by Ema Bancroft
"Here it comes,"I muttered.
"What? " Daisy asked.
"I can't... I can't..." Ruby gasped, her eyes turning back in her head.
And she passed out.
Brick rolled his eyes and adjusted his uncomfortable grip, carefully cradling it against his chest.
"What happened? " Daisy leaned forward, eager to help, but still a little bewildered by everything. I couldn't really blame her. Ruby had that effect on people.
"She'll be fine,"Raul said. "Give her a second. This happens all the time."
"Really?"
"Sure,"said Ethan with a smile, leaning against the elevator wall. "Don't you remember when we told you about her? " In Daisy's blank stare, he continued. "Tim, this is Spiderfan."
"Ohhhhh," Daisy finally said with a wink before she looked back at the still sleeping Ruby. "It's smaller than I expected."
"Don't let their size fool you,"grunted Brick. "She's a lot of trouble in a small package."
"I can't believe she got into the elevator shaft. " Daisy looked down at the opening of the moving wires. "That seems very dangerous."
"The danger is Spiderfan's middle name,"Roland said with a smile, just before the elevator doors opened.
Daisy
Cecil and the bodyguards escorted us to our respective floors before returning to their rooms, with the promise of meeting for dinner.
"We have extra security tomorrow,"Cecil assured us as he opened the elevator door and pulled up his pants. "You won't have to deal with gaps like this again. Don't worry about it. " He looked at Craig and Brick slightly, as if blaming them for Ruby's ability to access the elevator. They ignored it.
I tried not to smile. Ruby didn't look like a threat from Priority One, Code Red. I was pretty sure we were safe.
"No problem,"said Elijah. He seemed distracted, his fingers touching his legs nervously. "We'll see you at dinner."
Ruby moaned a little bit, starting to twist Brick's arms.
"What's gonna happen to her? " I asked, a little worried - and for some reason a little protective of our possibly crazy fan.
"We'll take her outside and let her go,"Brick assured me. "We'll tell her not to try again, or we'll have to call the police."
"As if that's going to stop her,"Craig said with a half smile and shaking his head as the elevator doors closed. I had the feeling that, despite their tough behaviour, both bodyguards had a little weakness for Spiderfan.
Perhaps it was the respect for her ninja character, her eternal persistence and her unwavering dedication to approach us. I had just met her, and I could already see that she was almost like a part of the big 5Point family.
Suddenly, I was ripped from my thoughts - literally ripped away - as Elijah grabbed my hand and dragged me down the aisle.
"Elijah? I skipped, trying to keep up. "What's going on?"
"He was going to be subtle,"he muttered to himself, pausing in front of his room and hesitating with the key. "How subtle."
"Subtle about what? " I asked, a little breathless. "What's going on?"
The door lock closed, and with a victorious exhalation, he turned to me, staring at me darkly for a moment. "I need you,"he said quietly.
Blinked, I'm not sure what he meant. It was so serious... so intense. "Well... I'm here,"I replied, more than a little cautious.
His eyes closed for a minute as he took a deep breath, and then he came closer, bowing until his odor surrounded me, dizzying me a little. His lips rubbed against my lips as I stretched out my hand, his fingers clutching my hips tightly.
Oh.
Oh.
God, sometimes I was slow.
"I need you... now,"he almost growled.
I melted. I loved it when he growled.
"He blushed, and I knew we had moved to no man's land of a guy who was talking about a girl's period.
It wasn't a pretty place, and poor Elijah couldn't even look me in the eye. We had been naked together more times than I could count, but a reminder that I had a uterus was apparently the epitome of clumsiness.
Not that I can blame him. It wasn't something I wanted to discuss with him.
So I did it fast. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him gently. "I'm fine,"I said.
The corner of Elijah's mouth peered upward. "Yes?"
I kissed him again, whispering "mmm hmmm" against his mouth.
He stopped just to pull me inside the room and knock on the door. "Thank God,"he snarled, just before grabbing the back of my head, twisting my hair between his fingers, and kissed me deeply. My hands, caught between our bodies, flexed against his chest as I tried to approach him... more and more.
