A/N: Rory streaked her hair purple, not the entire thing.
Tristan stared at his aunt in shock, "Why would he want that?"
She shrugged, "He says that he misses you."
"But, but I'm happy here. I don't WANT to move to Hartford!"
"I know that, but you don't have a choice. None of us do. Trust me, if we had any choice, you know that we'd fight him, but for almost a month he's been calling and asking to talk to you."
"I don't want to talk to him!"
"That's why we never gave you the phone." his uncle put in. Tristan looked at both of them with wide eyes. His aunt and uncle glanced at each other nervously, "Um, Tristan, you father, he doesn't..." he trailed off, looking at his wife, who bit her lip slowly.
"Tristan, he doesn't want you to keep and ties in Boston."
He shook his head, a look of horror on his face, "No."
"I'm sorry, Tristan." Erika stepped forward, wanting to comfort her nephew.
"No, Erika, he practically abandoned me! He screwed up and didn't want to deal with me, so he sent me here! I hear from him once a year, if he remembers my birthday. He's not about to just walk in and take over my life!"
"He's your father, we can't stop him!" she yelled, "Tristan, do you really think we WANT you to go? Because we don't. We see you as our son, we don't want you to go back to Hartford, but we have just as little power over him as you do. I'm sorry."
Tristan looked away, refusing to let the tears fall that were threatening, "I will NOT do that."
Erika's face softened and her voice was barely a whisper, "I am SO sorry, I know how much you love her."
He shook his head, tears filling his eyes, "I can't."
His uncle put a warm hand on his shoulder, "Tristan, you have to. We're here for you, but she can't be. I wish that there was something we could do, but we can't. You don't understand, we've fought your father for months over where you would live. He wants you home. We're not your legal guardians, meaning he could use that card, but we couldn't, giving him the upper hand."
"No, you don't understand, I CAN'T just break up with Rory. She'd know something was wrong. If I tell her I'm moving, she'd know that I was just doing it because of that and she'd make sure I knew that she was okay with having a boyfriend in a different state. Trust me."
Erika sighed, "Then you just have to do whatever you can to make her believe you don't want to be together any more."
Tristan narrowed his eyes, "What are you talking about?"
"Well, you have to, you know...be..." she trailed off, looking to her husband for support.
He sighed, "Do whatever you have to. Yell at her, lie. Whatever you have to that might make her believe you."
"God I hate him." Tristan whispered, looking away. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you guys tomorrow." he turned to the stairs.
"Tristan!" his aunt called when he was half way up. He stopped, but didn't turn around. She sighed and stayed silent. He kept walking.
WHITLAND, THE NEXT DAY
Rory sat beside Josh at lunch, staring at the place Tristan usually occupied. "What's wrong Ror?" he asked the usually hyper active girl.
She shook her head, "I don't know. Tristan had been avoiding me all day. Have you noticed anything that I've done that might make him mad?"
Josh shook his head, "I don't think you COULD do anything to piss him off. Not you."
"I just. I dunno. He hasn't talked to me all day. He looked at me once, but it was kind of a sad look, like he was apologizing for something."
"Did he do something that he thinks might have pissed you off?"
"Nothing I can think of." she said, shaking her head with a strained look, "I just, I mean, nothing happened that would make him ignore me."
Josh tilted his head, "He didn't come up to your locker this morning, did he?"
"No."
"Okay, that's messed up. He's gone to your locker, like, everyday since you moved here."
"I know. I'm freaking out. Do you think he's okay?"
"I dunno. You should talk to him."
AFTER FOURTH PERIOD
Rory stood at her locker, pulling books out when she looked up to see if she could spot Tristan through the crowded hall. He was walking out of one of the side doors, leading to the back. And a large oak tree. She looked from the hall of her fifth class to the door Tristan had just walked through and gave the two ways a split second of thought before she turned towards the door.
Rory found Tristan leaning against the same oak tree that he'd asked her out under. It had sort of become their 'spot'. If one was upset, they'd come to this place and the other would show up. They were connected in that kind of way. She walked over to him, "Hey." His head shot up, he hadn't expected her. Tristan sat, looking at her in silence. She sighed, "What's wrong?"
