Sports Club. Los Angeles, California.

"A witch, huh?"

Taking a step forward will signal the wrong message. He might think she's pulling his leg or that she finds it funny he indirectly referred to her as a witch mere moments ago even without a trace of a smile on her face. So she remains where she is, a reasonable distance between him and the little girl who is glancing back and forth between them quizzically. She crosses her arms on her chest and raises her eyebrows twice in slow successions questionably, patiently waiting for him to say something.

But judging by the way his jaws opens and closes in a seemingly awestruck manner, it doesn't look like he has any response to her question. 'Why is he always speechless,' she inquires to herself, frowning a bit when he takes a sudden, hesitant step forward towards her. She immediately holds a hand up, halting him in his tracks.

'Don't you dare come close,' is directly on the tip of her tongue but for some reason or the other, she can't bring herself to speak it out loud. She's still feeling dazed and a bit lightheaded at the sight of him at the Sports Club. It's the last place she ever expected to see him again. She has no idea if this is the work of fate lovesick teenagers often swoon over while watching a romantic movie, which forced her out of bed six in the morning after a night of restlessness. Or perhaps, it's just a pure coincidence she felt such a strong urge to pay a visit to the Sports Club, which she has neglected for close to ten years.

An unsettling sensation has been churning in her stomach ever since she arrived but she just assumed it was because the Sports Club itself reminds her of her father once again. She now know it wasn't just the memories of standing on this very ground and watching the constructors lay foundation for the Sports Club when she was a child or when her father brought her to it, blindfolded, early in the morning when it was completed and joyously declared the Sports Club is hers, which made her stumble once she got out of her car. It was the feeling she was about to encounter something she doesn't want to encounter yet.

Little did she know it was Colby. And she was right; it isn't the right time for her to meet him again. She needed more time to find the courage to say all those things she'd rehearsed to shout at his face. Just like she feared, all the lines she'd planned to yell at him are rapidly burning to ashes in her throat. Anger should be the feeling coursing through her but all she feels at this moment is relief. Relief, that he's healthy and safe although he's looking too lean for her liking standing in front of her now. Despite the beaming smile he has on his face—obviously happy to see her—she still recognizes sorrow etched on his face, causing a twinge of concern to thump inside he heart. She wants to ask what's bothering him and find out ways she may be able to help him.

But she won't. She can't let go of the fact that he left without a word to her. The fact that he dashed her hopes and dreams and reduced her to a crying mess. The fact that he has done nothing at all to show he cares about her in the way she wants him to; it may be selfish and greedy on her part to expect that from him but she still wants to see it. She can't brush everything that has happened as nothing and throw herself into his arms even if that's what she desperately wishes to do. 'Nothing in life, is ever easy,' her mother often says.

"Rebecca," his voice is toned down when he opens his mouth to speak, "what are you doing here?"

She stops herself short from scoffing, raising her chin a bit in palpable indignation. "I should be asking you that since you're the one standing on my property."

His eyes widen to the size of melons, completely taken aback, as if she has tied a rock around his middle and sunk him into the depths of the sea without warning. "I had no idea. . . . I heard a man built this so. . . ."

"Leon Devvit Quinn, my father. He built the Sports Club. So technically, it's mine." Her reply comes out as arrogant and proud, and even she, can't help but bristle at the way she said it. Talking about her family always does this to her. That's why she often prefers to exclude her family from conversations she has with people. But she has never had to explain her family's estates and status to an outsider before, much less to a person she stayed with for close to a week. Every random person she has ever met already know who she is and the family she belongs to. Besides that, she has been surrounded by her mother and father's friends and children all her life and as one can imagine, they were all from wealthy and upper-class families. She has never been faced with the situation she faced with Colby back at the bus station when her family arrived. The feeling of irrelevance she sensed in him were so foreign and confusing. For a fleeting second back then, she hadn't known how to handle it. That's why she asked him to stay behind to prevent any awkward scene with her family.

She assumed then the reason for his reaction was because he hadn't known who her family is beforehand but she can still sense the discomfort in him even now, despite the fact that it's only her standing before him in a simple white stripped jumpsuit and not the elaborate, fancy gown her mother is having tailored for her for her birthday party tomorrow. She risks a glance at her wrist watch, finding she only has an hour before Ashley calls her for her fitting appointment. 'Only an hour. So little time.'

