"When We Stand Together" by Nickelback is currently playing on the sound system inside of Jojo's Café on this autumn weekday afternoon. Tanner Lockhart found relief in that it wasn't a lot of customers occupying the space. As soon as she got out of her last class of the day, she received a text from Tommy stating he wanted to meet up here to get started on their assignment for "Living With The Arts" she still can't believe Professor Barker had the nerve to assign her to partner up with her ex-boyfriend.

 

The thought of having to work with someone who you thought you could trust despite his womanizing past, who hurt her further by getting her ex-best friend pregnant the night of her father's wedding in Oahu last year.

 

So that is why she has an iced coffee while sitting at the lounge area, wishing he would cancel, but knows it would be postponing the inevitable meeting.

 

"Hey, I hope I'm not too late," Tommy Covington says to her. He got stuck in traffic on his way from campus.

 

Tanner crosses her legs. "No, I just got here about ten minutes ago myself."

 

The two of them feels the awkward tension in the room as he sits adjacent to her in the chair where he opens his backpack,

 

"So I think we should start with research on Bob Marley. I mean, Professor Barker didn't give us an exact outline to focus on," Tommy says

 

Tanner could never forget how much effort he puts into his academics, which is the reason why he has been on the Dean's List since freshman year,

 

So for five minutes, the two go on their various tech items to investigate one of the pioneers of reggae music.

 

The inconvenient sound of someone clearing their throat near them gets both of the college sophomores to lift their heads to see Tricia Lockhart with arms folded across her chest, not holding back her confusion as to why the two of them are together.

 

"Is there something you need, Tricia?" Tanner asks of her stepmother, whom she has never been close with, for several apparent reasons, including knowing she kept her in the dark regarding the entire Tommy and Jordan situation.

 

"Your friend didn't show for his shift again; do you have any idea of where he can be?"

 

Tanner exchanges a glance of uncertainty with Tommy before they both focus on her.

 

"He didn't show up in class this morning either; you think something happened?" Tanner says with some concern.

 

Tommy begins to remember last year, Elijah was late coming to work for the café. Though, he later showed up, stating he fell asleep.

 

"Well, wherever he is, he is over three hours late. I'm trying to be fair, but I'm running a business here," Tricia remarks frankly.

 

"Did you call him?" Tommy queries in an obvious manner.

 

Tricia flashes him a look to indicate how insane the question is. "Yeah, twice, went straight to voicemail."

 

"I'm going to call Lynn; maybe she knows where he is," Tanner takes out her phone to call her twin sister, who is Elijah's girlfriend.

 

Tommy gets out his iPhone to text his best friend when Elijah Barker walks more like stumbling into the café where he makes it over to the lounge where he sees his friends, and boss shows various reactions when they see him.

 

"We were about to send out a search party for you," Tanner says with relief.

 

"Yeah, you all right?" Tommy asks

 

Elijah nods. "Sorry --- I lost my keys, took forever to find them," he stammers.

 

Tricia, who has by now gotten closer to her employee, recognizes his current state.

 

"It's obvious as to why you probably lost those keys; you've been, drinking, haven't you, Barker?" Tricia responds knowingly

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