Tea: Can't we pick just one place and then go there?

Todd: You can pick as many places as you want but you won't be getting there in my car.

Tea: You're really impossible sometimes.

Todd: Thank you.

[Tea and Todd eat their lunch in silence before returning to their car and to their apparently aimless wandering.]

*******************************************************************************************************

chapter 6:

[After driving for a several more hours, Tea convinces Todd that they should find a place to spend the night. They stop at a small motel that is situated on the road they've been driving on. Since it's far from a main highway there are only a few other cars in the parking lot as they enter.

Several minutes later...

Todd exits the office after arranging for their room and finds Tea digging through his things in the trunk of his car.]

Todd: If you're not careful someone might think you're a chick I picked up by the road and now you're trying to steal my stuff. They could call the cops on you.

Tea: There's no one here to report anything. We really are in the middle of nowhere out here.

Todd: Yeah. I don't know why all the tourists don't flock to this place. According to the manager, they put mints by the bed and everything. Although looking at this place I think you might want to look closely at your mint to make sure it isn't crawling before you pop it into your mouth.

[Todd grabs one of his bags out of the trunk and walks toward their room. Tea follows.]

Todd (entering their room): Home, sweet hellhole.

Tea: It's not that bad. It's almost, kind of...quaint.

Todd: (Looking out the only window in the room): Maybe someday they can remodel and actually put in a view.

[They both continue to look around the room, neither pleased with the setting.]

Todd: Tea, maybe we should split.

Tea: We need a full night's rest.

Todd: Are you crazy? Would you actually want to fall asleep in a place like this? You'll end up stuffed and mounted on a wall.

Tea: Not as long as you're with me. You'll protect me.

Todd: Yeah, well, I'll be in the car in search of some place better than this dump.

Tea: You're the one who wanted to stay off of the main roads.

Todd: Well, yeah, but...

Tea: Todd, this will be fine...for one night. You can put the chair in front of the door if it would make you feel more secure.

Todd: They probably have a trick wall with some sort of lab on the other side where they do bizarre experiments.

Tea: I'm hungry.

Todd: Don't touch your mint. I think I saw it move.

Tea: Let's go out. There must be some sort of restaurant nearby.

Todd: There's nothing near here, remember? We're in the middle of nowhere. You'll have to wait until breakfast. Do that sleeping thing if you want to. We'll be leaving first thing in the morning.

Tea: Okay.

Todd: So, two seconds after midnight you better be ready to make a run for the car...and for our lives.

Tea: Are you going to be like this our whole trip?

Todd: I'm not going to let you talk me into staying in a dump like this again.

Tea: This place was your idea not mine, remember?

Todd: I don't rememeber that.

Tea: I'm going to go brush my teeth.

[Tea enters the bathroom and closes the door. A few seconds later the bathroom door flies open, hitting the wall behind it with a bang.]

Tea: Okay. We're leaving.

Todd: Is there a dead chick in the shower?

Tea: No, but there is the biggest, ugliest bug I have ever seen in my life.

Todd: You need the big, strong man to take care of that little bug for you?

Tea: This bug could beat you at arm wrestling. At the same time, it could also compete against a couple hundred other people since that's how many legs it appears to have.

Todd (standing in the bathroom doorway): Where is this bug? I've got a shoe and a lifetime of anger to release.

Tea: It was near the sink but it probably moves fast with all those legs.

[Todd enters the bathroom while Tea stays in the bedroom. It only takes a few seconds for Todd to find what he's looking for...and more.]

Todd: Whoa!

Tea: You found it?

[Todd returns to the bedroom, closing the bathroom door behind him.]

Todd: I hate to tell you this, Tea, but it's not an 'it'. It's a 'them'. I think there's a whole family in there. A couple of them looked like they were making out or having a brawl or something. I saw a few more hanging from the ceiling.

[Tea looks at the ceiling above her head. When she looks back at Todd she has a panicked expression on her face.]

Tea: I'm not staying here, Todd.

Todd: You're such a girl.

Tea: Do you want to stay here...(gesturing toward the bathroom)...with those copulating creatures?

