(CeCe's POV)

"Did you get all your homework done on your free period today?" Nick questioned as we pulled up outside the candy shop after school.

"Yes," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt, "Tell me again why I am going on a date with the girl you like."

"She asked if she could spend some time with you, and I really like her, so I thought it wouldn't be such a bad idea for you to get to know her." He said, waving at Cat as she exited the candy shop and walked toward the car. "Please behave." He added before she opened the passenger door.

"There's my hot date," Cat said, flashing me a big smile and stepping aside so I could hop out, Nick quickly rolled down the passenger window to deliver instruction.

"Have her home by nine and don't get fresh," he teased with a smirk.

"Home by nine am, no showers...got it," Cat shot back without missing a beat, I liked this girl already.

"Behave," he repeated.

"Boy, you sure know how to ruin a date," Cat teased again, and Nick turned his eyes to me.

"CeCelia..." He said in a warning tone.

"Yes, Sir," I answered simply with a nod. Nick smiled.

"Have fun," he added before driving away and leaving me with my date, whom I had only known for the total of two minutes.

"Well then, now that Dad is gone," Cat said, shooting me a smirk. I giggled. "I thought we would go and get something to eat. Sound good?"

"You buying?" I questioned with a smile.

"Of course," Cat said, returning my smile.

"Then yes, I'm starving." I admitted.

"Great, I just have to lock up the shop and we will get going," she said turning and walking towards the front door of the candy store, I followed her inside breathing in the sweet smell of sugar that wafted through the air, a large array of candies lined the walls and was neatly displayed behind the glass cases in the front. This place was something straight out of Willy Wonka. Even the floors glittered, looking like crystalized sugar. "You can grab some candy if you want," she said, locking the cash register drawer into a safe behind the counter.

"No, that's ok," I said, declining as I looked around the brightly colored store.

"You don't like candy?" she questioned cocking a brow.

"No, I do, I just haven't eaten any real food today so it's probably not the best idea," I said spinning the head of a pinwheel that was attached to the wall.

"You haven't eaten all day?" she questioned appalled as she grabbed her purse from behind the counter flipping off the light in the back of the store.

"I wasn't feeling well," I stated plainly walking toward the door.

"Oh, sweetie, we can do this a different time if you aren't feeling up to it," She said her eyes sad.

"No, I'm good now," I assured her steeping out the front as she pulled the door closed behind her and locked it. "I'm actually looking forward to being out of the house for a bit, I've been grounded so it's nice."

"Well, after we eat we can swing by here and you can grab some candy to take home with you." She said with a nod.

***

"So, can I ask you a question?" I said as we sat at our table waiting for our food to arrive.

"Sure, ask me whatever you want," Cat said cutting herself a piece of bread and slathering it with the provided honey butter.

"Why are we out on a date?" I questioned still confused. Cat's face contorted in thought. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude."

"No, you weren't. I really like Nick, I know that we have only been on one official date, but we have been flirting for quite a while." She explained, taking a bite of her bread. "I know that he is helping raise you and that you are part of the package, so I just wanted time to date you both and get to know you." I smiled and cut myself a piece of bread. "Why, is that weird?"

"No, it's nice, actually," I said, taking a bite of the warm bread. "Most girls aren't really looking for a relationship with baggage. The girls the boys have dated in the past find my existence rather annoying."

"Everyone collects baggage as they get older, at this point I'm looking for baggage to complete my set," She said taking another bite of bread, I smiled.

"How old are you?" I questioned cutting to the chase, Cat giggled.

"Thirty-three," She stated proudly.

"Ten years older," I noted cocking a brow.

Cat smiled shyly. "Yes, but to be fair, Nick is more mature than me." I giggled nearly choking on a piece of bread.

"Yea, he has always been like that," I said taking a sip of water, "It just makes sense for him to date someone older." Cat nodded. "Have you ever been married?"

"Nope" she stated plainly.

"Do you have kids?"

"Nope" she repeated.

"Do you want kids?" I questioned digging deeper for more information. Cat shrugged.

"I love kids, I'd be thrilled to have my own someday," she admitted "And if not I could always just steal other people's babies."

