Disclaimer: Dan and Nickelodeon own it all.
"Good morning, Caterina Valentine," Robbie says, smiling.
Cat slowly lifts her head up, confused and groggy as her mind recollected the night before.
"Hello Robbie," Cat said, "Thanks for letting me stay over." She starts to rub her eyes but notices the room is dark.
"What time is it?"
Robbie looked at his watch, "12:00 in the afternoon!"
"Woah, why is it so dark in here?"
"I closed the blinds since it's pretty bright out today. Figured it would help with the hangover."
Cat scoffed, "I'm not hungover! I barely drank last night!"
Cat stood up from the couch, only to sit back down a second later. The nausea set in and her head began pounding. Standing up at a gradual pace proved to be a better plan. Cat kept the pace and walked over to the kitchen table to meet Robbie, who already had a glass of water and ibuprofen tablets sitting on the table. Robbie had woken up hours ago, ready to help Cat in her unfortunate state.
"Thanks," Cat took the pills and immediately finished the water.
The pair sat in silence for a while until Robbie asked timidly, "Would you want to get smoothies down the block? And then take a walk in Central Park?" He made that plan the night before, knowing Cat liked to get moving rather than sulk in her hangover. And he was right.
Cat's head popped up from the table at the word "smoothie" and she nodded with a smile. "That sounds like a great idea. Thank you, Robbie."
Despite the normal conversation Cat felt that something was off between the two of them but couldn't figure out what it was. He seemed as though he was uncomfortable. Cat blamed it on the fact that she invited herself over while drunk, at 3am, and then stayed over.
"Awesome!" Robbie's attempt at sounding enthusiastic failed as his voice cracked.
Cat ignored it and said, "Let's go to my apartment first. I can't walk around with heels and a dress all day!"
Robbie agreed and went to his bedroom to grab an old, extra large Hollywood Arts sweatshirt for Cat to borrow. The sweatshirt ended up completely covering her dress. Cat glanced in the mirror on the wall and giggled at her appearance. Half-tights and heels, half-high school student in an oversized sweater.
"Heehee, I'm such a contradiction."
They walked through the hall and Cat's memory of the night before trickled in. Robbie picking her up. Robbie laying her on the couch. Cat scratched her head, frustrated she couldn't remember anything past that.
Did something happen in the apartment? Is that why Robbie seems weird..Or maybe it's just because he's Robbie... Cat's thoughts trailed off as she got in the elevator with him.
The hour subway ride was filled with a few side glances and shy smiles. Robbie couldn't stop thinking about what Cat said the night before, through slurred words, when she spoke about liking each other and asking him to be her boyfriend.
She doesn't seem to remember that she said it...or maybe she does remember but is avoiding it? Should I bring it up? Is it better to let it be and never speak of it? Do I want to be her boyfriend? Robbie's thoughts ran wild with questions...the only one with an answer was the last one.
Cat opened the door to her apartment and immediately threw her shoes off, laughing with relief from the tension.
"Hey, remember that time you wore heels?" Now that they were in her territory, away from a crowded subway and silent elevator, with her feet free from the tight shoes, she broke out in giddy giggles.
"It was for a play!" Robbie countered.
"Uh-uh, sure," Cat nodded her head enthusiastically, never ceasing her contagious giggles.
Robbie smiled at the red head, "I didn't realize Andre wrote the part for a girl! I thought I was helping him out with that assignment!"
"Well, Sikowitz did appreciate the depth you added to the character!"
"I know...you can bet I was tickled pink when Sikowitz insisted Andre should put the play on for the whole school to see," Robbie said in his unique way of speaking. He shook his head, ridding the memory from his mind.
Cat shrugged and announced she was going to get changed so they could "get a-move on."
Robbie took a spot on Cat and Jade's charcoal gray modern-looking couch covered in pink, red and black pillows. Clearly they compromised on the decorations.
After a minute, Cat came bouncing out of her room fully dressed and wearing small light pink snow boots since it was still quite snowy outside.
