CHAPTER 11

If there was one thing she learned from Logan, it was Carpe Diem. It didn't mean much to her then but right now, it was the appropriate thing to do. She and Marty jumped in his Honda as quickly as they could to get to Tweed Airport.

"So what are you going to do if she's still there?" Rory asked, trying to calm Marty.

"Honestly, I haven't thought that far yet," he stammered. "I've never acted so impulsively in my entire life."

A sad smile crept on Rory's face. "Love does that to everyone."

"How did we get to this point? We were just having dinner…" Marty mused now taking a look at his now ex-girlfriend.

Wryly, she responded, "And this is dessert. Excited?"

Marty contemplated for a second. "Anxious."

"That's good," Rory exhaled.

"Good? Are you a sadist?" Marty muddled through what Rory said. Pausing, he asked softly, "Are you angry?"

Rory was caught by surprise. "No."

"I feel like I've cheated you somehow," Marty chuckled half-heartedly. "It would be rather difficult if I lost my best friend this way."

Rory looked his way, her heart tearing in little pieces. "I would, too."

In silence, they came to a silent agreement about what had just transpired.

"Promise me one thing?" Marty requested.

"What?" Rory asked, her mind busy reconciling the fact that she's faced another failure in the dating department.

"That we're not breaking up because you think you're not worth it," he stated.

Rory's hand rested on his thigh. "Trust me, it isn't."

Marty's hand covered hers. "You know, I'll really be envious of the guy who eventually gets you. Forget Logan and his lies. You will make some guy happy just by being yourself."

"Don't worry," she sighed. "I'll eventually find him."

"What about Tristin?" he teased.

"Yeah, what about him?" she joked back not expecting a return answer.

The car chase finally came down to a crawl as they approached the check-in gates. Marty crept slowly until Rory caught sight of the beautiful blonde couple behind the glass panes at the Northwest departure gates.

"Marty, stop!" she yelled. "Over there!"

Marty jerked the steering wheel to the right, jumping the curb before parking the car. In a matter of seconds, he undid his seatbelt and ran into the building. With the engine still running, Rory had to hold back a sob as she witness Kaylee swirl around to meet Marty's passionate kiss.

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Kaylee rested her head on Tristin's shoulder as they inched through the short line.

"I promise not to be on a foul mood when I board the plane," Kaylee said as she and Tristin played the 'I Promise Not' game.

"I promise not to socialize with anyone I've known with in elementary or high school," he countered. His thoughts lingered at Rory's avoidance all night.

"I promise not to bring up subjects that includes Marty," she added.

"I promise not to think of Rory again," he finally admitted.

"You don't mean that," Kaylee lifted her head up from his shoulder.

"Why can't I?" he asked.

"Because…" she cannot come up with a rebuttal.

"Exactly," Tristin pointed out.

"I lied," Kaylee blurted out. "I freaked Rory out in the loo and left her there. I didn't want to know that she was going to tell me that she won't let Marty go without a fight and I can't fight with a ghost."

Tristin was silent. If he were Kaylee, he knew he would do what she just did. His hands rubbed her upper arms lightly.

"I think she's afraid of you," she warned Tristin.

His hands on her went still, unconsciously squeezing her hard enough to leave a bruise.

"Tristin?" she asked. She wanted him to stop hurting her.

"What did she say?" his eyes turned steel blue. His heart started pounding hard against his chest. He peered into her eyes, hoping to get an answer from her. "Why do you think she's scared of me?"

"I don't know!" her tone went up an octave higher.

He released her arms immediately. He was embarrassed that he took out his anger on her. He turned his back on her feeling guilty as she stimulated the blood back into her arms.

"She thinks that you collect women like trophies," she admitted. "From what I've heard from Marty, Logan used to treat her like one and hated it."

"But I am not Logan!" he said heatedly.

"I'm sure you're not but I'm not sure she's convinced of that," she implied.

His fingers raked through his hair.

"Kaylee…" and he got interrupted.

Out of nowhere, Marty busted through the doors. His determined strides carried him to a highly confused Kaylee. He took her face into his hands and kissed her in deep passion. Tristin stepped away and looked outside.

All he saw was Rory getting into the driver's side of the champagne Honda, pulling away from the sliding doors.

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"Rory, you alright?" Tristin inquired.

Rory sat right next to him silently inside the sports car. The five-mile drive back to town felt like a journey that took three months to complete.

Rory parked the car and took her time walking back to Marty and Kaylee. When she came upon them, she can't help but feel sad that she wasn't the one with a happy ending.

"Hi," she broke the couple's tight embrace. "Here are the car keys."

"Thanks," Marty expressed gratitude. His eyes shifted to Tristin who was standing a few feet away from them.

"So, what are your plans?" she asked. She shoved her hands down her front pockets to avoid giving away her real feelings.

"I've decided to drive Kay up to LaGuardia instead. We have a lot of catching up to do before she flies back," he smiled wanly.

"Guess you better get going then," she smiled.

Kaylee approached Rory and hugged her. "You're the best."

Jokingly, Rory replied, "Don't you forget it."

"Tristin, would it be possible for you to drop Rory off?" Marty asked.

"Sure," he agreed avoiding any physical contact with Rory. "I'll take her home."

"Thanks, bud," he smiled. He laid a kiss on Rory's cheek. "Thank you."

