He had these crystal blue eyes that always shined with every emotion he was feeling. They tore deep inside of you and pulled at the wall you built up around yourself with their mischief until you wanted to jump into them and experience wheat he was feeling because they were just that alive. They could turn the most down to earth girl into a dreamer. Dreaming of what it would be like to take him up on one of his offers with his eyes teasing you, making you want to feel what he was feeling for one moment. Making you want to feel what it was like to be so full of a feeling it literally radiated out of you.

One second. To allow him to show you just everything his eyes promised when they looked at you.

They could drive a good girl bad. Make you do things you would never normally do.

Make you a different person. Or just make you realize the kind of person you already were. The kind you want to be.

-

Rory Gilmore pulled her hands away from the keyboard and let them rest on the edge of her desk as she looked at the computer screen in front of her. Her breathing was slow and even, even as her heart beat loudly in her chest.

It would figure that the first thing she would write when she sat down was about him. Though didn’t writers write a bit of themselves into everything they wrote? Which was exactly what he was. A part of her. He was the stepping-stone that made her what she was today.

She stood up from the desk that sat against the far wall in her loft and walked over to the windows on the opposite side of the room that let showed a view of downtown Manhattan. The sun was just setting, letting a dim glow shine over the buildings and the cars and taxis in their usual bumper to bumper line on the streets below.

She crossed her arms and let her shoulder rest against the wall as she looked out far enough to see the faint blue of the Atlantic. Even from here you could see the small outline of the statue of liberty and that made her smile. Here she was living her dream, in the middle of New York City, a writer for The Times.

And yet, something was missing inside of her. She loved writing. There was nothing she loved more. But it wasn’t until she actually landed her dream job that she realized it wasn’t the kind of writing she wanted to do. Or maybe it was. Maybe the whole wanting to write a book was just some crazy impulse like Paris had said. Maybe just reading the thousands of books she’d read automatically made her want to try out her own creativity and attempt to put it onto paper.

But as soon as she sat down the words seemed to flow and it wasn’t until 10 minutes later when she was able to stop her fingers from darting over her laptop keyboard that she realized she was venting. Venting feelings she’d been holding in for a long time. And yet, they were forming something. Something wonderful. She wouldn’t deny that. Her story was already forming and she wasn’t even thinking about it. She had gotten lost and written 4 pages of something wonderful and hadn’t even realized until she’d just read it over.

She hadn’t even realized she had written 4 pages about him.

She sighed and sank back further against the wall and rested her head against it.

He leaned, he always leaned, she remembered with a smile. It was as if his body just never wanted to hold itself up and every time you saw him he was leaning against something. Always relaxing. Because that’s how he was. Always relaxed. Always so… carefree.

She took a deep breath as the memories of him pulled at her heart. That’s why she was writing about him. She knew it. He’d always been in her thoughts, but recent events…

Rory looked out the window one more time before walking back over to her computer and sitting down in the chair in front of it but only stayed there for a few moments before standing up, grabbing her laptop and walking over to her sofa and snuggling down into it, setting her computer on her lap and resting her arm on one of her throw pillows.

There that was better, she thought with a small smile.

And before she knew it, she was writing again.

-

-

August 14th, 2003.

“Rory are you ready yet?” the voice of Emily Gilmore floated up the stairs, under the bedroom door and into Rory’s ears where she was sitting on the perfectly made queen sized bed in her grandparent’s vacation home, staring at the dress in front of her.

It had been there when she’d gotten back from breakfast. A breakfast she nearly fell asleep at. Between having to get up at 7am during summer break, her last summer break before college at that, and having to listen to her grandparents discuss the various newspaper articles- it had been pure torture.

She loved her grandparents with all her heart, but there were moments she really wished they would understand that even though she did like to do certain things with them, this was not how she wanted to spend the end of her summer. When she agreed to spend a week in North Carolina with them, the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind that every minute of every day would have been planned out. Not only planned out, but ridiculously planned out with golf outings, lectures, museum tours and of course, parties of all her grandparents friends.

When she had thought North Carolina, she had thought sitting on the beach with the cool Atlantic Ocean air blowing on her while she found a rock to lean up against with a book.

She thought walking through town and visiting all the little family owned stores that you’ll never get to see again and buying something from each one.

But yet here she was, staring at the bright yellow sundress that seemed to glare at her from where it hung on her closet door. A giant yellow and white sunflower print along the bottom.

Who knew that she would one day detest her favorite flower? But it was happening.

“I’m coming Grandma!” she called down and reluctantly stood up and slipped into the dress and grabbed a pair of white sandals to wear. Her grandmother would no doubt frown at them and make a comment how she should wear the pair of lacy wedges that she left for her with the dress but she didn’t care. If she was going to have to wear this absurd looking dress and spend her entire day at one of her grandparent’s friend’s houses once again, she was going to be comfortable.

Grabbing her bag and slipping a book into it, she opened the door and hurried down the stairs while tying her hair up into a ponytail.

She saw the disapproving look in her grandmothers eyes when she saw her shoes and hair but bypassed it with a smile, “We should hurry. I already made us late.” She said quickly before hurrying out the door, hoping her grandmother didn’t make a comment about it when they got into the car and happily her wish was granted when she heard Emily turn her attention to her grandfather’s tie.

She climbed into the back of the car and sunk into the seat. The sun was just officially coming out and with a glance at the car clock; she realized it was just turning nine am.

She tuned her grandparent’s conversation out as they slid into the front seats and started the car down the road. They passed the beach and she smiled at the image of going down there, taking off her sandals and squishing her toes into the dirt and then jumping into the water, sunflower dress and all. She smirked, wondering what her grandmother would do if she came home in a soaking wet dress and laughed at the image.

“Is something funny, Rory?” Emily asked with a confused look, probably wondering if Rory had gone insane since she was laughing to herself in the back seat.

Rory shook her head, feeling guilty for thinking the thoughts but not being able to help it.

She knew her grandparents meant good and probably thought this was as much fun for her as it was for them.

She sighed when Emily turned back around and continued her discussion with Richard and looked out the window once again. She hoped her mother was having a good time with Sookie designing the Inn and that Lane was having a good time with the band and

Paris was having fun planning for school, which she knew she was probably doing right now.

But most of all, she hoped this day went by fast.

Unfortunately, she knew it wouldn’t.

