Cece struggled through the remaining school year. She passed all her exams with higher scores than she predicted, but she had made sure to underestimate herself so that she would study the maximum amount she would need to get a good grade.

Cece had told Rocky about the vacation and, predictably, Rocky was as excited about the trip and competition as Cece was.

On the first day of summer vacation, Cece slept in until she awoke because Rocky was shaking her and singing some slightly familiar song about summertime.

"What are you doing?" Cece moaned.

"It's noon, Cece," Rocky shook her again for good measure. "Want to go have a lunchy breakfast and then shop for our California styles!"

"Yeah!" Cece leaped out of bed and raced to her closet, then paused. "Oh, I promised that I would go to lunch with Gunther today. I was supposed to call him when I was ready."

"Oh, Cece," Rocky flopped down on Cece's bed and smiled up at her. "Just say he's your boyfriend already."

"No," Cece laughed. "I'll say it when I want to."

"You torture me," Rocky sighed. "What's with you two and your dramatics? I'll only get a confirmation on your dating status after you're married."

"Don't say that yet! You'll jinx it," Cece gave Rocky an accusing look. "Now leave so I can get dressed."

"I'm not looking," Rocky pulled one of Cece's pillows over her head. "Just hurry up."

Cece threw on her clothes and the two of them headed for the mall.

Cece had managed to convince Rocky to let Gunther come along and she called him on the way. He met them at the entrance to the mall.

"Good morning, my Bay-bee and other bay-bee," Gunther greeted them.

"Are you ever going to get tired of that word?" Rocky rolled her eyes.

"No," Gunther gave her a teasing grin and put an arm around Cece. "How's my princess?"

"Feeling like a queen," Cece nuzzled her face against his shoulder. "I've got the money I've been saving up and am ready to take California!"

They stopped for a 'lunchy breakfast' and laughed over the more interesting aspects of this year in school.

Soon the three of them were walking through the mall, pointing at things in the store windows. Gunther and Cece were holding hands.

As soon as Rocky and Cece had scoped out the mall and figured out which stores looked best, they made their second lap around the mall, this time going into the stores and try on some outfits.

Cece and Rocky modeled their clothes for themselves and Gunther. The appropriate audience reaction was always elicited from Gunther and whichever of the girls wasn't trying on clothes at the moment.

Before they knew it, they'd spent most of their budget and were laden down with their new clothing items.

"One more stop," Rocky paused in front of a shop with the front window display decked out like a Pacific island. "We have to get a bathing suit."

The girls spent an hour or so going through the bikini section. They were trying to put together bikini tops and bottoms. They mixed and matched and compared until they finally settled on their sets and headed to the counter.

Gunther intercepted them with an evil smile and held up a pair of very, very tiny string bikinis. "What about these ladies?"

"No way," Rocky cringed away as if he was holding out snakes.

"Yeah, Gunther, no," Cece shook her head.

"It's just a joke," Gunther smiled. "Maybe I should get one for Tinka and sneak it in her luggage. Or send it to Ty? That would be too good."

"Your funeral," Rocky laughed as the girls made their way around him and paid for their last items.

Loaded down with their bags, the girls collapsed on the bench near the exit. "Gunther? Can you watch my stuff? I want to go get an ice cream," Cece said. "What flavor do you want?"

"Yours," Gunther answered.

Cece smiled sweetly at him and headed off toward the ice cream shop with Rocky at her side.

"Hey!" Gunther called after them. "I didn't say I'd watch your bags." He pointed an accusing finger at Rocky.

"That's okay," Rocky giggled. "I was quite sure it'd be no extra burden for you, since you're already watching Cece's."

The girls returned in a few minutes and Cece sat down next to Gunther to share their ice cream together.

Rocky and Cece were non-stop talk and didn't leave much room for Gunther to speak, but he didn't mind. Cece was paying enough attention to him to raise a spoonful of ice cream to his mouth whenever he finished the previous bite.

Some people might think they looked a little ridiculous. The two girls laughing and talking, each with a cup of ice cream in their hand and the boy with his head rested on the redheaded girl's shoulder, being fed by the girl from time to time. However, the three of them could not have been more content.

As they exited the mall, Rocky waved to Gunther and Cece and headed off to drive her mother's car home. Rocky had promised her mother that she would help her cook for a sick family member and had to get home. Gunther had driven his car to the mall and he would be driving Cece home after they watched a movie.

Cece wasn't sure how much of the movie she had actually seen. It had been pretty dull. She and Gunther had spent the time, making jokes about the characters and the plot, getting themselves shushed a couple of times.

They headed out of the theater and Gunther drove her home. Cece brought him up to her house and tiptoed up to give him a goodnight kiss. Gunther took hold of Cece and pressed her up against the wall, kissing her until she was breathless.

Gunther let her go and grinned daringly at her. "See you tomorrow, princess Bay-bee."

"See you tomorrow, love," Cece stood in the doorway and watched him leave.

A/N: Just going to give a shout-out to all my reviewers! LuvPeaceCandy, iluv2dance101, JasonDolleyLover96, AshleighIsI, NeverEndingTragedies, SavannahCaileyandZayaRules, lyokogirl821, and the anons: anon & jj. I really appreciate the reviews! And to everyone who watches this story or comes across this story and reads it, I really appreciate you taking your time to read this story! -CoS