Author's Note: What's up guys! I'm here with chapter 3, Thomas and CJ's "date" (it's kind of a half-date, I mean they're just getting lunch lol)! Enjoy and please follow/favorite/review! :D

CJ pulled up to the parking lot, turning off the engine and stared at the huge coffee cup sign. She had bad memories of this place, especially considering she almost destroyed the shop the last time she was in town. She hesitated to even step out of the car, gripping the keys in her hand tightly. Thomas looked over to her, confused as to why she looked so scared.

He reached over and patted her on the back, "CJ? Are you okay?"

She snapped up and looked at him with a feign smile, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just-just a lot of funny memories of being back in the city..."

"Oh. Well let's head in, I'm so hungry" he smiled, getting out and walking over to the door to hold it open for her.

"I know this is kinda cliché, but 'ladies first'!" he chuckled.

She giggled, "Oh thank you so much, good sir!"

They walked in down the steps, looking for a place to sit. The shop was unusually quiet that afternoon, with only a handful of customers hanging around.

"Thomas, where do you want to sit? I was thinking of a booth...more private ya know?" she asked, blushing a little.

"Yeah that sounds nice." he agreed.

They found a booth in the back, sitting down and waiting for a waitress.

"Um, do you know if Margaret still works here?" she asked, a look of worry in her eyes.

"Nah. She left for college a while back, as far as I'd heard after Mordecai's whole 'depression' incident." he said awkwardly.

"'Depression'? What do you mean?"

"Well, after Margaret couldn't be his girlfriend, Mordecai went into a deep depression. We got him out of his funk though, and he's moved on from Margaret. Although, he's hoping she comes back on a break from school soon." he explained.

'Wow. He really cares for her doesn't he?' she thought, surprised at what Mordecai went through.

"Can we have a waitress over here please?!" Thomas shouted, getting a little impatient.

On cue, Eileen walked up, notepad at the ready and a smile on her, albeit exhausted, face.

"Hey Thomas! Sorry for the wait, I'm the only one here right now as everyone else left after the huge morning rush we had." she frowned slightly.

"It's cool Eileen. Have you met CJ? She recently arrived back in town." he smiled.

Eileen looked over to CJ, "No, I haven't. Nice to meet you...CJ, is it?" she asked.

"Yeah, CJ is short for Cloudy Jay." she answered.

"Oh. Well I'm Eileen and I'm friends with everyone at the park, but my best friend is Margaret. Do you know her? You'd like her a lot!" she beamed.

CJ started rubbing the back of her neck, nervous to tell Eileen about her past here, "I-I uh-"

Thomas looked at her sadly. He knew that being here bothered her deeply for some reason, so he interrupted, "She's here visiting family! Yeah, her family."

"Cool. So what can I get you two?" she asked, raising her pen to the paper.

"I'll have an orange soda, and a hoagie sandwich with everything on it please." said CJ.

"I'll take a roast beef sandwich with a coffee, and two creams and sugars Eileen." said Thomas.

Eileen wrote down their orders, "All right. I'll have that out in about ten minutes!"

"Thanks!" they said in unison.

"Thanks for covering for me there, Thomas." she sighed.

"You're welcome. What's bothering you about being here CJ?" he asked.

"I-I don't want to talk about it with you just yet. Let's just talk about something else. Um, I saw that you draw?" she said shyly.

Thomas became red, "Uh y-yeah. You said they were 'cool'?"

CJ smiled, "Yeah. I happen to draw too."

"Really? Awesome! We'll have to have like, a drawing competition or something!" he chuckled.

CJ had a weird look on her face, "Uh, sure Thomas."

'God, that was bad!' he thought, mentally slapping himself.

"Do you mind if I look at your notepad?" she asked.

Thomas picked it up from the booth seat, "Sure CJ, here." he handed it to her.

She looked through the drawings, "These are fantastic Thomas! You could be like, a professional artist or something!" she squealed excitedly.

Thomas blushed again, "Thanks CJ! Mordecai mentioned that he could help me too."

She handed him back the notepad, "You'll have to take a look in my notebook at some of the stuff I've done. I've also got stuff besides drawings in there."

"Yeah? Like what?" he asked, seriously interested.

"Well...just some crappy poems." she said looking away and twiddling her thumbs.

"CJ. Don't be embarrassed over that. It shows creativity and passion." he smiled, looking into her eyes.

CJ looked back up at him, "You-you really think I'm creative?"

Just then, Eileen showed up with their food and drinks, "Here ya go guys! Enjoy!"

"Thanks Eileen!" Thomas said.

"Well, let's eat and then I'll look at your work and give you my opinion." he said.

"Sure, I'm pretty hungry after all this chatting!" she laughed.

After eating, Thomas and CJ shared the bill and walked back out to her car. They got in and Thomas went to reach for CJ notebook just as she did: they touched hands for a brief moment, pulling back and laughing while looking away from each other.

"S-sorry!" CJ said, blushing intensely.

"It's ok. Now," he picked up the notebook, "let's see what you've got here." he smirked.

After reading and looking through everything intently, Thomas set down the notebook.

"CJ. This stuff isn't good..." he said with a sad look.

CJ heart stopped for a moment, 'He hates it. I'm awful at thinking I could date someone like him.' she thought, ready to cry in embarrassment.

Thomas then formed a huge grin, "IT'S AMAZING!" he laughed.

CJ punched him in the shoulder playfully, "You jerk! You had me worried for a second!"

"Seriously CJ: You have great stuff here. Listen, I'm in some classes at college that have helped me a lot. How about I ask my teacher to help you perfect your work? Mordecai's good, but I doubt he has as much talent as my art teacher. Oh and he's a poet too!" he said.

"Whoa! That guy sounds like the perfect tutor!" she grinned.

'Better ask her now...' Thomas thought.

"Um, CJ? I've been thinking. I've had an awesome time with you today and...uh..." he stuttered and started sweating like crazy.

"Yes, Thomas?" she looked into his eyes, which somehow calmed him down.

"Would you like to, I don't know, go...out?" he gasped, barely getting the question out.

"I'd love to Thomas." she smiled softly, then leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"Awe-awesome! Well, we'd better get back to the park so I don't get fired." he chuckled.

They drove back in silence with Thomas staring out the window, thoughts of dating CJ filling his head.

"We're back. So when do you want to go out?" she asked.

"Uh...um...how about this Friday after I get out of my late classes?" he said, stumbling over his words again.

CJ just giggled at his nervousness, "Sounds good! See ya then Thomas!" she smiled, driving off to her hotel.

Thomas meanwhile, ran back up to the park house cheering, "I'VE GOT A REAL DATE WITH CJ! WHOOOOOOOOO!"

Mordecai and Rigby saw this both smiling at the sight.

Rigby spoke up, "I give him a half-hour and he blows it."

Mordecai punched him to the ground, "Shut up dude. He needs our support, and I'll give him some tips I learned when hanging with Margaret."

"Oh did I say a half-hour? If you're helping him, he'll last a whole two minutes!" Rigby smirked then busted out laughing.

Mordecai grabbed his rake, "You're so dead man!"

Mordecai began chasing Rigby around, trying to smack him with it.