He stood up, "Nothing."
"Then why have you been ignoring me all day?"
Tristan looked at her, this was the moment that her opinion of him would change. He was about to throw away the one good thing in his life. The one person he felt capable of loving. His eyes clouded over and his shields went up, the mask he'd had years to perfect. He shook his head, "Don't you know?"
"No."
"Rory, I thought that by ignoring you, you might get the message."
"What message?"
He rolled his eyes, "You can't see it?"
"If I could see it then I wouldn't be here asking you."
"Rory, it's not working."
"What's not working?"
"This. Me and you. I'm tired of waiting for you."
"Okay Tristan, I really don't get what you mean."
"Have you always been this slow and I just never realized it?"
"I don't want to play a guessing game. what the hell are you saying?"
Tristan sighed, "It's over."
Rory looked as if someone had slapped her in the face, "W-what?"
"It's over. I'm dumping you."
She shook her head, "No. No, you said that no matter what you'd always love me and-"
"Forget what I said. Listen to what I'm saying now. I never loved you. And even if I did, like I told you before, love fades. It's not real, only an illusion."
"You're lying."
He laughed bitterly, "Why the hell would I lie about something like this?"
"I don't know. But I do know that you're lying. You were warning me or something. You said that you love me, and if you ever said anything to make me think otherwise then to just ignore it."
"Well, listen to what I'm saying now. I. Do. Not. Love. You. I never did. I didn't get what I wanted and I don't think I will, so it's over."
"How can you tell someone you love them and then the very next day say you don't?"
"Look, Rory, honestly, you were a nice piece of ass. That's all. My best friend's sister. Nothing more."
"But-"
"NO! Rory, no. It's over. Get out of denial. Every one warned you, right? You can't say you didn't get fair warning. Didn't people tell you not to fall for a player? That you'd only get hurt? Well guess what? You fell and I'm NOT about to catch you." even hearing himself say this to her, he couldn't believe it was really him. Tristan felt like shit for doing this to her. She didn't look mad. Just confused and hurt.
"So then what was I?"
"Like I said, a nice piece of ass. A conquest. Nothing."
Rory felt tears push against the back of her eyes, but she closed them, not letting him have the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Deep down inside, she wanted to believe that what he was saying wasn't true, but she couldn't lie to herself. His eyes were void of emotion, giving her no reason not to believe him. "So then every one was right about you?"
"Yes. I played you Rory. I. Played. You."
Her voice was barely above a whisper as she said, "So it was all a game to you?"
"Everything."
"So what now? You know Devin won't want to talk to you."
"Yeah well I don't have to worry about that. I'm moving to Hartford. I'm leaving behind everything. I'm leaving you and forgetting about you completely. But you won't be able to." he leaned in closer. She was looking down. "Everything will be a constant reminder of what you thought we had. All our friends, everything in your room, this school that we ruled together, that necklace around your neck. Everything. Cause see, you won't be able to get away from it, but I can. I'm leaving, and you're stuck behind. Just like with Marco." having said his piece, Tristan stood up and dropped a single rose on her lap, it was dead and dried, blood red and covered in sharp thorns. "A sign of my 'love', Mary. Later." He walked away, Rory hadn't looked at him since he said he was forgetting about her.
He'd practiced what he would say to her, but when it came down to it, he'd had to wing it. And nothing he'd practiced saying had been that cruel. Nothing. He hadn't known he was capable of being that cold to her. His Mary. But not anymore. He'd left her crying. Alone. He felt lower than shit. She'd never done anything to deserve that, but she'd gotten it. Once Tristan was around the wall of the school, out of her view, he looked back, wanting to see her one last time. She was crying silently, running her finger over the dead rose slowly, a thorn cut her finger and she did nothing, just let it bleed. Tristan closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, needing something to support his legs, which were dangerously close to giving out. Tears slid slowly down his cheeks and he pulled out his cell phone, dialing Erika's number.
E: Hello?
T: Erika?
E: Tristan?
T: Can you come get me?
E: Where are you?
T: School.
E: Why do you want me to-
T: I broke up with her. Bad.
E: I'm on my way.
T: Thanks.
