At least I have a good excuse why this chapter's late this time: my furnace broke. This has been a very unlucky few months, and it's been very stressful. Thank you so much for your reviews HersheyChoco101, ScipioPB, MikariStar, and imagine believe – they really cheer me up a ton! And I'm so glad to have reviewers with such great ideas! I'll certainly look into that one, too! :D

Gone Fishing

It was a beautiful sunny, fall day… to be screeching down the boulevard at fifty miles an hour.

Denny was holding onto the seat and the ceiling to keep from bumping his head. With his friend Vaughn, it was a no brainer when something was bothering him. His driving got ten times worse. The tires squealed as they came to an abrupt stop at a red light.

"So… you want to talk about it, or…?" Denny began, releasing his iron-tight hold.

Vaughn glared ahead at the passing traffic, white knuckles gripping the wheel.

Denny squared his shoulders. "Well, you can either say what's bugging you or get a ticket."

In response, Vaughn switched the radio on and cranked up the volume. An old country western song - which was never meant for blasting - filled their ears and the ears of all of the cars around them with guitar twangs and broken-hearted ballads.

Denny covered his ears before he couldn't take it anymore and switched it off. Confidently, he smirked at his friend. "I know what you need. A vacation day!"

"Not possible," Vaughn said, flooring the gas pedal on green.

His friend was forced to hang on ahead, though he wondered how on Earth no policemen had pulled them over – or gunned them down – yet. "Sure it is! Take a sick day. I can call in whenever I want – you should take advantage of it, too! I know! Let's go fishing!"

Vaughn swept the car to the curb, stopping inches from a fire hydrant. "I don't fish."

Denny looked out the window and saw the tourist trap of an aquarium outside. He groaned. "Oh, come on! You like being in the boat, right? Let's do this. Get away for a day. Don't pick up the phone or have some idiot customer yell at you. No co-workers or crazy—"

He had Vaughn at 'no co-workers.' Picking up his cell phone, he quickly dialed the correct number as Denny bounced excitedly in the seat. "Woohoo! We're doing this! Who you calling?"

"Hello! You've reached the office of Persuasive—"

"Molly, I'm sick," Vaughn said. Denny was dancing obnoxiously in the passenger's seat at this point.

"Well, you're a shit liar," came her blatant response.

Vaughn smirked. "I'm sick of the office. Denny and I are going fishing. Can you cover for me? Tell Hamilton I'm sick?"

"Hm…" she wondered for a while. "I don't know… I mean, I can't come. How fair is that?"

"We'll clue you in next—"

"I'm just kidding! 'Course I'll cover for you," Vaughn could picture her smiling like an idiot. "That's what friends are for, right?"

"Thanks, Molly," Vaughn sighed in relief. He turned to see his friend gesturing madly. "Oh, and Denny says go to hell."

"Vaughn!" Denny barked, reaching for the phone.

Molly was laughing on the other end. "Tell him to screw off! I mean—" her show voice suddenly kicked in as she once again became the receptionist of Persuasive Papers. "Of course, I'll tell Gill and Mr. Hamilton right away. You get well soon, okay? Take care!"

"Why'd she hang up?" Denny despondently looked at the flashing call numbers before they disappeared to the main menu.

Vaughn put it in drive and waited for a few cars to pass before he could safely re-enter traffic. "Gill was probably coming. I wouldn't worry about her – she can take care of herself. We're in good hands."

Denny studied Vaughn suspiciously for a few moments. Vaughn didn't notice the crooked smile that appeared as he dialed his own work number. "Can I use your phone to call in?"

Vaughn didn't bother answering since Denny was already connected through. "Hey! Kai! What's up?"

A few moments passed. It seemed Kai actually was answering 'what's up' with quite a bit of detail. Vaughn overheard the word 'pineapple' a few times.

"Hey, do you think you can get Joe or Ray to cover for me? I'm 'under the weather,'" Denny interrupted. Vaughn thought he sounded painfully obvious in his lie, but he figured that was on purpose. Maybe Kai was like Molly and understood when he just needed a day to zone. "Great! Well, I don't have his number, so you'll have to ask… No, but Toby might. Yeah. …Okay, cool! Thanks, man."

Denny tossed the phone onto the seat, propping his boots up on the dash and taking off his aqua ball cap off. He shook his hair out, letting the window down. "Woo! Freedom!"

True to his word, Vaughn didn't fish. After stopping by Denny's shabby apartment for the necessary gear, they left the city and drove down to an old boat house that belonged to his cousin Shea and his grandfather Wada. The two lived further out in the country, so the place was abandoned most of the time. They still kept it to host family reunions, and Denny liked to go to the cabin there sometimes to fish and get away from life in the city. Vaughn would accompany him sometimes so he could just sit out on the water, watching the clouds go by.

