Title: Last Chance on the stairway





Rating: R, NC17

Disclaimer: This fiction is rated R for some adult contents, light swearing and reference to sex before marriage. Some chapters will be rated NC 17. I do not own all the celebrities mentioned in the story, nor I am someway bound to them - except maybe in my foolish dreams. If this story will make you hate/love/detest/arise homicidal instincts towards Orlando Bloom, please put all the blame on me, but don't forget you were warned ahead of time.

Copyright@Bloomiecurse: do not take without permission.

Summary: Jazz has known Orlando for ten years, since old times in Great Britain. They have been best mates since the very moment they met, until one fine day he introduces Elijah Wood to her, and her life changes totally. Sentimental certainties become a faded memory from her past, and she starts looking at her life under a different light. But how will Orlando react to that?

And now wish me luck, because it is going to be a long ride!

:eek: ;)

UPDATE OF JUN, 20th 2004: it looks like that for some weird coincidences the chapers are not shown in their subsequent order. I have already notified the Admins of the problem, and I hope they'll try to fix it soon. Luckily each chapter has a number, so you only need to follow it, and hope you won't get too much mad. I'll be posting a sort of Index very soon. Thanks for your understanding.
Ursi

INDEX:

Part One: It all began...
Chapters 1-56

Part Two: London, I am back!
Chapters 57-85

Part Three: Back in L.A. Where do we go from here?
Chapters 86-110

Part Four:Blossoming, living, dying. Is there a chance for love?
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Interlude One
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Interlude Two
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Interlude Three
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Interlude Four
Chapter 128
Interlude Five
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131 part 1
Chapter 131 part 2
Chapter 132
Chapter 133
Chapter 134
Chapter 135
Chapter 136

If you need to get rid of those annoying boxes that bother your reading in some pages of my thread, please go in your Internet Browser and choose View, then Coding and finally Western Europe: you will be able to display the text in its original format.

Thanks for reading LCOTS: I am sure you won' t regret it.
Ursi

Part One: It all began...



Chapter 1


"C’mon don’t be so stubborn! Come here!"

Orlando pulls me towards him, his hands on my waist.

"Oh please Orlando! Don’t do this to me" I complain "you know I hate pictures!"

"Shut up and smile!"

He whispers while posing for the photographers, his face next to mine. So near that I can feel his cheek stretching in one of those sweet smiles of his on mine, which, on the contrary, is showing no more than a grimace.

I’ve known Orlando for ages: we’ve been buddies for such a long time now that I hardly remember how we met; but there’s one thing that I am sure of: it is the deep relationship we’ve established during these long years, true friendship and true caring the one for the other!

It doesn’t matter that I left London four years ago to come to Los Angeles, it doesn’t matter that he has been around the world to follow his beloved profession: we’ve always been present in each other’s lives, mutually, silently, stubbornly.

And if I only think of me having the biggest crush on earth for him, I blush shamefully: but that belongs to past. Now I care for him as if he were my brother, and wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt him: if it happened I would be the worst asshole on earth!

Ooops! Sorry, guys! I forgot to introduce myself! It is common to my to forget things, you’ll soon realize! My name’s Jasmine, but my friends call me Jazz, I’m 25 years old and I love music, and dancing, and chocolate! Yummie! Chocolate is my greatest sin, I think!

And I am the one wearing the long black dress, with that enormous side vent (oh me! I’m not used to such dresses! I feel like a puppy!), standing near Orlando and his friend Elijah.

Can you spot me? I’m the one trying to look natural in front of all those photographers with all their flashing cameras, and turning out to be as unnatural as hell! Well, I know that I look like a rock trying to do its best to smile, but I’m not used to all this fuss, and I know I never will be!

Orlando is the tall well-built guy, with black hair and deep black eyes, wearing a black suit with that gaudy red shirt (yeah! This is typically Orlando! The craziest guy I have ever met!), whereas Elijah is the gorgeous blue eyed guy, standing by my side, smiling cheerfully in his serious black suit, short spiky hair with horrible sideburns!

Honestly: I hate his sideburns but haven’t had the courage to tell him yet!

I’ve known him for only a couple of days, don’t want to seem hateful to a friend of Orlando’s, oh well! Not yet!

On the contrary I like his smell: his perfume is always mixed with the scent of that Indonesian ciggies he smokes, and I must admit that I like it! He’s nice and gentle enough, and has a good sense of humor, which is something that always attracts me in a man!

But: I know! You might want to know what is all about! I mean: why the hell I am telling it all to you, now!

I’m blushing again: I don’t really know the reason why, just want you to be part of it all, of this unexpected adventure that has become my life!

Because it has all started now, in this very moment and in this very place…

Heh, no way am I doing that... I'm sticking to the prick!

:eek: 104 chapters............

Chapter 2

"Jazz, why don’t you try to relax a while?"

Orlando is hissing me those words in my ears: he has just touched my hand and I guess he has realized I am as cold as ice.

His voice has a hint of irony, and I know he’ll be mocking me later on!

Well! He can laugh as much as he wants at his good old friend, but I can’t help it! I feel like a fish out of water!

Let’s be honest! I am an assistant at the Faculty of Comparative Literature, at the University of Southern California, living my own average life among old books and nice young people! I don’t feel at ease in the glittering world of movie stars! And Orlando knows it! I cannot help it!

We’re entering the enormous exhibition hall and I feel a little dizzy, the cameras are still flashing, and people outside are still screaming for my two partners!

Why the hell I let Orlando convince me to become part of all this! Bloody friend of mine!

"I think you should come along, Jazz!"

He told me almost accidentally four days ago, falling easily on my couch, a cigarette in his fingers, blue smoke slithering up on his face.

"I think you must be crazy!"

I almost shouted, while leaving my sport bag on the ground

"I don’t want to follow you into your damn faked world, Bloomie!"

He looked at me doubtfully, raising an eyebrow.

"I’m not inviting you to come to hell! It’s just a wrap up party! A damn funny wrap up party! There’ll be some friends of mine and you’ll obviously have the chance to wear a female dress, for God’s sake!"

And he glanced horrified at my jeans and my sneakers, repeating with his look his continuous preaching about me not doing anything to let the others see how well shaped I am!

"I know where you are heading, sweetheart! And I am saying NO to whatever you say!" I had replied in a grandmotheresque tone, placing a hand on my hips, and waving the other one dismissively in the air.

But as usual Orlando won his battle against me, Orlando can be as annoying as a fly when he means to, and hardly gives up when he wants something. So he spent the rest of the evening in bothering and bothering until I gave up and accepted to come here.

And this is something that I am regretting like few things in my life: I feel like I want to hit myself on the head and faint and be taken away from here… like… uhmmmm… NOW?

I turned to Elijah, he’s smiling widely to a stunning beauty, a very tall woman with a breathtaking shape, stretched in her golden dress, she leans towards him to kiss him on his cheeks: I can smell her perfume even if I am few steps behind. I turn and look around, at all the faces surrounding me.

Orlando is now leaving my side to greet the stunning blonde, cameras are still flashing. Well! I feel like I definitely need something strong to drink, to keep myself up and smiley, while I cannot help asking myself what the hell I am doing here!

Orlando and Elijah haven’t even noticed that I’ve sneaked out here; they’re too busy in drooling at that gorgeous girl talking to them!

Gah! Men! It’s always the same old script: no matter how smart and nice you are! The only thing that counts, at least at the very beginning is how large your… aehm breasts are! I hate when they look there instead of staring straight into your eyes when you talk to them! And Orlando is no exception! Not to talk about Elijah!

My high-heeled shoes start hurting… I’m making a mental note to myself that next time I buy high heeled shoes I’ll have to wear them at home for at least a couple of evenings beforehand! This is what my mother suggested when I was at school! I can still remember her saying that “a young and pretty girl like you are, Jasmine, cannot help but wear nice dresses, and choose the right shoes for each occasion! And yes! Hair and shoes make the perfect girl!”

Yeah! The perfect girl! I should be one of those cover girls tonight… glamorous and all teeth and fluttering lashes, fascinating and smooth voiced… I’d better stop thinking such nonsense! It could cause my brain to crash, and I don’t think I need that! Not tonight! I must be sober and have everything all under control!

If only those two idiots of my partners would realize I feel so lonely here…

Yuhuuuu!!! Hiya Guys! I’m here, all alone!

A-LO-NE!!!!

I wait a couple of seconds; they’re still there talking to Miss Pointy Breasts… ah! Good deal! Now another sugar-sugar curvy bottomed lass is approaching them, I can imagine what is all about…

“Oh Orli! Elijah!!!! Oh me! Oh my! Mwuah! Mwuah!” ...

They’re kissing on their cheeks! Grunt! I roll my eyes and turn towards the bar! I’ll have one of my favourite drinks to keep me company! This one won’t surely turn me down!

I’m mentally kicking myself for having accepted to come to such a snobby place accompanied – yes! ACCOMPANIED! – by my good friend Orlando Bloom! - accompanied!?! Did I really say accompanied?

Those two lip-sticked bimbos might have kidnapped him as far as I know! –that I hardly realize who’s standing by my side, curiously staring at me

"May I help you?" I ask trying to be gentle and nice and à la page "Elijah?" "Well! I’ve guessed that I might have helped you!" I look at him suspiciously "Sorry Jazz! We haven’t been very gentlemanlike with you!"

"Uh!" I am still suspicious. "You have your fans to take care of!" I add nodding towards the place where Orlando is, and where Elijah has just been, trying to seem at ease.

I take a sip of my drink; a pause to mask my lack of reasonable excuses to add to the one I have just said.

"What are you drinking?"

"Cuba Libre!" Elijah’s eyes widen, and he can hardly hold a strange grin.

"You are a surprise!"

"Haven’t you ever seen a gal drinking Cuba Libre?" I ask, putting on the look of one who knows what it means living.

"Of course I have! But I’d bet that you…" he’s still grinning at me, his eyes are glowing bright, so damned electric blue.

"I… what?" I ask, out of curiosity.

"Oh well! It’s silly I know!" he says waving his hand in the air as to dissolve with his gesture his own thought.

"Me what?" I insist in my usual anti-feminine way.

"Well! You are a researcher…" he’s raising both eyebrows while saying so "and you study Literature, so…" he starts swinging his head imperceptibly.

"So what?" My masculine side is waking up, and if I do not hold myself I’m sure I will do something wrong. Elijah smiles widely.

"It is common knowledge that professors or researchers are not thought of doing things like that!"

I roll my eyes! I think that I am able to kill anyone who insists in thinking such crap about people studying literature. But I won’t be aggressive towards Elijah. I smile at him, instead and after taking another sip of my Cuba Libre I think of something funny to say.

"Well! Actually I am a kind of weirdo of the literal circle in my Faculty, ya know?" And I lean closer to him, my mouth near his ear, while he comes closer to better catch what I say, and I finally whisper:

"Don’t tell anyone! I could be radiated from my own circle!" I cross his look and then cannot help to keep saying, "Keep it secret! Keep it safe!" recalling of the thousand times I have seen that amazing film where he starred in!

We crack up loudly: I’m glad I’ve still kept my own word: I haven’t been nasty to Elijah, and now we are laughing so cheerfully! I look at him through my narrowed eyes: he’s so cute when smiling; his laughter is contagious and I like the way his lips curl, showing his white teeth, and that little gap between the two upper incisors, makes him look gentler in his smile!

