Part VI :: Orlando ::
Anyway I look at it, it's a miracle I wanted to see that scene so badly. I wasn't in it, but like any normal, healty young male, I like to see stuff get blown up. The controlled atmosphere and extra element of safety are just added bonuses. It also helped to have a friend on set. Granted Heath and I weren't best buds or anything (that would soon change), but there's just something about rock climbing that always breaks the ice. And so it was we snuck out of the trailer when our hairdresser wasn't looking and were inconspicuously watching the goings-on from the shadows.
I'm not one to be easily startled, but I have to admit I jumped about a half-mile when the explosion went off early. It was still an incredible sight to see that much flame and smoke shooting into the sky. It was cool in a sort of spine-tingly way. To this day I'm still not exactly sure what drew my attention in that direction, but for some reason my eyes were drawn away from the spectacle just as Matthew the Director hollered a command for the crowd, and I quote, to "get the hell out of there."
"Is this in the script?" Heath wondered outloud in puzzlement. It wasn't, and we both knew it. Something had gone wrong, and I realized it just as I noticed a short-ish blonde girl get knocked down. Poor girl. I waited to see if anyone would help her up, but no one did, and then it hit me...
"That was Anna!" I exclaimed in sudden realization, and a bad feeling came over me.
"Who's Anna?" Heath asked, but I had already jumped over the rope and was running towards her. She could be trampled, kicked... there was a loud, alien creaking nose, and then the false front of the set began to tilt dangerously forward. She could be crushed, killed!
My head snapped back to where Anna had gone down, and I was slightly relieved to see her back on her feet again. But instead of running like an intelligent girl, she just sort of stood there and went death grey. "Dammit... " I muttered and started running. Since when had I become such a hero? "Anna! Move!" I dashed up and grabbed her around the waist and dragged her backwards for a few yards, but we were out of time. I threw her as far as I could with all my might and dove after her just as the wall smashed to where we had been. I landed on her and I'm pretty sure we rolled a few feet or so, but by then I wasn't thinking clearly at all. Definitely not thinking clearly.
For a few minutes I just didn't move and tried to catch my breath and calm down a little. I also had to pause a moment and get the pain in my back to subside. Then I looked down at the unmoving, pale girl beneath me. "Oh no... Anna! Anna, are you alright?" She was very pale, and her eyes were shut. She wasn't answering. Was she even breathing? Did I kill her when I threw her? That would be just my luck... "Anna! Answer me, Anna! Wake up!" I shook her a little bit. Nothing. Now I was actually starting to get scared. Was she hurt badly? I looked around, but no one was paying the least bit of attention to us. And I couldn't see Heath anywhere, either. Perfect. Just perfect. I'm lying in the middle of a street in Tokyo on top of a dead girl I've only known for ten hours!
"Orlando...?" My head snapped back downwards (I made a mental note to stop doing that before I cracked a disc or caused permanant brain damage or something). Anna's eyes slowly opened and she looked around lazily, obviously disoriented.
"Anna! You're alive! Are you alright?" She was still ghostly white, and had started to shake horribly. Must not act worried. Acting worried will make girl freak out. Must remain calm. "Hello! Earth to Anna!" I demanded, passing my hand in front of her face. At first she didn't respond, but finally her eyes followed my hand. "Are you alright?" I repeated. A broken record. I had become a chick tossing, girl-tackling, broken record. Okay, Orlando, she's awake. Now would be the time to get off of her before she screams bloody murder. "Are you hurt?" I asked instead, and she shook her head to show she wasn't. So I stood up and said "Good." I offered her my hand, but she just sat there staring at me like she was really seeing me for the first time. She was horribly shaken up. Even I could see that, and I barely knew her. She let me help her up. She stood there a few moments longer without saying anything, and then her eyes filled with tears.
"Y-You saved me!" She cried, and then began to sob, dropping the crushed remnants of a paper cup and collapsing onto me like she couldn't stand up on her own anymore. Poor girl, she probably couldn't. I must admit, my first impulse was to throw her off of me and run away and hide, but I felt really bad for her. I mean, she was just an average student heading home when she got the chance to be an extra in a movie. What kid wouldn't jump at that? I would've. But I would imagine that no one warned her about exploding buildings, and the next thing she knows, she's pinned to the ground by a strange man wearing even stranger clothes. I'd probably cry, too. So instead of following instinct, I just stood there and patted her back for a while, trying to be comforting, at least.
"I don't think you would've died, Anna. Broken a few bones, maybe, but died? No."
Way to comfort her, Orlando! Only then did I realize that I was shaking, too. Okay, soothing time is over. It was time to go. I gently removed her from my person, but I just couldn't bring myself to leave her standing there all unsteady and alone and scared. I put out a hand to steady her.
