SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

LizDarcy1: Thank you. Glad you think so. Thank you. Yeah, here's more.

DarkWolfYingFa: Cool. Glad you like it. Here's an update.

Princetongirl (Chs 1-2): Thanks. Thank you, hope this is soon enough.

Cherryblossomjen (Ch 1-2): Well, it's not a crossover as I said, but thanks. Yeah, I know what you mean. He was way better than Logan. Keep reading. Guess you'll have to read and find out. Yep. Thanks. Don't watch it so I'll take your word for it. Yep. Read on and see.

Thugalet: Thanks, hope this is soon enough.

CraneAndFalconForeven: Okey-doke.

DISCLAIMER

Belongs to Canadian Television, Disney, and Amy Sherman-Palladino. I only own the plot. Couldn't resist putting in a couple of One Tree Hill refs as well as a ref to "The Bet".

"Tristan?" Nora repeated. "As in Chilton Tristan?" she continued.

"As in the James you were trying to snag before Mom got remarried?" Lizzie added before Casey could answer.

"Yeah. The very one," Casey responded. She let out a small laugh. "I couldn't believe it. I mean---after four years---who woulda thought?" she questioned, letting out another soft laugh and ducking her head shyly, an action that didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the family.

"You're still hot for him," Lizzie said. Then, "Casey likes Tristan, Casey likes Tristan!"

"Lizzie!" Casey exclaimed.

"So, Casey, what are your plans regarding Tristan?" George questioned.

"Oh, I'm going to de-Mary myself," Casey replied.

"De-what?" George repeated in horror. That better not mean what I think it means, he thought to himself.

"De-Mary myself. You know, spruce up my looks to attract him," Casey repeated.

"Huh. Good luck," Derek scoffed.

"Do you remember where you left off?" Nora queried.

"Oh, yeah. Like it was yesterday," Casey assured.

"Nora, shouldn't you and I discuss this?" George suggested.

"No, Georgie. It's fine. De-Mary-ing is when a girl abandons her look and takes on the look of the James she's trying to attract. It's a whole ritual. Even I went through it," Nora explained.

"So, if you're used to that kind of behavior, why'd you get freaked out by Casey when she dressed like that guy Trevor?" Edwin wondered.

"Because she took on the whole look overnight. It's usually a long process…unless of course you were in the middle of it before you were interrupted. Then it's perfectly acceptable," Nora answered.

"So, do you know what you're going to wear tomorrow?" Lizzie questioned, changing the subject.

"I have an idea, yes," Casey answered as she took a bite of her food.

"Well, here's an idea: why don't you stop yammering about some moronic boy and let other people talk for a change," Derek commented. Before he knew what had happened, Casey had thrown a spoonful of mashed potatoes in his face.

"Hey!" he protested angrily.

"Sorry. Slipped," she innocently apologized. Meanwhile, Tristan and his father were having their own dinner.

"So Tristan, you seem a lot more chipper," Mr. DuGray noted.

"Dad, Sir Sparrow is the best school," Tristan raved.

'This morning you thought it was going to be lame. What changed?" Mr. DuGray wondered.

"Casey's there," Tristan reported.

"'Casey'?" Mr. DuGray echoed. "As in---"

"The Mary I was trying to attract? Yes," Tristan answered with a nod.

"So, what are your plans?" Mr. DuGray questioned.

"Well, I remember where I left off, so…" Tristan ended with a shrug.

"But what if she starts over? You don't want to look like you're rushing her," his father reminded him.

"Come on, Dad. It's my Mary. I know her better than anyone," the boy objected.

"You knew her back then. She could've completely changed since," the man stated.

"Not if the glances she kept throwing at me today are any indication," he chuckled. The man just shook his head.

"What am I going to do with you?" he murmured. Tristan just laughed again as he got up and headed for his room. The next morning, Casey and Tristan each picked out an outfit that stated how they felt about the other. Then, Tristan came out of his room.

"Wow. You're more than ready," Mr. DuGray noted.

"You think she'll like it?" Tristan asked nervously.

"You look very nice, son. She'll love it," Mr. DuGray told him. Then, "Come on. I'll drive you to school." Tristan grinned, grabbed a pop tart from the cupboard and followed his father into the car. At her house, Casey frantically put the finishing touches on her outfit.

"Casey! If you don't come down, you won't have time to grab something to go!" her mother called.

"Okay, Mom! I'm almost already!" Casey acknowledged. She quickly finished, grabbed her book bag, and then came downstairs.

"Finally. What took you so long Sp---" Derek's annoyed question stuck in his throat when he saw her outfit.

"Whoa. Punk 'n' disorderly," Lizzie grinned.

"You look cool!" Marti enthused.

"Wow. You're almost like a---babe," Edwin breathed.

"Thanks, guys," Casey grinned, as she went into the cabinets and grabbed a granola bar. George stammered.

"Nora!" he finally managed to yell.

"Ready to go, Sweetie?" Nora asked, coming in from the living room.

"Nora, we have a bit of a problem," George told her.

"What are you talking about, George? Casey looks fine," Nora stated. "But we really need to go, or we're all going to be late," she continued.

"Hey, it's cool. I'm ready to bounce," Casey answered. With that, she headed for the car, Lizzie and Marti. Derek and Edwin stared at each other.

"'Bounce'?" they mouthed, and then followed as George went to his own car. When they arrived at Sir Sparrow, Casey quickly got out of the car and headed up the steps. Inside, Emily was at her locker while Sam and Ralph were talking and Max was talking with his girlfriend Amy. Suddenly, there was a wolf whistle. Surprised, the boys and Emily turned around and their jaws dropped.

"Casey?" Emily asked in surprise.

"Hey, Em," Casey greeted, walking up to her friend.

"What is up with the Peyton Sawyer look?" Emily wondered. Casey looked at her outfit which consisted of black jeans, a shirt that read THE CURE, and black hoop earrings.

"I de-Mary-ed myself," Casey answered flipping a piece of wavy hair over shoulder. "And Tristan loves the Cure," she added.

"Speaking of Tristan. Check out the turn around," Emily noted. Casey turned around to see Tristan who was wearing tan slacks and a nice buttoned up shirt. Instead of his usual gelled back style, his hair was neatly combed and tucked into place. She swallowed noisily as he came up.

"Well, looks like we had the same idea," he noted.

"Yeah, looks like," she agreed. The warning bell rang and they all went to class.