I woke up and rubbed my eyes, I didn't even remember nodding off. It took me a moment to register my surroundings, and I suddenly realized I was still at Kevin's. My immediate thought was CRAP If I'm home late, even if I was just at Kevin's, there is no way I'll be allowed to go out this weekend. I rubbed my eyes again, attempting to adjust them, and glanced at my watch...6am.

"OH MY GOD!" I whisper yelled to myself as I bolted off the couch, now suddenly aware that I had a ridiculously painful kink in my neck. I stuffed my feet into my shoes smashing down the backs of them in my haste then grabbed papers off the coffee table  and shoved them into my backpack zipping it only enough so that things wouldn't fly out. Quickly grabbing my school sweater off the back of the couch, I ran toward the kitchen, shoving one of my arms through a sweater sleeve.

"Morning," chimed Kevin, startling me as I entered the kitchen. He looked me once over and cocked a brow at my disheveled ensemble.

"They are gunna KILL me!" I said, panicked almost to tears.

Kevin smiled, "They are not going to kill you." He said calmly, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Yes, they will!" I argued, starting to pout.

"You crashed last night on the couch just before dinner was ready. The girls were running around screaming, and you didn't budge. I didn't have the heart to wake you up, so I called Joe and let him know you were staying here." Kevin explained, taking another sip of his coffee and turning his eyes back to the morning paper.

I sighed in relief and slumped into a stool at the counter. "That explains the huge kink in my neck," I said, rubbing my neck and attempting to turn my head without sharp pain.

"Yea, sleeping on the couch will do that to you," He said knowingly.

I cocked a brow. "Been sleeping on the couch lately? Have you?"

Kevin chuckled, "I'm married, and I am a guy. We say and do stupid things by nature. I have definitely been kicked to the couch a time or two."

I giggled and released my hair from its disheveled pony tail, combing my fingers through and smoothing my hair back before pulling it into the band neatly.

"Your sweater is on inside out," said Kevin, pointing at the underside of the school crest displayed on my chest.

I looked down and rolled my eyes before removing my sweater and turning it right side out. "Guess I'm doing a walk of shame today." I said, tucking my blouse neatly into my skirt before putting on my sweater.

"You can run home before class and change into a fresh uniform. You have time," Kevin said, giving me a nod at my uniform improvement.

"No thanks, Nick won't be too happy I stayed the night over here. I'd rather avoid him this morning," I said, hiking my knee socks up into place.

"It's not like you crashed at a boyfriends house, CeCe..." Kevin said, arguing with my logic.

I let out a silent chuckle, and a small smirk came to my lips at the thought of crashing at Matt's. I finished fixing the heels of one of my shoes and looked up to see Kevin cock a brow at me.

"What was that look for?" He asked setting his paper down on the counter.

"What look? I didn't have a look," I said defensively...possibly too defensively.

"I mentioned you crashing at a boyfriend's house and you smirked...do you have a boyfriend?"

Damn Kevin and his super observant tendencies.

"No," I said softly avoiding his eyes as I fixed my other heel.

"Cecelia, do not lie to me," Kevin warned. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

I bit my lip nervously as I brought my eyes up to meet Kevin's. He sighed.

"Who is it?" he questioned, taking my silence as confirmation.

"Matt Thomas" I answered, suddenly finding the laces on my oxfords fascinating.

Kevin's eyes narrowed, "How long has he been your boyfriend?"

"Since yesterday," I said nervously picking some nonexistent lint off my skirt.

"Yesterday?" Kevin questioned sounding surprised.

I nodded. "He asked me out at lunch."

Kevin stood there for a second processing this new information. "Is that why you were so distracted yesterday in my class?"

"I was really tired," I stated trying to argue my case.

Kevin cocked a brow. "So I suppose your notebook doesn't have "I heart Matt" written all over it?" he questioned.

It's like he is psychic! I mean seriously, how is one to get away with ANYTHING with him...I suddenly felt sorry for his girls...they don't stand a chance when they become teenagers.

I crinkled my nose and sighed. "Ok, so he contributed to my lack of attention yesterday...but it was mainly exhaustion."

"Have you told Joe or Nick about this?" Kevin asked grabbing a yogurt from the fridge and placing it and a spoon in front of me.

"No," I said peeling the top off of the yogurt and licking the underside. "He asked me out at lunch, then I came here right after school."

"Uh huh, and if I hadn't accidentally stumbled upon this information..." he let his question trail off.

I shrugged and took a bite of yogurt.

"Cecelia..." Kevin said, his tone warning. "Omission of information is as good as lying."

"I'm not omitting information, I haven't even seen them yet," I argued.

"So you will tell them after school." he stated.

"Can't wait," I said sarcastically before shoving another bite of yogurt in my mouth.

Kevin chuckled, "It won't be that bad, besides Matt is a good kid."

I smiled, "So, you approve then?"

"I would actually prefer it if you never dated," Kevin said "But since that isn't going to happen I am glad it is someone like Matt."

"Do you think you could tell them?" I questioned hopefully. Kevin cocked his brow and I mustered up my best puppy dog eyes.

Kevin sighed and smiled, "You can't just give me puppy eyes and expect to get your way."

I jutted my lip out a bit. "Please Kevvy."

Kevin held his composure for all of about 1 minute before he cracked. "Ugh, that is so unfair CeCe."

I clapped my hands excitedly celebrating my victory and shot Kevin a smile. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I jumped down off my stool and ran around the island throwing my arms around Kevin's waist giving him a quick hug before turning to grab something from the fridge.

"Not so fast," Kevin said his tone suddenly more serious. I froze and looked at him confused. "It's going to cost you," he said tapping his cheek.

I smiled and reared up on my toes giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"One? That's all I get? I thought I was your favorite? Not to mention I'm doing you a HUGE favor. I think that is worth AT LEAST three," he said fake pouting.

I giggled and tugged on his sleeve pulling him down and planting another quick four on his cheek. "You drive a hard bargain."

"Mmmhmm...better be the only kisses you are handing out," Kevin said shooting me a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "Wait, you aren't serious right?" I said beginning to wonder.

Kevin chuckled. "Just keep it appropriate."

"Well, what do you consider appropriate?" I asked.

I am all about clarification, I find it best to know just exactly I can and cannot get away with.

"Don't do anything you wouldn't do in front of Nick, Joe or I," He said plainly.

Well then...consider that rule already broken.

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