Chapter twenty-three

It was being the saddest Christmas dinner in my whole life. All my closer relatives were there, around the table, dinning, smiling and asking me all the classical questions that beloved uncles and aunts, ironically, make us. I tried to keep a smile on my face, but somehow I didn't care too much. My mother had told them about my strange behaviour since summer, and none of them dared to make the smallest remark.

It was eleven o'clock. Snow was falling outside. My mother stood up to bring the Christmas sweets from the kitchen, and I decided to follow her and help.

"At least you could talk a bit, Alana" she said, sharply. "I really don't know what to do with you..you have to try to pass this, you're strong and clever enough to put the limit here.. can't you see that you will ruin your life? Don't let yourself sink like that!" She looked at me, holding the trays, and I nodded.

"I know, I know.. and I feel much better now than some months ago.. and I will feel even better in a future. I promise" I smiled, and then heard the sound of my gsm phone. A message. I ran to my bedroom and saw the light coming from the small machine. I read the content, it was from my friend Pat.

"Alana. Merry Christmas! I thought I should tell you that a couple of days ago I sent a letter with your picture to his fan club. Don't be mad at me!"

I opened my eyes in surprise. A bit angry with her, I took the telephone and called her. I knew I would interrupt, for she was spending the night with her family. But I didn't care. She had done something I didn't agree with. The phone sounded long. Finally, she replied.

"I knew you would call me, but let me explain..." She said, but I wouldn't allow her to talk first.

"Why did you do it? Do you know that people will make my life impossible if they find out? Who would believe me?"

"He would believe you" She replied, and we kept silence. Then, with a sigh, she went on talking. "Listen, we had to try it. I know possibilities are so small, but.. please, you're ruining your life, you're always sad, I didn't know what to do.." In that moment, the fixed phone from our house rang, and my moterh replied it. I didn't pay attention, probably they were more relatives calling for Christmas. "What was that noise?" Asked Pat.

"Someone calling..well, anyway.." Before I could speak, my mother called me. "Wait, my mother wants me to go, someone calls me from the other phone.."

"Maybe it's he" Said Pat, and I felt angry with her.

"This is not funny" I replied.

"Please, don't hung up! Let me know who is it.. if it's not important.. then you can cut my call" She begged.

"Ok, ok.. "I said, walking to the living room with my phone in my hand. My relatives were so noisy that I barely could hear anything. "Hello?" I said , but nobody replied. ."Who is there?" I asked again, becoming impatient. "Listen, this is not the best day to play jokes at telephone.."

"Alana? "A male's voice spoke, but he wasn't Dave. My head started to work, trying to remember all boys I had met in the past time.. but nobody came to my head.

"Yes, who are you?" I asked, and felt the first looks from the table over me.

"I can't believe this is happening.." He murmured, and I frowned. That voice.. why was it so familiar to me?

"Please, can you explain me what's going on?" I hear Pat's voice from the other phone, and put it in my free ear.

"It's he, it's he!!" She was shouting, but I became angry.

"It's not he!" I shouted back, forgetting that there was another person listening too.

"Were you waiting for a call? Maybe I'm disturbing you?" The stranger said.

"No, I'm sorry, a friend of mine is here, she was making me nervous.."

"Maybe your boyfriend will call you.." Went on the voice, and I couldn't help smiling.

"It's a bit strange to me to talk to an unknown boy about my personal life.. can you please tell me who are you and how did you get my phone number?" I waited for a while before he spoke.

"Where do you live? Is it far away from London?" He asked, and I felt so surprised.

"What kind of joke is this? I'll hung up now if you don't tell me who are you" My voice was sharp by then, and my friend in the other phone histeric. "Who gave you my number?"

"A friend of you.." He replied, and my heart started to beat fast. Maybe Pat had told someone about the letter and they were playing a trick on me.

"And who is she?" I asked, testing him.

"I don't know if it's a she or a he.. in the letter they didn't explain anything.. this person just sent me an envelope with a piece of paper inside.."

"Can you please wait a minute? "I asked him, taking the small phone. "Pat, did you sign the letter you sent to Orlando? What did you put inside?"

"Oh, my god, I knew he would get it!!" She was shouting, totally crazy. " Can't you see it? He got it!"

"Don't laugh at me, Pat.. who else did you tell about this?" I was further than angry.

"Nobody!" She shouted back, offended. "And if you don't believe me, then you're not the person I thought you were.."

"Ok, ok.. tell me about the letter.. how was it?"

"It wasn't a letter exactly.. I put your picture inside the envelope, a small piece of paper.. nothing else.. why?"

"I'll leave you now, I think I have to talk to this stranger. Maybe the postman read it.."

"Alana, or maybe is he the one who is calling! He saw the picture, he knows you! "

"Which picture did you send him?" Iasked, wanting more proofs.

"The one we took at the airport.. you're wearing a green sweater.. why?"

"Bye, Pat. I'll call later"

"Alana!!" I cut conversation, and disconencted phone, to make sure she wouldn't call again. My relatives were in silence now, looking at me. I sighed. I decided to use the kitchen's phone. I heard my father complaining, but I ignored them. Once in the kitchen, I took a chair, sat down and took the phone.

"Are you still there? " I asked, afraid of having lost connection.

"I am, of course" He replied, with a sweet voice.

"So will you now explain me who are you?" My heart was beating so fast.

"We were talking about the letter.." He said.

"I know.. so tell me about it .. what did you find inside?" My hands were trembling.

"Besides this piece of paper.. a picture of you.." His voice was shaking a bit, but not more than my legs.

"Which picture?" I had to make a big effort to talk.

"You're wearing a green sweater.. and.."

