I try and I try, but I just can't say it

 Jared and Justin moved on to the bookstore while Randy and Monica went to the drama department. It was strange for Jared to be alone with Justin. Usually, Carmen or Randy were always around.

Of course, Jared knew the campus and the bookstore very well. He used to work at the University in the art department.

"I bet you're missing it," Justin smirked.

"About as much as you miss being home alone with your computer."

Jared shrugged back. "I hope Kevin found someone," Jared said. He hadn't meant to leave Kevin looking for an assistant in his art classes.

"Oh, you are just missing those days when you had your shirt off to be a model," Justin knew, or thought he did.

"You know, Vada and Kevin broke  up, don't you?" It was old news, but it wasn't like the two had announced it on Facebook or X. But Jared knew. Kevin was a good boss and friend.

"Well, who cares?" Justin practically snarled, digging into the front pockets of his jeans. His history with Vada didn't leave much to the imagination.

"You wouldn't." Jared winced as if Justin were too calloused. 

"I hope Kev's doing OK."

"Well, why did you quit on him?" Justin asked, an isle away, paging through a book.

Jared sighed. "I was not a good fit, OK? I belong outdoors, don't you know?" Jared festered a frown. It was always hard talking to his little brother, who thought he knew everything. God knows, they didn't spend that many years together. Jared lives with his gram, while Justin grew up as an only child.

"So you say?" Justin gave him a look as if Justin were just messing with him.

"I knew it wouldn't work with him and Vada. He's too good for her, you know." Jared shot him a look.

"And you are?" His brother laughed. "You thinking of dating him now? You seem really soft about it."

"Sod off," Jared scowled. "I know he's better off without her. God knows, you are."

"You just envy it, don't you?" Justin was beginning to hit a nerve.

"No," Jared scowled back as he went to pick up a book to look through as if he was interested in it.

Jared's cell tinged a text. He dug his phone out of his back pocket. It was Mel from work reminding him he better bring Friday treats. It was something the newbies got to do.

He scrunched a frown. Mel was really a pain in the arse. He brushed his fingers through his hair and put a lock behind his ear. No way would she ever be interested in him. He was way too skinny for her.

But I kinda like it anyways I don't mind if this is gonna take a million days

 Monica was happy to be part of the group to go to the University with Randy to look around. Of course, she wished it were just the two of them, but she knew she couldn't have everything she wanted. Randy wasn't exactly a boyfriend, but he could be.

Maybe she did want to make her presence known. Still, she felt the closer she got, the more he pushed her away. But she was pesky, and maybe he was warming up to her. Or was it the summer heat?

It was stifling out. And she no longer wore her high heels around him. It was better to go casual. Even Jarad had told her to stop trying so hard with Randy. And actually, that had helped. Of course, there wasn't much happening on the grounds. There were no classes in the late afternoon.

However, the heat was taking its toll on her. 

Randy wanted to check out the theater in the drama department. "It's a theater in the round."

Of course, when Randy said it, they looked at him as if he were speaking a foreign language.

"You're not going to major in drama, are you?" Justin looked back at him as if that would be crazy.

"Oh, no, it's I've heard about different kinds of stages in theaters, but I was just wondering what they might be like, you know, seeing them in person." Randy shrugged with a smile.

"If he wants to major in drama, let him." 

Jared started in on Justin, telling him that he shouldn't keep Randy from his dreams.

"I'm not dreaming anything," Randy chuckled. "I was reading some plays."

"Shakespeare?" Jared winced.

"No." Randy shook his head. "Pinter. He gets to the point. He did Sleuth."

"Why are you reading plays?" Justin went on to ask. 

"I like dialogue, and I dunno, I guess I need to see more plays. I'd like to..maybe build sets." 

Randy didn't sound like he wanted to be a lead in anything. Of course, Monica wished he would take a chance. She would love to be dating an actor, even if he was just an actor in University plays.

"Did you memorize anything from those plays?" Monica took his hand, and it was almost a shock that he let her.

"Oh, you know," he smirked. "Maybe."

