I know what I want
Who: Sherry, Nica, Dot, Katie, Tina, Juice, Kyle, Becky, Michael
Where: Sid's, then Sunset
When: Sunday Night
Sherry sat in a booth, with a monologue in her hands. She was memorizing it, and needed someone to try it on. She also had lines to run with people too- she really wanted to see if she could be talented in something
Dot was working, and working hard. Keeping busy kept her from having to dwell on anything, so she was content as she could be, considering.
Nica headed into the diner, wondering what would blow up tonight. She waved at Sherry and at Dot, and sat at Sherry's table. "Good morning," she said.
Katie was cautiously approaching the diner, and hoping for the best. Plus, she really wanted some motherfucking pancakes right fucking now.
Dot stopped by the Sherry/Nica table. "Hi! What can I get you?"
"Drama or Comedy?" Sherry asked, not answering Dot's question
"Coffee, refilled frequently. Tomato juice. Bottle of Tabasco. Celery stick. Two eggs, scrambled. Hashed browns. White toast, lots of jam. And a root beer float. Drama," Nica said.
Dot nodded and wrote all that down. "Anything for you?" She looked pointedly at Sherry.
Katie settled on into a booth and tapped her foot.
"Coke." Sherry said "So, Drama or Comedy?"
"I'll be right back with your coffee and your Coke." Dot stopped by Katie's table on the way up to fill the drink orders.
"Drama," Nica said again. "What scripts ae you working with?"
SHerry handed her a small notebook filled with photocopied bits of scripts.
Tina headed in, and over to Katie's table. She waved happily to her.
Katie looked up and nodded to Tina, and then to Dot, "Hey, can I just get a breakfast platter and a cocoa?"
Nica started flipping through it. "Juliet on the balcony ... Lady MacBeth hallucinating ... Good stuff. Are you feeling the drama more, or the comedy more? And did anybody threaten to kill you over what everyone did to the house last night?"
"Sure thing!" Dot wrote that down, then asked Tina, "Anything for you?"
"Grapes." Tina said "THanks, DOt."
Dot wrote that down too, then headed off to fill drink orders.
"I think I want to do this." Sherry pointed to a play, that was not SHakespere. "I'm trying out for TV, not a local theater, so I don't know if they'd like the Shakespere. That's a scene where someone is dying in the hospital.. think that's too dramatic?"
"Oooh, that'd be good. Go ahead, give me a reading of it."
Nica said.
Dot came back with drinks for Sherry, Nica, and Katie, and grapes for Tina.
"Thanks, sweetie," Nica said, and added lots of sugar to her coffee.
"No problem! The celery looks kinda wilty. Do you still want it?" Dot glanced back towards the kitchen to see if any of the food was ready yet.
"Thank you," Katie said, looking vaguely grouchy.
"Thanks." Sherry smiled, happy with her coke. "New York strip, medium well, baked potato, sour cream and cheddar, brocilli on the side. Thanks."
"Thanks." Tina said "What's wrong, Dot?"
"Yeah, no worries," Nica said. "It's part of the hangover cure."
Dot jotted all that down, too. "Okay, be right back with it," she said. She stopped by Katie's table to see if anyone needed anything else. "Your food should be up soon!" She didn't appear to have heard Tina.
Katie nodded. "Thank you."
"What's wrong?" Tina asked, to Katie
"Eh. Just cranky," Katie said. "And I really want pancakes."
Sherry looked thoughtful for a moment, then looked up at Nica. "You're such an attention whore. I know that you're faking it."
"Well, hopefully, you'll have them soon." Tina said, to Katie
Dot came back with food and drinks fore everyone, then perched up at the counter to rest her feet for a moment.
"You think that everyone will feel sorry for you, because you're lying here, pretending to be in a coma." Yes, she was going through a monolouge. Her mun doesnt quite remember the whole thing, but this is close enough
Nica listened, resting her chin on her hand.
Katie settled in to eat, apparently pretty hungry.
"Well, I don't." Sherry said "I don't feel sorry for you one bit. So, just get up. Stop faking it, and get up. I know you hear me." Sherry paused "Don't just lie there. We're supposed to go shopping tonight. You're not supposed to like my outfit, and- Damnit. You have to be faking."
Tina smiled at Katie, happy to be with her.
"This wasn't supposed to happen." Sherry said "You were suppsosed to- damnit, I forgot the lines. Hand me the sheet, Nica?"
Nica smirked and forked it over.
"Sorry, I must look silly," Katie said between mouthfuls.
Tina shook her head.
"I'm never going to get a role." Sherry frowned "I need a lot more work."
Dot came around again to refill coffee and make sure everyone was doing okay.
"I'm just hungry, and I feel like growling at things," Katie said. "Grr. Argh."