"Where's Maia?" She asked almost inaudibly, and then appeared to panic.
"Maia? Who's Maia?" But before she could answer she was laughing. I followe dher pointed finger, hopelessly confused. This was one strange girl. But what I saw next caused me to laugh hysterically, too.A few yards away, Heath was sprawled across another young, pretty girl with long auburn hair, who appeared to be thanking every diety known to modern man, and in more than one language, if I'm not mistaken. eventually Heath roused himself, and his response to the whole situation caused a new laughing fit on the parts of Anna and myself. Maia passed out. Anna stumbled over to them, fanning Maia's face until she revived. "Way to go, Ace." Anna teased while I helped the dizzy Heath to his feet.
"What happened?" Heath said low to me while Anna busied herself with Maia.
"To you or to me?" I responded drily, and Heath took a good long look.
"My God! Orli! You're a mess! What happened, did the fan girls attack?"
I smiled and shook my head. "No, the prop buiding just collapsed into the street."
"Oh. Is that all?" Heath replied with a glare as he began dusting off his horrible pink pants.
"I hate these things." He commented.
"Really? I think they suit you." It was a good thing Maia chose that moment to shriek, or Heath probably would have broken my nose.
"Sit down! Sit down, right there, NOW! Call an ambulance! 9-1-1! 9-1-1! MEDIC!" Maia was yelling, while Anna, Heath and I stared at her in confusion. She shoved Anna down roughly on the curb and tried to take her pulse.
"What the hell is her problem?" Heath asked, but I follwed Maia's frantic gestured downward until I saw the cause of her distress.
"Anna! your leg!" I'm no stranger to injury. I'm the most accident prone person I have ever met. And I know when a wound looks bad. And the jagged cut stretching from ankle to knee on Anna's leg looked bad. She followed my shocked gaze, but to my surpirse, didn't panic. Instead, she just sighed and grumbled "Aw, hell!" With more venom then I'd heard from a girl in a long, long time.
Heath burst out laughing hysterically, and then Maia joined him. I sighed and looked heavenward. Why was this happening to me? I spoke with the girl for ten mintues on a whim, and now this!
"C'mon, Anna. I'll take you to First Aid. Can you walk?"
"Of course I can walk, you dim bulb! I got over here didn't I?" She spat back, and we began the longest four minute walk of my life. "Does it hurt too much?" I asked. Despite her less than cheerful demeanorat the moment, I was still worried about her.
Part VII :: Anna ::
"Does it hurt too much?"
"No, I'll be fine. I think I just need some ice." I said with a smile. And what girl wouldn't be smiling? Shortly after we stopped laughing at her and got her to come too, Maia had shreiked bloody murder and pushed me to a sitting position on the curb. Only then did Orlando and I notice the giant gash in my leg. My response? A salty, muttered "Aw, hell," which caused Mr. Ledger to laugh. At first I was quite the bitch, but then I figured I'd better behave. After all, Orlando Bloom was bending over backwards to be nice to me. Now I was leaning heavily on him as he helped me limp feebly towards the first-aid area. I kept trying to walk on my own, and he kept calling me a damn stubborn girl and trying to help me again. Finally, I gave in and accepted his assitance, partly because he was exhausting to argue with and partly because my leg actually started hurting.
I don't think the little blond nurse behind the desk even looked up at us as we enetered before she spoke. "What is it this time, Orli?" She murmured, shuffling some papers on her desk top. "Concussion? Contusion? Blunt force trauma? Anurism?"
"Actually, Caroline, it's not me this time."
Nurse Caroline gasped sarcastically and adjusted her glassess. "Has the day finally come?" She dead panned, and then saw my leg and gasped for real. "Dammit, Orli! Keeping this poor girl waiting while you carry on! Some gentleman you are!" Nurse Caroline scolded. I sent him a *look* with a raised brow and he rolled his eyes as he helped me to the table and made to lift me onto it.
"Don't do it you'll give yourself a--" He picked me up by the waist and dropped me on the table, then walked away. "-- hernia!" I yelled after him. His shoulders were shaking, but I'm not sure if he was laughing or crying.
"So, what'd he do to you?" Nurse Caroline asked as she busied herself over my leg, rinsing it with antiseptic and the like. I smirked. She placed a paper cup of water in my hand.
"He saved my life."
"That bastard." Nurse Caroline replied cooly. I giggled. She ganced up at me over her glasses and then raised a brow. "I think you'd be good for him. He needs someone to take care of him."
I choked on my water. "I just met him this morning!"
"So?"
Nurse Caroline laughed. "I think you should give Orli a chance."
"I think my parents would kill me because he was in second grade when I was born."
"You still worry about what your parents think?"
"Well, no, but... I don't think he wants that kind of relationship with me."
"He might."
