THE NEXT DAY

"It's after nine. Meredith has a big day today. I'd better make sure she's up and about," Marie Fowler told her husband.

"Good plan."

Marie left the room and went to the next door and knocked. "Meredith, honey, are you awake? Big day today." There was no answer. She must still be asleep, Marie thought. Well, that's why she gave me the other key to this room. She inserted the key into the slot, and walked into the suite. "Meredith?" she called. Seeing nothing in the front room, she walked to the door to the bedroom.

And stopped dead in her tracks.

There was her daughter, in bed-with her boyfriend curled up behind her. The covers only came up to about their waists, and they were obviously naked. Josh's hand was curled around Meredith's breast.

"Oh my God," Marie managed to get out.

Just then, Meredith's eyes fluttered open. She quickly realized where she was, and sighed happily at the pressure Josh's hand was putting on her boob. Then, her eyes focused-and she saw her mother, mouth agape, standing at the doorway.

"Oh shit," she groaned.

"Um, it's OK, Meredith," Marie said, quickly backing away from the door. "Um, I just wanted to tell you that it's getting late and see if you wanted breakfast. Just come over when you're...uh, dressed and stuff." Marie quickly fled the room.

Marie high-tailed it back to her room.

"Is she up?" Bill asked.

"Yeah, I woke her up. I told her to get over here when she got dressed."

"Did you tell her to see if Josh wanted to get up and go to breakfast?"

"Um, well, no, but she, uh, won't have to go far to wake him up."

"Huh?"

"He was in there with her."

"Oh Jesus," Bill moaned into his coffee. "Did you, uh, walk in on anything?"

"Oh, nothing like that, but he obviously spent the night, they were naked-at least from the waist up-and his hand was around her you-know-whats."

"Well, I suppose this was inevitable."

"Yeah. I still had better talk to her, though."

"You want to handle this one solo?"

"I think I'd better."

Meanwhile, in the next room, Meredith was in a full-blown panic. "Josh. Josh, honey, you've got to get up."

He opened his eyes. "Hello, beautiful."

"Hello, yourself, handsome."

"I love waking up next to you."

"Well, I would have loved it, but we've got a big problem. Mom just walked in on us."

"Oh shit."

"Yeah, that's what I said. I forgot I gave her the other key, just in case I had trouble getting out of bed."

"What are we going to do?"

"Let me talk to her. She was so flustered, I don't know how she felt about it." Meredith giggled. "She got a full view of your hand massaging my boobie in your sleep."

"Oh man oh man oh man."

"Let me talk to her. My parents have always been very liberal about sex. This might not be so bad."

"OK."

"They like you, Josh. Don't worry. I'm going to take a shower."

"Damn. If we didn't have this little problem, I'd ask you if you wanted company."

"If we didn't have this little problem, I'd say yes." She giggled, and walked away from the bed, seductively wiggling her bare ass. "So, hold that thought, lover," she said over her shoulder and disappeared into the bathroom.

  "I'm going to go back to my room and take my own. Come get me after you talk to your mom, OK?"

"OK," she called from the bathroom.

Meredith showered and dressed in record time, and went and knocked on her parents' door. "Hi," she said shyly as her Mom opened the door.

"Hi. I think we need to talk."

"Yeah, I figured as much."

"Is Josh still in your room?"

"No, he went back to his own."

"Let's go to yours, then. I told your father I'd talk to you."

Meredith opened the door to her room and let herself and her mother in. "Um, does Daddy know?"

"Yeah, I told him." They sat on the couch in the front room of the suite. Meredith poured them each a cup of coffee. 

"First of all," Marie began, "did you forget you gave me the other key?"

"Yeah," Meredith said sheepishly.

"You know I'd never violate your privacy unless I had permission to do so."

"Yeah, Mom, I do know that. I completely forgot, and I don't blame you for coming in at all."

"OK. Now, did I see what I thought I saw?"

"Um, I think so."

"In other words, you two didn't spend all night in the bed sleeping."

"No, we didn't," Meredith admitted.

"Was that your first time?"

"Yes."

