*Disclaimer: I don't own the series Gilmore Girls or the characters. All I
own is my imagination and the plot.
*A/N: Hey!!! FINALLY (notice the emphasis on the word finally ?) Rory finds out about the bet. So, I won't keep you up any longer (eventually I will, just wait and see) and leave you with one small request. Please review this chapter. Short huh ? And of course I have to thank you all again for the reviews, really worth writing for. :-) And no, I don't mean that in a sarcastic way!
One more thing, have you guys seen 'Keg! Max!' ? Cause there's this really funny part in there when the blond guy (who plays guitar) in Dave's band jumps down from something and kicks down the microphone. Cracked me up. Anyway READ!!!
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
Jess still had a smile on his face, when he went to his locker in between classes. The smile hadn't left his face, ever since he saw Rory push Dean away in the library. That moment had been so perfect and Rory had been perfect. She didn't act weak like some girls did, she actually stood up to Dean. Jess opened his locker and practically threw his book in to it. He quickly grabbed another book and was just about to close his locker, but changed his mind when he heard two people talking. One voice sounded real familiar to him, too familiar. He took a step back and glanced in the direction of the voices. When he saw who the voices belonged to, the smile finally disappeared from his face. He turned his head and tried to act like he was just looking for something in his locker when really he was carefully listening to the conversation between Tristan and Dean. When they mentioned Rory's name he stopped rummaging through his locker.
T: ''So, how did things go with Rory ? I heard you two had a 'date' at the library today.''
D: ''Well, you heard correctly.''
T: ''So ?''
D: ''So, what ?''
Tristan sighed as he ran one of his hands through his hair.
T: ''Did you make your move ?''
D: ''Kinda.''
T: ''What does that mean ?''
D: ''I tried to make my move, but............''
T: ''But what ?''
D: ''She stopped me.''
T: ''She stopped you ?''
D: ''Sorta. I leaned in to kiss her and before I could she spotted a book and turned her head away.''
T: ''Man, that's cold, but I'm sure you earned some extra points with the flower you gave her this morning.''
That's when Jess started to get worried. What did Tristan mean with his last comments ? Extra points ? They were talking about her as if she was a price or something.
T: ''So, let me get things straight. You tried to kiss her, but she blew you off.......''
D: ''She didn't blew me off, she just got fascinated by a book.''
Tristan laughed softly.
T: ''Whatever. So, after she got fascinated by a book, you didn't kiss her, right ?''
Dean nodded a little ashamed that he didn't 'get the girl'.
D: ''Right.''
T: ''That means that the bet's still on, unless you want to drop out, which I would totally understand with everything that happened and all.''
D: ''We're not calling off the bet. I don't give up that easy.''
T: ''Whatever you say. I gotta get to class.''
Tristan closed his locker and headed for class. Dean sighed and left too. All this time Jess had been listening, not saying a word, making sure that they wouldn't notice that he had been listening to every word that had come out of their mouth. Jess' brown eyes seemed black now, as if someone had turned off the lights, but really it was just anger that covered his eyes like a shadow. His lips were formed into a thin line and it gave his features a rough and uncivil touch. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. A bet ? Rory was a damn bet ? He slammed his locker shut and clenched his fist. For a minute it seemed as if he was going to hit the locker, but he didn't. He took a deep breath as he headed towards the library. No way was he going to class with what he knew. He had to think without an annoying teacher interrupting his thoughts. He had to figure out if he was going to tell Rory. What was he saying ?! Of course he was going to tell Rory. The last thing she needed right now was another person who lied to her. So, he put his hands in his pockets and tried to figure out how he was going to break the horrible news to Rory without breaking her heart.
*~*~*
Rory was putting her books away, relieved that this day was over. After the thing that happened at the library, things felt different between Dean and her. Most important things felt weird. She kept avoiding eye contact with him and whenever he said something, she would just smile politely and go back to staring at her hands that had finally stopped shaking. A chill ran down her back, making her feel cold all over. It was the same feeling she had when Dean tried to kiss her. Rory sighed a little frustrated by her thoughts and quitely shut her locker as if it would matter with all the talking that was going on around her. She turned around half expecting Dean to be standing there, with another flower in his hands, ready to apologize. But luckily for her he wasn't. Tristan was though. He was leaning casually against his locker, arms crossed in front of his chest and famous, self- assured smirk in place.
