The Student

Chapter 11 - Party Hardy

"So, a party? For me?" I looked at my uncle innocently as we entered through the front door of his studio apartment. He turned and gave me a secretive smile before pushing into the darkened dwelling place. Flicking on a random light, he led the way into the living room.

There were lots of windows in this place, and much of the city was underfoot this 45th floor apartment. Wellington was laid out like a waiting lover, with her arms wide open, ready for me to explore and discover. I wasn't about to say no. He showed me the kitchen to the right, and his bedroom, which was pretty much an interior room, with only one wall covered in windows.

I got the corner bedroom. It was a nice blue/green combo with a queen-size bed, and once again, my own bathroom. I was extremely thankful that Vigg took it to heart that I was paranoid about people walking in on me while I was in the shower. I had watched Psycho one too many times.

He stopped outside of his bedroom door after giving me the full tour. "Laura, dress to impress because tonight, the whole crew is going to see you." I smiled, puzzled, as he pushed through the door and disappeared into the darkened room. Still puzzled, I started to unpack my stuff.

`Dress to impress huh?' I pulled out my toiletries and made my way to the shower to do perform a miracle on myself.


The catcalls were a very good indication that I had chosen the perfect outfit. The pants were black and tight, and the top was cobalt blue and backless. I had done good. Vigg's eyes had popped out of his head when I had come out of my room, with my make-up and my hair all done up and pretty like.

"Jeez. I said dress to impress, not dress to earn money." Laughing he gave me a hug before I could hit him for his impertinence. I knew that he would regret every letting me out of the house by the end of the night, but he didn't know that, and that was my only playing card.

I was setting out to seduce an elf . . .

The nightclub was packed, and the catcalls (aforementioned) were abounding as Viggo lead me through the throng of people littering the bar area and the dance floor. A good strong techno beat was blasting through the sound speakers and my years as the tuba in the high school marching band exploded as I walked to the beat. Silently berating myself for being a dork, I laughed off the memories of my sousaphone, and turned my attention back to the club.

We really did need half of the club for this party. There were easily 50 people from Lord of the Rings jammed into the corner that had been reserved. Leading the way, Viggo weaved around a dancing couple, and trotted up the steps, where he clasped hands with a tall man with a British accent. I was distracted for a moment at the bottom of the steps when I thought I had seen Orlando out on the dance floor, but was sadly disappointed. The deep British voice of Vigg's friend brought me back to reality.

My head whipped around and I glared through the flashing lights of the nightclub. It couldn't be. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. `There is NO way that that is Alec Trevelyn.' Viggo motioned to me and waved his hand, beckoning me closer. I was almost afraid of what I'd find. At the top of the steps, the two men talked like old friends, but I knew that this was someone that Viggo met through the film.

The Brit turned and smiled at me. I gasped and took a step backwards, or tried to. There was nothing to step backwards onto.

All thoughts faded from my mind as I felt my body suspended for a moment, then falling backwards. Looking frantically to the faces in front of me, I saw horror reflecting back from both of their eyes. I was falling down the steps.

Just as I was sure I'd die, I felt strong hands cushioning my fall and I stopped perpendicular to the floor. I practically collapsed, my legs crumpling and abandoning their job of supporting my lower half. Vigg and the Brit dashed forward, all four hands outstretched as they pulled me off my savior and up the steps to a chair.

My head was reeling as I looked at the faces surrounding me, screaming when I came to the last. An old X-files episode flashed into my mind as I looked on the faces of Alec Trevelyn, and `Mr. Smith' from the Matrix, my savior. `This is not happening, this is not happening, this IS NOT happening!' I managed a guttural "How?" before I was claimed by darkness and swept away on an undercurrent of oblivion.

I was pulled back to the land of the living by a well-placed slap on my cheek that left my face stinging. Raising a hand to my burning skin, I looked up into the offended. Silently added up my chances of beating up Vigg before the rest of the group pulled me off, I decided that the odds were not favorable and pulled myself into a semi-comfortable position in the chair.

