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Seventeen Days of Gold Chapter 7 The day began rather normally…for a change. No fighting, no phone calls, no headaches. Apolo and I seemed to have quickly and easily changed gears. Smiles and laughter were genuine. We were no longer at each others throats, but in place of the enmity, there was other trouble brewing. I think perhaps my trepidation about going on what was more-or-less a date with Apolo tonight made me almost forget about it completely. I didn’t need this sort of challenge; I already knew how I felt about him, and I knew it was wrong. I was hoping he’d forget too. Apolo was taking a nap in his room and I sat on the bed in my room, listening to Aerosmith and taking some nail polish remover to my fingers. I had just about enough of that jagged mauve staring back at me. I could see through the open door between our suites that Apolo was beginning to stir. I continued working on my nails, acting casual, as he dragged himself out of bed and wandered out of my sight into his bathroom. He walked back over and stood in the doorway, scratching his head. “Hey…what are you doing?” He asked. I pushed off the headphones and looked up at him. Rumpled hair, rumpled t-shirt, rumpled sweatpants…that fresh out of bed look suited him well. I tried not took look at him too longingly and simply smiled. “I’m letting you rest and making my hands look normal again. What does it look like I’m doing?” “We should be getting ready for dinner, remember?” “Oh yeah…that.” I said nonchalantly, and looked back at my hands. “You still don’t want to go?” He sounded hurt. “I didn’t say that.” I replied. “I just don’t, um…I don’t know….” Oh fuck it, I’m not getting out of this one. “I don’t know what to wear.” “I made reservations at Al Forno for 7:30.” He said, smiling again. I guess swallowing my pride is worth it for one night if it makes him happy. “It’s a nice Italian restaurant downtown that I really wanted to try out.” “Well, I’m not wearing white if we’re having Italian.” I laughed. “Is it a fancy place?” “From what I heard, yeah. If you’d rather go someplace else….” “No, that’s OK.” I capped the polish remover bottle and stood up. “I can put an outfit together. I’m always prepared for those formal emergencies.” I stepped over to close the door, pausing for a moment to brush a wisp of hair away from Apolo’s eyes. He looked at me and curled his lips into a sexy grin. Despite my best efforts to play it cool, I grinned back. “You can ‘pick me up’ at 7.” I said, and closed the door. Few choices met me when I opened up the closet and pushed through the whole three suits and three long dresses I had with me. Wait, make that four dresses, I thought as I pulled out a shimmering green gown that I had picked up in my last trip to China a few months ago. Emerald green satin with matching thread pattern embroidered subtly throughout; trimmed with black satin at the mandarin collar, the three-quarter sleeves, and the hem-all the way up the side slit to mid-thigh. I chuckled to myself as I remembered the little old Chinese lady who tailored the dress to my height. When I asked her to put the slit up past my knee, I received a bit of motherly admonishing along with the frowning and head shaking. I hung the dress in the bathroom as I showered, letting the steam take the wrinkles out of the fabric. I was never much for ironing anyway. A little nervousness started to settle in my stomach as I stood in my robe, applying my makeup. I chalked it up to hunger and did my best to ignore it. I blow-dried my hair only slightly before putting on my dress. Allowing my hair to dry naturally tended to add a little more waves to the straight auburn strands. Fastening the last of the frog clips on the dress, I stood straight and smoothed the fabric out, observing myself in the mirror. I liked what I saw, but hoped it wasn’t too much. “I don’t want to kill the boy.” I thought laughingly to myself. At about the time I slipped on a pair of plain black high heels, I heard a knock at the front door of my suite. Apparently Apolo wanted to make a more formal entrance. I checked to see if it was indeed him, and then chastised him briefly for venturing out into the hallway unattended. He did not appear to be listening, but instead looking me over from head to toe, mouth slightly agape. As soon as I stopped talking and gave my eyes a chance to take him in, I suppose my expression may have been the same. He looked… well… gorgeous. Navy blue silk shirt with the top button undone, black chinos and black shoes (thank God, I was afraid he’d wear the brown ones again). His hair was moussed and nary a strand was out of place. And as always, he wore his gold necklace and ring, just the right amount of accent that was only outshone by his eyes that seemed transfixed on me. I got my senses back and smiled, leaning forward to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. He smelled like soap and cologne, Adidas I think, and I tried to keep a hold on my senses again, which once more were threatening to leave me. I shamed myself quietly for even thinking that perhaps we shouldn’t bother with the dinner formalities and head straight for--dammit, don’t even think about it. A smirk escaped me anyway. “You look great, Apolo! No wonder all the teenagers are falling all over you.” “Thanks.” He blushed. “You look pretty hot, I mean, pretty great, yourself.” “Yeah, I clean up good from time to time.” I smiled. Dang, did they turn up the thermostat again or what. I fanned myself. “What say we get going?” “Whew, uh, yeah.” Apolo played with the lapel on his shirt briefly and then straightened up, offering to take my arm in his. “I mean…shall we?” Putting on that charm again. I picked up my coat and purse and took his arm, heading out the door. “Woo! Hot stuff!” Came Rusty’s voice from down the hall, accompanied by snickering that could only be Shani. Apolo and I turned around and laughed. “You know it!” Apolo flaunted. “You boys only wish you looked this good!” I laughed heartily. “Don’t you kids stay out too late now!” Called Rusty as we walked away. Apolo just shook his head as I continued to giggle. This was as bad as being sixteen again. Scene music: "Cryin'" by Aerosmith Copyright material TMS2002 Chapter 7, pt. 2 Return to Home Back to Chapter 6, pt. 2   page created with Webpage Designer (NS)