[LYNN POV]

"Lynn Anita Andrews! Would you stop moving like an ironing machine and listen for just a moment? You're giving me a fabulous headache!" scolded CJ, snatching my paperwork away from my hands.

"Hey!"

I protested, reaching out to grab the papers from his hand. But him, being much taller than me, easily secured the paper far above his head and out of my reach.

He was looking down at me with a deadly glare, his other free hand was hooked on the pocket of his cool new stripe patterned vest that I've never seen before.

I sighed in surrender and smiled sweetly at him.

"By the way, is that a new vest? It is so cool, I'm telling you," I chirped, and in an instant CJ was smiling smugly at me.

"Oh, you noticed! It's Marc Jacob's," he answered, dusting off his vest in a stylish manner.

I smirked at the way he got distracted so easily. CJ noticed my face and the fashion spell broke in an instant.

"I'm thrilled that you noticed, but we were talking about you, missy!" he scolded before his eyes softened a bit. I cut him before he even speak.

"Look, you're worried about me too much, Carter. I'm fine! I'm just doing my work, what's so wrong about it? Besides you're my boss, you should be happy that I am being productive," I argued.

"But I am also your friend, bunny Lynn. And FYI, you have been working like a slave without proper rests. Girl, you need to calm down."

"Wow. I've missed several lunch times and you called me a working slave," I smiled in amusement.

"I'm serious. I'm worried about you, bunny Lynn. You lack nourishment and you look tired most of the time, yet you work like tomorrow is Armageddon."

I laughed at the mention of the particular Bruce Willis' movie, but CJ was not done with me.

"How long has it been, Lynn? It's been more than a month! You can't keep doing this!"

Ouch.

At that I ceased laughing and looked away. The person that I avoided at all cost entered my mind. The thought of Joel only served as a painful reminder that picked the scab of my wound and hurt me all over again.

"Lynn..." called CJ gently, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I blinked the tears that threatened to well up my eyes and smiled at CJ.

"Okay, Carter. Alright. I'll take the rest of the day off," I muttered, giving in.

"That's my girl. Don't worry about the paperwork, I got this. Now just relax, and make sure you eat something. I'd hate seeing you turn into some sticky figure like some bulimic models."

My eyes softened at CJ's kindness and care towards me. 

"You're welcome, bunny Lynn," he said, reading my mind.

"Though I doubt I will ever grow tall enough to be a sticky figured, bulimic model," I muttered, earning a giggle from CJ.

Just when I was out the door of the office, Eva came up to me, beaming.

"Hey there, Lynn. Busy?" she chirped.

"Actually, I was just relieved from duty of the day. What's up?"

Eva's face lighted up and she smiled even wider. 

"That's perfect! Can you please, pretty please accompany me to the salon? This whole job is starting to take a toll on me, and I need to pamper myself. You know, girly stuff. Spa, massage, manicure, pedicure..."

Eva looked at me with hopeful eyes and with two big pointy ears sticking out of her fake elven hair, reminded me of a hopeful fable character you watch in Cartoon Network. 

How was I going to reject that? Besides she knew I was not going to do a thing.

"Sure, Eva. That'll be fun. Though I'm not going with you still with the pointy ears and a quiver full of arrows," I joked.

Eva squealed in excitement and giggled.

"Aye! Let me take this things off then we'll be on our way after lunch! Oh! Annie is coming with us too."

With that she skipped off and I sighed, shaking my head. 

I was not particularly keen on going. But hell, it was better than having nothing to do and got lost in my own thoughts, where Joel would appear and torture my mind.

I walked as the thought of him came unbiddened to my mind, leaving a hollow on my stomach. The images of his naked back on me was flooding back, along with the moaning girl beneath him...

Orlando approached me, still in his Legolas costume. His twinkling eyes fixed on me, and a wolfish smirk plastered on his face.

That was a look only a devil can pull. A look that I've learned to understand that he had some evil plan formed in his thick skull. All of his being screamed 'trouble' and I instinctively made a sharp turn to avoid any mischief he had in mind, pretending to be busy and walked away faster.

I squealed when Orlando hooked my head under his arm, though gently, he managed to pin me to him so my head was pressed to his chest. 

His faint masculine soap scent filled my nostrils pleasantly, yet I struggled to get out from his grasp while his other hand pinned my left hand in a firm grip.

I growled in annoyance when I struggled to no avail and Orlando's chest shook in a rumbling laughter.

"Serves you right, luv, for walking away from me like that. Say sorry," he demanded.

"Never! Let me go you, monkey! Or else I'm not responsible for your injuries," I growled in frustration. This was a rather ridiculous position I was in.

"Aw, luv. Bark only and no biting. Your bark is like one of a puppy's. I find it cute and adorable. Makes me love you more," he cooed, taunting me before letting out a laugh.

"Yeah? Well I'm gonna get real adorable soon enough!" I said through gritted teeth and bit his hand, though I made sure to not hurt him too much.

"Ow!" 

