Chapter 16:

"So, then he said, that's fifteen dermits, Dugrey! Get washing! With your toothbrush!" Tristan cracked an irresistable grin.

Rory snorted, as she placed her fork down. "Somethings never change." She joked. "You always were such a smartass, loved pissing people off, didn't you?"

"Of course, Mary. There would be no fun in life if you couldn't piss people off." Tristan laughed. "It's hard to believe that I actually miss the place, not that it's better than here, by any means, but it was the first place where I could be myself, you know. I wasn't viewed as Tristan Dugrey, player extroidinare, the Hartford Socialite, the pretty, rich boy. I was just Tristan, free to be myself or reform myself, however you want to put it and I was accepted."

"I'm glad." Rory took a sip of her sparkling cider. "If that's what helped make you who the man you are tonight, then I thank them."

"Are you trying to tell me something, Mary?" He smirked, his eyes growing hopeful.

'Funny, I used to find that name and that smirk so infuriating, but tonight, I like them both.' She thought, before placing her glass back on the table. "Yes, Tristan, I'm actually having a good time. Contrary to my belief you are quite the entertainer and you don't have to make any innuendos or twist what I say to get my attention."

"But the bantering is fun. Don't tell me you don't enjoy it?" Tristan asked, his eyebrows raised.

"I do, but this is a nice change. With the exception of my mother, you were the only person to ever keep up with me. Jess behind you, Dean would just give up. Paris and Lane got confused a lot of the time." I giggled. "And, Luke just looks at me as if I am mad!"

"Who's Luke?" He asked, a frown marring his face.

"He owns the diner in my town." She explained, before smiling at him. "He's has the hots for my Mom. He's been like a father to me." She assured him.

"Oh." Tristan looked relieved. "So, did I tell you about the prank my roommate and I pulled that nearly got us back to boot camp?" He changed the subject and soon had Rory laughing again.

"So, you having fun?" Andy asked, steering Mara towards The Fountain. She had been somewhat chatty during dinner, but had been silent in the car.

"Yes, of course." She shift uncomfortably. "You're a funny guy, Andy."

"But." Her persisted. "You've been all shy again since we got in the car. Is something wrong?"

"Idon'tknowhowtodance." She mumbled incoherantly.

"What?" Andy asked over the pumping music, as they entered. "I can't hear you."

"I don't know how to dance!" She said louder, blushing furiously.

Andy chuckled and squeeze her hand. "Don't worry about it. I'll teach you. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it. We'll wait for a more mellow song, however." He frowned, as the pumping sounds of Chingy pumped from the speakers. 'Do they ever play anything that isn't rap.' He thought, leading Mara over to a table.

"That's sounds like a good idea." She nodded in agreement.

"So, you've never danced before? Not even by yourself, alone in your room or something?" Andy asked, sitting opposite her.

"Well, I have, but I'm not very good. I mean, I've seen Kasey dancing when she sorts her laundry. She's got rhythm and style. I could never move like she does." She replied.

Andy cracked up. "That's my girl. She loves to dance. Does she really dance when sorting her laundry?"

Mara giggled. "Yeah and she sings too, but she's good, so it's not like it's embaressing for her, not like it would be for me."

"That's complete blackmail." Andy sat back. "Kasey's been on that dancefloor since she was fourteen, freshman in Highschool. She can tear it up out there like nobody's business. She's the one who taught me."

"Really?" Mara perked up a bit. "I wanted to aske her to teach me, but I was afraid she'd just laugh at me. I mean, I'm in college and I can't dance."

"Are you kidding?!" Andy exclaimed. "She'd never laugh. She'd squeal excitedly and have you dancing until you drop. Ask her later, she'd jump at the chance."

"So, does that mean you're not going to teach me?" She asked.

"Oh no. I'm going to teach you to hold your own. Kasey'll teach you how to move like she does." Andy shook his head. "She taught Ashley, Amy and that Twit, Stacye, before they weren't friends how to dance."

"Okay, I'll do that." Mara nodded, giving him a small smile.

The song swithced over to Souldecision's 'Faded' and Andy grabbed her hand. "This is more mellow. Come on, let's get started." He dragged her onto the dancefloor.

"Kevin?"

"Hey." Was his response. He looked same as always, same broody exterior, same stoic face. He still wore jeans, a black t-shirt and a jean jacket. His hair was still slightly on the long side, falling gently over his forehead into his eyes, same sandy brown color. It was like he hadn't left at all.

"Hey?" Kasey felt her temper rise and struggled to keep it in check. "That's all you can say to me after how you left things? Mr. Hey-it's-been- fun-but-I'm-leaving-this-minute-so-this-is-it-we're-done-now!"

"I'm kinda going by Kevin now." Was his response.

Kasey clenched her teeth and moved to slam the door in his face, but his slapped his palm on the door. "Wait."

"How 'bout no!" She bristled. "You hurt me, Kevin! I loved you and you broke it off just like that! At the airport, as soon as your flight was called, after the goodbye kiss. That was low and cold and frankly, you don't get to ask me to wait. You should ask me if I'll allow you to explain anything to me."

"Look, I know that my break-up was crappy, but you were my first girlfriend and I wasn't sure how to handle it, but these months apart have been brutal. I've realized just how much I need you and just how much I love you and I don't want to be apart anymore. I want to be with you." He said.

"You can't just waltz in here and say stuff like that, Kevin!" Her voice was calmer now. "I spent the enitre summer comforting Andy and dealing with my own pain by myself at night when I cried myself to sleep. I had thought I meant something to you, but with that brush off, I felt like Scum."

"I'm sorry, Kasey. I don't know what else to say to you." He reached for her hand, but she jerked back.

"How about why, you can start there. Why did you do it?" She asked bitterly.

"Because I was scared." He muttered.

That was certainly not the answer she was expecting. 'Kevin James, scared? The school's Badass, scared?' She thought. "Scared of what?"

"Of you." He replied. "You were coming to this great fancy school and were going to meet new people and do new things. Things I wouldn't be a part of because I wasn't here and then there was the fact that there would be a guy who was around and you'd realize just how much of a loser your boyfriend was."

"Kevin, I'd never think you were a loser. I loved you. I would have found a way to make it work. I'd never cheat on you, ever." Kasey said softly.

"See, my heart said that, but my head had a little something different to say." Kevin chuckled. "Look at me, I sound like an idiot."

"Well, if it helps you were one." Kasey supplied.

"Haha." He said sarcastically. "So, do you still love me?"

"There are days when I am and there are days when I'm not." Kasey sighed. "I can't explain it, but I think that I still am. It's not as strong as it used to be, but it's still there."

"So, what do we do about it?" He asked, looking at the floor.

Kasey contemplated the question. It ached to just look at him standing there in front of her. She did still love him. That was the truth, but it was nearly what it had been before. Her love for him had faded, but it was still there. Max kept popping up into her head and that thought terrified her. She couldn't fall for Max again. She promised herself she'd never let herself get hurt like that again.

"We do what comes naturally." Was her reply.

Kevin looked up, his grey eyes pouring into her brown ones. She sighed and closed the distance between them, stepping into his arms. He didn't hesitate to crush his lips on hers and for a moment, she was swept back into the past, but those grey eyes morphed into piercing elctric green ones, the sandy blonde hair changed into a dark chocolatey color and she wasn't kissing Kevin anymore. She was kissing Max and it felt right. Oh God, she was screwed.

Okay, okay, the chappie is going to get good, so hurry up and review so I can post the next chappie.