"She's great, isn't she?" asked Tina
Dot nodded. "She's a good egg!"
"It's community access," Nica said. "You were spot-on until you dropped a line. Just keep working on it."
"Right... Keep working." Sherry nodded "Ok, so say someone is kinda hot, but I think he's not into me at all. What should I do? Just stay sorta friends, or what?"
"Thanks," Katie said, smiling.
"No problem!" Dot headed off again.
"Ummm ... depends on the guy. If he's got an agressive personality, then if you hesitate, he'll find someone else. If he's kind of shy, you might have a little more time to work from just-friends into ... uh ... watching movies."
Nica added Tabasco to her tomato juice and stirred it with the celery stalk. The celery really was a bit on the limp side. She took a sip, grimaced, added more sauce.
"Watching movies?" asked Sherry "I can watch movies and just be friends, and what is that concoction that you're drinking?"
"What do you want for Christmas?" Tina asked Katie
"Watching movies,in the old Vito and Anna context. It's a euphamism for sex. This is stage 2 of my hangover remedy, a virgin bloody mary. Stage 3 is the rootbeer float. Stage 4 is food, because I'm starving."
"Wow, you kids come up with anything." Sherry said, slightly amused
"'Us kids?'" Nica asked with a grin.
"Yeah, you young people." Sherry grinned
"We're pretty awful, riding around in our dragsters and listening to that gol-durned rock and roll," Nica agreed.
"In my day, kids knew how to behave." Sherry said
"And speak when spoken to? And wash behind their ears?" Nica asked.
"Twice a day" Sherry said "Why, when I was a kid things were different. Never heard of talking back."
"I dunno..." Katie pondered. "What do -you- want?"
"I haven't really had anything in a couple of years." Tina said "Maybe a book or a plant or something?"
"See? You're good at the acting thing. You can impov really well. You just need to work a little better with premade scripts. Or find a director who lets you improv."
Dot came by one more time, to refill drinks and drop off the checks. "You guys can pay this whenever you're ready, up there at the counter," she said to her tables. "It's just, I'm here late as it is, but don't you worry. We're not gonna leave you without service, promise!"
"I'm not worried about that." Sherry said "You're okay with your friends now, right?"
Dot frowned. "No, not exactly."
"WHen you get a chance, have a seat." Sherry said "It won't hurt, and you might get a new friend out of it."
Nica nodded.
Dot smiled. "Well, as long as I have the uniform on, I'm on company time. Let me go change and I can sit with you for a bit. Okay?"
"Okay." Sherry smile
"I could get you a plant," Katie said, nodding.
Tina smiled
Dot headed into the back to get changed and clock out.
Juice headed towards the diner with a Kyle to pick up a Dot after her shift.
"On the road again," Kyle sang as they drove up.
Dot was still in the back, resting her feet and trying to avoid being conscripted into more work after she'd clocked out.
Juice parked the car, and got on out, heading around to open the door for Kyle.
Sherry wanted to talk to DOt, but since she hadn't come by the table, she was just going over lines again
"I don't know what I want, honestly," Katie said.
"Then I'll have to suprise you." Tina nodded to herself "It'll be something that you like."
Dot came out of the back, finally, ready to call her parents for a ride home.
Juice headed on in. "Hey, Dot!"
"We're here to get youuuu."
Dot sighed. "Oh. Hi boys. i wasn't expecting you, I was just gonna call my dad."
"Well, now you don't have to," Juice said. "C'mon, we'll take you home or to the Sunset or wherevers."
"Okay. I guess it'll save them a trip." Dot waved to everyone else, then headed outside.
Sherry waved, and sighed. SO much for making a new friend
"So how was work?" Juice asked, getting on in
"It was busy. I worked late again, but I suppose the extra money will be worth it," Dot said, belting herself in.
"So when do you get paid?" Kyle asked.
"Alright, then," Katie said.
"Wednesday, they promise," muttered Dot. "Just like they promised I wouldn't have to work overtime."
Tina grinned
"Ugh, they better pay you or we'll shake them down," Juice said.
"Do we need to break their legs?" Kyle asked.
Dot shook her head. "No, it's fine. If they don't pay me, I won't show up. I don't need the job that badly."
"Well, still, if they owe you the money...," Kyle said.
Katie leaned over to hug Tina.
"You could come join us and work at Sunset land," Juice said.
Dot nodded. "Oh, I'll get the money I've worked for, but if they're going to continue to be dumb, I'm not putting myself through that."
Tina hugged Katie, happily.
"Sunset, hm? Doing what?" Dot pondered that.
"Bartending, bussing tables, something like that." Kyle grinned.
Dot nodded. "If it gets too terrible, maybe I will. No promises."
"...are you still mad at us?" Juice asked.
