Dorothy Ann put the Dating Matrix in her purse as the music stopped again. For the first time that evening, the DJ spoke.
"OK, Class of 2004, the last dance of the night is coming up next, and it's for the lovebirds in the audience, so come on down," he said in his best "I'm getting paid for this either way" voice.
The three couples all stood up, motivated by Casey, Kathleen, and Martina no longer wanting to hear about their partners previous relationships. Their significant others took the hint and headed to the dance floor. More surprisingly, DA stood up as well and turned to Tim.
"Would you like to dance?" DA asked in a tone that suggested that wasn't really what she wanted, but she did want to speak with Tim alone.
Tim looked at her like she had a second head. "Did I not tell you earlier I don't dance?"
"Look, just come out here with me. Please."
Still looking befuddled, Tim acquiesced. "OK, DA, but don't expect me to move much out there."
As those two joined the couples, the remaining three looked at each other with the same bafflement Tim had shown.
"That was strange," Wanda finally said.
"I knew those two were shacking up when they came in together!" Ralphie pounded the table.
"Hmm…Hartford and New York aren't that far away if they wanted to try long distance," Phoebe pondered.
"Oh Pheebs, any distance isn't that far away compared to where you are," Wanda cut in.
"At least you all are someplace else," Ralphie softly added. He then grimaced and turned red, wishing he could take it back.
"What's wrong, Ralphie?" Phoebe asked in an empathetic tone.
"Nothing. Forget I said anything," Ralphie responded in a desperate attempt to deflect.
"Spill it, Tennelli. You're not fooling anymore," Wanda ordered.
"OK, OK!" Ralphie surrendered. "It's just that…I never expected to be back in Walkerville after graduating. You've all gone out and been places and done things, and I'm the stereotypical ex-jock who couldn't hack it and had to become a townie because he had nowhere else to go."
Wanda laughed. "Oh and you think I have *my* life together? C'mon Ralphie, we're still in our 20s. With the way things are now, we're not supposed to have our shit together. Figure out what's making you unhappy and change it while there's still time. Also, yeah, you didn't make the big leagues. Most don't. Get the fuck over it."
Ralphie stared with his mouth agape for a moment before turning to Phoebe. "Anything to add? You're the professional."
"Actually, I would've said about the same as what Wanda said, just not as, uh, crudely."
Ralphie turned back to Wanda. "When did you get so good at advice?"
Across the table, Wanda shrugged. "You spend enough time in a war zone and you learn some things."
"Well then, I guess I have some things to think about then," Ralphie replied.
"We all do," Phoebe stated. The other two looked at her funny, so she quickly added, "I meant in general." Wanda and Ralphie didn't look convinced, but let it go.
While that conversation went on at the table, the four dancing duos were having chats of their own.
"OK DA, what the hell is wrong with you?" Tim asked with urgency as he awkwardly flailed around.
"I just wanted to say that I feel bad that I took a chance with all the other guys in high school except you."
Tim continued to stare at her. "Uh, OK, but I mean that was ten years ago. What's done is done, and like I said on Thursday, we went in two very different directions. It's no big deal." He suddenly stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute. Do you want to date me now?"
DA's eyes fluttered in surprise. "What? No! No! I don't have time for a relationship right now, and remember, Annie likes you. Don't forget to ask her out."
Tim groaned. "I was hoping you had forgotten that."
"Oh come on! Don't you like her too?"
Tim started to say something, then trailed off. Eventually, he recovered, "Fine fine, I will." DA grinned, but Tim wasn't done. "Now that you've successfully badgered me about that, what exactly is your problem?"
DA sighed. "I've been thinking a lot about regrets."
"You're not regretting about becoming a doctor, are you, because I don't think that's a thing you can take back?" Tim interrupted.
"No, I'm not regretting it, but I wonder if that's what I should have done. Last night, I was in my old room on the balcony looking at the stars, like I always used to do. I felt an inner peace that I haven't felt in a long time. I like being a doctor, or at least don't hate it, but part of me still wonders if I should have followed my dreams instead."
The two stopped pretending to dance and took seats at an empty table. "Do you ever regret following your dreams?" DA asked.
