Tu Es Mon Soleil - Chapter 18

Ellen opened her severely heavy eyes, then sighed softly. She let herself to just lie still, indulging the comfort of her bed a bit longer before she stretched her hand out to the night stand and reached her watch. It's 8.20 am. Alright. Time to get up.

She left her bed and walked towards her bedroom's door. Right when she opened the door, the smell of hot coffee were everywhere, setting her body to a full-wake-up mode. The smell of the coffee made her happy, and her body felt warm.

The girl's here, Ellen thought and smiled. She closed her eyes and inhaled to enjoy the smell of the coffee again. Oh, how she missed that smell. 

Then her ears caught some vague melodies. Piano? She walked quietly down the hall to the living room. The melodies got clearer. When she reached the threshold of the living room, she stopped. A smile decorated her lips when she saw Portia de Rossi was dancing, following every melodies of the music that was playing from the CD player.

Actually, Portia wasn't really dancing. It seemed like she was only trying on some movements, because sometimes she would stop, think with her head a bit tilted to one side, and then started to move again.

Even so, Ellen got herself stunned, just as she was when the first time she had seen Portia dancing in Juilliard. She leaned her shoulder to the wall and her eyes never once left Portia who was still dancing, not sensing the presence of Ellen. Ellen liked watching Portia dancing. She felt like she could stand there forever and watched the girl danced for all eternity. And she would do that with pleasure, too.

Portia did a turning movement and then she saw Ellen. She screamed in surprise, tripped, and fell on the wooden floor in Ellen's living room.

Ellen hurriedly walked towards Portia. Her smile went broader when she saw Portia bit her lip while rubbing her butt that must've felt hurt pretty bad. "Good morning," Ellen mumbled with a hint of laugh in her voice and offered her right hand to Portia.

Portia looked up and smiled in embarrassment. "Morning," she muttered back and took Ellen's hand, letting Ellen pulled her up. "Did I wake you?" she asked when she was already on her feet, eventhough her hand was still in Ellen's grip.

"Nope," Ellen answered lightly. "How long have you been here?"

"Maybe, like, half an hour. I checked your room earlier to see if you're really home or not. And when I saw you were still sleeping like a baby, I decided to just let you enjoy your nice sleep." Portia looked at Ellen with a questioning look. "You don't usually wake up this late."

Ellen slightly smiled. "I accompanied Vance and his orchestra members till past midnight yesterday."

Portia mumbled quietly and looked down to see something. Ellen followed Portia's eyes and saw that her hand was still holding Portia's. Strange. Ellen knew she had to pull her hand back before everything got awkward. But the thing is, she didn't want to do that. The thing is, it felt like Portia's hand perfectly fit hers. The thing is, holding the girl's hand made everything felt right.

But finally, Ellen forced herself to let Portia's hand go. She stuffed her hand to her trouser's pocket and cleared her throat. "So apparently, you also practice your dance in my house."

Portia's face blushed again. "That's because you have an impressive song collections. Like this one...."

"Ludovico Einaudi's? Fairy Tale?" Ellen cut her off, referring to the music that was still playing.

Portia nodded and her eyes gleamed in excitement. "That's it. Fairy Tale. I'm in love with this song." She closed her eyes, enjoying the music again, and a smiled appeared from her lips. And then she opened her eyes and stared at Ellen in a way that made Ellen absent-mindedly held her breath, and said, "I was thinking about some new choreographies for this song."

Ellen nodded and had to take a step back before she could breathe again. "Guess you already brewed my coffee?"

"Of course," Portia replied. "I'll get it for you."

Portia walked to the kitchen and Ellen trailed behind. She sat on one of the tall chairs there and observing the girl pouring the coffee for her. Seeing Portia right in front of her gave her a strange feeling of happiness. Maybe it's because she had gotten used to the coffee that the girl makes, and 2 weeks without that coffee had turned her into a very cranky human being.

