Sparks Fly

The room was bathed in light, illuminating the vibrant green screen behind her. The director beamed with pride at the success of the shoot.

"Cut!" he exclaimed with evident joy. "That's a wrap."

He gracefully hopped off his director's seat, landing on his toes like a seasoned ballet dancer-his not-so-secret hobby.

"Thank you, Ryan, for that brilliance. Amanda, you are a goddess-have I mentioned that?" His arms moved animatedly, showering praise on everyone.

His multicolored spiky hair and adorned ears gleamed under the lights, and suspicions about his "love" preferences were well-known.

"Phew," he sighed dramatically, pretending to wipe away sweat. "All that emotion must've ruined my mascara. Jessi! Makeup STAT," he called out, striding away in his brisk fashion.

Footsteps echoed as his secretary and the makeup artist hurriedly followed him. His hands were outstretched, revealing that he was truly in his element.

Meanwhile, the star of the show, Ryan Barnes, lounged comfortably in his actor's chair, smirking with satisfaction. Accustomed to praise, he licked his lips in pride, while checking his eye-lined eyes in the mirror. They made him even more captivating.

The ladies' man was far from an eyesore, and his makeup artists guarded him with awe. As he sipped Campari on the rocks, he knew that his character, Prince Nikolas, would soon be a distant memory.

He pulled out his phone, going live on The Gram as his makeup was expertly removed. The heartthrob was basking in every moment.

His dark, clear eyes-deep cola brown, almost black-captivated, paired with a well-defined nose and red lips that curved just enough to soften his features. He was what they loved.

Amanda joined him, still in Vanessa's scarlet mid-thigh halter gown-her character's costume. She sat beside him, stretching her long, sexy legs.

"Ryan, the Black Dawn movie premiere is on Friday," she informed him casually.

"Yeah?" he sighed.

"I need you to attend with me. That means Us, together," she insisted, sitting up and turning to face him.

"Of course, I know what it means," he replied, rolling his eyes.

"Wait, isn't Black Dawn that movie we did together?" he asked, his interest piqued.

She frowned, irritated. "Seriously? Is your memory that short-term?"

"Hey, I'm a really busy guy," he defended himself.

"Yeah, sure you are," she scoffed. "Ryan, I'm serious about this. Come pick me up by eight. I want us to make a grand entrance."

"Of course, Vanessa," he replied.

"It's Amanda," she corrected with a weak voice, signaling her frustration with his shenanigans.

"I got your back," he assured, smiling at her.

"Are you being serious right now?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I'm down for you, always," he declared, getting up and walking into a frosted glass compartment.

A few minutes later, he emerged in a black leather jacket over a white T-shirt, his face printed on it. Paired with white pants and black Nike sneakers, he grabbed reflecting shades and swaggered out the door, leaving female attendants sighing after him.

Ryan faced a mob of reporters as he stepped outside, nine out of ten of them female. They bombarded him with questions about the next release and details about his lifestyle.

With his trademark smile, he silenced the first one with a gentle touch to her jawline, captivated the rest with his eyes, and slipped away-straight into another mob.

This time, it was his fans, tearing him apart. He tried to be gentle with them, reminding himself they were all women. Security intervened, rescuing him with lopsided glasses and smeared lipstick.

As he opened the door of his Lamborghini Veneno, he thanked them with a salute and left a generous tip that made them giddy.

---

"Jessi, I don't even understand why you and everyone else seem to go nuts whenever you hear that guy's name," the raven-haired woman said to her blonde friend, handing her a can of Coca-Cola before settling onto the sofa beside her.

"Sofia Delacruz," her best friend exclaimed, her excitement evident as she collected the can."Look, Ryan Barnes is everything a woman could want. So, I don't know if you intend on becoming a nun, but I'm gonna stick to my nuts, okay?" She nodded with finality before popping open her drink.

The drink fizzed as it opened while Sofia sighed in resignation.

Jessi took a long sip and let out a satisfied sigh, savoring the refreshing taste.

