The Chronicles of Valen Ch. 34
*Disclaimer:* Valen, Nathyrra, The Seer, and several of the other characters are the property of Bioware. If you’ve played the game, you’ll recognize them. The rest is the invention of my twisted little imagination, including Morrighu Badb and the goddess she serves.
*********************************************
*Into the Wastelands*
Morrighu wakes in the night to find Valen sitting off by himself, polishing his armor. She stretches and then gets up to see what has him occupied so. She walks up behind him and taps him on the shoulder. Intent on what he’s doing, he hasn’t noticed that she’s awake. He spins to face her, snarling and eyes glowing, thinking she is some threat.
She backs away carefully, hands out, “Valen, it’s only me. There is no need to be alarmed. If I was a threat, I would hardly tap you on the shoulder, would I?”
With visible effort, he gains control of himself, dimming his eyes and making an attempt to smile at her.
She seats herself next to him and asks, “What is it that has troubled your sleep so?”
He sighs, “I do not trust the Knower of Places. She lied to the Sleeping Man and he is a Planetar. She does things for her own reasons and I mistrust her. I do not like sleeping around those I do not trust.”
Morrighu nods, “If you want to sleep, I will watch.”
He smiles at her again, less forced this time and on a sudden impulse, scoops her into his lap. Before she can protest, he buries his face in her hair and inhales deeply, breathing in the spicy woodsy scent she favors.
He mumbles something she can’t catch so she turns her head, “What was that?”
He sighs again, “No matter what happens to us in this place, know that I love you.” He begins nuzzling her ears and neck while raining small kisses on her. His hands trace her contours, covered as she is in her armor, memorizing the feel of her.
When she starts to respond to him, he stops her, “Don’t test my restraint just now.”
She sighs, basking in his affections and allows him free run for a few moments until something occurs to her.
Her eyes narrow suddenly, “Valen, if anything happens to you, I will cart you through all of Hell if I must to find a place where I can resurrect you. Now promise me, nothing foolish.”
Valen lays his cheek atop her head and pulls her close, “I know that I am likely to become a problem. My heritage makes me far more unwelcome here than most. I am even more unwelcome than you.”
She grabs his ponytail and pulls his head around so that he finds himself locked in her smoky olive gaze, “When I was too afraid to try to find a way out of this place, you became my courage. When I was too weak to go on, you became my strength. Don’t you dare abandon me now. Because you and Nathyrra are here, I have managed to pull myself together and keep myself together. Without you, I am lost. We are all lost. If you need something to hang on to, hang on to this. I love you and want to have a life with you. If you want to have a life with me, you must hold on. Now give me your word.”
Valen returns to nuzzling her ear and whispers to her, “I do love you. I have sworn to you that I will put my life before yours. I have given you oaths that I will keep all harm far from you. What then am I do if I am the thing that might harm you?”
Morrighu whispers back to him, “I do not fear you. You are my guardian, my protector. What I do fear is loosing you. Without you, I have no real desire to continue. That is one lesson I learned from the Beholders.”
Valen grimaces, “I recall that. I also recall the racket that you were making. I do not know when I have heard the sound of so much misery from a single being.”
Sheltered in his arms, she looks up at him, “If you love me, you will not put me through that again. I don’t know if I can bear it. Actually, that’s not really true. I’m fairly certain that I cannot bear it. I do not do much of anything in half-measures. Once I am committed to a course, I give it my full attention and effort. That includes you as well. I cannot love you just a little bit. While I see more shades of gray than most paladins, my world is still very much a binary place – sweet or sour, nice or mean, good or bad, black or white, all or nothing, on or off. So you see, it’s a bit of an all or nothing proposition. I have held out for a man I could give the whole of my heart to that I could love utterly and completely, which brings me to you.”
Valen smiles at her, “I remember the first time you told me that you loved me, in the Maker’s Sanctuary. I should have told you how I felt about you then, but I was afraid. I was afraid that you might use my feelings for you to deceive me.”
Morrighu sighs heavily, “Even after our pact? Valen, I am a paladin. My word is my bond and I will die trying to keep it.”
He chuckles as he tightens his grip on her, “I am well aware of that now, my love. However, I seem to recall that you told me, early in our relationship, that all warfare is deception. I was afraid that you might have been against us and merely practicing your craft.”
Morrighu chuckles, “I have done many things to lead an enemy into a trap, but tricking a general into having a romance with me is hardly one of them. It isn’t even anything I would want to contemplate. I doubt that I could bear to be this close, this intimate without loving the person.”
He sighs, “You did say that it was not your way to see out casual companionship, I think you called it. I find it strange that you would be so…definite about that, since it is an almost foreign concept to me. I have never been overly particular in that regard. When I was in the Abyss, women were often given to us as prizes or rewards. Others sought us out for their own reasons, many demanding that we use our demonic blood to sate them in some ritual. Others used such as part of the summoning or later as a reward for services rendered. Later, when I left the Abyss, others sought me simply because I was a tiefling and not un-attractive. Since I have been with the Seer though…”
Morrighu waves her hand, “I get the idea. You haven’t exactly been chaste, which isn’t exactly news. I had gathered as much from many of the things you’ve said. What you did then, before me, isn’t really any concern of mine. What happens from now on, though, is an entirely different matter. However, I doubt that I have much cause for concern there. You have made it quite clear that you are content with me and I find that to be sufficient. I cannot wait to find out what great secret you have been keeping from me though. I had thought that our night in the tavern would have settled it.”
Valen chuckles, “Ah…there are still one or two things we will discuss when the time comes, but that is time is not now. You really ought to go and try to rest. I can tell that you are still tired.”
Morrighu pouts at him, “I am only going back to bed if you come with me. I need someone to keep my feet warm, after all. Besides, your armor is so spotless I think I could use it to pin my hair up. I don’t understand your obsession with your armor.”
He chuckles, “My armor was a gift, a prize from my mentor. He is one of the few good memories I have from my time in the Abyss.”
Morrighu looks at him curiously, “You have mentioned him once or twice, but you never really speak of him. Will you…will you tell me about him some time?”
He sighs, “Some time, when we are far away from this place. Thinking about it makes it harder for me. I hear the drums more clearly when I think of my time in the Blood Wars.”
Morrighu nods, “I understand. I do not wish to pry. It’s just that I find you, everything about you, to be endlessly fascinating.” She grins at him impishly, “Should you ever need a distraction, I would gladly try to drown out those drums you say you hear.”
