Forever His

TITLE: Forever His ~ Truth is a Figment (5/13)
RATING: PG-13 at the moment.

Truth is a Figment


Four days later, Orlando was back in New Zealand. As he went around saying hello to the cast, he was pleased to note that everyone seemed back to being friendly to him. And they had no reason not to be – if things had gone as he’d expected, Elijah would have run to tell them all that everything was alright. Gullible kid.

As he spotted Dom and Billy, he smiled and casually approached them. “Hey guys!”

“Oh, hi Orlando.” Dom’s tone was cold – as though he was only answering to be civil.

Orlando laughed a little. “Wow, Dom, please. I missed you too, but you’re really overwhelming me.”

“It’s more than you deserve.” Dom almost trembled with anger. “Coming back here, pretending that everything’s alright.”

“But it is. Elijah apologised, I accepted it, everything goes back to normal.”

“And then you go off and imply things to his boyfriend?” Billy’s tone was only marginally warmer than Dom’s. “That doesn’t scream alright to me.”

Orlando gave Billy a confused look. “What do you mean, imply things to his boyfriend?”

“You told Josh about the kiss, only you decided to imply that – well, I don’t know what. Whatever it was couldn’t have been the truth.” Dom forced Orlando to meet his eye. “How could you?”

Orlando shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean about me implying anything. I did tell Josh about my kiss with Elijah, because I thought he needed to know.”

“That it meant more than it really did?” Elijah’s voice was quiet, but his anger was still apparent. “You thought he needed to know that there was more between us than there really is?”

Orlando shook his head as he turned to face the American, amused by the situation. “If that’s what he thinks, it’s not my fault. Maybe you should be wondering at how great he is if he’s so willing to believe that you betrayed him.”

“You could have reassured him. You could have told him that it was your fault and that I pulled away. You could have assured him that I wasn’t interested. But instead you decided to hurt him.”

Orlando raised an eyebrow. “Should I have to reassure him? Sounds like you didn’t do a very good job of it, otherwise you wouldn’t be upset with me.”

Elijah blinked, trying to register the attack. Dom and Billy instantly went to him, both looking furious about what Orlando had implied. “How dare you?” Dom snarled. “How dare you try and turn this around so that it’s Elijah’s fault?”

“It’s becoming too much of a habit,” Billy joined in. “You really need to start taking responsibility for your own actions, Orlando, because the next person you try this with might not be as forgiving as Elijah.”

“Maybe the next person I try this with will tell me they’re taken before letting me do anything.”

“You didn’t give me the chance to.” Elijah’s voice was weak, as though any fire he had for the argument had left him. “You just assumed…”

“Don’t go on the defensive, Lij.” If Elijah had lost the fire, then Dom certainly hadn’t. “This isn’t your fault, no matter how many times Orlando tries to claim that it is.”

Orlando shrugged, seemingly unaffected by what he was seeing. “You can pin this on me as much as you like. All I know is how upset Josh has seemed over the last few days.”

Elijah’s face fell at this. He glanced at Billy, as though the Scot could somehow unspeak the words that Orlando had spoken. Billy simply glared at Orlando. “He doesn’t need to hear this.”

“Come on, Elijah.” Dom moved to lead the American away. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Orlando, but you don’t need to be the target of any more.”

As he watched the trio leave, a pang of guilt crept into Orlando’s heart. Had he been too harsh? What’s so harsh? The truth? Well, maybe it wasn’t the whole truth, but he hadn’t exactly lied. If Elijah couldn’t handle it, that was his problem.


~EW~*~JH~


An hour later, Elijah and Sean were filming. Elijah was thankful that the scene they were doing was quite an angsty one, because he didn’t think he could handle much else. All he could think of was the fact that Josh was upset with him

As he missed his fifth cue of the hour, Elijah heard Peter’s frustrated sigh. Mentally kicking himself, he turned to face the director. “Sorry, Peter.”

Peter gave Elijah a sympathetic look. “Is everything alright, Elijah? It’s not like you to miss so many cues.”

Elijah glanced down. “I wish I could tell you that I’m fine. But I’m starting to forget what that even feels like.”

Sean moved to wrap a consoling arm around his young co-star. “Dom and Billy are right, Lij. You shouldn’t beat yourself up over this. I told you, Josh will realise who’s being honest with him.”

Peter moved towards the pair. “Do you want to take a short break, Elijah? I know we have a schedule to keep, but I’d rather you take half an hour out and get yourself together than waste another hour because something’s stopping you from focussing.”

Elijah looked up, gratitude bright in his eyes. “Thanks, Peter. I promise, when I come back I’ll concentrate.”

As he led Elijah away, Sean gave his fellow American a concerned look. “You should just phone him and talk to him. Just explain everything, now he’s had a chance to calm down.”

Elijah shook his head. “I can’t, Sean. I couldn’t bear it if I found out that he hates me.”

As he said this, his phone began to ring. The teenager gave Sean a terrified look. “What if it’s…?”

“Then you’ll know things will be fine. Answer it.”

Hesitantly, Elijah did as he was told. It was only a slight relief to learn that the person phoning was Clea.

“Hey, Lij. I’ve just got off the phone to Josh, and he seemed pretty upset.”

Elijah found tears lacing his voice even at hearing just that. “I’ve been so stupid, Clea. I should have told him before Orlando got the chance to. Maybe then he couldn’t have used it against us.”

“Okay, Lij, slow down. What could you have possibly done that Orlando could use against you?”

“I let him kiss me. And now Josh thinks I wanted him to.”

“Because Orlando told him as much? Have you tried explaining to him?”

“As soon as he asked me about it. I don’t know if he believed me, though.”

