DreamInColour © 2004
There was a sea of voices around his head. He tried to smile in all the
right directions and strained to hear what each reporter was saying. It seemed like
hours before he was finally in the confines of the theatre; away from the push
of press and fans, surrounded by the people with whom he’d spent some of the
best years of his life.
“You were great out there Orli.” Liv leaned in and kissed his cheek.
“Thanks Livvy.” He bussed her cheek back and held onto her hands, “Have
you seen Hope?”
Liv laughed, “She snuck in with Roy actually.”
“Really?”
“It seems they both agree that the red carpet is too much.”
“Is Allie with them?”
Again Liv laughed then leaned forward and pointed over Orlando’s
shoulder, “She hasn’t left Dom’s side except when he’s talking to press.”
“She seems to be drinking this up.”
“The funny thing is he hasn’t noticed a single woman since they got
here.”
“Seriously?”
“I kid you not. He’s been our absolutely loveable Dom but no glances or
passes or anything.”
“Wow I’m impressed.”
“If you’re talking about Allie don’t let her hear you say that, she’ll
agree with you.” Viggo came up to them. He kissed Liv lightly on the cheek and
gave Orlando a half hug.
Orlando scoffed, “I don’t know if I’m talking to you yet.” He said with
a laugh as the three went to find their seats.
“Why wouldn’t you be talking to him?” Liv asked.
“Cause I was conversing with his woman.” Viggo laughed, “Except she’s
vehemently denying she will ever BE his woman.”
“Are you kidding me she can’t take her eyes off of him.”
“I know, only problem is she can’t be interested in him on principle.”
Viggo explained.
“What principle?”
“The one that says everyone wants him, so Hope can’t.” He explained as
Orlando scowled.
“Why can’t she?”
“Cause she’s different.” Orlando said as he followed Liv through the
theatre seats.
“Who’s different?” Roy asked as Liv stepped passed Hope then him to sit
down.
Liv smiled, “Some reporter we had to talk to, it was a different one
from that station last year. Right Orli?” She leaned across her husband.
Orlando leaned across Hope to speak to Liv, “The reporter? Different?
Exactly.” He agreed. He leaned back and winked at her, “Sorry luv, didn’t want
to shout.’
She nodded and mentally slapped herself because she had been closing her
eyes and smelling him, “No troubles.” She said.
He patted her hand as the room darkened, “Have you seen this one yet?”
“Nope is there a warning coming?”
“Are you afraid of spiders?”
“No, why?”
“Good.” He kept his hand on hers, “Then my only warning is you might
cry.”
“I doubt it.” She scoffed, she wanted to move her hand but it was so
warm where it sat, so instead she lightly looped her pinkie finger around his, so
technically she could convince herself that they weren’t really holding hands
at all.
He smiled but didn’t say anything as the movie began.
Three hours later during the last twenty minutes of the movie Hope had a
death grip on Orlando’s hand and tears streaming down her face. As the credits
rolled she accepted the Kleenex Liv offered her and eyed Orlando,
“Not…one…word.”
He held his hands up in defence, “I didn’t say anything. Although I did
warn you.”
“See that right there.” Hope pointed, “That was a whole bunch of words.
You don’t pay attention at all do you?”
“On the contrary my dear.” He leaned in close to her face and whispered,
“When it comes to you I pay close attention.”
“Smooth.” Hope smiled at him, “If you were anyone else I’d be batting my
eyelashes and swooning right now.”
“That’s what I like about you Hope.” He said seemingly undaunted by her
dig.
“What’s that?”
He winked, “You’re different.”
She was getting almost annoyed at his consistent use of that word.
Unfortunately she didn’t get a chance to talk to him about it because they were
leaving the theatre.
There was a party being held in one of the rooms at the hotel. Hope
hardly saw Allie except for moments when her and Dom would fly by, one chasing
the other or just hiding. They played around the people like children
occasionally engaging in conversation, but mostly sticking together.
Hope was sitting at a table waiting for Orlando to come back with a
drink for her when Elijah came by and flopped into the booth dramatically, “She
broke him.”
