Chasing After You
12. Unexpected Twists
Tonight, I dedicate my heart to you
Tonight, I'm gonna be a part of you
Tonight, you're gonna know how much I miss you
And I miss you so
�You did WHAT?� Liberty demanded, staring at Billy like she�d never seen him before. He was now wearing some of Dom�s clothes as the three of them headed to the set. Billy had just told Liberty the entire story.
�Come on, Libs,� Dom chuckled, �You�re not angry, are you?�
�Of course I�m not angry,� Liberty assured them, �It�s just that�well�what if she finds out it was you? Won�t your good rapport with Raya be ruined?�
Billy laughed fondly, patting her absently on the head like a small child, �No, no, dear Libetts. Not to worry.� He tapped the side of his nose and jumped from the still moving car.
Liberty sighed in exasperation and Dom gave her a sympathetic look as they both got out of the car once it was parked in Dom�s allotted space.
Seconds later they heard shrieking. Billy squeaked and hid behind Liberty just as a very muddy, and very angry, Anaka stalked up to them. �DOMINIC! I am SO glad to see you! You will not BELIEVE what I have been though this morning!� She threw some mud onto the ground and screamed.
Dom went directly into actor-mode, determined not to let laughter give them all away. �My GOD, Anaka! What happened?�
�He�s a bit over dramatic sometimes,� Billy whispered in Liberty�s ear. She swatted him playfully and he crouched down lower behind her. �Might want to tell him to play it down a tad more.�
�Shut up, Billy,� Liberty hissed out of the corner of her mouth. �You should probably get up, you know, she�ll figure something�s up if you�re hiding on her.�
�Not likely. I imagine she gets hid on rather often, being the Wicked Witch of the West.� But he stood up beside her anyway and faced his fait like a man.
Anaka was telling Dom, loudly, what had occurred only an hour before, ��AND THEN I called Raya but she and Orlando were having sex, so she wouldn�t talk to me! My BEST FRIEND didn�t have time for me! This place is the WORST, I�m telling you. I just booked myself on the first flight I could get out of this stupid, bloody forest.�
�It�s not really a forest. More of a piece of land,� Billy commented lightly, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Anaka glared at him in a not-so-sweet fashion.
A smile quirked the corner of Liberty�s lips but she pushed it down and said in her most soothing voice, �That�s really awful, Anaka. Is there anything I can do to help you?�
�Yes, as a matter of fact,� she said briskly, turning her death glare away from a cowering Billy. �You can lend me your boyfriend for an hour so he can help me pack and then drive me to the airport. I don�t suppose that is too much to ask, after all I�ve done for you?�
�What?� Liberty questioned, sounding surprised rather than angry, �What exactly have you done for me?�
�I let you have Dominic, of course,� Anaka answered as if this were very obvious.
Liberty�s mouth dropped open, but Billy pulled her away to the other side of Dom�s car. Dom, however, stepped towards Anaka looked livid, �You LET her have me, did you?�
She turned her doe-eyes on Dom and pouted out her bottom lip. This usually had quite an effect on males, but not when her perfect blond hair was caked in mud and her clothes were soaked in brown gunk. �Didn�t I step aside so you two could be together?�
�Hardly,� Liberty snorted, and Billy took her hand and dragged her off to the set, away from Dom and Anaka.
�Come on, Anaka,� Dom stated, his voice chipped, �You�ve got a lot of packing to do.�
*
After Anaka and Dom had set off to Orlando�s, Billy immediately phoned his cell, which Orlando picked up after only one ring.
�Orlando, here.�
�You sound chipper,� Billy remarked, �I guess Anaka was right when she said you and Raya were---�
Orlando cut him off, �We were running lines.�
�Of course,� Billy said, �Listen. Anaka is in a right state. She�s made Dom take her to your place so she can pack and leave. Would you tell Raya for me? I know she�ll want to see her off.�
Orlando cupped the phone in his hand and turned to Raya, who was driving, and told her what was going on. Raya nodded without saying anything.
Billy hung up quickly after and turned to Liberty, who was looking slightly apprehensive. �Is Raya all right, do you think?�
�Yes, I believe Raya will be fine. After she�s had her revenge.� The odd glint in Billy�s eyes made Liberty really nervous.
*
An hour later, the group was all congregated at the airport to see Anaka off. All of them were in good moods, knowing they�d never have to see her again. Raya, however, was about to lose her cool.