They say that it is a sign of luck, like three moles disposed as to create the shape of a triangle… I ask myself if he also has something like that somewhere, hidden who knows where on his body!

Oh lord! This must be the effect of my Cuba Libre! I shake my head imperceptibly as to send that thought away, and… flash! Zip! Flash! There we go again!

"Smile your best smile!" Elijah whispers: I throw a quick sideways glance at him "we are going to be married tomorrow!" he utters putting on an odd grin, and turning to pose for the photographers, his arm around my waist.

Chapter 3

I’m puzzled but used to it! This is the price for being friend of a world-renowned actor’s.

I once found my own picture on the first page of a British tabloid: we were at the seaside, Orlando and I, I mean! And I was wearing a stretched swimsuit and Orlando was only handing me my towel, his own on his waist!

And Lord! My mother phoned me a zillion times in the same afternoon to be sure that what they had written was the truth!

Ehehehe! Mummy, mummy! She’d die to know that Orlando and I were a real couple! She loves him! More than how much she loves me, actually!

But this is not the point! Orlando and I were only a couple of friends, enjoying a damn day at the seaside…

Uhmmm… if I recall right Orlando looked damn hot in his deep blue trunks… uhmmm! Yes damn hot, man! But! Sorry! This is not the point, again! I’m walking off the beaten track, again! Even if I am sure you really wouldn’t mind catching such a sight of him!

Sorry guys! But I warned you: I’m quite a weird girl! And I cannot help but be the way I am! I’m grinning at you all, can you see me?

Then, that time Orlando and I were having “the time of our lives”, so that tabloid was headed, and all his fans were wasting their tears uselessly!

Orlando had a kind of girlfriend in those days: she performed the best jealousy scene of the last ten years, I’m sure!

Geez! Poor Bloomie!

And poor me! All at once I had become a fucking damn whore… and had to be out of their lives, uhmmm… how can I say? Faster than light! Yes! That’s what she said, snapping her fingers, and nodding towards the door!

I’ll let you guess who went out of whose life faster than light!

Do you want hints?

Well! Not me! Jazz is a good girl! Jazz cares for Orlando! Never mean to hurt him!

Whereas that kind of girlfriend of his went… how can I say? Poof?

Yes! She exited Orlando’s house and life at once!

Why are you looking so oddly at me? I am not grinning evily! Remember? I am the good girl! I am a good loyal friend! I am not kidding anymore!

I also had the courage to defend her: me too, I’ve been in love, once! Well! It was a strange kind of love, not very passionate, but what I mean is that I know what a girl feels when she loves a man!!!

And I also have an idea of what it feels being bitten by the green devil called jealousy! But I couldn’t do any good! Orlando was not in love with her after all…

Oh! Here he comes again: smiling that childish smile of his, my charming Bloomie!

"Caught ya! You’ll be having Elijah and his girlfriend argue tomorrow, Jazz!" he pats Elijah’s back.

I catch Elijah with the corner of my eyes: he’s staring at the ground now.

And: what??? Please Orlando: rewind! What did you say?

There we go with the rewind: Orlando has just said that Elijah has a… gh-g-girlfriend?

Yes! That’s what he said, exactly! A girlfriend, Jazz! A girlfriend! You know: guys usually have girlfriends, especially when they’re handsome, and young, and wealthy and…

Ooh! Jazz! Stop it! I perfectly know what a girlfriend is! It is only that I simply implied that…

"Oh! You have a girlfriend, Elijah!" I ask cooing, while stopping implying the fact that if she’s not here it doesn’t mean that he has not one!

"And where did you leave her?"

I add my question with a malicious grin, while Orlando’s elbowing me!

Ouch! Too much strength man! I think as my side starts hurting.

"What are you drinking, sweetie?"

Orlando changes voluntarily subject of conversation taking my glass and drinking from it.

"Bollocks!" he grimaces in disgust "'tis bloody Cuba Libre!" he almost shouts

"It’s a Cuba Libre, Orli!" I clarify "not a Bloody Cuba Libre!"

I realize I’ve just said bullshit, from the idle looks in their eyes: I blush sheepishly at my own silliness, while the guys laugh again.

"So: this is Jazz, Elijah! Are you still sure she has not much in common with me?"

Chapter 4

Elijah and Orlando have been commandeered, again! Stopped by some people who need to speak to them: producers, I guess, and journalists!

As I am sure my presence is not required there, I'm just a guest, a foreigner in this golden world, I take the opportunity to sneak out and finally smoke a holy ciggie!

Eh! Caught ya all! I can see the looks on your faces! I know you don't approve: smoke hurts my health, I know! But I took this bad habit and at the moment it is my only "pleasure", I hope you get what I mean... well! Besides chocolate, and some drinks once in a while...

Well guys! I'm sneaking out of the room from the back exit: there's a marvelous garden, with lights and benches... I quickly look around and spot one not far from the exit door, in the shade! I'll sit there, take off my damn shoes and smoke a healthy - which is not healthy, I KNOW GUYS! It's just a bloody saying! - Sorry, then! I'll sit there, take off my darn hurting shoes and smoke an unhealthy ciggie - is that okay for you, NOW?

I lean on the bench, feeling the humid cold grass under my feet: what a pleasure! I heave my ciggie deeply, and look up in the starry sky! Lord! I'm feeling damn romantic at the moment!

Here it comes out my PHD in Literature guys: I'm being romantic in the literary sense! Okay? Man close to nature, the power of the infinite on manhood, nature versus humanity... does it say anything to you? Or should I keep on talking about Elijah's starry eyes?

Elijah?

Am I thinking of him? MEEEE? Of course I am not! I take a deep breath, and try to relax a while, when I spot a girl coming my way.

Holy fuck!

I mutter! I'm not wearing contacts and I cannot really see where she is heading to! Oh me! Here she is! She has stopped in front of me!

"Heya! " she smiles a kind smile.

"Hello!" I answer smiling back and trying to figure out if I have already seen this girl somewhere.

"Do you mind if I sit here?"

"Of course not!"

I try to compose myself, and lean forward to put my shoes on again. And Bang! There I go! I know her! I've spotted her at the university!

She follows my movements with her green eyes, and keeps on smiling sweetly.

"Oh.. you don't need to!"

Oh me! She has caught me! What a situation!

"Sonia?” - I ask trying to be natural.

"Yes?" her eyes widen and I can see she has recognized me. "Miss Timbers!" she is as surprised as I am!

"Hello!" I say again a little bit embarrassed: she attends my classes!

"Don't need to put your shoes on if it is because of me!" she finally smiles while starting to take off hers as well "I am here for the same reason!"

I smile back at her: uhmmm! I am not the only fish out of water here, huh? Yes, but it doesn't help! I have an air of authority to defend here!

"What are you doing here Sonia?" I ask out of curiosity, but I know I will repent!

Yes Sonia! Explain your assistant professor what you are doing here and don't try to ask me the same damn question! I could always remember of you when I'm in the classroom.

I see: you might think that I am a little bitchy, but well... ya know! All teachers are, and I'm no exception! Well, I must sheepishly admit that I find it hard to follow the rule, but won't let Sonia know, so please, guys...

Hush!

"My father works for the production of this movie... he couldn't say no... "

She smiles tenderly, her wavy dark red, layered hair waving on her shoulders, and I am feeling like a shark with my stupid thoughts.

Poor girl! Of course she had insisted with her father to let her come! All those celebrities in the same room! All those damn hot guys in there!

Geez! I must be the only one here scared of them!

I grin at her hoping she hasn't seen whom I am with: I couldn't bear with the entire Faculty knowing I am here... I have a reputation to defend! Well! I will be mocked anyhow: I'm the one who claims not to be interested in showbiz, and if Sonia spreads the word! Honestly I don't give a damn about it! Some of them already know Orlando's a good friend of mine, and he's a Hollywood star! So, if two and two makes four... got it, guys?

No? Okay! I am a friend of Orli's, and Orli's a Hollywood star, I can sometimes run the risk to be part of the whole game! No shame at all! I hope!

I am still grinning while she keeps staring at me: it would be nice from my part saying something! I could tell her about the Romantic literary movement and my own personal thoughts on it! What an idea!

"I’ve spotted Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood before!"

"Have you!?!" I hardly can hold a gasp!

"Yes! I think they're gorgeous! Don t you Miss Timbers?"

"Oh well... I guess they are!" - I almost hiss! She has seen them and not me with them! My reputation's safe! Phew!

"They are!" she says eagerly "I'm a loyal fan of theirs since Lord of the Rings!"

"Excellent movies for a superb book! I was thinking of having a couple of lessons dedicated to Tolkien in my workshop..."

"I would be the happiest girl if I had the chance to know them! Actually they're the main reason why I am here!" she says cutting me off.

Yes! What an idea! Speaking about Tolkien and workshops while Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom are so close! What an idiot I am! What a freaking thought I’ve just had!!!!

I am so used to have Orlando in my life that I always forget what kind of reactions he provokes around... and Elijah... well! I must admit that his eyes are amazing! They're so big and intense... oh me! Here I go again! Still feeling strangely attracted by him! I sort of kick the thought of him out of my head: he has a girlfriend... and horrible sideburns! Yes! The most detestable sideburns on earth! I cannot think about a guy who is so proud of his sideburns to bring them around like he does!

Well said Jazz! Elijah: get out of my mind NOW!

"Aermmm Miss Timbers?" she's tormenting her fingers, now: why is she so nervous?

I look at her: hey! It works! I'm not thinking of him now! I'm all ears for Sonia who looks really pretty in her white tank top, tanned skin, and covered in glitter powder.

"Yes Sonia?"

I ask still grinning! Geez! I could make the effort of changing expression! I'm at a party, after all! Not killing anyone! I throw my ciggie in the ashtray.

"It is so strange seeing you here... do you know any of the guests, by any chance?"

Oh me! I know where she means to go with her innocent look. Okay: must I be honest, and also a little proud of me being here with Orlando and Elijah?

Oh yes! I could be a sort of hero in her eyes! I can figure her speaking to her friends tomorrow, and imagine who knows what! of me sentimentally involved with one of the two...

One of the two... why do I hear a sort of bang in my head now? Oh yes! I know! One of the two may mean Orlando... it always means Orli!

For heaven's sake!

Orlando's face in the dim light of a cold morning, dark goatee on his chin, dark circles around his eyes trying to manage a hangover suddenly pops up in my mind!

Holy crap! A relationship with Orlando? Orlando Bloom? This would mean that my days of sanity had come to an end!

I try to recover from that scary memory appeared in my mind and look back at Sonia's dreamy face: I must decide quickly what to say, and above all try to go back inside and fade away among the other guests! Yes honestly! I'd better sort out an excuse to dash!

I finally decide to open my mouth to answer her question when Orlando's voice ruins it all!

"Smoking in the dark, Jazz? Old habits die hard!" he utters, running a hand through his hair.

I look at him, throwing ideal daggers with my eyes, as if he had just thrown a bucket of cold water at me, and I see from the way he's staring back at me that he has understood he has just done something wrong!

That's the best part of being his close friend! It takes only a quick glance to understand what is going on. I mean: sometimes I don't really need to start explaining the whole hecking situation to Orli! He simply knows what flows in my mind! Yay! But he can't predict the future, yet...

I fear I am going to see one of his best performances with good-looking fans. Because Sonia's a very pretty girl, now that I look at her, moon beams hitting her skin, and her green eyes are glowing as she is realizing who is the guy who has just appeared in the garden…

Chapter 5

"Oh! As I see you are not alone, here, Jazz!"

