Chapter Seven

Over the rest of the week the two tried to maintain a healthy distance between each other. They surfed every morning and even though Anya lasted the whole time she let Orlando sit in her hammock while she served him coffee. She still couldn’t sleep in the room upstairs but she was able to keep the door open and went in there daily just to spend time with them. Orlando always let her do that alone although he stayed close in case she needed him. She knew that and although she never had to call on him she felt encouraged knowing he was there.

They had kept the conversations rather neutral both slightly afraid of the emotions that were stirring in each of them. During the last evening before they were set to leave Anya finally decided to go down a road they had avoided. She was sitting on the hammock while he sat on the railing one of his feet were rocking her hammock gently. She tapped his foot with hers and asked, “Who was your first love?”

He didn’t really act shocked at all just eyed her for about a second then said, “Breanne Wilson.”

“Before or after acting?” She prodded.

He shook his head, “Well before. I was 16 so was she, we met a couple of weeks after I moved to London.”

“You moved away from home when you were16?”

“Yup, Canterbury wasn’t challenging enough so I moved in with a mate of mine. I learned a lot over those couple of years.”

“So Breanne how did you meet her?”

He raised an eyebrow at her, “If I tell you this you must return the favour.”

“My first love?” She thought for a second then nodded, “All right deal.”

He sighed and closed his eyes for a bit before he spoke, “I met her at a club actually, which logically means she should have been a one night shag if anything. But Breanne was never logical…she lived by her own set of rules. I think that’s what drew me to her to start.”

“She was different?”

“In every way possible. See at this one club all the women would wear the same things, dance together during the same songs and proposition the same lads every night. At first it was rather exciting for me, being new to the scene and all. After a few weeks the scenery got stale yeah? That’s when I saw her, standing alone by the bar eyeing everyone who walked by.” He smiled wistfully at the memory.

“One of those moments when heaven opens and shines a light on her and all that?” Anya teased.

He laughed, “Something like that. You have to remember I was 16 and she was the first bird who hadn’t propositioned me at some point over the previous couple of weeks.”

“I thought you said all the women propositioned the same lads.”

“Yeah well they did and they all chatted me up as well. Me mates couldn’t figure it out and neither could I.”

She grinned, “I can.”

He chose to ignore the comment and continued, “Anyway, she looked over at me and instead of doing the same thing the other birds did she just winked and took a sip of her drink. I waited for her to look at me again but she didn’t, not one more time that whole night.”

“Disappointing?”

“More like intriguing.”

“I didn’t talk to her then but the following night I made a pact with meself that if she was at the same spot by herself I’d talk to her.”

“Let me guess, she was.”

He grinned, “Actually she wasn’t.”

“Really?”

“Yup I stared at that spot for a full hour when she came up behind me and said ‘I waited all night for you to talk to me yesterday. I don’t have that much time tonight.’” He laughed, “That was the beginning of the end so to speak. We were inseparable right up until I went to Guildhall.”

“She didn’t like the idea of you wanting to become an actor?”

“Not at all, she’s always been one of my biggest supporters right behind me family. She just chose to go to school in Scotland and when I got the ‘Rings’ role and had to move to New Zealand we realized that it just wasn’t going to work anymore. We’ve been best mates ever since.”

“That sounds ideal, not many people can say that. Do you ever wish you could get back with her?”

He shook his head, “Nah it just wouldn’t be the same. We decided a while ago that we’d leave it in the past. Besides ironically enough she’s taken up with a good mate of mine and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

“Any other loves since then?”

“Oh no I’m done now you must tell me about your first love.”

“It’s not nearly as interesting…adolescent crush and all that.”

“Sooo.” He prodded, “Who was he?”

“Jonathan Brandis.”

“Now why does that sound familiar?”

“He used to be an actor, did a couple movies as a kid and was quite popular when we were younger. We went to the same school before he took on some tutors. He liked the idea of dating a rich girl and I liked the idea of dating a hot actor. We were commodities to each other at first, but it didn’t end up that way.”

“You said he used to be an actor?”

She sighed, “He died late last year, killed himself.”

“My God Anya no wonder you don’t get close to people.” He whistled, “That’s absolutely brutal I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything, we weren’t together at the time. In fact I hadn’t talked to him in years. Ever since the TV show he was in collapsed he hadn’t been the same. When my parents died him and I lost touch because I moved out of the party scene. I’m sorry that my story isn’t the same.”

“Don’t apologise Anya it’s not your fault. Was there anyone else after him?”

She shook her head, “Not up to that level, we really clicked, understood each other and all that. No one else ever got me the way he did. I had a few boyfriends here and there, but after my parents died I stopped meeting new people and kept all relationships professional.”

“Guard your heart and all that?”

“I guess. Of course you…” She trailed off.

“Me what?”

“I don’t know how to explain it.”

“If it makes you feel any better neither do I.”

“Well…” She stood up, “Tomorrow we to go back to living our very busy lives. Maybe it’s a better idea if we leave everything that happened on this island here.”

