a/n: This story is part of a 30 Kisses challenge. This chapter contains kiss #04 'our distance and that person.'

Chapter 3: Trash and the City

Back at the old apartment, Linka prepared for her date with Greg. While looking through her overnight bag, she pulled out a short mauve strapless dress. She held it up to herself as she gazed into the mirror. It made her look much older than her actual twenty summers. How well she remembered the first time she wore it! It was to a fancy-dress gala put on by Ella Salvadore to christen her new eco-friendly train-system. You're looking outstanding, Babe! At the hearing of that voice in her head she made the memory disappear.

What was I thinking when I packed this old thing? she thought as she zipped up the back. She wasn't ready to admit even the possibility that deep-down she had hoped that Wheeler would give her a reason to wear it. Linka took one last look at herself in the mirror At least it did not go to waste.

"Gosh, you look pretty!" shouted a small voice from behind.

"Bozhe moy!" Linka shouted in fright. She had thought the place was empty, but she should have known someone was home when the apartment door was unlocked.

"Is that a swear word?"

"Do you always run off on your own, Joey? You are not here alone are you?"

"Nah, that girl, Diane, is babysitting tonight. She's outside having a cigarette."

Linka rolled her eyes. She already had a low opinion of Diane from her experience earlier today, now she hated her even more. That irresponsible little...and she has the nerve to talk about me behind my back like I am some idiot whore?

"So, where are you gonna go?"

"Not that it is any of your business, but some place in Manhattan called The Plaza."

"WOW!!! Only big-shots get to go there!"

"You are telling me. I am rather excited."

"You should be. I'm not supposed to like girls yet so don't tell anybody this, but my cousin is a lucky man."

"Joey--" Linka started.

"No really! I know you think I'm just a kid, but I know you two do more than just recycle all day. That mushy stuff is supposed to be gross and all, but I think you and Wheeler are just cool!"

Linka was about to sit Joey down and explain what had happened earlier but she was interrupted by a firm knocking. "I'll get it!" shouted Joey as he dashed toward the front door of the apartment. Behind the door was Greg. Joey was unimpressed by Greg's suave appearance, "Go away! My aunt doesn't like salesman, Mister."

"I'm not here to sell anything, Kid. I'm just here to pick up my date." Greg replied. How he hated kids!

"Then I think you have the wrong place," Joey started to close the door on him.

Linka ran into the room and stopped Joey, "Bozhe moy! I am sorry, Greg!"

At the sight of Linka, Greg pushed Joey out of the way, made his way inside the apartment and took a long look at Linka. Charmed by her beauty, he kissed her hand, "Linka, you look simply divine."

To say Joey was appalled was putting it lightly, "Hey! You're not going out with my big cousin? You're going out with that person?" Joey asked in disgust.

"That is correct," Greg replied offering Linka his arm, "Now, my dear, let's leave this uncouth neighborhood and venture to some place with more class."

Joey lurched at Greg, "You better keep your hands to yourself or my cousin will kill you!"

"Don't worry, Kid. Linka is a big girl." Greg said as they started to leave.

Joey made a face at Linka and yelled back at the couple as they exited the scene, "I take it back. You look like trash!"

xxxxxxx

In a nearby cafe, Trish sat with Wheeler as he filled her in on everything from Greg to the reason for Linka's behavior, "So, that's it, huh?" Trish said as Wheeler finished his story, "Well, it's just as well."

"Really?" Wheeler said looking down at his coffee.

"I mean, jeez, your father just died and she goes psycho-drama-queen on you," Trish could see that reverse psychology wasn't working on Wheeler, "on the other hand, if I was still your girlfriend, and I found out you locked lips with another girl while my back was turned, I'd kick your ass up the street and down it again."

"Thanks heaps."

"You're welcome," Trish took a sip of her latte, "I also think that this French Fry Guy sounds like a real ass. The mere fact that he supposedly saw the error in his ways after your Linka spoke to him it just too ironic for my taste. There had to be an ulterior motive. I'm well acquainted with his type."

"So what. I can't talk. I'm a damn cheating Greedly. Oh God, did I just use a Linka-ism?" Wheeler said throwing his head down on the table.

"You mean 'cheating pig.'"

"No, I don't. Linka thinks pigs are cute, so I'm a cheating Greedly."

"What the hell do you mean by---oh never mind! Pull yourself together, confront French Fry Guy and win back your girl. Rescue the damsel in distress!"