Actually, to be very very honest, the problem wasn't all about the coffee. Passing the last 2 weeks without ever seeing Portia also affected Ellen. She didn't know since when, but the one thing that she knew was the presence of Portia de Rossi in her house didn't feel out of place anymore. In fact, it was like.... like, Portia was meant to be there, keeping everything in Ellen's life balanced. 

Was that even make any sense? Was that too much?

Ellen put her hands around the cup and sighed in contentment. "Finally," she mumbled. "Finally, finally, finally."

Portia smiled. "I knew you missed me, Ellen DeGeneres," she joked.

Ellen took a sip of her heavenly coffee and smiled back. "Your coffee, de Rossi. I missed your coffee."

"Well, same thing. My coffee. Me." Portia shrugged carelessly. "If you can't live your life without my coffee, then you can't live without me," she continued, laughing. "It got me wondering.... How would you continue your life after this ends?"

"What ends?" Ellen asked confusedly.

"When your hand is already healed."

"What happens when my hand is healed?"

"Ellen, when your hand is healed, you won't need me to be your maid and brew your morning coffee anymore, right?"

Ellen winced hearing Portia said the word 'maid'. At first she was pissed off with the girl and happily called Portia as her maid. But now, things have changed. She didn't even consider Portia de Rossi as her maid anymore. Not at all. In fact, she started to think of Portia as....... as....... what? 

Well, anything but not a maid. 

Wait, did Portia de Rossi just said that she would leave Ellen after hand is healed? Ellen was stunned. The idea of not having Portia around........ Ellen shook her head. She didn't like a bit of that idea.

Ellen looked down and stared at her bandaged left hand. She started to be able to move her wrist and it didn't hurt so bad anymore. She knew that not long after, her left hand would function well again. The doctor himself said so.

It means, that when Ellen's hand is totally healed, Portia wouldn't be there anymore to make her morning coffee? She wouldn't come to her apartment anymore? Would Portia move all of her plants back to her apartment too?

Is there any way to make her stay even when my hand is healed? Ellen thought.

Before Ellen came out with an answer, Portia's phone rang and snapped her out of her trance. Portia hurriedly walked to the living room and Ellen heard her said, "Hello? Hi, Regina."

Ellen sighed and took another sip of her coffee.

"Sorry, I can't," Ellen heard Portia said that apologetically. "I've already promised to go with your friend tonight."

Silence. And then, "Yeah. Ellen."

Ellen nid-nodded her head. She could guess what Regina wanted. But shame, my ol' friend, Ellen thought and smiled in satisfaction to herself, you're left one step behind.

Portia's voice was heard again. "I don't know either. I'll ask her later.... Okay, sure. Bye, Regina."

Seconds later, Portia showed up again in the kitchen. "That was Regina," she reported without being asked. "She asked me if I have any appointment tonight. I told her I promised to go out with you tonight. And then I remembered that you still haven't told me what are we going to do tonight."

"What did Regina want?" Ellen asked back, ignoring Portia's indirect question.

Portia shrugged. "She didn't say anything."

Ellen smiled. "I think she has the same idea with me."

"What idea?"

"I'm sure that she wanted to ask you to be her date on a party that we're going to attend tonight. It's just that she doesn't know yet that you'll be there too. As my date."

"What party?"

"Have you ever heard about Dee Black Dance Company?" Ellen asked back.

"Dee Black Dance Company?" Portia stood silent for a moment, then said, "Yeah, sure. That's one of the most famous dancing clubs in US. I heard that they're going to held a show in NY next week."

Ellen nodded. "Tonight they'll hold a party and a press conference, to formally announce the upcoming show," she explained. "Because the head of the company, Dee Black, is one of my mom's close friends, we're invited to the party."

"Oh."

"At first, I didn't want to go because I thought I wouldn't know anybody there. But then I remembered of you. I thought, since you're a dancer too, you must want to attend a party of a very famous dancing club. And since you'll be there, I won't be bored, you'll accompany me."

"Oh."

