Elijah, Sean, Billy and Orlando were standing against Sean‘s car waiting for Dom and Liberty when they got out of the car.

“I’m thinking we should buy a CD,” said Billy, patting the hood of the car. “for Liberty…”

“And justice for all,” continued Sean, grinning.

Liberty put her hands in her pockets, “Very funny. That’s not an old joke at all.” Dom laughed and locked the doors before following her up to the four guys.

“How many kids did that to you during school?” Elijah asked. She was surprised because this was the first direct question he’d asked. Liberty walked up to him.

“About six hundred. The entire student body. During morning announcements we always did the Pledge of Allegiance and everyone ALWAYS looked at me during it. It was horrible.”

Elijah chuckled slightly, “That does sound bad.”

“Did you get teased about your name?” Liberty asked him, watching as Billy and Dom began discussing which CD to buy for her.

“Not that crap, Dom!” Billy yelled angrily. It was all pretend, though. Just for fun.

“It’s not crap, Billy! It’s GOOD!”

“Good crap!” Orlando burst in, laughing.

“Not really. A little just because it was different. Kids are cruel, you know? They were all named Ann and Henry…Joe and Mary.” Elijah shrugged and sighed.

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” replied Liberty, leaning her back against the car next to Elijah. They watched the scene play out in front of them. Dom was giving Billy a noogie while Sean stood by laughing hysterically with Orlando. “I had a friend in first grade named Rhiannen and it was tougher for her than it was for me. I don’t know why. Maybe I just ignored all the taunts or whatever. But, teasing about names is so stupid.”

“Yeah it really is. But a part of life nonetheless,” commented Elijah, fixing his sunglasses over his eyes.

“True,” agreed Liberty. She took this time to glance around the lot, her eyes falling on a new VW Beetle which was metallic blue. “Oh God, I love that car. It’s so cute.”

Elijah laughed. “You have just chosen the most unreliable car ever. But I’m no car expert.” Liberty had been examining the Beetle but she stopped and looked up at him. Elijah glanced down at her and smiled. “I swear your eyes are the most familiar things ever. Has anyone ever said that before?”

Elijah bent down to be level with her and said in complete seriousness, “Yes.”

“It’s not a line, I swear,” she laughed. “But I think I know you from somewhere.”

“You probably do,” replied Elijah, standing up again. She stood up next to him. “How long are you in LA for?”

“Two weeks,” she replied quickly. “Probably. Long story. Were you in, like, a movie or something when you were little?”

“I’ve been acting since I could walk,” he replied by way of an answer.

“So that’s a yes.” She drummed her fingers on the burning hood of Sean’s car. She didn’t notice that her fingers were sizzling from the heat. “Those eyes,” she shook her head. It was like the eyes were mesmerizing and she felt herself becoming a little blurry and fogged.

“I was in a few,” he shrugged, looking up at Billy, Dom, Orlando and Sean waiting for them while looking in a store window a few feet away. “I don’t like to talk about my movies…”

“Oh I’m sorry,” she replied hastily, “I didn’t mean--”

“No, no it’s alright. I just meant, well, I’m sort of uncomfortable…”

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, it’s alright,” he laughed. “Yeah. I could list them but I hate to sound egotistical.”

“I don’t think there is ANY way you could sound egotistical.” She smiled at him. She nearly said Elijah, but for some reason she felt odd about it, maybe because it sounded too intimate to call him by his name so soon. Or maybe she was just crazy. Liberty Crane wasn’t superstitious, nor did she believe in love at first sight but…something about Elijah kind of made her want to abandon everything she stood for and just agree with everything he said. But she wouldn’t let herself do that. She’d come too far to just fall into the same routine that plagued her high school days.

He blushed a little but smiled. “Flipper, Huck Finn, ah, Oliver Twist..” He paused, going deep into his memory to remember the movies he made years ago. “…Radio Flyer, Forever Young with Mel Gibson, The Good Son. Can’t think of any more.”

Liberty hadn’t really been paying attention, she’d been watching his lips which were quite full on the bottom and a little thinner on the top. Really wonderful lips, she’d thought. She snapped back to reality when his voice halted. “Um…yeah, Huck Finn! The Disney movie. The blue eyed adorable little boy. That was you.”

Elijah laughed, “Well, adorable I don’t know. But I was Huck. And blue eyed.”

“LIBERTY!” Came Billy’s voice from the other end of the dealership. “LIJAH!” Elijah and Liberty looked towards him. He was flagging them down with huge hand movements. Sean, Orlando and Dom were standing nearby. “Let’s go! Stop flirting!”