"Linka refuses to be called a damsel."

"But she is one. This 'Greg' has got more planned for her than just dinner, you know. When she needs you the most, are you gonna be a blubbering baby or Prince Charming? If you really love her than go get her! God, I'd beat you senseless if you hadn't already been batted by one other female today."

Wheeler didn't have a chance to answer. He was interrupted by a frantic Diane racing over to their table in the cafe, "He ran away! That little twerp ran away!" she shouted.

Trish ran to calm her friend down, "Who ran away, Diane?"

"Joey!" Diane practically grunted.

Wheeler immediately sprung from his chair, "You lost my cousin? Were you even watching him?"

"I told you, the little twerp ran away. He left this for you." Diane held up a walkie-talkie with a post-it note that read 'Give to Big Cuz.' "You wouldn't happen to know what this thing is, would you?"

Wheeler took the walkie-talkie from Diane, "It's that Planeteer communicator I gave Joey for Christmas last year," All the sudden it began to vibrate and say 'PLANETEER ALERT!!! PLANETEER ALERT!!!' Wheeler pressed the button and answered, "Joey! You better have a good excuse for running away or so help me--"

"Chill, Big Cuz, I just hopped a bus to Manhattan," Joey's voice came through loud and clear.

"You went all the way to Manhattan on your own!" exclaimed Wheeler.

"Well, yeah," Joey replied matter-of-factly.

Trish didn't believe a word, "He can't be in Manhattan! A toy walkie-talkie can't reach that far!"

"This isn't a toy, Trish," Wheeler said pausing, "What was that, Little Cuz?"

"I said, 'I'm keeping an eye on your girlfriend for you,'" Joey answered.

"What? You know where Linka is?" Wheeler was desperate for answers.

"Yeah," said Joey's voice, "Linka told me she was going to The Plaza tonight. I thought she meant with you, of course, but when some greasy jerk picked her up, I decided to follow them."

"You did that for me?" Wheeler was angry with Joey, but he'd hug him if he could.

"Sure, I wasn't about to let a greasy jerk steal my big cousin's girl."

"Are you at the Plaza watching them right now?"

"Yeah, don't ask for details, it's disgusting."

"I can imagine," Wheeler groaned. Then the thought crossed him, "How the heck are you spying on people at The Plaza?"

"I'm not at liberty to say," Joey spoke just like a pseudo-professional agent, "but if Eloise can do it--"

"You read Eloise?" Wheeler asked, raising one eyebrow.

"No, my kindergarten teacher----just get your butt over here, will ya?" Joey didn't need to say anymore.

"You heard the kid, Prince Charming!, " said Trish giving Wheeler a motivational tap on the back, "Get your lousy ass on your goddamn white horse and rescue your princess before she's the spud demon's next meal!"

xxxxxxx

All through dinner, Linka tried to enjoy herself. She only wanted to put the her humiliating experience from this afternoon far from her mind as she sat sipping her wine. Presently, she found herself sipping even faster as her eyes caught sight of a red headed gentleman getting cozy with his blond squeeze at the next table. Bozhe moy! She figured that Greg must have noticed when he asked, "Is something about this place bothering you, Linka?"

"What are you talking about, Greg? This place is fantastic. Never have I been treated so well!" She said continuing to sip her wine.

"Only the best for my lady. Here, allow me," Greg said filling her glass for the fifth time that night, "Almost empty. I might have to buy you another bottle. Linka, my dear, you don't have to pretend, I can tell your uncomfortable. How about later I take you somewhere that's a little less stuffy?"

Linka was about to protest yet again, but after peering over at the frisky couple once again, took Greg's hand at the table and said, "all of the sudden that sounds nice."

xxxxxxx

As Wheeler touched down with Trish in the Geocruiser at Central Park, the communicator started to vibrate once again. 'PLANETEER ALERT!!! PLANETEER ALERT!!!'

"Talk to me, Joey," Wheeler answered.

"Linka and the jerk left The Plaza."

"Where'd he take her?" Wheeler asked cautiously.

"Some roach motel."

"WHAT!!!" Wheeler shouted.

"Nah, I'm just kidding."

Trish grabbed the communicator and said, "Joey, I'm not gonna ask how you know what a roach motel is, but you should know better than to make jokes right now!"

"Jeez, I'm sorry already."

