Into the great wide open

 Randy wanted to give the Labubu doll back to Monica, but she wouldn't hear of it.

"I got it for you," she shrugged about the matter. "Besides, you can come with me to the carnival."

He guessed he owed her, but he wasn't much for crowds, or the rides. It looked dangerous to him, but he wouldn't say anything. Besides, she had a good reason to hold his hand because it was crowded.

There were moments he felt he was the child being dragged along and he went on the fast rides on an empty stomach because otherwise he would have thrown up, by now.

"Maybe, I could win one for you," he wanted to put a stop to the carnival rides. Of course, there was nothing in sight that resembled a Labubu.

"No way," she pouted in her skimpy outfit. She pointed to the Ferris wheel. They needed to be there to see the fireworks.

Randy thought he might faint in the heat of the night, but he let her lead the way. A part of him hoped she would find something else to sidetrack her, but no, she knew exactly what she wanted. This was the first time they were alone together. 

Of course, he wondered if this might be the last time, too. What if he fell off the ride? Or just got sick, but it wasn't long until they found their seat, which felt like a rock beginning.

"I just don't think I can be who you want me to be," he finally confessed once the ride moved forward and they were looking down at the carnival.

"You are so not being fair to me," she protested. "I like you." She made it sound so simple.

"But," Randy squeezed his eyes shut. "I think of all the guys who-"

"Don't even say it. Losers always find me."

Randy sighed. "Well, maybe I'm the biggest loser of all."

"No, you're not." 

Her eyes opened wide. "You're smart and you're sweet." She hugged his arm then. There was no way she was letting go. It was as if she knew his potential all along. She pointed to a blast of fireworks in the sky. She smiled.

Yes, he could enjoy the moment. He guessed the future looked bright, after all.

Suffice to say, it's been awhile

 Eric was so glad Carmen responded. He was glad she remembered him. 

He sighed, "Why is it me who has to do this?" He cringed at the thought of rejection.

"Because, I can't do it," Derrick looked at him blankly. He was, after all, busy with his own little side business of crochet critters. He was busy on his laptop, looking at orders. He was surprised by all these new trends in Labubu that anyone would want to look at his homemade stuff. 

Eric gave Carmen a call. He was afraid he would mess up with all the texting, and then there would be nobody to tend to the reception desk at the dance studio/gym. 

"Hey," he started with a smile. And then freaked at the thought that he sounded like Joey on FRIENDS. They chatted about Justin. If only the owner had called, but he'd dished-out this duty to Eric, who worked at the studio and gym.

"I got a call today from Jade," he said.

"Jade?" Carmen sounded as if she didn't even know Jade, and then he mentioned Ari, and then it was back to Ari being Justin's friend. After all, Eric was Justin's friend too, whom he hadn't heard from in ages. She asked if this was about modeling because Justin was so busy lately that he might have gained a few pounds.

"Really?" Eric winced as if he needed to get the guy to the gym, pronto. Not for modeling gigs, but just to be in shape.  Eric almost got off track.

"No..no..no.." Eric tried to laugh and be the positive sort. "This is about you."

He said it as if she might have won the lottery. "Jade's going on a long-awaited honeymoon, and she put in a good word for you."

"Me?" Jade sounded shocked.

"Is there any way, you can take over the desk while she's away?"

"Huh," now she sounded as if a laugh was caught in her throat. "I guess so."

"You'd be a lifesaver, really."

Eric couldn't stop smiling. Maybe they would hire Carmen. He knew Jade was overworked these days.

Summertime thoughts

 "Did Monica actually win this?" Carmen couldn't help but smile. She'd never been this close to one of these keychain dolls that everyone was talking about.

"Uh," Randy looked at her as if she had better give the PopMart toy back. "It's not like she got it on the first try, you know." It had been a night of suspense at the Claw Machine.

"Well, I want to go. I want to win one at the arcade." She looked it over and knew it would take a lot of money for one of these. For a split second, she thought she could win one for Kenny, but then again, she might keep it for herself.

"You think you could make one, like these?" She gave it back and went to tidy the apartment, making sure Kenny went home with all his stuff.

