Imagine Me Without You (Chapter 8)

Title: Imagine Me Without You (Chapter 8)
Author: gigi
Rating: I am not responsible for any kind of rating. PG-13 and R is sure to pop up for upcoming series that include cussing and blah blah blah.
Summary: you have to read to find that out. The title of this series was inspired by Jaci Velasquez's
ballad "Imagine Me Without You". It's long, I know, but, give me credit!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for MY story line. James aka Cards, Will, Kevin, Evelyn, and Christian are copyright of my imagination.
E-mail: gigi@xquisite.net
Etc.: Sorry if the past few chapters were short. When I type out everything I want, sometimes I lose that flare and don't want to continue for awhile. And sometimes, when I do decide to pick up where I left off, I forget how I wanted to continue the storyline!

Chatper 8: You Didn't? Part 2

"What am I going to do?" Rory was panicked and didn't know what the hell she agreed to, with that James, Cards, whatever the hell his name was. "I got myself into something more than I bargained for. Paris, say something!" She was layed down over the wide table, staring at an upside-down Paris.

"First off," marking the paper with the #2 pencil, "you used the wrong 'it's'. You were supposed to use 'its'."She tapped the pencil eraser on Rory's forehead, causing her to rub her forehead.

"That hurt." Uncovering her forehead, she closed her eyes.

"Good journalists know how to use proper pronounciation and grammar. Little errors become bigger disasters in the long run. Remember that."

Little errors become bigger disasters in the long run. Right. Whatever, my little error is, is sure to become a bigger disaster. "Well?"

Paris let out a 'hmm', too interested in Rory's latest work to be too interested in Rory's dilemma. Rory grew impatient and snatched the papers out of her hand and put them aside. "Paris!"

"Rory!" Paris repeated, doing a Home Alone. She hoped that it would lighten the mood but failed miserably. Going around the table, she hunched up and laid down on her back beside Rory. The two let out a soft huff, swaying their feet back and forth.

"Say something Paris, what have I done?" She put her hands over her eyes, then all over her face. Rubbing her temples violently, she listened to Paris.

"You accepted an invitation to a date. That is exactly what you did and I thought you would've been more perceptive of Cardel's plans. Please tell me you don't like him!"

Rory sat up. "Of course I don't like him! I don't even know him! Paris, he stole my book!" Paris turned to meet Rory and arched her eye brows, reminding her of what happened last time a boy who stole a book. Rory rolled her eyes. "I just wasn't thinking. Gosh I have to tell Tristan! That Cards guy stole my book, then he's holding me back after lunch, and I'm late to class, and I don't know what Tristan will say---"

"What will I say?" When Rory and Paris realized they were no longer alone, Paris also sat up to see Tristan standing in the doorway with his folder under his arm. No reply. "Geeze, you two are acting weird. It's almost like deja vu with Cards." Paris threw Rory a concerned glance and Tristan saw the quick, darting eyes.

"Hi Tristan" the two girls said in unison.

He walked torwards the girls and stopped in front of them when he saw that they were hiding something from him, particularly Rory. He winced his eyebrow and set the folder down besides the two sitting girls.

"Hello Paris" slowly turning to Rory. "Uh...hello Rory." A silent hush descended the room. Tristan lingered a bit in Rory's eyes, only to be interrupted by Paris.

"Good article. Remember what I said about trial and error." quickening the pace to get out of the compromising position. "Just have it into me by Friday. Bye." The other two now only remained.

"So?" Tristan asked.

Clearing her throat, "Hi."

"Yeah, hello. Again. So, do you want to tell me what you two were talking about, since I heard my name being thrown all over the place?" now sitting down in the chair beside her.

Dammit Rory, you have to tell him. Just tell him that it's nothing and you weren't thinking. Wait, no you can't. James is his friend. No. NO! Wait, yes, tell him now!. During her silent revelation, Tristan stared up at her, looking for some clue as to what she was hiding.

"Rory?"

"I have a date."

The words didn't have to be said again. He had heard them perfectly fine. How could she? With who?

"I see. I guess that's a good thing. Right? A good thing? I mean, who wouldn't want to go out with you? Should I congradulate the lucky guy? Do I know him?" He was starting to babble and when he did babble, it usually meant he was disappointed and hurt. A Dugrey usually knew how to hide the hurt behind question.

"Actually," she spoke up, "you do."

Great, you know the lucky bastard. Don't worry, it's just a date. She's not moving away or getting married or getting back with Bag Boy. Whoever she's going out with on a date couldn't be so bad. "So who's the lucky guy?"

Braving herself for the worst, she tried to say it cooly as possible. "James Cardel."

"WHAT!" jumping out of the chair. "James Cardel? CARDS! Rory! What were you thinking?!" slamming his fist on the table. The pang was stern against the wood but no one else was in the room to hear it. "Rory, do you know what Cards is all about?"

"Yes, I do Tristan! I know exactly what he's all about! It's not a big deal! Why are you getting so riled up about it?"

"Why the hell did you tell me?" He spit back the remark in tone far more harsh than he meant to express. Under his breath, he damned Cards, after warning him to stay away from her. He should've known he would try something like this. After calming down, he proceeded once again. "Why? Please tell me you didn't?!" Now he wasn't asking her to tease her; he was pleading that she lie to him.

"I don't know why." She was being fully honest, although she was sure he wasn't buying it. "He asked and I said 'ok' and he asked for my number and my directions and I gave it to him." Rory saw that his head was cast down, looking away. They stood there quietly, looking anywhere but at each other. Tristan took a step back and the two then made eye contact.

"Funny," stroking his chin "I guess it was easier to say yes to anybody else but me, huh?" He regretted what he said once he said them and it was a low blow. Witnessing her shudder to the words, she too, backed away from him and went around the table to get her belongings. She looked up and saw that he still had his head cast down.

"I won't go out with him if you don't want me to." All he had to say was 'yes' and she'd wouldn't go on this date. She had hurt him and she was trying hard to find a way to make him feel better. The silence between them wasn't making it any better.

"I don't care." It was a lie but she listened to him as if it were the truth. "Do whatever you want Rory, I don't care."

Without an exchange of goodbyes, she walked past him quickly out of the classroom. Audible enough, only for her and the walls to hear, she said, "I'm sorry." Her eyes were starting to well-up and with that, she ran as fast she could, away from everything.

Now a solo engagement, he slumped back into his chair. Putting his head down on the smooth surface, he dealt with his internal war. He had been too harsh with her. Like any story out there, he knew that there was another side, perhaps sides. He hadn't listened to her because he was stubborn and his jealousy had gotten in the way. He knew she didn't want to go on the date but how impossibly hard was it to say no to a jackass? She said it numerous times to him!

Behind him, Paris had slowly made her way back into the room. Without so much of a peep, she had heard the whole outburst. You two are fools, as she stared at the back of his head. Fools for one another that is. Why was it so hard for them to feel for one another openly? Hah, could say the same about you, too, Gellar! Oh, shut up.

"Tell me what you know." He had startled her out of her private thoughts, even though he hadn't once lifted his head from is present state. Pulling the door shut, she walked beside him and dealt him a comforting hand on his shoulder.
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END CHAPTER 8