R: ''Tristan.''
T: ''Say it as much as you want to Mary.''
R: ''I will, we both know how much I like your name. Maybe I should just tape myself saying your name over and over, so I can listen to it when I go to sleep.''
Tristan shrugged, the expression on his face not changing.
T: ''Whatever works for you.''
R: ''Apparently sarcasm doesn't.''
She said it more to herself than to Tristan. She just wanted to go home as fast as she could and forget about Dean for today. She would deal with him tomorrow and tell him that she didn't think of him like 'that'. But Rory doubted that he would get the message.
T: ''So, how did things go at the library today ?''
Rory lowered her eyes and stared at the tiles on the floor.
R: ''Fine.''
T: ''Anything happen while you were there......with Dean ?''
Rory shook her head and nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
R: ''Not really. Well, yeah, actually.''
T: ''Really ?''
R: ''Yeah, some people came in and actually started to read. Talk about weird.''
She didn't know where Tristan was going with this conversation, but she was trying her best to act normal. As normal as she could anyway.
T: ''That's all ?''
Rory looked up at him. The usual amusing glow was back in his eyes.
R: ''Was there anything you wanted Tristan ?''
Tristan's eyes softened when he heard the tired and slightly sad tone in her voice.
T: ''What's wrong ?''
R: ''Nothing, I just wanna get home.''
T: ''Me too, what a coincidence. Since we're both going home, can I give you a ride ?''
R: ''No, I'm fine. I'm old enough to take the bus all by myself.''
T: ''I'm so proud.''
He rolled his eyes and Rory cracked a smile, which Tristan mistook for some kind of sign.
T: ''Seriously though, I wouldn't mind. Besides it would be much more comfortable.''
R: ''Is that right ?''
T: ''Yeah, cause obviously you'll be sitting on my.................''
R: ''God Tristan.''
T: ''.........on my leather seats.''
He playfully winked at her.
R: ''Leather huh ?''
T: ''Yeah, they're much better than those old seats on the buss.''
R: ''Are they shiny ?''
T: ''What ?''
Tristan shot her a confused look.
R: ''Are they shiny ?''
T: ''I heard the question, but...............''
R: ''They better not be, cause if they are, the sunlight will be reflected on it and once that gets in your eyes you can get blind.''
T: ''By sunlight that's reflected on my shiny car-seats ?''
R: ''Hah, you just admitted that they were shiny.''
T: ''No, I didn't.''
R: ''But you said...........''
T: ''I was just trying to put things in perspective.''
R: ''By confusing me ?''
T: ''I think it's the other way around. So, what do you say ? Do you wanna ride home ?''
R: ''Fine. You have sunglasses, right ?''
T: ''Yeah, why ?''
R: ''For the sunlight of course.''
T: ''I thought we agreed that it was confusing us ?''
R: ''We did, but I just wanted to know if you had sunglasses.''
T: ''Yep, I have them.''
R: ''Sunglasses ?''
T: ''Glasses for the sun.''
R: ''Glad we got that covered.''
T: ''Me too. Ready ?''
R: ''Yeah.''
Rory grabbed her backpack and was just about to follow Tristan to his car, when her eyes fell on something or better yet someone. Jess slowly approached them, hands in his pockets and unreadable expression on his face.
R: ''Hey.''
Tristan who had been following Jess' movements and had been observing the expression on Rory's face, kept quiet. He was wondering how Rory knew him.
J: ''Can I talk to you for a minute ?''
Rory bit her lips and looked at Jess, trying to figure out what it was he wanted to talk about. But the funny thing about Jess was that she could never really tell what he wanted from her. There had been a couple of rare occasions where he had dropped the shield that protected his castles that was made of strong brick and every brick represented a secret, emotion or memory. Normally Rory wasn't the one who wished for old buildings to collapse, but now she was. Finally she nodded. She met Tristan's eyes that practically had question marks in them.
R: ''I'll meet you at your car, okay ?''
T: ''Are you sure ?''
R: ''Yeah.''
T: ''See you in a bit then. I'll be the one wearing the sunglasses.''
Rory smiled and waited for Tristan to leave her and Jess alone. Tristan shot Jess one more look before he turned around and left. When he was gone, Rory returned her gaze to Jess.