Dot sighed. "Yes. I've been trying not to be, but I don't think it's working very well."
Juice frowned. "Why?"
"Well, it's okay. We're good at being unloved," Kyle said.
Dot fidgeted. "Because, I just ...I thought I was going to die of shame right there, okay? I understand that you guys meant well, and all. i really do."
"...sorry," Juice said, and started to sniffle.
"Don't even start, Kyle. Unloved, what kind of crap is that? I love you guys to death, which is why this is such a big deal to me. Okay? If I didn't really care about you guys, I wouldn't have apologized. I wouldn't be here now." Dot frowned.
"I didn't mean to," Juice wailed. He burst into tears.
Dot frowned, and dug in her bag for her uniform apron. She passed it up to Juice. "Here, take this."
"Um... Juice... the road?" Kyle said.
Juice blew his nose in the apron, and swereved. "Ack.. crap"
"Okay, okay, okay! One thing at a time. Juice, do you wanna melt down first or get us to the Sunset first?" Dot patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.
"Sunset, 'cause I don't wanna die.." Juice tried to keep it all together until they got there
"Okay, good idea." Dot patted him awkwardly again, then sat back.
"Yes. Please try not to kill us all," Kyle said.
Juice made it back to the Sunset, parked into the employee parking lot, then burst out into tears again.
Dot unbuckled. "C'mon, boys. Let's take this inside."
Kyle shook his head. "You know, you could stop this from happening by not telling Juice anything you wouldn't want him to repeat at maximum volume in the middle of a roomful of strangers."
Dot slapped her forehead. "So I should ..." She sighed.
"No. I'm not going to do that. I can't just pick and choose what to tell you guys. That's not how this works." Dot sighed again. "C'mon, let's get inside."
Kyle headed on in.
Dot followed along behind.
Juice followed inside, rubbing his eyes.
He promptly threw himself down on one of the couches, sobbing.
Dot sighed. "You guys do know where I'm coming from, here, right?"
Michael eyed them all. "What the fuck."
A tall blonde was in the club, and noticed a teary Juice. She headed over to him.
"Hi Mike. Sorry..stuff." Dot looked apologetic.
"Yeah. You're easily embarrassed and worried about bringing up sensitive topics with people," Kyle said.
Michael shook his head. Yay stuff.
"Well, I think there's a time and a place for conversations like that, and that was not either one," countered Dot. "and it sure as hell wasn't the way I'd have brought it up. Do you have so little faith in me, is that it?"
"Juice?" asked the girl "Are you okay?" she tried to hug him
Dot frowned. "Can you give us a minute?"
"Well, what would you do if you found out they were still dating, hm?" Kyle said.
"Fine." she frowned, and put a plastic dinosaur in front of Juice, then started heading away
JUice looked up at the girl, and the dinosaur.
"...Becky?"
"Yeah?" she turned
"Whoa.... when did you get back?" Juice forgot to be emo and hugged Becky
"If they were still dating, I'd have to talk to them about it, wouldn't I? What do you think I'd do about it?" Dot sat down too.
"i have to go, cause she wants to talk private." Becky hugged "We just, just got back, because I got sick of being worried"
"And would you have gotten around to asking about that?" Kyle said.
"Of course! You think I'm a damn doormat, don't you?" Dot frowned.
"Are you okay?" asked Becky "Cause you were crying and sad and I don't want to make you sad just as soon as I get back."
"I just... I'm sad because Dot's mad at me," Juice said, remembering he was sad and crying on Becky's shoulder. He was like a girl with PMS.
"Well, did you say sorry? Maybe she won't be mad anymore after you say sorry." Becky patted Juice on the shoulder, and tried to think of something to make him feel better "Uh, Now that I'm back, we can play playstation?"
"Well, you've had how many weeks?" Kyle said.
"I did, but it's because I'm dumb... I just do stupid stuff and I don't mean to. And becuase I don't knwo when I'm going to do it, I'm going to keep on doing it, and everyone's going to keep on getting mad at me..." Juice sobbed and hugged Becky. "I'm glad you're back. Are you going to live at the Sunset?"
"You're not dumb." Becky said "And... I don't know. Ethan has this really nice place, but everything looks kinda dangerous right now, and I don't wanna get murdered, so I dunno."
"Not weeks. It was just last week that we even talked, and we've only hung out ONCE, and I haven't seen Prudence at all. So when am I supposed to ask?" Dot scowled.
Kyle shrugged.
"Don't you go to the same school?"
"Stay here," Juice said.
"Okay." Becky said "At least for tonight anyway, until things are safer. Like my hair? It's weird."
"I haven't seen her! I don't even know if we have any classes together!" Dot frowned more.
Kyle decided to just call it quits, and went off to the back room.