“Well if he didn’t, he’s an idiot.” Clea’s voice was full of concern. “But you don’t sound too happy yourself.”

The tears were rolling down his cheeks before Elijah could help it. “I wish you were still out here. I wish both of you were out here.”

Clea was clearly affected by the tone of his voice. “Sweetie, I wish we could be out there with you too. Listen, do you have a break in schedule soon?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“Well if you do get a chance soon, come and see me. I’ve got a new film that starts production in about a month, but any time before that I’m free.”

Elijah nodded, even though he knew she couldn’t see him. “Thanks, Clea. I…I’ll let you know.”

“Alright. Listen, I’d better let you get back to whatever it is you’re meant to be doing. Just remember what I said, let me know when you’re free and I’ll be ready and waiting for you.”

“Okay. Bye Clea.”

Sean glanced at Elijah as he hung up. “It’s in about a week. They’re focusing on scenes with the minor Elves, so you’ll be abl go. go.”

Elijah bit his lip. “Are you sure?”

Sean nodded. “You need the break, Lij.”

Elijah risked a small smile. “Thanks, Sean. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”


~EW~*~JH~


Orlando only stayed for a couple of days before he had to go back and do more filming for Black Hawk Down. Elijah wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad – on the one hand, it meant that he didn’t have to see the Brit. On the other hand, it meant that Josh did.

The night after Orlando had left again, Dom and Billy persuaded Elijah to go out drinking with them. He had agreed, on the grounds that it seemed better than sitting in his room alone and worrying about what Orlando would say next.

As it happened, the night had entailed sitting in Dom’s room, getting more and more drunk as Dom and Billy tried their hardest to distract him from his dark thoughts. And it worked, or at least it seemed to work more the drunker he got.

In fact, he was so drunk that he didn’t even notice that his phone was ringing until Billy had pointed it out. Trying to com him himself, he pressed the button to take the call. “Hello?”

“Hey, Lijah. It’s me, Josh.”

“Josh?” Elijah felt himselfer uer up almost immediately. “I thought you weren’t speaking to me.”

“Yeah, well…Clea keeps nagging me to talk to you, so I thought maybe she had a point.”

The relief in Elijah’s voice was all too apparent. “Then…you believe me that the kiss wasn’t my fault?”

“I’m still wondering why Orlando felt he could kiss you, but I believe that you stopped him.” Josh’s voice sounded apprehensive.

Elijah moved to lie back, forgetting in his relief that he was not alone. “I’m glad, Josh. I didn’t want you to -”

“Ow!”

At Dom’s voice, Josh’s tone became accusing again. “Who was that?”

“Just Dom. I didn’t realise he was there.” Elijah mouthed an apology to his friend as he shifted to get comfortable.

“I see.” There was a definite edge to the voice at the other end of the phone. “Is Billy there as well?”

“Yeah, why? We’re not doing anything.” The alcohol was making Elijah more confident than he usually was.

The confidence wasn’t to last. “I’ll bet. Is that why they’re so protective of you?”

Elijah felt his previous relief slip away. “What? Josh, I…Dom and Billy are just friends. That’s all.”

“Well in that case, I’d better let you get back to them. I’m sure they don’t want to hear your excuses all night – I know I don’t.”

Once again, Elijah was left with a dial tone as Josh hung up on him. His eyes locked with Billy’s as tears started to cloud his vision. He was vaguely aware of Dom sitting up beside him, but was too upset to even turn and face him.

The anger in Dom’s eyes burned brightly as he exchanged glances with Billy. “He’s getting out of hand. Someone needs to talk some sense into him.”

“We should talk to Viggo,” Billy suggested. “He seems to be able to reason with Orlando.”

“Only if he’s telling Orlando what he wants to hear.” Dom didn’t sound convinced. “Otherwise he’s as open to the Bloom temper as the rest of us.”

Elijah finally turned to Bri Brit sat next to him. “Why is he doing this to me…to him?”

Dom sighed. “Because he’s a spoilt drama-school brat, that’s why. He’s obviously used to getting his own way, and now that he isn’t he’s deciding to throw a tantrum.”

“I’d have to go with his theory,” Billy conceded. “Especially if it’s making Josh blind to the fact that you’re caring more about him than yourself through this.”

Elijah was about to reply when there was a gentle tap at the door. Dom stood to answer it and stood back almost immediately to let Clea and Sean through.

Clea instantly moved to embrace Elijah. “I couldn’t hold out on seeing you. Not after the phone call. And by the looks of it, I got here just in time.”

Elijah finally allowed the build-up of tears to spill over. “I’d never cheat on him, Clea. Why is he so keen to believe that I would?”

Clea gave Dom a confused look. It was Billy who answered first, though. “Josh seems to think there’s something going on with the three of us.”

“I only came here to try and forget.” It seemed to Elijah that a lot of what he said these days was a form of apology.

Sean moved further into the room. “But somehow Orlando’s managed to convince him that it’s something more?”

Clea scowled as she reached for her phone. “It’s about time someone put that boy straight.”

“Clea, please!” Elijah reached to stop her hand. “There’s no point. He won’t listen.”

Clea nodded, her hand closing around the one that had stopped her. “You’re probably right. Not tonight, anyway. But you should get some sleep.”

Dom nodded. “I think we could all do with it. Busy day tomorrow.”

Elijah allowed Clea to help him stand. “I’m sorry,” he offered.

“You have nothing to apologise for,” Billy soothed. “Stopng sng so willing to take the blame for things that aren’t your fault.”

Clea gave the Scot a grateful smile. “I tell him that all the time. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”

As Elijah left the room, flanked by Clea and Sean, Dom turned to the man who had become his best friend. “Orlando’s going to have a lot to answer for when he gets back.”