"OK. I knew this was going to happen sooner or later. The most important thing I want to know is, did he pressure you or coerce you at all?"

Meredith looked at her mother. "Mom, I think you know Josh better than that."

"Well, I thought I did, I'm just making sure."

"No, he didn't pressure me." Meredith started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"I don't think I can tell you," Meredith said, still laughing.

"Honey, you can tell me anything. You know that."

"OK. No, Josh didn't pressure me, in fact, if anything, it was the other way around."

"Meredith!"

"No, I didn't pressure him, but it was my idea." Meredith's mother just gaped at her with that one. "Sorry, but it's true. I told him I wanted him."

"Well, how do you feel now? The morning after is the true test, you know."

"Well, I'm a little sore."

Marie laughed. "That's not quite what I meant." Her eyes narrowed. "He hurt you?"

"Well, I thought the first time always hurt."

"Yeah, but not usually that you feel it the next day, unless the guy is rough."

:"No, he wasn't rough. He was gentle." 

"So, you shouldn't be sore. I'm a little concerned about that."

"Um, well," Meredith murmured, "he was gentle, but he was gentle three times."

"Three times?" Marie couldn't help but laugh at that.

"Yeah. Twice one after the other, and then we kinda woke up at three in the morning and did it again."

"Ah. That explains that. However, when I first asked you how you felt now, I was thinking more about how you felt mentally."

"I'm not sure what you mean, Mom."

"Any regrets? Second thoughts? Letdowns? Are you OK with what happened?"

Meredith smiled. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

Meredith took a deep breath. "This is hard to talk to with my mother."

"I know, honey. Look, your father was right-this was inevitable. I knew you and Josh were going to sleep together eventually. However, it was kind of quick, and I just want to make sure there isn't any kind of psychological damage-and that kind of damage starts with regrets."

"OK, then I'll tell you." Meredith took a deep breath. "No regrets. No second thoughts. I'm up there somewhere," she pointed up in the air, "floating, on a cloud. Mind-blowingly fantastic doesn't even cover it. It was perfect. In fact, running through my mind right now is how I can get you out of here, go down and inhale breakfast, and get Josh back in here and jump his bones again before I have to get ready, soreness be damned." 

Marie broke into laughter at that. "Well, I guess I don't have to worry about your mental state."

"Nope," Meredith agreed, "not unless euphoric is a psychological problem."

"I don't think it is," Marie chuckled, then sobered. "Meredith, do you love him?"

"Yeah."

"Does he love you? Has he ever said it?"

"Yes, and yes."

"Before or after?" Marie chuckled.

"Before. Before the subject even came up, in fact. And he said it first."

"Good for him." She touched her daughter's cheek. "You're still young. I worry."

"Mom, when I first got into films, you knew what Hollywood was like enough to put me on the pill when I was fourteen. And I'm seventeen, now. Lots of girls would have just gone for it at fourteen, with the first available boyhunk. Do you know how many other Hollywood kids my age are virgins? Precious few. Do you know how many opportunities I've turned down? A whole hell of a lot."

"I knew, or suspected, a lot of that. Meredith, I trust your judgement, I do. It's a mom's prerogative to worry."

"I know."

"I'll try not to."

"Mom, I love you. Thanks for understanding."

"You want to know a secret?" Meredith nodded yes. "I was sixteen my first time." Meredith broke out laughing. "Go get your paramour, and I'll go get your father. I'm starving!" 

THAT AFTERNOON

Breakfast was fine, much to Meredith's and Josh's relief. They lingered over it, chatting.

Meredith's parents decided to go shopping for the afternoon. Meredith quickly led Josh back upstairs and into her room.

"We've got a little over two hours before my makeup artist and hairdresser get here."

"Ooh la la. Makeup artist and hairdresser, on call for the Hollywood star. Color me impressed."

"Oh, you!" She tackled him onto the bed. "Like I said, we've got a little over two hours to kill. Any ideas?" she said with an impish grin on her face.

"We could watch TV," Josh said with a straight face.

"Not exactly what I had in mind." She abruptly pulled her shirt over her head. "I thought you could watch these, instead."

"Meri, you're insatiable."