R: ''This is a first, you know ? You actually talking to me. I mean sure we talked a couple of times, but I was the one who talked most of the time. Not that I mind, cause obviously I can talk. I think you can even consider it a talent, but I'm not sure. And I do this when I get nervous...............So, what do you wanna talk to me about ?''
J: ''About.................''
R: ''Do you want me to guess, cause I'm sure we'll be here for a couple of more hours. I suck at guessing.''
J: ''Just listen to me, okay ?''
Rory's head shot up when he heard the impatience in Jess' voice.
R: ''Sorry, I didn't..........sorry.''
Jess immediately felt guilty for showing her what he was feeling, but somehow the impatience found it's way into his words.
J: ''It's just that this is really important and I don't really know how to tell you.''
R: ''Well, you could start by telling me what it's about.''
She smiled at him, encouraging him to continue.
J: ''It's about Dean..................''
R: ''About that.............''
J: ''And Tristan.''
Rory instantaneously stopped talking and locked eyes with Jess.
R: ''What about them ?''
She sounded so sure of herself, so prepared for what was about to come, but Jess knew that she wasn't.
J: ''I don't really know..........how to say this, but.................''
Jess stopped and ran his hand through his hair, it was a nervous habit.
R: ''Just say it. Whatever it is, I can handle it.''
J: ''I'm not sure you can.''
He started to run his other hand through his dark hair.
R: ''Jess............''
She sounded desperate now, almost pleading Jess to tell her. And that's exactly what he did. Her wish was his command, even though he wished he could be the genie that stayed in the bottle instead of being set free.
J: ''It's a bet.''
R: ''What ?''
J: ''They made this bet and........................''
Suddenly Rory understood why Dean and Tristan had been so nice to her all this time.
R: ''I'm the prize ?''
Even though it sounded like a question, Jess knew that she meant it as a statement. But he gave her the only answer that he could give her right now.
J: ''Yeah.''
Rory couldn't believe it. All this time she had been a prize in one of their chauvinistic bets to show off how much of a 'man' they were. And that would be exactly what would have happened if Jess didn't tell her and made her see what had practically been right in front of her all this time. Rory leaned against her locker, planting her hands flat against the cold metal of the locker. She bit her lip to keep from crying, cause the last thing she should do right now was cry. It was her own fault. She should have seen it, but instead she let them play their game. Rory thought of the flower that Dean gave her and the sweets comments he had made. All lies. And Tristan................. Rory bit her lips even harder, almost sure that it would start to bleed if she didn't stop soon.
Jess saw the tears that were glistering in her eyes. Rory was looking at him with a crestfallen and defeated look on her face, her eyes lost their optimistic, glow and the tears were slowly running down her cheeks. Jess reached out his hand to touch her face and to disburden her with the heavy weight of her tears. But when his fingers were only inches from her face, she turned her head away from him, wiping her tears away with her hands.
R: ''I have to go.''
J: ''Rory, I'm so sorry.''
R: ''Tristan's waiting for me.''
Before he could say anything else, she was already on the other end of the hallway and moments later she was out the doors, leaving Jess to wonder if he really did do the right thing.
*~*~*
She immediately spotted Tristan's car. It was blue with silver, hard to miss really. Rory slowly walked over to Tristan's car, her eyes on her feet, amazed that she could still walk after what she had just heard.
T: ''So, what did he want ?''
Rory looked up at him, her eyes still a little red from the tears, but he didn't notice. And why would he ? It was not like he cared. Rory shrugged.
R: ''He just wanted to discuss some homework with me.''
Tristan nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer and opened the car-door for her. But Rory didn't move from where she was standing. She looked at the car once more before she met Tristan's eyes.
R: ''How much money do you wanna bet that I'm not getting in that car with you ?''
Rory could see the confusion in his eyes as he was dissolving her comment, trying to find it's true meaning. Then his expression changes, the confusion turned into understanding and guilt. Rory knew what was coming next, but it was too late.
T: ''Rory..........''
Rory shook her head and turned around to leave, new tears welling up in her eyes. Tristan reached out and grabbed her arm firmly, forcing her to turn around and forcing himself to see what he had done to her.
T: ''Can I explain ?''
R: ''No.''
Tristan heard the harshness and determination in her voice and let go of her arm. All he could do was watch her leave, knowing that his game was over.
