Chapter Twenty Three

Having made another trip back to the Geo-Cruiser with their shopping, Wheeler and Linka began to seek out the other Planeteers. Linka would have preferred to head back to Hope Island to get to work on her painting but there was to be a street party that evening and her friends were eager to stay for it so she gave in gracefully.

Wheeler didn't say much but he had preferred the idea of the party, hoping that he and his Russian companion could lose themselves in the crowds. She had immediately distanced herself when they ran into Kwame and Wheeler was having to remind himself repeatedly not to reach out for her.

The girls went off together to find a public convenience just as it began to get busy and the American was left listening to Ma-Ti give eager descriptions of all he'd seen. Wheeler was too good a friend to show his disinterest and encouraged the younger man to expound on his discoveries but he wasn't sorry when a couple of girls approached them and asked them to dance to the music that was just now starting.

Ma-Ti was obviously interested in the offer but too embarrassed to take advantage of it and so to give him some encouragement, Wheeler accepted for both of them, letting his friend follow his lead.

The streets swelled with revellers and the American moved from one partner to another, not really even noticing them. He had begun to search for the Wind Planeteer again, but unfortunately for him when their eyes met he had a particularly lithe and sparsely clad woman rubbing herself against him. He tried to excuse himself, not under any illusion about the expression on Linka's face, but his dance partner stopped him to whisper something in his ear.

Linka watched as Wheeler laughed at whatever the woman said and answered her, before finally disengaging himself and making his way back to her. She crossed her arms, "Having fun?"

"Yeah," he told her, "jealous?"

She coloured up, "Nyet of course not."

Wheeler pulled her into his arms, pretending not to notice the way she cast her eyes around in case anyone was watching. "Dance with me?"

"You already have a partner," Linka replied stubbornly, though she didn't pull away.

"Half a dozen actually, and I don't know any of their names." He pulled her into the melee and got her to sway with him before pointing Ma-Ti out, who was still dancing with his original partner. "He needed a little encouragement."

"And you just had to show him how it was done I suppose?" Linka finally smiled, "You are a good big brother… and a terrible flirt!"

The Fire Planeteer grinned and pulled her closer, satisfied that she believed that there wasn't anything more going on than there was.

The dancing continued for a couple of hours with only minor breaks to grab drinks from the local vendors, but finally the Planeteers re-convened to grab a bite to eat and look for a hotel. It was while they were seated at an outdoor restaurant, enjoying their supper, than Angelo found them again.

"Ah, the so beautiful and talented Linka!" He exclaimed loud enough to cause her to blush, and made his way over, ignoring Wheeler's glare. "I was worried you had left and I had missed the chance of dancing with you, but you eat and I will wait."

He grabbed a chair from a nearby table and sat, causing Wheeler to bristle. Linka on the other hand greeted him with a friendly warmth, and introduced him to her fellow Planeteers without hesitation as a wonderful artist, thereby increasing his admiration of her.

"Ah but your friend Linka is being modest, she too is a wonderful artist. Is that not so…?" he looked at Wheeler and left it open for him to fill in his own name.

The American was still glaring at the interloper but he said, "Linka's amazing at everything."

He realised it was the wrong thing to say immediately because Angelo's eyes lit up, "I look forward to testing that theory… on the dance floor."

Linka laughed and told him she was finished eating if he wanted to go now, and they moved together into the crowd, leaving Wheeler seething behind them.

"She's just being friendly," Gi told him, "Honestly, she has no clue sometimes."

That softened the Fire Planeteer's expression somewhat and he tried to shrug it off, "Yeah, I know."

When the two painters returned Linka said, "Angelo knows somewhere we can stay for the night… it might be a good idea to get rooms and then come back to the party?"

They all agreed and Gi took Angelo's arm, guiding him away from her friend, "Lead on." He did, by no means indisposed to receive the attentions of another pretty woman.

Wheeler fell in beside his fair companion and as they were behind the others, ventured to take her hand. She didn't object so he pushed things further, "Share with me tonight?"

"Nyet!" she looked shocked, but lowered her voice and leant closer to him, "Yankee this is far too public, and besides it will be expected that I share with Gi."

"I don't care, Babe please, let's just drop the act, the others won't care."

"I care!" She blushed, "I do not want them to think that I am… and what if there are reporters here? We have an image to maintain."

"'Woman of consenting ages sleeps with her boyfriend!'" He said sarcastically, "Yeah, really headline news."

She glared, "It would not be put like that and you know it! The Planeteers are role models for young people, we have to think of the wider consequences."

Wheeler started to say something but then swallowed it. Annoyed however, Linka insisted he tell her what he was going to say. "Fine. Are you sure it's the Planeteers' reputation you're worried about and not what Angelo will think?"

Linka pulled her hand free and turned to face him, blocking his path, "What is that supposed to mean?"

He knew he should shut up but he was jealous and frustrated with the way things had been going and his mouth just seemed to have ideas of its own. "He's being pretty obvious Linka… and you don't seem to mind. You've been all about experiences lately, maybe one guy isn't enough anymore?"

