December 15 (Saturday, early morning)

“So what’s with all these excesses? Limo, guest lists at the Roxy, Liv Tyler?” Erin asked, taking her turn to pull from the bottle before passing it off to Lij.

“Just a few hard working mates, finally catchin’ a break. Nothing more, darlin’” Billy smiled, his arms stretched out over the back of the limo seat. “What’re ya worried about, yer having fun?”

Erin turned her eyes to Orlando as he passed the bottle off to Amy. He grimaced with the libation before a mischievous smile formed over his lips. Clicking one of the buttons in the back of the limo, Orlando opened the sunroof.

“Your insane man, you will freeze your ass off!” Lij laughed as Orlando climbed the seat. “Billy, talk to your boy, I think he is going to jump!”

“Orlando, git down from there! Looking to catch yer death, are ya? You would think skydivin’ an’ jumpin’ out of planes attached to a wee cable would satisfy the boy? How many broken bones is that now, Orli? Ya have a medical file thick as me arm. Now, he wants to battle pneumonia!” Billy howled, taking a swig from the emptying bottle.

“Bugger off!” Orlando laughed, letting the cold wind mangle his already unruly mane. “I worked to hard to let a moment like this pass by!”

“Worked hard? Who was on set every morning at 5am with prosthetics? All you had to do was look pretty for the cameras and shoot a bow with CG arrows!” Lij laughed, tugging at his legs. “Swear I will pants you if you don’t get down in here!”

“Not a good idea mate, unless you want my arrow to smack into your face!” Orlando laughed. His mirth was excruiatingly beautiful, infectous.

“Aww, dude, too much information.” Lij leaned over in the seat, resting his head on Amys’ shoulder.

Amy rested her head atop Lijahs’, her head spinning with too much consumption. “I really need to eat something or I might be sick.”

“Come on lass, hold yer liquor!” Billy drained what was left of the bottle, tossing it to the floor.

“So, is anyone going to tell me about this movie you all were in? Why is it so hush? Was it some kind of porno or something? Don’t actors take pride in their accomplishments?” Erin quirked a brow, looking toward Billy as he turned his glance away.

Orlando, standing on the seat, jumped up. His legs disappearing onto the roof of the Limo.

“Holy shit!” Billy jumped forward to grasp Orlandos’ ankles. “Crazy bastard!” he breathed.

Orlando braced his fingers onto the sunroof, resting on his haunches as he surfed the limo. Shouting incoherently on the top of his lungs with the rush of excitement. Orlando could not help but smile. Lij reared upward. “Dude, we can’t take you anywhere! Get back in the car before you fall off. You won’t look so pretty with road burn at 55mph!”

Orlando looked into the limo, his eyes bright and wild. “This is bloody intense!”

“I think I am going to be sick!” Amy bucked forward, bracing her face in her hands.

Erin could not help but laugh. Standing up on the seat, she peeked her head out of the sunroof, watching as the cold wind wildly blew through Orlandos’ wavy dark locks. “Having fun?” She screamed.

“Yeah love, come on up, if ya dare!” He shouted. The limo slowly began to decelerate.

“Think you’ve been busted!” Erin smiled.

The limo came to a stop on the side of a street. The driver stepped out with a chastising look. “Excuse me, Sir, can you please step off the roof of the car?”

Orlando gave a sheepish grin. “Must have been sleep-walking again, mate. Thought I was riding the waves in Hawaii, or was it Australia with Billy, Dom and Lij? Either way, no harm done.” Orlando jumped down, his cat like grace landing him perfectly on his feet. When he rose, he stumbled, leaning back against the limo. “Oops!” he smiled as the driver opened the door for him.

“Brilliant move, numb nuts. Trying to get us kicked out so we can walk through the freezing city streets?” Lij shook his head.

“What’s life without a bit of danger, mates.” Orlando flashed his charming, crooked grin.

“Safe and secure.” Amy cast him a sidelong glance, the nausea passing slowly.