Orlando's look has switched into Latin lover mode: I know what I am going to see here, it is not the first time and I'm sure it won t be the last! If I didn't know him so well I could easily feel confused by his charming way of looking and smiling and talking to his preys!

"Yes, Orlando! I have just met Sonia!" I nod in her direction "She follows my workshop on courtesy novels at university!"

I'm not looking at him but I know that he's showing his best grin to her, deep black eyes crossing Sonia's green glowing eyes. And I know what he's going to say now: why were you hiding such a pretty sight to my eyes, Jazz? You nasty gal!

"Why were you hiding such a pretty sight to my eyes, Jazz? You nasty gal!"

Orlando's smooth voice sounds deep. Geez! He's so predictable! And I feel like I want to fly away! But I can't! I must stay here and follow my script!

"I didn't know she was here as well! Orlando, let me introduce Sonia Spalding to you! Sonia, this is Orlando Bloom..." I turn to look at her "I'm sure I don't need to tell you whom he is!" Sonia seems completely charmed by Orlando's presence, but is able to reach out her hand to hold Orlando's.

"Nice to meet you Orlando!"

She almost whispers, staring deeply into his eyes: I can see she's blushing wildly. I only hope she won't swoon! I roll my eyes at the chance!

It's my own pleasure! I know he'll be saying so now!

"The pleasure is only mine!" He says!

Oh: I was wrong! He changed the line! Yes! Whatever! I roll my eyes, and take out another cigarette! I must find something to do while listening to Orlando playing his best part! Part that I know at heart!

This is the main reason why I've never introduced "The killer!" (aka Orlando Bloom!) to my best friends here in L.A.: Donna and Melissa! I've spared them the pathetic asshole he can be with women! Not that I don't trust in their ability to recognize assholes at a long distance! But I know that he can be really adorable and fascinating when he wants to!

And he's a movie star! Everyone would be at least flattered by receiving his attentions! Orlando loves beautiful girls, and I can say honestly that my two friends are!

Orlando is now asking Sonia about her father Andrew Spalding and telling her that he didn't know Andrew had a daughter: I breathe deeply the fresh air of this beautiful evening and then spot Elijah coming our way, a ciggie in his fingers.

"There you are!" he utters seriously, addressing to Orlando an ironic glance "You left me inside with that..." he suddenly stops when realizes the three of us are not alone.

"Hush!" I say softly heading towards him. Elijah grins cunningly.

"The Killer is at work, isn't he?" he asks lighting up his cigarette. I nod.

"You know him better than I do!" I smile "he can't help it!"

"No he can't! Has he already said that meeting her is only his own pleasure?"

We crack up loudly: so Elijah knows Orlando as much as I do! Of course he does! You silly girl! They've lived together for a year and a half in New Zealand! He must know him well! And they are men! I guess Elijah uses Orli's tricks once in a while! They always work!

Sonia can't hold a gasp and keeps turning her head from Orlando to Elijah: I see she is so excited: it looks like dreams come true once in a while.

"Sonia Spalding! Elijah Wood!" I say simply looking at them holding their hands.

"Miss Timbers you are... such a surprise!" she says merrily, her cheeks flaming.

I don't find a damn nice thing to say in return, I only smile like an idiot!

Yes! You've been smiling in the last twenty minutes with no apparent reason! It would really be the time to come back yourself soon, don't you think Jazz?

"You know Elijah? Sonia's Andrew's daughter! "

"Are you? Your father avoided telling us he has such a beautiful daughter!"

Oh no! Elijah too is starting the circus of obvious things! I feel like I wanna throw up here in the middle of the garden! If they're meaning to go on like this I think I can take them by their hair and throw them miles away!!! You two fools! I cannot really bear with it much longer!

I cough, even if I don't need to, and then put my shoes back on: for heaven's sake! I am at a party with brilliant and famous people! Why the hell am I wasting time here with my best friend ‘the killer’, and his best mate Elijah Dude? Aehm! Wood! Wood, I mean Wood and not Dude!

And they are trying to do their best to let me always apart, while they are always surrounded by beautiful women, always appearing like horny apes... well! This is Orlando! He always acts like that! Elijah looks quieter and doing it all just because he has to, though, but I'm annoyed anyhow!

I think that Elijah has noticed it, whereas Orlando is too much involved in the conversation with Sonia to even realise that his best girlfriend here IS GETTING ANNOYED! Yep! Annoyed and would like to be taken inside and introduced to hot men, and socialise with them, or being asked for a dance!

"It s getting cold!" I say, but I know that Orlando won't hear.

"Yeah! Quite cold! Shall we get back inside?" Elijah suggests me nicely; I nod, rubbing my bare arms: I am cold actually and want to have fun! Yes! Lots of fun!

The first thing I am going to do once inside is to head to the bar for another drink! I think I'll ask for Vodka, this time! Yup! Vodka!!! Maybe Peach vodka... or vodka lemon? Dunno yet!

Elijah walks by my side and I am noticing only now that we are the same height... well! He must be a little taller than me as I am wearing expensive, extra hurting high heeled shoes - bloody me!!!! I think that he must be a really nice guy after all and that his girlfriend must be very lucky!

I feel the urge to ask him about her, but suddenly remember of Orlando changing conversation's subject and I restrain from talking to Elijah now... yes! Now: because I know myself well! When I want to know something...

"Orlando has always talked about you and now that I am with you it looks like I've known you for ages!"

"Has he?" I ask, figuring out what he could have told him about me!

Surely he has told him the first time I got a hangover! Geez! I still blush if I think of it! How old was I? Seventeen maybe... it was my elder brother's birthday, Orlando was there with his girlfriend (has there ever been a time when Orlando hasn't had a love affair? Serious or not? Uhmmm... hard to say! Really hard, man!), and I was so excited that my brother had let me be there with his friends, and totally thrilled by the idea I could have drunk whatever I wanted!

Well! What a shame! I was totally knocked down by half glass of beer!

Orlando always tells (Yes! Always! Because it always becomes a conversation's subject when we two are with other people who I do not know particularly well! He says that it helps breaking the ice! I say that it makes me appear a very silly girl!) that he found me laid on a couch totally numb, and by the time he tried to make me stand I felt the urge of puking... on HIM!!! (well! this must be fate, I am sure: a sort of reward for all the things HE would do to me during the long years of our friendship).

Oh me! He was wearing a totally freaking nice jeans he had just bought... I am still laughing guys! I puked on him, dear good friend... assisting me in the rest rooms trying to throwing up all that I had to!

Honestly! I wish he had not told Elijah that! I know that it is something that almost any of us has gone or goes through in life, but the details make me shiver! And it's always me who we are talking about! Remember: I am the one trying to defend her reputation here!

"I hope you don't have Orlando's consideration about me!" Elijah frowns.

"Which one? "

"Oh well! He has his own idea on me not being a... proper woman!" Elijah looks surprised, but lets me go on in my speech "I mean! In the true meaning of the word! He always says that I could easily be a man, because of the way I think and act!"

Elijah's more than surprised, but doesn't say a word. What is he thinking?

"He must have told you so, Elijah! He always does!" I laugh almost hysterically trying to read Elijah's mind.

Chapter 6

Well, if Orlando really did tell him about me the way he always does, Elijah does not let me understand. He curls his lips and looks at me funnily.

"Orlando told me a lot about you... when we were in New Zealand I had the impression he was kinda obsessed with you..."

I widen my eyes: Orlando obsessed with me?

Ah-aha! Sure! Obsessed with finding a hundred thousand ways to torture me

"But you know... I definitely prefer getting to know people myself and then have my own idea!" he winks at me and puts his hands in his pockets. "Shall we have another drink?"

I nod, considering the fact that I really like what he has just told me! Probably Elijah is the first friend of Orlando's who will know me as I am, and not through Orlando's point of view, which I can assure you guys, makes sound like I’m his bratty little sister!

Errrr... I may probably be an incoherent, funny, loud and silly girl sometimes! But why spread the word?

And still I want to find out what he means by "Orlando being obsessed with me..." that's something I'll ask him further, I am sure! No need to take mental note on that!

Satisfied with his answer I follow him to the bar and order my vodka: I've finally made up my mind! I'll have first peach vodka, and then vodka lemon! I hate deciding between things I really love! So! I'll make the effort of having both! I congratulate mentally with myself for the right decision, while music plays out loud and I try to keep the beat with nodding at its rhythm, drinking eagerly my peach vodka.

We start talking randomly, ordering a second drink, and then he asks me of Orlando.

"So you've known Orlando for ages!" he states seriously, as if he was sort of interviewing me.

"Yes! I really can't remember how long!" I gush merrily.

"Since his dark days in London!" he chuckles.

"Yup!" I answer having a sip of my icey vodka lemon. Uhmm... yummie!

"I think I know his inner secrets..." I spread an evil grin "I could go to the best rewarding tabloid and sell them to them! I could become billionaire!" we laugh simultaneously.

"You know him that well?"

"Better than that! But he can be such a sweetheart when he means to! At least with me!" I add tenderly.

Orlando's Orlando, I know: the worst crappy reckless fool! But he has always been there for me whenever I needed! And I respect him for his loyal sense of friendship.

Elijah looks at me oddly, but doesn't say a word. He asks me if I want to dance, instead, and I cannot but say yes: I swallow the content of my glass all at once and get into the groove.

Elijah seems to have a good sense of music: he moves smoothly following the rhythm, while my head gets lighter and lighter, and my stomach groans. I've practically eaten nothing in the last few hours, and had those two vodkas too quickly! I hope to bear with it: oh me! I couldn't stand to be seen as one who cannot hold their alcohol! Because I am usually a strong drinker!

I dance trying not to think about anything, smiling and interacting with Elijah, and I must say that even if I feel totally pissed, I am having a great time, now! Wow, guys! I wish you were here with me! Well, you probably would like to be too, as I am dancing with Elijah

Lucky, lucky little Jazz! I must admit that this Elijah Wood is not that bad after all! One of the few friends of Orlando's seeming nice from the very beginning! Oh yes! I think I'm starting liking him! I feel like I am on a merry go round...

Ehi! Wait a minute! I don't think this depends on the fact I am dancing with Elijah! Yes! He could not make my sight go blurry, and my head spinning, even if his eyes are so damn goooorgeoussssss!!!!!!!!! No! It is not Elijah! Definitely! It's not him!

Oh me! I feel like I am falling on the ground - oh probably! I could feel better if I could lie down a little! But now I feel someone's strong grip on my arm!

Oh Lord! Whoever you are: please! Don't have me faint here! I think while turning to the person who has just held me, and I see Orlando's serious face, or at least! It looks like Orlando's...

"I know you too well, Jazz!" he whispers in my ear, slipping his arm around my waist: I cling to him and in a moment, here we are again outside!

Okay: I am twenty-five and haven't learnt the lesson yet!

If you need to drink - I make a mental note - make sure you have at least eaten a bite!

But just I hadn't the time and only wanted to have a couple of drinks! It'll get better soon, I know! It's always like this!

Orlando looks at me shaking his head, like one who knew that I would end up like this, while I breathe deeply the fresh air of the night. He's to say something I feel it.

"Don't say anything, Bloomie!" I cut him off before he starts preaching like my father never did to me

"Holy crap, Jazz! You'll never change!"

He almost shouts. And then starts biting his nails: I smile foolishly!

