Eric and Summer were splashing each other as the waves from the ocean frothed around them. His beautiful daughter was the dark-haired copy of Samantha. She charged at him and tried to tackle him. Laughing, he allowed her to knock him backwards off of his feet as another wave crashed around them. The two went under water and came back up laughing some more. Eric picked her up and struggled to run deeper into the surf. When he was waist deep, he heaved. Her scream was cut short as she disappeared into another crashing wave.
She came up sputtering and laughing and began trying to incite a chase as she bounced along the sandy bottom trying to get away from his reach.
Eric looked towards the sandy beach and smiled as Samantha looking like a Sports Illustrated swim suit model waved. J.J. was a few feet in front of her building a sandcastle. His heart swelled with pride and love. How could life get any better? He chased after Summer as she giggled and flung salt water at him. Eric caught her and tickled her into submission. Once Summer had caught her breath, he conspired with her.
Father and daughter giggled as they ran at J.J. and sprayed him with salt water.
“Daaaaad!” J.J. complained.
“Eric.” Samantha admonished through her own laughing.
Eric picked his son up and tossed him over his shoulders. He gave Samantha a peck on the cheek before carrying his kicking son off into the surf, with Summer cackling, as she encouraged her father.
Eric waded until the waves where hitting him in the chest before ducking under, son and all.
J.J. was getting stronger. He almost kicked out of Eric’s firm grasp. Eric erupted up out of the water. J.J. sputtering and still kicking.
“You got him!” Summer laughed from closer to shore.
Eric dropped J.J. from his shoulders to cradle him into his arms and made his way back to the sandy beach. Eric set his son down on the wet sand and watched on with mirth as he ran to his mother for protection.
“We got him good.” Summer giggled grasping her father’s pinky finger in her small hand.
“Yes, we did.” Eric chuckled. “Now he needs us to leave him alone. How about we get a treat.”
Summer skipped beside her father as they walked into the dry sand.
“You’re a beast.” Samantha bit her tongue to keep from laughing as J.J. clutched at her leg.
“And you are a beauty.” He enveloped her waist in his hands and pulled her closer, kissing her fiercely.
Eric lay down on their beach blanket pulling his wife down with him. He closed his eyes as she kissed him. The world around him began fading away.

--o0o--

“There you are.” Her mother cooed as Erika’s eyes flickered. In the distance, probably the next room, she could hear the loud music and people talking loudly.

“The ambulance is on its way.” She heard Mr. Winter’s voice.

“Hey there.” Her mother greeted as she opened her eyes. Thankfully the lighting had been dimmed so that it didn’t pierce her brain through her eyes as she came too. “I’ve got you.” She repeated.

“How? Did?”

Her mother shook her head. “Hunter and Jacklyn got us to this side room just in time. No one saw except us.”

“That was quite a scare.” Hunter’s face loomed into view.

Oh God, Hunter saw her spaz out, how is she going to ever live this one down?

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m going to be sick.” Erika warned.

Apparently, her mother had been prepared. She held up a small plastic bag as Erika rolled over and spewed into it. Her mother stroked her cheek and neck as she heaved twice more.

Erika rolled back over and was horrified to find Hunter and Jacklyn still in the room. The two had stepped back to give her a little privacy, but they had still witnessed the episode.

“She’ll be alright, Tommy.” Mr. Winters’ voice sounded from across the room. “Apparently she had seizures from time to time. An ambulance is on the way. Go back to your guests.”

NO! her mind screamed. Tommy Kincaid knows too?

“What a party, huh?” Hunter tried to sound jovial.

“I’m so sorry, Hunter.” She murmured.

“Are you kidding?” he grinned. It was a bit forced. “I’ve been having a great time, well until now.” His face fell a bit. “It’s not a party until someone spews.” He paused, and she thought she saw his face redden. “We’ll get you looked at and I’ll see about a second chance.”

The paramedics arrived with their stretcher at that time.

“I can walk.” Erika insisted as she slowly go to sitting position.

“Procedure, Miss.” The paramedic insisted.

They did help Erika to her feet however. Erika noticed immediately that one of her shoes was missing. “My shoe.” Panic flashed through her mind. Those were her new favorite pretty shoes.

“We’ll find it.” Jacklyn promised. “You just get to feeling better.” She squeezed Erika’s hand and guided Hunter away.

Erika looked to her mother after the others left. “I am so embarrassed.” She felt like crying.

“No need to feel embarrassed.” Mr. Winters told her. “It wasn’t as if you were falling down drunk or doped up on drugs.”