"Let's gooo!" Cat poked Robbie's stomach, then grabbed his hand to walk them out. In an attempt to drown out the weirdness between them, Cat thought it'd be best to be her natural state of "overly enthusiastic."
The initially bright day turned cloudy, but the weather was still bearable to walk around in so the pair walked over to Wumbo Juice for smoothies. Getting their drinks and walking back out, Cat reached for Robbie's hand again so they could walk hand-in-hand. This innocent action added a stinging pain to Robbie's dilemma.
Maybe I should just ask her about it...but that could imply that I want to be a couple, which may repulse or scare her like it has in the past. Would Cat ever want to be my girlfriend? Oh goodness.
Robbie gulped and covered his face with a nervous smile.
4:00 PM
The pair tossed their empty smoothie cups and began their walk around Central Park. Cat insisted on playing games the whole walk over, from "20 Questions" to "Would You Rather," and made it easier for Robbie to completely avoid, and somewhat forget, his inner conflict.
"So, would you rather ride a unicorn or hang out in a kangaroo's pouch?" Cat asked, squeezing Robbie's hand and swinging their arms, adding more pep to their walk.
"Hmm, hang out in a kangaroo's pouch," Robbie answered with a nod. "Would you rather dance like a monkey for two hours or hula hoop for one hour?"
Cat opened her mouth and let out a quiet gasp, "Dance like a monkey!"
"I would have done the same!"
"Really?!" Cat asked cheekily.
"Well, I mean, not-
"Robbie Shapiro I dare you to dance like a monkey for one minute!"
"So we're playing truth or dare now" Robbie said with a laugh.
"Yes! Let the monkey dancing commence!" Cat said in her best impression of a game show host.
Robbie sighed and walked a few feet away to give her a full view.
After a breath, he began dancing ridiculously. He couldn't stop smiling once he glanced up and confirmed that he won an explosion of laughter from the beautiful girl across from him. Eventually Robbie stopped and joined Cat's hysterical laughter, evidently leading them to break down with tears streaming down their faces.
Barely composing themselves, they begin walking again...only to have Robbie slip on ice and land on his butt. Cat immediately returned to a state of hysterics. Robbie smirked, held out his hands and looked up at Cat from the ground. She took one of his hands to help him up but instead got pulled down. Cat pouted for a moment then continued laughing.
"My butt's cold," Robbie said through his laughter. "Mine too! It feels so funny!" Cat replied, practically yelling. "Let's get up!"
Robbie's laugh died down to a chuckle as he stood up slowly. Bending down to help Cat, he pulled her up and swung his arm over her shoulders. Cat began blushing through her constant giggles. He froze. He couldn't tell if her blushing meant that she was okay with his touch or that he was pushing his boundaries. It's probably the latter, he thought as he took his arm off and held her hand instead.
Dang it, Cat thought.
A few moments of silence pass until Cat looks at her pink gloved hand and squeaks. "It's snowing!"
To Robbie's amusement, Cat stuck her tongue out and threw her head back. Of course, Robbie followed the action. The pair stood with their heads lolled back catching the snowflakes, holding hands and laughing.
It started to get dark outside and after a few moments, Robbie notices Cat stopped laughing. Putting his head upright, he smiled at the adorable girl beside him who keeps blinking rapidly as the snowflakes catch in her long eyelashes. He tries to catch her eye but Cat has her eyes directed to the ground. She pursed her lips and looked deep in thought. Looking to break the silence and find out what she was thinking, Robbie opened his mouth.
Words never came out. Rather, Cat whipped her head up, stood on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around Robbie's neck.
Startled, Robbie began, "Cat I-
She planted her lips onto his for one quick second before pulling away.
"Cat-
Cat's face was bright red and she wore a proud smile. She unwrapped her arms to go back to holding hands, but Robbie simply wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. Cat's smile grew and she pulled into Robbie, hugging his torso.
The two hung onto each other, consumed by the calm silence of winter and a mutual feeling of comfort.
The tightness of Cat's grip and her recent trait of extreme vagueness, or avoidance, of anything serious suddenly spoke volumes to Robbie.
