I want to thank Kate, Leeko and Saba for some good ideas in this chapter!!!! I can't tell you now, but at the end of the chapter ...be sure that you read them.. they deserve the credit!!!!!!

Calendar Girl

chapter 2

Hilde lay on her bed and looked at the envelope. She fingered it and flipped it over. then flipped it back. She tossed the thought over and over in her mind. Should she leave them out or put them away? She rolled over onto her back and held it above her. The she tossed it on the floor. Nope. She'd hide them. She would be cheating if she tried to win Duo this way. She got off the bed and picked up the discarded envelope. She went to her under wear drawer and shoved it way under and to the back of the drawer.

She sighed and brushed her hair from her face. She glanced at the clock, time to figure out what they would eat tonight. As she walked to the kitchen the vid-phone rang. She reached over and hit the open button.

"Van!" She exclaimed, "Why are you calling? Something wrong?"
"Hello, Hilde!" He smiled at her. "Can you stop by the studio tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I can, but why?"

"Well, my boss wants to meet you and ask you something about your pictures. He really liked them."

"Oh, well, OK."
"Can you come at 9?"

"Sure, that will be fine."
"OK, Hilde, thanks. See ya tomorrow."

"Bye ,Van."

Hilde sat back and sighed. She wondered what that was all about. She was about to get up when she heard Duo behind her.

"Hey, babe. Who was on the phone?"

"Oh, no-one."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, it was nothing."

He frowned at her. She was distracted. Did she have a date? Was he too late?
"Uh.. Hilde....."

She stood up and ran her hand along his arm and said, "I'll fix something to eat."

He shivered at her touch. He almost reached for her and embraced her, but she was gone before he could.

He followed out into the kitchen and sat at the table. He watched her cook. He sighed. He was such a coward.

The next morning......

Hilde slipped away to go to the studio. She opened the door and went in. As she came up to the desk ,Van stepped out of the back and waved to her. He was carrying a handful of Film.

"Be right with you, Hilde."

When he returned he had a tall handsome man with him.

"Hilde, this is my boss, Treize Kushrenada. He..."
"Thanks Van. I think I can handle it from here." Van nodded and headed back to the back.

"Well, Hilde. Lets get down to business. I have to create a calendar for a local charity and I would like to have you pose for me. The pictures will be in various costumes of the seasons and a couple of bathing suits. Will that be satisfactory? Will your boyfriend have a problem with it?"
Hilde sighed, "I don't have a boyfriend."
Treize looked at her funny. "Van says you live with someone...."
"Yeah, I do, but.."
Treize nodded. " I understand. You realize this may just cause him to sit up and take notice?"
Hilde gulped and nodded.
"Good. I would like to start as soon as possible."
They made arrangements and would start shooting the following week.

The following week:

Duo watched Hilde leave everyday. She was usually gone for 2 hours then she come back. He frowned. He wanted to follow her so bad and see what she was doing but he couldn't get away.

"Hey, Duo!"
"What do you want, Ralph?"
"When are you gonna get some new girlie pictures for this place? We need new blood to look at."
"When the new calendars come out. OK? Now go away."
"How come you haven't told Hilde how you feel?"
"Huh?"
"Duo," Ralph said, leaning over into the engine of the car Duo had his head in, "Why do you think none of us have asked her out?"
"Because I'd Kill ya?"

"Yeah, that's most of it, but someday some one new's gonna come in and see her and make a move and .."

Duo's head shot up and he glared at Ralph. "What are you saying, Ralph? Some one tryin' to put the moves on Hilde?"

"Uh....No."
"Good. I don't want to have to kill anyone today."
Ralph rolled his eyes at Duo. "Damn it, Duo." Ralph said, looking at his friend, "Tell her before it's too late!"

"Go away, Ralph." Duo said as he leaned back into the engine.

Ralph sighed and turned away. "Dumbass."

Duo looked up at Ralph's retreating back and glared.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Van turned to Hilde. "Well, Hilde. We are done! You know , You are a natural at this and can I call you to pose for me anytime?"
She looked at him, "Sure. It’s been fun."
He looked over at her as she sat on the chair by his desk. "Treize would like to release this on the whole colony. But being your not a professional we have to get your permission. He may also use your picture for promotion too. Is that OK?"
She nodded.

"And one other thing. It will be released in October. He wants as much exposure as he can get... It is for a charity after all."
"How much will go to the charity?" Hilde asked.

Van looked at her as he handed her a check. "After expenses, about 35%." He shrugged his shoulders ."Depending on how well it sells, it could be a large sum."
Hilde took the check Van was holding and looked at the 4 digit number. She stuttered, "Isn't this too much?"
"No, it's standard what we pay all our models."
Hilde shook her head, "I’m in the wrong business!"

"Yes, you are! Anytime you want to pose for me full time , you let me know!"
"I'm flattered but I like my job and where I'm at right now."
"Still waiting for that guy?"