He has taken this bad habit since the moment he decided to stop smoking -thing that, by the way, he hasn't succeeded in yet!

And when he does, he reminds me of the teenager I used to hang out with, back in my days in Britain...

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?"

He's serious, too much serious for being Orlando, and I am sure I am missing something here! Can't understand exactly what! But I know that there's a part I still have to catch up with!

I'm starting feeling better, though, and frown at him without protesting.

Orlando's drawing crazy lines with his shoes, and is looking at me straight in the eyes.

"Is that possible that I must look after you as if you were ten?" he furrows his brows and looks extremely annoyed with me.

Now I am really puzzled: what the heck is he talking about?

I am the one who usually look after you, stupid mate! Do I have to recall to you the thousand times I -underlined I - had to take you home when we both lived in London, and you were totally freaking pissed and I had to drive your car?

Why hadn't you stayed with Sonia and showed her all your charming tricks, instead of coming inside and bug me with your nonsense?

Well! I don't have the courage to tell him so! I don't know why, but I am feeling guilty and need to explain him what has just happened, as if I really did something wrong!

"Orlando! I only had a couple of drinks, and it was damn hot in there!" I say giggling "It can happen!"

"Yeah! It can!" he snorts "And they were three!" then comments, while rummaging his pockets to take out a chewing gum packet, and turning his head towards Elijah who's showing up with a cup of black strong coffee.

"I think it'll help!" Elijah says smiling "It always does with me!" He winks at me and hands me the cup "I warn ya, it is totally bitter!"

I can't help showing a grimace: I hate bitter coffee, but I don't feel like saying it to Elijah, he's been so nice! I smile back at him, and then turn to Orlando who's looking at us severely.

"I think she needs to eat something!" he says huskily "am I wrong Jazz!?!"

Am I wrong Jazz?

What a fucking tone he has now! Why the hell is he speaking to me in such a hateful way? What is wrong with you Orlando?

Did it go wrong with Sonia?

Grrrr! I feel like I want to punch him in his handsome face... well! The expression he has now makes him look more a jerk than a handsome good friend! Why is he so stern, I'd really love to find out! But I don't want to start arguing with him, now in front of Elijah, and in a place like this one!

But I'll talk to you later, Mr Killer! Don't you think I'll let it go so easily.

Even though I must admit that I am hungry, and I'd love to eat something: uhmmm... cheddar cheese! Oh yes! I'd love to have some cheddar cheese, but I know I won't find it easily here in L.A., and at this hour of the night it is almost impossible!

Well! Spaghetti? Or a good Pizza! Oh!

Yes! Pizza! I'd love to eat some pizza very much indeed now!

The ringing of a cell phone interrupts my mumbling, it's Elijah's.

"Hi sweetie! Where are you?" his voice suddenly turns softer.

Sweetie? Ah yes! I totally forgot that he has a girlfriend. Yes! A girlfriend!

I exchange glances with Orlando who comes nearer and asks if I am okay now.

"I am! Thank you!" - I answer coldly, drinking another sip of the bitter coffee: bleah! It totally stinks, but must drink it all! It works with me as well! When I am a little pissed I usually drink some strong coffee, and everything turns out fine.

"I'd really love if we could go get some food!" I tell then to Orlando, while Elijah's still on the phone with his grrrrr-girlfriend!!!!

"I'm so tired of this party, Jazz! Why don't we sneak out and go and eat something...?"

"Like pizza?" I cut him off.

He nods, smiling sweetly, surrendering to my request, as usual.

"Like pizza! Yes! Why not!"

He says with condescendence, and now he's nice again, he's my nice good old buddy Orli, and I've already forgotten how rough he has just been to me.

"Well, I dunno..." Elijah's still talking on the phone.

"I'd love to meet you now Anne... uhmmm... wait!" He looks at us his big blue eyes widened.

"Are we moving from here?" he asks; Orlando nods.

"We'd like to go and have a pizza ... have her come along! We'll go to Aloha's, it's just few miles from here!"

Yummie! Aloha's! I'm so happy he has decided to go there! They do special tasty pizzas there, not to talk about chocolate cakes! Yummie! I feel like I want to kiss Orli, but I restrain: what an idea!

Elijah's asking Anne - yes his grrr-girlfriend Anne - to join us there!

Why the hell I feel so hostile towards her I cannot explain yet! But that's my mood, now, and probably it depends on the fact that luck is never on my side!

I mentally stick out my tongue at my (un)luck! Yes! Well done Jazz!

"Let's sneak out quickly!" Elijah says to Orlando: he looks in a hurry.

"Errrr... I have promised Sonia to take her somewhere after the party..." Orlando's embarrassed, now.

"You what?!" I shout. "You know who Sonia is? She attends my classes! Oh! For heaven's sake Orli! You can't do this to me! I cannot show her that I am like anybody else in this world! I am her teacher!"

Orlando and Elijah laugh at me merrily, but I am so damn angry with him: he never seems to do something the right way when it comes to me!

"Oh Orlando! Just sod off!" I tell him, heading towards to the wardrobe to collect my things.

"I'll wait for you outside! So you can be pictured together as much as you like while exiting this fucking damn place!" I am really pissed off, now!

Chapter 7

Orlando chuckles, and grabs me by my arm, tight.

"I'll come along, Jazz! But let me first speak to Sonia! Tonight you are definitely behaving like a child!"

He's amused I can see it in his eyes, and I feel my rage raising: why the hell does he always need to have the last word? Why is it that he never seems to be pricked by what I say or do? He's now treating me like some spoilt child, and I can't really bear with it any longer!

"You don't need to postpone your tête-à-tête with her, Orlando Bloom!" I say dryly, "Only because your friend here is whining and kicking like a child! Let her come along! Don't mean to ruin your plans! But don't think that I'll forget about it, friend!" I say pointing my finger in his chest.

Elijah and Orlando crack up loudly, but I don't give a damn about them! I only turn and head towards the wardrobe and leave them behind. They're soon after me, Sonia's standing at Orlando's side, a bright fresh smile stuck on her face: I can imagine the way she feels now! Wholly happy and excited: she's so close to what she might have hoped deeply, but thought never possible!

Elijah's again beside me, as we exit the place and paparazzi start flashing their cameras and calling their names for better takes.

I smile: I've learnt the lesson now, smile happily, and the others do the same. We soon get in our cars: I let Sonia go in Orlando's car, so they can have a little privacy, and follow Elijah in his, actually he has just asked me to follow him, and there's no need to be prayed for that. Flashes are still following us as we drive away.

"You are a strange couple of friends!"

Elijah tells me staring straight at the road, I turn to look at him: lights play funny games on his face, which seems so flawless.

"Maybe it is because we know each other too well..." I say awkwardly.

"You look more like a middle-aged couple, ya know, the kind of people who can make a fuss for nothing only for the pure sake of it!"

He giggles and I remain flabbergasted: I mean! I've never looked at the whole friendship with Orli in such terms... actually! I don't really feel like a middle-aged house wife married to a grumbling Orlando, but it's weird that Elijah is depicting us that way. I think I should meditate on his words...

"Oh well! Whatever!" I say then, willing to know more about him. I sit more comfortably in my seat, and looking ahead I ask him of his beloved Anne: Orlando's not here to elbow me in my side, now!

"Hope you don't find me too intruding if I ask you that Elijah!" I say in a sweet tone, he throws a quick sideways glance at me, his eyes flashing: if only naming her provokes such a reaction, I'm sure this must be a serious relationship!

"It depends on what you are going to ask!"

"Oh well! How come that your girlfriend didn't come along with you to the party?"

I close my eyes, waiting for his answer, hoping it is not going to be too harsh. Dunno: like: mind your own fucking business! Ooops! Sorry! This is the kind of answer Orlando would give me... I don't think Elijah can be that rude! In fact he smiles sweetly and tells me the reason why.

"She's TV journalist! Had to stay in the studios for a program she's working on!"

"Cool!" I am only able to articulate a simple cool!

That's a great achievement for one like me, who has a PHD in literature and holds a workshop at USC! Yes Jazz! Congratulations for the depth of your thoughts. I think that this has really hit him, deeply! Who knows! He might also be falling for you! What an idiot you are!

I try to recompose my self and say something deeper.

"Does she deal with entertainment or..."

"Oh no! Not at all! She's the kind of committed journalist!" He says funnily, but I don t know why, it looks like this is something he doesn't like very much!

"I see! And how long have you been together?" It comes out of my mouth really spontaneously; I hope I'm not much curious to his eyes.

"Eight months so far! But it is all a very complicated situation..." he says softly. I blink, and decide that, even if I'd die to know more, I won't go much further in my asking! And then I wouldn't have much time, anyway! We've just entered the parking lot of Aloha's.

How strange: he seems so much in love, but not happy! Well: I guess that's the deal with love... it's not always as they depict it in the movies! I'd love to find out, though! You know guys: I've never fallen seriously for anyone. I mean I've been in love once, when I still was in London, but it was the kind of love, which makes you feel quiet, no heart pounding fast, no surprises! I wasn't even that sorry when we broke up: I just accepted it maturely!

Well! Maturely!!!??? Images from that period of my life pop up in my mind in a rush, and okay! I'm not being totally honest! I too suffered a bit, but only a bit! And then Orlando was there for me, scheduling funny activities just to help me go through it! Oh yes! Orlando's always there for his good friend Jazz, just like Jazz is there for him, no matter what!

His face shows up suddenly and I startle: he has a cheesy grin on his face, a grin I know too well! I am asking myself if I should be honest with Sonia: I'm not doubting that she is a very interesting girl, very pretty and particularly smart, she is one of the best students attending my classes actually! But Orlando's always Orlando, and I've already seen that grin several times so far: it is not a good sign, actually!

"Shall we get inside?" he asks merrily, Elijah nods and then walks by his side, I stay behind with Sonia

"Oh Miss Timbers! When I tell my friends they won't ever believe me!" she is really excited "Orlando is so gorgeous! Oh me! So charming! I wouldn't ever imagine you were a friend of his!" she squeals in excitement.

"We've known each other for such a long time" I say putting on a wise attitude "and you can call me Jazz, Sonia! At least for tonight."

"Of course I will, Jazz!" she is overjoyed, and does nothing to hide it.

"Have you also known Elijah for long time?"

"Oh no! I've just met him, Sonia! Orlando kept his friend far away from me for so long!" I say flatly, considering the fact that I haven't ever been much interested in knowing his famous friends. Orlando puts him arm on my shoulder friendly.

"Still hungry Jazz?"

"Terribly hungry, Friend!"

I smile thinking that it's time for me to full my empty belly with delicious tasty pizza!

Elijah spots his girlfriend: she's sitting at a table on the other end of the restaurant; and he doesn't seem to care much about it now that the owner is greeting us personally! This is the best part of being with celebrities: everyone is nice and gentle with you, only because you are friend of theirs!

I don't follow much what he's telling us: I see Elijah's impatient and try to catch him with the corner of my eye. I also try to see how Anne looks like: I want to find out what is the face of the person who stole Elijah's heart, and yes! I must be honest: she looks really pretty.

We approach the table and I can see clearly what she is like: she's a very cute, petite, shorter than Elijah, I notice it now that she's standing up to say hello to us. She has big bright green eyes and strawberry blonde hair. She reaches out her hand to hold mine smiling, and I notice she has freckles on cheeks and nose: she definitely seems very sweet, and she must love him dearly! At the least this is what I understand from the way she's kissing him.

