Chapter 7: Something tells me there's a storm brewing

Wednesday 3:30 am

She cringed as she pushed the bedroom door open, praying that it didn't make any noise and wake somebody up. She slipped into the room, and closed the door slowly, jumping when she herd the click.

'If you're a burglar, I must tell you that my neighbors are shopping addicts and have things much more valuable then anything you'll find in here.'

Gasping, Rory spun around and found Tristan in bed, holding himself up on his elbows.

'You're awake.'

'Seriously? I thought I was sleeping quite peacefully.'

'I'm not addicted to shopping.'

'I beg to differ.'

'You're lights were off.'

'I was attempting sleep.'

'Yea me to.'

'And?'

'I'm at home knocked out as we speak.'

They both remained silent for a long while. Rory shifting from foot to foot, her arms crossed under her chest. Tristan finally sighed, then threw his blanket back and sat on the edge of his bed.

'Why are you here Rory?'

'I thought we just discussed that.'

'Ror.'

She sighed, walked over to his bed and sat down next to him.

'I've been in bed since like seven thirty, and am unable to fall asleep.'

'So you came here because?'

'I spent the first hour of that time humming Lovefool! You know how much I hate that song!'

He smirked, but remained silent.

'Do you want me to go Tristan? Because if you do I'll go, no problem.'

'You know I don't. But you can't tell me that you don't want to be friends anymore, and then a few hours later come sneaking into my room, expecting everything to be ok.'

'Oh come on you and I both know I didn't mean that.'

'Do we?'

'Ok fine I did mean it at the time, but it just came out and I couldn't take it back.'

'Why not? Do you know how much hearing that hurt me?'

He stood up and moved a few feet away form her.

'Yes! I'm sorry.'

'It's not as easy as that.'

'Why, because you want to teach me some lesson? I can't just pick and choose when I want to be friends with you? News flash I know that, and that's not what this is. I'm sorry, so stop being pig headed and forgive me, the way I've forgiven you.'

He pouted and crossed his arms over his chest.

'You don't know me.'

Rory laughed and took hold of his arm. She pulled him back toward the bed.

'Of course I don't, now come on lets go to sleep.'

She laid down and pulled the blankets up around her, Tristan laid down beside her and did the same. Rory smiled and rolled onto her side to face him. He turned his head to look at her and smiled.

'I really am sorry.'

Rory nodded then rolled back onto her back.

'Me to.'

She picked up his hand and measured it against hers. They both lay quiet for a minute, then Rory entwined her fingers with his and moved as close to his as possible. She leaned her head on his shoulder and laid her arm across his stomach. Tristan shifted, she instinctively lifted her head and waited until his arm moved beneath it to lay back down. He rubbed her shoulder unconsciously as she closed her eyes.

'Promise me something?'

She said sleepily.

'Hmm?

He asked in a daze.

'No more fighting and we'll always be friends. I can't handle anything else changing.'

Tristan ran his free hand over his face.

'Tris?'

He sighed and gave a small nod.

'Yea I promise.'

She smiled.

'Love ya.'

'I love you to.'

He felt her body relax as she drifted off to sleep. He sighed again.

'Well there goes that.'

With that last thought he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Chilton Prep. 7:45 am

Rory and Tristan were walking down the hall way talking about some assignment that they had missed the week before, when another body collided with Rory's. The girl began to apologize then abruptly stopped. Rory looked at the red headed girl before her and her face hardened. The girl let out a short breath and dropped her hands to her side.

'Sorry.'

Rory rolled her eyes and started to speak when Tristan grabbed her arm.

'Rory don't. Just let it go.'

She looked at him, daggers shooting from her eyes. She bit her bottom lip and pushed passed the girl, almost knocking her over. Tristan stayed behind and watched her go.

'Well she's pissed.'

He looked to the girl in front of him, she stood with her eyes closed and her arms wrapped around her body. He put his hand on her shoulder and shook her softly, she opened one eye and he smirked.

'You ok kid?'

She opened the other eye and looked at him as if he were crazy.

'Dude you got a death wish or something?'

'Meaning?'

'In case you didn't notice, you're perfect little princess just walked away. If you value you're life in any way, you'd better follow her.'

'I like to take risks.'

'Well leave me out of you're little game.'

She started to move past him when he grabbed her shoulder to stop her. Tristan bent his knees, so that they were the same height.

