The third time Tristan ran into Hildy she was nineteen and it wasn't an encounter he could shake off so easily this time.

      Hildy had graduated high school and was now living in an apartment with a roommate in the city. She attended the college nearby and was trying her best to be an adult. She dated boys her age, but deep in her mind, she always thought of Tristan. She imagined what kissing him would be like, what making love to him would be like and what having him tell her he loved her would sound like. Sometimes she even thought of being married to him, having his children and growing old together. What burned even brighter in her mind was the fact that she was now nineteen, legally an adult. This put her in the same playing field as Tristan. No more kiddy pool for her, instead she was upgraded to Adult Swim.

      She thought of him often, at least once a day, so to see him walk into the same café where she sat drawing in her sketch book, made her stomach jump twelve feet high. Her heart skipped rapidly and time may as well have gone into slow motion as she watched him. He looked older now, more mature possibly but still attractive. She watched him gaze over the pastries in the glass counter, then point to one and proceed to place an order for coffee. Hildy knew this was her moment to go up to him and she had been waiting years to see him again. Hildy bit her lip while nervously jiggling her leg, which was crossed over the other and she dug her palms into the bench she was sitting on. Then without another second of hesitation, she sprang to her feet and made her way. From behind him she stood on her tip-toes and placed her fingerless gloved hands over his eyes.

"Karah, cut it out!" Tristan giggled and tried to pry the hands off but Hildy quickly jerked them away.

"No, it's Hildy," she said with disappointment.

      Tristan whipped around to face her. His eyes brightening for a moment as he gazed at an older, and strikingly attractive Hildy, but then he remembered their last encounter and how much trouble she was.

"What are you doing here?"

"I go to the college near by. I'm studying Physical Therapy. I also live a few blocks from here." Hildy pointed with her finger.

"Oh. Congratulations. I think I remember my mom mentioning something about that." Tristan looked around the cafe, clearly expecting this Karah woman to walk in.

"Do you live around here?"

"Not really. Just work." Tristan placed his hands in his pockets and fumbled with the loose change in them.

"Expecting someone? A girlfriend?" Hildy asked.

"A friend," Tristan found himself saying, even though Karah had become more than just a friend.

       He was quite fond of her actually and felt that it could lead into something serious. Which was a nice change considering his string of failed relationships. However, with Hildy standing before him, he couldn't help but notice the beautiful young woman she blossomed into. Though not as tall as her mother, her slender frame made her appear statuesque. From the looks of her legs in her plum colored mini skirt, he could see that they were still sculpted, even with black tights on. His eyes glided up to her waist which was adorned with a belt, making her look nipped in like an hourglass. Her wraparound sweater was cut low, revealing cleavage which had also enhanced from the last time he saw her. She was like a petite combination between her mother and Lorraine.

     Realizing he was examining her body a little too closely, Tristan focussed back to her eyes. He could feel the sweat beading up under his shirt and he just knew that it was going to leave sweat marks on his new button-up as he tugged on the collar. Hearing the cafe door chime, Tristan finally saw the woman he was waiting for walk through the door. He waved and she smiled gushingly as she approached him.

"Hiiii." She greeted, letting the word linger as she leaned in to plant a kiss on Tristan's lips.

Hildy watched with curiosity as Tristan pulled away while running an anxious hand through his dark wavy hair and cleared his throat.

"Karah, I'd like to introduce you to Hildy. I've known her since she was a kid. She's the daughter of my mom's best friend." He motioned to her.

"Oh, hello!" Karah said enthusiastically as her smile grew wider. "It's so great to meet someone from Tristan's hometown."

"She's attending college here. Just graduated High School recently. Right Hildy?"

"I went to that college!" Karah shrilled. "What are you studying?"

"Physical therapy," Hildy replied.

       She couldn't help but size Karah up as she clung to Tristan's arm with a warm glow on her cheeks. But, she did seem nice enough. She was far from what Hildy imagined would be Tristan's type. Karah was brunette, short, pear shaped and had practically no makeup on. Not at all like Lorraine who was picture perfect and the object of men's fantasies.

"Tristan, she should come to the art exhibit tonight!" Karah suggested with a friendly slap to his arm.

"I don't think it would interest her," Tristan replied.

"Of course it will! You'll just have to come and see for yourself. I promise it won't disappoint. My friend is the artist so I've already seen some of the pieces and trust me, its worth going." Karah insisted.

"Kar, we should really get going." Tristan interrupted as he tugged on Karah's sleeve.

"It's 442 Lincoln Ave." Karah blurted to Hildy as she was being pulled away. "Great meeting you."

