Insistent pounding on my door makes me haul my sorry behind from bed resulting in me almost falling face first onto the floor and nearly smacking my nose into the wall, my zombie-like walk detrimental to my own safety. 

Groaning, I swipe the hair around my forehead that's tangled and disheveled and manage to locate the damn door, yanking it open I send a menacing glare to whoever thought waking a cranky person up so early in the morning was a good idea. Wincing as the light in the hallway hits my pupils, my eyes finally adjust (a miracle really) colliding with a pair of amused green ones.

"You look..." Sending Zander another glare, memories from last night cross my mind for the millionth time! I couldn't sleep a wink from my head reeling with so many questions; my eyes stared at the invitation Gwen gave me not sure if I should say yes or no. The rational side of me was telling me to flat out say no but another part of me was telling me that this experience would be good. As with every encounter I've had with Zander, he's forced me to have more social contact than I've ever had for several years and it's this realisation which makes me well aware of how pathetic my existence has really been – do I really want to continue living my life as a shut in? Or should I throw caution to the wind and my own anxiety out the window to spend one night living carefree?

But what's worse is how I've felt after Zander's comment before he waved goodbye, not even concerned about the consequences his words would have. He called me pretty! He shouldn't call his friend that! Even nice would have sufficed but pretty?

Groaning, I send him another glare since he looked like he slept well. Probably dreamt about rainbow unicorns I'm sure. 

I didn't want to face him this morning with my thoughts in severe knots and heaving an exasperated sigh, I begin to crank the door shut only to have his hand firmly push it back open.

"Cat! You've got to help!" his eyes plead with my groggy ones, my face contorting in what I hope appears to be a questioning look instead of a scowl.

"It's too early! Can't I help you later?" I asked whining, my voice hoarse from being sleep deprived.

"No you don't get it! They're here and they won't leave!"

"Who?"

As if on cue, a little girl with pigtails steps into my line of vision and all the sleep shakes off of me within seconds. Oh no. The Girl Scouts were here!

Gulping, I send her a shaky smile, her own smile dazzling with straight white teeth; it's the ones that smile at you that you need to be afraid of. To add to my horror however, my eyes travel to the pull-along wagon behind her that's stacked high with a mountain of boxes and then swiftly back to her, her smile now cheeky as I zero in on the medals and patches covering every inch of her pink vest. 

She's the type that makes a sale no matter what, a real formidable scout.

"Hi..." I drawl out cautiously, not even surprised when Zander grabs my wrist, placing me in front of him to shield himself. Using humans as shields was my thing! Must my awful, cowardly traits rub off on him?

Frowning, my eyes narrow at him quickly so he would get the message before I force all my attention back on the little girl but there's this sense of growing discomfort beginning to take form in the pit of my stomach and spreading as I was not liking the way my exposed arms felt with Zander's hands on them. 

"Hi, my name is – " Her candy-like introduction gets cut off, my heart doing mini flip-flops from just the sound of her adorable voice, my eyes wide as I turn to Zander.

"Cat, make her stop! I can't look into those cute eyes."

Clearing my throat to appear unaffected, I pat his hand to give him assurance, hoping this action would be comfort enough for him to let go, "Sssh, cut it out Zander! And stop treating the poor kid like she has some kind of disease." Panic now rising within me as I could feel my cheeks colouring as his hands move from my arms and make their way up to my shoulders in one smooth motion. Where the hell did he get the nerve to touch me like-like...like this!

He shrinks back, avoiding the little girl as much as possible before hissing next to my ear, "But you don't get it! If I look at her I'll buy all those cookies and then my Mom will really kill me. I'm supposed to be frugal remember?"

"Buying Girl Scout cookies won't kill you..." Even though they honestly would. There's a shared consensus of everyone within the apartment complex – our neighbourhood has the worst Girl Scout cookies known to mankind; its like biting into a gross combination of melted plastic and roadside cantaloupe.

Extremely dangerous and inedible - practically toxic.

Tapping my chin, I watch the Girl Scout closely before clearing my throat once more, hoping my voice doesn't betray how terrified I really am, "Um Sweetie, he's lactose intolerant and so am I. We won't be able to buy your cookies." My voice quivers slightly when her eyebrows knit adorably, a pout firmly set on her lips. Uh oh.

Placing her hand on her hip she gives me an accusing look, "Are you sure? Because my Mom told me a lot of people pretend to be sick or have allergies."

Plastering on what I hope is my most convincing smile I lean in closer to her, Zander stuck to my back like glue, mimicking my actions, "Do you know what lactose intolerant means? We can't have anything with milk in it."

