AN - Okie dokie, so as usual, it took me about ten million years to update, but I did, and that's what matters, right. Well, I think so, so blah. I actually think between last chapter and this one, Jake died, he no longer exists, gone. So I guess...enjoy the story, maybe review it.

Chapter 7 – No really, pickles are cucumbers that are pickled
Rory and Tristan spent the whole of their Monday mocking daytime television and talking about nothing at all. Finally Tristan got up during a Dr. Phil commercial break; "I'm going to go get ready. We're eating at Frankie's in about 45 minutes. Make it casual, while at the same time, breathtaking. Got it?"

Rory stoop up and did a mock salute, "Yes sir, thank you sir." Tristan just glared at her. "Oh by the way, we're taking my Jeep."

"And why is that?"

"Because you got to pick the place, therefore, I get to pick everything else."

"So let me get this straight, if I want to take you to a movie, I have to let you pick the dinner location?"

"You would think that it would work out that way, but no, if I pick the place we eat, I also get to pick the before and after dinner activities, because dinner isn't enough."

"So is there any way we could do what I want?"

"Of course, you could always give me the suggestion, and if I like it, we'll do it, if not, well then, you would've had to deal with me complaining the whole time so it's better that we don't do it."

"And suddenly I'm missing the freedom I had before our reinstated friendship."

"Keep that up and you won't be missing it much longer buck-o!"

"So I'll see you at the Jeep in half an hour, correct?"

"Yes, that would be correct, very correct indeed."

All this friendship was starting to get on Rory's nerves. She knew it was her idea, but she couldn't be around Tristan without being able to have him like before, not to have the distance that he put there for fear of making her leave again. But the thought of losing him again was a huge fear for her. She hadn't lied when she told him that she still wasn't over him, after five years of heartache and pain, he was back in her life, and she still loved him as much, if not more than before.

She did exactly as he said and dressed casual, but the outfit fit her just right. Not only would it gain Tristan's attention, but any male that caught sight of her. She ran a brush through her hair and left her apartment, going down to her Jeep fully knowing that Tristan would be there waiting.

As soon as she stepped out the door, she immediately noticed his stare, "Shut your mouth DuGrey and get in, we can't be late." On the drive there, neither said a word. Rory knew her plan would work, it was basically guaranteed foolproof.

When they got inside they were immediately taken to a secluded table.

"So Tristan, who's paying? You, me, or are we splitting?"

"Well, I was planning on paying, just because dinner was my idea." Tristan wasn't too sure what was going on, today they had just been friends and now, Rory was just acting different, more than friendly, as if they were out on an actual date.

"So Tristan, may I ask, how is you sex life?" Tristan nearly choked on his water as her heard her say that.

"What?"

"Well you know, I'm curious, you were always labeled the player in high school."

"Uhm, well, truthfully, I don't quite know, it's been quite awhile, I can say that much."

"So basically it sucks, would that be a correct assumption?"

"Well, I guess, if you consider the fact that I don't go around having meaningless sex with random women as a sucky sex life, then yes. How, may I ask, is yours."

"I can't complain, it could be better you know, but I guess it could be described as healthy."

He wasn't sure how he should be taking this. He wasn't even sure if he'd seen this side of Rory before, let alone know how to respond to something like that.

Once they ordered their food there was a long moment of silence, not awkward silence, more like, thinking silence. Finally Rory started up again, "So Tristan, you're a stunning, successful man under the age of twenty-five, tell me, how is it you're not tied down yet?"

"Rory, I know you know the answer to that."

"Well, it currently slipped my mind; please Tris, refresh my memory."

"Because I still love you and none of the girls out there come close to you. You're special and any guy who's taken the time to know you should realize that. You made my standards impossible for anyone other than you to reach, and I only had you for a year and a half, I wasn't even 18. I knew I would love you forever before most people have the slightest clue what love is."

Rory sat there dumbfounded; she was expecting a simple answer, nothing like the declaration of love she had just received. In a voice barely above a whisper she had to ask yet again, "then why'd you do it? I felt the same way Tristan, I knew I loved you," her voice became normal again, "I told you I loved you and you screwed me over, but it was too late, I was stuck. There was no turning back, I was in love with you and I know I've never felt that with anyone else. Yeah, I know we were young, but we had something that most people don't ever get to experience in their entire lives, we could still have it today, but you screwed it up Tristan, it was you, not me. Yet all this time I blamed myself for not being the perfect girlfriend and I actually let myself believe it Tristan. I let myself believe it."

