Thanks for the reviews:
Hutchy- You're right about 2 things: 1) it has been a really long time since you didn't review (I thought you've got sick of my story! TT)
2) Both Giovanni and Boris know something the teenagers don't. Ah ha!
SOMEONE2003- I'm happy that you're for Mariah and Tala thing. And don't worry, this story is very clean (well, I'm planning a part but it's not with Mariah and Tala, so don't worry. Or maybe you want them to?)
A/N: I've updated at last! Sorry for taking so long but I don't have Internet of my own (I'm in an old mansion!), so it will take this long each time even though my head is bubbling with ideas!
Okay to the masterpiece (lol, it sucks like every other times).
Chapter 22: Love's fool
Since Prima was gone, Hilary didn't have to wake up until midday. As she was lying half asleep in the bed, a hand passed across her hips.
"Buongiorno, bellissima," Enrique's soft voice chilled her ears.
Hilary opened her crimson eyes and turned over to meet Rique's crystal blue ones.
"How are you doing?" she asked drowsily.
"Last night was fine with me," Enrique said with a secretive smile.
Hilary flushed as reminiscence rushed through her skin. She cuddled against him.
"I hope the others are all right," she said.
"Well, if they're dead, especially Prima, we'll be celebrating."
"Rique! You can't joke about those things!" Hilary snapped.
"Why not, ragazza?" he asked kissing her passionately.
Even though Enrique's bed was big enough for three people, they nearly fell as they rolled, drunken in their kiss.
"You're alright there, amore?" Enrique asked as he pulled her away from the edge of the bed. "And don't you go worrying for the others, they can look after themselves. I bet Prima's having fun in her own kind."
"What kind of fun?" Hilary wondered out loud as Enrique kissed her neck.
"Like what we're doing now."
"What, Prima!" Hilary shrieked tearing herself away from her boyfriend.
Enrique smiled.
"Why not? She's pretty hot herself but she doesn't know it that's all."
"But with who will she be doing it?"
"I don't know. Non so. Maybe Boris' bodyguard," Enrique shrugged.
"Eeeew!"
Hilary ducked into the covers trying not to imagine anything.
"Where's Hilary?" Enrique joked, fumbling the silk blanket. When he found her hips, he gave her tickles.
"Rique!" Hilary shrieked through laughter.
Enrique pulled away the blanket. Hilary's face was shiny with sweat and red with the tickling thing.
"Hey, beautiful," Enrique said.
"Hi, handsome," she answered as he drew her towards him and once again their lips touched.
"What do you say to breakfast?" Enrique asked after they broke apart.
"That'll be great," she said.
To her surprise, Rique just reached out his hand to the cupboard under his bedside table and produced miraculously a bento (is it written this way?) containing sushi varieties.
"Wow! It looks delicious!" Hilary exclaimed.
"What about trying one?"
Enrique didn't wait for a reply but fed her a salmon sushi.
"Hmm… dheliceeous!" Hilary tried to speak with her mouth full.
Rique laughed.
"I was guessing that you might get bored of Italian food," he said.
"Hmm…" Hilary swallowed. "I always wonder what good Japanese food tasted like. My mother says that my father used to make them deliciously."
"What happened to him now?"
"Gone. Back to Japan. My parents never did get married. So Brown is actually my mother's name."
"Oh."
After eating they passed a quiet afternoon, playing Frisbee with Oro, Enrique's Golden Retriever.
"Over here, bambino!" Enrique called as he caught the Frisbee from Hilary.
The great dog came running over like the wind but Enrique was faster and threw it back (the Frisbee, not the dog) to Hilary. But it was too high for her so she ran backwards and fell.
"Mio Dio!"
Enrique's voice came from somewhere. There was Oro's barking too.
"Are you alright, Hilary?" Enrique's voice was near now.
She opened her eyes and rubbed her head.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Oro came over with the Frisbee in his mouth.
"Good boy," Hilary said patting his head. "Come on, let's play."
But when she stood up she and took the Frisbee she found out that her bangles were gone.
"Shit! The bangles Prima gave me are gone!" Hilary exclaimed.
"Which ones?"
"The silver ones."
"That's okay, it mustn't be far."
They looked at the place where Hilary fell but couldn't see anything.
After searching for a long time, Hilary wandered off to the place where she and Enrique met for the first time, on the bench by the fountain. She knew that the bangles wouldn't be there but she just wanted to visit the place again.
Only when she arrived she saw that it wasn't deserted. Sitting on the very stone bench Hilary and Enrique sat, was Tyson. He turned his head at her approach.
"Oh, Tyson what are you doing here?" Hilary asked, sitting down next to him.
"Nothing. I don't have anything to do anyway. No one needs me," his voice sounded a little hurt. Maybe with what Giovanni had said the night he gave away mission for everyone.