"I know what it is!" Wincing from her outburst, I take a step back and collide right into Zander's chest, which makes my spine go rigid from the contact. Does the idiot have to cling onto me for dear life? She can't kill him! At least, I hope she doesn't have homicidal tendencies. She looks about nine so...maybe?

Putting his chin on top of my head, Zander gives the Girl Scout one of his signature smiles, "We're really sorry, but why don't you try the nice neighbour down the hall?"

Throwing my head over my shoulders, I have to crane my head to look up into Zander's eyes that only irritate me further. Was he implying I wasn't a nice neighbour? Sending him a dirty look, he only smiles down at me sheepishly while continuing to leave his hands on my shoulders.

And to top things off, she buys his little act! Nodding her head silently she gives me one last forlorn look and wheels her wagon away. Wait..she bought that but not all those smiles I gave her? I don't even have the chance to call her back to redeem myself as a 'good neighbour' when I'm suddenly whirled back inside my apartment, the door shutting behind me.

"Seriously? You couldn't handle a little girl?" I hissed, my teeth grinding as a new wave of exhaustion was taking over. Cranky Catherine is back!

"It's not like that..."

"Zander Nolan couldn't handle a little girl by himself. Nooo he brags about his muscles but can't handle a little girl with a cute smile." I bite out loudly, giving him a dark look that makes his eyes widen.

"Cat, you're scaring me."

"You woke me up for a Girl Scout! Everyone knows to stay indoors and never answer the door when a Girl Scout comes knocking! Especially in this area! Everyone gets warned when they move in!"

"It's not my fault! It was Patrick! He answered the door before I could stop him and then told her I owned the place and then that led to us arguing over who would buy the cookies and I lost our coin toss so I ran here as fast as I could and then you answered the door and looked like...well that." He finishes his rambling, his eyes darting everywhere while running a nervous hand against the back of his neck. 

I could feel a nerve popping somewhere on my forehead, my patience running excruciatingly thin. Not to mention I picked up on his subtle slip-up implying that I look like total trash - he can't even keep that to himself!

"I barely got any sleep last night and get woken up for this?"

"Whoa no need to blame it on me."

If you only knew you baboon!

Closing my eyes briefly, I point to the door making my intentions clear, "I'm not. Now that I've helped you escape can you go now? I want to go back to sleep."

"I'm not leaving! I can't. She's still out there in the hall."

Why do I even argue with him? No wait...why does he want to fight with me? What did I do to deserve this? Was it because I stole a girl's doll in third grade? Is my life in ruins because of that? Is that you karma?

Grunting I tap the couch, my tone acerbic, "Then can you please be a good boy, and sit here while I go to my room and nap for another five hours?"

There's a single instance where his eyes shimmer with something like mirth but it vanishes as soon as it appears, "What am I supposed to do by myself?"

"I don't know. Amuse yourself! Watch a movie or something!"

"But I'd rather do it with you." Batting his lashes in what I'm assuming is supposed to be a come-hither expression, I roll my eyes while crossing my arms and tap my foot with impatience. Blowing out hot air that makes my hair go flying, my cheeks look like a chipmunk's before I exhale to release out my anger, "But you can't since I want to sleep!"

Placing his hands behind his back, he balances himself on the balls of his feet and shrugs flippantly before smirking, "Then I'll come too."

"Wah-wha-what?" I squeak out, my anger suddenly drained as panic was now settling in, my face becoming as white as a sheet.

"I'll come too, I honestly didn't sleep that well either." Liar, liar pants on...should not be on fire. Don't think about him without pants Catherine, do not go there!

He starts walking in the direction of my bedroom and I give out a small laugh of hysteria then quickly move myself to stand in front of him with my hands spread out to block him, "You're not going anywhere, if you're tired you can sleep on the couch! I don't have the energy for this Zander! Stop acting like a child."

"But Caaattt!"

Shaking my head aggressively I give him a pleading look, my arms were starting to hurt from being stiff sticks and my body a mass of built up tension, "No. The answer is no."

His own eyes soften, his stance relaxed and non-threatening although I could argue otherwise! "How come?"

"My house. My rules." I blurt out defensively, trying my best to move my head away from his gaze while remaining grounded on the spot to block entry into the most private room in the apartment. 

I know if I lose this battle I'll never be able to sleep in peace and won't be able to wake up to send emails to one of the clients for the month; some mothers were so persistent, they wanted matches within weeks or days and I could not afford to sleep while I had angry moms to deal with.

"Give me a book to read then." My jaw drops and I give him a look of loathing. I couldn't afford books! I can barely afford groceries as it is!

"I don't have any."

"You don't have books?"

"Nope."

"Magazines?"

"What is this – A waiting room?"

"Refreshments?"

"Seriously?"

