Tommy really did love her, in fact. She reminded him an awful lot of his baby sister, Rebecca, and hanging out with Chelsea was like being home in Chicago, playing stupid games like Lava that he and Becks made up when they were bored with the television. Ever since he'd met Chelsea a few years ago when they'd started rehearsals for 'Spring Awakening,' he'd had a special bond with the girl and their friendship had only grown stronger through the years until he was more than comfortable admitting aloud that he loved her like family.
"Well, we're starting with an epic 'catching-up' walk around the park, because you went and decided to get a life without me for reasons I can't figure out," he began, as he hooked her arm into his and started her off down the walkpath along with him, "then we're going to feed the ducks at the pond, and I'm so not going to push you in at all, and after that, we're going to play Freeze Tag with those kids and their moms over there. Get hyped." Tommy turned his head and gave her a bright smile and a jaunty wink. "Oh, and as long as you're sure about surviving slushieless ... I mean we could always detour back to the dega and get some new ones before rehearsal."