"Goodnight!" Tawney yawned as she turned off her lamp. Tom mumbled a response, and soon both were sound asleep.
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"Have I got the story of the century!" A Harrison Michaels, a young reporter squealed as he rushed into the editing room of the New Horizon Magazine where he worked.
"What?" the editor asked.
"Just look!" Harrison said throwing the pictures down on the editors desk.
The older man's eyes widened as he studied the photos. "Kid, I can already see the promotions!" he shouted patting Harrison on the back.
"Well let's get them printing!" Harrison said grinning from ear to ear.
With that the two set about their work, completely wrapped up in their excitement.
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"So, about the party…I was thinking we could go get you a tux today when you get off work…" Tawney said meekly as she sat down beside Tom to read the newspaper, as was their morning routine.
"Sounds great" Tom said somewhat sarcastically from behind the sports section.
Tawney sighed in relief, "Oh, good…I was worried you would change your mind about going."
"Nope, I think it will be fun. I'm just nervous, that's all." Tom said lowering the paper to look into her eyes.
"You will be great. A bunch of rich snobs can't possibly be as intimidating as some of the criminals you deal with!" Tawney said, plopping herself down on Tom's lap.
"You have a point there…" Tom said, kissing her warmly.
"Jesus Christ….I really need to learn to knock" Booker said under his breath as he glared at Tom and Tawney.
"How did you get in here?" They yelled in unison, neither one moving.
Booker dangled the spare key, as he made his way to the kitchen table.
"Look, you and Penhall need to find a new way of spying on us, because using the same trick twice in a row is pathetic." Tom said casually.
"Funny Hanson, but that's not why I'm here" Booker said frantically.
"Okay then, I give up…what do you want?"
"Look!" Booker said throwing that morning's issue of The New Horizon on the table.
Tawney nearly fell off Tom's lap, and Tom choked on the toast he had been eating.
There plastered on the cover of the magazine were multiple pictures of Tawney and Tom in the park. The headline read 'A Mystery Man captures the Heart of Hollywood's Sweetheart Tawney Kale!'.
"Oh my god." Tawney said flatly as she picked up the magazine, and moved to another chair at the table.
"What am I going to do?" Tom said, more as a statement rather than a question.
"Do you know what this means?" Booker asked frantically.
Tom jumped from the table and grabbed the front of Booker's shirt, "Of course I know what this means, Dennis!"
"Hey…I came to warn you, don't get mad at me!" He said releasing himself from Tom's grasp.
"Sorry, I'm just a little upset…" Tom said sarcastically.
"Look, Fuller will know what to do, we just need to stay calm." Tawney piped in from the table.
The two men, who had completely forgotten her presence turned to face the beautiful girl.
Tawney approached her boyfriend and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It will be fine. Just, go and talk to him"
Tom looked at her for a second and then sighed. "Alright…stay here, I'll be back later".
Tawney nodded and gave him a quick kiss goodbye. "Thank-you…Dennis, was it?" She asked looking at Tom's co-worker.
"Call me Booker" He replied extending his hand to Tawney, "I'm a big fan!" He replied grinning
"Okay…okay…enough!" Tom said grabbing Dennis and rushing him out of the apartment.
"So does this mean I can have a ride to work?"
Tom rolled his eyes and continued down the stairs.
A few minutes later, they arrived at Jumpstreet. Tom lifted a shaky hand to the door. Well, this is it! He thought as he pushed the door open, and walked into the unknown.