"Oh, my god.." I said, shocked. "Who .. who are you?"

"I'm Orlando Bloom" Silence came, and I wasn't able to say anything else. We just listened to each other's breathing. I didn't know how to react.

"Is this a joke? " I said, with tears in my eyes.

"A joke? How could I know your name if this was a joke? It wasn't written on the letter.. but I recognised you as soon as I saw your photo.."

"What's going on here? Am I dreaming or crazy? How can I know that it's you?" I still couldn't believe it.

"Because you still owe me half of my bracelet" He commented, probably smiling. At that moment I believed it. Nobody else in the world knew about the piece of bracelet.. I had kept it hidden and if anybody had seen it, they wouldn't have guessed what was it and how had I got it.

"This is.. this is.. I can't believe it.. how did that happen to us?" I asked, suddenly realising that the moment I had always wished to come, had really come.

"I can't explain it, and it will be a mystery forever. Nobody would believe us. But you believe me, and this is enough. Now I know I didn't become crazy" Now his voice was completely known for me.

"Where are you? "I asked.

"In my house in London, with my relatives. And you?"

"A bit far away.." Suddenly I reacted. I didn't know if it would be a good idea to meet him.. after all , things in this life were so different.. he had his own life, he was a celebrity.. I wasn't made for that world.

"I know what are you thinking.." He whispered. "And I agree.. you're thinking that we're worlds appart.. and that it would never work.."

"No.. well.. maybe.." I replied afraid of loosing him forever. I hoped to hear from him that he wanted to see me more than nothing, but those words didn't come.

"Alana.. now that we know that our story was true, real.. that we're not crazy.. I think it's time to forget about it. I'm a famous actor, I travel around the world, always working, filming..photo sessions, interviews.. I spend only a couple of weeks at home per year.. and.. I have a girlfriend, I don't want to hurt Kate. In this life, we can't have what we had in Troy.. all the freedom, the plans.. we're in 21rst century.. "

"I know.." I was already crying in silence by then. He was refusing me. I loved him so much, I loved the Paris I had met, I didn't care if he was Orlando or not.. he was Paris. But it seemed that he didn't keep those feelings towards me. "Why did you call me then?"

"I wanted to calm you down and prove you that you're not crazy, and because I wanted to prove it to myself as well. I'm sorry, Alana. I'm sure you have a wonderful life, wonderful friends or even a boyfriend who loves you so much.." I didn't reply that, so shocked I was. "And I want you to know that I'll never forget the amazing experience, being a prince, in Troy.. meeting historical people.. it was shocking.." He didn't mention me in that list, and the few forces I had ,left me.

"I have to leave.." I replied.

"Oh, yes, I guess so.. Merry Christmas, Alana.. thanks for everything"

"Merry Christmas.." I replied, hunging up. When I returned to the living room, all my relatives were staring at me. My grandfather held his breath. Then, I felt dizzy and weak. I fainted.

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Orlando stared at the phone after she hang up. His hands were shaking and he almost couldn't breath. His heart was hurting after what he had done. It was the first time in his life that he had to make such a big effort to lie to someome. He looked around, his relatives had left and his mother and sister had already gone to bed. He was alone, in the dark living room, thinking.

He knew that their story would be impossible, few girls would bear his life, and it was a very difficult life. He had to sacrifice too many things, hurt many people.. and he didn't want to pass it again. He closed his eyes when the first tear came. Her voice sounded the same, and he could imagine her, dressed in the 21rst century clothes, probably sitting on a chair and speaking with him. He took her picture form the envelope, feeling so bad that the pressure in his chest was unbearable. But he had to do it for her own welfare..

The sound of the telephone made him jump. But hope left soon,knowing that Alana didn't have his private number.

"Hello?" He answered, and a laugh from the other side made him feel dissapointed, although the person who was calling was very close to him.

"Merry Christmas, honey!"

"Kate, hi!" He tried to sound cheerful, but he couldn't. "How is your Christmas dinner going?"

"Orlando, I can't believe you are asking me this! You know that in Los Angeles is still midday! I'll have to wait some hours!" She replied, with another laugh, that sounded surprisingly irritating to him.

"Oh.." Was his only answer.

"Is everything Ok?" Her voice sounded worried.

"Yes, Kate.. I'm just a bit asleep.. I was going to bed.."

"Oh.. I let you sleep, then.. whatever happens to you, I hope tomorrow will be gone.." Silence came. "Orlando? Please, don't scare me.."

"Kate, tomorrow I'll take a plane and visit you, we have to talk about many things.." He knew those words would cause a terrible effect, and he heard her starting to cry. "Come on, Kate.. don't act like a small girl.. but you know we have to talk."

"Since you woke up from that accident, you're not the same.. and I hate the stories you're telling about your dreams and so on.. I hate them because they changed you. You're getting money in programs for a stupid dream" He felt anger coming.

"Kate, this is not the best moment to talk about it. I don't know why are you saying those things, but please, stop with it!"

"Orlando.. is you the one who is acting like a small child.. stop living in the past. It was a dream, but real life is here and you must go on with it. We were so happy until summer, and this accident spoiled everything"

"I don't know what's real life.. but sometimes I wonder if it would be better to live in a permanent dream.."

"Ok, it's better to stop talking now, you're not my Orlando. If you come to LA, visit me. Now try to rest" She hang up without saying goodbye, but he didn't realise. He put the phone on the small coffee table and closed his eyes. He wished to dream about Troy again.

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Disclaimer: I only own Alana, and I repeat the disclaimer fromthe last chapter. If oyu don't hear from me again, probably it will be because I'll be in a British court, sued by certain actor..