It's been a long week for me too.
Elijah ripped my shirt, ripped it off my head before I did the same with his and reached for my jeans with one hand, my Hartmann bandage with the other.
"In a hurry? " I asked, a giggling chuckle dying on my lips as his long fingers found a breast, gently squeezing.
He snarled at something that sounded like,"You have no idea," shortly before I lowered my mouth to my nipple and drew it deeply. We tripped over the bed, falling on it with little consideration for anything other than getting skin on the skin as soon as possible. Wrapped up in each other, we gather in a chorus of whining and gasping... kisses and moaning... firm grabs and soft caresses?
And hours later, exhausted, satiated and freshly bathed, we huddled together in the elevator, our fingers stroking under our shirts, our lips fluttering against our cheeks... our necks... our ears...
"Maybe we could order room service,"Elijah suggested. But we both knew we couldn't raise such suspicion.
When we reached the lobby, we parted grudgingly, with our eyes closed and longing.
Longing. Yeah, we were looking forward to it. If I were someone else watching us, I'd probably feel a little nauseous.
We walked through the hallway at a respectable distance between us, but I still felt the electrical attraction of Elijah's body - and I had to concentrate on staying away from him adrift and wrapping myself in his heat once more.
I really wanted to do it. I was addicted, and every time I had to quit it was like going through withdrawal again.
Pathetic. Sick with love. Hot.
Did I mention pathetic?
I almost ignored the conversation that surrounded me at dinner, pushing my food around my plate. A blow to my foot made me jump, and my eyes rushed over the table. He smiled with a smile, making me smile.
"What's wrong with you, B? " Raul asked beside me. "Are you sick?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "No. I'm all right. Just tired, I guess."
"I thought you took a nap."
"I guess it wasn't enough."
"Huh,"he said. I looked up from my powdered baked potato to find him studying me intensely. "If you say so."
I was at the tip of my tongue to ask him what he meant by that, but I wasn't really sure I wanted to know. So instead, I put a smile on my face and asked,"Have you seen Twicher around?"
Raul shook his head, but his eyes moved slowly toward Elijah before responding. "Not since we got here. I'm sure he's out there with the other parents.
"Do you ever get used to it? The cameras are always close by, I mean."
Raul shrugged. "You learn to ignore it, I guess. But you're always on guard in public. It becomes natural.
I frowned. I didn't think I liked the sound of that.
Ethan leaned over the table. "Just smile and wave, B.
That's all you have to remember. He stopped, considering everything. "Well, that and don't pick your nose."
"Or grab your crotch,"Raul added.
"Or anyone else's crotch,"Roland said with a glance at Ethan's address.
"Oh, God, what a nightmare,"Cecil muttered. Eddie ignored the conversation, focusing on his chicken and grilled vegetables.
"What? " Ethan said defensively. "It was an accident!"
"Yes, of course. " Roland shook his head. "Did you accidentally pick up a
nother guy's trash?"
"Well, I didn't do it on purpose!"
"That shot ended up in the Post,"Raul told me. "What was the headline?"
"I think it was E-Dog, dog! " Elijah interrupted. "Or maybe that was in the Sun."
"No," corrected Roland,"The Sun was Jordan seizing him."
"Oh, but The Enquirer was the best,"Raúl said with a laugh. "Remember?"
They all smiled. "5Point Freak Feels-up 4-Square Frontman,"they quoted in unison.
I gaped. "You've spotted yourself, J. J. Jones?"
Ethan folded his arms across his irritated chest. "It was an accident!"
"You touched J. J. Jones,"I repeated, still unable to believe it.
"He tripped! " exclaimed Ethan. "And it fell into my hand!"
"Sure," said Elijah, panting through his laugh. "Keep telling yourself that."
"Did you squeeze? " I asked, unable to avoid making fun of Ethan a little bit.
"What?"
"When it fell into your hand,"I make it clear, fighting my smile. "Did you squeeze?"
"Fuck you."