Dot grumbled. "That's just wonderful."
"I missed you a lot." Becky said, to Juice
"I missed you too--" Juice watched Kyle wander off and his face fell again. "Is Kyle mad at me too?"
"No, I think he's mad at me," sighed Dot.
"Sorry I messed up your argument." Becky frowned
Dot shook her head. "It's been messed up since it started."
"Oh... and sorry about the whole gun thing that time in the cornfield. I know you're mad at me cause of it, but I totally didn't want to hurt anyone, and please don't argue with Juice cause it makes him sad, and I have a new hair color."
Dot laughed, weakly. "Oh, the cornfield thing. That's you, huh? Just ..don't worry about it. It happened, it's in the past now. I'm sure you were only trying to protect yourself."
"They were going to kill everyone." Becky said "I had to."
Dot nodded. "It's okay, that was an awful night for all of us."
"Yeah... Are you mad at Juice? Cause he didn't mean whatever you're mad at him for."
"Is Kyle mad at me?" Juice asked.
Dot nodded to Becky. "And, I don't want to argue with Juice. I'm just embarassed down to my toes, is all. Can you give us a few minutes, so we can get this sorted out, please? I'm glad you're okay and back."
"Kyle's mad at me, for not talking to Prudence about this whole thing already," added Dot.
"But he's my best guy friend." Becky frowned "Juice, she wants to talk to you alone..."
Juice hugged Becky. "Go see how Kyle is, okay? Please..."
Juice looked up at Dot after giving Becky the huggins.
Becky nodded. "Get me if she gets really mean." she whispered, before heading off to check on Kyle.
Dot sighed. "Hi, fluffyhead."
"Hi," Juice said, looking glum. "Are you really mad?"
"I'm just ..embarassed, really. Not mad. Just ..." Dot trailed off.
"I didn't mean to," Juice assured her. "I was trying to help."
Kyle had basically gone to his room to lurk.
Becky really had no idea where that was, so she was freaking out about Juice being mad and her not having any friends at all in Sunnydale, because Nica hadn't answered her phone earlier, for some reason
Dot sighed. "I know, I know. But, I was gonna talk to her. Last night, even. I feel like there's this gigantic mark over my head, and that people who can see it will see it and know."
"Aw, no, you're not marked," Juice said.
"What do I even say to her? That's what makes me so nervous. "Hi, I know we barely know each other, but, say, how about that Satsu, huh?" Dot shook her head.
"I'm not good at this! I barely know what to say to you guys about it! It's not like I have people lined up around the block waiting to give me advice," sighed Dot.
"Just say... 'sorry the girl you went out on a date with really likes me but I still hope we can be friends?'" JUice suggested.
Michael eyed Becky.
"I'm supposed to find Kyle, and make sure he's okay." Becky said, to Michael "But I don't know where he is"
"And Hi." Becky added
Dot nodded. "I don't even see her at school. I don't see either of them at school. When am i supposed to find the time for that? And, it's ..argh. I haven't been hiding from it!"
"...I'm not a coward," Dot said quietly, looking at her hands in her lap.
Juice hugged her. "I know. You're fierce."
"Juice is going to be mad, and he'll become my arch enemy." BEcky said "Then, I'll have no friends at school, and I'll end up moving to Alaska or something."
Dot hugged. "Just ..ask me before you do something like that, huh? I know it might not look like it, but I can handle things at my own speed. It's not your speed, it's mine. Things still get done."
"Yes, ma'am." Juice nodded. "I promise."
"He's in the back somewhere," Michael said. "And I think your current problem is the Watcher guys that're living in your house."
Dot sighed. "Okay, so, what'm I gonna do?"
"Now i gotta go give Kyle comfort sex," Juice said. "You should stay over... and tomorrow, talk to them at school. Or after school."
"Well, yeah. " Becky nodded "I don't know what to do about them, but I was too worried about my Dad and everyone, and Ethan said I should come back here and help instead of hiding."
"Um, yes. And, um, I need to talk to him too. But, I'll talk to them first. Um. Who do you think I should start with?" Dot sighed again.
Dot shook her head. "wait. No, no. I'll figure it out."
Juice headed to the back to do just that.
Dot sighed, and looked around for Michael.
"Well, I'm feeling pretty good. We could go zap them," Michael suggested, "and hand them over to Vito. Wanna do that tomorrow?"
Michael was at the corner table, as usual.
"Yeah," Becky smiled "Thanks! Can I stay here tonight? Juice said I should."
"Hi, Mike. Today has been long and angsty and kinda hard to take. I'm gonna go curl up in the back and hope that tomorrow is better, okay?" Dot sighed.
"Okay. All the goths are gone anyhow. I'll show you where you can sleep." Michael got up to lead the way into the back, to the back bedrooms.