Just like that, he took Kaylee's bags and walked away with her hand in hand.

"Want to come up?" Rory invited Tristin over. He hesitated.

"I don't think..." he started saying before she cut him off.

"I don't want to be alone," she admitted. She gazed at him with sad corn-blue eyes before she asked again. "Please?"

All he wanted to do at that moment was grab her in his arms and take all the pain away. She didn't have to ask again. He stepped out of the car and opened her door. As she emerged, he grasped her hand and laced his fingers with hers. The fact she didn't pull away made him think they were making progress.

He didn't know what was going through her head but he wished that with Marty out of the picture, she'd see that he isn't the bastard he was years ago.

"Why aren't you doing the 'I-told-you-so' dance?" Rory asked. A sliver of bitterness edged her voice.

"You took a chance, Rory. You can't be resentful for trying," he answered. "Would you have preferred just wondering?"

"I'm surprised to hear you say that," Rory admitted, her voice softening at his revelation.

"What you did took a lot of guts," Tristin tried to fill the air.

"It didn't make sense to keep holding on to something that isn't there in the first place," Rory stated.

"And that's what makes the whole thing noble," he pointed out.

"I didn't want to be a martyr," she corrected him.

"I never said you tried," he rebutted.

Except for the muted click the latch made when she unlocked the door, the place was quiet. The soft glow of the paper lamp provided the only light in the room. The scent of lavender lingered in the air giving the apartment a hint of mystery and femininity.

"Rory," he whispered her name before her index finger landed on his lips to silence him. With a bat of an eyelash, her lips replaced the digit with desperate hunger.

Her hands deftly undid the leather jacket he wore. Without warning, her fingers pulled the neatly tucked shirt by the waistband. Her cool skin warmed itself on the covered flesh.

He undid her coat slowly. His fingers lingered a second longer on her collarbone making her freeze on the spot.

"I won't hurt you," was his promise.

Their lips met urgently. Rory stepped out of her shoes leaving her a few inches shorter than when they started making out.

His head dipped, her arms went around his neck. The delicious shivers made them sigh as they slowly made their way to Rory's bedroom.

"Are you sure?" Tristin asked her once more. He wanted a guarantee that she knew that he was giving her a way out.

She nodded and started unbuttoning her shirt for him.

The slow striptease routine drove Tristin wild. Bathed under the full moon glistening through her window, her alabaster skin glowed. Her fingers started shaking when she reached for the strap of her bra.

"Allow me," his husky voice volunteered.

Her hands rested on his chest. His t-shirt still got in the way. She pulled on the soft cloth and tugged it over his head. In one fluid motion, he helped her yank the offensive clothing off of him and crush her towards him.

She sighed, her breasts heaving on his chest. His fingers left a trail of fire down her spine. A moan escaped her lips as he kissed the skin where the strap once settled.

"Tristin!" she exclaimed in pleasure.

When she cried out his name, all his fears dissipated. He gently laid her on the bed. He caressed her exposed skin lovingly. Slowly, he stretched his full length next to her nudging her legs to part to accommodate his jean-clad thigh.

"Rory," he muttered one last time before he joined her on her bed.

They made love to each other like it was their first time. The touches were slow and deliberate. Their kisses, unhurried. When they both cried out in release, they nestled in each other's arms like they were meant to be.

The moment came to her like a ton of bricks.

I love Tristin!

A tear escaped from the corner of her eye as she watched him sleep. She knew he was lost in his dreams. It wasn't the sex. It wasn't even Marty. She was so wrapped up in what Logan had turned her into that she didn't see what Tristin sacrificed to be with her.

"I love you," she whispered. "I hope you catch me when I fall."

She brushed a kiss on his forehead before she snuggled into his arms.

Finally, there was a pair of arms she could call home.

0

The first signs of morning light dared to peek over the building tops when Tristin woke up from his nightmare.

He was drenched in sweat, shivering.

It took him a few moments to figure out where he was. Rory's back was towards him, her bed sheets resting on the crest of her backside.

What have you done? Tristin scolded himself.

He panicked. He wanted to touch her but he was afraid to wake her up. He cursed himself for making his other head think for him.

Angrily, he snatched his jeans that were crumpled on the floor. He got dressed quickly feeling guilty of what had just transpired between them.

He should've known better. He was the rebound guy.

He didn't bother covering her up. Instead, he strolled out the door quietly. He grabbed his coat that now was properly draped over the back of the couch.

Paris would have a hay day pestering Rory.

Even if he knew she wasn't Summer, he allowed himself to be used by someone he thought cared for him the same way he did her.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

He welcomed the chilly breeze. He might as well get used to it now.

-----oooo0-----0oooo----------

Rory woke up from a wonderful slumber. Her hand searched for the warm body that kept her company all night. She jackknifed to a sitting position realizing he was gone.

No note.

No sign.

All weekend, she couldn't concentrate at her grandparents' dinner or her mother's latest drama. All she wanted to do was talk to Tristin. Twice she jumped into her car and headed out for New Providence only to turn back halfway through her drive.

He never called her and she was afraid that her darkest fears had come true.

She was used.

That Wednesday she camped right outside Tanh's art room.

"What are you doing here?" Tanh asked, helping her get off of her behind.

"Waiting for Tristin," she stated.

"Oh, honey. His last day was last week. He isn't coming back," Tanh informed her.