Chapter Five

~Sunday ~

Mary Jane dripped with details about partying in Lake Spivey with ‘Finer Things’. All the fun Dylan missed the night before was evident on her roommates face. "Ok, ok I get it. So... Did you ALL have fun?" She asked from behind her coffee cup. "Now that you mention it... NO." Mary Jane stopped to see her reaction. They made eye contact before she continued. "He sat in this one chair like all night and wouldn't talk to anyone. He said goodnight to Dan at like 11:30."

"You told him why I left right?" Dylan asked. "Of course, he understands. It doesn't make it any better, you know." Mary Jane sipped her coffee. "I know right." Dylan pushed away from the table and answered the ringing phone.  Jerry one of the judge official’s was on the other end. An urgent meeting had been called and she had to be there. She made her way to the track two hours before Mary Jane. She could see traces of heavy parties from the debris on the ground. She met with the other judges as planned.

The cavalier pulled into "Xpnsv Sh*t" lot and the ignition cut off, but Dylan did not emerge. The tinted windows let no hint as to her condition. After a minute Mary Jane advanced to the car. She tapped on the roof for Dylan to let her in. When she finally got the door open her friend was slumped over the steering wheel crying. Lance and Daniel helped to pull her out all in a slight panic. She stood against the car and wiped the steady stream of tears from her face. Mary Jane hugged her as she calmed down. Lance rubbed her back pleading to know what was wrong.

"The meeting... uh. I have been released of my duties as a judge. Not only did I spend all day with a competitor, but I also worked on his car." She stopped and stumbled out of Mary Jane's hug. "Because of my long standing with the organization, Wesley’s many contributions in the Cho name and Anna Lee they are not going to publicly announce it."

"And that’s supposed to make it better?" Mary Jane snapped with growing anger. "Dylan I'm so sorry about all this" Lance pulled her into his arms. She dried the last of her tears on his chest and told him it wasn't his fault. Letting her guard down she genuinely appreciated his hold. Suddenly she startled by some one yelling. "Bass, whatcha going to do now that your girlfriend is not a judge?" Ryan and Jacob teased.

Dylan let the words sink in her head ran toward them in one swift movement. She punched Jacob in the mouth before Lance caught her waist to pull her back. Jacob swung in his friend's defense and landed square on her jaw. Lance regained his footing and knocked Jacob down on the ground. He started kicking him harder and harder.

With Mary Jane holding Dylan back Daniel managed to pull Lance off of him. Breaking up the fight the bouncers knowing Mary Jane and Dylan took Jacob and Ryan away. "I knew you punks were trouble when I saw you!" Tank the biggest of the men yelled as he dragged the guys away. "Busted!" Britney yelled as they passed her on their way out.

Dylan stood up on her own and yanked on Lance. They made their way to Christina's camper and slammed the door. "Are you ok?" Lance held her swollen face in his hands. "You didn't have to do that! Why did you hit him?" She pushed his hands down in a snap a bit scared hiding it in her anger. "I was trying to help" he blocked the door until she talked to him. "Look everything is so messed up." She tried to push him out of the way quickly backing away when he wouldn’t budge. "Why do you say that?" he asked hurt. "I just, I just don't know what I'm doing anymore..." She dropped her head not making eye contact, a habit she thought she had broke.

"Maybe it's just all my fault." Lance said boldly. "No I just..." she backed up to the counter and putting her hands to her face. "Just nothing Dylan... After tomorrow you won't have to worry about me ever again!" He yelled into the camper and opened the door to leave. "Lance don't be like that" she went after him. "Lance!" She screamed into the sea of people in front of her. He never turned around.

After all the awards were handed out taking first and second place in 4 of 6 categories "Finer Things" and "Xpnsv Sh*t" indeed had reasons to party. Mark's house was rocking the night away. Dancing in the den lead Britney to backing Mary Jane into Daniel. "Break it off Bally Hoos style!" She yelled pumping up the music. B2K and P. Diddy boomed through the speakers as they did the bump, bump, bump.  

When the dance floor got a little too crowded the new couple went outside. "It's so nice out here tonight" Mary Jane said. "Dude, it's a full moon look!" He slipped a hand under her chin to push her eyes up. "Word" she shook her head in acknowledgement. "Come with me" he took her hand and led the way to the dock. "What do you think your doing?" she asked as he untied the boat and stepped on the side. "We are going out on the lake."

"Oh we are?" She was flirting as he helped her step up. The mid September weather was perfect and clear. The water seemed to caress the boat back and forth. "So what are we going to do?" Her eyes reflected the moonlight into his. "I have a few ideas" he smiled. "I meant about Dylan and Lance" she redirected his thoughts. "You know they like each other." She snuggled into his side. "Maybe that's why they fight so much..." they both laughed. "Indeed, but come on what should we do?" After a few minutes he had it "I know we'll lock them in a room with two pills and lots of water. They are bound to get along after about 45 minutes." He laughed at his remarks and pulled Mary Jane into his lap. She put her arm around his shoulders and smiled sweetly.

