20 years

Just dinner

Jessica's heart raced and she stayed quiet for a while.
"Jessica?  Hello!" Sam smiled and waved his hand in front of her face.
"...Hi." She snaps back into reality.
"How have you been?"
"Okay."
Sam nods and clenches his jaw.
"... Well I've been good too, since you didnt ask."
Jessica just looks at him and Sam scoffs.
"Well it was nice seeing you again, Jessica.." He says before walking off.

Jessica's head started to spin, she was so excited to be able to play the part of Frances, but now she has to come to work every single say and Sam.

Since she was in LA alone she went back to her empty apartment, laid in bed and cried.
She was crying for her love that was taken away from her too soon.  She was crying because the man that broke her heart was now back and she didn't know what to think.

I know it's not like he physically hurt me, but I was with him for a long time.. I loved him.. For him to tell me that we pretty much didn't have a future together, hurt me so bad. He used me for sex.. He didn't love me... Alessandro loved me. The way he treated me is the way I Should be treated.. He looked at me like I was his whole world...
Oh God! Alessandro, why did you have to leave me?!

Jessica cries herself to sleep, and the next day she got up early to catch a plane to Minnesota.

Her dad picked her up from the airport and he asked, "Are you okay?"
"..Yeah."
"Jessie what's wrong?"
Jessica sighs and says, "Well.. I was really excited about this part.. I went to talk with the director, and it went really well."
"So why the long face?"
"After the meeting, they introduced me to the guy that's playing Harry York.."
Albert looked at Jessica's face, and by the pout she had on it, he already knew.
"No.."
"It's Sam."
"Aw Jessie, I'm so sorry!  I know he's not someone you care to see right now."
Jessica sighs and says, "Well no he isn't.. But I don't have a choice. I'm gonna keep things professional, and treat him just how I treat all of my other co stars."
"Well that's good. Don't let him get inside your head, baby."
"I won't, daddy."

***

When production started, Jessica did what she said and kept it professional.
She never once brought up the past, and for the most part, neither did Sam.
He did however apologize over and over again for his actions.
Jessica told him that it was okay, but Sam wouldn't let it go.

***

Jessica had wrapped up a day of filming some pretty intense scenes, and wanted nothing more than to just go back to her apartment and sleep.
Sam on the other hand, did not want to go home.
He filmed one scene with Jessica in the morning, and waited on set all day for her to finish.

Sam walked beside her as she walked back to her trailer.
"Sam, what do you want?" She sighed and looked at him.
"I wanted to ask if maybe you wanted to go out tonight?"
"Oh Sam, I'm exhausted!"
"You're always exhausted, Jessie!  Come on.. Just dinner.."
Sam looked at her with this look in his eyes that she just couldn't say no to.
"Ugh.. fine.. Just dinner." She gives him a serious look.
"Just dinner!" He smiles and raises his hand.
Jessica rolled her eyes and held in her smile, before she continued walking.
Sam smiled and watched her walk into her trailer, then jumped up and said to himself, "Just dinner!"

***

Sam watches Jessica closely, and she doesn't like it.
"What?"
"Nothing... You're just so beautiful."
"Oh Sam don't start that." She looks down and cuts her food.
"Jess.. We've been broken up for almost two years now, and I've learned a lot since then.  I've grown a lot since then.  I just want you to see that.  I know I upset you, and I know I was wrong, I do.  I want another chance to show you that I am a good person.  Jessica, we can have a great future together, I know we can!  I'm not afraid of marriage anymore.  I'm not asking you to marry me, but I'm asking you to please give me another chance.  To show you I've changed.  Please Jessica?"
"I don't know, Sam."
Sam swallows hard and Jessica says, "I... I don't want you to hurt me again.  I feel like that's something I am constantly worried about when I'm with you, and I don't like it."
"I know, sweetie.  But please believe me when I say that I have really changed.  I can't live without you, I can't!"
"I'll think about it, Sam."
"You will?!" His eyes light up.
"Yeah.. Listen, I've got an early call time tomorrow, could you take me back to my apartment, please?"
"Sure, let me just get the check."

***

Sam walked her up to her apartment and she tuned to thank him.
"No problem." He smiled.
Jessica chuckles and says, "What?"
"Are you gonna invite me in?"
"Hah!  I said, Just dinner, didn't I?" She backs up into her apartment and closes the door.