DreamInColour © 2004
I woke up to the smell of coffee and the sound of men’s voices. I almost thought it was Elijah and Orlando till it hit me like the headache my hangover deserved. I wasn’t at home. I opened my eyes slowly because the pounding in my head made it impossible to do anything at a fast pace. I saw Nila across from me sitting on a sofa with her head in her hands.
“You look as good as I feel.” I commented as I
slowly eased myself into a sitting position. My head felt like it weighed
almost 15 stone and I didn’t feel like puking this morning.
She slowly raised her head and smiled at me,
“I’m painfully reminded why I serve alcohol and don’t drink it.”
I heard a chuckle behind me and couldn’t even
bring myself to turn around and see whom it was, “You haven’t been that drunk
in years boss.”
It sounded like Luke so I finally turned to
look at him. He was standing in the doorway to what appeared to be a kitchen
with another bloke who looked vaguely familiar “Doesn’t this cross some
employee/employer boundaries?” I asked.
Luke grinned and handed me a mug of what I
really hoped was strong coffee, “Don’t you see the resemblance?” He sat next to
Nila and put his face next to hers.
Nila weakly swatted his head away as the other
bloke came in to hand her a mug, “Luke doubles as my bouncer and my pain in the
arse baby brother.” She explained.
I nodded my understanding and looked at the
other chap, “And who are you? A distant cousin of some kind?”
He laughed, “I’m Brent. I went to Uni with
Nila.”
“Ah so you only hire family and old friends.”
She nodded, “They’re safer and easier to work
with I find.”
“Besides she needed an excuse to boss me
around.” Luke joked.
“You’ve about reached your quota for annoying
me today.” Nila’s voice held a warning tone but her eyes assumed a smile in
them.
“Which means it’s my cue to leave.” He laughed,
“Would you like a ride home Sophia?” He asked.
I shook my head; “I actually drove here last
night so I’m hoping my car will still be there.”
“We’ll check before we leave.” Brent assured me
with a smile. “Don’t do anything strenuous today ladies.” He added with a
smirk.
“Yeah, yeah we’re soddin’ idiots.” Nila
mumbled, “Both of you get out of my sight.”
I could hear them laughing as the door shut, “I
think I need to go home and face the music.”
“I guess you can’t avoid it can you?”
I shrugged, “I could try but it’d be a pain in
the arse.”
She stood up and walked me to the door, “Good
luck then Sophia.” She gave me a hug.
“You do realize that if I resolve my conflict
I’m going to force you to resolve yours.” I stated into her shoulder.
She laughed, “I expect it love.”
His car wasn’t in the drive when I reluctantly
returned to my flat. It was the state of the front room that made my heart drop
to my feet. It was clean. Not picked up his stuff was organized clean, but
immaculate his stuff was nowhere to be found clean. I stared open mouthed for
what seemed like forever then checked the loo and Orli’s room, yes Elijah was
officially gone. I could have cried if my brain wasn’t totally focusing on my
hangover.
The doorbell shook me out of my reverie. I
hoped and prayed that it was Elijah, but of course it wasn’t. Instead it was a
delivery chap of some kind. He held out a rose, my favourite rose, orange with
red tips. They were extremely difficult to come by. He smiled at me, “You must
be Sophia.”
“On most days.” I replied, “Why the rose?”
“I don’t know I’m just delivering it. It comes
with this card.” He showed me what was attached to the stem, a card with the
letter ‘I’ and an apostrophe.
“What the bloody hell does that mean?” I asked
as I accepted the flower.
He shrugged again, “I don’t know. See you
tomorrow Sophia.”
I waved, “Yeah” and shut the door. I sniffed
the rose and smiled, what are you up to hobbit boy?
The following week I threw myself into work,
Dave wasn’t kidding when he said he’d see me the next day. Dave, my own private
delivery boy apparently, by Friday I had half a dozen roses and I’m Sorr
spelled out above them in the kitchen. I had made every effort I could think of
to find Elijah but to no avail. Every time I showed up at his set they told me
he had gone home. When I called some of the lads for his whereabouts they
wouldn’t tell me. I was at my wits end by the time Friday night rolled around.
I was trying to make supper and not stare at
the beautiful roses that were decorating the island. A knock on the door
followed by someone entering my flat made me hope it was Elijah. Again it
wasn’t…
“Sophia love I need help.”
“I’ve been trying to tell you that for years Dom.”
He came into the kitchen and kissed my cheek,
“I’ll have what you’re having.” He indicated the food I was making.
“Of course you will.” I always made enough for
at least two because I never knew when Orli would just show up, or other
miscreant friends of his for that matter.
“You’re sore?” Dom asked indicating the message
taped up to my wall.
“I’m not the one who sent that so I’m assuming
who ever did will be ‘sorry’ tomorrow.” I said, “At least he better be after
making me wait this long.”
“He’s making sure you won’t hate him.”
“I’ve never hated him.”
“Good to know, now on to my problem.”
