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Post by pottypirate on Oct 16, 2006 10:18:20 GMT -5
Amazing as usual ;D
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Post by thankful24 on Oct 16, 2006 17:43:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the LOVELY commments guys! they mean alot to me! Keep them coming i love to know what ya'll think! (Three Weeks Later, Christmas Eve, London) Keira stood in front of the window that looked out across her front yard, arms crossed over her chest. The darkness was lit by the strands of twinkling white lights hidden in the shrubs and hanging from the edges of the roof in the form of electric icicles, the cement walkway lit by the lamps that ran along the edges. Behind her, her friends and family laughed and talked, but Keira stared out the window, her brain on overdrive. It was getting harder to pretend like everything was okay. Every day, every hour, every minute, brought the deadline closer, and with it the possibility that her world, the one she’d just rebuilt, would come crashing down upon her head once more. Orlando sat across the room, watching Keira’s profile. He knew something was bothering her, but if he asked, which he’d done countless times already, she’d smile and say it was nothing, just like she always did, because Keira didn’t talk about things that bothered her. He was about to get up and go to her, but stopped when he saw her mother had beat him to it. So instead he sat and waited his turn. “Why the sad face, baby?” Sharman asked, tucking Keira’s hair behind her ear. “Nothing Mum. Just a little tired I guess,” Keira responded, hearing the little voice in her head tell her she was going to hell for lying to her mother. “Nothing, huh. Well if this is the face of nothing I’d hate to see when something was really bothering you. You sure you don’t want to think about it and get back to me?” Sharman asked her daughter again and Keira sighed. “I’m just scared,” Keira said, looking down at her feet. “Scared of what, love’?” Keira looked up to meet her mother’s eyes, a sad smile spread across her lips. “Of everything. My life was pretty close to perfect last year and it all fell apart. I just don’t want that to happen again. I know I’m just being stupid and girly and I have nothing to worry about, but I’ve been really… I don’t know… girly, lately,” Keira said. “We all have those days, sweetheart. The key is to not let them get to you. Look around you, Keira. You have a lot to be happy about,” Shar said, taking Keira’s hand and giving it a little squeeze. “I know, Mum,” Keira said, turning her head towards the filled living room. The first person her eyes locked on was Orlando. She felt the beginnings of a real smile tug at the corners of her mouth, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Sharman. “Go on over to him, baby. If you need to talk, you find me later.” “Thanks Mum. Love you,” Keira said, wrapping her arms around her mother before crossing the living room to where Orlando sat. Sharman watched Orlando reach up and take Keira’s hand, a worried expression in his eyes, and Keira sat on her knees in front of him, resting her arms on his shoulders. With a smile of her own, her eyes stayed on Keira as she leaned in and placed a soft kiss to Orlando’s lips, then let her forehead rest against his. Orlando’s hands were resting low on Keira’s back, and though Sharman could see his lips moving, she knew his words were spoken only loud enough for Keira to hear. “Is everything okay?” Sharman turned her head just enough to see her husband out of the corner of her eye before turning her attention back to her daughter and the man she loved. “Everything’s just fine,” she said as Orlando pulled Keira on his lap and Keira laid her head on his shoulder. “Just fine.” ~*~ It didn’t snow in London for Christmas, it rained… and sometimes hard. And while the thought of a wet Christmas instead of a white one bummed him out a little, the fact that down the hall slept one of the most beautiful creatures to ever grace his existence more than made up for it. Orlando turned over on his side and watched as the rain pelted the window and slid down the pane. The Christmas lights Keira’s brother had strung for her weeks before cast a muted illumination through the glass, catching the drops as they fell and making a spotted pattern on the wall. Orlando chuckled to himself, hearing the argument in his head Keira and Will had had before going to bed. “We have to leave them on all night, Dad! It’s Christmas!!”
“Keira, Love, those damn things will shine right in the windows and keep everyone up. You can’t leave them on all night.”
“But it’s Christmas! Don’t make me turn off my pretty lights on my very first Christmas in my own house.”And that had done it. Pouting is an art, and Keira had it down to a science. How could anyone, a father especially, refuse a sweet answer like that? Obviously not Will Knightley, because those white lights still sparkled bright against the pouring rain outside. From behind him, the door creaked on it’s hinges as it was pushed open slowly, and Orlando smiled as a widening rectangle of yellow light spilled across the carpet and up onto the foot of the bed. He knew exactly who it was. “You know, Santa doesn’t come unless all the good little girls are in bed fast asleep,” he said, his back still to the door. He heard her sigh and felt the mattress sag under her weight before turning around to face her, biting his bottom lip to keep from smiling wider at the site of her; hair tangled from tossing and turning, the strap of her tank top hanging off one shoulder, pajama pants wrinkled, and only one sock on. But something about her expression worried him and his smile stopped growing. “Everything okay, Keir?” Her answer came in the form of another sigh and she lifted the blankets to slide in next to him, all without saying a word. He didn’t stop her, and although he wanted to question her behavior, something told him an interrogation wasn’t what she needed right now. So instead he let her get situated with her head resting on his chest, an arm around his waist. Smoothing her hair down, he pressed his lips against the top of her head, holding himself in just that position for a beat or two before laying his head back against the pillows. With his fingers sliding through the strands of her darker locks, her breathing skittering over his bare chest, he whispered, “I love you.” “Love you too, Orlando,” she whispered back, and for a second he thought he heard tears choking her voice. “God, I love you…”The tone she used sent a chill to his heart and he held her closer, wanting more than anything for her to talk to him. He contemplated just asking her again, but it was Keira’s way to become distant if backed into a corner, and his words died in his throat. Instead, he kept his hold on her tiny body, pressed another kiss to her hair, and silently telegraphed to her how much she meant to him. And after a few minutes the two of them fell asleep with nothing more than the rain spattering against the windows and their deep, even breathing providing their soundtrack. ~*~ Hours later, with the pale gray light of an overcast, early morning sky, Orlando woke with Keira no longer next to him. Blinking his bleary, sleepy-crusty eyes, he pushed the blankets back and swung his eyes over the side of the bed, hesitating before he stood, letting the cobwebs clear before standing and descending the stairs… and finding where Keira had disappeared to. Stationed in front of the same widow she’d looked out the night before she sat with one leg tucked underneath her, in a painted wooden rocking chair, a faded green fleece blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Wisps of hair that fell from her hastily tied-up ponytail framed her face, almost hiding her eyes, which were unusually bright and clear, despite the fact that it was barely 6:30. Using her other foot, she gently pushed herself in a slow, rhythmic pattern. Orlando cleared his throat to alert her of his presence so not to scare and she turned toward him briefly before starring back out the window, lifting her blanket-wrapped arm to point outside. "Look…” she voiced quietly, almost in a whisper, and Orlando stood behind her, pressing a kiss to her tousled hair before aiming his gaze in the same direction as Keira’s. “It’s snowing, Or.” Sure enough, sometime while they slept, the rain had turned to a light snow and a thin layer of white already covered the front lawn. He felt her reach up and take his hand, her tiny palm warm and soft in his, and a quite moment passed with the two of them as they watched the snow silently fall outside. And as he held her hand, thoughts of Christmases past flashed in his mind. Those days had been all about waking up early to rush downstairs and get lost in a flurry of flying paper, with new toys to test out while his parents sat smothering yawns on the couch amid the noise of whatever plastic plaything he’d “needed” that year. But this year it was different. This year, unlike all the others, the silence was better than any gift he could ever receive, because this year… he got to spend Christmas with Keira. Smiling as her thumb began to trace lazy circles across the back of his hand, he gave Keira’s shoulder a light squeeze with his free hand. “I thought you said it would never snow on Christmas,” he teased, and he heard her soft chuckle in response. “You must have brought it with you,” she said. And though he had no reason whatsoever to think about how she’d crawled in beside him hours ago, the expression in her eyes before they’d fallen asleep came rushing back, and he let go of her hand to kneel in front of the rocker. Eyes locked on hers, hands on the armrests, he said, “Keira, is there something I should know?” She bit her bottom lip and hesitated before shaking her head in a silent ‘no’, but her answer did little reassure him. Reaching a hand up to fit the curve of her cheek, he made sure her eyes were on his. “Are you sure? You’ve been acting a little strange lately.” "I’m positive, Orlando. I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately. I’m fine,” she said, closing her eyes as she tilted her head into the palm of him hand. “Positive?” “Cross my heart,” she whispered, turning her head to place a soft kiss to the inside of his palm. His trepidation slowly eased from his body, and though it was not gone completely, it was enough to let the topic go. “Merry Christmas, Or.” With a smile, Orlando pulled Keira from the chair, blanket and all, and held her in his arms, laying his cheek on the top of her head. “Merry Christmas, Keir.” From his advantage point on the stairs, Caleb Knightley watched his sister and Orlando. Last year, when Orlando left her, he’d been one of the few she let help her pick up the pieces of her shattered heart, and it killed him to see the person she became because of it. And for some reason, he had the distinct feeling that the smiling, happy girl she’d turned back into wasn’t around to stay. The pair separated and Keira stood on tip-toe to kiss Orlando before turning around and catching sight of her brother on the stairs. With a warm smile, she dropped the blanket on the chair and met him in the middle of the living room, wrapping him in a tight hug. “Merry Christmas, Caleb,” she said into his shoulder. “You too, Keira. Mum up yet?” He asked, releasing his sister. “Nope, just us. What are you doing up? Excited to see what Santa left?” She asked with a giggle. “Now I would have thought you two would’ve given up crawling out of bed at the first light of dawn when you were little,” Sharman teased, making her way down the stairs with Will behind her. “No way, mum! You’re never too old for presents! Speaking of which….” Keira said, eyeing the pile of gifts under the large tree in the corner of the room. “Oh Lord, Keira! You’ll never change,” Sharman laughed, and her comment made Orlando smile. “It’s snowing!” Keira exclaimed, abandoning her previous thoughts of brightly wrapped presents. “Well, would you look at that…” Will said, standing next to his wife at the window. “Looks we got ourselves a Christmas miracle,” Caleb joked, but at his words, Orlando let his eyes wander to Keira, taking in the joyous look brushed across her features, and he knew that standing next to him was a miracle of his very own.
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Post by missendicott on Oct 16, 2006 19:23:19 GMT -5
Aww! The last sentence was so sweet! This is wonderful!
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Post by Lola on Oct 16, 2006 21:07:40 GMT -5
So sweet!!!... I loved it!! ;D
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Post by venus567 on Oct 16, 2006 22:35:59 GMT -5
so beautiful! ;D
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Post by pottypirate on Oct 17, 2006 11:18:49 GMT -5
absolutly lovely ;D
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Post by *Syd* on Oct 17, 2006 18:52:20 GMT -5
that was amazing
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Post by designerdenimx3 on Oct 18, 2006 19:14:11 GMT -5
Aww! That was amazing! I love this story!!
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Post by thankful24 on Oct 21, 2006 12:18:18 GMT -5
ya'll are amazing! keep the comments coming- i love to hear what you think! Here's the next update!
(One month, 2 weeks later; February, London)
“I don’t know about this one either… The color is all wrong for you,” came the voice of the stylist from hell.
Standing on the pedestal, her ankles beginning to ache, Keira blew a fallen lock of hair out of her eyes on a frustrated growl, aiming her gaze to the ceiling. For three hours so far, she’d been parading back and forth between the dressing rooms and the stool she stood on now, trying on dress after dress, and her nerves were pretty close to shot.
From across the room, Orlando sat, bottle of spring water in hand, watching as Keira’s eyes darkened in frustration. Not that he could blame her. She’d tried on more dresses than he could count, dresses that he knew she wouldn’t be caught dead in, and somehow managed to keep her temper in check. For how much longer, though, he wasn’t sure.
“Go ahead and take that off, Sweetie. Marta will bring the next one out,” Clarissa said, nodding to the clerk that stood awaiting her every command.
Keira bit down hard on her bottom lip to keep from screaming, practically tasting the blood beneath her teeth. She didn’t want to try on any more dresses with itchy crinoline, or shoes that had five inch heals, and she didn’t want to stand around and have people stare at her while she wore something she would never wear. And these people were acting like she was attending a Royal wedding, not a simple awards show.
“Keira, Sweetie, did you hear me? Marta has another dress for you to try on,” Clarissa said.
“Yes, I heard you. Uh, listen… could we maybe take a break?” Keira asked, willing herself not to shout.
“We’re on a tight schedule here, Sweetie. You need to have a dress all picked out before you leave the city for your flight tonight. That doesn’t leave us much time,” Clarissa said, her fake saccharine smile plastered on her heavily made-up face.
Keira pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. Count to ten, Keir. Breathe and just count to ten…
“Now come on, Sweetie. We have to hurry.”