"I don't think he wants any relationship with me!"
"I think you think too much."
"Well I-- damn."
Nurse Caroline laughed again. "What's your name?"
"Anna Yardley."
"Well, Anna, I think you should go after him. It's not everyday you meet a guy like Orli."
She put down her medical tape and gave me a *look* over her glasses. "Listen, Anna. You may be younger than him, but there's gotta be something about you that has his interest. He's a nice guy, but he generally doesn't go off carrying girls into my station. If you're really gonna let him get away, it better be because a more than a few years."
"I think you're mad, Nurse Caroline."
"Invite me to the wedding, dear." She smiled, and patted my bandaged leg. "You're all done. Keep it clean and dry and change the dressings every morning. If it doesn't start to heal in three days, go to the hospital, okay?"
"Okay." I muttered, on the verge of blushing and wanting to go home.
"Take care. And think about what I said."
"Yeah. Right." I grumbled, sliding off the table and testing my weight gingerly on my leg.
"Scoot!" Nurse Caroline commanded, and I limped out the door with a polite thank you and a fake smile that she met with an eyeroll as she tossed me an ice pack and a roll of bandage.
Go after him! Go after him! Like I was ever going to see the guy after this outside of a mvoie theatre setting! And I sincerely doubted much of a relationship would grow from that! Besides, he was as stubborn as I was. And he was a dare devil. Hadn't I read that in some magazine? He'd be miserable with me hovering over him and demanding to examine his bone structure after every little thing he did. I was far too childish. He'd go mad having to try and keep up with my mind shifts. He'd come home and find his entire place done up in purple tiger stripes, orange brick tile and spider plants. And he was far too exhausting to argue with. That's probably all that we'd ever do, is argue and bicker. Like my parents. I do not think so! I always swore to myself that I would be damned to hell before I would live in a relationship like that. Then there's the age issue. I swore never again would I date an older man. Of course, I also swore that I would never date again, period, but that was beside the point. And another thing--
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I wasn't watching where I was going. Had I been watching where I was going, I would have seen him before I slammed into him head-on. This was just not my day! And mow Nurse Caroline had me all riled up and in a tizzy. I hate matchmaker types! Hate them, hate them, HATE them! "Excuse me, I'm sorry about that." I mumbled and attampted to keep right on going around him. Unfortunately, I glanced up as I flew by, and then I stopped. He was still dusty and wearing the shredded fishnet shirt. He was still disheveled, and his cheek had started to swell up a little.
"Will your leg be okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, it'll be fine."
"Good."
We stood there. The cars passed a few blocks away. Somewhere, a flock of crows were fighting over the garbage set out on the curbside. Horns honked. A train was passing at the next block, and it was getting dark.
"Here." I said, handing him the ice pack. "Your face..." I gestured. He shrugged, brushing indifferent fingers over the wound, but took the pack anyway. "Thank you."
"So... well, thanks again. It was nice meeting you." I said in a rush, starting to pass him again.
"Anna?"
"...Yeah?" I answered, stopping and turning around again. I bit my lips as his eyes met mine.
"It was nice to meet you, too."
I smiled. He smiled. Was this real? Probably not.
"See ya around." I said, flashed another peace sign, and went on my way. Even though I didn't stop again, I was positive that he just stood there and watched me leave. I wanted to turn around again and see if it was true. It was the strangest feeling I'd ever had. Was Nurse Caroline right? I would never know. That was just how it had to be.
:: Maia ::
When I woke up, I had one bad headache. But it cleared up when I saw Anna standing over me, Heath Ledger to my side and...Orlando Bloom! *"I'd say he's more Orlando Bloom cute."*
Nice, Anna. I stood up and clutched my head, and rubbed my ringing ears. That's when I noticed it. If I hadn't been so worried about Anna, I probably would have passed out.
"Sit down! Sit down, right there, NOW! Call an ambulance! 9-1-1! 9-1-1! MEDIC!" I screamed. Everyone was staring at me like I had just sprouted another head. I pushed Anna down onto the curve, maybe a little to roughly, and checked her pulse. Everyone was still looking at me funny. I started to jump around, gesturing to her leg, and the seeming gallons of blood that she had probably lost. Okay, maybe not gallons.
"Anna, your leg!" Orlando yelled, and I sighed. Finally, someone got the message. I know, I could have been a little more verbal, but I think that jumping comes across just as well. She looked down at her leg, a deep frown growing on her face.
"Aw, hell!" he spat. At first I stood staring at her blankly. She had said it so hatefully, so harshly, that the only thing I could do was burst out laughing. It was hysterical! Heath joined in behind me, and I nearly died.
