Hello guys : )
I can't begin to tell you guys how happy I am that they changed the guy playing Christian in the movie. I think Jamie Dornan will do a good job but I would honestly prefer Matt Bomer to play my lovely Christian.
Okay now, sorry about the delay : ( I feel like I'm failing you guys and that makes me really sad but school is really annoying. I think I'm just going to drop out and sell tamales on the street.
I'll stop with the yapping and let you guys read the chapter : )
And one more thing!
Happy Catching Fire November :D
New Kind of Paradise
Chapter 7
Anastasia´s PoV
After the night's events, I took off my shoes and fell asleep simultaneously.
While I was dreaming about a man with grey eyes, someone thought it would be funny to pull me out of my dreams by my feet.
"Ana banana are you awake?" Kate asked.
I opened my eyes with a grunt. "Of course not! I was just lying in bed with my eyes closed."
"You're probably right, sorry!" she purred. Her breath smelled like too many martinis.
Oh not again! She was totally wasted.
I looked at the alarm next to the bed; it was 3:30am. I was starting to formulate tons of questions to ask her, but fortunately for her, my brain was still asleep, so I decided to let it pass.
"You can sleep on the bed; I'll sleep on the couch," I told her while picking up a pillow and some sheets.
Kate just made weird sounds and fell asleep as quickly as I did.
The light seeped through the window and reflected in my eyes. I was still tired from the night before, but it had to be me, who woke up sleeping beauty before she turned into gagging beauty.
After checking the clock again, it was only 8:30 am so I decided to let her sleep some more and called room service to order our breakfast. While I waited for the food to come I took a shower and as I was getting dressed I put on my earphones and listened to some music.
I was completely happy and I would probably bet all my money that I had a goofy grin on my face.
"Anastasia! Are you dancing?" Kate exclaimed.
Apparently I gave her less credit than she deserved, she didn't look so bad after some good sleep.
I smiled, "Maybe I am."
"You don't have to be a genius to figure out something good happened last night. I've never seen you dance, and it's creeping the hell out of me," she said.
I rolled my eyes at her, "Yeah sure I'll explain. I'll explain why I barged into your room at 3 am and why it was you that had to sleep on the couch."
"Right, that was me," she said. "Do you have any food? I'm starving."
"I just ordered room service, go take a shower and I'll get you an aspirin." I ordered her.
"This is why we're friends," she said.
"I'm not getting paid enough." I threw her a towel.
She was right, I had been dancing… I could never dance, ever and not because I hadn't tried it out, but because I had as much grace as a dead slug.
And then and there, goofy grin on my face grew even wider.
Last night Christian had made me feel understood and that I could probably talk about anything with him—even my about cat—and not get the impression that he didn't care. It felt more like he actually understood and actually cared.
In general I felt happy, but part of told me that I should take it slowly, because after all, these were only vacations and I would probably never get to see him again after this.
Stop that, you sourpuss! My subconscious yelled.
A knock on the door stopped my erratic thoughts. It was the food I had ordered from room service or as I liked to it: heaven on wheels. I pushed the cart against the little table that was outside on the terrace. Looking into my purse I found two aspirins and set them out for Kate, along with a glass of orange juice.
She came out of the bathroom in a bathrobe, "Are we having breakfast outside?"
"Yeah, I thought we could use a little vitamin D. Come on, I ordered waffles!" I yelled.
We sat down in the sun, it felt amazing!
"Ana, you have a good tan there going on, when you return Seattle you'll have a lot of admirers." Kate said, as she drank her orange juice.
"You bet," I said with sarcasm. "Do you remember that I'm actually dating the most influential man in Seattle? If I return and start dating, they'll eat me alive in the news. I guess I'll just have to keep a low profile until then."
"I guess I forgot about that. Where did you disappear to last night?" she asked.
"Christian and I had dinner together," I answered, not looking her straight in the eyes.
"What kind of dinner?"
"The type where you go to a restaurant, order food and eat it there. It was just a dinner, nothing else happened, we just talked and I told him a little about me," I said.