Todd: Maybe we should hurry up and get out of here before they start crawling up your legs.

[Tea quickly rushes to get out of the motel, followed just as rapidly by Todd.

Minutes later, Tea and Todd are back in his car. As Todd drives toward a main highway for the first time during their trip, Tea uses a flashlight to read a map of the area so they can find a decent sized town with a decent hotel in it.

Todd notices that every few minutes Tea goes into a scratching fit.]

Todd: Did you get bit or something?

Tea: What?

Todd: You're scratching.

Tea: Oh. No. It just gave me the creeps.

Todd: So, you've got a thing against bugs, huh?

Tea: If you ever put a bug in my food, clothes, bed...anywhere I might be...as a joke, you will regret it, Manning.

Todd: Would I do something like that?

Tea: Yes, you would, but you better not. Besides, I noticed that you were moving just as fast as I was to get out of that place.

Todd: I was just trying to keep up with you.

Tea: Sure.

Todd: I was going to wait a few days or weeks before contacting anyone but maybe I'll do it sooner. If they're not chasing us then we don't have to worry about where we stay and you won't have to worry about anything crawling into your mouth while you sleep.

Tea: I mean it, Manning, cut it out.

Todd: You must be in a bad mood. You're calling me by my last name.

Tea: You use my last name all the time.

Todd: That's different.

Tea (her mood lightening a bit): Yeah, it is.

Todd: So...Delgado...

[Tea smiles at the pleasant sound of Todd's voice speaking her name...she missed that while they were apart.]

Todd: Did you see anything on that map of yours?

Tea: If this is right then if we stay on this road we should hit what looks like a main road soon and after we get on that there's a town less than an inch away.

Todd: Wow! Less than an inch?

Tea: You know what I mean.

Todd: If we spot a place to eat do you want to stop? Are you still hungry?

Tea: Sure.

Todd: Let's just hope the place we stop doesn't have those kinds of bugs in their kitchen.

Tea (in a warning tone): Manning...

chapter 7:

[As Todd and Tea drive into the town that Tea spotted on the map, they're both relieved to find civilization. It's not a huge town but it does have several small motels and hotels to choose from.

As they enter their second rented room for the night, Tea immediately enters the bathroom as Todd drops his bag on the floor in the bedroom before plopping himself down on one of the beds and picking up the phone.]

Todd (raising his voice): Tea, are we staying here tonight?

Tea (returning to the bedroom): It seems okay.

Todd: Might want to check under the sheets on your bed first to make sure there aren't any bugs there.

Tea: Manning, if you keep this up you'll be under those sheets with me because I won't be able to sleep otherwise.

Todd: I'll keep that in mind.

Tea: Are you calling to order food?

Todd: I was going to call one of my contacts back in Llanview first.

[Todd picks up several delivery menus that are next to the phone and tosses them on the bed across from the one he's sitting on.]

Todd: Decide what you want. We'll order when I'm done.

Tea: Are you calling your sister? I could give you some privacy.

Todd: No need. I'm not calling Viki.

[Todd dials the number and waits impatiently for the person to answer the phone.]

Charlie Briggs: Hello?

Todd (impatient): Finally!

Briggs: Mr. Manning?

Todd: Cut the formalities. I need dirt.

Briggs: Which dirt in particular do you need?

Todd: Are the cops after me?

Briggs: Not that I'm aware of.

Todd: Not that you're aware of? With the kind of money I'm paying you, I expect you to know.

Briggs: The police department hasn't issued any information about any investigations that involve you.

Todd: Do you know why I'm asking?

Briggs: You and Mrs. Manning...the second Mrs. Manning...or is it the third?

Todd: Forget the math, just tell me what you know.

Briggs: I know that you and your ex-wife...the one who's a lawyer...left town together.

Todd: Is that public knowledge?

Briggs: It's not in the papers but it is the gossip going around.

Todd: What about R.J. Gannon? Are they trying to find out who shot at him?

[Tea looks up from the menus, surprised to hear Todd mention R.J.]

