A.N: Well, I did my best to give you the eighth chapter as soon as I could, it's a bit shorter than the others but I thought that it was a good place to stop. For all the impatient ones between the readers I don't think that there's much more left to go and I'll try to update as soon as possible but I can't promise anything. As usual, I don't own it (bla, bla, bla)… I'd like to thank those who reviewed and to those who tried to help me with a name, I'm still looking for the perfect one though. There's nothing better than to know that someone reads your work and likes it! Thank you very much!!! As always, you're welcomed to review (and make my day). Enjoy!

Don't judge a book by its cover

Chapter 8:

"Rory." I touched her gently, trying to wake her up, "We're here."

She only moaned in response.

"Come on, Rory, wake up."

Her eyes flew open the second I finished that sentence, "Don't touch me."

"Well, I tried that tactic first. But since I've already said your name, pretty loud, for about twenty times I thought that shaking you a little might help."

"Fine." She turned to look at my hand, the one that was still in contact with her body, "I'm up as you can see so you can stop touching me now."

I quickly pulled my hand away, "Right."

"I had a wonderful time." She said dryly and opened the car's door, "Bye."

"I'm sorry, okay?" I couldn't take it anymore.

Her eyes turned to look into mine, "No. It's not okay."

"Why not?"

"Because you keep saying that you are but you don't seem to mean it at all. And to tell you the truth, I'm kind of sick of it. You have to mean it when you apologize to someone."

"Well, I mean it."

"Then tell me." She said, returning to the same conversation we had earlier that day.

"Rory, no."

"Don't apologize when you don't mean it."

"Why do you have to insist so much?"

"Because I care." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I already told you this but I'm gonna say it again for the sake of our friendship. I can't talk about it, okay? It's just a touchy subject."

"And…"

"Why can't you just drop it?"

"Because, apparently, you can't see yourself. Look at what it does to you."

"Fine." I gave up, "You want to know, I'll tell you. I have feelings for some girl and she doesn't want me. And it's killing me."

"I'm-" she looked at me sympathetically.

"That's it, Rory. I don't want to talk about it and I don't want to hear what you have to say about it. You wanted to know and now you do. And it ends right there."

She looked at me for a few seconds, "Fine." She let go.

I smiled in relief, "So, are we going to watch a movie or not?"

She smiled back, "Beauty and the beast?"

"Whatever."

"Park your car, we're walking."

I couldn't help but to smile smugly, "I thought that you hated walking."

"No, you probably heard me wrong. I said that I hated hiking."

"Right…" I gave her another smile as I turned the engine off.

We got out of the car and silently started walking. With Rory in the lead this time I took my time, enjoying the calm walking and the atmosphere of the little town. We walked slowly and quietly for about ten minutes, the two of us just looking around and thinking to ourselves. When we finally reached the center of the city she turned to look at me with a smile, "I'll get the coffee and you'll get the movie."

She started walking in Luke's direction but stopped when she heard my voice, "I don't think so, Missy."

She looked at me quizzically, "Why not?"

"Because by the time I'll see you again there won't be any coffee left."

"So what do you suggest?"

"Well, I'll go get the coffee while you go and get the movie. And then we're going to find something to eat because I'm starving."

"But then you won't eat anything while watching the movie." She said, pouting without even knowing she did so, Afraid that I might ruin a part of the fun in our 'movie night'. She looked so adorable that I couldn't help but smile.

"Okay, so instead of eating it right away we'll just get something good to eat for the movie. Is that good enough?"

She smiled, "Yes." She turned to walk to the video store but then remembered something and turned to my direction again, "Don't let Luke confuse you, you can buy as much coffee as you want to. Remember that, because he's pretty good at these things by now, he runs that diner since forever."

I chuckled, "Don't worry, you'll get your coffee."

She smiled.

"But I would love to see what happens when you don't get it…"

"I'm capable of killing somebody."

"For coffee?"

She smiled again, "Yes."

"Wow." I said in amazement.

"I know."

"Okay, so I'll get you that coffee. But don't take too long at the video store, we have to hurry."

"Why?"

"School night." I explained.

"What are you, my mother?"

"No, I'm your friend. And as you've probably noticed by now I'm also a guy and that means that if I'm any of your parents I'm your father, young lady."

"Here we go again... Tell your ego to shut up."

"Wait, are you saying that I'm a girl?"

She glanced at her watch, "Oh gosh, look at the time. It's a school night and I have to go to sleep early. So I don't think wasting our time on this is such a great idea. Go to Luke's and get that coffee, and once you're done meet me there." she pointed to a market near us. "And bring lots of coffee." she said as she started walking away to get the movie.