-

“This is my granddaughter, Rory.” Emily introduced her for the 100th time within the last hour. Rory smiled politely and shook the hand of the woman in front of her. “She’s starting her freshman year at Yale next month.” Emily beamed and Rory couldn’t help the blush that appeared on her cheeks. She hated being the center of attention. Especially when she wanted nothing but to sneak into the shadows and away from the party for the last 2 and half hours since they’d arrived.

She didn’t know whose house they were at exactly, only that obviously they were friends of her grandparents who were also here for the summer and the house was built right along the beach like her grandparents and the smell of the ocean air had been teasing her all morning, tempting her to run down the long line of white steps leading from the back deck to the shore.

“Rory is going to be a journalist.” Emily boasted and Rory gave a smile like she was listening even though she was tuning everyone out. She looked around at all the people on the back porch and then through the giant screen doors to see even more people inside. They would be here all day. The maids had brought out lunch. Finger sandwiches and fruit and laid it on a huge table in the den. They’d do the same thing for dinner though that would most likely be a sit down event unlike lunch. But everything would still be the same. They would stand around all day talking.

Didn’t they ever get tired of it or run out of things to say to each other? Rory wondered. Didn’t they ever get tired of smiling and being super polite to every single person? Rory sighed as she watched her grandmother and the woman she’d been introduced to share stories of Yale and looked around. It was a good chance about ninety percent of the people there were 30 and over and the other percent were their kids and grandkids but Rory didn’t exactly feel like being super friendly and going up to any of the kids that were her age. She didn’t feel like being there at all and was currently experiencing one of the feelings her mother told her about having all her life growing up.

She was suffocating.

It was all twisting a knot around her throat and she couldn’t breathe.

“Excuse me.” She interrupted, sending a somewhat polite smile at her grandmother and receiving a confused look but dint bother to respond to her grandmothers accusing eyes of being rude and instead turned and darted away, getting lost in the crowd of people before her grandmother could chase after her.

She looked to her left and there were the stairs. All she had to do was run down them before anyone caught her and spend a few minutes down on the beach until most likely her cellphone rang with her grandmother demanding where she was and telling her to come apologize for her rude departure.

A few minutes of freedom were all too tempting.

Before she knew what she was doing she was ducking down the steps, practically running down them, adrenaline running through her veins until she finally fell onto the sand below.

She looked up, barely even able to see the house from where she was and grinned, knowing they wouldn’t be able to see her.

The ocean smelled so good and she grinned as she looked out over it. The beach stretched out for what seemed like miles. Every so often she could see the outline of another beach house but that was it. All ocean, sand and the huge wall of rocks behind her that the white stairs had been built onto.

Before she even knew what she was doing, she was slipping her shoes off, dropping her bag, and jogging towards the water. She felt the cool water cover her feet all the way up to her ankles and up her calves to her knees but then stopped and didn’t go any further.

Her grandmother was going to kill her already. She looked down and saw the bottom of her dress was already wet. The sunflower pattern completely soaked and she couldn’t help the humorous smile that lit her face.

And she didn’t know what happened but one second she was turning around to head back to shore and return to the party and the next thing she knew she was diving under the water, letting her self fall to the bottom before the water brought her back up to surface. She felt her ponytail fall from her hair as she felt the cool water surround her and she realized in that moment, she had never felt more free.

A laugh bubbled out of her as she hit the surface again, a grin broadening her face and she jumped once, splashing water as she laughed. No idea what she was laughing at but not being able to help it.

“Any other onlooker right now might be scared seeing the crazy girl in the water laughing to herself but, lucky you, I always knew you were an odd one anyways.”

At the voice, Rory turned around quickly only for her foot to slip in a shell beneath the surface and to go flying backwards and into the water again.

She quickly resurfaced taking a deep breath and coughing to get the water out that she’d inhaled, finally catching her breath and getting her senses back only to hear laughing.

“Always the graceful one as well.”

Rory wiped her hair from her eyes and looked at the shore one more time, this time managing to do it without falling back into the water and her eyebrows furrowed at the person standing there.

It took her a second to realize who it was but when she did, disbelief, confusion and awe all took over and contorted her face until she probably looked like a fish with her mouth gaping and her widened eyes.

“Tristan?” she asked in disbelief and her question was confirmed when he nodded once, a small smirk making it’s way to his lips and his eyes glistened with a look that told her he was trying not to laugh.

“Rory Gilmore.” He said and his voice seemed to float over her. One that had deepened over the last year or so but still had the same teasing quality to it. “Would it be rude of me to mention that you looked like a drowned rat right now?”

Rory stopped her gaping at his words. “Always the rude one.”

Tristan let out a small laugh at her words before he sent a grin at her. A grin that almost made her fall back into the water. She didn’t remember him looking like that. She didn’t remember his grin making his face light up like that.

“I prefer blunt.” He said, flashing his grin at her. “Question though… are you going to continue standing in the water all day or are you going to get out before a wave knocks you over?”

Rory blinked and realized the water was up to her waist still, her dress floating up around her and she quickly moved and pushed it down, noticing the laughing in his eyes and walked out of the water slowly, her dress matted to her body as she took him in completely.

If she hadn’t just choked on water she would have thought she was dreaming but instead knew the guy standing on the beach was indeed very real. He was standing there with his hands in his pockets. His navy blue pockets and it was then she realize what he was wearing and how out of place he looked.

He wore a pair of navy blue pants. Am even darker blue coat over them buttoned with large gold buttons all the way up to the collar. A red trim outlining his jacket and a white belt around the middle of it. Her eyes looked from that up to his hair, which she remembered to be shaggy, and always looking hand combed only now to be replaced with a buzz cut.

She completely stepped out of the water until she was only a few feet away and totally forgot about how she must have looked, soaking wet, only meeting his amused blue eyes with her own shocked ones.

“What are you doing here? What are you wearing? Oh my god, how are you?” her questions even surprised herself. Here stood someone she’d thought she’d never see again. Someone who had obviously just witnessed one of her lapse in sanity moments.

And she was surprised at the welcoming surprise and happiness she felt.

Tristan’s grin broadened. “I don’t know if I should be offended by the ‘What are you wearing?’ question or not.” He joked and Rory quickly shook her head.

“Oh no, I just meant...” She gave him a surprised once over again before meeting his eyes. “You’re a...”

“Marine?” Tristan finished, ducking his head, his grin turning into a small, almost embarrassed smile as he ran a hand along the top of his head almost as if grabbing and running a hand through the hair that was once there. “You’d be right. I graduated last week.”

Rory couldn’t help but notice the sudden shyness that came into his eyes and the proud tone of his voice and found herself smiling.