"Look, Soph," she continued, placing a hand on Sofia's knee, "You aren't getting out of being my plus one on Friday at all. Don't even think about it. Both of us are attending that premiere."

They were in Sofia's apartment, one of the units in Jessi's semi-detached property.

"Jessi," Sofia sighed, "You know I'm not really a fan of the whole glitz and glam biz. Abuela, God bless her soul," she made the sign of the cross and kissed her hand, Jessi following suit, "taught me so much. There's more to life than the big screen, and I can't even afford to go to such parties."

"Come on, Soph," Jessi scoffed, turning to her on the couch. "Was that your big shot at changing my mind? We already talked about this. First off, you're not joining them on the big screen-"

"-Of course not," Sofia cut in, horrified.

"-and second off, I'm a stylist at the agency he uses. Today I even got to-"

"-Select his pants," Sofia completed, then sighed. "Yeah, I know, I know. You've told me this story a zillion times in the space of five minutes. Okay, I give in. I knew you'd win, but I just had to try."

"You're not getting out of this one anytime soon, babe," Jessi said with a wink.

Sofia leaned back, her lips curling. "Jessi, you know I hate it when you talk and also look that way."

Jessi let out a chorus of laughter. "Just pulling your leg, dear," she said with a satisfied sigh. "This movie premiere is going to be an unforgettable one, I promise," Jessi winked.

Friday was finally here - the big movie premiere day, Ryan put on a dark purple jacket with black lapels and a tailored black shirt with black suit pants and matching Gucci loafers. He decided to take his Cadillac Escalade Sky Captain Piano Edition today.

He laughed as stared at himself on the screen inbuilt behind the passenger seat headrest, "All the way up bro," He praised himself, slicking the sides of his hair, with both hands.

~~

"Isn't this too much makeup?" Sofia complained, looking at the mirror.

The person looking back at her was not Sofia Delacruz but someone that stepped out of the big screen. She had her long black hair falling in waves to the middle of her back with tiny jewels interwoven in it.

Her mascaraed eyebrows were long, high arched, and gleaming very black. Her royal blue eyes shone clearly and the eyeliner was clearly working its own magic. Her soft facial features led to lips, rich pink with lipstick.

Her neck curved to slim rounded shoulders and the halter gown she wore hugged her tightly, accentuating the swell of her breasts, the flatness of her belly, the arch of her back, the curve of her hips, and the roundness of her rear. Her slender legs ended in silver wedges.

The dark blue gown seemed to have a shimmering ripple at every movement, pooling at her feet a little and slit to almost mid-thigh close to her left leg in front. She also had dangling silver earrings and a silver choker.

"Too much?" Jessi scoffed, "Dear you should see Amanda Knowles on set. Come help me hook this dress ok?" Her gown was simple - black and sleeveless with a flare at the waist.

She was blonde, though she'd dyed some strands black. Her eyes were auburn but she wore black contact lenses for the event. Even her lipstick was black.

"Look I don't know just how you plan to sneak me in with this." Sofia motioned to herself as she finished with Jessi's dress.

"Grumbling will only ruin your mascara. Let's go." Jessi replied, grabbing her car keys and following Sofia out.

Downstairs, Sofia looked up and gasped as a shooting star shot past.

"Jessi!" She called out, snapping her fingers in front of her.

"What?" Jessi asked.

"Come back we have to start this journey all over." She said, making the sign of the cross.

"Why?" Jessi asked impatiently, she was already at the car door.

"A shooting star just shot past," Sofia replied, fretting.

"Isn't that supposed to be good?" Jessi asked, from where she stood.

"Not when it shoots in the reverse direction. That is very bad."

Jessi hurried over to her, "What do we do?" She asked Sofia worriedly.

"First, snap with me," Sofia said, raising an arm.

"Wait," Jessi said crossing her arms. "How can you tell which way is the reverse direction?"

Sofia sighed,

"Just trust me ok?"

Facing each other, they held up their right arms and then snapped their fingers around themselves from face to knee level before going back up. When they came down, another shot past, Jessi sighed in exasperation as Sofia dragged her back up.

