"Alright, where is he?" Lacey demanded, propping herself on the counter with her elbows. She was staring at Stephanie accusingly, who-by the way-didn't have a clue as to whom she was referring to. Her co-worker liked to blurt things out without context, seemingly forgetting that no one could read her mind.

"Where is who?" Stephanie asked with disinterest. She was counting down until the last minute of her shift; there was nothing notable about to happen and unfortunately, no she wasn't quitting. But it was only about three or so in the afternoon and she wished she were home instead. These new few hours needed to go by quickly.

"Mr. Dreamboat!" Lacey said matter-of-factly. "I haven't seen him since the day you gave him a bunch of free shakes. What did you do to him?" Her eyes were narrowed, chin tilted upward.

"Will you stop calling him that?" Stephanie said, exasperated. She went to go clear off a table by a set of customers that had left their trash instead of putting in the garbage. What was so hard about that, she didn't understand. Lacey followed her, chattering the whole time.

"Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean others won't."

"There's nothing to see," Stephanie denied. The last thing she was up for hearing was Lacey gushing about Charlie. The funny thing was, he probably didn't even remember Lacey existed.

"There's everything to see," Lacey disagreed. "You're just in denial."

"I'm not in denial," Stephanie said, offended by the accusation.

"Oh, you most certainly are," Lacey said, smugly. "You may not see it now, but one day you will and I'll remind you of this conversation."

"You do that," Stephanie rolled her eyes.

The door that led inside dinged as it opened. She figured it was another customer and planned on taking their order when in reality-

It was Charlie.

Wearing actual shorts and a plain blue t-shirt without his usual plaid ones covering it.

"Wow, new look?" She commented and echoed his previous words from the last time they'd been together. "Nice clothes. But you didn't have to dress up for me."

He rolled his eyes. But it didn't escape her that he was trying to hide a smile. "You're still not funny."

"So you say now," She said.

"My parents made me wear this," He seemed annoyed by it. "It wasn't my idea."

Before Stephanie had the chance to make another teasing remark, Lacey slid past her, smiling coquettishly at him.

"I think you look great."

There was confusion clouding in his eyes, appearing like he was trying to place a name to her face. "Oh. You're Stephanie's co-worker. Linda, right?"

"Lacey," She was visibly disappointed that he hadn't remembered, just like Stephanie predicted. Unless he was messing with her.

"Right," he shrugged.

Lacey's smile became tight. She excused herself, saying Marvin needed her help in the kitchen, which was a bold face lie but Stephanie didn't call her out on it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her walk out of sight through the floppy door.

"Did you really forget her name?" Stephanie was skeptical.

Charlie was shameless about the whole thing. "No."

Okay, he was just a pretty good actor, then. "You probably hurt her feelings. She's been talking about you."

"She doesn't even know me."

"Trust me, that doesn't stop her," Stephanie said with humor.

"Yeah, well, she's annoying."

She probably shouldn't have let him speak so freely of Lacey like that but...Stephanie could understand it. She had a tendency to come off a little strong. Although, she felt she should defend her somewhat.

"She's not that bad," Stephanie wasn't sure if she was really convincing or not. "She's really nice, just-"

"Overcome with lust?" Charlie suggested.

"That's not what I was going to say."

"You were thinking it," he quipped. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his shorts. "Don't think I've forgotten all about our little bet."

"I'd be heartbroken if you did," She placed one hand on her hip.

"Of course you would be," His hand went to cup her cheek. Unimpressed, she shoved it off.

"Must you touch me?"

"Trust me, babe; someday, you'll be begging me to," His voice came out deliberately low.

With her face stony, Stephanie flicked his forehead again. "Pervert."

"Thought for sure that would work," he grumbled.
"Guess again," She was proud of herself. Now that they were closer to each other, she had a better view of his face. There was a light shade of redness that sprouted from his cheeks and over the bridge of his nose. It wasn't a blush, that much she could discern. "Is that a sunburn?" She squinted her eyes.

"Oh, yeah," He brushed it off. "Probably when I was out with Dad."

It was odd, admittedly, for her to hear him call his adoptive father dad. Only because she kept picturing his real father-though, she'd never seen him in person-it was difficult to imagine him and his biological dad together.

"Yeah?" She was interested in hearing more. He came to sit at the front counter like he normally did while she leaned against it. "What'd you guys do?" She was careful with what she asked; he'd not reacted well when she asked about his parents and if he loved them. Later on that night, after the three of them had left, she laid in bed and winced as she remembered.

"Just spent the day together. Fishing and stuff," He was bashful while telling her.

"Oh, cool," Stephanie smiled. "I like fishing. It's been a while since I've gone, though."

He seemed surprised. And doubtful. "You've fished before?"

