Nazz had succeeded in turning Marie's hair and face back to normal and had insisted that the real makeover would come the day of the pageant. Double-D was satisfied with this as he dapperly made his way to the Park n' Flush trailer park the next day and approached the Kanker sisters' own bluish trailer. He reached up to knock on the hard metal door but halted when he heard strange grunting noises coming from the other side of it. Gulping, he walked to the back and took a peek at the origin of the sounds.

Marie was there, gritting her teeth and puffing as she lifted an extremely heavy looking barbell. The sweat was sliding off her forehead and her hair was rather damp.

Double-D timidly walked to her and whispered, "Marie?"

Marie turned her head to him and barely forced out, "Heya, Pumpkin!"

She put the barbell on a contraption situated on the top of the bench she was on. Double-D had no idea what it was called and wasn't going to attempt an inquiry.

Instead, he chirped, "And how are you today?"

"Fine, I guess", Marie replied "I've been pumpin' weights for an hour!"

She mischievously batted her eyelashes at him and added slyly, "Ya know, I can lift two-hundred pounds. Wanna feel my arm muscles?"

"Um, no thank you. However, I did come with a purpose. Here!" he said as he handed her a pile of books.

"What are these for?"

"They are for improving your vocal talent as well as improving your posture!" he exclaimed as he handed them to her.

However, in the process of passing them, one of the books toppled down.

"Oops!" Double-D cried "Allow me to retrieve it."

He bent down to grab it, and as he did so, his posterior bumped the barbell right off its holding. The heavy piece of equipment fell nearly on Marie's neck, and as she didn't expect it, she yelped and grasped it with both her hands to keep it from squishing her neck.

"Double-D!" she squeaked out.

Double-D, turning around, cried out, "Oh my! Marie, is there anything you wish me to do?"

"I'M HERE WITH A BARBELL ON MY NECK! HELP ME GET IT OFF!" she screeched.

"Oh, indeed! I'm sorry!"

Double-D did as she demanded and struggled to pick it up (amidst many grunts and other exclamations).

Marie, however, had merely been surprised by the incident and finally gathered her strength and hoisted the barbell back to its carrier; even while Double-D was yanking with all his might.

His arms were still grabbing onto the thing, and when she replaced it, he dragged along the ground. He was now strung above the bench and dangerously close to Marie.

The corners of his mouth drooped a little and he said softly, "Oh, I am most apologetic."

Marie, meanwhile, was trying very hard not to move and couldn't help but sweat at the fact that Double-D was within half an inch of her.

She leaned her head further back on the bench and somehow choked out, "I'm fine. No problemo."

Double-D smiled a little; an adorable, smile in which the gap in his tooth was clearly visible and his eyes glowed a little.

Marie had a nearly uncontrollable urge to hide her face in her hands like a bashful toddler.

"Ok, what's happening here?" she thought "And why am I sweating? Get a hold of yourself, Marie! Quit acting like a baby! You're a Kanker for cryin' out loud! And Kankers don't sweat because of a silly, little….sweet, smart, guy."

She mentally gasped and thought harshly, "Girl, cut it out! You're the one with the power! So what if he treats you real nice. And is within kissing range. And not running away."

Double-D was also in a flurry of emotion.

"Oh my!" he thought as he agonizingly tried to decipher them "How am going to remove myself from this embarrassing predicament? I suppose she has something amorous planned for just such a moment."

"I got absolutely nothin' planned for somethin' like this!" Marie thought frantically "How the heck do I tell him to move out of the way?"

"Perhaps I should slide my fingers to the right of this monstrous barbell. Then maybe…."

"I could kiss him. That would really scare him off. But I can't move! I feel like…."

"….I've been paralyzed to this one spot! Oh, good Lord! What am I going to do? And what is that scent that seems to smell like…."

"….a book! Oh, man, he smells so good! Kinda like a book and kinda like that mango soap I'm always askin' my mom to get! Mmmmm. It makes me think of a…."

"….Mimosa pudica! That is the odor she has! Just like a Mimosa pudica! My, she smells quite…."

"….sweet. He hasn't insulted me or told me to move it or anything. He always makes sure to…."

"….never let anyone know what she is thinking. I wonder why? I suppose it would be hard for anyone to…."

"….get out of this. I wish I could just pass out so I won't have to deal with it! It's getting to be such a pain! I hope I could…."

"….find out if she has any friends. She seems to be a strong and resilient girl, which is admirable. But it does not seem like she desires…."

"….to yell at me or nothin'. He's just being really quiet and nice. It would be nice if he…."

"….decides to be my friend. She may be a tad bit rambunctious, but I have observed that she does have certain qualities that are rather fetching. After all, Eddy is rather like that and he is my best friend."

Marie and Double-D remained in their current, uncomfortable positions shortly after their musings had ceased.

Finally, Double-D said softly,"I am sorry Marie."

Marie forced a grin and replied, "Yeah, uh, well at least you know I didn't start it this time. Hee, hee."

Double-D chuckled a little and said, "Well, I suppose I should get up."

He struggled to attempt this and let out many exclamations of, "Oof! Eeek! Urk!" as he did so.

After watching for a minute, Marie finally grabbed him under his arms and righted him.

"Oh, thank you, Marie," Double-D said softly.

Looking for the fastest way to diminish the obvious awkwardness that was building up, Marie cried out, "Well, let's get to the posturey stuff, already!"

"Oh, yes, of course," Double-D replied "But let us wait until Eddy and Ed have arrived."