I can't do anything but fixate my gaze on the single person on the couch while Zander helps Patrick with the bowls and containers before signalling for me to step into the apartment but its difficult to move my tense body, my spine almost rigid. To my horror however, Gwen grabs my arm and yanks me past the threshold of no return before pulling me along to come face to face with the First Lady.

Not knowing what to say, my eyebrows knit into an intricate knot, my throat going dry.

"It's nice to meet you again." My eyes widen in shock as I stare back at the First Lady, her lips forming a soft smile while searching my face, addressing me again as if reading my thoughts, "you don't have to be so scared, I leave that and politics to my husband."

"Oh well that makes sense," I mumble out regretting my words as soon as they're out, closing my eyes briefly to reprimand myself inwardly. Not even fazed by my stupid reply, the First Lady only laughs before patting the spot next to her with a delicate hand.

Oh no. Oh no, no, no nooo.

Biting my lip, I cautiously sit down next to her with Gwen still glued onto my other side, "Mom, she's way prettier than I thought. I have tough competition." Facing her, a frown sets on my face as I consider her words; how the heck was I her competition? I didn't stand a chance against her incredibly gorgeous eyes that happen to be the same green as Zander's but unlike him, she was the very definition of teen glam – everything about her appearance screamed perfection despite her age.

"Uh, I doubt that," I finally blurted out as she was beginning to stare at me with every passing moment. What the heck did I do to deserve this type of attention?

"You're just being super chill, which I like but I'm being totally serious. I'm not exactly known for lying or being fake around people."

Scoffing, the First Lady gives her daughter a fleeting look of mild derision, "And by that, she means she's the family's troublemaker, making girls cry. She even made a pop star cry."

Turning onto her mother, Gwen's eyes widen in mock hurt, "She deserved it! Who dyes their hair green and then wears a brown dress? She was asking to be called a tree."

"And it's thanks to you she was called Pop Tree for a whole month!" Mrs. Nolan extolled, not allowing her daughter's joke to effect her but Zander's snickering laugh was not injecting the seriousness she was aiming for.

Gwen crosses her arms defiantly while I can only watch on amused, noticing how mother and daughter were clearly alike. 

"At least she dyed her hair a different colour afterwards. If you ask me, I did her fans a favour." At this, I have to stifle a laugh and bite down on my lip, recalling the news and fashion police mocking the iconic pop princess. I had to agree with Gwen, and that's coming from someone who barely has a fashionable piece of clothing in her closet (besides the dress on me right now of course).

"And don't even get me started on Richard Young!" I couldn't help but react to this, my eyes lighting up with curiosity, "What about Richard?" I asked, my voice a mere murmur urging her on. As ironic as the name was, Richard Young was the nephew of one of the biggest conglomerates in the country.

Shifting her attention back to me, she begins her monologue, "He's – wait a second, are you into him Catherine?"

"You can call me Cat, and no," but seeing the look on her face I knew I was caught, "...maybe."

Her jaw drops, sending her Mom a look I can't read before her eyes slowly travel back to me, "Uh oh. Zan is not going to like that. Wait till he hears that."

"When I hear what?" At the sound of Zander's voice, the three of us turn to face him with Patrick right behind him, a frown firmly set on his face.

"That your er...friend Cat has a thing for Richie." For some reason, Gwen's tone was precautious making me wonder if Richard Young was a taboo topic.

Still trying to figure out what I've done wrong in bringing up Richard, Zander's face darkens, a frown now on his face as he addresses me, "Does she?"

"I'm just curious, he's kind of exclusive." I didn't see what the big deal was, all I wanted to know was if he was dating or not; I'd be the most acclaimed Matchmaker in the country if not the world if I could get Richard Young a match.

"So you like dust haired men, is that it?" Gwen's question takes me by surprise, my eyebrows knitting once more.

