Fan Fiction |
by Sensitivegal
Charlene paced in front of Gillian. ‘You let me go through the whole hour skating with powdered sugar on my face?’
Gillian, who was looking so together, so sleek. While she, Charlene had a drippy nose and freezing cramped toe. Sniffing and hobbling – she sounded like two of the Seven Dwarfs. And that’s when she remembered she still had on the skates.
‘Do you think people would say I’m pathetic? I mean going for Edison?’ She didn’t let Charlene answer as she carried on. ‘I mean I get the feeling that he likes someone else.’
She sat and began yanking them off. ‘I don’t know why you think anyone would think you’re pathetic. You weren’t the one tripping over her own two feet on the ice all the while having white globe on your face. Why didn’t you tell me?’ Charlene yanked off the second skate and looked around for her boots.
Gillian crossed her arms. ‘Why so touchy about a little bit of sugar on your face? Frankly, I didn’t even notice.’
Charlene found one boot and pulled it on. She didn’t bother to lace it up. ‘That’s because your eyes were elsewhere.’ Charlene gone on her hands and knees and started scouting under the bench for her other boot.
‘He is like Mr. Right, isn’t he?’
Charlene heard the flirtation lilt to Gillian’s voice as she scrounged around on the rubber flooring for her lost boot. Her hand touched something sticky. She didn’t want to think about the possibilities.
‘So what did he say?’
‘About what?’ In the dank, dark recesses under the first row of permanent seating Charlene located her boot. It was pushed against the cement riser.
‘You know, about the Company’s Party?’ Gillian must have bent down because her voice was louder.
Charlene shimmied out backwards; deciding the safest route out was the same way she’d come in. She dragged the boot behind her. ‘We never got that far. Why don’t you ask him yourself?’ Her derriere emerged from the deep abyss.
‘Ask me what?’
Charlene banged the back of her head on the bottom of the metal seat. She dropped her boot and it tumbled into a great netherworld of discarded chewing gum and Raisinets. No doubt Edison was looking down her rear end as she hesitated on all four. She could crawl back under. But then there was that mysterious sticky goo.
‘You need a hand?’ Edison’s voice was louder, nearer. Much nearer.
In the shadowy darkness under the seats, Charlene sensed immediately that he had joined her. She felt the ripples of energy that emanated from his body. If only he’s thought to bring a flashlight. ‘No need to bother. I’m fine, thank you.’
‘The lady doth protest too much.’
‘And the man knows a literary line one or two. I’m impressed. But truly, I wouldn’t advise scrounging around here unless you’ve had a recent tetanus shot. Besides, I’m just looking for my boot. I had it a minute ago and I seem to have lost it again.’ Charlene groped with her hand. She landed on something. It definitely wasn’t sticky. And it definitely wasn’t sticky. And it definitely wasn’t her boot.
It was large. It was strong. Sinews ridged the skin. Knuckles defined the contours. Fingers slightly curled, nails blunt cut. And there wasn’t the hint of a wedding ring. It was power at rest. But it hardly made Charlene feel restful.
‘Whoops, sorry about that.’ Charlene turned her head.
‘Don’t be. It could happen to anyone.’ In the darkness he moved his head towards hers. He shifted his hands.
His movements caused Charlene to realize that her hand was still on his. ‘Oh, sorry.’ She started to pull it away, but he switched grips, holding her fingers lightly.
The sudden dizziness enveloping her head had to be the awkward position she was in, Charlene told herself. She cleared her throat, if not her brain functions. ‘I think my boot may be over by your hand.’
She leaned awkwardly in that direction. And felt her mouth brush his cheek.
Edison turned. His lips accidentally touched hers.
His lips pressed lightly, maybe not accident? It was brief. Lips ever so slightly parted. Warm breath and tumbling heartbeats mixing.
And it was the most mind-blowing experience of Charlene’s life. And it was happening to her under the seat of a hockey rink!
‘You guys all right there?’
Gillian’s voice penetrated the haze of emotions that engulfed Charlene. She felt Edison’s hand tighten briefly before he let go.
‘No problem. We were just searching for Charlene’s boot. I think I found it.’ He searched with his other hand, passing it to Charlene.
She was surprised she could mumble thanks. Backing out on her hands and knew, she slowly rose.
‘Find something interesting down there?’ Gillian rested on hand on her hips.
Charlene shivered. ‘You don’t want to know.’ She dropped her boot on the ground and worked in on with her toes. Edison got to his feet, as well. He raked his hand through his hair.
‘Well, come now,’ Gillian announced. ‘Enough of this hide-and-seek. I’m starving. Let’s find somewhere to eat.’ She flounced her coat more squarely on her shoulders. ‘Why don’t you leave that motor bike of yours here while we take a taxi uptown to that restaurant that opened?’ Gillian waved in the general direction of Nicholas. ‘Nicholas can drive it up and meet us there.’
‘Charlene maybe, Nicholas never,’ Edison said. He knew Nicholas wasn’t a great rider plus he was sure that Nicholas would want to ride with them to be close to Gillian.
