Chapter 8
This chapter picks up as Michelle meets up with Tony for a casual breakfast before the conferences begin. Tony is waiting for Michelle when we first see him.
"Hey Tony!"
"Good morning sleepyhead. How are you?" Tony asks as he gets up to give Michelle a kiss.
"Better now." She responds with a smile. "How much time do we have until the first conference?"
"About an hour. Chapelle left us an itinerary to make sure we get to everything. I swear he thinks we have the competency of five year olds."
"Don't worry about it. He means well. We can deal right?"
"With you, anything." Tony tells Michelle with a smile. "So what do you want to get?"
About an hour later, they finish breakfast and attend their first conference. Bored as ever, they go through the entire day together, calmly holding hands without worrying about being spotted by someone from CTU.
"God, we finally made it. Last one of the day."
"I know. It feels like we have been at this all day."
"Where should we sit?" Questioned Tony
"As far back as..." Before Michelle could finish, she was interrupted by someone calling her name.
"Michelle?" As she turned around, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"David? Oh my god! What are you doing here?"
"I work for CTU in D.C. I'm here as a representative for my division. What re you doing here?"
"I transferred to CTU Los Angeles from Division about two years ago. I'm a rep for my group too. Wait, I thought you were in Europe."
"Well, I was. I got re-recruited about a year ago. My friend called with a great chance for me to move back here and I jumped at it. Enough about me how are you?"
"I'm great. Finally learning how to live in LA. New York was so much simpler."
"I know what you mean." David smiled as he replied. He couldn't believe how beautiful she had become since they last saw each other after college.
"Oh, and this is Tony Almeida. He is the director of CTU LA. We are here together."
"Nice to meet you David."
"Yea, same here. So, what are you doing tonight? It's been so long since we have seen each other; we have to catch up."
"Well, I...." Michelle looked extremely unsure about how to react.
"How about dinner?"
"Ok. That sounds great. Why don't we meet at 9:00 at the restaurant in the hotel? It is supposed to be fabulous."
"Terrific. I'll see you later. Nice to meet you Tony."
"Uh, yea, you too David. Ok, who was that?"
"David McClaren. We went to college at UC Davis together. I haven't seen him since our reunion in New York. Are you mad I agreed to dinner?"
"No, not at all. You are aloud to have friends."
"Great. I'm glad you're not mad. Oh, it's starting. Will talk after." Sitting down next to Michelle, Tony looked more uneasy than he was letting on. He saw David looking over at her and suddenly got very defensive. He knew, though, that he would just have to put it out of his mind until later, but found that very difficult.
About an hour later, the conference let out. Everyone shuffled out, and as Tony went to catch up with Michelle, she was "intercepted" first by David. He offered to escort her upstairs, and she agreed, leaving Tony behind looking hurt. But, not wanting to seem too overprotective, he let them go and decided to find her later.
--cut to Tony's room; 7:30—
"Hello?"
"Tony, its Michelle. Would you mind coming over. I want to talk to you before I go out tonight."
"Sure, I'll be right over." As Tony hung up, he was happy she called, but perpetually more uneasy about whom she was going to be out with. He trusted her, and needed to make sure she knew that.
"Hey, Michelle, it's me."
"One sec. (Michelle moves towards the door) Hey. Come in."
"Hi. How are you?"
"Fine, how are you?"
"Honestly? I am kind of uneasy. I mean I love you so much and am not so sure how I feel about you going out with some guy you haven't seen in years."
"Oh, Tony. Come here." Motioning him towards her, she kissed him tenderly on the mouth. "You know I love you too. I just didn't have the heart to say no. Don't worry about David. He is harmless; I promise. "
"Alright, if you say so. But if he tries anything, just know I will kick his ass."
"I'm sure you will." Michelle laughs as his attempt at valiancy.
"So, what time are you meeting this guy?"
"Umm, 9:00. Why?"
"Well, you know, it's only 7:30 now." Tony tells Michelle, moving closer to her location near the wall.
"So it is. Why do you mention it?"