Elijah started walking towards them with Liberty (blushing like crazy) following. Sean swung his arm across her shoulders and led her over to the DVDs while the other guys wandered through the racks and racks of CDs.

“So,” he said, his lips spread in a wide grin. He leaned casually against a display rack of Sandra Bullock movies. Liberty averted his gaze by picking up ‘While You Were Sleeping’. He leaned down to look her in the eyes. “What do you think of Eiljah?”

Liberty, still avoiding his eyes, shrugged. “He’s fine.”

“Fine,” Sean replied, nodding. “Okay,” he said slowly. “I was talking to the other guys while you were flirting with Elijah---”

She looked up then, her brown eyes blazing, “I wasn’t flirting with him.”

Sean smiled smugly in a way that said, ‘Sure. Whatever you say.’ He cleared his throat, his smug smile disappearing. “Anyway. While you were indisposed, we were talking about what to do later. The guys want to take you to this club they like---”

“Why?” Liberty blurted out.

Sean cocked his head to the side. “Why what?”

“Why do they want to take me?” She slid the DVD back in its place and let her eyes finally fall on his.

“Because they like you,” he said this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He could have been saying the sky is blue, really. Or that snow is cold.

She raised an eyebrow heavenwards. “And---?”

“They want your stay in LA to be fun…so do I.” Sean shrugged. “So, we were thinking we’d go hang at my place for a while, I want to show you the pool and the guys said they felt like a dip anyway. Then when Christine comes home, we’ll leave and have dinner, then go to a few clubs. What about it?”

Liberty thought for a moment, although she wasn’t sure why she was even thinking about it. It should have been an easy answer. She liked them, she wanted to spend time with them. So what the heck was holding her back? After what seemed to be forty years, she replied: “Okay,” and took off towards the CDs.

Billy strode up to her while she was flipping through some Grateful Dead albums. “Hello there,” he said, smiling widely.

She looked up briefly, “Hey Billy.”

“We’re leaving in ten,” he said. “The seating arrangements have been decided. You’re with Elijah in Orlando’s car and the rest of us are going with Sean. You can drive if you want. Elijah says he doesn’t care.”

Liberty stopped flipping and looked up at him. “Um…alright?”

“That a girl,” he replied happily. “We‘ll be meeting outside, we’ve got a surprise for you.” He winked and then walked off, towards Dom and the magazines. She watched he and Dom talking animatedly. She wondered what kind of surprise was awaiting her.

She didn’t have to wait long, though, because as soon as she left the store and walked out into the bright, sunny day that beheld LA, she got five CDs pushed into her face. When she didn’t make a move to take any of them, Orlando explained. “We decided to each pick out a CD we thought you’d like…”

“Whomever is correct in guessing your preference, wins,” finished Dom matter-of-factly.

“Wins what exactly?” She asked hesitantly. Sean pulled her hand out so that the palm was facing up and the guys all dropped CDs in a neat pile onto her hand.

No one answered her. Elijah was standing a few feet away taking a drag off a cigarette. She wrinkled her nose at him. Liberty wasn’t that big on smoking. She hated the smell of it, the taste of it in her mouth, the stale smell that lingered on your clothing each time you were anywhere near it. Her mother had smoked for years and finally quit when Liberty was in High School and got caught in the girls bathroom with one. That had been her first (and last) cigarette way back in Freshman year. Liberty’s mother quit because Liberty had put up such a fuss at being grounded for something her mother did freely. The word, ‘hypocrite’ was slung around a lot forcing Liberty’s mother to take action in the form on a nicotine patch.

Seemingly, Sean sensed Liberty‘s big turn-off. “I think Elijah’s face value just dropped a few hundred notches. And his Liberty points are probably negative fifty or something.” Dom, Billy and Orlando all followed Liberty’s gaze. Elijah looked up at them and flicked the cigarette to the ground. He crushed it with his foot before rejoining the group.

Liberty decided not to comment on any of it. Instead, she walked gracefully towards her chosen vehicle and waited by the door for Elijah to unlock it. He did this somewhat tentatively, looking like he was about to be struck. The inevitable, ‘puppy who ate the owners best shoes and would have to be put outside for the night’ look. She slid into the car as soon as possible, waved at the guys and then looked down at her CDs, hoping they would distract her attention so she and Elijah wouldn’t have to speak. She wasn’t exactly sure what to say to him. She’d once said, way back, that she would never date a guy who smoked. Her mind was rethinking this and perhaps that was why she was angry. Not with Elijah, but with herself for even THINKING about wanting to date Elijah in the first place.

