He groaned, slowly rising once again to consciousness. He opened his eyes a crack, peering at the living room around him. All was quiet; everything where he had left it. The morning sun streamed in the front windows and he closed his eyes against the light, sighing heavily. Sleep�

The knock came again. Orlando kept his eyes shut, refusing to acknowledge it. If he ignored them maybe they would go away and leave him alone. But the person outside the door only knocked harder, and then a muffled voice came through: �Come on, Orli! You gonna leave us standing out here all morning?�

Orlando opened his eyes at Billy�s voice and frowned. Bloody hell. Surfing. He sat up and grimaced, putting a hand to his head as if to stop the dull throbbing in his skull. He boosted himself off the couch and made his way carefully to the door. He was surprised to find the door unlocked, but then he spotted his keys lying on the floor. He vaguely remembered Erin leaving last night; he must have forgotten to lock the door after her.

He swung the door open, squinting in the bright morning sunlight that immediately beamed into his face. He lifted an arm to try and shield his eyes and barely made out the grinning faces of Billy and Dom.

�Morning Sunshine,� Billy greeted cheerily, stepping past Orli and making himself at home. Dom followed and Orli shut the door behind them, still trying to blink the sun from his dazzled eyes.

�What the hell time is it?� Orlando croaked, not bothering to check his watch.

�Eight o�clock in the A. M. exactly,� Billy answered, a little too loudly.

Orli went back to the couch and fell onto it heavily, rubbing a hand over his face vigorously to try and wake himself up. �I said nine,� he groaned. �Nine in the A. M. ��

�We thought it�d be nice to grab some breakfast beforehand,� Dom said, settling himself in Orli�s armchair.

Orlando grunted and lay back on the couch, putting an arm over his face to keep out the light and closing his eyes again. �Well, you should know I always choose sleep over food.�

�Erin thought it was a good idea,� Billy piped.

Orli lifted his elbow from his face, sending Billy a doubtful sideways glance.

As if on cue another knock sounded at the door and Billy jumped up to answer it, grinning triumphantly at Orlando as he passed.

Orli sat up quickly as Billy opened the door, wiping his palms on his jeans and cursing his friends for not giving him more time to get ready before Erin saw him. He ran a hand through his hair and stood from the couch just as Erin stepped inside.

She greeted both Billy and Dom with a smile and nodded to Dom, who had also stood from the armchair to greet her. Her eyes turned next to Orli and he swallowed hard, smiling weakly and giving her a nod.

�Morning, Orlando,� she said with a knowing smile. �I see someone has just woken up.�

Orli shrugged sheepishly, sticking his hands in the pockets of his jeans � the same jeans he�d worn the night before. He opened his mouth to find some excuse, but Billy spoke again before he could say anything.

�He always chooses sleep over food,� Billy stated matter-of-factly, tossing a smirk in Orli�s direction.

Orlando shot Billy a glare. �Yeah, well��

�He obviously doesn�t handle his alcohol as well as I do, either!� Billy boasted, looking Orli over with mock disapproval and shaking his head. Orlando narrowed his eyes at his friend, shooting him a warning look. Billy was really asking for it this morning�

�I�m not so sure that�s something to be proud of, Mr. Boyd,� Erin commented slyly, but she turned back to Orlando as Billy looked to her in question. �Well?� she asked Orli. �Are you going to go like that or are you going to change first?�

Orlando started out of his daze and blinked, tearing his eyes away from her. �Oh, yeah,� he mumbled. �I�ll go get my stuff.� He hurried off toward his bedroom.

�Hurry, Bloom!� Billy called out after him. �I�m bloody hungry already!�

*

Twenty five minutes later they had arrived at the Turtle Caf�, and had all settled comfortably in a corner booth. An odd silence fell over them as they glanced at the menus and Orli cleared his throat to break it.

�So� where�s Elijah this morning?� he asked, looking to Billy and Dom purposefully.

Dom shrugged. �He�s still in bed, I guess. Wouldn�t answer his phone.�

Orli snorted. �Wish I would have been given such a choice,� he muttered.

Billy snickered. �Then you shouldn�ta told us to meet at your place! �Sides, coffee�s good for your hangover.� He winked and Orlando rolled his eyes, thankful for the waitress who appeared to take their order.

They made small talk as they waited for their food to come, though Dom and Erin dominated the conversation while Billy and Orli sipped their coffee and listened with interest. Dom and Erin discovered they both had older brothers, and they launched into sibling stories until the arrival of breakfast, in which case they hardly stopped talking long enough to eat their food before it got cold.

