Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or situations from the 3 Ninjas films. I do not make any money from this story, it's just for fun, and a review or two, please? No? That's ok ahaha. I also don't endorse any products mentioned, that's just life not ads.

Warning: There will be language but nothing else to rate this higher than T.

X x X

"Colt, hurry up! He's doing it again." Tum Tum moved the curtain over to get a better look.

He was abruptly joined by Colt, who abandoned his mission to dislodge a popcorn kernel to be where the comedy act is. The pair are at the window, looking out at a familiar sight. Rocky was headed across the street; not unusual. But, sometimes the situation goes left field, and rather than just go over to hang out, he could be going over to ask out their neighbor - - Rocky's best friend, Emily - - on a date. A date-date, for couples. He's had a crush on her since the fourth grade, but he had yet to have anything come from it other than countless rejections by her. Emily Farmer has placed Rocky all the way in the 'Friend Zone'. There's no knob on his side of the room. Much to his brother's delights. It was funny seeing the endless saga of Lovers and Friends go on between them.

"The guy is seriously a masochist; there's no telling me otherwise." Colt chuckled, moving away from the window, he shifted his hip left to avoid the bedpost. "He's gotta know that she's going to reject him. He's so hopeless."

'You should talk,' Thought Tum Tum, moving from the window as well. 'Judging by that fumigation amount of body spray you're wearing, you've got a date.' He shook his head in dismay over the hopelessness of both his brothers.

He doesn't get it! Is it a hormonal thing? He sure hoped not. He's not going to stop growing. That's just life. But he doesn't wanna fall victim to hormones and get all awkward and stupid just because he sees a girl. What's so special? They're the same lame girls he's known them to be; why does getting older suddenly change that?

Flora Denis, Jessica Koteas, Abbie Morisson… Icky. Creepy. Bothersome. Being fifteen shouldn't wipe the slate from years of those girls being… Well - - those girls. They weren't cows or anything. Tum Tum actually would admit they're all pretty. But… date them? With et cetera? No, thank you. Pass.

'The day I get snuck up on, clothes-lined, or tongue-tied over suddenly being unable to speak to them, I'll… well.. I'll.. Bite a gym sock during the hot months. Yeah!'

"Tum, where's my comb?" Colt asked.

"How should I know?" he shrugged his shoulders. "Trying to make Rocky jealous by going out with Brianna?"

"Obviously." Colt grinned at the joke. "But, no, we always go out on Fridays." He located his comb and headed into the bathroom. "Gotta decompress from the school week."

"Uh-huh…" He sat on his bed and watched his brother through the open bathroom door. "And how does spending your hard earned money on a girl's happiness create joy? Sounds more like you should be depressed to me."

"When you're older you'll understand the rich rewards of why men - - such as myself - - and when he's not panting after Emily, Rocky, go on dates."

"You're talking about kissing, aren't you?" He commented smartly.

"That, and et cetera."

"I doubt it."

Colt was done in the bathroom. "Think whatever you want; but your fifteenth birthday is coming up this weekend, and some creepy little twerp is going to become… Whatever girl kids your age are secretly into."

"Tch." Replied the approaching fifteen year old.

"We've all said it. But take a look at us now…" He backed out of the room with a haunting laugh. "Woo Haa Haa."

"You're a dork."

"And you're in denial." Colt said over his shoulder as he walked down the hall.

Tum Tum shook his head. Getting up from his bed, he walked over to the window and peered out. 'And a dejected walk back home. For him to be the third smartest student in school, he's really not bright.' He chuckled. Shouting down to him, he said. "Rocky, wanna game?!"

Rocky paused as if he was going to shout up to him, but he decided against it and simply walked inside the house. It took a minute, but when he arrived to their bedroom, he asked. "Will you stop shouting out the window at people, it's rude."

"Is it?"

