A Chat Between Friends (Part 8)

Lea… This one's for you!

Last Time:

Bo and Nora go to the Palace to meet 'SlowDancer' and ChiliDog.' They didn't show up - or did they????

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Bo stood, totally at a loss to explain what happened. He shook his head as he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the door. He glanced over a Hank who sat with a scowl on his face and shrugged his shoulders as Bo continued out the door.

Nora rushed home. Jess was surprised to see her home so early, she had planned to spend the night. Nora invited her to stay over, saying how much she and Matthew would enjoy her company. She agreed and went back upstairs to play video games with Matthew.

Nora walked to her study and turned on the computer. As she waited for it to come up, she could only think of Bo. Why did she run off. She wanted him to kiss her, she needed him to kiss her, and just when he was so close she could feel his breath on her skin, she pushed him away. Was she crazy??? She asked herself.

It was the thought of 'ChiliDog' that stopped her. That one moment with Bo was so much like he described how their first meeting would go. "Where were you tonight?" she asked the monitor as she began to log on.

The ride back to the garret was a long one. Bo couldn't figure out what could have happened to 'SlowDancer.' "She must have changed her mind… That's it," he convinces himself as he unlocks his front door and steps inside, throwing his keys on the table. He walked to the computer and turned it on.

Nora sat, watching people sign on and off… Still no 'ChiliDog.' "Something awful happened… He was in an accident. He couldn't find the Palace. What… What!" she yelled at her computer. Then she saw him.

SlowDancer: Are you alright?

ChiliDog: I'm fine. Where were you tonight??

SlowDancer: I was there!! I was waiting for you!!

ChiliDog: I was there!!!

SlowDancer: No…

ChiliDog: Yes!! LOL! Are you saying you were at the Palace and I missed you?

SlowDancer: Oh No! Oh No!! We missed each other??

ChiliDog: Were you wearing Royal Blue?

SlowDancer: NO! I got a stain on it before I left. I changed!! YOU WERE THERE??

ChiliDog: LOL! YES!!! {scratching my head} How did I miss you?

SlowDancer: I had to change tops. I was wearing a black sequined top instead.

Bo stared at the screen, reading and rereading her post. "Black sequined top… A black sequined top… Who?? His eyes grew large as the realization began to sink in… The possibility finally hit.

ChiliDog: Black sequined????

SlowDancer: Yes! I'm so sorry. My son opened the kitchen door when I was trying to exit. LOL!! The bowl of ice cream decided to rest on my blouse.

Bo was still stunned… SlowDancer???… Nora????? The thought of it sent his senses on alert. Still in disbelief…

ChiliDog: Black sequined top???

SlowDancer: LOL! Yes!

ChiliDog: Red hair???

SlowDancer: Um… Yes…

ChiliDog: Gorgeous brown eyes… A smile that lights a room…

SlowDancer: I… Uh… Yeah? I guess… You saw me there???

ChiliDog: I've gotta go!!! I'll catch you later!!

SlowDancer: But… Wait!!!!

ChiliDog had signed off and left Nora totally baffled. He saw her, she smiled at the thought of it. He actually saw her. Frowning to herself, how did she miss him? She just didn't understand.

Hank arrived home more frustrated than he could ever remember being. These two lost souls were trying his patience. Suddenly he was startled by an urgent banging at his door. He quickly went to the door and pulled it open. Bo barged in uninvited.

"It's Nora, Hank! It's Nora!" Bo said running his hand through his hair.

"What?" Hank asked as he closed the door.

"SlowDancer is Nora, Hank! It's Nora!!"

"Ya Think?!?" Hank said with a huge, knowing smile.

Bo stopped, taken aback by Hank's demeanor. "You knew?" Bo questioned as Hank continued to smile. "This whole time… For weeks??? All our conversations… YOU KNEW?!?!" Hank smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "No, no, no…" Bo rubbed his temples. "All the 'ChiliDog' talk…" Getting up into Hank's face, "Tonight!… You KNEW!?!?"

"OK! OK!" he chuckled as he stepped away. "I knew!"

"Hank… God, Hank how could you let me…"

"Bo! Don't you see the irony in this whole thing?"

Bo turned and faced him, a deep scowl on his face. "Irony? You see Irony in what happened tonight???"

Hank began to chuckle. "Yes, Bo, Irony! You both were looking for someone else to help you get over the other…" laughing a little harder, "and you found each other!" he laughed in amazement.

"Nora doesn't know?" he asked.

"Not a clue," Hank replied. "Not a Clue."

"OK! OK!" he said as he paced the apartment trying to think. Turning to glare at Hank, "Here's what you're going to do…"

"Who me?" Hank said shyly.

"Yes YOU! You're going to get Nora back to the Palace TONIGHT!"

"But Bo, it's…" he looked at his watch.

"I don't care what time it is. I don't care if you have to physically pick her up, throw her over your shoulders in her pajamas! Bring her to the PALACE!" Stepping in front of Hank, "Understand???"

