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.