After a bit of bickering, Orlando flung her arm over his shoulder and helped her over to the aid station. I had to chuckle at the whole thing. It was all too strange. I pushed a stray strand of hair out of my face. "Damn braid," I mumbled as I tried to pull it back again. I pulled the kerchief off of my neck and used it to tie my hair back. I looked down at my feet, and my root beer soaked socks and shoes. This was not a good day.
I turned around, fully intent on calling and telling the Arais where I was and that I would be home soon. Unfortunately, I had spent the last bit of my daily allowance on my root beer footbath. I tried to brush the dust off of me while walking towards the payphone, only to slam into someone again. "Gee, don't I feel graceful today!" I exclaimed before looking up.
Wall of Heath Ledger. I wanted to say something, to apologize, ask him out to coffee, ask him to marry me, but I was mute. "I'm sorry I landed on you," he said.
"It's okay!" I blurted. I smacked my hand over my own mouth. He laughed again, and I thought, 'I'm okay, I'm okay.' "Do you have a some change?" He rifled around in his pockets and produced a few coins, and I smiled at him before heading over to the pay phones.
I called the Arais, told them I was alright, and that I would be home shortly. I had just run into a bit of something, and would be headed home as soon as I could. I hung up the phone, and turned around, right into the same wall of vinyl. I shrieked. "Stop doing that!" I yelled, forgetting myself. He laughed again. At least he found me amusing.
"I want to make it up to you," he said.
"Make what up to me?"
"Landing on you. I feel sort of bad for it." I didn't! Land on my anytime you like!
"Um...okay? Anna and I always go for some root beer floats after school."
"Great!" I jotted down the address on a corner of my homework, ripped it off and handed it to him. Another damaged worksheet. He smiled warmly at me, and I figured if I was ever going to melt, that this would be the time. Keep your cool, Maia, he's just a guy. "I'll see you tomorrow then!" he called as I walked off. I waved back to him, finally over the shock of being surrounded by beautiful people.
By the time I got back over to Anna, she was already patched up and headed out. That's when I saw it. Her poor, favorite book bag had been left behind, and Heath was on the floor rifling through it. Orlando was standing next to him, an arm full of pencils, books, and half finished homework.
"Hey!" I bellowed. Both of them turned to look at me, Orlando nearly losing a load of paper, and Heath with a pencil clenched between his teeth. I stalked over to them, snatched the bag from Heath and began to stuff Anna's things back into it. Did I mention that I'm not very organized. So, her papers were a little wrinkled. Neatness doesn't always count.
"Sorry, we didn't know it was yours," Orlando said.
"It's not, it's Anna's, and I'll thank you very much to get your teeth away from around her pencil!" I said, pulling it out from between his teeth.
"Ow!" he cried.
"Baby." Orlando chuckled behind me. "You! Are you coming with me?" I asked bluntly. He blinked a few times in utter confusion. "To Anna's, you dolt!" He swallowed and nodded silently. "Ah, a man of few words. That's okay." Now Heath was laughing. I shot him a look, which shut him up, but I flashed him one of my bright smiles, and he smiled back. I grinned, thinking to myself, 'I like this guy'. Time to go. I grabbed Orlando by the wrist and pulled him along with me. I turned back and waved at Heath. "Namarie!" I yelled, leaving him looking completely lost.
I unfolded my scooter, hopped onto it, and motioned for him to get on behind me. He hesitated. "Don't worry, I don't bite, and whatever you think I might have isn't contagious." He gave me an odd look and stepped onto the platform. I started the little thing up, grinning at the mosquito like humming of the engine, and whizzed off.
When we got there, Okasan answered the door and let us in. Orlando was following behind me like a very confused puppy, clutching the bag with both hands. "Come on back, Maia!" Anna yelled. I shoved Orlando in front of me, seemingly to his dismay. Well, he'd live. I showed him the way to her room, and stood patiently as he knocked on her door. "God, Maia! When I say 'c'mon back', I means come back! You don't have to--" Silence. I peeked my head around Orli's shoulder and saw Anna standing there in her underwear and bra. She slammed the door in our faces and I nearly fell to the floor laughing. Orli had lost all color in his face.
I flung the door open again, and announced loudly, "We brought your bag!" We exchanged looks, and I sat down on the bed next to her. "How's your leg doing? Does it hurt? Do you want some aspirin? Tylenol? Ibuprofen?" She waved all of the offers away, and I looked over at the pink man standing in the middle of the room, who looked like he was taking inventory of everything on the opposite wall.
"Well, I called my host family and told them I'd be right home just as soon as I dropped off you bag, Anna. So I guess I'd better be going!" I said, heading toward the door. They both started to object, but I didn't listen to them. "Orli, you can find your way back okay, right? Great. Tell Heath I said good night! Namarie!" I left the room, giggling insanely. I waved goodbye to Okasan, and rode my scooter back home, singing loudly to my music.
