I grimaced. "Up, down, up, down."

I clung to the pull-up bar and let the soothing rhythm release my stress and frazzled nerves. It had been a week since the dance, it was Saturday afternoon. I'd arranged the roses to be set on Wednesday. I while Mary was at school, I would have preferred it all earlier, but a custom designed charm bracelet takes time to have made.

"Having fun out there?" I asked a little bird on the other side of the electric fence. I finally dropped from the bar and toweled off.

I had three goals while I was here.

1. Get out fast.

2. Dominate this place and kick King into the gutter he belonged in.

3. Make Mary see I'm not a jerk before I opened my mouth and proved myself wrong.

I think I'm well on my way to number 2. After Carlos refused to get the letter from the mailbox King has had a harder time keeping all the guys under his power in line. Since Sunday morning lunch I haven't eaten alone either. I've had a packed full table.

On number 3? Well, I was hoping Rory wrote to me before I wrote to her again, but it's been four days and there isn't a sign on her mailing me.

"Hey DuGrey. What's your number?" Carlos came into the windowed gym and gestured to the pull-up bar.

"33." I shrugged a shoulder like I wasn't as proud as I was.

"Are you gonna go out for a drill captain?"

"Most likely." I winked. "So, goin' to the dance tonight?"

"I'm meeting up with Tara," He affirmed. "You?"

"I might. I don't really know any of the chicks considering I only did one dance last week."

"Dude, that was a tight move. Now all the girls are going to be fighting for you!"

I smirked. "Dude, who says 'tight' anymore?"

"Me! C'mon, the mail truck is due today. It's a dance night so we don't have to wait for a meal."

"So?"

"My Sports Illustrated comes in today!"

"Swimsuit edition?" I teased, falling in step with him.

"DuGrey, four letters." Cruiz threw the envelopes, handed together with a rubber band, at me.

I flipped through them. Mom, Sarah...Paris?

I opened Paris'.

Tristan,

Is it just me or did you purposely send a dumpster load of red roses to Gilmore's? You've got to be kidding me! I only think it's you because no one else could afford it, least of all Dean. Anyway the only reason I was privleged enough to know is becayse I went to her house 'cuz we have a Science project together. I found her and some Asian girl, Lane, I think, stacking them up on the table and sweeping the petals. You're so stupid Tris, a girl can put a couple dozen flowers in a vase, dry four dozen for "memories" what the HECK are the supposed to do with a million?

-Paris

I smirked three hundred to be precise.

I flipped to the last envelope and my heart skipped a beat. It was the same long, white envelope. Only the compound's address was scrawled in an impatiant hand. I opened to find a piece of notebook paper around a few polaroid pictures.

It was of the porch, Mary's porch.

True to their word the florist had done an amazing job. The flowers covered every inch of the old fashioned wooden place.

The picture captured Mary, cheeks flushed pink, had thrown a pile of rose petals at the taker of the pictures. The petals fluttered around her and she was about to open her mouth and yell something.

The other had her making a snow angel in the carpet of petals on the porch. She was grinning brightly and talking to a petite Asian girl sitting on a chair next to her.

I looked at the note,

Spawn of Satan,

Ror doesn't know I'm sending these. I even had to evesdrop on her and Lane to find out who you were. AND THEN! I had to evesdrop on Ror and Paris to find out where you were and I had to snoop around Rory's room to find this address. Actually, It wasn't annoying, it was kinda exciting.

All I know is she SURE USED TO HATE YOU! HA! Anyway, no one has done anything like this for Rory before. She liked it, even though she had to clean it all up before Dean saw.

-Lorelia.

I knew it was Rory's mom. And from the tone of the letter, I liked her allready. The pictures were priceless. I examined the face I would never forget.

If she liked it why didn't she write?

I looked over at Carlos, who was still oolding over his magazine.

"Come on. I gotta make a phone call!"

I dialed, I felt like my palms were getting sweaty.

"Hello? Gilmore Nut House, please hold for the next available shrink!" A voice said cheerily.

"Um..." Did I get the wrong house. "Miss Gilmore?"

