'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.

Strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days

 "I'd like to offer the job to you," Roxann had never said those words before as she peered over her glasses into Cleo's serious face. "We would really need you on Friday nights. The whole weekend, actually."

It was her first higher. And the first time she'd managed to wear her glasses for a whole day. Usually, this was Nonnie's job, but she was well into her Internship now at the pharmaceutical place. The brunt of being the night manager was on Rox now. 

"You're only hiring me because of Elvis," Cleo was being moody. Rox had to expect that.

"No, you were the only one who applied." She was even-lipped with a shrug. "I don't expect you to be here forever." She looked down at Cleo's resume. This was their first job. "You need this. You need to know how to work." 

Rox suspected that was why Cleo wasn't completely who she wanted to be. It took money and insurance to get what she needed. Cleo wasn't even on hormone therapy. 

"So you can start, right now."

"God, you're optimistic."

Cleo hugged the bony body they were in. Rox sensed the less she said the better off it would all be.

About then Ali squealed a yeah and brought a personal pan pizza to Cleo. It was a veggie with extra mushrooms.

Rox was glad that Ali had helped with knowing Cleo's background. Cleo lived with an old aunt. Maybe Cleo was more down to earth than they seemed. 

"It's on the house," Ali promised before Cleo chowed down. 

Finally, Rox went back to the kitchen. Cory was there watching the dough stir into a gigantic mound.

"I didn't even mention it to Elvis," she sighed.

"You think he'll be mad," Cory looked at her.

"I don't think so," Rox said Elvis was worried about his friend. "It's just Cleo is kind of bitter, you know."

Cory nodded as if it was nothing new to him. "We'll see how long Cleo can last."

They both nodded. It was true the pay wasn't that great.

Anywhere you go, you don't need a reason

 

Pan nursed his thumbnail. How should he do it? It had been going over and over in his head for so long now. What was Ari going to think?

"Geeze, you're not even worried what your mother might think," Wade squinted back. "Not even your brother."

He was busy trying to cut potatoes for chips to put in the air fryer. Pan was certain the meat patties would never thaw out and the burgers would be bloody. Just the way Wade liked them. He hugged himself and went to look in the fridge for the lettuce and tomato.

"You know, my mom loves you and Gabe..Gabe wouldn't care."

"If you say so," Wade went on with the slicing. "I don't know why you even care what Ari thinks about us."

"It's just, he's been a good friend. I feel like I've let him down." Pan was even-lipped, but he felt bad about it.

"He's too busy to care. He's got that friend from the UK. He and Jade are going to get married. He's not gonna care." Wade made it sound like a promise.

"Uh-huh." Pan went to wash the fresh lettuce. He found the onion already peeled and sliced in a zip-locked baggie. Evidently, Wade took care of that already. Oh, how he loved sharpened knives and what they could do. He was an artist in the kitchen.

"Tell you what, we'll just invite Ari and Jade out for steaks. And we can just tell them..that.."

Even Wade couldn't say it.

"That we're a couple?" Pan looked at him blankly.

"No. They'll just figure it out." He was serious. Pan sighed and ripped the lettuce in bits. Just like Wade said it was nobody's business but their own.

You don't have to be sorry for leaving and growing up

 

Sunny wondered where she was when she awoke. It was a crazy feeling. Of course, Louie wasn't there. She was in Hart's bed. She rose on her elbows and looked around. Just like Louie said, Hart left everything. Books, posters even the music he liked. It was a bit cluttered, in fact.

She remembered that part when they got back to his place. Maybe she did have too much to drink. Not that Louie had played any drinking games with her. But he'd mentioned why he asked if she wanted to have his room. He didn't know what to do with his stuff.

She winced and got up to sit at the edge of the bed to find her shoes. Honestly, she wasn't sure what to do with his stuff either. And maybe she wasn't really in love with him, after all.

This was the hardest part to admit to herself. It felt like she'd faked it somehow. And she possibly was wrong about Louie too. Maybe he wasn't in love with Hart, either.

"I can't say I liked him in the beginning, but you know I got to know him," Louie told her. He said Hart like video games. "I think he had a thing for Black Sabbath."

Sunny didn't even know who that was. She slipped on her sneakers and stumbled around the room in the sunlight. Yes, there was some of his artwork on the walls. It looked a bit troubling. But it wasn't that big of a deal to her. She did not like silly unicorns and rainbows. She was much more of a neutral person. 

A knock came to the door. "I made breakfast. We need to get you home."

Of course, it was just toast and tea. It was what Hart liked for breakfast. She was too tired to say much. Maybe she needed to see Hart's room again. A sadness hung on. Maybe somewhere in his stuff was a way she could connect with him. Or was it closure that she wanted?

Afterward, Louie walked her back to Woo's. He lived so close. It felt kind of funny, but she wasn't thinking of Hart then. She kept mute. Sunny kept telling herself that it didn't matter. But of course, Louie was all talk with Woo.

He told her how it was still Hart's room and he thought Sunny might want to take a look.

"What will you do with his stuff?" Woo asked.

"I'll have to get rid of it, sooner or later." Louie was honest but then said. "Maybe Sunny could stay in his room. If..you know, you trust me." Louie sounded as if the rent was due and he'd been there for so long. It felt like home.

Woo looked to Sunny. Her eyes lit. She knew she could live in Hart's room. 

Right where we left off

 Carmen was surprised to see her foster mother's son over with a video from Liv. It was about his friend Nic's move.

Tristan's girlfriend set it up on the TV for everyone to watch. She worked at the news station and mentioned she did all of her reporting on her phone.

Carmen was impressed. If only Rico had been there. But it was just her and Kenny and of course, they got front row seats for the tour. Liv filmed it. Patsy set out a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies and chips with dip. It was a quick party but all awaited this as if it might be an Oscar-winning short film of Nic moving in with his girlfriend.

Pat gasped when she saw who she thought was Liv on the screen. 

"No, that's not her mom. That's Nic's Felicity." Tristan turned to say as he paused it. There was a tall guy with dark hair with is arm around someone who looked like Liv. "Liv and Nic are not together."

In the next segment was a guy that Liv lived with.

Naturally, Tristan jumped at the chance to explain that Liv just lived at his place with him and his niece. He gave it such a Pollyanna feel. Of course, Carmen just grinned. She didn't believe that for a moment.

She was staring at the girl who used to be with Rico. Not that she was jealous. But still, her heart tensed a little. She did wonder if there was a time that Rico planned to spend his life with her. Of course, that was way before she really knew him. Still, it felt muddled in her mind at the moment.

Sometimes, she felt Patsy and her husband treated Kenny more like a grandchild than a foster kid. She was always buying him shoes and clothes. And she never let him walk home alone from school. Yes, a part of her felt safe leaving him behind. It was going to happen sooner than later she imagined.

Of course, she looked back at the still picture of Liv or was that Felicity? Carmen could tell it bothered Patsy. 

"It's good news," Carmen told her. But she could see that it hurt. Patsy wanted her daughter home, not in Korea.