Finding Seats

As Misty takes Carson’s hand and leads him past the stores, he is surprised, but doesn’t ask, and simply follows along, finally putting pressure to her hand as well, to stick with her on the fast walk.

Reaching the site, Carson looks quickly to Misty at her words…their depth…their impact…he hadn’t been expecting that. They made him think…made him wonder…made him dwell on things he didn’t normally dwell on. Her words were deep.

Carson says nothing, but stairs out across the land where the sun is casting its brilliant colors. It was breathtaking. The view mixed with Misty’s words made for an experience he’d never had before. It was different…it was a little confusing…but he thinks he likes it.

Misty’s gentle squeeze to his hand brings another rampant thought to his mind. He couldn’t remember ever holding hands with a woman before. Not like this. There had never been that simplicity…that satisfaction of doing nothing but being together. And yet…Carson was beginning to feel that now. With any other woman, he’d been out for one thing, but with Misty…he was beginning to want to know her more…hear her voice…feel that spark she’d renewed deep within himself. At this moment, he wanted nothing more, nothing less.

Finally moving, Carson shifts and lets go of Misty’s hand, sidestepping so he is standing behind her. His arms slip over her shoulders to cross under her chin, pulling her gently to rest back against himself. His chin rests on top of her head as he looks out at the expanse, his hat’s brim shielding his eyes from the fiery glow. “And slowly…slowly the flame descends below the horizon, signaling the end… yet reminding that it will soon appear again, bringing with it a new chance… a new hope for better things to come.”


Jason laughs and gives Katie a squeeze. “No, you can’t drive, but you can be my passenger. Besides, I like you back there anyway because you have to put your arms around me.” He throws her a teasing glance, before shifting his attention to the others around them.

Laura looks at Maggie, grinning and taking her hand. “Oh, good! You’re going to sit by me, right?”

As Nate’s hand brushes her arm, Laura looks up, but doesn’t flinch, simply turning her gaze to something else to ignore the accident.

Within no time, the bunch from TJY and JetStream are all finding places to sit and pulling several tables together. In the end, not everybody has gotten their chosen seats, but it doesn’t seem to matter as laughter and chatter fill the back room. Jason is glad he winds up next to Katie, Con and Jamie are able to sit together as well. Laura realizes after getting seated that she’s by Nate instead of Maggie, but doesn’t want to make a scene by moving, so stays put. Kyle, Phil and Mike play musical chairs for what seems like forever, undecided and too hyped up to calm down, while Jen is at the end, trying to keep “her boys” under control.