A/N: Thank you for all the reviews so far!! Please keep them coming... it encourages me to write!



---At the other side of the Mall.----

"Nick, the puppy!" Sara pointed to a massive puppy teddy bear.
"Aww... that's really cute... how much is it?" Nick asked.
Sara shrugged, "No! Move come on," She walked to the next stall in the mini market.
The sales assistant smiled, "Still wanna know how much?"
Nick looked at her and nodded
"8 dollars." She smiled.
"Your girlfriend will love it!" She added.
Nick smiled at the assistant. "She's not my... uh.... well.... " Nick sighed and pulled out the money. "Here, and can i have it double bagged?"
"Of course Sir," She handed him the bag and took the money, "Thank you Sir!"

Sara picked up a paper weight and looked into it. Nick walked up to Sara, hiding the bag behind his back. She put it down and picked up other various bits.
"Hey Sara... can I talk to you for a bit?" Nick asked.
"Of course," She put down the paperweights, "Whats up?"
"Let's talk somewhere.. more quiet.." He nodded at a hallway that led to the washrooms.
Sara followed him. Nick handed her the bag.
Sara opened it and smiled, "Nick! I told you not to!"
"I know... but I wanted to... and now I'm going to explain..."
Nick smiled at her, "Sara... I bought you the puppy plushie, because..... well.... I.... uh..... I....I like you..." He started to blush.
Sara looked at him in shock, "You what?"
"Yea.. I don't know if you feel the same way or not.... but I like you... and I was wondering if you liked me.. and if you'd like to go out sometime..." Nick said quietly
Sara smiled, "Of course I would."
Nick grinned. He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the lips. "Well we should be going... you know, finding Warrick and the rest"
Sara blushed, "I... I... You..." she shook her head, "I mean yeah, if we have to..."
"We should... it's getting late...." Nick frowned. "But maybe I'll see you tomorrow? And we can hang out or something." Nick said as he walked towards the fountain.
"Sure, my parents are still away, you could come over to mine if you want..." Sara smiled and looked at the puppy.
"Sure" Nick smiled and saw everyone out by the fountain.

"Hey guys!"He called and walked over to Warrick. "Can I borrow you for a minute?"
"I think we're in trouble," he whispered to Jan, "Sure man! Hey Sara, nice dog..."
Sara smiled at the puppy, "Puppy actually!"
Jan looked at Warrick and then to Sara.

Nick dragged Warrick to the side. "Thank you so much man...."
"I mean I could kiss you right now, but i won't because that's gay..." Nick smiled goofy
Warrick smiled, "So you approve of us ditching you guys?"
"Yea.. totally"
"Sara and I are gonna go out sometime..." Nick smiled again.
"One question, what's with the puppy?"
"Ah.. that... she saw it and really liked it... so I bought it for her..."
"You realise you have a really stupid grin on your face..." Warrick laughed.
"Yea... isn't it great...." Nick laughed
Warrick shook his head, "Can we go back over there now?"
"Sure..." Nick walked over to the rest of the group.

Sara stood fluffing the puppies hair.
Jan walked over to Sara. "So you buy that?" She pointed to the puppy
Sara blushed, "Umm, no..." She smiled at Jan.
"So where'd you get it then? Nick?" Jan winked
Sara's smile went into a grin, "Yeah, he asked if i wanted to do something tomorrow... and said he liked me..." Sara blushed again.
Jan grinned... "I know..."
Sara's mouth dropped open, "YOU KNOW!? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well I only found out tonight... that's why I called you.... to get you and Nick together.. and as you can see... it worked..." Jan winked
Sara hugged Jan, "I'm glad you made me feel bad enough to come out. So Ecklie didn't try and kiss you then? Nice rose there's a red one like it over there." She pointed to the one Jan had thrown away.
"Well... actually...." Jan scrunched up her nose.
"Aww no way, eww!" Sara matched Jan's face expression and shuddered.
"And that red rose over there was the one he bought for me... and he tried to kiss me again..." Jan rolled her eyes, "Sometimes he can be nice, but then he turns right back to being an ass."
"Did you tell Warrick?" Sara looked concerned now, *Poor Jan, Warrick would kick his ass if he knew.*
Jan looked down, "No... he doesn't know about it"
"JAN! You have to him... you know what Ecklie's like, when he wants something he'll try everything to get it! You gotta tell Warrick!" Sara said trying to make sure noone heard but still slightly shouting.
"Sara... shh... Warrick doesn't need to know anything because there isn't anything to know..." Jan gave Sara a look. "It's not a big deal anyway..."
"Jan, I'm not gonna tell Warrick, but I think YOU should."
"But why? Sara, it's not like anything even happened. Besides Ecklie knows I like Warrick... so he probably won't try anything else..." Jan sighed
Sara frowned, "Hmmm, just watch out..."