"You mean a knock-off?" Randy gave her a sly look. "I don't think so. I mean, I could study it for a bit, but I dunno, not exactly. I wouldn't want to."

Carmen nodded, as if she understood.

"But, we'll go again. Maybe you and Justin could go." He went to put the funny creature away in a safe place in his room, and then took out the recyclables.

A part of Carmen wished they had big plans for the Fourth, but Justin wasn't exactly sleeping lately. She had a feeling he just wanted to be left alone on the computer. Of course, Trish was back, and Carmen guessed they would all celebrate the Fourth together. 

Maybe someday they would do something on their own. Like, spend the day at the lake and watch the fireworks on the water. Maybe even camping. Still, she liked seeing everyone. She liked making cold JELLO salads and brownies, too. 

It was good to see Kenny with a home, and she wanted to be a part of it. Just then, she got a text from Eric. She hadn't heard from him in ages.

Dancing the night away

 Ari was dreaming it already, his vacation with Jade, the honeymoon they never had on the beach in Florida. Oh, Jade would be so happy. The thought of seeing her on the beach made him happy, too.

Yes, he was doing this! "Clear your calendar! We're going to Florida!" He would have given Jade a fist bump, but she was in the kitchen trying to put away dishes.

"What are you talking about?" She practically scowled.

"OK, I know you must be give out with all this baby stuff with your sister, and all, but it's finally gonna happen. We are taking a vacation." He smiled like an idiot as if maybe he'd won the lottery. Actually, his sister had helped him a little on this. She knew how to find a deal. They wouldn't see a round trip like this again. 

"Now you decide."

She didn't look too happy about it. Evidently, she was bogged down with work, and school would be here before they knew it, which gave parents incentives to sign their children up for more dance and martial arts classes for the fall.

"Well, we're going," he insisted.

"They'll hate me at work." She puffed a frown and hugged herself as if he could go without her.

"Don't do this to me now," Ari said, squinting. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Think about us. think about what we need."

She looked up at him as if the timing was all wrong. Ari pulled away and looked her in the eye.

"I know you want to go."

"Of course, I do." But she looked sad about this revelation of his. 

"They'll manage."

"And, and I'll lose my job." Jade glared at him, pressing her lips tightly.

"Then so be it, you need a better job," he told her. He knew he'd have to look into what was available at the hospital. It was time for an upgrade. And besides, they needed a real vacation.

It's looking like another storm

 This baby thing was new to Lance. He wasn't certain what to do. After all, he was overworked at the ER. And then this with Jewel. 

He'd gone through all the emotions of it. The denial, the idea that he was a dad.  Still, Jewel was aloof. Especially, having her guy friend Jared do all the talking. He wasn't sure if he admired her friend or should hate him.

After all, it had been a one-night stand with Jewel. It felt like a dream that had turned into a nightmare, but he would try to do his part. Still, Jewel was indifferent.

Her sister Jade was nice enough. She'd let him hold the baby, and honestly, he didn't know he'd be this happy. Possibly, Jurnee was the best mistake he'd ever made.

He found himself talking to Jade well after two in the morning when he stayed the night at Jewel's. 

"This is all so new to me," Lance quaintly laughed, even if he felt he might fall apart. 

It was nice to have someone listen to him because Jewel wouldn't. 

"Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I hope she'll stay home wth the baby," Lance meant to be supportive, but daycare would be expensive. 

"It'll be a change for all of you," Jade knew this much. "Maybe she'll decide to stay home for this first year."

They had a good talk about childhood illnesses coming back, and other problems that could happen.

"Yeah, that scares me, too." 

But Lance wanted to be a part of his daughter's life. He didn't want to be someone who fed Jewel's bank account. He was staying here, for the time being. Hopefully, Jewel wouldn't fight him on this.

And you won't fail with me around

 "So how long are you going make these damn minatures?"

Jared's question awoke Randy from his thoughts of Cassie in spite of working so hard on this room for Kenny's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was their lair, but it could be used for some of his other action figures. There was a place for their information center as well as a kitchen and a place to sleep. It had kept Randy busy these last few weeks if he wasn't working. He'd found a way to upcycle a lot of recyclables. Who knew? Maybe he was using the other side of his brain.