Becky followed.
Dot followed along after, too.
Where: Sid's, then Sunset
When: Sunday Night
Sherry sat in a booth, with a monologue in her hands. She was memorizing it, and needed someone to try it on. She also had lines to run with people too- she really wanted to see if she could be talented in something
Dot was working, and working hard. Keeping busy kept her from having to dwell on anything, so she was content as she could be, considering.
Nica headed into the diner, wondering what would blow up tonight. She waved at Sherry and at Dot, and sat at Sherry's table. "Good morning," she said.
Katie was cautiously approaching the diner, and hoping for the best. Plus, she really wanted some motherfucking pancakes right fucking now.
Dot stopped by the Sherry/Nica table. "Hi! What can I get you?"
"Drama or Comedy?" Sherry asked, not answering Dot's question
"Coffee, refilled frequently. Tomato juice. Bottle of Tabasco. Celery stick. Two eggs, scrambled. Hashed browns. White toast, lots of jam. And a root beer float. Drama," Nica said.
Dot nodded and wrote all that down. "Anything for you?" She looked pointedly at Sherry.
Katie settled on into a booth and tapped her foot.
"Coke." Sherry said "So, Drama or Comedy?"
"I'll be right back with your coffee and your Coke." Dot stopped by Katie's table on the way up to fill the drink orders.
"Drama," Nica said again. "What scripts ae you working with?"
SHerry handed her a small notebook filled with photocopied bits of scripts.
Tina headed in, and over to Katie's table. She waved happily to her.
Katie looked up and nodded to Tina, and then to Dot, "Hey, can I just get a breakfast platter and a cocoa?"
Nica started flipping through it. "Juliet on the balcony ... Lady MacBeth hallucinating ... Good stuff. Are you feeling the drama more, or the comedy more? And did anybody threaten to kill you over what everyone did to the house last night?"
"Sure thing!" Dot wrote that down, then asked Tina, "Anything for you?"
"Grapes." Tina said "THanks, DOt."
Dot wrote that down too, then headed off to fill drink orders.
"I think I want to do this." Sherry pointed to a play, that was not SHakespere. "I'm trying out for TV, not a local theater, so I don't know if they'd like the Shakespere. That's a scene where someone is dying in the hospital.. think that's too dramatic?"
"Oooh, that'd be good. Go ahead, give me a reading of it."
Nica said.
Dot came back with drinks for Sherry, Nica, and Katie, and grapes for Tina.
"Thanks, sweetie," Nica said, and added lots of sugar to her coffee.
"No problem! The celery looks kinda wilty. Do you still want it?" Dot glanced back towards the kitchen to see if any of the food was ready yet.
"Thank you," Katie said, looking vaguely grouchy.
"Thanks." Sherry smiled, happy with her coke. "New York strip, medium well, baked potato, sour cream and cheddar, brocilli on the side. Thanks."
"Thanks." Tina said "What's wrong, Dot?"
"Yeah, no worries," Nica said. "It's part of the hangover cure."
Dot jotted all that down, too. "Okay, be right back with it," she said. She stopped by Katie's table to see if anyone needed anything else. "Your food should be up soon!" She didn't appear to have heard Tina.
Katie nodded. "Thank you."
"What's wrong?" Tina asked, to Katie
"Eh. Just cranky," Katie said. "And I really want pancakes."
Sherry looked thoughtful for a moment, then looked up at Nica. "You're such an attention whore. I know that you're faking it."
"Well, hopefully, you'll have them soon." Tina said, to Katie
Dot came back with food and drinks fore everyone, then perched up at the counter to rest her feet for a moment.
"You think that everyone will feel sorry for you, because you're lying here, pretending to be in a coma." Yes, she was going through a monolouge. Her mun doesnt quite remember the whole thing, but this is close enough
Nica listened, resting her chin on her hand.
Katie settled in to eat, apparently pretty hungry.
"Well, I don't." Sherry said "I don't feel sorry for you one bit. So, just get up. Stop faking it, and get up. I know you hear me." Sherry paused "Don't just lie there. We're supposed to go shopping tonight. You're not supposed to like my outfit, and- Damnit. You have to be faking."
Tina smiled at Katie, happy to be with her.
"This wasn't supposed to happen." Sherry said "You were suppsosed to- damnit, I forgot the lines. Hand me the sheet, Nica?"
Nica smirked and forked it over.
"Sorry, I must look silly," Katie said between mouthfuls.
Tina shook her head.
"I'm never going to get a role." Sherry frowned "I need a lot more work."
Dot came around again to refill coffee and make sure everyone was doing okay.
"I'm just hungry, and I feel like growling at things," Katie said. "Grr. Argh."
"She's great, isn't she?" asked Tina
Dot nodded. "She's a good egg!"