I giggled, "So your views on kidnapping are clear," I joked shooting her a smirk.

"I like to think of it as surprise adoption." She stated with a straight face. I busted out laughing as the waiter brought our food.

"What about you?" she questioned grabbing her burger, "Tell me about you."

"What do you want to know?" I questioned nearly ravaging a fry.

Good God I was starving.

Cat shrugged, "The usual," she said "Favorite food, hobby, what color you would be if you were a crayon..." I giggled.

"Peanut butter, playing guitar, and the metallic one...Sheen Green," I said not skipping a beat. "What about you?"

"It's a toss up between pasta and burgers, watching movies, and Razzmatazz." She said taking another bite of her burger.

"Razzmatazz huh?" I questioned "So you like pink?"

"Not really, I just like the name," she stated matter-of-factly. I nodded before taking a bite of my burger and emitting an 'mmmmmmmmmmm'

***

"Maybe you should wait to walk inside until 9:01 just to see if his nostrils flare," Cat said as we sat in the driveway.

"Ha! No, he wouldn't appreciate that joke nearly as much as you would think." I said grabbing my large bag of candy "Thank you for all the candy, this should last me...forever." Cat smiled.

"No problem sweetie," She said, "I had fun, we should do this again."

"I'd like that," I said opening my door and stepping out, "Are you coming in to see Nick?"

"No," Cat said scrunching her face as if my question was ridiculous. "I can't take you on a date and end the night with your brother...that's just tacky." I giggled as Cat hopped out of the car hooking her arm in mine and walking me up to the door.

"Right about now is where Nick usually opens the door and ruins the end of the date." I said with a smile.

"Well then, I suppose I will skip the making out and settle for a hug," Cat said with a smirk, pulling me into a hug. I smiled, wrapping my arms around her returning the squeeze as the door opened.

"Told ya," I said with a giggle as I pulled from the hug to see Nick standing at the door, a smirk on his face.

"Nicholas! Do you seriously wait at the door at the end of her dates and intercept the kiss?" Cat questioned in a scolding tone.

"Yes!" I piped with a smirk reveling in the fact that Nick was being scolded. Nick's smirk faded.

"That was one time!" He said immediately defensive.

"I've only been on one date!" I retorted. Cat cocked a brow at Nick.

"Need I remind you that I had just gotten a call from Samantha's mom telling me that you had broken her nose." Nick countered, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Wait, you broke someone's nose?" Cat questioned, her eyes widened in shock.

"A girl that had been bullying me for the past three years...Matt's ex," I confessed. Cats eyes lit up.

"You little badass!" She said with a smile. Nick cleared his throat and gestured for me to go inside, I quickly hugged Cat again and walked in, leaving my date and my brother to chat.

(Nick's POV)

"Don't encourage her woman!" I said in a mock scolding tone, pulling the door closed behind me as I joined Cat on the porch.

"Hey, you should be thankful she is standing up to that girl," Cat said defensively. "It's not like CeCe is a violent bully. She stood up to someone who had been attacking her for years. Most teen girls aren't that strong. They internalize that crap and it turns into low self-worth and bigger problems like eating disorders or cutting." I cocked a brow.

"We don't handle things with violence. There are better ways." I defended.

"No, not really. No offense, Nick, but you aren't a girl," Cat countered. "Sometimes an eye for an eye is the only way." I smiled, noting how sexy Cat looked when she was all fired up.

"Why are you smiling?" She questioned, confused.

"You are sexy when you are all fired up." I said.

"CeCe is a sweet girl. It pisses me off to know someone has been picking on her at school." Cat admitted.

"We are handling the situation," I said, wrapping an arm around Cat's waist and pulling her close. "But I think it's sweet that you seem so protective of her." I added before bringing my lips to hers. Cat relaxed into my arms, returning the kiss before pulling away and jutting her finger into my chest.

"No more interrupting her goodnight kiss," she said poking my chest again for emphasis, "it's rude."

"Yes, Ma'am," I said, chuckling and pulling her lips back to mine.

Chapter End Notes:

I heart Cat.

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