His flight was in three hours. His flight to New Zealand, his home to be for the next eighteen months. And Kate, his long course girlfriend, now ex girlfriend, wasn't going to follow him at all. Not even to greet him before he took his plane.

It was over.

After all those years together, she just dumped him and went away without turning back. Without shedding a single tear. Dave didn't know if he was actually still in love with her, he didn't know if the feeling that bound them was love or a deep affection. Certain was that her presence was something he had grew almost addicted to, and he had always thought that it was the same for her. He had thought.

During their years together they had never had overly passionate outbursts, nor furious fights. Their relationship had always flowed plain and quiet, maybe boring, but nonetheless it was something they both needed, something they had grown accustomed to. And thus..

Thus he was feeling lost. Nothing more, nothing less. Lost.

And hating that new project, already hating the damn movies that had caused them to split miserably. Kate was probably right. Eighteen months were a long period indeed but what the hell, there were planes, there were holidays, there were many chances to see each other anyway. They would have not been going to be actually parted for eighteen blasted months anyway, right?

It didn't matter anymore, as he was fumbling into the wardrobe and throwing random clothes onto the bed, the empty suitcases waiting on the ground. Suitcases soon jammed carelessly with said random clothes, in between deep sighs and occasional curses. And then he was in the bathroom picking toothbrush, toothpaste, shaver. Then again in the bedroom to grab passport and suitcases. Was he forgetting anything?

"Who the hell cares."

Fiona checked again her ticket, to see if it was actually her seat.

Once sure of that, she settled her purse and jacket and sat down, glancing outside of the minuscule window, euphoric for that new work.

It was almost a dream come true. When Peter had called her, Fiona had laughed out loudly, sure that it has to be one of her friends having fun on her. But it was all true.

The morning later had arrived a script and a letter. The sender was Peter Jackson.

She was asked to work as third director in his new film. It was a transposition of Tolkien's trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, to be filmed in eighteen months in New Zealand.

The first thing she had done when she had finished reading the letter was jump around as a fool, screaming happily and hugging tight Lizzie, her lithe black and white cat. Then it had been the phone calls turn. Her mother. Her sister. Her best friend.

No. She hadn't a boyfriend. Her life was that of a single happy thirty-year-old person, perfectly fine just with her friends and her cat.

Half an hour later, Fiona had called the production, to accept their proposal. Thus she had called her mother again, asking her if she could take care of Lizzie during her absence. Of course, she could.

And now she was there, on that plane, ready to start working and meet famous actors, and her favourite director.

It was just some minutes later that she was snapped out of her reverie when someone sat near to her. No, it couldn't be possible.

She had recognized him in a split of second, for he was Australian, like her. A very famous actor in her country.

David Wenham.

He didn't seem all that cheerful. He placed his handbag right in the empty seat between them even before he had actually sat down, and greeted the other with a mere nod without really seeing her.

Kate. Kate, Kate, Kate, all he was able to think about.

He was going to have much work to do, he couldn't afford to get distracted like that. He had to be set and concentrated on his task. Yes. Jackson wasn't going to regret his decision to choose him for an important character like Faramir.

Possibly.

Who was he trying to fool? To say that he was depressed was a merry euphemism. And he was also pretty sure to look like shit in that moment, hair uncombed and clothes crumpled, a dumb expression painted on his face. Good for a start, if they just wouldn't send him back home after the first couple of days. What a wondrous Faramir he was going to be..

From her side, Fiona was looking resentfully at him. So famous and even so boor.

It wasn't good as a start. She had had the fortune to meet a famous actor, sitting at his side for the whole flight, and had to deal with his rudeness. It simply wasn't fair.

Sighing, she fastened her seatbelt, looking at the sky while the plain was decollating, smiling at herself, despite the fact that she had been disappointed by David Wenham.

But... oh who gave a fuck about him! She was going to meet plenty of famous and handsome actors, and it was improbable that this one was going to work with her.

