Title: Lies

Summary: Rory meets Tristan again at a party. They really hit it off. But what is Tristan hiding from her?

Disclaimer: I own two gorgeous pictures of Chad, a copy of the Cinderella Story and some downloaded episodes of GG and OTH. Does this mean I own Chad?

A/N: there's no excuse, I know, I haven't updated in forever. Thing is, I've been having trouble with my wrist (deterioration) and well basically it just sucks because I can't type for a long time. Plus I've been on the couch for about three months, something to do with my ankle. And no, I didn't have a laptop. Sigh. Well, that actually IS an excuse. Anyway I'm back now and today is all about the updates so please review!

Another day, another party. Rory was once again checking herself over in the mirror. Her heart was fluttering in her chest every time she thought of Tristan. She secretly hoped he would be there. Without Layla, preferably. Ever since that day at the coffeeshop, more precisely that kiss at the coffeeshop, she had been wanting to see him. To hold him. To kiss him even.

Anger flared up inside of her every time she thought of Layla. How could she? Tristan was such a gentle man. Honest. Trustworthy. He was everything anyone could ever want. Everything she ever wanted anyway.

She applied lipstick, a darker shade than she normally did. She felt a little daring today. Maybe she would even take the first step and walk over to him. She knew it was wrong to be in love with a married man, to dream and think about sweet kisses, but she couldn't help herself. It was not like Layla would care if Tristan cheated...they were going to get divorced eventually anyway. They were only together for the money, and as soon as Layla's father would be at ease and not pull back his finances the road was all open for them.

"Sweets? Would you like me to drive you to the party?"

"No need mom"

Rory smiled at her reflection in the mirror and sprayed on a little perfume.

"I've already arranged a ride. A friend of mine is going to pick me up."

Secretly she hoped Tristan would be jealous when she arrived with Graham. He was just a friend of her, a colleague, who belonged to the same circle as she did. Part of her wanted Tristan to be angry with her for showing up with another man. She hoped he would grab her arm, pull her away from Graham and never let go again. She sighed. Tristan was still a married man. No matter how she tried to put it he did belong to someone. And it wasn't her.

"Mary...you look lovely"

His voice sounded polite. Just polite. She nodded at him, not showing her inner turmoil. Her insides had started squirming the second she had laid eyes on Layla. Tristan and his wife had walked over to her, greeting her and her escort courteously. Layla had smiled, offering Graham one hand while the other rested on Tristans' arm. Rory bit her lip when Tristan kissed her hand and ignored the urge to pull away.

"I'm going to say hello to my grandmother, will you excuse me?"

Graham nodded, already too engrossed in Layla to bother coming with Rory. Tristan wanted to follow her, but something in her posture made him think twice.

A few hours later Rory was standing outside. She loved being out here on her own for a while, just smelling the roses and enjoying the peace. Where Graham was, she didn't know. Last she had seen him he was still talking to Layla. It was not like she cared.

"Tris? I'm going home...I've got a splitting headache..."

Layla smiled apologetically at him. Tristan wrapped his arms around his wife.

"Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to come with?"

"No...I'll be alright"

Layla gave him a quick kiss.

"Graham is going to drive me home. He practically lives next door. You go enjoy yourself. You deserve it"

He smiled, kissing Layla once more.

"See you later then sweetheart...goodnight."

"Hey"

He greeted her.

"Hello"

She turned around to face him. Immediately her heart started beating faster. Why did he look so down? Had Layla done something? Her promise to herself – that she would stay away from Tristan because he still was a married man – vanished like smoke.

"Are you alright? What did she do?"

Tristan sighed, ruffling through his hair.

"She left with that friend of yours. Graham?"

Rory's eyes widened in surprise.

"She did? The nerve!"

Suddenly Tristan was very close to her. So close she felt butterflies racing in her stomach and her skin just heated up because of his presence. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Can we go somewhere else? I really need to talk..."

"We can go to my place. My mother and Luke are out all night."

Half an hour later they were standing on the porch. Rory was fumbling with her dress, watching him awkwardly. He had just kissed her. And she had let him. And the worst of all was it wasn't some kiss you could share under thank you. It was passion, lust, tongues duelling for control. It was breathtaking and mindnumbing and earthshattering all at once.

"I don't know what you're expecting of me"

Tristans' hand trembled as he brought it up to her cheek. He was panting.

"I'm not expecting anything of you"

He said hoarsely. She shivered. He stepped even closer.

"I just...really...would like to..."

He never got to finish his sentence. As he dipped his head, his lips trying to both speak a coherent sentence and kiss her at the same time, she kissed him back. Furiously. She threw her arms around his neck, stumbling backwards until somehow, at one point in their make-out session, they had landed on her bed.

She had had sex before. Once, to be exact. She wasn't exactly proud of that. Dean had been married to Lindsay. For one second she felt disgusted with herself. She was about to repeat that same mistake! Then she relaxed. No. This wasn't a mistake. She loved Tristan. And he loved her. He would divorce his wife. She wasn't the other woman. This was nothing like it had been with Dean!

Review please!