“No more stunts, yer upsettin’ our guests! Which minds me something! What were ya thinkin’ takin’ Dom bungee jumpin’. Trying to kill me best mate, eh?” Billy shook a finger at him.

“Oh, here we go again.” Lij rolled his eyes. “When are you two going to let that go?”

Ignoring Lij, with a quick motion, the drunken Scot whipped off one of his loafers and tossed it at the beautiful Brit. “Believe me, lassies, this t’aint nothing compared to what he could put ya through!”

Orlando winced as the errant shoe connected to his stomach. Grabbing up the leather loafer, he tossed it out of the sunroof. “Bad luck, mate.”

“Those were two thousand dollar Gucci Italian leather loafers. Not to mention I’m gonna have ta walk around with one bare foot on a freezin’ night. Yer buyin’ me a new pair!”

Erin could feel her head spinning as she involuntarily convulsed with laughter. This is too damn funny.

Lij removed his sneaker. Taking off one of his socks, he tossed it to Billy. “If you put this on and hop on one foot, you shouldn’t get frostbite. Serves you right for wearing two thousand dollar Gucci Italian leather loafers in the winter.” Lij made a horrible impersonation of Billys’ brogue.

“I could shoot ya fer that accent ya know Lij…” Billy raised a brow, sniffing the sock crumpled on his lap, his face turning sour. “Ya have the sweatiest feet I have ever seen, mate.” Billy was too drunk to care as he slipped the sock onto his foot.

Orlando was laughing at the whole exchange. “Should have just made him go it barefoot.”

The limo pulled to a stop before an all night diner. “Thank god. Food.” Amy dove out of the limo before the driver could open their door.

“I love a girl with an’ appetite!” Billy was out behind her, hopping on one foot.

First breakfast was served. Lij ordered the greasiest cheeseburger the ensemble had ever seen, the plate teaming over with fries. Billy, originally asking for poridge, settled for oatmeal. Amy and Erin both opted for toast and black coffee. Orlando chose the Boca burger with a side of greasy fries.

“So, how long have you been a vegitarian?” Erin asked, taking a sip of her black coffee. She knew the caffeine wouldn’t make her sober up any faster, but the impending bus ride home was a dread in her thoughts.

“About a year. Around the time I started martial arts training I realized what kind of crap I was putting into my system. The character I was playing at the time left a pretty significant impression on me, so I decided to make a healthy change. Working on the smoking next.” Orlando bit into the Boca burger.

“Leave it to the pretty boy to use big words when he’s smashed. Significant Impression.” Lij mocked Orlando playfully through a stuffed mouth, burger grease slipping down the side of his lip.

“Piss off.” Orlando threw a fry at Lij, watching him stuff the errant potatoe into his mouth.

“I have a belt in Jeet Kun Do an’ ya don’t be seein’ me shoving that healthy stuff into my pie hole. Thinkin’ he is some kind of martial artist.” Billy commented on Orlandos diet. “So ya know we are actors, what do you girls do for a livin’?” Billy asked, shoveling oatmeal into his mouth.

“We are both nurses. We work together in the same facility in Upstate NY, Sullivan County.” Amy managed her words through a spray of toast crumbs. “Our schedules run pretty much the same. Since we both have the weekend off, we thought it would be nice to get away for the day.”

“Nurses? You both look to young for such responsibility.” Lij noted as he shoveled fries into his mouth.

“23 and 26,” Erin pointed to Amy first and then herself. “I’m into Astrology so that makes us Capricorn and Pisces. We both work 12-16 hour days. So, as you can imagine, I feel like I live under a rock half of the time. Don’t even have the energy to flip on the TV.” Erin took a sip of her coffee, her head still spinning in delightful drunkeness.

“I’m a Capricorn.” Orlando piped up, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. “January 13, 1977. You?” He looked to Amy.

“December 31, 1978.” Amy replied with a smile. “How cool is that?!?” Amy laughed. Oh my god, Orlando is just the right age for either of us, Amy thought to herself.