“Wow. That’s… well that’s great.” She said, looking at him, still not fully believing he was there.

Tristan ran his hand over his head again and Rory realized even though his hair was now gone he still hadn’t seemed to break the habit of running his hand through it. “To answer your other questions… this is my grandparents beach house and I was summoned to the party, in suit, so they could brag to their friends, and I happen to be pretty good. I just saw this crazy girl dive into the water in a sundress and start laughing to herself. I must say I was entertained.”

Rory smiled at the sparkle of laugher in his eyes before reality once again sunk in and she looked down and her drenched dress. The water dripping from it making the sand at her feet turn muddy.

“Oh god, my grandmother is going to kill me.” She said to herself as she looked at the white steps that now didn’t seem like a scapegoat to freedom but now seemed like the stairway to her death sentence.

“Why would she kill you?” Tristan asked and she once again realized he was standing there. On the beach. Dressed in a uniform that she couldn’t stop looking at and realizing just how amazing he looked in it.

Woah backtrack. She could feel her cheeks heating up at the thought that just went through her head, but shook it off and took a deep breath.

“She’s going to kill me because I just walked away from her and her friend, came down here, and ruined this dress she bought for me by jumping in the ocean. And when I go back up there, soaking wet, she’s going to be embarrassed by all her friends and think I’ve gone completely nuts.” Rory said, bring a hand to her head and wincing at what she’d just done. “Maybe I have gone crazy.”

“So?”

Rory lifted her head to meet Tristan’s eyes again as they looked her over. “So? So what?”

Tristan cocked an eyebrow, his face serious. “So why do you care?”

Rory blinked. “Because she’s going to kill me.” She said, not knowing how he wasn’t getting that one terrible fact.

Tristan’s eyes turned humorous. “For escaping from a dull party and taking a swim on an August day, which I will tell you is a completely normal thing to do. Especially when its about 80 degrees out.”

Rory went to speak again but Tristan cut her off before she could.

“Everyone gets random moments of craziness where we do well, crazy things. Trust me, I know how it is.” He said in a soothing tone.

“I broke into Bowman’s dads safe.”

The words he had said years before echoed through her head.

She looked up at him, remembering he went to military school but she has never assumed he would actually have stayed. But yet here he was, standing in front of her in North Carolina, decked out in his full marine uniform.

“You don’t understand my grandmother.” Was all she said.

She watched as Tristan shook his head with a small smile. “I must say I’m disappointed, Rory. I kind of thought if I ever met you again you would be different. That you would have broken out of your shell. But yet, here you are, just starting to.”

Rory furrowed her eyebrows, not knowing whether to be insulted or not. “What are you talking about?”

Tristan took a hand out of his pockets and pointed up to the beach house. “Let me guess, you’re on vacation with your grandparents and attending parties is what you’ve been doing the whole time and you were feeling suffocated and that’s why you ran down here and jumped into the water. To get away from it.”

Rory’s face turned red as she looked away and heard Tristan’s chuckle.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed. I’ve felt the same way and have done the same thing.”

Rory looked up with him and cocked her own eyebrow. “You ran to the ocean and got the hideous dress your grandmother bought for you wet as an act of rebellion?” she asked. “Hard to believe Tristan, but I do admit the image of you in a dress is entertaining.”

Tristan laughed and Rory couldn’t help the smile that appeared on her face at it. He had a nice laugh. She never realized that before.

“I know what you mean though.” She said, “But it doesn’t change the fact that when I go back up there she’s going to go nuts.”

Tristan shrugged. “So don’t.”

Rory ran a hand through her wet hair, pulling it over one shoulder and squeezing the water from it. “Don’t what?” she asked, wondering how she was going to explain how she looked to her grandparents. She figured saying she fell off the cliff and into the water would be a bit unrealistic.

“Don’t go back up there.” Rory looked up at Tristan with a look of bewilderment. “You already broke out, why go back? You say you’re already going to get in trouble, why not spend the rest of the day doing something you want and then get in trouble for it all at once?”

The look on his face was serious and Rory let out a disbelieving laugh. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

He seemed to be challenging her. His blue eyes had gone dark but she could see the curiousness shining in them. He really wanted to know.

“Just...because.” Was all she said, letting out a breath. He couldn’t be serious. She could never do that.

“People do it all the time. You do one thing; you already know the outcome of it, so why stop there? Don’t go half way, go all the way. The outcome’s going to be the same anyways. You’re going to get in trouble for jumping into the ocean for two seconds. You can either get in trouble for only that or leave this place and spend the rest of the day doing what you want. Same outcome at the end so why not make it worth it?”

Rory shook her head. “I can’t do that.” She could never do that. She might be able to explain what had already happened but if she left the party… well, she wouldn’t have an excuse for that at all.

“Yes, you can. You’re just scared to.”

Unexpected anger washed through her. “You don’t know me.” Were the first words out of her mouth.

She hated that he was right. What he just said was so tempting and she hated that. But most of all she hated the way his eyes were tempting her. She could easily brush off his words but the way his eyes were boring into her and seeming to break through the resistance she had… she had nothing to stop that.

“Maybe I don’t.” Tristan nodded, sticking his hands in his pockets and walked a few feet away and picked up a rock, throwing it into the air and catching it before meeting Rory’s eyes again. “But I know how you’re feeling. Needing that little bit of rebellion. You already took the first step, Rory. You jumped into the water. Why not go even crazier and do something else rebellious?”

Rory crossed her arms in front of her, hating that somehow he knew exactly what she was feeling. “Is that what you told yourself when you broke into Bowman’s dads safe? You were screwed anyways hanging out with them so why not just go all out?”

Tristan let a small smile come to his face, but yet, the reaction that she was somehow hoping to get out of him deep inside didn’t happen and instead he shrugged. “Maybe. But I don’t regret doing it at all.”

Rory looked down at his uniform again as he motioned to it and shook her head slowly, feeling regret at her words. It wasn’t his fault he was right.

She thought back to Chilton. He’d always been right then to. Somehow. That was why she always wanted to stay away from Tristan Dugrey. Somehow he could see deep inside of her to the things she really felt. And now here he was again, standing in the last place she ever thought she’d see him, tempting her to follow what she felt inside and she responded to that by putting up her wall again.

She met his eyes again. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s the truth. No harm, no foul.” He shrugged it off.

“But I shouldn’t have said it.” Rory said, feeling bad about what se had just said. Words had always been her defense and yet right now he was shrugging them off when she had wanted them to somehow hurt him so she wouldn’t have to be tempted to listen to his words again.

