A/N: I'm so sorry it's been this long to get this chapter up. I told you in the second to last chapter that I am already thinking about a sequel. Well, I've officially started it. Aren't you proud? So right after this story is done (which I am not saying is soon. I know we have so, so many more chapters left) you'll have a sequel. And I know how I am ending this, so, I know you'll yearn for it. And you'll be so proud of me: I am on the 4th page of it and I am writing in size 11 font! That's long, right? Read on.

Disclaimer: you know the drill.

Summary: (Fill in the blank)

Chapter 9. Behind My Back

"This is delicious." Rory stated as she sat across the table from him.

"I'm glad you think so."

They stayed in the silence that captivated them so, as they have the past twenty minutes.

Finally, Rory spoke up: "What are you planning to do today?"

He looked up, surprised at the question. "I don't know; I was just planning to stay in the house."

"Oh…! You probably wanted to be alone, right? I could just get in my car and go if you want-"

"Rory."

"Hmm?"

"That wasn't a 'get-out-of-my-house' comment," he clarified.

"Oh, I just thought-"

"You think too much."

She bowed her head and played with her food on her plate.

He sighed. "Rory," he said in the calmest voice he could, "I think we need to talk."

She looked back up to him and stared at him like he was crazy. "I don't know… what to say." She even had trouble getting that out.

"Let's just analyze everything. Get everything clear."

"Everything is clear, Tristan! God, it was a mistake!" she started to stand up. "A damn mistake that shouldn't even have happened and I regret that it did because that means that I lost my virginity to someone like you. Excuse me."

She ran out of the house and into her car and drove off as quickly as she could, leaving Tristan staring blankly at her empty chair, breathing in gasps. What she said… what she said was breaking him.

Here he was, trying to get to the subject as most subtle as he could, and she thought it was a mistake.

- Later -

"Where were you?" he asked as he watched her back up in her kitchen.

"I – I wasn't anywhere…" she was backing away from him, "I was upset… so I went to – to my grandparent's."

He quickly went up to her, and before she had a chance to get out of his way, he slapped her. She fell to the tile floor and cupped her face in her hands in shock.

"Don't even fucking try to lie to me. Don't you think I would have checked there?" He gave her a small smile. "Come on, Rory. It saddens me that you think I'm that brain-dead."

"I – I wasn't trying to imply-"

"Don't you fucking talk when I'm talking. What are you doing on the floor? Get up. You look like a dog. You might as well be one."

He "helped" her up with one yank.

"Now, we're going to go through this again." Her breathing was quivering with each of his words. "Where were you last night?"

"I…" she didn't know what to say, "I was at a friend's house."

"Which friend?"

"You don't know them."

He walked toward her and she still backed up, but when she hit the counter, he was right there. He leaned into her and whispered into her ear: "If I find that you're fucking behind my back…"

He left her to daydream and exited the house in one swift movement.

She sunk to the floor in the corner and huddled up into a ball, rocking back and forth, trying to calm herself and her shaking body.

A/N: Kinda short, but I wanted to end there. I swear, I'll get more longer chapters up soon. I think this story is taking an R rated turn, with all the language. If you want it rated R to warn others, please state so in your review. Oh, and earlier, with Tristan. I want you to know that she is confused with what had just gone on and she doesn't know what to do about it. Review! It's where I get all my emphasis on my chapters. There was hardly any reviews last chapter, so, I wasn't very motivated… see what happens?

Paige