Someone touches my shoulder lightly shaking me. They whisper to me it's time for dinner. "Josh?"

"No. It's Sarah." She laughs. I yawn and rub my eyes.

"Dinner?" I yawn. "Come on."

Groggily; I stand up and push the door open making my way downstairs. I sit at the table still rubbing the sleep from my good eye. I have this theory that if I'd rub my bruised one it might explode.

Both mom and dad eye it suspiciously as they sit down. "Jen, that's bad.." She sighs.

"Should have seen it the day after." I hold in a laugh at Sarah's comment. "It wasn't any prettier."

"You were her doctor?"

"Oh no, I was just some random nurse who helped them get out avoiding the paps."

"That's very nice of you." Mom nods.

"It was."

"How's Josh?" Dad asks a smile.

"He's good. Yeah he's good. He's got two auditions this week."

"For which parts?"

"Well I'm not really allowed to say but I'll just tell you, Spider-Man just got a lot shorter." Sarah chokes on her drink suddenly and I laugh. "It's true." I say.

"He's not that short." Mom defends.

"Only about six inches." I shrug. "But that doesn't matter."

We all laugh. I dish myself out some food and look sideways at Sarah.

"Oh Jenny don't start yet. The boys will be here any moment."

"Well in that case I'll eat upstairs."

"Jen. What happened?" My dad asks.

"When?" I ask shoving food into my mouth trying to hurry.

"New Years day. What happened?" He asks softly.

"Your son pulled some shit. You really want the details?" I ask bitterly.

"If it pertains to Ben then yes I would."

"Well mother." I say laying my fork down and folding my hands on the table top. "Your son, had me go out on a run with him. I went, he explained to me that Josh was no good. Now does anyone in this room believe that?" They  stay silent. "Exactly. Well just to prove his point, he called a friend. I'll give you one guess to tell me who it was."

"It wasn't that little fucker Nic-"

"It was!" I cut my dad off. "He called him and he tried to talk to me. But I hid in the bathroom and then I called Josh and they fought. But then he kissed me, like a lot. And while they were fighting Nick's elbow flew back and hit me in the eye twice."

The door handle shakes and we all stand. "Benjamin!" Mom says as soon as he enters the house. "I can't believe you'd do something as stupid at this!"

He sees me. "It had to be done!" He exclaims. "Josh isn't for her!"

"Come on Sarah. We're going out for a drink." I grab her hand and pull her outside.

I lean my forehead on the steering wheel and sigh. She rubs my back softly.

"It's okay Jen." She whispers. "Let's just go get a drink."

I lean back, looking around the dark yard. "No, let's go back inside." I say softly. "I want to talk to him."

"Jen you don't have to we can-"

"No!" I answer quickly. "I want to. I need an explanation."

"Okay, we can talk afterwards if you want. I'm a good listener."

I smile at her for a long time. We both get back out and I grab her hand before she hits the porch steps.

"Hey Sarah. I just wanted to say thanks for coming with me. I think we're gonna be really good friends."

She smiles and side hugs me. "I think so too. It's cool to know your more than just a face on a big screen."

"Don't tell me you've seen my movies."

"After we met, I went home and watched every single one."

"Please tell me you've never seen Poker House.." I say.

"Twice." She grins.

"Sarah!" I exclaim. She rushes into the house and we both stop abruptly, the family looks at us.

"Jen, Sarah sit please."

We sit down on the couch together, I look at her sideways.

"Go on Ben." Mom says.

"But I won't mean it I-"

"BEN!" Dad shouts. "What did your mother tell you to do?" He waits for a response he isn't going to get. "Do it."

"I'm sorry." He mutters.

I can't help but laugh. "Do you all think that fixes this? A half assed I'm sorry?"

"Well Jen what else do you want-"

"A fucking explanation! I want to know why he did this to me! I want to know why he ran away like a coward when the boys started fighting."

"I-"

"I'm not finished." I warn. I walk over and stand overtop of him. "I want to know who, or what for that matter gave you the idea that you can come in and dictate my life. Please tell me what makes you think you can run my life?"