Orlando looked back and forth between Keira and the stylist. Keira was near the breaking point, and though she was generally a laid back, sweet girl by nature, when she went off, she went off, and he highly doubted this chick wanted to be on the receiving end of Keira’s temper.
He cleared his throat and both women looked his way. “Can I have a second alone with her, please?” He asked, and the hired woman frowned.
“We really don’t have time…”
“Oh, for the love of God-“ Keira started, throwing her hands up in the air.
“I just need a minute. Thanks,” Orlando said, holding his hand up to shush Keira. With one last glare his way, Clarissa huffed, then turned and left the room. When she was gone, he turned to Keira.
“Keira, you have to calm down, lov-“
“Oh not you, too! Jesus Orlando, I really don’t need this right now. Not from her, not from her assistant, and especially not from you!” She said, stepping down from the platform.
“Hang on a minute, Keira. I’m not-“
“No, you hang on a minute! I don’t want to be here right now, Orlando. For the last three hours, I’ve stood on that damn pedestal and worn sh*t that would make my mother blush in embarrassment and disown me. I’ve heard mumbled comments about my weight, my ‘body type’,” she said, making quotes in the air with her fingers, “my complexion, and all that other crap that I could care less about. I’ve worn shoes that cramped my feet, gave me blisters just from looking at them, and probably cost more money than the income of a small third world country, and for what? One stupid night where I have to dress up to impress people who probably don’t even like me?! People who refuse to take my career seriously?! I don’t even want to go, Orlando and if we weren’t the stars of the movie, I’d skip the whole damn thing!” she said, yanking the expensive dress over her head. She tossed it away, watching as it flew through the air and slid across the shiny, polished marble floor. She reached to grab her clothing lying over the back of an equally expensive chair, tugging on her jeans and yanking her tee shirt over her head. But as she sat on the floor to put her shoes on, the anger faded away, and she burst into tears.
Stunned, Orlando watched her cry into her hands for a beat before hurrying to her side, sitting on the floor next to her. He pulled her into his lap, and Keira let her head fall to his shoulder, her tears continuing to flow. Rocking her slowly, Orlando held her close, not saying a word.
She cried for a few minutes before sniffling and wiping her eyes, crawling out of his lap and standing to pace the room in bare feet. Keira pushed her hair back, the wetness of her tears transferring from her hands to her hair, and bit her bottom lip. “God, what is wrong with me anymore? When the hell did I turn into such a mess…” she whispered, a hand to her forehead.
Her question wasn’t meant to have an answer, although Orlando was thinking the same thing. Ever since Christmas she’d been different, withdrawn and distant and so unlike herself, but he didn’t know how to approach her about whatever was bothering her. Truth be told, he honestly didn’t expect her to tell him anyway. But seeing her like this, pushed to the point of breaking, made his heart break for her, and he didn’t know what to do to make it better.
Orlando stood up and crossed the room to where she stood, no longer walking the same path over and over. He cupped her face in his hands and stared into her hazel eyes, eyes that were almost drowning in tears. “Keira… you have to help me out here, love. I need to know what’s going on,” he said, his tone soft.
She grabbed onto his wrists and looked down, her forehead barely touching his. “I don’t know what’s going on. I just… I don’t know,” she whispered, new tears slipping past her already wet lashes.
“It’s gotta be something, Keir. It’s not like you to freak out like this-" but his sentence was cut off by Keira pushing his hands away roughing and storming over to the other side of the room.
“So what if it’s not like me, Orlando! God damn it! Just once I’d like to get emotional and not have everyone jump down my throat about it! I’m sorry I don’t know what’s bothering me, but can’t you just let it go?” She said, half yelling.
“Keira, I just want to help-“
“Yeah I know, Orlando. Everyone wants to help poor little Keira. Poor backwards Keira. I’m sick of people helping, Orlando! I’m so sick of it all I could throw up! All I want is for people to leave me alone! So if you want to help me, just leave me the hell alone!”
Before he could say anything to stop her, she snatched up her shoes and pushed her way out the doors. They slammed behind her, and Orlando heard Clarissa and Marta yelling to Keira, the slam of another door, then all was quiet.
And “sh*t,” was the most intelligent thing he could think to say as he grabbed his jacket and went after her.
*~*~*~*~*~*
He knew she’d go back to the flat. Instead of following her, Orlando wandered around the city for a few hours, passing through block after block with his hands in his pockets, head down against the cold, and trying desperately to forget the words she’d said.
“She was just upset. It has nothing to do with you,” was the mantra he repeated over and over with each step he took.
For two hours he walked aimlessly toward a non-existent destination before he finally returned to his apartment. He approached the door of the suite, his steps all but stopping he walked so slow, and when he reached the door he procrastinated, listening for movement on the other side. When there was nothing, he slid the key in the lock slot and opened the door, surprised to find it dark.
He stood just inside the threshold, hesitating before reaching out to snap on the lamp he knew was by the door. The room instantly flooded with light, but revealed nothing more than the furnishings decorating the space. Worry crept up on him and he pulled out his cell phone to dial her number, but stopped right after the exchange when a sliver of light cast across the darkened hallway caught his eye. Dropping the phone on a table he slid off his jacket, draping it over the back of the chair before taking slow steps toward the bedroom.
The bathroom door was opened just a crack and the sound of the shower running met his ears. He continued at the same cautious pace, the light from the other side highlighting the outline of the door. Trails of steam escaped through the small opening and with his palm flat against the wooden panel, he gently pushed it open all the way. And what he saw broke his heart.
Steam hung in the air, enveloping the room in a thick moisture-induced fog created by the hot water that rushed through the showerhead. And in the middle of the haze, sitting on the floor, back against the fogged glass encasing the shower stall, her trembling body swathed only in a towel, Keira, with her damp hair plastered to her head and neck, sat with her arms wrapped around her pulled-up legs, her forehead to her knees as she cried her heart out. She was shaking with every sob she expelled, every breath she took… and it killed him.
His footsteps sounded on the tiled floor and she looked up, her wet, red eyes meeting his. Her sob choked off, her eyes following every move he made as he reached into the shower stall to turn off the water, soaking his sleeve in the process, then as he squatted down in from of her. With a touch as light as a whisper he cupped the side of her face, his fingers tangling in the ends of the humidity-dampened hair affixed to her skin in sticky curls. “Keira…” was all he said, his voice so soft it was barely audible.