When they would fool around with each other in high school, they would also talk to each other on a more personal level. They hadn't done either of those things in at least a year.
I can't mention the boyfriend-thing. We'll get to that when we're ready. Robbie internally sighed with relief at his final decision.
"Hey, Cat, let's go get coffee. It's freezing out here!"
5:00 PM
"I want sushi," Jade said.
"We can do that," Beck replied.
Beck moved his arm from under Jade to sit up. He slipped his red three-button shirt and jeans on while watching Jade slowly put her bra and clothes back on. Jade noticed Beck's staring from the corner of her eye and felt victorious. She didn't know what she expected from hanging inside a dirty boy's apartment for the day, but it definitely wasn't a feeling of accomplishment.
It was her turn to stare. Beck fixed his hair in the mirror, put his jacket on and turned around to Jade.
"You ready?" Beck asked with a smile. How did I bag someone this hot and cool?
"Definitely," Jade smiled back, excited to walk around with him on her arm.
They got downstairs and Jade braced herself for the cold. Since she never went home, she chose to wear his red-and-black plaid shirt. To her surprise it fit her perfectly and she was already considering keeping it for herself.
Luckily it stopped snowing and the walk to the sushi place was not too far. If anything, the cold gave Beck the chance to get Jade as close to him as possible, without looking inappropriate in public. Jade's smirk never left her mouth.
Once at the restaurant, a blonde waitress came over and asked Beck what he'd like to order. Jade's small, secret, insecurities creep up but dissipate when Beck completely disregards the waitress' flirtatiousness and keeps his eyes on her while ordering. The waitress brought out the food fairly fast and Beck picked up his chopsticks, seemingly ready to eat.
"You sure you know how to use those?" Jade looked amused as she watched Beck's hands struggling to get the right grip on the chopsticks.
"Total pro," Beck replied. Evidently, he decides his fingers would be better and laid his chopsticks to the side. They finish dinner fast. Staying inside doing nothing all day can be hard work.
With the check comes two fortune cookies. Beck grabs one feigning enthusiasm as he opens his fortune.
"'You will be lucky'," Beck read. "Well, that's dumb. I know I'm lucky." Beck looked up and winked. Jade scoffed.
"All fortunes are dumb," Jade said, pushing her fortune cookie away from her.
"Ah, should I mark 'fortune cookies' down on the list of things that you hate?" Beck said, only half-kidding.
"I don't even think they make the mark to be on the list." Jade said with a shrug. Beck nodded but added it to his mental list anyway, for future use.
The pair get up from the table and head out after Beck pays.
"I need to go back to my apartment and sleep...I think we'd be doing other things if we went back to yours," Jade's tone dropped to a sad note but she needed time to herself. Or at least that's what she's convincing herself.
"I understand," Beck replied reluctantly. "I'll head back to mine now. Later, West."
Beck started walking away but Jade got the joke and stood planted on the ground waiting for him to turn around.
"Only kidding. Goodnight, babe," Beck put his hand on her waist and pulled her to him as he leaned down to kiss her.
Pulling away, Jade said "Goodnight," and proceeded to call an Uber to get her back to her neighborhood, ASAP.
7:00 PM
"Honey, I'm home," Beck called out. He dropped the keys on the table and paused when he didn't hear Andre reply.
"Andre?" Beck called, then went to his room to see his bed made up and his room neat. Where has he been all day?!
Beck remembered running into him on the stairs this morning when he was in a rush but he never contacted him after that.
Beck (7:00pm): Hey man, what time will you be home?
Beck stared at his phone for a half hour before deciding he can watch the next episode of Game of Thrones without him.
Andre (1:00am): Sorry man, won't be back until tomorrow morning.
A/N: Idt I ever explained the "Part 1, Part 2, etc." thing. Basically, I did it this way because the days are in a row (i.e. Cat slept over Robbie's on Friday, the next chapter would be on a Saturday), rather than normal chapters that can take place a few days after the prior chapter was set. To be honest, idk why I decided to do chapters like that but the next chapter is the last of that trend lol.