“Aquarius, here. January 28, 1981.” Lij piped in.

“Your not even old enough to drink!” Erin shot him a glance. Can’t say anything, I’ve been drinking since I was 16. Lij just smiled.

“August 26…a Leo, an’ that’s all I’m sayin’!” Billy winked.

“1968..that makes you 33 and the oldest one here!” Orlando laughed, chewing on a fry.

“And it makes me the second oldest. March 12, 1975.” Erin took another sip of her coffee.

“Women, like a fine wine often get sweeter with age.” Orlando winked.

“Fer the love of god, Orli, would ya like a condom now or later, mate?” Billy laughed. “Or will ya be ridin’ bare back, in typical prissy wood elf fashion?”

“Again tonight? Yer insatiable Billy, my love!” Orlando leaned over the table and planted a tight lipped kiss on Billy Boyd.

“Ach, ya taste like vegetables an’ other healthy stuff. Git away from me!” Billy shook his head with a laugh.

The young waitress came over to hand in the check. Erin and Amy dug out some cash as Billy and Lij both put their hands up in protest. The waitress looked over the rag- tag bunch of drunks and a glimmer of recognition came over her sharp, tired features. “Oh my god, your Elijah Wood…and…and your Orlando Bloom! I don’t want a tip, please…please just give me your autographs!”

Lij wiped a glob of ketchup from his lip. “Got a pen?”

The waitress slid one out from behind her ear, handing it with shaking fingers to Lij.

Elijah Wood. Holy shit. I knew he was familiar! Erin and Amy both seemed to have the same thought, at the same time. Turning unbelieving eyes to Lij, they were dumbfounded.

Lij simply smiled at them, handing the pen to Orlando and sending a wink to the two friends.

Orlando signed his name, a flush coming to his features as a charming smile made its’ way across his lips. “There ya go, love.”

“Oh god, I can’t wait till the movie comes out next week. No one is ever going to believe this!!” The waitress was in shock as she took the cash and autographs from the table.

“What about Billy Boyd??” Billy looked up pleadingly, but the waitress was already gone. “No one ever recognizes the short one.”

“Are you kidding, man? We can’t go out in public in every other country without your being mobbed.” Orlando laughed. He turned his eyes to Erin, who was looking at Elijah as though she were Lancelot finding the holy grail. She hasn’t put two and two together yet. I wonder if anything will change when she does? The movie will be released in a week or so… Orlando let his thoughts trail. Will she see me any different once Legolas crosses the silver screen, or will she look at me the same way she does now?

“Holy shit. Elijah Wood. I knew you looked familiar from movies like The Good Son and Flipper.” Erin was in shock. “First Liv Tyler and now you. This must be one hell of a movie!”

“Let me put it to ya this way, lass. When ya flip on that set some eve, I am sure you will find out fer yerself.” Billy smiled. “Enough of this non sense. Hand me yer cell phone, Lij. I have a few words to say to someone.” Billy sounded indignant.

“Another lovers quarrel?” Orlando smiled, his lips turning upward in the most beautiful and mischievious way.

Elijah licked his fingers clean of burger grease before reaching into his pocket, producing his digital phone.

“Ach. Ta the Loch with ya. You know yer the only one fer me, Bloom.” Billy blew a mock kiss before hitting “Send” on the digital phone. All sat in silence as the playful Scot wriggled the inside of his ear with his fingertip. “Dom, mate. It’s Billy. What do you mean, ‘do I know what time it is?’ Course I do. Its just after 3 in the morn, lad. ‘Where am I?’,” Billy paraphrased the unheard voice at the other end of the phone. “I’m at a diner with Lij, OB and these two lovely lassies. I can nae believe ya ducked out so early…What? Well we are all tired mate…Fine, fine then. Get yerself back to bed. Right. Be back to the hotel around dawn and don’t ya be wakin’ me before noon with yer idle prattle bout seein’ the city. Right mate. Same.” Billy hung up, handing the phone to Lij. “Daft one, Dom is. Love him all the same.”

