"Parker, it's really you! My God, you're gorgeous!"

"Lindsey!" She acted a little hurt. "You're surprised? You mean I wasn't gorgeous before?" She kissed him enthusiastically. It had been so long since he had seen her. She was three years older than he, a senior when he had been a freshman. It had been his very first fraternity party, and he was tending bar to help pay his dues. She had breezed in alone, wearing no sorority or fraternity pin. Striding straight up to the bar, she lit a cigarette and asked for Scotch, neat. Then she had looked him right in the eye. "What's your name, freshman?"

"How did you know? It's Harry J. Freshman!" He was not about to let this woman get the better of him, no matter than she was the most beautiful, most self-confident woman he had ever seen in his life. He turned his back on her and poured her Scotch. He could feel her eyes on him, evaluating everything about him. He knew that she could look right through him and see little Lindsey quivering inside of him; she knew that the clothes he wore had been bought with his hard-earned money, not by Mummy's credit card.

Draining the drink with one gulp, she pushed the empty glass across the bar to him. "Another one." Damn her, she was already drunk. He took the glass and put it in the sink.

"No more. That's, what, your fifth or sixth?" As she started to light another cigarette from the one she was finishing, he took both of them away & stubbed them out in the ashtray. "No more of that, either." He hated cigarettes almost as much as he hated liquor. His dad had managed to find money to buy both, even when there was no money for food. How could he get this tough broad out of here?

Suddenly he noticed a tear in her eye. "Why should you care? Who am I to you, you little goody-goody? Why should you give a damn what happens to me? My own father doesn't!"

His voice was suddenly gentle. "Because mine doesn't care about me, either. I was just an accident that cost him his football scholarship and an anchor holding him down, as he delighted in telling me." She took a second look at him. Yes, he was born poor, but he was making something of himself. What was she doing to herself? Always trying to please Daddy. He was probably the reason her mother killed herself that horrible morning.

"I'm sorry. I'm just in a bad mood. Maybe I should leave." As she got up to go, he knew he shouldn't let her go just now. He motioned over to Les Fraley, another freshman, and asked him to take over.

"Maybe a little fresh air will help. Let's go for a walk." It was a warm night, and they set off across the campus. He was right. She seemed to be a little better after a few minutes.   He found a bench with a view of the moon, which was about half full. There was a soft scent on the air: honeysuckle mixed with expensive perfume. They just sat side by side for a while, not speaking.

"What's your real name, Harry J. Freshman?" she suddenly asked.

"Lindsey MacDonald. And yours?"

"Parker." She settled back into silence. A few minutes later she stood up and motioned for him to join her. "I think I should get something to eat, and maybe some coffee. What would you say to that?" As Lindsey reached into his pocket to see if he had any money on him, she suddenly realized that he probably didn't. "It's on me, or, rather, on Daddy and the Centre." They strolled over to the Bear's Den, where they each devoured a Big Bear Burger and a large fries, with coffee for Parker and a large Coke for Lindsey. She told him a little about herself, but only the typical first meeting type of thing; she was from a small town in Delaware called Blue Cove and was expected to go home to join the business after graduation, although she would have liked to have gone on to graduate school. She was majoring in business. Lindsey told her he was a local boy, in accounting, hoping to go to Law School. Both of them were on teams. Parker fenced, while Lindsey had a baseball scholarship. She had an apartment off campus and did not belong to a sorority. Obviously, he thought, she thinks sorority girls are shallow little husband hunters! As they finished their meal, she presented a gold credit card and left a healthy tip. He held the door for her as they left.

"So, Lindsey MacDonald, ace shortstop, would you like to see my apartment?"

Lindsey gulped. This was not just a surprise, it was a shock! But he managed to nod.

Parked down the street was a red Mustang convertible. She got in before he could hold the door for her and peeled rubber down the street. He just managed to get his seat belt on and was hanging on to the door for dear life! But about five minutes later they came to a fancy high-rise, complete with doorman. Parker tossed the car key to him and led Lindsey to the elevator. Her apartment was on the top floor, but not a penthouse. Luxurious, though. The kind of place Lindsey someday hoped to have. As he was staring open-mouthed around the room, she started unbuttoning his shirt. "I like you, Lindsey. You're a nice kid, and gorgeous to boot. Would you like to stay?" All Lindsey could do was nod. "Well, what are you waiting for?" He kissed her but found her teeth gently biting his lower lip, while her hands…He pulled away, embarrassed.

She looked at his reddening face and laughed. "Are you a virgin? You are, aren't you? How come such a good-looking guy hasn't gone to bed with a girl or ten?"

"I heard so many stories about me ruining my dad's life that I didn't want to take any chances on it happening to me. A guy on the team had sex with a girl who accused him of being the father of her baby. He said that he had only slept with her once or twice and had always used protection, but he had admitted to some of his friends that he had had sex with her. He has to support this baby now for the next 18 years!"

She nodded. Then she said, "I guess that means I'll have to teach you what to do to a woman, and what a woman can do to a man. I'll bet you'll be a great student." She continued unbuttoning his shirt.