"Before you judged me and proclaimed me a witch, you should have taken into account this little girl is sitting here in one piece even after you carelessly and irresponsibly, left her to wander alone. Think of what could've happened if she'd wandered into the swimming pool area and slipped into the pool. She would've drowned since there's no one there at this time of the day. Rather than scolding her, you should buy more ice-cream and chocolates for her. As an appeasement. Trust me, she deserves it."

"She's sick, that's why I. . . ."

"I'm not sick," Jojo counters behind Colby.

Colby glances back at the little girl with a reprimanding scowl, "Didn't you tell me you had anemia this morning?"

Rebecca tilts her neck to the side to see Jojo taking a chocolate from the table, dodging back in time before Colby can snatch it away. Rebecca snickers quietly, recalling all those times Ashley used to behave like that with her father when they were kids. "Daddy said I have anemia. Not me. I don't feel sick."

Colby reels back to Rebecca with a helpless look. Rebecca immediately stops smiling, hardening her expression once more. "She's lying. She was sick this morning. That's why when I saw her eating all that ice-cream. . . ."

"You called me a witch and a bad person for giving them to her," she cuts in, trailing his words off, "even though you were the one who carelessly lost her. For a witch, don't you think I did a great job in making sure this little girl didn't get into trouble?" Secretly, she's enjoying seeing him so flabbergasted and lost for words, so cornered and trapped. Pity is a small fraction in the exhilaration and contentment she's feeling.

His heavy sigh though, momentarily rattles her. He looks tired and drained. She wonders what's wrong with him and why he's at the Sports Club in the first place. 'Did he come here looking for a job? Has he gotten it? Why would he need a job anyway? The Sports Club isn't a wrestling promotion.' "I didn't lose her. I left her with the receptionist. . . ."

Rebecca raises a graceful hand to silence him, "Save your explanations for this girl's parents Colby. Unless," she narrows her eyes dangerously, "you're her father?"

His eyes widen again before an anxious laugh bubbles out him. 'This is so much better than the speech I had rehearsed for him,' she thinks, almost smirking. "She isn't my daughter. She's my niece. She's the daughter of a friend of mine. Why would you think like that anyway? I would've told you if I had a daughter."

She shrugs in feigned disinterest, "I don't know. Since you have the habit of not telling me things. A prime example is when you failed to tell me you were heading for Los Angeles. I mean you didn't tell me that so I assume you probably won't tell me either if you have a child somewhere. I'm not important enough to know such things about you, I guess."

He regards her with a pained and somber look. The sight of him like that almost chokes her breath. "That isn't true, Rebecca. I can explain."

"I don't need your explanations Colby." Her words doesn't come out as strong and powerful as she wants it to. It's unfortunate there are people around in the cafeteria. Any slip up can cause an embarrassing scene she can't afford in her life right now. "You had the chance and all the time in the world, to tell me all those things. But you didn't. I can't waste my time over you since it's quite clear to me you can't spare a second of your time for me. Just make sure your niece doesn't get lost again. Bye Jojo." She waits for the little girl to wave back before she turns on her heels, striding away. She flinches when Colby abruptly shouts her name, directly gaining the attention of the people gathered at the cafeteria.

She curses under her breath and quickens her pace, unsure why and what she's running away from. His cries behind her, yelling for her to stop, takes her mind back to the first night they met; when he was shouting continuously through the rain for her to stop. She hadn't stopped then. And she won't stop now. She doesn't want to hear what he has to say. 'What is he going to say anyway,' she ponders to herself, hurriedly climbing down the stairs to the first floor of the cafeteria. 'That he left because his ex-girlfriend called again to profess her love and beg him to come back to her? And he couldn't resist so he went back to her?' She can't bear to hear that. Her heart won't be able to take it.

"Rebecca, please wait. Let's talk things through. Let me explain."

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say Colby. Just go back to Jojo and leave me alone." She yells at him.

"At least hear me out before you judge me!!"

Having enough of the scene they are creating in the cafeteria, she swerves around to face him, almost having her face clash with his by how little distance there was between them when she turned. She didn't realize he was that close. "What do you want to say? Tell me then, I'm listening." She radiates her glare to the people watching them, causing the onlookers to shrink back into their seats, some when they recognized her. Her gaze lingers for a minute, making sure no one is recording her.

