[CLOSED] the ghost of what we used to be.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan watched Paislee, then eyed Dyson warily. But the teen only bit his lip, running his fingers through her curls gently. Ryan was unaware that he had a little sister in the hospital. He shifted his weight, continuing to sip at the coffee as he watched the two, then shrugged at Clae.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"She don't care as long as she has someone to sleep on." Clae said with a shrug. He walked to the kitchen, getting another mug of coffee. He sat down on the arm of the love seat again, sipping his hot coffee.

Paislee moved closer at the touch, laying her head in his lap. She looked sleepily over at Clae before she put her thumb back in her mouth and fell asleep.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan nodded, finishing his coffee and getting up. He stretched his arms over his head, groaned in pleasure at the relaxing feeling before padding towards the kitchen for his own new cup of coffee as well.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae took a long drink of his coffee, sitting down on the love seat. He rubbed at his eye, relaxing against the back of his seat. He yawned, not wanting to get up. But he finally got up, walking into the back yard to clean out the pool and pick up the towels.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan heard the door close, padded back to the love seat and dropped down carefully, pulled the leg of his pants up to study the bite there. It didn't look so bad anymore, and he tugged the leg back down, nursing his coffee as he glanced at the two sleeping on the couch, wondered if Luc would be coming to pick Dyson up or if they needed to drop him off somewhere.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae finally came back in, walking to the sink to wash his hands. He dried them off, then bent to pick Paislee up. She whined, but laid her head down on his shoulder. He carried her back to her room, laying her down in her bed. She actually stayed in there this time, and Clae walked into the living room, grabbing a phone book. "What you want for dinner?" He asked Ryan.

[ryan leonardo matson]

"Hm, I dunno, I'm not that picky." He shrugged a bit and stretched again, got up. "I can always cook if you want." He smiled sheepishly. Cooking, good with kids, it was the complete opposite of his fitness expertiese.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae couldn't help thinking Ryan might actually be better than a woman. He was so good with Paislee. He shrugged, looking over at him. "You gotta cook and paint Paislee's nails?" He asked with a smile. He put away the phone book, though, interested in Ryan cooking.

"You need a ride home?" He asked Dyson. "Or can Lucas come get you?"

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan laughed, shrugging with a faint smile. "I can manage both," He breathed, finishing his coffee and heading back to the kitchen to rinse his mug and put it in the sink.

Dyson hesitated for a moment, then reached for his phone. "I'll see if he can get me," He murmured, thinking he was probably worried. They were supposed to go to the mall tomorrow after school with some friend of his.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae smiled over at him, watching the way he moved. He was brought out of his thoughts when Dyson spoke. "Well, I don't mind driving you. It's okay. Just don't be telling anyone I let you stay over here with me and Ryan. We're not supposed to have anything to do with students out of school, let alone let them sleep in the same house. And I don't need to lose my job." He looked down at his empty mug, sitting it down on the floor.