Neighbors

Scene 15:

Oded had spent the day doing a lot of hurry up and waiting. He arrived at the soundstage and checked in for makeup. While they preened and picked at him he pulled out the phonebook and had his assistant find all the phone numbers for the UBC science departments. He had debated about having his assistant call and figure out where to send flowers, but then changed his mind. He suddenly felt very possessive. He wasn't ready to share her with anyone. So once he got the list of phone numbers, he waited for the first break they had and starting calling to track her down. He got lucky and found her department number quickly, then called and arranged for roses to be sent. He had struggled with what to send her. Usually he didn't think twice about it, red roses of course. But this time he paused, red roses are blatant; they carry an obvious message. He wanted to be subtle. "Like you've been subtle with her up to now 'ded..." he admonished himself. He decided on white. He hoped they would impress her, roses always make a strong statement, but if she had felt he was moving too fast maybe the white would help her realize he could go slowly if she wanted too. Plus, she had told him that she liked to use flowers to make perfume and he thought white might be a good choice. He smiled at the thought that she might smell like roses the next time they could be together, and he would know they were the roses he sent her. "Yep, white would be a good choice." He wanted them delivered ASAP, not knowing when she might be stopping into her lab.

As he placed the order he didn't realize he had been overheard by Bethany, one of the new assistants hired by the production staff. She had a horrible crush on him. At the birthday party last Saturday she had tried everything to get his attention, but he had been out of it and hadn't even looked at her. Now she had some idea as to why. She had heard him order flowers for someone named Abby, and they were to be delivered to UBC. She heard him tell the florist what to write on the card, and knew he had plans with her this weekend. She was livid, no one on the set thought he was seeing anyone, and now she had heard for herself that he was. "Where the hell had he even met her?" she wondered. They all put in such long hours no one had time for anything else... She had been trying to get him to go out with the group after shooting for weeks, but he always said no, and supposedly went home. "Hmmm... " she thought, this was going to take some effort.

Oded spent the rest of the day hoping Abby would call. Every time his cell phone rang he grabbed it, even disrupting one of the takes they were trying to get. Finally his assistant took it away from him and told him he'd get him all his messages. It was already late in the day, and he had all but given up that she would call him here anyway. Maybe she hadn't gotten the flowers. He called to check with the florist, and was assured that they had been delivered and signed for by her secretary, with the instructions that if she didn't get them by the end of the day, the secretary should call. The secretary hadn't called, and he had to assume she had received them. "So why hadn't Abby called?" he wondered. It never occurred to him that it never occurred to her to call. She was not of the cell phone world, and she had assumed that she should thank him when she saw him. He was getting cranky.

Finally they ended for the day and he raced home. It was late, after 10:00, but he hoped he'd be able to catch her. He regretted postponing their next planned date until Saturday. He wanted to see her tonight, even if it was for a late dinner. But when he pulled up her lights were off, he didn't know she had waited for him, and had literally just gone upstairs. "Who goes to bed at 10:00?" he wondered aloud, now really in a bad mood. He opened his front door and headed for the kitchen. He ate a couple of pieces of cold pizza and plopped down in front of the TV to watch the news. He fell asleep on the couch and woke up, pizza on his shirt and drool on the throw pillow several hours later, TV still blaring. He had dreamed that she had left and a new neighbor with really loud children had moved in next door. Cold pizza always gave him bad dreams. He wiped the drool and pizza off his chin and pulling his shirt off went upstairs.

He stood in the bathroom, brushing his teeth, and as was becoming his routine, he looked next door, although he didn't expect to see her. But much to his surprise, her bedroom light was on, and her bathroom door was open. He could see her sleeping, almost sitting up in bed, a book dropped across her lap, her cat sleeping next to her. She had on a T-shirt that was pulled up to her waist, and he could see the tops of her thighs from under her book, the rest of her legs under the covers. She had her arm on the pillow propped up next to her, and her face was resting on it, her hair partially over her cheek. He stood watching her, amazed again at how beautiful she was every time he saw her. He noticed the two white rose blossoms in the vase next to the bed and smiled. He at least knew now that she had gotten them. She didn't look like she was sleeping comfortably, and he momentarily debated about how he could wake her up. He could call her, but what would he do then, he didn't know what he would say. It was too late to just check in on her, and he couldn't very well tell her he had seen her sleeping through her window and just wanted her to turn off her light and find a more comfortable way to sleep. He had already gotten busted for watching her when she didn't know it. She solved the problem for him, he saw her wake up and putting the book on the night stand turn off her light, and snuggle down in the covers.