"Rique and I don't have a mission either," Hilary tried to reassured him.
"Oh yeah but at least you have some fun. I'm stuck with people like Kenny all day, not seeing daylight. So now I'm here but alone. Don't know what's worse."
"Since when you get so philosophical, Tyson?" Hilary teased.
Tyson gave a weary smile.
"I've been eating a little less", he answered.
She laughed.
"I can't imagine that of you Tyson!" Hilary was still laughing.
Tyson got laughing too.
"Yeah, it did me good though! Maybe someone will look at me now!"
Hilary stopped laughing, not because of what he said but because she was out of breath.
"Hmm," she sighed.
"Why are you with him?" Tyson asked after a long silence.
"With who?" Hilary stared at him.
"You know who."
"Oh." Hilary paused for a thought. "And why not?"
"Why not? He's engaged, man!"
"Yeah, so? Prima's okay about it."
"It's not that, Hil," Tyson said, shaking his head. "What are you gonna do when he really have to get married? He's not going to stay engaged forever!"
Hilary grew silent. She hadn't thought of that. Really why was she kidding herself that she and Rique could work? She had been very naïve.
"I like you very much, Hilary, you know that." Tyson's voice drifted to her. "I don't want bad things to happen to you."
When Hilary lifted her gaze on him, she found that her eyes were swelling. Tyson reached out his hand and wiped off her tears.
"I'm sorry I've made you cry," he whispered.
When he was about to take his hand away she grasped it and held it near her cheeks.
"Don't be-"
"Hilary! Where are you? We've found your bangles!" Enrique's voice came from the distance.
Tyson retrieved his hand hastily and Hilary brushed away her tears.
"How do I look?" she asked him anxiously.
"Beautiful," he answered.
She took in a deep breath and ran to find Rique. I love him, she said to herself.
Salima opened the drawers and took out a pair of scissors. With them she cut off her ponytail then went into the bathroom. There she died her hair navy blue. She also put on soft brown, nearly violet, lenses. She put on new clothes which she knew the real Salima wouldn't wear: tight yellow leather pants, navy blue T-shirt with 'I'm a Bitch' written on it and African bracelets. She also wore white shiny boots and swung an embroidered bag. Last but not least, she put a new perfume on.
"Okay, Garland, you're going to pay," she said in the dark.
That night, Ming Ming was going to have a concert in New York. Salima got into a taxi and was there before time. She went into the Starbucks facing the concert hall and watch carefully when Ming Ming will arrive. She put on special glasses that were, in reality binoculars that could also detect things pass a wall.
At last the latter came with her two bodyguards who helped her pass the crowd of reporters. Salima quickly finished her Frappuccino and went off. The place was crowded. People were pushing and shoving to get the best places. Suddenly lights on the stage were riveted to a single spot. The crowd howled when the music started and Ming Ming came out, dressed like a clown in Salima's point of view.
There was a pause when people can go out to have refreshments (Ming Ming's concerts only!). Salima saw to her luck, Garland sitting alone at the bar. She went up to him and ordered the same rink. She knew perfectly how to attract men's gaze, even with those vile clothes on. When the drink came, she drank in exactly at the same time as Garland and putting it down as well. He soon noticed her and gave her a smile that used to have her melt but now all it did to her was arousing the fire of hatred in her heart.
"Hi, do I know you?" he asked, leaning closer.
The bastard.
"Don't think so," she answered, using a South accent.
"Where are you from?"
"Texas."
"Republican?"
"Greenpeace."
"Oh." He was examining her, she knew it. "I'm Garland, by the way," he said putting his hand out,
She shook it and said, "Joan."
"Great, so now we know each other," Garland smiled. "You came all the way here from Texas?"
"Aye, I just love Ming Ming but I love her bodyguards better."
Garland raised an eyebrow.
"You've seen them?"
"Of course, they're always beside her."
"Not always."
"Oh, so they're with their girlfriends sometimes?"
Garland laughed.
"Nay, they don't have girlfriends."
"Boyfriends, then?"
He laughed harder.
"No. I don't think they're gay, either."
Liar!
"Oh but good-looking as they are, why don't they go out with anyone?" she fended asking.
"Because they just don't have time for girls. Though I did try to make an effort on this certain girl but…"
"But what?"
"But she misunderstood and ran away before I could explain," he said sadly. "Why am I telling you all this anyway? You don't really care, do you?"
Salima shrugged.
"Let's talk about you." Garland said. "Where do you live in Texas?"
Salima had already prepared the story for Joan France and her family. So she told him all about it, making it funny and everything. Suddenly a voice in the loudspeaker announced that the concert would be resuming so their conversation ended there.
"Can I have Ming Ming's bodyguard's number?" Salima ventured.
" 'kay. See you around," he said, running off, leaving his number on the bill.
Salima grinned. Her plan was working!