"Then you can run lines with me. You should try out for one of their productions." She told him as they headed to the commons, which Monica found refreshing from the heat. She was ready for a smoothie, but nobody else seemed to be in the late afternoon. She pointed to a poster then. The drama department was looking for tryouts for their new production of Dracula.

Of course, he went with her to get an ice cream. "Next, we'll check out the drama department together."

Monica beamed. Randy nodded. It could be a date.

Goin' round this roundabout

 "Are you sure everything is going OK with that job of yours?" Trish's curious question over the phone only made Carmen wince more.

"It's fine, they hired me." 

Carmen wanted to put down the phone so she could get to what she was making in the kitchen. Justin and Jared had taken Randy to the University to look around. He would be starting classes soon. 

"And what's that Justin doing these days?"

"He's back at being a page at the hospital. He is learning about X-ray machines. We're all good."

Carmen didn't mean to sigh, but she wished her foster mother wouldn't worry too much. 

"You know, Tristan got on at the Animal Hospital."

Carmen knew Trish was proud of her son, "Good." 

Carmen sliced an onion with the phone in the crook of her neck.

"It's just the weekends. He's still at the zoo."

"And you're still at the zoo." Carmen knew some things hadn't changed, even if she knew Tristan wanted his parents to move back to their house. He'd said it was too big for him.

"Oh, you know, we love it here, even if I feel like I'm waking up in a jungle every morning." She mentioned how Carmen's nephew was back in school and how much he loved his teacher.

Carmen smiled. Oh, she was certain the honeymoon of starting a new school year would be over soon. If only she had those days back, but she was glad to be at the dance academy and gym. She was also happy to be working with Jade.

Man Oh Man, you're my Best Friend

 "I know the timing is all wrong," Louie said as he was doing his best to get meals prepped for the week in the kitchen. Of course, Sunny did think he was going a little overboard. It was as if he were thinking about what Chewy would want to eat.

But she let him go on with the chopping. She was quiet these days. The silence was making her stir crazy. She shouldn't have let things go like that with her mother. She needed answers. But she knew her mother wouldn't give her any. After all, Sunny had never met her father. It was one of those things her mother would never let her bring up. 

"Maybe I'll find my father," she said before she even had a plan. Louie stopped chopping. 

"Are you sure you want to do that?" He looked at her as if she should leave well enough alone. "What if he's got a family and-"

"And  I'll be on the same road I am now."

She was sad. Maybe she was mad.

"Let's just think on it, a little, OK." Louie went to console her, but she didn't feel much like being consoled. In fact, she felt like her mother. She shook the thought. She didn't want to be that way. Was that why her mother had left all those years ago, to begin with?

"You can still talk to her," Louie was being optimistic as he took her shoulders and then he hugged her as if he was here if was the end.

"I don't think she'll say anything," Sunny pressed her lips tight.

Louie smelled of onions and other spices.

"Make me soup, please?" She knew it was late, but she needed his creamy mushroom soup. It was the best comfort.

"OK." He gave in. Yes, this was home, and she knew nothing could change that.

Oh, maybe I just wasn't good enough

 As luck would have it, Jun moved away three days before Chewy met Sunny. What would it have been like if he'd met her before he left? All those years ago?

Jun kept tossing and turning in the firm bed. It was way too nice. It looked like a place for a mother-in-law, not a roommate at Sunny and Chewy's.

Not that he could complain. He couldn't. He just needed to keep his wits about him and get that job at the coffee shop.

Yes, he was sure he'd had more than most kids growing up with two parents and no siblings. Still, a lot of that time, he felt he was pushed away to do stuff he didn't like. Couldn't he have just stayed home in his room and watched TV, or better yet, played a video game?

Deep down, he'd always wanted to be a video game developer. Well, he was the creative sort. So many stories, roaming around in his head. Of course, he didn't write any of them down. Recently, he has been trying to join an RP group. However, it was all the wrong site, and the fact was that he didn't want to play with any real players. Instead, he had to tease Rennie. Oh, sure, he wanted to be her writing partner, but then he let her do all the writing. He just couldn't think of anything to come back with.

Damn, she was good. No, he didn't know her. She was in the States. He didn't even know how old she was, but it didn't seem to matter. He needed her in her life. Although it was just the site they met on. And of course, he was going awall at the moment.

