"You can hardly wait to tell all your friends
How his kisses taste sweet like wine
And how he always makes your heart skip a beat
Every time he walks by"

As he looked from a far, sitting with the guys at the humble flat of his best friend, who recently moved Los Angeles to be close to them. Champagne, beers, wines and cigars were spreading everywhere in one of his new condo, which was located near the beach. Elijah lit another cigarette after finishing the last one and poured another glass of wine. He didn't know nor remembered how many ounces of alcohol flowed in his veins as the fumes gathered into his lungs. For a while, Elijah had become very stress and mentally sick ever since he heard the engagement of his best friend, Orlando, to the woman who to be web by him. The woman who was Elijah's closest friend. The woman who was with Elijah through thick and thin. The woman whom Elijah's feel in love with. No one knew how he felt towards her, because he always hid it so well.

He secretly looked at her in the corner of his fatigue eyes. Nikita was laughing and smiling with her friends. Her sweet sound of laugher and innocent smile filled up his heart, but was breathing at the same time. Especially when the glittering diamond ring sparkled on her wedding finger could blind the eyes. It was the sign of her love bind to Orlando. The sign of her soul bind to his best friend. The sign she was no longer a single woman.

"And if you're feeling down, he'll pick you up
He'll hold you close when your making love
He's everything you've been dreaming of
Oh baby"

Hiding behind a happy mask, Elijah waved to Nikita as soon as they caught each other gazes. She was an angel indeed. Not only to his eyes, but to everyone whom knew and loved her. While looking at her, he finished the glass with one gulp. As the burning sensation of alcohol made its way to his stomach, he inhaled the smoke calmly. He knew how Nikita hated when he smoked, but tonight he couldn't care less, since her attention was only fixed on her future husband.

He turned his attention to the others. Everyone was having a drink to celebrate the special occasion. Orlando was surrounding by many of his friends, co-stars, include the Fellowship. Days ago, Orlando haven't been himself, but in a strange way. Everyone wondered why, since he became stress, but excited at the same time. Always showed an untamed and nervous smile. No one knew, except for a few hours ago...

Orlando had organized a supper in his flat, gathering and invited all of their friends. Right after supper, he had made a speech for not particular reason, until he took all of his courage and ended up in one knee in front of Nikita. Orlando had propose to her. It was the reason why he was nervous, he was ready for a commitment to the woman. As Nikita's eyes were filling up with the tears of joy and Orlando, crying in his turn, slip the ring gently to her soft finger. Elijah's heart had shatter into million pieces while watching the scene.

"I wish you'd look at me that way
Your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine
Telling me more than any words could say
But you don't even know I'm alive
Baby to you all I am is the invisible man"

He knew that day would come. He knew it; after all they had stay in a serious relation of a good and strong 4 years. Ever since he presented the both of them at the beginning of the shoots in New-Zealand, Elijah knew it would last for a long time. He knew all of his hopes and chances were lost. But all he ever wanted was for her to be happy. Each memories or images of Orlando and Nikita were aching his heart and soul. How they would look at each other with love in their eyes. How they were together. With only the glance of both of them, or how they smiled and even how they kissed, Orlando and Nikita were in deep love and passion.
In someway, Elijah always felt invisible to her. He wished only once to held her close in their sleep. Only once to comfort her when she was down. Only once he would like the sweet taste of cinnamon of her luscious lips, like Orlando described it. Only once he wished to feel how to be love by an angel. But he was nothing to her, but a friend.

"You probably spend hours on the phone
Talking bout nothing at all
It doesn't matter what the conversation
Just as long as he calls"

Elijah rested his head between his trembling hands, hiding away as tears appeared in his icy blue eyes. It hurt him way too much to see her with another man. A man whom she knew and learned to love for the past 3 years. A man who ended up to be his friend, a brother.

As his memories were drifting, he remembered the time when they were in New-Zealand. They were hanging out in Viggo's apartment, after a hard day of work and they were watching a game on the television. Suddenly, Orlando excused himself and headed towards the balcony. They all looked up and he was talking on the cell phone. With the sparkles in his brown soft eyes and the huge smile on his face, everyone could tell to whom he was speaking with. Even little now and then, in the trailer, before shooting a scene, Orlando would call Nikita just for a few seconds or minutes. Asking her if she could wish him "Good Luck" for the shoots or only to say how much he loved her and missed her. Usually Orlando hated the idea of keeping a cell phone. But ever since his love went back home to California, the first thing he did, was bought himself a cell phone.

