Disclaimer: I don't own this...duh.

I walked into my master suite of a room. My bed was neatly made, sheets pressed, a dozen accent pillows arranged neatly. The King-size luxury bed with a thick fluffy comforter, blue velvet canopy around a four poster bed.

This was my element. I was in a place full of people who were paid, their sole income, being that to serve me. All in this house, save for two that were rarely there, were to maintain my happiness.

I would go to Chilton Monday morning. Dad duley assured me no one knew I was home. Which meant Mary didn't know.

I wasn't sure if I should visit her, but finally shrugged the idea off.

I could appear at her locker and surprise her. I smiled Yeah, that would be perfect. Happilly I flopped on my bed.

Monday:

Nervous jitters shook my body. My tie was loosened in it's typpical matter, my hairwhich had grown somewhat since it's original hacking off, was flugged to it's usual touseled tawny.

I pulled into the parking lot, my red Viper gleamed in the morning sun. I parked and leaned back in my black calf-skin leather seats and surveyed my kingdom.

"Dude, no flippin' way!" An astonished voice was to my right.

I perched my sunglasses on my head. "It's so true." I turned to face Duncan and Bowman, in the flesh. "This bad boy's busted out. If you'll excuse me...?" I leapt out of the car without opening the door.

"Dude." Duncan stopped me. "Wanna chill after school?"

"After our last lil' get together?" I smirked and replaced the sunglasses. "I should think not. Hasta la vista." I grabbed a cup of coffee I'd picked up on the way.

I knew, though word spread fast here, I could at least catch Mary before she heard from someone else.

With the glasses on, I brushed past people quickley. I hoped I wouldn't start a commotion, if I went fast enough so Mary would see me before hearing of me.

I checked my hand, where I had written Mary's new locker number. I glanced ahead. There she was!

She was ladening herself with heavy books oblivious of the world around her, as always. Oblivious of me, as always. As Always...

Nothing mean sarcastic, or suggestive. Just come up behind her and ask if she needs a hand with her books...offer her the coffee...Gosh she's gorgeous.

I took a step foward.

"TRISTAN! OMG!" A shrill voice shattered the gentle hum of chatter.

I looked to Mary, her head shot up for her book and her eyes widened.

"Tristan! When did you come back?" Madeline threw herself into me, nearly knocking me down.

"Whoa, Maddie, chill out girl." I lifted my sunglasses and looked to Mary's locker. She was gone.

Disappointment lurched through my stomach. I wanted to run after her. Like extras in a movie, uniform clad teenagers swirled around her, letting me lose her in the crowd. Everyone was staring at me, no one knew that I was looking after the girl they had so easily let brush by.

I almost felt like I should go in movie mode and yell, "STOP THAT GIRL!" and when they stopped her I'd, um, well in the musicals they break out into some sap song that starts the waterworks with girls I see the movie with. And if it's an action movie they grab the girl hard by the wrist and kiss them harder.

Neither of those seemed fitting for Mary.

Madeline smoothed my tie. "I wrote you a million letters! You never wrote back!" She tried to look cute by pouting. I've always thought it was an annoying look.

"What can I say?" I shrugged, trying to detangle myself. "Busy."

"How'd you get back so fast? You didn't get kicked out did you?"

"Left with honors." I assured her, then removed my tie from her wandering hand. "Catch you in a minute, ok?"

I hurried down the hall, looking for her.

I finally went out to the courtyard and saw her. She was sitting on the side cement bench, a cell phone pressed to her ear. She jiggled her left foot impatiently.

"Mom, I need to come home, I'll take the next bus...Call the office now Mom!" She bushed her hair back. "Mom he's here." She sounded like a four-yaer-old begging for her Mom to check for monsters under her bed.

Chilton being under the bed.

Me being the monster.

I took in a deep breath.

"I'll see you at home, mom." She hung up and picked up her yellow backpack.

"Mary." I walked up.

She whirled around, her eyes reminded me of a deer caught in the headlights. "Tristan." She croaked.

I yelled out the large coffee like a peace treaty. She didn't move.

"Take it Mary. I didn't drug it. The only think you can't resist more than me is an Irish cream coffee."

Neither of us moved still. I eflt like I was trying to coax a wild animal into eating something out of my hand.

"I'm about to go." She blushed and looked at her shoes.

I set the cup on the bench she'd just been sitting on and looked at my hands. My eyes darted to her wrist. She wore a long sleeve jacket, but I was almost sure the silver glimmer was a charm of a locker.

"Maybe I'll see you tomorrow then." I murmured.

"How'd you get out so soon?" She blurted out.

"My dad came out, saw me get ROTC Captain and decided I shaped up."

"Did you?"

How do I answer that? The polite answer eluded me. I smirked. "In more ways than one, Mar."

Her cheeks flamed.

I kicked myself. Why did I get plagued with foot-in-mouth disease?"

"I gotta go." She turned and hurried away.

I walked into the hall. I stood in the locker lined hall. I'm such an idiot.

"Tristan, you're back."

I turned. Paris was holding five big books.

"Gellar gets a gold star." I greeted coolly.

"What are you doing here!" She cried, making the whole hall notice my presence and start whispering among themselves.

I felt my smirk come on and gave a half shrug with my right shoulder."Chilton was getting a little too civil. Headmaster needed someone to berate."

She glaced me down."You look a little different."

"Shorter hair, new uniform?" I adjusted the strao on my side-sack messenger bag backpack. I winked, "hotter body?"

"I'm not Summer."

"No, that would be me." A vixenous voice announced behind me.

I smirked and didn't turn around. "So Gellar, I take it we stil have homeroom together, right?" I took three of her books and we started to the room.

Paris shot me a look when we were down another hall. "Summer was right behind you." She hissed.

"Paris, you of all people, know better than to personify a season." I opened the door and we went in.

"Mr. DuGrey." My teacher raised his eyebrows.

"No autographs please." I replied lightly.

Paris wouldn't stop staring. "Why are you back?"

"After making you experiance some girl-on-girl with Mar, I decided to return." I loosened my tie.

"Tell me the truth."

"You first."

"Ok?"

"Is Mary still with bagboy?"

Her jaw dropped slightly, but she recovered. "Dean? Why should you care? She was just a conquest."

I just glanced at her steadily.

"Well yes, she is, but-"

"You're available?" I quipped sarcastically. I stood. "I'll be back before roll." I told the teacher, darting out.

Ok. Hope you liked it. Please comment! I know what OOC means now. What's JavaJunkie?