This time, however, Jessi styled Sofia's hair upwards with a few strands hanging off the sides of her face; the adornments remained. She didn't even let Sofia check anything, bundling her into the car and getting into the driver's seat. She looked in the side mirror just in time to see one shoot past, then tapped the lock button and jammed the reverse pedal.

~~~

"Tell your chauffeur to pull over with the back door at the red carpet." Amanda chirped at Ryan at the backseat of the Cadillac Escalade Sky Captain Piano Edition.

"Come on babe, he knows how these things work," Ryan replied offhandedly, checking himself out in a projected mirror.

She scuttled over and clung to his arm. He looked at her, the screen returning to it's original position. "Amanda, what do you think you're doing?"

"Making sure you're mine tonight." She replied, leaning onto his arm.

Ryan laughed nervously, "You're joking right?" Then he tried to pull his arm out, it wasn't budging.

Someone called his phone. He dug it out from the jacket and checked the caller ID, it read 'B******' and he sighed in disgust, "Oh its James." – His agent and friend, kind of, their relationship was well, strained - to put it lightly, He answered it, "What's up?"

"What's up?" James asked in irritation." The director is getting impatient waiting for you two. Where the hell are you anyway?"

"Uh, we should be about a block or two," Ryan replied, stretching his neck in an attempt to determine their position.

"Get here fast."

"Chill out a** wipe, I'll be there. Besides the party doesn't start till Ryan Barnes shows up." He smirked.

James hung up on him.

~~

Sofia and Jessi arrived just a few minutes earlier than Ryan and Amanda. As they crossed the parking lot, Sofia asked for the plan.

"So how do we get in?"

"The easiest way to get in is always the obvious way," Jessi said, pointing at the red carpet.

Sofia stopped, faced her, then hissed, "You're joking right?"

"With your look right now, the doors will open for you."

"No." She was taken aback. "That place reeks of vanity." She said pointing at the carpet. "As Abuela, God bless her soul," She made the sign of the cross, "usually says."

"Ok, here's what's gonna happen. I'll show you the backdoor but first, just follow me." Jessi said leading her to the red carpet. "We're going to join my colleagues in that huddle. Then, when the crew gathers we'll slip out and go for it. I'll cover for you. What do you say?"

She shrugged, "Whatever you say."

Jessi used her ID to get them onto the carpet, Sofia got in as her plus one.

They went unnoticed for some time since there were many stars scattered over the place, but once they got far enough, Sofia turned into a magnet.

Cameras were blinding, questions unending, Sofia froze and Jessi did the talking. She called Sofia the daughter of a Far East business magnate on a visit over. However, they were all insistent on getting her to talk, Sofia smiled while Jessi said her English wasn't good. Even the real stars were getting attracted to the growing crowd.

As the ruckus was going on, Ryan's Cadillac Escalade Sky Captain Piano Edition arrived. He stepped out with his best smile flashing as he heard the noise but was surprised no one was rushing towards them.

"Who's that?" Amanda nodded towards the ruckus and Sofia who had a smile on glanced sideways, locking gazes with Ryan.

The smile froze. Ryan raised an arm in a wave and flashed a smile. The smile disappeared. Jessi looked at her and at once traced the gaze to Ryan.

"There's Ryan!" She screamed immediately, pointing at him. Everyone followed her finger and in seconds, they were alone. Jessi sighed,

"Now that's out of our systems, let's go join the rest of the crew."

"Hey there."

Jessi froze, Sofia turned and backed up a bit, Ryan stood there with an arm stretched out for a handshake, Jessi turned and took the hand, he offered Sofia one and she moved halfway behind Jessi.

"Come on miss, I don't bite."

She scoffed, "Sure you don't."

Jessi butt in immediately, "How did you get rid of that horde so easily?"

"I'm Ryan." He replied with a smile for Sofia but she wasn't moved.

"Yeah, and that's obviously why she asked the question in the first place." She countered.

He chuckled and looked away, releasing air through almost clenched teeth in a smile.

"Ouch." He said playfully and shrugged, putting both hands in his pockets. "Told them something about private interviews much later."

Jessi gasped, "Are you for real?"

