He pulled her onto the dance floor, laughing, twirling her around. The bland techno music blaring he twirled her in circles, smiling and laughing, she followed his lead, through the dips and spins. It was fun , but when the song ended she turned to head back to the table in need of a drink. Tristan grabbed her hand. "Hey," he said pulling her close. She looked startled, like a deer in the headlights.

"Hey," she replied, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Refusing to look into his eyes, the beat unknown they rocked back and forth, shivers moving up and down her arms.

"You've changed." He stated, looking down at her, she returned the comment.

"So have you." She remained staring up at him, "you aren't as big of a jerk that you used to, you're ego has obviously taken a beating, thank god." He shot her a pouty look.

"You seem more independent." She nodded content and leaned her forehead ever so gently against his, glancing at him, he tilted his face downwards, slowly. All of a sudden the song ended, and another loud, bland song came on startling her so radically that she jumped away from him.

"I need a drink," she said turning her back on him and leaving the floor dissatisfied at her lack of self control. She was hurting him, she knew that, but why risk another heart break.

Later that week she nervously picked up the phone and dialed his number.

"Hello," a distinguished voice said.

"Hi, may I please speak to Tristan?"

"What's up Mary?"

"Gee, Tristan I could've mistaken you for a butler."

"We don't have a butler,"

"A maid then, I thought we were passed the whole Mary thing."

"You haven't changed that much,"

"bite me." She offered suddenly forgetting why she'd called.

"Why'd you call?" He asked, curiously, seriously happy for some reason.

"Well, we, as in the Road Trips groupies, are travelling out to Mansfield, tomorrow. It's a five hour drive there and back but its worth it. I heard they're selling them a dime a dozen."

"A dime A dozen?" He questioned sarcastically.

"You know what I mean, better bargains then the last one. We could do the same things as last time."

"Sure," he replied. "So we'll take the Jeep, then."

"Sounds good, see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah." He hung up the phone, she sounded cold. After that night on the dance floor, things were different. After the almost-kiss, he knew he'd scared her away. He also knew what he felt, this wasn't just a mild attraction, like with Summer, he couldn't throw this away. If it meant sharing this awkwardness, so be it. It was better than not seeing her at all.

**************************************************************************************

She sighed hanging up the phone, "idiot," she whispered leaning her head against the window. Startled, she noticed someone walking towards her window. It was Jess, he noticed her and she headed around to the door to open it. "Hey," she greeted him sadly, leading him into her room. Plopping down on her bed, she tossed him a pillow and he sat down on it on her desk chair. "You're unthrilled, talk" She smiled sadly at him.

"It's just, things are weird you know."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Between Tristan and me, I think he wants more, I just don't want to get in to deep, you know."

"I get it, kind of like me and Lane."

"Yeah, I noticed you two getting pretty cozy at the club the other night." She teased. He blushed looking down.

"The difference is, you could be with Tristan, I can't be with Lane." Rory nodded in agreement.

"You've gotten better Jess, if things were different, I'm sure Ms.Kim might cave, besides, I thought the sneaky thing was your forte." He nodded sadly.

"I want things to be different."

"So do I." She replied. "In a way, I guess I don't want to get hurt, things with Dean went sour, I'm glad that we're friends. I wouldn't want to lose Tristan."

"Maybe you haven't found him yet," Jess stated quietly standing up and pecking her on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She sat quietly pondering Jess's comment. Maybe she hadn't found him yet, even though he'd lost the armor and given her glimpses of Tristan, she still hadn't found him yet. The glimpses of Tristan that she'd seen had been through his songs. Before she could trust him, before they could be together, she had to find him. And he had to let her.

******Now things are getting thoughtful( I'm just the writer, I don't' think I just write)******Anyways, coming up we've got yet another trip to the Dugrey manor, a little longer, Something BIG is going to happen.***That's all for now****