At that moment the food arrived and they ate in silence, both afraid to speak. The rest of the meal passed and the bill was paid before Tristan took the time to speak up; "I said I was sorry Rory, that's honestly the best I could do then, and it's still the best I can do. I screwed up, but you can't place all the blame on me, because we could've worked past it, no matter how bad I screwed up, you could've forgiven me, but you did nothing. I can't go back and change the past because God knows if I could I would've done it in a heartbeat. I would've never even gone to that stupid party, let alone let my old friends talk me into doing the shit I did there. It's been 5 years and I've kept going with hopes that one day you would forgive me, because I don't want to live the rest of my life without you in it. Even if all you can offer me is friendship, having that part of you in my life would just make it so much better.

With that they both got into the Jeep, Tristan was waiting for Rory to say something, but the entire drive was silent. She was too busy thinking about what he'd just told her to make any comments. Finally she pulled up in front of her apartment.

Tristan got out and turned in the direction of his apartment, "I guess I'll call you then, alright?"

"Wait," Rory said as she saw him start to walk off, "don't go."

Tristan turned to see if she was lying, but she was already holding the door open for him. As they walked into her apartment he started to say something to her bht she cut him off with a forceful kiss.

Once Tristan realized what was happening he opened up to the kiss, and then pulled back. "Wait a minute Ror," he started off as she moved her kissed to his neck, "shouldn't we talk about this more?"

"We've talked enough for tonight," she said as she moved her kissed back to his mouth, "right now this is what I want, and I know you want it just as much, so don't fight it."

He looked at her and saw the look in her eyes that told him she wasn't kidding. She slowly moved him over to the couch where she pulled his polo shirt off over his head in one quick movement and then moved her work down to his khakis.

It wasn't until he was down to just his boxers that Tristan grasped what was happening and moved into action. He reached for her shirt as she slithered out of her jeans. He then laid her down on the couch and searched her eyes for the OK. With that he rid himself of his boxers and what little she still had on.

Somewhere in the course of the night, the two found their way into Rory's bedroom, where Rory woke at 5:30 in the morning to the sound of Sweet Home Alabama on her phone. "Nean, it was a one time thing, I swear to God. If you don't have a good excuse for this phone call I don't think Krystal will ever have your kid."

"Well Rory, without me you would be lost, because if you turn your head towards your alarm clock, you will realize that you forgot to set it, and had I not called, you probably would've slept halfway through your first shift."

Rory looked at her alarm clock, "Damnit Nean, it's really freaky how you know that."

"No Ror, I just have magical powers, plus I know that every time you don't work Monday's, you tend to forget to set the alarm for Tuesday."

"Nean, you are a lifesaver, but 5:30? You could've been a NICE lifesaver and called me an hour later."

"But this, however, is funny."

Rory looked over and noticed Tristan beginning to fully wake up, "Nean, thank you, I love you, but I'm going to go back to sleep. Call me tonight." With that she hung up and looked at Tristan, who was staring at her, "How'd you sleep."

"It would've been better had I not been woken up an hour earlier than usual, but seeing you makes all of that unimportant."

"It was Nean's idea of a sick joke, but thanks to him, we won't lose our job's by not showing up."

"You forgot to set the alarm, didn't you?"

"Do I just give off this vibe that screams 'I forget to set alarms'?"

"Yes Rory, that's it, it's the vibe."

She punched him in the arm, "Good morning anyways."

"You have no idea how good a morning this is," he said, pulling her close.

"Oh, but I think I have some idea."

"Do you now," he said looking down at her.

"Yeah," she said, turning her head up to look him in the eyes, "I think I do, but we still have a lot of work to do."

"I know, but I also know this is going to work."

"Really?"

"Yeah, because I know I won't do anything to screw it up this time."

"Well, I know we have an hour to just be like this, so lets not ruin it with serious talk."

"Works for me."

Kay, so that was that. Shorter than some, but it was the best I could do. Please review, pretty please.
me