"Why did you do that? I thought you didn't trust him," She said as she bit into her waffles.
"I know I shouldn't trust him, but something about him makes me open up to him without even thinking, and I don't know what happens to me when I'm near him. Sometimes I just want to spend all the possible minutes with him and then some other times I just want to kick him in the shins for being so bossy. Besides all that, I think I like him," I said.
"Ha! I knew it! I saw your face when he hugged you; it lit up like the fourth of July."
I put my hand over my eyes and sighed. "Am I really that obvious?"
"Not really, but I've known you for a long time, so I kind of know how to read your emotions."
"I feel stupid about asking you—at my age—but how do you know when you're in love?" I asked.
She smiled. "That's easy! You know you're in love when all you think about is being by that person and about how it would make you feel if he would take you between his athletic arms and kissed you senseless."
"Then I think I'm screwed," I smiled weakly.
"Yeah, I kind of speculated that when you were dancing your derriere off," she scoffed.
"So now you're going to make fun of me? It should be me, who should be laughing at you, for you lack of civility and kindness toward your sleeping friend, shame on you dude!"
"Hey, I'm sorry. I tend to be rude when I'm intoxicated. So what do you want to do today?"
I shrugged. "I don't know how 'bout you choose for today."
"Alright! Let's forget about boys for today and go down to the spa. We could sure use some girl time." Kate said
*.*.*.*.*
It had been more than 24 hours since I had seen Christian, it felt like hell. Especially since I knew that his suite was close to mine. I sat crossed-legged in the living room, with the television turned on a random channel I wasn't even watching. Complete silence was not something that I liked when I worked.
I was reading a manuscript from one of the authors back at SIP; it was a really good story and one of my favorites, which made me love my job even more because I could read the story before anyone else. Just as I was getting to the good part in the story, there was someone at the door.
Immediately upon opening the door, my heart skipped a beat.
"Hey there Honey Bear, what are you doing here?" I asked.
Christian scrunched up his nose. "Will you really keep calling me Honey Bear? I think I'd prefer something more masculine. Can I come in?"
Moving aside, I looked down at my clothes for the first time. I was a mess. My hair was up in a messy bun and I was just wearing some shorts and an old t-shirt. I felt underdressed next to Christian, albeit Christian's clothing wasn't as formal as I'd seen him. In his short-sleeved button-up striped shirt and brown shorts, he looked as fancy as you can get in shorts.
I gestured him to sit down in the living room but then remembered that I had made a complete chaos with all my notes.
"Sorry about the mess, I was working," I explained.
"Working on vacations?"
"Yeah, there's nothing wrong with vacations and work. On the other hand, Kate is somewhere off smooching your brother, so I had to find something to do."
I picked up my notebooks and placed them in my messenger bag.
"Yup, I wouldn't want to see that," he smiled.
"Are you hungry?" I asked, while changing the subject. "I ordered room service."
"Not really, but I came to ask you for a favor," Christian said.
"What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't do my boyfriend any favors?" I sat on the small couch next to his. There was plenty of space next to Christian, but for some contradictory reason I had to put some space between him and me. "Go ahead, tell me."
"Some of my business partners are getting together at their mansion to play a good old game of tennis. And when they heard that I had a "girlfriend" they immediately extended their invitation towards you. I would like—love—for you to come along with me and show them how badass my girlfriend is at tennis." He explained.
That basically made the grin that I had on yesterday return to its maximum power. He wanted me along! With him!
"Well," I stroked my chin. "I guess I could kick some ass, you know. It doesn't sound so bad, considering I had nothing else planned," I said sarcastically.
"Okay, good. We should really get going then." Christian stood up.
"I'm not presentable," I started to argue.
"You're fine, you look beautiful, Rose." He said. "Anyway you don't need designer clothes to beat their ass."
"I hate it when you call me Rose, only my mom calls me Rose, and that's when she's really angry."
"Okay Ana, we'll just go and get back before you know it, just take your cell if you please." He raked his hand through his hair.