Anyway I look at it, it's a miracle I wanted to see that scene so badly. I wasn't in it, but like any normal, healty young male, I like to see stuff get blown up. The controlled atmosphere and extra element of safety are just added bonuses. It also helped to have a friend on set. Granted Heath and I weren't best buds or anything (that would soon change), but there's just something about rock climbing that always breaks the ice. And so it was we snuck out of the trailer when our hairdresser wasn't looking and were inconspicuously watching the goings-on from the shadows.
I'm not one to be easily startled, but I have to admit I jumped about a half-mile when the explosion went off early. It was still an incredible sight to see that much flame and smoke shooting into the sky. It was cool in a sort of spine-tingly way. To this day I'm still not exactly sure what drew my attention in that direction, but for some reason my eyes were drawn away from the spectacle just as Matthew the Director hollered a command for the crowd, and I quote, to "get the hell out of there."
"Is this in the script?" Heath wondered outloud in puzzlement. It wasn't, and we both knew it. Something had gone wrong, and I realized it just as I noticed a short-ish blonde girl get knocked down. Poor girl. I waited to see if anyone would help her up, but no one did, and then it hit me...
"That was Anna!" I exclaimed in sudden realization, and a bad feeling came over me.
"Who's Anna?" Heath asked, but I had already jumped over the rope and was running towards her. She could be trampled, kicked... there was a loud, alien creaking nose, and then the false front of the set began to tilt dangerously forward. She could be crushed, killed!
My head snapped back to where Anna had gone down, and I was slightly relieved to see her back on her feet again. But instead of running like an intelligent girl, she just sort of stood there and went death grey. "Dammit... " I muttered and started running. Since when had I become such a hero? "Anna! Move!" I dashed up and grabbed her around the waist and dragged her backwards for a few yards, but we were out of time. I threw her as far as I could with all my might and dove after her just as the wall smashed to where we had been. I landed on her and I'm pretty sure we rolled a few feet or so, but by then I wasn't thinking clearly at all. Definitely not thinking clearly.
For a few minutes I just didn't move and tried to catch my breath and calm down a little. I also had to pause a moment and get the pain in my back to subside. Then I looked down at the unmoving, pale girl beneath me. "Oh no... Anna! Anna, are you alright?" She was very pale, and her eyes were shut. She wasn't answering. Was she even breathing? Did I kill her when I threw her? That would be just my luck... "Anna! Answer me, Anna! Wake up!" I shook her a little bit. Nothing. Now I was actually starting to get scared. Was she hurt badly? I looked around, but no one was paying the least bit of attention to us. And I couldn't see Heath anywhere, either. Perfect. Just perfect. I'm lying in the middle of a street in Tokyo on top of a dead girl I've only known for ten hours!
"Orlando...?" My head snapped back downwards (I made a mental note to stop doing that before I cracked a disc or caused permanant brain damage or something). Anna's eyes slowly opened and she looked around lazily, obviously disoriented.
"Anna! You're alive! Are you alright?" She was still ghostly white, and had started to shake horribly. Must not act worried. Acting worried will make girl freak out. Must remain calm. "Hello! Earth to Anna!" I demanded, passing my hand in front of her face. At first she didn't respond, but finally her eyes followed my hand. "Are you alright?" I repeated. A broken record. I had become a chick tossing, girl-tackling, broken record. Okay, Orlando, she's awake. Now would be the time to get off of her before she screams bloody murder. "Are you hurt?" I asked instead, and she shook her head to show she wasn't. So I stood up and said "Good." I offered her my hand, but she just sat there staring at me like she was really seeing me for the first time. She was horribly shaken up. Even I could see that, and I barely knew her. She let me help her up. She stood there a few moments longer without saying anything, and then her eyes filled with tears.
"Y-You saved me!" She cried, and then began to sob, dropping the crushed remnants of a paper cup and collapsing onto me like she couldn't stand up on her own anymore. Poor girl, she probably couldn't. I must admit, my first impulse was to throw her off of me and run away and hide, but I felt really bad for her. I mean, she was just an average student heading home when she got the chance to be an extra in a movie. What kid wouldn't jump at that? I would've. But I would imagine that no one warned her about exploding buildings, and the next thing she knows, she's pinned to the ground by a strange man wearing even stranger clothes. I'd probably cry, too. So instead of following instinct, I just stood there and patted her back for a while, trying to be comforting, at least.
"I don't think you would've died, Anna. Broken a few bones, maybe, but died? No."
Way to comfort her, Orlando! Only then did I realize that I was shaking, too. Okay, soothing time is over. It was time to go. I gently removed her from my person, but I just couldn't bring myself to leave her standing there all unsteady and alone and scared. I put out a hand to steady her.