      Tristan waved his fingers to Hildy as they walked out and into the open air. This blast from the past had him feeling uneasy. Hildy was older now but he was in a good place with Karah so to have the young girl dangled before him like bait on a wire, felt like trouble brewing. He twinned his fingers into Karah's, lifted her hand up to his mouth and kissed it.

"You're great," he complimented.

"Oh I know," Karah replied with a giggle. "That girl, Hildy, she seems sweet. I hope she comes to the gallery tonight."

"I don't know." Tristan sighed. "I'm sure she has friends to party with or studying do."

Karah stopped walking which made Tristan come to a hault. "You don't want her going, do you?"

"Umm, uhh..."

"Is it cause she has a little crush on you? She does, doesn't she?" Karah's face brightened with a large smile and she teasingly poked him.

"No." Tristan shook his head laughing. "It's not that. I kind of dated her cousin Lorraine off and on. It was a weird relationship." Tristan continued to walk again and Karah followed with her hand placed back into his. "Things ended sourly so its a little awkward bumping into Hildy since she really looks up to Lorraine. She probably thinks I'm a scumbag."

"Hah." Karah leaned her head back. "Are you kidding? It's totally obvious that she has a crush on you. There's no way she thinks you're a scumbag."

"So, if you think she has a crush on me, why invite her?"

"Why not." Karah shrugged. "Besides, its nice being able to meet people from your childhood."

"I wouldn't exactly say we grew up together. I was fifteen when she was born."

       Kid or not, in the back of Tristan's mind he couldn't help but find Hildy magnetizing. Perhaps it was the fact she was now an adult that made him allow the slightest bit of awknowlegement that she was indeed attractive? It no longer felt taboo to look at her body and admire it the way he did by the lake five years prior. He thought about these things as he got ready for the art show and on the drive to pick up Karah from her apartment. Then for the first hour he looked around anxiously for Hildy and even lost his focus during conversations.

       Hildy looked herself over in the mirror and her roommate gave her a thumbs up through the reflection. She decided on a slinky black mini dress which draped on the chest to show a hint of cleavage. She added ankle boots, a leather jacket and wine colored lipstick. She left her hair down but let it cascade over one shoulder, it would be more playful that way. Or at least that's what Lorraine always told her to do, claiming how men loved it. Strangely, Hildy couldn't help but feel slimy going to see Tristan. She knew how much he hurt her cousin and how he was like a dangerous addiction for Lorraine.

      Somewhere in the five years, he and Lorrain began having an affair. Tristan was single of course but Lorraine was married and the affair almost caused her to divorce. Hildy only knew this because for whatever reason, Lorraine often confided in her. She knew that her cousin was in love with Tristan, which was why going to the art exhibit tugged at her conscience. Nevertheless, off she went and when she arrived she carefully kept her distance, but sneakily stole glances at Tristan and Karah as they conversed with friends.

       Two hours into the art exhibition, Tristan had forgotten that Hildy was invited to the gallery and he managed to relax. With a glass of bourbon in his hand, he cracked jokes with friends, creating erruptive laughter from the group and during breaks in conversation, he was affectionate with Karah. He shamelessly kissed her neck, squeezed her butt and looked at her lovingly as she talked about work. Unable to resist how turned on he was by the way she looked in her evening dress and Hollywood-esque waves, he lead her away from the group and to a painting that was more secluded to make out with her.

       As he passionately kissed her neck, he caught a glimpse of Hildy in the distance. His stomach tightened and his heart pitter pattered. She appeared to be studying a painting closely and even reached out to touch it, but was quickly scolded by security. When she turned back to the painting, she locked eyes with Tristan and smiled devilishly. A fluttering flick went through his stomach again and the moment felt overwhelming as he stared at Hildy while having another woman wrapped in his arms.

       The smile spread wider on Hildy's face and she waved her fingers slowly, just the way Tristan had earlier that morning. Stepping away from the painting, which was an abstract image of back muscles which almost looked real, Hildy made her way through the crowd to Tristan. He let go of Karah and motioned to Hildy as she approached.

"She made it."

"Indeed she did." Karah clasped Hildy's hands in hers and leaned in to plant a kiss on each of her cheeks. "So are you just now getting here?" Karah asked with her hands still in Hildy's.

"I've been here for about an hour."

"An hour!" Karah exclaimed and then began walking, which prompted Tristan and Hildy to follow. She linked her arm through Tristan's but kept her hand in Hildy's. "Why didn't you come say hello sooner?"

"I started to look for you guys but then I got so engulfed in the paintings."

"Aren't they brilliant! Tell me, which one is your favorite?" Karah gushed.

"The one over there." Hildy pointed to the painting of the back muscles.

