Author's note: Okay, so I'm back again! I just want to say that I don't know if any of the characters on the show has a middle name or what, so anything related to middle names that's mentioned on this chapter is just a part of my imagination, okay? Just wanted to clarify that! And it might seem confusing now, but you'll understand once you're reading. Thank you so much again for the great reviews!! Please keep them coming!! You guys rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summary: A school newspaper. Two different opinions. A book. Mixed in with some confusion, misguidance and attraction. A perfect recipe for a good old fashioned fairy tale story, so to speak. (Trory)

Askepott

Chapter nine

Monday morning, Chilton

Tristan thrudged through the halls of Chilton with his backpack on his right shoulder and his hands safely tucked in his pocket. His hair looked like he'd just rolled out of bed and his electric blue eyes piercing, but these were two of his trademark traits that added to his charm. He casually said hi to guys passing him and gave a smile to girls eyeing him. He noticed a stack of 'The Franklin' outside its main office, and walked over and grabbed a fresh edition. Browsing through the pages, he absentmindedly made his way to his locker and leaned against its cool exterior. He looked for the famous column and anxiously waited to read this week's review. Finally finding what he was searching for, he started reading.

Reader's review, sent in by 'Oompa loompa':

"When George Orwell started writing 'Animal Farm', he wasn't just thinking about writing a story about a bunch of animals and their lives in a farm. He had a deeper meaning that he wanted to convey to the people of the world......"

Tristan abruptly stopped reading when he somehow sensed that these words sounded familiar. He fished a piece of paper out of his bag and opened its folds. He studied the words on the paper with furrowed brows and compared them with the ones written on the review. With only a few minor differences, it didn't take him long to realize that whoever had written the review was the same person who'd also written this 'scratch paper' that he'd found along with the book on the day of the fire alarm. The only problem was that he didn't know who these things belonged to. Well, he now knew that they belonged to 'Oompa loompa', but his or hers true identity still remained a big mystery. Opening his bag he took out the aforementioned book and gave it an inspecting look. He flipped through the pages as if in search of something that might tell him more, but the only thing he could find was the initials 'L.L.G' on the second page. With Chilton's vast number of students, this book could belong to anybody and the initials didn't get him any closer to finding out who it was.

On the other hand, now he had something that will tell him who his arch nemesis was and blow his or her cover. Suddenly feeling intrigued by the unexpected twist of circumstances, he decided to go on a search for this book's owner. How he was going to do that, he didn't quite know, but he did have the initials so if he could somehow get a hold of a yearbook or the school register he could easily track down 'L.L.G'. The shrilling sound of the bell shook him out if his plotting and seeing students hurrying to get to class, he put the book and the scratch paper in his bag and quickly took out the books he needed from his locker. Making his way to his first class, he entered the class room and took a seat by the window. Moments later a young looking gentleman entered the room.

"Good morning, class!", the man announced. "Mrs. Caldecott is sick today so I will be her substitute. My name is Mr. Cocker and I was informed that....", he started saying when the door suddenly swung open and cut his introduction short. A dazed looking Louise sauntered in and upon seeing the unfamiliar young man, she instantly broke into her devilish smile and puppy dog eyes.

"I'm terribly sorry for being late, Mr. ....?", she trailed off.

"Cocker.", the teacher supplied.

"Right, Mr. Cocker.", she said as she made her way closer to his desk. "My car broke down and I had some trouble getting to school on time.", she explained while pulling the whole innocent act. The classroom snickered as if not really believing the lie she was telling. However, the substitute seemed to have bought it when he gave her a sympathetic gaze and simply said; "Well, make sure that it doesn't happen again."

"Thanks!", Louise replied merrily and took her seat.

"However, I do need your name so I know which student to send to detention due to tardiness.", Mr, Cocker pointed out as he shrewdly eyed Louise.

Letting out detested sigh, Louise looked up the teacher, realizing that her made up story may not have gone down too well. "Louise Grant.", she complied resignedly. Mr. Cocker took out the class list and began to run his fingers down the long list of students. He stopped in the middle of the paper and raised an eyebrow. "Is it Louise Lesley Grant, you mean?", he questioned.

