Tired

Tal chuckles at Ryan's warning not to tickle her feet, and he rubs a little more firmly. "It's okay. I've been kicked in the face before and survived."

Ryan's question doesn't even shift his concentration and he simply continues to massage her feet, his thumbs hitting all the good spots. His signature grin curls his lips and he doesn't look up right away.

"Well... I guess I figure you deserve to have someone be nice to you."

He didn't want to make it sound like he just felt sorry for her or that he pitied her - those were far from the truth. He simply felt compassion for her, didn't like what had been done to her and he wanted to give her some well-deserved attention.

Tal finally pauses his hands and looks over at Ryan, thoughtful for several moments. "I've seen you at races, Eli talks about you all the time... I guess I've seen what kind of a person you are and I just want to prove that you're more than..."

He pauses again, afraid of it not coming out the way he wanted it to. "...more than what you've been dealt. Nobody should take a woman like you for granted." He shrugs and looks down again as his fingers wander up the tops of her feet to her ankles then back again. "And I like seeing you smile."


Something like a wry grin tugs at the corners of Dylan's mouth as he finishes up his plate of food. "I still keep a fan going at night in my bunk for noise. Otherwise I just lie awake for hours."

Setting his plate down on the porch, he takes a long swig from his water bottle. "I used to live in a small town," he explains. "Nothing like the city, but there was noise. Had a street light that shone right in my bedroom window. Now I still keep my blinds open so the yard light can come through." He cocks his head a little. "You get used to living out here after a while though."

Reaching to the side, he continues to listen as he retrieves a little package of two Hostess HoHos he had for his dessert.

"Yeah, there's lots to explore around here. All I have time for is chores and homework. Mick likes it that way though. When you're someone like me, people tend to want to keep you within eyesight."

Ashlee's question makes him pause. He concentrates on his HoHos and opens the package before tossing a new glance at her. Taking one of the little frosted cakes he holds it out to her, quirking an eyebrow to ask her if she wanted it.

"I eat alone 'cause sometimes I'd rather not be just ten feet away from everybody else having a good time."


Eric doesn't hold Rosetta's eyes for long and readjusts one of his ice packs. She wasn't mad at him? Really? After the last time he'd been here with Dana? He almost wished she would be mad at him so his conscience wouldn't be nagging him as much.

Rosetta's question only brings more silence. How was he? He could say he was fine and just pretend for a little while longer. He could spill the whole truth and admit how miserable he was. Physically he was doing alright, other than his leg. Mentally, he was so messed up, he couldn't even think straight. Still looking down, he shrugs. He felt like a kid who was afraid to admit he'd done something wrong.

"I don't even know how to answer that," he finally admits. He couldn't tell her why... he just couldn't.

Still not looking up, he reaches to his bedside table and pulls out the drawer to retrieve a bottle of pain killers. Unfortunately, it was empty. He sighs. But he doesn't ask Rosetta for any help... he felt too rotten to ask any favors.

Eric's eyes were full of misery, even though he didn't want it to show. But there was no fooling his sister... there never was. And yet the words that would explain everything just wouldn't come out. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was shame.


Jason lifts his head to see Katie come in with the food, and he straightens a little. He didn't feel like eating, but he'd try for her. At the moment, he kinda wanted to be alone... he just wanted to lie down and sleep and try to forget about all of this. But instead, he forces a smile.

"Thanks, Katie. A movie sounds great."

He does manage to eat a little bit, though can't quite get it all down if he wanted it to stay down. And he does manage to start watching a movie with Katie too. But less than halfway through, he was just too tired for anything else.

Lying on the couch with his head in Katie's lap, Jason gives up on trying to keep his eyes open. His hand finds hers though and he gives it a weak squeeze.