Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 08:35:12 -0800 (PST) From: Ian Boldt Subject: Life Of Luxury Part 11 Hey guys here is Part eleven i hope you like it. If you are under the legal age then LEAVE! If you are able to view this then please continue. I woke up in the morning after a night of fitful sleeping. I kept going over what Pierre had said to me. I was still in bed when there was a knock on my door. "Come in," I said. "Alex," said Colleen, "Are you okay?" "Well good morning to you too, Colleen," I said smiling, "Why wouldn't I be okay?" "Well I don't want to pry, but last night you were really quiet after we lefts Pierre's. Brendan and I talked about it over breakfast. We just wanted to know if you were okay." They had noticed, damn. I thought, no, hoped they wouldn't. I wanted to tell Colleen what Pierre had said but I couldn't bring myself to say it. As I sat there naked in my bed, I resolved to tell Colleen as long as she swore secrecy. "Can I tell you something?" I asked. "You can tell me anything," she said, "You know that." "You can't tell anyone, not even Brendan. Especially not Brendan," I said. "Hey Alex, I won't tell. What's going on, you're starting to freak me out," said Colleen looking concerned. "Last night when we were getting ready to leave, Pierre came up to me and told me I was cute." "Uh-oh." "Yeah, I know. That's why you can't tell. But what should I do?" Colleen was about to speak when the phone rang. "Hello?" I said. "Hello Alexander. It's Pierre," he said. "Hi Pierre, what's up?" I said looking at Colleen; she was staring at me. "I was wondering if we could talk," said Pierre. "Um...sure go ahead," I said. "No I mean in person," he answered. "I guess so, when and where?" I asked. "Can I come over in about thirty minutes?" he asked. "Yeah, sure Pierre. I'll see you then. Bye," I said hanging up my phone. "What was that all about?" asked Colleen. "Pierre is coming over in thirty minutes," I answered. "Oh really," she said, "Why?" "He wants to talk," I explained. "I see." "Come with me." "Where are we going?" "When Pierre gets here, he will be brought to the east wing library. I will be waiting for him and you'll be there as well." "But I thought he wanted to talk to you." "He does and he will. When he comes in you will get up to get something to drink, however, once outside the door instead of turning left you will go right. Walk until you see the hanging depicting a hunting scene. Behind it is a door. To open it you must enter 513 on the keypad. This door leads to a secret passage. It ends up behind the Picasso in the library. However, it isn't a real Picasso, it is a two-way mirror. You can see us but we can't see you. On the left of the mirror is a red button, press it and you will be able to hear the conversation. Do you understand so far?" "Yeah I get it." "If anything happens and I look at you run and find Brendan. Bring him as fast as you can to the library. OK?" "Sure thing, Alex. Are you gonna tell Brendan?" "Eventually, but I need to get in the shower, he will be here in twenty minutes. Why don't you go to the library and wait for me. Avoid Brendan at all costs. Can you do this for me?" "Sure and I hope it goes well." "Thanks." Colleen left and I ran to my bathroom and took a fast shower. I dried myself off, brushed my teeth, and styled my hair. Then I went over to my closet and put on a brown wool turtleneck by Dolce & Gabana and some black linen slacks also by Dolce. Then I put on my ever-present Gucci loafers. Satisfied I made my way to the library. On my way I ran into our Heinrich, the door butler, and told him to show Pierre into the east wing library when he arrived. I walked into the library and Colleen was there waiting for me. "Oh good. I'm so glad you are here. Brendan followed me here asking me what I was doing. I told him I wanted to read and he left saying something about checking his email. He left only a few seconds ago so you are lucky you didn't run into him," said Colleen. "Sounds like a close call if you ask me. Too close for comfort," I replied sitting in an easy chair. No sooner had I sat down when Heinrich opened the door and said, "Monsieur de Rothschild." "Show him in please Heinrich," I answered. Pierre came and said, "Alexander and Colleen how are you both?" "Good Pierre and you?" I asked. "Very well yet bothered," he answered. "I am going to get something to drink," said Colleen, "Would either of you care for something?" "No thank you Colleen," I said looking up at her. "No thank you either," said Pierre not taking his eyes off of me. As soon as she left he came up to me and sat down. "What can I do for you Pierre?" I asked nonchalantly. "I think you know exactly what it is I want to talk to you about," said Pierre stubbornly. "Does it have anything to do with your comment last night?" I asked still nonchalantly. "Yes," he said tersely, then in a repentant voice he added, "Alexander, Alex, ever since I met you I have thought you were absolutely gorgeous and..." "Pierre," I started. "Please don't interrupt," he said