The Swiss Army Romance

Chapter 2: If You Can't Leave It Be, Might As Well Make It Bleed

Across the campground, Tristan Dugrey was sitting awake in the dark in his lonely cabin. He slowly took a drink of his drink, looking up at the ceiling. He anticipated the drink's effects anxiously. He needed to escape this for a moment. He was aware that he was bitter, but he wasn't quite sure why.

His history with Logan was complicated, and it had just become even more messy. He hadn't ever expected to see Rory again. Seeing her was hard. She didn't have an idea that she'd become his world for a while there. She didn't have an idea that at one point, she was his image of a perfect girl. She definitely didn't have an idea that at one time, he had considered her the love of his life.

Of course, all his thoughts of Rory hadn't prevented him from being with other girls, but it had made him see them as lesser. He compared every new conquest to Rory, the girl he could never conquer. He dated girls that were smart, quirky, and dark-haired like she was, but

Maybe what hurt most was that his way of getting over Rory had fallen apart in front of him. For years he'd simply told himself, "She'd never go for a guy like me," until now. Until he'd realized she was dating a guy that might as well have been him. A guy who came from money, with slight arrogance, with a player background.

He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help but think that it should have been him. Even if he didn't fully deserve her, he wanted to believe that if they'd happened, he wouldn't have messed it up. He would have been there for her.

Finding a burst of energy, Tristan sat down his drink and grabbed his pack of cigarettes. He'd enjoy one on the porch, looking at the scenery, and then maybe he'd be able to sleep, he reasoned.

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Rory was also sitting up in bed. Beside her, Logan was dozing.

She sighed and leaned her head against the headboard. She felt bad for Logan and the Naomi situation. She wanted to believe Tristan was a better guy than that, but history proved otherwise. Even though it was a long time ago, Logan obviously wasn't over it. She wanted to catch up with Tristan. Even though they weren't best friends back in that day, she'd always felt a certain connection to him. She had sometimes wondered if something would have happened between them if he hadn't left.

She tried to go to sleep, but she just couldn't do it.

She cast a look over Logan, who was sound asleep, and got up. She decided that maybe a walk would help her clear her mind. Plus, it was snowing outside. She'd gotten a love for snow from Lorelei, and taking a walk alone at night with snow falling sounded to majestical to pass up. She buttoned up her black pea coat, took one last look at Logan, and slipped out the door.

The place was even more beautiful at night. The stars reflected on the snow, causing a beautiful effect of just enough light to see. Rory buried her hands in her pockets and began to casually walk around.

She didn't go to near to the cabins, afraid of waking or scaring somebody. Instead she walked the paths around the middle grounds, thinking to herself about how her life had come to this point.

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He was startled when he saw her. His cabin, since it was a single-person one, was in a row right near the middle grounds. In a odd way, she seemed like an angel in the snow like that. He smiled at the sight.

She didn't come near enough that she could have heard him call to her, so, after a moment of hesitation, he walked up to her himself. This might be the only chance they could talk without Logan on her arm, trying to keep them from speaking.

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She was shocked when she saw him coming towards her.

"Hey," he said, in a whisper. He wasn't shy, he looked directly into her eyes.

"Hey," she said, her face forming an uncertain frown.

"So, that was an interesting dinner," he said, looking to the side, a smile coming to his face.

She snapped, "Why didn't you tell me that you guys hated each other?"

"We were having a nice conversation. I thought I'd drop that bomb after we'd had a chance to get through pleasantries." He said, sighing.

"You really had a lot of nerve coming here." She said, folding her arms. She felt protective of Logan, even when he was failing her.

"I was invited," he said simply.

"But why would you come after what happened?"

"He told you about that?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. He was surprised. He thought he must've undestimated Logan. It would take a big person to be able to tell that to his girlfriend.

"Yeah," she said.

"Wow," Tristan said, scratching his head. Maybe that was why she was out wandering by herself. He wouldn't want to be sleeping in the same room with a guy like that either.

A moment passed between them, and they both came to the realization that they weren't on the same track.

"What exactly did he tell you?" Tristan asked, raising his eyebrows. "Because the true story shouldn't have you giving be death glares."

"He wouldn't lie to me," Rory said automatically, though she instantly began to doubt herself after she said it.

"He has more reason to try to keep you in his good graces than I do." Tristan said wisely.

She realized this was true, and informed him.

Tristan just shook his head. "That unbelievable prick."

Rory looked into his eyes, trying to discern if he was lying to her. "What?"

"Listen, this isn't exactly the type of story you tell out in the open. How about you come back to my cabin, i'll brew up some coffee and share."

At first she thought that she should resist. She hadn't meant for this to happen, but if Logan was to find out, he would be very mad, and she wouldn't even be able to blame him. Her sneaking off to see another guy wouldn't look good in the best of situations, and this was definately far from that.

Rory nodded reluctantly and followed him.

He turned around and smiled at her, "by the way, don't even think of propositioning me. It would be wrong."

He winked, she groaned, and they walked back to his cabin.

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