Before her, Colby takes a deep breath in, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand despite the air-conditioning in the cafeteria. Something tells her she's giving him more turmoil with her behaviour. "After you went off to see to your family, I received a phone call. . . ."

"From your ex-girlfriend." She knew it. His ex-girlfriend is the only reason he would leave her like that. Before he can utter another word, she walks off again, ignoring him and yanking the double doors of the cafeteria before slamming it back forcefully. A strangled yelp stops her in her tracks. She jeers back in time to find Colby holding his face in his hands, groaning in obvious pain. When he lifts his head up, she sees blood trickling out of his nose, staining his hands and face. "Colby," she rushes back to him in panic, her hands reaching for his face but he tilts his head back. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking. It wasn't my intention to slam the door on your face."

"Yeah right," he says with a chuckle, an agonized smile on his face. "You want to kill me. That much is clear to me Rebecca," he says sarcastically.

She smacks him lightly on the arm, "Shut up. Let me see it." She grips his face hard to steady him, closely inspecting the wound. "The doctor should have a look at this," she decides before grabbing his hand and dragging him away from the people still watching them and through the double doors of the cafeteria.

She ignores his protests and continues pulling along to the Medical Center, a medium-sized structure situated near the wrestling department for quick emergencies. She passes a hurried greeting to the doctor who is sitting by his desk once she enters, already leading Colby to the waiting area. "I'm alright," she says before the doctor can even ask. "I just need you to attend to him. I think he has a broken nose."

Colby suddenly grabs hold of her arm, "Don't go," he pleads, using his grip around her arm to pull her tight to him. Having him this close feels like a dream. She'd given up all hopes of seeing him again, much less feel the warmth of him. His presence alone brings back so many memories. So many beautiful memories which manages to quell her anger. Just a tiny bit. "We need to talk Rebecca. This is nothing serious. Leave it. Let's talk instead. Hear me out."

She tries to pry his arms from around her, cautious of the way the doctor is looking at them but Colby refuses to weaken his hold. "Colby, you need to have your nose attended to by the doctor. Don't be stubborn."

"You do it then," he offers. "Whatever you have to do, I don't care. All I ask, is for you not to leave, Rebecca. Quit casting me aside."

She wants to retort she has never cast him aside before. Not even once. But the doctor behind them makes her reconsider her options. In the end, she sighs and nods, knowing in her heart she can't leave him like this. She can't leave them like this in spite of what she is scared of. That this may be the last conversation they might ever have. "Sit here first," she seats him in one of the chairs. She draws another chair to sit on facing him, their knees touching when she scoots the chair closer so she can attend to his nose. She takes the first-aid kit from the doctor with a warm smile, "Thank you. I'll take care of this."

"Are you sure you can handle it, Mrs Quinn," the doctor asks.

Rebecca looks at the doctor and Colby hesitantly. "Perhaps, you should take a look just to be certain it isn't serious," Rebecca suggests, already rising from her chair for the doctor to sit on. "I'm not going anywhere," she assures Colby with a small squeeze on his shoulder.

"It isn't dire. The bones in his nose aren't broken which is a good thing. Just clean the blood and then hold a tissue at his nostrils to absorb the blood flowing out. The blood will stop coming eventually. I can do it to save you the trouble, Mrs Quinn." The doctor passes a smile at Colby, "I'll be quick, I promise."

"No," Colby objects, his voice stern and firm. "I want her to do it."

Rebecca flashes him a razor-sharp look, "Colby, I'm not a nurse. . . ."

"It's okay," the doctor chuckles as he rises from the chair, not appearing offended. "This is nothing you can't handle, Mrs Quinn. I'll leave you two alone. I recall now I haven't taken lunch yet. If any problem arises, you know where to find me."

Rebecca smiles guiltily, "Thank you, doctor." She wants to use his name but the long years she has spent away from the Sports Club has taken its effect on her. All the faces of the employees she'd seen ever since she arrived are all new and unrecognizable. She doesn't remember their faces, much less their names. Once the doctor leaves the room, Rebecca moves to stand before Colby, finding him smirking. "Do you find something funny? You literally kicked him out. He's the doctor here, not you."

Before she has time to react, he grabs her wrist and yanks her onto his lap. His arm comes around her waist while the other encloses around her legs, trapping her tightly against him. The first-aid kit box tumbles from her hands to the floor. He's still smiling even as she glares hard at him, feebly struggling against his hold around her. "If I hadn't done that, you would've walked out of the door and I wouldn't have been able to stop you. I couldn't risk that."