Ellen observed the girl that was standing before her in confusion. She thought that Portia would be delighted to go to the party, but it seemed that her earlier thought was wrong. Portia didn't look very excited.

"You don't seem to be very enthusiastic," Ellen commented and squinted her eyes.

"What did you expect me to say?" Portia asked and stared back at Ellen.

Ellen leaned over the counter and rested her chin on her hands. "Well, I don't know. Something like, 'oh my god, Ellen, thank you so much for inviting me to a party that's held by one of the most well-known dancing companies in the US'?"

Portia couldn't help but smiled.

"And you'll be happy to meet so many famous dancers there. I've heard that Dee Black has the most talented dancers in this country," Ellen continued.

"I know," Portia muttered. She stared at Ellen for a minute, and finally said, "Alright. Thank you so much, Ellen, for inviting me to a party that is held by one of the most well-known dancing companies in the US." 

Ellen lifted her eyebrows. "And?"

"And what?"

"You still haven't answered whether or not you wanna go with me."

"I didn't know that you're waiting for any answers," Portia answered frankly, a bit surprised. "I thought you're just giving orders, as usual."

"I choose to not respond to your words," Ellen said, ignoring Portia's cynical tone. "So, do you wanna go with me or not?"

Portia inhaled and said. "Yes. Well, do I have any other choices?"

"No," Ellen smiled broadly. "Oh, and for your information, it's a formal party. I mean, I'm going to wear a suit and you...."

"Have to wear a party dress." Portia smiled. "I know. Just relax. I'm not going to embarrass you in public."

"Great. Now I have to take a bath first and you....."

"I'll set up the breakfast for you. I know." Portia cut her off and shook her hand.

"Good girl," Ellen mumbled. She left her seat and exited the kitchen. At the threshold, she turned around and said, "Oh, I just remembered, after breakfast......."

"I'll drive you to your brother's studio or wherever it is you need to go," Portia cut her off once again. "I know." 

Ellen blinked watching the girl checking the cabinet. Sensing to be glared at, Portia turned her head to look at Ellen and asked, "What?"

"De Rossi, you can read my mind," Ellen said with squinted eyes. "That's frightening."

"I do?" Portia laughed and shrugged. "I guess that's one of the results of being with you almost all the time."

"Hmm, well, I can't complain then," Ellen mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," Ellen threw a big smile at Portia, turned around and walked out of the kitchen. 

Tu Es Mon Soleil - Chapter 17

"This is the very first time I've ever set a foot in Ramses," Jennifer said happily when she and Portia entered one of the most high class and expensive restaurants in New York.

"Be thankful to Billy," Portia muttered, smiling. 

"Oh yes, I'm so going to thank him," Jennifer answered. "Although he did all this just to try to impress you."

Portia ignored her friend and smiled to the waitress who welcomed them. "Billy Parkinson," Portia said when the waitress asked them about the reservation.

"Come with me, please," the waitress led the way to the main room.

That was dinner time and the restaurant was pretty crowded. Portia couldn't see any empty table if there were any. The waiters and the waitresses were wearing a clean white uniform, the guests were wearing their best outfits, the room was huge and elegant. Portia was quite sure that the food must be really good, too. And expensive, of course.

"Do you think they're already here?" Portia asked Jen.

"I don't know," Jennifer answered. "Oh, that's them."

Portia looked at Billy and Rick, her fellow dancers friends, waving at them. She smiled and waved back.

"De Rossi?"

That voice had Portia turned her body around and widened her eyes when she recognized somebody who was standing close to the bar.

Ellen DeGeneres.

And then her heart beat two times harder than usual. Oh, crap.

Ellen DeGeneres stared at her for a while, and then slowly her lips curved a smile. "I didn't expect to see you here, de Rossi. This is a delightful surprise."

Portia opened her mouth to answer, but there were no words coming out. She also didn't expect to see Ellen there after 2 weeks. And of course, after that woman messed up her mind.

"Portia?"