“Rory.” He said her name until she looked up at him again. “It’s okay.”

His words touched her heart in a way she didn’t ever want them to. He was being genuine. Was he always like this? How had she never seen it before?

A small smile lit her lips. “I don’t remember you being like this.”

Tristan grinned, running a hand over his head yet again. “Yeah I guess military school beat a lot of stuff out of me.”

Rory looked him over once again. “So you’re a marine now? When did that happen?” she asked walking over to a large rock, and sitting down, starting to drain the water from her dress as she looked up at him expectantly. She didn’t know how it was so easy to talk to him right then, but for some reason it was.

Tristain shrugged, walking over to one of the large boulders to lean against it. Well that was one thing marine school didn’t beat out if him, she realized with a small smile.

“I guess I just liked the life. I graduated from school early in January and ended up missing it. Missing the schedule. No matter how much I tried to break out of it, I still got up at 4am every morning to go run 3 miles and was always in bed early. Partying with friends wasn’t what I remembered it to be in high school. Everything was different.” He shrugged again with a half smile. “I changed I guess. And I realized I came to like how I lived for the last couple years and it was what I wanted to do. So I joined the marines in June. I just graduated from training, and well, here I am.”

Rory smiled at his obvious happiness at himself that glistened in his eyes. “That’s really amazing Tristan. Really.” She said, knowing it was what she genuinely felt. He seemed so happy with his life right now.

“Yeah it is.” He smiled again at her and she couldn’t look away from his eyes for a full minute before she turned, realizing she was getting lost in the blue depths. “So what about you? Did Harvard work out?”

Rory smiled a bit at him remembering such a random detail from so long again. “Yeah it did. But I decided to go to Yale actually. I start next month.”

Tristan grinned. “Interesting.”

“How?” Rory asked, starting to realize just how powerful his eyes were on her and getting nervous under his steady gaze,

“Just… interesting.” He said but before he could say anything else, PJ Harvey’s voice echoed in the air.

“Oh god, bad memories.” Tristain laughed it took a moment to comprehend what he meant but when she realized it Rory let out her own chuckle at his words but it died quickly when she picked up her bag to retrieve her ringing phone and her smile dropped at the caller ID. The ringing stopped and she sighed.

“Gave up?” Tristan asked.

Rory shook her head. “Unfortunately no. She’ll call back.”

As if hearing her words, the phone started ringing again.

“Last chance, Mary.” The familiar nickname had her glancing up the boy in front of her where he was smiling but his eyes were serious.

“Last chance for what?”

“Well,” Tristan said, pushing himself away from the boulder he was leaning against. “Turns out this party isn’t really my thing. Not only that, but this suit is making me sweat like hell.” He cringed. “So I think I’m gonna escape and head back to my parents place, change, and spend the day in town.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked around before meeting Rory’s eyes again. “It’d probably be a bit more fun if I had someone to spend it with. Maybe someone in the same position.”

Rory opened her mouth and then shut it again. “I…”

“My sister just happens to have some clothes incase said person just happened to be in a soaking wet dress.” He sent a small smile at her. “Just saying of course.”

Everything inside of her was screaming to say yes. Somehow his words were making it seem like it would be the right thing to say yes. To go. To spend the day with him and do everything she had wanted to do since she arrived at the beach house.

“My grandma…” she started.

“Cell phones have this little thing called an off button. They come in handy once in a while.” Tristan said, the corner of his lips forming a smirk. “And you could always call her later to tell her you’re alright so she isn’t worried.”

Rory looked down at her phone that had stopped ringing only to start up once again.

“You already took a few steps Rory Gilmore, why not go all the way in?” Rory looked up to meet Tristan’s eyes again as they watched her. “I’m gonna get going. But the offers open if you change your mind.” He sent her a small smile before walking away.

Rory took a deep breath and glanced up at the white stairs leading up to where Emily Gilmore was probably holding her phone to her ear, muttering for her granddaughter to pick up.

And she didn’t know what it was, but she figured it was the little but of rebellion Tristan had been talking about that did it, but next thing she knew she was clicking her phone off, picking up her bag, and running after the uniform clad boy making his way down the beach.

“Well I must say I thought I’d be half way down the beach before you finally clicked that phone off. Yet, it only took you a second. You surprise me yet again, Rory.” Tristan said as Rory fell into step beside him.

She looked at the water as they continued to walk. “Well I’m surprising myself as I go along so I know how you feel.” She breathed out.

Tristan turned to her with a grin that made her blush for some reason. She always knew he was good looking, not that she would have ever told him that back in high school when his ego seemed to get bigger with every word he said. But he was, she realized. And age only made him look even better.

“If you don’t want to do, you don’t have to you know.” Tristan said, turning back to face forward.

Rory glanced at him for a second before a smile came to her face as she looked around. The further she walked from her grandparents and the party, the better she felt.

“I want to.”

Tristan glanced at her for a second before a corner of his lips turned up into a half smile and he winked. “Well then Ms. Gilmore, lets make the best of this shall we?” he said, stopping at the bottom of a set of stairs and holding a hand out, motioning to them and her to walk first and Rory assumed this was his parents beach house. Which did make sense, she realized, since it was right next to his grandparents.

“Wow, that’s very gentlemanly of you, Mr. Dugrey.” Rory smirked at him as she started up the stairs, hearing him chuckle behind her as he did as well.

“Military school knocked a lot of things out of me but also knocked some into me as well.”

“I can tell.” Rory said, stopping to turn around and look at him as he stopped on the step below her, making him the same height as her and bringing them face-to-face. Rory inhaled sharply at the closeness of it and swallowed, forgetting what she was going to say. “Uh yeah.” She said before turning back around and finishing climbing the steps.

She knew her face was flushed but acted like it wasn’t as she turned back to him as he climbed the rest of the steps, having have stayed on the step and watched her walkup first as he stared at her curiously.

She took a deep breath to shrug off the chills that were racing up her spine. “So about those clothes…”

-

“I have to say, you’re sister has slightly better taste than my grandmother.” Rory said as she walked out of the bathroom and heard Tristan’s laugh.

“But only slightly, I know. She takes after my mother, who takes after my grandmother. So sorry about the clothes.” Tristan smiled apologetically.

“No they’re fine.” Rory said, her voice quiet, as she wasn’t able to say anything else.