When the two of them pulled out of the parking lot, Liberty was examining the first CD. Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits. She laughed out loud and shook her head, wondering who picked this one out.

Elijah cautiously glanced over at her. She didn’t notice. “What’s so funny?” His voice, she could tell, was straining to sound nonchalant and normal.

She almost forgot she didn’t want to speak to him. “I LOVE Aerosmith. I’ve been wanting this CD since it came out.” She laughed again. “Who picked this?” Liberty still wouldn’t look at him, but she held it up for him to see while she looked out the window.

“Ah, Dom, I think,” he replied, his eyes back on the road.

Liberty laughed. “How do you guys know me so well after so little time?”

Elijah shrugged, “I have no idea, it’s just like we’ve known you forever. You know?”

Liberty finally looked at him, catching his eye for a very brief moment. Her voice was quiet when she responded. “Yeah. I know.” And she did, because that was how she felt about them, Sean and Elijah particularly. She didn’t used to put much fate in the past-life stuff but she was beginning to want to look into it.

The other four CDs were No Doubt (Orlando), BBMak (Billy), Creed (Sean) and Smashing Pumpkins (Elijah). She looked at him once more when she got to the bottom of the pile.

“Smashing Pumpkins,” she said, “I love them.”

“Really?” Elijah asked, looking over at her for a second. “Awesome. I do too. I just picked that up because I wasn’t sure if you had it---or if you even liked them---but I figured if you didn’t, then you might get to if I got it.”

“I don’t have this one,” she said. “I haven’t been able to afford a CD in a while.” She laughed and then said sincerely, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he smiled.

“Actually, you guys did a really good job of pinning me. I like that BBMak song on the radio, and the Creed one. And No Doubt rocks.”

“But which one is the closest to what you would have chosen for yourself?” Elijah asked slyly.

“Smashing Pumpkins, definitely.” She could tell that he was smiling even though she wasn’t looking at him. The light had just turned yellow so Elijah slowed down. “Yellow means go faster,” she said playfully, the smoking incident forgotten.

Elijah laughed, “It means slow down and no wonder you don’t have a license.” He put his foot on the gas and propelled forward.

“I don’t have a California State Driver’s License,” she clarified. “But I have a Michigan License.”

“You’re from Michigan? That’s cool.” She nodded, not knowing what else to say. “What are you doing in LA anyway? I mean Sean told me you were here to see your boyfriend but you haven’t mentioned him much…”

“Long story,” Liberty shook her head angrily. Elijah didn’t say anything because, mostly he didn’t know what to say.

He pulled into Sean’s driveway a few minutes later and they both got out. They stood on the sizzling asphalt waiting for Sean and the others to pull up. They would have gone inside, but when Elijah checked it was locked. They sat down on Sean’s steps, shaded by the immensity of the house.

“So…” Liberty said, shifting her feet back and forth, “I had no idea it got so hot here.”

“Only about 18 hours a day,” replied Elijah simply. “And, you know, when it’s not raining.”

“When it’s not raining. Yeah. That’s pretty vague.” laughed Liberty. “Figuring out what to wear must be a bitch.”

Elijah chuckled, “Yes, very.”

“You must be really excited for shooting to start up again” she said by way of conversation. She didn’t want to NOT say anything she just didn’t know what to say really. She hardly knew him. So she picked a topic that she knew interested him.

“Yeah,” agreed Elijah, his features brightening. “Can’t wait.”

“Is this your first huge film? Billy was telling me it was his…and must be Sean’s too because he hasn’t had anything huge since The Goonies.”

“Well, none of us are superstars. I mean, we’re not Brad Pitts. Purposely. Peter, the director, wanted the audience to be able to easily associate us with our characters. So, you know, none of us are really known for just one big role. I think that’s what he wanted.”

“That makes perfect sense,” nodded Liberty, actually looking towards him. She couldn’t tell what he was looking at because of the dark lenses of his sunglasses, but his head was cocked slightly to the side and turned towards the road. “You’re not known for one huge role?”

Elijah shrugged and turned to look at her. “Not really. When people come up to me they usually say: ‘You’re that kid from North!’ or ‘You were in Flipper!’ or even, ‘You were that adorable little boy from Huck Finn‘…you know, not just focusing on just one of my roles.”

Liberty laughed. “I see what you mean. I’ve seen North too, now that you mention it. Cute movie. Kid searching for the perfect parents.”

“It had a nice message to it,” said Elijah by way of explanation.

“I agree. It was something along the lines of not taking advantage of what you’ve got. Because chances are, it’s a lot better than it could be.”