He turned off his own light and headed for bed. He was so exhausted he fell asleep immediately. He woke up at 3:00 a.m. to the same dream that she had moved out, he swore to himself that he would never eat pizza before bed again. He lay there letting his thoughts move to her, and hoped as he fell asleep his dreams would be better. When he woke up the next morning he had a horribly uncomfortable erection, and although he couldn't remember the dream, he guessed she had been in it, but that it had not been particularly satisfying.

He headed out for his swim, sure that the cold water would take care of the ache he felt. Half way out he thought maybe she'd be swimming again, and realized his swim trunks did a bad job of hiding the erection he had. He stopped and listened, but not hearing any splashing he knew he would be alone this morning. Relieved, but also disappointed he dove into the pool and started to swim laps alone.

She was getting ready to leave when she heard the water splash from her bedroom window. She stepped out on her balcony and saw Oded swimming below her. She watched his shoulders move in the water and noticed how his back muscles rippled with each stroke. She felt that now familiar zing of electricity shoot down her spine as she watched him. She realized if he looked up he'd catch her doing what he had done a few days ago, and decided to call out to him.

"Good morning!" she yelled over her balcony, trying to time it as he turned so he would hear her.

He did, and looking up at her he stopped swimming and pulled himself up, resting his elbows on the edge of the pool, wiping the water off his face. He smiled up at her gloriously. "Good morning to you too!" he yelled back.

"Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful. And they were completely unexpected."

"Oh you are very welcome. I'm glad you like them. Did you swim last night? You're not swimming this morning."

"No. I was too tired last night and woke up too late this morning. I actually have to go. I just wanted to thank you and say good morning." She smiled down at him.

"Abby," he stopped her from turning away. "If I don't get home too late tonight, would you like to have a late dinner, or maybe some dessert... or something?" he asked.

"Yes, that would be great." She beamed at him. "I'll be home all evening, so whenever... just let me know."

"I guess we better not plan on dinner, I wouldn't want you to wait to long, but I'll bring something for dessert..." he offered.

"Okay... I'll see you later then... " she turned to go, waving goodbye. She heard him splash in the pool again behind her and smiled to herself, thrilled that he had wanted to see her again before Saturday. She headed for work.

He thought about her as he swam laps in the pool. He was so pleased she had called out to him from her balcony. That shyness she had around him was starting to fade. He was surprised at how casual she looked this morning, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, and he swore she had on Birkenstock sandals. He had thought professors would look more formal... but classes hadn't started yet... but she was in meetings wasn't she? She surprised him every time he saw her. She did not seem to conform to any mold he expected and he loved her originality. He was glad he had suggested they try to see one another tonight, he thought if he had to wait until Saturday he would go nuts thinking about her and not being able to be close to her. He thought that today should be easier than yesterday, he was only on the shooting list for two scenes today. He finished swimming and went to change for work.

But he had been wrong about the filming schedule. He was busy all day, and at 6:30, there was no end in sight. He was getting edgy trying to hurry things along, and the director finally told him to take a break and get something to eat. He grabbed a sandwich and ate sullenly. One of his fellow actors sat down next to him. "What's up Oded... you've been cranky all afternoon. "

"Sorry... I had plans for later this evening... and it looks like it's going to be a late one here. I'm disappointed." It was all Oded was willing to offer.

"Call her... she'll understand."

Oded looked over quickly, surprised that Jon assumed it was a woman he was talking about. "How did you know?"

"Oh come on Oded... it's pretty obvious your brain has been somewhere else. You met her over the weekend didn't you?"

"How did you know that?"

"Because since yesterday morning you've been different... what's her name?"

"Abby."

"Just Abby?"

Oded didn't say anything.

"Okay big guy... try and keep her under wraps if you like, but it's written all over your face. You must really like her...call her." He said as he got up and headed back to the others.

He grabbed his cell phone and called her at home. No answer. He tried her at work. No answer... He tried her at home again... still no answer, and she didn't even have an answering machine. He swore under his breath. No point in leaving a message at work he thought. "Who in this day and age, does not have an answering machine?" he cursed into the phone. He decided he'd buy her one, and maybe he'd get her a cell phone too! Now he was really frustrated. He couldn't even let her know not to wait for him. He'd just have to keep trying her he thought.

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Neighbors - Chapter 16