The sound of her name from his lips brought on fresh tears that slipped down her cheeks, meeting Orlando’s hand on her cheek as one slid back behind her head and pulled her close, his other arm wound around her lower back. “Keira, baby, talk to me. You’re really starting to scare me here, sweetheart. I need to know what’s wrong,” he said, feeling her body tremble in his arms. But she said nothing.
“Keira. Please, love. Tell me what’s going on,” Orlando begged, tightening his grip on her as his heart tightened in his chest. And then his tears started.
“I c-can’t,” she said between broken sobs, and she felt Orlando’s tears drip onto her already damp shoulder.
“Tell me what to do, Keira,” ORlando whispered earnestly, wanting so very desperately to make her tears stop, to make her herself again. “Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” His lips were close to her ear, brushing her skin as he spoke.
Her crying slowly tapered off, and she turned her face into his neck, fisting the material of his shirt in her sweaty palms, answering in a whisper thick with tears, “Just hold me.”
With both of them crying softly, Orlando letting go of her only enough to stand, he pulled himself and Keira up. With one arm still around her waist, the other behind her knees, he swept her off the floor to carry her to the bedroom. Orlando laid her down on the bed and crawled in beside her, holding her body flush against his. Moisture still beaded on her skin, her hair was still damp, and the wetness slowly seeped into his clothing though he was far from caring. All he focused on was what Keira asked of him.
He just held her.
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Post by Lola on Oct 21, 2006 14:28:13 GMT -5
Ahhh Wonderfull chapter!!... it gave me goosebumps, it´s incredibly well written... BtW: i need to know what´s wrong with Keira!, it almost breaks my heart, luckily Orlando is there to help her...
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Post by venus567 on Oct 21, 2006 15:58:51 GMT -5
beautiful yet sad!
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Post by missendicott on Oct 21, 2006 16:00:57 GMT -5
I feel like crying too! Sad, but still a wonderful chapter!
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Post by designerdenimx3 on Oct 22, 2006 17:09:25 GMT -5
that was amazing!!
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Post by thankful24 on Oct 26, 2006 19:24:20 GMT -5
Update Time! Orlando watched as Keira adjusted the top of her strapless shirt, something she’d been doing ever since she changed into the outfit she wore now. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the frustrated look painted across her features, but when she looked up to meet his eyes, brows furrowed together, he bit his lip to stop the laugh. “What do you find so funny?” She asked, a slight growl in her words. “Not a thing, sweetheart,” he said, unable to keep the slightly amused tone from entering his voice. “Yeeeeah, and I’m the queen of England,” she replied, and Orlando couldn’t hold in his laughter anymore. “So sorry, your majesty,” he said, leaning over the seat to place a kiss to her temple. “I just have one question, Keir. Are making sure they’re still in there, or are you having problems with your top?” She slapped his shoulder playfully and, still laughing, Orlando leaned back as far as he could against the door of the limo. “Shut up! I know they’re still there, smart-ass. I’m just making sure they don’t come out to say hullo to everyone!” She said, pouting in a way that only she could and still look adorable. Still chuckling, Orlando slid back over to her, and wrapped am arm around her bare shoulders, pressing his lips to her cheek. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, breathing the clean scent of his cologne as the warmth of his hand on her pant-clad leg radiated through the light material. The rest of the ride was silent. ~*~ The flickering of flashbulbs greeted them at the entrance to the party. This time it was Keira who stepped out first, smoothing down the nonexistent wrinkles in the black pants. Her hands rose to adjust her top but stopped when she noticed Orlando trying to contain his laughter. She turned around the glare at him, mouthing the words “Shut it”, and he laughed full out while she tried to control her own smile, which Orlando saw. He reached for her hand, causing the reporters to go into a picture-taking frenzy, and the two of them walked into the party, stepping over to the bar to grab a drink each before making the rounds of the star-packed room. Keira’s back was to Orlando as he ordered their drinks, her eyes drinking in her surroundings. Dim lighting, bars on either side, DJ on an elevated platform, French doors opening to patio… and people everywhere. It was like a typical club scene, but this was no typical club. This was an premire and A-list celebrities were everywhere. She’d made a promise to herself that morning that she would forget about what lay ahead of them and just have a good time. Tomorrow was tomorrow. Right now, they had tonight, and she didn’t want to ruin it with thoughts of what the morning would bring when they were both shuttled off to different cities. And they wouldn’t be together for over a month. And even then it was only for two days…. No! You are not thinking about this right now! Not tonight! She silently scolded herself. But as hard as she tried to push them away, the thoughts lingered. A floating glass of red liquid appeared in front of her eyes to block her starring, and Keira looked over her shoulder at Orlando as she took the glass. “Thanks, “ she said, lifting the glass to her lips. In one sip, she emptied half of what was in the expensive piece of crystal while Orlando looked on with wide eyes. With a half smile aimed his way, she slugged back the rest, squeezing her eyes shut as she swallowed, then turned around to place the empty glass on the bar, signaling to the bartender for another one. With glass number two in her hand, she turned back to Orlando, who still stared at her with the same wide-eyed expression on his face. “Keira, love, don’t you think you should slow down?” He asked, his own glass nowhere near being empty. “I’ll be fine,” she said, slugging back the second glass in one sip. In seconds she had a third and was grabbing hold of his arm. “Come on. We have mingling to do.” Three hours later, after they’d been pulled off in separate directions by different people, Keira sat in a corner talking with a few “industry” people while Orlando watched from across the room with Johnny and Jack at his side. They’d popped in a few minutes before and found him almost immediately, his second drink of the night sitting on the table in front of him gathering condensation around the outer layer. From where he sat he watched her tip her head back and laugh at whatever was said, her fifth glass of wine clutched delicately in her small hand. He could see even from as far away as he was that her eyes were beginning to glaze over just the slightest bit, and he couldn’t help but worry that she was drinking more than she should. Johnny noticed Orlando’s expression and followed his line of sight to Keira. He leaned over to whisper something to Jack, and with a quick touch to Orlando’s arm, he made his way through the crowd of people to Keira. A few feet before she reached reaching the younger girl, Keira looked up, her chocolate eyes brightening instantly when they fell on her friend. “It’s Mister Johnny Depp!!” Keira exclaimed, abandoning her previous conversation, and companions, to embrace Johnny. Her slightly intoxicated state brought out her accent even more, and Johnny couldn’t help but chuckle at the sound. “Good to see you too, Keira. How are things?” Johnny asked. Keira’s expression immediately darkened, and for a second, Johnny wished he hadn’t asked. He watched Keira swirl the liquid around the glass in her hand and stare at it a minute before she spoke. “Things are things, I guess. Could be better, could be worse,” she said. Her saddened expression stayed for less than a minute before her eyes lit up once more and she turned to Johnny. “How’s the girlfriend?” “Good, really good.” The two friends settled into an easy conversation, catching up on each other’s lives during the last six months. Not more than ten minutes later, Keira felt a hand graze her upper arm, and she turned around to find herself face to face with a pair of very clear, very blue eyes. “That film was great,” the eyes, attached to none other than Rupert Friend, said. “Rupert, Thank you, and I’m glad to see you came! This is my good friend Johnny.” she said. Johnny rolled his eyes, hoping Keira didn’t notice. She didn’t. “We’ve met.” He nodded to Rupert who currently wore a smug grin on his face. “Well I hate to