Get To the Part Where You're Breaking My Heart
Chapter 3



He was late.

Not that that's a new thing with him. No, no wait, that wasn't right. He was always late for class, but never school. Yes, yes, that's right. She leaned her hip agaisnt one of the benches placed along the hallway and watched the main entrace, remembering on many accounts, Tristan's lean frame slinking into the class room, grinning sweetly at the teacher as he made his way to his desk. The way he'd throw a charming wink at the closest blonde as he walked by. The way he was completely confident, not in the least bit worried about getting a detention or-

"Morning beautiful." The soft voice near her ear whispered seductively, tickling the tender skin under her hair. Jumping slightly, she whipped around and stared at the person straight in the--chest? Moving her eyes upward, she trailed over the pressed white shirt, perfectly tied tie, and the smooth, tanned skin on the persons neck.

"You scared me," She whispered, completely surprised by her lack of bite.

Tristan grinned softly, the same one she wished she could smack off his face most of the day, and slowly walked backward. "My deepest apologies, fair Mary. Methinks you should lay off the coffee," He grinned. "You're a little jumpier than usual, aren't you?" He glanced down at the foam cup in her hand and chucked slightly.

Rolling her eyes sharply, she folded her arms over her chest, bringing the cup closer to her body. "I'm only jumpy when people sneak up behind me and try to make a snack out of my ear." She shot back

He grinned and stared at her with a lazy look in his eye. She shifted uncomfortably for a moment, his gaze burning into her own. He was looking at her as if she was something delicious, something rare. Something extremely exotic and he just had to have a taste. Pursing her lips together, she groaned.

"Well?" She asked, hotly.

He grinned and turned on his heel. "Rory, if I was nibbling on your ear, you'd know it. I also highly doubt you'd be standing." He threw over his shoulder, walking down the hall in that confident manner he held. She watched, wide eyed, as his groupies surrounded him and she was surely forgotten from his mind. She watched him until he was gone, around a corner and pulled herself out of her trance, suddenly aware of her slipping coffee cup.

Glancing down at it, she looked at it disgusted, and threw it in a near by trash can. For some reason, the thought of putting anything in her stomach made her queasy. Raising her chin defiantly, she mustered her courage and made her way down the hallway, only stopping once at her locker before making her way into the classroom, completely unaware that Tristan had been watching her all the while.

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Lunch came soon enough. So far her homework load was down to lowest it had been in months, and she guessed it was because Christmas break was coming upon them. Slowly but surely, Christmas was right around the corner. Snow had come a few weeks before, but the muddy leftovers of that were nothing of the Christmas spirit Rory was used to, and she ignored her book for a moment to stare up at the sky, pleading with it to show some sign that it knew it was winter.

Her mother said the best things happen in the snow, and right about now, she needed something along those lines. Hell, she'd settle from something around contentment if great wasn't available.

She sat at one of the far picnic tables in the Chilton courtyard, her lunch forgotten in front of her, book in hand, head phones on. Everyone else was inside, where it was warm. She most likely should be in there too, but when she walked in this afternoon, all the tables were crowded, barely a single seat open much less a table of her own. Usually, she wouldn't have a problem with sharing a table with someone, but she didn't much feel like sitting with someone she didn't know today, worried that they'd really want to make that stupid polite conversation. So she decided to bare the cold, pulled on her coat and gloves and made her way out side. Reading kept her mind off how cold she might have become, but it wasn't all the bad outside anyway.

Looking away from the sky, she focused her eyes back on the book in front of her, sniffling.

"Cold, Rory?" Someone asked behind her, but it went on ignored by Rory, the loud music playing in her ear.

Tristan smirked as he pulled his coat around him tighter, feeling the cold nipping at him through the thin fabric of his shirt. How could she stand it out here? And in a skirt no less.

"Rorrrrrrrry." He teased, completely aware that she couldn't hear him. "R to the O to the R to the Y oh why Rory are you outside?" He asked to the back of her head. He rolled on his heels, wondering if he'd had enough fun with her. He couldn't normally tease her like this, it was even more so childish than what he normally did. Plus, this was innocent. No rude remarks, no double meaning sex talks. Just plan annoyance.

He giggled and raised an eyebrow at himself. Unfolding his arms, he began to dance just the slightest. "Oh Rory, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind. Hey Rory, hey hey, hey Rory!" He turned around after his small lapse in judgment and was surprised to find Rory looking at him, her hand over her mouth, laughter in her eyes.

"You're certifiable." She laughed. She watched as the smallest bit of pink tickled it's way onto his cheeks, wondering if it was coming from the cold or if Tristan Du Grey had actually just blushed.

"I didn't know you were listening. I mean, I didn't think you could hear me. I was just messing around, ya know? Being stupid," He glanced at her for a moment. "I think it's the cold." He finished lamely. He pulled his coat around him and shoved his hands in his pockets. She smiled up at him, her cheeks and nose red from the cold. For the slightest moment, forgetting all her negative feelings towards him.

