"Redfield is still in the lead," Paris cried as she tore her way across the dirt.

"Of course they are Paris," said Rory who was being dragged by the former. "Scores don't change overnight, you know. Where are we going? I have trivia in an hour."

"There's a three-legged race I want us to win."

"What? Paris, those races are worth, like, five points each," Rory pointed out. "And that's if you come first."

"If we're going to beat Redfield this year, then this is how we're going to do it. We are going to enter every single event that's on offer," Paris informed her. "I've already got Madeleine and Louise covering the egg and spoon race."

"But who will cover the sack race?" Rory mocked her.

"I've got David on that one," said Paris, unaware that she was being made fun of.

Paris ran over to the start line, with Rory reluctantly following.

"Is it too late to join?" she yelled at the starter.

"You're just in time. Line up," he replied, handing her a green tie. "School?"

"Chilton," Paris called over her shoulder as she yanked Rory to the start line.

"Oh, hi Tristan," said Rory as they lined up next to him and Marcus.

"Hey Rory. Hello Paris," said Tristan, securing the blue tie around his and Marcus' ankles.

"Don't talk to him Rory. He's the enemy," Paris whispered.

"You didn't seem to have any trouble with her talking to me last night," said Tristan overhearing.

Paris humphed and tightened the strap.

"Ow, Paris I needed that circulation," Rory complained.

"Okay everybody take your marks," yelled the starter.

The whistle blew.

The pair on the other side of Paris and Rory fell down immediately. Rory stole a glance at Paris to find that the tiny girl had a smirk on her face.

"They should have kept their distance," said Paris under her breath.

Paris and Rory were in first place and mere meters away from the finish line when Rory felt herself stumbling.

She felt an arm come out beside her to steady her.

"Easy there, Mary," called Tristan, letting go once he was sure she had her balance. "Wouldn't want you to fall."

Tristan and Marcus overtook them and won the race.

"Second!" Paris yelled at Rory. "We finished SECOND!"

"Hey we're lucky we finished at all," Rory pointed out.

"Merlet Academy 5 points. Chilton Prep. 3 points," yelled the starter.

Paris ripped off the tie, threw it down and gave a frustrated yell.

"Stay away from us!" Paris yelled at Tristan. She stalked off, eyes blazing.

"She's grateful. Really," Rory assured him. "Thanks for your help. It was very…decent of you.

"Don't act so surprised."

"I'm not…surprised."

"It was no problem," said Tristan, the smile fading from his face. "I guess I'm not a bad guy after all."

"No one said you were-" Rory started.

"I'll see you later," Tristan interrupted, walking away with a bewildered Marcus running after him.

"Yeah, I'll see you later," Rory said to his retreating back.

"What was that all about?" asked Marcus.

"What?"

"That whole, chivalrous thing and then the dissing thing!"

"I didn't diss her," Tristan defended himself.

"Hey, there was major dissage there."

"So?"

"So? I thought you were trying to…you know. Woo her," Marcus finished.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Marc."

"I don't? Oh, I see. That must have been ME that's been moping around for the past five months, mooning after some girl. Silly me, I forgot," said Marcus sarcastically. "What happened to trying to impress her, huh?"

"Who am I kidding? There's no way I'll ever be good enough for her."

"Hello? You just did a GOOD thing. You stopped her from falling and potentially flashing her undies… Hey, way to ruin the fun for the rest of us, bud!" Marcus cuffed him around the head.

"Cut it out!"

"WHAT CHANGED?"

"She just…she doesn't see me that way. All she'll ever think of me as, is the jerk that wouldn't stop calling her Mary and harassing her."

"So stop calling her Mary and harassing her!"

"It's not that easy, Marc."

"It's not that hard."

"It's just…I wish I could start over again. I never should have harped on her."

"C'mon, dude! Don't give up. Didn't you two share a nice quiet walk in the woods last night?"

"Paris sent her. She wouldn't have talked to me otherwise."

"How do you know that?"

"Because she's too smart to fall for me, okay?" Tristan said quietly.

"Oh."

"You better go. You have trivia, remember."