Epilogue

The day after Tristan got all his plaster taken off, was the day of Rory's birthday.

"So, what did you get me?" Rory shouted, as she ran to her driveway to greet his car.

"Who says I got you anything?" Tristan said.

"You did. Last week, remember?"

"Oh yeah."

"SO? Where is it?" Rory asked impatiently.

"Actually, there's more than one."

He patted the passenger seat. She opened the door and seated herself. Tristan pulled a poorly wrapped package from his car.

"Here's the first."

Rory grabbed the package from him and turned it over to examine it.

"Let me guess, you wrapped it yourself," she concluded, noting the excess use of scotch tape.

He smiled proudly in response.

Ripping the gaudy paper off, she was startled to find a doll looking back at her.

"This freakishly looks like me," Rory said, eying it worriedly. "It's not a voodoo doll, is it?"

"It's a puppet," Tristan explained. "See the strings?"

"Oh yeah."

She threw the puppet into the back.

"Next!" she called.

"I think you'll like this one better," he said, pulling a small box out of his pocket and giving it to her.

"Ah! What a difference a professionally wrapped present makes!"

Again she tore off the paper to reveal a jewellery box.

"Now this is more like it!"

"No, you see, there's more. There are two layers of wrapping. That's just the box Rory. You have to open it," he explained to her.

"I know that!"

She snapped open the lid to find a very elegant ring inside.

"You like?" Tristan asked.

"Me like! It looks familiar," she said, taking it out from its box and looking over at it.

"It should. It's that one we saw at the jewellery store, remember?"

"What jewellery store?" Rory asked.

"The one near the hospital."

"But we…Wait a minute!"

"And the light bulb brightens!" Tristan said, laughing.

"You mean… You aren't saying…? Tris!"

"Ha ha! I got you good!" Tristan said, dancing in his seat.

"You said you didn't remember!"

"A harmless white lie," Tristan said.

"Harmless? Not so!" She pinched him hard.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I wanted to see what you'd do." Tristan apologised.

"That's mean! Meaner than mean. Paris is Mother Theresa, compared to you," Rory said, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I'm sorry. Don't be mad. Please?"

Rory looked over to find him with his puppy-dog face on.

"Why did you wait so long to tell me?" Rory asked, relenting.

"Wanted to see if you'd make a move on me," Tristan said simply, shrugging his shoulders. "Why didn't you?"

"I don't know. I didn't know how to, I suppose. You've always been the one chasing ME."

"And you liked that, didn't you?" Tristan asked smirking.

"Maybe a little," Rory conceded.

"Maybe a lot," Tristan said.

"Maybe." Rory started flipping her new ring around in her hand. "So, what now?"

"Wanna neck?" Tristan asked.

"HA! You wish!"

"Everyday, Mary. Sometimes twice. And if it's raining…"

"Hey!" Rory cut in.

"What?"

"Where's my birthday kiss?"