‘I have to go,’ Nicholas came to their side breathlessly. ‘Something came up.’
‘Anything we can help with?’ Charlene offered.
‘No, I’ll see you on Monday.’ His eyes lingered on Gillian but they saddened when he noticed that she was too busy staring at Edison.
Charlene gave a sympathy look. ‘See you,’ she waved as he walked away. ‘I’m only too happy to ride that motorcycle of yours.’ Charlene walked over and grabbed her denim jacket she discarded over at the bench. Whatever distance she could put between herself and Edison would be a welcome blessing.
‘Don’t be ridiculous. We need you close by. What’s more to the point–’ Gillian grabbed Edison’s arm ‘ –when we’re alone in the taxi, I want to talk about the Company’s Party that was coming up.’ Charlene trailed behind as Gillian kept her half nelsing grip on Edison.
‘Maybe I will ride the bike after all,’ Charlene mumbled.
‘What’s that, Charlene?’ Gillian stuck out her hand for a cab. The ones that sped by had their lights on, indicating they were occupied. She dug in her Prada shoulder bag and pulled out her cell phone. ‘I’ll call for a cab.’
Charlene thought she saw her three bodyguards inside a building behind them. She went in front of Edison to cover herself. Edison took it the wrong way. He thought she wanted to stand close to him. ‘Never mind calling.’ She spotted a taxi barreling down the other side of the Sixth Avenue, stepped off the curb, and with her thumb and middle finger forming a circle, delivered a piercing whistle.
Like odyssey responding to the sirens’s call, the cab made a suicidal move through the traffic and shrieked to a halt. All that was lacking was for it to be dashed against the rocks. Luckily, the curbs in Manhattan are low and rounded.
Gillian snapped her cell phone shut. ‘I’d forgotten this little trick of yours you mentioned you could do.’ She let Edison hold open the car door. She got into the back seat first.
Edison waited for Charlene to get in next. ‘You realize you just demonstrated requirement number three.’ He pantomimed her whistling.
Charlene stared at the way his fingers touched his open mouth. And found her libido bouncing around with all the maniac exuberance after two-months-old Labrador retriever. ‘Boy you’re easy to please. Half the people in the world must meet your requirements. And if you don’t get in the taxi soon a few of them will be joining us any minute.’ She used her head to nod at the girls eyeing him up hungrily.
They bundled in, Charlene in the middle. Edison didn’t seem much further away. ‘You can’t move a little?’ She looked down at his thigh pressed up against her leg.
Edison leaned over to speak to Gillian, ignoring Charlene’s comment. ‘So, tell me about the Company’s Party. Is there any problem?’ His sleeve put pressure on Charlene’s shoulder.
Charlene pursed her lips and studied the taxi driver’s license displayed on the dash board.
‘No, no. I just wanted to know if you’re… taking anyone,’ Gillian explained quickly and nervously.
‘I’m surprised no one asked you yet,’ Edison said. Charlene decided to kick him for that smug little comment as she took it the wrong way not realizing that he was wondering why Nicholas hasn’t asked her yet.
‘Me too,’ Gillian agreed. ‘I mean after my recent break up. I just don’t know if anyone’s worth it.’
Gillian had mentioned last week to Charlene that she had just broke up this guy Shawn Yu who was also working in Chen Enterprise but Charlene never heard of him. She tried to find out who he is. And when she did she found that he was an arrogant but charming guy. He wasn’t all that bad but she couldn’t side with him yet. Gillian would hate her. She didn’t want that. After Vicki Gillian was her best friend. That is why she wanted to help her get Edison so she didn’t feel guilty for not letting them get a chance.
Charlene eyed Edison. Gillian’s phone rang. She flipped it open giving the other two who weren’t really paying any attention an apology look. ‘Don’t even go there.’ Charlene warned sotto voce. He placed his hand on his chest. Who me? He seemed to indicate. She kicked him again.
Edison winced. ‘Has anyone ever told you that you have violent instincts?’
She stared wide eyed. Only a new born puppy would have looked more innocent. ‘Sorry, my foot slipped.’
‘Twice?’
‘Repetitive stress syndrome?’
‘You should have that checked by the doctors,’ he advised knowing well she was lying.
‘Will do,’ she grinned.
‘So what do you think?’ Gillian’s voice made both of them turn to face her just in time to see her flip the phone shut.
‘Think of what?’ Edison asked.
‘Ask her to the party,’ Charlene mouthed as she turned her face so Gillian doesn’t see.
He stared wide eyed at her. He couldn’t ask Gillian. He wanted to ask her and he knew for sure Nicholas would want to ask Gillian.
‘How about this,’ Edison quickly thought up an excuse, ‘if no one asks you at the end of the week I’ll be happy to escort you.’
Gillian was disappointed at first but she soon changed to beaming of joy. Charlene thought why he wouldn’t ask her. It was that simple. He didn’t have to like her.