The next morning she rose early and went to the hotel gym to do her work out. Her morning regime not only kept her in shape, but it helped her focus. Pushing herself extra hard, she was exhausted when she made it back to her room.

Taking a shower and getting dressed was all she had time for before she had to be in the lobby before grabbing a banana from the fruit basket and heading down towards the lobby, her usual bag of tricks in tow.

When she got to the lobby she was the last one to arrive, and everyone except Davis looked like they had had a long night. Devon and Charlotte were sitting in chairs next to each other wearing dark sunglasses, and Kelly was hanging onto Davis while Carmen leaned against a column.

"It looks like I missed an interesting evening," Laura greeted the sorry looking group of people.

"Yet we all managed to beat you here," Kelly replied snippily.

"Excuse me, I woke up early to workout and I lost track of the time, am I late?" Laura looked at her watch knowing she wasn't late.

"Shut up," Kelly said, groaning as she moved towards the exit.

There was a large van that was waiting to take them to the different famous locals where they were shooting; the rest of the photography crew would be meeting them there.

Laura noticed that Davis, while not as tired as the others, was not his chipper self.

"You missed a hell of a party last night," Charlotte said, coming up behind her.

"It looks like it." She bit back the smile that was threating.

"It turns out Davis knows some pretty famous people." Charlotte held her hand up to block the sunlight.

Today was not going to be fun that was for sure.

"You missed everything Laura," Kelly assured her. "We went to a party at some famous person's house and Davis knew everyone there, including Mason and Cassandra Stevens."

Laura looked up at Davis. Had that been his surprise. She had told him that she liked Cassandra Stevens.

He looked at her and shrugged. "I tried."

After everyone was in the van he jumped in the front and took everyone's photo from the front, laughing when they all groaned.

"Hey girls, this is just the beginning," and it was.

The day was hard for Laura and she didn't have a hangover, she couldn't imagine what it was like for the others. The sun was hot as it blazed down on them and their numerous outfit changes and makeup fixes seemed to take forever.

Laura had three dress changes alone.  Not that she wasn't loving the outfits with their petticoats, white gloves, hats and very high heels, but the day was hot and the dresses started to wilt after only a few hours of posing.

When they broke for a late lunch of boxed meals in the park, Laura got to change into a light sundress just before Charlotte grabbed her and pulled her aside so that they could talk.

"I never knew your work was this hard." She sighed as she sunk down onto a blanket that they had spread under a tree.

"It's easier when you don't have a hangover," she said lightly.

Charlotte nodded, watching Davis as he flirted with the other three ladies.

"I like Davis," Charlotte said as laid down looking up at the trees.

"I have a feeling most people do," Laura said dryly, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"You were upset about your Father weren't you?" Charlotte changed the subject suddenly.

"Weren't you when you heard?"

"No not really." Charlotte exhaled deeply. "This isn't going to be easy is it?"

Laura started rubbing he scar. "No, I don't suppose it is. It's hard to admit when..." Laura couldn't finish her statement because she didn't know how to.  It was hard to share with someone after years of not being able to, it was hard to admit her fault and consequential guilt that came from that fault. Where would they start?

Charlotte remained silent.

"I'm sorry," Laura finally said softly, knowing it was inadequate at best.

"None of it was your fault."

Charlotte had to say that, what else could she say? The truth of the matter was that Laura knew what her brother and father were, and by remaining silent she had protected them and allowed others to be hurt by them.

"How did you get that scar?" Charlotte asked, watching her rub it.

Laura stopped rubbing her wrist and tried to smile at her sister, not wanting to answer her but knowing she needed to, she cleared her throat. "Brad threw me into a glass table."

When she saw Charlotte's surprised look she jumped up. "We both know what happened, we both have our own scars to bare, do we really have to talk about it?"

"No," Charlotte said sitting up, "but it would be better if we did."

"Can we get to know each other a little better? I mean, we've been step-sisters for almost fifteen years and we've never had a single conversation, do we have to start with a hard one?"

Charlotte laughed. "No, we don't. Why don't you tell me about the time that Tabitha tried to set you up with Kellan?" Charlotte looked down the hill at the others who were lounging around

"Jealous?" Laura sank back down onto the blanket.

"Terribly," Charlotte said in a whisper.

