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Are We or Aren't We?
Chapter 2 – Caught in the Act
Tristan didn't know what to do. He didn't even know what he wanted to do.
In a daze, he walked out of the school and into the parking lot towards his blue convertible. And then he just sat.
What had happened? What was wrong with him? He turned the rear-view mirror towards him and peered at his cheek. Ouch. He touched it gingerly. Rory had done this? But he'd thought she was different. Different from all the other girls, but, most of all, she was different from – Tristan stopped. He still couldn't say that name. Then Tristan saw Rory come running out of the school, her hair flying behind her. For a split second, she caught him once again. Brown hair floating in the wind... Then he flung himself back in his seat and turned the car key. But by then Rory was beside the car.
"Tristan!" she yelled in his face, out of breath from running. He didn't answer. Instead, he started to back out. Rory reached in and put her hands over his. And instantly, the tingly sensation he always felt with Rory caught him.
He looked at her. And it was her eyes that got him. So innocent...so hurt...
"Tristan!" she said again, now in a whisper. "Tristan," but he wasn't listening. Instead, he reached towards her, thinking only of taking her and holding her. But she backed away, bumping into the van behind her. Her eyes had widened. She was scared. Of him. Tristan couldn't take it. He turned back to the car and slammed on the accelerator, backing out and then screaming out of the parking lot.
Rory wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. She was sweating. Slowly she walked back into the school and back to her open locker. She picked up her knapsack from the floor, about to fill it up with books. Then she stopped. She put on her empty knapsack and slammed her locker shut, leaving her books inside. Then she left the school.
Rory headed back to Star Hollows. But she couldn't go home. And she couldn't be seen by any of the town gossips. So she stopped in front of her old school and stared at it. Dean was in there somewhere. Nice, reliable, Dean. She headed to her old hang-out - a stretch of green grass on the other side of a hill, just out of view of everyone. She sat down, hugging her knees to her chest. What a terrible day... She didn't want to think about it. Instead, she let her mind go blank and she closed her eyes, lying back on the grass. Then there was a voice from behind her.
"Well, well, well," it was Jess. Rory opened her eyes. He stood over her, an amused look on his face. "Chilton must either be closed or there must be some national tragedy that I haven't heard about yet," he said, and sat down next to her. Rory sighed. "So?" he asked. "Which is it?"
"Neither, of course," said Rory, rolling her eyes.
"So I caught you in the act, huh? Ditching school. You do know this makes you an official skipper," he said, a smile playing around his lips.
"And what are you doing out here?" asked Rory pointedly.
"Why, skipping of course. But at least I don't go to another school to do it, " Jess said matter of factly.
"Ha." Rory said, looking anything but happy. Jess looked at her, concern on his face.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently. To Rory's horror, she felt a large tear well up and then slowly make its way down her cheek.
"Nooothing," she blurted out shakily. Jess ignored her answer. He reached his arm towards her face and wiped away the tear with his thumb.
"There." he said. "Everything's going to be okay Rore," and he gathered her up in his arms. Rory only resisted for a second. And then she let herself collapse completely onto him.
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