During the flight, she glanced at him now and then. He seemed upset, maybe depressed, for he had been watching absentmindedly a newspaper all the time, without ever turn to look at her.

To ask for an autograph wasn't surely a good idea, and Fiona soon decided that even if he looked sexy as hell, he was too rough to deal with.

Relaxing on her seat, the girl closed her eyes, trying to sleep.

And she woke up just when the hostess gently called at her, telling to fasten her seatbelt, for they were going to land.

Once on the solid ground David just took his baggage and hurried to dismount, deciding that he'd had enough to sit there idle and bored.

Minutes later he had taken his suitcases and was heading to the exit, knowing that there might have been someone awaiting to drive him to his accommodation, and just hoping that whoever it was he would have recognized him.

"Mr. Wenham?" just then a young, dark-haired man called, waving as he walked towards him. He was in company of another man, older and spectacled, with a kind expression on his face.

"I am Rick Porras, producer. Very pleased to meet you." the young man said then, shaking David's hand warmly, and grinning as he pointed to the other man. "This is Barry Osborne, another of my kind."

"Much pleased to know you both." David replied, hinting a smile as he shook Osborne's hand too. "Are we set and ready, then?"

"Oh, we're waiting for someone else too. She was on your same flight, so she should arrive at any moment now."

"I see."

"There she is." Rick smiled, waving at the approaching woman in order to gain her attention. "Miss Atkins! We're to take you away with us, I hope you don't mind."

"Good morning" Fiona smiled warmly, shaking his hand. "Rick, I suppose. I'm very pleased to finally meet you".

In the meanwhile she was trying to hide the fact that she wasn't pleased at all to see David Wenham there. Of all things, to deal with a rough and haughty actor was something she hated.

"My pleasure." Rick smiled back, and then shifted his gaze to David. "I don't know if you two already know each other. Anyway this is David Wenham, our Faramir."

At those words the actor hinted another small smile, and offered his hand to her.

"Honoured."

You've been sitting at my side for hours and you've neither noticed me, you bugger!

That was the first thing she would have screamed at him, but somehow she managed to smile politely.

"Nice to meet you" she just said, slightly shaking his hand. "Well, if it's all I suggest to go, I'm craving to have a shower..."

During the drive to the location, David found out for himself why they didn't have a car radio. Porras was no doubt a chatterbox, barely stopping now and then to breathe. He was saying something about the filming, then the next moment he was talking about his fellow workers. Then he was beginning to list all of the various appointments set for the day after, but stopped abruptly to recount the actors that were yet to arrive.

Needless to say that a few minutes after David wasn't listening to him anymore. And it took a while for him to realize that Porras had just asked something to him.

"I beg you pardon?"

"I said if you're fine with settling in a trailer or would rather sleep in some hotel."

"Oh, I'll be perfectly fine with the trailer, thank you." David replied quietly, smiling back at the man who was glancing at him through the rear-view mirror now and then. "I don't usually have excessive pretensions."

"Well" Rick chuckled, seemingly a little more at ease with him. "You can never know with actors. I've handled many, and you're usually not the easiest class to deal with."

"Sometimes. But trust me if I say that I'm a quite plain person."

"I have no reason to doubt that."

"Good for a start."

Fiona dangerously raised an eyebrow at such words, shaking her head and eyeing David before to turn again at the car window.

No excessive pretensions. He was just a right bastard with other people, especially his fans.

Yeah, actors were quite a strange class, so haughty and ready to believe that the whole world turned around them. She had learned to deal with them, but this particular one was way more strange than anyone else she had dealt with.

To begin, Fiona had immediately noticed that he was upset and sad. Then other things had begun clear to her eyes.

David was weary to be there. Weary to listen to them. A lonely wolf, maybe. Or simply an arrogant hunk, she couldn't quite figure it out.

But she was sure that he didn't want any kind of company. And even more sure that she wasn't willing to give him a hint of friendship.