"Well, there is a lot we could do in and hour and a half. Don't you think?"
"Depends. What did you have in mind? Something like this." Grabbing Tony by the shirt, she pulls him close to her and plants a very tender and romantic kiss on Tony's lips. As they pull apart, Tony looks very happy.
"Uh, wow. While that was amazing, I had something more like this in mind." Taking Michelle by her waist, she pushes her delicately into the wall as they begin to make out. Tony runs his hands up and down Michelle's back as she massages his neck. As Tony kicks off his shoes, he moves himself and Michelle towards her bed. Falling down, they momentarily pull away and look into each other's eyes.
"I like your plan much better." Michelle whispers into Tony's ear as he smiles back.
--30 minutes later—
"Tony, I really need to get ready." Michelle said after pulling away from Tony. This didn't deter him the least.
"Yea, I know." Tony continued to kiss her until she finally managed to get away from his loving arms.
"I love you but I really need to shower and change. I don't want to be late. Stay, watch TV. Keep me company, ok?" She went back over to him and gave him a tender kiss on the lips.
"I'd wait for you forever." Smiling at Tony's comment, Michelle finally made it to the bathroom and turned on the water.
--8:45—
"So, what do you think?" Michelle saunters out of the bathroom after finishing her make-up.
"Wow, you look amazing. Change!"
"What?"
"You look too good. I don't want your little friend to get any ideas."
"Tony, don't worry. I'm all yours; I promise. I have to go."
"Wait." Tony hopped out of Michelle's bed and walked out with her. "Have a great time."
"Don't worry, I will." Michelle winked at Tony before walking towards the elevators. He watched her until she turned the corner, so wishing that he could hold her and kiss her and be with her forever.
--next morning—
"Michelle, Michelle. Open up, it's me, Tony." Tony was worried when she didn't come to the door. Normally, she was up bright and early. All he could think about was 'what if she's not in her room'? Was she with him? Suddenly, he was ridden with thoughts of Nina's betrayal. How could Michelle be in anyway like her? She promised to be different.... she promised. Where could she be?
This chapter picks up as Michelle meets up with Tony for a casual breakfast before the conferences begin. Tony is waiting for Michelle when we first see him.
"Hey Tony!"
"Good morning sleepyhead. How are you?" Tony asks as he gets up to give Michelle a kiss.
"Better now." She responds with a smile. "How much time do we have until the first conference?"
"About an hour. Chapelle left us an itinerary to make sure we get to everything. I swear he thinks we have the competency of five year olds."
"Don't worry about it. He means well. We can deal right?"
"With you, anything." Tony tells Michelle with a smile. "So what do you want to get?"
About an hour later, they finish breakfast and attend their first conference. Bored as ever, they go through the entire day together, calmly holding hands without worrying about being spotted by someone from CTU.
"God, we finally made it. Last one of the day."
"I know. It feels like we have been at this all day."
"Where should we sit?" Questioned Tony
"As far back as..." Before Michelle could finish, she was interrupted by someone calling her name.
"Michelle?" As she turned around, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"David? Oh my god! What are you doing here?"
"I work for CTU in D.C. I'm here as a representative for my division. What re you doing here?"
"I transferred to CTU Los Angeles from Division about two years ago. I'm a rep for my group too. Wait, I thought you were in Europe."
"Well, I was. I got re-recruited about a year ago. My friend called with a great chance for me to move back here and I jumped at it. Enough about me how are you?"
"I'm great. Finally learning how to live in LA. New York was so much simpler."
"I know what you mean." David smiled as he replied. He couldn't believe how beautiful she had become since they last saw each other after college.
"Oh, and this is Tony Almeida. He is the director of CTU LA. We are here together."
"Nice to meet you David."
"Yea, same here. So, what are you doing tonight? It's been so long since we have seen each other; we have to catch up."
"Well, I...." Michelle looked extremely unsure about how to react.
"How about dinner?"
"Ok. That sounds great. Why don't we meet at 9:00 at the restaurant in the hotel? It is supposed to be fabulous."