He scoffed, "Course not, there's like an army of them here." He said, rolling his eyes and spreading an arm for emphasis.

Then he paused and smiled, "Besides, what time would I have to tell our friend here what a beautiful voice she has, the same can be said for the rest of her too." He was giving that dazzling smile once more but she still refused to budge.

"Don't jump the gun Mr. Barnes, we aren't friends and, I don't appreciate flattery. If you would excuse me." The smile was tight and brief. She turned and left.

Jessi mouthed an "I'll be back" for Ryan before she turned and followed her friend. She almost bumped into Sofia who'd suddenly stopped.

"Calm down Soph, it's just chitchat."

However, Sofia's mind was already somewhere else.

"Jessi," She called, her voice breaking up, "Why do I feel like this is not your crew?"

Jessi swallowed hard, "Well uh, technically they are, I mean we're all on the red aren't we?"

"So there wasn't any crew?" She asked, turning to face Jessi with the shock and disbelief barely hidden from her face.

Jessi smiled nervously, "But come on Soph aren't you having fun? Just act like you actually should be here and walk to the door on my cue."

She wasn't moving. Jessi sighed, "Look, you can't possibly back down now."

"Says who?"

"Look Soph if you go back in there, the chances of you getting hedged in are too much and I can't let you get embarrassed in front of thousands of cameras out there, please. I think you hate me for lying."

Sofia scoffed, "You think?"

Jessi sighed, "Look I'm sorry for it ok? Just, please, don't go back now."

Sofia sighed deeply, completely ignoring Jessi, and walked straight to the door, leaving Jessi to walk faster to match her pace. Once they got in, Jessi led her to the reserved space but only one seat was left. Sofia came to a standstill, "You've got to be kidding me." She said, biting back the embarrassment and tears as well.

"Jessi swallowed hard, "Give me a minute dear." She said and went on to meet a colleague, probably the one she'd asked to reserve the seats.

"Joe!" She almost yelled as she tapped him.

He turned, pulling off his 3D glasses, "What the hell?"

"My thoughts exactly, when I walk in and see one seat reserved instead of two," Jessi stated, poised for an explanation.

"Oh, look Jessi I'm so sorry. There was a last-minute addition and I swear, I was gonna tell you but it totally slipped my mind. I'm so sorry."

Jessi was no longer looking at him, she'd already shifted her gaze to Sofia once she heard him say sorry, she already knew what to expect after that.

Sofia was just standing there silently, looking beautiful and oblivious to the glances being tossed her way. *Maybe she was right about the shooting stars after all.* Jessi sighed and went back to Sofia.

"What happened?" Sofia asked once she noticed that Jessi wasn't saying anything.

Jessi exhaled deeply,

"He lost it. He said there was a last-minute . . ."

Sofia held up a hand for her to stop and Jessi wanted to break down then.

An usher walked up to them and they watched his progress with thoughts aligning in the same direction. It seemed their thoughts were confirmed when he walked up to Sofia and led her away.

Jessi felt shattered as she went to her seat and could only imagine how much worse it was for Sofia. She didn't even feel like watching the movie anymore, but then the girl sitting by her gasped, "No way! Did you see that?"

Jessi sighed, "I know, and please don't make fun of her it's entirely my fault."

"Make fun of her? Entirely your fault? What are you even saying? She's being escorted to the VIP section and oh my God!"

Jessi sighed, "Please stop. She's a friend."

"Ryan Barnes just took the seat next to her! Do you think he sent the usher?" She continued, unmindful of what Jessi was saying.

"That does it!" Jessi screamed, turning and getting the shock of her life at once. The girl wasn't lying at all and now she had the attention of everyone here. "Sorry sorry, am so sorry. Please it won't happen again I promise." She apologized to no one in particular.

"It better not." Some guy to her left muttered.

She sat back down and looked again to make sure she wasn't just seeing things. However, nothing in the scene changed, except the fact that they were actually engaged in a conversation. She smiled,

"I guess your shooting star was wrong this time."