"I'll take that as a yes."
Roland and Raul howled. Elias seemed to have trouble breathing. Even Cecil laughed a little.
"It was a reflection! " Ethan screamed about the laugh.
"I'm sorry, but that's not a reflection,"Eddie said quietly. "Take it from someone who knows."
We all stared at Eddie, who stared back for a moment before smiling. "What? Are you the only ones who can get people to shit around here?"
Everyone laughed, and Cecil muttered something about being the principal of a group of first graders before he raised his voice to be heard above our cackling.
"Let's make sure there's no more photo opportunities for these assholes,"he said.
"We have finally recovered from the San Francisco incident...", he said, looking briefly at Roland and Eddie. "We don't need any more controversy, okay? Let's keep it simple. Some interviews, lots of smiles and greetings. "He nodded to Ethan. "No clutching your crotch or stumbling drunk or underage fanatics in hotel rooms."
"Sim-ple,"he repeated, taking out the synonyms to emphasize his point. "Tomorrow is our last American concert before we go to Europe. Let's make it one to remember, okay?"
Everyone lifted their glasses to toast to that thought, and as I sipped my Coca Cola, I knew Elijah's questioning eyes.
I looked away quickly, painfully aware that someone was always watching.
Chapter 15
Chapter 15 - So long, goodbye, Part I
E. C.
Saturday morning dawned bright and early. In fact, it actually dawned more or less at the same time as always, but it seemed early because we had to get up for an interview first thing in the morning... and I had spent a better part of the night in Daisy... and Daisy... and basically all over Daisy...
It was fucking heaven.
After our week of deprivation, I didn't get tired of it. And to have an entire apartment of the hotel for us, without fear of being discovered... don't worry about the photographers or the other guys who discover our secret?
It was... well, the only word I could find was "luxury."
After dinner, we had managed to keep it cool... casual... laughing with the boys drinking a couple of hours before going up... first her, then me. The conversation about Papanicolaou weighed heavily on my mind, and I couldn't help but think that maybe the kids were starting to realize things too - especially Raul. His eyes seemed to be always on Daisy or me - as if I was trying to solve a puzzle - as if something didn't make sense...
I was worried sick.
Obviously, it also worried Daisy, because we both strayed from our path so as not to look at each other... not to be close enough to touch each other... not to talk to each other any more than absolutely necessary. I felt an overwhelming need to protect her, and even flirted a little with the waitress, just to throw Raul off the scent. At last he seemed to relax a bit towards the end of the night, so perhaps we had managed to ease any curiosity on his part?
Or maybe he was beaten up after half a dozen Jack and Coke and whatever he smoked in the men's room. I couldn't be sure, but either of the two explanations gave us a pardon, so I was grateful.
Daisy, however, seemed a little irritated. I saw her shooting dirty looks at me a couple of times, and when I got to my room and she wasn't expecting me, I started to worry. I went to her room, just to be greeted by arms folded and lips curled. When I caught up to her, she backed off abruptly.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing."
Yeah. I knew better than that.
"Come on. " I smiled encouragingly, lighting the amulet. "Why are you mad at me?"
"I'm not mad. " She turned to enter the room, and headed for the refrigerator through a bottle of water. "I'm just tired. It's been a long day. She took a drink from the bottle and inhaled deeply, closing her eyes before turning to me, her eyes softening. "Seriously, I'm fine. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry,"I said, walking to jump over the counter and pull it between my knees. "Just tell me what it is."
She shrugged. "It's stupid."
"No, it's not."
"It kind of is. " She blushed, her lips turning slightly towards an embarrassed smile. I brushed her fingers on her pink cheek, waiting.
"It's just…Ava. "She bowed her head, playing with the top of her water bottle."
"Who?"
"Ava,"she repeated. "You know, from the restaurant?"
I looked at her, confused.
"Our waitress? "She opened my eyes. "'Oh, E. C. Oh, your hair is unbelievable... I love the way you sang Spiced Candy..."She mimicked with a whiny voice".
