"I hate him, I love you!" the words came unbidden to her lips, but caught before she gave them voice.
Why was she doing this? She shouldn't have to beg him to love her. All of this drama; she never asked for it. What was she fighting so hard for, anyways? Rory couldn't remember the last time Dean had kissed her, really kissed her. All she could think of was the fighting; the mistrust. She didn't want this.
"Rory," he said, snapping her from the depths of her murky thoughts. She stared at him in silence and dug her hands deeper into her Chilton Uniform.
"Rory, say something." she stood mute a moment, then,
"Dean please leave." He exhaled sharply, and took an imposing step toward her. She looked at the ground, idly noting the way her breath smoked on the frigid air.
"Tell me you don't love me." he half shouted, "tell me you don't love this--us!" he grasped her by the shoulders and she recoiled.
Tristan took a step toward them, but was stopped in mid step by the sound of Rory's voice.
"I loved what we were, Dean, but not what we are." she looked up at him, tears standing in her clear blue eyes. Dean's shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Fine." he said, trying but failing to match the level of finality in Rory's words. He got into his car and drove off in a spurt of engine smog.
Rory stood alone, looking forlornly at the exit of the school, and the truck disappearing around a corner.
Tristan hesitantly came up from behind her.
"You okay, Mary?" he asked tentatively. She turned and fixed him with a herd stare. Her eyes changed instantly from a soft azure to a cold blue ice.
"Not. Now." she growled. With that she turned on her heel and left, leaving a very baffled Tristan DuGrey standing alone in the November cold.