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Gables Estates, house, bedroom, 2pm
Anni: Alright. You're taller than me so you can do the high parts of the wall.
Scott: Sounds fair.
Anni: *rolls paint onto wall*
Scott: Lori's still going to know something happened in here.
Anni: *smiles* At least it'll be clean.
Scott: *lifts roller onto wall*
8:30pm
Anni: You almost finished that side?
Scott: Yeah. Hey, thanks for doing this. I appreciate the help.
Anni: No problem.
Scott: Are you sure Speed's okay with watching Dom for another night?
Anni: He loves kids.
Scott: I feel wrong about asking him to take over. Lori's expecting me to bond with Dominick.
Anni: *walks over* You can't force it. How long did it take her to bond with Steph?
Scott: About 3 years.
Anni: Then you have nothing to worry about.
Scott: I should have some sort of connection with him.
Anni: He'll come around. If not now, then in his 20s when he'll actually need your advice. Y'know, girls and cars. That kind of thing.
Scott: *nods*
Anni: Boys at this age are more attached to mommy.
Scott: Right.
Anni: How are you and Steph doing?
Scott: She seems more interested in spending time with Tom.
Anni: *shrugs* He's always been there.
Scott: Exactly. That should have been me.
Anni: It still can be, Scott. You're getting everything worked out.
Scott: Yeah, not quickly enough apparently.
Anni: It's a process.
Scott: *nods*
Anni: Just let me get under you here. *slides over*
Scott: *steps back*
Anni: *kneels, paints wall*
Scott: *places roller on wall*
Anni: Ack!
Scott: *looks down* Oh, sorry did I get you?
Anni: *stands, smirks* It's alright. You can't expect to do the work without getting a little dirty.
Scott: *wipes Anni's cheek*
Anni: *stares at Scott*
Scott: ...This stuff really just smudges.
Anni: *smiles*
Scott: *stares at Anni*
Anni: *smile fades*
Scott: We should uh...finish up.
Anni: Yeah. That's a good idea.
Hummerhome, 11pm
Tom: *spins Steph*
Steph: *giggling*
Lori: *walks out of bathroom* Hey. It's bedtime.
Steph: But Momma, we're dancin'.
Lori: *looks at Tom*
Tom: Did I ever tell you about my ballet days in Brooklyn?
Lori: *smirks*
Steph: Momma, can I take dancin' lessons?
Lori: We'll see. Pirouette to bed.
Steph: *twirls away*
Tom: Want some coffee?
Lori: Oh no no, I don't fall for the 'coffee' line. It's misleading, passive-aggressive and insulting.
Tom: ...Okay. I'll have some then.
Lori: *takes coffee pot*
Tom: I can't have some?
Lori: How hot is it?
Tom: It's been sitting out for quite a wh-
Lori: *pours coffee over Tom's head*
Tom: *blinks*
Lori: *slams pot onto counter* That's for calling me a trollop.
Tom: ....I apologized.
Lori: Well now you really won't do it again.
Tom: *grabs towel, wipes face* I know you're a millionaire and everything but the clothes I'm wearing are all I have and you ruined them.
Lori: You have others.
Tom: *unbuttons shirt*
Lori: *smirks*
Tom: You're an asshole. *unzips jeans*
Lori: *tilts head* Yes I am.
Tom: *throws jeans into bathroom* Now I get to spend all night cleaning up your mess.
Lori: Yes you do.
Tom: Are you enjoying this?
Lori: *smiles* Very much so.
Tom: *rolls eyes, walks past*
Lori: *looks back*
Inside bathroom
Tom: *grabs shower nozzle, sprays jeans*
Lori: *steps over, shuts door*
Tom: Get out or I'll spray you.
Lori: Just want to witness the misery, that's all.
Tom: *turns around, lifts nozzle*
Lori: *screams, falls over*
Tom: *smiles* I feel better.
Lori: *kicks Tom*
Tom: AH! *falls into tub*
Lori: *grabs nozzle, sprays in Tom's face*
Tom: *coughing* You bitch! *reaches up, grabs Lori by the hair*
Lori: *smirks* You fight like a girl.