Lij just smiled, taking a sip of his soda. “You called him at this hour just to harass him? I can’t believe you Billy. If you ever did that to me I would be forced to hurt you. Take that look off your face, I swear to god Billy, don’t even think about it.” Lij shook his head as Billy wound his fingertips together menacingly.

“What’s next in line?” Lij tried to change the subject.

Amy looked at the time. “Oh, shit. It’s 3 o’clock? We missed the bus. Next one isn’t until 5.”

“Well that gives us about 2 hours. Central Park anyone?” Orlando set his napkin onto the table, slipping Lij some cash for the waitress’ tip.

The driver left the drunk and disorderly group at the entrance to central park. “The park is dangerous, especially at night. Take it from a native New Yorker. Be careful and stick to the well lit paths. Stay together, lessen the chance of a problem that way.”

“Thanks, man, “ Orlando pat the driver on the upper arm. “We will manage. Won’t be too long though.”

“Right, are we ready to have a spot of fun, then?” Billy smiled, looking to Lij before smacking him firmly in the chest. “Hide an’ seek. Tag. Yer it. Ya have to give us to the count of 100 an’ leave yer phone on, just incase. Lets stay near the lights. Now, go!” Billy skipped off into the dark, laughing.

“Hey!” Lij called out as Billy ran down one of the paths. Amy followed after him, disappearing in the chilly night. Orlando grasped Erin by the hand, taking off in the opposite direction.

Erin felt herself pulled along, setting off to a sprint. They must have ran for several minutes before Orlando pushed them both against one of the trees in the woods of the park. The area was well lit, frozen and yet slightly hidden to any unsuspecting passer-by.

Erin was biting back a chuckle as Orlando, his back firmly planted against a tree, peered out along the main walkway with some degree of prowess. “Expert at playing hide and seek, are you?” She whispered, leaning down on her haunches. Games of intrigue always gave her the giggles. Something about having to remain silent and still or be discovered sent her over the edge with the desire to laugh. Add alcohol and you have instant gaffauw.

“You can say I have had a good show of running and camoflouging in the woods, love. You?” Orlando leaned down on his haunches, his eyes steady as an elf, keen to the lit concrete pathway, scanning for approaching shadows.

“Used to play it all the time when I was younger, a bit out of practice now.” Erin could not help but admire him as his head was turned from her. Not usually my type, short hair and all. The accent is lovely though. I already have a man, nothing wrong with a little fun. What harm ever came from a little fun?

Lij was closing in. His voice drawing nearer. “Come on guys! I don’t want to be ‘it’ anymore! I hate being ‘it’. I am always ‘it’. I’m cold!”

“Well, unless you want to be ‘it’, stay low!” Orlando smiled as he turned his eyes to her. A few tense moments passed in quiet. Orlando traced his fingertips into the frozen dirt, his gaze turning to Erin.. “So, you have a boyfriend, do you. Serious?”

Erin turned her eyes to his amidst the caustic halogen glow across the way from them. For a moment, she stumbled. “Just someone I am seeing. Nothing to really write home about.” Why in the hell are you lying? Do you think John would agree to that statement? Sure, there is no serious talk with any marriage overtones…but it’s not childs-play either. “Um, you?”

“I am seeing someone, nothing too serious though.” Orlando matched her tone and for a moment, Erin wondered if he was telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Orlando seemed a bit lost for words, foundering for something to ease the sudden tension. “So, have you been having fun tonight?”

His accent is beautiful. He is beautiful. “Yeah, this is the most fun I think I have had, in ages. You guys are a blast to hang around. Still wondering about this top secret project you boys won’t discuss…and why that waitress nearly passed out when she recognized you both….” Erin could have kept on, but the brace of soft fingertips beneath her chin caused her to lose her breath. What wouldn’t these boys do to avoid this topic??