Portia's head turned again. This time she saw Jennifer who was waiting for her and stared at her confusedly. Billy and Rick who were standing from their seats also stared at her. Ah, she had to say hi to her friends first. But,......

She turned back to Ellen and said, "Hold it. Stay there. I'll be right back."

Portia left Ellen and approached her friends. "Hi, Rick. Hi, Billy. Happy birthday," she said and smiled widely. She hugged Billy and kissed both of his cheeks.

"I didn't expect you to invite us for a dinner here," Jennifer said excitedly.

Billy's face brightened up. He muttered some inaudible things and invited them to sit. 

"Ah, sorry. I saw a friend of mine at the bar. I need to say hi first," Portia interjected. "You can order the foods first, if you'd like to."

Jennifer grabbed her wrist and whispered, "Who's that woman?'

"Ellen," Portia whispered back.

"Oh. That Ellen."

"You want us to order something for you?" Billy asked.

Portia smiled. "Sure. Just order anything for me. I'll be right back."

She left her friends and walked towards the bar. Ellen DeGeneres was still there, sitting on one of the tall bar chairs, saying something to the bartender. At that moment, Portia's heartbeat had already gone back to its normal pace, so she was able to smile at Ellen when the woman turned to her.

"Hi. Sorry, I had to say hi to them first," Portia said and moved her thumb towards her table.

Ellen looked at Portia's friends and slightly nodded. "Double date?" she asked flatly.

Portia hesitated. "Uh...."

"Of course," Ellen mumbled, still with the flat tone. And then she snorted, "Everybody in the room could think the same thing seeing those hugs and kisses."

"What?" Portia didn't quite understand what Ellen meant, but Ellen didn't answer. After some seconds of uncomfortable silence, Portia finally asked, "And you? What are you doing here?"

Ellen moved her head towards the long table that was occupied with lots of people. "I'm with my brother, and some of his orchestra's members."

"Oh, Vance's here too?"

"Yeah, he's right there. You wanna say hi to him?"

Portia turned her head to look at the pointed table and shook her head.

"Maybe later. He seems to be having a deep discussion with his friend."

They stood silent for a moment, then Ellen patted a tall chair next to her and said, "Sit."

Portia did so. "It's been a while. So, how are you?" Portia asked lightly, trying to  build a light conversation, trying to ease Ellen's annoyance, although she didn't know why she had to comfort the woman.

Ellen shrugged indifferently. "So-so."

Ellen lifted her left hand, showing it to Portia. "I can move my wrist a bit now. So the doctor said that it will totally be healed soon."

"That's great news, right?" Portia replied happily.

"I think so," Ellen mumbled. Then she looked at Portia and asked, "You? How are you doing?"

"I'm doing good," Portia said and smiled to emphasize her words.

For some reasons, Ellen didn't buy it. She stared at Portia's face investigatingly, and Portia could feel her cheeks started to feel warm.

"What? What is it?" Portia asked anxiously.

"You look pale. And tired," Ellen muttered, slightly furrowing her brows. She glared at Portia from head to toe, then back to her face. "You're a bit thinner too. You sure you're alright?"

Portia held her breath. How did she find out? Even her close friends had never commented about her pale face or how she lost weight.

"How many hours did you sleep last night?"

Ellen's voice snapped her up. "Huh?"

"How many hours did you sleep last night?" Ellen repeated.

"After disappearing for 2 weeks without any news, now you want to know anout how many hours I slept last night?" Portia asked, lifting her eyebrows.

Yes, she was trying to change the subject.

"I'm not disappearing without any news," Ellen denied.

Portia rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. I go to your apartment every single day and never once saw you there."

Ellen smiled and said, "I leave early to have breakfast with my brother and we're busy working all day long."

"And you don't even go home at all for the last week," Portia added, trying to make her voice sounded careless.

Ellen turned to look at Portia with lifted eyebrows and was about to say something when a young lady interjected their talk. "El? You said you were going to order us some drinks?" she placed her hand on Ellen's thigh and leaned her body against Ellen's.

