"J...Jeremy!" Jessica stuttered nervously as she gazed into his brown
eyes. Correction. His gorgeous brown eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here. I got a job doing research at the museum. A friend of
mine told me if I wanted to see a hot girl then I should go see this play.
I was surprised to find out it was you."
"Your friend told you about me?" Jessica said, her eyes sparkling.
"Is that a good thing?" Jeremy said laughing.
"Yes. If I want to be a famous actress then I have to be at the tip of
everyone's tongue."
"I've never seen you this passionate about acting. You were in the high
school plays but I didn't know you wanted to make a career out of it."
"Well, there was a lot of things you didn't know about me."
Jeremy shifted uncomfortably and Jessica softened. "I'm sorry. How have
you been? How's Melissa?"
"I've been great. I had a great time in Arizona. I got to travel all
over the country. It didn't even feel like school."
"And Melissa?" Jessica inquired.
"What about her? I haven't seen her since I left. We decided not to
write or call, so, who knows?"
Jessica nodded. She couldn't believe Jeremy was so...indifferent.
"So how was college for you, Jess?"
"Great! I was president of of my sorority and it was a lot of fun."
"And how's Liz?" Jeremy asked.
"How should I know?" Jessica said shrugging. "I'm not her keeper."
"You mean you guys didn't make up? It's been over four years!" Jeremy
exclaimed.
"So?" Jessica challenged.
"You guys were always so close."
"So were we," Jessica retorted.
"Jess, I thought we'd agree to move on."
Jessica smiled a little. "Yeah. So are you seeing anybody? Were you?"
"I kind of dated around, there were so many girls, and I was never in
a place long enough to get attached. How about you?"
Jessica stared at Jeremy, amused. He'd certainly changed. "I dated a
few guys in college. Right now I'm dating a guy I met junior year."
"You're pretty serious then?" Jeremy asked.
"Very."
"That's too bad. I guess that means that I can't ask you out."
Jessica laughed. "You can. As friends."
"Okay, want to go out with me tomorrow night? As friends?" Jeremy
mocked.
"Sure," Jessica said. She grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled out
her address. "Pick me up at seven."

Jessica unlocked the front door.
"Hey sweetie!" Ryan called out from the kitchen. "You're out of root
beer!"
"So," Jessica said lightly. "I don't drink the stuff."
"But your boyfriend does," he said coming in and kissing her.
"Then buy it for yourself. I swear, you spend more time over here then
you do at your house."
"You don't mind, do you?" he said looking at her sadly.
"Stop!" she laughed. "You know I don't care."
"So how was your play?" Ryan said grabbing a cookie from the jar.
"It was good. Another sellout."
"That's great. Sorry I couldn't make it, but I just got home from
work."
"It's okay. You probably have seen it so many times, you know the lines
better than me."
"You want to go out tomorrow night? We could go see a movie or
something?"
"Uhh...I have plans," Jessica lied. She didn't think that Ryan would be
to thrilled that she was going out with an old boyfriend. "Lila had a
hair crisis. She got a horrible cut and we're going to have a spa and
hair night."
"Doesn't she have a hairdresser?" Ryan asked confused.
"Ryan! She needs me!" Jessica exclaimed.
"All right. I'll never understand you girls though," he said laughing.
"How about Saturday?" Jessica asked.
"That's great!" Ryan exclaimed. "I gotta get back home, I love you
Jess."
"I love you," Jessica replied softly.
She knew that it wasn't wrong to see Jeremy.
But why did she feel so guilty?