Warrick walked over and covered Jan's eyes, "Guess who!?"
Jan giggled. "Hmmm... Warrick??"
Warrick grinned, "How'd you know?" He asked and hugged her. "Hey Sara, what's the dog's... I mean the pup's name then?"
Sara smiled at the two, "I dunno, can't think of one..." She held up the dog and looked at it.
"How about Nick??" Jan winked
Sara blushed.
"What about Nick?" Ecklie asked walking towards the little group, he grinned and winked at Jan.
Jan ignored Ecklie and looked back at Sara. Sara's smile dropped and held the pup in her arms. Conrad walked up to the group, still eating his fries.
"What's going on??"
Ecklie laughed, "Sara has a teddy dog... what age R U?"
Nick saw everyone over in a group and joined them, taking his place next to Sara. Sara shuffled uncomfortably, Ecklie was making her embarrassed.
Nick looked at Sara. "What's wrong?"
"Shut up man!" Warrick said noticing Sara's experession.
"Nothing," Sara told Nick quietly, not really looking at him.
Ecklie laughed, "I can't believe you bought a teddy bear, and you say I act like I'm in kindergarden!"
Ecklie looked at Conrad for some backup. Conrad nodded in agreement. Sara looked down and bit her lip. She usually would come back with a comment but she felt too embarrassed.
Nick looked over at Ecklie. "Hey it's a cute puppy dog... I liked it... you think I'm in Kindergarten too?" He stared at Ecklie, meaningfully.
"You're as bad as her! Shows you what hanging out with that will do to you! And anyway you didn't spend money on it, she did," Ecklie spotted Jan's white rose,
Nick looked at him, "I'm the one who bought it."

"What the hell? Where's...." He looked at the floor, "You threw away my rose? Wait, what? You what? Bought that for that? talk about dog for a dog!"
Jan looked at Sara and turned away.
Nick took a step towards Ecklie and grabbed him by the collar. "Don't call Sara that..."

Warrick looked to Jan, "That was a rose he bought you? Yo man, don't rag on Sara!"
Ecklie laughed at the two, "Look at you guys, he's pissed cos I bought Jan a flower and you're pissed cause I'm telling Sara what she needs to know!" He told Nick pushing his hand away.
Nick shook his head and looked at Warrick. "He's not worth it.... let's get outta here..."
Warrick turned round and started to walk out, he put his arm around Jan, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Jan shrugged..." I dunno.. it wasn't a big deal... "
Sara turned and wiped her face, she didn't want Ecklie to know she was crying.
Nick looked at Sara. "You ok?" He brushed away a tear.

"HAHA look Conrad, the dog cries too!!" He started to laugh loudly.

Sara nodded and looked at Nick, she smiled at him, "I just hate Ecklie... I don't know
why he has it in for me."

Conrad joined Ecklie and laughed, dropping his fries on the floor...
"Shit... man my fries...."
Ecklie looked at the fries, "Buy more!"

"Look... don't worry... I'm here ok?" Nick put his arm around her.

Ecklie's mouth dropped open, "No way!"
Conrad nodded and went of to buy more food.
Ecklie grabbed Conrad, "Look!"

Sara smiled and rested her head on Nick's shoulder, "I know you are..."

Conrad spun around and saw what Ecklie was pointing at. "What the-?"

Nick kissed the top of her head and walked to the mall entrance.

Ecklie stood in shock, "What? how? when? I don't get it?"

Sara grinned at Nick and snuggled into him, he'd protect her from them she thought.

Conrad looked as his freshly bought fries. "I think I lost my appeitite"
"That's going over the line man! I mean he honestly thinks he can stay popular and date that?" Ecklie shook his head, "He'll be more popular, as the 'guy who doesn't care' we gotta do something... He can't do that man!" Ecklie said tring to think what to do, he wanted to be the more popular guy, the one all the girls wanted, but how?

Jan looked over at Sara and Nick and smiled.
Warrick leaned to Jan's ear, "We're good!"
"I know.. I 'm just worried now... with Ecklie and Conrad... "
"Why? What can they do? Nothing, as long as you trust me, I trust you and those two trust each other. If that happens, nothing bad can happen!" He tried to reassure her.
"I hope so.." Jan glanced back at Ecklie.