"Where's Maia?" She asked almost inaudibly, and then appeared to panic.
"Maia? Who's Maia?" But before she could answer she was laughing. I followe dher pointed finger, hopelessly confused. This was one strange girl. But what I saw next caused me to laugh hysterically, too.A few yards away, Heath was sprawled across another young, pretty girl with long auburn hair, who appeared to be thanking every diety known to modern man, and in more than one language, if I'm not mistaken. eventually Heath roused himself, and his response to the whole situation caused a new laughing fit on the parts of Anna and myself. Maia passed out. Anna stumbled over to them, fanning Maia's face until she revived. "Way to go, Ace." Anna teased while I helped the dizzy Heath to his feet.
"What happened?" Heath said low to me while Anna busied herself with Maia.
"To you or to me?" I responded drily, and Heath took a good long look.
"My God! Orli! You're a mess! What happened, did the fan girls attack?"
I smiled and shook my head. "No, the prop buiding just collapsed into the street."
"Oh. Is that all?" Heath replied with a glare as he began dusting off his horrible pink pants.
"I hate these things." He commented.
"Really? I think they suit you." It was a good thing Maia chose that moment to shriek, or Heath probably would have broken my nose.
"Sit down! Sit down, right there, NOW! Call an ambulance! 9-1-1! 9-1-1! MEDIC!" Maia was yelling, while Anna, Heath and I stared at her in confusion. She shoved Anna down roughly on the curb and tried to take her pulse.
"What the hell is her problem?" Heath asked, but I follwed Maia's frantic gestured downward until I saw the cause of her distress.
"Anna! your leg!" I'm no stranger to injury. I'm the most accident prone person I have ever met. And I know when a wound looks bad. And the jagged cut stretching from ankle to knee on Anna's leg looked bad. She followed my shocked gaze, but to my surpirse, didn't panic. Instead, she just sighed and grumbled "Aw, hell!" With more venom then I'd heard from a girl in a long, long time.
Heath burst out laughing hysterically, and then Maia joined him. I sighed and looked heavenward. Why was this happening to me? I spoke with the girl for ten mintues on a whim, and now this!
"C'mon, Anna. I'll take you to First Aid. Can you walk?"
"Of course I can walk, you dim bulb! I got over here didn't I?" She spat back, and we began the longest four minute walk of my life. "Does it hurt too much?" I asked. Despite her less than cheerful demeanorat the moment, I was still worried about her.
Part VII :: Anna ::
"Does it hurt too much?"
"No, I'll be fine. I think I just need some ice." I said with a smile. And what girl wouldn't be smiling? Shortly after we stopped laughing at her and got her to come too, Maia had shreiked bloody murder and pushed me to a sitting position on the curb. Only then did Orlando and I notice the giant gash in my leg. My response? A salty, muttered "Aw, hell," which caused Mr. Ledger to laugh. At first I was quite the bitch, but then I figured I'd better behave. After all, Orlando Bloom was bending over backwards to be nice to me. Now I was leaning heavily on him as he helped me limp feebly towards the first-aid area. I kept trying to walk on my own, and he kept calling me a damn stubborn girl and trying to help me again. Finally, I gave in and accepted his assitance, partly because he was exhausting to argue with and partly because my leg actually started hurting.
I don't think the little blond nurse behind the desk even looked up at us as we enetered before she spoke. "What is it this time, Orli?" She murmured, shuffling some papers on her desk top. "Concussion? Contusion? Blunt force trauma? Anurism?"
"Actually, Caroline, it's not me this time."
Nurse Caroline gasped sarcastically and adjusted her glassess. "Has the day finally come?" She dead panned, and then saw my leg and gasped for real. "Dammit, Orli! Keeping this poor girl waiting while you carry on! Some gentleman you are!" Nurse Caroline scolded. I sent him a *look* with a raised brow and he rolled his eyes as he helped me to the table and made to lift me onto it.
"Don't do it you'll give yourself a--" He picked me up by the waist and dropped me on the table, then walked away. "-- hernia!" I yelled after him. His shoulders were shaking, but I'm not sure if he was laughing or crying.
"So, what'd he do to you?" Nurse Caroline asked as she busied herself over my leg, rinsing it with antiseptic and the like. I smirked. She placed a paper cup of water in my hand.
"He saved my life."
"That bastard." Nurse Caroline replied cooly. I giggled. She ganced up at me over her glasses and then raised a brow. "I think you'd be good for him. He needs someone to take care of him."
I choked on my water. "I just met him this morning!"
"So?"
Nurse Caroline laughed. "I think you should give Orli a chance."
"I think my parents would kill me because he was in second grade when I was born."
"You still worry about what your parents think?"
"Well, no, but... I don't think he wants that kind of relationship with me."
"He might."
