On the road

As Misty hugs Kyle, he automatically returns it, closing his eyes for a moment, just wishing for all of this pain to stop. He'd often asked God why things like this were allowed to happen, and he'd never received an answer. He only had to continue having faith that there was a reason.

Having Misty in his arms for a moment, a sudden feeling rises within him that he hadn't expected. One he wasn't too sure about. One that he hadn't planned on. This wasn't his sister he was holding...and it didn't feel like it either.

Mustering up the best smile he can as Misty withdraws, he reaches out to wipe a lingering tear from her face. Her idea sounded like fun. She needed the time away, and it wouldn't be bad for him either. She was right...he hadn't liked this fight at all. He loathed fighting. Getting away from this would do them both good.

Finally he nods. "Okay. The amusement park it is. It's been ages since I've been there."

He reaches in his pocket and pulls out his truck keys. "But you're letting me drive. We'll come back to pick up your car later."

Kyle holds out his hand to Misty. "Come on."


Velvet dodges Peter's glance and ducks into her car as Carson gets in on the other side. "Well, you sure showed that guy."

"Shut up." Carson puts a hand to his lip, ensuring that it had stopped bleeding.

Velvet scowls at him. "Well I didn't tell you to do it." Looking in her mirrors, she pulls out and follows Jess and Peter.

"He won't catch me off guard again," Carson retorts.

"Oh, was that what it was?"

"Yes. That's what it was."

Velvet gives him a sidelong glance, then reaches over to run her hand along his arm. "I'd like to see you in a winning fight."

Carson doesn't respond, but just looks out the window. Why he had this sudden surge of misery, he wasn't sure. Was it just being beat by someone like Kyle? Or was it seeing Misty again?

Before they know it, the foursome is at the Bullseye once again, sitting at their favorite table with food for lunch. Jess has the floor as the leader to list off everything they needed to remember.


Lunch inside Mom and Pop's is fairly quiet after the disturbance, no one quite sure what happened after everyone had left.

Halfway through the meal though, Scott's cell phone rings. Raising an eyebrow, he answers it. "Kyle?"

"Yo, Scott." Kyle keeps one hand on the steering wheel while he holds his phone with the other, turning on the speaker phone.

"Where are you?"

"On the road, Buddy, on the road." Kyle looks to his right and changes lanes in the highway to go around a slow moving vehicle. "Just wanted to let y'all know Misty and I took off for a while. Her car is still at the restaurant though, so don't worry about it."

"Everything alright?"

Kyle gives Misty a sidelong glance before answering Scott. "Yeah...right as rain. Don't forget to tell Con and Jamie to come to that upcoming concert too, will ya? And if you see Jason back at work, tell him to go ahead with the jam session tonight. I probably won't be there."

"Okay...will do. See you later."

"Later." Kyle flips his phone shut and tosses it into the backseat, signaling that he's going to ignore it the rest of the day. He could call his brother or Mike too, but he knew that his whereabouts would be spread through Jason. There was no need for any more calls.

"Alright, Misty..." He glances out the window at several road signs. "I think I'm on the right highway, but if not, we're in for an unplanned adventure. Keep an eye out for the signs." He grins and reaches down to turn on the radio, turning up the volume to a popular rock song. Before long, he's singing along, prompting smiles from Misty.