Trish continued, "Now, we're gonna ask you a second time. Where did the jerk take Linka?"

"A place just a couple of blocks away. It's called..." Joey read with disbelief, "Tell Mom I'm At The Library!?!"

Wheeler's worries were not eased by this information, "That's even worse! They don't card there!"

Trish muted the communicator for a moment, "How the hell do you know that?"

"I used to do booze runs for my dad all the time. I've come to know the bars pretty well."

"Even all the way out here?"

"When I was desperate enough, yeah."

Trish could believe that, "Joey, don't take your eyes off Linka for a second. We're coming!"

xxxxxxx

"So, what will it be?" the lady bartender asked Greg.

"Jack and Coke for me and for the lovely lady, let me guess," Greg playfully mused, "vodka?"

Linka laughed as if she hadn't a care in the world, "Da, I have had it many times before," she lied. In truth, her father was the only member of her family that ever drank vodka on occasion. After his death, Linka's household had never even seen a bottle of it.

The bartender was disgusted by Greg but did her job, "Hun, I think he just patronized you."

Linka just laughed, "Patronizing is better than cheating," she said going for her drink.

Greg handed the bartender a tremendous tip, but she refused it, "Sounds like you have some competition with another man."

"Hardly," he said sipping his drink, "the other man of whom you speak is pretty much a loser."

"You can say that again," Linka said finally trying her drink. The dinner wine had already left Linka feeling tipsy, but the vodka was much stronger. Everything in the room was starting to move around her in slow motion as she sipped the vodka. It was very out of character for Linka to behave this way, but she didn't care, tonight she was going to enjoy herself and forget about that damn Yankee.

Greg just smiled as he put his arm around Linka This is all going so well.

xxxxxxx

Wheeler and Trish met Joey at the entrance to the bar. Upon their arrival, Wheeler promptly reached in his pocket, pulled out a handful of bills and handed them to Trish, "Trish, take Joey back to my mom's place. If I need anything I'll use the communicator," he said as he gazed with disgust at Greg rubbing the small of Linka's back while she sipped her vodka.

"What are you going to do?" Joey asked, as if he had to.

"I'm gonna make mashed potatoes," Wheeler said grinding his teeth.

"'Bout time you did!" Trish encouraged him.

"Yeah! Go for it, Big Cuz, make him cough blood!" Joey shouted.

"Good God, Joey," said Trish as they walked away,"what the hell are you watching on TV?"

Meanwhile, Greg left Linka's side to buy her another drink. Wheeler followed him to the main counter being extra careful to make sure Greg didn't see his face. I'm gonna catch that ass red-handed, Wheeler thought to himself. Thankfully, Greg was far too preoccupied watching Linka's every move that he didn't even turn around to notice Wheeler or the bartender "Another vodka on the rocks for the lady, please."

"Anything for you sir?" said the bartender to Wheeler.

"No, thanks, I don't partake," Wheeler answered the bartender politely.

"Very well," said the bartender as she finished pouring the vodka for Greg, "Anything else for you, sir?"

Greg still didn't even look at the bartender. He just kept on lustfully leering towards Linka, "Not now, but If this continues I'll soon be having myself a white russian!"

That was all Wheeler could take. He turned Greg towards himself and punched Greg in the jaw. The bartender, no doubt accustomed to this type of behavior, only smirked at Greg and said, "I'm guessing that's the 'loser', huh?"

Wheeler shoved Greg out of the way and made his way to Linka. He wasn't sure if Linka wanted to see him now, but he didn't care. "Linka, we're getting out of here now!"

Much to his surprise Linka just laughed and threw her arms around him, "I saw everything, you know," Wheeler could smell the vodka on her breath, "Come and let me give you a little reward."

Wheeler returned her embrace, but couldn't rightfully accept her 'reward.' "Babe, you hate it when I act like a gorilla."

"Not this time, Yankee. It was romantic," Linka almost lost her footing as she tried to 'reward' Wheeler again. This time Wheeler almost accepted, but stopped when he saw the police entering the bar out of the corner of his eye.

Crap, I forgot they show up here a lot too! Under-aged drinking, public drunkenness...Linka will never forgive me if she's arrested for either one! Wheeler contemplated, Well, I promised to be Prince Charming so... he wasted no more time, scooped his princess up in his arms and ran with her out the back door.

