It's been one week and half that Paris didn't know that Rory had quitted school. She kept looking for Rory everyday by her locker and today, she was standing by Rory's locker in the morning hoping that she would show up but again, Rory disappointed her.

"She's not here again?! How could she be absent for nearly two weeks and in total, she's been absent for nearly half of the school year, what's with that girl?" Paris growled

"calm down Paris, maybe she's just sick or lazy," said Louise

"I doubt she's lazy and if she's sick, and being sick for nearly half of the school year, that's so serious," Paris rolled her eyes

"oh well," Madeline sighed and then looked behind Paris.

"Look, there is Tristan," she said. Paris turned around and saw Tristan walking alone in the hallway with hands in his pockets, she approached to him.

"Hey Tristan, you are Rory are pretty close right? Have ya talked to her or seen her for the past week?" Paris asked

Tristan just ignored her and continued to walk down the halfway

"Tristan, come on! Answer me, it's just a yes or no-"

"shut up Paris, and I don't care about Rory," Tristan snapped at her and walked away. Paris was shocked at his action.

"what the hell…" Paris muttered

"what's up with his ego?" Madeline asked

"the hell I don't know!" Paris growled and headed for class.

Madeline and Louise exchanged glances and followed her to class.

"What the hell is wrong with Tristan? He's suddenly like possessed by Satan," Henry said as he sat down on the table in the cafeteria

"And did you know he was practically ignoring everyone? What's with him?" Brad asked

"ah, the question of the day, what's up with Tristan Dugrey," Paris rolled her eyes, "and I need to find out why because there gotta be a reason for his sudden rudeness,"

"and what was that about? That 'I don't care about Rory' statement?" Madeline said

Henry frowned, "he said that?"

Louise and Madeline nodded their head. Henry thought for a minute, "oh…"

"that girl's been absent for so long and I wonder if she's invisible or something," Paris said as she bite her apple

Henry said nothing. He remained silent and Paris saw it.

"Spit it out Cho," she demanded

"well…I just remembered…what I heard from Lane-"

"what did she say?" Paris interrupted him

"that Rory quitted school last week,"

"what?! She quitted school and she didn't tell me?" Paris exclaimed that everyone in the cafeteria turned to look at her

"Lane didn't say why she quitted Chilton and you've got to talk to her on the phone or something," Henry shrugged as he remembered when he talked to her and she mentioned that she kind of felt that their relationship is falling apart.

"right," Paris stood up and exits the cafeteria. She walked down to the hallway and pulled out her cellphone from her bag and began to dial Rory's landline.

Damn, why is there no one answering it?

"arg damnit," she mumbled and turned off her phone. She was about to head back to the cafeteria but something caught her attention. She saw Tristan sitting on the bench alone outside at the courtyard.

"There you are Tristan," Paris said as she approached with crossed arms

"fine, just ignore me and I don't care if you're back to being an asshole, what's wrong with you Tristan?" she said. Tristan didn't say anything, he only stared what's ahead of him, the fountain that was placed in the middle of the courtyard.

"fine, don't answer. But I am thinking that, you, being like this, has to do with Rory," she said and started to walk away "and if it's true, then you're making a big mistake."

Tristan heard her leave. And when she was gone, Tristan let out a loud sigh and leaned his head back. She was right. He was making a mistake but he didn't want to admit it. He was scared. And that's why he was being cold. He didn't want anyone to know his real self. He didn't want them to know that he's scared or hurt. But real friends know the real him. Paris knows him very well since they grow up together. Tristan tried to put the image of Rory at the back of his head but he couldn't…it hurts. He misses her. He misses their daily banter. He misses teasing her. He misses the way she blushes and covers her face with her brunette hair. He misses everything about her. Damn…he missed her, a lot and he wish he could do something...

*A/N: Sorry if the chapter is short again...I have been having writer's block with this chapter so bear with me my friends. And also I wanna say thanks to Miya (purpleballeryna) for giving me ideas for this chapter. :)*