~ * ~ A * S T O R Y * A B O U T * L O V E ~ * ~

by She's a Star

Disclaimer: Moulin Rouge belongs to the absolutely amazing Baz Luhrmann.

A/N: Thanks a zillion and one to my buddy Kara, whose totally SPECTACULAR fic Crazy Love (if you haven't read it, you're missing out big time!) inspired this :) You rock, girlie!!!





Chapter One: Angel of the Underworld



When he stepped through the graffitied door and wisps of smoke that led to L'amour Fou, a popular L.A. nightclub, on that fateful night, he would have never expected that he'd meet Her there.

That was how he thought of his soulmate, whoever she was...capitalized.

Twenty two year old Christian Matthews couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable as his friends shoved him into the crowded nightclub. He'd attended church every Sunday of his life, and was pretty sure that going to strip clubs wasn't a-okay in God's book. But his best friend, Travis Luhrmann had insisted.

Christian doubted Travis had ever been to church in his life.

"Isn't this awesome?" Travis asked with a grin revealing crooked teeth as he stared up at Christian-he barely came to his best friend's shoulder, thanks to his scrawny 5'5" form.

"It's...different," Christian replied stupidly, then backed up many steps as one of the strippers danced her way over to them, wearing only a barely-there red string bikini.

Travis laughed, "Dude, you have to learn to live a little. Your birthday's in three weeks, and there's no way in hell I'm letting you continue being a virgin at twenty-three."

Christian felt his cheeks redden, and, as a group of obviously drunk hookers burst out laughing, wished that Travis's voice wasn't so loud.

"Would you shut up?" Christian hissed. Travis, however, didn't reply as he seemed to be enthralled with the group of skimpily-clad women singing seductively to Lady Marmalade on the bar.

"You've got to lighten up, Christian," exclaimed N.A., a friend from Argentina who Christian had known since seventh grade but still hadn't discovered what his full name was.

"I'm just not the type of guy who does stuff like this, all right?" Christian snapped.

"There's a first time for everything, sweet'eart."

Christian turned around to see a brunette with a heavy New York accent grinning slyly up at him.

"Erm..."

"Twenty bucks and I'll give you an experience you'll never forget," she promised teasingly.

"No, no, thanks," Christian stuttered as she wrapped her arms around his waist. N.A. and Travis were both laughing as the hooker gave him a wink.

"Fine, then,"she purred, "But don't think you can get away from me that easily. The seemingly innocent ones are always the tigers."

And with that, she sauntered away and began to dance in a manner that would have given both of Christian's parents heart attacks in seconds.

"Aw, Christie, if you go on like this, how do you expect to get laid?" Travis asked, his ever-present grin suddenly very infuriating to Christian.

"Shut UP," Christian exclaimed. "This was your idea, not mine, and I'm not playing along with it."

"Fine," Travis pouted. "Well, then you can at least come with me to get a beer."

"Okay," Christian nodded in agreement.

The two of them made their way over to the bar, which, to Christian's relief, was now rid of dancing prostitutes.

"Two beers," Travis announced to the woman behind the bar.

She nodded. "That it?"

"And one water," Travis added in disgust, glaring over at Christian. For the second time that evening, Christian felt his cheeks heat up. Really, was it a CRIME not to drink?

The bartender raised an amused eyebrow at him. "Coming right up."

"You disgust me sometimes, buddy," Travis proclaimed as he sank down one of the stools. Christian took the seat next to him.

"Ditto," he replied.

"But seriously, man," Travis said as he accepted their drinks from the bartender and rewarded her with a wink, "You really have to live a little. I mean, be glad I dragged you out here...I can't believe you were going to sit at home and WRITE, for crying out loud."

"I like writing," Christian replied stubbornly.

"Yeah, well, that's okay," Travis said, "But you've gotta get a little experience first, or else you won't have anything to write about!"

"Travis, there's this thing called imagination," Christian replied dryly. "Look it up in the dictionary sometime."

"The what?" Travis asked in mock (or at least Christian hoped it was mock) stupidity.

Christian laughed. "You make me sick."

"Ditto."

"Oh, clever," Christian complimented him. "Hey...where'd N.A. go?"

Smirking, Travis tilted his head slightly to the left, where N.A. was leaning against the bar sweet-talking one of the hookers. He'd always been a lady's man. "What's the point in trying to impress them with his 'charm', anyway?" Christian asked as he took a sip of water. "I mean, as long as he has twenty bucks in his pocket, he's gonna score anyway."

Travis shrugged. "He's a weird one."

"I won't argue with that," Christian replied with a grin.

Suddenly, the increasingly annoying hip-hop song that was blasting throughout the small club ceased, and the grand piano that looked incredibly out of place in the neon-light filled, somewhat tacky room began to play. Christian leaned over past the middle aged man that sat to his left to find that a chubby, red haired and faced man was playing. The flashing lights dimmed so that Christian could barely see his own hand.