"Yeah," She didn't understand why he was reacting like that.

"But did you catch anything?' He pressed.

"I got three last time," She responded. "One was tiny so it doesn't really count."

"Three!" He muttered to himself, evidently, still trying to process it. "Unbelievable."

"How many did you catch?" She asked.

"One," he scowled.

"Well, that's good," She was encouraging. "At least you got something."

"I can't believe a girl got more than me..."

"Maybe I'm just better than you," She said, not taking any offense.

He looked at her flatly. "Trust me, that's not it."

She had a sudden idea strike her. "You know..." She started, "if you want, one of these times we hangout, I'll wear that dress again."

"Why would I care about a dress?" He sounded bored.

"You seemed to like it."

"Did not."

"You complimented me," She pointed out.

"I was being nice."

"Somehow, I don't believe you."

"Too bad, Princess."

"Is that my new pet name?"

"Sure."

"Is it because I'm special?" She flipped her hair for added effect.

"Nah, just stuck up."

She retaliated by hitting him on the shoulder. It was only then that she realized her mistake and hurriedly tried to correct it.

"Crap, I'm sorry! I wasn't even thinking! Are you okay? I-"

"Tanner, calm down," He grabbed her hand to get her attention. "I'm fine, It's no big deal."

She relaxed. "You mean it? You're not just trying to spare my feelings or something?"
"Don't worry, Tanner. Your feelings are the last thing I care about," He rolled his eyes.

"What a regular prince charming you are," Stephanie said sarcastically, although on the inside, she was feeling much better. She'd worried that he wasn't going to take the hit well or become angry at her.

And for some reason, just imagining that he was angry at her, was something she really didn't want.

"I try."

"I bet you do," She put her hand on the back of his neck, her fingers gliding through his hair. When she didn't see what she hoped for, she said, "Not working?"

"Not at all," He said.

She pulled her arm back.

"You really suck at this."

"Like you're any better," She shot back. "And by the way, your touching comment isn't the way to get to a girl's heart."

"I know how to get to a girl's heart...amongst other things," Charlie said, acting all smooth.

"Like I said. Pervert."

"Am I your pervert?" He got to his feet.

"Not a chance."

"Your handsome pervert."

"No."

"But answer me this," he continued. "You think I'm handsome, don't you?"

"Absolutely not."

"I don't believe you," he said in a singsong voice. "I think you're lying."

"So?" She retorted. "I already told you, you're a pest."

"For now," he said, sitting back down.

Stephanie dragged a chair to sit down as well, whilst still remaining behind the counter. "My dad's dating again."

He accepted the change of subject. "Yeah?"

"It's his ex fiancé. She left for Chicago for a job but now she's back, I guess and her and my dad are a thing again."

Charlie hummed. Usually, she wouldn't have just dumped that on someone-that was better suited for Harry or Gia-but they were oddly kind of close now. Charlie was her friend, she just didn't know if he thought of her as one. "So, what, they're dating instead of being engaged?"

"Yeah. They're trying to be all slow about it," Stephanie answered. "He didn't even tell anyone about it. I caught Dad coming back after a date this weekend."

"What, no plans?" Charlie said.

"I had plans. Earlier in the day."

"But not at night like a normal person?"

Stephanie wished she could've had some. She kind of felt like she was wasting her summer. Soon, she would have to be back early to get up for school. "I know, sad, isn't it?"

"I was gonna say pathetic."

She gave him a look.

He put his hands in surrender. "I'm kidding, Princess. Don't get all moody on me."

She ignored him. "I hope they work out this time. I like Vicky. Dad loves her. Even after they broke up."

"Wow..."

"I know," She nodded.

"Your dad's getting more action than you," he said with fake solemnity.

She glared at him. "Is everything a joke to you?"

"Most of it," He said. His demeanor changed, softening. "Don't be like that, Steph. I'm just lightening the mood."

He hadn't called her Steph until this point.

"Sorry," She might have overreacted.

"Look, if I said something wrong, I'm sorry," he said with sincerity. "Is it because I said your dad was getting more action? I didn't mean anything by it."

"It's fine-" She rubbed her face. "I'm just being stupid."

"I could've told you that," he said but with a hint of caution.

"I guess I'm just-" Stephanie trailed off when a familiar face came in. Her breath hitched. "Crap," She had nowhere to hide.

"What?" Charlie wanted to know. He was going to swivel his head in that direction but she dug her nails into his arm, making him yank it away. "Ow!"

"Don't look," She whispered harshly.

"You're a psycho, you know that?"

"Uh, hi, Steph."

Charlie glanced between him and her.

"Hi, Andrew," Stephanie put on a wide smile. "It's...it's great to see you."