Hilde blushed and nodded.

"Hang in there. He'll come around."
She smiled as he took her hand and squeezed it.

"Thanks, Van. I'd better go."
"Later, Hilde. Bye."
Van watched her leave the studio. He shook his head. "That guy must be a total idiot, not being able to see what's right in front of him." He said out loud, to no one in particular.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hilde walked back to the shop, looking at the check Van had given her. "Wow!" She muttered under her breath. She folded it and entered the shop through the open garage door. She looked up and saw Duo staring at her. She smiled and waved at him. He turned away and went back to work. She frowned as she went inside the office. He had been acting weird lately, and she just didn't know what to do. Maybe she should tell him about the calendar.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 months later:

Duo sighed as he walked through the Big G. He should have sent Hilde to find it.

She knew these stupid stores. He had been wandering around the isles for a half an hour and couldn't find the item. And of course the wasn't an 'Associate' in site. He noticed a crowd around the calendars. He walked over and looked at what all the men and boys were looking at. It was a calendar called 'The Girls of L-2'. He frowned and reached for one. He flipped through it and stopped at one particular picture. He almost dropped the calendar.

"HILDE!" He flipped through it again. She was at the top of several of the months. His eyes got wide at the consequences of this. He looked around at all the guys. They were looking at his Hilde! He reached up and grabbed all the calendars in the slot. There was no way anyone else would see these! He looked at the guys around him.

"Hey, I'll give you guys 20 bucks for those calendars you have."
A couple of them took him up on his offer.

One guy looked at him and shook his head. "No way, man. This chick is gorgeous! I wouldn't mind getting my hands on her."

Duo growled, "Don't You talk about Hilde that way."

The guy frowned , "You know this babe?"
"Yeah! and no one puts her down in front of me!"
"Hey! Is she available? Man. I bet she's a hot date!"
Duo dropped the calendars and Balled up his fists. "NO!" He shouted, "SHE"S NOT AVAILABLE!"

The guy took a step back and frowned. "Sorry, man. Just wondering."

The guy backed away from Duo and practically ran from him.
Duo leaned down and picked up the calendars. He made his way to the front. He would buy all of these the store had. He had to talk to the manager.

15 minutes later and 2full bags he had all the calendars the store had. He walked home wondering how many stores he would have to go to get all of them. Would he be able to get them all? Why didn't Hilde tell him? He grimaced. She didn't have to. He gave her no reason to.

He looked down at the calendars in his grasp. He had a mission. He had to find everyone of these he could. He wouldn't be able to get the ones in private hands, but the stores......

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hilde hurried back from having her glass of champagne with Van and Treize. She wanted to be home to explain to Duo before he found out . She should have told him 3 months ago,

but then why should have she.

It's not like he was her boyfriend or anything. Then , why did she feel so guilty?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Duo threw all the calendars in the dumpster behind the shop, save one. He retreated to the small office of the shop. Hilde was not there. He sat at the desk and flipped through the pages. It was an eighteen month calendar. He stared at the pictures in the calendar, not seeing any of the others except Hilde's. He knew she was beautiful and he loved her with all his heart, but he looked at her totally different now. She was absolutely gorgeous and sexy. His heart ached. He rubbed his face with his hand. He had work to do. He stood up and slipped the calendar into the bottom drawer of the desk, under some papers. He stood up. He had to run over to Joe's shop and pick up some parts he had for him.

Duo pulled his jeep up to the curb and jumped out. He had several bags of the calendars in the back. He sighed. This was costing a fortune and they were everywhere! He was positive he wouldn't get them all. He gulped. Other men starring at His Hilde the way that guy did at Big G. Man! It made him angry! All these guys lusting after her........he stopped...just like him. He slapped his hand against his forehead. Ralph was right. He was a dumbass.

He turned around and got back into the jeep and went to Joe's.

He looked at all the calendars in the back of the jeep. He still didn't like the idea of other guys drooling over Hilde. And she would be mad at him for doing this. He couldn't help it. ALL those guy s thinking unclean thoughts about her made his skin crawl.

When he got to Joe's he went in and hollered for him. He walked through and saw lots of old calendar girls. He frowned as he entered the office and there was Hilde's picture hanging by the computer. Duo growled and pulled it down. It was just her picture and nothing else. He saw the rest of

the calendar in the trash. He leaned down and pulled it out. All of Hilde's pictures were pulled out.

He balled up his fists. He was gonna have to hit some one for this and confront Hilde.

to be continued.

THANKS TO KATE FOR THE SUGGESTION THAT DUO FINDS OUT ABOUT THE CALENDER BY SHOPPING!

THANKS TO LEEKO FOR THE SUGGESTION TO MAKE DUO EXTREMELY JELOUS!

AND THANKS TO SABA FOR SUGGESTING HE SEES THE CALENDER IN ANOTHER SHOP.....oh and it will be in his next time!

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