"Seems that way," she agreed. "I've been thinking about this all morning. You drive me crazy." She reached behind herself and unhooked her bra. 

"Oh, man, you drive me crazy, too."

"All of me, or just my boobs?" she joked.

"All of you. Every square inch of you." She reached out to him and pulled his shirt over his head. "Everything about you drives me crazy." She smiled at his words, as she reached for the snap on his jeans. 

"Good." She pulled his jeans down, and quickly ripped off his underwear. "Every square inch of you drives me crazy, too. But I must admit a certain affection for this," she said as she grabbed his cock. 

"Uh-huh." He reached over and undid her pants, and quickly she was as naked as he was. They snuggled on the bed, kissing and fondling. Suddenly, she started kissing her way down his neck and chest. She planted one on his nipple.

"Hmmmmmm," he moaned happily. 

"Oh, I love all this peach fuzz," she said, running her fingers through it while she nibbled on his nipple. Then, she started lower, kissing all the way down his chest and his stomach.

"Um, Meri, what are you doing?"

"Repaying the favor from last night," she replied with a twinkle in her eye, and, the next thing Josh knew, her mouth was wrapped around his dick.

"MEREDITH!" he cried out, as her mouth engulfed him. She rapidly moved up and down his shaft with her mouth, moaning softly and happily as she watched Josh's arousal escalate from his first ever blowjob.

"Oh, God, Meri, you'd better stop." 

"No way," she said, then went back to sucking his dick.

"Oh, shit......MERI?" he cried, as she felt his dick expand in her mouth. The first pulse of jism hit her in the back of her throat. She quickly swallowed, trying to keep up, but it came so fast that she had to disengage and let the last ropes of cum smack her in the face.

"Uhhhhh," Josh moaned.

"Oh, I love how my boyfriend, the writer, gets all incoherent after he cums."

"Be nice." Josh grumbled good-naturedly. He opened his eyes, and saw her face above his, beaming at him. "Speaking of paybacks," he said, and pulled her, surprising her, down to him, kissing her. This time, he could taste himself all over her face. 

She rolled over and pulled him down on top of her. "Josh, make love to me. But be gentle, OK?"

"Are you sore?"

"A little."

"We don't have to do this. I have other methods," he grinned.

"I want to do this. Believe me. Just, be gentle."

He was. It was long and slow and glorious. After they were done, they made up for the morning and took a shower together, lovingly washing one another.

Josh spent the rest of the afternoon reading a book, bemusedly watching as Meredith's makeup person and hairdresser worked her over. 

"Do me a favor," Meredith said to the makeup artist. "Don't cover up my freckles." She looked at Josh and they beamed at each other.

THAT NIGHT

Josh knocked on Meredith's door. She opened it, and he almost stopped breathing.

She was wearing a cranberry-colored dress. It had spaghetti straps, and dipped low enough to show an impressive amount of cleavage. It was tight around her body, and ended below the knee. It was sleek and sexy, and looked fantastic on her. Her hair had been curled, and was pulled up on her head. The makeup job was professional and thorough and made her look even more delectable-but Josh could still see the freckles.

"I think I'm going to faint," Josh managed to get out.

"I'm glad you like it," Meredith giggled. "You don't look too bad yourself," she said, appraising the way he filled out his tux. "Very dapper."

"I heard a joke once, I forget where, but I agree with it. Walking around in a tux makes me want to go up to people and say, 'Bond.....James Bond.'"

Meredith exploded in laughter. "Ah, and would that make me Mister Bond's femme fatale du jour?"

"Something like that."

"You're delicious," she giggled, wrapping him in a hug. "I'd kiss you all over," she purred, "but I don't want to wreck my makeup."

"You just hold that thought."

"You got it. Er, my Mom promised not to barge in tomorrow morning."  Josh looked at her and exploded in laughter. 

"It's like I flipped a switch or something," Josh chuckled.

"Yup. Don't tell me your switch hasn't been flipped!"

"Well, uh, yeah."

"That's what I thought." She gave him a peck on the cheek. "Come on, lover, let's go watch my movie." They walked out of the suite and headed for the elevators.

