Tense

Scott sits on his living room floor cross-legged with Domino curled up in his lap. He leans back against the wall and studies the photos he had just taped up to the opposite wall. There were many. He wouldn't leave them there. But this was the best way to sort out which ones were the best or his favorites.

"You got some good ones there..."

Scott gives half a sidelong glance to Brian, who was on the couch. "Yeah." They hadn't spoken much today. Last night had not been a good one. Scott had woken up at midnight with a nightmare and it had taken Brian an hour to calm him down. Sleep was restless after that, and the circles under Scott's eyes today proved it. But he had gotten up... and he was trying to make it through the day as normally as he could. It was only lunchtime now though and he was exhausted. Taking a break to look at his recent pictures was the only thing that didn't make him even more tired.

Brian sips his iced tea and eyes the photos again. "She's a very beautiful woman."

Scott studies the pictures of Hope he'd captured when they'd gotten together a couple times this week at the park, and once more for supper at her place. Some pictures were color. Some black and white. She was smiling. Laughing with Domino. Or staring back at the camera with a pensive look. It didn't matter the angle - Brian was right. "Yes she is."

"Been having fun spending a little time with her again?"

"Yeah."

Quiet settles over the room again for several moments until Brian speaks again. "Think you'll date her again?"

Scott looks down and strokes Domino's fur, deep in thought. Things had been kind of like old times... kind of. "I don't know."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Would you?"

"What do you mean?"

Scott sighs. "Look at me." He glances up at Brian again. "I can't even handle being alone. I don't know if it will get better. I don't know if I'll have a relapse. I don't know if I can handle anything beyond sleeping and eating." He shrugs. "I can't put her through that."

Brian thinks for a moment. "Shouldn't that be her choice?"

"Maybe. But I won't watch her suffer because of me. I... I can tell she wants what we had but... I just can't do it. Not until I feel whole again... and I don't know if or when that will be."

Brian nods slowly. "I think I understand. Just don't sell yourself, or her, short."


Things are surprisingly quiet for a moment after Beth's introduction until Zach makes the first move. "Hi." He extends his hand.

Justin eyes it for just a second before accepting it in a firm grip. "Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, same here." Zach smiles, but Justin staring at him makes him reduce his enthusiasm just a bit. "You, um... work here?"

"Nah." Justin looks down at the dogs and tells them to chill for a moment and they sit obediently. For some reason, he felt very uncomfortable right now. He wasn't sure why, though. Beth seemed very happy and that was a good thing, right? Zach looked clean-cut and seemed nice as far as a first impression went. So what was it that was bothering Justin so much?

Zach waits for a further explanation but when none comes, he clears his throat. "Oh."

Their eyes meet again for a brief but tense moment until Justin glances to Beth, giving her another small smile. "Well, I don't want to keep you two. I'll catch you tomorrow or something."


Eric grins at Ashlee talking to the horse as he works on the other side. He didn't mind this kind of work either... grooming the horses had always been a favorite thing to do, almost as much as riding.

Glancing over the mare's back, he flicks a glop of foamy soap in Ashlee's direction before quickly looking away and continuing to work.