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Don’t remember anything about Flipper, but must have been about the dolphin.”

“Yeah,” laughed Elijah. “It was me and a dolphin. Good times. One of my best co-stars was that dolphin.”

Liberty giggled, “Is that so? I’ll have to tell the hobbits and the elf about that.”

“Ha ha, yeah. Well, you can say the dolphin was the best co-star who I had to kiss. Because I certainly don’t have to kiss them. Thankfully.”

Liberty grinned with a raised eyebrow, “You don’t think they’re hot?”

“Not especially. Do you?”

That question caught Liberty off guard. “More or less, but I really shouldn’t answer that for it’ll get me into trouble later on.”

“Fair enough,” he laughed.

After a few minutes of silence, Liberty voiced a question she’d been dying to ask. “Were you in that movie, um, The Cider House Rules? That movie was awesome.”

“That was Tobey Maguire,” replied Elijah. “But you’re right, it was a good movie.”

“You look like him,” she said, “Except the eyes. I forgot about your blue eyes. His aren’t as bright as yours. I would have remembered that.”

Elijah laughed. “Alright.”

Liberty glanced at him, “So do you have a girlfriend?” Liberty’s mind screamed at her, wondering where the heck THAT question had come from.

“No, I’m single,” he said, “What about you?”

“Yeah, I am too---” Her voice broke off.

Elijah didn‘t seem to notice the sudden tensing of her body next to his. “I’m sure that’ll change soon. Dom seems to be, ah, looking.”

Liberty put her head back and laughed, “I’ll keep my eye out. You better too.”

“Really?” Elijah asked, grinning broadly. “Didn’t know about his…er…tendencies. Thanks for the warning.”

“Anytime.”

“So,” said Elijah, his voice carrying a hint of foreboding. “About earlier. With the cigarette. I don’t smoke often. It’s only when I’m stressed...which is…you know, sometimes…” He pulled at the collar of his t-shirt like it was a rope cutting into his neck.

“Yeah,” was all she said.

“I’m sorry if I, you know, if----”

“It’s okay,” she laughed, cutting him off. “It’s no big deal. It’s just, well, I don’t like smokers and I can usually spot them, you know? But with you, I didn’t. And I was liking you and---you kind of---”

“Lost my appeal?” His smile was huge, but his eyes were holding sincerity.

“Yeah. Sort of.”

“I lost Liberty points,” he said, nodding. “How can I gain those back? Is there a redemption program I can sign up for?”

Liberty laughed, “Not that I know of. You lost points, but it’s easy to gain them back. And, like you said, it’s not like you smoke like a chimney. My mom used to…and her husband (my step dad) does now. Bugs the shit out of me. The house is always fogged with smoke. It’s bad for your lungs.”

“I know,” Elijah replied, sighing. “I’ve been smoking since ‘98. It’s addicting.”

“Really?” Liberty said sarcastically. “Didn’t know that.” She laughed. “I tried it once, back in high school. Nearly died, I think.”

Elijah shook his head. “That sucks.”

“Mmmm,” she brought her knees to her chest, resting her chin on them. “98, wow.”

“Yeah. On the set of one of my movies. My co-star smoked these---” he held out a package to her, which she took and examined. “---I didn’t try it ‘til our last day of shooting. But they sort of entranced me. Pulled me in, into this huge thick blanket of smoke. Fogged up the sensible side of my brain…and then I smoked one and--” he shrugged, “--that was it.”

Liberty was nodding and Elijah was watching her as she read the package of his preferred brand of cigarettes. “It says here never to give into temptation.”

Elijah looked over her shoulder curiously. “I think it says that in the bible, actually. Did I hand you my pocket bible instead of my cigarettes?”

Liberty laughed. “It actually says peer pressure sucks.” She handed them back and he pocketed them.

“Yes it does,” he agreed simply. She glanced at him, but he was looking at the street. “If it bothers you, I won’t smoke around you. I’m what they call a ‘good smoker’ meaning that I always smoke outside---”

“With the other addicts.”

“Yes,” he nodded, smiling. “Exactly. I don’t smoke around anyone who doesn’t like it…”

“That’s nice of you to spare us (a.k.a. the casualties) of the second hand smoke which is known to educe cancer.”

Elijah smiled at her. “You’re something else.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, a small grin on her lips.

The honking of the horn brought them out of their little ‘moment’ as Sean pulled into the driveway. As soon as the engine cut off, three hobbits and an elf spilled from the car…literally. Most of them ended up on their butts on the pavement, laughing so hard they were gasping for breath.