"We're not getting your parents?" Josh asked.

"They're meeting us there. They figured they'd leave the Grand Entrance to the two of us," Meredith giggled. 

They walked through the lobby hand-in-hand.

"Hey, that's Meredith Fowler!" they heard a girl say as they passed her.

"Who's the guy with her?" another girl asked.

"I don't know," the first girl said, "but he's a hunk!"

Meredith looked up at Josh. "Sweetie, you're blushing!" 

"I don't know if I'm ever going to get used to this."

"You don't have to. I like watching you blush." She grinned at him. "C'mon, hunk, let's go catch our ride." They walked outside the hotel. Meredith looked around until she found a limo driver that had a sign that said "Meredith Fowler".

"There's our guy," she said. "Hi, I'm Meredith Fowler," she smiled at the limo driver.

"Right this way," he said, leading them to his limo.

"A limo?" Josh asked.

"Of course. One must travel to these things in style," Meredith teased him as they got in.

"I take it you've ridden in a lot of limos," Josh asked her as they settled in.

"A few."

"Hmmmm. If limos are old hat to you, I'm going to have to think of something new and exciting for the prom."

"The prom?" she asked.

"Yeah, I know it's a ways away, but it popped into my head when I saw this limo."

"Now I'm looking forward to it." They laughed. "I may be making a movie then, though-the latest schedule I saw would mean I'd have to come out here in May. I'll put it in my contract that I fly home for the prom, though," she said with a giggle.

"Look, Meri, I don't want you to take this the wrong way. I know this is what you do. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks," she beamed. "But I hear a 'but' coming."

"Just that, after all we've shared, I can't help thinking that being without you the whole summer is going to be a bitch."

"Believe me, I've thought the same thing. We'll figure something out. I can fly you out here for a week if I have a slow shooting schedule, or something."

"I'd like that."

They pulled up in front of the theater. "Ready for the paparazzi?" Meredith asked him.

"No!" Josh laughed.

"Too bad. Let's make our entrance."  The limo driver helped them out, and they started towards the theatre. Flash bulbs were popping, and there were lots of people lining the entrance. People, including the photographers, turned toward them as Meredith's name was called out. She smiled and waved.

"Take a deep breath and smile, my love. It's OK," Meredith told Josh, taking his hand in hers. They walked through all the commotion towards the theatre. Meredith walked confidently, smiling and waving. Josh was tense and uneasy, and Meredith sensed it. She squeezed his hand as reassurance.

"Hey, Meredith, nice dress!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"Thanks," she yelled back.

"Hey, Meredith, nice date!" someone else shouted.

 Meredith let out a bark of laughter, and looked over at Josh, who was blushing profusely. Meredith smiled at him, wrapped her arm around his, snuggling up next to him. She looked over into the crowd, where the original shout had come from, and playfully yelled "MINE!" She walked him through the doors to the theatre, leaving the laughter of the crowd behind them.

"There," Meredith giggled at him in the foyer, "that wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Yeah, right."

"I love it when you blush," Meredith whispered. They were quickly led to their seats, and settled in. 

They watched the movie, which was very good, and Meredith was gratified by the enthusiastic applause from the premier-goers. She was even more gratified when Josh leaned into her and whispered in her ear, "Damn, are you good."

Josh was a bit more at ease with the paparazzi going out of the theatre, and they quickly piled into the limo to go to the party.

"Where's this party, anyway?" Josh asked.

"Dan Aufberg's house. He's the producer."

"Yeah, I've heard of Dan Aufberg."

"Wait till you see his house."

"Am I about to be overwhelmed?"

"Most definitely," she giggled. "Don't feel bad, I am overwhelmed by this palace. But Dan's a really nice guy, so he thinks it's funny."

The limo drove through Beverly Hills before pulling into-well, Josh could only call it an estate. They went up the drive, and pulled up in front of the biggest, most opulent house Josh had ever seen.

"Oh my," he said in wonder, "you could fit all of Lamawakka in this place!"

"I know, isn't it grand?" Meredith giggled. "Come on." They walked into the huge foyer. There was a doorman at the huge room where the party was mostly being held, and Meredith handed him their invitation. She had earlier taken it and crossed out "Guest" and written Josh's name.