"Terrific. I'll see you later. Nice to meet you Tony."
"Uh, yea, you too David. Ok, who was that?"
"David McClaren. We went to college at UC Davis together. I haven't seen him since our reunion in New York. Are you mad I agreed to dinner?"
"No, not at all. You are aloud to have friends."
"Great. I'm glad you're not mad. Oh, it's starting. Will talk after." Sitting down next to Michelle, Tony looked more uneasy than he was letting on. He saw David looking over at her and suddenly got very defensive. He knew, though, that he would just have to put it out of his mind until later, but found that very difficult.
About an hour later, the conference let out. Everyone shuffled out, and as Tony went to catch up with Michelle, she was "intercepted" first by David. He offered to escort her upstairs, and she agreed, leaving Tony behind looking hurt. But, not wanting to seem too overprotective, he let them go and decided to find her later.
--cut to Tony's room; 7:30—
"Hello?"
"Tony, its Michelle. Would you mind coming over. I want to talk to you before I go out tonight."
"Sure, I'll be right over." As Tony hung up, he was happy she called, but perpetually more uneasy about whom she was going to be out with. He trusted her, and needed to make sure she knew that.
"Hey, Michelle, it's me."
"One sec. (Michelle moves towards the door) Hey. Come in."
"Hi. How are you?"
"Fine, how are you?"
"Honestly? I am kind of uneasy. I mean I love you so much and am not so sure how I feel about you going out with some guy you haven't seen in years."
"Oh, Tony. Come here." Motioning him towards her, she kissed him tenderly on the mouth. "You know I love you too. I just didn't have the heart to say no. Don't worry about David. He is harmless; I promise. "
"Alright, if you say so. But if he tries anything, just know I will kick his ass."
"I'm sure you will." Michelle laughs as his attempt at valiancy.
"So, what time are you meeting this guy?"
"Umm, 9:00. Why?"
"Well, you know, it's only 7:30 now." Tony tells Michelle, moving closer to her location near the wall.
"So it is. Why do you mention it?"
"Well, there is a lot we could do in and hour and a half. Don't you think?"
"Depends. What did you have in mind? Something like this." Grabbing Tony by the shirt, she pulls him close to her and plants a very tender and romantic kiss on Tony's lips. As they pull apart, Tony looks very happy.
"Uh, wow. While that was amazing, I had something more like this in mind." Taking Michelle by her waist, she pushes her delicately into the wall as they begin to make out. Tony runs his hands up and down Michelle's back as she massages his neck. As Tony kicks off his shoes, he moves himself and Michelle towards her bed. Falling down, they momentarily pull away and look into each other's eyes.
"I like your plan much better." Michelle whispers into Tony's ear as he smiles back.
--30 minutes later—
"Tony, I really need to get ready." Michelle said after pulling away from Tony. This didn't deter him the least.
"Yea, I know." Tony continued to kiss her until she finally managed to get away from his loving arms.
"I love you but I really need to shower and change. I don't want to be late. Stay, watch TV. Keep me company, ok?" She went back over to him and gave him a tender kiss on the lips.
"I'd wait for you forever." Smiling at Tony's comment, Michelle finally made it to the bathroom and turned on the water.
--8:45—
"So, what do you think?" Michelle saunters out of the bathroom after finishing her make-up.
"Wow, you look amazing. Change!"
"What?"
"You look too good. I don't want your little friend to get any ideas."
"Tony, don't worry. I'm all yours; I promise. I have to go."
"Wait." Tony hopped out of Michelle's bed and walked out with her. "Have a great time."
"Don't worry, I will." Michelle winked at Tony before walking towards the elevators. He watched her until she turned the corner, so wishing that he could hold her and kiss her and be with her forever.
--next morning—
"Michelle, Michelle. Open up, it's me, Tony." Tony was worried when she didn't come to the door. Normally, she was up bright and early. All he could think about was 'what if she's not in her room'? Was she with him? Suddenly, he was ridden with thoughts of Nina's betrayal. How could Michelle be in anyway like her? She promised to be different.... she promised. Where could she be?