"It's community access," Nica said. "You were spot-on until you dropped a line. Just keep working on it."
"Right... Keep working." Sherry nodded "Ok, so say someone is kinda hot, but I think he's not into me at all. What should I do? Just stay sorta friends, or what?"
"Thanks," Katie said, smiling.
"No problem!" Dot headed off again.
"Ummm ... depends on the guy. If he's got an agressive personality, then if you hesitate, he'll find someone else. If he's kind of shy, you might have a little more time to work from just-friends into ... uh ... watching movies."
Nica added Tabasco to her tomato juice and stirred it with the celery stalk. The celery really was a bit on the limp side. She took a sip, grimaced, added more sauce.
"Watching movies?" asked Sherry "I can watch movies and just be friends, and what is that concoction that you're drinking?"
"What do you want for Christmas?" Tina asked Katie
"Watching movies,in the old Vito and Anna context. It's a euphamism for sex. This is stage 2 of my hangover remedy, a virgin bloody mary. Stage 3 is the rootbeer float. Stage 4 is food, because I'm starving."
"Wow, you kids come up with anything." Sherry said, slightly amused
"'Us kids?'" Nica asked with a grin.
"Yeah, you young people." Sherry grinned
"We're pretty awful, riding around in our dragsters and listening to that gol-durned rock and roll," Nica agreed.
"In my day, kids knew how to behave." Sherry said
"And speak when spoken to? And wash behind their ears?" Nica asked.
"Twice a day" Sherry said "Why, when I was a kid things were different. Never heard of talking back."
"I dunno..." Katie pondered. "What do -you- want?"
"I haven't really had anything in a couple of years." Tina said "Maybe a book or a plant or something?"
"See? You're good at the acting thing. You can impov really well. You just need to work a little better with premade scripts. Or find a director who lets you improv."
Dot came by one more time, to refill drinks and drop off the checks. "You guys can pay this whenever you're ready, up there at the counter," she said to her tables. "It's just, I'm here late as it is, but don't you worry. We're not gonna leave you without service, promise!"
"I'm not worried about that." Sherry said "You're okay with your friends now, right?"
Dot frowned. "No, not exactly."
"WHen you get a chance, have a seat." Sherry said "It won't hurt, and you might get a new friend out of it."
Nica nodded.
Dot smiled. "Well, as long as I have the uniform on, I'm on company time. Let me go change and I can sit with you for a bit. Okay?"
"Okay." Sherry smile
"I could get you a plant," Katie said, nodding.
Tina smiled
Dot headed into the back to get changed and clock out.
Juice headed towards the diner with a Kyle to pick up a Dot after her shift.
"On the road again," Kyle sang as they drove up.
Dot was still in the back, resting her feet and trying to avoid being conscripted into more work after she'd clocked out.
Juice parked the car, and got on out, heading around to open the door for Kyle.
Sherry wanted to talk to DOt, but since she hadn't come by the table, she was just going over lines again
"I don't know what I want, honestly," Katie said.
"Then I'll have to suprise you." Tina nodded to herself "It'll be something that you like."
Dot came out of the back, finally, ready to call her parents for a ride home.
Juice headed on in. "Hey, Dot!"
"We're here to get youuuu."
Dot sighed. "Oh. Hi boys. i wasn't expecting you, I was just gonna call my dad."
"Well, now you don't have to," Juice said. "C'mon, we'll take you home or to the Sunset or wherevers."
"Okay. I guess it'll save them a trip." Dot waved to everyone else, then headed outside.
Sherry waved, and sighed. SO much for making a new friend
"So how was work?" Juice asked, getting on in
"It was busy. I worked late again, but I suppose the extra money will be worth it," Dot said, belting herself in.
"So when do you get paid?" Kyle asked.
"Alright, then," Katie said.
"Wednesday, they promise," muttered Dot. "Just like they promised I wouldn't have to work overtime."
Tina grinned
"Ugh, they better pay you or we'll shake them down," Juice said.
"Do we need to break their legs?" Kyle asked.
Dot shook her head. "No, it's fine. If they don't pay me, I won't show up. I don't need the job that badly."
"Well, still, if they owe you the money...," Kyle said.
Katie leaned over to hug Tina.
"You could come join us and work at Sunset land," Juice said.
Dot nodded. "Oh, I'll get the money I've worked for, but if they're going to continue to be dumb, I'm not putting myself through that."
Tina hugged Katie, happily.
"Sunset, hm? Doing what?" Dot pondered that.
"Bartending, bussing tables, something like that." Kyle grinned.
Dot nodded. "If it gets too terrible, maybe I will. No promises."
"...are you still mad at us?" Juice asked.
Dot sighed. "Yes. I've been trying not to be, but I don't think it's working very well."
