"Can I come in?" Blaine asked from the doorway of Reese's office.
"Oh, Blaine. I completely forgot we were having lunch together. I'm way too swamped to go out right now. I'm sorry."
"It's ok," he replied. "Do you have a few minutes to talk?"
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I just found out my lease is up. Instead of having all summer to find a place, I've got to be out by the end of the week."
"I'm sorry," Reese sympathized. "That doesn't give you much time, but it shouldn't be too hard to find an apartment to rent or sublease."
"It's not so much finding a place that's the problem, it's paying for it. The campus computer lab only hires student workers, so I won't have that income anymore, and the Townsend Corporation doesn't need a full time computer tech . . .I was really counting on having the rent paid for the next few months while I found a full time job and saved up to pay off my student loans."
"I'm sorry, Blaine. I wish there was something I could do."
"It's alright. I just feel kind of dumb for not realizing all this stuff was coming up so soon. It's really messed up my plans . . .I guess if I get desperate, I can move across the country to live with my family for awhile."
"Oh," Reese said sadly.
"That's not what I want, but if nothing else comes up, I might have to."
"Blaine . . ." she said hesitantly. "If I hear of anything, I'll let you know."
"Thanks," he smiled as he made a move to leave. "Are you sure you can't get away for lunch?"
"I wish I could."
"Ok, I'll call you tonight."
As Craig walked down the street he noticed a "for rent" sign posted on the front of a building. He stepped back and took a broad view of the structure as a whole, before leaning forward to try and peer through the darkened window.
From what he could make out, the place looked to be a fairly decent size. It was mostly unfinished, but that left plenty of possibilities for someone to design the place in any style they wanted.
As Craig stepped back he nearly bumped into someone. He was about to apologize, but when he saw who it was, he held his tongue.
James shrugged and took a look at the building Craig had been checking out. "Thinking about renting it?"
"If I was, I'm sure you'd try to grab it up first," he said and started to walk away.
"Look. I'm sorry about what happened, ok? I was offered a record deal and decided to take it. I didn't think there was anything wrong with that."
"You didn't? You didn't think that passing off those songs as yours was wrong?"
"No, because they are mine . . .and yours. If I had been the one who was hurt in that accident and you hadn't been, don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same thing I did. Besides, the reason we're having this problem now is because you were playing those same songs for a producer."
"So I'm to blame? That's rich, James. Just great."
"I just want to drop this, ok? I'll have the copyright amended and your name added, the way it should've been in the first place."
"And you'll pay me my share of the profits?"
"From my recording? You're nuts. I'm trying to do the right thing here and you're just being greedy. Can't you drop this?"
"No, I'm not dropping it. I'm not letting you take advantage of my accident to steal my songs and don't give me the 'we can share them' business. Once they're out there, they're going to be known as your songs and I won't be able to use them myself without looking like a cheap rip off."
James threw his hands up in frustration. "I don't know what else I can do. I offer to give you credit for your work, I'll even give you the chance to record the rest of our songs first. I don't care. But I'm not going to pay you money for what I recorded on my own. This whole thing is crazy, man. What's your problem, going through lawyers? Why don't we settle this ourselves and be done with it? I'm tired of being stuck here waiting for this to be settled."
"You think I liked being stuck here with a broken arm while you went on with our tour without me?"
"I think you did. I mean, come on, man. You at least got a wife and a kid out of it . . .Is she the reason you won't let this thing go? Because you've changed."
"Don't talk to me again. I'll see you in court," Craig said and walked away.
"Marlene, would you trade sections with me?" Cassandra asked a fellow waitress as they worked together at the diner.
"Why? You've already got the best section."
"I just felt like working at the counter," Cassandra replied. She wasn't sure herself why she wanted to switch.
Marlene shrugged and handed Cassandra the sponge. "Sure. Knock yourself out."
A few minutes later when Blaine walked in and took a seat at the counter, she understood why she felt so desperate to take over the counter.
"Hey," she greeted him with a bright smile that quickly faded. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh hi. I'm ok, I just got some unexpected news today . . .This diner isn't hiring is it?" he asked only half-joking.
"Why would you want to work here? Aren't you a college grad now?"
"Yes, but until I find my dream job, I'm going to need to earn some money. I just found out I have to move out of my place and if I don't find a full time job soon I might have to move back to stay with my relatives for awhile."
"Oh no! Really?"
He smiled at her concern. "It's not my first choice, but it's also not the end of the world."
"Why don't you stay with us?" Cassandra asked suddenly. "Zara isn't coming home for the summer, so we have an extra bedroom."
"I appreciate the offer, but I can't really pay you much and I don't want to take advantage."
"You won't be!" Cassandra insisted. "We'd love to have you and you don't have to worry about the money. The house is Vanessa's and she doesn't charge us rent. If you wanted to contribute something you could just chip in whatever you can afford to help pay the bills. It would be a big deal."
Blaine weighed the options. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it will be fun."
"Great. Thanks. I promise I won't stay for long, just until I figure something out."
"Stay as long as you need," Cassie smiled.
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