Orli found himself studying Dom and Erin as they talked, and he couldn�t help but feel a little jealous at the way Erin seemed so completely at ease with Dom. She acted nearly the same as she did when he had riding lessons with her, when they would go off on some common topic and talk about it for hours. Did she just get along well with everyone? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, scolding himself for even worrying about such a thing. Maybe Erin hadn�t shared her family stories with him, or told him she had a brother, but then he hadn�t told her about Samantha either.

He tried not to watch her; he tried to focus on his second cup of coffee. But her laugh kept making him look up. He couldn�t help smiling at way she flashed her teeth when she grinned; the way her ponytail showed off the shape of her face. She glanced over to him and caught him staring, and he looked back to his food quickly.

She stopped laughing long enough to breathe and leaned over the table to pat his hand. �What about you, Orli?� she asked. �You�ve been awfully quiet over there. You got any sisters or brothers?�

He looked up to her again, meeting her blue gaze, and forced a smile to his seemingly numb lips. �Yeah,� he answered slowly. �A younger sister, Samantha.� He smiled fondly in memory of the day he�d left for New Zealand, remembering the very long goodbye to his mother and sister. Samantha had been almost more excited than he had been at the news he�d gotten the part of Legolas, and she had insisted he call her at least once a week to give her updates on filming.

�Really?� Billy was saying, perking up at the mention of Samantha. �I�ve got a sister too! Margaret! I wonder if our sisters would get along?�

Orli shrugged, but a new conversation was opened, and as they waited for their check they debated whether or not all the siblings would get along well together, if they ever chanced to meet. It was decided, at last, that they probably wouldn�t get along very well together, although it was suggested that if Erin�s brother was only a little younger, they would try to set him up with Samantha. Orli, however, wouldn�t even entertain the idea, protesting only that Sam would never want to be set up with anyone, especially not someone her brother chose.

The discussion was brought to an end by the arrival of their change, and Erin spoke up before they could gather their things to leave. �Excuse me for a moment, boys, but I�ve got to run to the restroom before we head out.�

Dom slid out of the booth to let her up and she disappeared to the back of the caf�. There was a brief moment of silence, and as Dom resumed his seat he glanced to Billy, and then to Orlando. He cleared his throat. �So, Orli, mate� you seem pretty cozy with Erin�?�

Orlando frowned at his friend, wondering where that accusation could have come from. �Me?� has asked in disbelief, gesturing back to Dom, �You�re the one who�s been chatting her up all morning.�

Dom shook his head. �You know what I mean.�

Orli blinked. �I do?�

Dom sighed, leaning farther forward on the table, lowering his voice. �I mean what do you think of her?�

Orlando stared at Dom blankly for a moment; he hadn�t expected his friend to be so direct. He sat back in the booth, raising his eyebrows. �Oh� well. She�s a nice girl. But we�re just friends. Well, we�d be less than that if she�d have it her way.�

Dom cocked his head at the statement and even Billy looked to Orli quizzically. �What do you mean?� Dom asked.

Orli sighed heavily; remembering the way Erin had just been talking so readily with Dom and thinking back to last night when she had met them at the pub. She seemed more relaxed this morning� unless it was just that she found Dom�s company more entertaining. �She�s very� dedicated to the job,� he nearly growled. �Doesn�t exactly seem the type of girl to mix business with pleasure.�

Dom grunted, sitting back in his seat once more. �I don�t know about that,� he said. �You don�t exactly seem the type of guy to dabble in adultery either.�

Orli snapped his head up to look at Dom sharply. �Pardon?�

�Dom just wants to know where you stand with Erin,� Billy cut in quickly, stopping that thread of conversation before it could begin.

Orli eyed Dom for a moment longer, angry at his friend for saying such a thing when Dom had been the one being so friendly to Erin that morning. But Billy was right; this was not the time or the place to get into that discussion. �We work together,� he answered at last, though his voice still carried a bit of an edge. �She trains me, and I listen. We get along� but there�s nothing more to it.�

Dom raised his eyebrows doubtfully. �Nothing more?�

Orli shook his head. �Nothing.�

Dom cleared his throat. �Sooo� you wouldn�t mind if I� ?�

Orli frowned, knowing what Dom meant but not wanting to confirm it. He tried to ignore the small burn of possessiveness in his chest, but it seemed to choke his words as he spoke. �Mind if you what?� he asked. �Take her out or something?�

Dom nodded.