*A/N: Hey!!! FINALLY (notice the emphasis on the word finally ?) Rory finds out about the bet. So, I won't keep you up any longer (eventually I will, just wait and see) and leave you with one small request. Please review this chapter. Short huh ? And of course I have to thank you all again for the reviews, really worth writing for. :-) And no, I don't mean that in a sarcastic way!
One more thing, have you guys seen 'Keg! Max!' ? Cause there's this really funny part in there when the blond guy (who plays guitar) in Dave's band jumps down from something and kicks down the microphone. Cracked me up. Anyway READ!!!
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
Jess still had a smile on his face, when he went to his locker in between classes. The smile hadn't left his face, ever since he saw Rory push Dean away in the library. That moment had been so perfect and Rory had been perfect. She didn't act weak like some girls did, she actually stood up to Dean. Jess opened his locker and practically threw his book in to it. He quickly grabbed another book and was just about to close his locker, but changed his mind when he heard two people talking. One voice sounded real familiar to him, too familiar. He took a step back and glanced in the direction of the voices. When he saw who the voices belonged to, the smile finally disappeared from his face. He turned his head and tried to act like he was just looking for something in his locker when really he was carefully listening to the conversation between Tristan and Dean. When they mentioned Rory's name he stopped rummaging through his locker.
T: ''So, how did things go with Rory ? I heard you two had a 'date' at the library today.''
D: ''Well, you heard correctly.''
T: ''So ?''
D: ''So, what ?''
Tristan sighed as he ran one of his hands through his hair.
T: ''Did you make your move ?''
D: ''Kinda.''
T: ''What does that mean ?''
D: ''I tried to make my move, but............''
T: ''But what ?''
D: ''She stopped me.''
T: ''She stopped you ?''
D: ''Sorta. I leaned in to kiss her and before I could she spotted a book and turned her head away.''
T: ''Man, that's cold, but I'm sure you earned some extra points with the flower you gave her this morning.''
That's when Jess started to get worried. What did Tristan mean with his last comments ? Extra points ? They were talking about her as if she was a price or something.
T: ''So, let me get things straight. You tried to kiss her, but she blew you off.......''
D: ''She didn't blew me off, she just got fascinated by a book.''
Tristan laughed softly.
T: ''Whatever. So, after she got fascinated by a book, you didn't kiss her, right ?''
Dean nodded a little ashamed that he didn't 'get the girl'.
D: ''Right.''
T: ''That means that the bet's still on, unless you want to drop out, which I would totally understand with everything that happened and all.''
D: ''We're not calling off the bet. I don't give up that easy.''
T: ''Whatever you say. I gotta get to class.''
Tristan closed his locker and headed for class. Dean sighed and left too. All this time Jess had been listening, not saying a word, making sure that they wouldn't notice that he had been listening to every word that had come out of their mouth. Jess' brown eyes seemed black now, as if someone had turned off the lights, but really it was just anger that covered his eyes like a shadow. His lips were formed into a thin line and it gave his features a rough and uncivil touch. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. A bet ? Rory was a damn bet ? He slammed his locker shut and clenched his fist. For a minute it seemed as if he was going to hit the locker, but he didn't. He took a deep breath as he headed towards the library. No way was he going to class with what he knew. He had to think without an annoying teacher interrupting his thoughts. He had to figure out if he was going to tell Rory. What was he saying ?! Of course he was going to tell Rory. The last thing she needed right now was another person who lied to her. So, he put his hands in his pockets and tried to figure out how he was going to break the horrible news to Rory without breaking her heart.
*~*~*
Rory was putting her books away, relieved that this day was over. After the thing that happened at the library, things felt different between Dean and her. Most important things felt weird. She kept avoiding eye contact with him and whenever he said something, she would just smile politely and go back to staring at her hands that had finally stopped shaking. A chill ran down her back, making her feel cold all over. It was the same feeling she had when Dean tried to kiss her. Rory sighed a little frustrated by her thoughts and quitely shut her locker as if it would matter with all the talking that was going on around her. She turned around half expecting Dean to be standing there, with another flower in his hands, ready to apologize. But luckily for her he wasn't. Tristan was though. He was leaning casually against his locker, arms crossed in front of his chest and famous, self- assured smirk in place.
