Hiram sat inside his car at the university's parking lot, leaning back on the driver's seat. He had his phone pressed against his ear, on call with his two friends from New York. Ava Wellington, working as a designer for Ralph Lauren, and Oliver George. An Englishman, working with the New York Times.
"How are you guys? We haven't spoken in ages." He pointed out.
"We are all to blame for that," Ava admitted with a gentle laugh. "We're good Hiram, how are you? How's Los Angeles?"
The Michaelson family had lived in New York for a couple of years. In that time, Hiram had made two friends who they quickly became very close. He had kept them close even after their move to Los Angeles. He would fly to New York once in a while to visit them and they would return the favor. During the holidays, the two would fly to LA and spend a couple of days with Hiram.
"Same old Los Angeles, nothing new." He replied.
The conversation went on for a while before he came clean on the real reason for the call.
"I just wanted to inform you guys that I might be flying to New York in a couple of days."
There was silence from the other side of the phone for a couple of seconds before Oliver's voice came through, rich in his British accent.
"You better not be messing with us." He warned and the three of them laughed.
"I am not messing with you Oliver. There are some issues that dad is coming to work on and I am tagging along." He explained.
"That's great news Hiram," Ava admitted. "We can't wait to see you."
"Yeah, me too."
"Let us know when you have the dates, we'll come pick you at the airport." Oliver offered.
"Thank you Olie. I appreciate that, I will let you guys know when."
A minute later, the three friends bid each other goodbye and Hiram walked into the university's main building for his first class of the day.
*-*-*
Callie had invited Victoria over to their house, and the actress had honored the invite.
The two had lunch by the pool in the backyard, enjoying the spectacular view of the city.
After their meal, Callie gave her a tour of the Michaelson estate. She led her to most of the rooms, explaining small details that stood out. Victoria would often take a few minutes staring at the massive portraits of the family that decorated the hallway walls around the house.
"Did you and Hiram grow up here? I hope to see baby photos of you guys." She teased with a soft laugh.
"We didn't grow up here. I mean not exactly. He and I were born and raised here for a while, then we moved to New York for a couple of years and moved back. And as for the baby photos, there's no chance in hell I'm showing them to you. I look horrible in them." Callie cried.
"New York? That's interesting. How was it like?"
"Very different from LA, more vibrant, fast paced. It was an amazing experience I won't lie." There was a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.
Callie led them to the stairs going to the first floor. Half-way to the top, the two ladies heard footsteps and raised their eyes to meet Hiram about to walk down.
"Hiram," Callie was first to speak. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"I am. I came home to grab my research report." He informed her, showing her a silver colored flash drive which he returned to his pocket. "Victoria, what a surprise to see you here."
"Callie invited me over." Victoria told him as he took the last step to where they were. "Nice house by the way."
"Thank you. How have you been, it's been long since we last spoke." He gave her his hand which she shook.
"You know, the normal ups and downs. Callie tells me you also have loads to do with school-"
"Yeah, it's a lot but I'm managing." It is then that he pulled his hand back.
"Well, it was really nice to bump into you,. I wish I could stay longer but I have to rush-"
"No, I totally understand. It was nice bumping into you too." She replied with a smile. "And by the way, we need to schedule our meeting with LA Today. We have some unfinished business with them, remember?"
"Yeah, definitely. Just tell me when you'll be available and I'll make time."
Victoria gave him a nod and he turned to his sister with a sinister grin. "Oliver said hi. You should give him a call sometime."
"What!" She exclaimed looking at him with piercing eyes.
"Enjoy the house tour Victoria." He finished with a smile to her. She smiled back and stepped aside, letting him walk past them.
Victoria turned to Callie who seemed to have been disoriented by what her brother had just said to her. Victoria's curiosity was at its peak, with the same sinister smile that Hiram had, she spoke. "Who is this Oliver?"
She spoke plainly, disgust in her face. "One of our friends from the time we lived in New York."
That answer didn't satisfy Victoria and Callie could tell. She sighed and went on. "Ok, he and I dated for a while but, it didn't really work out. It was around the time we had to move back to LA and neither of us was really ready to do the long distance thing." Callie explained and continued with the remaining steps to the top of the stairs.
Victoria didn't ask more of the matter. They went back to the house tour which was concluded a few minutes later. They spent the rest of the afternoon in the viewing room where Callie suggested they watch one of Victoria's very first shows. Despite numerous protests from the actress, Callie managed to get her on board. It was a comedy show that she did when she was sixteen.
"Oh no Callie," Victoria had cried in embarrassment when Callie had suggested it. "Let's pick something else. Literally anything else, I'm begging you."
The two girls laughed about it.
"It can't be that bad." Callie countered.
"Trust me, it is." Victoria realized Callie wasn't going to drop it, so she made a counter offer. "Okay, let's make a deal then. If we watch this, then you'll have to show me your baby pictures."
Callie was silent for a second, deliberating if it was a good deal. "Okay, I could get around that."
And so, they spent the next couple of hours laughing their hearts out. With Victoria squirming on her seat out of embarrassment every now and then. Looking back at the early years of her career wasn't an easy task, so much had changed. Back then, she was just a small girl trying to make a name for herself. Swimming in the sea with the big sharks who had dominated the industry for years. She worked hard in swimming in that sea and it had paid off, being one of the most decorated actresses of her generation.