The Wind Planeteer gasped in shock, not able to process the fact that he was desperate for her to deny it and make some commitment to what they had, all she heard was the insult. She lifted her chin and gave an indifferent shrug, wishing the ground would swallow her up. "We are both single, I suppose we can do as we please?"

"Whatever, I've already had a few offers tonight," He bragged, hurt beyond measure by her words, "If that's the way you want it I'll find my own place to spend the night."

She turned without another word and hurried after the others, leaving Wheeler to follow on slowly behind.

"Whatever you want is fine Gi," Linka said impatiently as her roommate tried to organise their sleeping quarters. She wanted very much to get away from her friends before they realised that she and Wheeler weren't speaking again, and didn't care what arrangements they made.

Finally Gi handed over the second key she'd been issued and Linka turned to claim Angelo's arm, "Now that is done, come and dance with me?"

The artist grinned and led her back out into the festival, oblivious to the nervous looks the other Planeteers cast in Wheeler's direction. The American said nothing and didn't meet their eyes but after the pair had left he hunched his shoulders and said, "I'll sort something out later," following them out the door.

His initial intention was to keep an eye on her, not entirely convinced that Angelo would toe the line, even though Wheeler wasn't sure that Linka wanted him to. The longer he watched them, and the way Linka flirted through her dance moves, the sicker he felt. At last, not able to bear any more, the American turned and walked away, painfully aware that if she did something she regretted it would probably be his fault for pushing her into Angelo's arms… not that he'd meant to.

Just how many ways can I screw up anyway? He wondered, hating himself. Anything I do now will just make it worse, only… please Babe, don't do anything just to spite me… but what if he really is what she wants?

While the Fire Planeteer was seriously regretting everything he'd done since the other Planeteers had interrupted their shower, Linka was already beginning to regret using Angelo as a prop. The artist hands were everywhere, until it felt like there were more than two and whilst she did her best to evade them with some rather skilful dancing, it was still enough to make it clear to her that she didn't want to be alone with him.

Pulling her against him without warning and making her shiver unpleasantly, Angelo brought his lips to her ear, "This would be more fun in my room, yes?"

"Nyet!" Linka pulled away quickly, "Angelo, I am sorry if I gave you the wrong idea… I like to dance."

He gave a philosophical shrug, "Myself also, but you are very attractive and I think it would be more fun if we danced in bed. You will think about it, yes?"

He would have taken her back in his arms but she shook her head quickly and stepped back, bumping into the couple behind. After several apologies and a fast exit to the sidelines where it was quieter, Linka once again turned to her new friend, "I really am sorry… please understand."

"It is not me, it is you?" He teased, more amused than annoyed, and then showed himself to be more perceptive than she'd given him credit for, "Or perhaps it is Wheeler?"

The Wind Planeteer's cheeks flushed but she nodded slowly, "I was angry with him, I should not have used you like that."

He laughed, "I enjoyed the using, we could go and find him if you like, and you can use me some more?"

"Spasiba," She chuckled, "But I think I should go and find him on my own."

"Then I will go and make another young woman's dreams come true. It has been a pleasure Linka, you know where to find me if things get dull." He winked at her and left, disappearing into the crowd without any regrets on either side.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Linka made her way back to the hotel and approached the reception desk, "Excuse me, please can you tell me what room number Jason Wheeler has taken?"

The man at the desk shook his head, "I'm sorry we can't give out that information." The woman next to him however had been the one to book Gi in and she evidently remembered them.

"Is that one of your friends?" She asked, "They haven't come back yet."

Linka smiled her thanks, "Da it is the American, I am not sure how to describe him…"

The female receptionist nodded, "The unusually hot red-head, I remember him, he didn't take a room."

"Oh." Linka's heart fell into the pit of her stomach but she held her countenance steady, "I do not suppose he said where he was going?"

The other woman shook her head, "Sorry."

"That is not a problem, thank you for your help." Linka headed up the nearby staircase and quickly located her room. Her brilliant brain noted that her things had been brought from the Geo-cruiser without her really paying attention, but she was more grateful that Gi was still out at the party.

I did not think he would really do it, she thought, blaming herself for her naivety. Sitting on the bed next to her overnight bag, Linka let her tears flow unchecked, It is over, we cannot go back after this. I cannot. Why did he have to be so… Unable to finish the though as her feelings were too strong for words, she slowly got ready for bed.

Laying in the darkened room, the Wind Planeteer could not find any peace. One thing is for sure I was not made for casual relationships, I should never have started this… nyet. I promised him that I would not regret it, and I will not. He did everything I asked of him and more, it is not his fault that I could not control my feelings… I knew this would happen sooner or later, I should never have let myself believe that it could turn into something more… It was foolish. I will not make that mistake again, ever.

With Wheeler out of the picture she had no doubt at all that she would keep her resolution, she couldn't even imagine ever wanting anyone to be that close to her again.

Wheeler was tired and disheartened by the time he returned to the hotel. He'd walked down to the sea wall and along the coast, trying to clear his head and then back to the geo-cruiser to get his bag. Although it had certainly given him enough time to reflect on what he'd done wrong, he was no closer to a solution.