That night he learned some of the things a man can do with his hands, his lips, and his tongue. My God, she was amazing. And she had a large supply of condoms on hand, which was good, as he didn't have any. At the end, she called out a name, but it wasn't his. "Jarod!" Then she put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep. Lindsey couldn't sleep at all. This had been an amazing night. She woke up later on and gave him another lesson. When she snuggled up to him, half asleep, she called him Jarod again.

In the morning she was gone, leaving a note that she had an early class and please help himself to some breakfast. He found orange juice, coffee, and bagels in the kitchen. He put the dishes into the dishwasher and took off for the frat house, practically walking on air. He wondered if he'd see or hear from her again. He didn't even know her first name!

As he sat down in the student union eating lunch and reading the campus paper, something caught his eye. The fencing team would be competing two days later. He decided to go to the match. She was the captain of the team and the number one fencer; she won her match easily. Although he wasn't quite sure about the fine points of the sport, he could tell that she was very talented. After the match, an older man went up to her and gave her a hug. So that was Daddy. Well, he seemed to care about her. Lindsey turned to go when he heard her call his name. "Lindsey, I'm glad you came. I'd like you to meet Sydney. He's more or less my godfather." Sydney had thinning gray hair, a nose that had probably been broken, and a middle European accent. He shook Lindsey's hand.

"Parker, let me take both of you to dinner." Sydney chatted with Lindsey while Parker changed out of her uniform. He was a psychiatrist who did research on twins back in Delaware; he had had a chance to come & see Parker's match and took it. "She's quite a girl, isn't she?" Sydney asked him. Parker came out of the dressing room in black slacks and a black turtleneck sweater that looked very sexy on her. Taking both Sydney's and Lindsey's arms, she led them out to Sydney's rented car.

After a delicious dinner at an Italian restaurant, Sydney kissed Parker on the cheek and told her he had to go back to the Centre. He'd tell her father she looked good and that her fencing was outstanding. He shook hands with Lindsey and drove off, leaving them at Parker's apartment building. "Well, do you want to come up?" she asked. He nodded.

When they got to her apartment, though, she sat down on the couch and began to cry. Lindsey was at a loss; he thought they were having a good time. He sat beside her and put his arm over her shoulders. She leaned against him. "I really thought Daddy would come. He hasn't seen any of my matches. Sydney has been to three!" Suddenly she sat up, shook her head resolutely, took Lindsey's hand, and put it on her breast. Moments later, they were in bed. "Wow, kiddo, you do learn fast!" she said. But again, just before falling asleep, she snuggled up to him and murmured, "Jarod."

It was Friday. Neither of them had early classes, so she made him breakfast. As he watched her putting together a vegetable and cheese omelet, he said, "Now that we've slept together a couple of times, why don't you tell me your first name?"

"I don't go by my first name. It doesn't suit me."

"I don't think Parker suits you. You're much too feminine for that!"

"My mother was a staunch Catholic. I got the standard Catholic girl's first name: Mary. I don't look like a Mary, I don't feel like a Mary, I don't act like a Mary, and I haven't been a virgin like Mary for a long time."

Very quietly he asked, "Who's Jarod." She choked on her coffee.

"What do you know about Jarod?"

"You called me by his name at least three times. I assume he's the guy you love but, for some reason, probably Daddy, can't be with."

"You are so right and so wrong at the same time. Maybe someday I'll tell you about Jarod, but not now. And I have a ten o'clock class." She drove him back to the fraternity house again.

He saw her occasionally the rest of that school year, mostly for fantastic sex. Sometimes they talked, more about him than about her. Sydney came to see her a few times and treated Lindsey in a friendly manner. He could see that Sydney really did care about Parker.

When spring came, she came to some of his games. Afterward, they'd go out to eat or to her place. But, of course, it couldn't last forever. One night he came over and found her crying again. He took her in his arms and just held her. "What's wrong?"

"It's the anniversary of the day my mother died. That was 15 years ago. She shot herself in one of the elevators. I thought we were going to go away to Europe together."

She put her head on his shoulder and cried. He held her close to him all night.

In the morning, Parker made coffee and buttered some bagels for them. Then she looked at Lindsey and said, "You're a good guy, Lindsey. Can you keep a secret? I'll tell you all about Jarod and myself if you promise that you'll never reveal it to anyone!"

He nodded in agreement.

"The place where I live, The Centre, is supposedly a think tank, and that's what it was originally, when my mother and father were two of its founders. But it has changed. There are experiments going on that are really horrible. A boy I knew, Timmy, was changed from a sweet little kid into some kind of a freak they now call Angelo by an experiment to boost his empathetic powers. And Jarod has been a prisoner since he was a little boy. He's a supergenius, and he "pretends" he's in various scenarios to solve problems or come up with new inventions. Sydney is basically in charge of him, and he loves him as if he were his own son, but he has to keep him a prisoner there. I used to sneak in to see him. We fell in love. I was the only girl he had ever known except for Faith, and she was dying when we met her. When we were 16, we became lovers, but we were caught. Thank God it was Sydney who caught us. If it had been anyone else, I can't imagine what they would have done. Sydney is one of the few decent people at the Centre. I'll have to go back there to work when I graduate. Daddy expects it!"