"Just don't bring a stupid movie this time." I yelled.

"Beauty and the Beast." She yelled in response.

"Good girl."

She turned to look at me, "But if you go on like this you'll be forced to watch 'Sleepless in Seattle'…" she warned.

"See you in five."

She resumed walking, "Okay."

I looked at her for a moment before turning the other way and walking in Luke's direction, "How amazing…" I murmured to myself.

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"Finally." She said as I neared the market.

"Well, he gave me a speech about how unhealthy coffee is…"

"Oh…"

I looked at her annoyingly, "Yeah."

"I'm sorry."

"But happy. Because as you can see I got the coffee."

"I'm forever grateful."

I smiled at her words.

"I mean it." She said seriously.

"Did you get the movie?"

"Yup." She said as she lifted the bag in her hand to show it to me. Then with a smile she said, "I love that movie."

After hearing so many times on one afternoon all I could do was to smile, "Why don't we go and buy some junk food?"

"And I'm paying…" she tried to say it firmly but it didn't quite work.

"I don't think so."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, why should you be the one to pay?"

"You're my guest." She said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"And what does that mean?" I asked.

"Well, stupid, little boy, that means that I should be the one to pay for whatever we're going to buy right now…"

"I'm not letting you pay."

"And why is that?" she asked as she opened the door and walked into the market.

"Well," I followed her inside, "Because I just can't."

"Just stop acting so macho-like for a second and everything will be just fine. I mean, the world as we know it won't change or something just because you stop thinking the way you do."

"Why would I want to do that?" I let her comment pass, on account that I'd get her later on something even worse than that little comment. After all, the two of us together for longer than an hour, it was bound to happen.

"I can't win with you. I don't know why I even thought that you'd step out of the fifties for a moment and join us all at the 21st century. You were probably raised to think that every woman is the 'little woman who's supposed to be home with the kids'. Women work these days in case you haven't heard. And they do tend to get out of the house and pay for themselves on a regular basis." She said as she picked up a bag of chips.

"Why don't you stop telling me all about your feministic believes and just let me buy the food? I'm sure you have money, but since I have more of it would make more sense if I paid for what we're going to eat tonight." I reasoned.

"No!"

"Why not? Give me one good reason."

"I already gave you a good reason. You're my guest, and that's more than enough."

"So what if I'm your guest?" I kept insisting.

"Hang on, okay?" she turned around and spotted an old woman near us, with a smile she spoke softly to her, "Excuse me, but could you help me for a second?"

"Why, of course dear, how may I help you?" she asked smiling.

"You see, this guy, right here," she pointed at me so that the old woman would know who she was talking about, "is my guest and we came here to buy some food. Now, he wants to pay for it and I told him that he shouldn't be the one to do so since he's my guest. But he keeps insisting that he should, so I just wanted to hear what you think. Do you think that I should let him pay even thought he's a guest in my house?"

The old woman looked at me for a second and then turned to look at Rory, "You two are so sweet together." She said with a smile, "You have a nice boyfriend, why don't you let him pay for you?"

Rory looked at me for a second, a confused expression in her eyes. With that she turned to the woman again, "Oh, he's not my-" she started, still a bit confused.

"Thank you ma'am." I said to the old woman with a smile, cutting Rory off. Then I came closer to Rory and pulled her away gently, "You heard her, I'm paying."

When she was sure that the old woman couldn't hear us she looked at me annoyed, "You're not paying!"

"Yes, I am."

"I don't care what you're saying, you're not paying." After saying that she suddenly smiled.

"What?" I asked, not understanding the reason for her smile.

Her smile grew even wider, "I made a rhyme."

I smiled myself as she walked away and continued picking up more things.

A few minutes later she walked over to where I stood, holding a small mountain of unhealthy food, "Give me your stuff and I'll go pay for it at the front."

"No." I said, taking a step back. My hands too, were holding the same amount of different, unhealthy food.

"Fine, I don't care. I'll just pay for what I'm holding."

"Then I'll pay for what I'm holding…"

"Fine." She said, her voice filled with annoyance.

"Fine." I answered, smirking.

"I still think that I should be the on to pay for this…"

When I couldn't think of what to say in response to that I only smiled at her, "Your coffee's getting cold."

"Move, move, move…"

"That's what I thought you'd say."

"I'm so proud of you..." she said sarcastically as she put her things in front of the cashier.

"I thought you'd be."

"You just read me like an open book…" she said to me before smiling to the cashier.

"Well, you're an interesting book."

"Seven, thirty one." The cashier said, smiling back at Rory.

