Dray I

Evening after the fight, the weed, and the explosion. Early September. Lou is home on her day off, Aron at school teaching (ESL).

Bus pulls up. 9 of the 12 enter. Lou braiding Annalise's hair. Lily and Abby in their respective rooms.

Dray walks past without speaking, but Lou brushes his arm gently and he doesn't react. Katie follows, staying as far from him as possible and immediately leaving the room.

Marlaina (Laina) jumps into Lou's arms. Jessica, Tarin, arm in arm, hug her, slip past to the fridge to get snacks. Melissa (Lissa) hurtles past, chasing Ahmed, who is giggling and ducking when she playfully swings her lunchbox at him. Jacob and Lucan sit down to snack and end up arm wrestling.

Enter Aron, looking exhausted. Melissa, Annalise, and the twins instantly swamp him.

Annalise, shouting above the others. "Make me fly, daddy! Make me fly like a bird."

Aron swings her up into the air, smiling at her giggles, and ruffles Melissa's hair. "Hey, my-Lissa." She grins. "How was school?"

All three girls try to talk over one another, and Aron attempts to listen as he sets down his briefcase and kicks off his shoes. He ruffles Lucan's hair, knocks Jacob's shoulder playfully, then swings Ahmed up off his feet.

Lou pushes through the crowd of children. Playfully. "Do I get a turn?"

Aron leans over, she kisses him.

Interrupted by Marlaina yelling. "That's mine, Annalise. Give it back!" They are fighting over a drum set, pulling one sequined drum stick back and forth.

Lou steps in, takes the drumsticks, trying to mediate. 

Annalise, pouting, climbs onto Aron's lap. Marlaina pushes her angrily. "I want to sit on Daddy's lap."

Annalise. "He's my Daddy, not yours."

From the kitchen, Dray scowls at Aron, who doesn't see it. "Annalise Morgan, let's think about a kinder way to use your words." Annalise pouts. Marlaina's lower lips trembles, and Aron pulls her onto his other knee. "And I have room for both of my daughters, okay?"

Laina nods, buries her head against his shirt. "Okay."

Dray's look softens slightly, then darkens when Aron looks over at him.

Aron. "Dray. How was school?"

Dray turns around and walks back towards his room without speaking. Lou opens her mouth, but Aron shakes his head just slightly.