She shakes her head in an attempt to get rid of the strands of hair at her face but it's useless. She can stop him either even as his hand reaches up to her face, tucking her strands of her behind her ear. Her toes curls at his touch. She has to take a deep breath in to prevent her face from heating up. "Didn't I tell you I wasn't going anywhere?"

His smirk turns into a full grin. He looks both sinister and gorgeous with the grin on his lips and the blood coming out of his nose. "I didn't trust you to uphold that promise."

She rolls her eyes, "Look who's talking about trust and promises." Using all the strength she can muster, she shoves him, breaking his arms around her waist and legs. She snatches the first-aid kit box from the floor before flopping back down in her chair. "Does it still hurt," her gaze is fixed on the blood on his face as she asks. He doesn't give her a response; he only stares at her as if she's a pleasant dream he never thought he'd have. She forces her hands not to tremble as she dabs at the blood on his face with a tissue. "Stop looking at me like that, will you?"

The room is so quiet and empty that his soft whisper echoes in her ears. "I can't believe how good it feels to see you again, Rebecca."

She pauses to look him in the eye, finding only sincerity and genuine happiness on his face. "I can't believe how good it feels to see you again." 'I can't believe? What does he even mean by that? Did he think he'll be better off if he never sees me again?' "I wish I can say the same for you."

He doesn't look too believing of her words. She has never been much of a great liar. "How have you been?"

She frowns, "Why do you ask?"

"I saw the video."

Her frown deepens,  "What video?"

"The one where," he pauses for her to shove tissues into his nostrils to absorb the blood bleeding out, "you were at Jeff's wedding."

"Oh." 'The one where you were at Jeff's wedding,' is such a nice way for Colby to frame it from the much bitter reality. In all honesty, she has completely forgotten about the video still circulating around. People are still sharing and talking about it according to Ashley. But she doesn't care. She has never cared about what the media or people out there think of her. She only cares about her loved ones, particularly her family who thinks the video has dampen the family's image. That's why she has agreed to have the birthday party so she can raise her family's name from the supposed ashes Fergal claims it's in. She has promised herself that after this birthday party, neither will she have another party on her birthday ever again nor will the media have a story about her for as long as she lives. "And?"

"And," he drawls, looking uncertain as to what he should say next, "I was worried about you. After everything you went through, I was worried you would slip into another depression."

She can't help but feel touched by his concern. "As you can see, I didn't. I'm fine, Colby." She wipes the remaining blood around his nose and closes the lid of the first-aid kit, setting it on the floor along with the tissue she used to wipe the blood. The scent of medicines in the room is now prominent, creating an uncomfortable and suffocating feeling inside her. But she forces herself to stay put and not bolt out of the door. She hates medicines. She hates hospitals. "I've had the media say worse things about me and my family. This is nothing I can't handle. In the upcoming months, the matter will die down and life will go back to normal. They have to tire of watching the video at some point but no matter how long that will take, I won't allow anything they say get to me."

"I'm glad to hear that." He looks proud of her. "I'm really happy to see you like this Rebecca. Determined and confident."

She chuckles a little, lowering her gaze to stare at her hands on her lap. She finds it a bit hilarious Colby is the first person to say that to her. When she took the decision to get her life back on track, she hadn't done it just for herself. But for Colby as well. For he saw she still deserved to get her life back. He was the only person apart from her family—including Ashley—who didn't give up on her. He saved her. Stayed by her side even through her tantrums. It means a lot to her to hear him say those words. She'd been afraid she won't have the chance to hear those words from his lips. "It's you who told me Jeff isn't worth me killing myself for nor does he deserve my tears or love," she reminds him. "I took your words to heart. That's why when you left me," she gazes up at him, an edge to her voice. "When you left me without a reason, I decided to move on. I cried, I won't deny that but in the end, I realized I had to stop wallowing in my agony and face reality. No one is worth my suffering. Not even you Colby."

His smile is filled with sorrow, joy and relief. She can't understand it. "You have every reason to be furious at me. You have every right in the world to assume the worst possible scenario as to why I left. But for the love of everything that's good, you're being cruel when you make it look like I don't care about you. I care about you Rebecca. I've cared about you since the first time I saw you."

