Ryleigh's comment stung slightly. He had it coming to him, and while she may have meant it jokingly, he knew her well enough- at least back then- to know when she was covering hurt in her voice. Top that with the look on Valerie's face and it made it even worse. His chest nearly erupted from the pain that was coming from it. Seeing his old friends in his home, knowing that he'd never see Austin again... the sound of Val's slightly trembling voice as she did her best to keep a brave face on for not him, but for her other friends hurt him more than leaving that day a decade ago. Her question felt like a slap to the face, a stab in the chest, a yearning for love all at once. He didn't know what to say at first. He swallowed hard trying to stop his own slight shaking. "It's been good." He managed to say, giving slight nervous nods. 

"How are you?" His lips asked, but as he looked at her, his eyes were practically saying: [i]"I missed you more than I've ever missed anything before."[/i]

Before he could even get a response he heard a gasp come from Ryleigh, and as he looked up he could see a cloud of smoke coming from the small kitchen window from behind the bar. "Jimmy! You alright in there?" Ray called out, moving towards the back. "Yep, yep... just forgot to clean out the grease trap from last night is all!" He called out with a cough. "God damn, Jimmy, I'm surprised you haven't burned this place to the ground yet!" Ray called out, a bit of his southern accent coming out as he rushed to help in the kitchen. Jimmy smiled slightly as he saw Ray come in. Hearing his frustration felt like a blast from the past. It always seemed to go that way when they were all together. A chaotic mess with either Austin or Val to try and calm the situation.

Once the potential fire was put out, the bar seemed to get quiet again, only the soft sound of country music filling the air. Jimmy had urged Ray to help himself to a drink at the bar where he found Ryleigh and Val again. "He hasn't changed much has he?" He laughed and shook his head, looking behind the bar for a beer. "Oh man... Haven't had a Sweet Water since I was in high school." Ray muttered, pulling out the beer from the local brewery from the layer of ice. As he popped the can he looked at the two girls with a nervous smile, not entirely sure what to say, and trying to figure out what was going on in their minds. "'Member when we all snuck into this bar with fakes, and we nearly got into a bar fight because someone was flirtin' with Ryleigh and Jimmy swung a pool cue at the guy?" Ray said with a chuckle. 

"I remember almost getting free drinks for the rest of the night before Jimmy tried to swing a pool cue and he ended up hitting the stool next to the guy." Ryleigh replied. "He wouldn't've bough you nothin' but well whiskey and PBR." Jimmy came through the kitchen doors holding a tray of food. "I did you a favor."

"What about me? Damn guy broke my sideview mirror as we drove off." Ray commented, taking the basket of the burger and fries from his friend, giving a nod of thanks.

As Jimmy passed out the food, he set an extra one down towards the end of the bar with a cocktail of fireball and lemonade. "For Austin" Jimmy explained quietly. No one seemed to mind. Raymond lifted his drink in the air. "To Austin." Ray's voice cracked slightly before taking a sip. Fortunately for everyone Jimmy was good at getting people talking and easing the awkwardness out of the room. The burgers were about as good as Ray was expecting, and he wasn't sure if it was the drinking, the nerves, or both, but the burger and conversations were getting better and better as time went on. "How long you plan on stayin', Ray?" Jimmy eventually asked, pouring an unhealthy amount of ketchup next to his fries. Ray played with the beer can in his hand, shrugging a bit. "Dunno... Obviously gonna stay for the funeral, but after that... Not really sure what the plans are." Raymond stole a quick glance at Val before looking at everyone else.

"Well... I got another surprise for ya. Austin had always wanted us to all get back together- and- well, you know... spend a weekend at the lake house." Raymond's eyes went wide, and his heart started to beat faster. "I know it's a lot, but... I think it'd be good for the lot of us. Give us time to hang out and remember Austin... Give us a time to catch up, relive old times." Jimmy trailed off looking at his own drink. Ray's eyes moved to everyone. He didn't really know what to say, but he knew that he already felt immeasurable guilt for a lot of things... Letting Austin down and refusing his last wish wasn't something he wanted to do, but at the same time, the last time he set foot in that house was when-

He looked over at Valerie once more and his throat swelled. "I don't know, Jim... There's a lot of bittersweet memories in that house. Allota baggage, too." Ray said, trying to be vague and doing his best not to look over at Val. "I'm just not sure if I can get the courage to go there without Austin." Raymond finished the last of his beer with a sigh. "I get it, but to be honest with ya, I have a feelin' this will be one of the last times we can all be there as a group. Austin's still fresh in our thoughts and memories, and I don't wanna go another ten years down the road and forget him just how we forgot about y--" Jimmy had been drinking too much, and while he didn't let the whole thing slip, Raymond got the gist of what he was saying. [i]'We don't wanna go another yen years down the road and forget him like we did you.[/i]

"Look, if one of us doesn't go, we all aren't going... But whatd'ya guys say? Hold it to a vote?" Jimmy raised his hand. "All in favor?" He looked at the three of his friends, all obviously unsure and hesitant about it, but eventually, in an act of bravery (and guilt) Raymond held up his hand while his other one reached for another beer.