"I dunno," he shrugged back, wishing Jared would just go to Jewel's and stay. 

Randy knew all about the baby girl, Jurnee. It seemed Jewel wanted her sister Jade around.  Randy knew Jared didn't know how to act around her anymore. Maybe he was in mourning too.

"Why don't we go do something?" Randy finally said as he put away the box of crafting tools.

"Want to drink a beer with me?" Jared teased with a nasty grin. Randy scrunched a face of disgust and shook his head, no.

"How about the arcade?"

"Won't that involve pizza?" Jared winced.

"You could have your beer and I could have pizza," Randy bit a grin.

"Yeah, you're beginning to be a real smart ass, you know." Jared shook his head and slapped Randy on the back. "Oh, by the way, I texted someone for you."

"What?" Randy looked at him as if he suddenly didn't want to go.

"Oh, she wants to do something with you," he shrugged. "Monica is mad about you."

"Monica?" Randy scowled. 

"You know, you need to get out of this place as much as I do," Jared shot him a look.

"I don't want it to be a date," Randy fretted.

"Dude, you don't have to do a thing."

"But-" Randy felt messy. Of course, Cassie was still on his mind. He didn't know if he could do this. 

"Go wash up. Change your shirt. She's waiting," Jared looked at him as if he was doing this for Randy, not himself.

Randy did as he was told. Didn't he always do what he was told? Supposedly, he was as good as gold, but somehow he felt too weak to go on without Cassie. It was a sad feeling. Pizza and video games were not going to make it go away. Not even Monica could help him.

311. Being told you made someone's day

 Sunny thought for a second she might be on the plane with Liv's parents. She hadn't meant to be wrapped up in the ordeal. She was only trying to help out her Uncle Woo and his wife, Liv. Thankfully, Louie was the taxi driver in all this.

It was chaotic trying to get Liv's parents to the airport on time. It was hurry, hurry, hurry, but Liv's mother Trish was on her own time. They had to stop at one of the shops on the way to board the plane. She had forgotten to bring home souvenirs for her sons and Carmen. 

Sunny, didn't know these people. She had no idea what they would like.

"Just hurry, will you!" Her husband told her they didn't have time.

"Oh, you are as cute as a button. You better not marry too soon," she advised Sunny as she looked to Louie. "Are you sure he's a man?"

Sunny just laughed, but it haunted her afterwards. She wasn't sure if she was sad or angry about Trish's accusation. But she did her best to hurry them along. Naturally, those two were the last to board the plane, and Trish hugged Sunny so hard she could barely breathe. She whispered in her ear, "You take care of my Liv. And don't get pregnant anytime soon."

Sunny nodded, thinking it was a bad omen.

"Are you all right?" Louie asked her after Liv's parents went on down the terminal.

"I guess." She smiled back at them. About then, a man with a lot of luggage came running toward them. He was asking about Trish and his friend.

"Are they here?"

"Yes, they're on the plane. You better hurry," Louie said and he waddled away in no hurry. 

"Oh, I almost forgot about him." 

Sunny remembered seeing Kang earlier when they went out to the countryside with him, but she thought it was odd that Trish or her husband never mentioned him while in the terminal.

"He looks like he had a good time, seeing family."

"Yes, I bet it was nice," Sunny agreed. Kang was easygoing. He seemed in search of a good party. He looked as if he might have gained some weight.

"Maybe we should think about seeing your mother sometime." Louie took her hands and held them warmly, looking her in the eye.

"Oh, it's been so long," Sunny winced. A part of her felt her mother was there only when she was growing up, but now it didn't seem possible when they might see each other again, since she lived in the States.

"We need to see her." He grinned.

"What? Go on a trip?" Sunny knew they didn't have time for that.

"No, silly, she's coming here. She'll be staying with us," he put his arm around her, and they made their way to the entrance of the busy airport. "She'll be here next week."

"Next week?" Sunny was in shock.

"Woo talked with her, she's an Aunt now." Louie squeezed her close.

Still, Sunny thought she might have a panic attack. She was certain her mother would be on her case about not having a better job and quitting the University.