"Yes.", Louise answered and made a disgusted face once hearing the much disliked use of her middle name. "That's me."

The mention of her full name made Tristan's head jerk up, his attention suddenly drawn to the spectacle at hand. He didn't know that Louise had a middle name and looking around the class room he figured that most of his fellow classmates were unaware as well what with their bewildered stares and hushed whispering. 'Louise Lesley Grant', he repeated to himself. Thinking back to his ploy of finding out who the owner of the book might be, he swiftly stole a glance towards Louise and suspiciously narrowed his eyes. Could it be? He had some difficulties wrapping his mind around the fact that she might be the one, but then again perhaps he didn't know her that well. Maybe she was just projecting this image of a stupid blonde, but underneath it all was a smart sophisticated young woman. He as well had been doing the same, with his passion for literature hidden beneath his charming, debonair exterior. No one would have suspected him of being the other half of the much acclaimed review duo. His train of thoughts were interrupted by the loud voice of Mr. Cocker.

"Now as I was saying, Mrs. Caldecott informed me that you guys have a big project that is due already next week. She asked me to give her an update on how you guys are doing with that. If anyone is having any trouble or if everything is going okay. So I will call you up here according to the class list and we'll just have a brief talk and you can tell me how you're doing. That sound okay?!", he asked and looked at the class. Not getting any sufficient answer, he spoke again, the list of students in his hands; "Well, then, I guess we can get started. The first one I'd like to talk to is....."

Returning back to his thinking, Tristan looked once again at Louise who was sitting a few rows in front of him, busily engaging in a conversation with Madeleine. If it was her then that would be so great. He wouldn't be the only one in this school who cared about reading except for Paris and a few other super obsessed readers who kept to themselves. Smiling to himself, his perception of Louise Grant abruptly did a complete 180 and he couldn't help himself but feel a slight jolt of attraction run through his veins. Louise Grant, a devoted bookworm. Who would have thought? He wasn't completely 100 percent sure yet and the way he was thinking there was only one way to find out.

Rory was standing by her locker and getting ready for her next class when she heard Madeleine talking to Louise while Paris was occupied with obtaining the books she needed. The three girls completely oblivious to the fact she was in fact there as well.

"So, Louise, why did you really come late for class?", Madeleine asked sceptically.

Smiling mischievously and eyeing her friend, Louise answered with a twinkle in her eyes; "Well, let's just say that the janitor's closet isn't just for storing cleaning equipment. Especially when Tom Baker is concerned!"

"You didn't!", the small brunette exclaimed, jaw dropping to the floor.

"I sure did! And, let me just say that that Baker boy sure knows the human anatomy quite well, if you know what I mean?!", Louise giggled.

Rory just smiled behind her locker door, not really surprised or shocked by what Louise had told. Her time in Chilton had gotten her accustomed to how some of these high society kids behaved behind their parents' back. The sudden loud slam of a locker door closing brought Rory back to reality and this time it was Paris' harsh voice that could be heard. "I can't believe you two! Don't you have anything else to talk about rather than boys?"

"And don't you have anything else to talk about rather than books?", Louise sniped.

Ready to give her a piece of her mind, Paris instantly closed her mouth when she saw Tristan walking in their direction. Choosing to put her aggravation on him instead, she gave him an icy look and asked him rudely; "What do you want?!"

"And it's nice to see you too, Paris. Always a pleasure!", Tristan greeted sarcastically and plastered on a fake smile. "But as much as I'd like to stay here and talk to you, I actually wanted to talk to Louise about something." The three girls looked at him amazed, and it was Louise who finally said something.

"Really? Well, what is it?", she asked in her own cheerful way.

Turning his attention to the blonde in front him, he took a deep breath before he spoke.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go out tomorrow night?", he asked, earning him three shocked looks and a disbelieving gasp behind a locker door.