Briggs: I sent a reporter to work on the story but, apparently, the police department isn't taking it seriously.

Todd: Why not? The guy could have been killed.

Briggs: Well, off the record, our guy was told that since they feel strongly that the shooting was because of Gannon's business dealings, the department doesn't want to waste time working on the case.

Todd: Even if the guy's brother is the D.A.?

Briggs: Well, that doesn't seem to be a factor here.

Todd: Yeah, typical Llanview reaction. If someone wants to kill one of the less desirable types in town...let them. It would save the police department from actually having to do any work. So, as far as you know they're not coming after me?

Briggs: Do they have a reason to?

Todd: I didn't swipe Tea, if that's what you're asking. You need me to put her on the phone so she can tell you herself?

Briggs: That's okay. I trust you.

Todd: Sure you do, Briggs. You trust that those hefty checks of mine will be coming regularly so you and your wife can retire in luxury someday.

Briggs: I'm looking forward to it. You have no idea how much.

Todd: I have an assignment for you. I think it's time for you to do an article...a very long article...ripping the entire police force of that pathetic town to shreds.

Briggs: I don't think Ms. Cramer would approve. She's making all the decisions about the paper now, you know.

Todd: That's what she thinks. Just remember, I'm the one writing you the biggest pay check.

Briggs: I'll see what I can do.

Todd: Make them bleed, Briggs. Make me proud.

[Todd hangs up the phone.]

Todd: They're not coming after us.

Tea: Why? Did they catch the people who have been trying to kill R.J.?

Todd: No. According to Briggs, they're not even trying.

Tea: Why?

Todd: They figure he deserves it because of who he is. Think about it, Tea. If someone was taking shots at me, do you think they'd do anything about it? I mean, besides making it easier for the guy.

Tea: So, they're not investigating at all?

Todd: It doesn't sound like it.

Tea: But they don't think it was you?

Todd: Not unless Briggs is lying to me. You know, maybe we should keep traveling the way we have been...just to be safe.

Tea: That's fine with me. I'm just worried about R.J.

Todd: You want to go back and hold his hand...or any other body parts?

Tea: Can't I be concerned about his safety? What if he thinks it was you and assumes that he's now safe since you have me back? What if he lets his guard down?

Todd: Come on, Tea. He's too smart for that. He's like me. He doesn't know how to let his guard down.

Tea: I don't know about that.

Todd: Are you going to fill me in on your intimate knowledge of your boyfriend's inner workings now?

Tea: Is that what you are?

Todd: What?

Tea: Are you my boyfriend?

Todd: What?! We were talking about R.J.

Tea: I was referring to you. I think you do let your guard down...sometimes.

Todd: Never!

Tea: You have. I've seen it.

Todd: You were mistaken.

Tea: There have been moments with me.

Todd: You're wrong.

Tea: And, I have personally witnessed many times with Starr when your guard was obliterated by that smile of hers.

Todd: That doesn't count.

Tea: I think it does. I remember, whenever she didn't feel well, even if it was just an upset stomach from having too much junk food...

Todd: You can never have too much junk food. Now you've got me hungry. Are we eating or what?

Tea: You would sit with her...hold her hand...talk to her quietly...make up stories to make her laugh.

Todd: Either pick something to eat or I will and you may not like it. I don't think you're going to be able to get any of that Puerto Rican glob stuff you like so much, around here, though.

Tea: I thought you were the one who liked it.

Todd: Yeah, well, whatever. I doubt they have that kind of stuff in this kind of town.

Tea (holding up one of the menus): How about pizza?

Todd (grabbing the menu from her): Great.

[Todd calls and orders their pizza as Tea opens his bag and digs through the contents.]

Todd (hanging up): Food will be here soon. What are you looking for?

Tea: Something to wear to bed tonight.

Todd: What's wrong with what you've got on?

[Tea gives him a disapproving look.]

Todd: Oh, that's right...you're a girl. I keep forgetting.

Tea: Maybe I should make more of an effort to remind you.

