AN: This one's a long one. Don't get used to it. :D

Thanks for the fantastic feedback. I know you all will enjoy this one!

Saturday, January 26, 2008 – Fayetteville, Arkansas

Millie’s Point of View

It was nice and warm when I woke up the next morning.  Rob had curled an arm around me in his sleep at some point during the night.  As much as I did not want to move out of his embrace, I had to go to the bathroom.

I rolled over onto my back and looked over at Rob.  He looked so peaceful, and I was afraid to move his hand that was now on my stomach, but I really had to get up.  Just as I was about to lightly move his hand, Rob rolled over onto his back taking his hand with him.

I wiggled out from under the covers, but I still had to climb over him to get out of bed.  I put one of my legs over his waist, not even thinking about how precarious this position was.  I looked down at him, and he was still asleep, but when I made a move to get the other leg over by placing my hands on either side of his head, he woke up.

“What are you doing?”  Rob’s voice was laced with sleep as he opened his eyes lazily.

“I have to pee,” I looked down at him.  His hair was everywhere, and I’m sure it was going to be stuck like that all day after having slept with it wet.  “Go back to sleep.”  I finished getting off of my bed and unlocked my door to go to the bathroom.

When I came back, Rob had not moved an inch, so I found myself in the same position, straddling him.

“If I didn’t know you any better, I’d say that you are trying to take advantage of me,” Rob smirked.

“You caught me,” I shrugged, and grinning, I leaned down to kiss his cheek.

“Get back under here …” Rob gave me a lopsided smile with that statement.  I loved it.

I lifted the blankets and crawled back under so I could snuggle up next to him again.  I couldn’t resist pushing my fingers through his soft hair.  Rob smiled contentedly and put his hand back on my waist.

“Is there anything special you’d like to do today?”  I asked him after a minute of silence and removing my hand from his hair.  I put my arm around him, in a half hug, and his hand moved around to my back, pulling me closer to his body.

“Just hang out with you,” Rob answered.

“K,” I smiled.  “I know it’s a little cold out, but I can show you around campus.  We could grab some breakfast and coffee at RZ’s or Starbucks and then walk around.”

“That sounds fine.”

When we finally crawled out of bed an hour or so later, Rob and I got ready for the day and then headed out.  We walked over to the Union first to get coffee and something small for breakfast.  I had to fight with Rob to let me pay for it using my meal plan, and our compromise was that he could pay for our food and drinks when we went out later.

After we ate, I showed him around campus and then the architecture studio.

“So this is my home away from home,” I said as we walked into the main studio space upstairs in Vol Walker Hall.  The large room was pretty empty, but it was still fairly early for a Saturday in studio.  Rob followed me through the maze of drafting tables and computers to where my stuff was set up in the back corner. 

“And this is my desk.”  My drafting table was messy with drawings, supplies and my studio laptop.  “It’s a little bit of a disaster right now.  I’ve got to get organized for this semester still.”  I glanced over at Rob, and he smiled back.

“Did you make that?”  Rob pointed to a model that was sitting on my desk.  It had 10 different levels of Plexiglas that were cut and carved out by a laser cutter like a map.  I had gone over the groves in the Plexiglas with a different pastel color for each level that was separated by an inch of space.  It was held together by a plastic support in the center.

“Yeah,” I nodded.  “It’s an analytical model for this map project we did last semester.”  I explained the model some more and then showed him my final drawings from December. 

“These are really good Millie,” Rob said as we flipped through the plans, sections, elevations and other drawings from last semester’s museum project.  “But I already knew you had talent.”

“Thanks,” I couldn’t help but blush when he made that statement.  I looked over at him with red cheeks and a smile.  Rob grinned back. 

“Wasn’t this the project you had a bad review for?”  He asked.

“Don’t remind me,” I sat down on my chair, cringing at that thought.  Rob shook his head and laughed a little.  “You should pull up a chair.”  I pointed to the one at the desk next to mine.  Rob grabbed the rolling chair and moved it next to me so he could sit down.  “So on Monday, I have to have 20 diagrams analyzing this painting.” 

I showed him the computer print out of the painting “Saint Jerome in his Study” by Antonello da Messina. 

“They always give us some crazy-ass assignment at the beginning of the semester that doesn’t seem like it means anything until we’re all done.”  I explained picking up a roll of trace paper and laying it over the sheet of paper. 

“Are you going to work on it now?”  He asked.

“Oh, sorry … we can go.  I just have a hard time coming in here and not working,” I looked over at him.

