Chapter Six

DreamInColour © 2004

 

We drove in silence back to the flat. Basically because I kept my eyes closed and my head firmly planted on the back of the seat. When we got to the flat I pulled open my door and said, “I’m going out.” Then promptly went to my car. I was going to pay Elise a visit not now right now. I needed venting time with one of me girlfriends before I clawed the man’s eyes out. Or shagged him within an inch of his life…I wasn’t sure which one I wanted to do more at that moment.

“Sophia wait…”

I heard him as I shut my car door. I rolled down the window and held a hand up, “However old you are Lij I won’t play games…don’t patronize me. Call my cousin and ask him how much I like it.” I put the window up before he could comment and drove away.

I was shaking as I drove. I swear it was a miracle I didn’t have an accident or anything. It’s very convenient for me that Elise has her own office; whenever I have drama in my life I can go there and vent. She doesn’t have much choice in the matter and has never seemed to mind to date. She says I am the drama in her life, the reason that she’s not boring. Whatever, it’s not my fault I’m related to an uber famous elf with beautiful friends that I want to shag. Sigh. I hate my life.

“Well if it isn’t my wayward friend Sophia.” Elise announced with a high level of sarcasm.

I dropped myself into the chair in front of her desk and threw my head into my hands with a loud sigh. “I hate him.”

“Hate who love?” She asked getting up to close the door behind me. I could feel her smiling at the back of me head.

“You bloody well know who!” I shot her a look

“I beg to differ.  You hate Orli on a regular basis, Dom is sometimes thrown in there and don’t forget Frankie, he’s a constant hate.”

“Yeah well this is a different hate, it’s the Yank I hate now. Stupid blighter.” I mumbled.

Elise just smiled at me and leaned forward on her desk, “Are you at any point going to enlighten me or shall I guess?”

“He’s 23 and he kissed me.” I said into my hands.

“I’m sorry what?”

I looked up at her and caught the smirk on her face, “Elijah. He kissed me.”

At this point she leaned back in her chair and folded her hands in front of her, “And how was this kiss?”

“Absolutely bloody wonderful but that’s not the point.”

“So what is the point?”

“He’s 23.”

“And…”

That’s when it hit me, what really was the problem with that? He was mature, most of the time, sweet, understanding and a general gas to be around. Not to mention the fact that he was an amazing snog and a gorgeous specimen of a man. “And nothing.” I finally said, “I needed a reason not to fancy him and I picked that.”

She laughed then, that’s it she’s not my friend any more, “You really need to come up with a better excuse love. You fancy the lad it’s that simple, quit being so bloody scared of your own feelings.”

“It’s the only excuse I could come up with at the time. I can’t fancy him Lise!”

“Please enlighten me as to why not?”

“Because he’s a bloody celebrity!” I shot back, “I can’t help that I’m related to a sex god…I can’t go and get meself involved with one.”

“Again I’m going to have to go with why?”

My head was swimming, “You’re no help.”

“You’re only saying that because I’m not telling you what you want to hear.” She’s looking at me all smug like and it’s pissing me off. Why is it that I keep her as friend then?

“I don’t even bloody well know what I want to hear.”

“Tell me about this kiss then.” It was like she didn’t even hear me.

“We were at Leeds U…”

“Why?”

“Because Dom’s sweet on Nila.”

“That doesn’t explain why you were there.”

“I was there because the prat came to the flat this morning and coerced me into going.” I snapped, “Now can I please continue without interruptions?”

“Right sorry…about that kiss.”

“Anyway, we get to Leeds U and Elijah is there. So it’s painfully obvious that Dom planned this as a distraction to the Nila thing. I was determined not to talk to him, because the wanker has been avoiding me since we woke up together, but of course he follows me.”

She raised an eyebrow at me about the waking up with him part; she’d relished that story when I’d told her. “Dom or Elijah?” Oh she’s just being a smart arse now.

“Elijah, try to keep up Lise.” She just smiled at me; “So he catches up and proceeds to explain to me that he was scared about how wonderful it was waking up with me.” I smile wistfully at the comment.

“Let me guess you saw this as the perfect opportunity to mention your campy problem with his age?”

I hate how well this woman knows me. “Yes if you must know.” I growl then continue, “So he decides to kiss me and follow that up with the comment about not kissing me again until he’s grown up.”

