that he was over Rory Gilmore.

"Well if it isn't our long lost Romeo," a sultry voice behind Tristan said. He turned around to find Louise, Madeline and Paris standing behind him. Louise and Madeline both flashed him smiles, while Paris had her usual irritated look.

"Romeo's a little late. Nine months to be exact," Paris snapped. Tristan chuckled. He knew a girl like Paris would never forget.

"My apologies," he said smoothly. "Maybe I could make it up to you three ladies by saving you all a dance?" Tristan asked, wiggling his eyebrows. Madeline and Louise giggled, while Paris grew even more irritated. She narrowed her eyes at Tristan, and opened her mouth. Before she could say anything, Tristan grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the dance floor.

"Gellar, you're first," Tristan said. He drowned out the sounds of her protests, as they made their way towards the center of the dance floor. A slow song started to play, and Tristan pulled a reluctant Paris towards him, as he continued to scan the room for Rory.

About a minute into the song, Paris spoke up.

"She's not here," she said softly, her head still rested on Tristan's shoulder. Tristan's head snapped up.

"Who?" he asked, trying to keep his cool.

"You know who I'm talking about," was Paris' response.

"So where is she?" Tristan asked, a minute later.

"Visiting her father," Paris replied.

Another long moment of silence passed between them before Paris spoke up again.

"Ever since you left, she's changed," she said softly. This threw Tristan for a loop.

"Changed how?" he wondered aloud. He felt Paris tense up in his arms, as she hesitated for a moment before answering his question.

"She's... Well Rory's just been..." she began.

"C'mon Gellar. Quit stalling. We go way back. You could tell me anything," Tristan prompted.

"Did it ever occur to you that you might not want to hear what I have to say?" Paris snapped. Tristan sighed.

"It was nothing more than a mere crush," Tristan said. "I'm over it."

"She's been happy around Chilton," Paris blurted out. "She's come out of her shell, made some new friends... She doesn't need you making her life a living hell at school again."

"Oh," was all Tristan managed to say. No matter how many times he told himself that he was over Rory, the pain was still there. He tried to regroup himself. "I wasn't the only one making her life a living hell," Tristan reminded Paris. Paris looked down at their feet, ashamed.

"Things are different now," she said. "We have a lot in common. The only thing standing between us other than grades was," she paused for a moment. "You."

"So she's really happy now?" Tristan asked, letting his guard down for a moment. Paris nodded.

"Look, we all knew you had a thing for Rory, but everyone thought you just wanted to bed her. I'm the only one who knows," Paris replied. Tristan was confused.

"The only one that knows what?" he asked.

"That you fell in love with her," Paris whispered, before stepping away from Tristan. "Thank you for the dance," she said, before walking away.

Tristan stood stunned in the middle of the crowded dance floor. Here he was, surrounded by people, yet he'd never felt more alone in his life.

-----------------------

Yup, Tristan's finally back in Hartford. Sorry for the lack of Troryness in this chapter, but they shall meet up again in the next chapter...