WOW!!! 9 reviews overnight? None of them flames? I'm shocked and thrilled. I'm updating already. Aren't you so proud of me? On with the fic. (Oh, and some of the questions won't be answered for a while, but the first big one is in this chapter!

^_^

"You did not, I found the five year old cabbage under the sofa." Rory was arguing with Tristan over something that had happened in college.

"No, I found it. I distinctly remember the odor that graced my nose as I pulled it out."

"Un-uh, the cabbage didn't smell, the tofu smelled. You found the tofu, I found the cabbage."

"I guess you're right. The tofu was pretty bad wasn't it?"

The past ten minutes of walking had given Rory's daughter enough time to learn that her mother had gone to both high school and college with Tristan. Chilton and Harvard.

"Hey, Mom, are we almost there?"

"I don't know, Coral, ask Tristan. He's leading the way."

"It's not far now. Just around the corner."

The three finally reached the bookstore and headed in. Rory and Tristan quickly grabbed them a table by the café half, while Coral went straight for the books.

Coral was deeply engrossed in a first edition copy of Oliver Twist when a tall, handsome boy walked up to her. He had green eyes and tousled red hair.

"Hi."

Coral glanced up. "Hi."

"What's your name? I'm Jeremy."

"Oh, I'm Coral."

"Pretty name."

"Thanks."

"You from around here?"

"Oh, no, I live in Connecticut. I'm just visiting for the weekend."

"Too bad. Do you want to have coffee while you're here?"

"No thank you. I should probably get back to my mother anyway."

"You sure? I know a great place around the corner."

"I'm sure."

"Or we could just get coffee here." She smirked. This guy would not give up.

"Look, I don't want to have coffee with you. I have a boyfriend, and as I said, I should probably get back to my mom." She turned to walk to the table.

Meanwhile, Tristan and Rory had been talking and watching Coral. While most mothers would have tensed slightly upon seeing their daughter approached by an unknown boy, Tristan noticed that Rory didn't.

"Aren't you worried?" he asked.

"Why would I be worried?"

"Some kid you don't know just approached your daughter."

"Coral's got a boyfriend, besides, she's not generally one for boys, she'll probably blow him off and come back over here. Coral and I have a relationship very much like the one I have with my mother. Lots of trust, few arguments, and tons of love."

"That's always good."

"I've always thought so."

That was when Tristan saw the sneer cross Coral's face. "Was that a smirk?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah, she gets that from your side of the family."

^_^

There you go. I know it's short, but I gave you your answer to the first big question. But, of course, Tristan couldn't have been who Coral was on the phone with last chapter. Stay tuned for more answers, and quite possibly more questions. (There will probably be a college flashback in the next chapter.)

Bess (www.geocities.com/besstofthebest).