I stared at her. "You can't be serious."
"You seemed to like it."
I fought with a smile. I was jealous. Maybe it made me an asshole, but I liked that... a little bit.
Still, I tried to reassure her.
"I didn't like it."
"She kept on touching you,"she muttered as if she hadn't heard me. "And you kept smiling at her."
"I smile at everyone."
She looked at me with her eyes, and I raised my hands defensively. "Seriously, B, I was just being friendly. And I was trying to keep up our little charade, you know? I was worried Raul would find out about us."
She gasped at that, all of Ava�s thoughts forgotten. "Do you think so?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm not sure. He looked at me funny, he looked at us, really. I was just trying to make sure it had nothing to do with it. Daisy bit her lip, her forehead wrinkled with worry. I caught her, and this time she let me wrap my arms around her waist.
"I think it's okay,"I said. "It seemed to return to normal by the end of the night."
"Is that why you were flirting with Ava?"
"she asked quietly.
I laughed a little bit. "Yeah. That's the only reason... I swear. "I folded my head to brush my lips over hers slightly. "I can't believe you're jealous."
"I'm not jealous."
I raised an eyebrow skeptically.
She turned her eyes. "Well, okay... maybe a little. "I considered making fun of her a little more, but at that moment, she ran her palms slowly up my thighs, tilting her head forward and tilting her head backward in an attractive manner. All of Ava and Raul's thoughts - and anything outside of us two in our little bubble on the 26th floor - fled from my mind and I kissed her deeply, moaning as her tongue crept into my mouth. I lifted her up on the counter, her thighs straddling mine as I threw my shirt over my head.
"Daisy... I..." I looked her in the eye - glassy and eager - and at that moment, I almost told her.
I love you.
But in the last second, Mabel's words came back to me and I bit my tongue. Sunday afternoon was the time... the Space Needle at sundown. Would it be perfect... special?
Not at the kitchen counter when I was hard as a rock and grabbing her hips while she was nailing me.
"What? " she asked, her voice a little
rough and hoarse.
So instead of showing my soul, I shot her with an insolent smile and said,"I don't think we're going to get much sleep tonight.
And she smiled at me with a smile, pulling the buttons on my jeans, opening them with a fluid motion as her other hand slid inward, holding me tightly.
"I'm counting on it,"she said.
We finally fell asleep - twisted on the sheets and between us - after two o' clock in the morning. And when my wake-up call came at six o' clock, we both complained and briefly considered the consequences of staying in bed.
Instead, we opted for a quick shower. Well, it started out as a quick shower, but it quickly turned into soapy kisses and Daisy leaned against the tiles as I took it from behind.
Hey. She started it.
Really.
Something like that.
Daisy finally left to go down and I waited fifteen minutes before heading to the lobby. Cecil was angry, touching his watch in that universal "Arrive Late"gesture.
I had some gestures of my own that I considered, but I was in such a good mood after my incredible night that I let it go.
The interview with the local affiliate of TBS was set for eight o' clock at the Café de 5 points, where we were first discovered, and as the car followed the monorail tracks to Belltown, I realized that I wasn't the only one stretching for a look through the windows. We hadn't been back for a year, but when the well-known neon martini crystal came into view, I thought we all smiled a little more.
"It looks exactly the same,"Raul said. "Well, except for the open-air seats. " A few tables sat in front of the front doorway, a metal railing separating the sidewalk area. Surprisingly, the sidewalks were almost empty, with the exception of a few people passing by - and they definitely didn't wait for a bunch of kids to show up.
"You didn't leak this? " I asked Cecil.
He shrugged. "I figured you could use a break from the screaming."
The aroma of the coffee and bacon that surrounded us as we walked into the restaurant, and my stomach growled in gratitude. The insiders had been cornered on one side of the cafeteria - and I could see a few tables reserved for us, the TV camera already installed while the reporter who did the interview looked at her hair in a hand mirror. Craig and Brick stood aside, obviously ready to take Grandpa and Grandma down on the corner if they decided to ask us for an autograph.