[Todd isn't comfortable with the glint in Tea's eyes. He grabs the television remote and plops down in a chair with a scowl on his face. As Todd watches the television, Tea watches Todd.]

chapter 8:

[Several minutes after the pizza arrives, Tea and Todd are sitting on the same bed with the pizza box between them. Tea is staring openly at Todd as he folds a slice of pizza and shoves more than half of it into his mouth before chomping down on it.]

Todd (noticing Tea watching him): What?

Tea: Nothing. I was just wondering what happened to the table manners you were displaying when we were at Viki's cabin. Remember? When you were trying to convince me to come with you.

Todd: Yeah, well, now you're here so I don't have to pretend anymore.

[Todd picks up another slice, folds it and offers it to Tea.]

Todd: Come on. Give it a try. It tastes a lot better when you eat it the right way, instead of picking at it the way you do.

Tea: Really?

Todd: Try it.

[Tea moves closer to Todd on the bed. As her mouth reaches the pizza slice, her hand lightly clasps his wrist. They exchange a glance as Tea's mouth takes in as much of the slice as she can handle before biting down.]

Todd (a few seconds later): Well?

Tea (speaking sarcastically while her mouth is still full): Oh, yeah...that's better.

[Tea reluctantly lets go of Todd's wrist and he returns to eating his own slice. Tea takes a moment to chew and swallow before continuing to speak.]

Tea: There's too much cheese.

Todd: No, there isn't.

[Tea picks up a slice and folds it, allowing the grease to run off into the box.]

Todd: That's how you know it's good.

Tea: It can't be good for you to eat this much cheese at once. Couldn't we have at least had some vegetables on top so we could pretend it's nutritious?

Todd: Why would we want to pretend that? Besides, you've got tomato in the sauce.

Tea: So, is this what I can expect my dinners to consist of in the future? You and me...on a bed...in a small room...in a strange hotel...a delivery container between us?

Todd: Hey, at least this place isn't as strange as the last place.

Tea: Well, that's true. I may have nightmares about that place...if I can even fall asleep tonight.

Todd: We could keep the light on. That way you could also keep an eye on the ceiling to make sure it's bug-free.

Tea: Let's just not talk about it anymore, okay?

Todd: Sure.

Tea: I think I'll take a shower.

Todd: Now?

Tea: That's what I was thinking.

Todd: What about dinner?

Tea: I think I've had enough. You can have the rest.

Todd: You sure?

Tea: Positive.

[Tea gets off the bed and picks up a pile of Todd's clothes she had picked out earlier to wear to bed and walks toward the bathroom.]

Tea: Todd?

Todd (shoving another slice of pizza into his mouth): Yeah?

Tea: We never did stop anywhere today so I could buy...uh...underwear. Do you think we could tomorrow?

Todd: Hold on.

[Todd shoves the rest of the slice he's eating into his mouth and grabs his bag and rummages through it for a moment.]

Todd (tossing a pair of boxer shorts onto the bed): Here you go.

Tea: You're kidding, right?

Todd: No.

Tea: I can't wear your shorts.

Todd: Why not?

Tea: Todd...

Todd: They're clean, Tea, I swear.

Tea: It's not that. I...I just can't.

Todd: Then don't wear anything.

Tea: What?!

Todd: I mean...wear something...you definitely have to wear something...but you don't have to wear...uh...

Tea: Underwear...panties...

Todd: Whatever. Just don't wear any if you're going to be so picky.

[Tea silently picks up the boxer shorts and retreats to the bathroom.

When she returns to the bedroom, following her shower, she finds the room completely dark.]

Tea: Todd?

Todd: Yeah?

Tea: I wasn't sure if you were still awake.

Todd: I never sleep.

Tea: That's not true.

Todd: Believe whatever you want.

[Tea retrieves her toothbrush and returns to the bathroom. A moment later, she's shocked when Todd enters the room while she's brushing her teeth.

Todd is wearing his pants and a opened shirt with a T-shirt underneath. Tea is wearing one of Todd's shirts that is so big on her it's all that Todd can see as he joins her in the bathroom with his own toothbrush in his hand.]