"I know that," she admits. "I know you've always cared about me. You took care of me during one of the worst moments of my life. I know that Colby. But I also know, you would've done that for any other person in my place. What I am talking about runs much deeper than you running after me through the rain and saving me from being run over by a truck. I'm talking about when you didn't tell me you were going to Los Angeles. I found it out the day we were to leave, indirectly from Daniel. On top of that, you left me. It hurt so much when you did that."

"I know." He reaches for her hands nestled on her lap, enclosing his hand around hers. "But I have a reason. I didn't want to leave like that but I had no choice at that time. I received a call. . . ."

She cuts him off, "From your ex-girlfriend."

He abruptly lets go of her hands, straightening up in his chair with an irritated look on his face. "See," he jabs a long finger at her face. "This is our problem, Rebecca."

She's puzzled for a minute, "What are you talking about?"

He sweeps his hands around them, "That attitude of yours. The habit of you always assuming things that aren't true. You never allow me to finish what I have to say. You always add your own piece of what you think I want to say and believe it. You're too presumptuous, Rebecca."

His words hits her so hard she is momentarily speechless. He's definitely referring to that morning at the river. She agrees she was hasty and presumptuous that morning but she gave him a chance to speak at the bus station. She gave him a chance. She followed her heart and look where he landed her. In misery. "If you had your fiancé, the man you're about to marry, leave you at the wedding altar for another woman even after he swore to love you for the rest of your life, would you trust another man who is still in love with his ex-girlfriend? A man who cried over her that night before he slept with you? A man who basically wanted just sex from you the next morning? Would you trust this man if you were in my shoes, Colby?"

"And what was so wrong about me wanting us to have sex again that morning," he inquires, running a hand down his face in frustration. "We had an amazing night Rebecca so of course I wanted to have sex with you again. I don't see anything wrong with that but you made me feel as if I've offended you when I tried to kiss you. Your mood practically changed that morning. You started saying things I didn't understand and you made whatever wonderful experience we had that night seem like a mistake. And just like now, you didn't give me a chance to speak. "

Rebecca throws her hands up in exasperation, feeling trapped in guilt with his accusations. "That's because you never look like you have anything to say. I keep expecting things from you but they always yield into nothing. I took my chances with you. I kissed you at the bus station but then you left. . . ."

"My father died," he shouts. "A friend of mine called to tell me my father had died. He committed suicide."

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. There's no other word to describe what she's feeling right now. All this time, after all the assumptions she made about him, it all in fact, boils down to this? A tragic thing like this happened to him and here she was thinking total nonsensical stuffs about him. What a fool she has been!! "I'm sorry. I. . . . fuck, I don't even know what to say." Her face falls into her palms as she groans and curses. "How is your family? How are they all holding up? How have you been, Colby?"

"Bad. Just plain awful," he shakes his head dejectedly and removes the tissues from his nostrils. Luckily the blood has stopped coming. Rebecca takes the bloody tissues from him, rising up to dump it into the trash bin near the doctor's desk. "It was so unexpected. I was astonished when I heard it and then the bus was leaving in two minutes, I had to make a decision Rebecca. It may have hurt you and trust me it hurt me too. But I didn't see any other alternative left."

"But why didn't you tell me? I was right there Colby. I could've gone with you and helped you. I would've been there to comfort you. You didn't have to go through that ordeal alone."

"I know," he says with a small smile, rising from his chair. She doesn't back away now as he strides over to her, his steps confident and firm unlike earlier at the cafeteria. "You've always been there to listen to me. Even when I was whining about my ex-girlfriend."

"Are you back together with her?" To ask this question is already hard enough as it is. Having Colby momentarily dumbfounded and obviously hesitant doesn't help the anxiety boiling up inside her. She doesn't want to assume anything or take his brief silence as a yes and walk away like she did that morning. It has never helped her in the first place.

"No."

She has no idea when she shuts her eyes and opens them once more. Every action is swift and blurring; her sigh of relief, her hearty laugh and the smile she can't seem to get rid of in this moment all happens in a blink of an eye. But she doesn't move to kiss him like she did at the bus station. She won't rush things. She won't hope either. She chooses her next words carefully so as to not paint the wrong picture. "You decided it was over? Like really over?"

He smiles mysteriously, "Now that I've met you again Rebecca, everything looks much clearer and brighter. Everything is gradually falling into place."