R: ''Tristan.''
T: ''Say it as much as you want to Mary.''
R: ''I will, we both know how much I like your name. Maybe I should just tape myself saying your name over and over, so I can listen to it when I go to sleep.''
Tristan shrugged, the expression on his face not changing.
T: ''Whatever works for you.''
R: ''Apparently sarcasm doesn't.''
She said it more to herself than to Tristan. She just wanted to go home as fast as she could and forget about Dean for today. She would deal with him tomorrow and tell him that she didn't think of him like 'that'. But Rory doubted that he would get the message.
T: ''So, how did things go at the library today ?''
Rory lowered her eyes and stared at the tiles on the floor.
R: ''Fine.''
T: ''Anything happen while you were there......with Dean ?''
Rory shook her head and nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
R: ''Not really. Well, yeah, actually.''
T: ''Really ?''
R: ''Yeah, some people came in and actually started to read. Talk about weird.''
She didn't know where Tristan was going with this conversation, but she was trying her best to act normal. As normal as she could anyway.
T: ''That's all ?''
Rory looked up at him. The usual amusing glow was back in his eyes.
R: ''Was there anything you wanted Tristan ?''
Tristan's eyes softened when he heard the tired and slightly sad tone in her voice.
T: ''What's wrong ?''
R: ''Nothing, I just wanna get home.''
T: ''Me too, what a coincidence. Since we're both going home, can I give you a ride ?''
R: ''No, I'm fine. I'm old enough to take the bus all by myself.''
T: ''I'm so proud.''
He rolled his eyes and Rory cracked a smile, which Tristan mistook for some kind of sign.
T: ''Seriously though, I wouldn't mind. Besides it would be much more comfortable.''
R: ''Is that right ?''
T: ''Yeah, cause obviously you'll be sitting on my.................''
R: ''God Tristan.''
T: ''.........on my leather seats.''
He playfully winked at her.
R: ''Leather huh ?''
T: ''Yeah, they're much better than those old seats on the buss.''
R: ''Are they shiny ?''
T: ''What ?''
Tristan shot her a confused look.
R: ''Are they shiny ?''
T: ''I heard the question, but...............''
R: ''They better not be, cause if they are, the sunlight will be reflected on it and once that gets in your eyes you can get blind.''
T: ''By sunlight that's reflected on my shiny car-seats ?''
R: ''Hah, you just admitted that they were shiny.''
T: ''No, I didn't.''
R: ''But you said...........''
T: ''I was just trying to put things in perspective.''
R: ''By confusing me ?''
T: ''I think it's the other way around. So, what do you say ? Do you wanna ride home ?''
R: ''Fine. You have sunglasses, right ?''
T: ''Yeah, why ?''
R: ''For the sunlight of course.''
T: ''I thought we agreed that it was confusing us ?''
R: ''We did, but I just wanted to know if you had sunglasses.''
T: ''Yep, I have them.''
R: ''Sunglasses ?''
T: ''Glasses for the sun.''
R: ''Glad we got that covered.''
T: ''Me too. Ready ?''
R: ''Yeah.''
Rory grabbed her backpack and was just about to follow Tristan to his car, when her eyes fell on something or better yet someone. Jess slowly approached them, hands in his pockets and unreadable expression on his face.
R: ''Hey.''
Tristan who had been following Jess' movements and had been observing the expression on Rory's face, kept quiet. He was wondering how Rory knew him.
J: ''Can I talk to you for a minute ?''
Rory bit her lips and looked at Jess, trying to figure out what it was he wanted to talk about. But the funny thing about Jess was that she could never really tell what he wanted from her. There had been a couple of rare occasions where he had dropped the shield that protected his castles that was made of strong brick and every brick represented a secret, emotion or memory. Normally Rory wasn't the one who wished for old buildings to collapse, but now she was. Finally she nodded. She met Tristan's eyes that practically had question marks in them.
R: ''I'll meet you at your car, okay ?''
T: ''Are you sure ?''
R: ''Yeah.''
T: ''See you in a bit then. I'll be the one wearing the sunglasses.''
Rory smiled and waited for Tristan to leave her and Jess alone. Tristan shot Jess one more look before he turned around and left. When he was gone, Rory returned her gaze to Jess.