“Ah we finally get to the root of the reason why you hate him. He’s not going to kiss you again.”

“Yes and no. While the kiss was smashingly wonderful and something I would like to do again the problem arises with his attitude after said kiss.” I relayed the conversation I overheard between him and Dom.

Elise’s attitude changed slightly, “I see. Well I don’t blame you for being pissed at his actions afterward, but I wouldn’t write him off totally just yet. You’ll be given an opportunity to right everything you may have done. But, in my humble opinion, he should start it.” She’s making sense and sounding like a therapist; I really ought to leave her a check for fifty quid when I go.

“So what do I do until that point?”

She smiles at me with an actual twinkle in her eyes, “Wait.”

I hate that word. I also hate that she’s right. I actually let my mind wander to what he might be doing right now as I vent out my angst. I look at my watch and groan; I can’t bring myself to go back to the flat so instead I stand. “Thanks for that Lise you’ve been a royal pain in the arse.”

She stands and walks around the desk to give me a hug, “You’re welcome my dear Sophia. Thank YOU for keeping my life from plunging into boredom.”

I roll my eyes, “Daniel really needs to start becoming more interesting.”

She just chuckles and walks with me to the door; “Nothing can compete with your angst and drama love. You going back to the flat then?”

I shake me head, “I have some paper work I want to get at so I’m going to work for a bit then go over to the Kiwi.”

“I’ve heard of that bar, is it any good?”

I smile, “It’s splendid, the owner, Nila, is a right treat.”

“Leeds U Nila?” She asks with a raised eyebrow.

“The one and same.”

“You lot give Coronation Street a run for its money yeah?” She says with a shake of her head.

“So you want me to keep you posted then?”

“Bloody right.”

I actually laugh a genuine laugh as I head back to me car. My mates are interesting I’ll give them that. Despite her mocking of me she’s actually cleared me head about one thing. I’d be a fool if I didn’t at least give it a try. At least that’s what I was thinking as I drove to work, by the time I got home from the Kiwi that night, my mind had changed considerably and what I found once I got there didn’t help one bit.

 

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, because the story is just getting interesting. I didn’t say much to the girls working when I got there just went to the back and started in on the paper work. I was doing well when Anna, one of the new girls, came in with a giddy look on her face. If I didn’t know Orli was in Morocco I’d swear that he was visiting me.

“Orlando Bloom’s on the phone.” She squealed. Right the phone, close enough to visiting.

“Thank you Anna.” I say as I pick up my phone, “Hey you.” I sigh.

He chuckles lightly, “I hear you’ve had a rough day yeah.” He has picked the perfect time to be sympathetic.

I almost respond when I realise Anna is still there; on any other day I’d threaten to fire her, today I don’t have the strength so I just raise an eyebrow at her. She catches the hint and blushes before quickly leaving, closing the door behind her. “It’s the day from hell Orli. It can’t get much worse.”

“I really don’t know why you must be so overly dramatic about everything Soph. You fancy him yeah?”

I nod, even though he can’t see me, and sigh again, “Right. So?”

“So why the drama about his age?”

“It’s not even the age anymore, it’s the fact that he thinks one snog is about to have me jumping him whenever he wants.”

“I’m sure that wasn’t his point.” Until later on that night I didn’t realise that for him to know about the kiss he’d have had to talk to Elijah at some point. I was too wrapped up in my own drama to notice.

“I don’t rightly care about his point Orli. I’m not going to turn into some groupie that he can predict. I’m not like that.”

He chuckled again, “You’ve never been predictable Soph, it’s part of your charm.”

“Yeah well I’m working my way to charming him right out the door.” I sigh, “But enough about my ridiculous life how are you love?”

“Can’t complain, this movie’s right exhausting yeah? I’ve been getting all roughed up lately it’s a blast…” We talked for almost an hour; it’s amazing how he has the ability to lift my spirits right when it matters.

 

I worked for another forty-five minutes before I decided that it was a good time for me to head to the Kiwi and get me that drink Nila made. As I arrived at the front of the building I noticed there was a line. She really is getting rather popular. One of the bouncers waved me over before I had to stand long mind. I vaguely recognised him as the one who had put me in the cab last time.

“Hello Luke.” I said with a smile, surprised I had remembered his name, “All right?”

He smiled, “Just fine Sophia. Nila’s not working tonight but she told me to send you to the back VIP room when you got here.”

