A/N: They're at Bettie with an i-e's house; this texting party was hinted at in 13 Gifts, if you remember.


33 DAYS REMAINING

5:16 PM

RORY: This has Angelina written all over it, I'm calling it now

LEO: I know, I'm with you on that

LEO: David's been oddly compliant throughout all this cookie madness…

RORY: yeah, 'cause Tara could tell him to streak through downtown in a Santa hat and he'd probably do it

RORY: but that's not important right now

RORY: Tara can't do this by herself. She thinks she can, but she has no idea what she's in for. We've been there, remember?

LEO: Of course I do. But we also can't interfere. So what now?

RORY: Now our main goal is getting Tara to understand the gravity of this whole scavenger hunt

RORY: ...without her thinking we're completely crazy or in a cult

LEO: Right, okay

LEO: And how exactly do we plan on doing that?

RORY: tell her the truth? That's probably the best place to start

LEO: do we tell her about the store? And how it's really empty for David?

RORY: a) only if it comes up, b) only if it's crucial to our explanation

RORY: look, it's going to be hard enough to get Tara on board with this since David can't come along

LEO: wait what do you mean

LEO: ohhh, are you doing that thing where you see the big picture?

RORY: sorta…

RORY: but we have to try. that's my point. it won't be easy we just have to try anyway

LEO: Amanda wanted to do it with us

RORY: if we don't tell her now David WILL start asking questions. And worse, Tara might answer them. We can't risk it

RORY: if Angelina doesn't want David to know, that's up to her, not us

RORY: so we have to tell her now

LEO: good point. I'm in.


5:20 PM

RORY: be glad you're not here. We're currently in Sunshine Kids uniforms that are five sizes too small selling cookies out of a wagon I stole from the community center so that Tara can obtain Mr. Milazo's duck cane for someone whom she won't name

RORY: oh, and David's here too

AMANDA: o_0

AMANDA: now that I've processed all that

AMANDA: can I ask where you are now?

RORY: at Connor's neighbor's house waiting for her to finish putting every makeup product in the universe on Tara's face

AMANDA: the reason being…

RORY: tara needs her basket

AMANDA: her basket?

RORY: yep. For the same person who wants the cane.

AMANDA: whom it's safe to assume is Angelina

RORY: exactly

AMANDA: any pictures of you in the uniforms? XD

RORY: yeah, and you'll get to see them over my dead body!

AMANDA: we'll see about that...

AMANDA: has David asked any questions?

RORY: surprisingly, no.

AMANDA: none?

RORY: for now


5:24 PM

LEO: Tara update: she's going around town asking people for their belongings at random and doing stuff for them as payment

AMANDA: I know, Rory filled me in.

LEO: it's Angelina, it's got to be. Rory and I are going to confront her about it when we're done at Bettie's house.

AMANDA: no fair, I wanted to be there for that! And who's Bettie?

LEO: I know you did, I'm sorry, but it's now or never. She's too close to telling David.

LEO: Bettie is one of Connor's neighbors who bought cookies from us

AMANDA: oh yeah, Rory told me about that. Since you can't tell, I'm laughing right now

LEO: ha-ha, yuk it up, but the next embarrassing thing Tara makes us do it'll be your turn

AMANDA: why would Angelina have her running around town to get a bunch of random objects?

LEO: no idea, but I think we should stick to our part in this. Which is, keep it up with the blackboards so that when July 14 finally gets here, Tara's all set for the next phase.

AMANDA: ok but did you sing?

LEO: Amanda!

AMANDA: what?

LEO: if you must know, David did the singing. And I looked pretty great in the yellow felt hat, too

AMANDA: no you didn't.

LEO: no, I didn't.

AMANDA: so what are you going to tell Tara?

LEO: uh…good question

LEO: hang on


5:30 PM

LEO: what ARE we going to tell Tara?

RORY: Why don't you let me do most of the talking?

LEO: brilliant


5:31 PM

LEO: Rory will do most of the talking

AMANDA: probably a good idea

AMANDA: so how did Tara meet Angelina?

LEO: I'll try and find out


5:39 PM

LEO: okay, good news and bad news

AMANDA: good news first

LEO: we were right about Tara's involvement with Angelina. And now I'm pretty much positive we're on the chalkboards for her. She has a month to get these things, and the deadline is her birthday—July 13

AMANDA: typical Angelina

AMANDA: what's the bad news?

LEO: she kinda…cut us off. Rory explained it all perfectly, but Tara must still think she's losing her mind. She told us she'd get the rest of the things on her own

LEO: there are 11 more things, by the way

AMANDA: what did Rory tell her, exactly?

LEO: that the story really is empty for David

LEO: y'know, along with all other necessary information

AMANDA: oh god…and how did Tara react?

LEO: by narrowly staving off a panic attack

AMANDA: oh no. not good.

LEO: I don't blame her, but if you ask me (and Rory) her frustrations all seem to circle back to David.

LEO: When we told her she couldn't tell him anything, that's when she told us to let her on her own

LEO: whether or not Angelina intended it, Tara's established some kind of loyalty to David that she's not willing to compromise

AMANDA: but Angelina chose HER. Not Bee Boy, remember?

LEO: she'll learn how all that fits in on her own, I'm sure

LEO: good point, though. Tara's attachment to David is probably natural, then. Interesting…

LEO: between you and me, I kinda think she is good luck for him ;)

AMANDA: of course you do. You love to believe in all that stuff

LEO: but I think I might be onto something this time

AMANDA: sure, whatever


6:07 PM

RORY: Tara's not taking it well

AMANDA: I know. Leo told me.

RORY: what should we do?

AMANDA: I don't think we should give up. But it's a lot for her to process, so maybe give her some space for a day or two?

RORY: all right

RORY: I wish we could do more to help her.

AMANDA: I know, but tara has to come to her own conclusions. It's all part of the process, you know that

RORY: yeah

RORY: I'm worried about Hamburglar, though. Tara connects with him the best, and when we told her she couldn't tell him about Angelina she completely shut us down

AMANDA: Leo noticed that too…I don't know if we should read into that too deeply, at least until we have more evidence.

AMANDA: that being said, I'm not sure I want to rule Bee Boy out of this yet. If he and Tara are connecting, she might be the one who draws him in

RORY: what makes you think that?

AMANDA: I feel like we ripple. The most recent inclusion helps the newcomer. You with Tara, me and Leo with you a couple months ago

RORY: I never thought about it like that, but yeah, that might be how Angelina's bringing us all in

RORY: what is she bringing us in for, though?

AMANDA: that, I cannot say

AMANDA: I guess we'll just have to wait and see


6:25 PM

RORY: oh and David's a goner for Tara, btw ;D

AMANDA: you don't say?