Hey readers.

Big thanks to all the reviewers. If it weren't for you this story would be dead.

To the reviewer who made the comment that I was making Dean look like a jerk, well, you're right but that's only because he is a jerk. Dean is jealous and controlling and for those of you who thought that he and Rory would have a chance in this story I'm sorry but it's not going to happen.

I still don't own anything.

Anyway, I give you chapter 9.


As soon as she walked out of the room Tristan was called in. Only for him it was a little different. He wasn't called in for his confession.

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"Hello Tristan. Welcome to your first test as HOH. As you can see, in front of you sit the nomination box. It's now time to nominate your first two houseguests for eviction. Inside that box you will insert the nine keys of the houseguests who are safe. You will take the first one out, hand it to whomever it may belong and the next person will take out the next key. Whichever two people are left without their keys will be your nominees. I advise you to nominate wisely, you never know what might happen in this house. You will have thirty minutes to decide who you want to nominate."

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After hearing the full instructions Tristan headed to his bedroom where he locked the door to deliberate.

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Tristan was sitting on his bed, trying to decide whom he'd nominate next to Dean. There were a few people in the house that he wouldn't miss but it was still a tough decision.

He knew whom he didn't want to nominate. Rory was out of the question. He had had feelings for her ever since she had walked into his class at Chilton and now they were finally getting along.

Jess had become an ally. Sure he was pretty close to Rory but that he could deal with later on in the game.

Then there was Paris. They had known each other forever. They had both grown up in similar households and had been friends even through the drama.

He suddenly remembered that girl Lane. He thought back to Madeline's party and how Lane had shown up with Rory that night. He realized that Rory knew her. He couldn't really get rid of her?

So he picked up the keys and looked them over. One by one he looked at the name on each key and thought of that person. He knew what he had to do. He picked up the first key and inserted it into the nomination box.

Before walking out of his room he took a minute to compose him and think about what these nominations could mean.

In the kitchen he gathered the houseguests around the table where he explained to them how the nominations would work. He deposited the box on the lazy Suzan and proceeded to take out the first key.

"Jess, you are safe." He read out loud as he handed Jess his key. Jess put it around his neck as pulled out the next name.

"Paris, you are safe."

"Danielle, you are safe."

"Rory, you are safe."

"Josh, you are safe."

"Brady, you are safe.

"Lacy, you are safe."

"Mark, you are safe."

"Lane, you are safe." Mark read as he pulled the last key.

"As you can all see, I've nominated you Dean and you Kelly. First off, Kelly, I don't really know you but I had to nominate someone. I think you could get really far in this game. You look like a really strong player. Dean, this is probably no great surprise to you. It is after all, obvious to you and others that we don't like each other. If things go the way I want them to go you will be walking out that door in two days.

With all that said Tristan stood up, picked up the box and returned to his room. He was glad to see that it had gone so well. The look on Dean's face had been priceless. The anger and hatred had been written all over it.

Tristan was happy to have gotten to Dean. He had loved seeing the look of anger and hate on Dean's face. Now all he could think of was seeing him walk out the door in two days.

Suddenly Tristan was brought back to reality when he suddenly heard a knock on his door.

"Who is it?" He asked hoping it wasn't bagboy wanting to bitch about the nominations.

"Tristan, it's Kelly, can I come in?" He heard from the other side of the door as he got up and walked over to it. He just hoped that this wasn't going to be bad.

"Hey Kelly, come on in." Tristan said as he opened the door.

So she walked in and sat on one of the blow-up chairs. She was amazed at the room he got to sleep in. It was amazing in there.

"So, how mad are you?" Tristan had to ask as he sat in the other blow-up chair facing hers.

"I'm not mad at all Tristan. This is all in the context of the game and I just came in here to tell you that I understand that you had to nominate someone. What I want to know is why you hate this guy Dean so much?" Kelly asked as the curiosity got the best of her.

"That's a long story. Lets just say it's a story about a girl and leave it at that okay?" There was no way that he was getting into the whole story behind his hate of Dean.

"And this girl, was she that special?" She was all of a sudden very intrigued by this guy.

"Yes she was. She was the only girl I'd ever met who made me feel the way I felt. She was also the only girl who wouldn't give me the time of day. When I saw her with that jackass Dean and how he didn't appreciate her the way she deserved I started hating him. That was back in high school and I still hold the same feelings for him and for her." He couldn't believe how easy it was to spill his feelings and thoughts to Kelly.

"Did you ever see her after high school?" Kelly asked when he finished.

"Actually I left school right before the end of junior year and I jut found her again not too long ago. Problem is I doubt I'll ever get my chance. I was really bad to her back in school. I'd tease her mercilessly." He was opening up to her even more.