"We're almost there" the chatterbox announced minutes later. "Peter is there waiting for you both. But I think he'll be more likely to have just a quick word with you now, so that you'll be able to settle your things and rest for a while. You must be weary indeed."

David nodded, turning for a moment to look at Fiona, who was sitting next to him. He said nothing to her, though, and merely hinted a smile before to turn again and glance at the road in front of them.

"I am indeed, and I think I need a shower quite badly. Is there one in my trailer?"

"Of course there is one. We have also some public washrooms, but they're meant for the crew."

Once arrived, Peter Jackson meet them in what seemed a great refectory, almost deserted for probably the others were still to arrive.

The director was very kind, and while one of the assistants led her to her trailer, Fiona couldn’t help but remember his previous words.

Fiona had studied Peter with great attention. Sure, it was an honour to work with him. He had a magnetic personality and was enthusiastic of his project. And has she had learnt, to believe in what you’re doing is the most important element for your success.

The trailer wasn’t little, at all. She had thought that they would have spared the biggest ones for the actors, but it seemed that Peter wasn’t willing to create differences between the crew.

She had even caught a glimpse of David, he had had the trailer at the other side of the street. They were to live face to face.

Inside of the trailer there was a little kitchen and a big counter, alongside with a table and four chairs.

Setting down her baggage, Fiona walked around to see the place where she was going to live for eighteen months.

The bedroom was almost huge for a trailer. To compensate that, the bathroom was reduced to a little square were toilet, lavatory, tub and shower were placed one against the other, to save some space.

To her surprise, there was even a little lounge with a couch and a television.

Good. At least her home was reasonable.

Fiona settled all of her things and had an hot shower before to throw herself on the bed.

Strangely enough, her mind always went back to David Wenham. It was as if she couldn’t help but think at him.

And she drifted to sleep asking to herself why was he so sad and rough.

Early the next morning David was stepping out of his trailer, silently thanking his foresight for he had slipped on a sweater instead than just a shirt. It was freakin' cold, to say the least. He scanned the surroundings for some moments before he put on his sunglasses, scuffing through trailers and small prefabricated buildings, until at last he spotted the Café Jackson was referring to the day before, not so distant from their encampment.

To his surprise, he noticed that the only person in there, aside from the waiters, was the girl he'd met the day before. The one who was on his same plane.

What was her name again? Oh yes. Fiona. Fiona's the name, he said to himself, as he walked quietly to the table, halting just in front of her. He took off his sunglasses, flashing a half smile to said girl, but didn't sit down yet.

"Good morning," he said, "Would you mind some company?"

A baffled Fiona raised he eyes from the newspaper she was absent-mindedly browsing, looking at the man in front of her.

He was gorgeous, no doubt. And one of her favourite Australian actors.

Maybe today he felt somewhat better, or at least a little bit friendly.

"Sure, have a sit" she heard herself say, admiring his beautiful features and his pale blue eyes.

Clearing her throat, even if there was no need to do it, the girl hinted a smile, desperately trying not to act as a teenager.

David smiled back as he sat down in front of her, setting both his sunglasses and his cellular telephone on the table as he did so.

"I thought I was the only one already awake" he said then, flashing her another glance as he reached for the menu. "The camp is yet deserted."

"I just couldn't sleep" she then confessed, sighing softly. "I'm nervous for that job, maybe. I miss my cat, and there's a damn cold outside there. It was no use to remain into that trailer, and that's why I came here..."

"I see" he nodded, lifting his eyes from the piece of paper he was holding in his hands. "I couldn't sleep, either. I'm most probably too tense and downhearted these days, to be able to get some decent sleep."

Realizing that he'd gone too far he cleared his throat, forcing a smile and changing the subject at once. "Have you ordered already?"

"No, not yet" Fiona smiled softly.

Then she leaned on her chair and looked steadily into his eyes.

"I've noticed from the beginning that you were downhearted. From the plane, I think. It's quite clear, I must say that".

