this is not enough

Natalie couldn't stop herself from thinking about Joon, lately. Especially, when she was waiting for Kramer.

She didn't mean for it to happen, but it was better to think about all those talks with Joon.. than to be furious with Kramer.

If he only knew just how mad she could get, but once Kramer arrived, all smiles and ready to take her anywhere..she would play right along.

But that had changed with Joon around. She wasn't so happy to see Kramer, anymore. Although, it was quite an act to play along with him.

She tried to explain this to Holly, but of course..Holly's mind was elsewhere. Not so much about her boyfriend's ex who had a baby, but the future with Dustin. Could she possible go back to England with him for a couple of weeks of summer vacation?

Of course, it always came back to the fact that they both had to work.

"Why don't you work, Natalie?" Holly would look a bit disgruntled at Natalie, as if they weren't the best of friends, after all.

Natalie never had much to say about herself. Her grandmother had raised her and always wanted her to think about her education. That was her work. And a little volunteering, here and there. Natalie was certain Holly didn't want to hear of this. After all, Holly was not close to her own family.

Still, it felt like a play to Natalie, and she wasn't even a drama major. Yet, she was part of the supporting cast. Always there to be the supportive girlfriend and best friend.

Yet, little dizzy thoughts would rush back to Joon. She liked to watch his many funny faces. Yes, she'd even admitted to her grandmother (on their Sunday night phone calls) she liked to watch him eat.

"Then what are you doing with Kramer?" Her grandmother's question stung her deep.

Maybe it was the idea of sticking with the tried and true. Or Natalie didn't want to think anything was broken with Kramer. She would have to stop thinking about Joon.

method acting

Simon looked across the booth at Ivy. He knew they wouldn't be very good at this. No way could they convince anyone they were going out. He was certain they were too much alike.

Why did he ever tell her that Bree had been texting Randy?

"Its..Its probably nothing." Simon shook his head. He was beginning to think he didn't trust girls. Yes, there was that one time, he thought he had a girlfriend. The one.. more older..while all along, he was just some boy who hung out with her when she wasn't really dating.

It was beginning to feel that way with Bree, too.

Simon didn't mean to be so sensitive, but he thought he was going to breakdown in tears.

"I hate her." Ivy confessed to Joon. She'd never said this to Simon, about Bree.

Simon couldn't take her eyes off her. Was she standing up for him?

"I don't like what she's doing to Simon. I don't like what she's done to Randy." She was in a pout, as she sipped her cold coffee.

"I don't think there is anyway, you can make Bree jealous." Simon shook his head.

"I think the both of you, need to go to theater camp." Joon pointed at the flyer behind Simon's head. They both turned to look. It was something for high schoolers. "I don't think either of you are prepared, at all for this summer." He looked at Ivy then to Simon.

"Just talk to them." He was straight lipped. "At Ivy's house. That way, your mom can referee if it gets out of hand."

"No, that..that..sounds awful." Ivy said she didn't trust her mom one bit. "She screams at people." She shot Joon a look, that would be unthinkable.

Joon bit a grin.

"Does this mean...I have to be there?" He looked at her, again and then Simon. Neither said a thing. Joon got up as soon as he heard the door jingle. He went back to kitchen to get ready for coffee orders.

"And..and that guy was your boyfriend?" Simon winced.

"No." She looked so certain of it. "It was just something my parents used to tell me. We used to bath together when we were babies."

Simon nodded, he needed to ask his brother Xander if this was weird.

down at the coffee shop

What was the big deal? Joon didn't know what they were going on about...but Holly knew someone in a band. And their gig was so good at the Summer Nights Festival on campus..they'd been asked back for a full concert..next week.

"And we're going." She acted as if she had free tickets, already.

"I dunno." It sounded like it might be expensive. Why was she making it out to be a field-trip of some kind? It was here on campus. Maybe he could listen for free, standing at the big fountain by the liberal arts building.

"I promised my friend, we'd all be there to support her man." The look she gave Joon was fierce. He backed away and went to wash up some dishes in the kitchen sink of the coffee shop.

"Natalie will be there." Holly chimed in, but then mentioned Kramer. "You, could bring someone."

"I dunno." Why was he letting himself being roped into this?

"Oh, come on." She was almost in a stomp.

The door jingled and Holly was back to being her customer service self.

Joon soon heard his name. A girl was asking for him.

To Joon's surprise it was Ivy, and she wasn't with her brother nor her boyfriend. Some guy with dark curls.

Joon looked him over. The fellow seemed more suitable and studious, than her boyfriend Randy.

"Hey." Joon looked at her, as if there might have been something different about her. "What's..up?"

"Well, I knew you worked here." She shrugged and introduced him to Simon. "Just wanted to see what you are up too?"

"What are you up too?" Joon pointed a finger and was probably more goofy than he meant to be. "Where's your boyfriend?" He stared at her a look that he was keeping an eye on her.

She winced back,...it was none of his business.

He went to get them a cold brew. Simon wanted his sweet and some cream. Ivy drank her's black. They sat in a booth in the corner, across from each other. Perhaps, they were just friends.

"So? What is really going on?" Joon scooted in next to Ivy. True, there was a lot he didn't keep up with lately. But he lived with Ivy. How did he not know she was having troubles with Randy. "What happened?"

making it happen

Derrick..still, couldn't believe his wife Rossie was letting him do this(join a band). But as she said, "Get this out of your system before you're too old, to do it."

She was the one who connected him to this gig, as it was.

"You know, you're first love is music." She told him.

And he was only going as the drummer. It would be six weeks of summer without her and baby Asia.

Actually, he missed them already, and he hadn't even left town. Thankfully, they were there for the show.

Naturally, Derrick wasn't in the lime light. He knew he could get used to that. He knew this might be his last chance to do what was second nature to him.

He'd probably been playing music a lot longer than anyone here. Of course, he wasn't so sure if he could get used to testy El, who always had to have everything in perfect order. Somehow, El made him feel they might be better off without him. He was such a stickler for everyone to have their act together.

Bo, the kid and lead singer was laid back enough. And Keith..well, Derrick thought he'd seen one of his shows..but that was just a blur..perhaps. Still they both had young families, so Derrick thought they could stick together through the duration of the weeks, ahead.

But this manager. She was so young. How could headquarters let her take so much on? He wondered if she had a thing for the lead singer..or maybe it was the other way around.

Derrick was certainly for from circles like this. After all, he'd managed the diner for the most part. Lately, his skills were in math and where to find the best suppliers for the ingredients they needed to make a good burger and fantastic fries and onion rings.

Was he sure he wanted to forget about that kind of thing this summer?

There was Max (his brother) to take on his duties at the diner.

A lot of people were asking if the diner was closing. Derrick didn't know who was starting the rumor. The Chinese place next door was always packed. People who went to that place were parking in the diner parking lot.

Derrick hoped Daisy's Diner would stay afloat. Of course, Daisy herself never ate a meal there.

Derrick wasn't sure what might happen by end of summer, but he was going to enjoy this working vacation, as much as he could. Still, he need to focus on his life with his little family. It was the only thing that was true.