The Movie that Changed Our Lives (Elijah Wood/LOTR FanFic)

A Night to Remember

I stepped out of the bathtub, exhausted and drained from my hot bath. Benny had earlier given us a hearty dinner in addition to the snacks and drinks from after the funeral, and now the effects were starting to kick in. All I wanted was nothing more than to sleep forever, to get rid of this horrible trip to Ireland. I loved visiting, but this visit was too much for me to bear. Visits weren't fun when they were for depressing reasons.

I wrapped the silk-like robe Benny gave me and ran my fingers through my red curls. With a simple stare at the mirror I could see the thick bags under my eyes, and the sickness of drinking that consumed my face. It almost reminded me of Dad's own hallowed out face in the hospital, those empty eyes that dug deep into my soul. I angrily wiped the tears as I watched them come out, and left the bathroom. I really did not need to see them at all, see my weakness. I just wanted to go to bed, and shut everything out.

I threw away the two empty whiskey bottles that lay on the bed. Snapping the thin covers off, I climbed in and attempted to close my eyes. However, no matter how much I tried, I couldn't fall asleep. I guess that I was still on a rush from all that food and drink from earlier. I dug my face under the pillow and squeezed my eyes tight, praying to go into a deep slumber. I hadn't had one of those in a while, so I rather doubted that it would happen now, even if I wished for one.

A soft tapping sound came into the quiet room. I didn't respond, and knew that whoever it was knew that the door was unlocked. I kept my head under my pillow, and heard familiar footsteps approach the bed. "Go away, Elijah," I muttered to him. I really didn't need him to see me like this at that moment. I was too vulnerable for anyone to be with me.

I felt him sit on the bed and stroke the curls that fanned out from underneath the pillow. Electricity trailed down the roots of my hair, giving me goosebumps. Oh, why couldn't he just leave me alone?! "I wanted to see if you wanted more whiskey," he joked.

I grumbled. "That's not funny."

"Well, Kat," he began, "I honestly never pinged you to be an alcoholic at 20 years of age...I thought it would be another year or so." I could tell that he was chuckling to himself. I was not amused.

"Just go, Elijah," I groaned, "I'm not in the mood!"

His hand froze, and his fingers lightly touched the back of my neck. There went those goosebumps again. "I know." His voice was almost unauditable, barely even a whisper.

"Then why are you still here?"

" 'Cause, I know you can't be alone right now."

I lifted my head up, my clouded eyes struggling to see his serious face. "What's that supposed to mean?" Suddenly I noticed how serious Elijah had been lately, and my face softened at the thought. It must have been so hard for him to not act goofy every ten seconds like he normally did. And it wasn't like he was pretending to be serious and show genuine concern, he was actually doing it.

Elijah sadly smiled at me. "After Eric, I think we both that depressed people cannot be left alone." The image of poor Eric Chaw, a bullied kid from our high school, in a puddle of his own blood on the drama stage entered my mind. Elijah and I had both left him for milkshakes after my play rehearsal, even though I knew that I should have stayed with him and waited for his abusive mom to pick him up. I remembered Elijah shakily comforting me with different intentions than what he now had. As if it was only yesterday, I could still recall him muttering to me that it wasn't my fault, that I couldn't prevent it from happening.

That memory broke any last bit of strength I had left. I collasped down at Elijah, feeling him draw me closer for a hug as I sobbed, releasing all of my emotions from that event and the past week. Everything was too much for me. I did not know how longer I could deal with any of the pain I had. It was consuming me, drowning out my lungs in chocking sadness, a trap I couldn't get myself out of.

Elijah hushed me in soothing whispers, as if he understood what I was going through. He kissed the top of my head and lingered there while I bubblered in a fit of tears. His warm mouth sent shivers and comforting chills through my head and body, and I tightened my grip on his arms. I could feel his head bend down to kiss my cheek an inch or two away from my mouth, and I trembled at the touch. My eyes, looking up at him, wildly blinked at him, intently watching the worry on his face.

I suddenly wanted Elijah, more than I ever wanted anything before. Not in my right mind, drunk and disoriented, I grabbed his face and kissed him. Stunned at my behavior, he broke the kiss and studied me. He did for almost an eternity, and I impatiently waited for him to do something. It didn't matter to me if he stopped me and got up to leave, as long as he did something other than stare.

There came that spark again. He smashed his lips against mine in hunger and I pulled his head down closer, not wanting to stop. I didn't know what was happening to me, but I didn't want Elijah to leave me at all that night. Especially when he laid on top of me, pushing my hindering curls out of my pink face. I moaned at the sudden feeling that overcame me and he smiled at me. I forgot about everything-my dad, my family, the funeral, Stan-anything that could ever be on my mind at that moment wasn't there. I could only think of Elijah-his lips, his soft head of hair, his pine-wood scent, his hands. There was nothing else that I wanted most at the moment, nothing at all.