Total Eclipse of the Heart
OK so I AM caving and going the Spinelli which makes me need to remind you that its AU hence the whole current Spinelli SL isn't going on. Standard Disclaimers apply...enjoy
The following morning Claire entered the living room where Kyle was lounging on the couch listening to some movie.
Reaching over for the remote he gave her a glair.
"Claire what are you doing."
"I want to watch the news."
"The news, since when."
She looked over at the cheese romantic comedy her roommate was watching and let out a sigh wondering that if he didn't have to run if they would of have had something that movies were made of. And by they she meant her and Milo.
"Something happened between last night when you left me at the hospital and now. It was Dr. Drake wasn't it, his speech got to you didn't it."
Claire thought back to Patrick's very public declaration of affection and sighed.
"It wasn't the speech, which by the way did she say..."
"Nope, but man if a guy gave me a speech like that I'd be putty in his hands."
"Maybe she didn't want a shot gun engagement."
"You take the fun out of romance."
"Do not," Claire said picking up a pillow and tossing it at Kyle.
"Ouch that hurt."
Claire made a face and flopped down on the loveseat.
"Tell me Claire, something happened, I can tell...I'm going to get you out of it sometime."
"I met someone," Claire said so fast that her words ran together as one.
Kyle looked at her with shear and utter curiosity. He had heard his friend, roommate, and fellow resident lament on her boy troubles on numerous occasions and knew her track record wasn't all that great.
"Can you repeat that?"
Claire took a deep breath and repeated more clearly this time.
"I met someone."
"You met someone, does this someone have a name."
"Milo."
"Milo, and what prey tell does this Milo do."
"I don't know exactly, you see I decided to try a new coffee place on my way home last night and well I had an accident."
"An accident."
"He startled me and I spilled my latte over his shirt."
"I bet that caught his attention."
"It did..."
Claire then began to tell the story about how Milo and she met and how she felt a strange and interesting attraction to him.
--
Meanwhile across town Milo entered the small apartment he shared with his brother Max.
"So you lived to survive another day huh little brother."
Milo looked at Max and nodded.
"Yep, no conflict with Karpov thank god."
"Your expression could have fooled me, I'm your brother, and I know when something is up."
Milo let out a sigh removing his jacket reveling his stained dress shirt to his big brother's eyes.
"Is this mood because you had a little accident," Max said mockingly pointing to the stain.
Milo gave his brother a snarky grin and laughed.
"The accident is only part of it."
"Only part of it."
"Can you let me take a shower first and then I'll talk."
Max nodded and flopped on the couch flipping on sports center watching for highlights of the latest Dodger game when fifteen minutes later Milo came back down stairs his normally well kempt hair a wet mess on his head dressed in a pair of Gray sweat pants and a white undershirt that clung to his muscles perfectly, not that anyone would notice that.
"So," Max said flipping off the TV, "tell me the story."
"Well there was this girl..."
"A girl...you mean to tell me your mood was all about a girl."
"Do you want to hear the story or not."
"Fine fine, indulge me baby brother, tell me about this girl."
"Well I snuck into the shop from the boss's office and well I must have startled her cause next thing I know her drink was on my shirt. She tried to help clean it but I told her she didn't need to and offered her a new drink."
"How chivalrous of you."
"Anyway, so I get her a drink, we talk, exchange names, sit down and then..."
"Then..."
"Sonny called end of story."
"What do you mean end of story."
"I mean I left to watch Karpov's shipment and I don't think I'll see her again."
"You don't."
"Well I mean she gave me her number but..."
"But nothing Milo, you need a woman...now go to sleep and think about it, that's an order."
Milo nodded and flopped back on a recliner to go to sleep.
--
"So you gave him your number," Kyle said as Claire finished telling him her story.
She nodded sheepishly allowing her blonde hair to fall in her face.
"I doubt he'll call though."
"And why not."
"I mean let's face it, Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome probably has some Manhattan Super Model girlfriend and thinks I give off a little sister vibe or something."
"Do you really think that down on yourself?"
"I'm just saying when a guy seems too good to be true he usually is."