As the usher led her away, Sofia swore that was the end of her friendship with Jessi,. She was thinking of moving immediately but then he changed course for the VIP section and she began to wonder if she was actually being taken for someone else. The dude actually led her to a seat and set it up for her. She sat there but began to get up as her conscience plagued her for identity theft when Ryan slid in next to her,

"Don't. I got it for you, your friend really should have planned things better. I'm Ryan."

She nodded, "I know."

He smiled, "Sorry, of course, you do. I've said that before."

"You didn't have to; I watch enough TV to know that."

He chuckled, "Ok, sorry about that though, I didn't want to come myself, you might have bolted out the door."

"Ah, surely you didn't think I'd refuse this offer, Mr. Barnes." She replied with a smile.

He smiled, "You're funny, and I just said I'm Ryan."

"I heard that both times and I see it as well. But I'll stick with Mr. Barnes." She replied, leaning back in her seat.

"Look,-"

"Mr. Barnes," She cut in, "I am truly grateful for your intervention but with all due respect I ask that you don't take it further." She said while looking his way.

"Lady,-"

She shushed him,

"The movie's about to start."

"Who's that?" Amanda asked James from where they sat, a few seats back - Ryan's original position.

"I hear she's the only child of a Far East business magnate." He replied. "It's obvious she's from a rich, eccentric family from the way she's treating Ryan." He completed with a sigh.

"She's just trying to make him want her more. It's obvious she knows that Ryan cannot back down from a challenge." Amanda said, she looked concerned.

James folded his arms across his chest and shrugged. He couldn't care less.

Ryan opened his mouth to speak but Sofia placed an index finger over her lips and shushed him again,

"The movie's just about to start Mr. Barnes, keep it down."

A minute into the movie and Sofia was already feeling increasingly uncomfortable. She couldn't tell if the movie was happening on the big screen or on her skin. Ryan's eyes almost never left her and she felt exposed, naked. The design of the dress wasn't helping either. There was a sliver of flesh exposed along the inner length of her leg and it was right there in his sights.

In the end, neither she nor Ryan watched the whole movie. However, he was the protagonist after all, while in her case, she barely understood something about an alien invasion forcing human adaptation and cooperation in an already advanced world.

People were applauding the movie as it ended, they were chanting his name and he revelled in the glory. A spotlight even came his way.

Sofia frowned and slipped out.

Ryan turned to face her,

"How was the movie?" He asked.

However, she was already darting away from him. He got up with a sigh and went after her.

******************************************

"Jessi, let's just go home," Sofia said with a sigh.

Jessi turned to her friend and smiled, at least they were still on talking terms with each other. She drew Sofia into a long hug,

"Believe me, I'm truly sorry sister but there's an after-party that I can't possibly miss."

Sofia sighed, "You've already done enough damage but I'm gonna let you off on this one." She said as they ended the embrace. Jessi smiled,

"Of course, my expertise f**led the usher into thinking you were actually someone important."

"Ok, first of all, ouch? Moreover, no that was Ryan. Give me your keys."

"Ryan Barnes sent you that usher? I'm just too good my dear. But wait, so now he's Ryan to you eh?" She teased then bent over to dig in for the keys.

"Oh, would you rather I'd say Mr. Barnes?" Sofia replied, rolling her eyes along with it.

Jessi looked up,

"Touché. Oh, speak of the devil."

Sofia sighed and just walked on, increasing her pace while watching her steps.

Ryan ran up to Jessi panting,

"I've looked for you and your friend all over. Where's she?"

"Not here obviously." She said, laughing nervously.

"Who's she?" He said smiling along with her.

"A close friend," Jessi answered a bit impatiently, trying to keep track of Sofia's movement.

"Well do you know why she hates me? Maybe I offended her in the course of a movie or something?" He asked, moving to get her attention.

"No, my friend doesn't hate. She just doesn't fall prey to your charm." Jessi replied with a tight smile.

"Who does that?" Ryan asked, spreading both arms in disbelief.

"I know right," She said, turning to face him with a smile, then it seemed like she realized something, and then she sighed, "Well apparently, Sofia does. ... Oh shit."