"I don't think he wants any relationship with me!"
"I think you think too much."
"Well I-- damn."
Nurse Caroline laughed again. "What's your name?"
"Anna Yardley."
"Well, Anna, I think you should go after him. It's not everyday you meet a guy like Orli."
She put down her medical tape and gave me a *look* over her glasses. "Listen, Anna. You may be younger than him, but there's gotta be something about you that has his interest. He's a nice guy, but he generally doesn't go off carrying girls into my station. If you're really gonna let him get away, it better be because a more than a few years."
"I think you're mad, Nurse Caroline."
"Invite me to the wedding, dear." She smiled, and patted my bandaged leg. "You're all done. Keep it clean and dry and change the dressings every morning. If it doesn't start to heal in three days, go to the hospital, okay?"
"Okay." I muttered, on the verge of blushing and wanting to go home.
"Take care. And think about what I said."
"Yeah. Right." I grumbled, sliding off the table and testing my weight gingerly on my leg.
"Scoot!" Nurse Caroline commanded, and I limped out the door with a polite thank you and a fake smile that she met with an eyeroll as she tossed me an ice pack and a roll of bandage.
Go after him! Go after him! Like I was ever going to see the guy after this outside of a mvoie theatre setting! And I sincerely doubted much of a relationship would grow from that! Besides, he was as stubborn as I was. And he was a dare devil. Hadn't I read that in some magazine? He'd be miserable with me hovering over him and demanding to examine his bone structure after every little thing he did. I was far too childish. He'd go mad having to try and keep up with my mind shifts. He'd come home and find his entire place done up in purple tiger stripes, orange brick tile and spider plants. And he was far too exhausting to argue with. That's probably all that we'd ever do, is argue and bicker. Like my parents. I do not think so! I always swore to myself that I would be damned to hell before I would live in a relationship like that. Then there's the age issue. I swore never again would I date an older man. Of course, I also swore that I would never date again, period, but that was beside the point. And another thing--
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I wasn't watching where I was going. Had I been watching where I was going, I would have seen him before I slammed into him head-on. This was just not my day! And mow Nurse Caroline had me all riled up and in a tizzy. I hate matchmaker types! Hate them, hate them, HATE them! "Excuse me, I'm sorry about that." I mumbled and attampted to keep right on going around him. Unfortunately, I glanced up as I flew by, and then I stopped. He was still dusty and wearing the shredded fishnet shirt. He was still disheveled, and his cheek had started to swell up a little.
"Will your leg be okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, it'll be fine."
"Good."
We stood there. The cars passed a few blocks away. Somewhere, a flock of crows were fighting over the garbage set out on the curbside. Horns honked. A train was passing at the next block, and it was getting dark.
"Here." I said, handing him the ice pack. "Your face..." I gestured. He shrugged, brushing indifferent fingers over the wound, but took the pack anyway. "Thank you."
"So... well, thanks again. It was nice meeting you." I said in a rush, starting to pass him again.
"Anna?"
"...Yeah?" I answered, stopping and turning around again. I bit my lips as his eyes met mine.
"It was nice to meet you, too."
I smiled. He smiled. Was this real? Probably not.
"See ya around." I said, flashed another peace sign, and went on my way. Even though I didn't stop again, I was positive that he just stood there and watched me leave. I wanted to turn around again and see if it was true. It was the strangest feeling I'd ever had. Was Nurse Caroline right? I would never know. That was just how it had to be.
:: Maia ::
When I woke up, I had one bad headache. But it cleared up when I saw Anna standing over me, Heath Ledger to my side and...Orlando Bloom! *"I'd say he's more Orlando Bloom cute."*
Nice, Anna. I stood up and clutched my head, and rubbed my ringing ears. That's when I noticed it. If I hadn't been so worried about Anna, I probably would have passed out.
"Sit down! Sit down, right there, NOW! Call an ambulance! 9-1-1! 9-1-1! MEDIC!" I screamed. Everyone was staring at me like I had just sprouted another head. I pushed Anna down onto the curve, maybe a little to roughly, and checked her pulse. Everyone was still looking at me funny. I started to jump around, gesturing to her leg, and the seeming gallons of blood that she had probably lost. Okay, maybe not gallons.
"Anna, your leg!" Orlando yelled, and I sighed. Finally, someone got the message. I know, I could have been a little more verbal, but I think that jumping comes across just as well. She looked down at her leg, a deep frown growing on her face.
"Aw, hell!" he spat. At first I stood staring at her blankly. She had said it so hatefully, so harshly, that the only thing I could do was burst out laughing. It was hysterical! Heath joined in behind me, and I nearly died.