Orlando tilted her face upward toward the light, his chocolate brown gaze holding her own. With agonizing slowness, Orlando leaned in, his lips parting ever so slightly as his gaze held hers tightly. What am I doing?

Erin felt her breath catch against her throat as her lashes flickered, her dark eyes holding every second of his approaching silvery sillhouete. Her lips quivering, Erin felt his fingertips pull her chin upwards just a scant bit before she could taste his breath.

Orlando descended like an angel from the heavens, his breath falling on her skin as he drank in the sheer, beautiful scent of her. She’s quivering… Orlando felt a flutter through his skin as his upper lip slipped along the warm, moist trail of her lower one. His lips parting, Orlando embraced the softness of her mouth with tender, fragile movements. The moment was long, full and excrutiatingly painful.

Erin parted her lips, holding his own captive between them. Her breath was soft and ragged as her jaw loosened, her tongue sliding from the confines of the warm cavern, electrified as she connected with his own.

Orlando made the softest whimper of delight as the tip of his tongue slipped against her own. Her mouth was so warm, so delightful that he could have sipped endlessly from the draught of nectar at her lips. His fingers, soft and slender, splayed along her flushed cheeks, sweeping tenderly toward her lips.

“Ha-Ha! Your…” Lij stopped, mid sentence as he came upon Erin and Orlando, locked in an intimate embrace.

Orlando jolted, his lips breaking from Erins with assertive ferocity, eyes focusing on Lij. Erin bit her lower lip, casting her head down in embarrassment.

“You were saying?” Orlando half cocked a grin to Lij. I am never going to live this down.

“Some elf you are, getting stumbled upon by shire folk. Wait until Vig hears about this one!” Lij laughed. “Um, sorry Erin, yeah…now I feel uncomfortable. Gonna go see if Amy and Billy have their clothes on. You know Billy, he probably convinced her that the only way to throw me off the trail is to get naked in below zero weather. Probably told her that leaving their clothes on the walkway would confuse me.” Lij chuckled, shaking his head. “What do you say we meet up at the entrance, a bit too cold to be playing hide and seek. Besides, I don’t have anyone to suck face with. Okay then, bye.” Lij mumbled feeling a bit awkward.

Taking off to a full pace, Lij never looked back. He fled the battle before the imaginary arrows, fired by the long bow of an Elven Prince, could penetrate his backside.

“Well, that was a touch awkward.” Orlando smiled, tilting his head slightly as he drew her image into his eyes. His breath was coming in soft wispy patterns as he spoke, displayed like gossamer smoke across the icy night air.

“You could say that.” Erin could feel the flush of her face. Her lips upturned in a disbelieving smile. I shouldn’t have…how could I have? Silly shit, Erin. Stop it now. It was a friendly kiss, nothing more. Does it matter that I liked it? That I want to taste him again? It’s the alcohol. Stay cool.

“Lij is always ‘it’ and he has never found any of us in hide an’ seek. Until now, that is.” Orlando rose, extending his hand. Erin accepted, nipping the edge of her lip softly. The two stepped out to the edge of the walkway. Orlando’s cheeks and nose were rosy cold in the expanding silvery halogen glow.

"There is a first time for everything. Wouldn’t you say?” Erins voice was hopeful as her eyes caught Orlandos. He tastes so good….

“Like being struck by lightning?.” Orlando cocked his head to the side once more. She is taking this in stride. Why do I feel a bit angry with that? Its just one damn kiss.

“Like that song Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac, ‘Lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice and it all comes down to you’…” Don’t go distant on me…don’t go all formal and forgiving…

“Is that so?” Orlando paused, stepping in toward Erin. Dragging her hand forward, Orlando leaned in. His head tilted slightly to the right as his lips connected with gentle forcefulness. Orlando’s frozen fingertips braced against her warm cheek, his thumb hooking softly beneath the line of her jaw as he felt the gentle roll of her tongue against his.