Rocky wondered about that. He was just feeling embarrassed, and the last thing he wanted was to think his brother had seen the whole ordeal. He asked Emily to the movies on a date; she asked what kind of date, though she knew what kind. Every other month he's been asking her out. Every other month, he's hoping for that: "Yes". Alas…

"Rocky, you've known her since you couldn't even talk.." Tum Tum tried to drive that point home. "Imagine it from her point of view - - she's probably seen you naked."

Rocky blushed fiercely for a second. It wasn't exactly a lie. But that was years and years ago. First words ago. They were muddy and needed a bath before their moms took them out. He grabbed the pillow from his bed and slammed it into his younger brother's face to silence him.

"Be quiet. I'm sure it's nothing like that. She probably just thinks dating will ruin our friendship." He sat down and sighed. "She probably doesn't understand that lots of couples are each other's best friend."

"You've both lost it." Tum Tum walked to the door. "I give up. I'm getting a snack; want me to bring you something, lover-boy?"

"No." He fell back on his bed.

"Suit yourself. But, from what I hear from television shows, snacks help."

"Bring me a couple cookies." He groaned from behind his hands.

Tum Tum shook his head laughing quietly.

Rocky lowered his hands from hiding his shame of defeat. Brush it off and stay confident for next time. Gaming and cookies should help lift his mood. And once his brother returned, he and Tum Tum played Street Fighter 6, while feasting on lemon cookies. He was kinda happy to have a slightly sour taste to remove the sour taint of rejection from his love supply. Guess Tum Tum knew what he was talking about.

'Maybe I'm not consistent enough?' Thought Rocky; his mind is elsewhere, but he's still busting out his skills in the virtual world. Tum Tum must have been delusional if he thought he could earn bragging rights off his pain. 'If I ask her every week, she won't have a long time to think up reasons why we can't be together. What's wrong with one date?!' Sudden cheering had him blink. "Huh?"

"Aaawwww, yyyyeah!" His brother exclaimed as Ryu just finished off Vega.

"What?!"

"You're lucky this isn't Mortal Kombat, suckaaaa!" Tum put down his controller then unleashed a boom gesture.

"One victory out of twelve matches.." Rocky reminded the celebrating young victorious.

"Hey, even dad beats me," he stated. "I'm taking this win."

Rocky smiled. Yeah, let him have the victory. He looked at the clock. He got up from the bean bag and went to the window.

"Rocky, stop, please. It's getting stalkerish."

"What?"

Tum Tum rolled his eyes. "Standing at the window to watch Emily get in her car before she goes to work."

"I wanna make sure she's all right. You never know."

"What? If a stalker is watching from an upstairs window? Planning to rush out there and snatch her up quick."

"Ha ha." He rolled his eyes. Once her car pulled out of the driveway and went down the street, he moved from the window. "Let's stop playing. I wanna go for a walk."

"Ok. But, Rock, I gotta tell ya.. You're not a bowser, just go out with someone else." He shrugged his hands and shoulders together as a quiet "Duh!". "If you're asking her just to date, ask anyone. Why does it must have to be Emily?"

"Because I like her."

"Obviously. But why do you have to date her? She doesn't wanna date you."

"But she might? Why can't I just have one date to prove we'd be good together?"

"I don't know. Girl's are dumb. They know what they want and most of the time it ain't who wants them."

Rocky hated how that made sense. But, he's determined to land that date.

Which is why, one week later, he found his way to the Farmer's residence. He wasn't going to accept a rejection. He was going to land that date and give her the best time that his attention could shower her with.

He pressed the bell. It wouldn't do to behave like a best male friend and just waltz in like any other day. The entire Douglas family have been best friends with the Farmer family since forever. They even vacationed together a dozen times.

Rocky flexed his hands in and out to shake off his nerves. It doesn't help that he can feel eyes on him from behind. Looking over his shoulder, he cast an embittered look at the upstairs window where Tum Tum just ducked out of view. His brothers were so not helping. Why couldn't they just be on his side? Was it impossible?

After a third ring, the door pulled open. Rocky smiled, and gulped when seeing Emily at the door with damp hair.

"Sorry, Em, were you in the shower?"