pleadingly, "Anyway, I have had a, what is the word you Americans use, crush on you. I guess what I want to know is do you feel the same about me?" I sat in silence for a moment contemplating how to tell him without breaking his heart. "Pierre..." I started but was stopped when Brendan came into the room. He saw Pierre sitting next to me reaching out. He looked at me and then at Pierre, then back at me. He turned on his heel and left. "Brendan wait!!!!!!" I yelled, but he kept on walking away. Pierre got up and said, "I am sorry Alex. I didn't mean to intrude. Perhaps I should leave. I will see you later." "Goodbye Pierre," I whispered as he left. After he had gone I ran to Brendan's room but he wasn't there. All of his clothes were gone, except for the ones I bought him. On the bed was a note. "Alexander- I did not mean to interrupt anything, but obviously you can handle more than one guy. I am sorry that it wasn't me you gave yourself to. I didn't think status was something you valued above all else. I guess this is goodbye. -Brendan" Instinctively I turned the page over and re-read the note. I let it fall from my hand as I crumpled to the floor. The tears flowed down my cheeks as I repeated Brendan's name over and over again. Colleen came running in and saw me then the note. She read it and held me as I sobbed. "I didn't do anything wrong," I sobbed. "I know Alex, I know," comforted Colleen, "Right now I think you should go lie down. I'll try to find Brendan. Okay?" I nodded and let her lead me to my room. I quickly fall asleep. * * * * * * "Hello?" said Brendan. "Bren, where are you? I have looked all over the house and called your parents nobody knows where you are," said Colleen. "Right now I am getting ready to land in Paris on Lufthansa flight 939," he replied. "What!?!?!?" exclaimed Colleen. "You heard me," he said. "Brendan you have to listen to me," said Colleen, "Alex and Pierre didn't do a thing." "Why do I not believe that?" he asked, "And how do you know?" "Brendan the Picasso in the library is a two way mirror. I was behind it listening to what was going on. Pierre was telling Alex that he has had like this major crush on him for like ever and Alex was about to tell him about you but you walked in I didn't know what to do so I found Alex, weeping in your room saying your name over and over again. So I put him to bed and went to find you, except I couldn't," explained Colleen. "So they didn't do anything th..." he was interrupted by an explosion. "BRENDAN!!!!!" screamed Colleen. She ran to a television set and turned on CNN. They were talking about the Middle East crisis. She tried calling Brendan's phone again but only got his voicemail. She left a frantic message telling him to call her immediately. As she was hanging up the news anchor came on. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am sorry to interrupt your regularly scheduled program, but we have just received word that two planes have collided over Paris. A Boeing 777 flown by Lufthansa en route to Paris from Salzburg and a Boeing 747 flown by Air France en route to New York City collided just minutes ago. Apparently the Air France flight was taking off when the Lufthansa flight was attempting to land. The two planes collided. It is not known whether or not there are any survivors but we will keep you up to date as details emerge from this horrible tragedy." Colleen sat in shock staring at the television screen. "Colleen, have you seen my son or Brendan?" asked my mother. Slowly Colleen turned and faced my mother. The look on her face brought me mother next to her in an instant. "Colleen dear, what's wrong?" begged my mother, "Please tell me!" "Alex and Brendan had a fight and Brendan left," began Colleen in a whisper. "Is that it?" asked my mother hiding her relief. "No, I called Brendan to find out where he was and he told me he was on Lufthansa flight 939 getting ready to land in Paris. He was starting to say something when I heard this huge explosion and the line went dead. I tried calling him back but I only got his voicemail, so I ran over here to the TV to see what had happened and they said a 747 and a 777 had collided. The 777 was a Lufthansa flight," said Colleen bursting into tears. "Oh dear God!" said my mother trying to get her mind around this awful piece of information and comforting Colleen. My father walked in and helped my mother take Colleen to her room, where they helped her get into bed. "What was that all about?" asked my confused father. My mother filled him in on what little she knew. "We have to call Henry and Charlotte," said my father, "They need to know what has happened." While my father called the Johnson's, my mother came to my room. "Alexander," she said waking me up, "Alex, dear, something truly dreadful has happened." "What is it mother?" I asked waking up. "There has been an accident," she answered. "Where's Brendan?" I asked. "He was on a Lufthansa flight en route to Paris when his plane was hit by a 747. They don't know what happened or if there are any survivors." I sat there