Orlando yelped and instantly released his hold on me. I gave him a cruel smile when he winced and glared at me.

"Serves you right, luv," I copied his words to him in a fake British accent. "What, are you five?!" I scolded him.

Orlando snorted and smirked. Then he growled playfully.

"Urgh, I knew you are a feisty one."

This time I pinched him painfully in revenge and he jumped away from me.

"Ouch! You're so mean, luv," he said, rubbing his arm. He shot me a hurt look and I smiled evilly in satisfaction.

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"I just want to ask you about your day. Is that so wrong, luv?"

"It's pretty normal before you came into picture. Thanks for asking."

Orlando nodded. "So, you're still working now?"

"Nope. CJ gave me the rest of the day off and Eva asked me to go to a salon."

Orlando's face lit up and a grin brightened up his face.

"Hmm, girls day out, huh? Nice."

"Why do you ask? What do you want?"

"Why do you assume that I want something?" he protested.

"Then why else do you make some small talk like this?" I asked, shooting him a pointed look.

Orlando's eyes flickered for a moment in thought before answering. "I just have this craving for the espresso brownies we had in Starbucks, and was wondering if you would go with me to get some. But hey, since you're going out, maybe next time."

"You have cravings? What, are you on your period or something?" I cackled mockingly at him.

"Maybe I am," he said, arching an eyebrow, playfully swatted his blonde hair back like a girl. "Now, luv, do not mess with me because I tend to be very, very emotional these next couple days."

I laughed and punched his arm lightly.

"I'll get some for you on the way," I finally said.

"Thanks, luv," he grinned boyishly. I nodded.

"You have fun and enjoy yourself, alright?" he added genuinely, his eyes soft.

"Thanks, Orlando," I beamed up at him, before leaving.

Eva and Annie brought me to probably the best, most luxurious salon in the city. 

The people in the salon greeted us warmly and pampered us for hours. Eva and Annie talked to me the whole time about anything, almost nonstop. 

It was amazing how us girls can chat for hours without a break. I was, for that few hours, forgot about Joel. Their company and the excellent beauty treatment were a welcomed distraction.

By the time Eva was changing her clothes, I was done and went to the cashier before she refused my treat to pay for our salon treatment.

"Hello, miss. Can I help you?" asked the attractive cashier lady warmly.

"Yeah, I want to pay the bill," I replied with a smile.

"Oh, sorry Miss Lilly--" she said after she fumbled with some notes and receipts, clearly mistaking me as Eva.

"--Mr. Bloom specifically told me when he booked for this appointment, not to let you or any of your friends to pay. He requested me to put it on his personal bill. He said, quoting him--" she peered down at her notes and read.

"'...'As a thankyou for participating in our secret, evil plan'," she ended with an amused smile.

I looked at her in wonder. "May I know when did he call to make the appointment?"

"Just before lunch time, probably around 11.30 or 12 pm."

My heart melted as I put things together. CJ forcing me to take a day off; Eva asking me out for a girls day out; and Orlando that came up to me this afternoon to make sure that I accepted Eva's offer. 

And by the looks of it, Orlando was the mastermind of all this 'evil' plan on cheering me up.

I smiled at the cashier and admitted. "Okay, I'm actually not Miss Lilly. I'm one of her friends. She is still changing her clothes back there," I informed her. "You might need to tell that to her again. She's the one with the brown hair."

The three of us went back to set by dinner time, feeling satisfied and refreshed. Both the girls retreated to their respective trailers after I thanked them for the fun girls' day out.

I went straight to Orlando's trailer and strolled inside, knowing that he almost always forgot to lock his door every time he's in.

Orlando was standing with his back on me in his jeans and T-shirt that flattered his toned back. My mind wondered about how many girls and boys out there who would kill to see him like I did right now.

His head was nodding as he was singing to the song on his stereo. He moved his body a little to the rhythm, cutting some vegetables and fruits, before putting them in a juicer.

I tiptoed behind him and peered to the dark green liquid that he created.

"I don't think that goes well with espresso brownies," I muttered in distaste.

Orlando jumped a little and snapped his head to look at me. His grip on his knife tightened in his hands, way too near to my face to my liking.

"Don't kill me!" I exclaimed.

"Jesus, luv. I almost did," he said grinning after releasing a relieved sigh.

"I thought you elves are tougher than this," I said, chuckling at the way he jumped earlier.

Orlando put on his tough, cold, Legolas' face, saying, "We are tough," he responded, before a seductive smirk plastered on his face as he looked down at me. "...But we're also sensitive."

"Jesus," I mumbled, rolling my eyes. 

"Oh! Brownies! Thanks, luv," he said, leaning in to me and made a duck face as if trying to kiss me.

"Go kiss an orc," I mumbled as I turned around and shook my head. I sat on his couch and ignored him. 

[ORLANDO POV]

I pouted when she ignored me, but then a laugh escaped her lips at seeing my face.

I grinned at her cheekily before turning back to the counter and switched off the juicer. I divided the green juice to two glasses and set the espresso brownies, red velvet and the chocolate mousse to a big plate along with two forks.