After a bit of bickering, Orlando flung her arm over his shoulder and helped her over to the aid station. I had to chuckle at the whole thing. It was all too strange. I pushed a stray strand of hair out of my face. "Damn braid," I mumbled as I tried to pull it back again. I pulled the kerchief off of my neck and used it to tie my hair back. I looked down at my feet, and my root beer soaked socks and shoes. This was not a good day.
I turned around, fully intent on calling and telling the Arais where I was and that I would be home soon. Unfortunately, I had spent the last bit of my daily allowance on my root beer footbath. I tried to brush the dust off of me while walking towards the payphone, only to slam into someone again. "Gee, don't I feel graceful today!" I exclaimed before looking up.
Wall of Heath Ledger. I wanted to say something, to apologize, ask him out to coffee, ask him to marry me, but I was mute. "I'm sorry I landed on you," he said.
"It's okay!" I blurted. I smacked my hand over my own mouth. He laughed again, and I thought, 'I'm okay, I'm okay.' "Do you have a some change?" He rifled around in his pockets and produced a few coins, and I smiled at him before heading over to the pay phones.
I called the Arais, told them I was alright, and that I would be home shortly. I had just run into a bit of something, and would be headed home as soon as I could. I hung up the phone, and turned around, right into the same wall of vinyl. I shrieked. "Stop doing that!" I yelled, forgetting myself. He laughed again. At least he found me amusing.
"I want to make it up to you," he said.
"Make what up to me?"
"Landing on you. I feel sort of bad for it." I didn't! Land on my anytime you like!
"Um...okay? Anna and I always go for some root beer floats after school."
"Great!" I jotted down the address on a corner of my homework, ripped it off and handed it to him. Another damaged worksheet. He smiled warmly at me, and I figured if I was ever going to melt, that this would be the time. Keep your cool, Maia, he's just a guy. "I'll see you tomorrow then!" he called as I walked off. I waved back to him, finally over the shock of being surrounded by beautiful people.
By the time I got back over to Anna, she was already patched up and headed out. That's when I saw it. Her poor, favorite book bag had been left behind, and Heath was on the floor rifling through it. Orlando was standing next to him, an arm full of pencils, books, and half finished homework.
"Hey!" I bellowed. Both of them turned to look at me, Orlando nearly losing a load of paper, and Heath with a pencil clenched between his teeth. I stalked over to them, snatched the bag from Heath and began to stuff Anna's things back into it. Did I mention that I'm not very organized. So, her papers were a little wrinkled. Neatness doesn't always count.
"Sorry, we didn't know it was yours," Orlando said.
"It's not, it's Anna's, and I'll thank you very much to get your teeth away from around her pencil!" I said, pulling it out from between his teeth.
"Ow!" he cried.
"Baby." Orlando chuckled behind me. "You! Are you coming with me?" I asked bluntly. He blinked a few times in utter confusion. "To Anna's, you dolt!" He swallowed and nodded silently. "Ah, a man of few words. That's okay." Now Heath was laughing. I shot him a look, which shut him up, but I flashed him one of my bright smiles, and he smiled back. I grinned, thinking to myself, 'I like this guy'. Time to go. I grabbed Orlando by the wrist and pulled him along with me. I turned back and waved at Heath. "Namarie!" I yelled, leaving him looking completely lost.
I unfolded my scooter, hopped onto it, and motioned for him to get on behind me. He hesitated. "Don't worry, I don't bite, and whatever you think I might have isn't contagious." He gave me an odd look and stepped onto the platform. I started the little thing up, grinning at the mosquito like humming of the engine, and whizzed off.
When we got there, Okasan answered the door and let us in. Orlando was following behind me like a very confused puppy, clutching the bag with both hands. "Come on back, Maia!" Anna yelled. I shoved Orlando in front of me, seemingly to his dismay. Well, he'd live. I showed him the way to her room, and stood patiently as he knocked on her door. "God, Maia! When I say 'c'mon back', I means come back! You don't have to--" Silence. I peeked my head around Orli's shoulder and saw Anna standing there in her underwear and bra. She slammed the door in our faces and I nearly fell to the floor laughing. Orli had lost all color in his face.
I flung the door open again, and announced loudly, "We brought your bag!" We exchanged looks, and I sat down on the bed next to her. "How's your leg doing? Does it hurt? Do you want some aspirin? Tylenol? Ibuprofen?" She waved all of the offers away, and I looked over at the pink man standing in the middle of the room, who looked like he was taking inventory of everything on the opposite wall.
"Well, I called my host family and told them I'd be right home just as soon as I dropped off you bag, Anna. So I guess I'd better be going!" I said, heading toward the door. They both started to object, but I didn't listen to them. "Orli, you can find your way back okay, right? Great. Tell Heath I said good night! Namarie!" I left the room, giggling insanely. I waved goodbye to Okasan, and rode my scooter back home, singing loudly to my music.