"No. I was washing my hair; Sade wants to dye in some highlights."

"That sounds fun, but, I like your hair," he declared. "You don't have to change a thing about it."

Emily expressed a sense of butt-kissing by shaking her head. "It's a girl thing, of course you don't see the reason." She's felt her hair is a bit one-way. With blonde highlights it'll look exotic and refreshed. "Did you need something? Why didn't you just come in?"

"I.. um..." Oh great. Tongue tied. He kinda wished the Peeping Tom behind him would throw a ninja star and injure his leg, then he could escape clean to tend to his wound. No such luck. 'Confidence, man, you're blowing it.' He expelled a breath. "Emily, will you go to the movies with me this Friday? On a date?" He was sure to make that part clear. "Or, we could do something else? It doesn't have to be a late night thing. Go-karts, amusement park, fun at the park... Anything, as long as it's you and I." He thumped himself on the head mentally, that sounded beyond cheesy!

Emily expelled a breath of what sounded like agitation, but her face softened seeing Rocky's shoulders slump after hearing it. She really doesn't want to date him. But, he's so persistent now that he's not even willing to go for his standard 2 month cooling period before asking again. She doesn't get it.

"You know it's gonna be weird, right?"

"It won't be weird! Trust me!"

"But what if it is? We'll always keep thinking about it, or worse trying until it isn't, and that's gonna make it even more awkward... Do you think our friendship is strong enough to handle that?"

"This isn't about friendship, or even maintaining it.. it's about two people who could be right for each other." He waved away the other scenario. "Just leave friendship completely out of it. If it doesn't work out, that's that. We'll always be friends, Emily. I won't let that change."

She looked at him for a long minute.

"Em, come on!" Sade called from behind her from upstairs, looking down. "Oh, hey, Sam." She waved.

"Hey."

Emily looked over her shoulder. "I'll be right there." Turning her attention back to Rocky, she then said. "Ok.. fine. One time, anywhere you want."

"Really?!"

Smiling, she nodded. "Really."

"Thank you, thank you, ok," he rambled backing away. "You won't regret it. I'll be the best - - it'll be the best." He corrected.

Emily nodded while slowly closing the front door.

Rocky bolted home, a happy fool. He got the yes! He got the yes! He nearly slammed the door from a simple shove behind his entering, he's that charged. He bounded up the stairs two at a time, and once inside his bedroom he engaged in a happy dance. Tum Tum watched, just stunned. His brother has finally cracked up.

"Did she reject you so thoroughly you've lost it?" He asked once his brother finally landed on his bed.

"What part of a happy dance looks like rejection?"

"That was happy? I thought you scored a glimmer of hope and did a premature touchdown celebration."

"Well, your wrong. Emily, Pepper, Farmer... said "yes"." He grinned triumphantly.

Tum Tum looked shocked then concerned, his nose scrunched up. "I don't know why.. but that worries me on so many levels."

"Why?"

"Because if it doesn't go from there, you're gonna feel even more rejected and walk around like The Incredible Sulk, until Colt and me pummel you until you snap out of it."

Rocky offered the rude assessment a scoff. "I already told Emily that it's fine if she's not interested in me I won't push it."

"But, you've already proven to unreliable there, because what do you think all that persistent asking was about? Your not taking her "no"."

"How old are you again? How many girlfriends have you had?" Rocky judged.

"Fifteen this year and, thankfully, none. But, trust me, even without a girlfriend I know what I'm talking about because I watch shows."

"Trust me. I don't go back on my word. And besides," Rocky turned himself and moved over his bed to the window. "Emily never did say no, then tell me I should stop. She'd say that it's gonna be weird. Or just a simple no, thanks." He watched Emily climb into her friend's car. Her hair looks beautiful. Like her usual platinum field blended with shimmering sandy blonde like his own. "She's never once said stop bothering me about it."

Tum joined his brother at the window. "I still think it's gonna be trouble."

"You'll see. It'll be perfectly fine."

...

