“I’m not actually sure there’s any record I existed,” Myles sighed and shrugged. “Thanks, but it’s ok. Makes me appreciate this town more than most I guess.” Her eyes widened to hear what her mother had taken, each thing felt like something so important and sentimental. “Oh wow…I’m so sorry. Do you need a new cane? My fiancé, Toni, he’s wonderful at building things, I bet he could make a good one for you out of wood,” she offered. “Maybe I could ask around and try to find out who she sold those things to? I’m sure if I explained and offered them ration cards they would be happy to return your things. I could even put a notice up at the library where I work.”

He blinked in surprise, not the answer he was expecting. Hell, James wasn't entirely sure he heard Mylene right. "CPS never came knockin'? Fuck kid, I'm sorry." At her own question he shook his head. "Well, my fuckin' cane for one. Bitch," he scoffed, still clearly mad about that one. "My watch, ration cards, box of mementos. It was full of old newspaper clippings, photos, that kinda thing. Also had all the medals I was awarded as a cop, but she wasted no god damn time in pawnin' that off."

“Yeah,” Steph nodded slightly, her voice trailing off. “I’m…his ex actually. I’m glad to hear you two are working things out though, I know he changed his last name to keep you guys safe but I always hoped that distance wouldn’t last forever,” she smiled a bit. “He never mentioned me, did he?” she shrugged.

"Yeah - you know Eric?" He frowned a little. He didn't know anyone that Eric would have - and that was on purpose, he was sure. "Sorry - I mean, we sort of didn't talk for a while. I do know he's here - I ran into him a couple months ago. We've sort of just been trying to figure out how to be brothers again."

Sawyer’s heart was racing as they ran inside and she watched as people started shoving things under the doors to seal the cracks. “Yeah, just wasn’t expecting it to burn like that,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “What the hell was that? Acid?” She looked at her shirt, it got some on it but the fabric was intact. “Not acid but…what the fuck? Are you ok?” she looked up to their eyes and scanned their face before just quickly wrapping them in a tight hug and letting out a deep breath.

"You're gonna give me a big head," Ridley mumbled, but started moving to the music before the rumbling disrupted them. "Fuck," they instinctively wrapped their arms around Sawyer, jaw dropping as the 'rain' started pelting down on them. "Shit - fuck - yeah," the water hurt but honestly the barely noticed - they were moving towards the doors of the dance hall, wanting to make sure they were safe before too much panic happened. "Are you okay?" They were just barely inside before Ridley turned to assess Sawyer, eyes concerned. "You screamed."

Steph’s eyes widened at the mention of his last name. Sure, it could have been a coincidence, but the fact that he also had a brother who was a journalist? “Cerulli? Oh my god… you’re Eric’s brother?” She tried to wrap her mind around both of Eric’s siblings also being here, people she knew existed but had never known what they looked like. People she used to imagine as her future family one day. “I…yeah I found him. You know Eric is here too, right? He’s who I came to find.”

"Oh yeah? My brother writes. A journalist." Lance commented. "It was sort of strange; but good, in a way. She is here, yeah. I didn't realize she was, but I think she had a similar idea to me. Us Cerulli's are built different." He let out a soft chuckle, but immediately gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm really sorry about that. No one really wants to be stuck here, but at least you found him?"

“Oh I think I’m already swept,” Steph teased. “Were you travelling alone? Maybe this really is your purpose, maybe you’ll just be the one to find a way out of this place,” she smiled, not entirely sure that was possible but you never know. “He is,” she nodded. “We met through our work, I’m an editor and he’s a journalist. At the time he was doing such amazing things, really helping people. I really admired him, I still do.”

"Better. I really will sweep you off you feet if I have to," Donovan threatened with a smile. "Less of a vacation more of a what's my purpose now... I just kinda lost all sense of who I was when I got out of the Navy. Guess my purpose was whatever this place is." At least for now. He gave her a little bit of a knowing smile and laughed. "You said it not me... Can't wait to see this guy. He must be one hell of a person to have you care this much. Where'd you guys meet?"

