Hey all! Thanks for the reviews, glad to know that people are enjoying this fic! This is only a shot chapter, I've had a weekend like you wouldn't believe and I'm so screwed as far as school is concerned tomorrow but I just wanted to post something, so this is pretty much a filler but if you read between the lines, you might (and that's a very big might) get some insight into Tristan and how he feels about his whole existence!

Tristan shook himself mentally, preparing for the inevitable pawing that was about to ensue. He didn't know what had happened to him, his beautiful girlfriend was probably about to jump on him and he was dreading it, scratch that, he did know what had happened to him, he had fallen for someone who wasn't his girlfriend. Actually it wasn't even that, it was because he had fallen for Rory Gilmore. He had always had a crush, which was why he had been such a jerk to her, he was trying to get her to notice him in any way possible but now that he had her, he had the problem of a girlfriend.

Katy was on the phone when he let himself into her room. From the sounds of things, she was talking to her parents. She smiled and did a little half wave with her hand. He forced a smile and looked around the room, anywhere but at her. He was looking out the window, contemplating this whole mess when a pair of arms slid around his waist, evidently, she was off the phone.

'My Mum and Dad say hi.'

'Tell them hi from me next time you talk to them.'

'I will. So I think we should talk about the whole staying here thing.'

'I'm staying. Don't get me wrong, I love London and I'm really grateful to your parents but this is my home.' He said, turning to face her.

'I know; that's why I told my parents that I was staying too.'

'What?' Tristan asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

'Well think about it, you spent a year in London, and lots would kill for this chance, plus I'd miss you too much.'

'But what about school? Oxford? What about your work at the shelter? Your friends?'

'Anyone would think you want me to go back to England.' Katy said bitterly, pulling away from him and turning her back.

'What? No. I'm just trying to be realistic here; you can't just give everything up because we'd be apart.'

'You gave everything up to came and meet me in the first place.'

'I didn't have anything I'd miss, I have very few true friends, and I kept in contact with them, my relationship with my dad was non existent at the time. You have a life, a real one, you have friends, and your parents, and you do good work at the homeless shelter.'

'I know, and of course I will miss that entire life, but here I have the chance to have another life, one with you.'

'I can't let you stay here for me.'

'Why the hell not?'

'Because you said it yourself earlier, you don't know the Hartford me, you know the London me. Trust me when I say you won't like the Hartford me.'

'I find it hard to believe that you could be so different.'

'Yeah, well believe it. I'm superficial, I'm a jerk, I had a different make out partner every week, I am a god damn legend here and you won't like what you see.'

'I've heard the sugar coated version of this before, give me something new. Give me one thing that you did that was so bad.'

'The girl from lunch? Rory? She started school sophomore year, she wasn't from out background, her mom had her when she was sixteen and they lived in this tiny little town where they weren't exactly rich.'

'What has all of this got to do with anything?'

'She had a really hard time, in school I mean, her mom is famous for what happened and she had no friends, it took her a while to catch up with the work, just y'know, general stresses. I was the biggest jerk in the world to her; I came on to her on a daily basis, I did everything I could to make her uncomfortable, I started a fight with her boyfriend at a school dance.'

'This sounds nothing like you, why would you do it?'

'Because I could.'

'But, she seems to have forgiven you.'

'Yeah, she has and I'm grateful but it doesn't change what I did. I'm not the same person here that I was there and I don't want you to get hurt. If you come to Chilton as my girlfriend, you'll be public enemy number one for every girl there.'

'Well I'm willing to face it.'

'Okay then, don't say I didn't warn you.'

'See, you really are a sweet guy, you're trying to protect me.'

'I wouldn't call myself sweet. I'm just trying to stop you doing something you'll regret.'

'I won't regret it.'

'I think you will; it's one thing to leave for junior year but for you to leave England the year you take you're A Levels or whatever it is you call them? That's academic suicide, I had an American tutor that kept me up to date but what'll happen to you?'

'I didn't think about that, if I come here, I'll be back in high school all over again.'

'Yeah. Look I'm not doing this because I want you to go, but you really have to think about things.'

'I know you're just looking out for me. I guess I have some thinking to do.'

'I'll leave you alone.'

Tristan kissed her on the cheek and walked out of the door, breathing hard. If Katy stayed here, it would screw up all of his plans, he couldn't let that happen. He had to get Katy back to England without jeopardising his parents' business connections with Katy's family. His head was throbbing, given his lack of sleep the previous night added with the stress of today, he was in for one hell of a headache. He went to his room and grabbed his swimming gear, deciding a trip to the pool and sauna would do him some good.

He stood in the doorway to the pool area, looking at its one inhabitant. Rory was doing laps of the pool in a cute little black bikini. She stopped when she reached the end and heaved herself out. The sight of her, in the dripping bikini, her hair clinging to her as she towelled herself sent shivers down her spine and all the blood to his nether regions. Rory was completely oblivious to his presence, as silently as he could, he snuck up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist. She jumped in fright at first but then sank back into his embrace upon realising it was him.

'I thought you were asleep.' He told her.

'I woke up and you were gone, I thought maybe a little exercise might ease the aching in my muscles some guy caused last night.'

'And how did he cause these aches?'

'I don't know what he did to make them this sore but what he did last night makes up for it.'

'I should hope so.'

'How did things go with Katy?' Rory asked out of nowhere.

'I'm not sure, she's thinking about staying but I think I talked her out of it.'

'If she stays that means-'

'Don't think about that until we know for sure, don't worry, I won't let anything screw this up.'

'Okay, it's just hard.'

'I know; it is for me too.'

'What are you doing tonight?'

'Nothing, you?'

'I'm hoping for some company, I'll be leaving my door open around ten.'

'So if I were to walk by your room around ten, I could go in and say hi?'

'Yes, that would be about right.'

'Well, on the off chance that I happen to be walking by your room at ten, I'll be sure to stop by.'

'You do that.'

'I will.'

'I should go, I still have some packing to do, leaving tomorrow and if I'm going to have company tonight I need to get it done now.'

'Yeah, okay.'

'I'll see you later?'

'Yeah, you will definitely be seeing me later.'

'Bye Tris.'

'Bye Mar.'