He arches a brow at her, “And just how do you plan to do that, my love?”
She smirks slightly as she places one of his hands over her heart. He can feel it beating, even though her armor as she pulls his head down. She looks into his eyes, swimming in his intense azure gaze, “Now kiss me.”
He leans down, meaning to give her a tender kiss, but she has other ideas. The kiss quickly becomes passionate and demanding.
He groans before the onslaught, but she has locked her arms around his head. Beneath his hand, he can feel her heartbeat racing and for a few moments this does indeed drown out everything else. Finally, she releases him and he pulls back, gulping air.
She smiles at him, “Was I right or not?”
He blushes lightly, “You were quite right.” While he can still hear the drums, they are more distant and easier for him to bear now.
She nods, “You see, we need each other. We will both make it through this place as long as we are together.”
He chuckles softly, “Now will you sleep?”
She sighs, “Only if you agree to hold me.”
He grimaces and buckles the pauldron he was polishing back into place, “As my lady wishes.”
She takes him by the hand and leads him back to their bedroll. She crawls in to it and holds it open for him to join her, which he does. She yawns as his arms slip around her and cradled next to him, drifts back to sleep.
He lays there looking down at her wistfully and thinks about what a strange path it has been for them. He remembers planning the private celebration he meant to have with her after the Valsharess was defeated and blushes again. He sighs and decides that can all wait until after they have defeated the arch-devil.
He wants time and peace for several reasons, not the least of which is that he wants it to be safe for her should she become pregnant. Her willingness is a near daily test of both his resolve and his restraint. He grins at the thought of a child and tries to decide if he would rather have a son like him or a daughter like her.
Then he considers the opposite, a son like her or a daughter like him and chuckles to himself. Some of the things that Morrighu does and some of the ways in which she thinks would be better suited to a man. He pulls her slim, lithe form closer to him as he considers this. It is a testament to her skill that she is not injured more often or more severely when they go into battle.
What she lacks in size and strength, she makes up for in speed and finesse. While she’s fairly tall for a human female, she is not overly large and most of her opponents dwarf her. He remembers their first night together in the tower. He had been afraid to sleep too much because he feared he would roll over on her and crush her.
He grins at the thought having discovered that she likes to sprawl in her sleep and has no problem pushing him out of the way. He’s pleased that his scheme with the healing potions seems to be working. Her scars are better and several of her older injuries seem to have healed nicely.
He sighs, deciding that he’s done the best he can for one night and lowers his head to the pillow next to her. He still has trouble believing that she trusts him to hold her while she sleeps. He smiles as he dozes off with his paladin his arms. Morrighu wakes to find Valen staring down her, a slight smile playing around his face.
She grins at him, “Watching me sleep again, o patron-protector?”
He nods, “Your repetitive dream seems to have stopped. Your sleep is peaceful, now.”
She sighs, “That’s because we’re here. I hadn’t expected to ever find this place and I though it was only jitters, but it is not.”
He frowns at her, “What do you mean?”
She sighs again, more heavily, “I told you that one of Feya’s talents is for foretelling. He says that it is anyway. He says that he had no talent for it before he became one of the aspects, although the previous Feya never mentioned it as one of the attributes of that aspect. Well, that seems to have been the cause of my dreams. This is the place I dreamed of. That happens some times. I dream of things long before they actually happen. I didn’t want to say anything before because I thought it might just be a dream. I can usually tell the difference. Dreams of foretelling are usually crisper and incredibly detailed. I have had them be accurate down the numbers on a tally sheet. These weren’t always so detailed. Many of them have been quite fuzzy but that might only be my recollection of them once I wake. That’s usually not a problem for me though. I can usually recall them without any problem. It’s always eerie to walk into a situation where I know what’s going to happen next. Some times, if I recognize it in time, I can change it. Otherwise, it plays out exactly as I dreamed it, often with dire consequences.”
Valen’s frown deepens, “What do you mean, with dire consequences?”
Still ensconced in his arms, she shrugs, “I have seen great harm result from not being able to change what I have dreamed. It isn’t always up to me, though. Sometimes I must persuade someone else to change what they are doing and that doesn’t always go as well.”
He looks at her curiously, “What do you mean?”
She gestures helplessly, “It’s hard to explain, but I have some problems sometimes getting other people to cooperate with me. Often something as simple as changing their shirt is enough to alter the flow of events.”
He looks puzzled, “Can you give me an example?”
She nods, “We were planning to go to party and when I saw one of our group still getting dressed. I knew then that I recognized the circumstances. It was difficult to say the least because I knew that one of them would die, if things went as they were going. Everyone got very annoyed with me because I made her go and change her clothes before I would agree to leave. We were accosted on our way home by a bunch of thieves but were able to run them off. In my dream, one of them knifed her and she died before we could help her. They are convinced that I am a bit…off, but at least she is alive to think that I am odd. I would rather have that than to be putting flowers on her funeral monument. I don’t think that any of them believed me, but I know, in the bottom of soul, that it is true.”
Valen considers her words carefully, “You seem so certain of it. How do you know this is the case?”
She sighs, “The talent for foretelling runs in my family separate from this talent of Feya’s. Because I draw on both, this makes me more sensitive than most, at least that’s what Feya says. My great-grandmother was the best at it, better even than Feya. She even knew when unexpected guests were coming to dinner. I know because she always had the right number of plates and enough food.”
Valen looks at her curiously, “So what you know about foretelling you get from her?”
She nods, “She talked to me about it when I was very young because it was stronger in me than in my other siblings. It started with me when I still very young and it frightened me. I thought I was making these things happen somehow.”
Valen looks at her askance, “How small were you?”
She rolls her eyes, “Three or four, if you must know.”
Valen asks, “What’s the first thing that you recall being able to foretell?”
Morrighu thinks for a moment, “It happened for a long time before I told anyone. I was so little that I can’t really remember what it was about. The first one that I can really remember happened when I was four or so. I dreamed that we were playing and one of my playmates, Rhianwen hid in the wheat field. It was harvest time and the men came through with scythes to harvest the wheat and hit her because she was hiding there. I dreamed she was wearing a pink dress with yellow flowers on it. Now, she didn’t own a dress like that, so I thought nothing of it. A week later, on her birthday, her mother gave her that very dress. I think I fainted at her party, when she opened that present. My Nana, my great-grandmother, took me aside and asked me what was the matter, so I told her. Nana asked me what happened to her in the dream after the men hit her. I said that I didn’t know but that there was a lot of blood. Nana just looked grim and later that night I came downstairs to find her burning that dress in the fireplace. She had bought the dress from the girl’s mother and burned it.”