David shrugged a bit at her words, glancing at the menu without really seeing it, until his eyes met her green ones again. "Shit happens to anyone, I suppose." he said with a small grin, and handed her the piece of paper. "Choose. I think I'll decide upon a cappuccino or something."

"I'll have a coffee and a muffin" she smiled after a look at the menu.

He wasn't that bad today. Fiona was almost happy that he had decided to sit at her table.

"So, Mr Wenham. Are you happy about that project?"

"Do not call me that" he said gently, "Please. I am just David, or Dave, whatever suits you."

It was just then that a waitress neared them, smiling, pen and notebook in hand. "Do you wish to order?"

"Mmm yeah" David replied, nodding and hinting a smile. "We'll have a coffee, a cappuccino and two muffins. Apple and cinnamon for me."

"Very well" the young girl mumbled, scribbling down on her notebook. "An apple cinnamon and a plain muffin?"

"Yes, thank you" Fiona smiled, looking at her while she was nearing the counter. Then she smiled at Dave, again.

"Well, well, well. So, Dave. What is upsetting you? Sometimes it helps to talk about it... and I swear I'll never spread Rumors about it..." she grinned mischievously, winking at him.

"I've just been dumped." he replied plainly, staring straight at her. "After.. say.. eleven years, or something like that. And I wasn't expecting it, so.. I suppose that's why it has really knocked me down. Whatever."

"Eleven years?" Fiona asked, bewildered, propping on her elbows and leaning towards him, suddenly understanding his previous behaviour.

"I'm sorry, Dave... I'm so sorry... I must confess you that I had thought you were haughty but now... now I can well understand you. I've been dumped after four years and I've been like shit for a long time. So I can only imagine how do you feel... Damn...eleven years..."

"Yeah, eleven years. More or less." he confirmed, thanking the waitress when she settled their breakfast over the table, and following her with his gaze as she walked away. He took a sip of his cappuccino then, and sighed when his eyes lifted to gaze at Fiona.

"I think we had become almost addicted to each other's presence, after so long time." he continued, "She wasn't happy about me being away from home for all this time, and we've had quite a rough and tumble just when I was about to prepare my things to leave. My plane was in a few hours, I couldn't just ring Jackson and tell him that I wasn't going to leave because of my troubles with Kate."

"But maybe she will think about it" Fiona tried to reassure him, nibbling at her muffin.

That woman should be mad. To leave her boyfriend after eleven years just because he was going to work away from home.

"Why didn't she follow you? She could have come there with you. The guys told me that Sean Bean is going to come with his girlfriend..."

"God knows." he shrugged, smiling bitterly. "Most probably she just cares much less than I thought. And she has her own damn job to care about. Right now I'm just glad for I've never asked her to marry me."

He quickly averted his gaze then, reaching for his muffin, and said nothing else. He did his best to eat it anyway, despite in that moment he wasn't hungry at all.

Fiona noticed this change and sighed softly, telling nothing more, pretending to be busy with her breakfast.

Yes, she didn't care. One can't just send her boyfriend away after all those years without even trying to solve her problems.

And Dave was even more upset that he was showing. But she didn't know him enough to decide if push it further or just shut up.

Glancing at her now and then, he somehow managed to eat all the muffin, and after another swig of his cappuccino he propped on his elbows over the table, looking curiously at her.

"What about you? Is there just your cat to wait for you at home?"

"Yes, Lizzie" Fiona smiled, thinking that indeed she missed her little cat.

"My family, and my best friend. No boyfriends from...some years I would say. From when Mark left me I've hardly believed a single word when men asked me out. It's some sort of preservation I would say. But I'm happy where I am..."

"One can be perfectly content on his own" David agreed solemnly, nodding. "I'm slowly coming to believe that it could be even better than being with someone else.. you know, less troubles. Less worries, no fights at all, all the freedom you need. Sounds good, now doesn't it?"