There were four men standing around me, and one kneeling in front of me. I recognized Sean Bean and remembered that someone had told me that 006 was in this movie. Mr. Smith, whose real name I didn't know, was standing next to me in a dark suit, creeping me out. There were two other men standing, but I had no idea who they were. And, of course, Viggo was kneeling in front of me with an expression of unending worry on his face.

I brushed off his questions and told him I was fine. Just a little scared and surprised was all. He accepted this and stood. "Well, now that you're better, you can meet your first group of introductions. This is Sean Bean, Hugo Weaving, Dom Monaghan, and Billy Boyd." He went around the circle, pointing at each in turn, and each of which waved back and spoke some greeting. I was getting confused. They all had accents and none of the American. I discerned that this `Dom' and the bitchy `Dom' on the phone were one and the same as we all started to discuss my stay in New Zealand, which would end up being a very familiar topic of discussion.

I looked around after 20 minutes of listening to Sean and Vigg chat about filming when I realized that there was one man that I hadn't seen, but was dying to get my paws on. I turned to Dom, who was standing next to me, surveying the club. "Where's Orlando?"

He smiled. "Someone said something about him having to shoot a scene tonight. Last one before they finished up for the day and everyone came here."

I nodded and sipped at the alcoholic beverage that had been handed to me. "Hey, you're the one that Orli was visiting a couple of weeks ago right?" I turned back to Dom when I heard his question and nodded again.

"Yeah, he was with me."

"So, you're the one I snapped at?" He didn't wait for an answer before apologizing. "I'm sorry about that. I had just been torn apart by a production manager for not knowing where he was. We had gotten word that there was a big storm coming in and we needed to get a move on before we were locked out of the location." He offered a weak smile as a peace offering and I patted his shoulder.

"Completely understandable. I think Orlando was madder than I was."

Dom chuckled. "Yeah, he wasn't too pleased when he got back to the set. I distinctly remember some vague threats about quitting and running off with some girl named Laura."

We bothghedghed and I fell in love instantly with Dom. I seemed to be getting along well with most of the cast. Billy was a sweetheart. I wouldn't stop making him say phrases. I had him recite the `Englishmen are wankers' speech from Trainspotting, and he obliged nicely, even though Ewan McGregor was much funnier in the movie. Sean, who had been abandoned by Viggo when Viggo had to use the bathroom, had defended his homeland, and a battle of words ensued. I'm not sure who won, but by the end, I was thinking that maybe I should have moved to France where I couldn't understand the banter.

The mood in the whole place was suddenly lightened when I heard Dominic say something about a bitch. Looking over my shoulder, I saw three figures cutting their way through the dance floor. It was Orlando, flanked by Liv and Elijah Wood. While Elijah was a striking figure (albeit short), my eyes were glued to Orli.

His outfit was wild. I loved it. He wore a red velvet suit with a white button down dress shirt. He walked through the room like he owned it, throwing words back to Elijah every couple of steps. He completely ignored Liv, who was red and fuming, instead focusing on the balcony that I was leaning against. When he caught my eye, he grinned and practically ran through the room, flying up the steps with his long legs.

Before I knew it, I was swept up in his embrace and kissed practically senseless. He smiled wickedly as he set me down, his arms still entwined around my body. Splaying his hands on my back, he dipped his head low and took a deep breath next to my neck. "Have I ever told you that I love the feel of you in my arms?" I smiled and shook my head as he kissed me again.

I heard grumbling from behind as Orli pulled away once more, this time grabbing my hand and pulling me to Elijah, who was talking with Dom and Billy. "Lij, this is Laura, Laura, this is Elijah." The beauty of the man's eyes struck me before I had any other impression. I was completely blown away, and I think that he knew it.

Reaching out and taking my hand, Elijah (or Lij as Orli had called him) shook it with a happy laugh. "Glad to meet you Laura. Orlando hasn't shut the fuck up for a month a half about you!" I blinked, and took a step back, running into Orlando. Remembering that Lij was just another one of the cast, I smiled and shook his hand back.

