A few days had passed and the construction of the Love Center continued. Mark mostly negotiated the plans, still unable too grip the tools, getting flustered and frustrated at points.
"I'm starving," Hudson said. "Are we gonna call it a day or what?"
Riley looked around. "I think we did get a lot done. I think we should quit too."
"Me too," Nick said. "I'm beat. I got a game tomorrow."
"Homecoming game coming up?" Shannon asked.
"Still have some time for that, but the scouts are still coming around . I', gonna go pro if it kills me."
"So let's call it a day." Riley said. "Who wants to get a burger?"
"Gross," Julie crinkled her face and shook her head.
"I guess that's a no"
"I'm in" Jen said.
"Yeah, me too" Marcie added.
"What about you guys?" Riley asked.
"Sure, why not," Hudson said. He looked at Julie. "Come on, I'll buy you a... Boca Burger."
"Julie laughed. "Sure," she said.
Shannon was gathering her belongings. "Can't" she said "I've got a date."
Riley smiled. "What about you two? Mark? Nick?"
"No..." Mark said. "No, I'm gonna... head back to the cottage."
"You sure?" Mark nodded. "Nick?"
"I'll... catch up with you guys a little later."
"Rodi's." Riley said. "Later."
Nick held back as the others left the site. He slowly made his way over to Mark. "Why don't you just come with us?" Nick said.
"I'd rather not." Mark replied.
"Right... you're tired. You have something else to do."
"Get off my back, nick."
"What the hell happened to you?" Nick said.
"That's the question, isn't it?" Mark sighed.
"I get it," Nick said. "I get it, OK. You're pissed that you're hurt. But I offer... day after day I offer to help you with those exercises and day after day you come up with an excuse. I want to help you."
"I don't need you feeling sorry for me."
"No, you're doing a good enough job feeling sorry for yourself."
"I don't have time for this."
"Why?" You're just heading back to the cottage anyway." Mark began to head out of the center and Nick grabbed for him. "You know... I seem to remember not too long ago, a time that I told you to leave me the hell alone." Nick paused. "And if you had listened, I'd probably be dead right now. I am not about to let you beat yourself up because you don't think you can handle this. And I'm not going to let you push me away." Mark sighed. "Hey... do not tune me out, Mark."
Mark took a deep breath. "I'm tired. Go get something to eat. They're waiting for you."
"It's no big deal. I can go over plays or something."
"Go to Rodi's Nick." Mark said. "I don't need a babysitter." Mark slowly made his way away from the construction site, leaving Nick standing there alone.
>>>>>>
Shannon walked into Ultra Violet, looking around for a moment before spotting Ron. She smiled widely approaching him. "Hey," Shannon said. "You weren't waiting forever, were you?"
"No," Ron smiled. "I figured you guys were still at the site. How's it going?"
"Well we've got one less person working and we're running out of money, but we're doing just fine. Perfect in fact."
Ron laughed. "That goo, huh?"
"Oh, even better." Shannon said. "Who's playing tonight?"
"I think it's open mic night or something," Ron said. "Hey how... how is Mark holding up?"
"He doesn't like to talk about it. He doesn't remember who did it to him and... he still has trouble with his hand. I feel horrible. Honestly."
"It's gotta be hard." Ron said. "I mean... I broke my leg as a kid... and I thought that was a pain."
"Yeah, he broke a bunch of bones when I was a kid."
"Who did?" Ron asked.
"What?"
"You said 'he' broke a lot of bones..."
"I" Shannon said. "I broke a lot of bones. That's what I said. Can we eat?" She brushed it off.
"Shannon..." Ron said. "You want to talk..."
"Not about this." she said. "No."
"You brush this stuff off an awful lot."
"I don't want to talk about it, Ronnie. OK?" Shannon got defensive. "Please leave it alone."
"You want to order?" A server asked them.
"Can't anyone just leave me alone?" Shannon said, getting up and rushing out of the club.
Ron stood, staring after her. "Shannon he called, staring to follow her. "Shannon!"