Wouldn't it feel delectable to be able to touch his hair that way? Asked my subconscious.
I nodded, and immediately felt stupid for doing so, at such a random time.
"Fine, let me just text Kate," I said looking for my phone.
"You can text her from the car, we're going to be late," he said exasperated.
There was the bossy Christian I had met, and he was about to recognize the counterpart Ana.
I placed my hands on my hips in an imposing manner.
"Well I apologize, if I'm taking too much of your precious time, if I am then why don't you go without me?"
"No, I'm the one who should apologize, I shouldn't be hastening you. But I hate being unpunctual, and the mansion isn't near the hotel." He said.
He looked very charming for apologizing, but I wasn't going to give way that simple.
"That's nice, but on the other hand, I don't feel like going out anymore," I said looking at my recently manicured hands.
This was when I expected to see his face to go from his natural to something more startled. But instead his face contorted to a mischievous smile.
"Ana," he said with a weird menacing voice. "There are many ways of getting you out of this room."
Holy Shit!
"Oh, believe me Christian I would love to see you try." I said trying to sound unaffected by the tone he used, but oh boy, did he make me shiver.
Before I knew it, my rear end was up in the air, and was being carried over Christian's shoulder.
He grabbed my messenger bag and closed the door before I could hold on to it.
"For the love of god! .DOWN!" I yelled like if I was being slaughtered.
I couldn't see his face but I could probably assume he was finding the situation diverting.
He pressed the call button for the elevator and for my sake, there were other people waiting for the elevator too. It was couple.
"Help me, please! He's trying to kidnap me!" I screamed.
The couple just looked at Christian and up at me, and simply smiled—like it was the most typical thing in the world.
"Don't worry dude, they get like that sometimes," said the guy, while his—I'm assuming—girlfriend punched him on the arm playfully.
"Thanks man," Christian answered with a smile. "It's our first fight."
The girl just looked at Christian as if he were the cutest chubby baby in the galaxy.
"You're such a lucky girl," She said when we got of the elevator.
We walked through the lobby, while receiving odd stares from the rest of the guests, and luckily for Christian, Taylor was waiting with the car outside. I swore that guy and Christian had a type of psychic bond—or a really good cellphone.
When Taylor saw us, he didn't stop and ask any questions, he simply got the door opened for his boss and the crazy girl he was carrying.
I started formulating escape plans, but then it came to mind that he was truly fast on his feet.
Why would you want to run away? I would love it if he manhandled me right on the spot, said my dirty minded subconscious.
"Hey stop fighting me," Christian said as I slapped his arm when he tried to help me into the SUV. "I warned you I had many ways of getting you out of the room, and I think I just proved my point."
"Yeah, yeah, quit your yapping," I said irritated.
As Christian got into the car, I tried moving as much as possible away from him. I got my cell phone out of my pocket and texted Kate quickly.
*Kate, I've been kidnaped by Christian Grey! :( He says he's taking me to play tennis with some people he does business with, but I don't believe him. If I don't return within a couple of hours call the police.
Love, kidnaped Ana :(*
"I'm surprised that you haven't called the police," Christian said, putting down his window.
I thought about responding him with a rude comment about his mother, but I opted for giving him the silence treatment.
Taylor started the car and we were on our way to some unknown place, which by the look of it would be at least two hours until we arrived.
Driving two hours and not wanting to talk to Christian made me doze off for the entire trip.
"Hey there sleeping beauty," Christian smiled. "Your snoring has prevented me from falling asleep myself."
Damn it! I could have died of embarrassment then and there, but I was still mad.
Are you sure you're not bipolar or some shit? Inquired my subconscious.
The house—or what looked like a miniature version of a luxury hotel— was breathtakingly beautiful.
"It's even bigger than last time, I sure pay that fucker a small fortune," Christian said under his breath.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure you do," I said, speaking without thinking.
"Finally, she speaks!" Christian smiled. Why did he always smile like that? Did he even know how that smile could probably make me walk over hot coals just to contemplate it? My subconscious was completely right; I was starting to suffer from a very severe bipolarity, and all thanks to this man.
