*Still don't own anything…thanks to all of you who have reviewed, it means
a lot and it makes me want to keep writing ( … and can anyone tell me (in
response to one of my reviews, which got me thinking)… I know that Dominic
Monaghan was born in Germany, but I was under the impression that he moved
to England at age 11 or 12 and adopted the accent…am I wrong in calling him
an English actor??? Thanks!!!*
Chapter 8: Angel Wings and Underwear
"I still don't know why they have to make it a costumed event," Tricia whined. "Why can't we just have a normal dance?" Reilly looked up from the shiny white fabric she was inspecting. "Because it's on Halloween, why do you think? And…costumed event?" She raised her eyebrows skeptically at Tricia's use of language. Tricia shrugged. "Besides, it will be fun! Costumes are fun," Reilly insisted. Tricia laughed. "What are you, seven?" Reilly nodded seriously, her eyes wide, and Tricia laughed again, before sighing. "I just want to get dressed up, in a gorgeous ball gown…" she lay down on her bed dreamily, with visions of proms and esquires running through her head. "Um, hi," Reilly interrupted her daydreaming, "you're going as a princess! I'm thinking a ball gown might be in the picture!" Tricia tried to argue, but realized quickly that she wasn't going to win this one (people rarely did when arguing with Reilly, simply because she'd never give up) and smiled, joining her roommate where she sat cross legged on the floor.
"Well," she smirked. "I guess you don't have to worry much about getting the chance to get dressed up often, with all of the premieres coming up for the Two Towers…you're only problem will be deciding who to go with, Dom or Orli!" Reilly gave Tricia a look, and shook her head. "No, no. What makes you think either one of them would want to bring me? Who knows of they're even bringing dates? They could bring their moms!" Tricia shook her head in disagreement. "Oh come on, Ri, you know you're in. Dom doesn't like to let you out of his sight, and my guess is Orli can't wait to see where he gets to put the salt next time!"
Reilly picked a pair of socks out of her laundry basket and threw them at her laughing roommate, and looked over at the silent phone with a sigh. I'm not sure how much Dom actually likes the sight of me lately, she thought to herself, with a quick glance at her watch reaffirming her knowledge that he had not called at 7 like he said he would. She shook her head to herself. Ever since that night at the club last week, there had been some…tension…between Dom and herself. Of course, he tried to put it off like everything was fine, making jokes and lightening the mood…but things felt different. Reilly didn't know how to ask the questions that were floating around her mind, and Dom wasn't prying to get them out of her. That's what was bothering her the most…that it seemed like he wasn't interested in what she was thinking anymore…like he wasn't interested in her anymore.
* * * * * * * * * *
Dom lay back onto his couch with his hands behind his head. The clock next to him read 7:45, and he looked at the phone but made no move to pick it up. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to Reilly…God, all he wanted to do was talk to Reilly, to fix everything he knew he was screwing up.
He couldn't believe the way he had acted toward her at the club. How could he have been such the jealous boyfriend type? It's not like she was his girlfriend anyway, or like there was really anything going on between her and Orli. It was his own idea to do body shots, anyway, what was he expecting? I just wasn't expecting to see how much they obviously feel for eachother, he admitted to himself. Sure, he figured they'd be attracted to eachother…he'd known what Reilly thought of Orli from the first few minutes he knew her, and as for Orli, well…Orli likes women, and Reilly's a pretty one, he told himself. But…beyond the body shots, and the quick little kisses, and the way she danced with him…much more suggestively than she did with Dom or Billy or Lij…beyond all that, there was something else, he could see it in her eyes. Reilly wasn't about to compromise her relationship with Tristan, he knew that, but… what he saw was how much she actually was beginning to care about Orli…to trust him…he knew she talked to Orli about many of the same things she came to him with…
"So what?!" he burst out out loud to himself, sitting up and dropping his face tiredly into his hands. She's allowed to have more than one friend…she's allowed to trust Orli…dammit, she should trust him! Orli's a brilliant guy, I trust him, he thought. But…what if she doesn't need me anymore?
* * * * * * * * * *
"So, whatcha think?" Reilly stood in the middle of the room and did a little twirl. She wore a short white satin dress with spaghetti straps and a corset-style lace-up back. Frosty, opaque wings hooked onto either side of the back laces, and a silver halo sat on top of her hair, which cascaded in long waves over her shoulders and down her back. Tricia clapped. "Perfect, you look so cute! We'll just put some glitter on your cheeks and shoulders and stuff and it will be perfect! Oh, I hope my costume comes together as well as that!" Reilly grinned at her as she turned so that she could help her with the laces. "It will! It's going to be our night, no one will be able to tear their eyes off of us!" she announced excitedly.