"Um, I don't have a hair colour preference," I state slowly, still not liking the look Zander was sending me and severely confused as to what dusty implied. Patrick on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear. What did I say? 

"Okay but what if he was bald? Would you still find him attractive?" Scrunching my nose to imagine a bald Mr. Young, I can't hold back anymore and laugh, "A bald Richard Young? But he's only twenty-eight, he's a little young to be suffering from hair loss."

"It could happen!" Both siblings yell out simultaneously, the First Lady wincing next to me by the volume. Leaning back from the shock, I can only blink in response while Patrick is besides himself, laughing hysterically.

"Besides, he's an idiot," Zander grinds out harshly.

"Zander!" Now I was wincing, the First Lady didn't like that comment at all, her eyes narrowing.

"What? You know I'm right, Mom."

"Don't be mean, he's a total sweetheart and you know it."

"So he's nice?" I asked softly, hoping to remember that for later.

"Ma! Now look what you've done. Cat's more interested now!"

"And how is that a bad thing? Catherine do you want to hear more about him? Or actually, would you like to meet him?"

Stunned, my entire body shifts to face her, my eyes most likely glimmering with hope, "In person?"

"Sure, why not? If that's what you really want, it's the least I can do for having you put up with my son. I know he can be a hand full and so hard to deal with."

Baffled by the exchange between his mother and I, Zander interjects petulantly, "I'm not five!"

"No, but you sure act like it, and so does your sister."

Nodding in agreement, I receive a glare from both siblings but clear my throat before speaking properly for the first time since I entered the living room, "Thank you but I'll decline, I don't want to meet conglomerates or famous people through Zander or any of his family," I declared slowly, hoping my response doesn't upset her. I would in fact like to meet Richard Young (really badly) but I couldn't use a friend or his family that way – forming connections that way always seemed wrong somehow, no matter how good the outcome.

Her eyes light up in amusement, a wide smile now on her face, "Oh think nothing of it, we're not offended by such a request. I don't blame you, if I was a few years younger I'd jump at the chance to meet him to."

"A few years younger?" The sarcasm in Zander's voice matches his cynical smile, one that makes the entire room feel as if we were about to drown in water or in this case, drown from the tension.

Of course, I'm not even surprised when Gwen breaks the silence with a harsh comment of her own, "Mom, your ancient. You don't stand a chance."

Reeling from the comment, the First Lady smacks her daughter's arm playfully, "You two are the reason I'm getting old!"

Dismissing her Mom completely with a raised eyebrow, Gwen gives me a hard look, "Yeah...your age has nothing to do with it. We know. But my Mom's right Cat, I don't blame you either since who doesn't want to go out with Richard? If I was only twenty, I'd ask him to marry me too!"

"Huh? Wait...you think I – " I drawl out slowly, finally understanding why she was asking for hair colour preference. I wasn't physically attracted to Richard...not really especially if the guy has dusty hair.

"People should act more realistically instead of fantasising," Zander states coldly, his eyes locked onto me.

Sighing in exasperation I can only shake my head at a loss for words. I'm really starting to think the two siblings are having a cryptic conversation right in front of me. "I didn't say anything," I said cooly, slighted by the accusatory look Zander's projecting towards me.

"But you want to meet Richard don't you?" He asked frostily, my arms now crossed defensively. What did I do to deserve this attack?

"And?" I hastened to ask, not keeping up with any of this.

Zander's eyes narrow, masking something I can't quite describe but the acerbic tone of his voice comes out offensive, "And that's reason enough."

"So that makes me unrealistic?"

"Yeah."

"How so?" 

"Because you'd like to date him. Trust me, he's not your type."

"And all of a sudden you think or an authority to know who and what my type is?" I ventured to probe, not pleased with being the centre of a conversation gone amiss and his apartment an interrogation room. 

Bursting out in laughter, Gwen releases my arm to cover her mouth, "Oh my gosh! Where did you find her Zan? She's hilarious!"