"Okay, Okay, I'll stop. I'll just use your computer – " I finally relax and lower my arms but immediately wrench my head in the direction of his back as he was about to move the mouse on the table.

"NOOO!" Screeching in panic, I run the short distance towards the computer desk and shove him aside, quickly minimising all the windows open; a lengthy email to one of C&C's clients. Panting, I glance at Zander who's now on the floor with a blank expression on his face.

"I'm sorry," I managed to squeak out, his silence scaring me.

"Does sleep make you this crazy? What are you trying to hide – wait...were you watching porn Cat?" He raises an eyebrow, a suspicious gleam in his eyes and all I can do is drop my jaw in disbelief while silently making dramatic hand gestures, my hands mainly moving in pathetic circles so that I could formulate some kind of reply.

What did he take me for?

"No." I finally bite out firmly, rolling my eyes and swerving around to guard the computer.

"Then there shouldn't be anything you need to hide, so lemme use your computer and you can go take a nice nap."

"NO!" 

"No?"

"NO."

"How come?"

My arms are now flailing, and I can feel a thin veil of sweat forming on my brow as I guard the computer, praying to the heavens that Zander doesn't pick me up like a sad sack of potatoes and looks at the screen. "Because...just because. Do I need to have a reason? My computer, my house, my rules."

"But – "

"NO!"

"You're definitely hiding something Catherine Lewis."

"I-I have no-nothing to hide."

"Absolutely nothing?"

"Exactly."

"Hmm, fine I'll believe you." I'm about to sigh in relief when he snaps his fingers, "Oh yeah! Before I forget, I still need to find that Matchmaker. Are you sure you don't have any idea of who it might be?"

It takes everything within me not to break out into a cold sweat and panic, instead my mouth opens and closes before I find the right words, "Erm, why are you bringing up the Matchmaker randomly?" I ask carefully, gauging for a reaction as my eyes search his.

After a moment's hesitation, Zander looks at me squarely with an unreadable gleam in his eyes that drives me insane! How the heck am I supposed to know what he's thinking if he keeps looking at me like this? Not being able to pick up on my inner turmoil, he crosses his arms and casts his eyes on something behind me, "I now have a time limit. I need the Matchmaker to clear things up for me before my cousin's party so I can get back into the good graces of society."

"Oh..." I mumble out, my legs were about to give out. A time limit? All I want to do is run and hide under my bed!

I promised myself and even told Celia I would admit everything to Zander but I'm not mentally prepared...not when it's only been a day since I made that promise! I don't even have the heart or the courage to tell him that there's no need to go on a wild goose chase when the Matchmaker is standing right in front of him! 

Biting my lip, something suddenly dawns on me; he wants me to help him but his idea of "helping" involves public attention or what I've been contemplating all night - being openly known to the rich. It was one thing to go to a party with Zander's sister as myself, a little Miss.Nobody but going to a party as an official Matchmaker...I'll be scrutinised and ruined. 

Keeping everything a mystery has been good for business but being exposed would mean being judged whether it's the way I look, my class status, my background...oh god. My background. Everyone will know I was an orphan at some point.

"Cat?"

Gripping the computer table behind me, I try balancing myself to avoid collapsing on the floor, my voice a mere whisper as I look at Zander with all the energy within me drained, "Oh..um, sorry what did you say?"

"I asked if you could help me find the Matchmaker? I now think she might live on one of the lower floors."

"What makes you think that?" I asked sardonically, amused by his suggestion despite how miserable I feel.

Shaking his head, he breaks out into a cheeky smile, "Just a hunch."

Narrowing my eyes, I try not to sound annoyed, "Such as?"

"Okay, since you're dying to know it's because there's no way for someone in the building to have never been seen before. She has to be located somewhere near one of the laundry rooms and mailboxes on the lobby floor. So that means somewhere on one of the lower floors." If he wasn't so completely wrong, I would actually be impressed by this, in fact it makes me wonder why I chose a floor so high up...why did I make things harder for myself?

Clearing my throat from realising my own stupidity I give him a grim smile, "I guess you're right."

Nodding his head with his lips firmly pressed together, Zander pauses and looks at me uncertainly, "I think I am but what do you think?" His stare becomes more intense, and I can feel my body shifting under his smouldering gaze. 

My eyebrows knit together in confusion, I don't understand why he's suddenly so keen to know my opinion, "I-I think your right...why does my opinion matter so much?" I ask the last part with my voice strained, my thoughts running wild.

"Because you're my friend and I think you might have some insight."

"Insight?" I squeak out, not liking how amused Zander looks. Isn't he the one who should be in a state of panic? Can I know his secret to keeping so freakin' calm at a time like this? I would be running around banging on doors if I had a time limit!