"It really has a great plot, who's the author?" I kept on going.

"Here." she handed the cashier some money. I couldn't help but notice the smile on the cashier's face. I guess she found our little banter to be funny.

"Because I thought that I might buy some more of his work since he did such a marvelous work with you…" I said with a smile while putting my things down so that I could pay for them.

"You can be so annoying when you want to." She said as she took her change from the, once again, smiling cashier.

"Well, that's my mission in life." I said as I glanced at the display of the cash. I took out of my wallet some money and handed it to the waiting cashier with a smile.

She took her things and put them into a bag (apparently 'Bagboy' wasn't working that evening, and they didn't have anyone else to replace him), "So I've noticed."

I smiled at the look she gave me.

"So, what are we going to do when the movie ends?" she asked as she started putting the things I just bought into a bag.

"Well, I'm not sure what I'm going to do but you're going to bed."

"Okay, dad…"

I smiled, "You remembered." It was nice to know that she actually listened to me from time to time.

"Have a nice evening." The cashier said as she handed me my change.

"You too." I answered.

"You two make a great couple." The cashier said as Rory finished putting things into the bag.

All I could do was to simply smile at her words.

"Why does everybody-"

"Thank you." I picked up the two bags and the coffee and started pushing Rory out of the market.

"Why did you stop me from saying that?" she asked me once we reached the door.

"Just get out of the store."

"But-" she started in protest.

"Out." I said firmly.

"Asshole." She said as she pushed the door open and walked outside.

I followed her out with the bags in my hands, "What else is new?"

"What was that all about?" she turned to look at me angrily.

"What was what about?" I didn't understand her at first.

"You stopped me twice from correcting people and telling them that we're not a couple." She explained.

"Well, don't you find it odd that two people, just this evening, thought that we were a couple?"

She started walking, "No."

"No? Are you sure? Because I think that it means something." I followed her.

"What?"

"Oh, come on, Rory, don't you get it?"

"Get what?"

"You can't be that blind…"

"Could you explain yourself?"

"Oh my god!" I said in disbelief.

"What?"

"You are that blind."

"Enlighten me, Tristan. Tell me what is it that I can't see, show it to me."

"You kind of have to see it yourself, Rory."

"Then let's break the rules for once."

"I'll pass." I said, not even looking at her.

"What, all of a sudden you're a good boy?" she stopped walking and turned my way.

I looked at her, annoyed, "Yes, Rory. My mother always told me that breaking the rules is just wrong."

"Well, that never stopped you before. What made you change your attitude all of a sudden?"

"You're impossible."

"Why can't you break the rules just another time, for me?" her voice was filled with contempt, a thing that just made me feel even more exasperated.

"Because it's wrong." (Klara1985, this one's for you…)

"How nice." She said sarcastically.

"Yes, isn't it?"

"Well, I'm sorry, but I guess I can't see it."

"Whatever. I don't care anymore."

"Why did you care in the first place?"

"Well, I'm your friend. Caring is sort of a big part of the whole friendship thing." I said it as if explaining something to a retarded, little girl."

"You're so funny…"

I knew that I should have just shut up but I couldn't take it anymore, "Then why aren't you laughing?"

Her eyes were cold as she looked at me, "I forgot."

There was no point in doing this, I knew that, and I didn't want to fight with her anymore, "Let's just go and watch the movie."

She didn't say anything in response.

"Rory, are you okay?"

"No."

I looked at her questioningly, not understanding.

"You're trying to tell me something important and I don't seem to be getting it."

I couldn't see her that way, "Don't worry about it, I'm just stupid."

She smiled, "Right…"

"Take your time, okay?" I smiled at her reassuringly, "You'll get it eventually."

"Let's hope so."

"I'm sure you will."

She gave me a relieved smile, "Movie time." She started moving again

I smiled, knowing that this would take her mind off things, "Next time I'm paying."

"You know what?" she asked smiling.

I smiled back, "What?"

"If you don't stop acting all macho-like I'm going to kick your ass."

"Promises, promises…"

She started laughing.

"What?" I asked, not understanding the reason for her laughter.

"I just thought of something."

"And what would that be?"

"You're gay."

I burst out laughing, "Explain."

"You're acting all macho-like so that I won't see your feminine side."

I started laughing even harder.

"The big problem you refuse to talk about is not a girl. It's probably one of you friends, a guy of course, and you're completely in love with him. But you know that he's not gay and that's how you know that he'll never be interested in you."

"Rory, you have to stop. I can't breathe."

"I know that I'm right."

"Okay, let's put it this way, I'm gay if you're not a virgin…" the laughter subsided a little as I said that sentence.