Orli shrugged, trying to convey an indifference that the nervous tapping of his foot did not agree with. �Why ask me? She�s the one that�ll have to deal with you.�

This time Dom shrugged. �I just thought I should check with you first, you know? I mean, the way you two were acting last night� I just wanted to be sure there was nothing between you.�

Orli stared at Dom. The way you two were acting last night� How had they been acting last night? Was there something between them? �No,� he croaked. �There�s nothing between us. Go ahead and take her out, if she�ll have you.� Why did that feel wrong? He forced a smile. �But I�d stay away from the pubs with her�� he tossed Dom a wink, turning back to his coffee and swallowing the last of it.

�Thanks, mate,� Dom replied, half sarcastically.

Orli nodded absently, staring at his empty coffee cup. He kept thinking of Dom, walking arm and arm with Erin, talking and laughing as they leisurely cruised the shops down in Courtenay Place. Why does that bother you? He demanded of himself. You have a girlfriend in London, you stupid git� a good girlfriend. She loves you and you love her� she�s going to come visit� Orli sighed, wishing she would come visit now. He desperately needed a distraction from Erin.

�So what are we talking about?� a cheerful voice suddenly asked, and Orlando startled, looking up to see Erin regarding them all expectantly. His mouth opened, but he could find no words.

�Sports,� Billy answered quickly.

Dom and Orli were quick to agree with him.

�Really?� Erin asked, looking as if she only half believed them.

�Yah,� Orli spoke up, �but now it�s time to get to the beach!�

The three boys scrambled from the booth, nearly running for the door and leaving Erin blinking with confusion in their wake.

*

Elijah was there waiting for them when they pulled up into the beach parking lot, and as the four of them filed out of Dom�s rental car Elijah crossed his arms.

�What�s this?� he asked playfully. �Did I miss something?�

Orli grinned up at Elijah as he pulled his duffel bag from the trunk. �Yah, Lij, you missed breakfast. Answer your phone next time.�

Elijah raised his eyebrows. �Ah. That was you all, huh?�

Dom nodded. �We only called about five times.�

Elijah raised his hands helplessly. �I turned the ringer off.� At Billy�s look he added quickly, �I didn�t think anyone important would be calling that early!�

�It was bloody early,� Orli muttered as Dom went to get his stuff from the back.

Dom just shook his head and rolled his eyes, giving up.

Orli shouldered his bag and looked over to Erin, who stood waiting with her much smaller bag. He gestured for her to come forward and she did so slowly, seemingly transformed back into the Erin that had first arrived at the pub last night.

�Lij, I want you to meet Erin Taylor. She�s my riding instructor for this film.�

Elijah stepped forward and accepted her hand, shaking it firmly. �Elijah Wood,� he formerly introduced himself. �Nice to meet you.�

�You too,� Erin replied. �Another hobbit, huh?�

Elijah grinned, giving a bow. �Frodo Baggins, at your service.� He tossed a look to Orlando as he straightened. �I guess it�s a good thing you came along today� elf-boy would have been sorely outnumbered.�

Orli punched Elijah in the shoulder. �Yah, well this elf-boy is going to kick your hobbit-arse at surfing!�

Elijah grunted in amusement. �This coming from the guy who�s had one lesson!�

Dom poked his head between Orli and Erin, interrupting Orli and Elijah�s banter. �Come on, you two,� he said, nodding toward the changing rooms, �shut up and let�s go!�

Orli nodded, but then glanced to Erin. She didn�t have her gear yet. �Do you want me to help you find a wetsuit?� he asked her, thinking she looked a little uncomfortable.

But she shook her head. �Orli� I� I think I like my idea of sitting on the beach reading a book��

�Errrriinn,� he whined, wishing she would get over this self-consciousness. �You promised!�

She bit her lip, looking down to her sandaled feet. �I know� but I�� she glanced over to Dom, Billy, and Elijah, who all watched her with some degree of disappointment on their features. She hesitated, looking back up to Orli�s frowning face. Damnit. She couldn�t let them all down� �All right,� she finally relented. �You guys go ahead� I�ll go get my stuff and catch up to you.�

Orli�s grin was brilliant.

�Take your time,� Dom added as she started off for the nearby surf shop. �We need to practice for awhile so we look good by the time you get back!�

Erin shook her head. �Then I�d have to be gone all week!�

She stifled her giggles at the looks on their faces and turned to run into the shop before they could make a return comment. At least she wouldn�t be the only one making a fool of herself out there� and spending the day with three good-looking guys in wetsuits wasn�t necessarily a bad thing�

Orli watched Erin duck into the surf shop and then turned back to his friends, only to find them still looking after Erin.

�She�s your riding instructor?� Elijah asked suddenly into the quiet.

�Yah,� Orli answered simply.