Tea: I wasn't sure if you even owned one of those.

Todd: Is my breath that bad?

Tea: No. Not at all. I just haven't seen you use one since we started this...uh...adventure...together.

Todd: Doesn't mean I haven't used it.

Tea: That's true.

[Todd squeezes out a large amount of toothpaste from Tea's tube.]

Tea: Uh, you know, you only need a small amount.

Todd: So, what, we have to have separate tubes of toothpaste now?

Tea: No. I just don't want to run out.

Todd: If we do then we'll use mine.

Tea: All this sharing from a man who has in the past claimed he didn't believe in sharing?

Todd: Maybe I've changed.

Tea: Maybe you have.

Todd: Or, maybe it's just you I don't mind sharing with.

[Todd quickly finishes and leaves the bathroom. Tea finishes and joins him in the darkened bedroom. There is silence as they both get into their separate beds.]

Todd: Tea?

Tea: Yeah?

Todd: In the bathroom...

Tea: Yes?

Todd: Never mind.

Tea: What?

Todd: All I saw was the shirt.

Tea: Oh...

Todd: No big deal. I just don't know if you want to sleep like that on sheets that you don't know who might have been doing what on.

Tea: I really didn't need that thought right now, Todd. To answer your question, though, I am wearing your shorts.

Todd: They working out for you?

Tea: They feel weird.

Todd: I swear they're clean.

Tea: Not that. I'm just not used to the feeling and they're too big for me.

Todd: You need me to go out? Maybe there's an all-night store for that.

Tea: An all-night panties store?

[Tea starts laughing.]

Tea: I can just image the kind of panties that would be sold at an all-night panties story...probably the kind you not only wear but can also snack on.

[Todd is silent.]

Tea: I'm sorry, Todd. Did I make you uncomfortable?

Todd: I can handle it. I'm a big boy.

chapter 9:

The next morning...

Todd awakes to bright light. Before he even opens his eyes he grumbles slightly, angry at himself for not closing the curtains the night before. He hates sunshine on his face in the morning, along with anything else that may appear chipper in anyway.

As his mind turns to thoughts of Tea, Todd begrudgingly opens his eyes, squinting at the light in the room that is far too bright for him to handle so early in the morning.

Todd is about to get up and yank the curtains closed but decides to first check if Tea is still asleep. When he rolls over and looks at his ex-wife's body in the other bed, a small distance from where he lays, any thoughts of darkening the room completely disappear from his mind.

Tea is lying in her bed, on her side, faced away from Todd, her body tangled in the bedsheets again. This time, though, she's unknowingly giving Todd even more of a view than she did the previous morning.

During the night, as she moved around in her sleep, the over-sized shirt she's wearing moved halfway up her back. The boxer shorts she borrowed from Todd are also too big for her and they moved slightly down during her restless slumber.

Todd stares at Tea's sleeping form for several minutes as his hand gradually moves toward the front of his pants, seeking relief from the strain that seeing Tea's bare skin is causing his body.

Todd tries to tell himself that it's no big deal...it's just her back...and, well, a little more of her...that is showing but his body's reaction signals that it is, in fact, a very big deal to him.

He thinks about making a loud noise so she'll wake up...and cover up. He doesn't. He considers rolling back over in bed so he's facing away from her again. He doesn't.

Stroking himself through his pants isn't satisfying enough so he unfastens them and places his hand inside his pants. He touches himself through his underwear for a moment but knows that he needs more. His hand enters his underwear and touches his own flesh. He only makes it a couple of stroke before he feels that he has to stop.

He feels guilty for watching Tea and using her for his own sexual gratification without her knowledge.

He wants release and he definitely needs it. It's been far too long since he felt that pleasure while in the presence of another person but the next time he feels that euphoric release he wants it to be with Tea not just because of her. He knew that before he returned to Llanview, before he returned to her, when he asked her to give up everything in her life but him...for him...for herself.