If she had thought he looked good in his uniform, it was nothing to how he looked now. He stood there in a pair of loose jeans and a plain white t-shirt with a pair of sneakers on his feet and a pair of sunglasses resting on the top of his head. And she didn’t think she’d ever seen a guy look better in her entire life. His arms were tanned and toned, proof he had spent his summer outdoors at marine camp. And without the uniform covering him she realized just how much the military had changed him psychically as well.

“I, um, yeah. They’re fine.” She said, taking a deep breath and blushing at the fact that she was staring. She hadn’t blushed this much since… well, since sophomore year, she realized.

She looked down at the knee length loose light blue skirt she wore that hung low on her hips and the white t-shirt Tristan has managed to find her that had been his sisters when she was about 14, that was a bit tight on Rory and left a bit of her stomach on the bottom showing but was a much better choice to wear instead of the many different colored cardigans and blouses Tristan’s sister had to choose from. She slipped her sandals on and pulled her hair back into a ponytail and all in all, it was somewhat of an outfit she would have worn normally.

“That’s good.” Tristan nodded, looking her over once more and Rory didn’t miss the way his eyes lingered on the exposed skin of her stomach an extra moment before meeting her eyes again. “So you ready?”

Rory grinned. “As I ever will be.”

Tristan smiled and flipped the glasses down to rest on his nose but then took them off and threw them on a table in the living room.

“Going 3 months without some luxuries really takes its toll. I just can’t get used to wearing those again.” He said, almost a sigh as he stared at the glasses before sending a lopsided smile to Rory. “Anyways, shall we go?”

Rory took a final breath and was about to say yes before she held up a hand and grabbed her bag which she had flung on a couch and grabbed her phone and dialed her grandmother.

“Rory! Where…” her grandmother started as soon as she picked up but Rory quickly cut her off.

“Grandma, I’m sorry I left but I met up with an old friend and I’m going to spend the day with them so I’ll be home sometime tonight. Don’t worry.” She said quickly before hanging up and turning her phone back off and looking up at Tristan. “I just hung up on my grandmother.”

Tristan chuckled and grinned. “Felt good, didn’t it?”

Rory let out a breath and smiled. “More than you could possibly know.” She said and followed Tristan as they made their way out the door.

-

“So where are we going?” Rory asked, sitting in the passenger’s seat of what she assumed was one of Tristan’s father’s cars. They’d been driving for about 15 minutes but where Rory thought they would be going into town, they had passed that 10 minutes ago.

“I’m starving.” Tristan said and as if his stomach heard him, Rory heard it rumble and laughed at Tristan’s shy smile.

“Me too.” She nodded. “But was there no restaurants in town?” she asked. Honestly, she didn’t know much about town but she knew there had to be some restaurants there. She had seen them on the drive up.

“Tons.” Tristan said, as he stopped at a stop sign and then took a left, heading in another direction. “But towns filled with people on vacation. I figured we’d go somewhere that wasn’t all tourists.”

Rory nodded, understanding. “You sound like you know the place well.”

Tristan shrugged. “Lived her for nearly two years now. I like it here.”

Rory looked out the window as they drove along the coast. The ocean had seemed to follow them the whole way.

“Did you ever want to go back?” she asked, and then went to elaborate on what she meant but Tristan seemed to already know.

“Yeah.” He said, sending her a small smile. “First few months were pure torture. Going from breaking every rule to not even being able to test the rules. It was hell. But after a while… I just, I don’t know. I guess I liked challenging myself. And military school was the ultimate challenge. Every day. Every minute. Just one big challenge and next thing I know, my father’s telling me I can come back to Hartford and I’m telling him I wanna stay.”

Rory was quiet for a moment. She never knew it was possible to be so wrong about someone but she realized a lot of the things she had thought about Tristan had indeed been completely wrong.

“You were missed, you know.”

Tristan turned to her with a smirk. “Oh, I know.” He winked and she caught a glimpse of the old Tristan. He was still there; he’d just grown up. He really didn’t regret anything, she realized, because he seemed to be completely happy with how his life turned out.

“So, are you still with your boyfriend?” Tristan asked, the teasing in his voice not cruel but instead good-hearted.

Rory let out a small laugh. “No. We broke up a while ago.” She said. She didn’t bother mentioning Jess either. Him and Dean were both parts of her past and she didn’t want to spend her day thinking about either of them. In fact, neither had even crossed her mind until Tristan had mentioned it.

Tristan nodded silently but didn’t say anything else and it was then Rory realized they seemed to be driving into another town.

“Where are we?” She asked, looking around as they drove down the main drag, completely surrounded by shops.

“Welcome to Buttonville. And don’t laugh at the name.” He said quickly when Rory grinned.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s not exactly in the tourist booklet. Which is whats so great about it. The only attractions here are the hole in the wall restaurants and the carnival.” He said, pointing towards the coast where Rory saw a giant Ferris wheel and other rides. “Not exactly a tourists usual spot.”

Rory smiled as Tristan parked the car.

“It sounds perfect.”

Tristan looked over to her with a grin that seemed pleased. “This is my favorite place.” He said, with a shy look. “Its where I would come during the summer.” He pulled the car to the side of the road and turned it off and looked over at her.

“So I guess this is where my day of rebellion starts.” She said. Looking at the clock to see it was nearly 3 already.

Tristan’s eyes turned mischievous as he opened his door and got out, jogging around the car to open Rory’s door before she could open it herself. “So Mary, what do you wanna do first?”

Rory stepped out of the car and Tristan shut her door as she looked around. The streets were full of people. A few older guys on the corner were playing guitars in front of a store; a group of kids were all holding huge stuffed animals, obviously walking home from the carnival. She could hear the yells of people on rides and the laughter of people talking.

It was all sorts of wonderful.

She saw a person with a hotdog cart, pushing it down the street calling out the prices of the food, something you wouldn’t even see in Stars Hollow, and grinned.

“I could really go for a hotdog actually.”

Tristan put a hand on is stomach and groaned. “You read my mind.” He said and then grinned at her as they walked to the hotdog cart.

-

“They got a new ride this year actually. Some sort of UFO thing. Haven’t gone to see it yet.” Tristan said as he finished off his last hotdog.

They had found a small bench outside a hair salon and were seated on it as they ate their late lunch.

“I haven’t been to a carnival in forever. They have the one that comes to Hartford every year but we never get around to going.” Rory said, getting excited and feeling childish but not really caring.

“Then that’s where we’ll go.” Tristan winked. “I’ve been wanting to go anyways. Haven’t been there since last year.”

“I didn’t bring any money though.” Rory said, just realizing it.

