Tickets for the show

Kip blinks. "Salad and carrots." He shifts his eyes to glance at Karla skeptically. "I see your point, but lets try to be more creative, unless you want me to turn into a rabbit or something."

Though he didn't laugh, it was apparent that he was making an attempt at being humorous. Still curled on his side, he shrugs. "Yeah, it's worth a try, right? I'm wired differently in my head, why not somewhere else?" Erik's mom had tried getting Kip to change his eating habits once, and now that he thought about it, it seemed to have helped a little, but then he'd slid right back into irregular meals and grabbing candy bars for quick pick-me-ups instead of healthier options. His metabolism kept him trim so weight had never been a problem, only adding to the ease of eating sugar.

"Tomorrow I'll let Gram fix me breakfast like she's been dying to, instead of grabbing a doughnut en route. Then we'll see how practice goes."

Shifting around a little, Kip tries to get comfortable, but it just wasn't working. Looking over to Karla again, he finally rolls over and crawls nearer to her, flopping down on his side again, but this time, his head was in her lap. His body wanted to get up and run laps, but his mind was too depressed to care. Closing his eyes, he sighs deeply. "Do you have to go right away?" he mumbles.


Having Chuck slide into her side of the booth and put his arm around her, Susanne looks to him quickly, tensing a little. What was he doing? His whispered words put her on edge. What was he planning? Something for her friends to really talk about? Her gaze at him grows uneasy.

Though it was apparent he had something in mind, she was not at all prepared for him to lean in for a kiss. Giving a little gasp, as his lips touch hers, her hand goes to his chest to push him away. But even though her heart raced and her good sense wanted to slap him, the muscles in her arm relax and she feels as though she hasn't the strength to fend him off.

His hand on her cheek was so soft and warm, just like it had been when she'd held it earlier and without thinking, Susanne lets her eyes fall closed. The hand with which she'd wanted to push him away, instead, slides back over his shoulder until her fingertips lightly touch his hair at the nape of his neck as if testing to see what it felt like.

Her cheeks were hot and her heart beat so loudly, she was sure the whole restaurant could hear it. But never had she felt so helpless... and so not worried about that fact.


At the nearby table, the seven friends were chattering until Darlene spots Susanne and this strange man with her. Her eyebrows rise, surprised that Susanne was here after turning down the offer to join everyone. And who was this she was with? A colleague, perhaps? "Hey, Mark." She pats the arm of the man next to her. "I'm going to go say hi to Susanne - maybe she'd like to join..." Her statement is never finished as she, and the others now as well, look to the other table to see Susanne and the man kissing. And from their angle, it appeared to be quite a passionate kiss, whether it really was or not.

Darlene's jaw drops, her mouth gaping open as she stares. The others can't help but stare as well, utterly amazed at what they were seeing. Susanne... boring old stick in the mud, prim and proper Susanne was not only eating dinner with a man, but she was kissing him... in public, no less!

Darlene blinks and tries to say something, but all that comes out are a few garbled words as she lifts a finger to point, then stares back at the others as if asking what on earth was going on. The looks they give her seem to match - nobody else know what was going on either.

Before anyone can do anything, a body moves across their line of sight, blocking the view. "Sorry. Tickets for the show don't go on sale until tomorrow night. I can take your orders for dinner though." Carson's tone was less than amused, but anyone who knew him would be able to see the twinkle in his eye. He had no idea what was really going on here, but he suspected more than just a dinner date. And if he were ever to take sides, Susanne's would be the first. He holds out a pencil to the pad in his hand. "Are we ready to order?"


Somehow, Susanne manages to open her eyes in time to see Carson now at the other table and reality comes rushing back to her. Also realizing she'd been holding her breath, she pulls away from Chuck, grabbing a lungful of air as she blinks, stunned. Her hand comes back to herself and she looks into his eyes, her own gaze wide and frightened - but not of him. Perhaps only frightened by the tingles that ran up and down her spine or the strange beating of her heart.


"Old depressed people," Ariel repeats, laughing. "I guess I hadn't thought of that before, but I suppose that could be generally true about the bar scene."

Receiving the small splash, her eyes snap to Trey's as the smile returns to her lips. "I think somebody has an ornery streak." She gives him a sly look. "If that's the case, then you, my friend, may have met your match."

Flicking her foot in the water, she sends a light spray in Trey's direction to get him back then takes several quick steps back out onto the dry sand again so she couldn't be reached with more water.