'I'm starting to feel like you don't want to be seen with me.'

'And people call you dumb!'

He stood up and laughed.

'What am I bad for you're rep or something?'

'Exactly, now move.'

'Dude come on.'

'Don't call me dude.'

'But you just! OK I'm sorry. Anna, will you please take five minutes out of you're hectic schedule to talk to a friend?'

She gave a thoughtful pause then looked him in the eyes, shook her head and then said with a sad voice.

'We're not friends. Remember?'

Tristan leaned his head back and sighed. Anna walked by him without pausing to look back.

He set off in the direction Rory had previously went in. As he turned the corner to the hallway in which their lockers were, he was instantly met with two pairs of eyes. One set red with anger, and the other clouded with worry. He stopped next to Madeline and rolled his eyes.

'What now?'

Rory stared at him with a blank expression, then closed her locker and walked away, knowing that he wouldn't be dumb enough to go after her.

'What did you do Tristan?'

'Nothing!'

He feigned innocence.

'Yea right. Spill! Before I go get Finn and have him make you tell me.'

'Oh sweetie I am so not afraid of Finn.'

'Then I'll call Paris!'

Tristan laughed then leaned against Rory's locker.

'We were walking down the hall and her and Anna ran into each other …. Literally.'

'Oh no.'

'Exactly. I told her to just let it go, and she walked away.'

'And that's why she's mad?'

'Well as you were able to see … I arrived a bit later then Rory did.'

'Tristan!'

'What?'

He gave her another innocent look.

'Why are you intentionally pushing her away?'

'What?'

He stood straight and stuffed his hands deep into his pockets, honestly confused.

'First Cooper, now Anna of all people! What's you're deal?'

'Nothing! I just wanted to see how she was doing!'

Madeline stayed quiet, trying to figure out if he was telling the truth or not, after a minute she gave up and sighed.

'And?'

'And what?'

She leaned forward and whispered.

'How is she doing?'

He sighed and his shoulders fell.

'I don't know. She wouldn't talk to me. She said that we're not friends, and then walked away.'

Madeline's shoulders fell to as she sighed.

'Come on let's get to class.'

Tristan nodded and they both walked off in different directions.

Chilton Library 12:05 pm

She had rushed out of their Math class before he was given the chance to attempt conversation with her for the third time that day. It took him a minute to catch up with her, but there she was sitting in the computer section of the library. She wouldn't talk to him if he just walked up to her, that he knew for sure. He needed to find some way to get her attention. There was a free computer a few feet away from him, so he sat down and did the only thing he could think of. With a few clicks and key strokes he was signed on to his instant messenger. Excitement filled him as he saw that she was online, smiling he clicked on her screen name and began typing.

TAD21: Hey

LadyRed: Who's this?

TAD21: Wow forgot me already? I'm heart broken.

LadyRed: Tristan?

TAD21: depends … r u gonna block me if I say yes?

LadyRed: wtF is with u?

TAD21: uhh?

LadyRed: Well let's see … if ur bestest little girlfriend found out u were talking to me she would more then likely kill you yet I seem to be ur favorite person 2 play stalkerottsi with today

TAD21: Nice choice of words there…..

LadyRed: is this why you messaged me? Damn you guy's are really going out of you're way now 4 a person u claim 2 hate

TAD21: sry … it was reflex … And who the hell said that I hated you?

LadyRed: nvm 4 get it, what do you want?

TAD21: How ya doin?

LadyRed: How do u think im doing?!

TAD21: Anna I'm sorry….

LadyRed: Yea well ….

TAD21: doesn't mean much huh?

LadyRed: ……..

TAD21: I understand …. I haven't given u any reason to believe me

LadyRed: …………

TAD21: Ann come on kid

LadyRed: You chose ur side Tristan

TAD21: She's my best friend!

LadyRed: so was i!

LadyRed: or at least I thought I was ….

TAD21: u r … but it's different you know that

LadyRed: u cant have it both ways now … if it helps … I think u made the right choice

TAD21: there was no right choice! Right would be there never having to be a choice and Chris still being here!

TAD21: but no matter what uve still always been one of my best friends and we all miss u

Error: LadyRed has signed off

He looked over the computer screen and saw that she was gone. Tristan looked around the library and there was no trace of her, sighing he signed out and left the library. He headed in the direction of the cafeteria where he knew he would find his friends most likely sitting at separate tables, seeing as how Paris and Rory were still at odds.