Tristan stood up and stretched and Rory couldn’t help but admire the way he looked when he did it. “No worries. I do.”

Rory shook her head instantly. “No, I don’t want you to waste your money…”

Tristan cut her off with a laugh. “Trust me, it isn’t going to put a dent in my pocket.”

Rory shook her head as she threw out her napkins. “Still…”

“Still nothing. Look Mary, I’m going to the carnival. I’m going to play some games, go on some rides. So you can come with me, or stand there and watch me the whole time.”

Rory kept her eyes on his for a moment before sighing. “I’ll pay you back.”

Tristan rolled his eyes with a small smile. “If you insist. Cause everyone knows I’ll be broke if you don’t return the 20 dollars it will probably cost for tickets.”

“Not the point.” Rory said, tapping her foot against his leg as a playful kick as she glared at him.

“Okay, okay.” Tristan subsided as they made their way down the street and towards the carnival. “So, are you excited for school?”

Rory shrugged and sent him a half smile. “Kind of. Mostly nervous, I guess.”

Tristan nodded. “That’s normal though. To be nervous, I mean.”

“Yeah I guess,” Rory said, crossing her arms, as she looked at all the little stores they were passing. “What about you? What’s next for you?”

Tristan was quiet for a moment before turning to look at her. “I leave tomorrow for California.”

Rory sent him a confused look. “You’re going to college there? That’s awesome, Tristan.”

“No,” he said with a half smile as he ran a hand over his head. “More training.”

Rory stopped and looked at him as they reached the entrance to the carnival and got at the end of the line of people who were buying tickets. “I thought you just graduated….”

Tristan stayed face forward as he talked, not meeting her eyes. “That was training to become a marine. I still have my marine training ahead of me.”

“Oh.” Was all Rory said. Not liking the feeling of sadness that went through her. She hadn’t even thought about tomorrow. Only had today on her mind but when she did she figured she would see him tomorrow as well. “How long is that for?”

Tristan shrugged. “Till December. Then I’ll be stationed there.”

“Stationed.” The word brought dread to her even as she said it. “Tristan…”

“It’s your day, remember? Let’s not talk about me, okay?”

“But…” Rory started but Tristan held a finger to her lips.

“I don’t really wanna talk about it. Please?” Something in his eyes made her hold back what she was going to say and instead she just nodded. “Thanks.” He smiled. “Okay, rides are usually 2 tickets a piece. What I need to know is… are you the ride kind of person?” he asked with an amused grin.

Rory saw in his eyes his hope that she’d have dropped the earlier subject and she took a breath as she looked around. “I happen to have a firm belief that you should go on as many rides as you can until your stomach starts protesting. And there’s no ride that’s too scary.”

Tristan chuckled and Rory matched his smile. “Okay then.” He said as they finally reached the ticket counter. “Give me 4 dozen tickets please.” He told the ticket person before turning back to Rory. “Time to test your fear level, Mary.”

Rory cocked an eyebrow at him. “Time to test yours as well, Dugrey.”

Tristan grinned as he paid for the tickets and held them up. “Lets get going then.”

-

“I am never…” Rory took a deep breath as they stepped down the stairs after getting off the UFO. “… Going on that ride again.” She said, holding her stomach.

Tristan laughed. “I’m not even going to try and protest.” He said. “I think 11 times is a bit much. Though the thrill was fun while it lasted.” He said.

“Yeah, until our stomachs started churning from the cotton candy.” Rory grinned. “If my grandma saw me eating that by the way, she would have given me a rant about rotting my teeth.”

Tristan cocked an eyebrow as they walked with the crowd of people, heading towards the section of the carnival with the game tents. “You ate three spools. I was about to give you a lecture about your teeth.” He grinned. “Or at least tell you you were gonna have to sit next to someone else on the rides because I didn’t want you upchucking it on me.”

Rory laughed and hit him in the side. “I have a very solid stomach.”

“Tell me about it.” Tristan laughed. “You’re the only girl that can eat as much as me.”

Rory felt herself blush but grinned at him. “I’m proud of that, thank you.”

Tristan nodded. “You should be.”

Rory let out a chuckle as she looked around. They’d spent the last 4 hours doing nothing but going on ride after ride and taking breaks to try out every food stand in between. But now, at nearly 8 at night, she didn’t think she could stomach one more ride or one more thing to eat. She was officially at her limit.

And man, it felt good.

“What do you say to a game?” Tristan asked as they reached the game tents.

“What do you say to getting your butt kicked at water gun wars?” she asked, smirking, and pointing to the game that had water guns set up on a table and little targets that made small fire trucks rise above it when you hit it.

Tristan cocked an eyebrow. “I’ll warn you now, Mary, I happen to be trained the art of firing guns and ranked top of my class. Hit the target every time.” He ended with a cocky look.

Rory imitated his look and smirked herself, “Ever the cocky one, Dugrey. Let’s put your skills to the test, shall we?”

“Just tell me the time and place.” Was what he said and Rory laughed in surprise at the old Tristan comeback and he seemed to be surprised at his response himself as he laughed with her, ducking his head and running a hand over it.

“You miss your hair don’t you?” Rory thought aloud.

“More than you could ever know.” Tristan answered instantly and then raised an eyebrow. “That made me sound gay.”

“Don’t worry Tris, your sexuality is widely known.” Rory laughed.

Tristan cringed. “Please, if you have a soul at all please never call me that again.”

Rory grinned. “Don’t worry, it pained me about as much to say it as it did for you to hear it.” She chuckled as she took a seat and Tristan followed suit and paid the guy a dollar for his and Rory’s game.

10 minutes, and 20 dollars later, they both sat glaring at the kid at the end of the table as he traded in three small stuffed animals he’d won for a large one.

“How is it possible he one 10 times in a row!” Rory asked in disbelief.

Tristan shook his head, as shocked as she was. “I have no idea. But if the game is rigged, I want that chair next.”

Rory sighed. “I really wanted that stuffed animal too,” she said, pointing to a small white teddy bear with a Freddy Kruger looking striped shirt on. “My mom would love it.”

“Then get it.” Tristan said, nodding his head towards it.

Rory glanced at him. “I didn’t win.” She said slowly as if to make sure he understood that fact.

“So?” Tristan asked, and looked around. “No one’s looking.”

Rory gaped. “I can’t!” she said, even though a small thrill at the thought started building inside of her.

“Yes you can.” Tristan nodded. “We’ll stand up as if we’re leaving, just grab it and we’ll walk away. It’s rebellious and isn’t that what today’s about?”