"Yeah...yeah, must be the cold. Then again, I'm out here and I'm defiantly not dancing." She smiled, and surprisingly, he smiled back. Making his way around the table, he sat across from her.

"I didn't know you were a comedian there, Tristan. That was a great dance too, by the way." She said once he sat down.

Folding his arms in front of him on the table, he leaned on them slightly and looked at her. "How much of that did you actually hear and/or see?" He asked.

She smiled, "I didn't know there was more than the dancing." She watched as he nodded and sighed, probably in relief.

Deciding to save himself from complete embarrassment, he decided to change the subject. "Why are you outside, Rory? It's freezing." He stated, shivering for effect.

She shrugged her slender shoulders. "Too crowded inside. Most likely take me half the lunch period to just find a seat. The other half to keep it. I didn't figure anyone would notice and follow me out." She said, raising an eyebrow at him. He grinned and shrugged slightly, forcing himself to ignore the goosebumps forming on his skin.

"Aren't you cold?" He asked simply. He watched as the soft wind blew through her hair, blowing it over her face and down her neck, back again over her face before she used her hand to remove it, pushing it back over her shoulder.

"You tend to ignore it if you're outside long enough."

He groaned softly and stared at her "Yeah, or you just can't feel it because you're totally numb." She watched as he stood up and moved his way over to her side of the table. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw him sit down next to her, straddling the bench.

"C'mon," He said, opening his coat. She stared at him blankly for a moment, her mind shutting down. He sighed, feeling the cold begin to seep deep into his skin again. "C'mon! I could start a car with my nipples, so will ya hurry up?" He said again, now reaching out, wrapping his bare hands around her waste, pulling her to him. She looked down at his hands, resting peacefully on her stomach. She could feel the soft tingles in her chest, bouncing on her stomach. She almost groaned when he removed them, wrapping the coat around her, pulling her into his chest.

"Just until the bell rings." He said, noticing the tense feel of her body next to his. So close to his. Even through her coat, he could almost pick out every curve on her body. He could feel her, each time she took a breath, her back brushing up against him all the more. Nervously, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling the coat all the way around her small frame, bringing her closer.

She tensed slightly, surprised by his actions. It seemed like it had all happened very slowly, when she knew for a fact it had been done quite quickly. Just a second ago, she was sitting alone, willing the feeling back into her fingers, and now she was wrapped in Tristan's coat, his hard, warm body pressed against hers. She could feel his muscles twitch every once in a while, and she somehow managed to match her breathing pattern to his, feeling his chest against her back. She almost cried out as she felt his arms wrap around her, coming to rest on top of hers. And in that moment, she couldn't recall a time were she felt more warm, more unattached from the word, and more moved by someone's actions.


*I've always been in love with you
I guess you've always known it's true*



"This okay?" He whispered, leaning his mouth down to her ear, touching it slightly. She could only nod, her mind still focusing on his breath, tickling her ear for the second time that day.

He rested his chin on her shoulder, making himself more comfortable. He wasn't sure what pushed him to do what he had done, but he had done it, and couldn't be happier that he had. He didn't care if someone saw them, because at that moment noticing someone else within a 100 mile radius seemed impossible. He was doing his best to prove to her that he was human, and that he did in fact have a heart.

"I bet you do this to all your little snow bunnies out at the ski lodge, huh?" She stated, suddenly, her voice soft. His head still on her shoulder, he shook it, not wanting to speak.

"Then how do you know how to do it so well?" She asked. His forehead bunched in confusion. Weren't they just having a peaceful time? Weren't they getting along? Wasn't he being nice to her?

"What's the problem, Rory?" He asked, lifting his head of her shoulder, the moment now ruined.

She shrugged her shoulders simply, pulling away from him slightly. "It just seems like you know exactly what to do to make my mind a complete pile of mush, and you do it the second no one is looking."

She felt the cold the minute he stood up, pulling his body away from hers. "Look Rory, I was just trying to be nice, ok? I don't know where you get off with all this bullshit, but it's not fair." He said, shoving his hands inside the pockets on his coat. The wind had now started to pick up, and it violently blew her long hair around her face.

"I just don't understand why you're being so nice Tristan. This is something I've never seen and I'm not sure how to take it! It's not like you've ever really tried before and it defiantly hasn't gone this far. I'm just not used to seeing it!" She spat.

He looked at her simply, pushing the hurt look in his eyes away before she could catch it. Licking his dry lips, he molded them into a sickening smile. She shivered, but she doubted it was from the cold

"I doubt you'll ever be seeing it again." He said cruelly, giving her one final devastating look before turning around and disappearing into the school.


*You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
Say good-bye*


Slowly, she leaned against the picnic table and pulled the jacket around herself tightly. Suddenly, she felt very cold, inside and out. What the hell was wrong with her? Why the hell had she done that?

Swallowing deeply, she grabbed her book and lunch and made her way inside the school, in a slight daze.

Somehow, she figured her day wasn't about to get any better.