Ren Stevens stood there, her heart pounding and her body shaking. Jason…her ex-boyfriend Jason…was standing right in front of her. Two years had passed since she had last seen him. Two years. She turned back towards her family, who were beaming at her. Tawny was standing there, looking just as shocked as she was, gaping. She looked almost…jealous. No. Ren shook the thought from her mind. Why would Tawny be jealous? Then again…why would Ren want Tawny to be jealous? Ren looked back at Jason, forcing a smile. They hadn't exactly left things in good heart between them.

"Jason…" Ren looked back towards Louis. He looked so proud of himself…and he really did think that he was doing something good. Little did Louis know that he very well might have hurt Ren more than he did anything right. Then again…Louis always seemed to do that. But he meant well. "It's been…two years."

"Yeah. But…well…I got you these." Jason stretched his hand out to reveal a dozen red roses. Ren smiled and took them. They weren't her favorite flower…Jason never could remember her favorite flower…but it was the thought that counted, right? "I…I wanted to…" Jason pulled Ren closer and whispered the next words in her ear, not wanting the Steven's family to hear, "I want to apologize. I want to make things right, Ren. I didn't…I…I'm sorry." Ren looked into the blonde's eyes and took in a deep breath. He never was one to beat around the bush. "Louis called me on the phone…and we got to talking…and he obviously doesn't know about what happened between us…but…I…he said…he said that you missed me." Ren winced. Of course Louis would say that. He didn't know any better. "And I…I have to tell you the truth, Ren. I missed you. I really did. And I want to make things right." Ren looked back at her family once more. They were inside the house so they couldn't really hear what Jason was saying. But Ren figured that they were expecting Ren and Jason to magically get back together, since he must have come a long way just to see her. And, obviously, a hot shot like Jason would never fly miles just to see an ex-girlfriend. He must have been expecting to get back with Ren. Sadly enough…Ren knew that that was true. "Will you…will you please give me another chance?" Jason asked, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek before he stepped back. Ren's heart almost jumped into her throat. What could she do? Could she say no? Could she really say no with her whole entire family behind her, all of them pushing her towards saying yes? But…could she say yes? Could she put herself back through all of that torture? Her relationship with Jason was hell. Ren looked back towards Tawny, whose blue eyes were shining with an emotion Ren couldn't seem to place.

What would Tawny say, if she knew what happened between them? Would she want Ren to go for it? Or would she slap Jason and tell him to go to hell? Ren almost smirked at the thought. Would Tawny care enough to slap a now-famous movie star, for her? Ren liked to think that she did.

In a friendly way, of course.

"Jason…" Ren looked into the blonde's eyes once more before looking back at her family. "You…you know you hurt me."

"I know. And I wish I never had. I wish I could take everything back. I'm sorry, Ren." He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. He wasn't lying. "I've changed." Ren shook her head and took her hands away.

"Jason…" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "I know you're only here because you feel obligated to be here. You haven't changed."

"That's not true-"

"I know it is, Jason. You should go back to your wife," Ren couldn't keep the venom out of her voice when she said the word. She knew she wasn't being fair to the statement, but what was done was done.

"Ex-wife." Jason interjected, glaring at Ren.

"But, before you leave, I think it would be a good idea to set things straight between us. But only as friends." Ren gulped to keep the bile in her throat from rising. Jason sighed and nodded.

"You're right. We…we're over. I should have known that. I mean…it's my fault, after all." Jason whispered, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair.

"Come…to…dinner…with us." Ren closed her eyes and forced out.

"Really?"

"Yeah. We'll have a…good…time. It's my birthday, after all." She tried to put cheer into her voice, but it turned out sounding like a deflated balloon.

"Alright. And we'll be…friends."

"Right." Ren turned back towards her family for the third time that evening and forced a smile. "Would it be ok if Jason came with us to dinner?" Eileen Stevens stepped up and nodded anxiously, obviously thinking that the two were back together.

"Of course!" Steve Stevens shouted, running up to Jason and patting him on the back. Louis smirked and came up to his sister with his trademark grin. He still looked proud of himself.

