You're always running in my mind

 

"We..we just have to leave well enough alone," Tristan said to Dale about the Holden and Dora situation. He settled back on the couch with his arm around her. He didn't want to be angry with Holden. Hell, he didn't even want to say his name.

There was summer and he knew they both felt beat with grueling work schedules. At least, they had Eric and Derrick to hangout with. They were watching RENFELD and snacking on popcorn. He knew now that Eric wasn't really one for game night and Derrick disliked puzzles, but he knew Dale was trying. He knew she didn't like staying home with Hoyt around.

He couldn't ignore it either. He didn't know why they hadn't left yet, but Mona was that pokey little puppy who just had to nose into everything.

A smile came to Tristan. Wouldn't it be funny if he and Dale moved in with Derrick and Eric? Oh, he knew it wouldn't happen. Not these two, but weirder things had happened.

"What's so funny?" She turned to him.

"It's nothing. Really." He kept quiet and pointed to something silly on the TV. "Well, the movie, of course."

He knew deep down he couldn't do this to Nic nor Weezer and Nonnie. Oh, it would be all going so well if it wasn't for Mona and her Hoyt. 

Still, he was bitter about Dale ever falling for the likes of that Momma's boy. Of course, maybe he was no better. Funny, he was still going to his mother for advice. He never ate dinner with his parents, but many a time, he'd get there first before his dad got home from work.

Naturally, she said very little. He was all on his own about this live-in situation.

"Are you sure you and Dale are OK?" She would give him the eye.

"Yeah," he'd squint, but she had him guessing. "I think so."

It felt right. He thought. He was just letting it happen. He wasn't trying to manage their relationship. A lot of times, he wondered if that was what went wrong when he was with Mona. But Dale/Delia was no Mona. No, this was bliss. It could be..if they didn't have to live with certain people. No matter what, he felt good around Dale. He felt like himself. He didn't have to prove anything. 

Tristan went to get them a cold soda at Eric & Derrick's. He could tell she didn't want him to move. It was as if she would take care of it if she'd let him.

"Don't you like the movie?" She shot him a look.

"It's cool," he smiled back. "But we better catch the Barbie movie while it's still in theaters." Tristan nodded back. 

He looked over at Derrick and Eric who were very much together. Did they even need any friends?

He came back with the soda and got comfortable again. It was best not to look at the past. There was all of August to look forward to.