Erin felt her breath catch in the confines of her throat. His kiss was hot, intense contrasting his cold fingers along her skin. Don’t let this moment end…

Orlando deepened his kiss, drawing Erins face stronger into his fingertips. His body braced along her own, opposite hand framing the small of her back. Erin met his desire with equal intensity, her head sliding to the side to receive the full passion of his demanding mouth. Each roll of his tongue along her own filled her with a sudden, ragged need. The taste of his breath, the scent of him. Consequences be damned! He feels too good.

“Well what in the name of Lucifer himself do we have here?” Billy laughed from a pace away. “Sure as shit ya weren’t lyin, Lij!” Billy exclaimed in shock and playfulness. “Seems our prissy little elf is lookin’ to shoot off more than his arrows.” He wriggled his brows suggestively.

Amy stood beside Billy and Lij in disbelief and partial disappointment. She has a boyfriend, Amy thought to herself, I can’t believe my eyes. She has to have known I was digging him. A moment of jealousy and rage passed through her icy blue eyes. Hell, what am I saying? I have a boyfriend!! She is my best friend, I should be happy that she is having a good time. What does a kiss really mean…even one THAT intimate and intense looking.

Orlando withdrew slowly from Erin, his fingers still braced against her flesh. With eyes closed, Orlando leaned his head down, bracing himself nose to nose, forehead to forehead with a shivering and nearly breathless Erin. “I’m sorry.”

Erin felt herself shrink inside. Why did you have to say that? Why those words, of all the words you could have chosen?

Orlando slid his fingertips from her skin as he stood upright, casting his head toward the obnoxious intruder. “You don’t see me breakin’ in on your pillow biting sessions with your man, now do you?” Orlando hid his sudden sense of anger and embarrassment with the wisecrack. He took a step, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his knee length black wool jacket, before turning to glance at Erin. I hurt her feelings. I should have said something else. But I AM sorry…sorry I pushed it that far, sorry Billy and Lij interrupted…sorry there wasn’t more time.. Sorry we are both attached to others… sorry that I still want you… sorry that, he knew at this stage in his life with all that was about to explode, he could not have her.

Orlando walked past the ensemble, bumping his shoulder against Billy as he moved. Billy shouted to the fast disappearing Orlando, “Ya could only be so lucky. Might teach ya some new tricks to please tha ladies with.”

Amy rushed over to Erin, bracing an arm around her shoulder. Billy looked to Erin and a softness slid over his normally cheerful and outlandish eyes. “I’m sorry lass, just havin’ a spot of fun.”

“Nah, its cool. Nothing but a little harmless kiss among drunks.” Erin laughed. She wasn’t laughing inside. His words hurt. The fact he is walking away, hurts even more.

“Hey, you alright?” Amy whispered, nuzzling her nose against Erins’ ear.

“Yeah. No. Lets go home.” Erin tilted her head down and let Amy lead her toward the exit to Central Park and the awaiting Limo. Billy hopped with one socked foot past the duo, coming up on Orlando as he leaned against the car door. Orlando had his head tilted up to the starless night, exhaling the smoke of his cigarette between tightly pressed lips.

“It’ll blow over. He gets a little tempermental sometimes. You should meet Viggo. Talk about tempermental? Whoa.” Lij smiled, bracing a tender arm around Erin.

“Hey,” Amy looked past Erin to Lij, “Orlando made mention of Billy and I guess, Dom, more than once. Are they, yanno?”

Lij laughed, his breath tumbling like smoke on the cold night. “Hell no, they are just really good friends. Both really love women.”

“Oh, okay.” Amy smiled, resting her temple against Erins, waiting at a patient distance as Billy and Orlando passed some quiet dialogue between themselves. Erin reached into her pocket and produced her dwindling pack of cigarettes, taking one and handing off the rest to Amy and Lij. Erin let Lij spark it to life for her with the lighter he had stolen from her earlier.

“Mate, I am sorry, I was just havin’ a bit of fun with ya both.” Billy shifted, leaning his hip against the limo as he kept his foot off the cold concrete street.

