Thank you for all the reviews, you guys are great. Sorry about the wait, it's the end of the school year and you know how that goes.

Thanks to Lourenda, my beta.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"How was your weekend, Rory?" Darla asked as she and her sister arrived at the camp Monday morning.

Rory smiled brightly remembering the events that had taken place, "It was very good. What about you?"

"Her smile is like a mile wide…My guess is she spent some quality time with Tristan." Casey stage whispered to Nikki, who laughed and nodded in agreement.

Rory sent the two girls a reprimanding look then turned her attention back to the twins, "Did you guys do anything fun?"

"We went to a carnival!" Danielle told her happily.

"There were clowns, I hate clowns." Darla continued with a slight shudder.

"Me too." Rory agreed. "So, you all went and got your schedules for the week right?"

"Rory, we've been here for almost two months. We have two weeks left I'm pretty sure we all remembered to get our schedules." Shelby told her.

"Just making sure."

The girls began to talk amongst themselves while they waited for the bell to ring signaling the beginning of the day. Tristan caught Rory's eye and she waved over to him and all he did was nod. Shrugging it off as him just being busy with his campers she turned back to her campers and began to talk about some movie that had just come out.

-------------------------------------------

It was already lunch time and Rory had noticed a serious change in Tristan, he hadn't even given her a kiss. He'd always given her a hello kiss, for the last month he'd greeted her everyday with a kiss regardless of who was around, but today he hadn't. She'd asked him if he was feeling well and responded with a simple, 'I'm fine.' Then she questioned if something was wrong in his family or with his friends and again he replied, 'Everything is fine.'

She was standing in the office talking to another counselor when Tristan walked up to her, "Do you want to go get lunch?"

Rory smiled brightly at him, maybe he was just having a bad morning, "Of course." She smiled grabbing her purse as they walked out to his car. She tried grabbing his hand, but he quickly let it drop and began to distract himself by looking through his pockets for his keys.

"So…How was your day yesterday?" Rory asked hating the awkward silence that had settled over them. She had never experienced an awkward silence like this with him, one of them always knew a way to break the ice, but Rory didn't know what his problem was. She was afraid to say anything, she didn't want him to react badly.

"Fine."

"Do you know any other adjectives?'

"It was good, ok, alright, swell…Do you need me to continue or do you get the picture?"

"You know what, I think I'll just get lunch in the mess hall." She told him quietly before turning around and walking away.

Tristan watched her walk away and as soon as he was sure she had made it back to the camp office he got into his car and left. He couldn't be there any longer or he'd run after her, he'd take her in his arms. And they'd fall back into their old routine of never being apart.

From the instant he'd walked into the camp he'd wanted to hug her, kiss her, touch her, but he knew if he did that he'd continue to be around her constantly. There was something that prevented him from doing that. Some nagging feeling.

The look of hurt on her face when he'd dropped her hand, the way she'd been trying so hard to get him to talk to her during their activities was killing him. He felt as if he wasn't able to find a median with her. Being with her all the time was wonderful and he loved every second of it, he didn't know how to pull back because when it came to Rory he was powerless.

He pulled into a nearby corner store and killed the engine, he had twenty minutes before he had to be back and there was no way he was going sooner than he had to.

-------------------------------------------

"What's wrong?" Rory heard a little voice ask. She had decided she wasn't hungry and was sitting outside the mess hall under a tree, thinking. She turned her head and spotted Kiah.

"Nothing."

"That's not true." Kiah told her confidently, "Uncle Finn said no one likes to be alone unless they are sad."

"Your Uncle Finn just likes to be the center of attention."

Kiah sat under the tree next to Rory, "So…What is making you sad?"

"You are persistent, aren't you?" Rory smiled, it was obviously a family trait.

"Persistent?"

"You keep trying."

"Oh…Yes I am."

"I'm not upset, just confused."

"About what?"

"Boys."

"Tristan!" Kiah exclaimed brightly, she had developed an attachment to him over the summer. Partly because he probably reminded her somewhat of Logan .

"Yes Tristan."

"Did he hurt you?"

"A little bit." Rory told her honestly, why was it that talking to a seven year old who would forget about the conversation in ten minutes was so much easier to talk to? She finally understood why Uncle Jesse was always talking to Michelle.

"Where's the boo boo?" Kiah questioned glancing over at Rory to find a cut or something.

Rory smiled sadly at her, it made her sad to realize that eventually that innocent outlook on the world would be destroyed by experience and judging by Kiah's ranking in society and pretty face, she'd probably experience it much sooner than she should. "It's not a real boo-boo…He hurt my feelings a little."

Kiah stared at her for a moment before offering a smile, "He probably had a tummy ache…I always get grouchy when I have a tummy ache. I hurted my kangaroo Rusty's feelings."

Not having the heart to shut down the little girls advice, Rory nodded, "That's probably exactly what it is."