"See? Best present ever, or what?" Louis laughed and Ren simply ignored the comment.

"Where did Tawny go?" Ren asked, noticing the younger girl's absence from the group.

"Oh. She said she had to go. And she wanted me to wish you a happy birthday, once more, and congratulations." Louis shrugged as they all started getting in the car to head towards the pizza place. Steve got in the driver's seat as Eileen claimed the maternal shotgun, Louis climbing in the very back to allow Ren and Jason to sit next to each other.

"Oh." Ren whispered, climbing in next to Jason. Suddenly, Ren felt her body turn cold as Jason moved his arm around her.

"We're so happy that you two are back together." Eileen practically sang as the car started.

"We're not-"

"It's good to be back, Eileen." Jason cut Ren off, a happy smile on his face. Ren shook her head and looked out the window. She knew Jason would never change. Ren felt her stomach drop as she took in another deep breath, her throat dry and her head heavy. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

Why did Tawny have to leave?

"Jason is back." Tawny groaned as she fell onto the couch, an extremely painful headache taking over her brain. Miles coughed, making the milk he was drinking go everywhere. He was standing in his boxers, drinking milk from the fridge, when Tawny skulked in and dropped on the couch.

"W-What?" Miles coughed, trying to get the milk out from his nose.

"Jason. Ren's ex-boyfriend. The million-dollar pretty boy from Hawaii." Tawny rolled over and looked at Miles. Sarcasm and distaste were obviously ruling over her voice. "Y'know…the one who humiliated her on live TV in front of billions of people? That Jason."

"Oh yeah. I remember him." Miles grabbed a washcloth and began wiping the milk off of his shirt. "So what?"

"I just…I just don't know if Jason," Tawny couldn't help the venom that seeped into his name when she said it, "is the best thing for her right now."

"Well…you said that Ren's been having a rough patch the last while, right?" Miles sat down next to Tawny on the couch and placed his hand on her knee. "Maybe a relationship would be good for her right now. Someone to keep her grounded, y'know?"

"Yeah. A relationship might be good for her. But not one with this guy." Tawny stood up and started pacing. "I've read about him and seen him on TV and stuff. He's bad news. He's already been divorced! And he's only 20! The marriage only lasted, like, two months! And he has a freaking kid somewhere! Not to mention the fact that he's a horrible actor!" Tawny sighed in frustration and sat down next to Miles again. "He can't be good for her! He isn't even good to himself! How could he be good to her?!"

"Tawny…" Miles shook his head at the younger girl. "I think you might be…jealous." Tawny whipped her head around and glared at him.

"Jealous?! Of what?! A pretty boy with no brain?! Oh no! I'm not jealous! I'm just slightly protective of Ren…that's all."

"You've only been friends with her for, really, a week. I mean…come on." Miles smirked. "And you're ripping down a famous actor that, really, anyone would be lucky to meet."

"Honestly. The guy seems like a jerk to me. A complete ass! And, really, we shouldn't worship actors like they're some kind of God!" Tawny seemed exceedingly annoyed at her best friends' behavior.

"Ok. Ok. So you've seen the guy for, like, what? Two seconds? And you hate him?"

"He was a jerk!"

"What did he do?"

"He…" Tawny searched for something, anything, against the blonde boy that she recently grew a very strong dislike for. "He…brought her flowers!"

"Oh. Yes. I see where you're going with this. That's a horrible thing to do! You're right! This guy's a real ass!"

"No! No! They were the wrong flower! He brought her roses! Ren's favorite flowers are lilies! The guy dated her for years and he didn't even get her favorite flower right!" Tawny grimaced. Miles smirked. He knew what was happening.

"Tawny…" He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're jealous."

"I…I am not!" Tawny looked like a five year old who was having a temper tantrum.

"Yes. You are."

"I am not! I'm not…" Tawny groaned and shoved her face in her hands. "Jealous! I'm jealous! I'm jealous of the big blonde ape with no brain!" Miles laughed and pulled Tawny into his arms.