Valen looks thoughtful, “So what happened?”
Morrighu sighs, “Later on when Rhianwen asked me to play hide and seek with her, I wouldn’t. Nana had told me that just to be safe, we shouldn’t play hide and seek for a while. The last time I saw Rhianwen alive was at her wedding.”
Valen sighs, “I can see where a child would think that it was something that they were doing. Have you ever dreamed of anything that you weren’t able to change?”
She nods, “Some times I cannot see well enough to know what to change, some times it is beyond my control to change what needs to be changed, and some times I don’t recognize what’s happening in time. Any time I don’t take action to change what I’ve dreamed, the consequences are dire. My talent seems to work in danger avoidance mode. Feya, who knows more about this than any of the rest of us, says that it is one reason I am so successful in the field. He says that my hunches are product of foretelling. Because that’s not my aspect, the talent isn’t fully expressed, like it is with him. He thinks it that all of us can do it, but that I am simply more sensitive to it than the others.”
Valen considers her words before asking, “What does he have to say about your great-grandmother’s advice?”
Morrighu chuckles, “Nana told me what to do and how to handle it. Her advice has never been wrong once yet. When I do what she said, the things I dreamed don’t happen and when I don’t do what she said, they do. Feya has even started following her advice, with good results. He’s come to agree with her.”
Valen frowns, “Is that why you say that the future is malleable?”
She nods, “It is. I have been able to change events that have been foretold. If the future were not malleable, I would not be able to change the things that were foretold. They would simply happen no matter what.”
He pulls her closer, “Tell me why this is so important to you?”
She nestles back into his warmth, “Because it tells me several important things about the universe. It means that free will operates, that our choices are not merely a meaningless illusion. It means that what we do today impacts what happens tomorrow. There are two basic schools of thought on how the universe works – one is that everything is predestined and the other is that free will operates. Those that think everything is predestined think that the entire paths of our lives are laid out cradle to grave, and that all choice is an illusion. The other school of thought is that nothing is fixed and that each choice we make has consequences, both good and bad.”
He frowns at her, “But I still don’t understand why this is so important to you.”
She grins up at him, “It means that a tiefling can choose to be good. You are not destined to be evil simply because of your blood. It means that Nathyrra can be redeemed and that she is not destined to be evil either even though she is a drow. It means that anyone can change what they are simply by choosing to. It means that salvation is possible for any of us. It means that the future, our future, is what we choose for it to be. It is not all carved up and laid out in advance.”
Valen’s mouth opens in an understanding, “O,” while he processes the implications of what she’s said.
She smiles up at him, “Since you insist on keeping watch, even though I tell you that it is not necessary, will you please come a bit closer?”
He chuckles quietly, “Why is that, my love?”
She grins back at him, “Because you are warm.”
He obligingly pulls her closer still and she basks in his warmth while she dozes off again. He lies next to her, listening to her deep and even breathing, thinking that she really is a singularity. He frowns for a while; the ice around his heart has begun to grow again.
“What about tomorrow?” asked Natalie. “I heard the summer festival they have here is a lot of fun.”
“Yeah, so did the screenwriter. The fireworks are tomorrow and we’re shooting right in the middle of the Taste of Chicago,” said Kirsten. “Sorry I’m so busy but I think the night after that I’ll be free.”
“Okay,” said Natalie. Allen reached Joe’s first and held the door open as Natalie and Kirsten went inside.
*7:18 pm. Michael and Thomas’s house.*
Michael was sitting at the kitchen table reading through his script, practicing his lines for the next day. He almost choked on a piece of lettuce when he flipped the page and saw the next scene. With everything that had happened he did not realize that tomorrow would be the first day he and Kirsten would actually work together. The scene was rather intense considering their prior relationship. He could probably handle it but afterwards was the problem. There was only so much professionalism he had.
He tossed the script onto the table and rubbed his eyes as his mind drifted to Natalie and the events leading up to their second meeting. Thomas was out with Keira, probably having a great time. He had no issues with playing up the hero angle; Keira ate it up and asked for more. Michael, on the other hand, almost wished it had never happened. He choked down his disgustingly healthy dinner and put the dishes in the sink. Then he washed his hands, scrubbing as hard as he could.
Of course he wanted a little glory, not to mention that the reluctant hero routine was quite a cliché, but he could not shake the feeling that he had done something wrong. A number of thoughts had crossed his mind, including one where he interrupted something that was not as out of control as it seemed. What celebrities do behind closed doors might not be any different than what average people do, especially considering what happened between Thomas and Eliza. His treatment of Natalie after the incident also did not sit well with him. All she wanted to do was say thank you and he blew her off.
There was something else about the incident that bothered him. On television, every woman who was the victim of domestic abuse was at the very least angry. Natalie was nothing but calm. Michael seemed to have more trouble with what happened than Natalie did. The more he thought about it, the more mysterious she became. He decided that he had to find out what really happened.
*7:57 pm. Hotel Allegro.*
Outside the room Thomas told him Natalie was staying in, Michael stood for five minutes deciding what the best way to approach Natalie would be. He had to gain her confidence if he was going to get any information out of her. Michael rotated his neck a few times and knocked. Natalie opened the door a few moments later.
“Hi Mike,” said Natalie, curiosity clearly contoured around her face.
“Hello,” said Michael. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“You’re not. Come in.”
Michael entered the room. “I wanted to come and apologize for the way I was acting. And to ask you something.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Oh. Tom told me,” said Michael. He turned around. “I haven’t been able to figure out why you’re in Chicago. Do you live here?”
“No, I wanted to surprise Kiki,” said Natalie. She smiled ruefully. “I asked Connor to come because I didn’t think it was safe to be alone in a city I didn’t know.”
There was an awkward pause. “I hate what I did Natalie. So I have to know. Was Connor going to do what I thought he was going to do?”
Natalie paused before answering. “Yes, he would have.”
Michael let out a sigh of relief. “Thank god. Er, not that he was going to, uh, do what he was gonna do but-”
“I understand. He deserved what he got,” said Natalie. “I’m grateful Mike.”
“Well that’s all I needed to know. I thought-” said Michael. “Well never mind what I thought, it was wrong. I guess I’ll leave you alone now.”
“Wait,” said Natalie. “Do you know Buddy Guy’s?”
“Yeah,” said Michael.
“Can you show me where it is?”
