Special

A faint grin shows on Dylan's lips at Ashlee's excitement. In a strange sort of way, it was fun just watching her have fun. He wasn't really used to being around somebody like her. Even though she was younger, he kind of liked being able to just... be a kid. 

"Alright..." Setting up and hitting his own ball, it goes bouncing around and winds up even further away from the hole than Ashlee's ball had. 

Quirking one eyebrow, he throws her a smirk. "I better stop teaching you, or you're gonna wind up beating me."

Eric wouldn't soon forget Stacy's words. They were serious... heartfelt... deep words. They felt too serious for two people just having discovered five minutes ago that they'd like to be more than friends. And yet her words also felt right. There was something different here. Something unexplainable. Her words confirmed that while they could easily take a casual approach to dating, there was still an underlying understanding between them that could only be seen and felt by them. They shared common ground within their wounded hearts. And somehow, somewhere along the way, they'd formed a closer bond than they'd realized... until now.

Even after a few late-night strolls, heart-to-heart conversations and time gazing at the stars, Eric wouldn't have guessed that he and Stacy would have ended up like this tonight. But he was glad. He was more than glad. He was... happy. And it was a real happiness he hadn't experienced for a very long time. 

He chuckles and keeps his arm around Stacy as they walk. "No, I think they knew better than to stick around." Going past the windmill, he spots Dylan and Ashlee working on the next hole. "Oh there they are." 

Stopping still a ways away, he cocks his head and smiles. "Looks like they're having fun. Any stranger would think Dylan was being a stick in the mud, but this is the most I've ever seen him relax. I think I even spotted a smile or two and that's really saying something." 

"Um..." Zach thinks for a moment then nods. "Yes... yes, I'd say wear something nice. I'll figure out where we're going, but after all, if you're gonna make me do things right for your first date, then I will, so it will definitely have to be somewhere nice." 

Smiling, he stands and offers Beth a hand up too. It was a couple blocks back to their cars. "In the meantime... I hope you have a good weekend and... I'll call you about the day and time and for your address so I can pick you up." 

Jared gives Grace a little smile. "Yeah... I had fun too... thanks." 

He felt kind of tired all of a sudden, and a bit lost after those harsh memories. But it was time for him to sit here alone again for a while. 

"Guess I'll see you tomorrow?" 

Carson nods, knowing that he and Katie need not say more. It was strange in a way. After such a past, they should be enemies. But instead, they were friends. And though they didn't interact very much... there was just something a little special there that Carson kept tucked away in a corner of his heart. 

"Thanks, Katie. Take it easy, ay?" 

He nods as she leaves before looking back over his paperwork and sighing. Only then does he realize an incorrect number he'd written when Katie had come in and rattled off random figures. He grins and shakes his head before erasing the mistake.