       She genuinely found the detail in it so beautiful. Especially because the background was abstract but the muscles themselves were left to look very much real. No abstraction. Just the simple yet unique structure of muscle tissue, tendons and ligaments. "I'm taking a class right now on massaging the muscles. It's important to be careful with how you treat each persons muscles. What could feel good to you might bruise another."

Karah let out a mischievous giggle. "Are you calling me a masochist?"

Hildy's eyes widened, she looked to Tristan and her face turned scarlet. "I... don't know what that means."

"Good! You don't need to," Tristan quickly chimed.

"Oh, you really are such a sweet girl!" Karah giggled again and embraced Hildy. "Would you like to join our group for dinner?"

"Karah. She's got better things to do," Tristan protested.

"I suppose you're right..." Karah replied with a playful sigh. "It's just a group of us thirty-something's, we'll probably bore you to death, but you're more than welcome to come along."

"I don't mind!" Hildy said eagerly. "I haven't had dinner yet."

"Perfect!" Karah flicked her hand and a black laced fan exanded from her fingers. She waved it in front of her eyes flirtatiously. "It's a speakeasy... actually it's meant to look like one. All of the wait staff and bartenders are dressed up like the 40's."

       The rest of the night felt as if it were on flash forward as Hildy was whipped into an old Chevy Bellaire and driven down city streets with the twinkle of lights zipping by. Karah popped some bubbly in the back seat and began drinking straight from the bottle. Even Tristan seemed to let his guard down by taking a swig. Leaning forward, Karah began chatting up a storm about traveling to through Europe and it made her sound as if she had lived ninety-two years instead of twenty-nine. Her friend Alex, who was the artist from the exhibit sat in the front seat but was twisted backwards to face his friends and make eyes at Hildy. The entire car ride felt surreal to her, like a dream or movie. She often wondered what Tristan's life was like and now she was getting a full dose of it.

       They arrived to the restaurant, walked passed the bouncers at the front door as if they were celebrities and were escorted to a VIP table. More champagne was uncorked, cocktails were passed around and no one bothered to ask if Hildy was of drinking age. Small plates of food were gorged on and when they were licked clean, more were ordered. Money was waved around to wait staff as if the green bills were endless, and at snaps of fingers they got what they wanted without delay. Hildy's world spun around her with excitement as she experienced what it was like to be successful and wealthy. Nothing seemed out of reach to this group.

       Jazz music blared in the background, which enticed some from the group to dance and quite surprisingly, Tristan and Karah. They swirled on the dance floor, drunkenly kissing and once again, Hildy watched, wishing it was her instead. She watched longingly with her elbow propped up and resting her chin in her palm, until Alex lifted her up from the seat and threw her over his shoulder. She nervously fumbled for the edges of her dress, making sure her bottom wasn't being exposed, or the lace thong she was wearing, but laughed hysterically. Alex settled her down on the dance floor, pulled her in close and swayed with her.

      Tristan watched Alex press his body up to Hildy's small frame and felt the need to lunge at him. She was too young to have a grown man like Alex press himself against her. Especially when Alex let his hand linger lower than the small of her back, causing her dress to rise up and show off a bit of cheek. Tristan knew what Alex was doing. He saw him do it all the time. Meet a girl, charm her, sweep her off her feet by showering her with attention and gifts, have a passionate affair, but then leave them once he got bored. The leaving part usually occured once he found new inspiration for his art pieces. Tristan couldn't let Hildy fall victim to this. She was too young and clearly star-gazed over the lavish lifestyle of his friends.

        By the time they were ready to leave, Karah was blitzed but Tristan had sobered up over watching Alex place his hands all over Hildy's body. They left the restaurant and stood around outside deciding who would take a taxi and who would drive whom to their apartments. The air felt chilly and Hildy rubbed her arms while chattering her teeth. Alex of course seized the opportunity to wrap his arms around her. He whispered in her ear an invitation to his apartment, which Tristan overheard. He was about to object but Karah beat him to it.

"Oh no, NO Alex. You will definitely not be taking her home. She is young and innocent and I will not have you corrupting her!" Karah drunkenly wagged her finger at him. "Come on sweetheart." She pulled Hildy away from Alex and thrust her toward Tristan. "Babe, I leave you in charge of making sure she gets home safe."

"Kar, I can call her a taxi. I should really see you home instead."

"Excuse me Mr." Karah protested by poking Tristan's chest and then gripping the fabric. "You WILL see that she gets  home safely or else no nookie for you later."

      Karah took a playful nibble of his lip and then backed away as a taxi pulled up. Like a flea, she quickly jumped inside before anyone could stop her. It all happened so fast that there was no time to argue. Besides, Karah would have argued over it until Tristan was black and blue. He had lost verbal battles with her before, so he knew better. As the taxi pulled away from the curb, she stuck half of her torso out of the window and blew kisses.

