I called Angie to meet up in the morning and I resolved to be a better best friend. We met up at Starbucks and as I saw her approaching the Starbucks, she was being followed by some sketchy-looking reporter. I thought I had it bad, at least they gave me friendly stalkers.  

"Hey, let's go inside," I said, hugging her.  

"Ok," she said. "I need a morning brownie. Well,it was these guys's idea, but I agree with them." She pointed at her belly and I smiled, thinking about tiny little people inside my friend's tummy.

"Joel said your mom is in town," I said. "I bet you're excited." Angie rolled her eyes and opened the door. I just smiled.  

"Yeah, if by excited you mean suicidal," she said. "I haven't spoken to her in months because the last we talked, she told me she had her bible study group praying that Joel would have his demons exorcised."  

"Well, maybe the baby will bring them together," I said.  

"Did I tell you Joel proposed?" Angie asked.  

I clapped my hands.  

"Yeah! It's about time," I said. "We are going to be sisters!"  

"Not yet," Angie said. "I said no."

"What?" I shouted. "Why would you say no? You and Joel are like the epic kind of love. Even if it grosses me out, I know you two are perfect for each other."  

"I agree," Angie said. "But it was just all wrong. I didn't want to become Joel's wife with a pregnancy test in my hands. I want romance and I want to know he proposed for me, not because of the kids."  

"That's fair," I said. "But you told him that, right..."  

"Of course," she said. "And he is convinced we are 'per-engaged', whatever that means."  

I smiled.  

"It means we are 'per-sisters', I suppose."

"Have you talked to Benji," Angie asked.  

"I was a little dramatic the last time," I said. "I have a feeling I'll be seeing him soon."  

Angie still didn't know about the baby shower.  

"Ok," Angie said. "I've been thinking about it, and I think you should forgive him..."  

I straightened up and tried to look attentive. Angie didn't tell me what to do very often, she usually just gave her opinion.  

"I've thought that a couple times," I said. "I just, I feel like love should be easier." 

Angie burst in a mocking laugh.

"You think love should be easy? That's ridiculous. Do you honestly think what I have with Joel is easy?" 

I nodded, realizing I had always assumed they had a perfect relationship.  

"I never told you about when we broke up last spring, did I?"  

My mouth fell open. What was she saying?  

"Joel was filming this video for the band, you remember the one with that really pretty model..."  

"What are you saying," I said. "Joel didn't cheat on you...Joel is like the last perfect guy alive...He would never."  

"He didn't cheat, not really," Angie said. "But we had been fighting, I mean, he was on the road so much. We'd been having issues, I don't know why. Anyways, we had this big fight and he went off to film the video. He thought we were over, so did I..."

"Why didn't you call me?" I asked.  

She shrugged and looked down at her coffee.  

"He is your brother," she said. "But anyways, long story short, Joel made out with the model, and not for the video. I was devastated. We didn't talk for weeks."  

I shook my head. Joel, my Joel? This was impossible.  

"Stephanie, people make mistakes," she said. "Our guys are in a weird circumstance where strange women constantly offer them whatever Joel and Benji could want. They've both screwed up, because they're human. But you and I know both know that Benji is better than that. You just need to give him an actual chance to prove it. You cannot be controlling and trying to watch him all the time."  

"I know," I said. "But Sarah and Benji..."

"Sarah was a manipulative witch."  

Angie looked at her belly, and I realized she probably wouldn't swear ever again.  

"Are you honestly going to let her win and break you guys up?" 

"Benji is a big boy," I said. "He made his choices."  

"And if Jerry had been single, you would have made the same choice."  

"Maybe," I said. "Jerry came over last night, and he kissed me..."  

"He is a liar, the real kind Stephanie," Angie said. "He has a fiancé and he's kissing you. Think about it."  

"Yeah, but he said their relationship is just for show..."  

"So he is lying to millions of people for fame and money" Angie said. "He has no integrity. Benji may be a screwup, but he has a heart of gold and you know it."  

"I do," I said. "I just need to think about it. But I do think you're right about Jerry. I need to end whatever is happening with him. If he really likes me, then he can get single before he pursues me."

