It was late at night, and only one window in the girls' wing still had light in the Mansion. Amethyst was sitting on her bed among a pile of pillows, failing to fall asleep. Her thoughts kept circling back to the date earlier that day in the park, and particularly the way it ended. Once again, Carrick had been taken the gods knew where. Plus, she had to find her way back to the Mansion alone. She told the counselor what happened, but Mrs. Taylor-Cervantes couldn't really do anything either without knowing who took Carrick. She promised to make phone calls.

He will be fine, Amethyst told herself as she poked at her jewelry. She calmed her racing mind by spreading all her bracelets, rings, necklaces, and other treasures out on the bed, and arranging and re-arranging them. By prince, by gemstone quality, by style. It was a soothing thing. Carrick woud be fine. They had taken him before, and this time, he had not even done anything wrong. And he went willingly.

It was really up to him. He had taken his ankle bracelet off before and went away, and got into trouble. Maybe that was why they wanted to talk to him. Maybe he would stay put next time. Or maybe not. The princess huffed. Why was she still awake anyway? He could be gone for a day or more. She frowned, running a hand through her hair. The guy was such trouble.

His heart was racing when he made it back to the mansion. Did he, just accept a job from S.U.P.E.R? What the hell did that even mean? He was half listing when they asked him distracted once again with the image of the Princess illuminated in the lights from the date before. What a day.

All he knew was he had to work for someone instead of being locked up which for the time being was okay with him. At least he could finish school. The shifter started to laugh as he flew back to the school, knowing that was the last thing he was really worried about. No, his first task was to make sure the Princess got back safely. It was late he knew that. He also knew she’d give him a hard time for getting picked up again and for bugging her so late. Eh, she’d get over it.

He swooped in low to the mansion grounds as he cleared the property line his tail guiding him till he got to the point he started to slow, her light was on. Good, at least he wasn’t going to wake her.

Still in his partial monkey suit from before he shifted uncomfortably as he knocked on the window softly but in the pattern of a song he was thing of making it apparent she wasn’t hearing things.

There was a knock on the window, and that could only mean one thing. Carrick liked flying a lot more than he liked walking around. The princess jumped at the sound, but then she quickly shuffled off the bed and her nest of jewels, and walked to the window to look out. Seeing Carrick outside, she rolled her eyes, masking her relief. She opened the window and stepped back.

"Did they let you out, or are you a fugitive again?"

The window opened and she stepped back after a noticeable eye roll. The shifter smirked in response, ”Which one’s got the better appeal?” he asked folding up his wings and pulling him into her room with a chuckle. ”You should really keep yer windows shut never know who try to climb in.”

He brushed off his pants and leaned against the window. She didn’t really invite him in but the shifter figured it be better than him hovering on the girls side of the mansion near a window. That’s just asking for detention or worse.

”They let me go after I smoothed thing’s over and you didn’t want me to talk at all.” he folded his arms and grinned at her. He looked around and spotted the shiny jewels on her bed. The realized it was her bed and how late it was. His eyes averted immediately and his ears got hot.

”Whatcha doing up so late anyways? Worried ‘bout me?” he flashed his teeth in a grin while his tail flicked behind him as if he was toying with her.

>>”Which one’s got the better appeal?”

"You not being arrested in the first place?" the princess suggested, allowing him to climb in the window. The teachers probably would not have been happy about that, but she didn't much care.

>>”You should really keep yer windows shut never know who try to climb in.”

"You should really start using these things called doors." the princess folded her arms and gave him a look. He stopped just inside the window and looked around; he suddenly seemed awkward again.

>>”They let me go after I smoothed thing’s over and you didn’t want me to talk at all.”

So, they let him go. That was good. It meant no black car was about to come knocking again in the middle of the night. Amethyst relaxed a bit.

>>”Whatcha doing up so late anyways? Worried ‘bout me?”

"Couldn't sleep" she shrugged, and now it was her turn to look away. The bed still had her jewels scattered all over it. It was the kinda decadent look, with pillows and gemstones, that most people would expect from an Atlantean princess' bed. She turned his words back at him. "What are you doing here anyways? Came to see I got home alright?"

The shifter smirked, it was too late for that one already. So he settled on not getting arrested again. ”Fair enough.” was all he could managed before giving a little shrug. ”Doors are so boring. Everyone uses them.”

>>>>"What are you doing here anyways? Came to see I got home alright?"

”Yeah, was a bit worried. Yer a Princess after all, not really familiar with the city. No gentleman to help ya get back to the mansion safely.” he said beating around the bush, ”I mean had to make sure me jacket and backpack made it back unharmed.” he smirked trying to make light of his concern.

This time looking at her, ”That and I knew you’d be worried bout me.” he grinned, ”I’m fine and I didn’t want ya yelling at me tomorrow when ya found out I made it back here.” he pushed off the window a bit this time eyeing this gems. ”You normally sleep on them?” he asked pointing to the gems trying to distract himself for the reason he wanted to come back to the mansion so bad.

Neither of them really looked at the other. It was awkward. Why was it awkward? She made it back just fine, and he had been released, all was well, minus the light show that they both missed in the end.

>>”Yeah, was a bit worried. Yer a Princess after all, not really familiar with the city. No gentleman to help ya get back to the mansion safely. I mean had to make sure me jacket and backpack made it back unharmed.”

The princess nodded towards her desk; his jacket was draped over the back of a chair, and the backpack was on on it. She'd changed her dress since she'd come home and took off the tiara, but otherwise, not much changed since they left.