"Meredith Fowler and Joshua Wallingford," the doorman intoned. Josh looked at Meredith in surprise.

"Never been announced before?"

"Well, no."

"You've got a great name for it. 'Joshua Wallingford,'" she intoned in a mock-bass. "It sounds like an old English noble's name. It should be Sir Joshua Wallingford, that would be even better."

"You're a nut, you know that?"

"HEY BIG TALENT!!!" Someone bellowed from across the room. Josh looked up, and saw a portly, fiftyish gentleman with a graying beard hurrying towards them. "So glad you made it!" He kissed Meredith lightly. "You made that movie, honey. You made it. It's all you."

"Dan, you're a sweetie. Dan, this is my boyfriend, Josh Wallingford. Josh, Dan Aufberg."

"Hey, Josh, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Aufberg."

"Call me Dan. In my house, you call me Dan."

"He's a little overwhelmed by your house, I think," Meredith teased.

"Ah, it's just a house," Dan demurred.

"Just a house," Josh said. "Riiiight."

"Welcome to Hollywood, kid," Dan teased. "Hey, Meredith, show him a good time. Drinks are over there, food's over there, we've got a dance floor. Have a ball." He hurried off to greet someone else.

"Let's get something to drink," Meredith said, leading Josh over to the bar. "I'm going to have wine. You want some?"

"Wine?"

"This is a private Hollywood party, sweetheart, nobody checks ID's," she whispered with a giggle. She ordered two wines. "Here. You need to relax. I thought you were OK with what I do."

"In the abstract, yeah. Faced with it? I'm afraid I'm going to do something stupid and embarrass you."

She put her wine down on a table and grabbed his face. "Look at me. Nothing you can do would embarrass me. Understand that? I love you. Be yourself."

"I'm afraid I'm going to gush."

"So gush," she laughed. "You think I didn't, the first one of these I ever went to?"

"You gushed? I figured if you were in the business, you wouldn't gush."

"Oh, the first one I ever went to, I had stars in my eyes."

"Happens to all of us," another voice said, and Josh saw a tall, slim guy of about 19 stroll up behind Meredith.

"Christian!" Meredith said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Josh, Christian Houle. Christian, Josh Wallingford, my boyfriend."

"Hey, nice to meet you," Christian said, taking Josh's hand. "So, you finally found a guy to keep up with you, eh?" he joked to Meredith.

"Yup."

"Nice to meet you, too, Christian," Josh said. "I liked you in the movie."

"Even if I did have a love scene with your girlfriend?" Christian teased. Josh just blushed. "Hey, it was tasteful, right? Let me tell you, Josh, your girlfriend here is a hell of an actress. That was a fun movie to do."

"Oh, you flatterer," Meredith teased him.

"Just telling it like it is, ma'am. Hey, come with me, we've got a table." He led them over to a table with a petite blonde sitting at it. "Hey, Lara!" Meredith greeted.

"Hi, Meredith!"

"Josh, this is Christian's girlfriend, Lara Dumont. Lara, this is my boyfriend, Josh Wallingford."

"Nice to meet you," Lara said.

"Likewise.  You were in that Shakespeare update, weren't you? You were terrific in that."

"Thanks!" Lara beamed. "So, Meredith Fowler has a boyfriend. I'm shocked. You do know, I hope, that the gossip was that the betting was that you were gay."

"Yeah, I know," Meredith grinned.

"You too? You never told me that," Josh said. "My school friends used to say the same thing about me."

"Didn't date, didn't show any interest, et cetera?" Lara asked.

"Yeah. I told them I was waiting for the right girl. They didn't believe me until I found her."

"Ditto," agreed Meredith.

"Oh, that's so sweet," Lara cooed.

" You want to sit with them, honey?" Meredith asked.

"Sure," Josh said, "as long as you dance with me later."

"Of course," Meredith agreed. "However, for now, let's put our wine down here for a minute and go find Tim Hicks. Save our seats?" she asked Christian and Lara.

"Sure," Christian replied. "Tim's over there holding court in the corner, by the way."