The festival was still in full swing with too many people around for him to try to pick out his companions, not that he wanted to.

Wheeler didn't recognise the solitary guy at the reception desk, "I need a single room for the night."

"Sorry Buddy, we're all booked up," was the unwelcoming reply.

"What?" The American blinked at him, "My friends are here."

The man shrugged, "Any chance they'd have booked for you?"

Wheeler gave his name and received another negative, but with an added suggestion, "We're not too strict during the festival, it's the event of the year around here and artists aren't known for their wealth. The rooms aren't big but if your friends want to let you crash in one..."

"Thanks man, guess I'll go find them." Accepting the offer to leave his things behind the desk, Wheeler once more ventured into the throng.

More than one girl danced up against him as he made his way through the bustle to a food stand, but he didn't care now and paid them no attention. He got himself a drink and leant on the side of the stand, scanning the crowd and wondering if he should just go back to the 'cruiser... It wouldn't be the first time he'd slept in there after all.

"Hi." A pretty young woman approached him, "Why aren't you dancing?"

He held up his drink, "It's hot out there."

"It's hot over here too," she replied meaningfully, then nodded towards his bottle, "May I?"

Wheeler handed it over without a comment. He hadn't been serious when he'd told Linka he could find other company for the night but he hadn't doubted it either, and didn't now.

Why the hell shouldn't I? He thought, his jealousy flaring up again. If she can... at least it'd be somewhere comfortable to sleep!

At the same time, thoughts of Linka with Angelo made him feel sick again and banished any ideas he had of revenge, he definitely wasn't in the mood to fake interest in someone else. Mostly he just wanted to be alone.

Finally catching a glimpse of Kwame he excused himself to the surprised girl, and waving away his drink he plunged back into the revellers.

"Wheeler," The African looked surprised, "I thought you were sticking with Linka?"

The Fire Planeteer looked away, "She doesn't want me around. Look, can I borrow your key? There weren't any rooms left, I just wanna crash on the couch."

Kwame nodded slowly, surreptitiously looking around to see if his friend was alone and seeing a young woman watching them from a nearby food stand, said, "I will let you in, but there is no couch only a chair. Unless you want to share a bed with Ma-Ti?"

"Haha," Wheeler snorted, grateful that he wasn't getting a lecture about not sticking around earlier. "The chair's fine."

Having retrieved his bag from reception and trudged up the stairs after Kwame, Wheeler followed him into the small room and immediately slumped into the none-too-comfortable seat. Seeing his friend begin to fill the kettle, "Hey man, you don't have to stay, go back and enjoy yourself."

"In a little while, I am glad of a break." He told him, and as the kettle boiled, came to sit on the bed opposite, "What happened with Linka?"

Wheeler shook his head, unwilling to talk about it.

"You know she was only trying to make you jealous by dancing with Angelo?" Kwame suggested.

"Actually I think she was trying to piss me off because of something I said," The Fire Planeteer told him, and then sighed and rubbed his face with his hands, "There's more to it than that though Kwame, it's been coming for a while… I was convenient, but I'm not sure that's enough for her now and she obviously doesn't want anything more with me, the second you guys are in the picture I'm out of it."

His friend frowned, "Gi is of the opinion that Linka expects you to be the one to walk away, and that it makes her unhappy."

"You told Gi?!" Wheeler exclaimed, alarmed at the thought of how Linka would react.

Kwame held his gaze, "Linka told Gi."

The American's jaw dropped. "Then why the hell are we pretending there's nothing going on?"

"You tell me!" Kwame laughed, "Honestly Wheeler, from what Gi said, Linka would very much like to make it a permanent arrangement."

"That's what my Mom said too, but it's definitely not what Linka is saying," he slumped back in the chair again, "After what I said to her tonight, I'm not sure it'll make a difference anyway. All I wanted was for her to acknowledge that we had something but she didn't want to know."

Kwame frowned, "What exactly did she say?"

Wheeler repeated the conversations, pretty much word for word to his friend's growing horror, "Let me check that I understand this correctly; you demanded that she sleep with you and after she refused you accused her of sleeping around and told her you would get what you wanted elsewhere?"

"No!" He exclaimed, "I just wanted her to share a room like we usually do, I don't make 'demands' and yeah I said that if she wanted someone else I…" Kwame's expression hadn't changed but Wheeler's face became ashen. "Jeez I didn't mean it like that! She has to know I didn't mean it like that, I thought she liked the guy I wasn't saying that she'd… and I wouldn't either." He swallowed, "At least not while there's still a chance of being with her anyway."

They sat in silence for a few minutes and then Wheeler said, "Do you think I should try and find her to explain?"

"No, I think you should leave her to calm down," Seeing how unhappy his friend was he added, "We could get Ma-Ti to call her if you think she might… do something she will regret?"

Wheeler shook his head, "I thought of that but I don't believe she'd do anything she didn't really want to, even in a temper. That doesn't mean she won't do anything she'll regret though, just that she wouldn't do it to spite me… and she definitely wouldn't appreciate anyone interfering."

The African rolled his eyes and stood up to make some coffee, figuring it would be a long night.

To be continued…