Portia's eyes went straight to the tall lady with long brown hair. And then her eyes went down to her hand that was still placed on Ellen's thigh.

"I already did. They're going to deliver the drinks straight to the table," Ellen answered and gave a small smile to the lady. "Just wait there. I want to talk to my friend here for a while."

"Oh, okay," she muttered and smiled a bit at Portia -- which Portia replied with a forced polite smile -- before she returned to the table.

"El, huh?" Portia snorted. 

"Huh?" Ellen asked confusedly. 

"Now I understand why you don't go home anymore."

Ellen turned around to fully face Portia. "What do.....? Whoa, hold that thought, de Rossi. I don't know why I'm explaining this to you, but I've been staying at my mom's house for the last week."

"You're right. You don't need to explain anything to me. I don't even know why I bothered worrying about you not coming home," Portia mumbled, wasn't able to hold herself back.

Ellen half-laughed half-snorted. "De Rossi, if you really do worry about me, you can always call me, you know?"

Portia remained silent, so Ellen added, "And by the way, you look a lot like a jealous girlfriend right now."

"No, I don't!" Portia slapped Ellen's arm and glared at her. Ellen laughed amusedly.

"And I did have the thought to call you, but then I remembered you said that you'd call me if you needed any help. So, I thought, since you never did call me, then you're all good."

Ellen stared back at Portia and smiled. "Something bad might happen to me anytime. Maybe I needed your help but I wasn't able to call you. Maybe I lost my phone, or maybe my phone was stolen, or broken, or....."

"Okay, okay. I get the point. But I'm sure that if anything bad ever happens to you, your mom would be the first to know. And then your mom would tell Vance and Regina, and Regina would tell me," Portia summed things up in satisfaction.

Ellen scoffed again. "I think, actually you really don't need to worry about me since you're too busy enjoying your free time."

"Why, of course I enjoy my free time. I can do whatever I want to do."

"Like what? Dating your admirers?"

Portia couldn't figure why did Ellen seem to be very upset. Dear god, this woman really complicated things. Decided to just let Ellen thinks whatever she wants to think, Portia replied lightly, "Maybe."

Ellen wasn't looking at Portia, but Portia could clearly see her jaw clenched. Portia was confused. Really, though, she didn't want to be anywhere around Ellen when the woman wasn't in a very bright mood. So she said, "I better return to my friends."

"Yeah, you definitely better return to your boyfriend."

Portia sighed hearing the mocking tone on Ellen's voice. "And you better get back to your friend, too," she replied. 

"Are you jealous?" Ellen blurted.

"No, I'm not. Are you?" Portia answered smoothly. 

Ellen only frowned, and then shrugged. 

Not getting any answers from that woman, Portia jumped down from her seat and was about to leave when she remembered something.

"Anyway, if you're planning on staying at your mom's house, I don't think I need to come to your place everyday. I mean, an empty apartment won't be messy in just one or two days, right? I can come, like, three times a week, or even twice to clean it up. What do you say?"

Ellen looked at her, seemed to be thinking for a while, then shortly said, "No."

"No?"

"No." Ellen repeated. "I'm going back to my place tonight, so make sure that you'll be there and make a nice breakfast for me."

"B-but......"

Ellen got off of her seat in one smooth movement and walked back to her table, leaving Portia bewildered. What the hell? What the hell was that? Was that woman going to act that way after the progression they had made?

Portia tried to muffle her irritation and controlled her breathing pace to calm herself down. After she felt like she was a bit calmer, she walked back to her table. "Sorry to make you all wait," she mumbled and smiled apologetically.

"It's alright. I ordered a steak for you. Salmon. Do you like it?" Billy asked with a wide smile.

Portia smiled back. "Of course."

Jennifer slightly leaned over to Portia and whispered, "So that was Regina's friend?"

Portia nodded and drank her water.

"She looks really cool," Jen whispered again. "......and hot."

