WHAT IF

Chapter 11: Decisions

"Lane did you hear me? Paris thinks Tristan likes me and then I second guessed going to see if Dean was working which seems like maybe I like Tristan." Rory rambled to her best friend as they sat in Lanes bedroom. "I heard you I'm just surprised, I mean obviously Tristan likes you but you like him back this is big." Lane announced smiling. "So what should I do?" She asked. "I don't know we have all night to figure it out Paris should be here in about 10 minutes." Lane smiled as she grabbed her overnight bag and walked down the stairs. They spent the rest of the night talking about everything between the three of them. Saturday morning Rory introduced Lane to Henry and they hit it off right away. The girls went to the mall Saturday afternoon. They had been there about two hours and were just about done shopping so they sat down in the food court to have a bite.
"Well well well what do we have here." Rory heard behind her as she turned her head to see what Lane and Paris were looking at. "What do you want Tristan?" Paris snapped. "I just thought I would say hello." He said in a laughing tone. ""Hello Tristan, goodbye Tristan." Lane piped in. "Geez you ladies are testy today! Cat got your tongue Mary?" He said laughing. "It's Rory and you know this Tristan. Can I speak to you alone for a minute?" She asked. "Sure, there's a table over there." He responded. "So what's the deal Tristan why have you been a jerk lately?" Rory asked him right after they sat down. "Come on Rory, don't be so naive." Tristan said sounding slightly annoyed. "What? Tristan you're not.." she began but was cut off by Tristan leaning across the table and kissing her deeply. "Tristan, wow." Was all Rory could say. "Rory I like you I have for a long time. Be my girlfriend?" Tristan said. "Yes" she said.
The next few months flew by.
"Rory I've got to talk to you." Tristan said one evening as he stopped by at the inn to see her. "What's wrong Tris?" She said sensing his emotions. "Well I got in some trouble with Duncan and Bowman, and now my dad has decided to send me to military school." He admitted. "What? Can I talk to him maybe change his mind?" Rory said with tears in her eyes. "No, he does like you more than me but his mind is made up." Tristan said holding Rory's hands in his. "So this is?" Rory started. "This is goodbye, I'm so sorry I screwed every thing up." Tristan said almost in tears. "Goodbye, Mary." Tristan smiled and kissed her deeply. "Goodbye Tristan." She said as tears swept down her face. She walked away from the inn into the town square and up to The Gazebo and sat and let the tears flow.
"You're to pretty to cry." She heard a familiar voice say. "Dean," she said wiping her cheeks. "Haven't seen you around in a couple months. How have you been?" Dean asked. "I've been great until today when my boyfriend decided to tell me he's being sent off to military school for being stupid." Rory said in tears again. "Hey shh, it'll be okay." Dean said sitting next to her and wiping the tears away. "Thanks Dean, you're so nice." Rory smiled. They sat there in comfortable silence for awhile longer. "Well I should be getting back to the Inn my mom will be waiting for me." Rory said standing up. "Thanks Dean." "Anytime Rory, maybe we can hang out sometime." He smiled and watched her nod an head back towards the inn.