Subs

Zach laughs and nods. "You got it. How about that little sub place? Um..." He squints as he walks out into the hall, thinking. "Crazy Subs? Yeah - where they got a ton of different stuff you can put on your sub. I've only been there once, and when I was, it wasn't very busy but I liked the food."

Leading the way back out into the sunshine, Zach doesn't make his pace too fast, even if he was hungry. Heading for the lot, he points to his little silver car. "That's me. You can follow if you want. But if we get lost, I take no credit." He grins as he fishes in his pocket for his keys.

About fifteen minutes later, they made it to the sub shop without getting lost, and they found only a few customers so it was nice and quiet. Getting in line, Zach lets Beth go first as he takes his time surveying all the choices. He finally decides on the Italian sub with the addition of, "...Tomatoes, jalapenos...olives..." Zach thinks. "Extra cheese...onions, mushrooms and...green peppers. Oh, and hot mustard." Seeing the awful creation built, he gives Beth a silly grin and shrug. "Might as well take advantage of the selections, right?"

Soon, they were seated at a booth near the window, each quickly and silently praying over their food. Zach picks up his sub, which was spilling out all ends, and he eyes it for a moment from different angles. Finally attempting a bite, he has to open up his mouth as wide as he can, and even then it almost isn't wide enough. He tries not to laugh until he's chewed and swallowed. "My sister always did say I had a big mouth."

He takes a sip of his soda pop, pondering the question he wanted to ask. Was it an appropriate time? Only one way to find out. "So... your friend... Justin? Kind of the protective type, huh?"


Though concentrating on Remington's tail, Eric keeps one eye on Ashlee, making sure she was having fun, and making sure the horse was still behaving himself too. As he sees all the little braids and bows, he can't help grinning. His own work was going fast, so he slows down on purpose, wanting to give Ashlee all the time she wanted. To do so, he braids Remington's tail with slow precision, his hands moving with ease, creating a tight design starting all the way at the top and down until the end of the bone where he ties it off with a rubber band, letting the rest of it free to blow in the wind.

Hearing Ashlee's question, he steps back and looks at her finished product. Humor dances in his eyes but he doesn't laugh. "I ain't never seen him look prettier."

Just as they're both surveying their handiwork, Mick walks by. Stopping short, he blinks. "What in tarnation..." He steps closer, his eyebrows arched, and he eyes Eric and Ashlee then his horse again before blinking.

Eric coughs on a stifled laugh.

Remington turns to look at his master, heaving a long sigh. Mick swallows his own urge to laugh. "Well now... I see somebody's been having a lot of fun." He steps forward for a closer look, glancing down at Ashlee with a grin. "I never thought I'd see him in pink but..."

"I think he likes it," Eric finishes. "Only a confident man would wear pink." He elbows Ashlee teasingly. "Right?"

Mick's chuckle finally escapes and he shakes his head, giving his horse a hearty pat on the back. "He's clean, I will say that." His gaze returns to Ashlee. "If you really want to get on this brute's good side, there's a couple apples in the feed room."


Gunner takes advantage of Bree looking over her shoulder to give her a light kiss. "Good. Come on." Grabbing her hand, he pulls her to his side with enthusiasm before setting out.

This time, their walk did seem a peaceful one. No attacks. No cloudbursts. Talking and laughing, it seemed almost the best day yet. It always happened that way though... the best times were always had when they were coming to a close and reality would have to set back in again. No one wanted to go home yet. They were all savoring their last couple days.


Lounged back in the grass, JT keeps a lazy eye on his fishing pole, almost nodding off every now and again, in between conversation with Amanda. Yawning, he tips his baseball cap forward to shield his eyes from the sun, although the warmth was welcomed. "Ya know... I've always wanted to have like a cabin or something for regular vacations. Maybe I should actually look into that one of these days," he muses.

Catching movement nearby, he glances just a short distance away where Gunner and Bree were walking. It looked like they'd made it all the way around the pond without incident. Finally.


The walk had grown fairly quiet as Gunner had fallen into what seemed a rather thoughtful mood. Close to returning to their starting point, he pauses near the water and looks out across the sparkling ripples. "It's so pretty here... Makes me wish I had more time I could take off work. This has been a lot of fun." He smiles and gives Bree's hand a squeeze before letting go.

Wandering onto some rocks that jutted out into the water, he looks down, watching some tadpoles. Turning around again, he cocks his head at Bree. A little color comes to his face. "You know, time off and getting your uncle and Amanda out here weren't the only reasons I wanted to come." He clears his throat and shifts his weight awkwardly. "I mean... the time with you... away from everything... it's just sorta... well, it's helped me know I'd made the right decision to... well..."

He clears his throat again and tucks his hands in his jeans pockets. "You're so special to me. And even when we have to go back to reality, I don't want what we got to end, ya know? So I... well, would... I mean..."

Shifting again, it's Gunner's downfall that he'd turned his back on the water. Without even thinking, he stepped too far to the side. One foot hits a mossy rock and shoots out from under him. The other is at too much of an angle to do any good at all, nor do his suddenly flailing arms assist in his attempt to regain his balance.

Letting out a wail does no good either, and before anyone could blink, the huge splash announces the unscheduled swim.


JT sits bold upright, just in time to see Bree then Gunner... who was now standing waste-deep in the water. His eyes widen.


Sputtering and spitting, Gunner slaps the water with his fist. "Of all the.... Come on!" He glares up at Bree, though it's not meant for her - it was pure frustration and the feeling of stupidity. "Really?! I mean.... really?! Seriously now! Can I not have one moment without this?!" Still too mad, frustrated and embarrassed, he doesn't move to get out of the pond yet.


"Oh for crying out loud." JT mumbles as he gets to his feet. Setting his hands on his hips he yells over to them. "Gunner! For Pete's sake, just ask her!"

Gunner growls and slaps away a floating sprig of seaweed. "It was supposed to be perfect," he mutters.

JT didn't hear him, but he shakes his head. "Bree! Tell that poor boy you'll marry him before he kills himself out here!"

Gunner was mortified. "Jack Timble!!!" But there was nothing he could do now. His gaze returns to Bree as water drips down his face. Never before was there such a pitiful sight. He swallows hard. "W...would... would you?"