The bell rang and Tristan's car pulling into the parking lot caught her eye, he got out and noticeably slammed the door shut much harder than he ever would under normal circumstances allow the door on his precious cars be shut.

"What class do you have next?"

"Water games…Then I have painting with you!"

"The I'll see you there…What kind of paints do you want to do?"

"Window paints!"

"It can be arranged. Now you go get over to Sammie at water games before she worries."

"Ok. Bye Rory!" Kiah said as she began to run over to where Sammie and was by the pond.

"See you later." Rory called after her and began walking towards the arts and crafts area. On her walk over she decided she was just going to let Tristan have his space, as odd as it sounded Kiah was probably right. He was probably having a bad day or didn't feel well and she didn't want to pester him.

-------------------------------------------

"I want to paint on that." Kiah told Tristan as she pointed towards the window with a tube of bright pink window paint.

"Not today."

"Why not?"

"Just because…There are lots of other kinds, use those." Tristan said shortly before turning away and effectively ending his conversation with the little girl.

Crossing her arms in a huff Kiah walked over to Rory, "Can I window paint?"

"Sure."

"Tristan said I couldn't."

"Well…I say you can. We don't need that window for anything."

"Thanks!" Kiah said brightly and walked over to Darla and Danielle who had been patiently waiting to get approval to window paint.

"Trouble in paradise already?" A voice from behind Rory said.

"Casey, do you ever mind your own business."

"Not usually."

"You should try, I bet it'll be super fun."

"I'm overly observant. It's a curse."

"Yeah, ok."

"So seriously you and Tristan are already fighting?"

"We aren't fighting."

"You appear to be fighting."

"Ever heard the expression 'things aren't always what they appear to be'?"

"That's so cliché."

"For a reason."

"Well…I think things are exactly the way they are appear."

"Whys that?"

"Well for the simple fact Tristan just caught Darla, Kiah and Danielle window painting and looks pretty pissed off." Casey said pointing to the scene in the corner of the art room.

"Language." Rory warned getting up and walking over to Tristan and the girls, "Is there a problem here?"

"Yeah, I told them no window painting."

"I said they could."

"After I had already told them they couldn't."

"I didn't see a reason why you had said no."

Trying to keep his anger in check, he gently pulled her outside of the art room. "What the hell do you think your doing?" He whispered harshly.

"You are seriously going to freak out about window paint."

"That stuff is hard to clean up and I can't sit around here cleaning it for an extra hour with…" Tristan ranted before he stopped himself.

"With me?" Rory finished eyes widening.

"That's not what I was going to say."

"That's a lie, Tristan. I don't know what your issue suddenly is, but I have not done anything to make you mad at me! We had an amazing weekend, one of the best ones I've had and all of a sudden you are acting like the biggest jerk in the world."

"I'm sorry."

"I don't want you to be sorry, I want to know why you are acting this way."

"I don't have an explanation," Lie number one. "I guess I need some alone time." Lie number two. "We spend all this time together and I guess I just think we need to spend some time apart." Lie number three.

"Oh…" Rory mumbled, hurt, "I didn't realize I was crowding you."

"It's not like that." Tristan said as he attempted to pull her towards him, but she quickly shook off his grasp. "Ror-"

"No, I'm going to give you your space. That's what you want." She told him backing away from him.

"Don't do that." He told her, "I didn't mean I didn't want to be with you at all. Just not all the time."

"Well…We've been together for the last four and a half hours. I think your Rory quota is full for the day. Oh...I'll clean the window paint alone because apparently being with me is too big of a burden."

Tristan watched her walk into the arts and crafts room, 'Fuck' he mumbled under his breath. He felt horrible, he couldn't believe he was treating her this way. She deserved better than that, much better. He was breaking his own rule.

He had promised himself he'd never treat her like he treated the girls he'd 'dated' if that's what you could even call it from his past, but here he was wanting the perks of a physical relationship while trying to get rid of the emotional part. He ran his hand through his hair before walking defeated towards the door Rory had just walked through previously.

-------------------------------------------

Rory had gotten out of the camp as fast as she could. She had told Wendy she was feeling sick so she didn't have to stay for the staff meeting. She couldn't be with Tristan any longer, why didn't he want to be with her anymore?

Lorelai and Luke had gone out for the night and Rory had the house to herself. Deciding she didn't want to be alone right now, that she needed something to keep her mind off of Tristan so she called the people she knew would love to spend time with her.

"Huntzberger."

"Hey, Logan ." Rory said half heartedly.

"Ace what's the matter?"

"I need some fun."

"You called the right guy."

"I know."

"How about you meet us up here and we'll go out then you can tell me why you need some fun."

"Ok."

"Are you bringing Sammie?"

"I thought that you two decided to just be friends, there wasn't any chemistry."

"There wasn't but we're still friends."

"No, she's not coming. It's just me."

"Alright, see you soon?"

"About an hour."

"I'll call the troops."

"Ok."

"Ror?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be ok."