Portia almost choked herself. She threw a disagreeing look and Jennifer raised both of her hands in surrender. Portia shook her head and saw that Ellen already got back to her table. That woman sat next to the brown haired lady, and across her, sat another blonde girl. Portia squinted her eyes when she saw Ellen said something to the girls and made them laugh.

Portia leaned over to Jennifer and whispered, "She's the living proof that you can't ever judge someone by their looks."

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Why does she have to smile like that to everybody? Ellen thought while her eyes never left Portia de Rossi. That girl was laughing about something that the dark haired boy who sat across her said, and then she turned to her girl friend who sat next to her and laughed again. After that, she leaned over the table to say something to the dark haired boy again and made him smile widely.

For god's sake, why did seeing Portia de Rossi smile happily made Ellen feel gloomy, as gloomy as the sky when the storm is about to attack?

Because she is smiling to somebody else? A small voice in her mind said. Ellen snorted to herself. Yeah, right. What kind of an idea was that?

Ellen didn't mind Portia de Rossi throwing a smile to anybody. What made her upset was the girl's demeanor when she saw Ellen. She was,........ well, as usual! She smiled at Ellen as usual, said hi to her as usual, she talked to her as usual, as if they had just seen each other the day before and not after 2 weeks. 2 damn weeks! That's what made her upset.

Avoiding that girl for 2 weeks didn't give her the result she had expected. At first, Ellen decided to stay away from Portia because she felt guilty to Regina and she wanted to give her a chance to approach Portia. She felt guilty because the other night, Regina was supposed to have a dinner date with Portia. But, Portia ended up spending the whole night with Ellen, cooked for her, had dinner with her, talked with her, accompanied her. Ellen felt guilty because she snatched away her best friend's chance, although she never meant to do so.

But, look what her friend did for the last 2 weeks that Ellen had generously spared for her. Nothing! Regina did nothing! When she asked Regina whether or not she already told her feelings to Portia, Regina said that she hadn't found the right time to do it.

Stupid girl! Ellen thought annoyedly. According to her, nobody could ever wait or find 'the right time', it had to be created. She didn't even know why she bothered helping Regina. She clearly didn't know what she was doing.

From now on, Ellen wouldn't take any part on helping Regina anymore. Regina could deal with her own business. Ellen would never avoid Portia anymore for Regina. She wanted Portia to make her breakfast and coffee every morning. She wanted Portia to do everything she asked her to do everyday. She wanted Portia to be in her sight range. She wanted Portia to be around.

Ellen was stunned and squinted her eyes. Wait, she's just going to ignore the last 2 points. She must've been out of her mind for wanting her darkness angel to be around.

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She stole another glance at Portia de Rossi. She wasn't surprised to see that the girl's still smiling. But this time, Ellen noticed something different. Portia was smiling, but she wasn't listening to her friends' conversation. She nodded her head several times and pushed her food back and forth on the plate.

Ellen slightly smiled. Portia de Rossi was bored.

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Portia listened to her friends' conversation half-heartedly and gave some unclear comments to show them that she's still paying attention. Her friends were talking about the big show that was going to be held by Dee Black Dance Company next week, and Portia really didn't want to talk about it.

A short beep that signaled that there was a new message on her phone snapped her up and made her sigh in relief because now she had a reason to not listen to her friends. But, she soon frowned when she saw the sender of the text.

You look bored.

What did that suppose to mean? Portia scowled and turned her head to Ellen. That woman was staring at her and Portia was 100% sure that she could see a small smile on Ellen's face before she turned to talk to the brown haired lady again.

Portia typed the reply. 

I'm not bored.

The next reply from Ellen came in less than a minute.

It's okay if you don't want to admit it. I know you're bored. I'm bored too. Talk with me.

I'm pretty sure you're not lacking of a friend to talk right there, but, very well. What do you want to talk about?

You haven't answered my earlier question. How many hours did you sleep last night?

Portia quietly rolled her eyes reading the message.

As usual.