Rory had forgiven him sometime during second period, she had given Finn a note that was to be given to him right in the middle of class, thus increasing the risk of them getting caught passing said note. The reason that he knew this was because she had written just so.

Hey Neighbor boy,

Just wanted to tell you that you're a jerk, but I forgive you. Hopefully Mr. Branson will turn around and catch the two of you passing notes. Yes Finny the two of you!! Stop being nosey! Anyway Paris is sitting next to me tapping her irritating pencil and pretending to not glance over and read what I'm writing every two seconds. Now she slammed her pencil on the table and Mr. Medina's giving her that look he gets when he's trying to look stern … you know the one. Now Finns getting the same look for laughing at her. Ok jerk see you at lunch.

Xoxo The girl next door

p.s. don't know what you were thinking dude but it was most likely insane …. You'll explain later though I'm sure

As he turned the corner, one hand stuffed in his pocket making a popping noise and the other holding his backpack securely on his shoulder, he stumbled backward as Rory ran into him, causing Paris who was right behind her, to run into the both of them. Rory let out an irritated screech and pushed her bag at Tristan making him stumble again, then she turned on Paris who was straightening out her skirt.

'What is you're problem?'

Paris looked up at her completely pissed off.

'The only problem I have is that you're walking around like you own the place! Running into people and being completely inconsiderate!'

'You're nuts! I was trying to get to my locker but you were following me! Which, is why I wasn't paying attention to where I was going.'

'Wow could you be any more full of you're self? I was going to my locker which just so happens to be right next to yours!'

Rory closed her mouth tight and looked down at the floor.

Clearing his throat Tristan stepped up beside the two.

'I'm having a great day, I got a B on that essay from last week, haven't gotten any detentions yet and I'm getting a front seat view to a cat fight. I'm so happy I didn't go to lunch with Maddy.'

Both girls turned on him.

'Shut up Tristan!'

They said simultaneously. Then without thinking Rory smiled excitedly.

'You really got a B?'

Paris turned back to Rory glaring, and effectivly bringing her back to their argument.

'Are you talking to him?'

'What?'

'Don't what me! Why are you talking to Tristan and not me?'

Tristan smirked.

'Coz I'm irresistible.'

'Shut up!'

They repeated.

'Ok.'

'Colin said that you told him you didn't want to be friends anymore.'

'I did.'

'Then why aren't you ignoring him?'

'Because he's my friend.'

'You're psychotic.'

'You're …. A bottle blonde!'

She responded lamely. Tristan held a laugh back then tilted his head and closed one eye, while looking at Paris.

'Serious?'

'No you idiot!'

'You've known her since forever why would you even ask?'

'Coz he's an idiot!'

'You know questions like that are the reason blondes are stereotyped.'

'Oh it has nothing to do with his hair color, he's just an idiot.'

'First of all stop calling me an idiot you little home wreaker. And second of all you're both nuts!'

'Home wreaker? How is she a home wreaker? How are you a home wreaker?'

Paris glared at a smirking Tristan, then at a gossip hungry Rory.

'You know what forget it. You two deserve each other, I'm going to PE.'

'Wait Paris I wanna know! How are you a home wreaker?'

Rory whined and began bouncing on her feet like an antsy 5 year old.

'I'm sorry I only talk to my friends, Tristan I'll see you in class.'

She pushed passed a pouting Rory with a grunt. After she was gone Rory turned back to Tristan.

'Spill!'

'It was a joke Ror.'

'You're lying! Part of the deal was no secrets.'

'What deal?'

'The deal we made to be friends again.'

'Oh that deal? Sorry I tend to forget things that never happened.'

'Well there was supposed to be a deal, and part of it was that we wouldn't keep secrets from each other. So spill.'

'OK uhmm no, and I'm going to go do that PE thing Paris mentioned.'

He kissed her on the forehead, smoothed her hair with one hand, and placed her bag on her shoulder with his other hand. Rory stuck her bottom lip out in a pout.

'You suck.'

'Bye Mare.'

'Bye Jerk face.'

She turned and watched him walk away then jumped when she heard someone clapping. Cooper came to a stop beside her.

'Now that was absolutely adorable.'

Rory's eyes narrowed in anger, as she turned to him; though upon seeing his face, she instantly found herself unable to contain the eruption of laughter that burst from her lips.