Even the massif phone bill could give anyone a heart attack, he couldn't care less. Orlando couldn't stand still if he haven't talk to her once or twice each day. It didn't matter what where the conversation or how long it would take, at least he could heard her wonderful and soulful voice or the sweet laugher, he was happy.

"Lost in a love so real and so sincere
And you'll wipe away
Each others tears
Your face lights up whenever he appears"

 Elijah quickly wiped away his remaining tears, hopping no one could heard his quiet sob or see his teary eyes. He only wanted to scream out loud and declared his love for her, but it was too late. He wanted to run away from them, incapable to continue all this torture of his heart and soul.

Just then, he heard something clinking against the clear crystal glass and he slowly looked up. Orlando stood in the middle of the living room with a glass of champagne in one hand and the other with a fork, but quickly put the fork on the table, able to surround his arm around his beloved wife-to-be. Elijah wanted to look away and ignored everything, but couldn't. He only sat on his seat and remain there as Orlando began to speak up.

"Of course all of you may know that I am engaged to this beautiful, magnificent, intelligent and not to mention a wild cat in the bed?". Elijah was disgusted with that comment, even if everyone burst out laughing and Nikita looked at her future husband with wide eyes, but a funny smile. He only put out a small laugh and a fake smile. Everyone started laughing even harder when Liv mentioned she was the one who taught her every thing.

"Seriously, no one have NO idea how much I'm in love with this woman stood next to me. No word could describe how much passion or love I have for her. I love you so much Nikita. Only one look of you, takes my breath away." Orlando and Nikita were looking into each others eyes as stars made its appearance. Everyone in the room could felt the love and passion coming out of them. Elijah could tell from afar.

"I wish you'd look at me that way
Your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine
Telling me more than any words could say
But you don't even know I'm alive
Baby to you all I am is the invisible man"

 "That's enough Orlando! Save something for the wedding vowels!", Viggo said to Orlando as he was giving Nikita sweet and tender kisses. It was too much for Elijah. He couldn't held it any longer. He turned away from the Golden Couple as everyone were calling them. He tried to be strong. He tried to be happy. He wanted to be happy for them. Not being a selfish brat. 'Why am I acting like this?', he asked himself, while he lit another cigarette, almost finishing his 3rd pack of the night. He ran his fingers through his hair, as he was searching for answers through his mind, body, heart and soul.

He slowly close his eyes as tears made its appearance once more, trying to hid his face away. Elijah quickly wiped them away as soon as he heard his best friend calling out his name, which seem in a very far distance. He slowly turned around, putting on a force smile. Orlando lift up his champagne glass as Elijah noticed a few tears were coming slowly down his best friend's olive cheeks.

"Elijah, you've been the best friend ever. A brother to me. You had allow me to meet this radiance woman and gave me another chance to see and learn to love once again. A time when I though love was hopeless. A time when I though love was impossible. But you had bring me to her. You had bring LOVE to me. You had bring us together. All this wouldn't happen, if it wasn't for you. I love you man..."

Orlando extended his arms out. Hesitating at first, Elijah looked at him and began to cry again, only this time was different. He was glad and happy to see his best friend happy. He got off his seat and walked towards Orlando. They gave each other a huge embrace. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

"I see you all the time baby
The way you look at him
I wish it was me sweetheart
Boy I wish it was me
But I guess it never will be"

 As Orlando and Elijah departed from their embrace, Billy had place a slow love song to set the mood for everyone. Orlando gave another smile to Elijah before he left to see the others who wanted to congratulated him once more. He looked as his best friend went to see Johnny who offered a cigar.

Elijah stood there for a few moments, didn't know what to do. Go back to his previous seat and have another drink, till he passed out? Or go outside, away from this and do what? Lit another cigarette or drive away? Before he could made his next move, a soft hand gripped on his shoulder accompanied by a familiar angelic voice asking him to dance. Once he turned around, Elijah was blown away. Orlando was right. One look of Nikita could take anyone breath away. Her green eyes were nothing, but pure beauty and innocent. He knew it already. Before taking her hand, he crept up a small smile on the corner of his lips.

