(A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry this is so late. I've actually had this done since the 23rd, but forgot to bring my flash drive to my grandparents' house and didn't realize that their internet connection doesn't work on my laptop for reasons unknown. Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas. I plan on buying a flash drive very soon and plan on updating chapter 5 quickly. I appreciate all the kind thoughts and reviews and everyone just reading as well. Hope you enjoy it.)

"Boom…"

I open my eyes to a depressing dark grey filtering thru my blinds by my window.

Great…is it raining?

As if on cue, a flash of lightning answered my question.

I guess so.

"Boom…"

I hate rainy days. They always sap my will for doing anything remotely productive. Luckily for me, Jade is supposed to come over and we're playing Modern Warfare 3 all day. Which should be fun.

I slowly sit up and try to wake up. This is one of those mornings that all you want to do is go back to sleep. But I should probably shower before Jade comes over. And make a quick—

My door slowly swung forward and a wooden food tray came into view, along with a red haired, apron clad girl.

Cat.

"Well good morning." I smirked. Cat quickly looked up, and her face fell.

"Hi!" She said, voice still perky.

"Why so sad all of a sudden?" I asked.

"Oh, um, I was hoping that you still were asleep like you were earlier. So I could surprise you."

"This is still a surprise you know, and a very nice one at that." I smiled as Cat stood a foot or two to my right.

"Yay." She smiled, and placed the tray, full of food onto my lap.

"Careful, it's hot."

Bacon, toast and another omelet.

"Wow, thanks Cat…" I said, motioning for her to come closer so I could hug her.

She however, missed it. "What?"

"Come over here so I can thank you." I said matter of factly.

"You don't have to do that."

"Cat. C'mere…"

She moved within my grasp and I quickly hugged her.

"Now, I see two forks, is this omelet for two?" I said, releasing her and looking back to my plate.

"Oh! I didn't mean to put two forks. My bad." She said, snatching the extra fork and blushing madly.

"It's ok, you can have some if you want."

"That does sound good. I'm really not hungry for my own." She said, looking down at my plate.

"Well then I have no problem sharing."

She wasted no time in spearing a bite and popping it into her mouth.

"You picked all of my ingredients." I said, surprised.

"Duh. It was meant for you silly."

"How'd you know what they were?"

"I watched you make yours last time."

"Did you throw the extra ham in?" I teased.

She again went pink in her cheeks. "Of course."

We both spent the next couple of minutes dueling over the omelet.

"Boom."

Cat instinctively sidled closer to me and snatched half a piece of bacon.

"So what brings you here?" I asked.

"Nothing really…just bored. Thinking about some music stuff." She said, laying her head on my shoulder.

"Not the storm?"

I swear, nature is reading my script. Lightning just flashed outside the window.

"No. It's been storming ever since I got up and came here."

"When was that?" I asked, putting the empty plate and tray on the pillow beside me.

"Uhh…6? Yeah…I think 6." She said, scooting closer.

She is so close I can smell her shampoo. Which for today is Apple Mango Tango. But I'm not really paying attention to that. Two days ago, the day Beck and everyone spent the day with us and the last time I saw her, Cat's hair was brown.

Today, it's the soft red that I love.

I don't know what it is about the color…I mean, she's beautiful with brown hair, don't get me wrong. But…she just looks so much better with red hair.

"I like the hair." I smiled, leaning my head onto hers.

"Thanks."

"Oooh! Just like a cupcake."

Why do I want to bite Cat's hair like Sikowitz?

And why do I suddenly want Red Velvet Cupcakes?

I quickly seize the moment and nibbled on Cat's hair. Unfortunately it doesn't taste anything like a cupcake.

She giggled quickly and whipped around to face me. "Why?"

"I remembered Sikowitz biting your hair last time you had it redone and wanted to see if it was true."

"That it tastes like a cupcake?" She asked. I nodded.

She shook her head and laid her head on my shoulder.

"What am I going to do with you?"

"No idea, that's up to you." I smirked at her. She simply sighed.

"Well, what do we have here?"

"AAH!" Cat and I both yelled simultaneously. Cat jumped straight into my arms and we fell back onto my bed.

I regained my focus quickly and looked up to see Jade, leaning on the doorframe and smirking.

"Jade?" I asked, not asking really, more looking for confirmation that it was her.

"You know, you guys are sneaking around, and whenever someone approaches you jump and scream." She rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Jade!" Cat said reproachfully, pushing herself off of me.

"Hey, I scheduled today with Robbie. Don't look at me."

The moment the words came out of her mouth Cat's whole demeanor changed. Her shoulders went rigid, and I could tell even from a angle off to the side that her eyes had gone glassy.

I moved to get a better look at her, and I briefly saw Jade take half a step forward.

By the time I really got to look at her tears were already falling and she's shifting herself away from me and Jade and towards the discarded breakfast tray.

"Cat?" Jade croaked out, sounding unsure.

JADE! I TOLD YOU! I told you the other day that you have to watch what you say about me in front of her! She isn't 100% yet.

Cat didn't respond to Jade, and is sniffling louder than ever. Thinking fast and ignoring Jade, I pull her into my arms softly.

"Hey…you're fine sweetie. You don't have to go anywhere if you do not want to ok?"

She kind of reacted, linking her arms around me. I felt Jade back off in front of me.