Rory went to talk again but instead stood, reached for the bear and started walking away as quickly as her feet would allow.

Tristan jogged up next to her and she looked to see his grinning face lit up by the lights of the rides that were turned on after it had gotten dark.

“Oh my god, I just stole something! And got away with it!” Rory grinned, not believing what she’d just done.

Tristan laughed. “Not exactly.” He said. “The booth dude saw you when you walked away.”

Rory’s jaw dropped as she spun around as if waiting to see a cop chasing after her.

“Rory, no ones coming after you.” Tristan laughed. “I left him a 10.”

Rory took a deep breath and then glared at Tristan. “What happened to rebellious? It totally takes away that fact since you paid him.”

“Well well well, look who’s turned bad girl on me.”

Rory smirked. “I guess you’re still a bad influence, Dugrey. “

“Some things they just cant beat out of me.” Tristan replied with glittering eyes, his grin looking more like a smirk than ever.

Rory looked away, knowing she wouldn’t be able to look away is she kept her eyes locked to his for one more second. There was just something about them that made you want to stare at them forever and unravel the millions of secrets they held.

“So what’s next?” Rory asked, looking around.

“The best part.” Tristan said and before she knew what he was doing, he had grabbed her hand and was pulling her towards the large lit up Ferris wheel. “I always wait to go on this at night. It’s better when everything’s lit up.” Tristan said as he handed the tickets to the guy at the entrance and then led Rory to the next car that came to the bottom but Rory couldn’t even think as they sat and the bar fell over their legs because she was still reacting to the chills that went up her arm at his touch.

She didn’t expect that at all.

“Rory?” Tristan asked and she looked over and was brought back to reality as the Ferris wheel moved up a bit, allowing another empty car to go to the bottom for the next people in line.

“Yeah?” she asked, realizing her voice was more breathy than usual but the close proximity was getting to her as they were sitting thigh to thigh and Tristan’s arm was resting on the back of the cart, brushing her back.

“You okay?” Tristan asked, his face turned to hers till they were only a few inches apart.

Rory nodded, her heart beating wildly in her chest and then turned to look around as the Ferris wheel loaded its last passengers and started to go around. The entire ground below them was lit up. People walked around, some by themselves, some couples, and parents with kids, all smiling and getting in line for rides. And all the lights from the rides reflected off the ocean that sat just yards from the edge of the carnival, meeting the glow of the moon that reflected off it as well.

“It’s so beautiful.” Rory said, her voice coming out with more awe then she meant it to.

“Yeah.” Tristan said, his voice sounding the same way but when Rory turned to look at him, realized he wasn’t looking at the ocean as she was but his eyes were still on hers. “Rory?”

“Yeah?” she said, her breathing becoming more and more shallow and her eyes automatically darted down to his lips as he ran his tongue along them and she found herself doing the same to hers.

“You’re not ever going to forget today, right?” he asked.

Rory let out a small nervous chuckle at his words and shook her head. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able too.” She said, furrowing her eyebrows.

“Good.” He said and then smiled. “One more thing.”

“What?” Rory asked, forgetting they were on the ride, forgetting where they were. Forgetting the world. Forgetting everything but the boy in front of her.

“Just so you know, the reason I waited till now to do this was so you couldn’t run away crying this time.”

Rory eyes widened at his words but before she could say anything he was kissing her and it was as if she had been somehow waiting for it all day because as soon as it happened, her eyes closed and she sunk into him. She remembered his lips. How could she have forgotten? That one kiss on the piano bench that one time had turned her world upside down. And she was kissing him back. She hadn’t even realized it until Tristan pulled back and met her eyes again with a small smile.

“Tristan…” Rory started. She wanted to say a million things but he just wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him until her head rested on his shoulder.

“Enjoy it Rory.” He whispered in her ear, and they sat like that until the ride ended.

-

“So…” Rory said, taking a deep breath as they walked down the lit street back towards Tristan’s car.

“Did you have fun?” Tristan asked, glancing over at her.

He didn’t say anything about the kiss but Rory could see it still in his eyes, the way he was looking at her, his eyes were lit now with something she could relate to because she was feeling the same thing.

“Fun doesn’t even begin to explain it.” She said with a smile as she looked ahead and as they walked a few more steps she heard music. “Do they play all the time?” she asked in surprised as she saw the same guys on the corner, playing music. Only now people were standing around listening.

“Yeah.” Tristan nodded. “Every night they do. People stand around and listen, tip them.”

They stopped and watched the men play a fast paced song and then it ended and everyone clapped, and Rory found herself smiling and clapping as well. Then they struck the cords for another song, this one a bit slower.

“Do you want to dance?” Tristan breathed next to Rory’s ear and she spun to look at him.

“Dance?” she asked, confused.

“Yeah.” Tristan said, shrugging his shoulders, his hands in his pockets.

Rory half smiled, looking around. “Here?”

Tristan nodded.

“That’s very ‘The Notebook’ of you.” She said hesitantly, a small smile on her lips.

Tristan grinned. “Never seen it actually.” He said, running a hand over his head.

Rory gaped. “How have you never seen it? It’s probably the greatest romance movies ever!”

Tristan laughed. “Well ‘Greatest romance movie ever’ should explain it.” He grinned and held out a hand. “So, may I have this dance, Ms. Gilmore?”

Rory’s cheeks flushed as she looked around. “No one else is dancing Tristan…”

“So?” he asked. “It’s different. Daring. And daring and being rebellious are one in the same.”

Rory shook her head to protest but something in his eyes made her reach out and take his hand and step forward until they were body to body and her hand rested on his shoulder as his wrapped around her waist, resting on the small of her back.

She laid her head on his chest and moved closer, amazed at how normal and in place she felt as she watched people walk by. Some of them smiling and pointing to her and Tristan but she didn’t care. She’d never felt so amazing in all her life.

“I have a confession.” Tristan whispered next to her ear.

“What’s that?” Rory asked without moving her head from its place against his chest.

“I’ve wanted to dance with you since our Winter Dance at Chilton.” She could hear the slight embarrassed grin in his voice even as her heart went crazy. She’d never felt like this before. So happy. She never wanted it to go away.

She pulled her head back to look up at him, to find him already looking down at her. “Well I’m happy to finally let you have what you wanted.” She said, sending him a small smile, which he returned. She took a deep breath as she watched him again. “Tristan…” she said, and then broke off, not knowing exactly what to say. How did she explain that it had been one of the most amazing days of her life? How did she explain that right then, she didn’t care what else was happening in the world. That she didn’t care about her grandparents at home or the fact that she would get told off as soon as she go back… that she didn’t care. That she wouldn’t take the day back for anything in the world. That she wouldn’t change a thing.