Tom: *punches Lori in the face*
Lori: *falls against door*
Water sprays everywhere
Lori: *stands*
Tom: *looks at Lori*
Lori: *jumps into tub, grabs Tom's hair*
Tom: AH! Now who's fighting like a girl!
Lori: *scratches Tom across the face*
Tom: OW!
Lori: *jumps onto Tom's back, shoves him into wall*
Tom: Oof! *elbows Lori in the side*
Lori: *falls backwards, trips Tom*
Tom: *falls into tub*
Lori: *wraps hose around Tom's neck*
Tom: *winces, bites Lori's arm*
Lori: HEY! No biting!
Tom: No strangulation!
Lori: We should have set the ground rules first!
Tom: Great, just let me pull out my whiteboard!
Lori: *knees Tom in the gut*
Tom: AGH! *twists Lori's wrist*
Lori: *screams*
Tom: We're even.
Lori: No we're not. Let go of me.
Tom: Stop kicking me.
Lori: Stop biting me.
Tom: You tell me to bite you all the time, you didn't think it would happen at least once?
Lori: I get to bite you back. Then we're even.
Tom: I don't want to be bitten.
Lori: It's only fair.
Tom: No it's not. You strangled me with a shower hose.
Lori: Wasn't even that tight. You're such a baby.
Tom: I'm being the baby? I didn't pour hot coffee all over you.
Lori: It wasn't hot, it was luke warm.
Tom: Stop being a bitch.
Lori: STOP BEING GAY!
Tom: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS!
Lori: IT'S A METAPHOR!
Tom: HOW IS THAT A METAPHOR!
Lori: ....TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE!
Tom: *frowns* Okay you're no longer making sense.
Lori: One bite.
Tom: No.
Lori: Just a tiny one. You can pick the place.
Tom: No.
Lori: Okay then let go of my wrist.
Tom: I don't think so.
Lori: Why not?
Tom: You're going to bite me the second I let go.
Lori: You don't know that.
Tom: Yes I do.
Lori: Just pick a spot. I won't bite that hard.
Tom: Yes you will.
Lori: What, you can dish it out but you can't take it? You're not much of a man if that's the case.
Tom: Oh so you're the expert on manhood.
Lori: At least I never took ballet.
Tom: It improves flexibility and stamina. Very essential tools for men.
Lori: And what did those little pink tights improve? Because I can guarantee you, self-image wasn't one of 'em.
Tom: HEY. My tights were green.
Lori: Camouflage or lime?
Tom: Neither. It was more of a pea color.
Lori: ...You were a dancing pea.
Tom: This is why I don't tell you anything.
Lori: I think the problem is that you
do tell me everything. Now if you don't pick something for me to sink my teeth into, I'm gonna pick for myself and it won't be pleasant.
Tom: How about my elbow.
Lori: That's a stupid place.
Tom: Why?
Lori: It won't hurt enough.
Tom: I barely touched you.
Lori: Yeah but you punched me in the face and that still hurts a little.
Tom: *rolls eyes* Get over it.
Lori: Then you get over the coffee thing.
Tom: Fine. *lets go*
Lori: *lunges up, shoves Tom into tub*
Tom: *frowns* We're supposed to be calling a truce.
Lori: Truces are for the weak.
Tom: Actually, they end wars and stop carnage. It takes a lot of courage to call a truce.
Lori: Alright, fine. Truce.
Tom: We'll have to shake on it.
Lori: Let's bite on it.
Tom: *frowns* You're not going to bite me so forget it.
Lori: Yes I am.
Tom: I'm going to kick your ass if your teeth get anywhere near my skin.
Lori: I thought we were calling a truce.
Tom: With a handshake. *lifts hand*
Lori: *bites Tom's thumb*
Tom: OW!
Lori: *smiles* It's a done deal.
Tom: *grabs Lori's hand, bites it*
Lori: AH! Truce over! Truce over! *bites Tom's arm*
Tom: OW! *bites Lori's chin*
Lori: *bites Tom's cheek*
Tom: *bites Lori's lip*
Lori: *yanks shower curtain across tub*
TBC...................................