“Yeah, it’s in the Loop,” said Michael. “You’re a Blues fan?”
“Yes, is that so odd?” asked Natalie.
Michael shrugged. “I guess not. Okay, well it’s on Wabash and-”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” interrupted Natalie.
“Let me go get a map from the lobby and then-”
“You could just show me where it is.”
“I guess I could. Okay,” said Michael. “When do you wanna go?” Natalie picked up her purse from the table. “Sure, now is good.”
*9:12 pm. Buddy Guy’s.*
The place looked like an old, run down building from the outside. But inside the dirty walls was one of the premiere Blues clubs in Chicago. Any number of famous names had graced its stage, from Clapton to Townsend to ZZ Top. No one particularly famous was playing that night, but the music was good nonetheless. It was dark and smoky inside, the perfect atmosphere for listening to the best local Blues bands the city had to offer.
Natalie used her celebrity status to get a table right next to the stage. Michael used the status of his wallet to keep the drinks flowing. On stage was a band called the Fields. They were not very impressive so Natalie excused herself and went to the restroom. Michael was polishing off the little bowl of nuts when she came back and sat down.
“How long have you been playing the piano?” asked Natalie.
“Long enough,” said Michael. “I stopped a while back.”
“How come?”
“Overzealous parents.”
“Oh,” said Natalie.
Michael nodded. “My mother thought it would reflect better on her if she had a son who could play classical music. Well she got what she wanted. The only problem is that I sound like a five year old banging on the keys when I try to play a piece of music I don’t recognize.”
“But still, I would love to be able to play like you do. Even if it is restricted to classics.”
Michael gulped his drink. “Classics. I can’t stand them anymore. Some of the greatest works of art the world has ever seen and I hate them.”
“Hate them?”
“Yep. I’d say it happened around the sixth time I got grounded and went to bed without dinner because I hadn’t reached an arbitrary level of proficiency my mother had set,” said Michael as he put his empty glass down. “All the artistry, skill-” Michael looked at Natalie. “The beauty, of those notes was gone for me by the time I was twelve. But I guess it has its uses as a parlor trick.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Not a big deal anyway,” said Michael. They both turned their eyes to the band onstage. The mood had changed noticeably.
“What oxymoron do you think best describes this group?” asked Natalie.
“Living dead?”
Natalie chuckled. “How about ‘pretty ugly?’”
“Ha,” said Michael as he tried to think of one. “Good grief?”
“Um,” said Natalie. “Sweet sorrow.”
Michael laughed. “Well I can’t think of any more.”
“Soft rock, clearly misunderstood, resident alien,” said Natalie.
“Wow,” said Michael. “Got a favorite?”
“Male intellect.”
“Hey now,” said Michael. “Knowing obscure oxymorons does not an intellect make.”
“Says who?”
“Um, well says somebody I’m sure,” said Michael.
Natalie clapped as the band walked off stage. The house band came up and began playing some light jazz.
“Have you spoken to Kirsten?” asked Michael.
“Yes, today actually,” said Natalie.
“How is she?”
“None the worse for wear.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” said Michael, shaking his head. “I’m not under the illusion that she hasn’t gotten over me. Um, she has though, right?”
“I’d say that she has,” said Natalie. Michael obviously did not want to hear that from one of Kirsten’s close friends so Natalie decided to change the subject. “So you’ve been going to school here for three years right?”
“Mmhmm. Planning on staying once I graduate too,” said Michael.
“What if your film career takes off?” asked Natalie.
“I’ll rent,” said Michael. “That’s of course assuming that any ensuing fame from this movie makes my life better instead of worse.”
“Hopefully it’ll make it better,” said Natalie.
“Has it made your life better?” asked Michael. “If that’s not too personal a question.”
“That’s something I’ve been asking myself lately,” said Natalie.
“Really? Why?” asked Michael.
“Well, from Star Wars alone I could retire,” said Natalie. “I could finish school, become a psychologist and have a practice in some big city like New York or LA.”
“Sounds like a plan,” said Michael. “But you don’t want to do that, do you?”
“See, I love acting and I thought I would be able to balance “my “life with a Hollywood life,” said Natalie. “So far I’ve been able to do it. But afterwards I think it’s going to be harder.”
“Isn’t it hard now?” asked Michael.
“Yes, but like I said I’ve been able to manage.”
“I bet those Star Wars royalty checks make things easier,” said Michael.
Natalie shrugged. “It’s just money.”
“Except when it’s a lot of money, then it stops being just money,” said Michael. “I never thought I’d see a check like the one I got from Paramount. They could knock a zero off and I’d still be happy. I suppose cash like that will keep me sleeping well at night.”
“The first few night definitely,” said Natalie. She picked through the bowl of nuts and popped a cashew into her mouth.
“Oh, so you’re the type who thinks that real happiness comes from meaningful relationships with family and friends?” Natalie looked surprised. “Don’t worry, I think I’m in that camp too. I wasn’t always though.”
“When did you see the light?”
Michael thought for a moment. “I guess there were a bunch of reasons. One of the big ones though came from an unexpected source. It’s also rather silly.”
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” said Natalie.
“True,” said Michael. “Anyway, have you ever heard of a game called The Sims?”
Natalie nodded. “I’ve played it. It’s the dollhouse game right?”
“I prefer to think of it as a life simulator,” said Michael.
“Ha, okay, the life simulator. What about it?”
“You played it, so you know that you have to feed your Sims, get them jobs, pay the bills blah blah blah right?”
“Don’t forget building a dream house and getting to decorate it,” said Natalie.
Michael deepened his voice. “I don’t know about that.” Natalie laughed. “Anyway, so I turn my Sim into an actor because in the game they make the most money. Time goes by and I end up fabulously rich. Then uh, you know, I got my girlfriend to come over and she built a dream house.”
“Suuuure Mike.”
“So now that I have all this room and money, I start filling up the house with everything I wanted. When I had everything I wanted I started buying the stuff I didn’t want.”
Natalie nodded. “At some point there was nothing left to buy.”
“Right, and then-”
“You stopped playing.”
“Exactly,” said Michael. “I told you it was silly.”
“No, that was interesting. I never thought life lessons could be learned from a video game.”
They whiled away the rest of the night, relaxing and talking about whatever happened to pop up. By the time they had gotten into a taxi to go back to Natalie’s hotel, Michael was convinced Natalie was absolutely qualified to attend a better school than Harvard. Her intelligence could easily be intimidating but she was just able to keep herself from sounding obnoxious and snooty. It was just past two in the morning when they reached her hotel.
