Posted: September 2004
Title: Win A Date With Karl Urban
Author: Estella Greenleaf

*****

Viggo shrunk back into his booth in the shadowy corner of the diner when Karl turned to hail a waitress. The artist briefly wondered if what he was doing was illegal, but decided that the restaurant was a public place, and therefore, he couldn't be convicted of stalking even if he were caught. 'I'm just here for the food,' he thought sarcastically as he looked at the goopy mess before him. He was certain a chimpanzee with a pan and an open fire could make better food than the diner's cook.

When Karl turned to face his date again, the artist resumed his spying. He didn't fear discovery by Orli; the young man's eyes were practically glued to Karl since the beginning of this evening. Didn't Orli's eyes ever get tired of all that gawking...

Viggo wondered if things would be different if he were a bit clearer on his confession of love this afternoon. After Karl left, the artist had read to Orli 'the Communion', the closest thing to a real love poem he had ever written. But all he got from the young man was some good-natured ribbing about the deliberate abuse of linguistic rules by poets to cover up the fact that they didn't know grammar.

Maybe it would have worked better if he had just said "I love you" outright. But he really thought that Orli would be more touched if he realized he was Viggo's greatest inspiration. He wondered if he should have told Orli who the poem was written for with his voice instead of his eyes. But still, he was certain he gave Orli the best tender, loving look any man could ever muster when reciting his work.

A group of noisy teenager left the diner; Viggo could actually *hear* bits and pieces of Karl's and Orli's conversation. Part of him felt a bit ashamed of himself for eavesdropping on a private conversation, but his heart quickly squashed that feeling. Even if he wasn't totally in love with Orli, it was his job as the young man's boss and friend to protect him. He had a right to know what Karl's plans were.

The couple's hushed voice provided a unique challenge. But Viggo was a smart man; he could fill in the blanks on his own. For example, all he needed was to hear the word, "here", and he knew Orli was just asking why Karl was here.

"...like you...have this... special sparkle... so beautiful...want... you... love...rub... me." Those words almost prompted Viggo to jump up and drag the lecherous actor from his sweet Orli. If his personal assistant was to nice to slap the man for trying to give him a gift in exchange for sexual favors, Viggo would love to do it for him.

But before the artist could play the knight in shining armor, Orli laughed and took the actor's hand. "...mean...date me?"

Viggo's breathe hitched in his throat as he saw the joined hands. Orli *wanted* to be courted, but *not* by him. He needed to get out, needed to be alone where he could drown his sorrow in liquor, or maybe kill himself, as soon as he got over the fear of not succeeding and being brought to the hospital where he'd be turned into a pin cushion...

Blindly, the artist leaped from his seat and tried to run out of the diner. Unluckily, someone was storming through the door at the exact moment he attempted his escape. The inevitable occurred; and both men found themselves in a pile on the floor surrounded by curious onlookers.

As enchanted as Orli was by his date, his attention was drawn to the 'collision'. "Viggo?"

Like a deer caught in headlights, the artist froze. How was he going to explain his presence? He was totally, completely screwed. He needed a hole to hide!

Karl turned, thinking to tell the spying artist off. But when he noticed who Viggo had inadvertently 'ran over', he cut through the crowds in the aisles as quick as he could. Once on the site of the accident, he unceremoniously pushed Viggo off his manager and helped the slight blond to a sitting position. "Dave, you okay?"

Dave was very very upset. He had spent close to 20 hours flying and an hour cajoling people into telling him Karl's present location; instead of getting the satisfaction of telling his client what an irresponsible brat he was, he got to play 'shock absorbing airbag' for a 180 pounds hunk of a man. The manager was about to give his client a very severe tongue slashing followed by a two weeks notice when he saw the genuine concern in Karl's eyes. The man was actually worried about him! The romantic in him suddenly kicked into full gear. With a small smile, he answered, "I'm good, thanks."