Sawyer blushed and kissed them back, looking up at them with a coy smile. “I think I can handle it, but you just somehow got even sexier.” She started to move with them, when suddenly the ground started to shake, making her wrap her arms around them tightly. “What the hell?” Before she could say more the water started to gush out from the crack and rain down on them, her eyes went wide when the feeling of it stung her skin and she screamed. “We have to get inside!”

"I like to think we do," Ridley admitted softly, grinning at her as she took their hands. "Maybe I can show you a few moves, if you really think you can handle them." Giving her hands a quick tug, they pulled her in for a sweet kiss. "I'd dance with you anywhere."

"When it comes to asking someone to be my date, yeah definitely," Steph laughed. "I'm an editor, my comfort zone is in the written medium." She raised a brow listening to his explanation, she couldn't imagine coming back to your home town to something like this. "I'm sorry, that must have been so strange to come back to. Is your sister still here too? Um, yeah. I was worried about someone who went MIA around here supposedly, so I came to try and find him, make sure he was ok. Got my answer at least," she forced a laugh and shrugged.

"Oh yeah? You usually more reserved than that?" She seemed outgoing enough; but being outgoing and asking strangers out were two different things. "About a year; I lived here before. My sister was born here, and I stayed here for a few years before moving away. Why'd you come here on purpose? Tracking someone down?"

Sandra couldn’t help but smile at his reaction, she got the feeling he was just as on board as she was. She laughed softly and moved one of her hands to his cheek, moving her thumb across his skin. “I’m glad you agree. You know, we could leave whenever you like. As much as I adore the public declaration, I’m also very interested in a private expression of how I feel for you,” she smirked, feeling more bold than usual.

It had been years since Jacob felt like he could just be himself. When he decided on the path he did, he knew the cost would be never entirely speaking his mind or doing what he wanted to do again. He had a moral obligation to others and he was proud of that. He was still proud of that. But in Sandra’s eyes, he knew what he had been missing out on. He never felt so strongly about someone and knew they felt the same. Almost 20 years. This was good. It had to be. Jacob blinked as she whispered more, his heart beginning to pound in anticipation of what she might say— only to end up swallowing hard as the flustered feelings flooded in. “I—” He coughed, trying to regain composure. “Mmm hmm! I think time alone together would be— good. I’d like that. We should. Yes. Absolutely.” He realized he had just said yes in a million ways. “If this truly is a test of restraint, I’m afraid I've failed far before you have.”

“Nice to meet you,” Steph smiled and gave him a nod. “Honestly that was a surprise for me too, asking out a stranger isn’t my usual thing,” she laughed. “More like came here on purpose than stumbled in, actually. But how long have you been here? Was it hard to socialize before?”

"You're bolder than I am, in that case," Lance grinned. "Lance; sorry you stumbled into this place, but at least you came at the right time, socialization wise. And look, you're even getting strangers off the street to agree to be your date. Much better than I could ever do."

Amy was caught off guard by the sudden offer, but she smiled all the same. “You’re really hot and that’s a generous offer, but are you sure that won’t just make you feel worse about the whole love thing?” she wondered. “We’re still too young to already talk about being alone forever. You seem way too nice to have that be a problem for long. Don’t get so down on yourself yet, ok?”

“Noooo love is awesome! I love loving people,” Nico insisted. He shook his head. “I like making others feel good, you know? I just . . .” He shrugged. “I think maybe it’s not in the cards to get, like, a relationship. I’ll be alone my whole life giving to other people. That’s my lot in life.” He looked over at her, lowering the shuttered glasses to peer over them. “You want me to make you feel good? I could.”

“Cause we really get each other, huh?” Sawyer offered, a slight smirk on her lips. Then she took their hands in hers and started twisting her hips back and forth playfully. “Alright, you gonna show me your moves? I bet you’re a great dancer.”