"Then how else would you explain your macho-like behavior?"

"Well, I can also be a chauvinist."

"The obvious answer. Why didn't I think of it?"

"Beats me."

"Well, whatever you are, if I were you I wouldn't expect me to make you any food. It could kill you."

"At least I'll die happy, knowing that you worked so hard to please me…"

"You are so saved by the house."

"What?!" I asked confused.

"It's just like saved by the bell, only with a house…" she explained as her house came into sight.

"Okay."

"Don't say it."

"Say what?"

"Whatever it is you were about to say."

"Okay."

"Good."

"You're so weird."

"You just had to say it…"

"Couldn't help it." I said apologizingly.

"Save it."

"Are you saying that you're not weird?"

She smiled, "I never said that."

"You're cute."

"And you're annoying."

"I'm very talented at that…"

"I know." she said.

"It's a gift."

"Oh, look, there's a house right there. Wow, you'd never guess what, I have a key."

"I was born with it." I kept going…

She quickly went up the stairs and unlocked the door, "And look at that, it actually works." With a smile she opened the front door and walked into the house. Then, she quickly shut the door behind her.

I walked up the stairs and stopped in front of the front door, "You forgot something." I yelled so that she'd hear me.

"What?" she asked from behind the closed door.

"I have the coffee with me."

"What do I have to do in order to get it?"

"Open the door."

"But you're annoying…" she whined.

"Well, I can leave. But the coffee's going with me." I threatened.

"No." I heard her voice, "Wait."

"That's what I thought."

"She opened the door, "Now give me the coffee."

"Only if you let me in."

She pouted, "No."

"I'll see you tomorrow, bye."

"Fine…" she opened the door a bit wider so that I could get in.

With a smile I walked into the house and handed her the coffee, "Here you go."

She snatched it out of my hand, "Thank you."

"You are very welcome."

"Go into the living room." She pointed to the direction of the room; "I'll go get us some plates for the food."

"Okay." I said as I started walking in the living room's direction, the bags still in my hands. I took a seat on the couch and put the bags beside me, on the floor.

"My mom's probably still at Luke's. Though it is possible that she's at Sookie's so I think she'll be home a little later. Do you want something to drink?" She yelled from where I assumed to be the kitchen.

"That could have waited." I yelled back, referring to what she'd just said about her mother, "Bring some water with you."

"Are you sure that that's the only thing you want?"

"Yeah." I heard some strange noises coming from the kitchen and stopped for a moment, "Are you coming?"

"Already here." she said from behind me.

"Wow, you move fast."

She jumped on the couch and took a seat next to me, "Push the play button."

"I need the tape first…"

"Right, I left it in the kitchen. Hang on a sec." She jumped off the couch and hurried to the kitchen, I moment later she was back with the movie in hand.

"Am I seeing you tomorrow?" I asked as I opened my bottle of water.

"Sure. When are you going back, anyway?"

I took a sip, "I don't know yet."

"Is there a chance that you won't go back?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Oh…" she looked disappointed.

"But I'm here for now."

She smiled, "Go put the movie in the VCR."

"Okay." I got up, took the tape from her hand and put the movie in.

"I haven't seen that movie in such a long time. Since I was ten or something…"

"I know what you mean." I said understandingly.

"But it suits us to see it together."

"Why, because I'm the Beauty and you're the Beast?" I joked.

"By saying that you're only proving my point."

"What point?" I felt confused, following her line of thought was an impossible task and I was failing the task miserably.

"That you're gay…" she said with a smile.

"Because you're jealous at me for my beauty?" I joked.

"No. Because the beauty in the story is a girl…" she explained.

"Are you a lesbian?" I decided to try another approach.

"No."

"Well, with the theory you're using to prove that I'm gay you're also proving that you're a lesbian."

"How come?"

"Let's just pretend that you're the Beast for the sake of the argument, that means that you're a guy. And that has to mean that you like girls because that's how it goes in the movie. And that means that you're a lesbian." I smiled.

"Yes, but you keep forgetting that girls can wear pants. Whereas, guys can't wear dresses and expect everyone to just let it slide. And you, Mr. Dugrey, are wearing a dress in that movie."

"But it's okay, since I'm a girl…"

"I can't believe we're even arguing about this."

"You started it."

She laughed at my expression, "Push the play button."

"Not until you admit that you just lost."

"No I didn't."

"You just avoided responding to my comment…"

"And you just said that you're a girl."

"Good point."

"I just didn't want to humiliate you, since I'm a nice person."

"That's good." I said, only feeling more humiliated as she said it.