"No, I wouldn't say so. Particularly not if you're going like that…um, where are you going exactly?" Reilly jumped and shrieked as Orlando's voice floated into the room. She spun around to see him leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe, smiling with his eyebrows raised. Her dress and wings now down around her ankles, Reilly stood before him in her light pink string bikini cut underwear and a tiny white tank top, her halo still resting on her hair. Orli looked amused as her blue eyes widened and she quickly grabbed a pair of yellow cotton shorts off her bed, indignantly muttering, "I like how they just let anyone walk in here, no announcing if you have a visitor or anything, I really thought things were shaping up when they let us have individual room phones…" Orli burst out laughing. "S'not my fault love, don't you two EVER shut your door?" Reilly scowled as she took off her halo, pulling her hair back into a messy knot. Orli picked the halo up from it's abandoned state on her dresser and placed it carefully back atop her head. "I think," he breathed, giving her a quick kiss on her forehead, "that you should keep this on. It suits you." He touched a loose piece of hair that she had missed. "I like your hair wavy like this," he told her. "Thanks," she answered, staring into his dark eyes. "Um, Tricia did it for me. I can never get it to stay, stupid straight hair," she turned away from him and sat down on her bed as Tricia took control of the conversation.
"So," she said excitedly. "Talked to Lij lately?" Orli laughed. "Yes, actually, and he can't wait to head back over this way for premieres and such so that he can see you again." Tricia positively glowed. "Oh I just wish he'd be back for this weekend." She pouted. "Ah this weekend. Would it have anything to do with why Reilly was wearing a halo with her underwear?" Orli asked, grinning. Reilly pushed him, laughing. "Ok, if you had come two seconds earlier you could have seen the whole costume you know!" Orli frowned, turning puppy dog eyes on her. "So you mean I don't get to see the whole costume? Not that I'm saying just the halo wasn't pleasing to look at…" Reilly pushed him again, as Tricia's eyes lit up. "Well…Ri and I don't have dates for the dance yet, I mean, then you could see…and Dom could come…" Orli looked pleased, as Reilly felt her heart jump. Will Dom even want to come? She thought to herself. "Course he will, love!" Orlando answered, looking at her confusedly. "Why wouldn't he?" Reilly looked up, surprised to find she'd spoken out loud and now Orli and Trish were both looking at her oddly. "Oh, I don't know what I'm talking about. It would be wonderful to have you two come! I even know what you should dress up like…" she grinned as Orli rolled his eyes. "Alright then," he said, standing up and kissing both girls. "I'd better be going…I'll ring Dom tonight and fill him in on our plans." Reilly nodded. "Oh, Orli?" he paused at the door and turned back. "What did you come over for?" Orli cocked his head and thought for a moment. "You know, Ri…I have no idea!" he laughed and was gone, Reilly staring after him and Tricia watching her roommate knowingly.
Moments later Reilly turned to her roommate, a confused expression on her face. "Trish?" "Hmm?" Tricia didn't look up from her Cosmopolitan magazine. "Um…which one of us is going with…which one of them?"
Chapter 8: Angel Wings and Underwear
"I still don't know why they have to make it a costumed event," Tricia whined. "Why can't we just have a normal dance?" Reilly looked up from the shiny white fabric she was inspecting. "Because it's on Halloween, why do you think? And…costumed event?" She raised her eyebrows skeptically at Tricia's use of language. Tricia shrugged. "Besides, it will be fun! Costumes are fun," Reilly insisted. Tricia laughed. "What are you, seven?" Reilly nodded seriously, her eyes wide, and Tricia laughed again, before sighing. "I just want to get dressed up, in a gorgeous ball gown…" she lay down on her bed dreamily, with visions of proms and esquires running through her head. "Um, hi," Reilly interrupted her daydreaming, "you're going as a princess! I'm thinking a ball gown might be in the picture!" Tricia tried to argue, but realized quickly that she wasn't going to win this one (people rarely did when arguing with Reilly, simply because she'd never give up) and smiled, joining her roommate where she sat cross legged on the floor.
"Well," she smirked. "I guess you don't have to worry much about getting the chance to get dressed up often, with all of the premieres coming up for the Two Towers…you're only problem will be deciding who to go with, Dom or Orli!" Reilly gave Tricia a look, and shook her head. "No, no. What makes you think either one of them would want to bring me? Who knows of they're even bringing dates? They could bring their moms!" Tricia shook her head in disagreement. "Oh come on, Ri, you know you're in. Dom doesn't like to let you out of his sight, and my guess is Orli can't wait to see where he gets to put the salt next time!"
Reilly picked a pair of socks out of her laundry basket and threw them at her laughing roommate, and looked over at the silent phone with a sigh. I'm not sure how much Dom actually likes the sight of me lately, she thought to herself, with a quick glance at her watch reaffirming her knowledge that he had not called at 7 like he said he would. She shook her head to herself. Ever since that night at the club last week, there had been some…tension…between Dom and herself. Of course, he tried to put it off like everything was fine, making jokes and lightening the mood…but things felt different. Reilly didn't know how to ask the questions that were floating around her mind, and Dom wasn't prying to get them out of her. That's what was bothering her the most…that it seemed like he wasn't interested in what she was thinking anymore…like he wasn't interested in her anymore.
