That's them

Dylan stares back at Rosetta, his eyes unafraid to search hers without looking away. He could tell that she really was willing to help - but he couldn't blame her that she wanted more information. What could he say though?

"I hate the work," he responds quietly. "But... only because I'm not good at anything." That in itself was true. He'd always had poor grades, and being held back a year hadn't helped matters.

Still on his knees, he lets his chin lower to rest on his hands and he closes his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "But that's not why. I just... I can't go to school," he emphasizes. Looking back at Rosetta again, he wanted so badly to trust her. She wouldn't yell at him like his dad might. She wouldn't give him that cold, hard stare that his dad would. But - whatever Dylan told her, would get back to his dad and he wasn't sure he was ready for that.

Eventually, he moves back and takes a chair instead of the floor, bending forward to lean his elbows on his knees. After studying the floor for what seems like an eternity to him, his eyes are raised once more. "Remember when I stole those meds from Angel's office?" Of course she would remember, and Dylan's gut twists just thinking about it. "They weren't for me. They were for someone else... someone who had found out where I was... someone who could make my life miserable if I didn't do what they wanted."

He swallows hard, his gaze begging Rosetta to believe him. "After they didn't get it, and I was okay, I realized that this ranch was safe. They weren't gonna dare to come here for me."

Pausing, he makes sure his thoughts are collected. There was so much more to the story than that... how he'd been manipulated, forced and abused without escape. He still had nightmares about it. But he wasn't convinced Rosetta, let alone his dad, would respond with belief to all of that, so he avoids those details for now.

"There are people who will find me if I go back to school," he states firmly. "People from my past and... they're gonna hurt me. I will do just about anything to stay here... I will work, I will study, I'll do anything... anything just so I don't have to be away from here alone for that long every day."

He wasn't sure if he sounded like a whiny kid or someone who was at fault for making the wrong person mad, but even if neither were true, Dylan didn't care. No matter what anyone thought, if he didn't have to go to school, any further amount of shame was worth it.

His eyes roam Rosetta's with an intensity brought on by desperation. He was truly afraid. There were a whole lot of things he still wasn't saying, but the bottom line was that his fear was real. "Please... you've got to convince my dad."


Still staring at the ceiling, Kip doesn't respond to Karla right away. It would be easier just to quit the band and walk away without any more embarrassment, and without any more slowing them down. It would be better for everyone, right?

"So everybody else is quicker than me," he responds dryly. "That makes me the lame duck no matter what angle you look at it from. I'd rather quit than know that they had to slow down for me. It's not fair to them and it's frustrating for me."

His fingers fidget with a loose thread on the bed blanket and his leg bounces a little as a sign that the food was kicking in and energy was building. "Maybe I'm just not cut out for this."

Sighing deeply, he quits fidgeting and rolls over to curl up on his side, his face hidden from Karla so she couldn't see the moisture welling in his eyes. This whole thing had been a grand adventure and he'd been so excited to be a part of it. Concerts... albums... being a part of a band that could really go somewhere. And now... to find out that he was the one trailing behind... it wasn't a good feeling.

"I'll go to practice tomorrow," he mentions quietly. "But if it doesn't go well, then I don't know what I'm going to do."


Susanne puts an elbow on the table so she can rest her chin in her hand as she listens to Chuck. He had such a nice voice and he was far from dull but not too animated that it was annoying either. He was... well, pretty perfect as far as that went.

A grin forms on Susanne's lips as she learns a little more about him. He seemed pretty down-to-earth, but she knew there was much more to his story than just what he did every day. How had he connected with his niece that she worked with him? Had he ever been married? He'd mentioned a woman from years ago, but it was unclear if it had been his wife or not. What was his belief in God? He didn't have bad language and he was certainly a gentleman, but lots of people could be that way. He liked to read... what kind of books? Did he have any similar interests to her?

All these new questions floated through her mind, but she dared not ask them... not yet anyway. They seemed so personal and... well, she just wasn't sure what really was appropriate to ask. It didn't matter though - his comment about her going on more rides with him turned everything around again and her eyes widen just a little bit. He was still talking about after tonight... surely it was all just talk. Why pretend?

She smiles a little and shakes her head, straightening as she sees Carson coming. "I suppose miracles do happen," she quips, implying that she didn't believe it would ever happen.

"Alright - you two know what you want?" Carson stops at the table, ready to take their order.

A pizza is ordered and just a little bit of small talk ensues again as Susanne begins to relax. She tells Chuck about the work she does at the Elite, about Reese, and about how hectic work was right now because of so many things happening with their agents. Mid-conversation though, the bell above the door rings, and Susanne catches sight of a small group of people entering the restaurant. Her face grows warm and she freezes, keeping her eyes straight back at Chuck. "That's them," she whispers. "The tall blonde... that's Darlene... the one that thinks I'm no fun."