Well, for a moment it looks like the time is slowing down and the only face that I can see clearly is Elijah's: he's smiling back at her, looking straight into her eyes while interlacing his fingers with hers, I notice a bright spark in his electric blue eyes, I read his lips while telling her he has missed her much, and then suddenly everything speeds up. I hear Orlando's funny voice ordering him to stop it, and I'm back to reality.

"Ehi, Dude! Stop it! Or you'll make me scream in disgust!"

Oh Orlando! You don't know what tact is, friend! He was being so romantic to her! I roll my eyes and sit at Orlando's side, facing Elijah and Anne. Sonia is at Orlando's other side, all eyes for him.

They all start a nice and obvious conversation: I am hungry and feeling a bit unfriendly! Well: I'm kinda upset! Elijah's here with his Anne, Orlando's with Sonia, and I...?

The only thing that is keeping me company is my pizza! I feel so miserable, now!

But Lord! This is so good! Wow! It's crispy, the right crispiness I love in pizzas! Well! I don't have a man by side - well! I know what you are thinking! Is not Orlando a man? Yep, don't worry! Orlando is a man, no allusions to any hypothetic homosexuality of his! I am only saying that there's no loving and caring man holding my hand and looking sweetly in my eyes! That's the point! And yes! Again! I know that between Orlando and Sonia there's nothing, yet! But, well! You probably have gotten what I mean! I sigh, biting another slice of my pizza and trying to focus on what they're talking about.

Anne is telling us about her job: she seems particularly brilliant and totally in it, and I feel that she is the strongest one of the two. There's nothing in particular, it's just a sensation: but I think that Elijah depends on her, sentimentally speaking, of course!

Orlando's doing his best to impress Sonia, and by the way she looks at him I guess he doesn't need to struggle much longer! The fortress has been easily conquered!

And, uh! I am doing my best to eat all my pizza as fast as I can actually! I'm feeling so depressed! They're all into themselves now and nobody feels the urge to speak to poor little Jazz!

Oh Lord! I know that Orlando's going to pay it all! I'll find out a way, I have a fervid imagination... well! I can have him do my laundry for a week! No, not a week! A month! This will be hard enough! He's rich enough now to have other people do it for him! So I will have him do mine!

Or better: I can have him come with me to the next lectures on Kafka we are having at the Faculty! This might be evil enough I guess! He hates Kafka!!!

Eheheh! Maybe this is really mean, but I won't be merciful this time! I am here watching the same old movie where he's the main lead! And then I don't really know why but I am kinda disturbed by the happy couple Elijah and Anne seem now!

And I can't even smoke a ciggie! I yawn impolitely, when I feel Orlando's arm holding my waist and drag me towards him: ahaha!!! You are feeling guilty now, aren't you? FRIEND?

I cannot even be myself 100% as I could run the risk of having all the faculty know about the very myself, and this would not be good for my career!

I let him do it without protesting: feeling his strong arm is reassuring and extremely familiar: yes! I feel like home! But you'll pay it, anyhow Orli! Oh yes!

"You wouldn't believe it Jazz, but we know so many things about you!" Anne tells me happily, looking at Orlando.

"My reputation's so renowned then!?!" I'm extra surprised! Does Orlando have anything else to do rather than going around and tell his friends about my ordinary, messy life?

"I wouldn't speak of your reputation Jazz!" Orlando shows no mercy.

"Well: I have one! Whatever you might have told them! And guys: I feel in the position of warning you about what Orlando might have said about me!" I laugh. "He's such a liar!"

"Oh! I'm not, Jazz!" Orlando complains amusingly.

"Honestly, Jazz! Orlando couldn't but tell better things about you!" I raise an eyebrow: Orlando? Speaking honestly about me? Naaah!

"I am not buying this, guys! You don't need to defend him!"

"I don't need anybody to defend me here, especially from you Jazz! I can do it myself!" he laughs loudly, followed by the others!

Elijah's staring at me while laughing: he has such a smile! Oh me! Here I go again! I see things in slow motion again! His look is so captivating: I really feel attracted by it, I surrender, and I can't lie to myself and to you all guys! It's stronger than I: oh me! He has caught me; I've been staring at him too long! I suddenly pick up my glass to drink a sip of its content and hide myself from his deep glancing. I am blushing and I am so grateful that light here is so dim!

Chapter 8

It is now time to leave the place and I feel so relieved: it's damn late, and I have plenty of things to do tomorrow! Okay! This is not the reason why I'm so glad to leave! It bugs me so damn much to be here and see how much sweet and lovely Elijah seems to be with Anne! And I feel like I want to be on my own, away from them and from bloody Orlando.

Yes! Yes: bloody Orlando! Because it is all his fault! He insisted! If I hadn't listened to him now I would probably be at home, in my bed dreaming quiet dreams!

We quickly join our cars, and it is soon time for goodbyes: I reach out my hand to Elijah, he grabs it and pulls me towards him and kisses me on my cheeks: I remain puzzled, this was quite unexpected, and I hear a faint gasp, on my shoulders.

Try to guess who's giggling at me? I can hear you guys say his name simultaneously! Yep: you are right! It's bloody Orlando the killer! You can't imagine how much I hate him now. But I try to act normally and hold Anne's hand, who on the contrary doesn't seem much interested in kissing me on my cheeks! Well: I am not either! Ummm... Elijah's scent is so particular! I've already talked to you about it: I like it so much! Yes! Very much indeed!

I am in Orlando's car now, but my mind is far away from here, I can hear Sonia and Orli speaking in the background, but don t exactly know what about! It's just me and my sensations about the night.

Okay guys, I know! Elijah seems pretty in love with Anne, but you can't stop emotions, can you? I probably won't see him ever again, so I can afford a little dreaming tonight, can't I? And if there's any of you saying I can't, well! I'd love to see her in the same situation! We could discuss about it, then!

What is you say? You'd prefer Orlando? Geez! You don't know what you’re talking about! You are simply a fool to say, or to even think of it! But I can assure you, that it is a common mistake women do make when it comes to Orlando! I can't deny he's a very handsome guy, but... oh well! I won't be so nasty to ruin your perfect idea of him! You would probably be so lucky to never get to know him!

Orlando's slowing his car now: I look out of the car window and I see an unfamiliar construction. Ehi: wait! That is not my home! What the hell? I thought he would take me home first! This is really weird: this must be Sonia's place.

"It has been so nice getting to know you Orlando!" Sonia's voice has a sensual tone, and I know why!

"It was my pleasure Sonia!" she leans forward to kiss him on his cheeks, and I can hear her whispering to his ears "you have my phone number now!"

I roll my eyes in disgust! Why can't they be more original?

He chuckles and nodding looks at her going out of the car, I follow her outside to sit front. She smiles at me brightly: I see she is head over heels, and cannot help but smile back.

"See ya Sonia!" I wave at her and close the car's door.

"What is that Orlando?" I ask suspiciously.

"What? "

"Why did you take her home first and not me?"

"Why do you find it strange?" he seems elusive.

"Well... it seemed to me... you are kinda... "I am trying to be vague, "interested in her! And if I know you well... "

"Oh! There ya go with your usual clichés on your beloved friend! You probably don't know me that well!"

"Beloved! Who said you’re beloved?"

"I am, I know!" he comments in a very serious tone, keeping his eyes fixed on the road.

"You are not answering my question!" I utter playfully.

"Am I?! And I probably don't want to!" he pauses "or maybe there's no reason at all!"

"Yes! Whateva!" I cross my arms, pouting.

"Did ya have fun?" he asks in a deep tone.

"It was horrible! I can't feel my feet anymore, I hate those high heeled shoes!" I groan, while Orlando smiles.

"You are such a loser!" he comments amused.

"What am I?" I turn to look at him, ready to battle up with him, as we are used to, but then resign to smile back, because the air on his face is so gentle, after all.

"I think anyone would pay to be in your shoes, and look at you! You've been complaining the whole night long!" even if he's reproaching me, his voice sounds cracked in amusement, and I can't really be angry with him.

"Don't be mean Orli! I didn't ask to come! And haven't complained at all! Though, there're some things you'll have to pay... "

"Are you okay now?" he asks not considering my provocation.

"I was even before!"

"Well! It looked like you were fainting, wasn't it for me..."

"Stop it! You look like my father now!" We are at my place now.

"I'll se ya tomorrow?" he asks lingering a tender look on my face.

"I might have time for you Bloomie! Yeah!" he furrows his brows.

"You remember I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, don't you?"

"Yes!" I say but it's a lie: I had totally forgotten. He reaches out his hand and messes up my hair.

"Your make up is a total disaster now!"

He smiles tenderly at me, and this smile is very familiar! I know what's behind it! Pure affection!

"But you were really beautiful tonight!" he sighs, keeping smiling tenderly "Have a goodnight Jazz!" I know he really cares about me, and I know I couldn't replace him with no one else in the world.

"...and don't dream of Elijah!" he's becoming again the unbearable Orlando I am used to.

Oh: this was mean! Maybe I could replace such a hateful friend!

"Why do I have to dream about him?" My face's reddening.

"Umm... maybe because I've noticed that somebody here has been captivated by his" he's getting an adoring girlish tone "gorgeous blue eyes?"

I look at him as if I was offended by his words.

"You don't know what you are talking about Orlando Bloom!"

He's laughing at me "Um, maybe you are right!... Maybe!"

Chapter 9

I feel like in a sort of distant place: it is all dark, padded and warm, and I feel so damn okay… but wait! There's a bugging noise, which is dragging me out little by little of this very comfortable place. I turn in my bed and suddenly realize that it's my phone ringing: I force my will to pick up the receiver, and finally am out of my dream.

"Hal-lo!" I mutter.

"Hi Jazz!" it's Donna's loud voice.

"Hi" I look around for my watch: I want to check out what time it is.

"You are still in bed aren't you?"

"Yes!" I admit sheepishly suddenly remembering I had to meet her and Melissa.

"How long will it take to you to meet us here at the mall? You remember your promise, don't you?" her voice's cracked in amusement.

"Oh Donna! I am so sorry! I came back home late and real… "

"Oh! Don't you worry! We knew you would be late! You can be on time only when you have to go to work! We'll meet you at French Country Café in … let's say an hour?" she cuts me off.

"Okeey!" I say while sitting upright in my bed, "see ya later!"

I keep my eyes closed though: it was so warm and quiet there in my sleep. I'm now remembering I had to meet Donna and Melissa at the mall, for one of our usual nonsense days. We usually do that once a week: we meet in a mall and act like any other teenager in the world: enter clothes shops, and ask the shopkeeper to let us see any items present there and then end up by only buying the cheapest thing, only because we feel so damn guilty. Or we enter perfume shops and try whatever perfume we find available.

I know I'm too grown up for that but it is damn fun, and gives me the idea of freedom! And then I love to spend the day with the girls: to me, our never-ending chitchatting can't be replaced by anything.

I have a quick cold shower, this is the best way to wake me up definitely, and like a sudden flash I see Elijah's blue eyes, and I remember yesterday's night all at once! Don't know why, but I'm still feeling depressed about it but, guys! But it's not the right moment to feel depressed! I'm going to spend my day with the girls and I have to hurry up: no time to waste in sad fantasies, about my best friend's friend! I'm soon in my car and drive freaking loose to reach my friends.

