Cece went through the rest of school in a daze. She kept thinking about Gunther's reaction to her announcing that she was going on a date. It just didn't make any sense. Sure, if he was joking, that was typical Gunther. It just didn't seem like a very funny joke or a joke at all for that matter.

Cece was so preoccupied with her thoughts; she didn't even hear Jaden come up behind her until he tapped her on the shoulder.

Cece jumped and tossed the books she had been putting away.

"Whoa! Easy there," Jaden reached down to pick up the books. "Sorry about that. Someone was lost in dream-land, I hope it had something to do with our date." Jaden smiled one of his signature cutie grins.

"Jaden!" Cece shook her head, trying to clear her mind. "Yeah, I was just thinking about…..stuff…..and people."

"Stuff and people, sounds interesting," Jaden laughed. "So, are you ready for our date?"

"I am so ready," Cece replied, feeling less than ready.

Rocky had just finished packing up some books she'd borrowed from a friend and fellow book club when she heard someone clear their throat to the side of her.

"Yes?" Rocky looked up and saw Gunther. What does he want?

"I have a great idea, Rocky, and I know you're going to love it," Gunther struck a dramatic pose.

"A great idea from a Hessenheffer?" Rocky sighed. "I think I will the opposite of like it."

"Don't be such a downer," Gunther teased. "It's a plan involving Cece."

"She's on a date," Rocky took a deep breath. How could she get rid of him?

"Yes, exactly, let's go spy on Cece on her date!" Gunther pointed at Rocky as if she'd gotten a hard question right.

"You have got to be kidding me?" Rocky gaped at him.

"No, you have to admit it will be fun," Gunther reasoned with her.

"I want to say it will be fun, 'cause it would be, but IT'S WRONG," Rocky growled.

"Oh come on, Rocky," Gunther pleaded. "Sometimes it's like you don't have a fun bone in your body."

"There are no fun bones in the human body," Rocky corrected him.

"Yeah, but you know…." Gunther was cut off by Deuce's voice.

"Rocky! Hey, Rocky!" Deuce ran over to where the two of them were standing.

Thank God for Deuce! Rocky silently exclaimed to herself. "Yes, Deuce," Rocky turned to face him.

"Hey, Rocky!" Deuce panted. "Dina and I are going to be helping out with a fundraiser in front of the ice cream shop, you want to help?"

"A fundraiser?" Rocky looked over her shoulder at Gunther. "Sounds like real fun."

"It to help homeless kids, sounded kind of like your kind of thing," Deuce said.

"That's great," Gunther nodded. "I'll be sure to stop by my savings account and give $100.00 in both mine and Rocky's names in those poor kids later on, but right now Rocky and I have somewhere to go."

"Huh?" Deuce looked confused.

"Gunther!" Rocky stamped a foot down on the floor. "I am going to …"

"Yeah, whatever," Gunther grabbed Rocky's arm and hauled her down the hallway.

"Gunther! ..Stop!...I'm…going to….kill you!" Rocky's protest echoed down the halls.

"Guess Rocky and Gunther have something really important to do that he won't even let her help out the homeless kids," Deuce shrugged and headed off.

Meanwhile, Cece and Jaden were walking along the streets of Chicago. Jaden had already purchased Cece a beautiful new necklace and showered her with a bunch of new compliments. It wasn't helping Cece's mood though.

As they strolled along, Jaden reached over and took her hand. He looked over at Cece shyly and managed a small smile.

Cece tried to smile back, but she was still thinking about Gunther's weird behavior. Why did her brain think she was missing something important here? It was like there was some gigantic clue to his odd behavior just sitting there, waiting to be discovered!

Three blocks behind them, forcibly holding hands with Gunther and jogging for dear life, was Rocky.

"Gunther! How do you even know where we're going?" Rocky complained.

"I asked Jaden all about the date during lunch," Gunther explained. "I just told him I was curious what he was doing since I'm planning out a date myself. I know where he plans on taking her."

"How many times a day do you lie?" Rocky grumbled.

"You don't know if that was a lie, I could be planning a date," Gunther replied.

Yeah, right! Rocky thought. Great! She was going to be spying on her best friend's date, against her will, just perfect, exactly how she wanted to spend her evening.

A/N: Next up is the date! I can include either Reuce or Deucina in this story as well. Either one is fine with me. Let me know if anyone is interested.

-CoS