CHAPTER 14

He should've known. He felt himself tense up and feel his fingers curl into a ball. How come he knew the moment he met Tristin that he'd be trouble?

He saw Rory's reaction when he put his hands over her eyes. She was comfortable, dare he say intimate. He couldn't hear the words they exchanged from behind the glass door but she laughed. They might as well have not cared that they had an audience. He watched him squat in front of her: the smile, the excitement, the hug. The range of emotions unfolding in front of him made him want to puke.

It wasn't because he thought Rory cheated on him. It was because he knew deep inside that he's cheating her out on an opportunity to actually have a decent relationship. But damn Tristin if he'd force him to an ultimatum!

That's when jealousy reared its ugly head. Like two gladiators, they sparred verbally, throwing out barbs aimed at each other to hurt. Every syllable was filled with malice. When their taunts were not enough and fists came unsheathed, Rory came between them so they won't come into blows.

"Tristin, go!" he remembered her plea to him.

Tristin's eyes were intense. Logan knew Tristin wanted nothing more than to protect Rory from him. Tristin tried lunging towards him only to have her get into his way. All he could feel at this point was blood rushing to his head.

Rory defended him to Tristin and all Logan could see was rage emanating from Tristin's being. Then, she does it. He doesn't know how but she seems to have this magic over men just wanting to protect her. If there was any moment that he felt like a jackass, this was it. He knew Tristin wanted to tell Rory about the secret she already is partly privy to although she doesn't know it yet.

Rory asked Tristin to wait when he stomped away. He turned around and said, " For what? To see you all weepy when that bastard breaks your heart?"

How was Logan supposed to respond to that?

Tristin left the room in a hurry.

"Are you happy now?" Rory queried Logan, her tone filled with ire. Before he knew it, Rory went after him.

Logan hung his head and sighed. If only Tristin and Rory knew the rest of the story.

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Tristin slammed his fists on the steering wheel. He just had to do it, didn't he? He could feel the guilt and the anger merge into one and yet he felt elated. Why did she have to follow him out? His cheeks were still flushed from the cold. His foot was heavy on the accelerator. This was not the way he envisioned things happening between him and Rory.

"Tristin!" she yelled out from behind him.

"What?" he chewed her head off.

She ran halfway towards him when she stopped. Her hair was being tousled by the light breeze. All she wore to meet up with him was a thin green turtleneck sweater and a pair of slacks. She crossed her arms across her chest, rubbing her arms vigorously.

"Rory, go back inside. You're going to catch a cold," he scolded her as he opened the door to the Escalade.

"I don't care," she sobbed. "Not until you answer me."

Tristin dropped his hand from the door and shoved his hands in his pocket. "I think you know the answer to your question."

Rory slowly approached him. He could see the trail of mist coming from her mouth and her nose. She was cold and she did not care.

"Why Tristin? Why are you here?" she asked. "It's not like you cared before."

"I always did," he said matter-of-factly. "I just never really knew how to show it."

"Stop it," Rory warned her.

"Why?" Tristin savagely challenged. "Are you that conceited that you want me to spell it out for you?"

"Why do you feel it's your duty to torment me?" Rory asked, choking on a sob.

"Because I can," he sarcastically responded. "Happy?"

A tear rolled down Rory's frozen cheek.

"I don't know what you're waiting for but I know what I want," he said pacing back and forth. "I wanted something that isn't mine and I intend on making it mine only when the time allows itself."

"You're a fool," Rory spat.

"And you're a coward," Tristin mocked her.

"And you're not?" Rory scoffed. "You waltz into my life like the Tazmanian Devil, picking me up, dragging me around and taking me to heights I never expected and you would like me to believe that you did this all because you have feelings for me? If that's the case, you're a bigger dunce than I thought."

"Only if you can prove me wrong," he said. "And I intend not to stick around to just have my feelings thrown back to my face."

"Two weeks, Tristin. Two weeks! You're professing something that is based on fleeting, highlighted feelings," she stammered.

"Am I?" he taunted her. "How long did it take you to figure out you were in love with Wannabe?"

"That's a bunch of croc and you know it," Rory said, sniffling. "If you had any feelings for me, it is probably located below your waist like the rest of your hash marks on your bedpost."