E: I'll be there in like, ten minuets.
T: Okay, bye.
E: Bye. And Tristan?
T: Yeah?
E: I really am sorry.
T: I know. Me too.
Rory didn't know how long she sat under that tree. She would have guessed around an hour and a half. Maybe two. But yet, the tears never seemed to stop. She never made any sound, never shook, just silent rivers, running down her fair skin like streams of liquid diamond. Every once in a while, a thorn would pierce her finger, but she never tried to stop the blood flow. She didn't even feel the break in her body. She was numb from all the emotions that had gone through her wracked body. She breathed in deeply. What had she done to deserve that? The thought that he'd never loved her, that he'd played her, made her feel violated. Like she was a whore. Her body began to shake violently from emotion and she leaned over, emptying the contents of her stomach onto the grass.
"Hey, have you seen Rory?" Katie asked Tray, walking up to him at the end of the day.
He shook his head, "Not since lunch. And it was only for a minuet. She was talking to Josh."
"Hm, have you seen Tristan either?"
"Nope. You?"
"No."
"Do you think they went somewhere?"
"No, she would've told us."
"Who's us?"
"Me, Erin, and Natalie. Oh, and Devin."
"Ah."
"Oh, there she is. Ooh, she looks bad."
Tray's head shot up in the direction she was looking, "What's wrong with her? She looks like she's been crying."
"And she's paler than usual." Katie started to walk towards her, but Tray grabbed her arm, holding her back. "What?"
Tray nodded to the younger girl, whose eyes were tearing over, she was talking to Erin, who's mouth was hanging open. Tray shook his head, "Don't overwhelm her. Leave it to Erin and Devin." Katie nodded, even though she wanted to help Rory, she knew it would be best to just let Erin and Devin handle it.
Erin stared at Rory in shock, "He did what?!" she screeched, not believing her ears.
"He-he broke up with me." Rory would have cried, but she doubted that she could afford to lose anymore water.
"How? What did he do?"
Rory looked around at the crowded hall, "I-I'll tell you later. Come home with me today."
"Okay," Erin hugged her friend, who clung tightly to her, "It'll be okay sweetie, don't worry."
HAYDEN'S, THAT AFTERNOON
"And then he handed me a dead rose and walked away." Roy said, sitting on her bed, not looking at Erin. Her friend sat in silence, wondering what had possessed her life long friend to do that to the girl he claimed to love. "Um, I need some water, so-"
"I'll get it," Erin said at once, "You stay here, I'll be right back." She walked slowly down the stairs, stopping and laying her head on the wall behind her. Rory was going to go through hell, she knew that much.
Devin walked up to her, kissing her lightly, "Hey."
She smiled sadly, "Hey."
"What's wrong with Rory?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"No. But Tristan was acting really weird today, did you notice?"
"Yeah, that's because he dumped her."
"HE WHAT?!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" she said, glancing up at Rory's closed door.
"He dumped her. Badly. He made it clear that she'd never meant anything to him and was just a piece of ass. She's really in hell right now."
Devin shook his head and walked towards the foyer, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to figure out what happened."
"I told you. He dumped her."
"I know that. But you know something happened to make him do it."
"Yeah I guess."
"You know he lied about her not meaning anything."
"Yeah, but she doesn't."
"God, she's so blind."
"Yeah, but I think that he was very persistent."
"I never thought he's be able to kill himself like that."
"I never thought he'd do it to Rory's either." Erin said, and Devin nodded, walking out the door.
TRISTAN'S ROOM
There was a knock on the door. Tristan rolled his eyes, he was in the middle of packing, "I said I don't want to talk to you guys!"
The door opened, "Yeah, well I sure as hell want to talk to you." Devin walked in, glaring at Tristan.
The blond sighed and sat on his bed, "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, you better be. But my God Tristan, what the hell happened?"
"I-I had to."
"Okay, why?"
He shook his head and stood up, walking to the window. "I'm moving."
"What?"
"My parents want me to move in with them. I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon."
"Tristan, why didn't you tell me?"
"What was I supposed to say? 'Hey I'm moving, and daddy dearest has commanded me to sever all ties and forget about my life in Boston?' No. I couldn't."