"Your my sister and I-"

"Oh cut the shit!" I exclaim. "You can't stand the fact that I'm successful and I finally found someone I love! That it?"

"You don't love him." He says quietly.

"What was that?" I bend down to reach his sitting height.

"YOU DON'T LOVE HIM." He screams in my face.

"I don't? Please tell me how you know this."

"You kissed Nick. He told me he felt something when you kissed and he knew you did too and-"

Then it all clicks. "He's been putting you up to this hasn't he? He's been the one behind this entire fucked up scheme."

Our father grumbles something to himself and makes his way over to the both of us. "Jennifer, back up."

I look up at him, his facial expressions impossible to read. With a few seconds he grabs Ben by the shirt and holds him against the wall.

"Do you see your sisters eye? You did that! You and you alone!"

"Dad I'm sorry I-"

"No, we're gonna make it even."

"Please don't Gary." My mother whispers.

"Stay out of this Karen!"

"Dad she's right please don't-"

"Shut up Ben!" He exclaims before delivering a swift, hard punch to Ben's eye.

He cries out in pain cradling his eye as he hits the floor. Blood falls from between his fingers. Sarah moves to help him. "No." I say holding her back, not looking at her. "He's fine, he can take care of himself."

"But Jen it's-"

"Well, I'm gonna go finish dinner, uhm Ben you can rot in hell, see yah!" I say with a smile.

"Jennifer I-"

"Rot. In. Hell." I grin before walking into the kitchen and sitting down. Sarah follows a few steps behind me.

"Was that really necessary, if he doesn't get help he could lose his eye." She says softly.

"I could have too. But you didn't see anyone but Josh rushing to help, did yah?"

"But still Jen I-"

"Fine, then go help him." I shrug.

"Don't be angry with me." She says. "I'm a nurse. It's what I do."

I force a smile. "I know."

When she leaves, I pile two plates high, and grab the fullest bottle of whiskey I find. "I'll be out on the porch." I call.

A soft light hums above my head. I watch the fireflies slowly rise and fall through the air. The brush crackles each time the wind blows.

I sigh, completely happy for once.

The old, wooden screen door opens and closes. "I got you more food." I say softly. "And something to wash it down with."

I take a large swallow of the whiskey and sigh again.

"It really is peaceful out here." I whisper leaning back in the wicker rocking chair. "I always forget how much I used to love it here."

"It's beautiful."

"Time seems to stop. It's irrelevant you know? Like it doesn't even exist."

"I understand." She whispers.

Her fork gently clicks off her ceramic plate periodically.

"I might stay." I breath.

"Stay?" She questions.

"I might stay here. I might not go back."

"Well you have to." She says leaning on her legs with her forearms. "I'm not going back myself. And think about Josh."

"Josh will be fine." I whisper. "He doesn't need me."

"Oh don't be silly Jen. Of course he does. If you stay here, he'll come here."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" I ask. "We come here and stay out of the sight of paps? We could have that peaceful perfect life we both been craving."

"But the movies. And the fame. It can't all be as bad as you tell it to be."

"It isn't all bad." I admit. "But it isn't a joy ride."

"Well i wouldn't think so. But Jen, it's worth it. Just knowing so many young girls look up to you. What would those little girls do if they found out you both disappeared into seclusion?"

"They'd find someone else to idolize."

"No they wouldn't." She shakes her head. "Don't you see? Your all some of these girls have. Your a strong, beautiful, confident young woman who has her entire life ahead of you. Why give that up now just because of a few bad experiences?"

I lean back, and wipe a stray tear. I don't remember ever even thinking about moving. But it doesn't seem like a half bad idea now.

We could do it. It wouldn't be hard. I'm sure Josh wouldn't mind. It'd be so peaceful and nice.

"Just think about it Jen, don't give it all up, you need acting as much as it needs you. You don't want to leave. You crave the idea of it." She whispers.

I gasp, realizing she's right. I don't want to leave. I crave the thought of having a perfect life. But it wouldn't be perfect. He'd never give up acting. We would never truly be gone from the fame.

We'll always remain this way.

Beautiful and broken, torn and confused.

We'll stay this way forever. For, we've never known anything else in life.