Nodding with a smile, Mrs. Nolan turns to me with a twinkle in her eye, "It's good to know someone can put my son in his place once in awhile. Thank you Catherine. God knows I've tried and failed." Muttering the last bit, she gives me a wink and I try not to blush by the compliment.

"Just call me Cat please...err Mrs. Nolan?"

"Oh it feels so nice to finally have someone address me that way! I've gotten so sick and tired of formalities and being called the First Lady. I'd rather you address me more comfortably, I'm just Zander's mom to you, please."

"That's why it's nice to be born with a gold spoon already placed before you, people will remember your name and stick to it. You and Dad just had to get into politics, yuck," Gwen squirms at the thought and I can only imagine how antagonising it must be to be called the 'Nation's Daughter' instead of Gwen Nolan.

Clapping her hands to dissipate the darkening mood, the First Lady quickly jolts from the couch, "All right! Enough already! The food's getting cold and I'm sure Patrick has a lot to report to me."

It has finally dawned on me that Patrick hasn't said a single word since he walked through the door. Does the First Lady make him nervous too? Maybe it was the natural way to react by default. "No, Ma'am."

Annoyed, Zander glances between his Mom and Patrick with a guarded expression, "Report? What is he? Your personal spy?"

Mrs. Nolan gives her son a humourless smile, "No, but I did tell him that he'd tell me how much you spent this month."

Stupefied, his mouth drops, "The month isn't even over yet, it's been a few weeks, not even." 

Clearly someone spent a lot of money.

Cutting in, Gwen gives her brother a wicked smile, "You probably didn't spend as much as me though."

"Of course not. Don't compare my spending habits to yours."

"Listen, a girl can never have too many dresses, or shoes, or bags...or things in general okay?"

Shaking her head sadly, the First Lady squeezes my hand gently, "I'm so sorry you have to hear this, Cat."

"Oh don't mind me, it's nice to know where tax payers dollars are being spent." I knew my words would sting, and each member of the Nolan family grimace while Patrick tries to hide a bemused smile, coughing before averting his gaze.

"This is exactly why I tell you two to be careful with how you spend your money! In the future if anyone found out how you spent your money, you'll have worse comments and people to face."

"Right...can't have Dad's image go down in flames."

"Zander!" Mrs. Nolan admonished, denouncing her son with a frigid tone that makes him wilt ever so slightly since her expression turns frail and hurt.

 Zander sighs and turns to me with new found conviction, refusing to assent into silence, "I'll tell you something Cat, despite how spoilt we look our 'spending habits' are actually nothing compared to everyone else who sits in the Senate, and the same goes for their kids and relatives alike."

Taking an indifferent sip from her punch, Gwen decides to chirp in, "Don't forget their wives and husbands too."

"Oh yeah I forgot, thanks for reminding me. So as you can see, we're not so bad although I'll admit we need to improve ourselves to be more...err what's the word? Economically? Am I getting this right Mom?" The last sentence gets delivered with light scorn, his features hardening.

Sighing in exasperation, Mrs. Nolan only stares at her son with a frown, "You just want to get under my skin don't you?"

"Nah not really, and you know I'd prefer to annoy Dad more than you."

"He has enough people annoying him as it is."

Groaning loudly, Gwen sets her cup down with a clamour before rolling her eyes and leaning closer to me, "All the adults in my family know how to overreact. My Dad strictly doesn't allow money from taxes to come near us, the money we do have is from his previous job. The people of this country elected a rich man you know."

"I see." My eyebrows shoot up at Gwen's transformation in shock. She went from a tiresome little girl to one who knew things other kids her age normally didn't care for. I'd expected her to laugh or simply roll her eyes instead of giving me a solid explanation. 

Placing a hand on Zander's shoulder, Patrick looks at Mrs. Nolan with a grin, looking more relaxed since he walked into the room, "Well for all it's worth, this is the most frugal Zander's ever been...although he'll probably have to replace an oven." Catching my eye he gives me a knowing smile while I grimace when images of a charred chicken surface.