Out of the corner of his eye, Dave caught Mr. Bloom helping the other 'victim' of the accident sit up. The blond man Orlando was currently fussing over was a doppelganger of his ex from his college days in New York. But it couldn't be; last he heard, Viggo had made it big in the art scene; the man wouldn't be living here in Rockbottom.

"You need to watch where you're going. You could have really hurt him," said the exquisite Mr. Bloom with a scowl.

Strange, Dave never thought a sweet-looking beauty like Orlando would ever make a face like that. But stranger still was the fact that Karl was actually speaking up to defend him against the exquisite boy. "I think the same goes for Viggo."

The manager was very surprised to discover that the blond was indeed his ex. That knowledge, of course, explained a lot; Viggo was prone having his head in the clouds. The man's absent-mindedness and his own 'anal-retentiveness' were the main reasons they called it quits all those years ago. "I think we're both okay, so no harm done. Right, Vig?"

Viggo, who had remained in a self-imposed daze to avoid possible interrogation, blinked. That's Daisy's voice talking to him... He turned to look at the other blond on the floor and exclaimed. "Daisy!"

"Hey, don't call me that in front of other people, you big Dodo!" chuckled Dave as he rose to his feet with Karl's help. If he had known running into another man literally would be enough to get the handsome actor's arms around him, he would have done it long ago.

Viggo hadn't kept in touch with Dave for quite some time, but he remembered hearing that his ex was now a bigshot Hollywood talent manager. The man must be here to take Karl home! Oh, he could fall onto his knees and kissed Daisy's feet. With the actor gone, maybe he would have a chance with Orli again. "You here to fetch your client?"

"You guess right, Dodo," replied the manager, turning to look at his client.

To Dave's dismay, his words prompted Karl to move away and give him a resolute look. "I'm not going back!"

"Be reasonable, Karl. You don't belong here. Your place is in LA."

Karl's eyes sought Orli's expressive coco orbs. When the young beauty held his gaze and smiled at him, he said, "My place is with the one who can make me happy. I'm buying a farm here; I've already called my accountant."

Karl's words opened a gushing wound in Dave's heart. He wanted to go somewhere to cry, but knew he couldn't. He had a job to do. He knew there was no use arguing with his client; it would just make him seem uncaring. He needed to go about this another way. This was when the manager noticed that though Karl and Orlando were 'sharing a look', one of the youth's arms was still wrapped protectively around Viggo's waist. It's clear that Orlando cared deeply about his boss. Perhaps, that affection could become something more.

Dave could tell Viggo was in love with the exquisite Mr. Bloom. All he needed to do was help the man win the young beauty's heart. If Orlando and Viggo were together, there would be no reason for Karl to stay in Rockbottom anymore. He would need to work fast though, if he were to get back to LA in time to take care of the prep work for Colin's premiere. Putting on a long-suffering look, Dave sighed, "If it really makes you happy..."

Before Dave finished his sentence, he was pulled into one of Karl's bear hugs. "You're the best, Dave."

When the manager was released, he nodded before winking inconspicuously at Viggo. "I guess I will leave you two love birds alone. Hey, Dodo, want to come with me and reminisce about old times?"

The last thing Viggo wanted to do was leave Orli alone with Karl. But he knew Dave; the man was nothing if not calculating and tenacious. His ex probably already had a plan and required his co-operation. Since he'd do almost anything to get a chance with his beloved Orli, he would play along with Dave. "Alright, Daisy, let's go have some fun," said Viggo as he wound his arms around the smaller blond's shoulders.

The two men proceeded to walk out of the diner in a 'jolly' fashion, touching and laughing as old lovers would. Since they didn't turn to look at the younger 'couple' again, they missed the strange looks on Orli and Karl's faces. Little did they know both younger men were having a bad feeling about watching them go off together alone.

*****

Conversation:
Orli: What are you doing here?
Karl: I really like you, Orli. You have this special sparkle that makes life seems so beautiful. I just want to be with you more; maybe have some of that love for life rub off on me.
Orli: Does that mean you want to date me?

*****

previous | Chapter Index | next

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Estella Greenleaf