out there somewhere

"I used to think I knew how to handle, Evy," Ray said while he was buying Dean lunch at the campus coffee shop.

It had been ages since he'd seen Ray. After all, Ray was busy with classes at the University and football. They'd been roomies once at the foster home, but Ray was in college now. Dean didn't think Ray would have time for him.

"But she's taking some college classes too." Evy wasn't on a scholarship like Ray. Actually, she wasn't at the university taking major classes, just online. Maybe that was why she was acting so reckless, thinking she couldn't dare live up to Ray.

"Yeah, I hope she'll stick with it." Ray told him.

"She's not studying?" Dean hadn't kept in contact with her. She was out on her own now. She moved in with some girls she knew in high school.

"I hope so." Ray shrugged as he paid for their lunch. "I guess she calls it a fresh start, but its stale to me. I don't think she really knows what she wants."

"Yeah, that's going around a lot." Dean smiled. He talked to Ray about Vada, how she was seeing two guys at the same time.

"Really?" Ray chuckled.

"I don't think she knows what she's capable of. Sometimes, I don't think she'll let herself have fun. She's still got Cody hanging around, but this might be a real boyfriend, who's always there. Honestly, I think she could make him jump through hoops." Dean bit a chip, thinking Ray didn't really want to know what was going on at home.

"I don't want to see her growing up too fast." Ray shook his head.

"Well, she might get taller, but I think Vada will be just fine." Dean nodded as he started to eat.

"I do my best to see Evy, at least once a week. You know, take her out on a real date. Show her what one is suppose to look like. I have a feeling she finds the whole thing boring." Ray told him. He sounded as if he couldn't unfix what was already between them.

"I'm sure she'll appreciate it. One day." Dean told him she'd figure it out. Ray was a good guy.

"But she doesn't want a good guy." Ray shrugged. "What have, you, been up too?"

"Just working," Dean said with a certainty. "Well, I did get asked to the homecoming dance." Dean was even lipped about it. He seriously wasn't sure why Josie asked him. She could have asked anyone.