A Little Scottish Courage
30
October 1999
Chapter
2
The pub was already rocking when they arrived. They walked in and were assaulted by the sights and sounds of the many people enjoying the evening. This was considerably increased by a large number of the cast and crew from the movie who had taken over the whole top deck of the club area. They could see most people were already settling in to enjoy their evening and with the free day set for tomorrow everyone was in party mood.
Carrie and Tess went to get a drink each at the bar before they headed upstairs to see if they could find somewhere to sit down. When they got to the top deck they found some of the other makeup people and were able to squeeze in around them, Carrie sharing a chair with Mel and Tess taking up residence on the edge of the table next to them. As she looked around she saw some of the main cast people were seated about six tables away from them just to the side of the upstairs bar. By the looks of Dominic and Billy they were well on their way to an enjoyable evening. Tess laughed at their antics and pointed them out to Carrie as she sipped her beer.
Carrie leaned over towards Tess gesturing for her to come closer so she could tell her something.
“Guess who’s already found you?” Carrie asked.
“Who?”
“Casually look around to your left and you will find your answer just next to Viggo.”
Tess knew all along who she was teasing her about and found that she was not only pleased but also a little excited by the thought.
After a few moments of telling Carrie to shut up she turned around and searched the faces in the crowds over near the cast. She found Viggo standing near the bar and as predicted standing to his right was Orlando, staring straight at her with the most beautiful smile. He raised his hand and waved to her as Viggo looked over to see who he was looking at. When his eyes locked on to Tess he turned back to Orlando with a knowing smile playing on his lips.
“Why are you holding back?” Viggo leaned towards him so he could be heard over the music.
“What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Tess. You like her, do something about it, go and ask her to dance.”
“Why? She wouldn’t be interested in me.”
“Who told you that?”
“Oh come on, Viggo, I’m not in her league, not even close.”
“What are you talking about? You’re a good-looking, reasonably well-mannered, bright young man who happens to be an actor. She is a beautiful, funny, talented young lady who works in the movie industry. What more could you ask for?”
“About five years,” Orlando sighed. “She wouldn’t be interested in me unless I was at least a little older than I am, plus a hell of a lot smarter.”
“She doesn’t care about any of that. She likes you too, you know.”
“She does? Who told you that she liked me?” he turned towards Viggo, stunned.
“Who likes Orlando?” Neither of them had seen Billy walk up behind them and both jumped when he popped his head in between them with his Pippin grin. They moved apart slightly to give him some room as they both smiled at the state of him, beer in one hand and pizza slice in the other.
Viggo leaned down to him and said quietly, “Tess from makeup.”
“Oh, Tess, of course, everybody knows that.” He turned around to Orlando before continuing, his Scottish brogue stronger than normal. “Didn’t you know, Orli? Everyone knows you like her too.”
“Who’s everybody?” Orlando asked in panic as he tried to work out who knew.
“Anyone who has spent more than five minutes in the makeup department with the two of you. Talk about electricity coming off the both of you,” he answered casually. “Hey, why don’t you go and ask her to have a dance with you.”
“Maybe later.” He shyly looked at he ground as he blushed.
Viggo had noticed over the last few days that Tess seemed to have a problem with believing she was good at anything and Orlando was very sure of himself in just about everything until Tess was included in the conversation. His young cockiness disappeared and everyone but Tess and himself could easily see his feelings. Mel had told him that Tess was no better, but she considered that she was unworthy of any attention by someone like Orlando. Both Viggo and Mel could tell there was more behind Tess’ thoughts than just a general dismissive outlook.
Viggo watched his young friend for a minute before he turned his attention to Tess who was laughing with her friends.
Billy looked up at Viggo with a knowing look. “I think he needs at little Scottish courage, don’t you?”
“I agree. I’ll get it.” Viggo turned around and moved to the bar to order drinks.
“Scottish courage?” Orlando asked as he looked over at Tess again to see her laughing.
“Whiskey,” Billy looked over to Viggo, “Viggo, the good stuff.”
“Whiskey, I don’t drink that stuff.” Orlando answered as Viggo came back with three glasses. “I’ll end up on the floor.”
“Only if you’ve have too much in one go. What have you been drinking since we got here?” Viggo asked as he handed him a glass.
“I’ve had a couple of beers,” he answered with a shrug.
Viggo and Billy look at each other.
“Lightweight,” they said in unison as they laughed at Orlando.
“Come on, drink up. To the Fellowship,” Billy said as he raised his glass, “and may the elf get lucky.”
”To the Fellowship,” Viggo replied as he laughed at the rest of the comment. Orlando was beyond embarrassed but still laughed at the crazy Hobbit standing next to him. After he caught his breath he was finally able to take his drink down in one shot.
“Yuck, that’s disgusting. Where’s my beer?”
“Give it a moment. You will start to feel a little different shortly, won’t he Viggo?”
“Hope so. Otherwise I might forget that we’re friends and go and ask her for myself.”
“You wouldn’t, would you?” Orlando asked fearfully.
“Just go.” Viggo snarled at him with a pretend growl that made Orlando jump back.
“OK, OK, I’m going…just give me a minute.”
“No, no more minutes. Come on Man, from what I hear you’ve been mooning over her for weeks, ever since you met her. If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”
Orlando looked at Tess again and then at Viggo before he put his drink down and moved away to start around the tables towards her.