Nora is already awake when I crawl out of bed. She's in the kitchen, making French toast, apparently.

I'm already dressed for work when she finishes cooking, so I sit on the couch, groaning.

She thrusts a plate of toast and eggs in front of me, not saying a word.

Wait - I didn't think she could cook? In all the years I've known her, she's never so much as glanced at a spatula! And now this?

"Yes, I can cook, for your information." She stares down at me, pushing the plate towards me again.

"Fine." I huff, cutting the toast with my fork. "Why do ya always make me cook, 'f you can cook, hmm?"

She shrugs, going back in the kitchen. "I don't like cooking." She comes back with two cups of coffee. "Here."

I take a sip of the coffee, rolling my eyes. "Whatever." I eat some of the toast, which is surprising really good. "Need t' hurry. Can't be late."

"Right, right." She eats a piece of toast herself. And another.

I finish eating quickly, then down my coffee. "Let's go."

Nora nods. "Right." She shoves me outside, and I go down to the car.

"Did you sleep okay?" She starts up the car, pulling out on the street.

I shrug. "Fine." She taps on the steering wheel. "Good."

She looks around as she drives, biting at her lip. "So, you gonna call Tino?"

I shrug again. "Dunno. I mean.. Yeah. I dunno when, though."

She says nothing until we pull up to IKEA, when she leans over and kisses my cheek. "Have a good day."

I shove her face away, laughing. "I will. Bye."

Nora smiles and waves, pulling away.

Work goes by easily. I try to leave early because I want to walk home, but Ivan is nosy as usual and insists on taking me home.

I don't feel like talking on the way, so I stay quiet. Debate calling Tino.

No. It would be dumb to try again so soon. Plus, I probably look like a mess right now. And I feel awful.

But on the other hand, I'm off tomorrow. And maybe a real dinner would make me feel a little better.

But I don't want to dress up..

But I will. I guess.

As soon as I get home, I call Tino.

"Hello?"

"Tino? It's me, Birgit. What're ya doing?"

"Nothing, nothing! I'm just.. Writing." He laughs.

"Writing?" I hum, walking up to my apartment.

"Mm! New song." He sings something but I can't make out what is. "But if you wanna come over, I can come get you!"

"Yeah, that would be nice."

"Alright! I'll be right down, okay?" "Yeah."

I run upstairs to get dressed. Nora is at school still, so no worries there.

I go to my closet, and grab a pink sweater, and a black skirt. And a few bracelets.

I change quickly, throwing on my jewelry, slipping on my creepers.

I stare down at myself. Stupid.

I take off the skirt, and slip on black skinny jeans instead.

Still stupid.

But I'm out of options. Today's laundry day. As in, do the laundry today. I have no other clothes clean.

"This is fine.." I hum to myself, pulling up my hair.

I just hope Tino doesn't think I look as stupid as I feel.

He picks me up about a half hour later, in his swanky blue Fiat. He's wearing.. A button-up shirt.. Blue jeans..

It throws me off, honestly. He looks.. Fancy and casual.. And sexy- I cough.

"You alright?" He asks, driving cheerily.

"Fine-" I manage, blushing.

He's singing the same tune he was earlier.. I still can't make out the words, he's not even saying words, just mumbling.

"Is that the song yer writing?" I ask quietly.

He grins. "Yep! I think I've got it all ready.. I could sing it when we get to my place, if you like!" He smiles.

I nod. "Yes." I blurt, grinning.

He suddenly blushes. "It's um.. Not really good, though. Eduard usually writes the songs.." He mumbles. "But I wanted to write. I write sometimes." He smiles again.

"I'm sure it's wonderful.." I say bashfully.

"I hope!" He giggles, and I laugh with him.

It's quiet for a few minutes, until he speaks up again. "So.. Are you a fan of my band?" He smirks.

I blush ridiculously. "H-Honestly, I wasn't. Until Nora dragged me to your concert.. And .. I saw you." I hide my face in my sleeve.

He laughs loudly. "Really? Because of me!" He's blushing slightly. "Yeah." I laugh.

The car stops, and he leans over, staring at me.

"Kiss?" I say quietly.

"Please." He smiles sheepishly.

I lean in, holding his chin, and gently press my lips to his.

He slowly pulls away, giggling. "Thank you." I nod, laughing.

He unbuckles, opening the door. "C'mon." I get out after him, straightening out my clothes.

"You look nice." He smiles.