That isn't the proper reply to her question. He's speaking in riddles. "Everything is falling into place," she quotes, taking a step closer to him. "I wonder what those things are. Care to explain for I don't want to imagine anything that isn't true since I've done more harm to myself with that attitude than good."

They are standing close now. Too close. She can even feel his breath on her face when he speaks, "Give me time."

She laughs nervously, "Time? Time for what, Colby?"

"Time. Just give me time Rebecca," he places his hand around hers beside her, curling his fingers around her own. She holds his hand tighter, making sure she feels every nail of his fingers digging into the soft flesh at the back of her hand so she knows this moment isn't a dream. "I have a lot of things I have to fix. After my father's death, things are complicated. I've just gotten a job here at the Sports Club and I'm trying to accept the fact that my dream of becoming a wrestler will never come true. I can't promise you things Rebecca. I'll be lying if I tell you I know what to do with my life right now. I don't want you to expect things from me because I'm not sure I can fulfil them."

"Then," the urge to kiss him is strong but she settles for cupping his cheek instead. He instantly leans into her touch, eyes shutting close. Rebecca smiles, "What are we then? What will we be? No promises, I know that. But at least, tell me what I'm signing up for with you. Is it something? Or nothing?"

He touches his forehead with hers, looking deep into her eyes. She swoons over his brown orbs. She has forgotten how intense and penetrating they are. She misses staring into them. She misses him so much. "We'll be something. But for now, I just want to keep seeing your face everyday. I've missed you."

Her smile expands to light up her whole face, "And I you." He keeps brushing their noses together, teasing her whenever his lower lip slides against her lips, almost daring her to do something. All the while, his eyes glint with mischief. "Don't think I'm going to kiss you if you keep teasing me like that. Henceforth, you're going to be the one running after me. Not the other way round."

He smiles large and glorious, filling her with warmth and happiness. "Oh really? And I guess, I still haven't earned your forgiveness either, correct?"

Rebecca giggles, "You're so smart, Mr. Lopez." She uncurls her fingers from his when her phone rings, interrupting them. She's surprised when she sees the call is from her brother. Ashley's text message also chirps it's welcome as she answers her brother's call. "Yes Fergal?"

"Come outside quickly. Mom is waiting for us at home. She has been bugging me nonstop about your fitting appointment."

"Why don't you head home alone? I'll come as soon as I'm done here."

"No. Mom was already fretting over you when you took the car without a chauffeur. I won't have her scolding me because I let you drive by yourself, knowing how much of a poor driver you are. I'll drop you off at home and then I'll head out for a business dinner tonight. You have five minutes to get your ass here Rebecca."

"Alright, " she grumbles under her breath before hanging up. She glances up at Colby with a defeated sigh. She'd hoped she can convince Ashley to give her more time so she can speak to Colby much longer. But her brother has to spoil her plans. "I have to go. My birthday party is coming up and my family are leaving no stones unturned to make sure it's perfect. I have to fulfil my part, I guess." Her eyes sparks, "Are you free tomorrow night?"

"I don't think so. I have to start work here tomorrow. It's going to be a long day so I don't. . . ."

"Start work on Wednesday. For tomorrow night, you're coming to my birthday party." She covers his mouth with her hand, shaking her head at him. "No objections. You own me. You've to come to this birthday party to earn my forgiveness. Just say yes," she slowly bats her eyelashes, "pretty please."

He gives a nod, smiling. "Fine. As you wish. I'll be there."

She throws herself into his arms before she can even think, embracing him tight. His arms comes around her to pull her even closer to him. "We won't stay too long at the party. I promise you. I can tell you don't like being surrounded by too many people. I have to go now," she says, pulling back. She smiles again when she sees the vivid disappointment on his face. "Fergal will scold me if I keep him waiting."

The kiss utterly knocks her off her feet. She's glad Colby is still holding her at that moment, preventing her from melting onto the floor. The world vanishes as his tongue slips through the folds of her lips and into her mouth, stroking her tongue and tasting her. She kisses him back just as passionately, fingers finding their way into his hair. Once they part away, they're both panting and breathless. "You'll be there, right?" She asks again for confirmation, stroking the lips she kissed mere moments ago.

He places another kiss on her lips, smoldering and quick. "I will. Directions?"

