Rated:PG-13

Disclaimer: The usually stuff. I don't own anything except for my Buffy DVDs but they don't count. So kudos to Amy and the WB for this show! Now if only they could get Tristan back....

Author's Note: The second installment. Can't think of much to say but Enjoy!

There's Always Tomorrow

Chapter Two: "Surprise!"

By Caruialiel

Tristan twisted and turned in his bed but he couldn't find a comfortable position. 5:38am. It was too late to go back to sleep and too early for him to get up. He kicked the sheets back with his feet and sat up on the edge of his bed. Running his fingers through his hair, he got up and slumped his way to his window. Tristan flicked the latch and lifted the window to let the cool breeze brush over him. You would think after the terrible beds at Military School, this would be heaven but somehow it wasn't. He wasn't sure coming back in Hartford was going to solve his sleeping problems and his parents didn't exactly make him feel welcome. Some scrawl on a piece of paper left with the butler. They were off…somewhere, he didn't care. But the prospect of going back to Chilton, his friends, and…Rory didn't seem too appealing.

He hated to admit it but his father's decision for him to go to Military School was a good one. Oh, the early mornings and food were hell but there, DuGray meant nothing. Nobody could give if you were the prince of England or your father was a serial killer. It was refreshing, very refreshing. Nothing like Chilton, where money and a name could get you anything you wanted. Full of people whose conversations consisted of how much better they were than everybody else. Hearing that day in and day out would even make flies go up the wall. Maybe that was why he hung around Duncan and Bowman. Tristan shook his head. All the memories of their little excursions flooded back. The safe. The time they found K-Mart Auto Service stickers and stuck them all on the jaguars, BMWs and other expensive cars in Hartford. Tristan knew that these guys meant trouble with a capital T but he had to admit, they were only out to have fun.

He had learnt so much in such a short space of time. Six months he had been away, but they felt more like six years. Life wasn't all about money and having everything thrown at your feet. You had to work for what you wanted. An easy life wasn't going to be handed to you on a silver platter. He regretted the way he had treated Rory and now it was too late. After she got back with the bag-boy and saying that she hated him…his world just collapsed. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. She could have been just another conquest, another girl to make out with and discard the next day but he knew that if Rory had given in he would have lost interest and never would have seen what an amazing girl she is. Her blue eyes and that long coffee coloured hair he had wanted to run his fingers through so badly…

But there was no thinking about that now. He would just leave her alone. She was probably happy with that bag-boy anyway. Tristan watched the sun slowly rise, painting the sky with pink and orange. If only his life could be that simple. The sun didn't have to worry about anything but sending down UV rays. He groaned and turned away from the window.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8:45am. Tristan pulled into the student car park and parked his car among the Jaguars and BMWs. He looked at himself in the review mirror. A boy with tousled dirty blond hair, blue eyes and a defined jaw stared back at him. He looked the same as he had the day he left but he didn't feel the same. Too much had happened to him while he was away. Tristan didn't know if he could just come back to school and behave like everything was normal and he never went away.

Giving a big sigh, he climbed out of his car, grabbed his books and headed towards the front doors. *What do I do if I see her?* That question had plagued his mind ever since his father told him that his punishment was over and he could come back to Chilton.

"Hey, DuGray! You're back!" Tristan turned around and found himself swarmed with his "friends", all wanting to know how Tristan DuGray served his time at Military School. Tristan found himself smiling and joking like he always did. Yeah, he could keep this façade up, he could pretend that he didn't care about anything. He felt his stomach churn just thinking that he used to be like that.

"Yeah, it was good, couldn't wait to get back though." He smiled his signature smile and continued down the corridor, waving hello and making small talk all the while looking for the one person he wanted to see. Rory. But she was no where to be seen.

"DuGray!" Tristan's friend, Shane snapped his fingers in front of his face, "Earth to Tristan!" Tristan refocused his eyes, still staring blankly. "Are you ok, man?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine."

He let Shane drag him off to his first class, but he couldn't pay attention to any of his classes that morning. The teacher could have talking about how the Department of Education had decided it was time for all students to get paid for coming to school, and he wouldn't have bat an eyelid. All he could think about was Rory. In the back of his mind, he secretly hoped that she would see him first and come over and tell him that all was forgiven. But…everyone knew that wasn't going to happen. He knew that they had English and Geography together but she wasn't in either class. Glancing at the door every 5 seconds, expecting to see her run into class, didn't help ease his mind.

"Mr. DuGray, how does that sound to you?"

"Huh?" Tristan regained focus on the teacher stand inches away from him, "Absolutely perfect, Ms. Caldecott."

"Really?" She continued to stare incredulously into the boy's eyes, "I certainly hope so, Mr.DuGray."

This was going to be one very long day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The chatter and laughter that bounced off the walls in the Chilton dinning hall, created the effect of chimps at a zoo which was oblivious to Rory. Seated at her favourite table by the western windows, she was reading as usual. Book placed carefully in front of her lunch, headphones playing the latest PJ Harvey song, Rory was trying to forget everything that had happened earlier. She had hoped to catch Darian before lunch started but he was off some where. He was probably the only person, besides Lorelai and Lane who could make her feel better.

She had arrived with 10 minutes to spare. Deciding not to go to Geography, she had wandered aimlessly through the corridors before ending up in front of Tristan's old locker. She didn't know how she had ended up there. Tristan had been away for six months now. He had looked so defeated that night, his father standing in the shadow of the doorway. He looked so much like a little boy, finally realising that he had been dreadfully wrong to hang out with Duncan and Bowman.

Rory slowly lifted her hand and traced the tips of her fingers over the grooves in the cold metal. Suddenly realizing what she was doing, she snatched her hand away and half ran half walked down the corridor to her own locker. What was she thinking? Tristan was gone. He wasn't going to come back. He had tormented her continuously while he was at Chilton and now that he was gone, everything had toned down.

Dismissing these thoughts, Rory had quickly wrote a note to Darian, saying to meet her at her table at lunch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You should have seen Kristine's face when I dumped her!"

Tristan couldn't take this anymore. Anymore of this inane conversation and he would have to punch that guy's face in! He felt so disgusted with himself to think that he probably would have said the same thing before was sickening.

Tristan turned away. At least this way he wouldn't have to look at their faces. The chatter and laughter among the students was deafening. They all seemed so happy and carefree like nothing could worry them. If only he could feel the same. Scanning the dining hall, his eyes suddenly fell on a coffee-coloured head, tilted down reading through the mess of students.

RORY.

His heart did a somersault up to his throat. She was here. He shivered and shifted his position in his seat. Should he go up to her? Rory looked so peaceful, listening to her Walkman and reading her book so carefully positioned before her lunch. She hadn't changed much. Her hair was a little shorter but she was still as beautiful as ever.

"Huh, I'll see ya guys later." The others at his table glanced up and watched Tristan's retreating back disappear into the sea of students.

Tristan slowly crept up behind her, The graceful curve of her back slightly hunched over. Very carefully he reached over and jabbed into her ribs…hard.

"AH!" Rory yelped, spilling her coffee all over her jumper, "Darian! I told you a million times not to…" She stopped. Her eyes widen as she looked up to see Tristan, looking as smug as ever. His eyes twinkled and the beginnings of a smile began on his lips.

"Hey Mary."