"She didn't mean it to be mean or anything like that. You are beautiful and amazing and are always welcome anywhere I am ok?"

"Ok." She whispered back, scratching my lower back.

I let go of her and her hands flew to her eyes. Her light mascara is wrecked.

"I'll be right back, excuse me…" Cat mumbled, darting into my bathroom.

I looked to Jade, where she at least looked a little regretful.

"You didn't say she was she easy to set off." She said, sounding worried and surprised.

I simply glared at her. "So? Cat's always been a little more emotional than the rest of us. It fits the mold."

"True…has she done that before?"

"Done that? Really Jade? It kind sounds like you want to chuck her back to Methodist or something." I snap, anger pooling over.

She is not going back. I will take her in myself and let her live with me, banning visitors if I have to.

I'm dead serious.

"No! I want her to stay out of Methodist as much as you do Robbie. I really do." She backtracked.

"Then what did you mean?"

"The reaction."

"Not since she got out, no."

And if you push me for information, I will snap again.

She did do this before she went to Methodist. I can think of 3 or 4 instances right off the top of my head.

"You mad at me?" She asked.

"No, just please play nice with her. When I say she isn't back yet, that is EXACTLY what I mean Jade."

"Ok, I get it now. So what's the plan for today?" She eagerly switched topics.

"I'd like to shower, then play a bit and then get lunch."

"Sounds like a plan." She said.

"Gloomy day outside?" I asked, pointing to my window as I stepped out of my bed and darting back under the covers.

The temperature dropped like 30 degrees I think.

"What? Cold?" She asked quickly.

"Freezing, did this come with the rain?" I said, pulling the covers closer to me.

"Yeah, this is like winter stuff. In May, which is really weird."

"It's still cold outside?" Cat asked. I glanced towards her to see her stepping out of the bathroom.

"Yeah."

"Hey Cat? Can you bump up the heat a bit please?" I asked nicely.

"Sure." She smiled, shuffling off.

A moment later she came back into view and Jade looked over my bed, and her eyes found the tray.

"Breakfast in bed?"

"Don't ask me, ask her." I deflected, pointing to Cat.

She seemed to bounce back instantaneously, smiling happily and nodding.

"Oh really? I want to ask a few things, but I think we should let Robbie shower in peace first." Jade said, grabbing the tray and getting to her feet.

"Yeah, if you don't mind." I quipped, causing her to roll her eyes.

I quickly grabbed some comfy clothes that didn't look terrible and hop right in the shower.

I'm worried about Cat. Not about her mentally, but worried that the others won't take as much care as I will in word choice. I've been around snippets with everyone around, and that stuff avoids the two of us for the most part, but I'm worried that they won't be able to calm her down.

It's no fault of her own, some part of me thinks that it's a defense mechanism. For what, I have no idea. But if she relapses, I am wasting no time and will lay into everyone, no matter who is at fault.

I neatly make my bed after drying off and getting dressed.

"Seems like there's always someone who disapproves. They'll judge us like they know about me and you…And the verdict will come from those with nothing else to do…The jury's out, but my choice is you."

I love this next part.

"Don't you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine, and life makes love look hard. The stakes are high, the water's rough…but this love is ours…"

I'm so busy jamming out that I don't realize that it's not actually in the room with me. It's down in the living room. I read that you sleep better when your phone is out of the room, so I've been leaving it downstairs and actually sleeping a little better.

However, I dash to the stairs to try and get it before I miss whoever is calling, but I promptly slip on the first step.

And tumble the whole way down.

I barely hear Jade's conversational voice and Cat cry out before I'm briefly airborne and something tackles me, preventing me from hitting the wood floor really hard.

I'm glad whoever did because that would have hurt quite a bit. Probably would have wrecked my day.

I roll off whoever it is just as Jade asks "Did you try to get the phone?"

So it wasn't Jade that caught me. Her voice was above me.

I look back to Cat picking herself off the floor and parting her hair to the side.

"Yeah, and failed pretty bad." I sigh, turning to Cat.

"Thanks Cat."

She seems pretty pleased and hugs me softly. "No problem. Just don't try it again."

"Who was it?" I asked after we separated.

"IMG. They said they'd call back and leave a message. They couldn't talk to me, they were looking for you."

"Ok then." I said. A moment later my voicemail ringtone goes off and I quickly dial it back.

"Mr. Shapiro, this is Judy from IMG records? We received information that said Cat Valentine was out of the hospital now? We'd like to have a meeting with the two of you this Friday at 4 PM. Please call if it is not possible for you to make this otherwise we expect you there. Thank you and have a nice day."

Great.

There goes all hope for a normal week. Why tomorrow I wonder?

Weird. Usually they let me schedule. Oh well, no use worrying about it.

I put the phone back in my pocket and briefly see Cat open her mouth to speak, but by then I'm already speaking.

"That was IMG. They want to see us tomorrow at 4 in Santa Barbara. Sorry, I cut you off Cat, what were you about to say?"

"That was what I was going to ask." She mumbled, as Jade rolled her eyes, setting up the Xbox behind her.

I moved and grabbed a wireless controller. Cat came and sat close to me, so close our arms are touching.

"What are you guys playing?"

"Call of Duty." Jade said, as the opening credits began with gunshots.

"Again? Geez, you guys are violent…"