Elijah carefully place his hand on her petit waist and the other on her silky hand. Not to many words were exchange between the childhood friends and it was really uncomfortable.

"Lij, thank you for everything. Thank you for being my friend and being their through thick and thin. Thank you for helping me to discover love and able to found it with Orlando. Thank you for being my best friend..."

Elijah only looked at her and smiled, before he looked back down. He haven't said a word ever since the proposal. He knew he supposed to be the one who should the happiest, because it was after all his 2 best friends who were getting marry. But no, it was aching his mind and thoughs, ever since they were together. On Valentine's Day...

"I wish you'd look at me that way
Your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine
Telling me more than any words could say
But you don't even know I'm alive
Baby to you all I am is the invisible man"

Elijah was ready. He was ready to tell Nikita all of his feelings that he had hid away for a long time and the perfect day was Valentine's Day. Yes, their friendship was a strong bond, but it would be a risk he would take. All day he had prepare for everything, especially mentally. He prepared a candlelight dinner, just something enough to set the mood. When he was on his way to call her to come over to his place when they were in New-Zealand. But instead, he received a phone call from her. Telling him she couldn't, because she would spend the evening with Orlando. Just by the sound of the news, he felt like if someone had stab him in the back. And it was his best friend. But it wasn't Orlando's fault. He didn't knew Elijah loved her and if he does, he would back away. But no, Elijah wasn't quick enough to do so. While his heart was shattering into a million pieces, he listened his best friend talked and she sounded so happy. He didn't know she felt something for Orlando.

For the rest of the night, Elijah had spent it alone. Not wanted to go out. Even Dominic, Billy, Viggo and Sean Bean had asked him to join them to a single party in some bar, but he refused. He only told them he was sick and wasn't up for anything. Yes, Elijah was sick. He was sick mentally and started to get sick physically also. He had spent the endless night crying his heart out, smoking and drinking till he past out. Nikita had found him the next day, half dead.

"I wish you'd look at me that way
Your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine
Telling me more than any words could say
But you don't even know I'm alive
Baby to you all I am is the invisible man"

Elijah scented his head slowly lift up. His icy blue eyes were locked into the gaze of the soft and mysterious green eyes. They were only staring for a couple seconds. Enough to attracted the attention of the people around them. He wanted to cry. He wanted to hold her and tell her everything. About his feeling, about how amazing she was, how helpless he was without her. He was in love with her. But he doesn't want to selfish neither.

"Elijah, no matter what happen or how much I love Orlando, you will always remain my best friend. My Elwood. Our friendship is stronger that any other relationship in the past, present or future. I love you Lij and you will always keep a special place in my heart..."

Elijah couldn't help by to cry out once more. Both of them looked at each other as Nikita started to cry also. They held each other for a huge embrace. No wonder Elijah wasn't the only to fall for her. Orlando did also. She was a pure soul. A sweet and innocent like any new born child. Her smile and delicate voice could light up even the darkest room. They began to cry slowly in each other's arms. Elijah might not be the person to make Nikita happy like Orlando. But he was glad, he was the person who brought not only his childhood friend, but also his brother to find love and happiness. He was the one who brought them together.

"I wish you'd look at me that way
Your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine
Telling me more than any words could say
But you don't even know I'm alive
Baby to you all I am is the invisible man"
"Might if I cut in?", they heard someone in a strong and decent British accent beside them. Elijah flashed a smile and placed a hand on Orlando's shoulder. No matter how sad or despress he was, but he was happy that she was happy. He might carry a burgen, but she was happy. His Nikita was happy.

"Congratulation for the both of you. Beside your folks, I have to say that I'm the first one who is MORE thrill. And you, Orlando, better take good care of her, cause she's one a kind jewel. And if you ever break her heart, I'll break your neck. Not only me, but everyone in this room will. And you know we would?"

They all laughed together. He gave another hug to Orlando and Nikita, before he left towards the couch. Leaving the couple together. He sat back down on the couch and looked at them once again, dancing gracefully. Elijah was smiling, but a meaningful one. He was happy that Nikita had found love and he was the one to help her. It was her time. He knew that his time to find love would come. After all, Elijah wasn't anymore the invisible man in Nikita's eyes. He had been visible, but only as a best friend. It was already more that he could ask for...

"The invisible man..."

"Invisible Man" - 98*

~* The End *~