Author's note: Oh my goodness!!! The reactions I got from the last chapter was unbelievable!! They had me smiling and I couldn't help but smile a mischevious one... hehe... I didn't mean to be evil, but I just didn't want this story to seem too easy on our two lovebirds. However, no worries, guys. This chapter will clear up whatever misguidance or cunfusion our little hot Adonis god might have... So thanks so much to all the people who reviewed and shared their comments on the last chapter and also through out the story.... YOU'RE THE BEST!!!!!!!! Please keep on sharing them.

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 ten

Tuesday evening, Grant residence

Tristan stood outside the front door of the Grant residence. The big wooden door decked in a nice shade of royal blue with a gold plated 'knocker' hovered over him like a giant. Straightening himself and brushing off non-existing dirt on his sleeve, he knocked on the door. He was feeling a bit anxious and excited about taking Louise out on a date. A girl he'd known since elementary school and always thought of as ditzy and shallow. Not exactly unusual when it came to most of the children of high society. However, this was going to change tonight. Hopefully, that is. A middle aged man appeared at the doorway, a man who Tristan recognized as Louise's dad.

"Good evening, Mr. Grant.", Tristan greeted and took a step inside.

"Hello, Tristan!", Mr. Grant smiled as he ushered the young boy into their foyer. "It's been a while since I last saw you, or your family. Tell me, how are your parents doing?"

Putting on his good boy act, Tristan eyed Mr. Grant and answered him politely. "They're doing fine. Dad is apparently doing well with the company and planning on taking mom on a holiday to Greece soon."

Truth be told, he didn't really know that much about how his parents were doing. He'd just heard things from their servants so it wasn't like he'd heard the news firsthand. Between his father's countless hours spent at the office and his mother's busy social calendar, he hardly saw his parents at all.

"Ah, that's nice! Give them my regards and tell them that we should meet up at the country club sometime.", Mr. Grant suggested.

"Yeah, sure, I will.", Tristan fibbed. Gazing towards their elegant staircase, Tristan turned to the reason for his presence at the Grant residence that evening. "So, do you know if Louise is about ready?", he asked Mr. Grant.

"I'm not quite sure.", Mr. Grant shrugged. "You know how it is with girls and getting ready. It takes them forever!"

Tristan smiled at his comment and was about to say something back when a voice interrupted the two gentlemen. "Well, we can't all be like you, boys, and being all jiffy when it comes to getting ready.", Louise said as she descended down the staircase. "Besides my hairdryer suddenly broke and I had to find mom's and use that instead.", she reasoned.

"Even if the hairdryer hadn't broke, you'd still be late.", Mr. Grant joked.

Simply rolling her eyes at her father, she turned towards Tristan and smiled. "Hello Tristan. Ready to get out of here?"

"I am when you are.", he retorted, as he extended his arm for her to take. Louise happily accepted. "Have a nice evening, Mr. Grant.", he said to the old man when they made their way out the front door.

"You kids enjoy yourselves!", Mr. Grant hollered from the doorstep as the two youngsters crossed their stylish driveway.

"May I take your order?", the mild hearted waiter asked. Tristan and Louise were seated at Restaurant Conti, a trendy yet quant place in downtown Hartford. They both looked up, and it was Tristan who spoke up.

"She will have the chicken escalope with sautéed vegetables and I'll have the steak with a side of pommes douche and mushroom sauce."

The waiter busily wrote down the items that Tristan mentioned and occasionally nodded his head. "And anything to drink?"

"We'll both have a Perrier."

"Okay, I'll be back with your orders shortly.", the waiter turned towards the kitchen. Tristan looked at his date who was inspecting her nails. Clearing his throat before he spoke, Louise eyed him expectantly. "So this place seems nice.", he started.

"Yeah, it is. I've never been here before.", she said as she took another glance around the restaurant. "Actually a lot of my dates don't bring me out to dinner, if you know what I mean?", she insinuated.

Tristan looked at her and didn't really know how to comment on that. Instead he merely pointed out. "Well, it just opened so I wouldn't be surprised." He paused for a few seconds before quickly adding. "That you haven't been here yet, I mean." He smiled a sheepish grin which caused Louise to look at him confused.

"Are you okay, Tristan? You don't seem like yourself.", she shared.

"I'm fine. It's just school and stuff. A lot to deal with right now.", he answered, somewhat half-lying. Actually he was a bit antsy and nervous. That was probably the reason why he wasn't his cool and relaxed self.

"Tell me about it!", Louise exclaimed. "This whole book project for lit class is really stressing me out!"

Mentally exhaling a sigh of relief, Tristan answered back. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm not even done reading my book yet and presentations start next week." He didn't know how to approach the subject about the book, but Louise did it with ease. Now at least the topic was there and he didn't even have to come up with a clever way of bringing it up without Louise suspecting anything.

"Well, I've had some problems of my own. Can you believe I even lost my stupid book?!", the bubbly blonde told.

Feigning innocence, Tristan simply put on a disbelieving look and said. "Really?? That's too bad!"

"I had to go and buy a new copy, which in my opinion is a total waste of spending 7.99!", she rolled her eyes.

The waiter came back with their drinks and silently placed them on the table. The two teens smiled and said their thank you's, and proceeded with their conversation. "Do you know when or where you lost it?", Tristan asked.

Taking a sip from her glass, Louise replied. "I'm not sure exactly. One day I came home and the book wasn't in my bag anymore. Bummer! But it doesn't matter anyways. It's just a book!"

"I guess not.", Tristan shrugged and frowned a bit to the sound of how careless Louise was about the book.

"And you want to know something even more stupid?", Louise continued. "I found the book a week ago!"

"What?!", Tristan blurted out. Now he was confused. How could she have found it when he still had it?

"Or rather Madeleine found it."; Louise clarified, as if answering his inner dilemma. "I'd left it in her room and her maid stumbled upon it when she was cleaning. Now talk about wasting money! Had I known it was there all along I'd bought something else!"

Moving slightly in his chair, Tristan placed his elbows on the table and gave a pensive glance across the table. "So you found it?", he asked, actually more as a rhetorical question to himself rather to Louise.

Louise eyed her date sceptically for the second time since they'd sat down, finding it strange that Tristan would ask something repeatedly, and asked him once again. "Are you sure you're all right, Tristan? You really seem out of it tonight.", she commented warily. "We can just take a rain check if you're not feeling too well."

"No, no, I'm fine.", Tristan said, trying to sound convincing. He shook his head and looked straight into Louise's eyes. Luckily the waiter showed up with their orders so their attention diverted to the food placed in front of them.

"Wow! This looks amazing!", Louise gasped, as she took in the sight before her.

Tristan couldn't help but agree, and carefully placed his napkin on his lap. "It sure does!", he pointed out, fork and knife in his hands. "Well, bon appetit."

"Merci! And to you too!", Louise said before she took a bite of her chicken.

They ate in silence for a few minutes until Tristan spoke up again.

"So by the way, which book is it that you're reading, Louise?"

The perky blonde looked up and excitement filled her voice like a typical giddy teeny bopper as she spoke. "'Sweet Valley High: The Wakefield Legacy'!!!"

Oh boy. And he was definitely back at square one.