Melissa and Donna are already inside the Cafeteria: I can see them from the window, and they've just spotted me as Mel is waving at me frantically.

"Sorry for being late gals! But I came back home terribly late yesterday evening!"

"You'll have plenty of time to tell us about yesterday evening, dear!"

Donna smiles at me in her usual crazy way, her green eyes lighted up by a funny flash: I know she has a gossip to reveal, and can't resist any longer.

"So Donna! What's it you cannot hold anymore?" Melissa raises a hand to her forehead.

"I've been begging her to tell me but no! She had to wait for you!" she grins.

"Okay! Listen to me carefully gals: this is topical!"

Melissa and I widen our eyes, pretending to be extremely interested: everything can be topical for Donna and she can tell it in a such a particular way, that even if you know it's a silly thing, you nearly want to beg her to go ahead!

"Do you remember Jill Hayns?"

Donna seems so impatient, Melissa rolls her eyes, while I try to make a quick scan of all the names of the people Donna and I know, unable to rely that name to a face.

"Err… sorry Donna!" I frown "I think I don't know her"

"You don't know her personally, Jazz…what if I named you Joey Blackell?"

I blink: Joey and Donna had a quite long term relationship not long ago, suddenly interrupted because Mr. I don't Know anymore Joey couldn't make up his mind on whether to keep up his relationship with Donna or with blood spilling long legs Jill.

"Aaah!" I'm only able to say.

I remember how much Donna suffered before dumping him: well at least she had the satisfaction of telling him she didn't mean to wait longer for a decision! Well! This was all my work, guys: I played a sort of brainwashing on her! I love her too much to see her waste away her life for such a spineless weirdo! And I go quite proud of it!

"So tell us! What's the deal with her?"

"Joey dumped her!" She is really excited now.

"New life, old habits, huh?" Melissa asks suspiciously.

"Not at all! New life new habits!" Donna is now giggling leaving us on a sort of cliffhanger.

"So: do you mean to leave us here dying to find out the reason why?" I ask totally amused by the look I read in her eyes.

"He is gay!" She says proudly.

"What? " Melissa's jaws and mine fall dropped open.

"Yes! Gay!" Donna slurs "The opposite for straight!" she bellows with evident satisfaction.

"You are kidding, aren't you?"

"I knew it!" Melissa says proudly leaning on her chair.

"Not at all, gals!"

I'm having so much fun, although there's nothing funny in being gay, as there's nothing funny in being straight! But what amuses me the most is Donna's air of self satisfaction, her ego has been totally comforted by this news, I'm sure!

We start talking about it, giggling and laughing out loud at poor Jill who had thought to assure her whole future with that relationship, as Joey is a famous and rich lawyer.

We soon end up in reading our favourite women magazine, commenting the section dedicated to hints to have a better look.

"Um… look! Look!" Melissa squeals "here they suggest 10 daily actions to have the most breathtaking breast!"

Our heads lean forward on the magazine simultaneously, and we start giggling on hint number 6.

"How do you think this has to be done… exactly?"

Melissa starts rotating the magazine on the table to find the right way to look at the picture.

"Oh well! I can assure you I can avoid doing it! Whatever way you have to do it!" I say dully "I have the most breathtaking breast on earth! Mother nature has been generous to Jazz!"

The girls look at my round, but medium sized breast and start laughing loud; I follow them merrily.

"Oh yes, Miss Big Breast 2003! You can use your time better!" Donna looks at me funnily.

"Okay let's be serious now! You know I'm not done for that!" I say gesturing towards the magazine "And am too young for worrying about it! "

"Yes we know!" Melissa says "but we usually have fun on it!"

"But we are having fun, aren't we?" I start laughing again, avoiding of thinking back of yesterday evening.

You know guys? I have this strange feeling every time I stop and think about Elijah: a sort of heart sinking, and there's no apparent reason for it! I feel so silly, I don't have the courage to tell the girls!

"So Miss Timbers! Are you going to keep the secret any longer?" Donna asks me while we have just stopped in front of a Beauty Shop.

"Keep the secret on what?" I try to skip the question: I know where she's heading to!

"She's trying to keep the secret!" Melissa says in a pretended hushed tone getting nearer Donna.

"Don't be afraid, Mel! She'll tell us everything!" she spells the word everything "... regarding yesterday's Hollywood party!"

"Ah! That secret!" I pretend I have just caught the meaning of her question. I shrug "Nice place, nice people, I was with Elijah Wood, Orlando's been ugly to me as usual… "

"You knew who?" Melissa has just gripped my arms and is forcing me to look straight in her eyes.

"Elijah Wood!" I say back, getting particular pleasure by pronouncing his first name, which, I must tell you guys, I like freakishly much.

"You met Elijah Wood and didn't want to tell us anything?"

"Well, I've actually known him for three days now!"

"Oh well! This doesn't surprise me much! She's Orlando Bloom's best friend and she has never introduced him to us! To her best friends!" Melissa growls "Not to mention that I find him so hot!"

I roll my eyes: I know where she is going to drag me: Melissa, more than Donna actually, reproaches me for not introducing Orlando to her.

"He's only a jerk, Mel! You are not missing much!"

I say the same old thing I repeat when Melissa starts asking me about him.

"I'd love to find it out on my own, you know, friend!" she says funnily "I'd love to deal with Orlando Bloom the jerk, rather than with any other simple jerk on this earth!" she's daydreaming about him, now, I know.

"Sorry Mel!" Donna cuts her off "we can go back on the subject later! Now Miss Secrecy here has to tell us about the damn evening!

Okay! Now my friends know about yesterday evening, but are not commenting: this surprises me very much, even if I didn't put the stress on my strange feelings about Elijah. Melissa is upset, and keeps talking about Orlando.

"Oh, I can't believe that one of your students got to know him, and me! Your friend, your best friend is only allowed to drool on the pictures of him you have at home! Oh no! This is so unfair Jazz! You can't be so mean to your sweet and supporting friend!" she sniffs feigned sniffs as if she was a child of five years old..

Donna is totally cracked up, whereas I'm starting feeling really guilty.

"Oh Mel! Please! You are an adult now!"

I say weakly, but I have made up my mind, sooner or later I'll introduce Orlando to them.

By the way: Orlando yesterday talked about leaving tomorrow: I was totally forgetting it! Geez! What a brain! Melissa keeps on her pretended whining, while I rummage my purse to look for my mobile: I have to phone Orlando: need to see him before tomorrow.

"Sorry gals! I have to make a phone call!" I announce airily.

I dial Orlando's number but his phone seems to be off: he must be messing around who knows where and with whom!

I feel a little bit disappointed, but I know he'll phone me before leaving! This is our mutual rule: if I can't see you, I'll phone you! I am sure that there's never been somebody to whom I have been more attached, probably he has the same role that my family has in my life, and he's somebody who I feel I want to come back when life gets hard. He's the person who knows more than anyone else in the world about me, detestable sometimes, but I couldn't imagine my life without him!

The rest of the day runs happily and funnily, as it always is with Melissa and Donna. We finally say bye and I drive home, the warm wind messing up my hair and my thoughts as well.

There has been a thought in my mind, all day long. A bugging thought in the background, and now that I am on my own I can't push it back. I really don't know why, as I am not the kind of person who believes in love at first sight, but there is something in Elijah that has hit me deeply. And probably this is something Orlando, and Donna and Melissa will make fun of, but I can't help it! As my best guy friend told me yesterday I have really been captivated by his eyes, and by his sweet smile! And it all exploded yesterday evening, all of sudden, like the revelation of him having a girlfriend! A nice, smart and good-looking girlfriend!

That's set guys: I am a total mess! Always complaining about the fact that I hardly fall in love, and then having silly crushes on guys who are already in love with someone else, but me!

The ringing of my cell phone interrupts my flood of thoughts: it's Orlando.

"I have it all set for tonight, Jazz!" He says without even allowing me say hello.

"You set what?"

"I am taking you out for dinner! You remember? Me… leaving tomorrow, love?" he adds lazily.

"Yes I do, but there's no need to go out and celebrate! We can hang out at my place…"

"Oh yes! So I can admire you in your sweatsuit, or in your pyjamas? No way Jazz! I'll come and pick you up at seven! Don't want to hear you say no!"

"You are not letting me say anything actually..." I say ironically, but he doesn't seem to notice.

"And, Jazz?"

"Yes?"

"Wear a nice dress, sweetie! I'd like to go out with a woman, tonight!" He closes the communication leaving me jaw-dropped.

Should I get angry or what? Am I not a woman to his eyes? Well, maybe I can have him regret what he said! I could wear my worst ragged trousers and t-shirt, kombat boots and no make up at all, but then I know he would take me there anyhow, and everyone could mock at me!

No, okay! We'll have it his way, then! And he'll see if I am a woman or not! Bloody friend of mine!

uhoh...
people I must warn you!
if you read this, watch out for the monster called 'the stairsspell' it's what happens to you if you read this story!
you will get addicted! believe me you will! and the results will be catastrofal
- Heavy breathing from reading the chapters
- fiever from not reading them
- printing out chapters if you don't have time to read thime online and then reading them in class where your professors don't like the fact that your sighing is disrupting the class!

just thought you'd like to be warned!

*gasps*

Hereby I declare you insane for posting aaalll those chaps agian! It's great though, really enjoy reading this again!

Chapter 10

Okay: it seemed easy, when provoked by Orlando but now I'm living a major dilemma: the doors of my cupboard are wide open, I am sitting on my bed and looking miserably at its content.

Wear a nice dress, he said! As if it was easy! Yes, because if we exclude the dress I wore yesterday, I am afraid, there's no big choice!

Okay, guys! What can I do? I don't like wearing dresses, skirts, shorts, and all those clothes that make you feel like Britney Spears or Christina Aguileira! Simply because I am none of them!

Aaawww! Now I'm really feeling miserable: I light a ciggie up, and keep staring at my clothes! Trousers, trousers and trousers… skirt… trous… eep! A skirt?

I take it out: a nice skirt I didn't remember I had! When did I buy it? Ah yes! Now I remember! Donna insisted so much that day, few months ago, that I couldn't but buy it… and if I recall right I also bought a nice sleeveless top, which leaves part of the shoulders totally naked… uhmmm! Where the heck is it now? Oh yes! Here it is! Well: this is a nice clothes set! I feel proud of myself, but it is not over yet! Shoes, Jazz! You need the right matching shoes.

But this is simpler! I am kinda obsessed with shoes, and buy them, even if it is only to wear them once! I choose a pair of medium heeled black sandals: they match perfectly with what I am going to wear!

Eheheheheh: Orlando! You'll see if your friend is a woman or not!

You foul! Go around and mess up with your fans, go! And, sorry! Guys! No offence to be taken! I'm just blaming on my foolish friend, nothing personal towards you!

I'm feeling freakishly satisfied and can't wait to see Orlando's face, … and my satisfaction is so full, now that I'm in my dress and have my best make up on: I also have tied my hair up in a chignon, leaving my neck totally naked! I really like what I see in the mirror, and maybe Orlando's right when he says that I should dress like a woman more often! I am a little sorry because all of this is only to make Orlando shut that fucking mouth of his up…

I wish I could meet Elijah: probably now I can compete with his Anne! …

Or maybe not! I'm sure it's deeper than that! It always is, unless you are not a superficial damn weirdo.