"But I won."

"You're never going to let this go, are you?"

"I'm sure you wouldn't have…"

"True."

"You're off the hook for tonight, though. I want to watch the movie."

"Have I ever told you that I love this movie?!" I asked, referring to the 'off the hook' comment.

"And hate losing…" she gave me a knowing smile.

"No. I'm just not used to losing, that's all."

"Right. I forget about that one for a moment. I assure you that it'll never happen again."

"Movie?" I asked.

"Movie." She gave me a wicked smile; "Just remember that you're only off the hook for tonight, Missy."

With a smile at her comment I pressed the play button and we both settled down to enjoy the movie and one another's company.

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"Okay, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." She said quietly as she leaned on the front door's frame with a smile playing on her lips.

"I guess so." I smiled at the way she looked.

"I had a great time tonight."

It felt as if we've just returned from a date, at least I felt that way. I was so nervous that I could barely speak, "I'm glad."

"You helped."

"That's always good."

She smiled, "Part of the time. When you weren't being your annoying self."

"With every good comes some bad…"

"I'll take whatever bad there is if I get to have the good too." She said quietly.

The conversation suddenly became more serious, "I'm glad you said that." I said sincerely, smiling lightly.

"Why?"

"I just am…"

"Well, I meant it."

"Good."

"Yeah…" our eyes made contact for just a second before she turned her look away."

"You should really go to bed. It's getting late."

"Thank you." she said quietly, so quietly that I could barely hear her.

"What for?" I made eye contact.

"For keeping your promise."

"What promise?"

"I needed you around, and you came."

"I told you that you could trust me."

She smiled, "I'm not the one with the trusting issues between the two of us."

"It's late. Why don't we save this for tomorrow?"

"That's fine by me. But I'll have a busy day tomorrow…"

"Whatever you say, Rory."

"I'll see you tomorrow." She pushed herself off the doorframe and came closer. With a light smile she hugged me.

"Yeah." I pulled her a little closer.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I said, still holding her tightly to me, "I just needed a hug."

"All you had to do was ask." She started to pull away.

"I still need it." I said quietly, not letting her body go yet.

"Oh, sorry…" she wrapped her arms around me again.

"Thanks." I mumbled.

"Are you sure that everything's fine?"

"I just need you close."

She pulled back a little, looking into my eyes, "For once, Tristan, just for once, tell me what's wrong."

"Rory, I-"

"Just tell me." she said gently.

I gave up, there was no point in trying to hide it anymore, "I shouldn't even be here."

"You don't want to be with me anymore?" I saw hurt in her eyes as her body stiffened just a little in my arms.

"No." I tried to explain, "I'm here without my parents' permission."

"They don't want you to be my friend or something?" she still didn't understand.

"I'm not supposed to be back here, from military school."

"Oh…" she looked shocked.

"Yeah."

"So how did you get your parents to let you stay for a little while longer?"

I turned my eyes to the floor, "I didn't."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm staying at your mother's inn. My parents don't know where I am."

"My mom knows?" she looked confused.

"No. She has no idea."

"Then how did you get her to let you stay there?"

"I told her that I had a big fight with my parents and that I needed a place to stay for a few days."

"Why'd you come?" she looked overwhelmed with the new information.

"Your mom called and said that you needed me. So I came."

"And now you're in trouble."

"And you're doing better."

"I'm sorry." She was still in shock.

"What for?"

"For getting you into trouble."

"It was my decision."

"Go back." she blurted the words out.

"I can't. As soon as my father will see me he'll take me to the airport and send me back to North Carolina."

"Then tell him that you're sorry."

"Rory…"

"I'm sure they'll forgive you."

"I want to stay here."

"Why can't you just talk to your father?"

"Because that's the way it is. I can't do it, period."

"You should go."

"Why, because now that you know you don't want anything to do with me?"

"No. Because now I know that you're in trouble."

"And you want me to leave."

"No, I want you to stay. But you're gonna have to face you father someday."

"I can't believe this!"

"Tristan…"

"Don't worry, Rory, I'm leaving."

"Tristan."

I gave her a disappointed look and started walking away to my car; "You know my number, call me if you want to…"

"I wish you could stay, okay?" she yelled from behind.

I turned to look at her, "I wish I could too, Rory." I turned around and resumed walking to my car. If she couldn't handle me not doing things just as my parents wanted me to, and my getting into trouble with them, just to save her butt, then I had nothing left to do around there. I decided that I'd just do what she wanted me to; I decided that I'd just go back to military school. Far away from my parents. And far away from her. Who cares, anyway?!

The problem was that I did care…

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