"Hasn't anyone told you that you're naive, Rory? Not every relationship is set on the sack," Tristin responded angrily. "Logan is playing you for a fool and you're blinded to it."

"Are you trying to sabotage my relationship? You have no right making claims to something you don't know anything about," Rory bit back.

"Am I?" Tristin asked softly. "I never made any claims that I am different from the guy you once knew, Rory. I admit, I may not know Logan personally but I was he. Maybe, I still am only I've learned not to be that person again."

He was so close to her, he could smell the scent of her perfume. Like her, it was sweet and innocent.

"Rory, ask yourself the question. Why are you here?" he queried. "Why aren't you with Logan at this very instant?"

Rory did not really know why she followed him out. All she knew was it was important for her to do so. "Because... I didn't want you going away angry."

Tristin exhaled loudly. "What could you have done that I would misconstrue as making me angry?" he raised an eyebrow.

Rory bowed her head. "Breaking up your fight with Logan?"

"Oh, Rory," he sighed. He took her in his arms and started rubbing her. She was cold to the touch even through his gloves. "The fight would've just been the topping on the cake!"

Rory did not protest his touch. She accepted the warm envelope he provided her at that instant. "I really didn't want you and Logan to argue. Things had been good between Logan and me. He's pretty much the best thing that has happened to me since Dean and I broke up."

Tristin snorted.

"Did I tell you that he took me under his wing when Dean dumped me in front of him and his cronies?" she recalled. "I just went on and on minutes before my break up with Dean how much he loves me and that we're happy together only to have them witness Dean just drive away without me."

"I'd bring him back and beat him up for you if I was there," he grumbled through her hair.

"... And when you showed up last Thanksgiving, I didn't think that we'd actually be friends. You know? We never were when we were at Chilton."

"No, we weren't, were we?" he agreed.

"And I thought it was important that you and Logan get along because..." she paused. "You are a part of my past that I think I would really miss if I let this present ruin the future, barring circumstances, of course."

"Rory," he whispered. "I think you know why you came here."

"Do I?" she looked into his eyes.

Before Tristin could have his better judgment rule over him, he cupped her chin as he descended on her lips. He wanted to do it since he first saw her at the Gilmore's. And damn him if he's going to back out now.

The kiss was slow and deliberate. Despite the blood ringing in his ears, he nibbled on her lips like there was no tomorrow for them. His tongue searched and probed without dissention. He savored the taste of mint that coated her cotton candy mouth. Lips smacked. Tongues dueled. She accepted his kisses willingly if not for that moment of mental haze. His hands had a mind of their own, traversing the length of her back and pulling her close to his embrace. The moment she was engulfed in his arms, his gloved hand cupped her cheek. Lips to lips, nose to nose, the light snow drizzled on them.

When Tristin broke off the kiss, she whimpered. He pressed his forehead against hers.

"Go," he ordered her. "Promise me you will talk to Hunzberger."

Rory just nodded.

He let go of her abruptly and jumped into his vehicle. Rory didn't look back when she ran back into the building.

The forty-minute drive home was all Tristin could take. The only thing he was grateful for was his arrival at the empty DuGrey residence was without pomp and circumstance. All he came home to were the quiet ticking of the grandfather clock and the blinking of Christmas lights.

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Rory was in a trance when she walked into the Herald Building. She was cold and numb and the only sensation keeping her warm was the languorous kiss she shared with Tristin. She touched her lips subconsciously like she was trying to prove to herself that she didn't dream the whole event.

How could she have not known that Tristin felt that way towards her? Does it change the way she saw Logan?

Rory closed her eyes and leaned against the wall before entering the journalism floor. Tristin knew something, that much she knew. But why won't he tell her? Confronting Logan doesn't seem like the most tactical maneuver either. She told herself that there's time to mull this over later. 'Maybe the Christmas break would work some wonders and make all their problems disappear,' she deluded herself.

She saw Logan sitting at his table cradling his head between his hands. He looked frustrated and furious. She knew she would be, too, if she were in his shoes. She felt bad that she seems to be the reason why things snowballed among the three of them.

She sighed, squared her shoulders and walked towards Logan in hopes of make things better.

"So," she asked Logan. "When and where is this party this Saturday?"