Author's Note 2004/05/20: Thank you very much for all the wonderful reviews. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Author's Note 2004/06/09: Just uploaded the BETAed version, thank you Mai-Ahn.

The Thin Line Between Love And Hate
Chapter 7: Trying To Resist

"Come on, Tristan; what did you want?"

Tristan finally faces Rory, looking into her big blue eyes; everything he wanted to say or ask is lost. Tristan leans near Rory, "You."

Rory's face becomes flushed instantly. Trying to put distance between her and Tristan, "We can't."

Resting his back on the bench again, "That's not what you were saying last night."

"I was drunk."

"Was that the only reason?"

"I have a boyfriend."

"Correction, HAD."

"Tristan… please…"

"Are you with Jess now?"

"No! I don't want to be with Jess. How did you know about Jess?"

"Small town, a lot of people with big mouths."

"I hate this town."

"You still want to be with Dean?"

"No, it's just complicated."

"You're making this complicated. I like kissing you and obviously, you liked it also. Where is the harm?"

"I just broke up with Dean, Jess won't talk to me anymore, and Paris is in my living room probably spying on us."

"I know you want me, too. Just give in."

Rory stands up intending on going back inside. "Goodnight, Tris…"

Tristan grabs her arm, pulling on it to bring her down on his legs, leaving her arm quickly to embrace her in his arms, holding her still. As she is about to protest, he captures her lips, kissing her passionately. Feeling her barriers crumble piece by piece, Rory responds to Tristan's kiss. His hands move slowly up and down her back, pressing hard against the fabric of her shirt. One of his hands travels up to the curve of her neck, forcing her head to come even closer to his lips. When he breaks the kiss, a smirk on his lips, he whispers, "I knew you couldn't resist me."

Freeing herself from his embrace, Rory gives him a sad look, "I'll give it to you, you surely know how to ruin a moment."

Rory walks back inside while Tristan gets up to leave.

After a night of discussions with Paris and her mother, Rory comes to the conclusion that the best way to remain sane is to ignore Tristan from now on, to stay as far away from Doose's market and to avoid Luke's. Finally alone, after Paris's departure and sending Lorelai on a mission to bring coffee and food from Luke's, Rory opens her books to start Friday's homework. Struggling to concentrate on her work, Rory's mind lingers on the way a certain boy's kisses makes her feel. Lost in her thoughts of passionate kissing, she misses hearing the opening of the kitchen's door.

"Lorelai said you didn't want to go to Luke's anymore. Luke sends me to change your mind."

Giving Rory two Styrofoam cups of coffee, Jess sits in front of her, "Thank you."

"I came by last night to apologise for yelling at you for not wanting to date me now that Dean is out of the picture."

"Really? I don't remember hearing the doorbell."

"Let's just say you looked very busy."

"What?"

"You and Ken doll, you looked busy and then I thought, 'Hey Jess, she already moved on to another one.' I can't believe I even considered dating you. You just lip lock with anyone."

Rory stands up, "GET OUT!"

"What? You don't like hearing the truth?"

"You don't know anything, Jess; Tristan was there before you were. He and Dean always fought, he was sent away, and he just came back. I wanted to be your friend but just forget all about it."

Rory walks in her room and slams the door. Jess takes a step to leave, but instead he opens Rory's bedroom's door, speaking softly, "Do you have a habit of kissing your friends?"

Lying face down on her bed, Rory doesn't move to look at Jess, "No."

"Why did you kiss me then?"

"I was happy to see you. I had to be certain of what I felt."

"What do you mean?"

Sitting on her bed to face Jess, Rory explains, "I like you, but I had this fantasy that maybe it was more than just friend. I just didn't feel the tingles."

"The tingles?"

"You know when you kiss someone and your body becomes all fuzzy."

"Oh!" Sitting beside Rory, Jess asks, "Did Dean make you feel the tingles?"

"I thought so, until I really felt the tingles. But then I chose Dean because I thought the tingles were there but they weren't and it was too late to go back."

"Who is Mr. Tingles then?"

"Tristan."

"You two are dating now?"

"No, and we won't. I'm just another conquest on his list. He's going to move on pretty soon now."

"You're going to let him use you?"

"No, I'm planning on avoiding him. He'll leave me alone eventually."

"Great thinking, Gilmore."

Tristan is doing laps in his pool, trying to fight the urge to drive up to Stars Hollow to see Rory, replaying over and over the intimacy they shared Friday night as they were lying in bed. Never has he previously felt this bliss or satisfaction, not even after hot and wild sex sessions. Wondering what it would feel like to be making love to Rory; he realises that swimming is not helping him in any ways; Tristan holds the side off the pool, raising himself out of the pool. As he approaches the chair where his towel is hanging, he sees Caroline sitting beside it.

"That was quite interesting to watch."

Taking the towel, Tristan starts the process of drying his wet body. "Maybe next time I'll charge people to watch me swim."

Caroline stands up, trying to walk seductively, "I would definitely buy a ticket."

Annoyed, Tristan puts on a shirt, "What do you want?"

"I came to finish what we started yesterday."

"And what is that, exactly?"

Caroline advances toward Tristan, closing the distance separating them. As she is right beside him, she takes her tank top off. Tristan's desire rises as he sees that she's not wearing any bra. Closing the distance between them, he places one hand on her left breast while he places the other one under her skirt, realising that she's not wearing any underwear. Slowly, he starts massaging her inside and her breast as she groans softly. Descending his lips on hers, he starts kissing her, feeling more than welcome to take her. As he closes his eyes, the image of Rory smiling at him appears in his mind.

Tristan breaks the contact with Caroline, seeing the questioning look she bares, "I'm sorry, I can't."

Not accepting defeat, Caroline advances toward him, smiling, "Sure you can. It's not as if we haven't done that before."

Taking his belongings on the table, Tristan tries to walk away, "It's different, and I can't."

"Give me one good reason why you can't."

Not knowing how to get out of this situation, he says the only thing that comes to his mind. "I would be cheating on my girlfriend."

Stunned, Caroline is unable to speak for a couple of second, trying to think of a come back. As she realises that he's already escaping her, she screams, "Too late! You touched me! This is cheating. She is going to be crying when I spread the rumour."

Tristan ignores her, enters his house to be met by his father. "Tristan! What was that all about?"

Changing his posture to stand straight, Tristan looks into his father's eyes, "Nothing, sir."

An evil glare in the elder DuGrey's eyes. "There's a half naked, horny girl in my back yard, and you say 'nothing'."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm really disappointed in you Tristan, she wanted it, and you should give it to her. What's happening to you? Refusing that beauty for one silly girlfriend."

"She not silly; she's special."

"We'll see about that." His father walks away but before exiting the room, he glances one last time at Tristan, "And next time a girl offers herself to you, make sure that you're in a private place. To see my son's lovemaking performance is certainly not something I want to see."

Tristan takes deep breath, runs up the stairs to the comfort of his room to take a very cold shower.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed, feel free to give feedback.
Siaram