"Oh." She fumbles through the pockets of her jumpsuit for her business card. She shoves it into his hand with shaking hands. "Here. Call me and I'll give you directions to the mansion." She kisses him one last time, slow and long, not caring if her brother is still waiting for her. "Be there."

* * *

Pamela's House. Los Angeles, California.

"Welcome Colby." Bits of popcorn in the bowl she's holding fly away when Pamela jumps to her feet upon seeing Colby, standing on the couch and spreading her arms wide for a hug. "How are you? Is everything good? Did you get the job," Pamela asks during the hug, swaying Colby and her this way and that. She has her dark hair in pigtails which bounces as she tries to maintain her footing on the couch without falling off. Mercedes shakes her head with a light laugh when she sees the horror movie playing on the television, her friend in pyjamas and the room dark, painting the living area in a frightening, sinister mood. Pamela has always loved to watch horror movies with the lights in the room completely switched off. If not for the fact that her friend has always been an organized person and not one who leaves her things lying messily around in the living area, Colby wouldn't have made it to Pamela without stumbling into one thing or the other on the floor.

"Yep, I got hired at the Sports Club. The interview was surprisingly an easy one," Colby answers, shrugging off his bag before sitting on the couch, snatching a handful of popcorn from the bowl on Pamela's lap.

Pamela beams and hands over the bowl of popcorn to him, "I'm so happy for you. You really deserve to have that job. Everything is going to be fine, you'll see. I imagine you'll start tomorrow?"

"No. I'll start on Wednesday, the day after tomorrow."

"Really," Mercedes exclaims at the kitchen where she's busy removing things from the grocery bags. "That's new. More students are filling in at the wrestling department everyday and there are hardly any trainers there to attend to all of them. I'm surprised they scheduled for you to start work on Wednesday and not the earliest as possible."

Colby tries to keep his voice neutral as he shrugs, "I don't know. They just told me to start work on Wednesday. Perhaps, they did it to inform the other trainers and students of my arrival beforehand so as to not have me appear there out of the blue."

"Perhaps," Mercedes concedes, walking over to hand him a bottle of beer. Pamela declines when Mercedes attempts to hand her one. Mercedes rolls her eyes at her, shaking her head. "Sorry, it isn't cold," she tells Colby apologetically, rubbing his shoulder. "I've put some in the fridge. If you stay longer, we can have cold beer later."

"I can't stay for long," Colby says, grimacing at the taste of the beer. "Why does this taste sourer than usual?"

Pamela laughs and pats Colby on the leg, "What do I always tell both of you about alcohol? I've never seen a man or woman drink alcohol without making this silly face you're making now or without slapping a table. It's a painful experience yet people still go through it everyday. I just don't understand."

"Alcohol is good for a person's health no matter what you say everyday Pam, " Mercedes retorts. "I once watched a film where alcohol helped a student to pass his exams. It also helped a teacher to gain more confidence to teach in class. So you see, it helps. It's just too much of it is bad. Then again, too much of everything is bad for one's health."

Pamela raises her hands up in surrender, getting up to her feet to kiss Colby quickly on the cheek. "Have fun going through the ordeal of drinking this beer while I catch up on a much needed sleep. These past few days have been hectic and stressful. "

"For all of us. Have a good night Pam and congrats again on thirty-nine deliveries today," Colby says, reaching up to hug her briefly.

"Thank you Colby. You were late today for the celebration so you own me one, Mercedes."

Mercedes laughs and waves her friend away, "I know sweetheart. I'll make it up to you tomorrow. Sweet dreams. Are you sure you don't want to stay for the night, Colby?" She asks him when Pamela is out of sight, shifting close to him on the couch.

Colby downs the beer, shaking his head. "No. I can't Mercedes. I really need to talk to you. It's important."

"Oh Colby, come on. Stay," she coaxes with a sugary smile, taking his bottle of beer from him and setting it on the table along with hers. "Whatever you want to discuss with me can wait. I've missed you," she draws her leg across his lap, taking his hand and setting it on her bare thigh. His eyes are hazy and watery as he gazes at her, "Stay for the night. I promise, I'll. Make. It. Worth. It." She punctuate each word with a kiss to his lips, hand moving to curl around his neck. He doesn't resist as she moves to sit on his lap, eyes falling shut as she deepens the kiss. His hands tries to shove her off but they loses their strength and slacken, falling limp and numb at his sides

Mercedes grins deviously, "Shhh, let me take care of you, my love."