steal you away from your conversation, but how about a dance?” Rupert asked, holding his hand out to her. Keira looked back at Johnny, who shrugged her shoulders, then back to Rupert. Knocking back the rest of the glass’s contents and handing the empty container to Johnny, she held her hand out to the man in front if her. “Sounds good,” she said. As Keira walked away and over to the dance floor, Johnny didn’t even have to look at Orlando to know what his expression would be. And when he did turn her head towards him a second later, his thoughts had been dead on. Questioning eyes fixed on his girlfriend, his posture straight and tense, Orlando watched the two of them dance. Johnny could see him fighting for control, willing every fiber of his being not to step in and yank them apart. When his eyes flickered to Johnny, he gave him a shake of his head, silently letting him know that it was nothing. And as he saw him relax… he hoped he was right. ~*~*~*~ One hour. That was the last time he’d seen her since she’d disappeared with Rupert. As well as he knew her, and as much as he trusted her, Orlando couldn’t squash the nagging feeling of doubt in the pit of his stomach. Draining the rest of his glass he let it fall to the table with a hollowed echo. Tonight was supposed to be their night, but instead of spending it together, they were in different parts of the building… with different people that weren’t each other. With a heavy sigh, Orlando stood and looked toward Johnny. “I think I’m going to get some air,” he said, slipping his hands in his pockets. “Are you okay?” Johnny asked, reaching out to place his hand to pat his back. A sad, almost regretful smile pasted on his lips, Orlando nodded. “I just need to step outside for a minute,” he said. He knew he was lying, but Johnny didn’t challenge him. Instead he smiled back and watched him walk away through the open French doors. ~*~*~*~*~*~ She stood in the doorway watching him. His jacket had long since been shed, the sleeves of his black dress shirt pushed up to his elbows, the top two buttons of his shirt undone. He paced the stone-finished terrace slowly, head down, the soles of his formal shoes reverberating a soft click with each step he took. A full moon above cut through the breaks in the tree branches, allowing a select few beams to shine down onto his curls and cause them to shine. The soft light played shadows across his face, but lit his features enough for her to see that he was struggling with something, and she had a pretty good idea what it was that plagued his mind. “Hey handsome.” At the soft-spoken words Orlando looked up, seeing Keira standing backlit by the lights of the party behind her. Pale silver and soft gold battled each other for the privilege to illuminate her for him to see, compromising on the moonlight catching the jade of her eyes while the light from the room behind played on the highlights in her hair. “Hey.” “You’re out here alone?” She asked, embracing herself to ward off the slight chill in the air as she stepped toward him, her footsteps making a similar sound to his as her heals hit the terrace. “I needed air,” he said, watching as she reached out to clasp his hand. “Is that the only reason?” she asked, following his line of sight to their fingers entwined together. The sigh he gave in response was enough of an answer for her and as she looked up into his tired eyes she felt guilty for leaving him alone as long as she had. And when he let go of her hand to turn his back to her, she knew her guilt was well-placed. “Was there a reason you disappeared, Keira?” he asked, his voice soft as she stood staring at his back. “Not the reason you think,” she said stepping up to lay a warm hand on his shoulder. He didn’t answer, and after a minute she grew apprehensive. “Or…” She stopped. The sound of her unsure voice had him reaching up to put his hand over hers, closing his fingers around it as he turned around. “This is our last night together,” he said, a hint of tears in his voice. “I know…” she said in a soft whisper, eyes cast downward. “Keir…” he started, but she cut him off by looking up into his eyes and placing her index finger to his lips. “Let’s just go back to the hotel,” she said. Not a word was uttered by either of them as he nodded his head and she slowly let her finger slid away. Hand in hand they walked back towards the party and when they got to the door, Orlando pulled her back, wrapping his arms around her tightly before kissing her, tasting the lingering flavor of red wine on her lips. When he let her go he walked ahead of her into the room, grabbed his jacket and her purse and together they made their way to the waiting limo. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Shadows clung to the walls of the quiet room. The curtains had been left open and the moonlight mingled with the outside lights allowing the soft brightness to spill through the glass of the windows and fall on Keira’s suitcases lined up along the wall beside the door. Neither of them said a word as Orlando opened the door to let them in. It was the first thing both of them saw, those damn suitcases. They stood there, almost in mocking, a silent reminder that when the sun rose there would be nothing left to do but say good-bye and let the passage of a month go by before they saw one another. He walked ahead of her and Keira slouched back against the closed door, watching as he shed his jacket. Just as she had done earlier, she admired the way the moonlight caught the chocolate-brown curls, the sharp line of his jaw, the way the suit pants clung to his hips. Almost as if he felt her eyes on his, Orlando turned around to face her, a soft, sad smile on his lips. She stayed silent, keeping her eyes locked on his as he crossed the few feet that separated them. When he reached her, Orlando brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek and her eyes fell closed. She felt him slide his hand back into her hair and the touch of his lips over hers followed soon after. Arching her back against the door to push herself away from the wood, Keira leaned into him, raising her arms to wrap around his neck and kissing him back. She felt the blood pounding by her temples, heard the roaring of her heart as it swelled and broke at the same time. And she held onto him for dear life. Their kisses changed from slow to hurried, gentle to forceful. Where before every kiss from him had held more sweetness than she’d ever known, his kisses now were fevered, almost as if he felt he had to get as many in now as he could. And while her body responded physically, her mind and her heart screamed that this was wrong. But as his free fingers found the zipper on the back of her pants, all logic flew out the window and her own fingers zeroed in on the buttons of his shirt as he walked them over to the bed. With the zipper now down all the way, the material slid down her legs into a pool of black at her feet. The buttons on Orlando’s shirt were completely undone and she pushed it off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor, snaking her hands around his neck again. His kisses moved from her lips to her neck, and Keira felt tiny little goose bumps start at the top of her spine and prickle downward. His fingers slid under the bottom of her top, gently stroking a small circular motion across her skin for a couple seconds before grasping the bottom hem and pulling the stretchy shirt over her head, letting it fall from his hand to the floor beside his shirt. “Tell me to stop and I will,” he breathed into her neck as he continued to kiss a trail downward, across her collarbone and up the other side. Her fingers were in his hair, eyes half-open, and she sucked in a ragged breath. “Even if I wanted to I couldn’t,” she answered in a throaty whisper. Orlando pulled away from her just a bit, enough to be eye to eye with her, and Keira’s fingers threaded through the curls at the base of his neck, her eyes darting back and forth to look into both of his eyes. “I don’t want you to stop,” she said softly. Pushing aside a lock of her dark hair, Orlando pressed his lips to her forehead gently, his haste of earlier forgotten as that kiss turned to one of her left eye, then her right, the tip of her nose, one cheek then the next. “Even if I wanted to I couldn’t,” he whispered back to her before finally capturing her lips with his and laying her back on the bed. ~*~
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Post by Lola on Oct 26, 2006 21:17:49 GMT -5
Great update!!!! ;D
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Post by designerdenimx3 on Oct 26, 2006 21:26:04 GMT -5
loved it! When i saw that Rupert and Keira were dancing i thought that Orlando was going to do something, i was surprised that he didn't. Great job! Update soon!