R: ''This is a first, you know ? You actually talking to me. I mean sure we talked a couple of times, but I was the one who talked most of the time. Not that I mind, cause obviously I can talk. I think you can even consider it a talent, but I'm not sure. And I do this when I get nervous...............So, what do you wanna talk to me about ?''
J: ''About.................''
R: ''Do you want me to guess, cause I'm sure we'll be here for a couple of more hours. I suck at guessing.''
J: ''Just listen to me, okay ?''
Rory's head shot up when he heard the impatience in Jess' voice.
R: ''Sorry, I didn't..........sorry.''
Jess immediately felt guilty for showing her what he was feeling, but somehow the impatience found it's way into his words.
J: ''It's just that this is really important and I don't really know how to tell you.''
R: ''Well, you could start by telling me what it's about.''
She smiled at him, encouraging him to continue.
J: ''It's about Dean..................''
R: ''About that.............''
J: ''And Tristan.''
Rory instantaneously stopped talking and locked eyes with Jess.
R: ''What about them ?''
She sounded so sure of herself, so prepared for what was about to come, but Jess knew that she wasn't.
J: ''I don't really know..........how to say this, but.................''
Jess stopped and ran his hand through his hair, it was a nervous habit.
R: ''Just say it. Whatever it is, I can handle it.''
J: ''I'm not sure you can.''
He started to run his other hand through his dark hair.
R: ''Jess............''
She sounded desperate now, almost pleading Jess to tell her. And that's exactly what he did. Her wish was his command, even though he wished he could be the genie that stayed in the bottle instead of being set free.
J: ''It's a bet.''
R: ''What ?''
J: ''They made this bet and........................''
Suddenly Rory understood why Dean and Tristan had been so nice to her all this time.
R: ''I'm the prize ?''
Even though it sounded like a question, Jess knew that she meant it as a statement. But he gave her the only answer that he could give her right now.
J: ''Yeah.''
Rory couldn't believe it. All this time she had been a prize in one of their chauvinistic bets to show off how much of a 'man' they were. And that would be exactly what would have happened if Jess didn't tell her and made her see what had practically been right in front of her all this time. Rory leaned against her locker, planting her hands flat against the cold metal of the locker. She bit her lip to keep from crying, cause the last thing she should do right now was cry. It was her own fault. She should have seen it, but instead she let them play their game. Rory thought of the flower that Dean gave her and the sweets comments he had made. All lies. And Tristan................. Rory bit her lips even harder, almost sure that it would start to bleed if she didn't stop soon.
Jess saw the tears that were glistering in her eyes. Rory was looking at him with a crestfallen and defeated look on her face, her eyes lost their optimistic, glow and the tears were slowly running down her cheeks. Jess reached out his hand to touch her face and to disburden her with the heavy weight of her tears. But when his fingers were only inches from her face, she turned her head away from him, wiping her tears away with her hands.
R: ''I have to go.''
J: ''Rory, I'm so sorry.''
R: ''Tristan's waiting for me.''
Before he could say anything else, she was already on the other end of the hallway and moments later she was out the doors, leaving Jess to wonder if he really did do the right thing.
*~*~*
She immediately spotted Tristan's car. It was blue with silver, hard to miss really. Rory slowly walked over to Tristan's car, her eyes on her feet, amazed that she could still walk after what she had just heard.
T: ''So, what did he want ?''
Rory looked up at him, her eyes still a little red from the tears, but he didn't notice. And why would he ? It was not like he cared. Rory shrugged.
R: ''He just wanted to discuss some homework with me.''
Tristan nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer and opened the car-door for her. But Rory didn't move from where she was standing. She looked at the car once more before she met Tristan's eyes.
R: ''How much money do you wanna bet that I'm not getting in that car with you ?''
Rory could see the confusion in his eyes as he was dissolving her comment, trying to find it's true meaning. Then his expression changes, the confusion turned into understanding and guilt. Rory knew what was coming next, but it was too late.
T: ''Rory..........''
Rory shook her head and turned around to leave, new tears welling up in her eyes. Tristan reached out and grabbed her arm firmly, forcing her to turn around and forcing himself to see what he had done to her.
T: ''Can I explain ?''
R: ''No.''
Tristan heard the harshness and determination in her voice and let go of her arm. All he could do was watch her leave, knowing that his game was over.