�And what type of riding is she instructing you in?� Elijah asked jokingly, but the communal stares he got from Dom, Billy, and Orli were enough to tell him fifty times over that his joke was not well received. He whistled lightly and turned away, heading quickly for the beach. What was their problem?

*

Erin emerged cautiously from the surf shop, dressed in a well-fitted wetsuit and carrying a battered surfboard under one arm. She shouldered her beach bag and headed down for the surf, spotting Orli, Dom, Billy and Elijah quite easily. They were the only ones there who didn�t seem to have a clue what they were doing, and yet she could hear them laughing even from where she stood. At least they were having fun.

Erin took a deep breath, convincing herself she was also going to have fun. This had to be more fun than staying at the house and reading, anyway�

�Whoa, two o�clock mate,� Dom whispered suddenly, and Orli blinked salt water from his eyes to see Erin heading down the beach toward them. He stopped paddling, amazed at how good she looked in a wetsuit. Her hair, still in its usual ponytail, swung back and forth with her uneven strides in the loose sand, and she held out one arm for balance as she slid down the small embankment to reach them.

As she came closer Orli remembered to paddle again, and quickly leaving Dom behind, he reached the shore just as she was setting down her bag next to theirs. He grabbed his board from the water and jogged over to her.

Erin looked up at the sound of someone approaching and was surprised to see Orlando heading her way, dressed in a black wetsuit and carrying a scuffed up yellow surfboard. She smiled at him as he came to a stop in front of her, immediately glad she had come along on this trip. It would be well worth any surfing embarrassment just to be able to spend the day staring at Orlando Bloom in a wetsuit. Maybe he did have the bad habit of smoking, and maybe he wasn�t the best horseback rider she�d ever taught� but she had to give him credit where credit was due� he had the looks of a Hollywood hottie. Too bad he would be covering them up with a wig and elf-makeup�

�You made it,� he was saying, and Erin shook herself from her thoughts.

She shrugged. �The guy at the shop was really helpful. Good thing he knew what he was talking about, because I sure as hell don�t know a thing about surfing!�

Orlando grinned. �Well you look great!�

Erin glanced up to him at the comment, feeling a blush grow hot across her face. She realized abruptly that he wasn�t the only one wearing a wetsuit� she moved her surfboard across her body self-consciously, hoping to hide as much of herself with it as she could. �Thanks,� she murmured awkwardly.

Orli saw her discomfort and grabbed her wrist suddenly, pulling her toward the water. �Come on,� he said, �I�ll show you the basics.�

�Oh right,� Erin replied, �because you�re the expert here, huh?�

He turned his head to look at her, his deep brown eyes full of life, a thick lock of dark hair dripping water from his forehead. He nodded once, his crooked smile revealing both dimples. �Of course I am.�

Erin rolled her eyes at his claim, though she couldn�t help but smile at his expression. She was only vaguely aware of his hand on the small of her back as he guided her down to the waves.

*

Dom sat down heavily next to Elijah and Billy in the sand and joined them in watching Erin and Orli still cavorting around in the sea. He smiled as he saw Orli pull Erin into a standing position on her surfboard, and then shook his head hopelessly as Erin lost her balance and pulled them both off the board all together. The two of them surfaced shortly, sputtering and laughing.

Dom sighed, turning to Billy. �Bill,� he said, �correct me if I missed something, but didn�t Orli say this morning that there was nothing between him and Erin?�

Billy nodded. �That�s what he said. Just friends, is all.�

Elijah looked to Billy at the statement, raising his eyebrows. �Really?� He looked back to Orli and Erin, raising his sunglasses and squinting against the setting sun. Orli was once again trying to assist Erin in standing on her surfboard; though this time he remained in the water and helped to balance her by gripping her arm.

Elijah put his sunglasses back on and turned to Dom. �That looks like more than �just friends� to me,� he said.

Dom nodded, focusing his attention back on Orli and Erin. �Well, in any event it�s not �nothing�.�

Billy shook his head. �Oh no. It�s definitely more than �nothing�.�

The three of them fell silent, going back to watching Erin�s futile attempts to balance on the board. The sun sank lower and lower into the ocean, but neither Orli nor Erin seemed to notice.

