Elizabeth Wakefield walked into her office at the L.A. Times, carefully hanging up her coat, and placing her purse in the bottom left drawer of her desk. She sat at her computer, scanning her emails first.

There was a knock at the door. "Hello?" she said, not looking up from her screen.

"Hey Liz, got a big favor to ask. Are you busy tonight?" Jerry Porter, a writer for the sports department asked, plopping into a chair directly in front of her desk.

"Not terribly. Why?" she asked, turning away from the monitor.

"I need you to take over an assignment for me. I have an interview set up tonight with Todd – uh, Wilson, I think his name is. He's the newest player for the L.A Lakers. Anyway Mia called. '

"How is she doing?" Elizabeth asked casually. She had met Mia when Jerry had brought her around the office. She was a swimsuit model based in Miami, and often flew out to California to be with Jerry.

"She was able to catch a flight out tonight, but I have an interview with this guy lined up. Right now he's so hot, it would take God to reschedule it. Can you take over for me?"

"Sure. What time?'

"Seven o' clock. He'll meet you at Vibe. Just tell' em you're from the Times. They've got a special room set up and everything."

"Sounds good. I'll be there. Any special angle you want me to get?" she asked

"Just something to introduce him to the Lakers fans," his cell phone went off, "Thanks Liz, I owe ya big time," Jerry told her, leaving her office to take the call.

Elizabeth immediately pulled up her Internet to research the Lakers. "Let's see what this hotshot is all about," she muttered as she waited for her screen to pop up. Her eyes widened in alarm. It wasn't possible.

She frantically rummaged through her purse and grabbed her cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Jessica, help me," Liz begged shutting the door to her office.

"Liz, what's wrong?" Jessica asked, mildly alarmed. She knew if it were anything major she would have felt it.

"I have an interview tonight."

"And – ," Jessica prompted.

"It's with the new Lakers player, Todd Wilkins."

"Oh yea, I heard from Lila he had moved back to California."

And you didn't tell me. Jessica, what is the matter with you?" Elizabeth demanded.

"Elizabeth, for someone who hasn't cared about the guy since high school, don't you think you're being a bit dramatic?" Jessica asked.

"Jessica, we're talking about my ex boyfriend here!"

"Elizabeth, relax. Oh, shoot. I'll be right there. Liz, I got to go. They're calling me on set. Do you need me to come over for wardrobe advice or anything?"

"I'll be okay, I think."

"Okay, let me know how it goes. All right?"

"Talk to you later Jess," Elizabeth said, hanging up her phone. She placed it on the desk, and thought for a moment. She could do it. After all she was a professional, wasn't she? Professional writers didn't let anything like past histories get in the way.

She didn't want to get back with him, she was sure, but she had always wondered just what had happened to him? Was he married? No, the internet said he was still single. Suddenly she was struck with a pounding migraine, wishing she had told Jerry no.

She ended up slipping out two hours early. "Not to get ready," she told herself sternly as she charged a brand new outfit to her credit card. The outfit was meant to impress. It wouldn't do for her to wear any old thing when she saw him again. If there was one thing she had learned in L.A, it was that image is everything.

She got home, and took out a box she kept under her bed. Full of clippings from the Oracle, and old SVH yearbooks. Carefully she took out the book from her junior year, and turned to the last page. It was simply signed "4Ever Yours, Todd". She flipped through the rest of the book and the other yearbooks reliving her high school years through the momentos that were laid out in front of her now.

She glanced over at her alarm clock. 4:04 the unforgiving digits read. She figured with L.A traffic it would take her about an hour to get to the restaurant which meant she had to leave at six, a quarter to six was even better which meant she only had an hour and forty five minutes to get ready.

She arrived at the restaurant at six thirty. However instead of pulling into the parking lot, she drove a mile down taking the exit that lead to the beach.

Her stomach was filled with anticipation. How much had he changed? How much had she changed? How would he react when he found out who would be interviewing him? Would he be angry? Surprised for sure. And part of her hoped he'd recognize how gorgeous she looked. She wore a black sleeveless top with black pants. Her sandals that she held in her hand as she walked along the beach were also black. She looked at her cell phone, and sighed. It was time to face the music.

Each step felt like lead as she tried not to let her feelings show. She was a professional, yes there would be personal talk, but that would only add to her article. The Laker fans would certainly get to know their new player and from an angle that Jerry would never have. But was it okay, or even ethical to bring up the fact that she and Todd had a past?

Personal points of view always did well, but how personal was too personal? "I'm with the L.A Times," she heard herself telling the matire'd.

"Ah, Miss Wakefield. Mr. Wilkins is waiting, if you'll come this way please."

'Oh no,' Elizabeth thought. She had hoped she'd beat him there. 'Well, here goes nothing,' she thought as she followed the waiter into a dining room that was exclusively reserved for VIP guests.