I wish you'd come back

 "OH MY GOD!" Ali was thrilled when she saw Liv's face on the phone screen. "I can't believe I finally I got you!" Still, she could see Liv wasn't that happy that she'd answered the call.

Ali did her best to keep upbeat. It was no big thing or so she kept telling herself.  Sure, Liv was apologetic. It seemed she had a lot going on these days.

"Its not too late to talk, is it?" Ali kept even-lipped. She did her best not to be fangirling over her best friend. Liv was still her best friend. Ali hadn't found a way to replace her. Liv asked about Ali's boyfriend Diago, her other best friend.

"It's good." She'd keep it simple. Their attraction hadn't burned out. She wasn't sure what they were doing that was so right, but Ali didn't question it. 

"So what's up?" Liv asked as if she knew something was happening if it wasn't about Ali's boyfriend, then who.

Ali told her about how Prom was almost here and there was graduation by the end of May. She didn't want there to be any problems. Still, she didn't know what to do about Cleo.

"Oh, well..I don't think you remember Cleo."

"Cleo?" Liv winced as if it might be a trick question.

"Leo, that's who you might remember."

"Leo? The guy who liked to steal your lunch," Liv nodded as she stared at Ali.

"He didn't steal lunches." Ali would stand up for Leo/Cleo. "He..I mean she is going by Cleo now."

"Oh." Liv didn't sound interested.

"Cleo is working at Mel's now," Ali told her that it was Rox's first hire.

"Rox?" Liv winced. "She works there? I thought she was at the Coffee Shop?"

"Oh, she left there a while ago. She's not with that guy you remember, but she's with Elvis now," Ali told her. "Cleo is a friend of Elvis'."

"Yeah, that sounds about right," Liv sighed as if she was glad not to be around these people.

"It's just, it's very hard to know what to say around Cleo," Ali confessed.

"Now that's pretty hilarious," Liv smiled.

"Why are you saying that?" Ali winced as if Liv wasn't taking her seriously.

"Now you know, how I felt when you were transitioning. It was a very moody time."

Liv's smile was quick. "Look, I'm sure Cleo might never appreciate you as much as you wished, but I am sure they are glad you are there for them."

Ali sighed. She guessed she needed to hear that. Although, she never remembered being quite as unhappy as Cleo who looked to be living their darkest days.

How about we not talk about this?

 

This was so aggravating. Sunny was in a stomp. Was Liv trying to talk her out of something?

"Well, I've given it a lot of thought," Sunny swelled a frown. "And I don't care how foolish you think I am, but..but I want to go to Louie's."

She sat at the kitchen table watching Liv put the dishes away from the dishwasher.

"Why, so you can have Chewy over, all the time?" Liv gave her a look that that could be no good.

"What!" Sunny had a good laugh over that one.

"What's so funny?" Liv wanted to know.

"You're confused girl," Sunny told her that she wasn't going there to be with Chewy. 

"Then why?" Liv was so serious.

"So I can get away from you guys!" Sunny yelled.

"What did we do?" 

Sunny thought Liv looked like a cartoon character with her silly attitude.

"Um, you're too cute for me," Sunny tilted her head with a smirk. "I don't like you."

"Oh, so now you tell me."

"And you're not going anywhere." 

Sunny was in her usual pout. "And I have a whole room full of stuff that's Hart's. And it's mine." Sunny's eyes grew big as if it was a late Christmas present.

"Woo isn't going to let you go," Liv was all matter of fact. 

"We'll, see about that," Sunny went to her room. It was time to start packing. Of course, she didn't think she could move much. Hart had a closet of stuff. So much stuff. What was she going to do with it?

It's a livin' thing

 

Ari was at a loss for words. What was happening here? Was this what he thought it meant?

Not that Pan was acting randy or anything around Wade out at the steakhouse, but when they started to share each other's plates, it was just a little too intimate for Ari. 

Well, he'd never.

"Here, taste this?" Jade pushed a fried shrimp into his mouth. Her smile was so silly. She knew perfectly well Pan and Wade were more than just friends. He felt like the last to know.

Ari almost choked. No way was he sharing his rib-eye with her. He just didn't do things like that. He wasn't raised that way.

Wade asked how their month was going. He even talked to Jade a bit about where she worked. Which startled Ari. After all, Wade never said much.

"I have to start going to the gym again," he said as he sipped water while playing with his baked sweet potato. Pan handed him more butter as if he knew exactly what Wade needed.

Ari knew he could accept it, but he felt a little weak in the chest. How had it turned out this way? When did it happen? Had it always been like this?