"It's good to me" Fiona agreed. "I live on my own, I go out when I want to do it. No fights. No depressing evenings looking at the phone and hoping that he would call me back... You just have to... find your way. After a so long time you have to relearn to live alone. It will not be easy, but... we'll work together for eighteen months. So whenever you'll need someone to talk to... I'm right at the other side of the street. You can call me when you want to, ok?"

"I sure will" David smiled, staring intently at her. A nice surprise, indeed. He would have never thought that she could be so kind and well disposed towards him, who was in fact a little bit more than a stranger to her.

"And the same goes for you, you know where you can find me. Just in case."

"All right" she grinned, putting down her cup of coffee. "Now, famous actor, how were you planning to spend the day? I don't know...I think would rather prefer to avoid spend all my day boring to death confined in that trailer..."

"I do second that thought." he replied, smirking. "I just fear that they'll have to measure me before we'll have the chance to go anywhere.. measure me for the costume, you know. So if you could just bore yourself to death for half an hour or so, we'd have the rest of the day just for us."

"Deal" she grinned then, glad that he had accepted to spend some time with her.

She was missing her home and friends, and she was in New Zealand from less than twenty-four hours. Not good as a start.

At least she had found Dave, revaluing him after that pleasurable chat, and they were to be alone at least until the end of the week.

"I'll wait for you in my trailer. But where do you want to go?"

David shrugged as he stood, leaving enough money on the small table to pay for both, and nodded towards the exit.

"Quite frankly, I have no idea." he said then, "I don't know the place.. but there must be something to do around here, right? We can hire a car and wander about. I don't know. Why don't you suggest, hmm?" he asked amusedly, crossing his arms across the chest and glancing at her as they walked towards the camp.

"Me?" she asked, puzzled. Usually men were the ones that loved to be in charge. Another point for Dave.

"I don't know, I've never been there, but we have the whole week to explore the surroundings. Then when the others will arrive I suppose you'll spend your time with them, so let's hire that car, I'm willing to take what I can, now that I have you all for myself" Fiona grinned mischievously, winking at Dave.

"Oh geez.. wow" he grinned back, staring at her somehow surprised, an eyebrow arched. "Have I suddenly become some sort of prize now? I have my reasons to believe that you yet don't know me enough.. otherwise you would be running away from me as fast as you could.." he chuckled, nearing her mischievously. Forgetting all of his troubles for a while. Just being Dave. "..screaming for help and begging to be saved from that wicked creature by the name of David Wenham.. kinda scary, isn't it?"

"If I were you I would be scared to be with the terrible Fiona Atkinson, Mr Wenham" the girl grinned back, amused beyond any reason by his behaviour. But overall she was just glad to see him happy again.

"And you're not a prize. It's just that you are my favourite Australian actor, so now that I have the possibility to fulfil my secret dream to be with you...well it would be better take advantage of your presence here!"

"Hmm." David nodded, a kind smile on his face as they entered the camp, now alive and teeming. "Then I promise that after the measurement business I'll be all yours today. You'll be begging for respite before sunset, guaranteed." he chuckled, and just then a young woman neared them, obviously a tailor for she was carrying some elven costumes and cloaks, not without some obvious effort.

"Mr. Wenham--" she began politely, doing her best to seize a dress that was threatening to slip away from her grasp. David was quicker, though, and somehow managed to catch said garment before it hit the ground and ended up in the mud.

"Thank you.. before the wicked dress got in the way I was trying to say that they're waiting for you. Will you follow me?"

"Of course." David nodded, flashing a glance and a smile at Fiona and then nearing the girl to take some of the dresses from her arms. "Let me help then."

"Oh no, there is no need.. I can manage--"

"Nonsense" he replied, and looked at the other girl again once he'd braced himself and the quite heavy dresses. "Wait for me in your trailer. I'll be there in no time at all."

"See you later" she smiled, nodding and looking as they walked away.

Sighing softly, Fiona headed to her trailer, fumbling in her pocket for the key, and once inside she immediately turned on her portable computer, connecting to the internet and checking her e-mail, while slipping off her shoes.

