Jessica pushed Jeremy away and ran out into the dressing room.
"Ryan, what are you doing here?" she said, flushed.
"I always come back here after the show, Jess," Ryan said confused.
"Right, I forgot," Jessica said quickly.
"Are you okay?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, just a little wound up from the performance," she said brightly.
"You were awesome," Ryan said bringing her close. "Definitely the
best."
Lana cleared her throat. "You were great too," Ryan said quickly.
He pulled a small box from his jacket. "This is for you," he said
handing it to Jessica.
She opened the box and gasped. "A sapphire necklace!" she breathed.
"Ryan, it's perfect."
Ryan grinned. "Here let me put it on."
"Thank you so much," Jessica said smiling. "I don't deserve it."
"You do," Ryan said looking at her intently.
Jessica became uncomfortable and she looked away.
"Do you want to go out?" Ryan asked her. "We could grab something to
eat or go dancing.
"I'd-" she started to say but Lana coughed and pointed to the bathroom.
"I'd love to Ryan but Lana and I have plans."
"Lana can come with us," Ryan offered.
"Well," Jessica stammered.
"I made reservations at Casa Rosa for two," Lana finished. "I'm sorry,
if knew that you wanted to be with your woman, I wouldn't have made
them."
"Oh," Ryan said disappointed.
"How about we go out tomorrow," Jessica said brightly.
"Great," Ryan said sulkily.
"Come on," Lana said giggling. "She's gonna be with me. It's not like
she's having an affair or anything."
"That's true," Ryan agreed as Jessica shot daggers at her friend.
Ryan kissed Jessica good-bye and slipped out.
Jeremy came out. "Bye, Jess."
"Wait," Jessica cried out. "I thought we had plans."
"I'm not really in the mood," Jeremy said coldly. "I'll see you later."
"Okay," Jessica said absently as Jeremy left.
Lana put her hands on her hips. "Now what was all that about?"
Jessica sighed. "Jeremy was my boyfriend back in high school."
"And now you and he are," Lana said knowingly. "Isn't he the guy that
dumped your for your worst enemy?"
"Yeah, but he was sweet and thoughtful," Jessica sighed.
"He seems like a jerk to me," Lana said. "Does he know about Ryan?"
Jessica nodded. "And he's still seeing you? Lana commented. "What a
dog."
"It's not like that," Jessica argued.
"He is amazing looking," Lana conceded. "So when are you going to end
things with Ryan?"
"I'm not," Jessica said softly.
"What?" Lana said shocked. "You can't have them both."
"I know," Jessica whimpered.
Lana looked at her and Jessica felt horrible. Lana gathered up her bag
and walked out of the room without saying good-bye.
Jessica didn't cry. She didn't have any tears left. And she didn't have
anyone to talk to. Suddenly she recalled Elizabeth handing her a scrap
of paper when she had visited the house a few weeks back. Jessica
rummaged around in her purse until she found it. She picked up the telephone
and dialed. It rang twice, then the telephone was picked up, and her
sister's voice filled the receiver.
Jessica wasn't sure what to say so all she said was "Liz? It's me."

"So how was your lunch with Little Miss Barbie Doll?" Monique said
sarcastically.
Conner glanced at her. "It was fine," he said quickly. "I told her what
happened and that was it.
Conner would never tell his girlfriend that Elizabeth had admitted that
she still wanted him.
Conner couldn't even believe it himself. Sure he and Elizabeth had
dated for about three years. But she needed to move on. He had. Monique was
beautiful and sexy. But even Conner could admit that they didn't share
the same connection that he and Liz had shared.
"I'm glad you got rid of her," Monique continued. "What a freak. What
did you see in her?"
Conner ran his fingers through his hair. "Does it really matter?"
"I suppose not," Monique sighed. "I mean, I have you and she doesn't."
Conner smiled at her and took in her delicate features. Her deep blue
eyes…Conner mentally slapped himself. Monique had brown eyes. He placed
a hand gently on her face. He took in her sensuous mouth and his eyes
traveled down to her black halter-top. What had Elizabeth called her? A
slut bomb. He needed to stop thinking about his ex girlfriend. Here he
was with the most beautiful woman on earth.
Conner leaned in and began kissing Monique. She responded hungrily. He
placed his hand on her cool bare stomach.
Suddenly Conner wasn't in the mood and he broke away.
Monique didn't get angry. Probably because she couldn't come up with
the thought Conner thought.
She continued to kiss his neck. Conner didn't bother to push her away.
She pushed the straps of her tank top down off her shoulders and leaned up
against him. He pushed her away.
She looked up at him with big eyes. "Don't you wanna play?" she cooed.
Conner didn't respond and he could tell she was getting frustrated.
"What's wrong with you Conner?"s
"I guess I'm not in the mood," she said not looking her in the eye.
She punched him on the arm. Conner guessed that she was trying to hurt
him but her punch didn't hurt at all. "You're never in the mood
anymore!" she accused. "I thought we were having fun. Then she came along."
"God, Mon. Liz only appeared yesterday. And we are having fun."
Monique shook her head vigorously. "Uh-uh. You never take me to your
cool Hollywood parties and we never get to hang out with cool or smart
people."
"We don't hang out with smart people cause you're dumb as a brick,"
Conner hissed. "At least Liz was smart."
Monique looked at him hurt. "I am smart, Conner. I passed the medical
training program to become a nurse."
"You're a nurse's assistant," Conner corrected.
"Whatever, I thought you liked me Conner McDermott. You don't think I'm
good enough or smart enough but you think enough of me to let me be
your girlfriend."
Conner hesitated. She had him there. He did like some things about her.
She was a good dresser and an amazing kisser.
"But," Monique continued. "I guess I'm good of enough of a threat to
make your precious Lizzie jealous."
"She's not jealous," Conner lied. "I think she was a little hurt,
that's all."
Monique sat there quietly. Conner looked at her warily. Monique was
never quiet. "Conner do you even like me?" she asked thoughtfully.
Conner stared at her. "Of course I like you, Mon. I wouldn't have put
up with you this long is I didn't."
"But do you like me for more than my body. Every guy I ever went out
with only liked me because of what I look like."
"Well you are a knockout," Conner agreed. "But you're also trusting and
you try really hard at things.
Monique's eyes brightened. "Really?"
Conner nodded. Liz was part of his past now. Part of his better past,
yeah. But Monique was here now. But he began to wish that he had stayed
single.