Raya, usually completely immaculate and controlled, looked shakily at the composed girl in front of her. Anaka surveyed her mildly, pushing some hair out of her eyes. �I let you use my French hairspray, you red bottomed minx!" She brushed some curly hair from her face in anger and Orlando put a hand on the small of her back.
Billy leaned over to Elijah and whispered, "She used French hairspray and red bottomed minx in the same sentence." He sounded very impressed.
�What is this �red bottomed minx� crap?� Elijah questioned, watching as Anaka and Raya had a stare-off.
�Elijah,� Billy tutted, �so unskilled in forms of British insultery.�
�Insultery isn�t even a word,� Elijah countered, looking agitated.
Liv leaned over towards them, �What DOES it mean, anyway?� She looked at Sean, but he shrugged.
Orlando glanced over, �It's a...nicer phrasing of what you would call a �player� or even a �whore�.�
�Or lady of the night. I've always liked that phrase,� Dom mused, slipping his arm around Liberty�s waist and ignoring Anaka�s steely glare.
Liberty was watching Anaka and Raya with apt attention, �Scarlet woman,� she said.
Dom nodded appreciatively, �Ah, good one.�
Raya�s eyes were a bit misty when everyone turned their attention back to her. She stepped stonily towards Anaka, who was clutching her makeup case with shaking fingers, half expecting to be struck. Raya put her long arms around Anaka�s slim form in a very robotic hug and then stepped away, dabbing at her eyes. Orlando led her from the airport.
�What the bloody hell just happened here?� Liberty asked, staring around looking confused.
�You�re using our vocabulary!� Billy yelled jovially, hugging her.
�I believe Raya has just, as they say, �come to terms� with Anaka�s red bottom minx-ish�ness. I also think most of it was put on for her benefit�as well as ours. Every once in a while, it�s nice to see Raya has emotions.�
�That�s not fair, Dom,� Liberty chastised, having been released from Billy. �Raya has emotions and feelings just like everyone else.�
Elijah was ignoring them, �I think Liberty was wondering if they were fighting or making up?� Liberty nodded to affirm this.
Liv shrugged. Billy sighed heavily and dramatically, waving his hands around flamboyantly, �If the woman don�t know what happened, then who will?�
*
Dom and Liberty were laying on his sofa watching a film an hour later, when Liberty decided it was now or never. She had held it in for long enough, she needed to know where she stood. She had slept with Dom and she knew she loved him, but she needed to know how he felt about her and if she was as important to him as he was to her.
�Dom,� Liberty whispered, pulling away from him and sitting Indian style on the other side of the couch.
�What is it?� He asked, looking suddenly alarmed.
�I just need to, ah, talk to you. I need to sort some things out.�
Dom relaxed against the couch, a slow smile spreading across his lips, �I figured this was coming at some point.�
�If you don�t want to be with me, that�s completely fine,� Liberty said, biting her bottom lip apprehensively. Dom stared at her as if she had lost her mind completely. �I�ll understand, Dom, you just have to be straight with me.�
�Straight up now tell me do you really wanna love me forevaaaaaaaaaa---� Dom cleared his throat when he saw the look on her face, and became abruptly serious, �Sorry. Paula Abdoul moment.�
Tears started building behind Liberty�s eyes, she could feel them pushing their way out; she swallowed hard, trying to make them go away. Dom frowned when he saw one fall slowly down her cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb and then cupped her face with his hands.
Liberty�s lips were trembling when he finally spoke in a low voice so only she could hear, �I am completely, utterly, madly in love with you. You know that�I just haven�t had the balls to say it.� Dom smiled when he saw her shoulders shake in a quiet laugh, �I do want to be with you, you�re the only one that I want.�
�You�re the one that I want, you are the one, oh oooh ooooh oooooh honey.� Liberty broke out laughing, tears falling down freely; not being held back any longer. She stopped laughing and smiled brightly at him, �Sorry. �Grease� moment.�
�Good movie,� Dom commented, nodding in approval. He put his lips to hers for a second and then pulled back, �So I guess you forgive me, then.� He looked very hopeful, but sure of the answer at the same time.
Liberty sighed and smiled, �I suppose so. On one condition.�
�I never sing again?� Dom replied cheekily.
�No,� she chuckled, �If we can rent Grease tonight and watch it together.�
�OOOOOooooooh,� Dom joked, �Tough choice, there.� He pretended to think for a moment making very dramatic thinking motions (tap on the head, scratch of the chin, etc), �Yeah, why the hell not.�
�You have to sing along,� Liberty stated, an eyebrow raised.
