Nineteen year old Jim Frayne ran a hand through his red hair. Staring down at the papers and text books that littered his desk, he sighed. He needed a break. He glanced out the window of the New York dorm room he shared with Brian Belden. Brian. Jim was seriously regretting not driving up to Sleepyside with the brown-haired med school student. Jim had told him that he couldn't possibly come to spend spring break at home, especially with all the work he had to do. A paper due at the end of the week, the giant project before the end of the term. It was three in the afternoon, and after working non-stop since nine in the morning, he had a serious case of boredom.

There was a knock on the door. Jim got up, puzzled, and walked into the main room of their apartment. When the door opened, he was enveloped by a mass of blonde curls, whose owner threw her arms around the red head. Jim put a hand up on her back to brace himself from the sturdy yet petite blonde, and when she pulled away, her face shone at him.

"Trixie?" he asked in surprise, looking in shock at his seventeen year old girlfriend.

"Surprise!" she exclaimed, beaming. "I came to visit for the spring break." She saw his shocked expression and frowned. "You don't look very happy to see me."

Jim shook his head hurriedly. "No— I'm just surprised." He looked around uncomfortably, running a hand through his red hair.

Trixie didn't seem to notice his anxiety. "Moms and Dad agreed to let me visit for the week. School starts again on Tuesday, so I'm driving back on Sunday."

Jim looked at her curiously. "You drove here by yourself?"

Trixie giggled. "Well, actually, I drove here with your parents. Your dad has business in The City, so they said they'd drive me up here when they were coming."

Jim was surprised at the news. "Are they going to be staying here?" he said, referring to the New York apartment. Mr. Wheeler owned three large apartment suites in the building. The Bob-Whites used them when they came to New York for a vacation a few years ago. Now Brian and Jim used one of the rooms as a dorm.

Trixie nodded. "Your dad went to a meeting and your mom's doing some shopping. They said they'd be back at six and then they were going to take you, me, and Brian out for dinner."

Trixie went and peeped into Brian's room, aware that her eldest brother hadn't come out to meet her.

"Where's Brian?" she asked Jim, who looked increasingly more anxious. "It's Saturday, so he's not in classes. Is he—"

"Trix," Jim interrupted. "That's the thing," he said nervously. "We had no idea you were coming, so Brian was going to surprise you guys by coming home." He watched her expression, which filled with understanding. "He's on the highway already. Probably half-an-hour away from Sleepyside."

Trixie's eyes widened, looking around self-consciously. "So you mean we're…"

"Here alone," Jim finished, putting his hands in his pockets nervously.

The situation dawned on her, and she looked worried. "Daddy is going to be so mad," she said, thinking about her father. "He almost didn't let me come, and he wouldn't have if he didn't think Brian was here."

Jim nodded in understanding, remembering Trixie's father, and how protective he was of his daughter. "We should call him now and tell him before Brian comes, or else…" He didn't have to finish for Trixie to know what he meant. The blonde pulled out her cell phone. "I'll call them first. It'll be easier that way. You should call your parents and tell them," she said.

"Maybe I should call Brian as well," Jim suggested.

Trixie shook her head. "Let's not worry him. I'd hate it if he turned around and came back. I don't want to ruin his spring break because of me."

Jim nodded in understanding. "You're right. I'm sure your parents will tell him, anyways."

Trixie made the call. Just as she hoped, her mother answered.

"Hi, Moms," Trixie said, trying to keep her voice neutral.

"Hey, Sweetie," her mother answered, her usual cheerful self. "Did you arrive safely?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah," Trixie said, figuring out how to bring up the subject. "Look, Moms, there's something you should know. I got here… and… well, Jim's here, and he told me that… Brian left this morning to Sleepyside to surprise everyone there." She hurried out the last bit, biting her lip.

There was a small silence on the other side of the phone. Finally, Trixie heard her mother sigh knowingly. "Goodness, Trixie," she said, and Trixie could almost hear her shaking her head. "That's a…" Problem, Trixie knew she was thinking, but didn't say it. "I… Well, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are there, so it's not like you and Jim are entirely alone. Just…" Trixie could hear that her mom was unsure of what to tell her daughter. The situation was so abstract to them both that they weren't sure how to go about it. Her mother sighed. "Trixie, I'm just going to tell you to do what's right. I know you and Jim are both responsible, so I know you won't get into any trouble. Just remember the rules that we laid down before, and…" she struggled to think of something else. "If you need something to do, you always have that homework you brought with you. Maybe Jim could help you with that. That's all I can say to you, but you're going to have to talk with your father." Trixie gulped. Her mother was usually level-headed and calm about everything, but her dad… well, Trixie didn't know what to expect.

She waited for her dad to come on the phone. When he did, Trixie knew immediately that her mom had briefed him on the situation, which Trixie was grateful for.

"Oh, Princess," he breathed into the phone, sounding exasperated.

"Hi, Daddy," she said nervously.

"What are we going to do with this…" he wondered aloud, his head spinning. He sighed, finding his resolve. "Look, honey, I know you're responsible, and so is Jim. Just… don't get into any trouble, okay Pumpkin? I'll call Matt and talk to him as well, but I guess… just be reasonable. Don't… you know what I mean. Follow all of the rules, and…" He sighed once more. "I'll see you at home on Monday. A virgin." Trixie blushed bright red.

"Yes, Daddy," was all she said.

Peter sighed once more. "Okay, put Jim on the phone."

Trixie obediently looked to the red head, who had just finished his call with his parents. She handed him the phone, whispering, "He's more miffed than anything," before watching expectantly as Jim took the call. Trixie couldn't hear what her dad was saying, but she could only guess as she saw Jim pale and flush, getting out the 'Yes, sir's and the 'No, sir's and the 'I will's and 'I won't's.

Finally, he hung up, breathing a sigh of relief. He shook his head, giving Trixie a small smile. "He's going to kill me one of these days," he said, handing over her phone.

Trixie chuckled. "I hope he waits until after the break."

Jim nodded. He nodded his head to the kitchen. "Are you hungry? We have some left over pizza in the fridge, but we can order more if you want. There's some water and some pop there too, if you're thirsty."

Trixie smiled gratefully. "Thanks. I just had lunch. I'll grab some water, though," she said, swinging open the fridge and opening a bottle of water. She took a sip and then left it on the counter top.

Jim grabbed it and took a long sip, and Trixie laughed, gently swatting his arm. "Hey," she protested, receiving a grin.

"What do you want to do?" he asked, gesturing around. "There's not much to do in here, but…"

Trixie smiled, a thought coming to her. "You could always help me with my math homework," she suggested slyly.

Jim seemed to consider it for a moment, then looked at her mischievously. "Maybe," he said. "But I never did get a proper hello."

Trixie smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Hello, James Frayne," she said, and he grinned, fitting his lips against hers.