"So that's why you dumped her?"
Tristan turned to face him, "That's all she told you? That I dumped her?"
"No. She didn't tell me anything. Erin just now told me that. And I came to you for the rest."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Yes I could."
Tristan sighed, "I don't want you to hate me, Dev. You've been my best friend for years. And my whole life, you've stood by me, no matter what. But now, with these circumstances, you know what they say, blood is thicker than water."
"I came to hear it from you."
"I was a dick. That's all I can say."
"What did you say?"
"A bunch of shit."
"Like what?"
"Oh, you know, I said I played her, that she was a piece of ass, along those lines."
"And she believed you?"
"Obviously."
"And your father made you do it?"
"Yeah."
"I've gotta say, I never thought you'd have the balls to tear your own heart out and best the shit out of it."
"Yeah, well, things change."
Devin sighed and walked over to Tristan, "Look man, you're my best friend, always will be. And who knows, maybe this is how it was supposed to be."
"Yeah, maybe."
"Well hey, I have to go. Homework and shit, but just so you know, I will miss you, and I know Rory will too, no matter what she says, she loves you. And I will TRY to cope with what happened. But just make sure you don't forget us, aight?"
Tristan smiled and nodded, "Aight."
They hit knuckles slowly and did a brotherly hug. Devin smirked, "It won't be the same without you."
"Of course it won't, I'm the king, remember?"
Devin laughed, "Yeah. You are. Other than me of course."
Tristan smirked, "You wish Hayden, you wish." It was their normal conversation, but it was slower than usual. More dragged out and morbid. Both dreading the end. Devin sighed, "So, I might never see you again, so, you know. Not to get all lovey, but I really will miss you. You've been my best friend since I was six. And that won't change."
Tristan nodded, "Same here. After all, who could take the place of one of us? I mean, it's just not possible."
Devin smiled sadly, "Never has been, never will be." He hit Tristan on the shoulder, "Out."
Tristan nodded, "Out." he put his hand on Devin's shoulder and smiled sadly. His best friend of nine years nodded and turned, walking away, ending a chapter in their lives. Tristan.
Tristan stared at his aunt in shock, "Why would he want that?"
She shrugged, "He says that he misses you."
"But, but I'm happy here. I don't WANT to move to Hartford!"
"I know that, but you don't have a choice. None of us do. Trust me, if we had any choice, you know that we'd fight him, but for almost a month he's been calling and asking to talk to you."
"I don't want to talk to him!"
"That's why we never gave you the phone." his uncle put in. Tristan looked at both of them with wide eyes. His aunt and uncle glanced at each other nervously, "Um, Tristan, you father, he doesn't..." he trailed off, looking at his wife, who bit her lip slowly.
"Tristan, he doesn't want you to keep and ties in Boston."
He shook his head, a look of horror on his face, "No."
"I'm sorry, Tristan." Erika stepped forward, wanting to comfort her nephew.
"No, Erika, he practically abandoned me! He screwed up and didn't want to deal with me, so he sent me here! I hear from him once a year, if he remembers my birthday. He's not about to just walk in and take over my life!"
"He's your father, we can't stop him!" she yelled, "Tristan, do you really think we WANT you to go? Because we don't. We see you as our son, we don't want you to go back to Hartford, but we have just as little power over him as you do. I'm sorry."
Tristan looked away, refusing to let the tears fall that were threatening, "I will NOT do that."
Erika's face softened and her voice was barely a whisper, "I am SO sorry, I know how much you love her."
He shook his head, tears filling his eyes, "I can't."
His uncle put a warm hand on his shoulder, "Tristan, you have to. We're here for you, but she can't be. I wish that there was something we could do, but we can't. You don't understand, we've fought your father for months over where you would live. He wants you home. We're not your legal guardians, meaning he could use that card, but we couldn't, giving him the upper hand."
"No, you don't understand, I CAN'T just break up with Rory. She'd know something was wrong. If I tell her I'm moving, she'd know that I was just doing it because of that and she'd make sure I knew that she was okay with having a boyfriend in a different state. Trust me."
Erika sighed, "Then you just have to do whatever you can to make her believe you don't want to be together any more."