The bell's ringing and I have to leave this thought behind: I grab my purse, switch the lights of my bedroom off and go towards the door. I give a quick glance at myself while rushing in front of it, and I must be honest with you guys! I'm quite proud of myself tonight! I feel like being in one of those rare occasions when I am totally satisfied with my own appearances, and guys! I can assure you! This has happened so rarely in my whole life! I think I could go out and have whatever man I choose, well! All but one! I still remember the way Elijah was kissing Anne yesterday evening, and this makes me sigh deeply!

I open the door, cheesy grin on my face, as if to say "is that enough okay for you, friend?" and end up by being surprised myself: Geez! Orlando is in his best attire, well! At least in one of what I consider his best attires! Orlando has his own taste when it comes to dresses! But tonight I guess I can say I really like what he's wearing, and am probably going to tell him! His curly dark bright locks along his neck (Geez! He had his hair grow! How could it be I am only noticing now?), a dark goatee on his chin, a curious smile on his face: he too seems surprised, as his dark deep eyes flickered, when I've opened the door.

I am confused and can hardly speak a word: I didn't expect him to be so… awesome! I feel odd only at saying it of Orlando.

Let's be honest guys! Orlando is… Orlando! How can I say that he's… awesome? It's like saying it of your own … brother?

"So you have decided to follow my advice!" Orlando, on the contrary, can always say something!

"Had I a different choice?" I ask dryly, but I'm ironic!

"Good! Good!" he murmurs, but cannot hold a smile "Shall we go?"

I close the door and follow him to his car, silently.

"Well! I am not sure if I am taking out the Jazz I used to know!" he says trying to provoke a reaction from my part.

"Don't fear, Orlando! It's the old wise Jazz here! The same old bones under those girlish garments!"

"Huh, I'm sorry then!" he's using his best acting skills, and I accept silently to play his game.

"You are sorry?" I raise an eyebrow at him, as if I was pricked by his remark.

"Well, I must admit that you are really pretty tonight, and, maybe… I…" a curios sparkle flashes through his eyes.

"Maybe, you what?"

I look at him, and ask myself if he's really playing! He's so serious… oh well! No! He's playing! It can't be otherwise!

"Well, I could try my charms on you!" He cracks up loud.

Ya see? He's joking!

"We could make the night fly away!" he glances at me sideways.

"Ah ah ah!" I say dryly "very funny Orlando! You know that your so called charms don't work on me!" I utter sarcastically.

"Ah yes! It's the old story of you knowing me for so long!"

His tone is still playful, but has a sort of tiredness, just a hint though, but maybe it's just me!

"You and your tricks, kinky elfin!" I almost shout merrily, putting the stress on my last words: I know he hates it!

"You called me what?" he chuckles.

"Nothing Orlando! Nothing" I say joining him in his giggles. I watch outside and ask distractedly:

"How long are you staying away?"

"Well, I'm spending a week in London, Jazz! I haven't seen my family for so long now, and you know my mom! She's stressing me out with her usual, monotone question…"

"When are you coming home child?" we say simultaneously, imitating Orlando's mother perfect British accent, and then laugh up loudly.

"I wish you could come along!" he suddenly says seriously.

"I wish I could as well, Orlando! Mum's always asking me when I'm going back as well, but I always postpone! I've so much to do here! I guess I must feel envious!"

"Oh! I'll pay a visit to your mom, don't worry!" he adds, resting his hand on my arm, squeezing it gently.

"Will you?" I ask expectantly, feeling assured by the warmth of his hand.

If I had a tail I would be wagging at him like his dog!

"Of course I will! What an idea! Have to tell her you are worst than ever!"

"Sod off!" I grimace funnily at him.

"C'mon Jazz! You are overreacting! Is it possible that you don't understand when I play?"

"You always play with me, that's the point!"

Orlando slows down his car: Geez! Guys! He has definitely done his best tonight!

The restaurant is in Marina Del Ray, quite a romantic place, with a nice terrace overlooking the ocean: Orlando has just told me a little about the history of the business, which has always been about creating a memorable atmosphere incorporating great music, beverages (yes! beverages!) and sunsets, at least this is what I think he said!

I am flabbergasted! If I only remember of the places we used to go when we were in UK! Small smoky pubs, eating badly and fast! But things have changed for him, and I can be only happy for him!

I turn and look at him.

"Orlando, there was no need to take me here! You don't have to impress me, you know I am your friend no matter what! A Mac Donald's would have been okay!"

"Shut up, Jazz!" he whispers tilting his head aside, and following me while entering the place. "A Mac Donald's! What an idea!" he then goes on muttering, and I know he's thinking that I'll never change.

We are inside now, and I definitely can say guys that it is impressing: I'm going to feel out of place now, I'm sure! What the hell he has got in mind, I'd really love to find out!

I look around while sitting at the table, helped by a waiter, and Lord: the view is really breathtaking! Orlando sits in front of me, and I wait for the waiter to leave us to speak a word.

"Orlando: are we celebrating anything?" he rolls his eyes.

"Do we have to celebrate something at any cost Jazz?"

He seems annoyed, now, it's like a quick flash in his eyes; but it's just a moment: he's now smiling again!

"This is so gorgeous!" I murmur "you've never been so gentlemanlike with me Mr. Bloom!"

"There's always a first time, Jazz!" he smirks.

Oh well: I am not able to believe him!

Sorry, I might look too suspicious of my good old friend, but I don't trust in him! He's planning something, or has already planned something and doesn't want to tell me! All of a sudden I think of Sonia.

"Orlando Bloom!" I pronounce his name seriously.

"Jasmine Timbers!" he answers likewise, following the line of his glass with his fingertip.

"Isn't it that maybe you had to come here with somebody else?" his eyes grow bigger for surprise, or at least I think it is surprise "and maybe this somebody has declined your invitation?"

Yep! That is the reason why we are here! It can't be otherwise: nobody can avoid my bright reasoning! I'm so smart a girl! Orlando: I caught you! Now: tell me the truth if you dare!

I smile, proud of myself, but he doesn't smile back at me, oddly, I must say. He only raises an eyebrow and says dully:

"If this is what you think, Jazz!" he seems offended now, and makes me feel guilty for being so mean!

Maybe he only wanted to share some different experience with me. He has been particularly proud of himself lately, because the movie he starred in was the first movie in which he had the major lead role, and he really had liked the script… I bite my inner bottom lip, guilt clearly visible on my face.

"I'm sorry!" I say sheepishly "I was only joking!" I say, but we both know that it's not the truth.

For a while we remain in silence, each one of us hidden to the other by the menu: I don't know what he is doing, but from my part I'm feeling so idiot that I can't hardly decide what to order. Soon the waiter approaches for our orders: Orlando chooses the wine!

Yeah! Get some wine mate! I definitely need some to loose up a little! I'm still feeling damn guilty towards you! The waiter's asking something to me now: oops! Haven't caught a word of what he has just said. I look at him grinning, but unable to say a word.

"We maybe need some more time to make up our minds, don't we?"

Orlando answers staring straight into my eyes, and smiling at me tenderly, whereas I am only able to nod, and the waiter steps away!

I know! I must really be insane, but probably this is no news! ;)

***

Chapter 11

"Thanks!" I whisper and Orlando curls his lips in a gentle smile, as he picks up his glass, eyes lingering in that usual silent reproaching but affectionate way of his, that I have seen shadowing his look for so many times so far.

"I know what you are thinking! I will never change, and maybe you are right!" I shift my stare to look on the table, as the intensity of his stare, now, is almost hurting.

"I am really sorry for what I said! I didn't really mean it, Orlando!" I add in a low tone.

"Yes, that's okay! Why don't we just decide what to eat, now?" he leans towards me "I'm bloody starving!" he whispers funnily.

And I know what you are thinking too, guys! I've been complaining about his nastiness towards me so far, but you've only experienced me being bitchy with him, and maybe appearances are against me, but it is Jazz who is always Orlando's victim, not the contrary!

I could mention several facts to prove it, just ask me when! 1999? 1998? 1996? You choose the year and I'll tell you! What is it you say? You don't want to hear it? You'd prefer to know more about his love life? And don't want to be mutual with me? A GIRL like you, who has been bossed around by him so far?

Ah! Thank you guys! It's a real pleasure discovering that I am not alone! A great pleasure!

Well: anyhow! I've just made a mistake, who doesn't make mistakes? I'll be proving you that I was right, wait and see guys, wait and see!

The night seems to slip away very merrily and I a very carefree way, as it usually is when the two of us are together: we talk and laugh, wrapped in a cloud of total nonsense, till the point when he enters an embarrassing - for me - field.

"Elijah phoned me today!" he informs me, stare fixed on me to study my reactions.

I fall silent.

I am not able to reply a simple word: not a gasp, not a sigh, I am not able even to breathe, or to cross his eyes. I look at my nails instead, trying to feign nonchalance. Orlando puts down his fork, keeping on looking at me speechless for another while.

"We spoke randomly, but he asked me of you a couple of times!" he then goes on, titling his head aside and scratching the bottle of water's tag, stare set on it, lips pursed in a pouted expression. I keep myself quiet, holding my breath.

"I tried to skip his questions, but I think he was quite curious about... " he pauses for any sign from my part, but I am still quiet, too quiet for me!

"Jazz?" he calls out my name: I must be too quiet for him as well!

"Yes?" I ask glancing for a while at him, eyes swimming in his.

"You heard what I've said?" he places his elbow on the top of his chair, as he leans back to it.

"Of...course I have!" I say laughing lightly and trying to get an easy attitude, but I guess he knows me too well. "... and what did ya tell him... of... me, I mean?" I'm anxious to know now! Elijah asked him of me, yep guys! Isn't it amazing?

"Well! I didn't say much... on the contrary, he said more than I expected!" he gulps.

"Did he?" I am looking straight into his eyes, mine widened for expectation.

"I think I know him a bit!" he pauses, drinking a sip of wine "and I repeat, he didn't say something in particular, but..." he pauses, again! oh! c'mon Orlando! don't make me die here to hear more!

"I think he likes you a bit!"

He likes me? He, who has a girlfriend, a smart pretty brilliant girlfriend likes me? Now my head is light, and I feel floating some inches over the ground: yes! I am acting like a teenager, so? Anyone has anything to say? He likes me! I need to celebrate, having another sip of this sweet wine!

But I won't tell this incoherent babbling to Orlando, who is analysing each and every move of mine. I try to put on a serious attitude, hoping to escape his severe look.

"Well: who cannot but like me?" I say hoping that, among the padded noise of forks over plates and of glasses accompanying our conversation in the background, he won't hear the fast pounding of my heart!

I think I like Elijah as well, yes! Yes! I like him very much indeed!

Orlando smiles, but his smile is not as clear and true meant as his usual ones. It hides something, I can tell it by those light lines forming over his forehead, known signs appearing over his features when something troubles him, but I don't have the time or the will to go deeper: I'm too much into what he has just said about Elijah!

"He seems pretty in love with Anne!" I say trying to draft the focus on another related subject.

"I guess he was very much into her!" Orlando's attitude is quite wise now "Elijah's a very romantic guy, he believes in love!" Wise but cynical! "But things are being difficult at present, I guess!"

"I am sorry!" I whisper: it's true, but not that much!

"Well: that's the deal with love, Jazz!" He passes a hand through his bright dark locks, staring deeply at me, his looks is intense and the dim light plays strangely on his face: he looks so freakishly handsome, now!

