like a shooting star

 If only there was Vanna's sister, Alison to worry about, Slater might be on the road somewhere. He'd had a nice time with her. They'd gone to the old market where everything was in full throttle and tried some of the places for drinks and then food and then live music. It had been the best prom date ever, without the prom. Perhaps the night was perfect. Not so much humidity. Still hot, but plausible. And they'd watched the evening grow dark together. Yes, she was probably too good for him.

This was what he told Misty when he got back. Of course, she was waiting for him in the courtyard.

"Want to have a beer with me?" Of course, he'd looked at her wondering where that was coming from.

"What's going on?" Of course, he had to nurse on one just to listen to all her troubles with Bishop. She still hadn't seen him.

He kept quiet. Slater had promised Bishop he wouldn't tell her what he knew of him. Another beer later, he was crying. But he couldn't tell her why. He knew why Bishop wouldn't call her. Bishop didn't even want her to hear his voice. Misty might know he was a cripple.

Of course, it was a crazy night that didn't start until well after midnight. Slater spent the night with Misty. 

"You are a fool," Jay informed him by the time he did make it home. "You could have at least called. I was worried all night." He had the baby to feed. Of course, he was practically sleepwalking after hours of being frantic. 

Slater gave him a nod. Jay was probably right. But then again, maybe nothing happened at Misty's. She probably hated him too. And he didn't want to talk to her about it. He'd gotten away at sunrise, so maybe she'd never know. But he knew that was dumb. 

If they didn't see each other, he knew that was best.

"I know, I was on such a good roll," Slater winced, after a good hot shower and back in his sweat pants and tee. "I was going out on real dates, not just sitting on somebody's couch finishing off food nobody else would eat. God, I'm an idiot. Not just a fool." He really was mad at himself.

"What are you talking about?" Jay was off in another world. After all, he was a single father of an infant. 

Maybe if Slater used his magic talent of chatting people up he could get Misty and Jay together and all would be well with the world. But then again, he'd slept with her. 

Slater shook his head. He knew it was more than that. What in the world were they thinking. She was thinking a whole lot out loud. Something about, she'd just imagine she was with Bishop if she was with him.

"She doesn't even know what he looks like," Slater winced hard. It gave him the shivers.

"What?" Jay called from the bathroom.

Slater looked up at the ceiling and hugged himself hard. This better just be a one-off, he thought.