Featured Characters:

Continued...
______________________________________________________________


Scene: Chez Rendezvous.

Jason instantly admires Lucas' attire as he walks into the restaurant. Following him closely, the two are soon greeted by the maitre'd and are quickly taken to their seats. Easily being the most popular restaurant in town, Jason takes it as a total surprise that there is no wait. Perhaps it's a good sign that the evening will go well. After all, it's been weeks since the two have conversed. Jason, feeling as if he owed it to himself to apologize to Lucas, felt it would be a nice gesture to take him out to dinner.

"This place is definitely nice," Lucas smiles before seating himself.

"Yeah, it's one of the premiere touristy places to go- and a favorite for the locals too. The views of the ocean here are phenomenal."

"I can see that," Lucas replies as he looks out the window and admires the view. "I can see why so many people would come here."

Jason nods. "Apparently it's just a slow night. Lucky for us though, usually there's quite a wait."

"Well, it is a Tuesday after all. I really appreciate you inviting me out, by the way. Working those four twelve-hour shifts a week has been killing me. It's nice to get out of the City for a while and experience something new."

"The life of nursingI can only imagine," Jason replies. "I take my schedule at school for granted. I don't know what I would do if I had to work weekends."

"Yeah, teachers do have a pretty awesome schedule. Nursing isn't all that bad though.like teaching, it's rewarding. And I do get three days off per week, which is relaxing."

"Well, I'm glad I caught you on one of your days off."

"I was actually surprised by your call," Lucas says. "I hadn't heard from you in weeksI didn't know what had happened."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I've just been busy with school and also with a lot of other things that are on my mind right now."

"Like?"

"I don't know"

"I'm sorry, if it's too personal you don't have to talk about it."

"No, it's cool.school is just stressing me out and I'm contemplating whether I want to teach again next year. Stress is the last thing I need right now."

"I hear ya on that one. So what else is going on?"

"Well, I think I'm finally getting some closure with Keith- if that's possible at all given the situation. I just really wanted to apologize-"

"No need at all, Jason. We were both very hurt and you had every right to ask questions."

"Thanks for understanding," Jason nods and smiles back. "It really means a lot. I mean, I did give you the third degree. I'm surprised you're even speaking to me."

"Hey, we can always use friends, right?" Lucas responds as he peruses the menu in aww. "Man, there are a lot of great dishes on here."

"You are right on that one."

"So I ran into Shane again.he couldn't stop talking about you." Lucas cracks a smile. "One trip to San Francisco and you're already making the boys melt."

"Oh, stop!" Jason begins to blush and turns his head away.

"Oh, come on! You saw how the guys were looking at you.you could commit murder in The City and they will still hold you up on a pedestal."

Jason laughs and replies, "I wouldn't go that far. But I guess I was getting stared at a lotI'm sure you did too though when you first started going out. It's the whole 'fresh new meat' concept."

"I suppose.well you're it right now."

"So Shane was talking about me, eh?"

"Yeah...are you interested? Man, I could tell you some wild stories about that boy. He drove me crazy for years.but, by all means, I'll let you experience the ride for yourself if you want to. A cockblocker is something I've never been called before!"

Jason responds with wide-eyes at Lucas' very forward response. "That's a good thing I suppose..."

"There is one thing that I need to tell you about Shane though. I mean, if you are interested"

"I'm not really looking for anything, but what?" Jason raises a brow.

"He's positive. I mean, it's no big deal at all and I have a lot of friends who are positive, but I just thought I would let you know. I don't know how you feel about that kind of thing."

Jason nods as his mind starts racing with a million thoughts. Does this mean that Lucas is positive too since they dated? Did Lucas suspect that Jason was positive as well? He realizes this is his moment to let everything out. He might not have the courage to do it again.

"Lucas, there's really something I need to tell you as well..."

______________________________________________________________


Scene: Trader Joe's. Northern Heights District. 

Today Emily Landon walks into the store with her head held high. It's been years, perhaps even a decade, since Ms. Landon was seen out and about doing her own shopping. She cringes for a moment as she looks around at the common folk- this certainly isn't her cup of tea.

Suddenly her worst nightmare comes true as she spots Diane Davison to her left. With a basket full of groceries, Diane continues examining some kind of fruit in the produce section. God only knows what kind of fruit it is as Emily stares at her in shock. She hasn't seen Diane in months, and it was only less than a year ago that she had Diane fired and removed altogether from the Landon Points building. She chuckles to herself thinking back to a time when she had all of Diane's personal belongings shoved into a box and put outside her door.

"Oh, good times..." Emily says under her breath before she's caught by Diane.

"Well, isn't this a sight for sore eyes! Emily Landon is commingling with the regular folk. What's wrong, Emily? Did you fire all your help?"

"No Diane, I only fire the truly incompetent ones...perhaps you should look in the mirror to find such a person."

"Actually, I'm quite happy you released me from that hell-hole you call a company. You were sucking the blood out of all your employees and I'm much happier now that I'm free." Diane fires back.

"Well, Steve is certainly still pleased..." Emily cracks a smile.

"I'm sure he's only pleased outside of the bedroom, Emily."

"Look, there's really no room for jealousy here. I mean, I know it's hard to realize your husband of twenty-something years left you for me, but you really need to get a grip on reality here."

"The only thing I need to get a grip on is your scraggly hair," Diane laughs as she begins to pull Emily's hair, not caring about the crowd that was thickening around them.

"My god, have some decency- hair pulling is so ten years ago...So is this ripe enough for you?" As Diane releases her grip, Emily picks up a tomato and smashes it into Diane's forehead. The red juice begins to pour down Diane's face as the crowd gasps.

"Oh, it's ripe baby...but of course you can't forget what tomatoes are used best for, can you?" Diane asks as she walks over a few feet to the Deli. She notices a pizza sitting on display that's easily in her reach.

"No Diane, please enlighten me."

"Well, you know what they say... When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore!"

As Emily's eyes grow wide with horror, Diane quickly picks up the pizza and launches it in Emily's direction. In a matter of seconds, it lands on Emily's face and begins to slowly slide down her body. Cheers are soon heard from the crowd as Diane shoots an accomplished smile around the room- Diane had the power to do something that many around town had only dreamed of.

-- Next  --

Scenes 1-2 | Scenes 3-4 | Scenes 5-6