Disclaimer: I don't even own the computer I'm writing this on.

A/N- Wow, I haven't updated this story for almost a year, but I just had an itch to write tonight. If you started this story once already, feel free to reread, I know I had to. For new readers, I'm glad you decided to start my story. School's over in two weeks, and I have every intention to start working on this story on a regular basis then. Please read, enjoy, and review.

Ash-

Chapter 3-

Rory watched as the cashier swiped her meal card, waited a second, and handed it back to her. Slipping it into her pocket, she muttered a thank-you and spun around, slamming against another body and dropping her tray full of food to the floor. "Oh my gosh!" She explained, as she began to crouch down. "I am so sorry, today is just not my day and…"

"We really need to stop meeting this way." A voice interrupted her. She looked up to see Tristan leaning over and smirking.

"Oh, it's you. In that case I take my apology back. Are you going to help me or just watch?"

"Just watch."

Rory rolled her eyes. "Once a jerk always a jerk."

"You wound me." He kept his gaze on her figure for a short moment, and then knelt beside her. "Here." He said, handing her a fork that had landed a good three feet away. "Let me get you some more food."

Once everything was back on the tray, she stood up and began walking away. "Thanks, but I don't need your charity or mock niceness. Besides I wasn't hungry anyways."

Tristan took off after her. "It wasn't mock niceness, Rory."

"Tristan DuGrey, sincere? Since when?"

He shrugged as he fell into step next to her. "Since always, you just never took the time to notice."

"Whatever."

"It hurts me to think that you doubt me, especially when it comes to my feelings for you. I mean, I've always thought…"

"Hey Tristan," She stopped abruptly and turned to face him. "I don't care what you've always thought."

Tristan looked down at her, shocked. Sure, they'd joked around before, teased and tormented each other, but that was downright mean. Probing her eyes deeper he could pick out frustration and exhaustion. "Come with me." He took her by the arm and led her, protesting, out the door of the student center.

"Where are we?" Rory asked, taking in the scenery around her. There was green everywhere. They stood in a small clearing, trees surrounded them on three sides and the fourth side was a pond. A weeping willow stood next to is, its branches brushing the water, high grass grew all the way around it.

Tristan watched she took everything in. "Beautiful isn't it?" He asked, his eyes never leaving her face. "Most people don't know this place is here. When I first came to Yale I got in a fight with my dad and took off. I ended up here. Now its where I come when I want to be alone. Kind of like your study tree."

Rory finally turned to face him, but glanced down when she saw his intend gaze on her face. "What?" She questioned self-consciously, checking her clothes and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

With a shrug he averted his eyes. "Nothing, I was just watching your reaction."

"Oh." An awkward silence fell over them. "If this is your special sanctuary, why did you bring me here?"

"You looked like you needed a break." Was his only reply. He walked a short ways away and settled into the plush grass.

From behind him she answered, "It's just been a long, frustrating day. And, unfortunately, there's no end in sight."

"Want to talk about it?" He inquired with out looking at her. His smile was barely contained when she sat down next to him.

"Stupid stuff," She replied. "I overslept, realized I had forgotten to do laundry last night, had a pop quiz in English, got into a fight with Paris, got back my math test from last week and the results were far from good, and then dropped my food all over the floor. And I still have to go to Friday night dinner at my grandparents tonight, an event which is akin to torture. And it feels like I've had this day a lot lately. I'm just really stressed out is all."

Tristan didn't say anything for a moment and then, "So I guess I was right, as usual."

"Right about what?"

"You needing a break."

"Mark this day down, because it will never happen again, understand?" When he nodded, she continued. "You were…right." The last word was almost inaudible.

"Excuse me?" He cupped his hand to his ear. "What I was that?"

"I said you were right." She said more loudly, at his smirk she huffed, stood up and walked to the edge of the pond. "Like I said, you'll never hear those words again."

Tristan stood up and started towards her. "But I'm always right."

"Ha!" She laughed, "Try once in a blue moon."

"What are you talking about? I'm a smart guy. I'm kind-hearted, smart, funny, charismatic, good-lucking, I mean, really, I'm perfect. And I'm always right."

"No, try mean-spirited, stupid, dry, repulsive, and oh yeah, u-g-l-y, you ain't got no alibi, you ugly, ye…" Her words were cut off as he placed his hand over mouth.

"Didn't you're mother ever tell you it wasn't nice to lie." His other hand was wrapped around her waist, her body pressed up against his. Slowly, he pushed her closer to the water, not letting go even as she struggled against him. When they were less that an inch from the edge of the pond he removed his hand from her mouth and turned her to face him, his other hand still around her waist.

Rory glanced over shoulder at the water looming right behind her. "I can't help it if I see all your flaws."

"I am not ugly."

This made Rory giggle. "Out of all the things I listed you're upset because I called you ugly. I attacked your whole personality and you don't care?"

"Take back the ugly comment." He ordered.

"No!"

"Take it back or into the water you go."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh wouldn't I?"

Rory glanced up at him defiantly. "No, you wouldn't."

"Last chance." He warned.

Rory glanced over her shoulder again, only this time it was with a look of uncertainty. Turning back to him she wiped the joking expression off her face. "You're ugly." She told him with a shrug.

"Suit yourself." Before Rory could reply, Tristan took a step forward, knocking her off balance and sending her toppling into the murky water.

"You jerk!" Rory shrieked, wildly flaring her arms around. She dropped from his view as her head became submerged under the water. A few seconds later she emerged. "Tristan," she shouted, her arms slapping the water's surface. "Tristan, help, I can't swim."

Doubt crept into his mind as he watched her splashing around, but when he saw her submerge again and remain under water for several seconds, he leaped into action, jumping into the water. As soon as he entered, Rory reappeared. "Gotcha." She exclaimed with a triumphant smile on her face.

"Brat!" His palm smacked the water, sending a large splash in her direction.

"Me? You're the one who knocked me into the water in the first place."

"Yeah, but…but you hurt my feelings. I am not ugly."

Sending large splash in her direction she burst into fits of laughter. "Talk about superficial and vain."

"Mmmm…" Rory muttered as an ringing began to play in her head. "Go away." Rolling over she lay her head on the shoulder of the person next to her. Soon the annoying ring began to sound more and more like her cell phone as her head cleared. Opening her eyes, she was surprised to see the sun had long since set and there was a gray jacket thrown over her shoulders. Lifting her head, she saw that the comfortable shoulder belonged to Tristan. With a sleepy groan the afternoon's events came back to her and she ran her hand through her still slightly damp hair. Finally she sat up and dug her cell phone out of her purse. "Hello?" She mumbled, sleep still evident in her voice.

"Rory, where are you?" Jess' voice came to her over the phone. "You're mom got worried when you didn't show up for dinner and you didn't answer your phone. She called here looking for you."

"Oh," Rory forced herself to focus. "I just fell asleep is all."

"Are you sure you're ok?" The concern was evident in Jess' voice and a feeling of guilt crept into her stomach as she looked from the jacket still in her lap to the sleeping form next to her.