Tim mulled it over a moment. "Well, it hasn't been easy. I have to work in a shithole coffee house and live with three other people to make ends meet. I have to hope my work gets noticed by snooty rich people in order for it to sell enough or get commissioned for me to just do my art. I have to bust my ass otherwise for a sale here and there, just enough to not get discouraged. It's not easy by any stretch, but I don't regret trying."
"But what if it doesn't work out?"
"Well, I'm not even 30 yet. There's still time. As long as I have the drive and the desire, I'll keep trying. As I talk this out though, I should probably come up with a contingency plan."
"That would be a good idea, yes."
Tim smiled. "See, pragmatism can be a good thing."
DA sighed again. "I guess it's hard to remember that when you work as much as I do. I knew I missed looking at the stars, but I didn't realize how much until I actually got to do it again."
Tim rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, while I'm sure there are other concerns, I'm thinking that going forward you need to work somewhere other than a hospital, and settle somewhere you could see the stars at night. Not somewhere like Hartford."
DA made a face. "Hartford is never the answer to anything. Stupid resident placement algorithm." Her features softened. "Thanks for the talk. I'll definitely keep it in mind." She gave Tim a kiss on the cheek.
"You're welcome, but you might want to lay off the affection. Ralphie already thinks something's going on between us. We don't need to give him any more ideas."
Meanwhile, the couples were also doing as much as talking as dancing.
"So, are my friends still crazy?" Arnold asked.
Kathleen smiled. "If anything, they're crazier than ever, but it's clear they also had a lot to do with what kind of person you are." She paused to put her head on his shoulder. "And I love that person, so I should thank them for their craziness."
"And you're OK with all that about my dating history?" As he asked the question, Arnold's tone managed to convey playfulness and nervousness at the same time.
Kathleen laughed. "That was a decade ago. I've seen how you look at them, and it's very different than how you look at me. I mean, if you knew how many guys I dated in high school…"
"Really now?"
As Arnold learned more of his wife's history with other men, Casey was posing a question of his own to Keesha.
"So, still anxious about staying close with the gang?"
"No, somehow I think we'll be alright," Keesha replied with a soft smile.
"Good. It's obvious how much you all mean to each other. I mean, if you could survive dating each other through high school, it's clear something special is there."
"I couldn't have said it better myself."
"That said, are we really going to be roped in to babysitting Arnold's kid?"
Keesha laughed. "We'll talk about that later."
At the same time, Carlos and Martina were bantering as usual. Martina gave him the top hat back. "It looks better on you than it does me."
Carlos took it back, but couldn't resist commenting, "Nothing looks better on me than it does you."
"Did you use on that line on DA too?" Martina asked pointedly, but with a teasing expression.
"Do you really think I haven't stepped up my game since then?"
"From being with you the past four years, I'm going to say no."
Carlos shook his head. "You're killing me, babe."
The song finished and the music officially stopped for the night. The dancing eight rejoined the three still at the table. For a minute they stared at each other, not knowing what to do next.
"So, what now? It's not exactly late," Wanda asked to break the silence.
"Glad you asked," Ralphie responded. "Tim and I have been planning a little after party out in the woods where we used to have parties in high school. There's plenty of beer back at my place to take with us. What do you all say? The night is still young. Hell, it's barely started."
The gang nodded their agreement, but it Martina spoke up first. "Sounds great. We're going to get a chance to change though, right?"
Ralphie's face turned red and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, um, we'd kind of like this to just be the Walkerville eight. I know that's shitty to do and I'm sorry, but it hasn't been just us in a long long time."
Martina frowned, but after mulling over a moment, softened. "OK, I understand, but you," she stared at Carlos, "owe me."
"Yes ma'am," Carlos concurred.
Casey spoke up. "Yeah, it's their night, so that's fine."
Kathleen seemed a bit more reluctant. "I understand, but I don't really want this night to end for me yet. I don't get a lot of adult time as it is."
"Oh, but it doesn't have to end for us," Martina interjected. "Mr. Adams, Mrs. Perlstein, let's retire for a drink and make fun of these goobers, as my boyfriend might say."
