DreamInColour
© 2004
I felt like I stared at him forever. He looked
incredibly embarrassed which made me feel better mind, I didn’t want to think
he’d planned this. I just couldn’t bring my voice to work, all I could do was
stare at him and stop the urge to pinch him or myself. I’d dreamed of him being
there so many times I was afraid if I touched him he’d disappear.
“I’m sorry.” He apologised and got out of the
bed, “You, um, said you didn’t want Dom…and…” He swept his arm around the room,
“He fell asleep on the sofa and you weren’t home so I thought…” He ran a hand
over his face then through his hair. Blimey did I want to shag that man in the worst
way, but all I could do was stare. “Anyway I’m already late and uh…see ya.” He
did a little wave as he studied the floor of my room then left.
“Lij!” I called from where I was rooted to me
bed. He stuck his head back in the room, “It’s all right.” I smiled.
He nodded with a small smile then left shutting
my door firmly. I let out a huge sigh and flopped back onto me bed. “What the
bleedin’ hell is wrong with you Sophia?” I asked the ceiling, “You could have
at least said something!” I ran my hand over my face and groaned. “Bloody
idiot.”
I lay there staring at the ceiling trying to
recall at least one second of that night’s sleep, but everything was a blur. I
didn’t want to move until I was sure he was gone. I know it’s campy but I
didn’t know what to say. Around the time the shower turned off my door opened
and before I could stop him Dom crawled under the covers onto my bed.
“You touch anything under there Dominic
Monaghan and I’ll castrate you.” I warned when he touched my leg.
He stuck his head out of the cover, his hands
in front of him, with a smile, “I wouldn’t do that to you love, especially when
I know your heart belongs to another.”
My mouth was agape, “How did you…” I stopped
myself, “Shite, that was the part where I was supposed to deny it.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. I know you
Sophia, the more you moan and groan about him the more you fancy him.”
“Oh you know me do you?” I was knackered and
didn’t need to be analysed, it reminded me of my conversation the night
previous…sort of.
“I know that you act like you can’t stand
Orlando and that you’d take a bullet for him if you had to.” He propped his
head up on his hand and looked down at me as a gazed at the ceiling.
“That’s different, he’s me cousin.” I didn’t
look at him because I knew if I did he’d just laugh at me.
He laughed anyway. “You love Orli either way
and you act like you don’t. I’ve heard you whinging about Lij and I’ve also
seen you look at him. I was the one who introduced you remember?”
I did remember. I had tried to act composed but
he was absolutely beautiful in real life and I couldn’t contain my approval. I
guess I didn’t picture Dom as someone who paid attention to detail. “It doesn’t
matter anyway.” I conceded.
“Why because you’re assuming he hasn’t noticed
you?” He grabbed my face forcing me to sit up and look at him, “Who was in bed
with you this morning Sophia?”
This was getting annoying. I have gotten to the
point where I’m actually listening to Dom’s advice. He also sounds a lot like
somebody else and as I slowly woke up I distinctly remembered that flinch, so I
thought I’d try something, “You sound a lot like Nila.”
Wow this was even better than a flinch his
hands slowly left my face and his turned a nice shade of pale, “How do you know
Nila?”
“I was at the Kiwi last night.”
“Bollocks!” He shouted then flopped back on the
pillow.
“Why are you fucking yelling?” Orli walked by my
room then back peddled and stuck his head in, “And why are you in my cousin’s
bed?”
Dom just groaned and ran a hand over his face,
“Soddin’ fucking hell she’s going to hate me.” He sat up.
I shrugged and looked over at Orlando, “He just
got here, then got all weird when I talked about the Kiwi.”
“You were at the Kiwi?” Orli leaned against the
door then raised an eyebrow at Dom; “Hmm small world.”
“Damnit, don’t you think I fucking know that?
Bollocks!”
“Shit relax Dom, I’m hungry let’s go get some
breakfast.” Orlando suggested.
I nodded and got out of the bed, “Yes you two
go have a manly talk.”
My cousin shook his head at me and smiled, “Oh
you’re coming as well Soph. I’m only here for a day and we need to talk now get
dressed.” He clapped his hands and left the room.
I looked over and shared a look with Dom, “Is
he being serious?” I asked.
“Looks like it.” He swung his legs over the bed
and stood up, “Let’s humour him yeah?” He put a hand on my shoulder and smiled
at me but I could tell he was upset.
“I’m sorry Dom, I didn’t know then.”
He just gave me sad eyes, “I didn’t know until
recently either, it’s not your fault Soph.”
Dom hardly said anything once we got to the
restaurant and ordered our breakfast. Then again I didn’t say much both because
it seemed Orlando decided to go all fatherly on me and since I was so lurgy
from the night before I didn’t have the strength to stop him. Plus he was
making a lot of sense; he does that from time to time.
“Do you want to know what I told Lij after I
finally decided to let him stay at the flat?” He asked me as I sipped my
coffee.
