Joey glanced up at the clock again. He wasn't sure why he was so nervous. Excited was more the word. Just to shut Justin up, he'd went and hung out with other people, finally meandering back to where 'Vegas' had been. She was losing badly at pool and he'd given her tips, not that it had helped any before he played the next person, winning. When he wasn't being a pool shark, they'd talked.

He found out she liked rainy days and fall, that she loved reading and hated Math. Joey laughed when she confessed to him in a hushed voice she wasn't good at pool either, or anything really sports related, but loved watching football.

“That makes two of us,” he replied, leaning over to sink two striped balls. “This is about the most sporty thing I do. Unless you count playing Madden on Playstation a sport.”

Melissa's conscious was bothering her. She glanced at the clock with ten minutes to go before it was time to take off her mask. “I'm going to go get a drink,” she told Joey, turning away from him and heading towards one of the bars. She did grab a Coke, opening it and taking a couple swallows. It was a non alcohol party, which was good. Melissa gave one last long look at Joey from where she was, bolting out the door once he was concentrated on the game. She felt guilty at leaving, heading to her car and getting in it and starting up; leaving before anyone would notice. Before she could change her mind, Melissa had backed out of the parking spot and left.

At the first light, the mask came off, landing in her passenger seat with a soft thud. She wiped tears that followed, ashamed. She'd been having a great time. It wasn't anything Joey did, just that insecurities crept in. Melissa wasn't the beautiful bombshell type that was found on the arms of guys like Joey. She knew he was just a guy, but she also knew what kind of women they were with, dated. Even if it wasn't that attraction, there was no way she could be as open with him as she was tonight. Hiding behind a mask had worked and she didn't want to ruin what he'd thought of her. The clock in her car said midnight. It made Melissa cry harder, not liking the what if's that came to her mind.

Joey's eyes never left the clock, a countdown like for New Years. He took off his mask, looking around at the familiar faces. He hadn't thought much when the woman he'd been with most of the night went for a drink, figuring she went to the restroom or found someone to say hi to. He frowned though, when he couldn't spot the plumes of the headdress or her costume.

“You looking for someone?” Lance asked Joey, seeing him crane his neck and then turn first one way and then the other, a perplexed look on his face.

“She can't be gone,” Joey muttered to himself, looking at Lance. “That girl..Vegas..I can't find her,” he said, disappointment lacing his words. He was confused, not sure why she would run off right before the big reveal. It wasn't like his was going to be a surprise, but she'd kept him waiting. And now this.

When Lance asked if he wanted him to ask around, Joey just shook his head. The party was all but over and he suddenly didn't feel like staying any more.

“Did you see your dream girl?” Justin asked, his mask off, a smile on his face until Joey shook his head. “Where the fuck did she go?” he looked much the way Joey did, looking around.

“Do I look like I know?” Joey snapped, running a hand through his hair. “She works for us, right? I'll find her tomorrow and ask her what the hell is wrong with her...” he let his voice trail off, going to say goodbye to some other people. He drove home, tossing his keys in their usual spot on the bar after locking the doors. He was still mad, aggravated. It wasn't like he'd invited her back to his place. His mind ran back through the conversations, wondering if he'd said something wrong. It had been a long time since he'd felt like he'd met someone that could offer him something more than just what happened in the bedroom. A friend. Joey shook his head as his costume came off, glancing at the clock once more after pulling on some shorts and crawling into bed. He'd get to the studio early and start questioning people. He'd find the woman and give her a piece of his mind.

*^*^*^*^*

“What the hell do you mean you left early?” Rachel stood in her living room, glaring at her friend who sat on her couch, tear tracks down her face. “So you spend practically the whole night glued to his side- him to yours rather- and then you LEAVE? What were you thinking?” she yelled, shaking her head.

Melissa's chin was resting on her knees since her legs were pulled up in front of her, having come to Rachel's after changing clothes. Her socked feet were on the couch and her eyes met Rachel's. “I didn't want him to be disappointed, Rach. I'm not the most beautiful, or talented at anything. I mean, I've been around him for almost a year and this is the first time we actually talked. I wouldn't have gone up to him if it had been a regular party. Or if he'd come up to me like he did, I would have found a place to hide.”

“So basically you chickened out and made yourself look like a jerk,” Rachel held up her hand before Melissa could protest. “Not everyone has awesome people skills or is outgoing. Who's the most shy in the group? JC,” Rachel answered her own question. “But JC doesn't let him being shy make him into someone who's rude. You're not rude, Mel. Sometimes you don't think. You get scared and bolt because someone might notice you.” A small smile came to her face as Melissa wiped more tears. “The guy you've wanted to notice you does and what do you do?”

“I run away and treat him like dirt,” Melissa mumbled, burying her face in her knees.

Rachel knew her friend didn't mean it. It had taken a lot to convince her friend to even go to the party, to dress up as a show girl. She knew Melissa as the girl Joey had gotten a momentary glimpse of, but it had taken almost six months after they met to get her to agree to even go out to see a movie they'd been talking about for weeks when they were younger when it finally came out. She sat down and pulled her friend to her in a hug. “Tell me you're going to tell him who you are. Since you bailed on the poor guy at the most opportune moment.”