"I envy you, you know." Lij gave me a quizzical look. "Josh Hartnett is a hottie. I loved The Faculty!"

Laughing, he dropped my hand. "Thanks. It was a great movie to make. The funny thing is that my sister was so psyched when she found out about that role, but she wasn't that excited about Flipper!" We all laughed at that and Orlando pulled me away so I could spend a private moment with him.

"Josh Hartnett? I thought you go for Brits?" His face was a mask of disappointment and I smiled, nonplussed.

"Yeah, he's hot, but you, my dear, are Beautiful. Nothing can compare to beauty my dear, except for perhaps love and truth. Those really are the only three things that matter." My manner turned serious and I cupped his cheek with my hand.

He smiled slightly, also bringing a gentle hand to my face. "That's what I love about you Laura. You always know exactly what to say and when to say it."

I snorted in amusement. No one had EVER told me that before and I certainly didn't understand how Orlando had gotten that assumption, but I wasn't going to complain. It was a very loving, romantic thing to say.

Someone shouted Orlando's name, and we both turned, seeing Dom and Billy frantically signaling for their friend to join him. He smiled down on me. Asking permission to leave with his eyes, I slapped him on the ass. "Go. Have fun with your friends because I don't intend to let you go anywhere without me tomorrow." He laughed and jogged off, but not before giving me a kiss and a hug.

I watched him go, before I was found by Viggo and dragged off to meet some of the big wigs from the movie and introduced to the rest of the cast.

I was enjoying a nice conversation about the decline of tasteful film making in Hollywood with Mark Ordesky, an executive at New Line, when strong arms slid around my waist and someone placed a gentle kiss on my ear. "Did you miss me." I smiled as I nodded, leaning back into Orli while Mark looked on, with the expression that screamed "young love". He kissed my neck and looked up at his boss. "Can I steal her for a while? I think she needs to dance." Mark laughed and, signaling that we should proceed, nodded.

Orli's arms slipped from my waist, and he cradled one of my hands in his own as he made his way through the Lord of the Rings mob and out onto the dance floor. "World in My Eyes" by Depeche Mode was playing and I was instantly in the mood to shake some tail feathers and get down with the cute guy in front of me. He turned and instantly started to sway to the music, drawing me further and further into the crowd until all I could see on all sides were people. He caught my hands, bringing them over my head and then ran his own hands down the length of my body. I shivered, still swinging to the beat that was echoing in my heart and soul.

I shivered as he followed his hands back up with his mouth and I knew that dancing had never felt this good before. Finally stilling his busy fingers, his hands fell to my hips and he pulled me close, grinding and pulling at my body. A fire started, low in my belly as I felt the hardness against my lower half. Orli grinned wickedly as he saw my eyes dip down then slowly rise back up, drinking in the sight of his bared chest and his parted lips. Oh how I yearned to kiss those sweet lips and get swept away in his embrace. He leaned in close to my ear. "If you don't stop looking at me like that, I'll have to do something about it."

Grinning, I whispered into his ear. "Well, why don't you?"

Pulling back, he gazed into my eyes. We had both stopped dancing. "Do you know what you're saying Laura? What you're asking?" I smiled content and said yes with as much meaning as possible without sounding like a floozy.

Without another word, he turned, pulling me back towards the door. At the bar, he leaned over Sean, who was deep in conversation with a cute brunette, and asked him to let Viggo know that I was going home with him. Sean gave us an accusatory glance before shrugging and turning back to his drinking `friend'.

Leading me out of the club and into the fresh night air, he hailed a taxi and gave the man behind the wheel his address before settling us both in the back seat.

The ride to his apartment was short. Almost too short. My choice of words was running through my head. Had I said the right thing? Did I want this? Was I READY for this? Orli squeezed my hand and I turned my head. He gave me a reassuring smile. Oh, I was SO ready for this.

Climbing the steps quickly, Orlando unlocked the door of the apartment, which was conveniently across the hall from the stairwell, just as the stairwell door closed. He pushed the door open, then held a hand out for me. I trustingly placed my own hand in his and he pulled me into his darkened apartment.