Knitting her delicate eyebrows, Mrs. Nolan turns to Zander with a quizzical look, "An oven? What did you do Zander?"

"I can explain... I think?"

Holding up her hand, she stops him and beings to massage her temples, "No. Don't. I don't think I want to know."

"What kind of Mom doesn't want to hear what her son's done?"

"Me! I'm that type of Mom! Well as long as the fire department wasn't called then I guess that's a good sign."

Snorting, Gwen shakes her head while Zander just sits there opening and closing his mouth, not knowing what to say but to my annoyance he doesn't look like a gapping fish, just a tortured hero on the brink of collapse. Ha! The egomaniac slash man-child is finally left speechless! Maybe I like this mother-daughter duo after all.

Zander's lack of speech allows all of us to finally sit around a modern dining table with plates already set. Biting my lip, I cross my fingers underneath the table hoping that whatever Patrick's cooked up doesn't result in food poisoning or all of us being sent to a hospital but to my amazement the food is better than anything I've ever made, my worries fading.

Observation: Patrick Greene really knows how to cook.

This could definitely land Patrick with a good match, that is if he still wants someone other than Celia. I don't know if he's even serious about her or if she even cares for Patrick in a romantic sense but at this rate, Patrick has better prospects than Zander!

Almost as if reading my thoughts, Zander glances over at me and I offer a small smile before attempting to take mental notes at whatever information I could get out of the conversation mother and daughter were having yet, all I can think is that this feeling is just too nice. It's nice having a family to sit with, to talk with, and most of all to care for you. This dinner makes me so self-aware of my own loneliness, and I'm partially to blame for that – I let myself dwell in the silence of my apartment, trying to act indifferent, refusing to acknowledge my lack of a social life, which obviously did matter considering the pang of hurt my heart feels at this moment.

The dinner goes by with my thoughts somewhere else, with little to no success in gathering the intel I had come here for. Sighing, I help Patrick clear the table demanding he bring back my containers and bowls clean and shiny before heading to the door.

"You're leaving already?" Turning to face pleading eyes as big as saucers, I give Gwen a shaky smile.

"Well its getting late so yeah..."

"But then you'll ruin the surprise!"

"Surprise?" I ask, an eyebrow raised questioningly. Luckily I'm not the only one left in the dark, Zander and Patrick giving Gwen curious looks of their own.

Whirling around, she glances at everyone in the room before harrumphing, "Mom can I tell her now?"

Mrs. Nolan smiles broadly, giving her daughter a thumbs-up, "Sure why not? We don't know when we'll get to see Cat again so go ahead and surprise her."

"Here then." Handing over a cream envelope, I stare at it quizzically before looking back at Gwen, excitement in her eyes.

"What's this?"

"Open it and you'll find out obviously!" 

Shaking my head, I slowly open the envelope to find a single piece of expensive paper with the fanciest cursive writing I have ever seen. Scanning the contents of it, I finally realise what she's handed over to me – an invitation. My eyes widen, moving towards Mrs. Nolan who only avoids my gaze with a small smile playing at her lips while she sips a cup of coffee.

"This is..." I trail out, not knowing what to make of it.

"Your invited to my cousin's birthday party. I need to bring someone as a babysitter or whatever and I don't personally know anyone older than me who isn't as old as my parents so...you came to mind and since you're my brother's friend, I can trust you...Okay who am I kidding? I just want to bring someone fun who isn't going to bring up my glorious days in diapers."

"But I don't know your cousin," I state stunned, trying to scan my memory bank as to who this cousin is. 

"That's a problem? Half the people going to the party don't know him. It's at a massive house owned by a Parliament member outside of the city, pretty much an estate house, or I think that's what they're called."

"That sounds...err..."