Melissa nodded. “He looked hot too. He was wearing a Robin costume. Like the one Chris O' Donnell wore in the movie. I had to try and not drool,” she confessed, sighing and sitting up. “I'm just not sure if I can tell him it's me. I mean, I'm not anyone that would get his attention. Any guy's attention.”

“That's because you blush and find a way to not talk to them. I looked up shy and wallflower in the dictionary and lo and behold, your picture was in there,” Rachel told her. “And you did get his attention or he wouldn't have followed you around all night.”

“It wasn't all night,” Melissa told her, rolling her eyes at Rachel who scoffed. “I talked to other people too.”

“Wes and Lena don't count as other people. You see them every day all day.”

“How's the book coming?” Melissa asked Rachel, hoping to get the subject changed, trying not to notice the glare she got. “Just wondering. And just so you know, Ms. Hunter, it's not like you're hot and heavy in a relationship either.”

“Well it's not because I ran away from a guy that I could have maybe had dinner with,” Rachel pointed out.

“Sometimes, you're a pain the ass.”

“That's my job,” Rachel told Melissa, tossing a blanket on the couch, along with a pillow from the guest room. “Since you insist that the couch is the most comfortable place to sleep, there ya go. Your ass better tell him in the morning, or I'm posting a billboard on the interstate on the way to work. Don't think I won't either.”

“You suck,” Melissa muttered after telling Rachel goodnight. It was dark and she laid there, hating to think about what could have happened. She was determined to find a way to tell Joey who she was, and at the same time not have to do it in front of a lot of people. That was if she could make herself.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Joey looked at the sparse parking lot and at the clock in his car. “Shit,” he muttered, hot coffee with creamer burning his throat as it went down. He was grouchy and eyed the vehicles in the lot, wondering if one of them belonged to her. He'd argued with himself just to forget it. There were more girls out there in the world than just this one. At the same time, he liked this one. His phone rang and he hit send, a smile on his face. “Hi, Janine.”

“Hey, Joe. You're up early...Don't tell me you're at work,” she admonished her little brother, listening to him chuckle. “How was the party?”

“It was good.” Joey knew his sister would ask him what was up, sighing when she did. His answers usually involved more than three words. He explained to her about 'Vegas' and about what he was feeling and if she thought he was crazy to look for her.

“I think you're crazy, but not for that. I mean, what if this girl had a valid reason for not wanting to tell you who she was?”

“Like what? It was a crappy thing to do, Jan,” Joey said, wondering what went through his sister's mind sometimes.

“Well, what if she doesn't think that you'd like her if you knew who she was?”

“Why would that make any difference?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Janine sighed. “Contrary to popular belief, even if this girl works with you, in her mind she might think she's not pretty enough or whatever. Look at the girls you date. Not just you but all the guys. Women that look like they fall out of magazine ads. I know it's clothes and make up...but it's intimidating as hell. Combine that with someone who's not as outgoing as you are and there you go.”

Joey leaned his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. “I liked her. She had me talking about all sorts of stuff. For the first time in a while I was feeling like I was talking to someone who I could hang out with at home watching tv. Just Joey.”

“Well then I think you better look for her. And don't jump her ass too hard. She might want to explain. Love you.”

Joey replied in turn and hit end on his phone. He let out an expletive when he looked around, the parking lot was almost full. He groaned and ran a hand through his hair before getting out. He prayed today wasn't going to suck as bad as he thought it might. Joey still had a half hour before it was time to start recording and he was heading to the PR department. He'd get some kind of answer.

“Joey!” he turned when he saw JC jog up to him. “Johnny called and said we had radio interview this morning. It was supposed to be this afternoon but they changed it. We're supposed to be over there in fifteen.”

Joey rolled his eyes and followed JC. He sat down next to Lance and buckled up. “Don't ask,” he said to his best friend, not wanting to rehash last night

“Yeah, don't ask how his ass got dismissed by this girl. Vegas..” Justin told Lance, the smirk on his face falling when Joey glared at him. “Was a damned shitty thing to do.”

“Give the girl a break. Joey was hanging on her...” Chris said, sitting next to Justin. “I mean, that would make me run away.”

“Bite me,” Joey told them both, flipping them off when Justin told him to mark off an acre. He knew he had to focus on work, but it still left him thinking. It made him more determined to find the mystery girl, plotting out what he was going to do once they got back to the studio.

*^*^*^*^*^

At every turn, Joey's plans had been thwarted to look for the woman. The radio interview went long and they went straight to rehearsals. Now he was hot and sweaty, just looking forward to a shower and something to eat. His cell phone beeped and he raised an eyebrow at the message. 'Check yo ride, hoss.' It was from Justin and he slung his duffle bag over his shoulder and made his way out to the parking lot. He spotted a girl leaning on his car and he tried hard not to smile. When he got to her, he wasn't sure whether he still wanted to be mad. “So, this is really you Vegas?” he asked, studying the woman.