Vaughn was lying across one of the benches in the rowboat, his feet propped up on the edge over the water and his hands behind his head. Denny casted his line out, and Vaughn watched the rod whip across the sky before the sound of a light plop of the impact with the water. It was a beautiful sunny day, the kind that has a few spots of clouds that looked like they were put there just to watch the world go by. Leaves were raining down in the light breeze and littering the water like a thin sheet. It was warm even though it was mid-October.

I think it's called an Indian summer, Vaughn thought to himself. He decided it was his favorite weather anomaly. "Catch anything yet?"

"Not even a bite. Isn't this great?!" Denny reeled in and casted once more.

Vaughn smiled at his unwavering enthusiasm. "Yeah."

"So I got back with Lanna," he said. He didn't sound extremely happy about the fact.

"What a surprise," Vaughn mumbled sarcastically.

"Well, you know my parrot Popper?" Denny didn't wait for Vaughn to confirm. "He's my parrot – always has been, but she misses him and he seems to like her enough. We're having some custody issues over him."

"You mean you two are dating for a parrot?" Vaughn wanted to laugh, but he didn't want to make Denny upset.

"Well, when you say it like that…" Denny complained, reeling in another empty line. He decided to switch up his tackle. He opened his fishing box and picked out a brighter lure, carefully hooking it in. "It's pretty stupid, I guess…"

"Why don't you just take Popper back?" He suggested, closing his eyes.

"Because we had his cage set up in her apartment because she works from home, so we figured he'd get more social time that way. I'm at work all day, so it made sense," Denny explained. "But now it's going to be a big hassle moving everything back out again."

"So you guys are dating in the meantime," Vaughn concluded. "I can't believe it."

"What?"

"That you guys are so lazy you're choosing to date rather than move a stupid bird cage."

"Hey!" Denny defended himself. His voice echoed in the quiet woods around them. "He's also a regular on her show – the viewers will be upset if he leaves!"

"YouTube show. Doesn't matter," Vaughn concluded.

Denny grumbled something to himself and cast the line again. "So why were you so upset about work today?"

"Sick of silver-haired people," he gave the short answer.

"Well… um… did you ever look in the mirror?" Denny's voice sounded teasing.

"It's Alice. She plays games with people. Can't grow up. Always in my face."

Denny listened with half-interest. "Okay…"

"Reached my breaking point the other day when the Superintendent came in. Another silver-haired chick. Crawling all over me," Vaughn finished short, an arm now sprawled across his eyes and one across his stomach.

Denny paused. "Wait. What?"

"You heard me. I don't get it – these girls are just nuts," he spoke quickly because he didn't want to talk about it. And he was falling asleep.

"Are you sure it isn't your dazzling, girly amethyst eyes? Just reels them in?" Denny snickered. A swift boot in his back sent him lurching forward, grabbing the side of the precariously rocking boat for balance. He huffed. "Okay, I deserved that."

No matter how many short answers Vaughn did or didn't give, Denny wouldn't let the subject drop all the way back into the city. He insisted on details like a giddy schoolgirl. What's worse, Vaughn was hungry enough to stop for food since it was getting late. Which only meant more interrogation.

Moody enough that Denny convinced him to go to a Hooters, Vaughn was slowly cracking with frustration as he polished off his chicken wings.

"I just don't get it!" Denny was laughing between mouthfuls of food. He had the common courtesy to swallow before chuckling again. "I mean, two beautiful women throw themselves at you, no strings attached, and you say no?"

"I said no," Vaughn reiterated for the fifth and final time.

"Are you gay?"

"No."

"I'm not judging," he insisted.

"No."

"Fine," Denny shrugged. He wiped his barbecue stained mouth as a particularly large breasted woman walked by, carrying a tray full of burgers and fries. "But you're gonna learn someday – the hard way – that nice guys finish last. Isn't that right, babe?"

Though Denny had innocently addressed the passing waitress, Vaughn had looked up to see her answer. He wasn't prepared to choke in surprise. "Candace?!"

The blue-haired girl squeaked at hearing her name, like a mouse caught in a trap. The tray tipped forward and the offset made her lose balance, crashing the china to the ground in ear-splitting shards. The restaurant seemed to stop until a pretty girl with long blonde hair hurried forward.

"Nothing to see, just an accident! You okay, honey?" She smiled sweetly at Candace, who was shaking in fear. Vaughn was chugging water to prevent a coughing fit, and Denny's mouth was wide open in paralyzed laughter at the coincidence.