Hank simple nodded, seeing the determination in Bo's eyes. "I'll get her," picking up his keys, "But I'll tell ya… She ain't gonna be happy."

"Just get her to the Palace," Bo said again as they walked out of Hank's apartment.

Nora was startled by the knocking at her door. Who could it be this late, she wondered as she approached the door.

"Hank?!" she said, surprised to see him.

"I need you to come with me, Honey."

"Why? Is something wrong??" Nora asked as Hank stepped into the house to grab her coat.

"Hank? I can't go anywhere now, it's too late," waving her hand down the front of her, "I'm in my pajamas, Hank!"

"It doesn't matter. Put this on," as he holds her coat. "Is there someone here for Matthew?"

"Jess is here, but I'm …"

Wrapping the coat around her shoulders because she wouldn't put her arms in the sleeves. He physically directed her to the door.

"Hank!!! I'm not…"

Turning her to face him, glaring into her eyes. "You are coming with me."

"Hank, I don't understand…"

"Nora! You don't have to understand… Just TRUST…"

Sighing, she looked into his eyes and pulled the coat closed, "This better be good, Hank Gannon." She scowled as he smiled back at her. "VERY good," she pointed at his chest as she turned to walk out the door. Hank smiled as he followed, looking toward heaven with a silent 'Thank You.'

"Look, Hank, I've allowed you to pull me out of my home way past midnight. Now we're sitting in your car in front of the Palace Hotel. What's going on?" she asked as she glanced out of the car window and then back at Hank's profile.

"I love you, Nora. You know that, right?" he asked sincerely as he turned to look at her.

Reaching over and gently caressing his face, "Yes, Hank, I know you do. I love you too. It's just…"

"Then get out of this car and go inside the Palace Restaurant."

"What?" she glanced out of the window and then back at Hank.

"Get… out… of…" he started speaking slowly.

"Hank???"

"Just get out of the damn car, Nora! NOW!"

"OK! OK!" she could see the seriousness on his face. She reluctantly opened the car door and stepped out. The car door barely closed and Hank sped away from the curb.

Nora shook her head in confusion as she walked into the hotel and stopped at the entrance of the restaurant. The whole place was empty and dark, except for a dim light illuminating the dance floor and a single candle lit at a lone table by the door.

Nora stood, completely baffled, beginning to turn around to leave when she heard his voice echo in the room, quietly from a corner.

"Excuse me, Miss…"

She slowly turned and squinted into the dark room, the voice sounding familiar. She saw a movement of someone as they began to step from the shadows and cross the floor. As he stepped into the light on the dance floor, Nora's breath ceased.

"Bo…" she said as a whisper, "What??…"

He continued to walk to her, his smile growing as the love he had in his eyes radiated towards her. She could feel the burning in her eyes as her emotions became a jumble in her mind.

Extending his hand toward her in a greeting, "Hello… I'm Bo Buchanan." He smiled, waiting for her to take his hand. She just looked confused. Bo smiled, hand still extended and continued, "and I believe you are 'SlowDancer?'" his smile slowly faded as he waited for her to realize what was happening.

She stared at his hand as his words began to have meaning. She slowly looked up into his eyes as a tear ran down her cheek. "You're…?" she shook her head. It couldn't be. Looking in his eyes hoping for an answer, "You're 'ChiliDog?'"

Bo never answered her question with words. He took her hand and slowly pulled her onto the dance floor. Her coat falling from her shoulders to land in a heap on the floor. Neither stopped their steps to even acknowledge the loss. Their eyes glued to one another, Bo walked backwards until they were standing in the middle of the floor. The music began to play and Bo pulled her to him and held her tightly.

She couldn't find the words she wanted to say and knew her voice would never allow her to say them anyway without a huge struggle. Bo leaned back slightly from her as he took her face into his hands and slowly examined every feature.

"I should have known it was you, Red…"

"Bo…"

"Shh…" he said softly, running his thumb across her lips, feeling her warm breath on his skin. "I love you Nora Buchanan. You have brought light back into my life." He said as his face lowered to hers. His lips taking hers with his kiss.

She held onto him, knowing she would never let him go again. Separating briefly from their kiss, she tilts her head and looks into his eyes, her face showing everything she was feeling. "I love you too, 'ChiliDog.'" She smiled seductively and stepped to him and kissed him deeply as his arms wrapped around her and they moved around the dance floor, swaying to the music and never separating.

Bo and Nora never stopped to notice Hank leaning against the doorframe at the entrance, watching their moment. His heart was full as a smile spread across his face. "Happy endings all around 'SlowDancer' and 'ChiliDog,'" the mention of the screen names caused him to laugh out loud. He glanced at the couple in love on the dance floor and then slowly turned to leave, "'ChiliDog??!'" he laughed as he shook his head.

His laughter caused Bo and Nora to separate and look towards the empty doorway. She glanced back at Bo's handsome face and caressed it with her hand, "I love the name 'ChiliDog!'" she smiled into his eyes and kissed him, "I just love it!"

The End.