As usual? That means that you still can't sleep well until now?

Not a new thing to me. I'm used to it.

Have you tried going to sleep while listening to my songs? Last time you did, you went straight away to deep sleep, remember?

I have. It didn't work.

Portia scowled again and snorted.

"Portia? What are you doing?"

Portia jolted and looked up to see Jen. "Yes?"

"Who are you texting with?"

"Uh.. My mom," Portia said quickly, and then she smiled apologetically to her friends. "She wanted to know where I am and what I'm doing. Sorry."

"Parents always worry about their kids," Rick commented and shrugged his shoulders understandingly, "especially when it comes to a girl. My parents are also very......."

Portia didn't pay attention to Rick's next words. She secretly looked to Ellen and glared at that woman sharply. But Ellen only lifted her eyebrows and stared back at Portia with an innocent look as if she was asking, "What did I do?"

Portia didn't reply to Ellen's last text and forced herself to pay attention to the conversation. But not long after, her phone beeped again.

And, de Rossi, don't set any date appointment with one of your admirers tomorrow night. 

Portia bit her lips in annoyance.

Why? You want to take me for a date?

Oh, I wasn't aware that you desperately want me to take you for a date.

Never mind. What do I have to do tomorrow night?

I'll tell you tomorrow.

Portia sighed. She was thinking whether or not it was necessary to reply to the text when her phone beeped again.

And, de Rossi, please finish your food if you don't want to look like an old lady confused with her meal.

This time Portia threw a strongly pissed off look at Ellen who smiled brightly at her. She put her phone back to her handbag, signaling that she refused to continue their little talks.

Tu Es Mon Soleil - Chapter 16

"Portia?..... Portia?..... Portia!"

Portia jolted and looked up to see Jennifer who was sitting across her. "Huh?"

"You're daydreaming again?" Jennifer accused her with a hint of smile on her face.

"No," Portia denied and took a sip of her not-so-hot-tea. How long had they been sitting in this café? 

"Lately you've been daydreaming a lot more than usual," Jennifer said while observing Portia. "You didn't hear what I said, right?"

Portia ignored the first question and asked, "What did you say?"

Jennifer leaned back on the couch and crossed her arms. "Today is Billy's birthday and he wants you to come to the dinner. You'd come, right?"

Portia shrugged, then nodded. "Sure. Why not?"

Jennifer wagged her tongue. "You look very enthusiastic," she said sarcastically, then chuckled. "Actually, Billy wanted to have the dinner just with you. But, being a coward that he is, he ended up asking me and Rick to come along," Jennifer explained.

Portia vaguely nodded and stirred her tea. "Why? Everybody knows I never reject an invitation to have a dinner."

"Maybe because you were pretty busy with Regina's friend, and no one gets to see you that much. Not even me," Jennifer implied. 

"It's a good thing that for the last 2 weeks she hadn't bothered you at all. So now you have some extra times to breathe and just relax." 

Portia smiled at Jennifer but didn't say anything. She threw her sight to the window, watching people walked past the café she was sitting in. She absent-mindedly inhaled and breathed out slowly.

It had been 2 weeks since the last time she saw Ellen. It seemed like Ellen was really busy with her brother's recital plan. 

For the last 2 weeks, Portia also went to Ellen's apartment every single day. Now that she thought about it, she didn't really need to go there everyday, unless the apartment could mess up itself. Because she noticed that Ellen hadn't been at home much. 

Then why the hell she still went there everyday? Maybe because the apartment brought her a comforting and familiar feeling? Or maybe..... just maybe..... it's because she wanted to see Ellen DeGeneres even if it's only for a minute. 

But, why do I want to see Ellen? Portia inhaled deeply. I don't know...

But her wish obviously didn't come true. She never saw Ellen, not even once. Ellen never called her, nor leaving any message for her.

And even on the last week, she saw that Ellen's bed was still made up, indicating that she hadn't slept on it. So where did Ellen go?

