Reese stood in her London flat, hands on her hips, looking around at the few boxes left to be shipped back to the United States. Glancing a few more times to reassure herself nothing was left behind she sat in a chair and waited. There wasn’t much more to do. Her flight back to California would be leaving in a couple hours; her friend from the radio station was meeting her at a local Internet café after his shift to take her to the London airport. Tucking a strand of her long red curls behind her ear she sighed and thought of all the things she had waiting for her at home.

There was her boyfriend Danny. They had known each other seven years and going strong as a couple for two. Before Danny joined the group No Authority, he was just her shy, chubby next door neighbor. He was her first crush at twelve and lucky for her, the feelings that never faded were eventually shared. As a bonus, he had grown up to become tall, muscular and drop dead gorgeous. She laughed nervously to herself; afraid the time apart might have changed the relationship.

Shrugging the thought Reese got excited at the idea of being reunited again with not just Danny but his three best friends that made up the group No Authority, not forgetting the now departed member Josh as well. They had spent many days and nights as a group cracking jokes and having fun. The boys had been around to see Reese at her best and worst. She loved them all for accepting her for her and in her heart, she knew the feelings were the same.

In her months abroad interning for an international radio station Reese did find herself lonely, even in the company of new found friends. The time she didn’t spend studying and learning the business or with peers, she discovered the online world. The emails kept her close to home and even more so, she managed to meet a new friend in the Los Angeles area. A tug at her heart kept her with a mixture of guilt and nervousness.

The boy, Matthew, had been around at times when Danny wasn’t. After all, Danny was computer illiterate and not even his band mates could get him to buy his own PC. The online companions had shared many thoughts and secrets, even a few that Danny didn’t know. However, he was just a digitized fantasy and Danny was the real thing. Reese knew that and tried her best to remind herself that it was harmless.

Picking up her cell phone, she flipped through her auto dial to Danny’s number. “He better be home.”

She thought. After a couple of rings the familiar deep tone of Danny’s voice filtered into her ear. “’Ello?”

“Miss me?” Reese cooed into the phone.

Danny gave a dramatic pause, knowing the suspense would tease his girlfriend. “Yeah, I did miss you, but it’s only been a day since we last talked.”

“Typical male. It’s been a DAY too long sweetie.” Reese giggled. Reaching for her purse and the luggage, she would be taking with her on the plane. The rest would be shipped home, if her now ex-flat mate remembered to meet the movers.

“I’ll be at the airport waiting for you. This year couldn’t have dragged any worse.” Danny remarked his voice serious for once.

Reese smiled, walking out of the flat and shutting the door to her recent past behind her, ready to go home. “And you’re okay with having a roommate for the next few months until I get my own place?” She questioned, pressing the down arrow to the elevator.

Danny laughed. “It’ll be nice to have some company in this little one bedroom. Plus it will give us plenty of time to catch up, if you know what I mean.”

Picturing Danny laid back on the couch, wiggling his eyebrows Reese shared in the laughter of his lame joke. “The lift is here. I’ll be arriving at LAX 7:30 PM, flight 306. I love you and can’t wait to be in your arms for good again!” Before Danny could answer she clicked off her phone and got into the elevator.