"And what are we going to do about us?" she asked lowly. "Umm ever been to Florida?" he asked gingerly. "Yeah..." she purred into the air. "Did you like it?" cocking his head to the side to look in her eyes. "Of course, it was Florida” she nodded. "Great then you will have no problem coming home with me. After two weeks you can transfer your bank account, licenses, insurance, and gym membership to Orlando where we will live happily ever after." He planned out loud. "Whoa slow down baby, I don't have a gym membership." The both laughed for a moment then stopped. He pulled her mouth to his and kissed her deeply. She fell into his strong embrace. They stayed on the water for the rest of the night.

~Meanwhile in the house~

Dylan wasn't partying much, but she didn't want to be at home alone. Camping out on a big chair in the TV room. She sipped on her corona for about an hour before her phone rang. "Private Number" read across the screen ass she answered it. "Dylan here."

"Was sup girl..." the smooth voice poured into the phone. "Who is this?" she asked. "Nice to hear form you too, good to know I'm still so close to your heart. Who do you think it is?" he was now annoyed. "JC, it sounds like they are still trying to get your dosage right..." she cracked only half serious. "That was cold” he bit out. "Not that this is not tons of fun, but in the interest of saving time just tell me what you want." now she was annoyed. "I heard you came by."

Dylan was quiet for a moment trying not to argue with him. "Yeah, I ran out of parts." She mentally cursed Leigh Ann for having such a big mouth and even a bigger crush on JC. "Dylan come on, who replaces a grill Friday night before Nationals?" he didn’t believe her. "I did” she said rolling her eyes at the conversation. "You don't have a Toyota..." damn him for knowing so much about her life. "It was a favor… for a friend." She looked around to see if anyone would see her cry. "Okay sure, don’t say it was just to see me. Where were you today? I waited at the judge's table for half and hour." She really was going to cry, just lose it right there. "I didn't judge this year." Here it comes. "What? Why wouldn't you? Does Wes know about this?”

Damn him, she took a staggered breath. "I don't want to talk about it. "He could hear it in her voice, she was unhappy. "What's wrong Miss Cho? Baby come on talk to me." Dylan took another deep breath to hear him say her name. It had been so long since they had talked. The damning comfort feeling entangled her mind and she wanted to run back to him. "I have. I have to go."

"What? Wait I'm trying to talk to you Dill... What? Let me guess you over at some boy’s house and you don’t have time for me? Is it the little street racer?" That was it, Josh in his true form, the reason it would never work between them. "I can't deal with you right now... I’m not even going to feed into that fight again, bye JC." She snapped the phone shut and turned it off. Sticking it in her pocket and reached for her drink. When she scanned the table it was missing.

Lance sat on the arm of the chair and handed her a new cold bottle. "Thank you” she said wondering how long he had been standing there. "No problem I thought I'd get you another drink before you had to move." She let the feeling go in place of confusion "Move? What do you mean?" He smiled at her "You're in my chair." he took a swig out of his own bottle. "Hehe, so your talking to me now?" she moved over so he could sit beside her. He slid down into the big chair and thought about how empty it was the night before when he was alone. "Look, I know I've caused you a lot of trouble this weekend... but..." he stopped. "What?" she whispered. "I've ever met anyone like you." I don't know all that much about you or your life or who was just now on your phone but I know I don't want to go home tomorrow." He put her hand on his cheek then kissed it. She put her drink down and pulled him into a hug.

"Lance..." she whispered. "Yeah?" he hummed. "Thank you for what you did today. It scared me, but I understand it came from someplace good, not bad."

"Dylan...thank you for everything you've done for me this weekend." He pulled her face up to his and spoke seriously. "I'm so sorry for everything. For doubting you, getting you in trouble, and letting that bastard hit you. Let me show you the man I can be."

"You don't have to prove anything, I'm crazy about you" she spoke back sweetly. They kissed and fell back into the chair.

Chapter Six

The Nopi traffic was headed in the opposite direction Monday morning. Tara was once again a trail of breadcrumbs... Back in Orlando the RX7 turned on Ocean Street as the 4runner veered off to Atlantic Way. Going though the motions of being home only distracted their bodies. Once home Lance settled in his chair and his mind flooded with memories of his first trip to Nationals.

The Second Place B.O.A trophy taunted him. "Damn it " he said aloud searching his pockets for his ringing cell phone. "It took you long enough!" Daniel's voice came through the phone. "What's up man?" he laid his head back. "You know it's the damnedest thing, I came home and started unpacking. I'm missing some stuff."

"Huh?" Lance listened with his eyes closed. "Yeah... Umm I left my girlfriend in Atlanta and I think you did too." Lance laughed with his bud and let the idea roll around for a minute. "Now that you mention it I do believe I did." He said looking around the empty house. "Great!" they both snapped cheerfully. "I'll meet you at Mickey D's in 15. Daniel said. Lance repacked his bag and jumped back into the 4runner.

The state line was a welcome sight to the two tricked out cars. The lean silver 4runner followed the pearl white RX7 up the interstate. The sun was rising when the 19-41 exit appeared.

The End

This story is dedicated to Grandpa Bill and Grandma Jane. Thank you so much for your hospitality and all your lessons. Illinois is… different from the ‘dirty south’ to say the least.

What would we have done with out all the Mountain Dews, Heat, The Mall, Goodwill (Judith Krantz Novels & Skis), Bread store, Lotto, Personalized plates and Christmas lights!!!

Much Love,