Portia sighed and she felt stupid. Stupid and lonely. And the loneliness that she wasn't supposed to feel only made her feel more stupid.

"Oh, stop sighing!" Jennifer's voice snapped her out of her trance. "What's going on with you?"

"Nothing."

"Well, if so, then our break time is over. Let's continue our shopping activity." Jennifer stood up and gathered all the plastic bags beside her. 

Portia laughed and gathered her own bags.

"When we're done, you can just go to my place so we can go to Billy's dinner together later," Jennifer offered.

Portia shrugged. "Alrighty."

"Billy said he has reserved a table at the Ramses," Jennifer chirped. 

"Ramses?" Portia repeated in surprise. She had heard one or two words about that incredibly famous restaurant. Would be hard to get a table there if you hadn't reserved it at least a week before.

Jennifer smiled. "He definitely wants to impress you. Poor boy. Hasn't he realized that he's trying to approach the Portia who doesn't want to be approached by anybody?"

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"Dinner outside?" Ellen asked while looking up to her older brother from her couch. She and her brother were discussing about some aspects of the upcoming recital in her brother's office when he said that he wanted to treat some musicians that was included in his recital with a dinner.

"Yes. I've already reserved a place at my friend's restaurant," Vance answered.

Ellen grimaced. "Well.... What if I'm not coming?"

"Why? You got another appointment?"

"Nope. Just tired," Ellen said while playing with a pen inbetween her right hand's fingers. "And I'm not in the mood of some polite conversation with people. I'll have my dinner at home."

"Today mom's going out with her friends, she said she'll be home after dinner," Vance said.

Ellen groaned dramatically.

"Come on. Join us," Vance persuaded. "You know I already promised those girls that you'll be there."

Ellen squinted her eyes suspiciously. "What girls?"

"Those young girls who join my orchestra. The violinists," Vance chuckled. "They're very impressed by you, you know. Apparently they think that your bandaged hand is very.......... sexy."

Ellen scoffed. "I really don't have time for that," she grumbled.

Then there was a knock on the door and one of her brother's employee peeked his head out from behind the door. 

"Mr. DeGeneres, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure," Vance raised from his seat and walked towards the door. But before he got out, he turned to Ellen and asked, "So are you coming with us or not?"

"I'll think about it."

Vance shrugged, then walked out of the room, leaving Ellen alone. 

Ellen leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling. She really was tired. All she wanted to do now was to go home and have a nice rest. But her mom wasn't going to be home, so there would be nobody to cook her dinner. She snorted in annoyance.

But, she still had another choice. She could call Portia de Rossi and ask her to come to her apartment and set up a dinner for her. That was the main, and apparently, most appealing choice she had right now.

It had been 2 weeks since the last time she saw that girl, and for the last 2 weeks, she always had the urge to call Portia, but always ended up not doing it. Why? Because she had no idea on what to say to that girl. Am i avoiding Portia? Ellen asked herself. Well, maybe yes. That girl had put her heart in a chaotic state. Being around Portia had confused Ellen. She didn't know what she wanted, she didn't know what to feel.

However, she still wanted to see that girl. She craved to hear her voice. And for god's sake, don't even ask why because Ellen herself didn't understand.

She pulled out her phone and stared at it for some time. She was still thinking about whether or not she better call that girl.

But why hadn't Portia given any effort to contact her for the last 2 weeks either?

Ellen frowned thinking about that question. If that girl was sincerely trying to be responsible and wanted to help Ellen, she should've given a call to make sure that Ellen's okay, right? She should've called Ellen and asked if Ellen needed her help, shouldn't she? She should've done that, right? No?

Ellen's frown went deeper while she glared at her phone like that thing had done something terrible to her. That girl must be having fun right now, Ellen thought, because she finally had some free time to do whatever she wanted to do.

After she mulled over things with an annoyed feeling, Ellen finally pressed some buttons on her phone and brought it up to her ear. "Vance? I'm coming. Where to?" she listened to her brother's respond. "Ramses? Fine."