Erika gently shook her head. “No.” she looked at the paramedics then to her mother. “Do I really have to go to the hospital?”

Her mother hesitated. It wasn’t as if this wasn’t a more common occurrence.

“It’s best that they check you over.” Mr. Winters instructed in a no-nonsense voice. “I’ll reschedule tomorrow’s appointments so that you can rest. I believe that Teen would like you to do a shoot the day after, if you are feeling well enough.”

“Really, I just need a good night’s sleep.” Erika assured him.

“We’ll let the Doctors decide that.”

The ambulance ride to the hospital was uneventful. Apparently, it was a light night, because the doctors didn’t make her wait very long. After getting fluids through an IV and assuring the doctors that she was alright, She and her mother were allowed to leave.

After being dropped at home, Mr. Winter sent his car to the hospital to pick Erika and her mother up and take them back to their hotel.

“Make sure to wash off your makeup before going to bed, Erika.”

“Yes, mom.” Erika tossed the one prized shoe onto her suit case disheartened that she may have lost the other one forever. She padded into the bathroom and washed her face before beginning the game of ‘let’s find bobby pins’.

Finally, after slipping out of her dress and into her PJs she slid into bed.

The last thought before drifting off too much needed sleep was that she hadn’t managed to get a single picture of a single celeb all night. Who was going to believe her now?

--o0o—

Erika opened her eyes to the sun shining bright outside, washing everything in golds and oranges. She could hear her mother speaking in the other room.

“Yes, she is fine. Thank you for asking. I’ll let her know. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Bye.”

Erika stretched and rose out of bed. She found two more bobby pins in bed and one hanging from her tresses. She padded into the bathroom and relieved her bladder before entering the main reception room of their hotel room.

“Who was that?” She asked her mother.

“How are you feeling.” Her mother questioned.

“Much better. Who were you talking too.”

“Mr. Winters. He was checking in on you and speaking to me about your next shoot.” She explained. “He wants you to take it easy today, regain your strength and energy. He is finalizing the contract with Teen Magazine.”

“I’m feeling much better.” She affirmed. “Wasn’t last night crazy? I mean before I started my episode.”

“It was pretty amazing.” Her mother agreed. “I got a pic with Jacklyn and with a few others, want to see?”

“You took pictures?” Erika didn’t know if she felt embarrassed or jealous. She took her mother’s offered phone and swiped through the pictures. “I was too busy to take any.” She pouted.

“I’m sure you’ll get other chances.”

Erika shrugged and handed her phone back. “I gotta shower and get dressed. Is there anything to eat? Coffee?”

“I’ll run down stairs while you’re in the shower.”

Erika grabbed her phone and headed into the bathroom. Her phone was blowing up. She started going through her messages and decided she had better sit on her bed and take care of them first.

Samantha: I just saw you on T.V. What is going on in Hollywood?

Tricia: Haven’t heard from you. Hope everything is alright.

Tricia: OMG You’re at a red-carpet gala? You’re on T.V.

Samantha: People from school are starting to text me asking if that, really is you? You’re famous!

Victoria: I’ve gotta run the story now. Everyone is talking about you. Don’t be mad.

Tricia: Check this out! A link of a video clip of Erika being interviewed while on the red carpet.

Rachel: Wow, girl, who would have thought last summer, you’d be a Hollywood star. I’m so weirded out. Btw you look great.

Danni: We watched you on T.V. tonight! Wow, you look amazing.

Tricia: I’ve re-watched your interview several times. You were fantastic!

Crystal: You go girl! You looked beautiful

Samantha: I’m still having a hard time grasping that you of all people are in Hollywood on T.V. Did you meet anyone famous?

Tricia: Still haven’t heard from you. Are you ok?

Erika quickly text Victoria. Don’t run that story. Please. I can’t have anyone finding out especially now. Please Victoria, don’t do it.

She then Text Tricia letting her know that she was alright, although she did end the night having another seizure. Don’t get jealous, but I hung out with Hunter Allyson. The Hunter Allyson.

She then text Samantha something similar. There were many more texts to go through, but she really needed to get into the shower.

The shower was refreshing. She was able to get all of the makeup off of her face and it felt wonderful to have clean hair, even if not all of it was her own.

A relaxing day ahead of her. She wondered if she could convince her mother that a trip to the beach was relaxing. She was dying to see the Pacific Ocean up close, perhaps even stick her toes into the surf. She pulled out a new light weight summer dress and slipped into it.