Then suddenly, a soft, almost haunting voice began to sing, echoing throughout the small club.

"The French are glad to die for love."

Everyone immediately began to lean back and forth in their seats, trying to catch a glimpse of the voice's owner, but they seemed to be hidden somehow.

"They delight in fighting duels."

"What's this?" Christian whispered to Travis.

"Little show they do with one of the girls," Travis whispered back. "They call her the Sparkling Diamond..."

Christian closed his eyes as the next line was sung out, and her voice seemed to radiate throughout his body...almost become part of him. It was strange, and definitely unlike any sensation he'd ever felt before.

Almost like he'd imagined love would feel...

"But I prefer a man who lives..."

"What are you doing, idiot?" Travis whispered. Christian snapped out of his fantasy world thanks to a sharp jab in the ribs from his best friend.

"Nothing," Christian mumbled back.

"And gives..."

She paused for a tantalizingly long moment, and Christian found himself craving that sweet, sultry voice.

"Expensive...jewels."

The room suddenly exploded in blinding light, and from behind the piano a woman appeared. Christian immediately inhaled deeply, not wanting to blink. He'd never seen such a ravishing beauty...never dreamed something so stunning could possibly exist.

This woman, this Sparkling Diamond, was dressed not in skimpy, trashy garments like the others, but a corset covered in rhinestones which shimmered as she danced throughout the club. A black top hat sat upon long, fiery curls that tumbled down her back. If she hadn't had a seductive smile on her face, Christian could have easily mistaken it for that of an angel: she had flawless ivory skin, blue eyes the color of sun-kissed sky, and glossy red lips.

The club had erupted into applause and cheers as she danced throughout it, winking at men and blowing over exaggerated kisses into the air.

"A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend!" she sang, her voice now confident and strong. "A kiss may be grand but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat, or help you feed your pussycat."

Christian grinned as she belted out the old Marilyn Monroe song-his mother was a huge fan of the actress, and wondered what she'd think if she saw the number being performed now.

"Men grow cold as girls grow old, and we all lose our charms in the end," she sang in a tone that suggested she would never lose her own charms.

Christian didn't doubt it.

"But square-cut or pear-shaped these rocks don't lose their shape! Diamonds are a girl's best friend!"

Dumbfounded, Christian mumbled, "She's amazing."

"So you're not gay!" Travis exclaimed. Normally, Christian would have bothered to reply, but he couldn't bring himself to look away from her.

"Tiffany!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air and catching a diamond necklace that one of the men had just thrown at her. "Cartier!"

"You really like her?" Travis asked teasingly.

"Who wouldn't?" Christian responded as she pushed one of the men down onto the floor and danced suggestively over him.

"Well, then, bud, you're in luck!" Travis exclaimed.

"What'd you do?" Christian asked immediately.

"Well, since it's your birthday and all..." Travis started, eyes shining wickedly. Christian immediately felt his stomach begin to do cartwheels. When Travis's eyes got like that, it was best to head for the hills as quickly as possible.

Women and children first, of course.

"What did you DO?!" Christian repeated, louder this time.

"Well," Travis said with a suave grin. "I've got connections around here, and I pulled a few strings to get you a night with the Sparkling Diamond."

"Huh?" Christian asked stupidly, his brain suddenly feeling too frazzled to put two and two together.

"Totally alone," Travis continued, his smile turning mischievous.

Christian felt his pulse immediately begin to race, and his face was the color of the Diamond's hair as he studied her.

"There may come a time when a lass needs a lawyer," she sang, doing a few high kicks.

"But diamonds are a girl's best friend!" the group of hookers who had been dancing on the bar finished.

"There may come a time when a hard-boiled employer thinks you're awful nice," she continued. "But get that ice or else no dice!"

"He's your guy when stocks are high, but beware when they start to descend!" the girls all sang. Their voices were horribly off-key and words slurred, and Christian found himself almost aching to hear the Diamond's voice again. He couldn't help but feel enchanted as he watched her...she had the effect of a siren: every man in the room was spellbound.

"Diamonds are a girl's best, diamonds are a girl's best, diamonds are a girl's best friend!"

The Diamond took a seat at the piano next to the man who was playing it, and they exchanged a few words Christian couldn't make out while she tossed her hair and admired the way the strand of diamond she held sparkled in the dim light...he could have sworn she'd taken a quick glimpse at him.

After a few moments of the other girls's horrible warbling, the Diamond jumped up from the bench again and, to Christian's relief, her voice filled the room and overpowered every other sound within it.

"'Cause that's when those louses go back to their spouses!" she began to make her way over to the stool where Christian sat.

"Here she comes, buddy," Travis muttered, his tone full of mischief.