Michael walked with her through the empty lobby. His head was on a swivel. “What are you doing?” asked Natalie.
“Just making sure Connor isn’t around,” said Michael. “It’s entirely possible he didn’t get the point. And if he sees me with you then he’s going to get the wrong point.”
“Other people wouldn’t,” said Natalie under her breath.
Michael looked at her. “Huh?” They had reached the elevators. “Do you want me to come with you to make sure Connor hasn’t found your room?”
Natalie looked up at him. “No, I’ll be fine.”
“Alright,” said Michael. He pressed the up button and one of the elevators opened immediately. “Well, good night.”
She entered the elevator, making a face with her back to Michael. Then she dropped the expression and turned around. “Good night.” Natalie pressed the button for her floor and the doors closed slowly. Michael scratched his head and headed out of the hotel. He was fairly sure that this was a situation where a woman said no when she actually meant yes. Leaving aside the impending encounter with Kirsten that was weighing on his mind, he was not sure if Natalie wanted him to come up because she liked him or because of what he did for her. He signaled for a cab. There was nothing he could do about it now.
*2:43 am. Friday, July 4. Michael and Thomas’s house.*
Michael was brushing his teeth in the bathroom when he heard the front door slam shut. Thomas rushed into the bathroom and pushed Michael out. “I gotta piss. Move.”
Michael rolled his eyes and went into the kitchen to rinse. “What were you up to?” he called out.
The toilet flushed and Thomas came out. “Kinda broke up with Keira.”
“What?” asked Michael. “Already?”
“Yeah, she caught me flirting with another girl at the bar tonight and she blew up,” said Thomas.
“What were you thinking? That’s such a rookie mistake,” said Michael.
“It’s not like I did it right in front of her. She was in the bathroom,” said Thomas. “Like you’ve never done that?”
“Not when I’m out WITH the girl.”
“If you had seen this chick, oh man, you’d have done the same thing,” said Thomas. He walked into the living room. “Maybe not if your girlfriend was in the bathroom, but if she was in like a different bar, you definitely would have done it.”
Michael sighed. “Well this is very awkward. Couldn’t you have waited until after the shoot was over?”
“Yeah, but she was RIGHT there man.”
“I’m assuming you’re so chipper because you got the number.”
Thomas walked through the hallway holding the cordless phone. “Was there ever any doubt?”
“It’s like three in the morning, you’re gonna call her now?” asked Michael.
“No, I’m just making sure you’re not hogging the phone talking to your imaginary friends tomorrow.” He entered his bedroom and closed the door.
*12:29 pm. Grant Park.*
Today was the big day, in more ways than one. The attendance at the Taste of Chicago was due to swell to over one million by the time the fireworks started. This was also the first scene that Michael and Kirsten had together. In the context of the film, it was the spark that led to their romance. Somewhere inside his head he hoped that it sparked more than just the fictional relationship.
Unfortunately, that scene took place at night near the lake under the illumination of the thundering fireworks so Michael was probably going to be extra nervous and fidgety all day. The weather was partly cloudy and Jen had everybody on alert for when the sun would peek out, putting him even more on edge.
“Okay people!” said Jen through a bullhorn. “Places, the sun’s coming out!”
+++
The Taste of Chicago was a huge festival where over sixty restaurants from throughout the city set up food service booths. The diversity of the city ensured an enormous variety of delicacies, from steak to sushi. Millions pass through every year for the food, free concerts and fireworks. Leslie ripped eight tickets off her strip (tickets were the currency of the festival and had to be purchased) and handed them to the food vendor. She was rewarded with a big barbecue turkey leg. “Do you have any idea how silly you look holding that thing?” asked Jack.
“What, it’s good,” said Leslie as she took a bite.
“Yeah but it’s as big as your head.”
“It better be,” said Leslie. “Costs enough.”
They found an empty spot under a tree and sat down. “Where the hell is Will? I’m starving,” said Jack.
“Want a bite?” Jack took a chunk out of the turkey leg. Leslie laughed at him. “Here.” She handed him a napkin.
“What?” She rubbed the tip of his nose with the napkin. “Oh. Thanks.”
“There he is.” Leslie pointed with her chin.
Will is best described as the chubby loser of the group. Friendly but goofy, and constantly being ribbed by his friends. His arms were full with soda, nachos, and an assortment of Chinese food. “Why do I always have bitch duty?”
Jack took his food from Will. “Because we love you, you know that.” He took a bite of his chow mein. “Bro you forgot the napkins.”
“Get your own napkins, I’m hungry.” The nachos wilted before his steely gaze.
“Fine. I’ll be right back.” Jack brushed himself off and walked towards one of the booths. He picked up some napkins and was about to cross the cordoned off street when someone caught his eye. Jack stopped in the middle of the road and stared.
+++
“CUT!” yelled out Jen. “Good. Perfect actually, let’s go to the next scene.”
Michael stood there for a few moments longer. “Mike?” asked Keira. He faced her. “Do you want this?”
“Absolutely,” said Michael. He accepted the turkey leg and took big bites out of it. It was the first tasty meal he had in weeks.
“You’re going to choke on that thing,” said Keira.
Michael wiped his mouth with Jack’s napkins. He glanced at the crew preparing for the next shot. “Hey, um, I heard about what happened last night.”
“Oh,” said Keira. “How did your mate spin it?”
“He said you caught him flirting with another girl,” said Michael. “If it makes you feel any better he wasn’t too happy about it.”
“About getting caught?”
“I don’t know, he just didn’t look happy when I saw him last night.”
“What time was that?” asked Keira.
“Around tw-” Michael stopped as Keira eyed him. “Um, I’m not sure.”
“Really?” asked Keira “very” skeptically.
“Hey look, they’re ready for the next scene.” Michael flipped the turkey bone into a garbage bin and quickly walked away.
*1:57 pm. Michael and Thomas’s house.*
Thomas and was lying on his bed talking to the number he had gotten the night before. “And that’s the truth, Anne.”
“No it’s not, the walking cane was not invented by a guy named Cane.”
“I’m telling you it was,” said Thomas. “If you don’t believe me, look it up.”
“Come on Tom, I go to college, I’m not a moron.”
Thomas smirked. “No you sure aren’t.”
“You know, I usually never give my number out in bars.”
“Oh. Well you know, it’s not like you had a choice or anything,” said Thomas.
“What? Of course I had a choice.”