Tristan narrowed his eyes, "What are you talking about?"
"Well, you have to, you know...be..." she trailed off, looking to her husband for support.
He sighed, "Do whatever you have to. Yell at her, lie. Whatever you have to that might make her believe you."
"God I hate him." Tristan whispered, looking away. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you guys tomorrow." he turned to the stairs.
"Tristan!" his aunt called when he was half way up. He stopped, but didn't turn around. She sighed and stayed silent. He kept walking.
WHITLAND, THE NEXT DAY
Rory sat beside Josh at lunch, staring at the place Tristan usually occupied. "What's wrong Ror?" he asked the usually hyper active girl.
She shook her head, "I don't know. Tristan had been avoiding me all day. Have you noticed anything that I've done that might make him mad?"
Josh shook his head, "I don't think you COULD do anything to piss him off. Not you."
"I just. I dunno. He hasn't talked to me all day. He looked at me once, but it was kind of a sad look, like he was apologizing for something."
"Did he do something that he thinks might have pissed you off?"
"Nothing I can think of." she said, shaking her head with a strained look, "I just, I mean, nothing happened that would make him ignore me."
Josh tilted his head, "He didn't come up to your locker this morning, did he?"
"No."
"Okay, that's messed up. He's gone to your locker, like, everyday since you moved here."
"I know. I'm freaking out. Do you think he's okay?"
"I dunno. You should talk to him."
AFTER FOURTH PERIOD
Rory stood at her locker, pulling books out when she looked up to see if she could spot Tristan through the crowded hall. He was walking out of one of the side doors, leading to the back. And a large oak tree. She looked from the hall of her fifth class to the door Tristan had just walked through and gave the two ways a split second of thought before she turned towards the door.
Rory found Tristan leaning against the same oak tree that he'd asked her out under. It had sort of become their 'spot'. If one was upset, they'd come to this place and the other would show up. They were connected in that kind of way. She walked over to him, "Hey." His head shot up, he hadn't expected her. Tristan sat, looking at her in silence. She sighed, "What's wrong?"
He stood up, "Nothing."
"Then why have you been ignoring me all day?"
Tristan looked at her, this was the moment that her opinion of him would change. He was about to throw away the one good thing in his life. The one person he felt capable of loving. His eyes clouded over and his shields went up, the mask he'd had years to perfect. He shook his head, "Don't you know?"
"No."
"Rory, I thought that by ignoring you, you might get the message."
"What message?"
He rolled his eyes, "You can't see it?"
"If I could see it then I wouldn't be here asking you."
"Rory, it's not working."
"What's not working?"
"This. Me and you. I'm tired of waiting for you."
"Okay Tristan, I really don't get what you mean."
"Have you always been this slow and I just never realized it?"
"I don't want to play a guessing game. what the hell are you saying?"
Tristan sighed, "It's over."
Rory looked as if someone had slapped her in the face, "W-what?"
"It's over. I'm dumping you."
She shook her head, "No. No, you said that no matter what you'd always love me and-"
"Forget what I said. Listen to what I'm saying now. I never loved you. And even if I did, like I told you before, love fades. It's not real, only an illusion."
"You're lying."
He laughed bitterly, "Why the hell would I lie about something like this?"
"I don't know. But I do know that you're lying. You were warning me or something. You said that you love me, and if you ever said anything to make me think otherwise then to just ignore it."
"Well, listen to what I'm saying now. I. Do. Not. Love. You. I never did. I didn't get what I wanted and I don't think I will, so it's over."
"How can you tell someone you love them and then the very next day say you don't?"
"Look, Rory, honestly, you were a nice piece of ass. That's all. My best friend's sister. Nothing more."
"But-"
"NO! Rory, no. It's over. Get out of denial. Every one warned you, right? You can't say you didn't get fair warning. Didn't people tell you not to fall for a player? That you'd only get hurt? Well guess what? You fell and I'm NOT about to catch you." even hearing himself say this to her, he couldn't believe it was really him. Tristan felt like shit for doing this to her. She didn't look mad. Just confused and hurt.
"So then what was I?"
"Like I said, a nice piece of ass. A conquest. Nothing."