Writing a letter to her best friend, she recollected her thoughts about Dave. Haughty and rough the day before, and nice and funny that morning. She really hoped he would not change again, for indeed it was a dream come true. Maybe he would have laughed at her, but it was not an ordinary thing to have a breakfast with your favourite actor. And more he seemed even happy to spend some time with her. It must be her lucky day.

Nearly an hour later David knocked at her door. He was sipping some coffee from a paper cup, sunglasses set smartly over his head and a mischievous expression painted all over his features. When she opened he smirked wordlessly, dangling in front of her the keys of their rented car.

"You've already rented it" she chuckled, grasping her purse and her sunglasses before to look at him again.

"Do you want to sit inside for a while or do you prefer to go and try our car?"

"Mmm." he mumbled pensively, tilting his head to the side to peep inside the trailer. It seemed much similar to his own. And thus dangerous. Very dangerous, to sit with a beautiful woman in such a confined place.

"I'd say to go and try our car" he said casually then, looking at her again and smiling. "Will you let me drive?"

"Of course" she smiled, closing the door at her back and walking at his side to the car, sitting in the passenger seat.

While fastening her seatbelt, Fiona glanced again at Dave, sighing softly.

"So, my captain. Where are you planning to take me?"

"Wherever the road will take us." he said with a smile, turning to look at her. "Let's make a deal. Since I'm the one who drives, you will tell me which way I must go. And you will drive on our way back. It sounds pretty fair to me."

"Deal" she grinned again, her eyes lingering into his.

It was almost midnight when Dave accompanied her to the trailer.

They had spent a beautiful and funny day together, learning about each other. Laughing as fools for the whole day.

Dave had been really a surprise to Fiona, for she had never met someone so smart as he was. That Kate had lost a great man, indeed.

Once outside of her trailer, she finally looked at him, hinting a smile.

"It's been good. We should do it again, sometimes..."

"Yeah, we really should." he agreed, smiling a little awkwardly in return, arms folded across the chest.

What then? Say goodbye, turn around and walk away, he said to himself, that's what you should do. But he didn't. He just remained still, looking at her with that dumb expression and what could only be defined a silly grin on his face.

"Well, so.." he muttered uneasily, stopping in order to clear his throat. "I will see you tomorrow."

"Yes... see you tomorrow" she agreed, nearing him and brushing her lips on his right cheek. It felt wonderful to feel him so near. To be able to smell his scent and sense his warmth through the light fabric of his shirt.

"I'm there if you'll decide to have a walk or something..."

"Yeah, okay." he replied softly, without actually realizing that he was in fact staring at her, and quite patently. "Stop by at my place if you want, when you exit to have breakfast tomorrow morning.. I like your company."

"I like your company, too" she smiled softly, returning the intense stare.

What was she supposed to do now? She had invited him in that morning, but he had been somewhat upset, so maybe it wasn't a good idea, at all. It just felt so damned good to be there with him, that she wasn't willing to let him go. Not yet.

"That's a good thing." he said, returning the smile. And then searching for something, anything to say, for otherwise she would have expected him to leave. What was the point in just standing there like an idiot to look at her? He didn't mind at all, to say the truth, but neither he did want her to rate him as some sort of sexual maniac ready to jump on her at any moment.

"I--" he began, surprising even himself when he suddenly realized that in fact he was craving to kiss her. And fearing that it was plainly written in his eyes, he had to thank the darkness for she wouldn't have probably been able to notice it. He tried to reassure himself by thinking that he was just looking for some kind of comfort. Yes. It was just because of Kate. Wasn't it?

"I should go.." he eventually whispered, though without real conviction, blue eyes unwavering.

"Yes..." she just murmured, raising an hand to touch his face, sighing softly and shifting it at the last moment to pat his shoulder in a friendly gesture. He was not ready. It was clear that he was just searching for some fun, and she wasn't that kind of girl. Not even for someone like him.