“Me? No... I'm just the messenger service,” Rachel smiled at Joey. “She asked if you'd meet her at the park over on the other side of town. She'd bring dinner.” She watched him stand there, not sure whether to believe her or not. “She'll kill me if she knew I was telling you this. The first day she came over after work, I had to hear all about this Joey guy. Then when I told her to talk to you, she just shut down. In junior high, if a guy even looked at her, she'd pretend to blend in to the lockers or the desk, anything to keep from getting attention. It's taken her this long to even talk to you and she wants to explain.”

“So she's shy?” Joey asked, trying to get the pieces to fit as Rachel nodded. “Then why didn't she just say that?”

“Vegas, as you call her, is afraid if you know who she is, it will run you off. That girl you got see last night was someone I've known for years. Without the mask on, it goes away. Hidden, if you will. I'm not saying you have to talk to her anymore after tonight, or think you two will be best friends or whatever else. I just think you should go talk to her.”

Joey sighed, nodding a little. “As long as she doesn't mind me being nasty from practice,” he finally said, getting into his vehicle and starting it, rolling down the window, getting a clothing description. “Who are you, by the way?”

“I'm Rachel,” she replied, giving Joey a little wave as he drove off. She smiled and sent a text to her friend. 'Just got out of a meeting, be there in a little bit xoxo' One little white lie never hurt anyone, she figured, getting into her own car and heading towards where she lived, a bigger smile on her face.

*^*^*^*^*^

“Vegas?” Melissa's head snapped up at the sound of Joey's voice, shocked that he was standing there. Her mouth went dry and she swallowed, trying to get some moisture back into it. She looked him over, noting that he looked tired and a little hesitant. “Yeah..I'm her,” she gave him a small smile when he nodded. “I'm sorry-”

“Your name,” Joey interrupted her, folding his arms across his chest.

“Melissa..Melissa Riley.”

“You ran out on me last night, Melissa Riley,” he told her, watching her face blush and she looked down, her eyes not meeting his. He couldn't understand why she would think he wouldn't like her. Joey knew himself he liked legs and breasts and hair. More than that, he liked a girl who was real, no matter what her looks were. The woman not looking at him was cute, and it was hard for him to be aggravated. “Why did you leave last night? I thought we were having fun...” he continued, wanting her to speak.

Melissa knew she had to look at Joey, pulling her head up so her eyes could meet his. “Last night was the most fun I've had...in a long time.” She shrugged, not sure what else to say. “I...I wasn't sure you'd want to know who I was. I'm not all those bubbly giggly girls who want to be in the spotlight. I'd rather be at my house when I'm home and not go out. I like being un-noticed. At least most of the time. Then when you started talking to me, I figured it was because I was wearing a mask and you didn't know who I was. I could act like I do with my friend Rachel..with my family.”

“You were afraid I wasn't going to like you just because you're shy?” Joey asked, watching her head nod as he sat down beside her. “You want to know something?” he said quietly, looking over at her.

“I think you need to toss that thought right out of your head,” Joey's hand caught one of hers. “I haven't talked to a woman..I mean really talked to them, like we did..in a long time. It was nice to feel like I didn't have to act like someone else or pretend to be some celebrity,” he made a stupid face that made her laugh. He caught her chin when she turned to look away. “You made me feel special, Vegas.”

“I'm sorry...about leaving last night. I'm not that type of person...And me being me, I panicked and began second guessing myself without giving you a chance.” Melissa sighed, looking Joey over. “What made you come out here?” she questioned, having an idea.

“Your friend Rachel told me you wanted to talk and you had food,” Joey told her looking around. There wasn't any food on the picnic table and he chuckled when she ground her teeth and muttered under her breath.

“Rachel was supposed to meet me here and we were going to walk the trail and then go eat at Chino's,” Melissa explained. “She tricked me. Remind me to flip the breaker switch to her room that has her computer in it. Serves her right.”

Joey laughed, getting up and holding out his hand to her. “Well, I'm here. No reason for us not to walk,” he took her hand and pulled her up onto her feet. “You have to stop worrying so much, Vegas.”

“Is that my nickname now?” Melissa asked as they started down the path that wound around the park, off to one side to let runners and bikers go around them or come by going the opposite way.

“You're stuck with it,” he told her, chuckling when she went through her list of nicknames. “I was going to ask you last night before you ran off if you wanted to go out to dinner sometime,” Joey's lip curled into a smile as he saw her thinking. “It's an easy answer...yes...” he prodded.

“Or, I could ask you out. Seems like I won a gift certificate to Chino's and my friend ran out on me. I'll have to take someone else instead.”

“So I'm the second option huh? That's really flattering,” Joey teased, pretending to be hurt, laughing when she looked crestfallen. He stopped and shook his head. “Quit worrying so much and just ask me.”

Melissa swallowed hard, looking at Joey, blushing when he gave her a lopsided smile. She'd always thought he was cute before, but after talking to him last night and now, she was smitten. “Wow..umm..Okay. Joey, will go out with me to eat at Chino's?”

“I thought you'd never ask,” he told her, giving her a smile.