“Nah, I knew I was gonna get that number.”
“And how did you know that?”
“Because I am that damn good.”
“Oh really?”
“I mean, that’s just the facts. It’s a free country, you’re entitled to your own opinion.” The doorbell rang. Thomas got up and walked into the living room. “So hey, what do you say you and me go see the fireworks tonight?”
“Well I don’t know, my friends wanted me to come with them,” said Anne. Thomas opened the door and stared at the guest in surprise. “But maybe I could-”
“No you know what, if your friends wanna take you that’s cool. Listen I gotta go,” he said quickly and hung up. “Hello.”
“Hi!” the woman said sunnily. “My name is Elisha Cuthbert, I’m a friend of Mike’s.”
*9:57 pm. Grant Park.*
Michael was nervous and he kept trying to crack his knuckles. Everything was set up and everyone was ready. They had already shot the scenes where they glimpse each other from afar but since they were never in the same frame he still had not actually seen her. It seemed unorthodox for them to not even rehearse the scene before they shot it, especially since the fireworks show was only for one night, but that was the way Jen wanted it. He suspected that her hand was forced. The crowd was massive, they announced that over a million were in the area to watch. The fireworks were due to begin in a few moments.
Jen tapped Michael on the shoulder. “Ready?”
“Sure,” said Michael. “Is she ready?” Jen motioned with her head and Michael looked over her shoulder. The crowd pulled apart and Kirsten was standing there chatting with Natalie. If Michael was not so worried about the upcoming scene he would wonder what they were talking about.
The radio on an assistant’s hip squawked and he picked it up. “Okay, gotcha. Jen! Thirty seconds!”
“Places! Lights, cameras ready!” said Jen as she walked away.
Natalie wished Kirsten luck and blended into the crowd. The shot would consist of a single ninety second take, sweeping back and forth between the two of them as they walked towards each other until they met in a single kiss that quickly turned into something more. When it got to that point Michael hoped it would get easier. Of course, it was just as likely that it would get harder. “Roll film!”
The first shot whistled high into the sky and exploded in a dazzling display, illuminating Kirsten’s cherubic face with a splash of blue and green light. Their eyes met for the first time since Michael’s ill fated confession five weeks ago. “Action!” yelled Jen. Michael set his face and watched the cameraman move slowly away from Kirsten. He signaled with his hand and Michael walked forward. The cameraman held the camera at an extreme angle looking up at Michael, catching the fireworks blasting in the sky behind him.
The cameraman swung around and went back to Kirsten, using the same extreme angle on her. A few seconds later he focused on the huge crowd and slowly drew back. Jen signaled Michael and Kirsten to stop until the cameraman had just the perfect angle. She counted down from three with her fingers and then pointed.
Michael and Kirsten entered the frame at the same time and walked right up to each other. “Hello,” said Michael.
“Hi,” said Kirsten. “Um, my name is-” Michael pulled her close and kissed her simply. She grasped his face and kissed him back. The camera revolved around them, catching all the booms and bright lights.
“Mom look at them!” exclaimed a child as he tugged his mother’s hand.
“What is it Kyle? Don’t you want to see the fireworks?” asked the mother. Then she glanced at the enthusiastic couple a few feet away from them. “Kyle! Look at the fireworks!” She pulled him away. “What is wrong with this city?!”
“No no no stay zoomed in!” said Jen into the radio. “Don’t look at what their hands are doing!”
Michael and Kirsten held each other tightly, neither one quite sure who was making up for lost time. Jen moved over into Michael’s point of view and jumped and waved her arms to try and get them to stop. A crewmember on the other side began doing the same thing to try and signal Kirsten. Jen sighed and gave up. “Cut!”
The cameras stopped rolling but the action did not stop so easily. All the throat clearing in the world would not break them out of their kiss. “Gimme that,” said Jen as she took a bullhorn from a crewmember. “CUT!”
Kirsten pulled away slowly, a tiny strand of saliva connecting their lips. She shyly rubbed the back of her hand across her lower lip and looked at Jen. “So how was that?”
“I felt the heat from over here,” said Jen. “That was good. I would’ve liked to get the end of the kiss though.”
“Um, sorry,” said Michael.
“It’s okay,” said Jen. “That’s it for today everybody, enjoy the fireworks!” Michael looked up at the colorful display. When he looked down Kirsten was walking away with Natalie.
Kirsten looked over her shoulder and then at Natalie. “God that was awkward.”
“That was hot,” said Natalie with a chuckle. “Best kiss ever.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” said Natalie with a nod. She looked up towards the sky. Kirsten crossed her arms and watched the colorful display. The finale of the fireworks show was a thundering display that reverberated through the chests of everyone in the crowd. The crowd cheered loudly as the smoke dissipated into the night.
“You really thought it was good?”
“Of course,” said Natalie. “Really passionate. You didn’t think it went well?”
“No I loved it,” said Kirsten. “I mean, I liked it.”
“Kiki it’s okay if you enjoyed it. I know you like to keep things professional but you’re only human,” said Natalie.
“Yeah, but still, with everything that’s happened,” said Kirsten. She sighed. “I wish it didn’t feel that way.”
Meanwhile, Michael was sulking his way out of the park. The eagerness with which Kirsten walked away from him and her indifference to the kiss ruined his day. He just wanted to go home and go to sleep. The car service was near the outskirts of the festival so Michael was forced to wade through the huge crowd, getting more and more annoyed the longer it took. When he finally made it to the parking lot his ass had more human contact than he had ever hoped it would have.
*2:21 am. Saturday, July 5. Michael and Thomas’s house.*
The house was dark as Thomas slipped his key into the front door and opened it. His companion tiptoed inside. “You don’t have to be quiet Elisha, Mike won’t care if we wake him up,” said Thomas.
“Really. I’ll be sure to take note of that,” said Elisha. She continued tiptoeing through the living room. Thomas rolled his eyes and stomped loudly by Elisha to his bedroom. Elisha giggled and followed him.
“Sorry about the mess,” said Thomas.
“You should see my bedroom,” said Elisha.
“I fully intend to.” Elisha arched her eyebrow. “Well.” Thomas clapped his hands together and jumped onto the bed. “We’re here. What do you think we should do now?”
Elisha smiled and cocked her head. She traced the hem of her shirt with her middle finger and opened the bottom button. Thomas watched with rapt attention as she unbuttoned her shirt slowly, finally revealing the cleft of her breasts and a white bra. After the shirt hit the carpet her shorts quickly followed.