“How would I know that?” I looked over and felt
a swell of pity for Dom who was staring into his coffee mumbling to himself.
Poor sod was really quite besotted with this woman.
He ignored me and continued; “I told him I’d
have his nuts for dinner if he tried anything with you.”
“Orlando Bloom!” I started. How dare he? So
THAT was why Elijah always stayed a distance away from me and acted interested
one minute and not interested the next. Stupid flaming, interfering cousin of
mine!
He grabbed my hands before I hit him, “Could
you maybe not shout my name that loud or we’re never going to finish this
conversation.” He warned looking over at an older couple that were staring at
our table.
“I’ll do anything I bloody well please you
meddlesome wanker.” I struggled under his hold.
“Listen to me for two seconds Sophia.” Wow he
was damn serious.
“Fine but can I just remind you that I’m only
ONE year younger than you Orlando. Don’t talk to me like I’m some little
teenager with a crush. I refuse to be patronized!”
He sighed and let go of me, “I’m not trying to
patronize you Sophia, but I know two things about this situation. I know you
and I know his lifestyle. Are you sure you want to become more intimately
involved in that?”
“How do you know I don’t?” I challenged, lord I
sounded like I was five!
He chuckled, “Because you almost begged me to
take you home after the press frenzy of the Fellowship junket. You’ve ranted
and raved about press taking pictures of you because you’re me cousin. Do you
have any idea what they’d do if you started dating Lij?”
I put my head in my hands, “I don’t know I
don’t know how much fancying him is just a fantasy in me head.”
All of a sudden Dom shot up, “I um…yeah I gotta
go.” He said and was gone.
Orlando and I watched him leave then looked at
each other. I don’t think he really understands how much Dom fancies Nila so I
just shrugged it away, “He had a long night.” I managed.
Since he was so engrossed in my life he let Dom’s
exit pass and continued, “I’m not telling you who to date Sophia you know I
wouldn’t do that.”
I raised an eyebrow, “You won’t tell me who to
date but you’ll threaten someone who may want to date me.”
“He’s a celebrity Soph, more well known around
the world then I am.” I gave him a dubious look, “All right at least as much…I
just want you to be sure you know what you’re getting into.”
Finally I sighed, “I don’t have a bloody clue
what I’m getting into Orli. He hasn’t expressed anything to me so this could
just be me having crush from a distance.”
He shook his head, “He’s not blind Soph and
believe me you fit his type to an absolute tea…except for the fact that you
haven’t jumped him. I’m sure that’s confused the fuck outta him.”
“Well I’m not about to jump the man, although
the idea did cross me mind.”
Holding a hand up to stop me Orlando laughed,
“More information than I wanted to know.” He got serious again, “I just don’t
want you to be hurt Sophia.”
I smiled at him and patted his hand, “Big
brother role perfectly filled my dear. Thank you for your concern, but let me
make my own decisions okay?”
He sighed, “Fine.”
“You know what you have to do right?”
“Give him his nuts back?”
“Exactly.”
“Damnit, I thought you were smarter then to
fall for those eyes.”
I shrugged, “It’s not the eyes it’s the man
behind them.”
“Ah he’s still not much of a man yet.” Orlando
laughed, “He’s only been legal enough to drink in America for a couple years
now.”
I think my heart actually stopped. It didn’t
even occur to me that he might not be my age, “How um…” I cleared my throat,
“How old is he?”
He stared at me, “You mean you don’t know?”
I looked down, “Well I just sort of assumed…”
He full on laughed at me at this point,
“Probably the first time he’s been thought of as older than he is. He’s 23
Soph.”
Yes it’s official me heart has stopped. He’s a
full three years younger than me, oh mercy this is not good. “Well that settles
it then.” I said.
“You have to be kidding me.” He sounded dead
shocked, “You can’t be coming to this decision based on that one fact. Up until
now you were sure you fancied him!”
“I’ve never dated someone that much younger
than me Orli.”
“So. If he’s worth it then start. I’m not
saying I’m thrilled you want to date a mate of mine in the business, but if you’re
too scared come up with a better excuse than ‘he’s too young.’ That’s bollocks
Sophia and you know it.”
“I hate it when you’re right and you know
that!” I grumbled.
“If it makes you feel better his last
girlfriend was at least six years older than him. He can hold his own Soph.” He
was shaking his head, I don’t think he intended to sell Elijah to me I guess he
does trust my judgement a bit better then I thought.
“Right, this subject needs to change. I’m done
talking about it now. Tell me about Morroco how is the shoot going?” I was more
bloody confused at that point then ever before that. The fact that he dates
older women so I wouldn’t be a first, the fact he’s a major celebrity and the
bloody insane fact that he’s so amazing, sweet and gorgeous that I can’t
imagine not at least trying. The question is can I do it? Do I want to take
this risk or is my life fine the way it is?