>>”That and I knew you’d be worried bout me. I’m fine and I didn’t want ya yelling at me tomorrow when ya found out I made it back here... You normally sleep on them?”

"No" she huffed "I was just... reorganizing them" she finished sheepishly. Playing with priceless jewels was a little too stereotypically royal, even for her. "They would not be very comfortable to sleep on."

”Oh?” he asked walking over to grab his jacket and his backpack. ”Wouldn’t know.” he smirked.

”Can’t imagine they would be, hard n’ sharp right? Nothing like the princess ‘nd the pea.” he placed his suit jacket in the window where he was leaning a second ago. His backpack leaned up against the wall. ”Thanks fer bringing ‘em back.”

”So they reorganized? How often ya do that?” he asked curiously still trying to avoid the subject he wanted to talk about most.

”****…” he muttered. ”Bout tonight… I eh… had good time with ya.” he scratched the back of his head… ”Other than the armed escort out of there…” he smirked, ”fer someone that’s never been on a date ya did a good job.” he laughed nervously.

Carrick got his jacket and backpack, and he'd made sure she was safe. Honestly, that was all they could talk about before things felt awkward again.

>>”Can’t imagine they would be, hard n’ sharp right? Nothing like the princess ‘nd the pea... So they reorganized? How often ya do that?”

"Sometimes." she shrugged. She knew he lied shiny things, which was probably why he kept glancing at the bed. Did his griffin form want to roll around in the jewels? The though made her chuckle.

>>”****… Bout tonight… I eh… had good time with ya. Other than the armed escort out of there… fer someone that’s never been on a date ya did a good job.”

"Are you alright?" Amethyst stepped closer, trying to catch his gaze. He looked nervous. Did something happens when he got arrested? Was he not telling her something about what was going on? "You're acting strange. Did something happen?"

>>>"Are you alright?"

She stepped closer and he felt his face turn red. The butterflies in his stomach started to make it feel like he was flying. It was odd sensation since his wings were folded up behind him. ”No.”

>>>"You're acting strange. Did something happen?"

”Yer acting strange.” he shot back then closed his eyes and then touched the bridge of his nose. He sighed loudly. ”Sorry… more like something didn’t happen.” he opened his eyes and removed his hand from his nose and sighed again.

”Not sure if I imagined it or not, and I’m not sure I want any more time to pass before I know, because heck awkward now.” his hands started to move awkwardly as he started to fumble around with his words. ”Be awkward again and if I want ta ask ya out again I got to know if it was gonna happen or not. Ya know?” he asked asking her eyes fixed on her.

>>”Yer acting strange.”

"I'm not" the princess shot back. What was his problem? Did he somehow blame her for something?

>>”Sorry… more like something didn’t happen.”

The princess tilted her head, trying to catch his gaze again. Now everything was awkward and she had no idea why.

>>”Not sure if I imagined it or not, and I’m not sure I want any more time to pass before I know, because heck awkward now. Be awkward again and if I want ta ask ya out again I got to know if it was gonna happen or not. Ya know?”

Amethyst blinked, staring at him for a moment as she sifted through the words, and came up with... nothing, really.

"Um... I have not the faintest idea what you are trying to say."

>>>"Um... I have not the faintest idea what you are trying to say."

His hands stopped and he sighed again. ”I don’t either apparently.” ‘Mate!’ a voice called from the back of his mind. He shook his head again ignoring the voice. It wasn’t helping either.

”Ehmmmm…” he took a step forward towards her awkwardly he felt like his legs weighed tons. Each one. Why was this so hard? Why wasn’t she making this any easier on him?

Carrick wanted to yell but his voice only managed to squeak, ”P-Princess, yer frustrating.” he leaned forward placing his lips on hers before she could say anything. The shifter learned recently it wasn’t better to ask for forgiveness but permission. Too bad for Carrick he was a slow learner.

>>”I don’t either apparently.”

"Well... that doesn't help."

What was he trying to tell her? That he did not want to go on a date with her again? Or that somehow it had been her fault that he got picked up by the agents? Amethyst tried to guess, but he was not making it easy. She looked at him with a confused expression as he stepped closer.

>>”Ehmmmm… P-Princess, yer frustrating.”

He kissed her.

Oh.

Amethyst liked kissing. It was a fun thing to do. But Carrick kissing her, that took her by surprise. Was this was all the fuss was...

... it made sense.

The princess leaned into the kiss, returning it freely as she rose to her tiptoes to match his height. Hopefully, that would give him a clue about leaving the awkwardness behind.

His mismatched colored eyes were closed and he was waiting for her to push him away but was surprised when she leaned back into him. His tail started to flick happily behind him eventually knocking his suit jacket out of the window. He was too busy to realize it happened however. Instead he started to purr.

Carrick wasn’t sure how long the kiss lasted finally he smirked his face bright red. ”So I didn’t imagine it then.” he took a sigh of relief. ”That’s what I was wondering…” his legs felt a little weak now that the stress of the situation was over? She kissed him back so that meant everything was fine. Right?

He was still purring, ”This mean ya want to go on another date?” he flashed his canines.

They kissed, and Carrick purred. Amethyst could feel the sound in his chest, and she smiled into the kiss. Carrick was not hard to read. And he was nice to kiss. She chuckled as he finally pulled away, all flushed.

>>”So I didn’t imagine it then. That’s what I was wondering… This mean ya want to go on another date?”

"Right now?" she quirked an eyebrow at him, and reached up to brush some of the sapphire dust from his lips. "You could have just asked to kiss me, you know."

It was kind of endearing, the purring and the look he was giving him. She placed a hand on his chest and chuckled. Easy to read, indeed.