By the end of the evening, Pan said they should do this again. Of course, Pand and Wade paid for Ari and Jade's dinner.

"We'll get dinner next time," Ari agreed. No way was he expecting free meals. And it felt weird this time getting a hug from both Pan and Wade.

"Oh, I don't know what you're worried about," Jade said later when they got home from the heavy meal. Of course, Ari got out the red wine as if he needed it.

He settled on the couch without a smile, holding his glass of wine while Jade only went for half a glass and filled the rest with Bubbly.

"Look, if we ever have a kid, they'll be the best uncles ever." She told him. He looked at her blankly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She was drinking wine too. She couldn't possibly be-.

Jade laughed out loud and took a sip of wine as she folded her legs under her short skirt on the couch and looked him in the eye.

"Gotcha!" She practically poked him in the stomach. She then talked about growing up with uncles who weren't blood-related. "We were on a lot of different bases. It's not that big of a deal."

"Yeah, but..but I kept thinking..maybe..maybe Pan and Rox would get back together," Ari said after he drank some of the red wine. He sighed.

"Oh, baby..those two are never ever getting back together," Jade chuckled. She said she'd seen how Rox worked hard at Mel's and Elvis was Wade's little brother. "Those two are getting it together."

"How would you know?" he scowled.

"I talk to Dale all the time," Jade mentioned how she sometimes dropped by the place. She didn't always see Dale. Sometimes, Dale would leave her little notebooks of information about where Jade worked. "I see Elvis and Rox occasionally."

Ari nodded. He was beginning to think he might be the antisocial instead of Jade. Still, if he could only get her to want to go out with Justin and Vada.

"Oh, you know they have no money," Jade squinted. "The best we can do is invite them over for dinner."

Ari remained even-lipped. It was true Pan was the best even if he had boyfriend now.

And I could go on and on, on and on

 "So how are things really going?" Liv was serious in her facetime with Jade. She was alone now with a cup of foamy coffee in the livingroom at Woo's. Could she say it was their place yet?

"Oh, you know, pretty much hell," Jade had her vanilla coke nearby that she was nursing while lounging on the couch. She was alone too. "I know you must think I'm a whiner and maybe I am. It's just when everything comes back to you that's wrong it gets kind of painful after a while." She grimaced.

"How long will you be there at that job?" Liv thought she should look for something else.

"I'm not looking," she shrugged. "I mean, I would have to win the lottery or it better be a big career move and I don't see that happening." 

She had her studies to worry about. Finally, she asked how Liv was doing.

"Oh, I'm pretty boring too," she let a smile slip. Of course, she didn't want to let on all the free time she was having with Woo lately. Obviously, they were putting it to good use with Sunny out and about. "I doubt Sunny moves out, but she has friends now. I don't know if she thinks about that Hart fellow anymore. I think she likes her co-worker."

"Really?" Now Jade cracked up. "But wouldn't it be nice if she did move?"

"Oh, it's hard to say," Liv sighed, almost happily. "I'd like it to happen, but I know Woo would worry even if it's nearby."

"So, she'll live with this co-worker..like..um cohabitation?" Jade made it sound like a reality show they were watching.

"No!" Liv squinted with a laugh. "It's not like that at all. She would be living in Hart's room with Hart's stuff."

"Isn't that a little weird?" Jade snarled as if it might cringe-worthy.

"Oh, I dunno. I just don't see it happening." Liv was even-lipped then. "Sunny has always been more like a little sister to him than a niece. He's just not gonna let her go that easily."

Jade nodded as she went back to her drink. Liv took a sip of her coffee. Truly, Liv was happy she could communicate with Jade.

"So did you talk to your mom?" Jade wanted to know. That was a touchy subject. Liv squinted hard. She hated to tell Jade that she didn't have anything to say to her mother.

'Cause I don't know what else I can do

 "Why did you do that?" Louie winced at Chewy (about being set up with Sunny at the bar) who was getting Louie a fresh pour over coffee at the coffee shop before Sunny arrived.

"Well, I might be waiting another couple of years before you make a move," Chewy shrugged back so sleepily. He'd been up all night with some girl, but they were only texting.

"I talked to her brother," Louie nodded.

"Her uncle," Chewy clarified as he handed over the hot cup of coffee.

"OK, her uncle," Louie sounded as if he might never get it straight. After all, he was on his way to the Senior Daycare. "I told him about Hart's room." He pressed his lips evenly in thought. "Did I make the right move?"

Of course, he had to go back to Chewy's way of doing things, talking about the blind date with Sunny.

"You know, I never go there."

"Like I'm going to give you a bad reputation," Chewy laughed. "I think she likes you."