"See ya..." Fiona whispered again, finally breaking the eye contact and entering the trailer, closing the door and resting her back against it.

They would have ended making something they would have regretted, ruining what could have been a beautiful friendship.

And she didn't want troubles with her job just because she hadn't been able to take her panties on.

It had been the right thing to do, even if her body was yearning for Dave.

He stared blankly at the closed door for some moments, sighing with a mixture of regret and relief before to turn around slowly, unhurriedly, and walk to the other side of the street.

As he'd foreseen, David was able to sleep just a few hours that night, and the sun had yet to rise when he awoke, eyes open wide and staring at the ceiling of the trailer without really seeing it. After some minutes he eventually decided to get his lazy bottom out of the bed, and headed to the small bathroom for a shower, a very long shower. He just stood there for a while, eyes closed and unmoving as he tried to recollect his thoughts, until he actually ran out of hot water.

When Fiona woke up next morning, her watch told her it was almost ten.

Yawning lazily, the girl lingered in bed for a while, relishing the warmth of her blankets, and leaving them somewhat reluctantly.

Turning on the bathroom's lights, she started the shower, slipping out of her pyjamas and then under the water.

The shower helped her to wake up completely, and remember what had happened the night before. Or better. What hadn't happened.

David Wenham, the sexy hunk, the one who had spent a whole, fantastic day with her, had been willing to kiss her.

And she had just turned and walked away. Was it right to lust after a colleague? No. At all.

For he was still in love with Kate. And the moment in which she would have called him back, Fiona would have been dumped.

Not something pleasurable.

Once dressed up in a pair of torn blue jeans and a tight black shirt, the girl exited her trailer, merely glancing at Dave's.

The curtains were still closed. Maybe he was sleeping.

Not wanting to wake him up, the girl just walked away, to the café.

David was there. Standing in front of the counter with some guys of the crew, sipping a coffee and occasionally joining the conversation, dressed with some faded jeans and a casual shirt patterned with light blue squares, blond hair uncombed as usual.

When the door of the café opened he turned his head, fighting the urge to lower his eyes when he saw who it was. He hinted a smile instead. A kind, typically Dave smile.

"Good morning."

"'morning" the girl replied, forcing a smile, sensing all too well his discomfort. Passing past him, she took hold of a magazine on the counter and sat down in the farthest corner of the café, putting down her purse and sunglasses.

A moment later she feigned to be engrossed in what seemed an article about men, while her head was instead swirling with a thousand of different thoughts.

She had to rent a car. Then she would have driven away, spending the whole day out, hoping that the others would arrive soon.

For the situation was not so pleasurable and that feeling of awkwardness between them was enough to make her think that maybe the day before it had been wrong to go out with him.

Mentally wishing him happiness with his girlfriend, Fiona couldn't help but hint a smile, thinking with relief that they hadn't shared neither a kiss. And it was good. Otherwise she would have felt even worse.

Doing his best not to look at her David finished his coffee, pondering about what had occurred between them the day before, cursing his damned shyness all the while. He had not even been able to greet her properly. And why? Because he had been thinking about her almost all night, comparing her to Kate, thinking over and over again to the way it felt to have her so close, so close that he had almost kissed her. Almost.

When one of the guys called him he actually didn't hear at first, too absorbed in such thoughts to pay any attention to worldly details. The second call, though, managed to shake him from his reverie.

"Dave?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you comin' with us?"

He had to think for a moment about that. "Hmm." he muttered, flashing a quick glance to Fiona's table. "I will catch up with you later."

Once the guys were gone he braced himself, inhaling a deep breath, and walked resolutely to her table. Now do not ruin everything again you idiot, he thought again and again, and when she raised her head to look at him he actually smiled.

"Hey." he said, "What about some company?"

"Suit yourself" she just said, closing the magazine and leaning in her chair.

What now? Should she tell him something about the evening before?

No. Not a good idea.

So what? To stay there and just look at him wouldn't have helped.