"This is why I like you so much," Ridley commented idly, throwing a quick look at Sawyer before peering inside the dance hall. "It feels like such a waste, even if it's your clothes your chopping up." They paused for a moment before turning to her. "Besides, I'd rather dance out in the daylight with you instead of in a dance hall where everything is stuffy."

Jessie chuckled and kissed him back, holding him close and swaying back and forth. “It doesn’t have to be complicated, just swaying back and forth works,” she quickly touched her nose to his and grinned. “You’re partnered with a professional after all, I’ve got you.” When the music became slow she turned her head to rest it on his shoulder, tucking her face into his neck as they moved.

He chuckled softly watching her twirl around him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Swaying the music "Maybe only a little bit, I've never really done this before..." He chuckled nervously. Events like this he normally stayed home, he never went to Prom. He did it really care to go then. But seeing Jessie tonight it made him so happy he was there with her. He to her hand pulled in to a twirl before pulling her back and placing a kiss to her lips.

Ruby grinned and held their hand tightly, leading them back to her little farm. She liked the idea of them matching, that they actually wanted to be visibly tied to her in a public setting like that. She looked up at them as they walked, the sunlight hitting their blonde hair just made them look angelic, it was breathtaking. “I’d like that very much.” Then when they arrived at her farm she waved at her sheep out of habit, forgetting she was usually by herself when she did that. She blushed and opened the front door. “Well…this is it. It’s not much but it’s just me here so it’s nice,” she smiled and shrugged, leading them into the cozy farmhouse.

Breathlessly they heald on tight to her. Their faces only inches apart he could see the blush that formed on her cheeks. He gently ran the back of his hand on her soft skin. Taking her in while he was so close to her. "I'd be happy too, I already know what I'm wearing so I can help you find something so we match" he whispered softly. Pulling away fully to offer her his hand so she could take them to her place "Lead the way"

“A relationship? I just asked a stranger on the street if he wanted to be my date,” Steph laughed, realizing it sounded pretty funny out of context. “It doesn’t have to be more than just someone to dance with. But I’m sure if you want to dance alone, that’s totally fine too. I’m Steph by the way, haven’t been here long so I don’t really know many people yet.”

"That's what I was thinking, but it's nice to get a second opinion," Lance offered her a smile. She seemed somewhat familiar; like he had seen her around - however if she was new, maybe she just looked like someone else. "Nah; I wanted to come, but I don't really have the kind of relationships that it felt appropriate to ask anyone to come with. So I'm flyin' solo today."

“I hope so too,” Steph smiled a bit and nodded. “Damn, yeah me either. I just got here a couple weeks ago and I’m already exhausted. Sorry to hear your vacation got cut short though, that’s shit luck. I uh…heard through coworkers that my ex had gone missing around here. I knew he wasn’t in a good place so I came to try and find him and make sure he was ok,” she sighed. “Not coming off very smart, am I?” she joked.

Donovan chuckled, "I'd hope it wasn't in a creepy way... I just hope he's gonna treat you as right as you wanna treat him." He gave her a bit of a look and shrugged. "Since February. I can't imagine being here since all this shit started... I was on a road trip after getting out of the Navy and ended up here. How about you?"

“Yeah, that sounds like what I should do too,” Drew shrugged. “I always think hey, maybe this one won’t be torture, but it always is. What happened to ruin your day already?”

James shook his head, sighing. "Eli dragged me to this stupid thing. After the day I've had I'd rather just be home. Might dip out early at least. Say I tried. You?"

“Yeah, I don’t see a problem with that,” Morgan nodded, then took notice of his limp. “What do you know about the case so far?” she began, but then took a moment to clarify. “Sorry, are you Beau’s friend? Sawyer mentioned one whose leg was injured and you kind of fit the bill. Did the clinic not give you something to help for support?”

He nodded, limping next to Morgan as the found somewhere a little less crowded. "I got asked as a personal favor to look into a missing person's case. Part of me is tellin' ya in good faith, in case anythin' comes of it. The other is to ask if I can possibly use any resources yer department has. If not I understand. It ain't an official investigation an' yer not obligated to help me out in any way. But it don' hurt to ask either."