Wow! Probably they are all so right when they go around screaming for him, he can be very hot if he means to! The only problem with me is that I am so much used to have him as a buddy that I don't look at him like a woman should! Maybe, I don't have to!

I frown surprised of my own thoughts: am I even considering the idea of having sentimental affection for him?

I am flabbergasted by my own attitude! That must be the effect of the wine!

And then he's such a sentimentally selfish guy: I've never, I underline never, seen him too much into a relationship!

"And I am sorry you are leaving me alone, mate!" I chime in, changing totally the subject of the conversation and trying to understand the reason why he has told me that thing about Elijah.

He frowns, glancing suspiciously at me.

"You? Sorry?" he asks sarcastically.

"Yes! Me! Sorry!" I answer likewise "Is it that odd?"

"Oh no! Not all!" He reflects for a while on what he has just said, raising an eyebrow, flared nostrils, as he tries to hold a grin "Or maybe, yes! It is!" he goes on accompanying his words with a light nod of his head.

"Then what?" I am the usual rude Jazz.

"I'm sorry, as well... in a way!" he then subsides to his usual enthusiasm, and unfolds an ear to ear grin.

I start chuckling, thinking of Melissa and her huge need to get to know him soon, and our day at the mall, feel the urge of telling him of my afternoon with my friends, but then end up with asking him of his, which, he admits candidly, he spent with Sonia. I can't hold a gasp.

"Did you behave yourself Orlando?" I ask afraid to hear his answer.

"Truth or dare?"

"Okay! You didn't behave yourself! I'm dead!" I murmur bringing a hand to my forehead "I don't want to know your intentions... "

"Intentions?" he cuts me off, frowned and a strange grin on his face "Can you hear the way you talk?" he laughs a fresh laughter, his eyes narrowed into dark fissures.

"Yeah! Intentions, Orlando, intentions!" I say seriously "I run the risk of..."

"Of what?" he is really amused of my fears "we spent the afternoon together, on the beach, which intentions should I have?"

Suddenly I feel so silly: I'm not Orlando's mother, neither Sonia's! They're adults and they can do whatever they like to, at the least they should! Who am I to patronize?

I know that I don't have to say or worry about anything! I drink eagerly another long sip of wine, and cursing on myself mentally for feeling so damn silly, all of a sudden!

"Take it easy Jazz!" he suggests reaching out his hand over the table to cover mine.

"Oh! It's not going to be like yesterday evening, don't you worry! I've eaten enough!" I say, patting impolitely, (but in a way that only Orlando can spot what I am doing) on my belly!

"I've... noticed!" he says smiling "you are a very accomplished, elegant girl!" he's mocking at me "but we all know that very accomplished girls cannot ..." he lifts his hand at the waiter, waving it slightly to catch his attention. "...end their dinner unless they haven't had their chocolate cake!"

"Amen!" I whisper happily, nodding, totally satisfied with his words while looking at the waiter approaching, as happy as a child, and remarking that Orlando is being too good a friend for me, tonight! And that, despite it all, I am going to miss him when he's away, like any other given time!

Chapter 12

It doesn't take much time for me to finish this delicious cake: I love chocolate! I think I could renounce to any sort of food but, saying no to chocolate to me would be like dying. I am kind of addicted to it, so much addicted that when I was seven I had to spend a week at hospital to recover from a sort of intoxication... I know I should be ashamed of that, but... I was a child! And you all know children! They all live in their own world... and mine was made of chocolate!

Orlando has just come back from the restrooms and now he's spreading a bright smile across his face.

"Was it enough Jazz?" he's referring to the cake: he knows all about my addiction.

We shared happy chocolate afternoons at my place, when we were home! I used to be the one who used to have more: he's always been too much into his physic! You know? All that crap about being fit! So, where I ate ten he used to have one, but it was damn funny anyhow, especially because during those times we used to talk the hours away, filling the air with dreams and expectations, ours, and depicting scenarios which usually saw him as the world acclaimed superstar, rich and as powerful as a god; now I can say that we weren't after all so wrong in our ramblings: if I only stop and ponder on what he has recently become, I see all those dreams fulfilled! All but one, yes! I used to fool around saying that if he was to become famous I could have overcome my huge reticence for the mere idea and accepted to become his lover, not his girlfriend or wife! I would have left all the troubles of a life with him to another woman! I would only have enjoyed of his wealthy and power!

"I am sorry to shatter all your dreams of conquering the world on my side, Jazz!" he used to cut me off at that particular part of my rants. "But lovers are renowned for being more related to another aspect of life... you know... such as..." and he usually paused glancing at me mischievously, silently implying that lovers usually share sex.

"Yeeek!" I always ended up grimacing and complaining about that fact. "Sex? With you?" and rolled my eyes and opened my mouth as to gather as much air as possible to survive the shock. "I'd rather go and close myself in a nunnery!"

At which we used to burst out in a silvery laughter, and he used to clutch at his chest, repeating he was shattered there.

"Do you want me to get more cake?" he asks sweetly.

I shake my head, smiling.

"I am okay, thanks!" I admit, while I can hear some hushed voices coming from the table across ours.

I try to understand what they're saying and even if I do not catch every single word, I know they're talking about Orlando!

I was wondering why nobody had approached to ask for an autograph yet! That's what it means being famous, doesn't it?

Orlando's asking the waiter the bill, and soon a couple of young girls - they must be no more than sixteen! - stand up in front of our table, smiling and visibly excited. I give a quick amused glance at Orlando trying to do my best to hold my giggles. He rolls his eyes smiling, but I can see that he quite expected it.

They greet him warmly and ask him for his autograph. Orlando straightens up in his chair, his most fascinating grin spread across his face. What an actor he is! But this is part of what he had always worked hard for, and I know that he loves being at the center of attention.

He's quite charming now, I must be honest, he could easily conquer any girl's admiration now, and he knows it! And he'll start playing on it, as he usually does! I'll stand aside and simply enjoy the show, which flows under my eyes like a same old script.

Once he has signed autographs for them, he throws a quick look at me, his deep brown eyes flashing: I fold my arms over my chest and lean back on my seat and look at him standing up and posing for a couple of pictures with the girls. They finally thank him and kiss him on the cheek, and then walk back to their table, where their families are waiting, giggling and screaming.

All the people filling the room are now looking at us, and if only few had noticed who he was when we entered the room, now everyone has figured out that Orlando Bloom's here, and I silently pray God to have the time to slip away soon before a long line of adoring fans queue for autographs.

I think Orlando has read my mind, because he's signing quickly the credit card slip the waiter has just brought and asks me if I am ready to go. I nod and stand up soon.

Orlando follows me outside the restaurant, silently: guys! I feel like my stomach's exploding! I have eaten so much that, I guess, if Orlando pushed me now I would roll on the street like a ball, directly down to the beach. But that cake was too delicious and I couldn't say no. I actually didn't have any idea of renouncing to it.

And I like being spoiled once in a while, and I guess that's what he did tonight! He spoiled me, and if I recall right that must be the third or fourth time in years of friendship!

I can hear his giggles now: I turn to look at him, now that we are in the street! He has his hands in his pockets and walks slowly, kicking a small stone.

"You shouldn't laugh at them O.B.!" I use to call him O B when I pretend to scold him.

"I am not laughing at them J.T.!" he says likewise "I never laugh at them!"

"Are you not?"

"I am laughing at you! You were so serious! You looked like my mom!"

"I was not serious! I had a hard time in holding my laughter! I was just watching the same old movie, where you play Rodolfo Valentino for your adoring fans!"

"Rodolfo Valentino?" he has an amused look, "Well! I guess I'd love to play that part! I must speak to my agent about it! "

"They were nice, young, pretty looking girls"

"They all are, but I hardly have the time to notice! They're just quick images that follow me wherever I go! It is great in the beginning..." he pauses "and they were too young, Jazz!" he then changes soon subject to our conversation.

"You don't need to take me to the airport tomorrow morning, Jazz!" he then exclaims, completely off topic: his voice is serious and his look's concerned. I wonder what he's thinking of now.

"I promised, and then I'm glad to give you a lift!" I say merrily.

"I can take a cab! I have a very early flight!" he protests.

"Oh stop it! I said I would come and I'll do! Stop bugging me with this girlish moaning, oua see I am right when I call you elfin?"

"Be it as you like then!" he says opening the car door to let me in: I frown suspiciously.

He always goes mad at me when I call him elfin! Well! In the beginning he was really amused, but then started getting annoyed and angry about it! I always say it when I want to provoke him. But he's not commenting. Neither a word! I am definitely very surprised!

Hello there! Is this my old friend Orlando I'm speaking to? There must be something wrong here, guys! I have to investigate... But if this was true then I would know: we have always shared our doubts, worries and problems. If something was worrying him, he would tell me.

I open my mouth to go deeper into the subject, but he's back the nice fool I use to know, and I decide to let go! He has his own secrets, and this is right after all! We have grown old now, and probably it wouldn't be fair to know every single detail of each other's life!

Although, honestly, I'd love to keep on having that kind of relationship with him, but I respect him so much that if he doesn't tell me everything, I'll accept it! Despite myself.

"Shall we go for a walk, do you mind Jazz?"

He simply asks nodding towards the beach. My first impulse is to decline his invitation: we both have an early call tomorrow, but then I think that I can do it at least for once! He's leaving tomorrow! And the night's warm and bright.

That won't do any harm!

He locks his car and soon stands by my side and walk slowly with me towards the beach, completely immersed in his own thoughts.

I take my sandals off and start walking on the fresh sand, breathing deeply: there's a light breeze blowing, and messing up my hair. We don't say much, but just walk side by side: he's still keeping his hands in his pockets, my hands are interlaced on my back, sandals hitting it at each step I take. I don't really know why, but I feel like I want to ask him so many things, maybe something more about Elijah, but then end up with simply say nothing. I know I could not bear with his mocking! And honestly, guys! I don't need them now! And then there's this weird silence he keeps drowning in that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. I reach out a hand to squeeze his arm gently.

"Something's wrong, Orlando?" he turns his head and smiles at me lazily.

"Why you ask?" I shrug, feeling silly as I cross his serene big chocolate eyes.

"You are being too silent, friend!" I say timidly. He tilts his head aside and flashes me with a warm smile.

"I am simply enjoying your company Jazz!" he whispers sweetly and winks at me, wrinkling his nose.

I sigh deeply and then smile him back: I should do the same, instead of worrying about nothing.

Chapter 13

The alarm buzzer hits my ears violently, like a hammer, my head aches suddenly: I force my eyes to open, even if they need to remain shut, actually it is like they're stuck and it hurts opening them. I slowly reach out my hand to the nightstand to turn on the light and my head gives a violent spin.

Gah! I feel sick rotten.

Outside it is still deep dark. and I am muttering obscenities under my breath, remembering of what I told my friend yesterday and kicking mentally myself for that.

I insist Orlando! I said I would ...

Yeah, Orlando! I don't bloody care about the fact that we ended up coming back home only a couple of hours ago.

I don't give a damn if we decided to finish our night together in a bar swallowing alcohol like two old mariners, meeting after long years which had seen they parted and drinking their troubles away.

Oh me! I am feeling queasy now! I am sick.

Let me sit back on my bed and put my head between my knees. I can't help thinking of how horrible I must look now: swollen eyes and puffy face and it's only Orlando's fault! Umph! I ask myself how the hell it is that he always succeeds in having me doing what he likes! I am spineless, that's official. Or maybe just soft hearted.

There was something in his eyes yesterday