Even before she could try and say something, the waitress took her a muffin and a cup of coffee. Her usual breakfast.

"Do you want some?" Fiona then asked, offering him his muffin and hinting a smile.

"Oh no, no" David smiled back, "I've had one already. Just eat, I won't bother you I promise." he chuckled then, reaching for the magazine she was reading and eyeing the cover curiously. "What do men really want?" he read, flashing Fiona a quick glance and a grin, patent amusement in his voice.

"It would be really a great discovery to know it" Fiona casually said, nibbling at her muffin. "Men say that we are complicated. But what about them? One can never know what they really want, for they say something but they mean the contrary. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they usually think with what they have in their pants..."

David couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"I do usually mean what I say." he stated, shifting his gaze to the magazine again as he shrugged. "And if I were one of those who think with what they have in their pants I don't think I would have been with Kate for those blasted eleven years.. I've probably just wasted my time."

"Was she so bad?" Fiona finally asked, amused by what he had said, shaking her head. "I don't think so. Believe me. You're just angry right now. When this anger will be over you will call her, and everything will be solved. I can clearly read it in your eyes. So don't be so harsh to her, Dave. You'll be soon ashamed of what you've said".

"I won't call her at all! She seemed to be pretty sure that it was over, so why should I?" Dave asked resentfully, and almost pouting. It hurt, still. But what hurt the most was the way she had just turned her back to him and walked away, just as after all it was no so big deal. Just as if those eleven years had been just a meaningless interlude.

"And look, I didn't say she was bad, I was just meaning that--" he stopped abruptly then, the whole situation just too amusing for him to be able to keep a straight face. Yes, he was talking about such private matters with someone he knew from just a couple of days. A woman by the way, and a very beautiful one. Not the random guy you meet at the bar, at all. The mere thought had him grinning helplessly.

"I was just meaning that she wasn't so terribly remarkable, that's all."

Dangerously raising an eyebrow, Fiona couldn't help but grin.

That Kate was indeed a fool. How had she managed to be with him for eleven years without even try and understand him? And she was neither good to fuck him. It was foolishness.

"Oh, well I don't really know what you're talking about" she said, her grin widening, pretending to be absolutely unaware that he was talking about his sexual life.

"Oh, of course." he grinned back, staring intently at her for maybe a second more than it was actually necessary before he resumed his reading.

It was strange, so strange that they seemed to understand each other without words, that they knew each other from just two days and were already joking and teasing each other like that. But he liked it, no doubt. It was something that had never occurred with Kate, being her much more demure and serious than he actually was. They've had their playful and carefree moments, of course, but it was not that spontaneous. It was just different. Fiona was different.

"Any plans for today?"

"I'm going to rent a car and vanish until this night" she told him plainly, finishing her breakfast.

"Maybe eat a sandwich or something like that while driving and looking at the wonderful landscape of these places. Nothing special, indeed".

"I see." he nodded, closing the magazine and laying it carelessly on the table. "And.. if I may ask.. are you planning to vanish all alone?"

Looking intensely at him, Fiona grinned again, almost without noticing it.

"I don't know. Is there someone willing to follow me?"

"Mmm there could be someone, actually." he said, nodding gravely. A moment later, though, a bright smile was replacing the serious frown, and Dave's blue eyes were meeting her green ones.

"I would be glad to follow you. Wherever you wish to go."

Fiona forgot all of her doubts and purposes when her eyes met his pale blue ones, and a smile softened her features.

"All right, Mr Wenham" she said, standing up and leaving some money on the table to pay her breakfast.

Even before Dave could think and say something about it, the girl took hold of his arm and led him outside, actually grinning.

"Let's go. And don't complain, you're the one that had decided to follow me".

"We've yet to leave the place and you're already trying to frighten me to death?" he jested, pinching her cheek and chuckling helplessly as they walked side by side to the camp. "Have I already told you how very much I do enjoy your company, by the way?"

"Mmm... " she hummed. "Not today. And I have to confess that I like your company, too".