A/N: So this chapter took a turn for the ridiculous, but I don't know, when I looked back, I kind of liked it. If you need a song basis, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" was the song I had in mind; GOTTA love Awesome Mix Vol. 1. Anyways, read and review if you liked it!

"It's six o'clock and I'm ready to fight!" Sandy grinned, approaching the abandoned lion habitat. "Right in the non-metaphorical lion's den….Wait, huh? Is this what the lion habitat usually looks like?"

It was lit entirely by candles with heart confetti everywhere, and a song from the 70's was playing.

"Nice choice, Nina," Shelley grinned.

"Your guess is as good as mine, Shark Bite." Skipper shook his head.

"Did you have anything to do with this?" Sandy rolled her eyes. "Because this wasn't what I expected."

"Don't act so innocent, this has to be your trickery. Feminine wiles again, I told you!"

"What makes you think that I did this? I bet it's you and your team trying to embarrass me! It's not going to work."

"Okay, so instead of falling in love," Nina groaned, "they're just arguing. What did I think was going to happen?"

"That's honestly a good question." Shelley shook her head.

XX

"I can't even believe that." Sandy was pacing in anger back in their room. "Trying to set me up…what, so I'd fall into his arms and then he can be in control of this whole operation?! I don't think so!"

"Sandy," Shelley sighed, "we did it. We set up the romance thing."

Nina and Hunter made noises of disapproval.

"We did it because he's got a big thing for you, and he's honestly shy about it. I mean, why do you think he picks fights? He just wants to talk to you. You kind of embarrassed him."

Nina couldn't hide her smile.

"Wha…well, that won't sidetrack me!" Sandy shook her head clear of those thoughts. "He'll just have to deal with it! But…why?"

"Because you're pretty and smart and you really know how to take control."

"Don't flatter me, Shelley."

"I'm just saying what he said."

Sandy was stopped dead in her tracks. "I…I have to go to sleep. I'm tired."

Once she left, the girls erupted in a bunch of giggles.

"I can't believe it, but lying like that was the most fun I've had since we got here." Shelley admitted.

XX

"She what?!" Skipper was in disbelief.

"Well, she likes you, but you know how proud she is," Private explained. "She could never say it, so we planned it for her. She just couldn't come out and say it."

"And how would you know this?"

"Well, she's always giving you the mushy eyes." Kowalski offered.

"Do you think I spend all my time looking into her eyes, Kowalski?"

"I think you think they're pretty," Private snickered.

"I mean…they are…but that's not the point! Boys, love is a dangerous game. Just remember what happened to Manfredi and Johnson! I refuse to fall into the same trap."

"Whatever you say." Rico managed.