He knew then that he needed her...not just to satisfy his physical needs...not just to end the relentless tricks his mind played on the rare occasions he allowed himself to sleep, when he would think of her and feel her beside him as if she were real only to wake to the cruel joke of his own solitude. He knows now that he needs her in so many ways, most of which he doesn't even fully understand or isn't ready to openly admit to, not even to himself. He has accepted, though, that he does need her physically. He wants to touch her and, as bizarre as he finds it to be, he also wants her to touch him. He doesn't want to push it, though. It has to be Tea's decision to add a sexual aspect to their relationship.

He knows that traveling with Tea without taking care of that particular need while he waits for her to be ready for that part of their relationship to begin will be incredibly frustrating but he also feels certain that he and Tea will consummate their relationship very soon. He certainly hopes it will be soon...he needs it to be soon.

Todd considers approaching Tea's bed and touching the skin that is so tantalizingly being exposed to his gaze at the moment and seeing if she's ready yet but instead he rushes to the bathroom and a much needed shower.

Tea rolls over in bed as she awakens to the sound of the bathroom door slamming shut behind Todd. As she comes more fully awake she hears the water turn on for the shower. She has no idea that she was flashing Todd while she slept or about the unintentional effect she had on Todd's body when he awoke to the sight of her exposed skin before him.

Todd rushes through his shower, avoiding a certain body part that he's finding extremely difficult to ignore. When he finishes his shower he quickly puts his clothes back on and exits the bathroom. He's disappointed to find Tea awake. He was hoping he could continue watching her, even if it was physically torturous for him to watch but not touch. Tea notices his expression and is hurt by the look of displeasure on his face.

Not trusting herself to speak in this moment, Tea quickly enters the bathroom, unintentionally slamming the door herself in her haste to get away from Todd. Tea immediately turns on the water. Before she even begins to undress the tears start to form in her eyes. She tries to fight them back, not wanting to give him the power, even if he wouldn't know about it. She finds it impossible, though, to keep the tears from flowing. She quickly enters the shower, wanting to wash away the tears and keep them hidden, even from herself.

Tea tries to distract herself by thinking of other things but her mind continues to return to the look on his face when he saw her as he exited the bathroom. He didn't want to see her. He didn't want her to be there. It had been a mistake. Inviting her to come with him had been a mistake. One that he now regretted and must want out of.

As Tea steps out of the shower, she decides that she won't allow Todd to be the one to walk away from her this time. She'll put an end to this disaster herself. She won't even give him a chance to speak before she tells him that the current situation isn't working out for her and she's decided to go home without him.

Realizing that in her hurry to enter the bathroom she didn't bring a change of clothing in with her, Tea dries off and puts the outfit she wore to bed back on. She checks herself in the mirror to make certain that she doesn't look noticeably upset and takes a few deep breaths. With a determined look plastered on her face, Tea yanks the bathroom door open and enters the bedroom again.

chapter 10:

[Tea enters the bedroom of the hotel room she's sharing with Todd, determined that she will be the one to put an end to the latest ill-fated journey she and Todd have been on, before he has the chance to do it himself.]

Tea: Todd...

Todd (interrupting): You better hurry up and get dressed.

Tea: Don't interrupt me. I have something to say to you. Todd...

Todd (interrupting again): We can talk later. Right now we have to get out of here.

Tea: I'm not going anywhere with you.

Todd: Don't worry. I'm not suggesting we get back on the road and skip breakfast. I just thought that maybe you'd want to eat in a restaurant this morning.

Tea: A restaurant?

Todd: Yeah. I know that you secretly enjoyed yesterday's breakfast.

Tea: That wasn't breakfast. That was junk food.

Todd: I know and I know you enjoyed it but I figured that maybe we could try breakfast in one of those restaurants, you know, where they have real napkins and everything. We can sit across from each other and, well, talk or whatever it is that you think a normal couple would do when they have breakfast together.

Tea: You want to be a normal couple...with me?

Todd: Normal? No...of course not. Why would I want that? Luckily, we're not normal. We could pretend, though...just this once. And, you better enjoy it while you can because I don't know how often I'll be able to do this kind of thing. I can't stand perky people in the morning and I have a feeling that's what I'll have to put up with to do this for you. I think maybe I can take it today, though. I'll try. I know you're into this kind of thing. Just don't expect this every morning.