"Diamonds," she dragged out the word as she continued to cross the club, "Are a...girl's..."

She was getting closer...five feet away...four feet...

"Best...."

To Christian's utter surprise, she stopped directly in front of him, shimmeying up and down and causing the rhinestones on her corset to dance in the light.

"Friend," she breathed, then purred seductively, "I believe you were expecting me."

"Y...yes," Christian managed to get out, feeling as though his heart would stop beating at any moment.

"Satine," Travis said with a winning smile as an old Olivia Newton John song began blasting out of the speakers.

Satine...

The name fit her perfectly. It was so sultry and elegant...

He'd been a writer since he could hold a pen, and yet never in his life had one word had such an effect on him.

Satine gave his best friend a confused look, as though she'd seen him before but couldn't put name to face. Finally she nodded and gave him a breezy, confident "Hello."

"I believe you've heard about my friend here," Travis continued.

Christian felt his cheeks flush bright red as Satine's intense gaze fell upon him.

"Oh yes," she purred, tracing his jawbone lightly with one soft finger. "I've heard about you."

Christian's whole body seemed to explode at the soft touch, and he felt as though his heart would stop at any moment. Touches weren't supposed to effect people this way...

"Let's dance," Satine breathed, her voice barely over a whisper. Christian tried to get up, but he couldn't move...couldn't even give her a reply.

Satine pouted like a child who wasn't allowed to have dessert until after dinner, and every man in the club groaned sympathetically.

Christian realized that every pair of eyes was on them.

Satine kept her shockingly blue eyes fixed only on him, crimson lips pouting. Then one corner of her mouth raised slightly in a smirk, and she winked at him before turning around.

"Sa-tine, Sa-tine, Sa-tine!" the drunken men all chanted in unison.

She shook her hips in time to their chant, letting out little yips each time her hip jutted to one side.

"You're crazy, man," Travis whispered. "Get up there and dance with her or I'm never speaking to you again! I had to pull a lotta strings to get you a night with her!"

"Do you have any idea what my mother would be thinking right now?" Christian retorted. "She'd have a heart attack knowing I was in this place at all...I don't even want to THINK about what she'd do if she knew my best friend had hired me a prostitute!"

"Dude, you're an adult now," Travis exclaimed. "You can stop wondering what mommy would think!"

"But sex is for when you're in love with someone, and when you're MARRIED-"

"Listen, Christie, it was cute when you were ten," Travis hissed. "But if you don't get out there and dance with her right now, I swear I'm gonna-"

Travis, however, didn't get to finish his sentence, seeing as Satine had just danced backwards and settled herself into Christian's lap. She wrapped her black satin evening glove-covered arms around his shoulders and purred, "I've been a good girl, Santa, I swear."

As Satine kissed her way up his neck, Christian was sure that his brain was going to explode...every nerve in his body seemed to be on overdrive.

"Are you gonna be a good little boy and dance with me now?" Satine asked when they parted, running her finger over his lips.

Christian did the only thing he could do: nodded and followed her out into the middle of the club.

She immediately began a series of MTV-worthy dance moves that made Britney Spears look like some sort of angel. Christian, who had never been able to dance (with the exception of ballroom dances: his mother had forced him to take lessons when he was twelve), stood awkwardly and tried not to gawk at her.

"Loosen up," Satine purred, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and spinning him around. Christian tried to lead her around without beginning to waltz without noticing, and he had to fight not to look down at his feet and make sure they were behaving.

"Let's get physical," Satine began to sing as she pressed against him, her breath tickling his ear. Christian felt his heart speed up and was about to spontaneously combust when he realized she was singing along to the song that pulsated throughout the club.

"Physical," she continued, pulling away and giving him a teasing smile, "I wanna get physical...let's get physical...lemme hear your body talk, your body talk, lemme hear your body talk."

Travis suddenly appeared next to him, dancing with the brunette that had set her sights on Christian earlier. He was eyeing Christian with envy, and the brunette seemed to be doing the same to Satine.

About halfway through the song, Christian finally got back his ability to speak coherently.

"I...er...this wasn't my idea," he said meekly.

"Oh?" Satine asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Er...yes," he said. "I...um...this is my first time here."

"Obviously," Satine said, her voice sounding different...it didn't seem to be coming from the same woman he'd been dancing with.

"W...what?" Christian stuttered.

"Oh..." she let out a sultry, musical laugh...she'd returned. Perhaps he'd been imagining her voice sounding different at all. "Well, it's just that if you'd been here before, I know I would have noticed you."

Her voice faded off as she spoke the sentence, ending in a seductive whisper that made Christian's pulse race.

"Oh," he said weakly.

The song ended, and Satine whispered into his ear, "Talk to the bartender in half an hour. He'll know where to take you."

Christian was about to question her mysterious words further, but before he had the chance she danced away from him and into the night.