“No, no, that’s fine.  I don’t mind watching you work for a while,” Rob answered. 

“Cool,” I smiled and grabbed a stick of Conté from my toolbox to start sketching on the trace paper.  I had to stare at the painting underneath the opaque paper for a few minutes before finally putting the Conté to it.  “You want to draw?”

“I think I’ll pass on that one,” he laughed.  “Drawing is not my thing.”

“Just let me know when you’re tired of watching me, and we can go find something else to do,” I looked over at him.  “I’d hate for you have come all the way out here and been bored out of your mind.”

“I’m just happy to be able to see you Millie,” Rob smiled. 

I returned his smile and then turned back to the paper in front of me, thinking about how nice it was to be this close to him again and how happy I was to see him too.

Rob’s Point of View

This day had gone by too fast, and now I was playing on Millie’s computer while she finished getting ready to go out to dinner.  I already wished we were going to have more time together.  Seeing her at the airport last night, falling asleep next to her with her feet tucked between mine, and then what I woke up to this morning was brilliant. 

When I pictured Millie hovering over me in a very interesting position this morning, I couldn’t contain the grin that came to my face at that memory.  I definitely could not have waken up to a better view, and I had made no attempt to move when she came back to bed either, knowing she wouldn’t hesitate to end up above me again.

After we got out of bed, she showed me around her school, and I got full details on the architectural history of some of the buildings there.  Millie’s passion for architecture once again amazed me, and it was evident in the projects she had shown me.  She really was good at what she wanted to do with her life.

“I’m almost done,” Millie interrupted my replaying of the day in my mind.  She stood in the doorway.

“Take your time,” I responded looking over at her.  I wasn’t sure what else she had to do, because she was going to make me look like a slob in my plaid button-down shirt, with her dark jeans and bright blue shirt that complimented her nicely if I was allowed to say so myself.  “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“K.”  Millie returned to her mirror and brushed through her hair.  It wasn’t much longer until we pulled on our coats and were walking back across the University campus to the street where all the pubs were.  Millie thought it would be easier to walk rather than find a place to park.

Our first stop of the evening was for dinner at a restaurant called Hog Haus, it was really busy when we got there so I gave them my name, and then Millie and I went and stood outside, despite the cold, to wait for our table to be ready. 

I leaned against the wall, with Millie standing in front of me trying to keep out of the way from everyone who was coming in and out of the restaurant.  She scrunched down into her jacket and scarf more, shivering a little.

“Cold?”  I asked and she nodded.  “Come here.”  I unzipped my jacket and when she stepped closer to me, I wrapped it around her along with my arms.  Her arms snuck around my waist under my coat.  “Better?”

“Much,” she stepped up on her toes and kissed my cheek.  I smiled.  I was very tempted to give her a proper kiss, but decided against it.  For now I was content to have her snuggling under my jacket like she was.

“Is it always this busy here?”  I asked after several minutes.

“Yeah, and because it’s the first Friday of the semester everyone’s out to party,” Millie answered tilting her head so she could look up at me.  “You have to get your drink on before the insanity begins.”  She laughed. 

“Oh, is that what you’re going to do tonight?”  I teased, smiling down at her.

“No,” Millie shook her head.  “I have a five drink limit tonight because I want to remember every second I have with you.”  Her eyes shined while she said that.

“Ah, good answer,” I chuckled as the pager the hostess had given me vibrated in the front pocket of my pants.  Millie pulled away giggling, as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the hunk of plastic.  “I guess that’s us then.” 

After moving from my spot against the wall, I opened the door and let Millie go in front of me.  I handed the pager to the hostess, and we followed her through the busy restaurant. When she showed us our table, I pulled Millie’s chair out for her so she could sit and then sat across from her.

“What’s good here?”  I opened the menu and looked over at her.

“Mmmm …” Millie thought looking through her menu too and then up at me.  “The Barbeque Burger or Pulled Pork Sandwich, and you have to have the Curly Tail Ale.  That’s one of the beers they brew here.  I think you’ll like it.”

Millie and I took our time eating and enjoying each other’s company before going to the next destination of the night that was a little farther down the street.  We made our way through the crowded piano bar, after getting carded at the door, and I followed Millie with my hand in hers as she searched out her friends in the noisy room.

“You’re late!” One of the guys at the table we were approaching shouted as he stood up.  He already sounded like he had had several drinks.  He pulled Millie against him and wrapped his arms around her.