"I'll see you later, my sexy lover!" she shouted with a complete drunken red faced glow.

       The taxi disappeared down the street and Tristan was left to escort Hildy home. Sure he could have shoved her in a taxi and lied about seeing her home, but he knew that Karah would be furious if she found out. For the first few minutes they sat silently in the old Chevy with only the sound of the windshield wipers as they swept away raindrops from the glass. Hildy stared out of the window, gazing at the streetlights racing by. She wore a slight smile as she thought about the night, how it excited her to have Alex pay so much attention to her. How he pressed his body to hers and wasn't shy to grab her with eagerness. Plus she saw how Tristan had watched them, clearly he had been bothered by Alex's interaction with her.

      Hildy lifted the collar of her leather jacket and inhaled the smell of Alex's cologne which lingered on it. She even day dreamed about what it would be like to sleep with him.

"Hildy!" Tristan said firmly, which snapped her out of her fantasizing.

"What?" she replied.

"You're not paying attention. Where do I turn next?"

"At the next block turn right, then down five more and make a left," she said with irritation.

       Following her directions, he ended up in front of her apartment and parked. He hesitated on whether to turn off the engine or keep it running. Or whether to walk her to the front door or just watch her from the car? It started to rain harder so he thought that perhaps she would understand if he didn't get out of the car? He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he faught with his thoughts. Hildy cleared her throat which made him realize how awkwardly silent it had become.

"I had a good time tonight, your friends are fun. Thanks for letting me come along."

"Glad you enjoyed yourself." Tristan nodded.

"That guy Alex gave me his number, says he wants to show me around."

"He what!? Hildy, no. Throw that number away."

"Why? I thought he was nice." She shrugged.

"Nice?" Tristan twisted his body to face her. "No Hildy. He's too old for you and will use you up and then spit you out. Thats what men like him do until they find their next muse."

"Maybe he won't. May he genuinely likes me. Besides, I wouldn't mind a boyfriend."

"Alex isn't the relationship type, Hildy."

"Maybe I can change him." She folded her arms.

"No, you can't. You're too young to understand." Tristan cupped her chin with his hand but she pulled away.

"I am NOT too young!"

"Yes, you are!"

"No, I'm not!" Hildy growled in his face

"YES. You are!" He growled back.

"NO." Hildy shouted with her nose practically touching his.

"YES!" he shouted back, but Hildy didn't back down or look away.

       They glared into each others eyes, Hildy sizing him up, but Tristan was feeling weakness as a desire to kiss her washed over him. He knew he shouldn't. She was nineteen for goodness sake and he was thirty-four. Two years younger and she would be a minor and he would be considered a child predator! But it was too late to turn back, because Hildy planted her lips firmly on Tristan's and he felt his lips return the kiss. Then, as if going into pilot mode, his hands glided to her waistline which was so tiny and delicate in his large hands. He pulled Hildy on top of his lap and kissed her ferociously as his hands grazed her thighs. The rain drummed harder onto the windshield, as if urging him for more. He kissed her neck and trailed her skin with his teeth, then he slid his hands under her dress and let them wander where they shouldn't, encouraging gasps from her. It was as if his hands had become possessed with minds of their own and they refused to obey his conscience, which was shouting at him to stop.

"Make love to me," Hildy managed to moan through kisses.

       As if being teleported back into his body, Tristan pushed away from her. All of a sudden he had clarity, realizing what he was doing and the betrayal of Karah's trust. He shook his head, saying no, but Hildy begged him and kissed him while moving her hands toward his pants zipper. He shook his head again, but this time moved her off from his lap.

      Hildy sat back feeling completely rejected and silly, but most of all she felt her heart crushing. Why didn't he want her? Why did he insist on constantly keeping her at a distance?

"What's wrong with me?" Hildy's voice cracked as tears began flooding her eyelids.

Tristan rested his elbow on the armrest and covered his face with his hand. "It's not you, Hildy. You've done nothing wrong. I'm at fault. I should know better."

"But I'm nineteen now. That means I'm an adult... it's ok now. Before we couldn't... b-b-but now we can," she explained desperately.

"No." Tristan shook his head again, which was still buried in his palm. "I'm with Karah, I love her and you are way too young for me... It's not right."

"But..."

"Please just go now," Tristan replied, his voice sounding like gravel and a hint of someone on the verge of tears from regret.

      Hildy let out soft sobs as she got out of the car and as soon as the door closed, Tristan drove off. Hildy stood alone in the rain, crying, until she could no longer see his brake lights.

      That night as Hildy dried herself off in her apartment, she swore to herself that she would never lay eyes on Tristan Lee ever again.