"Why do you have a thousand tv's if you never turn them on."

Shara flipped her lamp switch, grunted incoherently towards the shadow of a still present Calvin, then returned to her massive law books, notes and laptop before answering, "I have a life, that's why. I don't need to be entertained by fake people pretending to live real ones."

"Did you think I was fake?"

Shara chuckled. "Before last night, I had no idea you even existed."

With his feet on the coffee table, Calvin tossed almonds into his mouth before responding. "And now look at you, spending time with one of the hottest comedians on the planet."

"Meh." Shara taunted without removing her eyes from her notes.

"Meh? Care to elaborate?"

"No."

"I care. What does, meh even mean?"

"If you really want to know."

"You damn right I do."

"Okay then. Truth is I didn't find you all that funny."

"Girl, you play too much."

"You said you wanted to know... so." She shrugged.

"Wow. You spend four hours out from under your nerd rock and have to gall to say I'm not funny?"

"All the gall and the lack of ha-ha's to prove it."

Calvin crossed the room, stood in front of Shara's desk, then slammed her laptop shut.

She laughed. "That's all I had to say to get on your nerves? Hell, if I would've known that, I would have fessed up hours ago. Ready to leave now?"

He knelt next to her, placed his hands in her lap, stared deeply into her spectacle-covered eyes, then asked. "Who didn't hug you as a child, Mom or Dad?"

Pushing his hands away from her thighs, she stood, then stomped to her couch. "Now, you're just being a jackass. And again, why are you still here?"

"I told you why, and I'm not being a jackass. I dig you, Shara Taylor, but you've got some issues lurking within that pretty, intelligent, little brain of yours."

"I thought you were a comedian, not a therapist."

"Comedy is the ultimate therapy. So, I kind of am." He joined her on the couch. "Look, you've been studying for hours. We've been cooped up in here all day. Let's order take out, Netflix and chill."

"I'm not interested. And even if I was, I want you gone. Besides, I'm pretty sure you've completely obliterated my chances to impress Vance during the trial. So, now I have to work three times as hard to maintain my GPA."

"Your GPA can wait. I've already ordered some Indian food, and I'll toss all your geek shit in the toilet if you deny me the opportunity to loosen your screws."

Shara protested. "I'm loose enough, thank you."

"Then prove it. What was the last good movie you watched?"

"I don't know."

Calvin mocked her with squeaking noises.

"Fine." She shouted, then mumbled. "Titanic."

"Hol up, goldyn girl, did you just, with the precise amount of shame, say Titanic?"

"It was an excellent movie, and yes. That's what I said. No shame."

"Okay, then I'm not so offended by your, "meh" comment. And no wonder you ended up with that undercover brother. You're both goofy as hell. There's no hope for him, but you, you're too damn smart and fine to be in such a state. So, I hereby declare it my honor and duty, to get your Black card returned and to show you what real fun feels like. You in?"

"Will you get out?"

Calvin's eyes darted toward the ceiling as he paused before answering, "Yes. If you let me show you a "real" good time. I'll leave, post haste."

"Fine, but you have to swear on it."

"I'll do you one better." He smiled as he waved his pinky near her face.

"You're serious."

"As a heart attack." He waved again.

"Whatever, nothing can be worse than the hell I'm stuck in right now. Let's do it."

Just as their agreement was solidified with a firm pinky lock, dinner arrived and the movie line up began. Halfway through Friday, Shara was drenched in tears of laughter. Calvin observed her joy, only taking his eyes off of her long enough to halt the repeated vibrations of his phone.

Before the next movie began, they both took a bathroom break. Shara returned before her impromptu date. His phone was upside down on the coffee table and caught her attention as it vibrated and the screen illuminated over and over again.

She knew Calvin's concerns with paparazzi were valid. What she didn't understand was why hiding out in her condo had been his only option for nearly 24 straight hours.

Curious about his phone being silenced, she leaned over and gazed at the screen. Shocked, by what she saw while scrolling through a thread of messages between him and his manager, she gasped, then covered her mouth to mute her reaction.

"What are you doing?"

Shara released a shriek when Calvin returned to the living room.

"Find anything interesting?" He asked while slowly pulling his phone from her grasp.

"I'm sorry, I–"

"You're nosey." He declared as he returned the phone to its original position.

"And you're a liar."

"Meh." He mocked her with a single shoulder shrug.

"You planned this?"

"No," he admitted. "What I planned was to have sex with you after the show. I saw you in the audience before I came on, and--"

"And you preyed on me."

"More like prayed for you."

"Don't give me that bullshit, Calvin. You're a predator and fucking me last night was your prize. So, if you got what you wanted, why are you still here?"

"What I wanted then and now is you."

"Bullshit. I just read your texts. Do I look like a complete idiot?"

Calvin's light hearted demeanour changed. He pivoted to face Shara.

"I'll fess up to wanting to fuck you, and yes, I have chosen women to be with from my shows before. But you, choosing you was different."

"How could I not see this coming. I mean I knew I pegged you right, but to see it all laid out like a mission for me to literally get screwed. That shit...that shit is on a whole new level of callousness. And to think I actually felt a tinge of sympathy for you."

"Shara, listen. I know what you read, but here." Calvin quickly scrolled through his phone, before placing it in her trembling hand. "Just calm down and read."

Calvin: Am I doing this wrong?

Laren: If you're asking, then you already have your answer.

Calvin: I'm tired. Really tired. All of this fame and no one to love? This isn't a life. You said our paths will cross, and you've never been wrong, but this time, I don't know.

Laren: Trust your heart. She's closer than you think.

Calvin: And how will I know when we meet?

Laren: You'll just... know.

"What is this supposed to do?"

"Prove to you that I've been looking for love."

"Love?"

"I mean... I don't love you, that would be stupid." Calvin blushed as he spoke. "But, I really dig you and wanted to follow through on this feeling I have about us."

"So that's why your manager told you to not get caught up, to fuck me like you did the rest, then leave?"

"Yet, here I am."

"You don't need to be, Calvin. I'm not looking for a relationship. I'm not even over my last one. So, cut the crap and go."

"It's really that simple for me, Shara Taylor. It always has been, but the moment I saw you, spoke with you, laughed with you, made love to you, I realized what has been repeated to me over and over. When I find you, I'll know."

"Well, the jokes on you because I'm not looking to be found."

"Oh yeah? Then why am I still here."

"Because some creep followed me onto the elevator asking about you, and I saw a bunch of weirdos hanging around the lobby. I didn't want your business scattered around the world anymore than I wanted to be a part of it. So, I gave you grace and thought there was some truth to your apparent game. I chose to empathize with you, to believe what was all a big ass lie. And now you're telling me this bullshit is supposed to be fate?"

"If it's not fate, then what is it?"

"A game, your game. Did you not hear a word that I just said?"

"You don't have to believe me, but I know there's something with you. Something I want to learn more about, to be a part of, and even if you don't believe me now, one day, you will."

"Well, that remains to be seen now doesn't it. For now, could you please leave? I'm done."

"Shara, I know how this looks, and I can only imagine how you feel, but this isn't over. You'll see."

"Bye, Calvin. Be sure the door is closed on your way out."

Shara left her guest standing in her living room, sadly watching her walk away. When she emerged a few hours later, he was finally gone.