**Part 3**
"Not bad Rory…" Tristan came into the classroom in an effortless stride. Rory, who was in her nine hundred, seventeenth word of her essay looked up venomously. Tristan met her eyes, fire with fire, liking what he saw. He had stood out in the hallway until he saw Professor McKenzie leave the room, in front of Rory, he dug into his blazer pocket and handed Rory back her book, "You dared, so I took… I must admit though, I wasn't expecting you to match so well…"
"Mr. McKenzie will be back soon" Rory tried to ignore him hoping he would just disappear.
"Then we should hurry" Tristan whispered leaning down on her desk.
"What are you, seven?"
"…but with the motor skills of 11… and the sexual prowess of… well, it would be much more interesting if you found out for yourself."
Rory's day had not gone well. Her patience was paper thin… and as sexy as this guy was… she was not in the mood for any of this,
"Piss off Tristan"
"Off where?"
"That window for all I care…" Rory hadn't really followed the conversation there, but she was hoping to end it with that.
"You don't think I would do it do you?
"I don't think much of you at all…"
"Is that a dare, Rory?"
"Yes" Rory rolled her eyes not really paying attention, "a dare!"
"Cool…" Tristan walked away from Rory who sighed relieved, "you're on"
Out in the hallway, Louise stopped in her tracks when she spotted what looked like Tristan going for his fly as he walked away to the open window in the corner away from her.
"Oh my…" Louise breathed out. It could have been her overzealous imagination, but she swore she was getting a peek at a very impressive silhouette.
"Mr. Dugray! What do you think you are doing?!"
"See ya…" Louise disappeared regretting not having have gotten a better look, but she had gossip to spread and she couldn't do that if she was in detention too.
"Mr. Dugray, explain yourself!"
Rory didn't know what was going on… she didn't want to know what was going on, she just tried to ignore the ruckus while she scribbled away… nine hundred seventy-eight… nine hundred seventy-nine…
"I was thinking that the bushes could use some watering"
"Is this how it is going to be Tristan… You are going to, literally, piss your life away?"
Rory's head snapped up wide-eyed. A chuckle escaped her lips.
The teacher noticed, "I don't suppose you had something to do with this?!"
"Umm…what? No… No!"
"Are you done with your essay?"
She was
"I am." Rory held out her paper.
"Go then," Professor McKenzie ran his hand through his thinning hair, "Take this one with you. School's over… he's society's problem now."
Tristan grabbed her book back from her desk pocketing it with a wink as he walked to the door holding it open for her,
"Shall we?"
Rory grabbed her big yellow book bag and walked out not bothering to wait for Tristan who watched her leave, turned to see Professor McKenzie's tired face, and then followed her out staying a step behind her. They silently made their way to the stairway until Rory's curiosity got the better of her,
"Did you really… you know, water the bushes?"
"You dared" Tristan answered simply, not even bothering to slow his pace. Rory had to widen her next couple of steps to ask her next question making Tristan smile.
"Is everything a game to you?"
"Just the parts worth playing…"
"So if I dared you to leave me alone?"
"Nopes… Sorry… I am two to your one… The next dare is mine"
"You can't be serious" Rory furrowed her brow but kept on walking.
"You make it what it is…" Tristan shrugged his shoulders blameless, "but games have rules. Rory"
Rory had to admit, as much as this guy had gotten on her nerves, he had peaked her interest, "and if I don't want to play?"
"Everybody wants to play. It's the point when you decide to quit playing that says worlds about you as a person though.
Rory let those words sink into her head… He sort of almost made sense…
"So when do you quit?"
"When the value of me not playing exceeds the value of the game" Tristan leaned on the wall half blocking her path.
"You mean when someone makes it worth your while" Rory clarified as she pushed Tristan to start walking down the steps,
"Something like that"
"Okay then," Rory's face brimmed with determination, "What's my dare?"
Tristan stopped in his tracks to see Rory facing him in challenge; she stood a couple of steps below a window, the light cast an angelic-looking halo all around her. Tristan smiled mischievously,
"You see that window behind you?... Moon it"
"What?! You're nuts!"
"That's the dare… take it or leave"
"Leave it!" Rory did not give the option a second thought.
"So be it…" Tristan put his hands in his pockets and continued walking downstairs. Rory looked on,
"Don't I get another dare?"
"Nopes…" Tristan called out loudly, "you only get the one..."
Rory pressed her lips together thoughtfully as she heard the doors slam shut.
**End of Part 3**
A/N - What do you think so far? Please Review and let me know!