“Who broke who?” She asked.
“Allie.” Elijah sighed, “She broke Dom.”
Hope laughed, “How did she do that?”
“He’s not paying any attention to anyone but her. He left me with a
bunch of women over there so he could chase Allie somewhere.”
“You’re mad cause he left you with a bunch of women?” She continued
laughing, “I’d think you’d be pleased you didn’t have to compete with him.”
“It’s no fun if there’s no one to compete with.” Elijah explained.
“What about Billy?”
“He’s talking about serious shit with Philippa and Fran.”
“What about Orli, he was around here a second ago. He’ll probably scope
chicks with you.” Hope suggested. Elijah looked at her funny, “What?”
“Come on Hope you aren’t that blind.” He sighed.
“If you are even remotely suggesting that Orlando is in any way
interested in me you’re crazy.”
“Are you kidding me? He’s been smitten ever since he saw you on his
porch with your eyes closed.” Elijah laughed.
“Which was only a couple of days ago. I’m just the prize at the end of a
game.”
“What do you mean game?”
Hope shrugged, “You all keep telling him that I won’t sleep with him
because most women want to. This is true. So he’s paying attention to me so
that my mind changes. I sleep with him, he wins.”
“I think it goes deeper than just a game Hope.”
“I think there’s no way it can be deep at all. I hardly know him and he
hardly knows me.”
“Ah yes but you have a week to change all that.” Elijah grinned.
“No one falls in love in a week Lij.”
Orlando leaned on the bar and waited for the bartender to get the drinks
he’d asked for. He sighed and watched Elijah and Hope talk about something that
seemed to be somewhat serious.
“Why on earth are you sighing?” Liv stepped up to stand beside him.
“She acts so relaxed with him.” He indicated the two talking.
“That’s cause she’s known him for years.” She smiled, “Why, are you
jealous?”
“No! I just want to know why she’s so guarded with me.”
“Because she doesn’t trust you hun.”
He looked a bit hurt, “Why? I haven’t given her any reason not to trust
me.”
“You didn’t need to, your reputation did it for you.” Liv said quietly.
“You know elf boy.” Allie appeared out of nowhere, “If you want my
advice…”
“He doesn’t.” Dom said over her shoulder.
She swatted him away, “Shut up nuddy.” She laughed, “I love that
word…nuddy it’s a great word.”
“Point Allie?” Orlando prodded not really sure why he was even curious.
“Oh yeah if you want anything to do with Hope you’re going to have to
approach her a much different way.”
“How’s that?”
“Get to know her first and then let her make the next move.” She smiled.
Dom kissed her shoulder, “Man you’re brilliant.”
“I know isn’t it scary?”
“Did she actually make sense?” Orlando asked Liv.
Liv smiled and indicated the drinks that had been sitting by his elbow,
“I think she did.”
“Right then.” He picked up the drinks a look of determination in his
eyes.
“Orli…” Liv came up to walk with him, “Don’t mess with her. If this is
really just a game then let it stand where it is.”
Before he could respond they arrived at the table and the conversation
stopped, “Did we miss something?”
Liv tugged on Elijah’s arm, “Lij come with me I think Ian was looking
for us earlier.”
“Huh?” He caught her eye and smiled, “Right he was.”
Orlando was still standing after the two had left, “Why do I feel like something
important just happened and I missed it?”
“I don’t know, maybe you’re paranoid?”
He finally sat down next to her in the booth, “I don’t think I am. What
were you talking about?”
“The fact that Allie apparently broke Dom.”
“What?”
Just then Allie slid across the other side of the booth next to Hope and
tried to duck, “Just act normal, I’m not here.” She whispered.
“What are you doing?” Hope asked.
“Shh.” Her friend said.
Dom ran by and came to a screeching halt at their table, “Don’t even
think you can hide form me woman.” He laughed and squished onto the already
crowded booth, “I can’t believe you did that.”
Allie giggled, “All I said was that you had the sexiest crooked smile. I
don’t know what the problem is with that.”