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Post by venus567 on Oct 26, 2006 22:12:01 GMT -5
awesome update! ;D
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Post by pottypirate on Oct 27, 2006 10:20:24 GMT -5
amazing update ;D
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Post by missendicott on Oct 28, 2006 19:50:55 GMT -5
That was wonderful! Why does Rupert exist?
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Post by thankful24 on Nov 10, 2006 20:55:03 GMT -5
Wrapped in Orlando’s arms while he slept on peacefully behind her, Keira stared at the wall in front of her, trying not to tremble and wake him. She kept her tears quiet, the only evidence of them at all being the tiny wet circle that formed under her cheek on the pillowcase. On the night stand next to the bed they lay in, the hands on the clock read 3 am in the dim light. Biting her bottom lip, Keira slowly lifted Orlando’s arm from her waist, holding it up as she slid off the bed. She grabbed her clothing off the floor and walked into the bathroom, glancing over her shoulder at Orlando sleeping soundly. Closing the door before flipping on the light, Keira blinked from the sudden brightness then pulled on her rumpled pants, her top following suit. And when she was all dressed, she looked up at her reflection in the mirror, hating herself for knowing what she was about to do. With a trembling pen in hand I try the best I can To write all the reasons I can’t stay…She washed her face, grabbed her toothbrush and ran it through her mouth quickly, and pulled a brush through her hair before collecting whatever she’d left in the bathroom, then extinguished the light before she opened the door again. Quickly stuffing the few items in her hand into her carry-on bag, she pulled a piece of paper out of the notebook she carried with her, sitting at the table in the suite while she looked through the doorway at Orlando’s sleeping form, resting now on his back with an arm above his head. She bit down on her bottom lip once again, this time harder as she brought her shaking hand clutching the purple-inked pen to the top of the paper. Scribbling a quick note, she folded the paper in half once, then crept on silent feet back into the bedroom, propping the note against the lamp on Orlando's side of the bed. She kissed his lips softly, more gently than the wings of a butterfly, and turned to leave the room before she lost her nerve. A note of things I should have said Lays beside his sleeping head As I turn and make my way off in the night…She turned around once after she’d gotten all her suitcases into the hallway. Her hand grasped the wooden frame of the door, bracing her body weight against it, wishing she hadn’t looked back, and whispered good-bye. Keira stepped out of the room into the hallway, where a bellboy was waiting to help her with her bags. By the time the mornings breaking My heart will still be aching Every time I think of what I left behind…“Are you okay, Miss Knightley?” Keira turned to her companion the elevator, a sad, half-smile on her lips as a tear inched its way down her cheek. “No… I don’t think I am,” she said and turned her eyes back to the doors in front of her. Cause I don’t want to see me leaving in his eyes And I can’t stand to watch him watch me make him cry And I don’t know the right way I can do him wrong So I don’t want to be here in the morning When he wakes up and finds me gone…She stepped out into the darkness of the early morning through the clear glass doors of the hotel. Slinging the carry-on duffel bag onto her shoulder, arms over her chest, she willed herself not to cry on the sidewalk while people walked past her. Her cab pulled up to the curb, and while the bellhop put her two suitcases into the trunk of the car, Keira climbed inside, letting the duffel rest on her legs. She propped one elbow on the top of the bag, her fingers finding their way into her mouth, and her teeth clamped down on her nails. It hurts to know how much he’ll hurt I’ve told myself things could be worse And I’ve convinced myself he’s better off this way By the time he finds I’m gone, I’ll be a long, long way from home When he reads the note of things I couldn’t say...“Where to Miss?” The driver asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. With one last look upward toward the window of the room she’d shared with him only minutes ago, the room where he slept blissfully unaware that things wouldn’t look so good in the morning, she blinked back tears and answered the cabby in a hoarse whisper, “Teddington, please.” The driver turned around and pulled away from the curb, away from the hotel… and away from Orlando. Cause I don’t want to see me leaving in his eyes And I can’t stand to watch him watch me make him cry And I don’t know the right way I can do him wrong So I don’t want to be here in the morning When he wakes up and finds me gone…~*~ Hazy morning light seeped in between the heavy curtains and the ticking of the clock in the kitchen was the only sound in the quiet house… until the chiming of the doorbell broke the peaceful silence. Rubbing her tired blue eyes, padding down the hallway towards the stairs in socked feet, Ashlee yawned. Eyes half open, she reached the front door and flipped the locks, pulling open the panel of wood to see a very disheveled and nearly hysterical Keira, dressed in the premire party outfit Ashlee had helped her to pick out with an obviously too large sweatshirt of Orlando’s covering the top half of her body. Her hair was in disarray, strands slipping out of the low ponytail at the base of her neck and she was carrying a suitcase, two more on the porch behind her while a taxi drove off down the street. Her sleepiness was forgotten as she reached for her best friend, pulling her closer in a protective hug, leaving the front door wide open. Keira dropped the suitcase in her hand and it landed with a thud as she wrapped her arms around Jessica and sobbed deeply, her entire body shaking. Ashlee didn't say a word; she just let Keira cry. They stood in the doorway just like that for a few more minutes and Brian watched from the stairway, wondering what was