"Whatever," Angie said. "I will support you, no matter what, but I am tired of seeing you unhappy."  

"I like my job," I said, smiling. She gave me a piercing gaze.  

"No, you don't," Angie said. "It's easy and fun, but it's not your dream."  

"I'm not sure what my dream is..." I said. "I do love cosmetology."  

"I know," Angie said. "I still feel like you need more. I'm officially a grown up now; you still have time for some adventure."  

"Maybe you're right," I said. "I'll think about it."  

We hugged and I hopped off happily to work. I didn't know what would come my way, but Angie had opened my eyes to a lot of things. Maybe I needed to take some risks, go after dreams I didn't know I had. Maybe, as cliché and cheesy as it sounded, maybe today was the first day of the rest of my life. It was time to be brave.

******

I was waiting in the dressing room on my last appointment:Jerry Jensen. He had a scene where he was in the hospital after a fight, so I needed to do extensive stage makeup today, pasting on fake cuts and blood. I was kind of excited to make Jerry ugly, to be honest. My excitement died down a little bit when I realized he was late. I stepped out onto the set and looked around. I popped my head into Sherri's room and said hello.

"Hey sister friend," Sherri said, smiling. "How's it going?"  

"Good," I said. "Have you seen Jerry? I need to get him started..."  

"The schedule is delayed a bit," Sherri said. "There were some script changes. Jerry was in his trailer memorizing lines. He probably lost track of time..."  

"Thanks Sherri," I said. "I will check in there." 

I walked over and knocked on the door, not hearing a reply. I turned around to leave and saw a producer.

"Mcnarie, what are you doing out here? I need Jerry's makeup done."  

"I'm looking for Jerry," I said. "I thought he was in here, but he's not answering."  

The producer pushed past me and smiled, grabbing the door handle.  

"I'll check for you," he said, opening the door.  

I felt weird about intruding, but I supposed it couldn't hurt since I didn't open the door. The producer got a goofy grin on his face and stepped inside. I followed, not knowing what to expect.  

"Wake up loverboy," the producer said. 

My mouth fell open and my eyes started to burn. Lacy and Jerry were snuggled up under a blanket on his couch; they were both naked. I turned to leave, not understanding what just happened.

As I walked back out to my trailer, I heard a voice calling or my name.  

"Stephanie!" Jerry called. "This isn't what it looks like."  

I turned around.  

"Ok, I just saw you naked with your fiancé," I said. "You kissed me last night. Today, you are naked with her. I think I know what is happening here."  

"It just happened," Jerry said. "Lacy has a way with me..."  

"You know what I think," I said. "I think you are actually engaged to Lacy. Why? I don't know. I think you created this whole "fake engagement" thing so you could possibly sleep with me..."  

"Maybe," Jerry said guiltily. "I do love Lacy. God help me, I love her. When she punched you because she was jealous, I don't know, I felt like this woman would always fight for me."

"Wow," I said. "That is sort of sweet yet dysfunctional, but sweet."  

"And I just still like you so much," Jerry said. "I thought if we hooked up, I'd get over it. You understand, don't you? Sometimes you like two people at once and it's difficult..."  

I should have been angry, but I wasn't. In a way, I was so relieved. It was like seeing Jerry with Lacy made all of those feelings I'd had for him disappear. Like a crush-be-gone solution, learning Jerry was a jerk made it all so clear.  

"I will make it easy for you," I said. "I don't sleep with other peoples fiancés." 

"Friends?" Jerry asked. I shook my head.  

"Maybe, if you're good," I said. "But after today, you should go back to Sherri. I think Lacy and I can get along."

"I doubt that," Jerry said. "She was pretty pissed when I told her I kissed you last night. I felt guilty and confessed everything to her. You may have just witnessed makeup sex after an epic fight."  

"Too much information," I whispered.  

After Jerry left, I opened my phone and looked at Benji's number, thinking about calling. I mean, if Jerry and Lacy were a legitimate couple, why couldn't Benji and I make it work? 

I put the phone away and took a deep breath. I guess I wasn't as brave as I thought I was...