“Hi,” Millie laughed dropping her hand from mine and giving him quick hug.  “Happy Birthday James.”

“Thanks.”  He was eyeing me, and I could see the wheels turning in his head.  It was already clear to me that he had a thing for Millie.  She moved out of his embrace and stepped back toward me.

“This is Rob,” Millie pointed to me, and then at each person sitting at the table telling me their names. After the introductions, I turned back to Millie.

“What do you want to drink?”  I asked her before eyeing the crowded bar at the back of the room.

“I’ll just have whatever you’re having.”  She smiled up at me as she unbuttoned her jacket.

“You sure?”  I wanted to make sure.  She nodded, and I gave her a nod back before turning and heading to the bar.

When I returned several minutes later, Millie had taken up residence on the chair next to James and was chatting with her friends.  I handed her one of the mugs of beer in my hand and set the other one down on the table so I could take my jacket off and hang it on the back of the chair along with Millie’s. 

“Sit down,” she smiled up at me as she scooted over on the chair and patted the spot next to me.  I sat down next to her and put my arm around her shoulder and picked up my mug from the table.

“So Millie says you’re in a movie?”  James leaned forward in his chair so he could see me around Millie.  He was almost yelling to be heard over the dueling pianos and loud banter all around us.

“Yeah,” I nodded and took a sip of my beer.

“What is it?”  The girl, who I had learned was named Rachel, leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table, and she almost knocked over the brown liquid in her glass.

“It’s called Twilight,” I answered.  Her eyes got really wide, and Millie looked between me and Rachel. 

“Oh my God!  I love those books, what character are you going to be?”  She asked quickly, the words almost blending in together.  This was a new reaction.  Well I was used to it from Millie, but had not been expecting the same giddiness about it from another person.

“Edward.”  I could see Millie trying to hide the smirk on her face by drinking her beer.  Rachel looked over at Millie and the two started squealing over the books and the fact that it was going to be a movie.  Wow.

“Have you been in anything else?”  James, who was sitting next to Rachel, asked me.

“I’ve done a few films in London,” I answered.  “And I was in two of the Harry Potter films.”

“You’re Cedric!” Rachel slapped her hand down on the table.  “I thought you looked familiar.”

I really wanted the attention off of me and couldn’t have been more relieved when Millie changed the subject to something I had no idea about.  She was good at reading me.  I didn’t mind just sitting back and watching Millie interact with her friends.

I realized that Millie was oblivious to James’ affections toward her, and I hoped she wasn’t like that when it came to me.  But I didn’t think that was the case as she settled into my side a little more on the chair we were sharing.  My tailbone was starting to fall asleep from only being on half of the chair, but I wasn’t going to say anything because I liked being this close to Millie.

“Robbie,” Millie turned to me after a while, “I’m going to get another drink, what do you want?”

“Another beer is fine love,” I said.  Her eyes lit up at that term of endearment.  “Let me give you some money.”  I started to reach for my wallet.

“I got it,” she answered waving me off.  “I still owe you a drink for your birthday last year anyway.”

“Thanks,” I grinned remembering her card.  She stood up from the chair, and I scooted over to give my tailbone a break.  When she came back, I moved over again, but she stopped me and sat on my lap instead, setting my glass down on the table. 

“What’d you get?”  I eyed her glass after she settled in my lap.  I didn’t mind this one bit.

“Jack and Coke,” she answered and held it up to me.  “This is my last drink tonight.  Do you want some?”

“No thanks,” I curled my arm around her and rested my hand on her stomach.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the dirty look James was throwing in my direction for that.  I ignored it. 

“Are you bored?”  She asked after taking a sip of her drink.

“I’m fine,” I answered reaching for the mug she had set down on the table for me.  Millie threaded her fingers through my hair, tugging on it a little.  “What are you doing?”  I raised my brow.

“I just really like your hair.”  Millie smiled, keeping her fingers there.  There had been very few moments when Millie and I weren’t engaging in some sort of physical contact since I had arrived. 

Millie’s Point of View

It was just after midnight when my friends and I walked out of Willy D’s.  The cold air felt good after being inside with the heat generated from all of the people in the piano bar. 

“Are you coming over?”  James asked as we stepped outside.

“Nah,” I shook my head and looked up at him.  “You know me and alcohol, it puts me to sleep.”  I smiled and leaned into Rob’s side when he put his hand on my waist.

“You’re going to miss all the fun,” Jake threw his arm around James’ shoulder.  He had probably done the most drinking out of all of us.  “Come on Rob tell her you want to come party some more with us.”

