Rapido!

Chapter 10

Octavio lay in his bed thinking about the evening he had.

Natalie had made snails for the appetizer and it didn't look good. But Octavio didn't want to hurt her feelings, so he ate all of the food she gave him. She put something on it that actually made them taste good! And he enjoyed himself, the rest of the dinner was also very good. Elliot almost died when he went to grab the salad dressing at the same time as Wraith and their hands touched.

Then when they ate dessert and Wraith beat Elliot again and again at arm wrestling, he claimed he was letting her win. Octavio and Natalie sat on the couch and talked for a while. He started telling a story and messed up so much that it was just plain boring, and as he stared off into space Natalie fell asleep on his shoulder. He tensed up at first, then smiled and closed his eyes.

When he woke up, he was in Elliot's arms while he danced around the hallway to their room.

"Gah! WHAT THE HELL AMIGO?!" HE wiggled out and landed on his butt.

"Geez cool it O! I'm just bringing you home man." He held his wrist that Octavio twisted while falling.

"Sorry but- what happened?"

Elliot gave him a suspicious smile, "After I destroyed Re- Wraith in arm wrestling-"

"-She crushed you man."

"Hey! Who's telling the story here?" Elliot frowned, "Anyways, after those great victories, we looked over to see you two cuddled up and asleep on the couch. So Wraith carried Natalie into her room, and I WAS carrying you, until you freaked out."

Octavio smiled, but then a wave of embarrassment washed over him, "I hope she's not creeped out by that..."

Elliot laughed, "You worry too much man, just take it easy, chill, and go with the flow." Octavio decided not to tell him that was the advice he gave him earlier when Elliot was freaking out.

Now Octavio lay in bed, he had remembered he had a dream about dancing in the rain with Natalie, he didn't care he was soaked, or cold, or that he was horrible at dancing even in his dreams. He was just happy to be with her, although it was a disappointment when he went to kiss her and ended up kissing a snail. Stupid French food.

He rolled over and decided to go for a run. He went on his usual route after drinking his energy drink. At the turn to head back to the complex, he decided to keep going, he passed through a small downtown, with shops and vendors that were just opening. He stopped off at a stall where a man sold keychains with names on them, he bought one with his name, and one with Natalie's, although it was spelled wrong. He ran through the town to a small cliff overlooking a beach. He sat there for a while, admiring the view, and relaxing. He'd never appreciated going slow before, and thinking; he was an on the go, winging it kinda guy. Eventually he stood up and looked at his phone:

Elliot: Hey O! Where you at??? I made breakfast!

Octavio: Hey, I just went on my run, be back soon

Elliot: Ok, cool, dude, these energy drinks are insane!! They taste so good! I love 'em! Where can I find them??

Octavio: You drank one???

Octavio put his phone away and ran all the way to the complex, he knew Elliot would get into trouble.

...

"Ok, ok, so it's a little burnt."

Elliot and Octavio stood in front of the stove in Elliot's room, black and smoky.

"A little?! You almost set the building on fire! Don't touch my stuff!"

"Fine, fine."

Octavio thanked the firefighter for helping put out the fire and signed some pictures for the firemen's kids who were huge fans. That reminded Octavio of something.

"Elliot I got to go, I have a press thingy to do."

"Ok good luck man! I'll be watching TV here so I can make fun of you when you mess up." He laughed.

Octavio sighed and headed out to the press conference.