To her right, a photographer snapped a couple photos of her, not even attempting to be discreet. There were three other paparazzi not far away. Having been out of LA for a few months, she’d not had to deal with those guys and had forgotten how awful it could be to feel like a fish in a bowl, always on display. She ignored the clicks of his camera. Yes, she could have allowed Lauren to take a car to her place, but she wanted to personally welcome her to California, whether it meant the whole thing would be documented or not.

“Who are you waiting for, Carly?” another paparazzo asked. She’d seen him before, always with a video camera, much like the one he had trained on her now. He was a piece of work. She didn’t answer. It was none of his damn business. “You glad to be back in LA?” he asked. She watched the door instead, realizing sadly that he was only gearing up. She concentrated on the happy occasion and decided to pretend the paps weren’t there.

A flight had clearly just landed as a new group emerged from the glass doors. She shifted her weight and watched the faces for Lauren, having missed her incredibly since they’d said good-bye earlier in the week.

“Sucks that no one wants to hire you anymore, doesn’t it?” the man asked snidely. The others clicked a few photos of her response. Nope. She would hold steady and not let his words affect her. She was here because someone very important to her was arriving. This was a happy occasion. “Guess you’re not pretty enough anymore to cover up the whole can’t-act thing. Your last film sucked, by the way.” More clicks of a lens. The video camera continued to roll. She closed her eyes momentarily until she found the strength she needed to maintain complete composure. She didn’t know this man personally, so why did his words resonate? But she knew. They were the very words she heard in the back of her mind on a daily basis.

When she opened her eyes again, there was Lauren, moving toward her with the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen. She wore black pants, a green ribbed turtleneck, and a black and white plaid scarf. Her chestnut hair was down, and she looked absolutely amazing. Happiness hit instantaneously. Carly opened her arms, still clutching the flowers, and Lauren walked straight into her embrace, burying her face in Carly’s hair. All was right with the world again. More clicks.

“Hi,” Carly said quietly. “Hi.” She said that second one with all the feeling bubbling inside of her. It was the most heartfelt hi of her entire existence. She squeezed Lauren again, inhaling her scent.