Juice frowned. "Why?"
"Well, it's okay. We're good at being unloved," Kyle said.
Dot fidgeted. "Because, I just ...I thought I was going to die of shame right there, okay? I understand that you guys meant well, and all. i really do."
"...sorry," Juice said, and started to sniffle.
"Don't even start, Kyle. Unloved, what kind of crap is that? I love you guys to death, which is why this is such a big deal to me. Okay? If I didn't really care about you guys, I wouldn't have apologized. I wouldn't be here now." Dot frowned.
"I didn't mean to," Juice wailed. He burst into tears.
Dot frowned, and dug in her bag for her uniform apron. She passed it up to Juice. "Here, take this."
"Um... Juice... the road?" Kyle said.
Juice blew his nose in the apron, and swereved. "Ack.. crap"
"Okay, okay, okay! One thing at a time. Juice, do you wanna melt down first or get us to the Sunset first?" Dot patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.
"Sunset, 'cause I don't wanna die.." Juice tried to keep it all together until they got there
"Okay, good idea." Dot patted him awkwardly again, then sat back.
"Yes. Please try not to kill us all," Kyle said.
Juice made it back to the Sunset, parked into the employee parking lot, then burst out into tears again.
Dot unbuckled. "C'mon, boys. Let's take this inside."
Kyle shook his head. "You know, you could stop this from happening by not telling Juice anything you wouldn't want him to repeat at maximum volume in the middle of a roomful of strangers."
Dot slapped her forehead. "So I should ..." She sighed.
"No. I'm not going to do that. I can't just pick and choose what to tell you guys. That's not how this works." Dot sighed again. "C'mon, let's get inside."
Kyle headed on in.
Dot followed along behind.
Juice followed inside, rubbing his eyes.
He promptly threw himself down on one of the couches, sobbing.
Dot sighed. "You guys do know where I'm coming from, here, right?"
Michael eyed them all. "What the fuck."
A tall blonde was in the club, and noticed a teary Juice. She headed over to him.
"Hi Mike. Sorry..stuff." Dot looked apologetic.
"Yeah. You're easily embarrassed and worried about bringing up sensitive topics with people," Kyle said.
Michael shook his head. Yay stuff.
"Well, I think there's a time and a place for conversations like that, and that was not either one," countered Dot. "and it sure as hell wasn't the way I'd have brought it up. Do you have so little faith in me, is that it?"
"Juice?" asked the girl "Are you okay?" she tried to hug him
Dot frowned. "Can you give us a minute?"
"Well, what would you do if you found out they were still dating, hm?" Kyle said.
"Fine." she frowned, and put a plastic dinosaur in front of Juice, then started heading away
JUice looked up at the girl, and the dinosaur.
"...Becky?"
"Yeah?" she turned
"Whoa.... when did you get back?" Juice forgot to be emo and hugged Becky
"If they were still dating, I'd have to talk to them about it, wouldn't I? What do you think I'd do about it?" Dot sat down too.
"i have to go, cause she wants to talk private." Becky hugged "We just, just got back, because I got sick of being worried"
"And would you have gotten around to asking about that?" Kyle said.
"Of course! You think I'm a damn doormat, don't you?" Dot frowned.
"Are you okay?" asked Becky "Cause you were crying and sad and I don't want to make you sad just as soon as I get back."
"I just... I'm sad because Dot's mad at me," Juice said, remembering he was sad and crying on Becky's shoulder. He was like a girl with PMS.
"Well, did you say sorry? Maybe she won't be mad anymore after you say sorry." Becky patted Juice on the shoulder, and tried to think of something to make him feel better "Uh, Now that I'm back, we can play playstation?"
"Well, you've had how many weeks?" Kyle said.
"I did, but it's because I'm dumb... I just do stupid stuff and I don't mean to. And becuase I don't knwo when I'm going to do it, I'm going to keep on doing it, and everyone's going to keep on getting mad at me..." Juice sobbed and hugged Becky. "I'm glad you're back. Are you going to live at the Sunset?"
"You're not dumb." Becky said "And... I don't know. Ethan has this really nice place, but everything looks kinda dangerous right now, and I don't wanna get murdered, so I dunno."
"Not weeks. It was just last week that we even talked, and we've only hung out ONCE, and I haven't seen Prudence at all. So when am I supposed to ask?" Dot scowled.
Kyle shrugged.
"Don't you go to the same school?"
"Stay here," Juice said.
"Okay." Becky said "At least for tonight anyway, until things are safer. Like my hair? It's weird."
"I haven't seen her! I don't even know if we have any classes together!" Dot frowned more.
Kyle decided to just call it quits, and went off to the back room.
Dot grumbled. "That's just wonderful."