Rory felt tears push against the back of her eyes, but she closed them, not letting him have the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Deep down inside, she wanted to believe that what he was saying wasn't true, but she couldn't lie to herself. His eyes were void of emotion, giving her no reason not to believe him. "So then every one was right about you?"
"Yes. I played you Rory. I. Played. You."
Her voice was barely above a whisper as she said, "So it was all a game to you?"
"Everything."
"So what now? You know Devin won't want to talk to you."
"Yeah well I don't have to worry about that. I'm moving to Hartford. I'm leaving behind everything. I'm leaving you and forgetting about you completely. But you won't be able to." he leaned in closer. She was looking down. "Everything will be a constant reminder of what you thought we had. All our friends, everything in your room, this school that we ruled together, that necklace around your neck. Everything. Cause see, you won't be able to get away from it, but I can. I'm leaving, and you're stuck behind. Just like with Marco." having said his piece, Tristan stood up and dropped a single rose on her lap, it was dead and dried, blood red and covered in sharp thorns. "A sign of my 'love', Mary. Later." He walked away, Rory hadn't looked at him since he said he was forgetting about her.
He'd practiced what he would say to her, but when it came down to it, he'd had to wing it. And nothing he'd practiced saying had been that cruel. Nothing. He hadn't known he was capable of being that cold to her. His Mary. But not anymore. He'd left her crying. Alone. He felt lower than shit. She'd never done anything to deserve that, but she'd gotten it. Once Tristan was around the wall of the school, out of her view, he looked back, wanting to see her one last time. She was crying silently, running her finger over the dead rose slowly, a thorn cut her finger and she did nothing, just let it bleed. Tristan closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, needing something to support his legs, which were dangerously close to giving out. Tears slid slowly down his cheeks and he pulled out his cell phone, dialing Erika's number.
E: Hello?
T: Erika?
E: Tristan?
T: Can you come get me?
E: Where are you?
T: School.
E: Why do you want me to-
T: I broke up with her. Bad.
E: I'm on my way.
T: Thanks.
E: I'll be there in like, ten minuets.
T: Okay, bye.
E: Bye. And Tristan?
T: Yeah?
E: I really am sorry.
T: I know. Me too.
Rory didn't know how long she sat under that tree. She would have guessed around an hour and a half. Maybe two. But yet, the tears never seemed to stop. She never made any sound, never shook, just silent rivers, running down her fair skin like streams of liquid diamond. Every once in a while, a thorn would pierce her finger, but she never tried to stop the blood flow. She didn't even feel the break in her body. She was numb from all the emotions that had gone through her wracked body. She breathed in deeply. What had she done to deserve that? The thought that he'd never loved her, that he'd played her, made her feel violated. Like she was a whore. Her body began to shake violently from emotion and she leaned over, emptying the contents of her stomach onto the grass.
"Hey, have you seen Rory?" Katie asked Tray, walking up to him at the end of the day.
He shook his head, "Not since lunch. And it was only for a minuet. She was talking to Josh."
"Hm, have you seen Tristan either?"
"Nope. You?"
"No."
"Do you think they went somewhere?"
"No, she would've told us."
"Who's us?"
"Me, Erin, and Natalie. Oh, and Devin."
"Ah."
"Oh, there she is. Ooh, she looks bad."
Tray's head shot up in the direction she was looking, "What's wrong with her? She looks like she's been crying."
"And she's paler than usual." Katie started to walk towards her, but Tray grabbed her arm, holding her back. "What?"
Tray nodded to the younger girl, whose eyes were tearing over, she was talking to Erin, who's mouth was hanging open. Tray shook his head, "Don't overwhelm her. Leave it to Erin and Devin." Katie nodded, even though she wanted to help Rory, she knew it would be best to just let Erin and Devin handle it.
Erin stared at Rory in shock, "He did what?!" she screeched, not believing her ears.
"He-he broke up with me." Rory would have cried, but she doubted that she could afford to lose anymore water.
"How? What did he do?"
Rory looked around at the crowded hall, "I-I'll tell you later. Come home with me today."
"Okay," Erin hugged her friend, who clung tightly to her, "It'll be okay sweetie, don't worry."