"Nope. This is Doctor Jeckle!"

"Um..." I blushed. "Mary?"

"Lorelia."

"Rory?" I asked in confusion. Isn't Lorelia her full name?

"This is Lorelia, Rory's gorgeous mother. If you are one of those guys who are lining up aound the corner to date Rory she's kinda with DEAN right now! So goodness give her time!"

I chuckled a little. "Can I date her next?"

"Someday!" She pressed on. "But don't bother her because Ally's Book Of Love says that the first marriage is for love, the second is for money, and the third is for companionship. It think it counts for dating too. So if Dean is for love that means her next one will be for money. And if it's for money it means that she's gonna date Mr. Moneybags who polluted our porch with roses last Wednesday. I wrote him a letter but he hasn't written back yet. I dunno, he's gonna have to be pretty smooth to win Rory after giving her hell...and making her kiss Paris Gellar. Even though all the guys perked up when that happend..." She took in a breath. "Who is this?"

I listened with satisfaction. I was all ready fully enamored with my new mother-in-law. She was funny, no wonder Mary was addicted to coffee though. This woman probably had it pumped in through an IV!

"I'm Tristan DuGrey."

"You're Bible Boy?" GOOD!" Her voice left as she set down the phone and yelled after Mary. "ROOOOOORY! The guy who looks like a greek God and Bradd Pitt clone, god you a bazillion roses, provokes Dean, and made Paris mad for two weeks is on the pho-one!"

I grinned.

"One sec, Satan. She might be ignoring me because I drank all the coffee this morning." She set the phone down.

I leaned against the booth wall praying she'd come to the phone.

"Hello?" She asked causiously.

"Mary?"

"Satan." I couldn't tell if she was happy to hear from me or not.

"Your mom is cool."

"No she's not, she drank all the coffee."

"Oh." I grinned a little. "Um, Paris has been writing me."

"Hate mail?"

"The Romeo and Juliet thing gets on her nerves." I replied. "I got your letter. You told me I suck."

"You do."

"Ah."

"And me telling you that provoked you to send me-"

"If you guys won't make hotter converstaion it won't be worth it to evesdrop!" Lorelia complained over the extension.

I grinned even broader. "I can make hot conversation if Mary wants me too."

"I don't." She snapped.

"Are you sure? Magdelen has a nice ring to it."

"Did you call to tell me Paris is writing you?"

"No, I just missed crossing comebacks with you every morning." I replied.

"I don't." She replied loftily.

She doesn't? I felt my confidence drop a few decibles.

"Yes she does!" Lorelia broke in gleefully.

"Mom hang up!" Rory set down the phone and I laughed out loud as I heard them screaming and laughing.

Mary got back on, panting. "I locked her in the utility closet."

"Wow Mar." I said, enjoying ever moment. "I didn't know you had it in you."

"No coffee." She explained gaily.

"One sec, my 35 cents worth is almost up." I reached in my pocket and swore undre my breath to only find a nickle.

"I only have 5 cents, can I call you later?" I felt like I'd thrown my body on electic wires and innocent little Mary was holding the "on" switch.

"All right, But let me let my Mom out. She's banging on the door with a stool."

I prayed my minute wouldn't go up before she got back.

"Hi, Satan?"

It was Lorelia.

"I gotta jet Ms. Gilmore."

"Ok. But next time decorate the porch with something a little more original. It's a huge cliche and I can only make so much poporri for the inn's rooms."

Then she hung up.

My grin spread from ear to ear. It almost hurt. Almost.

"Dude, did you just win the lottery?" Carlos asked as I came out.

"Almost." I shrugged, still grinning.

A/N: I was so excited when I checked m e-mail and found all those reviews! PLEASE REVIEW! I know most people who read don't, but it motivates me. This update wasn't supposed to come up till Thursday, but when I read all those reviews I that to post early! I love them. Thanks everyone! I especially like it when they're fun and long! I added this phone convo and tried to keep as much of Lorelia as I knew everyone would find enjoyable. It's 99 her and 1 unavoidable exploitation!

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