This is Jade's POV. Also, thanks to people who reviewed, added to their favorites, and alerts, and to all 92 of you who read it... O.o Lol thanks. :)

"Thanks for helping me with this, Jadey," Cat says, grinning widely and bouncing up and down. I wince inwardly at the babyish nickname she's a assigned me.

"Well, I sort of figured if I didn't volunteer," I say. "You'd probably enlist some stranger again... Do me a favor, don't let random strangers in your house anymore?"

"Don't you just love bubbles?" she asks, pulling rhe trigger on a bubble gun. One finds it's way to me and pops on my nose. "I think they're-"

"Cat!" I snap, and she turns to me, eyes wide. "Stranger dange! Don't invite people off the street into your house anymore!"

"Kay-kay," she smiled, focusing again on the bubbles. I roll my eyes; could she possibly be anymore like a litle kid?

"Ready?" I ask, and she nods excitedly.

"YOYOYO!" she giggles. I roll my eyes, feeling a little embarassed for her. "My name's Cat, which you probably already know if you go to Hollywood Arts. Which is where I go to school. Which you probably already know if you go to Hollywood Arts. Or if you go to-"

"Get to the point," I say sharply, tapping my foot. She covers her mouth and giggles, just like she always does when I yell at her. It's one of the many things about her that infuriate me... Yet, admittedly, fascinate me at the same time.

"That was Jade," she says, still giggling.

"Ignore me, and talk," I say, my voice hard. Hurt flickers in her eyes for a second, but the smile never leaves her face.

"Ok," she says. "So many people ask me the same question...um..." She frowns, looking at the front of the camera.

"Wait..." she says, squinting. "I don't think you're recording..." I look in the top corner of the screen. 'REC' is flashing next to a red dot. I look up and meet Cat's eyes, and something in my stomach flutters. I chalk it up to indigestion.

"Yeah, I am," I say. She's not convinced.

"But the red light's not on..." she insists. I'm having a hard time staying patient.

"This camera doesn't have a red light," I say, forcing the kindness in my voice. She remains unmoved.

"Then... how do I know it's recording?"

"Because I'm telling you it is," I say, my grip on the camera tightening. She seems to sense my anger, and her expression is one of despair. But, oddly, I don't feel satisfied. I feel... Surely not guilty? Maybe like I overstepped a little, but not guilty. For what, anyway? She's the one asking stupid questions after all. She sits, mouthing silently, gazing sadly at the camera.

"Talk!" I yell. The way she flinches makes me feel like I just kicked a puppy. She takes a deep breath and continues, a small smile returning to her face.

"Oh, lots of people ask me this question; 'Hey! Since your name is Cat, do you like cats?' And the answer is... Yes! I love cats!" I smile a little at the screen, glad to see that I didn't upset her too badly.

"I don't have a cat," she says, focusing on some point above the lens. "But I might get one soon if our neighbor's-" I look up, into her eyes, and she stumbles over her words. "-cat down the street has babies..." I look back at the screen, embarassed to have caught Cat staring at me... But, I realize with some confusion, pleased at the same time. I can feel myself turning red.

"They think she's pregnant," Cat says. "But... I mean, she could just be fat..." I can't help being amused by her delivery of that statement.

"She could be pregnant and fat, we don't know," she shrugs. "But my mom thinks that..." She stops, focusing again above the lens. "my... my mom thinks that she's..." I look up, meeting her eyes again. This time the flurry of wings in my stomach is unmistakable; butterflies. Unbelievable. Jade August West has butterflies, and for Cat of all people. No one can find out, especially not Cat. Or Beck. No, this will have to be my secret.

"Why'd you stop?" I ask, maybe a little gentler than I should have been. She's silent for a moment.

"Don't all camcorders hae a red light?" she asks in a small voice, which sends the butterflies into hysterics. I look back at the screen, angry at myself for feeling the butterflies, even angrier for enjoying them.

"All but this one," I say harshly. She looks like she might cry.

"Sh...should I keep going...?"

"Hey, that'd be great," I say sarcastically. She sighs unhappily. Probably forgot what she was even talking about...

"Where was I...?" she mutters, almost to herself.

"Your neighbor's fat, pregnant cat," I remind her, unable to hide a smile. She looks up and immediately bursts into laughter.

"Oh my God," she she giggles nervously. "You know what that reminds me of...?" She giggles more, covering her face with her hand.

"What!" I ask, starting to laugh a little as well. She looks up, seemingly blank.

"Um..." she thinks for a second. "Oh, one time, I was with my family, having dinner at B.F. Wang's and the electricity went out...!" I quirk an eyebrow sceptically, and she adds, "No lie!"

"So... What happened?" I shake my head, surprised to realize that I actually want to hear about it. In fact, I suddenly want to know everything that goes on in that pretty, jumbled little head. Not only that, I want to understand.

"The electricity came back on, and one of my dumplings was missming..." I suddenly crack a rare, wide, genuine smile. She giggles and brings her hand to her mouth. "It was missing..." I'm still smiling, but hers fades and she looks at me thoughtfully.

"I wish there was a red light..."

"Ok," I say, still smiling. "This is over now."

"No! No wait, I wanna say one more thing!"

"Nope!"

"One time," she says, lurching onto her hands and knees. "I was milking a cow, and the cow was all, 'MOOO!' And I was like-"

"It's not recording anymore, Cat," I say, closing the viewfinder. She falls back into a sitting position, disappointed.

"Oh," she says, her face falling, then she perks up just as suddenly. "So... do you want to stay for a while? We could watch a movie or soemthing.." I inspect my nails.

"Um..." I say softly. "I was actually gonna go to Beck's..." She's obviously disappointed.

"Oh," she says, sounding absolutely wounded. "Ok, that's ok... Never mind then..."

"SOrry," I say, standing up and heading for the door. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah," she murmurs as the door shuts behind me. I walk down the hallway, thinking about Beck. Beck who always seems reluctant to hold my hand. Beck who never says he loves me unless I ask him to. Beck who always wants in my pants. Thenk I think of Cat. Sweet Cat. Innocent Cat who will randomly grab my hand at the most inappropriate times. Cat who often says she loves me when she's running down her list of all things she loves. Cat who I left alone and disappointed in her room. After only a second of hesitation, I turn around halfway down the stairs and walk back to Cat's room. The door opens, and she looks away from the ceiling fan.

"Hi..?" she says, appearing quite confused. I set my bag on the floor and shrug.

"I guess Beck won't miss me too much."