Keeping out of sight by lurking in the alleyways, Wheeler carried a half-conscious and fully-drunk Linka back towards the safety of the Geocruiser. It seemed that with every turn he made he saw yet another policeman waiting to arrest them. Wheeler had always been good at ducking the cops, but now they were not even allowing him a second to hail a cab, catch a bus or even duck into the subways below. He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed that they had finally made it back to The Plaza, but that feeling was short lived when he discovered that Central Park was filled with reporters, Crap, there must have been an accident or something! Now if I try to take Linka to the Geocruiser, we'll end up on the 11 o'clock news!

With no where else to go, he turned back to The Plaza. He gently set Linka down on a bench and pulled out the communicator, "Trish, I need your help pronto, Central Park is crawling with news media!"

"Yeah, we just heard on the radio. Some plane got trashed by a gang of thugs."

"Damn! The Geocruiser! Gaia will flip!"

"Shit, I didn't even think about that. You do have insurance, don't you?"

"No time for that now! Do you know anyone who works at the Plaza?"

"I think Diane's cousin works as a bellhop, why?"

"I need someone to pull a few strings for Linka and I. We need a room and we need one now. Preferably one without a mini-bar."

xxxxxxx

"No luggage, sir?" the bellhop asked Wheeler as showed them to their room.

Once again, Wheeler was carrying Linka who, still pleasantly drunk, just remained quiet, "Nope, this was all so spur of the moment! I realize that we could have flown to Vegas, but we just couldn't wait."

Wheeler was afraid their alibi was a bit too far-fetched but somehow the bellhop bought every word. "Well, when you're in love," he said unlocking the room for the couple, "Is there anything else I can do for you sir?"

"No," then he noticed the bottle of spirits on ice, "On second thought, could you take the champagne, please?" She's had enough.

"Very well," said the Bellhop grabbing the champagne, "Enjoy your stay and congratulations."

Wheeler took a look around. It obviously wasn't the biggest suite in The Plaza, but it did have a main room, a bedroom and a bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. Wow, this place really is as swanky as they say! Wheeler thought as he carried Linka into the bedroom and laid her on the king-sized bed.

Linka sat up and finally spoke, "You told him we just got married and they gave you the honeymoon suite, Da?" she laughed, "You are so clever I could kiss you." Linka playfully pulled Wheeler down to the bed and straddled him, "Has it occurred to you that we are in bed, Yankee?"

"Perhaps." Wheeler answered as he rolled her onto her back.

"You have wanted to have me here for a long time, I know."

Wheeler tried to get up but she grabbed him by the collar "Linka--"

"Come on, Yankee, tonight you win the battle," she said starting to unbutton his shirt.

Wheeler grabbed her hands and removed them, "Linka, no, you're drunk and you'll hate me for it in the end."

Linka just snatched her hands back and awkwardly shoved him, "Don't be bashful, Yankee. Is this not your big dream to make love to me?"

Wheeler walked away from the bed, "This is not how I wanted that dream to come true. Babe, you have no idea how much I want you, but I just can't." He was telling the truth, but Linka was too intoxicated to listen. She got up, dashed over to Wheeler and heaved him down onto the bed. Satisfied, she jumped on top of Wheeler, almost knocking the air out of him, and went straight for his belt.

"Does your little friend not feel like coming out to play?"

"Trust me, Babe, it does, but...wait...no..." Wheeler tried to gently fight her off as she struggled with his belt. He worried he would hurt her, "Please, Babe, don't make me--" She almost succeeded but fate lent a hand and she vomited on him instead. Wheeler wasted no time and helped her to the bathroom, stroking her hair as he held it back for her.

"There, there, you've had a long day." he said. When Linka finally finished emptying the contents of her stomach. Wheeler gently carried her back to bed, tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead.

Exhausted, Wheeler heaved a great sigh and flopped into a nearby chair, What a day! I come all the way to New York, go to my dad's funeral and now I just turned down the chance to have drunken sex with the girl of my dreams. Some 'Prince Charming' I turned out to be. He couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for Linka's actions as he looked down at his vomit-covered shirt. What am I going to do now?

And then then the voice of his friends came ringing back in his ears If you ever need us... "Well, Little Buddy, this is one of those times," Wheeler put his ring hand to his head and concentrated, I hate to bother you but...what?...you're on your way here?...I should have known after what happened to the Geocruiser...Don't panic, it's nothing serious...I just need some help here...no, not all of you. Just one...

To Be Continued...