�As long as I don�t have to sing �Hopelessly Devoted to You,� it�s all set.�
�Ahhhh, Dom,� Liberty whined, �That�s the best song! You have to sing it!�
�Can I sing it as her? With an overly dramatic and girly voice?�
�And lots of gesticulations?� Liberty asked, her eyes lighting up.
�Naturally,� Dom replied, grinning largely.
�Deal,� she said, nodding stoutly.
�Deal,� Dom repeated, still smiling as he leaned in for another kiss. He stood up and took a few steps back so that the area around him was clear. He put his arms out at his sides and dipped his head back, then looked at her, �I�m hoplesssssssssllllllyyyyyyyyy devoooooottttted toooooooo yooooooooooooooooooooooooooooou.�
�So, so cliché,� Liberty laughed, clapping for him as he bowed, �But very good just the same.�
Dom smiled, �It helps when you mean what you�re singing.�
�Ah, so that�s the secret,� she teased.
�That�s the secret,� Dom affirmed, kissing her again.
Liberty gulped, scared to say the words that had been on her lips forever, but knowing that if she didn�t, she�d regret it more, �You know I�m in love with you, too.�
The biggest grin she had ever seen on him spread across his lips; his whole face seemed to be smiling, �I know.�
*
A little bit later, Dom and Liberty joined everyone else at Orlando and Raya�s house; they had all received a call from Orlando saying it would be imperative to show up and if they didn�t then they�d be blacklisted. Everyone was there: Billy, Viggo and Henry, Sean and Christine, Liv and other numerous cast and crew members.
�So there�s a teeny tiny announcement we have to make, before everyone gets really pissed drunk and I have to call a bunch of cabs,� Orlando said, the room quieting.
�We�re engaged!� Raya exclaimed, flashing a rather large diamond engagement ring which looked perfect on her slender fingers and seemed to go wonderfully with her sheik, black outfit. Orlando pulled her to him, kissing her.
Billy squealed, "Weddings? I love weddings! Drinks all around!� He held his drink up, toasting them and beaming.
While Liberty and Dom were busy congratulating the happy couple, the rest of the group stood off in the distance watching as Billy sidled up to Elijah.
"So, Lij, what about being a new age couple? Seems like everyone's pairing up doesn't it?"
Elijah seemed rather tense suddenly, �Billy....I love you man, but... not that way.�
Billy sniffed, looking falsely teary, �But I�ve been so good to you!�
Viggo patted Elijah on the back, �Oh come on, Elijah, give him a chance.�
Elijah paled considerably and whined, �Why can't he just go to a gay club and pick up a random bloke? Why must it be ME?!�
Crying, Billy replied, �Because I want yoooooooooooooooou!�
Viggo nodded in agreement, �Besides, he'll never find a more womanly man than you, Elijah.� Elijah glared at him.
�GUYS,� Orlando yelled over at them, �You're ruining my romantic moment.�
�We�re good at that,� Billy explained, nodding towards Liberty and Dom, who were huddled together away from the others, �We ruined many a romantic time for them, if I recall.�
�Didn�t seem to dissuade them, though, did you?� Orlando questioned, glancing at them.
�No, well, that was never our intention,� Billy said.
�What WAS your intention?� Sean questioned, hugging Raya as he had just congratulated her.
Billy thought about this for a moment, everyone was now looking at him, �Hmm, you know, Vig, I have no idea. Maybe I just like getting involved in everybody�s love lives. Because I don�t have one myself.� He shot a mournful look at Elijah. �Perhaps if a certain hobbit would have an open mind---�
Elijah did the only thing he could think of to get Billy to be quiet. He kissed him. �How�s that for an open mind?� he asked, looking victorious and swigging down some of his drink.
Billy gawked at him, wiping his mouth with his sleeve with a horrified look on his face, �I�ve been violated! HELP! CALL THE POLICE!�
�God, Billy, it�s not like he raped you or anything,� Dom said, shaking his head while holding back laughter.
Billy�s eyes widened so far that Liberty was afraid they�d pop from his head. Suddenly, he was fleeing from the room hollering at the top of his lungs.
�What�s that he�s saying?� Liv asked, straining to hear as Billy ran around the house. The room became quiet.
Everyone could see his silhouette, bathed in moonlight, as he slipped and slid on the wet grass. His voice was carrying through the open windows, strong and ominous, �I�ll get you back, Wood! You just wait!�
The End.
[Song used: �Tonight� by Westlife; album: �Greatest Hits: Volume 1�]