in shock until I understood what she was telling me. When I did I began to cry uncontrollably. "Alexander, please don't cry," implored my mother, "I'm sure Brendan will be all right." "Please mother can you leave and send Colleen in?" I asked recovering myself. "Only after you tell me what the fight between you and Brendan was all about," said my mother. "It was something stupid," I said, "So stupid I don't even remember what it was about." The look on my face must have convinced her because she left without pressing the issue and Colleen came in a few minutes later; her eyes red and swollen from crying. Just looking at her made me start crying all over again. She came over to me and held me as we cried together. "It was all my fault," I sobbed over and over. "No, honey, it wasn't your fault," said Colleen after every time I said that. I must have cried myself to sleep because when I woke up it was dark out. I looked at the bedside clock and saw that it was two in the morning. I realized I was hungry so I made my way to the kitchen. In order to get there I had to pass by Colleen's room. As I was passing I heard noises coming from in the room. I listened at her door and heard a heated argument. "Eric I can't believe you showed up like this," said Colleen, "Especially after everything that has happened." "So what if Brendan is dead," said Eric callously. "I can't believe you said that," said Colleen, "Brendan was your friend!" "Keyword there is was, sister dear," said Eric coldly, "At least now I can be content that Alex won't have his spoiled little hands on him." "You are still hung up on that?" Colleen practically screamed. "No I'm not," said Eric matching his sister's tone. "Yes you are! Admit it! You wouldn't be happy unless Alex is miserable. You are one selfish little brat and I am sorry to say the I am related to you." I heard a slap and I was in the room in a flash. I punched Eric and he crumpled to the floor in a heap. I flipped him over and looked him directly in his face. I saw the fear and hatred in his eyes as he stared back at me. "Colleen press nine on that phone and tell them to get the police here," I said. "Colleen don't you dare!" spat Eric. Colleen looked at the two of us, then picked up the phone and pressed nine. "You fucking bitch!" yelled Eric, "You aren't my sister! You are a wannabe. You'll never fit in with that crowd." Colleen walked over to him and slapped him, fifteen minutes later the police were taking Eric out of the house. While they were filling out their reports, I asked if they had heard anything on the news about the plane crash in Paris. "As a matter of fact," said one of them, "They have found survivors. Most of them are from first-class and doing okay." "Oh my god!" I screamed, "You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Thank you!" "Well you are quite welcome," he replied, "Did you know anyone on either of those planes?" "Yes and if I know him he was in first class," I answered. "I hope he is alright for your sake then," said the officer, "Well we are finished. Have a goodnight." "You too," I replied as I shut the door. I turned to Colleen and said, "Did you hear that?" She nodded and came over to me and gave me a hug then said, "Come on let's get some sleep." "Okay," I said as we went to our separate bedrooms. * * * * * * I woke up the next morning feeling a little better. I asked for a newspaper to be brought to me as soon as I was awake. I opened it and there was a list of all the passengers and crew on both planes. If there was a * next to it meant that they were the walking wounded; if there was a # next to it, it meant that they were alive but about to die, in a coma, etc.; if there was a cross by the name it meant they were dead; and if there was nothing by it then they were still missing. I looked on the list of passengers on the Lufthansa flight and saw Brendan's name with a cross by it. I let out a wail that made most of the servants come running to my room. My mother and Colleen both came running in and when they saw the paper, they understood what had set me off. I began to cry uncontrollably and could not stop. I felt that my heart had been ripped out. I cursed Pierre for causing this, I cursed myself for not running after Brendan, and I cursed Brendan for getting on that plane without letting me explain. I fell into a feverish sleep where I dreamed that Brendan and I were walking along the beach back home in California. We were holding hands and laughing with each other. However when I went to kiss him he turned into a mangled corpse with burned flesh. I pushed him away and ran off, but as I was running I heard him call out, "Alex I will always love you." * * * * * * I spent the rest of my vacation in my room, unable to leave it. Brendan's parent's came and we cried together. Mrs. Johnson told me that Brendan had told here I made his so happy and for that she was grateful. She hugged me and left. I haven't seen them since. That's it for part eleven. Don't worry its not over but let me know what you think at lightningman02@yahoo.com