Spoilers through Girl Who Waited.
"Hi, Mels."
Mels and Rory stopped on the stairs and turned to face his mother. "Hi, Mrs. Williams," Mels said, slipping the case she held behind her back and hoping the older woman wouldn't notice.
"What are you and Rory up to today?"
"Nothing," Rory replied. "Just going to... Uh..."
"Show me his new CD," Mels interjected smoothly. How on earth could he be such a bad liar?
"Well, you two have fun. Would you like some tea a bit later? I've got biscuits."
"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Williams. That would be great. We'll be back down in a bit," Mels replied, giving Rory's mum her best smile.
"Really," Rory muttered as she followed him up the stairs, "Sometimes, I swear she likes you even more than she likes me."
When they got to Rory's room,she set the case she'd smuggled upstairs on Rory's dresser. Opening it, she pulled out the scissors. "Okay, sit down there," she ordered, pointing to his desk chair.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" he asked a bit nervously.
"Of course."
"And you've done this before?"
"Uh... Yeah. Of course. Loads of times. Nothing to worry about."
"Who's worried?" Rory mumbled under his breath.
"Good. Then... sit still..." she warned before starting to work.
A few minutes later, she stepped back to take a look.
"Oh... Uhm..."
"What?"
"Nothing. It looks..."
"Great?"
There were some lies that were just too big. "Well..."
"Let me see," he said. Standing up, he stepped over to his dresser mirror. And froze in horror.
"Well..." she repeated after a moment, "At least you no longer look like a geek..."
"I said cool. Cool!" He ran one hand through his hair. "You've made me look like a..."
"We could tell everyone you'd joined a rock band?" she suggested helpfully.
"She – I mean no one at all – will ever believe that. I look awful."
"Oh, I dunno, you might be surprised," Mel observed, adding under her breath, "After all, I'm still here."
"What was that?" Rory asked.
"Nothing," she quickly replied. "You'll be fine. Trust me. I know."