Cato's POV

I got home a bit late today. It's Saturday so the band had rehearsal all day. It was really fun and all but it was also extremely tiring. I was about ready to pass out the moment I walked through the doors of my house. Too bad we had a family tradition wherein we had to eat dinner together every weekend. When I got home, they were already sitting at the table waiting for me.

"Hey guys. Sorry I'm late."

"It's alright kitty! We'll always wait for you!" Charlie, my ever sweet youngest sister said. She really is my favorite.

"Speak for yourself. I'm starving! Hurry up already!" Cameron rebutted. Ah, the life of a boy undergoing puberty. I remember those days. Not planning on going back either.

Some time after we started digging in, Cole decided to start the conversation. "Hey Charlie, why don't you tell everyone how you're theater class went today." She said with a glint in her eyes and a smirk on her face. I eyed her suspiciously. She's up to something.

"Oh it was so much fun! We got to play and make arts and crafts and and and and sing!" she was really enthusiastic about it. That's new. She has always been a perky one but I've never seen her this excited about her theater class before.

"Tell them about your new music teacher, Charlie."

"She's great! She knew a lot of songs and she's really good at singing! She was really pretty too! Like those people on TV!"

"Oh? What's her name?" Chris asked.

"Clove!" Saying I was shocked was an understatement. My face was probably a dead give a way. My eyes went as round as saucers and I accidentally dropped the fork I was holding in surprise. Coleen had a huge smirk on her face, meaning she knew I would react that way.

"No way! I didn't know she worked in the theater! Cato, why didn't you tell me?!" Chris demanded. Believe me, sis, I'm as shocked as you. She obviously didn't notice my little fiasco despite the loud bang of the fork hitting the plate. She was too engrossed with Charlie's revelation to notice little ol me.

After finally composing myself a bit, I said, "I didn't know. She never told me." My voice got a bit soft and hoarse before practically choking out the last bit. I tried to hide the hurt I was feeling.

"Aww. Poor Catie. His girlfriend didn't tell him she got a job, let alone at his little sister's theater class." Chris teased.

"One, she's not my girlfriend. And two, we barely saw each other this week. We were both too busy. With school and the band, I barely had time for myself, much less for her."

"Yeah right. I don't believe you for a second. As if you don't call or at least text her every day. Everyone here knows she's one of your top priorities in life so don't tell me you don't have time for her. Heck, she probably takes up more of your time than you care to notice! I doubt there's anything in your life that she doesn't know about. You're an open book!" I had no reply for that one. It's true, after all. But why didn't she mention anything? I tell her everything! It's not like she had anything to hide.

"That's what I thought." Chris said smugly. I was honestly too tired to deal with this. I got up left the dining room without another word.

Once they thought I was out of earshot, I heard Cole say, "Chris, cut him some slack. He already has a lot going on in his life. Besides, he's sacrificed so much for you. For us. So can you please refrain from offending him? We rarely get to spend any time with him as it is and you're cutting it even more." I didn't stay and hear what Chris had to say. I opened the door that led to the stairs of the basement and descended it. I then locked myself in my "cellar" as we would jokingly call my room.

About 5 minutes passed before I heard someone knock on my door. I was tempted to shout at the person and say I wasn't in the mood since I assumed it was either Cole or Chris but one word made all my anger disappear.

"Kitty?" I walked to my door, unlocking it, and saw the most adorable little girl look up at me. "I'm sowwy."

I squatted so that I was at her eye level and looked her right in the eye. "What are you saying sorry for, Charlie?"

"I made you angry." she said, her voice full of guilt. I can tell that if I didn't reassure her soon, her tears would start to follow.

"You didn't do anything, kiddo. I'm just tired, that's all."

"Can I stay here with you?"

"Sure thing, princess." with that, she ran to my bed and jumped on it. She got under the covers and lay there. She really was the cutest thing in the world. How could I ever say no to that?

Just then, my laptop started making noise. It said that I had an incoming call on FaceTime (since I'm using a MacBook Pro). I answered it, not knowing how to feel, really.

"Hey Cato!"

"Hey" I answered back halfheartedly.

"What's wrong?" Saw right through me. Then again, I wasn't really hiding it all that well.

"Nothing really. Just tired. We had rehearsals all day."

"Oh. Is this a bad time then? We can always talk again some other time."

"No, it's fine. I just -"

"Kitty! I left my bunny upstairs! Can you get it for me?"

"I'm busy right now, princess. Can I get her later?"