"You look better." I blush.

"Stop it.." He giggles, pushing me up to the front doors of the house.

"It's huge." I blurt out. "Wait till you see the inside!" He laughs. "It gets better!"

I hurry inside, and grin. He wasn't kidding. The sitting room is furnished in shades of tan, with golden accents. "It's lovely.."

"Want a tour?" He grins.

"Definitely."

Tino shows me the whole house, all three floors of it. I sit at the dining room table as soon as we come back downstairs. "Want dinner?" He smiles. "I'm not the best cook, but I'm pretty alright."

"Um... Yeah." I nod.

"What do you want? I can make spaghetti.." He flushed. "If that's alright.."

I giggle. "Yes. Oh! I can help.." He grins. "Good, it'll be fun! I bet you're better at cooking than me.."

He grabs my hand, dragging me into the kitchen. "I wanna make the sauce from scratch, is that okay?"

"Yes.. I've never done it before, you'll have to show me how." I smile bashfully. "I can boil the pasta, while we make it."

"That sounds good!" He smiles. "The pans are under the sink there, and the noodles are in the cupboard above you."

I grab a big pot and a saucepan from the cabinet, and then a box of spaghetti noodles. I fill the pot with water, then set it on the stove, turning it on high. Then I slink beside Tino.

"How do we make the sauce?" I smile.

"It's really easy!" He grins, grabbing some tomatoes from the fridge. "We just .. Puree these, I think that's the word? And then salt it and use different herbs! We can even throw in stuff like onions and peppers."

"I see." He starts chopping up the tomatoes and onions, and I watch curiously.

I run back over to the pot, remembering the water, which is boiling. I turn it down a bit,then drop the noodles in. I turn back to Tino, who has dropped the stuff into the pan.

He stirs the sauce, humming softly. "How long do you have to cook that?"

"Just until it's liquid-y enough! And it tastes good!" He giggles. "Speaking of which, wanna taste test?"

"Yes, please." I grin. He holds up the spoon, holding his hand under it, then tips it into my mouth. I hum in approval immediately. "Mm, excellent! Tino, 's amazing! Wayyyy better than t' stuff in the jars!"

He laughs. "Thank you! I-It's just a recipe I found online.." He blushed, stirring it again.

I go back to the pot, stirring the noodles. "These 're just about done." I smile.

"Great! This is done, I'm just keeping it warm." He smiles.

I pull a noodle from the pot, blowing on it, then eating it. "I think it's good. D'ya have a colander?"

"Yes, it's.. here!" He hands me the colander, and I put it in the sink. "'xcuse me.." I say, carrying the pot slowly to the sink, pouring the noodles into the colander carefully. Steam fills the room. "Whoa!" I hear him laughing, though I can't see him.

I put the pot down, waving steam away, wiping it from my glasses. I can just make out Tino's blurry form, and suddenly I feel his hands around my face.

"You look so cute without your glasses!" He giggles, kissing my nose.

"Do I..?" I blush. "I can't see." I laugh.

He pulls his hands away, smiling. "Sorry," He laughs, and I push my glasses back up my nose.

"So.." He says, after a minute. "Let me finish the spaghetti." He smiles. I nod, then sit at the table.

He shakes the noodles out, before putting them back in the pan and pouring the sauce in. "How much do you want?" He smiles over his shoulder.

"Uh, not too much." I shrug.

He puts two scoops of spaghetti on a plate, passing it to me. He puts 4 on his.

"I'm starved!" He grins, sitting beside me. I nod, poking at my food while he takes huge bites of his.

"Somethin' the matter?" He asks, after he swallows his bite.

"Nothin'." I smile.

He gives a nervous smile. "Hey, you don't need to be nervous around me, or anything like that. I mean.."

I hold in a sigh. So Nora didn't tell him. Not like she would, I mean- she doesn't really talk to him.

But I'm glad she hasn't.

"Are you sick?" He touches my forehead, and I suddenly I jerk back.

"No. No, I'm fine." I say quickly.

He looks a bit hurt. "Ah, sorry." He strains a smile.

I look away from him, before taking a bite of the spaghetti. Now I feel like trash. Another date, successfully ruined, I think.

Tino's quiet for a while, as we eat. He finally speaks up, but I half wish that he hadn't.

"You know, you don't need to worry.. Or anything. I think.. I think you look amazing.. So-"

I put down my fork, a little louder than I would have liked.