"I missed you a lot." Becky said, to Juice
"I missed you too--" Juice watched Kyle wander off and his face fell again. "Is Kyle mad at me too?"
"No, I think he's mad at me," sighed Dot.
"Sorry I messed up your argument." Becky frowned
Dot shook her head. "It's been messed up since it started."
"Oh... and sorry about the whole gun thing that time in the cornfield. I know you're mad at me cause of it, but I totally didn't want to hurt anyone, and please don't argue with Juice cause it makes him sad, and I have a new hair color."
Dot laughed, weakly. "Oh, the cornfield thing. That's you, huh? Just ..don't worry about it. It happened, it's in the past now. I'm sure you were only trying to protect yourself."
"They were going to kill everyone." Becky said "I had to."
Dot nodded. "It's okay, that was an awful night for all of us."
"Yeah... Are you mad at Juice? Cause he didn't mean whatever you're mad at him for."
"Is Kyle mad at me?" Juice asked.
Dot nodded to Becky. "And, I don't want to argue with Juice. I'm just embarassed down to my toes, is all. Can you give us a few minutes, so we can get this sorted out, please? I'm glad you're okay and back."
"Kyle's mad at me, for not talking to Prudence about this whole thing already," added Dot.
"But he's my best guy friend." Becky frowned "Juice, she wants to talk to you alone..."
Juice hugged Becky. "Go see how Kyle is, okay? Please..."
Juice looked up at Dot after giving Becky the huggins.
Becky nodded. "Get me if she gets really mean." she whispered, before heading off to check on Kyle.
Dot sighed. "Hi, fluffyhead."
"Hi," Juice said, looking glum. "Are you really mad?"
"I'm just ..embarassed, really. Not mad. Just ..." Dot trailed off.
"I didn't mean to," Juice assured her. "I was trying to help."
Kyle had basically gone to his room to lurk.
Becky really had no idea where that was, so she was freaking out about Juice being mad and her not having any friends at all in Sunnydale, because Nica hadn't answered her phone earlier, for some reason
Dot sighed. "I know, I know. But, I was gonna talk to her. Last night, even. I feel like there's this gigantic mark over my head, and that people who can see it will see it and know."
"Aw, no, you're not marked," Juice said.
"What do I even say to her? That's what makes me so nervous. "Hi, I know we barely know each other, but, say, how about that Satsu, huh?" Dot shook her head.
"I'm not good at this! I barely know what to say to you guys about it! It's not like I have people lined up around the block waiting to give me advice," sighed Dot.
"Just say... 'sorry the girl you went out on a date with really likes me but I still hope we can be friends?'" JUice suggested.
Michael eyed Becky.
"I'm supposed to find Kyle, and make sure he's okay." Becky said, to Michael "But I don't know where he is"
"And Hi." Becky added
Dot nodded. "I don't even see her at school. I don't see either of them at school. When am i supposed to find the time for that? And, it's ..argh. I haven't been hiding from it!"
"...I'm not a coward," Dot said quietly, looking at her hands in her lap.
Juice hugged her. "I know. You're fierce."
"Juice is going to be mad, and he'll become my arch enemy." BEcky said "Then, I'll have no friends at school, and I'll end up moving to Alaska or something."
Dot hugged. "Just ..ask me before you do something like that, huh? I know it might not look like it, but I can handle things at my own speed. It's not your speed, it's mine. Things still get done."
"Yes, ma'am." Juice nodded. "I promise."
"He's in the back somewhere," Michael said. "And I think your current problem is the Watcher guys that're living in your house."
Dot sighed. "Okay, so, what'm I gonna do?"
"Now i gotta go give Kyle comfort sex," Juice said. "You should stay over... and tomorrow, talk to them at school. Or after school."
"Well, yeah. " Becky nodded "I don't know what to do about them, but I was too worried about my Dad and everyone, and Ethan said I should come back here and help instead of hiding."
"Um, yes. And, um, I need to talk to him too. But, I'll talk to them first. Um. Who do you think I should start with?" Dot sighed again.
Dot shook her head. "wait. No, no. I'll figure it out."
Juice headed to the back to do just that.
Dot sighed, and looked around for Michael.
"Well, I'm feeling pretty good. We could go zap them," Michael suggested, "and hand them over to Vito. Wanna do that tomorrow?"
Michael was at the corner table, as usual.
"Yeah," Becky smiled "Thanks! Can I stay here tonight? Juice said I should."
"Hi, Mike. Today has been long and angsty and kinda hard to take. I'm gonna go curl up in the back and hope that tomorrow is better, okay?" Dot sighed.
"Okay. All the goths are gone anyhow. I'll show you where you can sleep." Michael got up to lead the way into the back, to the back bedrooms.
Becky followed.
Dot followed along after, too.