“Whoa,” said Thomas appreciatively. “You’re a stunner, oh my god.”
The ravenousness for compliments in women is well documented and Elisha was no different. She sauntered towards the bed and crawled onto it. She kissed Thomas who immediately roved his hands all over her shapely body. He unhooked her bra and rolled her onto her back, tossing the garment far, far away. Little time was wasted kissing her lips when those soft breasts were so naked.
Thomas took a nipple between his lips and sucked it. Each breast was cupped in one hand but there was so much more of Elisha to touch that he wished he had a few extra arms. Elisha giggled at his enthusiasm and the slight tickling sensation of his tongue roving her chest. He was eager to taste every inch of her body. To that end he was dropping his knees to the floor and pulling Elisha’s panties off, going straight for the most precious morsel.
She let him prop her legs apart in his hands and dive in. His dripping tongue sloshed across her pussy, making her gasp in pleasure. Thomas was making “mmm” sounds as his tongue slithered around her outer labia. Her pussy practically flowered for him all on its own, letting his tongue probe inside as far as it could go.
When she was properly moaning on the bed he moved up to her clitoris and flicked it with his tongue. The moans came close to cries of ecstasy. Her thighs suddenly closed around his head, locking him into a position where all he could do was tongue her clit. The only part of his position that could conceivably be thought of as undesirable is that he could no longer hear her sexy moans. If he could hear though, he would have immediately noticed that she was practically screaming her approval.
Elisha’s hips jerked and writhed, taking Thomas’s head with them. He nearly pulled a muscle in his neck. To save himself some pain the next morning he focused in on her clit and licked it as fast as possible. “Yes! Oh god!” cried out Elisha. Thomas went harder and faster and was soon rewarded with a nice gush of girl cum.
Even then he would not stop. “Ah, ah, ah,” chirped Elisha. She released his head and pushed him away. “Oh god stop I can’t take it!”
“Ha,” said Thomas. He stood up and took his shirt off. “Let’s see if you can take this.” He slipped his shoes off and dropped his shorts.
“Yeah, show me what you got Tom!” encouraged Elisha.
When the last of his clothes were off he leapt onto the bed next to Elisha. Her hands immediately sought out his cock and he began kissing her as she stroked him into hardness. She slipped her fingers between their fighting tongues, getting them slick with their saliva. Elisha used it to give his cock a little thrill.
The bigger thrill came when the jerking slowed and Elisha rotated her body around, straddling Thomas’s face. “Soooo, I guess the sensitivity is gone.”
Elisha’s pussy engulfed Thomas’s nose. “Yep!” After that, the other end of Elisha engulfed Thomas’s cock. Elisha knew that her old boyfriends loved the blowjobs she was prone to giving. She got a rush from oral sex and it manifested itself in a certain obscene sloppiness. Elisha imagined that she could give Inari Vachs a run for her money when it came to drool happy cock sucking.
By now there were bubbles of saliva accumulating on Thomas’s cock and it was so wet that she had trouble keeping her hands from slipping off as she jerked him off. The sloshing and slurping was music to Thomas’s ears. Meanwhile, the energy she was blowing into his dick was instantly returned by Thomas’s quick tongue into her clit. The synergy had both of them rolling towards an orgasm faster than would normally be possible.
Elisha primed her throat for her next little trick. She bobbed up and down, going a little harder with every bob. When she was ready she took his cock all the way down, deep throating him with the enthusiasm of the cock hungry woman she was. “Oh shit Elisha!” groaned Thomas. He could not keep the circle going now that Elisha had his dick so far down that her nose was rubbing against his balls.
She carefully pulled it back out and then dove down again. Elisha fiddled with his balls as she moved her tongue around in the limited room in her mouth. After she pulled it out again she yelled, “Give me your fucking cum! Come in my fucking mouth!”
“Oh god here it comes baby, here it fucking comes!” cried out Thomas. With that verbal cue she slipped his cock down her throat one more time and gave his scrotum a little scratch. He burst into her so hard that she could almost feel the cum flowing through his shaft. Elisha backed off until only the head was in her mouth so she could taste the precious fluid before it disappeared into her stomach. Only one or two streams coated her tongue but it was enough to give her the thrill she wanted.
Thomas’s ministrations along with the rush she got from a having a man come in her mouth had her pussy sopping wet. Elisha was presently surprised at Thomas’s remarkable recovery; by the time she had sucked his cock dry it was almost ready to go again. A simple handjob was all that was needed before Thomas was ready.
Elisha spun around. “Give it to me hard Tom, I want you to fuck me like the slut I am!”
He was a little surprised at that request but what the hey, at least there were no handcuffs involved. “You want it hard, you’ll get it hard!” He scooted out from under her. Thomas moved behind her and shoved her down, burying her face in the pillows. “Ass in the air Elisha!” he ordered. Elisha put her knees under her and raised her hips into a prone position. With no fanfare he slammed himself all the way into her pussy in one rough stroke. He started fast and he did not let up. He kept his hand on her back to keep her down, the muffled cries spurring him on.
“Oh yeeaaah,” groaned Thomas. Her pussy was just wrapped so tightly around his cock that he wanted to slow down just so he could discern the finer points of her hot little pussy. But Elisha would not have it. She was pushing back in time with his strokes and madly tweaking a nipple with one hand, her clit with the other.
For the next few minutes she pushed her face even harder into the pillow, cutting her air intake by half. The oxygen deprivation made every flesh crashing stroke that much more intense. The reaming he was giving her was driving her wild with lust. Briefly she lifted her head. “Stick your finger in my fucking ass!”
“I’ll do you one better.” He tickled her cute butthole with his middle finger. Then he shoved it and his index finger inside. “Two if you’re a really bad girl.”
“I’m such a bad little girl!” moaned Elisha breathlessly. “Give it to me!” Her body was throbbing with pleasure. Thomas had to slow down a little to give himself room but he gladly gave her another finger. “Fuck yes!” A few more moments of this double penetration was all that she could take. Her pussy seemed to ignite with pleasure and it spread through her like wildfire. She reared back with an ear shattering cry of ecstasy.
They nearly toppled off the bed from Elisha’s earth quaking orgasm. Thomas was able to balance out though and Elisha was soon back on her hands and knees. He focused on fucking as fast as possible. Elisha was not as energetic as before, except for her mouth. “I want you to feed me your cum you fucker!”
“You want another fucking load?!” said Thomas.