* * * * * * * * * *
Dom lay back onto his couch with his hands behind his head. The clock next to him read 7:45, and he looked at the phone but made no move to pick it up. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to Reilly…God, all he wanted to do was talk to Reilly, to fix everything he knew he was screwing up.
He couldn't believe the way he had acted toward her at the club. How could he have been such the jealous boyfriend type? It's not like she was his girlfriend anyway, or like there was really anything going on between her and Orli. It was his own idea to do body shots, anyway, what was he expecting? I just wasn't expecting to see how much they obviously feel for eachother, he admitted to himself. Sure, he figured they'd be attracted to eachother…he'd known what Reilly thought of Orli from the first few minutes he knew her, and as for Orli, well…Orli likes women, and Reilly's a pretty one, he told himself. But…beyond the body shots, and the quick little kisses, and the way she danced with him…much more suggestively than she did with Dom or Billy or Lij…beyond all that, there was something else, he could see it in her eyes. Reilly wasn't about to compromise her relationship with Tristan, he knew that, but… what he saw was how much she actually was beginning to care about Orli…to trust him…he knew she talked to Orli about many of the same things she came to him with…
"So what?!" he burst out out loud to himself, sitting up and dropping his face tiredly into his hands. She's allowed to have more than one friend…she's allowed to trust Orli…dammit, she should trust him! Orli's a brilliant guy, I trust him, he thought. But…what if she doesn't need me anymore?
* * * * * * * * * *
"So, whatcha think?" Reilly stood in the middle of the room and did a little twirl. She wore a short white satin dress with spaghetti straps and a corset-style lace-up back. Frosty, opaque wings hooked onto either side of the back laces, and a silver halo sat on top of her hair, which cascaded in long waves over her shoulders and down her back. Tricia clapped. "Perfect, you look so cute! We'll just put some glitter on your cheeks and shoulders and stuff and it will be perfect! Oh, I hope my costume comes together as well as that!" Reilly grinned at her as she turned so that she could help her with the laces. "It will! It's going to be our night, no one will be able to tear their eyes off of us!" she announced excitedly.
"No, I wouldn't say so. Particularly not if you're going like that…um, where are you going exactly?" Reilly jumped and shrieked as Orlando's voice floated into the room. She spun around to see him leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe, smiling with his eyebrows raised. Her dress and wings now down around her ankles, Reilly stood before him in her light pink string bikini cut underwear and a tiny white tank top, her halo still resting on her hair. Orli looked amused as her blue eyes widened and she quickly grabbed a pair of yellow cotton shorts off her bed, indignantly muttering, "I like how they just let anyone walk in here, no announcing if you have a visitor or anything, I really thought things were shaping up when they let us have individual room phones…" Orli burst out laughing. "S'not my fault love, don't you two EVER shut your door?" Reilly scowled as she took off her halo, pulling her hair back into a messy knot. Orli picked the halo up from it's abandoned state on her dresser and placed it carefully back atop her head. "I think," he breathed, giving her a quick kiss on her forehead, "that you should keep this on. It suits you." He touched a loose piece of hair that she had missed. "I like your hair wavy like this," he told her. "Thanks," she answered, staring into his dark eyes. "Um, Tricia did it for me. I can never get it to stay, stupid straight hair," she turned away from him and sat down on her bed as Tricia took control of the conversation.
"So," she said excitedly. "Talked to Lij lately?" Orli laughed. "Yes, actually, and he can't wait to head back over this way for premieres and such so that he can see you again." Tricia positively glowed. "Oh I just wish he'd be back for this weekend." She pouted. "Ah this weekend. Would it have anything to do with why Reilly was wearing a halo with her underwear?" Orli asked, grinning. Reilly pushed him, laughing. "Ok, if you had come two seconds earlier you could have seen the whole costume you know!" Orli frowned, turning puppy dog eyes on her. "So you mean I don't get to see the whole costume? Not that I'm saying just the halo wasn't pleasing to look at…" Reilly pushed him again, as Tricia's eyes lit up. "Well…Ri and I don't have dates for the dance yet, I mean, then you could see…and Dom could come…" Orli looked pleased, as Reilly felt her heart jump. Will Dom even want to come? She thought to herself. "Course he will, love!" Orlando answered, looking at her confusedly. "Why wouldn't he?" Reilly looked up, surprised to find she'd spoken out loud and now Orli and Trish were both looking at her oddly. "Oh, I don't know what I'm talking about. It would be wonderful to have you two come! I even know what you should dress up like…" she grinned as Orli rolled his eyes. "Alright then," he said, standing up and kissing both girls. "I'd better be going…I'll ring Dom tonight and fill him in on our plans." Reilly nodded. "Oh, Orli?" he paused at the door and turned back. "What did you come over for?" Orli cocked his head and thought for a moment. "You know, Ri…I have no idea!" he laughed and was gone, Reilly staring after him and Tricia watching her roommate knowingly.
Moments later Reilly turned to her roommate, a confused expression on her face. "Trish?" "Hmm?" Tricia didn't look up from her Cosmopolitan magazine. "Um…which one of us is going with…which one of them?"