“I think we’re going to pass on that,” Rob laughed and looked at me waiting for my response.

“We gotta head home,” I agreed, “besides we walked from the Quad so my car is not here.”  It was a viable excuse, plus I knew they would just go back to their apartment and play some drinking games and then crash.  “So you guys have fun and don’t cause any trouble.  Did you have a good birthday James?”  I asked him.

“Yeah.  Thanks for coming out,” he said.  “See you tomorrow?”

“After I take Rob to the airport,” I answered, nodding.  “Are you guys going to be able to drag yourselves out of bed?”

“Maybe around dinnertime,” James shrugged with a smile.

“Okay, we’ll see ya’ll later.  Ready Rob?”  He nodded, and we said bye to my friends before going in the opposite direction of them. 

“He likes you,” Rob said after a minute.

“Who?” I looked over at him a little surprised at that statement.

“James.”  He looked down at me.

“Really?”  I asked.  I hadn’t noticed, but I guess I had never read much in James’ actions toward me in that manner.  “Hmm …” I hummed.  The only guy I had my eyes on at the moment was the one who was walking next to me, so I definitely wasn’t paying attention.

“I was getting evil looks thrown in my direction all night,” Rob casually put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him.

“Huh … I hadn’t noticed,” I leaned closer to him.  It was quiet for a few minutes, except for the noises coming through the bars we passed and cars driving by.  “Did you have fun?”

“Yeah, you’ve got very nice friends, except for the death glares.”  He grinned down at me and I laughed.  “But you’re worth it.”

“Awe thanks.”  I wanted to kiss him so much.

We made it back to my room, and after getting ready for bed and turning out the light, I crawled into bed next to Rob.  I really liked having him here and was not looking forward to the following afternoon when I’d have to say bye to him for however long it would be.

I knew he was going to be busy filming so I probably wouldn’t hear from him much over the next couple of months.  I really wanted to know where we stood with each other because I didn’t want to miss any chance I had with him.

“Hi,” I said after I had curled up next to him on my little bed.

“What?”  Rob asked.  I guess he could tell I was up to something.

“I kind of want to try something.”  I really, really wanted to know what it would feel like to actually kiss him, and I was going to go for it.

“What’s that?”  He smiled.

“But we can’t get carried away.”  I could see that he was raising his eyebrows now.  I reached up and traced my fingers up his jawbone into his hair, and then threaded them through it.  I moved closer to him and pressed my lips to his.  It was a quick kiss and then I pulled back.

“Did I buy you too many drinks tonight?”  Rob teased quietly.

“Shut up.”  I kissed him again and this time he reciprocated the gesture, deepening the pressure against my lips.  I sighed and curled my fingers through his hair even more.  I felt one of his hands come to rest on my hip and then moved around to my lower back as he turned us so I was lying flat on my back.

We kissed for a while, our lips meeting each other’s softly over and over again, until Rob pulled away and rested his forehead against mine. 

“I’ve wanted to do that all night,” Rob said quietly.

“Me too,” I bit my lower lip and smiled up at him.  “What took us so long?”

“Too much distance,” he sighed and rolled over onto his back.  I followed so I could rest my head on his chest, wrapping an arm around his waist. 

We were quiet.  I was enjoying the silence and thinking about the kiss we had just shared when there was a loud bump against one of the walls next door, and then my roommate her boyfriend started laughing.

“What the hell?”  Rob sounded as annoyed as I felt.  They definitely just ruined the moment.

“I told you they’re like freakin’ rabbits.”  I lifted my head so I could look at him.

“Want to give them a run for their money?”  I could see the joking grin on his face.

“You aren’t getting that lucky buddy,” Laughing, I patted his stomach and kissed his lips quickly. 

“Damn,” he sighed, pretending to be disappointed.  “So, Millie …” His voice got softer and slightly nervous sounding.

“Hmm …” I lay my head down on the pillow next to his.  He turned a little so he was looking at me.  I smiled waiting to hear what he had to say. 

“I like you,” he stated.

I couldn’t have been happier to hear those three little words.  The fact that he felt the same way I did was just … I couldn’t describe it. 

“That’s good because I like you too.”  My lips met his again, and I couldn’t help but put my fingers through his hair again.  His lips made their way from my mouth to ear.

“I think you’re a little obsessed with my hair,” Rob said into my ear after he finished nibbling on it.

“Nah, your lips are pretty nice too.”  I sighed as his lips made their way back to mine.