He would have continued if the phone hadn’t
rung, I held my hand up to answer it, “Hello?”
“Hi Sophia?”
I didn’t recognize the voice; it was female
though so right away my guard went up. Any female who rings that I don’t know
gets my suspicion, “This is, who are you?”
“My name is Rose Phillips.”
“Good for you Rose Phillips.” I repeated the
name hoping Dom could clue me in, but he looked just as confused as I was.
“I’m a friend of Orlando’s.” She continued.
I nodded, okay here it comes “Of course you
are.” I said sardonically.
She gave me an unexpected reaction, she
laughed. “He warned me about you.”
“He did, did he? I don’t know how you got this
number Rose, but I have the bobbies on speed dial so I’d advise not calling
again.” I was going to hang up when she laughed again.
This time she was laughing so hard she could
hardly speak, “He-he told m-me that…” She continued laughing. I should have
hung up but frankly this reaction wasn’t at all expected so colour me
intrigued.
“What did he tell you?” Dom was staring at me
I’m sure bursting at the seams wanting to know what the hell was going on. I
shrugged, hell if I knew.
She finally regained her composure, “Orlando
told me you’d say that, he did the voice and everything. I thought he was
insane. He also said that there’s no way you’d believe me so I should tell you
that he has your grandmother’s old vase in the top shelf of his closet. The
roses apparently will look smashing in that.” I almost fell over; I had to hold
onto the counter to support myself.
I finally got words together to make a
sentence, “Who the hell are you?” Fine I believed the woman. Who else would
know about grandma’s vase?
“Like I said I’m a friend of Orlando’s. He gave
me this number in case I ever needed to get hold of him. He’s changed his cell
number again and I’d like it.” She explained.
“O-uh-kay.” I agreed because I was completely
taken aback by this woman. Number one Orli NEVER gives out the flat number
unless he’s related to the person or trusts them with his life. If they do
manage to get past that bit he certainly doesn’t tell them about me, because he
knows that no one can get past me. This Rose character not only got the number
but he told her about me. Frankly she deserves his mobile number. I rattled it
off for her, “Now of course…” I started to say.
She cut me off, “Yes I know don’t tell anyone
not even my mother. Thank you Sophia I look forward to meeting you.”
“I um you too.” I managed to say, “Cheers.”
She chuckled, “I love this accent. Good bye.”
She hung up and I stared the phone in my hand.
“That was bloody surreal.” I said.
“Who the hell was that?” Dom finally spoke, I’m
surprised he didn’t interrupt me while I was talking but I think he was just as
mystified about this woman as I was.
“I have no fucking clue.” I shook my head,
“She’s American or something and obviously knows Orli.”
“Interesting. He hasn’t told me about any new
bird in his life.”
“Me either.”
“Weird. Anyway let’s get back to the problem at
hand.”
“Yes.” I agreed, “Lets, ground rules though. If
I tell you anything about Nila you have to tell me about Elijah. Deal?”
He shook my hand, “Deal.”
“You first.” I tried.
“Fuck off.” Oh
he’s going to make this bloody difficult is he?
“Fine. Nila really likes you.”
“How do you know?”
“Nope, first give me something on Lij.”
“He really likes you.”
I swatted him; I already bloody figured that out. “Fuck off! Give me something better than that!”
“Ow! Like what?” Dom asked, rubbing his arm.
“Like why did he move out?”
“Thought you needed some space to work your shit out.”
I got quiet and could imagine there was probably a pained look on my face. I didn’t think he’d been listening to me. “He said that?”
“Yeah, he said that. Now give me something. Why did Nila push me away?”
“She doesn’t think she can cope with your celebrity.”
“My..? Fuck, that’s infuriating. I wish I’d never made those damn movies.”
Yeah right, he wouldn’t change that experience for the world and I know that. “Don’t say that, you know it’s not true.”
Dom sighed heavily. “I know. It’s just, fuck, I don’t know.”
“I know. Your turn.” I needed more; I was hungry for information now.
“Lij thinks you’re easy to talk to.”
“He does?” Oh bollocks I’m not helping that now am I? “I guess my ignoring him didn’t work so well.”
“Guess not. You next.”
I thought for a moment how could I word this so he’d get it? “Nila doesn’t want you to let her push you away.” Yeah that’ll do.
“She doesn’t?”
“Hell no. She wouldn’t have drunk herself into oblivion last week if she did.” That came out before I could stop it but it got the proper reaction.
Dom looked at me in amazement. “She never drinks,” he said softly. I can see why Nila’s so hung up on this bloke.
“That’s what Luke said.”
“Fuck,” Dom muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Me next,” I said, going to the fridge for some beers.
“Okay, um… Lij thinks you have great lips.”
I had to stop and let that sink in; I touched my fingers to my lips. “Really?” Dom took the beers from me and cracked them open. I came to myself and tried to think of what to tell him next. “Uhh… Nila really likes your crooked smile.”