"And what if he isn't, you know too good to be true and was to ask you out."
"Well then I might have to say yes and..."
Claire paused and picked up a pillow and screamed in it.
"God I'm pathetic."
Kyle placed his arm around her.
"No your not."
--
A few hours had passed and Milo was rested, refreshed and changed back into his usual suit as he re-entered the scene of the crime. He wasn't on the clock, at the moment anyway and he hoped that maybe just maybe Claire would be there. She wasn't. However sitting there on his laptop like he was accustomed to.
"Hey Spinelli," Milo said watching the young man look up from what he was working on and waved as Milo took a seat next to him causing him to give an uncomfortable glance at him.
"So, long time no see, what's new, well besides your haircut."
The young man ran his hand through his brown hair which was since trimmed out of his messy mop into a shorter cut that showed off his brilliant ocean blue eyes.
"Why are you acknowledging the Jackal like you're my friend or something?"
"I kind of thought you were my friend."
"Y-you did."
"Yes, I mean even though we all were fighting over Lulu and whatever last year I don't know...I mean I always assumed."
"The protector of the night knows what happens to one when they assume right."
Milo looked at the computer genius and nodded.
"Something about an ass and...Yea I know."
"Anyway the Jackal has always thought of the protector of the night as an acquaintance as well."
"Just an acquaintance.."
"Ok friend...so anyway what brings this sudden chumery."
"It's just I really don't have anyone to talk to besides my brother about..."
"About," Spinelli said with curiosity in his voice.
"I met someone the other night."
"Congratulations I guess."
"I mean I know you're not the expert on the ladies."
Spinelli let out a laugh.
"You could say that again, I mean try as I may I can not get the Maximista to see me as more then a friend."
"I'm sorry man."
"It's ok, anyways about this girl you met."
"Are you sure you want to know, I mean you have your own relationship drama."
"You'd need to be in an actual relationship to have that, so does the mysterious mistress have a name."
"Claire."
"Claire...is that one name like Madonna or..."
"I never got her last name."
"Never got her last name, really Milo really."
"Sonny called me...anyways she gave me her number."
"She gave you her number...even I who has no experience knows that's a very good sign."
"So now what man, what do I do?"
"I don't know, ask her out. I mean what's the worst she'll do, say no."
Milo smiled looking outside spotting Maxie on her cell.
"Fine, I'll ask her out but..."
"But what."
Milo just stared at Spinelli.
"What, do I have Orange Soda stains on my teeth."
"Just a tad but that's not my point."
Spinelli picked up a napkin and began to wipe his teeth.
"Then what is," he said paper in his mouth.
"Maxie's out side.
"Maximista, here..."
"What's the worst she can say...no."
"Spinelli glared at him."
"Invite her to Jakes or something...then when she says yes I'll invite Claire."
"When."
"I've been in Kate's office with Sonny on occasion, she talks about you."
"S-she does."
Milo nodded as Maxie entered the shop.
"Hey Spinelli, Milo what's up."
"I'll leave you two alone for a moment; I'm going to grab another drink."
Spinelli nodded as Milo left him and Maxie alone.
"M-Maximista," Spinelli said as Milo watched the couple talking while staying out of their earshot.
Watching them he saw Spinelli fidgeting allot and Maxie smiling and laughing. Finally Maxie picked up her cell and leaned over kissing Spinelli on the cheek. Leaving Milo saw that the window to return to the table was open.
"S-she said yes Milo, Maximista agreed to go out with the Jackal Friday Night at Jakes."
"She did, congrats."
"Of course she probably thinks this is pathetically platonic but still it's something right."
"Yes it's something."
"Well anyway man it's your turn...go ask that Claire out cause I can't do this dating thing alone."
"Alright I'll do it."
Spinelli gave him thumbs up as he packed up his laptop leaving the bodyguard alone.
"If only Claire remembers me, if only she'd say yes," he thought wondering how to approach her.
--
TBC
And there you have my Spixie B plot...I hope that holds until I decide to work on Our Time which I think I might tackle again Mid-Week at the Earliest Early September at the latest
Thanks for reading...