Author: Lauren

Author's Email: PaceysLilMcPhee@aol.com

Disclaimer: Located on the first page

Author's Note: Another chapter. I hope to have another chapter out before I start school on July 29th because once school starts I won't have as much time to write. I might not have time for another chapter though, I have other fics I am working on. So R/R and we'll see if this one is the one I should put at the top of my list to work on first of all my fics ;)

Chapter 6

            Tristan arrived home after school to an empty house. This wasn't unusual but usually it bothered him. Today however, it didn't. Tristan wanted the house to himself so he could decide what to do about Rory tonight.

            He glanced at the clock and realized he had time to spare before Rory would even get home anyway. Tristan knew that she took the bus and he also knew that public transportation was not the fastest type available so he wasn't expecting her to be home for awhile.

            The day had ended at school and Tristan had not seen Rory again once. After lunch she had disappeared in the crowd and he had no idea if she had heard of the rumor. He was 99% sure she had however; it was hard to miss such a rumor around school when you're one of the main subjects of it. Tristan knew from experience.

            The seconds ticked by on the clock and Tristan began to wonder if the sound would drive him crazy. The minute hand moved and he realized that Rory would probably be home by now. He was still contemplating whether or not he was going to call her.

            "Call her like you normally would. Tristan Dugray isn't supposed to be scared of anything! Call her! You're Tristan!" he tried to tell himself as he stared at the phone.

            After fifteen minutes of starring at the phone and the clock he picked up the phone. He hoped that by luck she hadn't heard the rumor. He kept that thought in his mind as he dialed her number.

            The persistent ringing tone of the phone along with the ticking of the second hand of the clock was enough to drive him crazy but just as he was about to put an end to both sounds, he quickly forgot about them as someone picked up on the other line.

            "Hello?" the person answered. Tristan knew right away it was Rory.

            "Hey…Rory? It's Tristan," he said, trying not to sound nervous. After all, there was that chance that she hadn't heard the rumor right?

            Wrong.

            "Tristan," she said, coldly. He could tell from her tone, of just his name, that she had heard everything that had circulated through Chilton that day.

            "I wanted to know if I could get the math homework. You know me, forgetful," Tristan laughed, trying to conceal the nervousness still.

            "Why don't you just get the homework from another one of the girls on your list? Maybe one of them will actually fall for your repulsive stunt. Because I for one am not," Rory fumed.

            "Rory, let me explain," Tristan began.

            "I don't think there's anything for you to explain," Rory interrupted angrily. "I thought we were friends or at least that we were perhaps on our way there. But I guess I was wrong, god, how naïve of me, right?"

            "We were…are…friends," Tristan said. "The rumor, it's not true."

            "Why should I believe that, Tristan?" Rory asked. "You tortured me from the beginning and we all know that what everyone at Chilton is saying you are trying to pull on me is what you've done with all the other girls at Chilton. And probably all the girls living within a fifty mile radius!"

            Tristan wasn't sure what to say. Rory was right. There wasn't a good reason for her to believe him, after all, he had worked to woo other girls. Rory had been different though. And he had ruined it. All because of his big mouth.

            "I'd like to explain it to you," Tristan said, calmly. Rory didn't give him a chance.

            "Well I'm really not up for hearing it right now. I still can't believe you called after today. I'll see you in class," Rory told Tristan bitterly. And then she hung up.

            Tristan stared at the phone for a few moments, letting the ugly reality of the conversation sink in. He had been so close! Rory hadn't been another one of his conquests, and the first girl he actually likes that he tries to get, he fails at the process.

            Tristan sat on the couch and thought about all that had happened today. This morning, he had seemed so close! And now he was so far away.

            But he wasn't about to give up. After all, Dugrays never gave up. Tristan had never given up, especially when going after a girl, ever. He wasn't about to give up now.