"Sofia, wonderful name really." He said with a smile. "I've been trying to get that information all night.

So she is staying for the party?"

"Nah, she's really not into that or even any of all this."

He smiled,

"Your friend's got a really great personality. Tell her I said that, and it's not flattery. I'd like to-."

"Sorry, Ryan but I can't help you." She cut in, "I already played dirty to get her here, and should you two ever meet and you call her by her name please don't tell her I let it slip, okay?"

"Yeah sure but ...."

"Bye!" She screamed over her shoulder as she disappeared into the crowd.

"Seriously? Ryan? Down for me always?"

He turned to see Amanda standing there.

"Amanda no, wait!"

She just turned and walked away. He smacked his forehead and made to go after her and then the press appeared from all angles, hedging him in.

"Christ, not now." He sighed.

Sofia was all the rage the next day. On the entertainment news, tabloids, and the lips of some very important people.

---

"Ryan, you need to cool off, you hothead," James said, knocking him into the pool. "She's not everything. She's not even anything."

"No, you don't get it," his head bobbed to the surface. "She turned down all my advances, and the only one she let through was a dead end."

"That girl's probably halfway across the globe by now," he sighed, sticking his hands in the pockets of his burgundy shorts. "She's Asian, and you'll probably never hear about her again once this rave dies down. That will happen sooner. Trust me." He added the last part a bit hesitantly.

His thoughts plagued him. Why the hell was he even here? Since when was Ryan able to order him around like some on-hand butler? Even calling him to his home just because he felt like it...

They were at the pool on Ryan's top-dollar property the afternoon after the premiere.

... One of the things that infuriated James so much. Before, things were different. Who was Ryan before he, James Danson, appeared? He made Ryan, and now, he was just an on-hand butler, to put it lightly. To Ryan, everything was about him. He was the center of gravity of the whole world. Another thing he hated about the dude. His ringtone jarred his thoughts, and he went to take the call.

---

A few minutes later, James was returning to the pool; he was surprised Ryan hadn't called his phone. However, there was another car parked in the driveway. He got to the place and found Ryan on a recliner away from the pool with Amanda on the one next to him, applying lotion. He scoffed; she was already back, upon yesterday.

"Hey," he smiled, leaning down for a hug.

"I'm okay, when did you get here?" She asked as they separated.

"I've been here for a while; I just went in to take a call. You?"

"I just got here. I was in the neighborhood, and Ryan called. He said he was alone and needed some company."

"Ryan, you didn't tell me James was here."

"Sorry," he yawned, stretching out lazily, "I forgot... Jerry was still here."

"It's James." He replied drily.

"Whatever," Ryan said with a yawn.

James turned, his jaw muscles tightening.

"I was just leaving." He said as he walked away, a personal storm cloud brooding over him.

---

That same day, Sofia was at work - She waited tables at this place downtown, TacoFun, fully unaware of the rave her actions last night had caused. She had just served a platter of tacos and fries to a male customer in a cheap suit and small rectangular glasses when two of her girlfriends rushed in.

"Sofia! Sofia! Have you seen the news?" Tanya - a wild raven-haired girl, asked as she got to her.**

"What news? What's up? What's got you all so excited?" She asked, smiling along.

"Fred!" The other girl, Alicia, called Sofia's colleague at the counter, "Turn on the TV, please." He did so, and Tanya took the remote control and tuned in to the entertainment news.

There she was on the screen; she gasped; Jessi had done a lot.

"Jessi is the best," Tanya said, hugging Sofia's side. "You looked absolutely fab, girlfriend."

Sofia smiled, "Thanks, Tanya." However, she began to notice the growing attention and signaled Fred to switch the channel, "But I'm still at work, ok, you have to leave now, please."

"Ok," She smiled, "But first, promise me the full scoop once you get back."

"Ok ok, I promise. Now if you would just excuse me."

"Sure thing, superstar." Tanya smiled, taking Alicia along with her. Sofia went back to get the tray from the table she'd just served and saw that he'd left without even touching the food.

