by Geri Watson
Alyssa blinked. "What happened between you two?"
"Me and Tristan or me and Emily? You only get one answer, so choose carefully," Star squinted.
"Honestly I'd rather know what happened between you and Tristan, so if I only get to know the answer to one, that's the one I'm going with," Alyssa answered, crossing her arms in front of her.
Star was afraid that was the one Alyssa was going to pick. She should have guessed that if given a choice, Alyssa would figure Emily started something and that the Tristan story was juicier. After running her hand through her hair, Star turned toward Alyssa to tell her what happened.
"Tristan and I met by chance in-between classes one day. We felt a connection with each other right away." She looked down at her hands and clasped them together. "It wasn't like anything I'd ever experienced before, so I was reluctant to let it go. We hung out for a few days and then he gave me an ultimatum. Him or Alex...I chose Alex." She looked up at Alyssa again. "Then we didn't talk anymore or see each other again until Tristan came after me. I missed him terribly, but after choosing Alex over him, I didn't know what to say."
"Wow. I was wondering what happened between you and the guy, but Zack told me not to bring it up." Alyssa looked out around the restaurant. "But you broke up with Alex anyway a few weeks later."
"Yes, I did. I care about Alex, but it's not what I have with Tristan. It wouldn't have been fair to lead him on, so I ended it." Star tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I like Tristan," Alyssa said distantly. "He's a great guy." She turned back to look at Star. "I think I'm still in shock about the whole thing."
"Sorry," Star muttered. "We better get going before we're late."
Alyssa looked down at her watch. "Geez, you're right!"
They headed off their separate ways. As Star was walking to class, she wondered again where Zack and Alex had conspiratorially wandered off together. It was highly suspicious. When she got to the classroom, she still hadn't caught sight of Zack and was a little concerned. Then he had come bouncing into the room with something in his closed hands. That worried her a little more. He sat down behind her and spilled out the contents from within his hands. Star could hear whatever it was clatter on the desk. She turned around and looked at him oddly.
"What are those?"
"Fortune telling runes! Aren't they awesome? Alex got them for me for Christmas." Zack smiled happily. "He was showing me how to use them."
"Hm. Interesting." Star examined the small wooden runes with marks burnt into them. "Where did he find those?"
"I dunno," he shrugged. "I didn't ask."
The professor started the class moments later, and Star was forced to turn around and pay attention. Zack stowed away his runes in a little pouch and tucked them safely in his pocket for safekeeping. For the rest of the class, he behaved himself, so Star had no reason to turn around. After it was over and they were walking back to the apartment, she noticed him whistling and rattling the pouch in his pocket. His gift sure did seem to make him happy for some reason.
"How do they work?" Star asked, nodding toward his pocket.
"You ask them a question about the future, and then you get an answer based on what's happened in your past and present," Zack answered.
"For someone who has to work in less than an hour you're awfully perky. Did you ask them something?" Star's voice went up a little, still amused by his demeanor change.
"Yes!" his eyes danced.
"What was it?" she laughed.
"I'm gonna pass all my classes this semester!" he beamed at her.
Star shook her head. "You are so strange sometimes."
Zack smiled widely. "Thank you."
Once she had taken Scout out and come back in, Star headed into her bedroom since Zack was getting ready to leave for his shift. After flopping down in the chair at her desk, she noticed a note taped on her laptop screen. She recognized Tristan's neat handwriting scrawled across it and figured he must have come back to the apartment at some point during the day between classes. Leaning closer she read:
Hey Gorgeous,
I should be home about an hour after you. Dr. Walker wanted to talk to me after Latin class. I thought we could do something tonight since this week has been rough on both of us. Put on something nice and prepare to have some fun!
I love you!
-T
Hm. So they were going out tonight. Beats sitting around the apartment doing nothing or studying, that's for sure. Tristan was right, it had been a rough week on both of them, and they deserved a break. After pulling out a black dress that she had to pull the tags off since she never wore dresses, Star headed into the bathroom to try and attempt an up-do on her hair and reapply her make-up. She wondered what Tristan had in mind.
CHAPTER 34
Setting his keys down on the table in the main room, Tristan took a moment to stretch his back out. It had been a long day. He still had a long way to go before the night was over too considering what he had in store for them. Scout came up wagging her tail, and he bent down to give her the attention she desired. He was glad that Zack and Star hadn't objected to him bringing Scout with him when he decided to stay. He would have missed her terribly.
"Tristan?" Is that you?" Star's voice drifted down the hallway from her room.
"Yeah, it's me," he called back, standing up and making his way toward her bedroom.