"Yeah..."

"I mean what a coincidence; I work here and now you're here," Stephanie didn't know she kept talking. Her mind was screaming at her to shut up but her tongue wouldn't cooperate.

"Right," Andrew was looking at her strangely. "Uh, I just need-" He gestured vaguely in the direction of the cash register.

"Your order," Stephanie's voice was louder than it should have been. "Right. I bet you're hungry. That's why you're here, of course..."

"I think I can take it," Lacey cut in, coming out. She nodded at Andrew. "I'll be right with you."

"Kay."

And in the meantime, Lacey gave her a look. "I heard that disaster back there. What's up with you?"

"I don't know-" She buried her face in palms. "If you need me, I'll be burying myself in an unmarked grave."

Lacey patted her on the back and then went to take Andrew's order.

Charlie was barely keeping a straight face. "Bravo, Tanner. Ten out of ten, awkward."

"That was awful," She moaned.

"It really was," he was enjoying this, the jerk. "I guess it was just a coincidence."

"Shut. Up." She ground out. "I can't believe I said all that," She wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

"So what's the story?" Charlie asked casually. "You like that guy?"

"Definitely not." A flood of memories from her earlier high school years and the end of junior high filled her brain. It was a place she would rather not go. She lowered her voice to ensure Andrew wouldn't hear. "We dated. Didn't work out."

"Let me guess-he saw you in your pajamas and realized you were actually a troll disguised as a girl?"

She glanced down at the counter, waiting until Andrew received his food and finally left. "We started dating after we did a play together, Romeo and Juliet."

"How romantic," Charlie faked a dreamy sigh.

"I thought so, too," She said, reminiscently. "I thought I was in love with him. We dated all of freshman year and by the time we were sophomores, we just didn't have a spark anymore. We barely spoke and when we did, it felt like a chore. At least, it did to me. We broke up a week before Christmas."

She looked expectantly at him.

"What?" He stared back at her.

"Tell me about a break up you've had," She was impatient. "So I don't feel so stupid."

"Don't have any."

"You're joking," She said.

"Nope."

"You've never had a girlfriend?" She was astonished. Maybe she was being presumptuous here but it wouldn't have been a surprise if he said he'd had a few thus far.

But to have none?

"No," he said sharply. She instantly felt bad.

"I'm sorry. It's not a big deal. I was just surprised."

"I don't need a girlfriend," he told her tersely.

"You're right," She nodded. "But maybe you'll get lucky and meet someone soon."

"I don't want one either."

"Why?" Stephanie didn't understand. She could get it to an extent. But with how strongly he was coming across, it made her wonder.

"They're all annoying."

"Still stuck in the cootie stage?" She quipped.

"I mean it," He didn't smile or say something sarcastic in return. His next few words were said quieter, but was still loud enough that she heard-that likely wasn't intentional.

"Not like any girl would want me anyway..."

/

Sometime later when she got home from work, Uncle Jesse asked her to come upstairs to the attic. Aunt Becky was nowhere to be found in the house. Apparently, she was at the pharmacy, getting some medicine for Nicky. Her uncle used this opportunity to have a word with her.

"You busy Friday night?" He asked her.

"No." She was off that day, miraculously, and had nothing scheduled so far. "Why?"

"I need you to distract Becky," He explained. "I'm putting together a special date night for her. She has no clue about it."

"Is this your way of making up to her?" Stephanie raised her eyebrows.

Even days after the spying failure at the mall, Aunt Becky was still not pleased with Dad or Uncle Jesse. She didn't show it outwardly because she didn't want Nicky or Alex to notice, but it didn't take a genius to know that she was acting colder towards them.

Uncle Jesse laughed a little. "It's a possibility. But your aunt deserves this. She's been working hard. Your dad and Joey offered to watch Nicky and Alex, so I was hoping you and Michelle could take your aunt out for a bit until I call you to come back home."

He looked hopeful.

"Sure thing, Uncle Jesse," She agreed. "What do you have planned, anyway?"

Her uncle was proud as he told her, "A candlelight dinner under the stars with her favorite meal and the same champagne we had on our wedding night."

"Nice," Stephanie approved. "Aunt Becky's gonna love it."

"She better, it's costing me enough," He joked.

She giggled. "Does it matter where we take her?"

He thought about it. "Take her to the mall, gives me plenty of time to work out the details. But don't tell her anything. Not even a hint." He pointed at her.

"I won't," She promised. "But you might want to tell Michelle that."

Her sister had a bit of a blabber mouth. She'd accidentally told a secret or two. Like that time when she ruined Dad's surprise party right as he'd returned to the house from being at work. Months of planning just went down the drain.

"It's on my to do list," He said dryly.