"Kathy, you want to get a broom real quick?" The girl called. His head more clear, Vaughn read her name tag: Eve. She was the assistant manager. Eve turned to them with a smile. "I'm sorry, can I get you anything?"

"Candace…?" Was all Vaughn could repeat, still in shock.

Another blonde girl with a ponytail appeared on the scene, quickly sweeping up the mess as Candace salvaged what she could in her arms. She gave Vaughn a pleading look, shaking her head. She was biting her lip so hard it could have been bleeding, and tears were forming in her eyes. She shook her head at him once again before running back to the kitchen.

Eve left to tend to the table who now had to wait double time for their food, offering to cut the cost to nothing if they were patient enough to stay. Vaughn was in a daze. Candace?! Working at Hooters!?

"Is that… the Candace?" Denny finally asked for further confirmation.

"Yeah," Vaughn said in disbelief. "The Candace."

"I can't believe she's working here! Of all places! Huh," Denny mused. "Well, aren't you glad we came today?"

Vaughn wasn't so sure.

Candace was quick to reappear, her face red but the tears gone. She awkwardly stared at the centerpiece holding the specials menu at their table. "I… I get off in less than an hour. C-can you wait for me? Please?"

Vaughn nodded.

Forty minutes later as promised, Candace exited the store through the back. She was toting a canvas bag and wearing her usual frumpy clothes. The T-shirt and orange short-shorts were shoved deep in the bag.

Vaughn was leaning against his car, lost in thought, while Denny sat on the hood. Though he looked bored, his eyes lit up when Candace emerged. He whistled at Vaughn who quickly looked up to see her slowly approaching.

Candace tucked a tuft of stray hair behind her ear. Her locks were falling around her shoulders in waves, but it wasn't messy. It was styled this way. Vaughn absent-mindedly admired the look and wondered why she didn't wear it around the office. Then again, Hamilton. And Allen. Ah. That's why.

"Thanks for w-waiting… so I can explain," she mumbled quietly, staring at Vaughn's shoes.

Vaughn waited quietly, allowing her to speak. Denny looked between them, not understanding why this was such a big deal. Vaughn got sick of waiting and started: "Candace."

Tears immediately sprung to her eyes. Her lip quivered, and the tears started to spill out. Candace rubbed them away with her sleeves as fast as she could. "I-I n-need the money! I… I have so many s-student loans, and th-the office wasn't c-cutting it… I couldn't make ends meet…"

Vaughn didn't want her to cry over it. He sighed and stood up straight. "You know company policy. Having a second job can get you fired."

Denny's eyes widened. Was he going to rat her out?!

Candace seemed to be thinking the same thing. She looked up to meet his eyes. "A-are you going to report m-me?"

Her watery, hurt, big blue eyes bore into him, making Vaughn never feel so guilty. He gave Denny a sideways glance, and he seemed to be waiting for an answer, too. Did they think he was Gill or something? "'Course I'm not going to report you. Your secret's safe with us. Right, Denny?"

Denny gave her a thumbs up. "Sure thing, babe!"

Candace blushed at the name, fiddling with her long hair. Her tears slowed, but she was still hiccupping with the sobs. "Th-thank you… very much. It means a lot to me…"

Vaughn gave her a small, strained smile. "Just watch yourself, okay? Hamilton's the kind of guy who'd come here once a week."

"I actually… um… schedule around his visits…" Candace smiled guiltily.

Vaughn's smile became more genuine. He indicated his car. "It's getting dark. You need a ride?"

Candace looked up at the stars blooming in the sky on the horizon. Above their heads, street lights would click on soon, blocking out the view of the sky and making it an inky blanket above them. "N-no, I should be fine… Thank you, though. You've been very kind about all of this."

Vaughn didn't know what to say to that. What, did she expect him to be mean about it?

"I'll go ahead and catch my bus," Candace smiled. She shyly waved to them both, looking like plain old normal Candace. "Bye, guys. And… th-thanks again…"

"See ya!" Denny waved. Vaughn gave her a nod, reaching for his hair.

Candace waved again and hurried away, jogging to the corner and catching the walking light. Vaughn waited until she was out of sight before he dropped his arm and let out a sigh.

Denny whistled low. "What an adventure! Think she's gonna get caught?"

Vaughn shook his head and walked around to the driver's side. "I don't know. She hasn't been caught for this long, right?"

"I wonder how long it's been going on," Denny posed, opening the passenger door.

Vaughn propped his elbows up on the roof. "I wonder if Molly knows…"