“Hmm?” Tristan asked, as he let his thumb run back and forth over the exposed skin at her back.

“Thanks.” Was all she could say but he seemed to understand just how thankful she was because he smiled down at her and rested his forehead against hers.

“You too.”

-

Tristan parked the car at his parent’s house and got out and ran in to get Rory’s bag and dress before coming back out and walking to Rory’s door.

“What are you doing?” she asked as she stepped out, having thought he was going to drive her back to her grandparents.

“I thought we could walk. If that’s okay with you.” He ended it as a question and Rory sent him a smile before nodding and heading to the stairs at the back deck of his parents.

“We’re only a few houses down from your grandparents.” Rory said as they walked down the steps and reached the sand. “I don’t know why my grandparents drove cause its so much closer to get there when you go along the beach.”

Tristan shrugged. “Mine are the same way though. I don’t think they’ve been down to the beach in years. Which is a shame because its kind of pointless to have a house on the beach when you don’t even spend any time at it.”

Rory nodded in agreement and then stopped and kicked her sandals off and Tristan followed the move, setting his sneakers and socks on the bottom or his grandparents deck as they passed it.

“So how was your official day of rebellion?”

Rory looked at him with a smile. “Pretty good for a first day.”

Tristan grinned over at her. “So there’s going to be more?”

“Oh, definitely.” Rory grinned and then wrapped her arms around herself as she saw them nearing her grandparent’s deck. “So… when are you leaving tomorrow?” she asked, turning to face him when they stopped at the bottom of the steps.

Tristan didn’t answer her for a moment. “Early. My plane leaves early.”

Rory nodded, wondering what the feeling of dread she felt meant. Hating the sadness that went through her.

“So…”

“So…” Tristan mimicked with a small smile that Rory matched. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

Rory nodded, not knowing what else to say. “Yeah, I guess.”

Tristan watched her for a moment before reaching his hand up and letting his fingers run along her cheek. “I’m never gonna forget this day.”

Rory nodded, not knowing what to say. Not knowing how to feel about the emotion that was welling up inside of her at his words. They seemed so final. So final about a day she never wanted to end.

“Never gonna forget.” He said again and then leaned down and placed his lips against hers slightly before pulling back and sticking his hands in his pockets. “Goodnight, Mary.” He smiled.

Rory couldn’t help the smile on her own lips even though inside she was screaming at herself to just stay there. She took a deep breath and glanced at the house above the rocks and then back to the boy standing in front of her. “Goodnight, Tristan.”

Clutching her bag and the stuffed bear she walked up the steps and when she got to the top, turned to see him still standing there and watched him wave once before heading back down the beach.

-

-

Rory stopped writing and set her laptop down on her coffee table as the memory took her over. She stood up and walked to her room where the small white bear sat on her dresser. She’d never been able to give it to her mother but had kept it for herself instead. Needing a piece of that day to stay with her.

She sat on her bed as she remembered walking into the house to have her grandmother and grandfather bombard her with questions and her telling them she’d talk to them the next morning and went to her room without another word.

She smiled, imaging Tristan’s face if he’d seen that. He’d probably be proud of her.

She looked down at the bear again, it’s dark blue eyes staring back at her and then got back up, walking to her closet and pulling a box from it and finding the envelope she’d been searching for and sat down, holding it in her hands.

It’d been a while since she’d read it but she knew exactly what it said. The words were in her memory forever.

She’d gotten up early the next morning. Before even her grandparents had gotten up and made her way to Tristan’s house, only for the maid to answer and tell her he’d already left. She’d thought she’d gotten up early enough but she hadn’t. And as she had turned around to leave, the maid had told her something was left for her, and then handed her the envelope she now held in her hands.

Rory took a deep breath before opening it and holding the letter in front of her. A few short paragraphs, that was all he wrote. But they meant so much.

Rory,

Sorry I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, but I didn’t really want to, to tell you the truth. I kind of wanted last night to be our goodbye. It’s a memory I want to keep for a while until I see you again to make another one. Uh, at the risk of sounding cheesy, I just wanted you to know that yesterday was one of the best days of my life and thanks for making it that way. I know it was your rebellious day but to tell you the truth, I think I may have gotten more out of it than you. But just remember for the next time you want a rebellious day that it’s okay to take a breather once in a while and do something random and daring. Just make sure you think of me every time you do. If I don’t go I’m going to miss my flight so I better bring this to a close. I’ll never forget yesterday, and I hope you don’t either. Thanks for making it that way for me. Take care of yourself Mary.

Tristan.

And she did, she realized with a small smile, even as she felt the emotion start to build behind her eyes. Every time she did something crazy. When she joined the LDB. When she became friends with Logan and Colin and Finn and had some of the craziest years of her life. When she’d barged into the New Your Times editors room and demanded he’d give her a chance… Tristan had always been there with her.

She smiled at the thought, knowing she wouldn’t have done half of it if it hadn’t been for his words always echoing her in her head.

She held the letter in her hand and the bear in the other as she walked back out to the living room and picked up the paper on the table from Hartford that her mother had sent her and a tear ran down her cheek at the headline and the picture of the guy below it.

Local marine dies in Iraq.

He’d got sent off as soon as he was done in California, she’d heard, and worked his way off until he was the commanding officer of his unit. And he’d only had 2 months left of his tour when a random bombing happened.

A tear rolled down Rory’s cheek as she smiled at the picture of him with a few other soldiers, grinning like they were crazy, the desert in the background. The black and white paper not showing his blue eyes but yet, still, somehow even in the still picture she could see the emotions in them.

Rory smiled as she walked back over to the couch and grabbed her laptop again.

Sometimes things happen in life that change your whole point of view on everything. Sometimes someone happens. And it's up to you to take a chance with them or not. To put one foot in front of the other and cross the line you’re always so used to staying behind.

It’s up to you to jump into those reckless eyes and discover whats in their depths. And I promise you will never regret it.

I didn’t. And I’ll never forget the images of that memory.

He did that for me. He gave me one of the greatest gifts of all. He made me realize what I wanted to be. What I wanted to do. Who I was

Tristan.

XXX

Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images

You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick

I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images

And when you left you kissed my lips
You told me you'd never ever forget these images, no

I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy
To walk right in and out of my life?

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do