“That’s not the problem and you know it! You said that into my ear while
I was trying to conduct an interview!” He groaned, “Now People Magazine is
going to run a photo of me looking all stunned and shite.”
“Aww baby you always look stunned.” Allie laughed then poked his sides.
“Uh oh that woman is trying to find you again.” She pointed.
Dom looked over and a gleam slid into his eyes, “Right, you go left I’ll
go right then we’ll dodge her and meet outside.”
“Affirmative.” Allie gulped down Hope’s drink and grinned at her, “It’s
been fun you two.”
Dom nodded, “Brilliant bit of conversation.” He did a quick salute then
him and Allie darted in different directions just before a red head approached
the table.
“I’m sorry to disturb you but have either of you seen Dominic Monaghan
or his date?”
Orlando shook his head, “Sorry luv, they were here earlier, but they
didn’t say where they were going.”
“Oh.” The girl gasped as she recognized him, “You’re Orlando Bloom!”
He smiled, “That’s what they tell me.”
“I just wanted you to know that I loved what you did in the movie.” She
gushed.
“Thank you.”
“It was cool what they had you do with that oliphant.”
“It was fun to do.” He was trying to keep his answers short so the girl
would get the hint and go away.
“And Gimli said ‘That still counts as one.’” The girl laughed, “That was
funny!”
Hope reached under the table and grabbed his hand. He squeezed tightly
and desperately tried to maintain a straight face. “Thanks.” He said again.
“Hey! You were looking for Dom right!” Elijah swooped in out of nowhere.
“Elijah Wood!” She exclaimed.
“Yeah…it’s me…would you look at that…Frodo in the flesh…walk with me.”
He said quickly as he guided her away from the table.
When they were a safe distance from them Orlando and Hope burst out laughing.
“How do you manage to keep a straight face?” She giggled.
“I was about to bust when you grabbed my hand.” He looked at her,
“Thanks.” He squeezed her hand again.
“You’re welcome.” She removed her hand from his, “I was worried if you
laughed at her she’d be scarred for life, or worse…”
“She’d sit down and join us.” He finished for her.
Two hours later Orlando and Hope were sharing an elevator with Allie and
Dom.
“I wonder if we can make this thing shake by jumping.” Allie said
Dom started jumping, “Is it shaking yet?”
“No.” She shook her head, “You run that way I’ll run this way, maybe
that will work.”
Without even thinking Hope stepped in front of Orlando and leaned back
on him, “I think I’m about to be scared.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down to speak into her
ear, “Are you sure that she’s the same age as you?”
“I thought so up until she met Dom, now I’m certain she’s the same age
as my sisters.” She rested her hands on his arms.
“You have sisters?” He asked as the elevator pulled to a stop on their
floor.
“Yup.” She didn’t say any more because she was trying to get out of the
elevator without being hit by Allie and Dom who were swaying back and forth.
As soon as the door was opened they burst out and shot down the hall.
They stopped in front of Allie and Hope’s room. Allie opened the door and
grabbed Dom by the collar to pull him inside. You could hear him say, “It’s
about time.” As the door closed.
Hope groaned, “Oh that’s just perfect. I am not going in there if the
two of them…oh sick ya know I don’t need a mental image.” She started smacking
her head, “Get out of there mental image.”
Orlando laughed and fished out his key, “Well if you’re looking for a
place to crash…” He started.
She was just trying to figure out a different solution when another door
down the hall opened, “Did I hear Dom and Allie?” Elijah asked. He was already
in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt having grown tired of the party an hour
earlier.
“Blue!” Hope exclaimed relieved and quite happy for an alternative, “You
did, they just flung themselves into her and my room.”
Elijah stepped aside and held the door to his room open with a smile,
“Will you promise that there’s no vodka and puke tonight?”
She laughed and nodded, “I promise I’m totally sober.”
“Good stuff.” He grinned as she passed him into his room he looked over
at Orlando who was still standing in front of his door holding his key card, “I
told you.” He smirked, “No Hope.”
Orlando groaned when Elijah’s door shut behind him, “This stopped being
a game a long time ago.” He opened his door, “I wonder when they’ll figure that
out.”