taking a chance

 Caitlin was happy to go to Dylan and Tori's, but Deano didn't want to go empty-handed. Of course, he told her wine was out of the question. She looked at him as if he was just trying to please people he shouldn't. 

"Just look at it from Tori's point of view," Deano looked at her blankly. "How would you feel if you went to a party and everyone could drink, but you?"

Caitlin felt like rolling her eyes at him. After all, picking up a bottle of wine was much easier than getting a batch of peanut butter cookies ready.

"You don't think she's allergic to peanuts do you?" He asked right before they left. She looked at him wondering if he was trying to woo a pregnant woman.

"I think I would have known by now," she didn't mean to look unhappy, but she was starting to feel put off with this whole dinner at Dylan's. After all, if they were going to Roman's they'd have a fine time. Especially, with LaLa. 

Of course, later after they got there, Caitlin couldn't keep quiet about her new friend LaLa.

"You should meet her," Caitlin told Tori who was much more talkative than Dylan who might as well have been a bump on the couch. He had his arm around Tori as if he needed to guard her.

"Wow, and she already has such a good job, and she just moved here," Tori's voice was pleasant enough as she watched both Caitlin and Deano in the cushioned chair that wasn't really a loveseat, but they squeezed in as if it were. "Some people have all the luck." Tori nodded and Caitlin could sense the envy and yet managed to smile.

"She's really laid back. She's got a membership at the gym nearby and wants me to join her sometime. Maybe, maybe you could come," Caitlin said.

"I couldn't do that," Tori's smile was weak as if she might be a little sedated. 

"Yes, you could. If..if you want to go for a walk sometime, I would be happy to go," Caitlin told her

"Yeah, I could come," Deano grinned and pointed to Dylan. "We could all enjoy the outdoors."

Before Caitlin knew it, Deano was talking about camping and fishing. Caitlin couldn't help but look at him crazy. She knew Dylan wouldn't hear of it.

"That sounds fun," Tori smiled, but Dylan said the food would get cold if they didn't eat. 

It was only a one-pot meal, but it was filling with roast beef chunks, potatoes, and green beans with rolls on the side. There was steamed broccoli and carrots for the veg. Although it was the four of them, she was glad she'd agreed to this.

"Next time, our place," Caitlin announced. She knew it would take time for this friendship to grow.