"Is she the girl who helped you change?" Came Kelly's next question.

"What do you mean? How'd you know?" Perplexity could be heard in Tristan's voice when he asked her the question. How could she possibly know so much about his situation?

"It was one of your questions for the challenge. You said this girl you called Mary inspired you to change. Was she the one?" Her memory had always been very good. She just absorbed everything she heard about people.

"She was the one. I'd call her Mary because she was so innocent and pure. She hated it but I couldn't help it. It was my way of being close to her. I didn't know how else to act around her. Never in my life did I expect to meet someone whose criticism actually worked in making me change my ways. Anyway, all I can do now is hope for friendship." The truth and the details just came out of Tristan's mouth without his thinking about it.

"You don't think she'd accept you now that you've changed?" Kelly was starting to see how much the girl had meant to him and she knew that whoever she was she'd have it good with the guy.

"I don't really want to get my hopes up. I think I'll just concentrate on her friendship for now." It was the truth. As much as he cared for Rory he wanted her to be happy and he knew deep down that his chances of having her as a girlfriend were probably slim.

"I guess you have a point." It was all she could say.

"Enough about me though Kell. Tell me some more about you. Tell me about your kids." Tristan was finally able to change the subject.

"Well, the oldest is 12 her name's Michelle, then there's 9 year old Lucas and 6 year old Carrie. They're the reason for my living. They mean the world to me. Back when I was a model I thought I'd do that for the rest of my life, I just loved it. When my first was born I realized that I had to get a job that wouldn't involve me traveling so much."

"Wow. I'd love to meet those kids some day." Tristan could see why this girl had been a model. With her piercing green eyes and her long, silky auburn hair she was hot.

"Maybe once we all get out you'll get a chance to meet them. But you have to bring 'Mary' with you when you come." She couldn't help but say that.

"We'll see Kelly, we'll see." Tristan said as he smiled at her.

"Well, I better get to bed. Goodnight Tristan." She said as she got up.

"Goodnight Kell and thanks for the talk." He said as he shut the door behind her.

That night everyone went to bed early. They all had a long day and the houseguests would need their rest for what was to come.

As soon as everyone was up, washed and had eaten Julie's voice was heard through the house.

"Hello houseguests! Today will be the first "Eviction Immunity" competition. Only three people get to participate in this competition each week, the HOH and his two nominees. Would the houseguests please report to the backyard to begin this competition please."

When they got to the backyard they saw a blackjack table surrounded by four chairs. The three competitors sat in the chairs and waited for instructions.

"Okay houseguests, here's what you have to do. The three of you will play some blackjack. You will be eliminated once you get the lowest hand twice. If someone gets a blackjack it's a losing hand for the other two players. Last person left sitting win the competition. You are playing for the chance to undo Tristan's nominations. If either nominee wins they have the chance to save themselves or to save their fellow nominee from eviction. If the HOH wins he or she has the chance to change his nomination. The winner also has the choice to do nothing at all. I'll ask Tristan to choose a fellow houseguest to be the dealer. Have fun."

"Paris, will you be the dealer please?" Tristan said as he looked at the girl.

Paris got up and sat at the table in front of the cards. There were no chips on the table since there would be no money involved. So Paris started by dealing the cards out to the players.

Tristan went first. He held a 7 and a K.

"I'll stay." He said. He had played enough to know that he had a really good hand.

It was Kelly's turn next. She held a 6 and a 7.

"Hit me." She told Paris as Paris gave her a 3.

Dean held a 9 and an 8.

He knew he had no choice but to stick with what he had.

Kelly lost the first hand but the game wasn't over. Paris dealt them the next hand.

This time it was Kelly's turn to start.

She held a K and an A, a perfect blackjack. With her hand she was able to eliminate the two guys and make it a three-way tie.

As Paris dealt the hand that would most definitely eliminate someone all three competitors held their breath.

Dean was the first to play with a pair of sixes. "Hit me." He said as Paris dealt him a 4. "I'll stay." He said as Paris moved on to Tristan.

Tristan held a K and a Q and a 3. "Hit me." He said and Paris dealt him a 5.

Kelly's turn came and she decided to stay with an K and a 5.

Kelly was the first to be eliminated. Tristan couldn't believe what was happening. This meant that Dean would have a chance to undo his nominations. He knew that this last hand was crucial if he wanted Dean out of the house.

He sat there and waited as Paris dealt the last hand.

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Okay guys that's it. This one's a little longer. I figured I owed you since it's taken me so long to update. Hopefully you all like this one. Please review, good or bad.