God, he missed her. She was the sound of reasoning. Of course, she'd asked why he hadn't gone to his grandmother's first thing. He didn't want to respond, but she sent him cat videos that made him laugh. And of course, he took the bait. They had been conversing every day since he arrived. 

Other than that, there was Daisy. Which scared him badly in the beginning. He'd never been around a baby, but she was so funny. If only he could meet a group of girls like her. If only.

But the worst thing was getting used to Chewy having a boyfriend. That was shocking. He couldn't help it. It was. And he knew he needed to get over it. Of course, there were those thoughts wondering if Chewy ever found him attractive. Why hadn't he? What did he even see in Chai?

Of course, it was best to leave well enough alone. Still, it felt like everybody had somebody. Louie had Sunny. When was he going to get that lucky?

Can you make it feel like home?

 "She left already?" Chewy was practically beaming when he heard that Sunny's mother left. "She didn't stay long, did she?"

Louie mentioned that her mother needed to get back home. That was when he told Chewy that Sunny had a brother.

"Oh my god, how's Sunny taking it?" Chewy was stunned but not enough to snatch a piece of fruit from the dining table.

"Oh, you know."  Louie didn't know what Chewy wanted to hear. Sunny was at work. If she wanted to tell him, then Louie would let her.

"So, you have a free room then?"

"And?" Now Louie's eyes were open wide.

"It's Jun. He's still here..and uh..is there a chance you guys could take him? At least for a little while." 

Chewy gritted a smile that would go the extra mile.

Louie shuttered to think it. "I know he's your friend."

"God, you know, he never hated you, he was ..just ...you know how he is, he gets a little needy," Chewy explained.

"Yes, I know."

Louie gave him the straight lip. He remembered those days. Jun didn't want him around.

"Sunny and I have talked about it. We'll give him two weeks. If he stays any longer, he'll have to pay rent," Louie gave in.

Chewy threw his arms around him and gave him a hug. "You guys are the best. The very best."

For what it's worth

 As much as Chewy couldn't stand the thought of Jun living in a tiny closet to study for a civil service job, he couldn't take it another week of him living on their couch, and he knew Chai wasn't happy about it, either. 

"Where can he go?" Chewy was practically ill with regret. What had come over him to say he could stay?

"We need to get a hold of his grandmother," Chai shrugged, still in bed, while Chewy walked around a if he was in a hurry to do anything.

"Well, I'm trying to help," he yelped, plopping back down on the edge of the bed to put on his socks and jogging pants. "You'd think he'd hate that couch by now. You know, like his back could be out of whack or something." He yawned. Chai yawned back. It felt like they couldn't even live in their own place anymore.

All along, Daisy was right in Jun's lap as if maybe she did have a third dad, after all.

The thought widened Chewy's eyes, and he shivered as if a cold was coming on. 

"What?" Chai sounded as if he could read Chewy's mind.

"Nothing." 

He shook his head, no, but he took a deep breath. They needed to take action. 

When they got to the kitchen, the coffee was already on. Jun liked his coffee from a Mr. Coffee. He'd found one at a thrift store.  Chai wouldn't have any, but of course, Chewy took his black while Jun took great measures to make his big cup of coffee practically a latte. Chewy was surprised he didn't put chocolate syrup in it.

"Have you ever thought of working at the coffee shop?" Chewy said out of the blue.

"We need you to find your own place," Chai was blunt.

"Where would I go?" Jun looked at both of them as if they were going to send him to the gallows.

"To your grandmother's." Chai shrugged.

Jun looked at both of them as if they would be out of the question.

"Why won't you see her?"

"She's expecting someone else. I told her I worked for a financial place." Jun let slip, but he took to his coffee and sat down to cradle his cup.

"Why would you do that?" Chewy winced.

"I don't know," he squinted. "She thinks I'm smart." He looked down at his coffee.

"All right, get that job at the coffee shop. Maybe he's still got that storage room you can stay in at night. The pay is awful, but if you hang in there, you might make assistant manager." Chewy knew a few things about that job. If Jun wanted to start at the bottom, it was the best place to go. He might actually learn how to make coffee.