Illegal

Justin gets up from the table, glad for something to keep his hands busy for a few minutes. He always felt awkward just sitting back and watching someone else work, regardless of whether or not he was a guest.

Coming up beside Beth at the stove, he does as told, putting the meatballs into the sauce and stirring them without any question as to what he was doing - he'd helped his mother in her kitchen one too many times to be unfamiliar with cooking.

He chuckles at Beth's questions and shrugs. "Things are alright. Same old crazies, I guess. Ma's good. She was complaining about where her newspaper landed in the yard this morning, so that means she's feeling well." He grins a little. "She never does slow down. If she drove, I'd never be able to keep up with her."

Turning a little to glance over his shoulder at the dogs who were obediently staying out of the way, he nods again. "They're doing real well. I've been smelling a skunk around my place, so I'm just hoping they don't discover where he is. Danitza already found out the hard way a couple years ago that they're not fun critters to play with."

Justin shifts back around to the stove again, accidentally whacking Beth with his elbow on the way. "Oh, sorry." His hand goes to her shoulder to make sure he hadn't knocked her off balance. As soon as he did though, he was hit with the strange sensation that he shouldn't have, and he retreats quickly, his eyes going back to the meatballs and sauce. Why he felt awkward again all of a sudden, he didn't know. Nor did he know why he was suddenly aware of how closely together he and Beth were standing. It wasn't like him to not have a handle on his own thoughts and feelings, and it made him uncomfortable. He clears his throat and continues to focus on the stove. "So... how have you been?" If she took the question to mean how was she after the last time he'd been over, he would gladly listen. Or if she took it to mean how was she doing as in a casual question of her daily tasks, he wouldn't mind that either.


Jason wasn't so sure he agreed with Katie. Trey seemed like a jerk to him, bad circumstances or not. But really, that wasn't the point. And just because he'd found a brother didn't mean he'd have to interact with him.

Keeping Katie tucked close to him, Jason's body continued to tremble as the shock from his emotions began to wear off. Another tear escaped, though he ignored it. Giving the top of Katie's head a little kiss, it's the best he can offer right now.

Thanks, Katie... you mean the world to me.


"I was born ready." Alec returns Ryan's kiss, wrapping an arm around her to hold her tightly until she withdraws. Grinning, he just takes a moment to study her eyes. "It should be illegal to be as pretty as you," he teases.

Hopping down off the bench, he wanders to the door. "To my apartment we go. Be thinking about what you want for supper."


Susanne's heart skips a beat at Chuck's words. She was special? He really saw her that way? But why? How? It just didn't make any sense - none of this did. And yet...

She opens her mouth to argue, but the words seem to escape her completely. Unless she wanted to call him a liar right to his face, there was nothing she could say. She either had to believe that he actually did like her for some bizarre reason, or understand that he was just toying with her for kicks. She didn't like the second choice, but found the first still too hard to believe. Once again, she was stuck not knowing what to think, just like yesterday.

Clamping her mouth shut, she accepts the helmet dumbly and just looks at it for a moment before turning her eyes back up to Chuck. He wanted to make her feel special and he wanted to get to know her better... it just couldn't be the truth.

Deep down though, Susanne's heart longed for the tender care she'd never received from anyone else. Beyond her doubts and disbeliefs there was a woman that yearned for the attention Chuck was offering freely. Would it be so wrong to step back into the fairytale for a little while longer?

Biting her lip, she dons the helmet, tucking her hair up underneath. "Okay," she agrees. "How about that nice Mexican restaurant over on fifth? But don't take the long way there...."

She hands him her purse to put in the saddlebag and waits for him to get on the motorcycle before sliding on behind him. "...I'm way too hungry to enjoy the night scenery." Slipping her arms around him, she hangs on in anticipation of the ride that maybe she wouldn't want to admit she was looking forward to.