A month or so had passed and Octavio Jr had assimilated well amongst the Inklings. He had grown close to Charlotte, Teuta, and Erink. They were all heading home from school and Charlotte was thinking. She leaned over to Teuta.

"Inktavio's been home alone for a long while. I'm gonna invite him over for dinner." she whispered. Teuta nodded. Charlotte tapped Jr's shoulder and he turned his attention to her.

"I want you to come over to our house for dinner and stuff." she said.

"No thank you. I'd rather go home." Jr replied.

"I insist."

"I politely decline. I really need to be getting home."

"To what?" The two were staring each other down. Erink and Teuta were intently watching. Eventually Jr gave in. He averted eye contact.

"Fine." Teuta and Erink cheered. The four began making their way to Charlotte and Teuta's house. As they went Jr thought to himself.

'What's wrong with me? How can I give into her? This is obviously some kind of trap, so I better keep my guard up.' They finally got to their house and a toddler came to greet them.

"Hi Cephine!" Teuta exclaimed, picking her up. "This is our baby sister, Cephine. Isn't she cute?" He nods slowly. Teuta put her back down and she toddled to the couch. Charlotte turned to Jr.

"Our mom should be home in an hour or so. We can do homework or chill 'til she arrives." she said. He nods. Charlotte and Jr were doing homework, while Teuta and Erink were playing video games. Cephine was staring at Jr extremely seriously. Jr was getting a tad uneasy by this.

"Does she usually stare at people like that?" he asked Charlotte. She shook her head.

"She usually just stares at Octarians in the video games like that. Not sure why she's staring at you like that. I wouldn't worry about it."

"Right..." He's sweating a little and tries to keep his cool. 'I can't have some infant blow my cover. Gotta keep cool.' He relaxes and continues doing the homework. By then, their mother finally gets home.

"Hi, squiddos! Are you doing OK?" she asked. They all nod. "Oh, you must be their friend, Inktavio! It's nice to finally get to meet you!" She shook his hand vigorously; he could tell she was happy to see him. "I'll go prep dinner and it should be done in a few." Their mom and Charlotte head to the kitchen. It was just Jr, Erink, Teuta, and Cephine in the living room. Erink would break the ice.

"So, how do you like Inkopolis so far?" he asked.

"It's nice, I guess. Everyone's really friendly." Jr replied. For once he didn't feel threatened and actually comfortable. 'My dad can't possibly be wrong about these guys, could he…? No. I gotta keep my guard up.'

"Squids! Dinner time!" the twin's mom called.

"Great! I'm starving!" Erink exclaimed, running into the dining room. They all took their seats and started eating, except for Jr. He was staring at his plate with a somewhat green tint to his face.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" the mom asked.

"Is... Is this octopus?" Jr asked, keeping his composure, but internally screaming his head off.

"Yes, dear. Why?"

"I'm... Uh... Allergic to octopus."

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, dear! We have some left over tuna casserole in the fridge. Would that be alright?" she asked, taking the plate from in front of him. He nods.

"I've never heard of an octopus allergy." Erink commented while shoving a fork full of octopus in his mouth.

"Dude, shut up! People can be allergic to anything." Teuta retorted. Their mom returns and gives him the tuna casserole and he eats that. They generally have a chill night, and eventually it's time for Jr to head home.

"I should really be heading home now..." Jr said, slowly heading to the door.

"I'll walk you home. It's not safe to be out at night on your own." Charlotte said, following him.

"It's fine. I'd prefer to go alone."

"I really insist." She stared him down once again and he finally gives in.

"Fine..." he sighed. The two of them head off. Teuta and Erink watched as they left. The walk was generally silent. Charlotte broke the ice.

"Don't you get a little lonely in that motel?" He shrugged.

"Not really... I'm kinda used to it."

"Your dad doesn't come home to hang out with you often?"

"No. He's very busy..."

"That sounds really awful. I can't imagine being without my mom, my sisters, or even Erink... You've got us to count on, OK?" He was a bit surprised to hear this and he blushed slightly. He averts eye contact and replies.

"Uh... OK..." She giggles. As they continued walking they noticed something flying in the sky. Charlotte squints to look at it and Jr was hoping she wouldn't notice.

"Isn't that a UFO?" she asked. She began running after it. It unfortunately got away. She goes back to for Jr, but he was gone. She assumes he went home, so she went home herself.

He lets out an exasperated sigh and flops onto his bed face first as soon as he arrives home. He groans loudly and then rolls onto his back.

'What is wrong with me? Why am I letting some Inkling girl walk all over me? I wouldn't give into her wishes if it weren't for those piercing pink eyes... Those piercing pink eyes...' He lay there and thought about Charlotte for a bit. He could feel his face getting warm from blushing. It hit him. "Carp..." He slowly sat up and looked over at his walkie-talkie. Its light was blinking red feverishly. He missed his dad's calls. He picked it up to call him.

"Hello?" he said, bracing for the worst.

"OH! Now you pick up? Where were you? Who do you think you are, leavin' me in the dark like that?" DJ Octavio basically yelled through the transceiver. Before he could go on, Jr cut him off.

"I was having dinner at my friends' house."

"Havin' dinner with friends? Dude, you're on a mission? You can be havin' dinner parties all willy-nilly."

"Gaining trust takes time. And I couldn't say no."

"Why?"

"Charlotte is very persistent. She has very piercing, pink eyes..." There's a silence and it hits DJ Octavio.

"WAIT. HOLD UP. You can't ACTUALLY be falling for this Inkling chick?!"

"Wh-what?! No, of course not."

"Come on, man. It won't work. It could mess up the mission. You dig?"

"I understand."

"Don't get too attached, got it."

"Yes, father..." There's another silence, and Jr remembers the UFO. "Hey, what's with the UFO flying around?"

"I got tired of waitin', so I left. Time's runnin' out kid, the plan's gonna have to fly sooner or later. Understand?"

"Yes, father." They hang up. He pulls off the wig and the mask. He takes out the contacts and changes into pyjamas. He climbs into bed and can't help but thinking about her. 'Maybe there's another way...' He sighs, hugs his stuffed octopus tightly, and just goes to sleep. The plan may need to be reworked.