“Um, Erika.” Her mother called from the front door. “Could I get some help?”

Bewildered, Erika dashed to the front. Her mother’s arms were full of vases of flowers and cards as well as coffee and a bagel. Erika alleviated her mother by taking the coffee and bagel and grabbed one of the vases of flowers and set it on a tall table nearby.

“What’s with the flowers?” She asked.

“They are from concerned new friends.” Her mother gently set the other vases next to the first on the table.

Erika snatched a card out of one.

Hope you are feeling better soon – Tommy and Michelle

“Tommy Kincaid and Michelle Greyson,” She almost screeched.

She found a card on the second bouquet.

It was wonderful meeting you and your mother. I hope you are feeling better – Jacklyn

“Jacklyn?”

She saw her mother nod.

A third bouquet was from Mr. Winters, but Erika was pretty sure that it was Brook’s handwriting.

A knock sounded at the door. Erika’s mother answered it. “Here’s another that just came in.” a voice said.

“Thank you.” Her mother’s voice was heard.

Erika looked up to see a bouquet easily twice the size of the others. Roses, lilies, gardenias and Jasmine exploded from other flowers and foliage. “Holy Crap!”

“Language, Erika.” Her mother warned.

Erika fished out a card and tore into it.

Had a great time with you last night. Hope you feel better soon so that we can go out another time. – Hunter.

“Oh my God, it’s from Hunter.” Erika exclaimed. “How did they know where to send them?”

“I believe they are all clients of Mr. Winters.” Her mother chuckled at her daughter’s bewilderment.

“Hunter says that he wants to go out another time.” She looked from her mother to the words on the car and back. “Do you think he means it?”

“Why else would he write it?” her mother smiled and breathed in the aroma of the flowers. She looked at Erika. “Are these your first bouquets of flowers?”

Erika stared at her mother and slowly nodded. She felt like she wanted to cry, but a happy cry.

“It’ll be hard for anyone to beat this.” Her mother shook her own head in disbelief.

Absently Erika sipped at the coffee as she stared at the flowers.

“We have the day off and you need to rest, what shall we do?” her mother asked.

Erika barely heard her, she was taking pictures of the flowers. She stopped and looked at her mother. “Could we go to the beach?”

“How would we get there?”

“We could Uber.” Erika was starting to feel hopeful.

“Let me think about it.” Her mother took her own coffee and sat at small desk and looked at a stack of paperwork.

Her feeling began to vanish. She padded into her bathroom and pulled her hair up into a high ponytail, similar to those she had seen the young women wearing at the mall. She then began putting on some makeup, not much, it was an off day.

Her phone alerted her to a text.

Unknown number: Hey, it’s Hunter, did you like the flowers?”

Erika’s heart skipped a beat. Hunter. ‘Yes, they are beautiful.’ She text back.

Hunter: Are you feeling better?

Erika: Yes. Getting ready for a boring day. Your flowers helped alleviate some of that.

Hunter: I’m not doing anything, wanna hang?

Erika’s heart sped up. Hunter Allyson was asking if he could hang with her. What should she say?

Erika: Yes. Let me ask my mom.

Hunter: K

Erika nearly sprinted to her mother. “Hunter wants to know if I can hang out with him today. Can I mom, please?”

“You are supposed to be resting.” Her mother looked up from the paperwork.

“I’ll be careful.” Erika promised.

Her mother nodded. “But I want to talk to him first.”

Erika kissed her mother on the cheek and ran back into her room, texting ‘She said yes.’

Hunter: Great! Where are you staying?

Erika sent him the link to their hotel. He’d be able to map quest it from there.

Hunter: see you in a few

Erika went back into the bathroom. Today was not going to be an off day for makeup, after all. She made sure to play up her eyes a bit more and blend in around her breast forms so that they disappeared into her own skin. She put some silver hoops in her ears and scrutinized her reflection in the mirror. It was a simple sundress, should she change? No, it was hanging out, she didn’t want him to think she was trying to impress him. Erika stopped. Why was she trying to impress Hunter? Was it because he was a celebrity? Or because she had fun with him last night? Or was she hoping to have feelings for him? “Oh Hell.” She swore.

“Language.” Her mother called

This dress will have to be fine. She decided. She found some flats to go with it and sat on her bed with nervous energy. She answered more texts and emails of friends back home all excited to see her on T.V. and asking her lots of questions.

She nearly leaped out of her skin when she heard a knock on the door. She was sprinting to the door when her mother answered it. She stopped in her tracks and tried to act nonchalant.