When Tristan arrived in her room, her back was to him, and she was putting on earrings. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and kissed the back of her neck gently. Her hair was up in a french twist, and he felt the shiver go down her spine from his touch. Nuzzling her neck and tightening his hold on her made her emit a tiny squeak and she attempted to pull his arms away. Tristan turned her toward him and brought his hands up to her face, kissing her longingly before releasing her and placing a light kiss on her nose. "I missed you," he said softly as his lips turned up in a half-smile and he slid his finger underneath her chin.
A light blush spread across Star's cheeks as she looked up at him. He loved it when she blushed like that. It was such an innocent reaction, and he knew she was anything but that. Stepping back, Tristan appraised her appearance with a low whistle. "You realize now I'm going to have to spruce up; otherwise I'll look out of place next to you."
"Nice try, Tristan. I saw the garment bag hanging up. You were planning on doing that anyway." Star laughed softly.
He let out a low chuckle as he turned to walk into the bathroom. "Regardless, you look stunning in that dress."
"Thanks...what are we doing anyway?" her voice carried over the water as he washed up.
"I'm not telling," He popped his head out of the doorway and grinned at her before going back to getting ready. She was sitting on the bed waiting with Scout's head in her lap.
After changing into a dress shirt and khakis and running his hand through his hair, Tristan flipped off the light switch in the bathroom and exited into the bedroom. Star was now laying back on the bed looking bored, staring at the ceiling. She didn't acknowledge Tristan as he walked by. He figured she was sulking because he didn't tell her where they were going. Scout stood up on the bed and padded her way over to him then nudged his hand to be pet. He obliged and scratched behind her ears as he silently took in Star's form. He hadn't been exaggerating when he said she looked stunning; she almost took his breath away.
"Ready?" he asked.
Star looked up at him and held out her hand, he pulled her up and into his arms. Tristan took a deep breath, inhaling her scent and smiled. A ghost of a smile crossed her features, and she turned away, still trying to be stubborn. Tristan knew she couldn't stay that way for long. He backed into the doorway and held up a finger. "Wait here for just one second." Star's expression did not look amused, but he backed into the hallway watching her before making sure she was going to obey before turning around and getting what he'd left on the table beside his keys. Holding the item behind his back, he waltzed back
to the bedroom. When he reached Star, he looked at her seriously. "Close your eyes."
"Tristan..." she moaned impatiently. He held in a laugh. It was so amusing torturing her.
"Just do it...please?" He put on his most innocent face, and she faltered.
"Fine." Star's eyes closed and Tristan took her hand in his and placed the item within her grasp.
"Okay you can open them now," he said as he stepped back. Her eyes opened, and she blinked a few times before looking up at him confused.
"A black rose?"
He nodded. "They symbolize rebirth..." he stepped in closer and kissed her softly. "…and pure love."
"Doesn't black usually symbolize death and funerals?" she argued.
"It's all about perception, gorgeous." He twirled her around. "Let's go."
He took her to a restaurant in town that had the best French cuisine he knew. When Star sat down and looked at the price of the meals her eyes widened like saucers. Her head shot up, and she looked at him skeptically, Tristan merely nodded at her and ordered the best wine that would match their courses. They had a rough week and deserved a good meal. Besides, it wasn't like he couldn't afford it. Just because he didn't throw money around all of the time didn't mean he never did.
Eventually, Star seemed to relax. Tristan wasn't sure if it was because she was more comfortable, or if it was the wine. A new glass was offered with each course. He'd refrained from drinking more than a single glass since he still needed to drive. Star looked like she was enjoying herself. Her surprise upon realizing it was a five-course meal was amusing. When the chef personally came around to their table to make sure everything was cooked to their liking, her jaw had nearly dropped. He was going to have to get Star used to this type of living.
"Tristan, this place is so romantic," she breathed, looking around.
"I'm glad you like it," he mused.
"And this food is incredible. You remember that scene from 'When Harry Met Sally'?" Star smiled.
He laughed. "That good?"
"I have to refrain from making a scene, it's so mouthwatering," Star went on. "I've never had food this amazing before."
Tristan reached out and took her hand across the table and brushed his thumb over the back of her hand lightly. "You deserve it." He smiled warmly.
They finished dinner and their dessert without rushing. The restaurant had closed around them, but there was no urgency for them to finish up. Tristan somewhat enjoyed the fact that they were the last remaining customers. He felt like they had the whole place to themselves which only made things more perfect for Star.
Their waiter brought them the check and Tristan over-tipped him for all of the hospitality and service they had received. Pocketing his wallet, he reached out his hand to Star, and they exited the restaurant.
As they walked to the car, Tristan watched as she huddled into her coat from the cold and rubbed her arm with his other hand. After he opened the car door for her, he ran around to the other side and got in, then made sure the heat was on so Star could warm up a little.
"Ready for the next part?" He turned toward her as he rubbed his hands together to warm them.