going on. Ashlee caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye, letting him know with the look she gave him that she had no idea why Keira was standing on their doorstep at 7:30 in the morning, sobbing like her heart was broken. Again. He descended the rest of the stairs and stood next to the two women, smoothing Keira's hair down on the back of her head with the touch of a protective brother. He aimed a concerned look at his wife over the top of Keira's head. "I'm going to go make some coffee," he whispered, kissing Keira's dark, tangled locks. Ashlee nodded and Keira pulled herself out of the embrace, wiping the heal of her hand across her tear-soaked eyes and Ashlee closed the door. She reached out and tucked a fallen wisp of hair behind Keira's ear. "What happened, Keir?" Keira sniffled and locked eyes with Ashlee, the usually clear and bright maple now dull and swimming in tears. "I left him, Ash." Her voice was choked and whisper-soft and for a second Ashlee wasn't sure she'd heard Keira right. "I'm sorry, you what?" With new tears spilling over her already swollen eyelids, Keira bit her bottom lip, trying in vain not to cry again. "I left him. This morning. I-I got up, a-and I l-left him. Oh, God, Ashlee, I left Orlando. And he d-doesn't even kn-know." The realization that she'd done to him exactly what he'd done to her hit her like a ton of bricks and her legs gave up beneath her, causing her to collapse to the floor, crying into her hands. Ashlee dropped down next to her, taking Keira in her arms and rocking back and forth with her. Tears formed in her own eyes as she held her emotional best friend. Brian re-entered the foyer, stopping in the doorway at the sight of the two women on the floor in tears. He froze in place, not knowing what to do, but wanting more than anything to do something to make it better. Seeing Ashlee cry was bad enough, but seeing Keira in so much pain was like seeing his baby sister hurting and that just about killed him. From Keira's broken words he managed to hear enough to tell him that something had happened between her and Orlando… and that this time it was she who'd started the process. And the last thing he heard before she stopped speaking just to cry was, "I left and he doesn't even know..." ~*~ Orlando rolled over, eyes closed, reaching an arm out to touch Keira. Instead of the soft, warm feeling of her skin his touch was met with the stiff coolness of the sheets. His eyes opened and he searched the room with his vision, figuring she was in the bathroom or looking out the window. When there was no sign of her, he sat up... ...and noticed that the suitcases she'd packed were gone. Hoping she'd just placed them in the hallway, Orlando pushed the blankets back and stood from the bed, grabbing his tee shirt to slip on over his boxers and headed towards the bathroom. Pushing the half-closed door open, he peaked his head inside, finding the dark room empty. Beginning to panic, he returned to the bed and grabbed his cell phone to dial her number with shaking hands. Holding the tiny device to his ear, he waited to hear her voice but was instead met with a recording: "The person you wish to call has call intercept. Please state your name and reason for calling and your party will be rung and informed of you desired call… *beep*" He pulled the phone away from his head to look at it before hanging up and trying the call again. And again he was greeted with the same recording. Orlando waited for the beep and took a deep, shaky breath, then proceeded to speak. "Keir, baby, it's me. Where are you? Please take this call, Keira. I'm a little worried." Orlando waited for the call to connect and his heart stopped in his chest when he was greeted with the recording once again, "I'm sorry, the subscriber does not wish to accept your call at this time. Please try again later." He snapped the phone shut and let it fall to the bed, suddenly feeling sick to his stomach. When he’d gone to sleep the night before he’d thought things were settled, at least enough that whatever fears she’d had plaguing her lately were gone. Having her back in his life the past six months a dream come true, but now the reality of the situation was beginning to set in. And things that didn’t seem so important when they’d occurred now seemed blatantly clear. Their exchange before going inside the theater… "Keira… before we go in there… I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you look," he said, taking her other hand as well and bringing them both to his lips. "And how proud I am of you."
Swallowing hard, commanding herself not to cry in front of all these people, Keira bit her bottom lip, looking at her hands in his. "Remember you said that, okay," she whispered.The way he’d found her that night in the bathroom… “Keira. Please, love. Tell me what’s going on,” Orlando begged, tightening his grip on her as his heart tightened in his chest. And then his tears started.
“I c-can’t,” she said between broken sobs, and she felt Orlando’s tears drip onto her already damp shoulder.Orlando pushed a shaking hand back through his sleep-tangled hair, looking around the empty room hoping she’d materialize out of thin air and none of this would be happening. When his eyes fell on the folded piece of paper propped against the lamp with his name scrawled across the front in her familiar handwriting, a glimmer of hope had his stomach jumping as he crossed the room in three long strides, snatching the paper so fast it emanated a crack that echoed though the room. He unfolded the paper, seeing where the still-wet purple ink smeared slightly when the paper had pressed together. His hope soon turned to a heavy dread, one that sat in the pit of his stomach and made him feel on the verge of vomiting as her words rang through his head, in the sound of her voice. Orlando,
I’m so sorry but I just can’t do this. We tried the long distance thing, we failed miserably at the long distance thing and I don’t want to have to go through all that again. Please don’t hate me for not being as strong as you, for not being as sure as you. And please don’t think this is because I don’t love you.