HAYDEN'S, THAT AFTERNOON
"And then he handed me a dead rose and walked away." Roy said, sitting on her bed, not looking at Erin. Her friend sat in silence, wondering what had possessed her life long friend to do that to the girl he claimed to love. "Um, I need some water, so-"
"I'll get it," Erin said at once, "You stay here, I'll be right back." She walked slowly down the stairs, stopping and laying her head on the wall behind her. Rory was going to go through hell, she knew that much.
Devin walked up to her, kissing her lightly, "Hey."
She smiled sadly, "Hey."
"What's wrong with Rory?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"No. But Tristan was acting really weird today, did you notice?"
"Yeah, that's because he dumped her."
"HE WHAT?!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" she said, glancing up at Rory's closed door.
"He dumped her. Badly. He made it clear that she'd never meant anything to him and was just a piece of ass. She's really in hell right now."
Devin shook his head and walked towards the foyer, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to figure out what happened."
"I told you. He dumped her."
"I know that. But you know something happened to make him do it."
"Yeah I guess."
"You know he lied about her not meaning anything."
"Yeah, but she doesn't."
"God, she's so blind."
"Yeah, but I think that he was very persistent."
"I never thought he's be able to kill himself like that."
"I never thought he'd do it to Rory's either." Erin said, and Devin nodded, walking out the door.
TRISTAN'S ROOM
There was a knock on the door. Tristan rolled his eyes, he was in the middle of packing, "I said I don't want to talk to you guys!"
The door opened, "Yeah, well I sure as hell want to talk to you." Devin walked in, glaring at Tristan.
The blond sighed and sat on his bed, "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, you better be. But my God Tristan, what the hell happened?"
"I-I had to."
"Okay, why?"
He shook his head and stood up, walking to the window. "I'm moving."
"What?"
"My parents want me to move in with them. I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon."
"Tristan, why didn't you tell me?"
"What was I supposed to say? 'Hey I'm moving, and daddy dearest has commanded me to sever all ties and forget about my life in Boston?' No. I couldn't."
"So that's why you dumped her?"
Tristan turned to face him, "That's all she told you? That I dumped her?"
"No. She didn't tell me anything. Erin just now told me that. And I came to you for the rest."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Yes I could."
Tristan sighed, "I don't want you to hate me, Dev. You've been my best friend for years. And my whole life, you've stood by me, no matter what. But now, with these circumstances, you know what they say, blood is thicker than water."
"I came to hear it from you."
"I was a dick. That's all I can say."
"What did you say?"
"A bunch of shit."
"Like what?"
"Oh, you know, I said I played her, that she was a piece of ass, along those lines."
"And she believed you?"
"Obviously."
"And your father made you do it?"
"Yeah."
"I've gotta say, I never thought you'd have the balls to tear your own heart out and best the shit out of it."
"Yeah, well, things change."
Devin sighed and walked over to Tristan, "Look man, you're my best friend, always will be. And who knows, maybe this is how it was supposed to be."
"Yeah, maybe."
"Well hey, I have to go. Homework and shit, but just so you know, I will miss you, and I know Rory will too, no matter what she says, she loves you. And I will TRY to cope with what happened. But just make sure you don't forget us, aight?"
Tristan smiled and nodded, "Aight."
They hit knuckles slowly and did a brotherly hug. Devin smirked, "It won't be the same without you."
"Of course it won't, I'm the king, remember?"
Devin laughed, "Yeah. You are. Other than me of course."
Tristan smirked, "You wish Hayden, you wish." It was their normal conversation, but it was slower than usual. More dragged out and morbid. Both dreading the end. Devin sighed, "So, I might never see you again, so, you know. Not to get all lovey, but I really will miss you. You've been my best friend since I was six. And that won't change."
Tristan nodded, "Same here. After all, who could take the place of one of us? I mean, it's just not possible."
Devin smiled sadly, "Never has been, never will be." He hit Tristan on the shoulder, "Out."
Tristan nodded, "Out." he put his hand on Devin's shoulder and smiled sadly. His best friend of nine years nodded and turned, walking away, ending a chapter in their lives. Tristan.