"Cool. Come on," Meredith pulled Josh across the room.

"Meredith!" Tim shouted out as he saw them approach. "Get over here! You had me spellbound on that screen tonight." She hustled over and gave him a kiss. "You were the emotional center of the whole thing. I'm telling you, that's a career-defining performance. You're going to get an Oscar nomination out of this."

"You're nuts," Meredith laughed. "Sweet, but utterly nuts."

"Mark my words. Oscar nomination."

"No way."

"Way," Tim said goofily, sticking out his tongue. "You will be reminded of this conversation, and your lack of faith in me, when the nominations come out." He looked over at Josh. "So, this is the gallant young man who defended your honor so well on the Lisa The Witch Kelley show yesterday."

Meredith cracked up. "This is he. Tim, Josh Wallingford. Josh, Tim Hicks."

"Good job, kid. Fending off that blood-sucker like that," Tim said, shaking Josh's hand.

"Thank you. It's a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Hicks. I'm a big fan."

"Thanks, I like fans, but call me Tim. Mr. Hicks is my father, and I'm not that old."  Meredith broke out laughing. "As for you, young lady, you ought to be ashamed of yourself," Tim continued. "Letting old battle-axe Kelley get the best of you like that. Yes, I noticed."

"Damn, I thought I covered her," Josh said.

"You did," Tim agreed, "but I know Meredith quite well, and I could tell just by the way she clenched her jaw that she was about to explode. To someone that knows her, such a reaction is very rare, but very noticeable."

"I noticed only because I was holding her hand and she almost broke my fingers," Josh chuckled.

"That'll do it," Tim agreed. "So, are you guys lovers?"

"We weren't then," Meredith smiled sweetly. "We are now." She led Josh away. "See you later, Timmy." She walked away from him, hearing his chuckle as she left.

"Uh-oh," Meredith said, looking up at Josh, who was, again, blushing. "Sorry. I probably shouldn't have said that."

"It's OK. He's your friend."

"Look, I'll tell you the truth. I had to resist the urge to start screaming 'this wonderful guy took my virginity last night!' as we were walking into the theater."

Josh cracked up. "You too, huh? Look, I'm discreet, and I don't share my private life too easily with too many people-but, I confess, I can't wait to tell Tomasz and Kylie."

"I tell Tim everything. He's like the older brother I don't have. Much older brother, but that's OK," she giggled.

"I really didn't mind. If only I could control this blush."

"I like it," she giggled. "Anyhow, I've worked with Lara before, and she hung around most of the summer to be with Christian because she wasn't doing a movie then, and we've become very close. If she gets me alone, the subject's going to come up."

"That's fine."

They got back to the table. "So, how is the esteemed Mr. Hicks?" Christian asked.

"He's fine. He's a nut. He's trying to convince me I'm going to get an Oscar nomination out of this one," Meredith told him.

"I can see that," Lara agreed.

"I don't know nothing about the Oscars, but you'd get my vote," Josh joked.

"Yes, and you're completely unbiased," Christian teased him. "Hey, Meredith, I have to say, Tim's got a point. That was a powerful performance. And, you have to admit, Tim knows a little bit about the Oscars. How many of those things has he won?"

"A lot," Lara said.

"Five," Josh said. "Four as an actor, one as a director."

" I've found out that Josh is a bit of a film buff," Meredith laughed.

"Not as much as my best friend Tomasz, but close," Josh agreed.

"Oh, now we know why you're dating a big Hollywood star," Lara teased.

"Actually, he's not impressed by my celebrity," Meredith told them.

"I am impressed with her acting, but that's different. I'm impressed by Richard Dreyfus's acting,, too, but I wouldn't date him," Josh joked.

"He likes good storytelling. He's an aspiring writer," Meredith said.

"Cool!" Christian enthused. "So, you like movies because you like a good story."

"Right. Although, I must admit, I'm more into the classics," Josh told them.

"Really? Me too. What's your all-time favorite?" Lara asked him.

"Casablanca. Bogie was the man."

"That he was," Christian agreed, raising his glass in salute. 

"Who's your favorite contemporary actor?" Lara asked Josh.

