Amsterdam.

The museum had been fantastic; they all had enjoyed the paintings. Curiously enough, people had respected their privacy; so no posing for pictures for once. Being anonymous was a rare thing, these days.

Orlando was downstairs; busy checking things out for their fieldtrip, he felt responsible. Billy was making a grocery-list at “HQ”, cause they probably would leave before the supermarket would open, escaping from the invading, orange troops.

When Billy and Lij returned from the shop, they found Dom and Orlando laughing their asses off at some weird techno-video where two posh ladies in pearls where smacking the bottoms of random people that where lying on their laps. Dom neighed like an idiot and Orli had tears in his eyes from laughter.
“Oh my God! You’re acting like you’re stoned or something!” Lij giggled. Orlando was wiping the tears from his eyes, still snickering at the screen. “You know, that wouldn’t even be such a bad idea…”
“What wouldn’t?”
“You know, getting high.”
Elijah grinned.

The coffeeshop they chose, had a friendly atmosphere, not at all like Elijah had imagined. He and Orlando where studying a sign that listed all the pre-rolled joints and their prices. “Which ones should we take? There are so many different varieties…”
“Maybe I can help you out.” The owner quickly pinched his jolly eyes and opened them again. “Newbies?”
“Yes sir”, Orlando replied politely.

“Ich bin mal gespannt.” Dom was examining the joints, sniffing at one.
“Not yet, Dommie. We’re going out for dinner first.” Billy smiled at Dom’s enthusiasm. Dom acting like a child in a candy-store. He was so silly. And so sexy. Billy tried to get that thought out of his head, but didn’t succeed. Mainly because he didn’t want it to.

They dined at an excellent Chinese restaurant, where the only downer had been the awful bloody “mood-enhancing” music. But that didn’t stop them from having a great time; joking around with the waiter and playing the fool.

When they walked to the hotel, they noticed several people sitting on the pavements that were marked with lines made with chalk. To their sides there were carts that were covered with groundets.ets. In the carts? They had no idea. Weird little people.

The owner of the coffeeshop had advised to smoke only half a joint a person, cause neither of them had done it before. Elijah took out his lighter and clipped it open. The way he lit it betrayed that he smoked frequently. He cautiously inhaled and gave his joint to Orlando. Then he gave his lighter to Dom; he and Billy were sharing the other one. Dom drew a little bit bolder then Lij had done, but managed to refrain from coughing anyway. The air was filling with a sweet scent and bluey smoke. Billy looked at Dom’s lips and repressed the strong urge to lick them. Even the way that man exhaled was.
.

After a while of smoking, Billy slowly began to feel pleasantly light in his head and smiled. Dom turned the telly on in search for more idiot videos. Instead, he found an oldie of A-Ha. Apparently, he liked it enough to leave it on.

“There's no end to the lengths I'll go to…”

“Isn’t there?” Billy wondered silently. He took another draw. He heard his blood rushing in his ears and it was just like everything looked a bit different tonight.

“Do you know what it means to love you... “

Guess not. He looked at Dom, who was staring intense at the flickering screen. Orlando and Lij were having an attack of the giggles.

“Hungry for you,
Watch me tearing myself to pieces,
Hunting high and low...”

The lyrics were becoming too much for him and so he handed his joint to Dom, who was now stroking the screen with his index finger. “Here Dom, I’m going to bed, you finish the rest, m’kay?” Dom looked up slowly and took a draw. “You’re leaving me?” he asked. Billy’s eyes widened for just a second. Then he resumed to his normal expression. Well, at least what he thought was his normal expression, as he looked stoned, clearly. “Early day tomorrow. Hey, Orlando?”
The giggling stopped. “How early do you want to have us ready tomorrow-morning?”
“We’ll be leaving at six.” Hearing this, Elijah almost choked in his smoke. Orlando laughed. “Chicks can’t hold their smoke!”

Billy was in bed for only a few minutes, when the connecting door slowly opened. “Billy…” Dom whispered. “Are you asleep yet?”
“No, what’s up?” No instant reply; instead Dom walked over in his boxers to his bed and climbed in.
“Got room for one more?” Surprise overwhelmed Billy. “Yeah, but…”
“Good, I’m feeling a bit lonely tonight.” Dom’s voice sounded a little deeper then usual. “Sleep tight.”
Billy felt an arm clinging round his waist and felt confused, staring into the night until his green eyes finally closed.