Michael: A proposition, huh?

Jennifer:  Yeah… or actually, I guess it could be seen as a request.

Michael:  You’ve got me curious now.  What’s going on?

Jennifer:  Well, as I’m sure you’re aware, Matt Jones left Falls High at the end of the semester.

Michael:  Yeah… Matt was one of the best players we had on the baseball team.

Jennifer:  Well, he was also one of the best writers I had on The Falling Star as well.

Michael:  Matt wrote for the paper?

Jennifer:  He was the sports contributor.  He wrote stories about all the teams… kept up with community sports.  He was a really good writer.

Michael:  Wow… I didn’t even realize he did that.

Jennifer: Well, you know how you athletes can be.  Heaven forbid anyone know you can do more than just play ball.

Michael:  I guess…. Still, I don’t see what this has to do with me.

Jennifer:  Well, with Matt gone, that leaves my Sports section in a bit of a bind.  I’ve got a couple of stories I can run over the next couple issues as filler until I find a replacement for him… but I’m not sure where I’m going to find one… unless… (she says mischievously)

Michael:  Unless what?

Jennifer:  Well, I was just thinking… with your injury, you’re not going to be able to run track this year.  I was wondering if maybe you’d consider filling the spot?  (She asks quickly, bracing herself for rejection.)

Michael:  Sure.

Jennifer:  You wouldn’t have to do it but for this semester.  I’m sure I could find a full time replacement by next Fall.

Michael: I said yes.

Jennifer:  You did?  (She asks, surprised.)

Michael:  Yeah… I did.

Jennifer:  Oh my god Michael… thank you so much! 

    Making her way around the table to give Michael a hug.  Michael winces in pain as she accidentally knocks into his leg.

Jennifer:  Oh my god… I’m so sorry Michael.

Michael:  Gotcha!  (He smiles.)

Jennifer:  You jerk!  (She spits, slapping him on the shoulder.)

Michael:  Hey… that’s your new sports writer you’re trying to injure.

Jennifer:  Injuring wasn’t on my mind… (she smiles.)  If you try something like that again, trust me, you’ll be sorry.

Michael:  Uh oh… the lady’s making threats.

Jennifer:  It’s not a threat… it’s a promise.  (She extends her hand to Michael, who begins to stand from the table.)  Welcome to The Falling Star, Michael.

Ben:  Uh oh… sounds like someone’s going professional.

    Turning to see Ben, Jennifer finds herself strangely disturbed by the interruption.

Michael:  Thomas!  What’s up man?

Ben:  Not much man… How’s the leg treating ya?

Michael:  Almost healed… doctors say another couple of weeks.

Ben:  That’s cool.  So I guess you’ll be back on he field in no time.

Michael:  We’ll see about that.  (Turning to Jennifer, Michael realizes he’s failed to make proper introductions.)  Hey Ben… you know Jennifer right?

Ben:  Yeah… we met during the elections last year.

Jennifer:  Good memory.

Ben:  That whole ordeal’s kinda hard to forget about (Ben says with a smile.)

    Jennifer’s quick to realize how so many girls to fall under Ben’s spell.  Looking inside the coffeehouse, she sees Lauren—her eyes glued on Ben. 

Ben:  So what’s this about Michael and the school paper?

Michael:  I’m just going to give Jenn a hand with the sports section.

Ben:  Mighty brave of you (he says to Jennifer) trusting this one to communicate to the masses.

Jennifer:  I trust him (she smiles.)  Besides… I’ll have my eye on him.

    The guys laugh as Jennifer looks back through the patio doors.  Lauren is gone. 

Jennifer:  I better take off.  Michael. I’ll talk to you later.

Michael:  Sure.  Catch you later.

Jennifer:  Good to see you again Ben.

Ben:  You too.  Take care.

    As Ben watches Michael watching Jennifer walk away, he thinks he sees something in his friend’s eye.  He chooses not to say anything.
………………………………………………………………………………………………

Angel:  Finally, the exit!  (She says aloud, spotting the sunlight filled front doors.  As she continues her walk towards them, she’s surprised to hear someone begin speaking to her.

Kelly:  I guess you’re really excited… coming back to the show and all.

Angel: Excuse me?  (She says, turning to see Kelly standing before her.)

Kelly:  This is going to be really big in the publications you know.  I can see the headlines already… Replacement replaced by original!  (She says, holding her finger in quotations in front of her face.)

Angel:  I’m sorry… (she begins, trying to admit that she’s got the wrong person.)

