Pulling Teeth

As Ryan bit off the other end of the carrot and kissed him, Hunter ginned. He'd play around more if they weren't trying to help get supper ready. Another nice distraction - he was glad not to have to go home alone yet. 

"Mm... yeah, okay... if I have to. But later on, you owe me a real kiss." He gave her a reading smirk before retrieving the eggs. 


Outside, Eli chuckled at Scarlet's comment and shook his head. "It was hot before you got here, now it's sizzling." He licked his finger and made a sizzling noise before turning around and grabbing Scarlet around the waist... also before realizing they were not alone. 

His face flushed just slightly as he grinned and released Scarlet. "Oh hey, Brooke." He offered her a handshake. "Nice to finally meet you. And the more the merrier. We got more than enough hamburgers here." He hadn't exactly planned on more company, but he knew a little of Brooke's story, and wasn't about to make her feel unwanted. He looked back to Scarlet. "Ryan and Hunter are inside if you wanna introduce them, too. They're supposed to be prepping some sides, but I'm not convinced they're focused on food."

Once alone again, Eli retrieved his phone. He knew what it was like to feel like a third wheel, and didn't want Brooke to be too uncomfortable. "Hey, Tal... Eli."

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Hungry?"

"Um... why?"

"Well, I've got the grill fired up. Fixing hamburgers for a few of us here. Wondered if you wanted to join us."

There was a pause. "Who's 'us?'"

Eli cringed. "Me, Ryan, Hunter, Scarlet and Scarlet's cousin."

"Oh."

Another pause and Eli withheld a sigh. Surely at some point the awkwardness would go away, wouldn't it? "Well anyway, I've got way more than enough meat. You don't have to stay long if you don't want. Just come have a burger? Besides, we need an even number."

"That's a lame excuse."

"Maybe." Eli chuckled. "Tell you what, I'm gonna make enough burgers to go around, and if you decide you wanna come, then come. Alright?"

"Yeah... okay."

Finishing up the call, Eli rolled his eyes. It was like pulling teeth with that guy.


Destiny's comment and her blush made Zan's eyes twinkle. He did feel kind of good though, that she'd noticed his cologne. 

Glancing up at Carson, he nodded. "Got vanilla Coke?"

Carson shook his head. "No, but I can add the vanilla flavoring if you like."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"You got it." Carson turned to leave. "I'll be right back."

Once he'd left, Zan looked back over at Destiny. He really wanted to know if she'd brought the locket in with her, but he refrained from asking. "So... what kind of pizza do you like?"


"You haven't eaten in two days." Justin sat in the infirmary near the bed where Chance sat cross-legged and silent. "Misty's concerned about your health."

Chance just shrugged. His eyes remained on the blanket.

Justin cocked his head, studying him. There had been more than one complaint that he wasn't behind bars - or worse. But Misty and Justin had both stood their ground, and so far Reese had allowed Chance to stay in the infirmary. Last night was the first night Ty had taken watch, and thankfully nothing had happened. Chance seemed ultra subdued, but Justin and Misty both agreed it would be a while until they believed he should be left alone. "I know you're hungry. Don't eat and you're just gonna die a slow, agonizing death."

Chance licked his dry lips. "It's what I deserve," he answered in a whisper.

"You might have made some bad choices, but that doesn't mean you deserve that." Justin set a half sandwich on the foot of the bed. Chance didn't move. "It'll help the stomach pains," Justin prompted.

Chance refused, and finally just laid down and turned over to keep his back to Justin.

Justin sighed deeply. "Keep it up and I'm going to recommend that you be taken to another facility better equipped to handle a case like yours."

Chance's eyes filled with tears. "You think that scares me?"

"Does it?"

"Very little can scare someone who would just as soon die... you should know that."

Justin got up and walked around to the other side of the bed, squatted down in front of Chance and looked him in the eye. "You want to die? Really?"

Chance nodded slowly.

"Alright." Justin stood up again. "I'll go tell Reese to have you transferred to a hospital. Once that happens though, there's no hope."

As he walked away, Chance looked over his shoulder. "Why should I care? There's no hope anyway."

Justin stopped. "There's always hope. Where did yours go?"

Chance swallowed hard. "The only hope I ever had was with Destiny..." He turned his head back around. "And now she's gone."

Justin retreated several steps to stand at the foot of the bed. "What did you do before Destiny?"

A tear fell to the mattress. "I don't remember."

Justin let him be for now, and left the room, wandering down to Hope's office before she left for the day. "Hey, Hope." He entered only a step or two before leaning back against the door frame and letting out a long sigh. "I don't know what to do with Chance. He is so far gone... and got there so fast. Tells me he's probably been unstable for quite a while and just did a really good job of hiding it." He frowned and reworded. "A super job of hiding it. I'm wondering if he's got an underlying issue of being a habitual liar, but that's just a sheer guess." He looked at Hope dimly. "I feel like I am so far out of my league with this one and I don't know what to do."