“Yes I want another fucking load! Give it to me baby, fucking give it to me!”
“Oh god.” Thomas pulled out and Elisha flipped over in a flash. He straddled her chest and she jacked his cock as fast as her hands could go. This orgasm was even more powerful than the last, draining his balls and soaking Elisha’s face and outstretched tongue with his cum. A rope splashed straight down the center of her face and another grazed her cheek. The flow finally slowed down until the last of it dribbled onto her neck. Proving just how nasty she could be she eagerly gathered the cum with her fingers and sucked it down.
“You are amazing baby,” said Thomas in the aftermath.
“Don’t I know it,” said Elisha as she licked the last droplets of cum off her lips.
In the room across the hall, Michael was beating his head against the bed and pinching the pillow as tightly as possible around his ears.
*8:48 am.*
The alarm clock screeched at Michael, annoyed that he had slapped its snooze button far too many times. He groaned and dragged himself out of bed to take a shower. When he got out the unfamiliar (at least in this house at this time of day) aroma of coffee snaked into his nostrils. Since he knew that Thomas was never up this early unless he absolutely had to be, he guessed that his newest lady friend was an early riser along with being a loud lover. He got dressed and left his room. Michael was unprepared for the sight of the tussled blonde standing in the kitchen holding a mug of steaming coffee to her lips.
“Morning!” said Elisha brightly. “Coffee?”
He stared at Elisha. “What the hell are you doing in my home?”
“Making coffee.”
“You know what I fucking mean,” seethed Michael.
Elisha was taken aback. “Such foul language.”
“I’m using foul language?!” snapped Michael. “I wasn’t the one begging for cum last night!”
She smiled. “I’m sorry if we woke you.”
“Fuck it, I don’t care why you’re here. I want you out. Now!”
“I don’t think Tom would appreciate you throwing me out,” said Elisha.
“Like I care. Get your fucking clothes and get out,” said Michael.
Thomas walked into the kitchen rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “What are you guys yelling about?”
“What the hell is she doing here Tom?” asked Michael.
“Said you invited her,” said Thomas.
“She’s a liar,” said Michael.
“What?”
“Stay the hell away from her. She’s fucking crazy.”
“She’s standing right there man, shut the fuck up,” said Thomas as he hit Michael’s shoulder.
“Mike what’s wrong?” asked Elisha with concern in her voice.
“You’re here. That’s what’s wrong.” He looked at Thomas. “I am NOT her friend, I did NOT invite her here. I would never do something that stupid.”
“What?” asked Thomas. He looked to Elisha.
She put the mug down on the countertop. “I’m sorry Tom, Mike’s right.” They both looked at her, puzzled. “We’re not friends and he didn’t invite me here. I came because I had to see him one last time. I wanted closure.”
“Closure for what?!” exclaimed Michael.
“Tom, he and I had a bad breakup. I really-”
“We were never together!”
“What we had in LA, it was-”
“Jesus Christ this is like a bad Cinemax movie!” said Michael exasperatedly. “That is not true Tom, don’t fucking listen to her. If she wanted to see me, then why was she with you last night?”
“Well that part is obvious,” said Thomas.
“Right, of course,” said Michael with a roll of his eyes. “Don’t believe a word she says, I was never with her.”
“That’s a lie Mike and you know it,” said Elisha.
Michael walked straight up to her. “That never happened.”
She leaned close and whispered into his ear. “You don’t stand a chance.” Elisha picked up her coffee mug and took a sip. “Are you sure you don’t want any coffee Mike?”
Michael turned around and pulled Thomas into his bedroom. “What’s going on?” asked Thomas.
“Nothing. I was never with her, I never touched her. Don’t believe anything she says.”
“Something is going on, obviously.”
“Yeah, in her fucking head alright? She’s trying to turn you against me.”
“That’s what you’re worried about?”
“Among other things,” said Michael sarcastically.
“Fine. Anything she says about you, I won’t believe her,” said Thomas. “But that’s not gonna stop me from hittin’ that shit. You had to have heard what was going on last night, she’s a freak.”
Michael snorted. “Yeah. But look, don’t put yourself into a vulnerable position.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just don’t. Don’t give her any opportunities to fuck with you, because she will,” said Michael.
“Thanks for the warning,” said Thomas. “Why exactly are you warning me?”
“I’ll tell you later, I gotta go,” said Michael. “Don’t give her the chance.” He walked out of the bedroom and ignored Elisha as he left the house.
*12:27 pm. Wrigley Field.*
“Nothing quite like the Friendly Confines,” said Jen. She was standing underneath the grand red marquee of Wrigley Field, welcoming all to one of most beloved and famous ballparks in the league.The field was the setting for a pseudo dating scene for Jack and Jenny, Kirsten’s character. It was one of those highly improbable encounters that led to something more. The cliché was headache inducing. In the scene they had just completed, Jenny turned out to be a closet baseball fan who corrected Jack in many of his grandiose proclamations about Cubs baseball and the state of the league.
There was a decent sized crowd at the game today between the Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Kirsten was approached for autographs, but in general the shoot proceeded smoothly. The game itself was also exciting, the Cubs rallying off of home runs from Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou. But somehow Kirsten avoided saying an unscripted word to Michael. In fact she avoided unscripted anything; expressions, laughs, even eye contact. Allen was ever present around her as well, keeping strange looking fans-and Michael-away from Kirsten.
“So what’s next Jen?” asked Kirsten as she came out of the stadium after signing a few more autographs. Allen trailed behind her.
“I’m starving. We’ll push the next scene to after lunch,” answered Jen.
“Okay.” Kirsten pulled her cell phone out and dialed Natalie’s number as she walked down the street.
Michael emerged from the stadium a few moments later. “What’s going on?”
“Lunch,” said a grip. Michael sighed and turned around to walk back into the stadium to watch the rest of the game.
“Mike, I heard you had a dog that can pull off some nifty tricks.”
Michael stopped and turned around. “He’s well trained if that’s what you mean Jen. But how did you hear about that?”
“Hey Mike, what’s up?” said Thomas as he pushed Michael from behind.
“What are you doing here?”
“You recommended me remember?”
Michael scratched his head. “Uh, oh yeah. I guess you’ve already met Jen.”
“Yeah, she just gave me a walk on part. No lines, but hey, it’s a start right?” said Thomas.
“Cool, but what does X have to do with this?” asked Michael. He looked at Jen. “That’s the dog’s name.”
This entry was posted on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 4:13 pm and is filed under Stars Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.