Tea: Todd, tell me the truth.

Todd: I wasn't lying, Tea. Perky people make me want to vomit.

Tea: How long were you planning on this trip lasting for?

Todd: As long as it takes.

Tea: For what?

Todd: I don't know. We'll figure it out as we go along, right? I mean, at some point we could find a regular place to live...I guess. Maybe Llanview...maybe not. Until then, we'll just keep going.

Tea: Where?

Todd: Wherever we want to. We can go anywhere, Tea. I'll take you wherever you want to go...every place you've ever dreamed of being.

Tea: Todd...I'm confused.

Todd: Okay. It's okay you're confused. I'm confused, too. We can be confused together.

Tea: That's what you want? You really want to be with me?

Todd: That's a stupid question.

Tea: Not really.

Todd: I went back to Llanview for you. I asked you to come with me. I thought it was pretty obvious.

Tea: It isn't obvious to me...at least not most of the time. In fact, earlier, when you came out of the bathroom, I was fairly certain that this...thing...whatever it is that we're doing here...wasn't what you wanted anymore.

Todd: Why the hell would you think that?

Tea: You looked like you were disappointed to see me. Like, maybe you didn't want to be around me anymore.

Todd: I thought you were better at reading me than that.

Tea: Apparently not.

Todd: Well, you're out of practice.

Tea: So, you weren't disappointed?

Todd: Disappointed?

Tea: Yes. Were you disappointed when you came out of the bathroom and saw me?

Todd: Well...

Tea (giving up): Oh, never mind. I've had enough. I can't keep struggling so hard to figure you out. It gives me a headache, Todd.

Todd: So? You give me a headache all the time. You always have. That's how you know it matters.

Tea: What are you saying?

Todd: If someone didn't matter to you then the stuff they do wouldn't annoy you as much.

Tea: So, you're saying I matter?

Todd: I'm saying you annoy the hell out of me. Can we go to breakfast now? I think you should put some pants on first, though.

[Tea looks down and realizes that she's still only wearing Todd's shirt and his boxer shorts.]

Todd: Especially since those, uh, shorts you're wearing have one of those...you know...things...in front.

Tea (looking down at herself): Can you see...

Todd: No. If you sit down, though, you might be, uh, showing something. Every guy in the place would be dropping their forks to get a look.

Tea: Would you?

[Todd looks away, clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation.]

Todd (heading for the door): I'll be at the car. Hurry up.

Tea: Wait.

[Todd stops and turns back toward Tea.]

Todd: Yeah?

Tea: Stay. (stepping closer to him) You're not going to make me carry your big, heavy bag, are you?

Todd: Why not?

Tea: Just wait, okay? I'll be ready in a few minutes. You haven't brushed your teeth yet, anyway. Have you?

Todd: I brushed them last night. (responding to the look Tea is giving him) Oh, what, now you're going to regulate my oral hygiene?

Tea: Well, uh, is there any chance that it could be important to me sometime in the future?

Todd: My oral hygiene?

Tea: Yes. Could there possibly be a point in time when it might particularly matter to me that your mouth is...uh...pleasant...and...(Tea pauses for a moment before forcing herself to complete her thought)...inviting?

[Tea fidgets with one of the buttons on the shirt she's wearing, nervous that she may have gone too far with Todd but also wanting an answer to her question and hoping desperately that the answer will be affirmative.

Todd doesn't respond immediately. He knows what Tea is asking and he knows that ultimately her question is about more than just whether they will be kissing each other in the future. He knows that she needs to know if their relationship will be taking a physically intimate turn in the future...the near future.

Todd chooses not to respond verbally but instead picks up the bag with his personal items and noticeably pulls out his toothbrush and toothpaste. Tea quickly retrieve her own toothbrush and joins Todd in the bathroom where they brush their teeth while standing next to each other in front of the sink, each trying unsuccessfully to sneak looks at the other without being noticed.]

to be continued...