Was that why she was jealous about Davis, did she have feelings for him? Did he have feelings for her? The thought was so ridiculous she pushed it firmly away. "Kellan was nice, but he was Navy, which was not in my sphere of interest. He and I went out once to get Tabitha off of our backs, and there was nothing more than a handshake between us."

Charlotte considered her for a moment "Pinky swear?"

Laura held up her finger. "Pinky swear. Besides, don't you know my nick name?"

Charlotte shook her head.

"The Ice Queen." Laura gave a charming smile that came from years of practice, trying to hide the fact that she detested the nick name.

Charlotte regarded her with a nod. "I can see that. When survival mode kicks in you don't exactly become warm and fuzzy, do you?"

Laura fought back the tears. Charlotte knew what it was like to have to turn off all feelings or risk a complete break down; and it's your fault a little voice said.

They continued to talk about nothing in particular for the next half hour until it was time to start the photo shoot again.

Devon and Charlotte left after lunch, but Laura and the others went until well after dark as Davis tried to catch the city lights of L.A. as they were spread behind them.

As they broke for the day Laura wandered over to the edge of the hill where they had been arranged dramatically to get the best shots. There had always been something about city lights spread before her that made Laura feel lonely.

Out there, in all of those lights, were people falling in love, making families and memories. It reminded her that there were happy people; people that hadn't had to grow up quickly or learn at a very young age just how cruel the world could be.

Laura was lost in a depression that would sometimes sneak over her when she least expected it.  Most times she was able to push it aside and move on with her life, but her talk with Charlotte had been weighing heavy on her all day.

"You look very serious," Davis's warm voice said as he came up to stand behind her, following her gaze to the lights below.

"Just tired." She gave her stock excuse for getting people to leave her alone.

"Too tired to go out to dinner with me?" He was very still as he asked, as if her answer mattered.

Laura had to wonder why she cared that it even mattered to him. Sighing, she shook her head. "Davis, what do you want from me?"

"I want you Laura, it's really that simple." He turned to her with a grin

"No, you want an image that has been created by the camera, not me."

"Laura, I see you very clearly."

"You don't even know me. Trust me if you did..." She couldn't finish her statement realizing that she had already said too much.

"Well, let me get to know you, come out to dinner with me?  I'm meeting my brother and his wife, it can be a double date.  Easy, no worries, we'll go out for burgers."

Laura hesitated.  She should say no, there was no point in it.

"Come on, you have to eat, right?  There is no sense in eating alone when you have someone to eat with."

She looked at his profile in the dark. For some reason he drew her interest more than anyone else ever had. "Fine, dinner, but if I don't have a good time and I decide I don't like you, then will you promise to leave me alone and never ask again?"

He held up two fingers. "Scouts Honor."

Laura fought the smile that hovered on her lips.  He really was too charming for his own good, especially when his dimple popped out when he smiled.

"Besides, you already like me so I'm halfway there." He nudged her with his elbow.

His extreme confidence astounded her. She kept knocking him down and he kept getting back up and asking for more. Not many people would do that. "Who are you Davis Stevens?" she asked. The thought had popped out before she could catch it.

"I am a good guy Laura. That's who I am."

"Prove it," she said softly, almost to herself.

"I will," he responded just as softly before turning and heading towards the van. "Come on Laura, you have a hot date tonight, and I don't want you to be late," he called over his shoulder as he walked away.

"Laura has a date! No way," Kelly said shocked. "Who is he, do we know him?"

Carmen looked at her and gave her a knowing smile. "It's none of our business Kelly."

"No, it's not." Laura returned her smile before the door to the van closed and they were all enveloped in darkness.

Davis was once again riding up front and he and the driver were talking.  It took a while before it dawned on Laura that he was speaking in Spanish. Carmen laughed at something they said and when Davis called out to her she responded in Spanish.

Kelly started to pout at being left out of the conversation.

Laura was shocked that Carmen had laughed, it was so out of character for her. Was Davis working his charm on her as well?

Davis turned around and said something to Carmen, making her laugh again, and Laura looked from one to the other.  When her gaze landed on Davis for the second time he winked at her and said something to Carmen, who laughed again.

Carmen leaned forward and whispered in Laura's ear.  "He says he has hope because you look jealous."

Laura turned away and looked out the window. Was she jealous, and if she was, why?  She certainly didn't care for the man, she barely even knew him.