“How did she…” I started to ask then laughed at the expression on his face, “Right she’s Nila she always knows.”

“You got that right.” He laughed and let me in; “Just go through that door past the bar it’s the second door on the right.”

“Right, cheers Luke.”

He waved then turned back to the people who were still trying to get into the bar. They were glaring at me and muttering, I didn’t care at that point and focused on finding Nila. She was exactly where Luke had said she’d be except he’d failed to mention that she’d be drinking.

“Sophia! It’s about time you got here!” She said with a sardonic laugh. Pulling a glass seemingly out of nowhere she poured me a drink. “You look as good as I feel.” She added as she pushed the glass towards me.

“I take it your date didn’t go all that well.” I said deciding it was about time I heard from her what was going on with Dom.

“It was bloody brilliant.” She said with a sigh and long sip of her drink, “He’s a gentleman, hilarious not to mention a bloody amazing kisser.” She sighed and finished off her drink; “He’s also famous so it won’t work.”

I downed my drink and nodded, “Amen to that sister. Why is it that we’re miserable and drinking then?”

She looked at me with sad eyes and poured me another, “Because we’re celebrating the fact that we don’t have to put up with celebrity boyfriends.”

“Right.” I said as I tapped my glass to hers, “Celebrating.”

“I feel like shit,” Nila said.

“You feel like shit? I haven’t even been able to admit that I like the plighter yet,” I laughed, downing my first drink and pouring myself another. In fact I do believe that was the first time I’d actually said that out loud.

Nila almost spewed her drink in her laughter. “Haven’t you, then?” she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“Nope. Decided to get hung up about his age.” Sounds right campy when I say it out loud.

“Nice. I guess the celebrity argument doesn’t work as well, considering your cousin.”

“You got that right.”

“It’s a pity they’re so fucking gorgeous,” Nila sighed, breaking open a bottle of wine, I love this woman she knows exactly what I need.

“And that they have fucking perfect personalities.”

“And are fucking good kissers.”

“Fucking good.”

We both toasted each other again and gulped back our wine.

“I can’t go back there,” I finally said.

“So don’t. Crash at my place,” Nila offered have I mentioned that I love this woman?

I laughed. How long have I known this woman? “It’s funny that we just met, what a week ago, and are already like, best friends.”

“Birds of a feather,” Nila said, pouring more wine and raising her glass.

“Birds of a feather,” I agreed, raising my glass back.

“So, Sophia,” Nila said, slurring heavily. We were already onto our second bottle of wine. “What is it about Elijah that you like so much?”

Oh don’t even get me started. I suppose I should start with the most obvious, but frankly it’s absolutely everything about him. “His eyes. They’re the most amazing fucking things I’ve ever seen. And he’s easy to talk to. You know, no pretence or anything – at least not when he’s being normal. He figured out I liked him and all of a sudden he was full of piss and vinegar, you know?”

Nila laughed. “Or porn and chocolate!” she started laughing hysterically.

Mercy I’d almost forgotten about that, I started laughing too. “God, I would pay to meet the person working at that convenience store that day!”

“You don’t have to. I could tell you hundreds of ridiculous things that boy has said whilst drunk here,” Nila said.

“I’m sure you could,” I sighed and poured myself another drink. “What about you? What is it about Dom you like so much?”

“His mouth. He’s got this crooked smile that I just adore. And he’s fucking hilarious. No one can make me laugh the way he does.” She about sums him up right good. He’s not my type at all I’d be halfway to killing him throughout a relationship, but I can’t ignore those attributes. Dom’s hilarious and then when Billy and him get together I have to admit even I can’t help but laughing till I cry.

“We’re fucking idiots, you know that, right?”

“I sure do, love. Fucked right up in the head, you and I. Letting two fucking fantastic men slip through our fingers.”

I put my head in my hands and rubbed my eyes. “I need more alcohol. I can still think straight.”

“Coming right up.” Nila found a phone tucked away in the corner of the room. “Jeff? It’s Nila. We’ve run out of alcohol. Could you bring a few more bottles back? Don’t you say no to me, I’ll fire you if I have to. No, I won’t really. Just, please, two more, that’s all. Okay. Thank you.”

I don’t really remember much after that. There was a lot of laughing, some crying and a shite load of talking. This was all mixed nicely with copious amounts of alcohol. The amount that might make you feel knackered just by reading about it.

 

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