After Blaze Boy's departure, I closed my laptop and found Rufus napping on the sofa. I decided I would just tell Mom that he was sat by the door when I arrived home from school. Hopefully she wouldn't ask too many questions. I was sat watching Modern Family when Mom's key clicked in the door, and Rufus ran to the door. I heard a loud squeal and the sounds of Rufus's tail beating happily against the hard wood floor.

"Rufus! Oh, my baby!" Mom cried, as I launched myself off the sofa and shuffled into the hallway, where some sort of licking and cuddle fest was going on. Ew.

"Cass! Oh, where did you find him?" Mom asked, looking up at me as Rufus licked her face. Gross.

"He was literally just sitting outside the apartment door when I returned from school." I said, trying to sound convincing. Mom just broke out into a huge smile and continued cuddling Rufus. As I started backing away into my room, Mom called out to me.

"Remember Brian's coming for dinner tonight."

Shoot. I'm double-booked.

"What time?" I asked, turning around to face my mother.

"About 6."

Ugh. Blaze Boy was coming to my window at 6:15, and I'm sure dinner won't take 15 minutes. I would have to leave a note on my window, asking him to wait. As Mom prepared dinner and rushed around the apartment, tidying it up for Brian (who I'm sure wouldn't care about empty crisp packets and dog hair), I scribbled a note for Blaze Boy.

Hey, I'm having dinner with my mom and her boyfriend so stay quiet and wait and I'll come soon.

Don't go without me or I'll kill ya.

AG

I stuck the note onto the window glass and left my room, locking it behind me. I didn't need Mom walking in here and seeing Blaze Boy at the window.

"He's on his way." Mom said, as I padded into the kitchen. The aroma of curry wafted around the apartment, and I was practically drooling. "Now, Cascade, can you please behave yourself and have the correct manners? Speak to him nicely and make conversation." Mom instructed, stirring the curry. I sighed and nodded. Did she think I was a hyper-active toddler or something? I knew how to act around unknown people. Sometimes, anyway. After watching Mom stir the curry silently for a few minutes, the doorbell rang, and Mom was sent into a frenzy.

"You get the door, Cass! I'll keep Rufus in here so he doesn't jump up! Go!" I walked to the door and opened it, revealing a tall, well-made man of about my Mom's age. He wore black frame glasses and was holding a bouquet of flowers. His face broke into a smile when he saw me, and I put on my best 'I don't know you but I must behave' smile in return.

"Hello! You must be Cascade. It's great to meet you." Brian said, stepping into the apartment and shaking my hand. I closed the door behind him as he took off his Adidas trainers. Stylish.

"Mom's in the kitchen." I murmured, ushering for him to follow me through the living room into our brightly-lit kitchen. As soon as Mom laid eyes on this Brian fella, she blushed and I cringed. Ew. They awkwardly hugged infront of me and Brian gave Mom the bouquet.

"Oh, they're beautiful! Cass, go and find a nice vase."

So I was sent on my way to the living room to find a vase in our cabinet. As I opened the cabinet and browsed the wide array of quirky vases my mother owned, Mom and Brian chatted awkwardly about general stuff. The conversation was flowing. Ha. In the end I selected a white, glossy vase and trotted back to the kitchen with Rufus at my heels, plonking the vase on the table and shoving the bouquet of roses into it. I could be a florist.

"Cass, go and brush your hair, it looks terribly messy." Mom exclaimed, turning to face me. I cursed her in my head and walked to my room, unlocking my door with my key and finding Blaze Boy sat on my windowsill. I slammed the door behind me, rushed to the window and opened it a little.

"Hey, I'm about to have dinner. Did you see my note?" I said, looking up at Blaze Boy. He nodded and grinned.

"How cute. I don't mind waiting here for half an hour." He replied, swinging his legs over the side of the windowsill.

"It might be over half an hour. You can wait in my room if you don't wreck anything or tease me about my Ice Woman and Star Wars obsession." I mused, causing Blaze Boy to smirk.

"Sure thing, Aqua Girl."