"Besides the one I'm dating?" Josh joked, earning a kiss on the cheek from Meredith.

"Yeah, besides her," Lara laughed.

"I just met him. Well, him and Dreyfus."

"Tim's wonderful," Meredith agreed.

"And here he comes," Christian pointed out.

"Hey, kids," Tim greeted them. "Meredith, I forgot to ask you. Did you get the script?"

"Yeah. It's marvelous."

"That shooting schedule work for you?"

"Yup. I've already told Mike to start negotiating. However, I will need five or six days off in June. I'll get you the exact dates."

"Oh, really? And why is that?" Tim asked her.

"Why, my junior prom, of course," Meredith told him.

"You're going to disrupt my shooting schedule for the prom???" Tim asked in mock-indignation.

"Damn right I am. I'm going to make sure it's in the contract," Meredith told him.

"Hey. You're stealing her away from me for the whole summer. I'm putting my foot down about the prom," Josh said.

"OK, OK, I know when I've been beaten." Tim raised his hands in surrender. "No, I'm just kidding. There are plenty of scenes in this film that you're not in. Get me the dates, we'll work it out."

Tim left, and the foursome continued chatting. Josh and Christian discovered a mutual love of baseball, and were animatedly discussing it.

"Sports," Lara snorted. "Hey, Meredith, come powder your nose and leave those two to the sports talk."

"OK," she said, and got up. They headed to the powder room. "I can't give Josh a hard time about sports, he wants to be a sportswriter."

"Oh, I thought he wrote fiction," Lara said.

"He does. Fiction, and poems, but he also does work for the school paper and wants to go to school for journalism. He told me once he wouldn't mind general reporting, but he really wants to report sports. He plans on doing creative writing as a sideline."

They got into the powder room and leaned over the mirrors, touching up their makeup.

"You really like this guy, don't you?" Lara asked.

"Well, it's gone way past 'like'," Meredith admitted.

"You're in love with him?"

"Yeah."

"Him too?"

"Yeah."

"Hmmm. Do I get any dope out of this?"

"Huh?"

"Gossip. Dope. Revealing personal details. You know. Exactly how much do you love him?" Lara asked with a smirk.

"Exactly that much," Meredith grinned at her.

"Are you telling me that Meredith Fowler surrendered the cherry?" 

Meredith laughed. She loved Lara, but knew Lara could get crude when she wanted to. "Yes, Meredith Fowler surrendered the cherry. Last night, as a matter of fact."

"Ah. That explains why you're glowing. It also explains why you're walking a little funny."

Meredith burst out laughing. "Am I?"

"A wee bit. So, how is he?"

"You're a pig, Lara."

"Hey, I've given you many intimate details about Christian and me."

"True. How is he? Oh. My. God. That's how he is."

"Good for you."

"I was surprised, to tell you the truth, considering he was surrendering the cherry at the same moment I was."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So, are you in that 'I can't get enough' stage, yet?" Lara teased her.

"Let me see. We had the grand deflowering last night, then we did it right away again, and then we woke up a three in the morning and did it again. And then we did it again this afternoon, and when we went into the shower to clean up from doing it this afternoon, we did it again. Answer your question?"

"My word, girl, no wonder you're walking funny!"

Meredith broke up, and they left the powder room.

"Oh goody. The band started up, and here comes my dance partner," Josh said as the girls came back to the table.

"He's a terrific dancer. We go out dancing all the time," Meredith told them.

"Shall we?" Josh asked, taking her hand, and led her to the dance floor.

"So, what do you think?" Meredith asked as they danced.

"Hm, what do I think. Well, this house is unbelievable. Christian is really cool, and Lara seems nice, too. Your movie rocked. And I met Tim Hicks, and found out that he is pretty cool, too. All in all, a good night."

"Glad you're enjoying yourself."

"Did you tell Lara?"

"Yeah. She said now she knows why I'm walking funny." Josh just gaped at her, and then exploded in laughter.

They spent the rest of a perfectly wonderful evening dancing and talking. Then they went back to the hotel room and made love.

The next day, they were back in Lamawakka.

