Have to?

Eric winces as Angel pokes and prods, but he doesn't resist. Sighing, he nods at her as he dresses himself again. "Yeah.... okay. Although I'm not much good around here just sitting and doing nothing." 

He glares at the floor for a moment, thinking about giving Ashlee her riding lesson anyway. He'd figure out how. 

Standing, he gives Angel a grateful look. "Thanks for your help." 

"Mm... yeah, we got the job done." Sparky keeps his arms around Faith and rocks her a little. "Maybe even more than that." 

Finally letting her loose, he turns her around to give her a tender kiss on the lips before smiling. "Would it be alright if he came over for supper? I think he could use a little time away from everybody else for just a while." 

Justin listens quietly to Beth, glad she'd enjoyed herself. It was good she was getting out and doing new things... being with other people. How far she'd come really was amazing. 

Looking down at his fishing line to work out a kink with his fingers, his attention snaps back to Beth as she mentions a date. Perhaps he didn't even realize the surprised look on his face. Thanks to his help? Thanks to his help, she was going to go on a date with Zach. Why did that just feel wrong? 

"Oh." He blinks and returns his gaze to the water. "That's..." He needed to snap out of it and give her a good response or it could potentially harm her confidence - and she certainly didn't need that. "That's real good, Beth." He looks over at her again and forces a smile. "I'm glad you two are getting along so well. I'm proud of you for branching out." 

He was. He really was. It was just that... He reals in his line and casts again. For some reason, his mother's story returns to him. Beth was spreading her wings and starting to fly. Was he allowing himself to be left behind? But wasn't that his job? That's what he was supposed to do, wasn't it? He helped people feel better and they went on their way. But... Beth was different. Beth was his friend. Beth was... special to him.

Gritting his teeth, he feels a tug on his line and jerks it too hard, missing the fish. Why he felt angry all of a sudden, he didn't know. Or did he? 

"So um..." He clears his throat. "Where are you two going?" 

"Pepperoni is good." Carson doesn't miss a beat as he nods at Trey. "If you want a little adventure, I can throw on some onions and green peppers."

"And mushrooms," Cindy adds. "That would make it perfect." She smiles at Trey. "Something tells me you'd like anchovies too, but I'm not that daring."

Carson chuckles. "Great. One pizza coming up and.... a dish of jello and some breadsticks on the house..." He tickles Kaylee. "So this little hulk will have something to munch on."

Cindy laughs and nods. "Thanks, Carson. How'd you know jello was her favorite?"

"Eh. A hunch."

After ordering drinks too, the three are able to sit and wait for their food. Cindy sighs and just looks across at Trey, not saying anything for several long moments. "Ya know... sometime... if you want... I know your dad would like to meet you too. But that's up to you."

Jason can't help it that he bristles a little at Katie's words. Did she have to give him just another jab about him and his friends? There was nothing wrong with him spending time with people from his childhood and he knew that. He'd never intentionally hurt Katie's feelings, but he couldn't help but feel she was being overly sensitive. Why couldn't she stand to be without him at all anymore? Was it just because they'd spent so long connected that now it felt they had nothing, even when they did? Was that why she was retaliating? At least he saw his own friends as a group and not just Sandy alone - he'd turned her down more than once.

The jealousy when thinking about Hunter flares again and Jason's eyes lower. He knew Katie had been hanging out with Hunter more and more lately. And it had made him angry more than once. But he'd said nothing, hoping it would all just pass. 

"I guess I don't know what normal is supposed to be like either," he mumbles quietly. Suddenly he didn't feel like finishing his meal and he felt rotten for spoiling their lunch. 

Finally looking back up at Katie, his eyes held a new look... pain. It was an emotion he'd rather not have ever felt again at all. "At least... I haven't been going on dates." His tone was quiet - not angry. Just sad and confused. Maybe if they were still connected he'd understand why she'd been hanging out alone with Hunter, but he didn't. 

Sliding his hand across the table, he curls his fingers around hers. "Do you have to keep seeing Hunter alone?"