"Thanks, Blazey Boy."

I left him sat on my bean bag playing Mario Kart on my 3DS, and locked the door behind me, hoping Brian wouldn't want a tour of the apartment or something. My room was a no-go zone. Especially because there was now a boy in it.

As I re-entered the kitchen, Mom was serving up, and I took a seat next to Brian at our small table. While I mentally prepared myself for this awkward first-date kinda dinner, Mom plonked a large bowl of curry and rice infront of me, so I waited until everyone had their food and was seated before eating. Manners, Cass. Manners.

"So, Cascade, your mother tells me you enjoy swimming." Brian said, in between mouthfuls. I finished chewing my rice before answering.

"Yes, I have practice every other night." I replied, annoyed that my mother described it as a fun 'hobby'. Swimming was life for me.

"That's a lot of commitment." Brian continued, before shoving a spoonful of curry in his mouth. I nodded before continuing with my meal, catching Mom's eye and receiving a wink from her. Ugh.

Why are parents so cringey?

After a few more minutes of unbroken silence, apart from the clanging of forks on plates and munching of mouths, Mom decided to speak up.

"Brian and I are off work on Saturday. We should go to the park or something." She said, smiling at me. Oops. I had Aidan round for the French assignment.

"Aw, sorry Mom. I'd like to but I've got to work on a French presentation and my partner is coming round." I said, thankful for Aidan for once. He just saved me from awkwardly wandering around a park while Brian and Mom probably held hands. No thank you.

"Which friend?" Mom grilled me, staring across the table.

"He's not a friend."

"He?" Uh oh. Please god, not while Brian's here.

"Yes, we got put together. I don't even like him."

"Work in the living room. It's brighter than your bedroom." Mom instructed, leaning back in her chair. I knew what that meant. That meant not going into my room while Aidan was here, just because there was a bed in my room. Wowza. Mom had given me embarrassing lectures before on boyfriends and boys, although I've only ever had one boyfriend, and that was in kindergarten. It only lasted a week. Cute, heh?

"Of course." I muttered in reply, scooping up some curry in my spoon. Mom decided to change the subject.

"Brian here is great with tools, he made a swinging bench for his garden out of scratch! Maybe he can make you a new headboard for your bed, instead of that fairy one you've had since you were 6." Oh great, embarrass me infront of your new boyfriend. Thanks, Mom. Brian nodded at Mom's comment, and turned to me again.

"I hear you like Star Wars, Cascade. Me too. I'm a big fan."

Ooh la la. Another Star Wars geek. Bingo.

"Yes, I adore it. Have you seen the new Last Jedi teaser trailer? It was amazing! What do you think they mean by not on the dark side but not on the light side?" I replied, instantly perking up and launching into full geek mode.

"Well, it could be a sign of Rey not being either, and being neutral to both the Rebel Alliance and the New Order." Brian replied, getting excited along with me. Our conversation continued, varying from Luke Skywalker's return to the loss of Carrie Fisher, and the announcement of the new Han Solo film. Mom just sat and watched, obviously bored, but pleased we had something in common. Lightsabers and spaceships. Yes.

Finally, we had cleared our plates and I quickly scampered back to my room, unlocking the door and slamming it shut behind me. Blaze Boy was slumped on the floor, in the middle of an intense game of Mario Kart.

"I've won 3 tournaments." Blaze Boy bragged, switching off the 3DS and placing it back on my shelf. I ducked under my bed and grabbed the plastic bag with my suit in.

"That's nice. Do I care?" I asked sarcastically. Blaze Boy smirked. "Now can you wait outside because I'm getting changed."

Blaze Boy swung himself out the window and waited on the roof. I closed the curtains, stripped out of my normal clothes and struggled into my suit, eventually tapping the AG, causing the suit to cling to my body. I hooked the mask on my face, tied up the laces of my blue Converse, and locked my bedroom door. I would let Mom think I'm asleep or in a food coma.

"You ready?" Blaze Boy called as I climbed out the window, making sure to close it behind me. I looked up at him and nodded.

"I was born ready."