“I shouldn’t have let it happen, either way, man. There is too much shit going on in my own life right now without this to add onto it. Let’s not forget my…well, Jemma. I gave her a promise, ya know mate? That ring is a promise. Erins got a guy. What the hell was I thinking?” Orlando exhaled sharply, his foot braced firmly on the limo door, suddenly slammed against the metal.

“It’s just a bit of fun, mate. No harm of that.” Billy observed his reactions. Orlando was a wild child, lively at times and then equally rooted in stone. It was rare to see him give any indication of anger other than witty and skillful repartee. He was showing it now and that confused Billy even more. Ya think ya know someone after so much time together, wonders never cease.

Orlando turned his dark eyes to a shorter, colder Billy. “Plenty of harm in that mate. I am engaged, man. Engaged! I wasn’t thinking of that a moment ago, was I? Hell, I haven’t been thinking that most of the night. We are all here to promote what we have done with the Rings before going back to finish up Return of the King. I have a shitload of scripts to read when I return home to the UK. I have projects to consider and a future to think about.” Orlando drew in a long, sharp pull of his cigarette, watching the taxi’s pass like cavalcades along the quiet city streets.

“An yer forgettin’ it was just a kiss. No one ever banked a future on that, lad. Besides, ya can’t plan a future in one night. Worry ‘bout the world tomorrow, worry ‘bout yerself, tonight.” Billy took on an older tone, for a moment drawing on his years of wisdom instead of the irrepressable humor he showed the world. “Yer tired, stressed an’ drunk as hell. Let it pass, Orlando.”

“I hurt her feelings, Billy. It would have been different if I didn’t care about that. I am not that kind of guy, yanno? I’m not the kind of guy that does shit like this. I like her, Billy. She is funny and sorta vulnerable. There is just something about her.”

“She’s real, lad.” Billy nodded in understanding.

“Bugger me!” Orlando exhaled, tossing his cigarette to the ground, his features animated and slowly slipping back into comfortable, cool stone. “My head is spinning, mate.”

“Lets git back to the hotel. The lassies have to git to their bus anyway. We will talk more later.”

Billy braced a hand on his friends shoulder. Turning and leaning on the rear quarter panel of the Limo, Billy sighed. Lij was standing at the park entrance, alone. Turning back to Orlando, Billy rested his head on his forearm, strewn across the trunk. “Scratch that, lad. Our guests have left an’ poor Lij is standing there lookin’ lonely.”

“What?” Orlando turned, his eyes scanning the streets. Sure enough, Elijah was standing by the wrought iron entrance to the park, flicking his cigarette. She didn’t even say goodbye.

Tilting his head upward, Lij acknowledged the pair. Walking toward them with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his oversized winter coat. “They left. I hailed them a cab. They didn’t want to miss the bus home.”

“Did sh… they, say anything?” Orlando knit his brows together, his voice taking in an all too familiar tone.

“Put the bow down, Legolas.” Lij pat him on the shoulder. “Amy said to say goodbye to everyone and that she had a great time… she actually meant that more for Billy, you sly dog!” Lij laughed, trying to lighten the mood beneath Orlando’s sharp, focused eyes. “Erin just wanted me to say goodnight. Really nice girls, those two. They didn’t even treat me any different once they recognized who I was back in the diner. Takes a special kind of breed for that.”

The limo driver slipped silently around to open the door. “Just the three of you?”

“Yeah,” Lij stepped before Billy and Orlando. “Oh, Billy, Amy left you her number and wanted me to remind you that she has a boyfriend.”

Billy laughed, taking the torn off piece of a Marlboro pack, slipping it into his pocket. “Not fer long she does.” Billy followed Lij into the warm limo.

“Bloody hell!” Orlando racked his hand through his unruly dark mane of curls. He could hear Billys words echo in his head. It was just a kiss. No one ever banked a future on that, lad. Besides, ya can’t plan a future in one night. Worry ‘bout the world tomorrow, worry ‘bout yerself, tonight.

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