I just have to walk away…
~KeiraThe paper in his hand fluttered to the floor and all he could do was stare at the white wall in front of him, feeling a tiny crack start across his heart and work its way down, breaking it in two. And suddenly… he knew how she felt. On a morning almost a year ago, Keira had woken, maybe reached out to feel him next to her just as he had. Maybe she'd looked around the hotel room for him, maybe tried to call him. And the same realization hit her that slammed full force into him now. She was gone. ~*~ The small room was warm from the sun’s rays streaming through the freshly washed glass of the windows, but Keira, twisted in the blankets on the bed in Ashlee’s guest room, felt cold and empty. They’d made her lay down, insisting that what she needed was sleep but Keira wasn’t stupid. She knew exactly what they were thinking; she’s fall asleep, wake up after a few hours and have this sudden epiphany about how wrong she’d been and run back to Orlando. It wasn’t going to happen; she knew, and she knew Ashlee and Brian did too, but she dragged herself up the stairs and buried herself underneath the blankets, breathing in the scent of fabric softener, just to pacify them. And she found herself feeling a little bit safer. After three hours of tossing and turning she gave up and stared at the ceiling, laying flat on her back. By now he’d woken up, probably looked for her, and most likely found her cowardly way of saying goodbye. Tears stung her eyes, knowing she hurt him, knowing exactly how he most likely felt right then… because on a morning almost a year ago, she felt it too. Mumbling, half asleep, she breathed in the scent of him as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. His fingers slid through her hair slowly, the soothing touch aiding in making her eyes heavier. She mumbled again, something incoherent, but the softness of the tone let him know that she was content, that she felt safe. It wasn’t long before she lost the struggle to stay awake, and when he was sure she was sleeping soundly enough, he made his exit.~*~*~*~ “Where the hell could she be?” Orlando questioned, staring out the window at the brightness of the sunlight. He sighed and let the drapes fall back across the window and turned to his two companions sitting on the couch in the suite. “I don’t know, Orlando. Who have you tried calling so far?” Johnny asked, watching Orlando pace the room. From his place next to him, Jack also watched Orlando wear a track in the carpet. Orlando had called them not long after he’d found her note and they’d been trying to help him figure out where she could have gone. Orlando pushed his fingers back through his sleep-tangled curls and expelled a long sigh. “The list would be shorter if you ask who I didn’t call. I’ve called everyone; her mother, Caleb, Ashlee, Lindsey, Jessica, Cassie. I tracked down Gore, Paula, Makenzie, you two… I even called my mother. No one’s seen her. Or if they have… they’re not telling me,” Orlando said, his voice teetering on emotional. “Orlando, you know Keira. She’d never hurt you intentionally,” Jack said, watching Orlando stop pacing. The two men locked eyes, and Jack could see Orlando was trying so very hard to keep himself from crying. “No one ever thought I would hurt her either.” ~*~*~*~ It was still early, she knew that much from the gray shadows that clung to the walls and furniture. Sighing deeply she turned toward the center of the bed, laying on her stomach, her eyes struggling to open through her sleepy state. Pushing her torso up, bracing her body weight on her bent elbows, she saw through hazy vision she was alone in bed… and Orlando was no where in sight.Clear as day she remembered waking up that morning; the feeling of apprehension before even opening her eyes, but not knowing why, the feeling of hope that he’d be back any minute. Most of all, she remembered the feeling of being numb, of not really feeling anything until much later when the full impact of him being gone hit her. More than anything she wished that numbness would consume her again. Keira turned on her side, tucking her palm between the pillow and her cheek as she stared out the window, wondering how the outside world could function as if nothing were wrong when her world was crumbling at her feet. Her vision blurred again with hot, stinging tears that she swatted away with an angry hand. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, she silently lectured. It’s better this way.But the fact that it was better did little to quiet her tears as they continued to fall, each silent drop representing another stab of regret she felt deep in her heart. She looked so innocent, sweet but unknowingly sexy at the same time, sleeping wrapped amid the blankets, her hair fanned out across the pillow with a few strands laying delicately over her cheek. Move, he commanded himself. Walk away.
With every ounce of strength he possessed, he left the quietness of the hotel room that had been filled with whispered promises only hours before. Promises he was never going to keep, that he never had any intention of keeping when he’d made them. Closing the door behind him, shutting away the sound of her soft breathing, he shoved his hands deep into his pockets and began walking toward the elevators. Halfway down the hall, he pivoted, walking back toward the door that separated him from her. No more than four steps away from the room he stopped again, looking at his feet and shaking his head while tears pooled in his eyes and he bit his bottom lip to keep it in. “Let her go,” he whispered through teeth clenched tightly together. “Why is it always so hard for us?” Orlando whispered softly, looking at his feet.“She’ll be back, man. Just give her some time. Maybe she’s on her way back now,” Johnny offered. With a sad shake of his head, and a voice that didn’t sound like his own, Orlando kept his eyes lowered as he said, “She’s not coming back, Johnny. I know she’s not.” He raised his head, looking first at Jack, then at Johnny once more. “Keira’s gone.” ~*~*~*~ “H-hi Mike, it’s Keira…Listen, I-I know me calling you is a little weird, but I was wondering if you… well, if you’ve heard anything from Orlando or if you’ve seen him today. I… uh, I guess just… give me a call if-if you can, please. 214-555-6241. Thanks…”
His eyes on Orlando's, Mike pressed the stop button on the answering machine. “Want to tell me what’s going on?” He asked, still watching Orlando.
“There’s nothing to tell, Mike,” Orlando said quietly, rubbing his palms over his face. “It’s over.”She must have fallen asleep because when she opened her eyes it was almost dark. Outside the window the sky was a mixture of brilliant pinks, oranges, and purples, and had she not felt as if her life was falling apart, she might’ve talked the opportunity to admire the beauty of it. But right now she didn’t want to see beautiful… because beautiful reminded her of Orlando. Sounds of life after a broken heart filtered up to her from the level below, and even though she’d rather spend the next few months hinding under the covers, she slid out of bed and walked down the steps. Ashlee and Brian were in the kitchen arguing over what to prepare for dinner. “Nothing creamy, Brian… I’m not in the mood, and Keira doesn't like pasta,” Ashlee said, pulling the packet of alfredo sauce out of his hand. “Don’t go to any trouble for me, guys. Please… I don’t want to cause any problems,” Keira said quietly from the arched door of the kitchen. With surprise clear in her crystal blue eyes, Ashlee turned to Keira, cutting the distance between them to hug her friend. “Hey sweetie. Do you feel any better?” “Ash… that’s your way of asking if I’ve changed my mind the answers no,” Keira said, stepping away from Ashlee’s embrace. “I didn’t think you changed your mind, Keira… but you should know that he called while you were sleeping,” Ashlee said, handing Brian a stick of butter and two whole cloves of garlic. “Do this instead,” she said, kissing his cheek. Such a simple gesture. Innocent, sweet, but filled with enough emotion that Brian would never doubt Ashlee’s feelings for him. Had Orlando felt that with her? Had he known that she loved him? It left a sour taste in her mouth, one that brought on the sudden urge to vomit. Her hand flew to cover her mouth and she hurried to the downstairs bathroom, heaving up the remnants of the red wine and the few sips of water she’d had on the plane. And as she gagged, tears soaking her face, she realized that no matter what transpired somewhere down the line, whatever she and Orlando had together was over for good… and this time she had no one to blame but herself. TBC. don't hurt me! i'll try and update sooner next time! As always thanks for the wonderful comments, keep them coming, i love to hear what you all think!
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