"You're falling for her aren't you?" Miles whispered after a couple of moments of silence, knowing his best friend too well to not figure out what was happening. He had always figured Tawny could swing both ways. In fact, he knew she could from some of the parties they had been to. She always looked like she had a good time when she was dancing with the girls. He didn't really care, either way. She was still the same person. And she would always be his Tawny. Tawny groaned and nodded into Miles chest.

"Shit…I…I think I am." Tawny groaned again and rolled over, laying her head on Miles legs. "What do I do, Mi? I can't…I can't help it. I think…I know I am…I know I'm falling for her. But I just…I don't know what to do. She'd freak out if she knew. And she's like one of my best friends now. I don't…" She shoved her head into Miles legs, not even noticing the fact that he was only in his boxers. "I don't know what to do."

"Well…you could always tell her how you feel." Miles suggested. Tawny looked up and gave him an incredulous look. "Or…you could always just see what happens. Let fate play its course. If you're meant to be together…you'll end up together." Tawny sighed and rolled over, looking up into Miles' face. "And with a girl like you…gorgeous…smart…amazing at pretty much anything you do…I mean…you sing like an angel and are the best actress I know! I can't see her not falling in love with you." Miles smiled and brushed a lock of hair behind Tawny's ear. "It's almost impossible not to, really." Tawny laughed.

"You didn't fall in love with me!"

"That's because I'm an exception to the rule. Besides, I've slept in the same bed with you. You snore." Miles smirked and Tawny scoffed.

"I do not!" Tawny smacked him upside the head.

"Sorry to break it to you babe, but you do." Miles jumped off the couch to dodge Tawny's attack.

"Oh I am so gonna kick your ass, pretty boy!" Tawny tried to put on her most serious face.

"Bring it on!" Miles tackled her and started tickling her, both of them laughing. After a minute of no breath, Tawny finally managed to knee Miles right between the legs.

"Oh God!" He groaned, rolling over, holding his manhood. Tawny stood up triumphantly. "Dear merciful lord in heaven…" He moaned, writhing on the floor in pain Tawny simply laughed.

"I do not snore!"

"Yes you do, you foghorn!" Miles bravely grunted, only to get another swift jab in between the legs.

"Men…you just never learn the first time. Maybe that's why I ended up falling for a girl…seems to me that girls have a lot more common sense then boys." Tawny smirked and Miles pulled her down next to him, starting to tickle her again. Both of them laughed happily, Tawny's annoyance with Jason and her recent fondness for a certain Ren Stevens seemingly forgotten for a couple of minutes of laughter with a close friend.

After a couple of minutes of them both panting, smiles on both of their faces, Miles stood up and reached his hand down to Tawny. "Come on."

"What?" Tawny panted, breathless.

"Come on. I'm getting you out of here." Miles shook his hand, motioning for Tawny to take it, and he pulled her up. "We're going to go out and you're going to have a good time and forget, tonight, about that Ren Stevens gal." Miles walked into the other room and pulled a pair of his jeans out of the dryer, pulling them over his legs. "You can be a love struck puppy tomorrow. Tonight, you're going to be the Tawny Dean I know. We'll party or something. I don't know!" Miles smirked as he changed the shirt he was currently wearing to one that didn't have milk on it.

"Miles…I don't know."

"Come on! Let's just go to the local pizza place, maybe. Just get out of the house. And we'll have a good time. Just you and me! Like old times! Come on, babe!" Miles pulled his trademark smirk, which was known to be able to melt any girl to the core—Tawny was immune—and Tawny laughed.

"Alright. Alright. But only if you get me as drunk as you possibly can!" Tawny laughed as Miles grabbed the keys to the house and wrapped Tawny's coat around her shoulders.

"Promise!" Miles and Tawny both laughed.

"Miles…" Tawny whispered, a small smile on her lips.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek and they both head out the door, neither of them having any idea what they were about to get themselves into.

"Anytime, Tawny." He whispered. It was a cold night, and a storm was about to head in, and rain was about to brace the streets, but neither of them really noticed. "Anytime."