Perfectly fine for Friday. But, here, in the early evening of Spring, Rocky is internally bouncing off the walls with excitement while attempting to read. So far he's read the same paragraph 3 times. And he still has to endure tomorrow! He's too buzzed to calm down. He finally got his yes. And he's positive he didn't imagine it.

'But what if I had? What if I wanted a yes so badly that I imagined it?' He checked his watch. She's definitely off of work. He hated himself for grabbing his cellphone from beside him, but he had to know. He didn't wanna come off desperate, it could possibly hurt the situation. Turn her yes into a nevermind. The very realness of that had him drop his phone.

"We now see a wild Rocky, out of his normal habitat." Colt said like a documentalist trying to be quiet while he watches an animal. "Struggling within himself, as he knows there will be female contact."

Tum Tum snickered in the background. Teasing Rocky with Colt were some of his favorite bonding moments, well, after doing ninja. That will always be top-tier fun between his brothers and himself. But after that, dog piles were best. Mostly because he was usually the one being teased by them.

Rocky felt a ping of agitation; looking at Colt he used the same documenting tone. "Is that a human watching me? I should probably murder it for being nosy." He made a face at him then got up from his bed; a satisfied smirk spread across his lips when Colt perked for defense. He wasn't going to go after him, he was switching from novel to comic. If he's unable to concentrate of a book, he can at least read a comic because he can just look at the pictures.

His phone rang. He nearly plowed his younger brother aside as he was crossing the room for his bed; he was done watching TV and nearly sustained an injury for it. Gotta watch out for men in love, what can he say? 'Crap.. it's her!' He had admit, he thought about ignoring it. If she can't reach him, she can't cancel. But, what if she has a good reason? Like a hurt family member, or she's stuck at work That day and needs to reschedule. Rescheduling means it's still gonna happen just a little later, maybe even sooner. It's spring break. They have free time.

"Hello?" He answered before she quit trying to reach him.

"Hey, I wanted to ask you about our date,"

Rocky balled his hand and gave two pumps of victory into the air. She wants to ask about the date, and she doesn't sound dreary or wavering. Was this a dream? "Umm, huh?"

"Do you know what we'll be doing? I don't wanna wear a skirt then end up bowling or going to State Mayhem or something."

State Mayhem is a park arcade. It's got mini golf and go-karts, a ferris wheel all enclosing a big arcade that has a little restaurant of junk food and a few healthy options. Rocky hadn't considered it, but it was a great place to date. However, he wants it to lean more towards romance, so a place that he would - - and has - - taken friends, Emily included, was out of the question.

"Umm, probably not there... I think if you wanna wear a skirt or dress that's fine. If plans might change, you could skort it."

His brothers looked like a pair of meerkats, as they expressively and with the rise of their heads in his direction, wondered what a skort was and why Rocky was suggesting it to Emily.

Emily intoned rejection. "I don't own any."

Rocky muttered an "oh". "Well, wear a skirt if you'd planned to. We're gonna go to dinner and to the outdoor theater."

"Really?" She sounded pleased.

Rocky smiled instantly hearing her joy. "Yeah! We'll see anything you want."

"Awesome, thanks."

"Are you home yet?"

"No. My mom asked me to stop and get water for her. I'm heading for the gas station. They sell the ones she likes."

"Oh. Hey, Emily," he really didn't wanna come off sad, but he had to be extra sure. "This is a real date, right? Not just to me?"

Emily laughed. "Yes. It's a real date."

Rocky breathed a relieved sigh. "Ok. Great. Just checking."

Emily laughed again. "I'm looking forward to it. It could be really fun - - I.."

The sound was so abrupt and loud that Rocky dropped his phone. It landed on the bed, still making an offensive sound. His brothers gathered to him poised for action. But none could be taken, not from their end. Not really. And as the phone remained on the line... all they could do was listen to the loud blare of car horns... The vehicles had no other response during an accident...

X x X

Commentary: Thank you for reading. Reviews are very appreciated. I'll update when I can, life has become so busy lately, so thanks again for reading because I know you're all busy too.