"Yeah, right," Louie said he felt like he was walking on eggshells around Sunny.

"Oh, she's like a little wren, but she won't break either," Chewy told him he didn't think Sunny was going anywhere. She'd lived in her home since birth. But he thought it was kind of cool that her Uncle would leave her that option. Still, he could see her living in that room of hers well into her forties.

"You'd actually let her move out?" Liv glared at Woo who was sipping his coffee while Sunny was in the shower.

"If she wants to." 

He pointed out that Liv's family let her come all the way to Seoul. Sunny was as if not a little bit older than Liv (even if she didn't look it). "It's her choice."

"Does her mother even know?" Now Liv sounded like the moma bird with her sound of reason. She might have still been in her sleep pants and nightshirt, but she still had a way of keeping the household in check.

"Liv," Woo squinted. "She'll be in Hart's room."

"Oh, and she's just waiting for  him to come back, is that it?" Liv practically snapped as she put the plate of bacon and eggs in front of him.

"I don't know if she really feels that way about him," Woo shrugged.

"What?"

"Maybe she likes this Louie," Woo knew not to smile about it, but it was a strange happening. 

"How could she?" Liv scowled. She reminded him that Sunny hadn't had one nice thing to say about him.

"But he's got her curious." 

Woo nodded. Perhaps Sunny needed to find out more about Hart. Of course, he remembered that 'closure' might be looming too.

I'll never let you sweep me off my feet

 "Holy shit," Justin checked his watch. It was getting late. Why in the hell had he come out for this photo shoot with Eric? It was crazy. But he knew Ari would be in bed about now. He couldn't text him about this weirdness.

"And you want me to wear that?" Someone brought him a rather advent guard/disco outfit he'd never lay eyes on. He came so close to saying, "HELL NO!" But he could make five hundred bucks tonight if he did this. And they were impressed with his look. He was fit, but it wouldn't hurt if he hit the gym every day. Or so that ex of Eric told him who was also there for some picture taking.

Just the thought made him tired. Of course, he needed a cigarette even if he told Vada he'd quit. This was not what he was expecting when he asked Eric if he could get him a modeling gig.

"It's gonna be fine," Eric didn't quite come to the rescue. Of course, he looked like he could be getting ready for a Village People Tribute band.

Justin cleared his throat. What would Vada think? She did get on at the art department. Although, she'd been a nervous wreck too. This kind of shit could ruin their sex life.

Justin looked around. This was not the kind of world he had in mind. Naturally, he thought of his half-brother and all the summers he'd spent at the docks. Not once had Justin joined him. He didn't even like helping out at his old uncle's pub. Seriously, making money had never been on his mind. It was like he'd lost a chromosome somewhere.

"I don't want to work when I grow up," he'd said to his mother once.

"Well, Sunny Boy, you got a rude awakening," she'd said then. Suddenly, this was his rude awakening. And it was an outfit he didn't want to be caught dead in.

The sun'll come out tomorrow

 "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Dora asked.

Delia only yawned back. It was true she had crazy hours. She didn't see Tristan like she used too. She had to drive to the news station about two a.m. Occasionally she did have a couple of days off and that gave her time to be with Tristan and to sleep.

"That is such a funny question coming from you," Delia smirked back as she sipped her herbal tea. She'd asked Dora over to see how life was for Jade.

"I could still be there you know, and Jade would be without a job," Delia was even lipped. She had no idea that could have happened. At least, she was glad Jade was still there.

"Oh, it's the same old thing," Dora shrugged. "You know, I love Derrick, but does he even know how to operate a computer?"

"I don't think he's dumb. I think he just gets rattled and then confused and he has no idea how to be pleasant and calm on the phone," Delia sighed. "I wish I could see Jade. I do. And..and I'm afraid she hates me now."

"How could she? Really?" Dora gave her the eye. "She'll get used to it. She didn't up and leave, you know. She knows what to expect out of Derrick."

"If only she could love him like we do," Delia couldn't help but say as she put down her cup.

"Well, we are his fan girls." 

Dora giggled. Delia couldn't help but laugh too.

"Are we the only ones that feel that way?" Delia squinted as she leaned back in the dining chair.

"I think so," Dora nodded. "Besides, maybe his cuteness expired before Jade could see it."

"Oh, I don't think she could ever see his cuteness."

Delia shook her head. Yes, sometimes, it was good to think about the old times, back when she was happy to finally find a job. Now she felt she was running around all the time, fetching this file, going on a lead that was a dead end. She hoped she could keep up. It would pay off. Some day. She hoped Tristan could make it through, too. Still, a part of her knew who Jade was fangirling, but she would never say.