"Why, Parker? Aren't you entitled to live your own life? Wouldn't he want you to be happy?"

"Lindsey, the Centre is like that place in the Eagles' song, Hotel California. Once you're in, you can't leave. Did you know that Jarod is a lot like you. He is so innocent and so inexperienced. He had never had ice cream until I snuck some in to him. They won't give him candy or games or television or anything. You missed out on a lot because you were poor; he did because he was a prisoner!" She kissed him gently. "I'm going to miss you, Harry J. Freshman. You've been a real friend. And, incidentally, you get an A+ in my classes. Sex Ed and Advanced Sex Ed!" Then she kissed him more passionately. Before they fell asleep, Parker said, "Congratulations on your Ph.D!"

In the morning, he made her French toast, the real thing with milk and lots of eggs and French bread, and served it with real maple syrup. Then he gave her her graduation gift. He had gone to the office of the campus news and bought a copy of the picture of her that had appeared in the paper when she had led the fencing team to the national championship. Then he bought the most expensive silver frame he could afford and had it engraved, "Always the Best." When she opened it, she cried. "It's the nicest gift anyone except my mother ever gave me. I love you, Lindsey. I'm not in love with you, but I do love you. You'll always be part of me."

"I love you, too, Parker. But I know that somewhere there's someone I haven't met yet. I occasionally dream of her. I don't know who she is, but I'll meet her one day, I know. I hope somehow you and Jarod can be together." She shook her head sadly and kissed him very gently.

As he walked down the street to the bus stop, he saw a limo pull up to the building. Sydney got out, followed by another man with gray hair. Her father?

Lindsey did go to Parker's graduation, but he didn't approach her afterward to congratulate her. She saw him, smiled, and winked. Then she, her father, & Sydney took off, probably to an elegant champagne lunch.

Now here she was again, more beautiful than ever. And smoking again, he noticed, as she lit a cigarette with the one she had just finished. She noticed his frown & stopped.

"Are you still living in Hotel California, Parker?" As she nodded, he added, "so am I."

"I know. Wolfram & Hart." He gave her a startled look. "That's why I'm here. The Centre wants to use some of your employees to track down Jarod. He escaped from The Centre about a year ago and is going around the country doing good deeds. I have to get him back. Daddy is depending on me. I have an appointment with Holland Manners tomorrow, but I'm going to tell him I want to work with you."

Smiling, Lindsey thought, Holland will really be annoyed. But what about my case? Lindsey's case was one he really wanted to win. This time his client was innocent and had been framed for a crime that someone else had committed, but Lindsey was having trouble proving it. As if she could read his thoughts, Parker told him, "I understand that the firm has petitioned for a continuance so you'll have time to work with me."

"What are you doing tonight, Parker?"

"It's been a while since you've been to school, so I thought you might need a refresher course!" Laughing, he took her to his car. After a quiet dinner in his favorite restaurant, they spent the night catching up and enjoying each other.

Holland was not amused when she insisted on working with Lindsey, but he had to give in. The Centre was much too important to argue with. After all, they were both on the same side! But a good deal was made, advantageous to both sides, for mystical help from Wolfram & Hart in exchange for technical advances from The Centre. Parker & Lindsey enjoyed being together, and not just in bed. The last morning he made French toast again. Then he asked, "If you find Jarod, what happens to him?"

"I'll take him back to The Centre, and he'll stay there the rest of his life." She looked sad. He took her hand. "Have you found your dream girl yet?"

"Not yet, but I think it'll be soon. At least I hope so. This is one Hell of a life, but I did get what I wished for all the time when I was growing up. But all the money and power in the world doesn't mean anything if you don't have someone to share it with. I hope you find your happiness, Parker."

"You, too. And I hope you win your case. Does it start today?" He nodded. "I'm sorry I can't be there, but we may have found a lead to Jarod. I have to go to Boston."

"Say Hi to Sydney for me." She nodded, kissed him fondly, and left.

Later that day, a handsome young man with dark hair and dark eyes came up to Lindsey on his way into the courthouse. He shook his hand and said, "I'm Jarod Holmes, and I have the information you need to save your client. Call me as your first witness. Then ask me the following questions." They conferred a few minutes, and, as they talked, Lindsey's face brightened. Jarod was right. The charges against Lindsey's client were dropped, and the real criminal was arrested before he could leave the courtroom.

Jarod was waiting on the courthouse steps. "How is Parker? I know she was here with you. I haven't seen her in a long time, for obvious reasons. But she always spoke very fondly of you."

"She's fine, at least as fine as one can be in Hotel California! Thanks for all your help, Jarod. Good luck to you. I wish the best for you, and for Parker too."

"You, too. Maybe I'll see you around." Jarod hailed a cab and was off to an unknown destination. Maybe someday Lindsey would tell Parker he met him.