At last Elijah stood, stretching wearily. �Well, boys,� he sighed, �I�ve humiliated myself enough for one day. I�m going to change and go home. Tell Erin and Orli I said bye� if they ever come out of there.�

Dom looked up to his friend and smiled, tossing him a farewell salute. �If they want a ride home they�re going to have to come out of there!�

Elijah smiled, nodding. �Well, I�m out. See you guys tomorrow.�

Billy waved as Elijah started back for the changing rooms. �Bye, Lij.�

*

The ride back from the beach was fairly quiet, as all four of them were exhausted from their day of struggling with surfboards. Billy had fallen asleep in the front passenger seat, his head leaning somewhat uncomfortably against the window. Erin sat in the back with Orli, but she was looking outside and didn�t seem to notice Orli�s frequent glances in her direction.

Dom pulled up in front of Erin�s motel first and popped the trunk so she could get her things. She dragged her bag from the car and then tapped on Billy�s window, startling him awake. At his groggy, confused look she smiled and waved goodbye to him. He smiled back at her and rolled down his window.

�Thanks for taking me, guys,� she said, making eye contact with each one of them. �I had a lot of fun.� She grinned as she realized that was actually the truth. �Shall we do breakfast again tomorrow?�

Billy nodded eagerly and Dom seemed about to answer yes, but from the backseat Orli cleared his throat, and all three pairs of eyes turned toward him.

�Can we have breakfast at nine tomorrow instead of eight?� he asked innocently.

Dom let out a breath in mock irritation. �Oh for the love of it, Bloom,� he exclaimed, �what is your lazy arse going to do when it comes time for filming and you�ve got to be in make-up by five?�

Orlando leaned forward in his seat, sticking his head between Dom and Billy. �That�s my point, mate,� he said seriously. �We should be getting our sleep now, because God knows we won�t get any then!�

Erin shrugged. �Nine sounds good to me. I could use a little extra sleep after the beating I took today.�

�Nine at the Turtle Caf� then, eih?� Billy asked.

Erin nodded. �Yes. I�ll see you guys then. Night!� They returned her wave and as she turned toward her room Dom pulled away, heading in the direction of Orlando�s house next.

Orlando watched Erin�s motel grow smaller and smaller, until he couldn�t turn his neck any further, and then he faced the front again, sighing happily. He could only hope tomorrow would be as fun.

�Hey, Orli?� Dom asked suddenly into the quiet.

�Mmm?�

�What�s up with you and Erin?�

Orlando blinked, taken off guard by the question, and sat up in his seat. �What?�

Dom shrugged. �I mean, I thought you said you didn�t mind if I took Erin out or something?�

Orli frowned, not understanding what that had to do with Dom�s first question. �I don�t mind,� he said slowly, but the thought of Erin going anywhere without him wasn�t appealing.

�Then what happened today?� Dom asked. �Did you two even realize the rest of us were there?�

Orlando sat in silence for a moment, trying to think of some excuse to counter Dom�s accusation. But he realized he had pretty much ignored his friends, focusing all his attention on Erin instead. The thought made him uncomfortable and he shifted uneasily in the seat. He glanced to Billy and then to Dom.

�Sorry,� he said quietly, not knowing what else to say.

Dom looked at him through the rearview mirror. �Hey, it happens� but if you really like her so much you should tell me so I know where I stand in all this.�

�And maybe you should tell your girlfriend too,� Billy said over his shoulder.

Orlando sighed, turning to look out the window at the New Zealand twilight. Why were they being like this? Why did they have to make it sound like such a big deal? �I told you we�re just friends,� Orli spoke up at last. �Even if I wanted to be more than that, and even if I didn�t have a girlfriend,� he added, tossing a look to Billy, �she�d never go out with me. She�s my instructor, and it�s in the contract anyway. She�s not one to break the rules.�

�And you are?� Billy asked, turning in his seat to give Orlando a knowing look.

Orli met his eyes. �I only bend the rules� I don�t break them.�

Billy snorted, turning to the front again. �Oh yes, forgive me� I forgot bungee jumping doesn�t fall into the category of dangerous activities��

Orli opened his mouth to argue that any activity could be considered potentially dangerous, but Dom spoke before he could.

�The point is,� Dom said firmly, obviously trying to interrupt, �I�m just trying to get everything straightened out here.�

Orli sat back in his seat, turning to look out the window again. �Do whatever you want, mate,� he said, his voice sounding far less troubled than he felt inside. �But just keep in mind the rules might apply to you as well.�

�Still though,� Billy said, �no harm in trying.�

Orlando raised his eyebrows. �No. No harm in trying I suppose.�

�As long as you�re sure�?� Dom asked, still not sounding quite convinced of Orli�s assurances.

�I�m sure,� Orli said, managing a small smile.

�Just remember you said that,� Dom replied, but Orlando didn�t answer.

He looked back to the colorful houses of Seatoun fading quietly into the night and hoped he hadn�t just made a big mistake.

***

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