CeCe's POV

After stuffing myself at dinner I laid in my room for hours attempting to finish the mountain of homework I had acquired from my absence, around 10pm Joe walked in taking a seat next to me on the bed.

"The way you acted today was unacceptable," he said closing my textbook and setting it aside. "I stayed out of it because it was between you and Nick but the bad attitude, the eye rolling, and the back talking...it better stop, am I understood?"

"Yes Sir," I said dropping my eyes to my comforter.

"Whatever it is that is going on between you and Nick needs to be resolved tonight and I expect you to be much more pleasant tomorrow," he instructed standing from my bed, I groaned.

"Do I have to talk with him tonight?" I whined, "he was really upset with me."

Joe cocked a brow crossing his arms across his chest. "Do you blame him? Do you even realize how disrespectful you were acting not just towards him but everyone else today?"

"I'm sorry."

"I appreciate your apology but you still have to go talk to Nick," he said offering me his hand before pulling me up from my bed. I reluctantly followed him downstairs before breaking ranks at the kitchen to head to Nick's room. I stood outside Nick's door for a few minutes before mustering up the courage to knock.

"Yes?" His voice floated through the door before I turned the knob and peeked in finding him alone, sitting at his desk.

"Where is Cat?" I questioned finding myself sad that there was no witness around for our little discussion to come.

"She went home, come in," he instructed, I did so reluctantly shutting the door behind me and walking over to stand beside his desk; Nick turned to face me before removing his glasses. "We had a talk before she left."

"What did you talk about?" I questioned hesitantly, knowing full and well their topic of conversation.

"You," he said plainly, "does it bother you that she spent the night?" I groaned internally and shrugged.

"I like Cat," I said avoiding his question.

Nick cocked a brow, "That's not what I asked."

"I'm not the adult, you are, if you want someone to spend the night it's none of my business so what does it matter?"

"YOU matter," He said softly, "I want to know how you feel."

I shrugged. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"How about the truth that is usually a good start," Nick said growing tired of my stalling.

"It doesn't really bother me that she spent the night, I guess it was just kind of a shock. You have never had anyone else spend the night before, in fact when you date someone you usually keep it pretty hidden from me. I know it's because they don't like me," I said with a sigh walking over to take a seat on the bed.

"That's not true."

"Nicky I'm not stupid. Girls your age aren't looking for baggage and I'm baggage," I said dropping my head and fidgeting with my ring. Nick sighed.

"You are NOT baggage," Nick said standing from his desk and taking a seat next to me on the bed. "You are right, I do shelter you from my dating life but it's not because they don't like you. I just don't see the point of introducing someone into your life that won't be around long. Cat and I were actually flirting with each other for about six weeks before I decided to mention her to you or Joe." My mouth fell open in shock as I locked eyes with Nick.

"You were? How did I not know?" I questioned starting to seriously doubt my snooping skills. Nick chuckled.

"Did you not notice the abundant amount of gummy bears your diabetic brother kept coming home with?" he questioned shooting me a smile. I shrugged.

"So all this time I thought you were buying gummy bears because you loved me so much...in reality, I was just eating your alibi?" I asked acting appalled. Nick smirked.

"Pretty much." He said chuckling. "If I didn't think that things were different with Cat I wouldn't have introduced her to you. I'm sorry if her staying the night upset you, I should have talked to you about it and taken your feelings into consideration first, but if things keep going like they are I plan for her to be a much more permanent fixture around here...I want to know that you are ok with that." I nodded.

"I can tell she makes you happy, you deserve to be happy," I said giving Nick a small smile, "besides, it might be kind of nice having another girl around." Nick smiled and nodded.

"Good," Nick said pausing before his tone changed more serious, "Now, about your attitude today," I lowered my head again fidgeting with my ring.

"I'm sorry, I just got freaked out this morning and upset and then the new kid and the debate and being teased all day," I said letting my sentence trail off, "it just soured my mood." Nick nodded.

"We are just going to chalk it up to a really bad day and leave it at that," He said putting his finger to my chin and lifting my eyes to meet his, "But your attitude needs to change, you were seriously hateful toward everyone today."

I nodded in agreement. "Yes Sir."

Nick nodded before kissing my forehead. "Ok, get to bed, I don't want you all tired and grumpy tomorrow."

"Night Nicky...love you." I said giving him a hug before standing.

"Love you too."

Chapter End Notes:

Will she change her attitude? What will happen with this new boy at school? How will Matt react to this new boy and his interst in Cee?