"Sounds good, Ms…" Casey hesitated. "I'm sorry, what's your last name?"
"Moreno."
"Then I accept, Ms. Moreno."
Kathleen thought for a minute before accepting. "OK. It's better than sitting in the hotel room missing my son or wondering why my husband abandoned me."
She said the last part with a grin to show no malice, but Arnold knew he wasn't completely out of the woods. "I promise I'll make it up to you, dear."
"I know you will," Kathleen replied as the two kissed.
"OK. With that, let's go get changed and meet back at Ralphie's in a half hour," Tim proposed.
The gang returned to Ralphie's house at the prompted time to find him loading the trunk of his car with beer.
"All right, you've gone all out for this!" Carlos exclaimed as he went to inspect the goods.
Ralphie put out his hand. "Hold on there chief. Before we head out, two of us need to volunteer to be designated drivers." The rest of the gang groaned. "Sorry, but I'm still a cop first. I want everyone to be safe and no one's getting thrown in the slammer tonight."
The gang looked at each other, trying to will someone to volunteer. Finally, Arnold sighed and raised his hand. "Kathleen probably doesn't want me getting back to the hotel trashed, and I don't drink much anymore anyway."
Phoebe also raised her hand. "I'm not much of a drinker either. You see enough people with substance abuse issues and the appeal is pretty much gone."
Ralphie tossed his keys to Phoebe. "Two of you join us in my car. The rest of you crowd into Arnold's."
Carlos and Keesha joined Ralphie and Phoebe. As was usual when Carlos and Ralphie were together, the topic of conversation turned to sports.
"I'm telling you man, Cleveland sports are finally on the rise!" Carlos said from the back seat. "We got Johnny Football, and the rumors are LeBron's coming back!"
"Why the hell would LeBron want to go back to Cleveland? That makes no sense," Ralphie scoffed from the passenger's seat.
"Go Wizards," Keesha added from the other back seat.
The men jeered. "Really Keesh? Abandoning your roots that quickly?" Carlos admonished.
"Hey, I don't live in Ohio anymore. It was cool watching the Wizards finally not suck. I went to a few games and it was fun, and I don't apologize for it," Keesha folded her arms in defiance.
Ralphie rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Keesh." He moved on to the driver. "Pheebs, you haven't started rooting for the Giants have you?"
"Eh, they're OK, and Lincecum and Posey are cute," Phoebe replied, "but the rioting after they win the World Series is beyond annoying. I could never abandon the Indians anyway. Speaking of which, do you know how their doing tonight?"
"Uh, no, can't say that I looked," Ralphie said awkwardly. "Your dad wasn't listening to the game when you got to your house?"
"No, he has a date tonight," Phoebe countered with a hint of pride in her voice.
Ralphie suddenly started coughing, drawing odd looks from the two in the back. "My mom told me she has a date tonight too."
Carlos guffawed. "Dr. T and Mr. T are dating again!"
"You don't know that," Keesha started.
"And what's so wrong with that?" Phoebe finished. "I always liked Daddy and Dr. Tennelli as a couple. Didn't you Ralphie?" She took advantage of a stop sign to glare at him.
After a pause, Ralphie spoke. "Yeah, of all the boyfriends Ma's had, your dad was definitely the one I liked the best. Like Keesha said though, we don't know if their dates tonight are with each other."
"True. As long as Daddy's happy."
"Same with Ma."
Meanwhile, in the other car…
"What's that in your hand, Tim?" Wanda asked in the sweetest voice she could muster.
"It's a surprise for when we get there," Tim replied. He was sitting in the passenger side of Arnold's SUV, with Wanda and Dorothy Ann in the back.
"Oh c'mon Tim, let us see!" Wanda pleaded.
"Yeah, give us a sneak peek," DA needled, more playfully than anything else.
"Nope," Tim held steadfast.
"C'mon guys, if Tim says we have to wait, then we should respect him enough to wait patiently," Arnold said. Wanda stuck out his tongue at him.
"Thanks Arn," Tim replied.
They arrived at their destination. After parking the car, Arnold turned to Tim. "So, what have you got there?"
Arnold ducked Tim's attempt to hit him just in time.