She looked around but there wasn't any sign of him, and the male bathroom was available so he wasn't in there either. She was getting worried about getting a bad review, but those worries disappeared once she sighted the bill; it had a very generous tip added.

She balanced the tray against her waist and walked towards the kitchen, wondering what could have made him leave in such a hurry. Her shift was almost over.

"Out of the way, Sofia." Another waitress, Sandra, said as she forcefully brushed past.

Sofia turned with a slight frown, "Watch it, Sandra."

"Because you were on TV? Fat chance." She replied derisively.

Sofia sighed in resignation and turned to go into the kitchen, but Sandra called out again,

"You know the difference between you and Cinderella?"

"We are nothing alike, Sandra, and I haven't got any time for-"

"Wrong." Sandra cut in sharply. "You two played dress up to go for a party, but you're still nothing but plain, old, boring Sofia."

Sofia turned to leave; she never let such talk affect her but Sandra called her back,

"You don't have anything to say? Cinderella wannabe." She completed with a chuckle.

She sighed in exasperation and turned, "Look, Sandra, you're free to call me Cinderella wannabe; at least one of us still got something she wants to be." She walked away reveling in how she felt within, and this time, her sigh was in contentment over the state she'd left Sandra in.

---

As she walked out the employees' only door, Sofia let her thoughts drift in the direction Sandra had led it. There had been a fair number of men in her life but she'd given up on anything past dating after searching fruitlessly for that spark that would seal their fates together. She sighed inwardly. There would still be someone out there just for her.

Then she paused with a small gasp. What if he was dead? On the other hand, maybe he lived in some faraway place like Uzbekistan. She shook her head to banish such thoughts, made the sign of the cross, and kissed her hand. The LA sky was tinged with shades of violet and orange as she picked up the pace on her way home.

When she got to the semidetached block she called home, she found her flat filled with friends and neighbors. Tanya and Alicia were there. Even her closest friend, confidant, and owner of the building, Jessica Harper, or as she was fondly called, Jessi.

"What's going on?" Sofia asked, smiling along with them.

"That's our line, dear," Jessi said, and the girls laughed too. Sofia smiled along again, still unsure herself.

"Okay..." Sofia said, dragging it out a bit. She hung her bag on the nearest sofa and looked about, her hands placed toward the small of her back. They had taken up every inch of comfortable space in her sitting room, except...

"So, it seems I'm the only one who doesn't know why this gathering is..."

"Tell us about you and Ryan!" Susanna, a dark-skinned one, yelled from behind, and the girls erupted in a cheer.

Sofia turned bright pink and shot Jessi the "seriously?" look.

"Hey, don't blame me, Cinderella," She said raising both arms in mock surrender.

"FYI you're trending," she completed, giving Sofia the "you've got no clue" look.

"Ok, ok." She sighed in surrender, collapsing into a single-seat sofa, obviously left for her. Then she recounted the story, pausing each time for the sighs to die down.

Tanya shook her head at Sofia and said, "Ryan was all over you, and you turned him down?" She sighed, "If only we could've switched places," she completed with another sigh.

"Jessi," Alicia called, "Let me book you in advance for the next premiere."

The other girls were suddenly gathered about Jessi pleading for themselves. Sofia was very much pleased she was no longer the center of attraction and had already stood to sneak in.

However, Jessi wasn't about to let her off easily.

"Wait, wait, just hold on, girls. What I see here is Sofia playing hard to get to keep him interested and after her," she completed with a wink.

Sofia turned bright pink once more as the girls exploded in a chorus of laughter, some giggling and rocking sideways.

"Ok, let's go. Party's over," Sofia said, going to stand by the door. Everyone was complaining, but she ignored everything, insisting that they should all go. In a few seconds, she was sighing in contentment as she leaned against the locked door and then collapsed on a sofa. She'd lain there for a little while when she finally got up with a groan and went into the shower, taking her time before finally going to sleep.