I was making my way to Lynn with the plate on my hands when I noticed her facial expression.

This was always how her face looked like since about a month ago when she thought no one was looking. Her eyes was fixed forward but not to any particular thing. Her eyes was dull, and she looked lost.

I hated this look she had right now. This was not the Lynn I knew. 

All thanks to her bastard ex who fucking cheated on her.

And here I thought that making her spend half a day in a bloody salon would ease her heart.

Clearly she wasn't the type of girl who would find spa and salon treatment to be a stress relief. I wonder if I drop a shopping voucher on her door then it would take her mind off of her idiotic ex? 

That seemed to be unlikely. Probably this was why I grew so attached to her and became a fast friend very quickly. 

She was different from most girls I knew. Mostly they would act so nice and behaved sweetly in front of me, but not Lynn. She never hid her annoyance or disapproval towards me. 

She was honest, painfully sometimes, and she didn't even hesitate to physically hurt me if I bothered her way too much.

Hence making flirting and teasing her became my favorite past time activities. Or when I get bored.

I cleared my throat and she turned her head at me, shaking off her previous brooding expression expertly.

I made a gesture with my hand, dramatically presenting the cakes on the plates and smiled commercially.

Lynn smiled and shifted to make a space for me on the couch.

"Sweet cakes for a sweet cheeks like you."

"Have you ever heard that too much sweet things makes you wanna throw up?" she scolded me, though with an approving look towards the cakes.

"And that, luv, is exactly why I made this blooming, healthy, green juice to accompany the sweets."

"Blooming. Very appropriate. Thanks, monkey, " she said, taking the glass from my hand.

I stuffed my mouth with a piece of cake before speaking. "Why do you keep calling me monkey?" 

Lynn shrugged. "Fits your personality. You're mischievous and annoying. Hard to get you to be serious for just half an hour. I imagine that you were a disaster when you were a child."

"What??" I sighed in exaggerated disappointment at her. She smiled as she picked on the cake.

"Though beneath all that I found you to be extremely caring and quite charming at times," she said to me before she shrugged and looked at her fork intently.

A smile crept up my face as I gazed at her.

"Luv, I think this is one of those extremely rare moments when you admit something good about me," I told her, sincerely delighted to know that she thought of me that way.

She only shot me a pointed look before drinking from her glass. 

"How's it feel coming out of your mouth?" I teased her.

"Like vinegar," she answered, eyeing me cruelly.

I laughed as I continued chewing the soft, creamy cake on my mouth, making some of the cream smeared the sides of my lips.

Lynn looked at me in distaste and muttered, "You eat like a five year old."

I grinned widely and wiped my mouth. "And you eat like a bird. Eat some more, luv."

Lynn smiled attractively at me and continued eating, fixing her eyes back at the screen of my TV. She was watching The Mummy intently, her pink lips nibbling on the fork.

Damn. That lips. That smile. A cute girl like her not realizing at all that she was cute? What a waste.

I stole glances at her while she was engrossed in the movie. 

Her eyes were sparkling as the light from the screen reflected in her baby blue iris. Her nose was small and cute. Her lips looked soft and kissable, adorning her fair face like a pretty, little bow. Her dark hair was soft and shining, cascading down her shoulders and back like a curtain of black silk.

I played with her hair absently, pleased to find it even smoother than usual after her salon appointment (and her usual hair was already so smooth), then followed her eyes to the screen.

Now Anck-Su-Namun was leaving Imhotep to fend for himself, only to fall into a pit of scorpion.

Lynn swatted my hand absently couple of times as she watched, but I ignored her and was persistent in twirling her hair again.

This has became a sort of habit for me.

The movie ended and Lynn checked her watch.

"I gotta go. It's late. We both have work tomorrow."

"It's still 10.30, luv. The night is still young. Going away so soon?"

"Your makeup starts at 5.30. I won't be held responsible if you ended up coming late tomorrow."

"Can I be held responsible?" I teased her, flashing a lopsided smirk and winked.

She wrinkled her nose at me cutely and I was unable to keep myself from pinching her cheek.

"Cute. Let me walk you back to your trailer."

As usual she refused, but I ignored her anyway. I walked her to her door and she turned to me with a warm smile.

"Thankyou, Orlando. For everything. You're a good friend."

I was surprised to hear those words from her mouth. My heart warmed at that and a smile played on my face. 

"Oh, luv. To what do I owe the pleasure of hearing many praises from you tonight?"

"Don't push it, monkey. Goodnight."

I was caught off guard when she stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on my left cheek.

"5.30, monkey!" she exclaimed and I nodded, still dumbfounded as I watched her waved her fingers at me before closing her door.

I rubbed my cheek gently as I made my way to my trailer. The feeling of her lips on my skin still lingered, making my stomach fluttered. 

I smiled like a fool the whole way back. The air was chilly, but I felt warm inside as my mind replayed the scene when she kissed my cheek over and over again.