Rory smiled at his words, she knew he didn't know the problem or if that was true but the intention of the words was in the right place. "Thanks. I'll see you soon."

"Bye."

Deep in the back of her mind she knew going out to Hartford to party with her friends was not the best idea she could have - considering she had to work the next morning, but at the moment she didn't care. She needed to forget that the day had happened at all.

-------------------------------------------

"I no longer want to be related to you."

"Now that's a bit harsh."

"You treated that poor girl horribly!"

"I know."

"She is practically in love with you. You are practically in love with her and you go and screw it up."

"It was your boyfriend's idea!"

"Why would you listen to Eric?"

"It seemed like a good idea."

"Eric may be a good guy but he's had a total of one relationship…Me! He's just as clueless as you are. If you needed to talk, you should have talked to me."

"Don't you think that it's weird that I talk to my baby sister about my relationship problems?"

"Who else are you going to talk to? I think you've already proved your friends give terrible advice."

"Bree, I don't know what to do."

"Build a time machine, go back in time and not act like an ass?"

"I'll get right on that."

"I think you've done enough."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, wait till she's not so pissed off at you then apologize."

"The longer I wait the more angry she'll get."

"No, if you apologize while she's still completely pissed you are just going to say the wrong thing and upset her more."

"Why are girls so fucking confusing?"

"Why are guys such complete idiots?"

"I asked you first!" Tristan pouted.

"Loser." Breelynn mumbled as she looked at her pathetic looking brother. "Lets go get some dinner."

"Where?"

"I don't know…We'll figure it out when we get there."

-------------------------------------------

"The gangs back together again!" Rosemary giggled.

"Two hours. Rory's been here two hours and they are already completely plastered."

"For some reason when they are all together they drink, I don't get it."

"Me either. I know Rory is upset." Logan added.

"I know Rory has to work tomorrow and is going to have a hell of a time waking up to do so." Finn laughed.

"Let her let loose a little, she obviously needs it."

" Logan !" Rory said in a sing song voice sitting next to him. "I think I'm drunk," she whispered.

"I think you are too."

"What would Tristan say about this?" Rory questioned.

"I don't know, Ace." Logan smirked, half amused by the situation and half hoping to get some information from her drunken babbling, "What would he say?"

"He'd be all shocked that I drink this way, the Mary shouldn't drink that way." She rambled, "All I am to him is the Mary. He finally banged the Mary and now I'm crowding him, but he doesn't want to not spend time with me…Just not a lot of time. Probably just enough for a quickie behind the equipment shed. Well you know what…I'm not a quickie! I'm a time girl…Right Logan!?"

"Right…"

"I should be spent time with. He just doesn't wanna. He doesn't love me…He doesn't like me. I love him…I think. I might just really like him. Doesn't matter. I'm just a toy. A toy he likes to play with."

"I don't think that's true." Logan tried to placate.

"It is." Rory said nodding. "Let's dance!"

"Dance? You can probably barely stand."

"You'll hold me up, won't you?"

"But I won't hold your hair back."

"Why would you do that?"

"You'll see."

"I wanna dance!" Rory pouted, "Finn and Colin are dancing with Rose and Steph…Dance with me!"

"Fine." Logan surrendered and stood up offering his hand to a surprisingly balanced Rory.

"It's a slow song…I like slow songs."

Logan smiled and placed his hands on her waist, she was so drunk and she was so hurt. He'd have to have a chat with Tristan soon about this.

"It's nine o'clock and people are already loud and drunk." Tristan observed as they walked into the restaurant.

"It's a bar as well as a restaurant." Breelynn reminded him.

"The cars out there looked familiar."

"A bunch of expensive sports cars and escalades…Shocking to see that in Hartford ."

"That's not what I meant."

"Whatever…Get me a drink from the bar."

"You're not old enough."

"And you are keeping me from hanging out with Eric tonight, you owe me."

"Fine." Tristan agreed as he walked over to the bar and ordered their drinks. While he waited he looked around and his attention was directed towards the dance floor where a blonde guy and a girl that looked exactly like his girlfriend were dancing.

He sighed and walked back to the table where his sister sat. He wanted more than anything to be mad, to go over and punch Logan telling him that Rory was his, but he knew he had no right to. It was him who had pushed her away, it was his fault she was in Logan's arms dancing and not his own.

"Are you ok?" Breelynn asked when he returned. The color in his face had fated and he looked as if he was going to be sick.

"Can we go?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm not hungry."

"Liar. What's wrong."

"She's here." He said nodding in the direction of the dance floor. "She's here with her other friends. She's in Logan Huntzberger's arms dancing and I can't do a damn thing about it."

"You're still together aren't you?"

Were they still together? She hadn't officially ended it and he sure as hell didn't, but her coldness towards him, the hurt in her eyes when he had pretty much called her clingy was enough to say that if they weren't over yet it was only a matter of time before they were. Sighing he threw some money on the table to pay for the food they had already ordered, "I don't know."