In the driveway, Taylor parked the SUV behind a yellow Lamborghini. Christian most definitely paid that man too much money.
At the entrance, there was a man who looked like he was in his early forties and next to him was a real life Barbie doll who could probably be his daughter, if it hadn't been by the way he was holding her, that would have totally been my guess.
"Christian, we're really glad you could make it," said the man, as he shook hands with him. "And you must be Ana, the lovely lady everyone has been talking about, I'm Richard, and this is my wife, Natasha."
I smiled, "It's my pleasure, to meet you both."
"Oh, we're going to have soo much fun! Hello Ana, I think we should go to the back so you can get acquainted with everyone," Natasha said, hauling me by my arm. Her voice was very chirpy and it was sort of annoying to hear talking about her lovely house.
As we walked through the house, the sound of her heels clinked loudly against the black marbled floors.
Richard and Christian were talking business.
"So do you know how to play tennis?" asked Natasha bringing me back to earth.
"Um, yes I do," I smiled.
"Well that's good because I have no idea how to play; I could use someone like you on my team! We could be like best friends." she said jumping up and down.
Great! Barbie and I would be best friends… I wanted to run away.
Her backyard pool was even better than the one at the hotel. And her tennis court was awesome.
"Okay," Natasha said. "Let's divide out team players; I'll go with Richard and Christian. While Ana and Darla are on the other team since they're the most experienced players. And the rest will be the lovely audience."
For a moment I thought she was talking about another Darla, not the one I had met a couple of days ago when I had nearly beat her up.
But I knew not to trust my luck since I always got the worst of it.
"Hello Ana," Darla said appearing in an impeccable white tennis suit.
She looked amazing, and I on the other hand, looked like if I was going to a rock concert instead of a formal tennis game with the ex of my fake and fine-ass boyfriend.
He said you look beautiful to him, said my subconscious.
I said "hello" just keep the appearance that I liked her, but if it was up to me I would have thrown her into the pool.
Natasha handed me a pink tennis racket as her own, and Christian got a black one. We were starting to split into the teams when Darla had the magnificent idea of playing me one-on-one.
By the way she held her racket told me that she did know how to play, but not as good as me.
Secretly I was happy that I would beat her ass for calling me off the other day and I was about to show off in front of Christian's friends how a badass girlfriend I could be.
I went on the other side of the court and Christian reached me. "Are you going to make her look really bad?" he asked with a smirk on his lovely face.
"Nah, I'll let her get cocky and then I'll show her who's boss," I said with a giant smile on my face.
Just as he was about to go join the rest of the people under the bleachers on the side of the court, Natasha yelled, "Why don't you give her a good luck kiss!"
"I guess we have to play along," Christian said.
"Ha! Yeah right, real convenient for you, don't you think so Honey Bear?"
"Oh, come on Ana, do you think I would get anything out of this?"
For the love of all that is holy, .MAN! My subconscious yelled.
Turns out that I did kiss him, but only on the cheek. He smelled like the last time he had hugged me, but ten times better.
Everyone at the bleachers was making unapproved sounds but I wasn't going to kiss him in front of so many people. I was getting better with my insecurities but I wasn't cured.
Christian sat down next to Natasha and Richard, while I returned to the devil in blond.
I let her serve first and then I "missed" the ball. I let that mistake happen for at least 3 times and Darla just looked at me with her signature snarky smile.
Natasha kept yelling: "Come on best friend you can win!"
She was starting to get on my good side. The next time Darla threw the ball I hit it harder than I could ever imagine, she was completely flabbergasted. She the bright ball flew right past her one time… two times… and enough times that I probably lost count.
Christian came down running and tossed me in his arms, I tried to get him to put me down but he just wouldn't. Darla's confident smile had turned into a look of complete fury.
"When Christian said you were a good tennis player, I believed him. But I didn't think you were this skilled," Richard said as he shook my hand when Christian set me down.