"Okay. But I'm tired." I took a glance on the bed and saw that she was rubbing her eyes to prove her point. Then something struck me.

"Hey princess, can you come here for a minute? There's someone I want you to see." she climbed down the bed and headed to my desk where my laptop was. I lifted her on my lap so that she could see who I was talking to.

"Clove!"

"Hi Charlie!" She didn't seem all that surprised to see her although I guess she was a bit taken aback.

"Kitty, I didn't know my teacher was your friend!" she said, looking up at me.

"Well, now you do."

We (well, they actually) talked for about another half an hour before Charlie got really sleepy. We both said goodbye to Clove but I told her I would call her again once Charlie was asleep. I brought her up to her room and tucked her in. The moment her head hit the pillow she was out like a light. I kissed her forehead goodnight before retreating back to my room. I called Clove again and after the first three rings, she answered.

"Hey again."

"Hello to you too."

"How'd you like my sister?"

"She's absolutely wonderful. She's a really talented little girl."

"Takes after her brother, doesn't she?" I said, smirking and wiggling my eyebrows. She just laughed at me.

"Yeah, she does. What's his name?" It took her a few seconds to remember what she was trying to recall. What a joker this woman is! Hello, I'm right in front of you! "Oh right! Cameron must be a really good influence on her."

"Hey!"

She gave a hearty laugh after my obviously offended reaction. "I'm just kidding. Yes Cato Morgan, you are an amazing and talented person."

"Well, I try. But you forgot to mention outrageously dashing." I said, trying not to act too cocky but nonetheless confident. She just rolled her eyes at me but a smile was planted on her face. Then something hit me, "Wait, how do you know about Cam? Have you met him too?"

"No. But you forget that I'm friends with his twin sister who never stops talking about her annoying twin brother and the rest of her family."

"Oh. So you already knew Charlie was my sister?"

"No. I think she only mentioned Charlie's name once. She always referred to her as her 'baby sister.' But I did kind of figure it out when I saw her. She looks a lot like you. So does your older sister. Coleen was it?"

"Yup. So you've pretty much know everyone. And they all adore you. I don't think I want to bring you here anymore."

"Oh? And why's that?"

"Cause you've only met my sisters and they're already trying to take you away from me. If you met my brother, he might try to steal you. He's the real competition."

"I think it's scary how you view your little brother as an opponent, especially since he's 3 years younger than you."

"What, a guy can't be jealous of his own siblings?"

"No. He really can't. Especially since I haven't even met the only other boy in your family. Besides, I'm not really into younger men."

"Really?"

"Cato, men mature later than women. It's a fact. If I dated a younger guy than me I'd feel like a pedophile of sorts."

"Oh." I couldn't keep the smile off my face. She practically admitted that we're dating. "Quick question though, why didn't you tell me you were working at the theater?" I can't help it! It's still really bothering me.

"Oh that's right! Well my aunt just recently left town for awhile and needed a substitute. Everything was happening so fast it slipped my mind. I didn't even tell Jackie!" she seemed to be in a sort of panic. I would be too if I forgot to tell something as important as this to Jacqueline Finch. She'd throw a fit. Definitely wouldn't want to be in Clove's shoes at the moment, that's for sure.

"Good. At least I'm still the first to know. Well, maybe not so good because then she'll get mad at both of us. Mostly you though."

"Wow. Ever so supportive. You know, I might just drop by there and arrange a date with Cam. He seems to be the more sensible male species in your household."

"Oh please. Cam hates everything except video games and his friends. He's in that stage in puberty. I wouldn't even try, if I were you."

"Hmmm.. I might just take up your challenge." Just then, her mom started calling her. "That's my cue. Got to go. Pick me up tomorrow?"

"Why?"

"You don't want to see me? I'm offended."

"No it's not that! Of course I want to see you and spend time with you and all that but why so suddenly? Do you really want to meet Cam that badly?" I was trying to keep it cool here but she was making it really hard to keep the hurt out of my tone. I really need to fix that. I'm showing way too much emotion for a teenage guy who's supposedly at the top of his game and is smooth with the ladies.

"Not really. That'd be a bonus for sure but if you would recall, I have a playdate with a little girl tomorrow."

"Oh that's right. Sorry I was barely paying attention. Two of my favorite girls were in my line of vision at the same time I couldn't concentrate much on what any of them were saying."

Her mom's voice shouted again, this time much more forcefully. "That's really sweet and all but I really have to go. See you tomorrow!"

"Yeah. See you! Good night!" I managed to say that before she disconnected. Now I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.