I'll do anything

Maybe Kip didn't want to digest Karla's words or take them seriously, but they did sink in. It was a strange little feeling when she said the word "love." Whether he just hadn't expected it or had a hard time believing it was unclear, but her affection didn't go unnoticed. He'd much rather stay here and continue this now, but he knew she was right about eating. The last time he went a whole day without food, he'd passed out and Twila had just about clobbered him.

Raising up on his elbow, he gives Karla a sleepy sort of smile before giving her lips a quick little kiss. "Okay, fine. But only because you insist." Backing off and sitting up, he grabs the bag of food again and noses inside this time. "Mmm... whatcha get?"

Remaining quiet while eating was easy since there was reason not to talk, and Kip takes advantage of it, even if he usually did chatter during meals. Once the food is gone though, there's not much reason to sit in silence and Kip knows it, but he'd rather not go back to their previous conversation, even if he knew Karla would make him.

With the bed cleared off and the food sack in the garbage, Kip flops onto his back, staring up at the ceiling as his toes nudge Karla's leg for no real reason. "Thank you for the food... it hit the spot."


"Breathe. Right." Susanne lifts her head while her fingers curl around Chuck's. Giving him a sheepish grin, she blushes. "You'd think I'd never been out with a man before. Oh, wait..." She smirks a little. "Fact number one about me: I don't do things like this."

Huffing a short sigh, she rolls her eyes and lets go of Chuck's hand to grab her menu again. Talk about herself? What was there to talk about? "Quite honestly, I really don't know what to say about myself," she admits as her eyes roam the meal options. "I work for the Elite. Assistant to the chief - not out working cases or anything exciting like that. I, um..." She thinks for a moment, truly at a loss. "I like flower gardening and... listening to music and..." She racks her brain and throws Chuck a worthless sort of glance. "That's about it. Oh, I do have some pet birds."

Setting her menu aside, she nods. "I'm going to be boring and have pizza. I'll get a personal size unless you want pizza too then we can split a bigger one."

Taking a sip of her water, she has to remind herself to quit chattering so much and just calm down. This was ridiculous. After another deep breath, she dares to look over at Chuck once more, finding her insides melt all over again as soon as she sees those dark eyes. "And... and what about you? Say something so I don't keep rambling and making a fool out of myself."


Ariel quirks her eyebrow at Trey's hesitance, but she doesn't give him a bad time about not wanting her to pick him up. "Well.. before we leave tonight, let's pick a place and I'll meet you there then. That will make everything so much simpler."

Grinning, she takes a step forward so her feet get wet from the lake water and she wriggles her toes in the sand. Trey's question makes her laugh and she shakes her head. "What? You don't like the night life?" She gestures around them. "This dead quiet isn't exciting enough for you?"

Still smiling, she makes sure he knows she's teasing before she gives him a real answer. "I don't do an awful lot myself, really. I mean, if you're the party type, go find Dirk and ask him - he gets around the most of any of us probably." She shrugs. "Me, I come here... go to movies sometimes... I go to concerts every now and again... I like to walk downtown and window shop or spend way too much money." She laughs. "There's a zoo a couple hours away that's a nice one. Hiking is always fun - we got some foothills where there are great trails and places to camp. Um..."

Turning to Trey, she shrugs again. "There are bars and nightclubs too but I'm not usually around that scene. Although I do get a kick out of our karaoke cafe sometimes."

Bending down, Ariel rolls up the legs of her jeans up to her knees and steps further into the water. Throwing a smile over her shoulder, she quirks a challenging eyebrow at Trey. "Can't enjoy the water if you don't get your feet wet."


Mornings always seemed to be the longest part of the day. Today was no different. But, like every other day, Dylan gets himself up, quietly slips himself a small breakfast while avoiding the others who might be gathering to eat, and takes a half cup of coffee to drink on his way to the barn. His timing was always the same - right after Sparky opens up the barn, but before Mick arrives. That way, he couldn't get blamed if anything was amiss since he wasn't the one opening up, but he wouldn't get in trouble for laziness either since he would arrive before his dad. It was always the same...

"...Dylan?"

Tossing another hay bale aside, Dylan stops at the sound of his father's voice. Turning around, he eyes him cautiously. Half the morning was over - a little chat was not the norm. "Yeah?"

Mick takes his gloves off, pausing his own work to talk to him. "Just wanted to make sure you remembered school on Monday. Jeff said he'd drive you for now."

Dylan swallows hard. He remembered. He could buck it, but there were already issues since he wasn't starting the school year when he should have. Whether he showed it or not, he was grateful his dad had worked it out with the school system so he didn't have to start when everybody else did. Of course, the reasoning was the trouble he'd been in, but still, it had postponed everything at least. Unfortunately, late or not, Dylan did not want to go. He was afraid to go, and for good reason in his mind. But no one would understand why - nobody but Dan anyway. "Can't I drop out?" he asks, his eyes falling to the dirt floor. "I'll get my GED... I'll do anything. Just... why do I have to go?"

Mick sighs and sets his hands on his hips. "We've been through this, Dylan," he reminds calmly. They'd already gone around and around about this twice with the same begging and alternatives from Dylan. "You know the deal."

"But I'll work," Dylan pleads, hoping that this time maybe his father would listen. He finally raises his eyes to beg Mick. "I'll do more than I am now even. I'll study at home. Anything."

Mick shakes his head, not understanding. "What is it with you anyway? This is the third time you've tried to get out of this. I know you don't like school, but come on - it's not like it's something new, and you know the reasons. Your mother and I both agreed to put you back in school to ensure you graduate in two years."

Dylan bites his lip. "Please," he begs one more time.

"Why?"

"I just... it's complicated."

"Well then I'm sorry, my decision stands."

"But please, Dad! You don't understand."

"All I understand is that you're acting like a spoiled kid that just doesn't want to do the work of studying and going to school like everybody else has to." Mick looks at him sternly, but keeps his volume low. "Now if you can't give me a good enough reason to let you drop out, then I'm sorry. If you want to live here, you have to go to school. It's a good school and I know you'll make new friends in no time."

"Can't you just...." Dylan knows it's no use, so he stops mid-sentence, not even bothering to finish as he shrugs lamely. He was done for. "I'll be ready."

"Thank you."

Left alone again, Dylan flops down on a hay bale and groans. The nightmare would come again, he just knew it. There had to be a way to convince his dad to let him drop out. There just had to be. Suddenly, a thought strikes him and he sits up straight. There was one person that could get his dad to do anything.

Looking around to make sure he wasn't needed at the moment, he slips out of the barn and heads for the main office. Sneaking a glance in the window, he sees Rosetta at the desk inside. Skipping up the porch steps, he knocks once then enters slowly. "Rosetta?" Making sure she saw him and was okay with him there, he approaches the desk and bypasses the chair to kneels down in front and rest his elbows on top. Staring up at her across the desk, his eyes hold a desperate look. "You've got to get my dad to let me stay out of school. Please. I'll do anything."