Barf

Eric could feel his face turning hot at Stacy's words, not really knowing how to respond to that. He'd received compliments occasionally... Dana never said anything, though she'd been after him from the get-go. He'd assumed that was a compliment in itself. But... she'd never said it like Stacy. She'd never mentioned kindness, let alone smarts, and those were more important to him than looking good... although he couldn't help that one did make him feel good too.

Glancing down, he found it difficult to receive Stacy's compliments. "You're just sayin' all that so I'll get a big head and my hat won't fit anymore." Grinning, he moves his gaze back to her eyes again. "You're pretty amazing, you know that? You're the only person that can turn my face red more than ten times in five minutes flat."

Chuckling, he moves to slip his arm around her shoulders and start walking again. "So there's just one thing I gotta know before we start this thing... What's your favorite flower?"

Scott was grateful for Dalton's words. They made him feel better, with a little more confidence that he'd be accepted back into this circle without disappointment or condemnation. He's going to thank Dalton when he's suddenly tossed some jerky. Catching it, he laughs, a little sparkle coming to his eye. 

"You kidding? A man can't live without beef jerky - that's just wrong." 

Taking a piece, he tears off a bite with his teeth, still grinning. "I can't make a whole bag disappear like I used to," he admits. "Stomach just can't handle things like it used to but..." He takes another bite. "I can definitely partake in a small bit of daily goodness." He points the jerky at Dalton. "Just don't let me eat more than few pieces or I'll barf it back up all over your lap and trust me - you don't want to clean up that mess. Nastiness." 

Laughing again, he leans back in his chair... his chair. He might not be back here full time every day yet but... he was back. Oh how long it had been, and what a horribly difficult road he'd been traveling. But finally, finally, he could see the light he'd been searching for at the end of the never-ending tunnel.