Rachel left Myumi to her work and waved goodbye to John before heading back to the bus. She pulled out her laptop once more, but the words just weren't coming. Again she sat the machine aside and went to sit on the couch, flipping on the TV and finding an old Marilyn Monroe movie. Curling up to watch the movie, she eventually drifted off to sleep. She was still asleep when the guys made their way back.
"Shhhh..." said AJ, "We've got sleeping beauty on our bus. Are you going to be the prince who awakens her with a kiss from her hundred year sleep?"
Howie smiled down at Rach. "Nah... let her sleep. She's been working hard."
Rachel began to stir. "Hummmummmmmm? Oh, hi. What time is it?"
"12:00 noon, sleeping beauty."
"Noon! Oh, gosh I have to go. I'm having lunch with Myumi."
AJ did a doubletake. There she was again. "Myumi Ishii?"
"Yeah, I just met her this morning. She's nice. She's going to read the manuscript."
"Hm. Mind if we tag along?" asked AJ casually.
"No, sure, I mean, come on. It'll be fun."
"Myumi... isn't she the one..." Howie said to AJ
"Shhhh!" said AJ sharply giving Howie a shut-up-now look.
Howie grinned and said no more.
"It'll have to be a quick lunch though, we've got another set of interviews in an hour or so," Howie reminded AJ. He sighed. Now that he'd gotten the ball rolling with Rachel, he wanted to just sit and spend time with her, but their schedule was almost impossible.
Rachel went and straightened herself up and the three headed out to find Myumi. "Oh, I printed a copy of the first chapter for you too Howie. I know your schedule is crazy today, so I figured it would be easier for you to read it between interviews and such instead of trying to find one particular time to read it all. You guys are swamped today."
"I know," he agreed, sliding his arm around her lightly as they walked. "Seems it's going to be a couple days before we can sit and do some more sessions," he apologized.
"Don't worry, I've got plenty to keep me going so far," she smiled assuringly. "Now, here we are. Let me see if I can find her," she glanced over the various people inside the arena. "There she is. Myumi! Myumi, over here!" she waved her arms to get her attention.
Myumi looked up, smiling, when she heard Rachel call her name. Her smile wobbled a bit when she saw who was with her. They were all coming over!
"So, you're the famous Myumi." said Howie.
"Hardly famous," she said taking his hand. 'Nice to meet you Mr. Dorough."
"Please, call me Howie or D." He put her at her ease.
"Hello again," said AJ, you look as lovely by sunlight as you do by moonlight."
Myumi muttered something unintelligible. Rachel raised her brow at AJ's comment. Interesting.
"Let's get some sandwiches, I'm famished." said Rachel.
"My treat." said AJ offering Myumi his arm. "May I have the pleasure?"
Myumi felt her cheeks warm as she slid her hand into his arm. They got sandwiches and sat down in the shade of a big tree.
'What a glorious day!" bubbled Rachel, overflowing with love and friendship and her book.
"I prefer cloudy days, myself." said Myumi, taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Why is that?" asked AJ, curiously.
"Don't know," shrugged Myumi, "Always have. Guess I'm light sensitive."
"You're a moon-flower." said AJ taking off his shades and offering them to her. She slid them on gratefully. AJ smiled. She looked adorable in his blue oval shades.
"Well!" said Rachel, "Time to humor Rachel." she passed out the chapters. "I made one for you too, AJ."
"Oh, thanks..." said AJ, touched.
The three read and munched, and Rachel looked from face to face, nervously. Myumi was about halfway down the third page when she saw it. A mistake. She read it again to be sure. Rachel had confused medications. She confused Plaquenil, an anti-inflammatory, for Fosamax, a bone builder. She glanced up at Rachel, who was looking at her anxiously.
"What?" said Rachel.
What would Myumi do? She couldn't point out the mistake without revealing her condition. But it was a big mistake.
"Something's wrong with it huh?" Rachel said, knowing from experience the look on Myumi's face.
Myumi hesitated a moment. She wouldn't have to admit that it was she who had the disease. She could claim a friend did. "Yeah. Page three, you got a couple of the medications mixed up," she said slowly, leaning over to point out the part to Rachel.
"Wow! I'm so glad you caught that! How did you know?" she looked quizzically to her new friend.
"I um, have a friend who has the disease," she lied. "I've heard her talk about all the medications she takes and helped her read up on them once."
"Well great!! You can help me keep an eye on things from that point of view then! I don't know that much about that aspect yet, still researching," she supplied as she took out a pen and made a note on her copy. Looking up, she looked at AJ and Howie who were still reading. She couldn't tell from their faces what they thought. Suddenly she became acutely paranoid that Howie wasn't going to like it, and she fiddled nervously with a dandelion that she plucked from the grass nearby. It was so important that he like it...the whole project hinged on it. "What do you think?" she asked when he finally looked up. "And be honest...I can take it," she sighed.
Howie looked up into her eyes, speechless. Finally he found his voice. "It's wonderful, it's just as I had hoped." he leaned over and gave Rachel a lingering kiss.
Myumi looked away, embarrassed, and a bit jealous. "Well, I'd better go. Here are your glasses, AJ."
"Keep 'em, moonflower, they suit you."
"Thanks." she said sliding them on. "They help." She stood up and began to walk back toward the loading. AJ ran and caught up with her.
"Myumi, um, I was wondering... would you like to um, go out for a drink with me tonight?"
Myumi smiled at his obvious nervousness. "Sure, AJ. I'd like that."
"Oh, good. That you like that. I like that you like that. I mean... I mean I like you and ... um, I mean... ok, shutting up and going away. Um... see you tonight, Myumi."
Myumi nodded, smiled and went on her way. She wondered if anyone else noticed that she was floating.
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