Hey gang. Sorry about the delay – May has been uber-busy for me. Look for more updates in June.

Chapter 14: Sweet Miracle

Really, thought Yui, Glen made a terrible runway model. He didn't glide, he stalked. He glared at the cameras, rather than maintaining that professional remote look. He turned too fast and started tugging at uncomfortable bits before he got off the stage! Not that anything Halbiter could possibly be truly uncomfortable clothing – the designer was a master of casual wear – but of course the style alone was too preppy for Glen, Yui supposed, and therefore the uncomfortable act was put on as a matter of principle.

Kurt on the other hand wandered down the aisle with studied grace, bestowing a vaguely charming smile on everyone, turning smoothly, and gliding away. Yui looked forward to someday getting to know Glen's artist roommate. She hoped the sleazy charming act he'd pulled that the agency party was just an act.

The Halbiter show was everything to be expected, sporty casual wear with an abundance of boating-flag motifs. Rugby shirts and khakis, blah blah blah. Yui made some noncommittal notes, wondering why she'd wasted her time. Well, not that there was another show to see in this time slot, but still. TokyoLook specialized in edgier club styles, not over-privileged American yacht-club wear.

Maybe she could carve some time to shop some of the obscure boutiques and shops around Greenwich Village and SoHo. That might make an interesting article. Sidetracked, Yui bent her head to the notebook, jotting conceptual notes for an article about shopping in NYC. She'd just underlined the word 'websites?' when the sound of a throat being cleared drew her attention. To her shock, Glen stood on the runway looking down at her, a wicked grin on his face. Yui realized that he'd stopped in the middle of the show!

"What, too boring, Yui?" Glen asked, clearly, in a voice that everyone around was sure to hear.

Yui smiled back sweetly, her eyes conveying death threats. "Just making notes, Glen!"

Gasps filled the hall as Glen jumped off the risers, grabbed Yui for a quick kiss, then bounced back onto the runway. "See ya!" he called as he finished his circuit.

Yui sat stunned for a moment, then muttered, "I'm going to kill him!"

As soon as the show ended, Yui avoided the eager questions of a dozen other journalists, most of them gossip-mongering columnists, and made her way back to the green room. She got there in time to hear the show manager chewing Glen out as he finished changing into his street clothes. She peeked around the door.

"What in hell were you thinking, Rowe?"

"I was thinkin' that I was friggen bored. Boring clothes, boring music, boring show!" Glen shoved his feet into brando boots and stood. "This was the most lame-ass shit I've ever had to put on!"

The manager looked like he was about to have an apoplexy. "You little shit! I'll make sure you never do another Halbiter show or layout ever again!"

"Promise?" Glen snarled in his face. He strode for the door, causing Yui to skitter back out of the way. Glen froze when he saw her. "Hey," he whispered, the soft tone a marked change from the near-fury with which he'd spoken to the show manager. His face took on a wary expression. "You mad at me too?"

Until that moment, Yui had been pretty ticked off by the stunt, but something in Glen's posture told her to let it go. "No." She reached out and took his hand, one of the first gestures of affection between them that she'd initiated herself. He sighed with relief, seeming to deflate a bit. Gently, Yui pulled him back to the hall, where techies skittered about, pulling down lights and picking up the risers. She directed Glen to a chair and sat with him. "What's wrong?"

He shrugged, staring at their entwined hands. His thumb made circular patterned against her skin.

"Glen?"

Taking a deep breath, he asked, "This is real, right? I mean, us? I don't wanna…. I don't want this to be some kinda fling or something."

Yui stiffened a little. "Oh. No, I don't think this is a fling!" Was he already withdrawing from her?

He shrugged again. "It's just that, ya know, yesterday and last night was the best time I ever had, and, well, after I got home I started thinkin', yer going back to Japan in three days, and I guess I started thinkin' that maybe I wasn't really good enough for ya, and I was gettin' sorta depressed and all, so I didn't get much sleep, and then when I walked by, and you weren't even lookin' up, I just got… I dunno." He trailed off, out of steam.

Touched, Yui leaned towards him. With her free hand, she tilted his head up and captured his eyes with hers. "Glen, meeting you has been the best thing that's happened to me in a long time." And with that, she kissed him.

Time stopped for a bit as they explored each other's lips. Yui slid her hand along Glen's jaw, twisting her fingers into his flaming hair. His grip on her other hand tightened as he wrapped his free arm around her and pulled her close. He opened his mouth to nip at her bottom lip with his fanged incisors, and her breath caught in her throat. He'd sworn to her that he had no experience with this sort of thing, yet his every action drove her wild. Giggling, she stopped the kiss before things got to far. The flush on Glen's face told her that he was not unaffected by her either.

"S-sorry," he stuttered, flustered.

"Nothing to be sorry about with that kiss!" she sniggered.

"I mean, about the stunt. I really dunno what I was thinkin'. It's just, when you weren't even lookin' up…"

Yui grinned. "You felt insecure, like I was ignoring you."

Glen blinked. "Yeah."

