Wise?

Carson gives a dramatic sigh, leaning his hands on the counter on either side of Misty, his forehead resting against hers. "Oh, I suppose we better... we don't want a riot on our hands."

Looking over his shoulder as Jamie and Con come in, a smile comes to his face. There were some people that would always remind him of who he had been before... and when those same people could now be called his close friends, it presented a little slice of joy that would always be tucked inside. "You just had to come in and break up a moment with my wife, didn't you?"

Still grinning teasingly, he helps Misty off the counter and turns to Jamie. "We don't know what time it is either, but do you think I'd tell that tank of yours no?"

Con laughs and wanders towards the counter, his arm around Jamie's shoulders. "Hey, if you don't want my help, I can just as easily walk out-"

"Did I say that?" Carson grabs a dish towel and tosses it at him. "Can you clean tables?"

"Mmm..." Con looks around skeptically. "I don't know... Jamie complains about my cleaning at home."

Carson laughs. "Sounds familiar. If you two really wanna help, you can tidy up out here... maybe put some tables together, though I think it's gonna be a big enough group that they won't all fit around one table setting anyway."


Joined by Alice, Kyle feels her arm slip through his, and he automatically shifts, not letting her get away with such a simple gesture. Pulling her around in front of him, he drapes his arms over her shoulders to take her hands in front, and plants a kiss on the top of her head.

Resting his chin on her head, he looks back at Katie, new life shining in his eyes and he throws her a wink. When he and Alice had left, they'd been friends, nothing more. But their relationship wouldn't be easily hidden, nor did he want it to be. "Alice is keeping her boyfriend in line too," he teases.

Phil is nearby and looks up quickly, suddenly realizing that indeed, Kyle and Alice were acting like a couple. He hadn't even noticed before this. A little grin surfaces, but he says nothing for now. He'd have to find out more later.

"Boyfriend?" Jen, however, was not going to let it slide. Wheeling up beside Kyle, she tugs on his shirt. "And you didn't say anything?!"

Kyle looks down at her, grinning. "You think I want gossip going on without me back here to defend myself? Much wiser to announce while I am here, don't you think?"

Even though there were a lot of things about her brother that Jen wished she knew, she doesn't let the pain show now. Instead, she giggles. "You? Wise?" Turning her eyes to Alice, she shakes her head. "Good luck with this one."

Watching from a distance, Jason grins a little as he coils up one of the extension cords.

It's good to see Kyle smile... he seems to be a bit more at peace since the last time we saw him. Jen said What's Up said something about him teaming up with a band, but said the information was a little vague. I wonder if this group with him are those people or what. I figured when Kyle walked out, he was quitting music for good. Hope we hear more of his story.


Wandering around in the back, Kip swings Karla's hand back and forth playfully as they wait for the others. "I don't know about you, but I am absolutely starving. Kyle said the pizza at this place was gonna be worth the wait though."

"You're always starving," Twila teases as she comes up to them.

"It's called metabolism," Kip counters. "Besides... I'm a growing boy." He sucks in his belly and puffs out his chest.

Twila quirks an eyebrow. "You keep using that excuse, you'll make someone think you'll never grow up."

Kip's lips form a crooked grin. "And...?"

Twila rolls her eyes, though she really did find it humorous. "The rest of us are gonna wait outside for Kyle... give him some space with his old friends."

"Say no more." Keeping a grip on Karla's hand, Kip pulls her out the door with him until they'd reached the parking lot.

They don't have to wait for too long. With all the extra hands, packing up JetStream's equipment was a breeze and everyone agrees to head over to Mom and Pop's. Jason takes Katie in his truck, while Phil, Jen and Mike go in Phil's pickup. Cryptic is scattered all about and they decide to take fewer vehicles, though Axel doesn't join in, liking it better just to drive alone with Jess and not be crowded. The group from South Dakota all pile back into their cars and fall into place in the caravan that need only go across town.

Watching everyone else pulling away, Kyle sits behind the steering wheel of Alice's jeep. Heaving a long sigh, he bends down and puts his forehead on the wheel, his eyes falling closed. "That was... exhausting," he admits. Everyone had been glad to see him, so that was good. But even with all the chaos and talking, not even half of his story had been shared - there was still so much they wanted to know about him and what had been happening. It was tiring to say the least.

"I'm really hungry and I really want to see everybody more at Mom and Pop's, I'm just... tired." Glancing up, he spies half a bottle of his Mountain Dew still waiting. "Aha!"

Grabbing it he takes a swig at the same time he tries to push aside all his apprehension. Now wasn't the time to crumble yet. Later... but not now. They had a party and he had to make it through that before having an emotional crash. For now, he would thrive on any adrenaline he had left.

"Ahhh." He smacks his lips and stifles a hiccup, offering some to Alice. "Join me?"


Eli smirks at his sister's groggy tone and shuts of the television. There wasn't much point in him staying up any longer. Standing up, he nudges Alec's foot... or whoever's foot it was under the blanket. "Hey... you staying the night?"

Alec lifts an eyebrow but doesn't open his eyes. "Mm-hmm." Who cared about caution? He pulls Ryan in a little tighter, his whole body completely relaxed and too tired to move.

Eli nods and shuts off the light, leaving the living room dark. "Alright. But come morning when Reese calls, I'm gonna tell him right where you are."

Hearing Eli walk down the hallway, Alec grins a little. He knew Ryan wouldn't mind him staying right here and he knew Eli didn't mind it either - he was just giving him a bad time. Alec yawns and kisses Ryan's cheek goodnight before letting his head fall back into the little nest that had been created in the couch pillows and blanket.