"There's more?" she asked, surprised.
"Yep." Tristan pulled out of the parking lot and headed down the road.
Star casually picked up Tristan’s phone and opened his Spotify app. He didn't care, but he thought it was interesting that she was all of the sudden interested in what he listened to. Good thing he had nothing to hide on his phone, or she would have found it. He made a few more turns and stopped at a traffic light. Turning to look at her, Tristan gave Star a humored smile.
"Find anything compelling?"
"You listen to everything. I've never seen a more eclectic collection of music or even heard of some of these bands." She shook her head. "And I think I drank too much."
Not being able to hold it back, Tristan laughed heartily. "That's entirely possible; you did drink my wine too."
"Well, I didn't know we were going anywhere else!" she complained.
He arrived at their destination and turned off the car. "I'm sure you'll be fine."
Star looked out the windshield to see where they'd ended up. She looked so confused. "Why are we at the firehouse?"
Tristan got out of the car and opened her door. "Because it's poker night and the guys wanted to meet you." He flashed her a mischievous smile and helped Star out of the car.
"You play poker?" She raised an eyebrow. "How...out of the ordinary. Very frat boyish of you." she teased.
Tristan wrapped her arm around his, and they walked toward the building. "I had to keep myself busy while you were gone somehow."
When they entered, four men looked over and welcomed them warmly. Two of them slapped Tristan on the back as they got to the table set up with poker chips galore and money already in the middle. One man stood up and held his cards to his chest, then held out his other hand to Star. He was the tallest out of the group and was usually the EMT on duty when Tristan wasn't. The rest of them were the firemen on-call that night.
"You must be the one Tristan's always going on about," he beamed. "He's crazy about you," he whispered.
"Real subtle, Tony." Tristan laughed shortly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Ah, she was gonna find out anyway," Tony responded with a glint in his eye. "That's Roger, and Mark and this guy over here is Kevin." He pointed them out and ruffled Kevin's hair. "Keith and Toby are sleeping, but they may be up again later."
"Guys, this is Star," Tristan motioned toward her. "We were wondering if you'd let us partake in poker night."
"Hm. Depends. Did you bring your wallet?" Roger piped up.
"Don't I always?" Tristan replied flippantly.
"Find this man and his knockout some chairs!" Mark spoke up, and Kevin got up to fetch some. He returned quickly, seating them next to each other at the empty side of the table the men had made for them.
"You don't have to play if you don't want to," Tristan whispered in Star's ear.
She surprised him with a sly smile. "What if I want to?"
He shrugged as he flipped the chair around and rolled up his shirtsleeves before sitting down. "Deal us both in then."
Star was good. She was really good. It made Tristan seriously wonder where she had learned to play. Between the two of them, they racked up quite a pile of chips. The money in the center was for the final person. Before long, the boys' chips were dwindling down to nothing and Star, and Tristan were still going strong.
Star had pulled her hair down from the French twist, and it hung slightly curled down her shoulders. Her eyes shifted slowly from one player to another before she placed her bets. She was quite the little vixen; Tristan couldn't have been more proud of her.
"Come on Roger, in or out?" she taunted him, sliding her cards against one another.
Tristan took a long pull from his water bottle and set it back down next to him. "All in or fold, Roger." he prompted.
"I know, I know! Man, I'm never playing poker with you two again!" he moaned. "All in." He slid his chips to the center of the table.
Tristan glanced over at Star, whose face spread into a small smile. "Are you gonna take me out too?" he smirked.
"Won't know unless you play," she smirked back. The other men hooted at their banter. They may have been out of the game, but they were still sitting at the table harassing each other.
Tristan shot her a bemused look and shook his head slightly. "Alright, you asked for it." He slid his chips in the center of the table. "Call."
Mark laid down our of a kind. Star's grin widened. Tristan was dying to know what she had. "Go ahead," he nodded.
"You first," she barbed back.
"Think you've got a pretty good hand, do you?" he cocked an eyebrow.
Star's eyes leveled and met his dead on. "Show 'em, babe."
Tristan pursed his lips and lay down his straight flush, beating Mark's hand, and reached for the chips. Star's hand stopped him befor
e he got to them.
"Uh uh, not so fast there, sweetie." She tossed her cards one by one to the center of the table.
As each card hit the felt, Tristan's eyes went wider. She had a royal flush! Impossible! His jaw dropped at the sight of it. Star laughed wickedly and collected her winnings. The rest of the men sat back in their chairs stunned. They'd all been taken out by Tristan's girlfriend. How humiliating. So much for being big, bad and macho. Tristan yawned and stretched, then glanced at his watch. It was after 1 a.m. already. Zack was probably wondering where the hell they were.
"Well guys, it's been fun," Tristan voiced. "But we've got to head out."