"Actually, I was feeling bored too, and was making notes for another article. I don't think I'm going to even bother writing about this show. Ooo!" She checked her watch. "I have just enough time to get lunch and get over to the Anya Vie show this afternoon." She grinned cheekily, deliberately making little of Glen's concerns. She figured the best way to reassure him was to show it. Clinging to his arm and leaning her head on his shoulder, she wheedled, "Take me to lunch? Feed me, please!"

He laughed and they stood, much to the relief of a couple of techies wanting to collect the chairs. They had lunch at a chain restaurant that served soups and made-to-order sandwiches. Yui told him about the idea for a shopping-in-NYC article, and Glen offered to help with finding places to check out. Then they shared a cab to the convention center hosting the next show Yui had to attend. Glen had to report in at the Pendleton offices, so he couldn't hang out with her at the show.

"Will you be in trouble over The Stunt?" Yui asked. The incident had taken on capitals in their conversation. It was definitely a story to share with friends.

"Nah. Oh, Terry'll rant a bit, but he knows I don't do that preppy shit well anyway. It was an ex-pos-ure thing."

"Good. So, will you meet me here later?"

Glen grinned. "Of course. We'll do that shoppin' 'round the Village, maybe grab a camera too? If the places'll let you take pictures." They agreed on a time to meet and separated.

Two and a half hours later, Yui was bouncing with inspiration. The Anya Vie prêt-a-porter show had boasted 70s rock music, celebrities, and an eclectic mix of mis-matched pieces that, despite their clashing colors and fibers, just WORKED. Again, Yui had fallen in love with a piece, a fabulous jacket blazer-styled, but in faux leopard-fur and pleather trim. Mentally, she paired it with the black mini-dress and red boots from the Issacs show and giggled to herself. OK, so maybe fashion was more fun than she wanted to admit out loud. Since the sun was still high in the mid-afternoon sky, where it could be seen, she shed her suede jacket. She'd worn the black suede mini suit today with an electric blue fitted blouse that Miaka said emphasized her eyes. She'd already caught Glen checking out her legs earlier, so she knew she looked good, and the happy glow about her from the excitement of the Anya Vie show had passer-bys pausing for a second look.

"Hey sexy!" a familiar voice called. Yui turned and stepped into Glen's open arms. They shared another searing kiss right there on a sidewalk. Yui clung to him afterwards in hopes that her knees would keep working.

"Wow! Now that's a hello I can get used to!" Glen teased, seeming a little shaken himself. They looked at each other, rather startled at how quickly their desires could flare up. Since the night before, every moment they spent together seemed to heighten the connection they had, and the emotional intimacy they shared seemed to only encourage them to physical intimacy. Yui knew she wanted to wait, but felt torn between the wisdom of waiting and the knowledge that she had to leave in three days. Glen came across as both bewildered and delighted by these moments, and Yui knew they'd have to do something about it soon, but what that something would turn out to be, she couldn't guess right now.

"Whew!" Glen chuckled. "I lost total train of thought there!" His grin was electric. "You ready to shop?"

"Absolutely!"

She told him about the show as they cabbed it down to the Village. Glen said he was sorry he missed it. Apparently Terry had thrown a hissy fit just for show, then offered Glen two shows in London that showed interest in him. Glen was on the fence about the London shows.

"S'not like I wanna make a CAREER outta this shit, but on the other hand, what the hell else am I good for? Plus I got that Hawaii catalog shoot, and if I take the London gigs, I couldn't take the time after Hawaii to come see you, which would be con-ven-ient since I'd be halfway there already. If I do the London shows, I'll have ta fly right to England after."

"Glen… you don't have to come to Tokyo right away." Yui felt flattered that he'd already planned to come to Tokyo.

He turned to face her. "Wouldja want me to?"

Yui tried to be nonchalant. "Well, I know you want to meet Miaka and Taka again and…."

"Hang on! I said would YOU want me to come visit you."

Yui blushed. "Yes. I would love it if you came."

"Then it's settled. I can blow off these shows, they're just offers anyway. 'Sides, Terry knows I suck at this runway shit. He can line up a hundred magazines and ad shoots just as easily." He winked at her.

They spent the rest of the afternoon in all sorts of funky little shops, making each other try on clothes, taking time for Yui to talk to the proprietors, if available. One shop actually managed to get their house designer on the phone, a lunatic original punkette in her 40s who made all the plaid and PVC miniskirts sold by the store in her living room. Websites were duly noted, photos taken where permitted, and by the darkening evening, Yui had enough for a fantastic article about shopping for alternative club wear in the Village and SoHo.

"Hey, I got an idea!" Glen declared as they walked towards his place, having planned to eat dinner at a Chinatown buffet.

"What idea?"

"Well, all that talk about internet sites and shopping online got me thinkin'. Maybe I should get a computer. You've got one, right? Well, I hear that that email shit is cheaper than makin' phone calls. If I get a computer, we can email each other all the time, and then we won't get screwed over on phone bills."

Yui laughed. "Glen, that's brilliant! We'll go out tomorrow after the shows and get you a PC and a desk and a comfortable chair, and set you up with internet access." Pulling him to a stop, she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight. "You're so sweet, you know that?"

With a mock growl, he responded, "Geez, don't tell nobody!" but he hugged her just as tightly back.

Yui silently tried to ignore the intoxicating feeling of their bodies pressed together.