Kelly:  You don’t have to be sorry.  I should’ve known better.  The fans never accept the recast.  It’s like being the second wife… they always go back to the first.  It happened with Eileen Davidson replacing Shari Shattuck… Michelle Stafford came back, meaning Sandra Nelson was out the door.  I should’ve known my days were numbered.  Really… congratulations.

Angel:  You don’t know what you’re talking about (half wishing she could continue on the charade.

Kelly:  I don’t?  (She asks, somewhat confused.)

Angel:  I didn’t accept.  (She says, continuing her act as Ashley.) 

Kelly:  What?  (She questions, quite surprised.)  I thought surely…

Angel:  I’ve got other plans for my life right now.

Kelly:  Oh… (she says, trying her best to sound secure.)  Well, good luck I guess… in whatever you decide to do.

Angel:  You too… (she says, beginning to walk away from her.)  By the way… I like your work.

    As Angel makes her way out the studio doors, she doesn’t turn back.  Instead, she looks to the sunlight overhead, and reaches for her cell phone in her bag. 
    Beginning to dial Justin’s telephone number, she looks at her phone, and then chooses to place it back in her bag.

Angel:  You know what… you wouldn’t believe me if I told Justin.
………………………………………………………………………………………………

Justin:  I thought that was you out here (he says, making his way towards Ben and Michael.)

Ben:  Hey Justin… what’s up man?  I haven’t seen you around much.

Justin:  Eh (he shrugs.)  The parental had me on lockdown for a while.

Ben:  That sucks man.

Justin:  It’s all good.  I didn’t miss much.  It’s not like Michael here’s the life of the party lately (he teases, patting the cast on his friend’s leg.)

Michael:  Alright now Funny Man…

Ben:  Oh man… I forgot to tell you guys.  You won’t believe what happened with my parents today.

Michael:  Let me guess… they decided they just can’t bear you being so far away at Princeton anymore, and they decided to pack everything up and move out there.

    Ben looks at Michael.

Ben:  Don’t joke (he says, all too seriously, before starting to laugh.)  No, but seriously.  I couldn’t believe it when they told me.

Justin:  You’re killing the excitement man.  Just tell us already.

Ben:  My folks are getting remarried.

    She’d come out to the patio because she saw her son talking to Ben Thomas.  As she hears the words come out of Ben’s mouth, Gayle Reed-Scott stops dead in her tracks.  She backs away from the patio door and stands against the wall in an effort to catch her breath.

Kyle:  You alright Gayle?  (He asks, noticing the panic in her face.)

Justin:  That’s cool man (Gayle hears her son say from outside.)

Gayle:  I’ve got to get out of here (she says to Kyle, making a beeline towards the door.)

    Kyle looks outside and sees the guys sitting together. 

Kyle:  Why do I get the feeling you just got some bad news Gayle?  (He asks himself, walking back over to the coffeebar.)

    Back outside, Ben turns to Justin, with a somewhat serious tone set across his face.

Justin:  Why do I feel like you’re about to read me the riot act?

Ben:  I just wanted to ask you about Lauren (he says, somberly.)

Michael:  Yeah man… didn’t I see you inside with her?

Justin:  She took off (he says, realizing how little he wants to get into this conversation.)

Ben:  Took off?  Did she see me out here?

Justin:  I don’t know man… so, how’s school?

Ben:  You don’t think you’re going to get out of this that easily, do you?

Justin:  What?  She’s home… can’t we just leave it at that?

    Ben realizes he’s right.  Still… he has to know about her.  The last few months have been a time of reflection for Ben.  A chance to look back on the mistakes he made.  The mistakes he and Lauren both made.  If he had the chance, would he do the same things again?  He’s not sure… and that alone makes him nervous.

Ben:  How is she Justin?

    Justin’s not sure how to answer the question.  The Lauren he knew before she left for London seems a far departure from the one that walked through The Falls doors today.

Justin:  She’s okay (he finally replies.)

Michael:  That was quite a change she had going with the hair. 

Justin:  She’s been through a lot, okay.

Ben:  Justin… I know I have no right to ask you to do this…

Justin:  But that’s not going to stop you from asking.

Ben:  Just… if you would… keep an eye on her.  Make sure she’s okay.

Justin:  That’s a given.  Only thing I don’t get, is why you don’t do that yourself.

Ben:  Come on… do you really think Lauren wants anything to do with me right now?

Justin:  You made a mistake… it happens.

Ben:  I don’t know… maybe in time.

Justin:  Yeah man… I’ll keep an eye on her.

    Inside, the three fail to notice the eyes on themselves.  As Lauren watches him, she thinks back on the past.  The past she shared with him.  She feels a pain in her stomach, as she realizes how far she has moved past it.

Lauren:  Ben… (she says, more with her heart than with her head.)

Epilogue