"Tina," Cory snapped.

She looked at him: "what?"

"Did. He hurt. Anyone else?"

"Um yeah Brittany. And…and Rachel."

"Oh god," Cory muttered, "Rachel."

"Who was defending Brittany who was defending me. Since none of the guys were around. We weren't just gonna it there Cory."

"Yeah i…kinda figured. With the way this conversation's going."

"Oh."

They sat there in silence. Tina wondered what happened to dinner. The soda can had warmed. Tina took it off her face and set it on the coffee table. She leaned forward and opened it.

"Let me see," Cory said.

She paused looked at him: "huh?"

"Come."

He waved her over with his hand.

She moved closer to him. He put his thumb under her chin scanning her face with her eyes. She smiled warmed by this. He was so careful with her. The way her mom was. And maybe even Carole his mom.

"It looks a lot better," he said pressing the fading bruise gently with his finger.

"It still hurt?"

"A little. It's not bad though."

"Ok. You want some dinner?"

"Yeah what do you have?"

"We have," he stood wobbling a bit.

From her place on the couch Tina put her hand on his arm.

She looked up at him: "you alrite?"

"Yeah but I think I need to sober up a bit before I start on dinner. Are peas ok?"

"Yeah fine."

He slowly went to the freezer opened it and got out a bag of frozen peas which he tossed to Tina which she caught.