"Thank you," I smiled gently. "Could I use your restroom?"
"Sure I'll lead the way," Natasha said. She led me to a massive bathroom fit for a queen. After I finished washing my face off I tried to make my way to the tennis court but I got lost and ended up in a private indoor pool.
Behind me, I heard the doors close, and I turned back to see who had joined me. It was my best friend besides Jamie, Darla herself.
"So you think you can make an idiot out of me and get away with it unscratched?" she asked.
I smiled, "I didn't make you look like and 'idiot' that's too nice, I would prefer something more adequate, like an arse for example."
"You and I both know he belongs with someone like me! Someone who doesn't wear cheap ass child clothing like you do!" Darla yelled.
I was about to give her beating of lifetime, but before I knew it I was submerged in the pool.
Christian's POV
I was listening to Richard and some of our other associates talk about some important deal we were expecting to close in Italy, when I was surprised that Ana hadn't returned by now from the restroom. Was she okay?
She's gone to restroom dumbass, not Poland, my subconscious said.
I was about to go and look for her, when Darla came up to me and said that she had to leave, but that she enjoyed seeing me—which was very unusual for her to leave before I did. Something wasn't right.
A couple of minutes after Darla left, Ana returned, but she was completely soaked.
Most definitely Darla had been the one cause the trouble.
"What happened to you?" I asked.
"Oh same old, same old, I just fell into the pool, face first. You know, the usual," She said with sarcasm.
Would I ever get enough of her smart ass talk back mouth?
"Ana! What happened to you bestie?" asked Richard's wife.
"I got lost and ended up in your pool—which is amazing by the way. I'm really clumsy, so I fell and that's all," Ana answered her with a shrug.
"Don't you worry bestie! I have enough clothing to dress the entire nation in Balenciaga," she said as she grabbed Ana by the arm hauled her away.
Everything had turned into complete chaos. I just wanted Anastasia to have fun and I felt like if I was losing her, I wanted her to be relaxed like she had been the other day I confirmed that I had fallen in love with her.
A few minutes later, my impatience got the best of me, so I went inside the house.
When I was about to turn toward the main rooms, I saw her walking next to Natasha—if I remembered correctly that was her name.
Her beauty in lovely dresses never seemed to stop surprising me, it was mind-boggling.
When Natasha saw me, she chuckled and left us alone.
"Can we talk?" I said trying to gauge her mood.
"I guess," She said as she pulled on the hem of her light blue dress. "I swear this thing barely covers my essentials, I can't imagine how it fits her."
I laughed. I was trying to find a perfect spot to talk privately with her, when I found the perfect little garden on the side of the house.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked stopping in front of a fountain.
"You're kidding me right?! I should be mad; hell I have all the right be mad. You manhandled me into coming here, so that I could end up getting embarrassed by your ex in front of very important men who do business with you, and now I feel like a slut wearing this dress. But…" she stopped and looked into my eyes.
"But what?" I looked into her baby blue eyes.
"But…" she took a long breath. "But I'm not, and I don't know why. You're a complete stranger who has gotten me into more complicated situations than I could, in my whole life, ever get into. I know I should be mad or at least get a little freaked out, but truth be told be told I can't. I can't get mad at someone like you, I don't know why, but I simply can't."
Before we both knew it, I grabbed her by the waist and held her next to me grabbing her gently and I kissed her.
I had kissed many women in my entire life, but I had never experienced what it was to kiss someone with such a sweet and fiery passion all mixed into one.
I was holding her to me and I felt her shudder which made smile against her lips.
After I released her to get some air, she slapped me hard on the face.
"Whoa! What the fuck was that for?" I exclaimed.
"That's what you get for kissing me without my permission, Honey Bear," she chuckled.
Dear goodness, what was she doing to me? I sighed and grabbed her hand while we walked back to the game without saying another word.
Hello again : )
Have any of you read Allegiant from the Divergent Trilogy?
If you have, I really need to talk to someone about it I feel like my heart has been ripped out : (