He stood up with her, “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“It’s not a matter of what I want Orlando it’s a matter of reality and fantasy. Our reality is different from this fantasy and you know it.” She put a hand to his face and smiled, “I’m not going to make you choose between me and the woman you were already with it wouldn’t be fair.”

He put his hand over hers and closed his eyes, “None of this is fair.”

“No it’s it not.” She agreed then took his hand and pulled him into the cabin and up to her room, “But we’re not gone yet. I think I should spend this last night here…” She looked at him, “…but I don’t want to be alone.”

He nodded, “Then you won’t be.” He got into the bed with her and wrapped an arm around her waist, “Whoever wakes up first has to wax the surfboards.”

She laughed, “Deal.” She pulled his hand up her lips and kissed his fingers, “Good night Mr. H.”

He smoothed down her hair and chuckled, “Night Miss. H.”

“Miss Anya! A Caribbean tan suits you my dear.” Lee said with a grin and a kiss on her cheek, “I hope you aren’t going to fire me.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, “I don’t know yet, we’ll have to see how I feel after smacking some sense into Bruce and my good friend Liv.”

“Go easy on them, they’ve been fretting ever since I dropped you down here.” He laughed, “I’m sure they’ll be happy to see that this trip has done you well.”

She finally nodded with a smile, “That it has Lee.”

“Hey Miss H! You keep the hoodie…then we can match wherever we…” Orlando’s words stopped when he saw Lee on the front porch, “Oh hello there mate.”

Lee shook the perplexed actor’s hand and smiled, “Hey Orlando how did you like your island vacation?”

“Perfectly relaxing Lee.”

“You two don’t mind going separately do you?” Lee asked, “I don’t think my little bird could handle three adults and luggage.”

Orlando looked at Anya a lump in his throat forming, he cleared it then said, “Not at all Lee. Take Anya first, I want to get one more round of surfing in yet today.”

“Are you sure?” Anya asked she looked at him with sad eyes. Despite her words the night before she didn’t want to leave him. She wanted to wake up every morning with him near her.

He smiled at her his eyes sharing the same sadness, “Of course love.” He patted her shoulder, “I haven’t been as resourceful as you. I still have to pack.”

Lee looked down at the bags that were on the porch; “I’ll just take these and meet you on the pad Anya. I’ll be back in a few hours for you Orlando.’

“No rush mate.” He dismissed the man while still staring at Anya who couldn’t stop herself from looking back at him.

Lee chuckled, “That tension could knock a man over.” He muttered to himself.

“Can I be honest with you?” Anya asked.

“Always.” He smiled at her.

“I don’t want to leave.”

“Me neither, but you’re right real life has to go on.”

“I’m sorry…” She mumbled.

“Anya I told you I’m relaxed don’t be sorry for…” He was exasperated.

She stopped him mid sentence, “I’m not sorry for that I’m sorry for this.” She stepped up and grabbed his face in her hands. She kissed him deeply and with more intensity then she had ever kissed anyone. A tear slid down her cheek when they separated, “You have a good life Mr. H.” She traced his shocked lips with her finger then quickly ran down the steps towards the helicopter pad.

He put his own fingers up to his mouth and tried to remember how to breathe. “Damn!” He groaned, “Why does it have to be so fucking complicated?” He asked no one. Staring at the hammock she had spent the better part of two weeks in he actually let a tear or two fall down his own cheeks, “Don’t give up so easily Miss H.” He mumbled then went back into the cabin to finish his packing and clean up a bit. He was trying to convince himself that it was damn near impossible to fall in love in two weeks. It just wasn’t realistic…damned realism.

Anya was quiet on the ride back to civilization. During the helicopter flight Lee tried to engage her in some light conversation. She joined in every now and again, but then finally just stopped saying anything. This was ridiculous, she reasoned in her head, real life had to go on and she had a very busy one. Once she got back into her regular routine she’d be able to forget this whole vacation. It would almost be like that Casablanca movie; they’d always have the island. The only thing was that movie always depressed her because the two were so in love yet had to be separated. Love? She didn’t think that, there was no way she was in love with him…was she?

Orlando Bloom seems to have returned to civilization. The beautiful Brit took a ‘sabbatical’ as he called it somewhere tropical it looks like. He arrived at the Heathrow airport with a tan and a smile for his girlfriend Kate Bosworth, who was there to greet him. He was appropriately surprised and slightly overwhelmed by the amount of people. “It’s good to be home.” Was the only thing the young actor said; in a few weeks he will be going to work on a new romantic comedy with Kirsten Dunst next week.

Anya read the little blip in the People magazine she was always sent. She was drinking a glass of what had become her favourite wine while on the island. She stared at the picture of Orlando with his beautiful blonde girlfriend and smiled wistfully. “See fantasy has no place in reality.” She whispered.

*author’s note* The next chapter is your quintessential ‘they finally get together’ chapter. I unfortunately was in a dang cheeseball mood after this and ended up writing it. I don’t know if I like it, but for now it’s up. If you aren’t in the mood for that kind of ending then leave it here, if you like those then feel free to continue, but you have been warned! J

Home Story Index Chapter Eight