OCRP - Delia

 "So we are best friends? Right?" This was particularly important to Delia. Han didn't seem to think she had any friends. Not that he brought it up, but she knew. She knew by the way he was so careful around her, so as not to make her mad. Still, sometimes, she felt they needed to argue more.

She looked at Lizzie as if she'd gone and done something behind her back, chatting with Ezra. Why would she do such a thing?

"Yeah, of course, we are." Lizzie looked at her blankly as if she had nothing to hide, but still, Delia thought she must be hiding something since Lizzie was never around to do anything with, especially on the weekend.

"Well, where were you Saturday?" Delia kept an eye on her as they were doing laundry in the local laundry room down the hall.

"Saturday?" Lizzie squinted as if she'd have to think about that while she folded Cole's clothes as if she might be a professional maid on the side. Delia wanted to mess up what was already folded. It was aggravating to her. She wanted Lizzie's attention.

"Oh, I went thrifting." She nodded, remembering Cole had to work all day Saturday. She did mention how she'd found some pork on sale and stewed it in the crockpot most of the day, for pulled pork to go with the cole slaw she'd made. 

Delia sighed. Honestly, Lizzie was so productive. It was crazy in her mind. "What are you trying to do? Be Cole's mother?"

Lizzie cracked up at that. "Look, we need to have something to eat." She'd found free bread that the thrift shop left on a table. It gave Delia the shivers. No telling how old that bread was, but Lizzie would cut it and toast it and serve it to Cole, and maybe..just maybe someone else.

"Have you been talking to Ezra?" Delia snapped.

"What if I have?" Lizzie looked at her a little bit sleepy as if Ezra might have that effect on her, in the bedroom eyes sense.

"You better not tell him about me." Delia scowled, doing her best just to fold and keep up with Lizzie's adulting skills, only she was a newbie and clearly didn't like it.

"Now, what would we talk about?" Lizzie's lips practically gave way to a sly Joker smile.

Delia's brows furrowed. Why was it so hard to make friends?

OCRP - Cole

 

Cole sat down for an interview with Han to talk a little bit about himself.

HAN: So why the sudden move to Ocean City?

COLE: (Chuckles, brushes his back finger against his nose as if he's going to get to this question.) Uh, I fell in love with a girl. (He smiles as if he might be the JOKER a sputters into laughter). I just wanted to take a chance with Lizzie. She was in this bar with this Dude who only.... (he sighs and looks away) He can't be any good for her. He can't. She's just wasting her life with him, you know. I just wanted us to find our own place. And well, that meant getting help from my step-sister, Dakota. (Cole shrugs) So here we are. (His head wiggles back and forth as if he might be getting ready for clown school).

HAN: So, how old are you, and are you in college? You know, what's your major? That kind of thing?

COLE: Um, about that (He crosses his leg and pulls one knee slightly with his hands clasped). I'm still UNDECLARED. Its kind of hard to make up my mind. I..I did a little acting. Mainly, being an extra, that kind of thing. It's like I can't find my goal. I guess. I just keep changing my major, you know. I'm only twenty-two. (Cole shrugs).

HAN: So what's the plan now?

COLE: Plan? I don't know, I just let it happen when it wants to. (He shrugs as if it's no big deal) I'll take a few online classes. Try to get this library job down. (He shakes his head). I hate it so much. I can hardly stand to be there that many hours. I mean, my back hurts. My eyes are tired. I mean, I can't even woo Lizzie anymore. Life really sucks at the moment. (He sighs) Not sure how much more I can take it. I mean, you know how it is? You don't have a job either. It's like I need my freedom, man. Right?

HAN: (He has no answer for Cole, but looks at him quite perturbed).

OCRP- Ezra

 

Ezra wasn't sure what was happening. Sure, he was mad at someone, but didn't have time to be frustrated with Liz, who seemed right at home. Still, it left him confused. Didn't she just move into Dakota's place with Dakota's brother?

"Well, officially, they aren't real siblings," Liz explained. "And I'm not Cole's real girlfriend, either."

She gave him the eye as if maybe she'd been kidnapped or something, but was too afraid to say anything.

"I don't know what's going on." He pulled his fingers through his dark hair away from his face. Nothing had felt real for a long time, especially after losing Dakota.

"So I don't guess you really know Dakota?" He asked while she was looking for the size of the T-shirt that practically swallowed the doll, sitting on the couch.

"Not really, she hasn't said much to me. Actually, no one is really talking to me," She looked at him blankly as if she might as well be as lost as he was.

"Oh."

She said she got a job, but she knew it was temporary while someone was on pregnancy leave. 

"Well, maybe you'll be on permanently." Ezra found himself being optimistic. Although he would hate to tell her about his job. It consumed him with a lot of old books that he needed to find vital information, only he wasn't sure what 'vital' actually meant.

"Yeah, no." She shook her head. "I don't think so. They don't like the way I dress. My shoes are too comfortable. I'll be lucky if I survive the month," she sighed.

It was the first time, in a long time, that someone was telling him their problems. He went to get her a soda from the fridge. Han wasn't around to raid it, as of late, so there was lots to drink.

"So, what sort of job is it?" He popped the lid open and handed her the canned drink.

"A law office, but I still have to make fresh coffee in the morning. I have to make sure the breakroom is clean by the end of the day. I mean, any other girl Friday would have waltzed in, handing out coffee from Starbucks, but not me." She half laughed as she took a sip of the drink. "No, truck stop coffee is what they got. And Little Debbie Oatmeal pies."

"They expect you to supply goodies every day?" He thought that was insane. How could they treat a new person that way, he thought.

"No, I started a Breakroom Club. Twenty dollars if they want to join. And then treats vary, mostly a dollar or two. Everyone's paid up. Even the head honcho I'll probably never know." Liz looked calm, yet a little unsettled.

"So, how's Cole's job turning out?"

"Oh, he's a whiner," she told him. "His feet ached. He thinks he might have pulled his shoulder. It's his first job, you know."

"Really?" 

She shook her head, yes. 

"You know, I quite liked shelving books," Ezra remembered. 

"He thinks the pay isn't worth it."

From her look, evidently, he whined a lot. "He might be right about that." Ezra agreed. "So are you on full-time?"

"Well, it feels like it, but you know, it's just temporary," Liz said, looking overworked and underpaid.

"You'll have to give me your recipe for Truck  Stop Coffee," Ezra said.

"It's easy, two scoops for every cup," Liz told him.

"Well, I'm going to try it tomorrow," Ezra said, yawning. Liz was going to keep him up past his bedtime if they kept talking, but she seemed to know when to leave.

"Maybe we can go thrifting, Saturday morning if you're free," she said. She'd find some new clothes for Em. They could probably start in the preteen girls' area.

"Sure," Ezra found himself saying even when he meant to say no.

But First!

 

CAT FOR CASH is the latest for Thai First K. Puitrakul. He's like watching an old friend from high school who's awkwardly cool, and has a way of surprising just what he can do to make you keep coming back for another episode. And CAT FOR CASH is no exception. Nothing like bickering about money in a cat cafe. But the cat owner has left the building, and her son has to deal with the debt collector (First).

First got his start in 2016 in THE ASSASIN (a Thai film). In the BL world, his partner is "Khaotung" Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan. Each role they take on is someone different than who they played before. And of course, they play off each other, meanwhile. CAT FOR CASH is quirky, and sometimes, the cats take over. A GMMTV production.