Suspicious reasoning

Gage's eyes flicker, but they're still aimed at the floor. He can feel heat rising up the back of his neck and into his face, hoping that Sapphire couldn't see it in the darkness of the living room.

"No." He pauses to swallow. "I mean..." His hands fidget some more as he recalls the words that were said to him earlier in the day. They had ended with the understanding that he was not to say one word about the conversation.

"No... I just... I got to thinking and..." His own words sting himself. "...and thought maybe we should... you know... slow down a little." 

Scott doesn't even react to Dalton's tease about the desk. On a normal day, he would have thought it funny and probably would have had his own comeback. But tonight it felt like his humor had been sucked dry.

"Everything is fine," he replies sharply as he continues to mop up the spilled drink. "Just fine. You'd be agitated too if-" He bites his tongue from finishing that statement. 

Lifting up the papertowels, he swivels on his knees to stand up, but with his blind eye to the desk, he had miscalculated the distance. His head whacks the blunt corner of the desk hard enough to make the computer monitors shake.

Howling with frustration, he sinks all the way to the floor, holding the side of his head. A perfect ending to a perfect day. Just sitting still, he tries to stop the throbbing. "No, everything is not fine," he mutters. "I'm losing my mind, Dalton."

Ryder can't help the laugh that erupts at Thirteen's question. Moving to her, he pulls her into a bear hug. "You can hold my hand whenever you want."

He kiss the top of her head and rocks her teasingly. "Let's go warm up leftovers for supper. I have a feeling Katie will be home late." 

Though Jade's eyes were closed, her mind was far from sleep. She felt so comfortable here... with Dan. From day one, she'd felt comfortable with him and it hadn't changed. Could she really have these deep feelings for him? Was it more than just a temporary thing? In her heart, the answer was yes. She just felt... differently with him than she'd felt with anyone else. She'd follow him anywhere - it was that simple. Leaving him for only a few hours made her miss him. Thinking of being gone for a week was torture. She never tired of his company. She never tired of his attention or his kisses or feeling his arms around her. Yes... she was in love with him and it was the best feeling ever. She could only hope that he felt the same for her.

A smile comes to her lips. "Don't tell me I can stay here... I might end up falling asleep on you."

Axel laughs, a little color coming to his face as he sets his book aside. "I'm always decent." 

Smirking, he sits up straighter, making room for Jess to sit with him on the bed if she wanted. "Mmm... food smells good. I guess I didn't realize how hungry I was." 

Situating the pillow under his hand, he draws his legs up to sit Indian-style. "So how was your day? More exciting than mine, I hope."