"You've lived here Cat, way longer than I have. Your guess is as good as mine if not better." Snapping back to reality, my eyes collide with Zander's before I quickly glance away.

"Uh..." I blurt out, my grip on the table tightening.

"Uh what?"

"Um I don't know! She could be anywhere!"

Giving me a skeptical look he shakes his head chuckling, "Not anywhere. She's definitely here and I'm going to find her."

"And if you don't?" I asked breathlessly, the palms of my hands now beginning to sweat in the presence of his confident demeanour; why is Zander so sure of himself?

"If I don't? Then...I hope she reveals herself to me."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. People can't run and hide forever Cat." And for some inexplicable reason, I feel like his words are directed right at me. At this point I can feel my sweaty palms lose their grip on the table, my body now sliding downward. Glancing up at Zander from my crouching figure on the floor, he doesn't say a word but looks at me with a bemused expression.

"What?" I asked hurt, suddenly feeling extremely small and timid, afraid of whatever he would say next.

"Can I use your computer now?"

"NO!" Jumping to attention, I straighten my back.

"Hmm, then shall we go Matchmaker hunting?"

"Right now?" I asked incredulous, my jaw dropping.

Smirking, Zander actually ruffles my hair disregarding my jumpy state, "No time like the present."

"But - "

"But what?"

"But I need sleep!"

"Then sleep," he states matter-of-factly, his lips firmly pressed as he gives me an indecipherable look.

My brow knits tightly, confusion written all over my face, "But -"

"But what?"

"But then you'll use my computer!" I screech, my flesh turning pale from such a scene unfolding.

Shrugging indifferently, he nods his head, "True."

"So I can't sleep if you're going to use my computer!" I groan out, not knowing what game he was playing.

"But you can go Matchmaker hunting with me."

Stunned into silence, I huff in disbelief before narrowing my eyes threateningly, "Don't make me throw my cactus at you!"

Gasping in mock horror, he places a hand against his chest, "You wouldn't! We've been acquainted and it's a she! You need to refer to her as a she!"

Sighing in exasperation I give him a caustic look, "You're friends with a plant?"

"Correction. A resilient plant that survives in the desert against all the heat and humidity, with no one to care for it...and well you get the idea."

Smiling bitterly, I close my eyes briefly before addressing him again, "Tell me. Are you attached to anything else in my apartment that you've...gotten acquainted with?"

"Other than the couch, nope."

Nodding, I raise an eyebrow questioningly, "And does the couch have a name or a specific sex?"

Contemplating my question seriously, he furrows his eyebrows deep in thought, "I was thinking of naming it Marlin but then again, it could be a Desmonda. Desmonda the Couch sounds nice."

Observation: Zander has a future career of being a furniture namer, plant whisperer, and shampoo brand ambassador - if he can name couches, he could name the endless varieties of shampoo types out there.

"Should I start giving my furniture name-tags?" I ask sarcastically, not even fazed by the look of shock he was offering me.

Clearing his throat he nods solemnly, "You should, although I think Patrick might not like it. He wants to name all the rooms in your apartment - he wants to call the bathroom Toiletta. Crazy I know." Laughing at the thought of such a ridiculous suggestion, his laughter fills the quiet apartment while I simply look at him in disbelief. He thinks Toiletta is crazier than Desmonda?

"Oh yeah. He's the crazy one." I mumble, rolling my eyes since I thought Patrick was the insane one just yesterday.

Noticing my unamused expression he sobers up (if I can even call it that) and gives me a concerned look, "What? You think Desmonda is a bad name for a couch don't you?"

"I think any name for a couch is a bad name." I state placidly, starting to wonder what might be a good name for a couch...maybe Philip?

Sneering slightly, he gives me a few 'tsks' of disapproval before shaking his head as if I committed a crime, "Let me guess, you're the type that names things based on colour. You'd name a couch red, a room pink, and the table white or whatever."

I don't want to admit that I was actually coming up with names myself and clear my throat feeling embarrassed, "I think a lot of things but not that," I blurted out defensively, feeling offended for some reason.

"And do you think the Matchmaker is close to me?" He asks softly. 

Rolling my eyes I give him a haughty look, "Probably," I managed to scoff out and before I can undo the damage that's been done, my eyes widen in terror, "Um...wait I-I-" Blabbing incoherent syllables, my fingers begin to shake slightly.

Grinning triumphantly, Zander pats my shoulder softly letting his hand rest there, "I hope you have a nice nap Cat, you probably have a lot of work to do later. See ya!" 

And before I can come up with something; an excuse to get me out of this trap I've willingly walked into, he leaves the apartment within seconds and I'm left alone stunned and engulfed by the silence of the room.

Observation: Zander Nolan might know. He might know who the real Matchmaker is. Does he know it's me?