Dom gave me a crooked smile, she’s right it’s quite cute. “Cool.” We both took sips from our beers. “What else do you want to know?”
“Is he ever coming back?”
“Yes.” My heart stopped. I kind of knew that he was but to hear it confirmed.
“When?”
“Can’t say.”
“Can’t say or won’t say?” I could feel my face getting warm at just the idea of seeing him again.
“Both.”
“Fuck you.” Infuriating man Dom is.
Dom raised his bottle to me. “And you.” We sat in silence for a little while; both lost in our own thoughts. I was trying to figure out what he could be doing and what that had to do with the roses I had been accumulating all week.
“What should I do to not let her push me away?”
“Flowers seem to be working for me,” I said, indicating the five roses on my mantle.
“I don’t know what kind of flowers she likes.”
“Gerberas.”
“How do you know?”
“She has pictures of them all over her apartment.”
“I don’t want to steal Lij’s idea.”
Oh he’s slipping maybe I can get something out of him. “What is his idea?”
“I told you, I can’t say.” Damnit.
I tried giving him a stern look. “I think you’re getting more out of this than I am.”
“What’s your point?” Dom asked.
I stuck my tongue out at him. It was all I could think of to do. “Tell me I’m at least going to be won over.”
“Won over, overwhelmed, completely and utterly swept off your feet.”
My heart was beating somewhere in my throat. “You takin’ the piss outta me?” I demanded.
“Never.”
I eyed him suspiciously, if anyone would take the piss out at a crucial moment it would be Dom.
“Swear to god,” he said, holding up his hands.
I sighed, “Fine. I believe you.”
“So help me out here, Soph.”
“You really don’t have any other female friends, do you?” I asked as I took another swing of my beer.
“All the other ones can’t keep their hands off me long enough to do me any good.”
“Ha, ha,” I said and rolled my eyes.
“Don’t make me go to them, Soph,” he pleaded.
“Fine. How much money do you have?” He had been rather helpful; the least I could do is give him some guidance.
“I’m willing to spend everything I have aside from however much it will cost to get me to Italy for my film.”
That’s what I wanted to hear. Nila was going to get the surprise of her life and I was going to make sure of that. “Good. Here’s what I think you should do…”
The next day, Saturday, I spent all day at the
spa. My newest best friend had informed me that I would receive no more roses
until later that night. So based on this information I decided to get myself
ready to prove to this hobbit that age didn’t matter and I can handle
celebrity. I am related to a damn elf after all.
My heart was doing flip-flops and had been
doing so for the last hour when finally there was a soft knock at the front door.
I waited, sure enough the key turned in the lock and the door opened slowly. I
went into the front all and laughed. I couldn’t see him, because his face was
entirely covered by roses. Each rose had a card attached to its stem.
“Help.” Came a cry from beneath the rose bush
so I started taking the flowers from him. Finally all the cards were together
they said this: I’m sorry if I ever
hurt you. I never meant to patronize. Please forgive me. He watched me read
them as I pieced them together, “I would have said more but I didn’t have a
flat bed truck to carry them all.” He explained.
I looked up at him and smiled. I wasn’t going
to cry. I am hard-nosed Sophia Bloom I don’t get drawn in by romance and
sweetness. I really don’t. “I don’t know what to say.” I whispered. Then
noticed his face, “My god you’ve scratched yourself.”
He put a hand up to his cheek and grinned,
“Yeah well as beautiful as roses are they come with thorns.”
I stood up and put my fingers to the small
scratch on his cheek. Slowly I put my lips over the scratch and kissed it,
“I’ll only forgive you if you forgive me.” I whispered into his ear. Good lord
if this man doesn’t put his arms around me I’m going to hurt him.
His reaction was rather swift and completely
welcome he wrapped both arms around me and pulled me as close to him as humanly
possible, “Consider yourself forgiven.” He said against my mouth.
After a few moments of blissful euphoria he
pulled back and smiled at me, “So does this mean you’ll go out with me
tonight?”
I just stared at him for what seemed like
forever. Was this really happening? For a brief moment I remembered the first
time I’d met him. Then following time when he’d woken up on my sofa and…oh that
reminded me, “I have a question first.”
He tilted his head to the side, “What’s the
question?”
“Do you remember arriving at my flat with Dom?”
I asked.
He thought for a moment then got a rather sly
sexy smile on his face, “Oh you mean when you so gently fixed me after he
dropped me on the couch and I thanked you?”
I stared at him, “You remember that?”
He leaned in very close to my face, “I planned
that.” He said with a smile.
“I should be mad right now.” I said.
“But you aren’t?”
“Nope, rather impressed actually.”
“Good.” He kissed me quickly, “Now about going
out with me tonight.”
I kissed him back and then smiled, “I hear the
Kiwi is a brilliant bar.”
“Me too!” He laughed, “I also hear that the
owner of the Kiwi might have something to celebrate tonight.”
“You know…” I grinned, “she just might.”