Before I can even form a response Zander marches in behind Gwen, placing a firm hand on her shoulder, "What were you thinking Gwen? Cat can't go to that party!"

"How come?"

I could see the anger rolling off him like waves, "For several reasons."

"Like what?"

"How about you stop being so nosy and using my friend for your own gain."

Grunting in frustration, she shifts her body to send Zander a glare,"Mooommm! Tell him he's being a meanie!"

"I don't care if I'm being a meanie, Cat's not going to that..." Our eyes meet and somehow all his energy depletes before he sighs in defeat, "Unless she wants to."

"Well duh! I'm not going to drag her there! Besides, I'm inviting her because she can meet Richard."

 If I wasn't interested before, I definitely am now! The thought of all those clients in one room! Especially Richard Young! I could observe them...shaking my head from where my mind was headed, I realise that this would be a social event, which means I'd have to make use of my blubbering mouth. Not to mention my status in life was pretty much a commoner compared to all the people who would be in attendance. As if I could make light conversation with them ha! I'm sure they'd love to hear about my favourite brand of ramen and sugar frosting used for cupcakes...yikes.

"Well Cat?" I look up to find two pairs of eyes boring into me, one guarded and the other glimmering with hope.

"Um...I'll think about it."

"No sweat! It's in two months anyway." Shocked, my jaw drops and Gwen just shrugs, giving me an amused look.

"Parties like this need a guest list waaayyy in advance, I think I need to confirm if I'm going or not in two weeks. Is that okay?"

Averting my gaze from her puppy eyes, I clear my throat before giving her a shaky reply, "That should give me ample time to decide."

"Why can't you go with Mom?" Both Gwen and I glance at Zander, his tone incredulous, his eyes narrowing as he addresses his sister.

Rolling her eyes, she crosses her arms and huffs, "Because no one over twenty-eight will be there!"

"So? Wait a second, you're not even twenty-eight! How come you get to go then? And it's not like you'd take me along with you!"

"So you're going to drag Cat into this?"

"I'm not dragging her! I asked her, you ungrateful jerk-faced swine that I call brother!"

My head was beginning to spin from their yelling, making my body respond instinctively by backing away. I could sense the air becoming more tense by every passing minute, their glares turning malicious. 

Thankfully, their mother stomps towards them after slamming her cup down, placing her hands on either of her children before addressing them cooly.

"That's enough! Zander I don't see what the big deal is, this isn't your decision to make, its your friend's. And Gwen, if your brother feels like you're using his friend, then you need to understand." 

Grabbing my phone, I glance at the three family members before hastily saying goodbye, "Erm, well it was nice meeting you both." Not even glancing over my shoulder, I head out the door and close it shut, sighing in relief and taking the few steps to my apartment but before I can even turn the key through the door lock, a hand pulls out and stops me, causing a shriek to escape my lips.

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Placing a hand over my chest, I send Zander a dirty look. Scratching the back of his neck, he gives me a sheepish grin, one I'm all too familiar with.

"Look Cat, I hope you didn't get the wrong idea, I was only acting that way because I know you don't like well...people. I don't want you to feel pressured into this. It's okay to reject Gwen's invitation, I don't know what she was thinking."

"And who says I was thinking of rejecting?" I asked mildly, somewhat surprised at my own boldness. Heck, I'm actually frightened by the idea of being shunned by society's elite.

This answer seems to throw Zander off guard because he raises an eyebrow in silent bewilderment, "Okay...fair enough. So you plan on going?"

"Maybe."

"Hmmm, well I can't stop you if that's what you choose to do but let me know if you need a friend to keep you company." Giving me a sly grin, his face goes from perplexed to amused, and now serious. "Also, I forgot to mention this but you look exceptionally pretty. Thanks for coming over for dinner." Waving, he struts off and I'm left staring at his retreating back, my cheeks obviously a different colour.

Observation: So I guess Zander does know how to give nice compliments...ones that make me think things I'd never care to think before.