Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
“Joe. Usual spot. 15 minutes. Bring coffee.” – Yi Chen
He looked around for his leather jacket, saw it on the floor, picked it up, glanced in the mirror to see if he looked okay and left the room, banging the door on his way out.
He stopped over at Java’s for coffee and on a whim decided to get Ariel’s favourite pastry, chocolate fudge and of course, coconut cake for himself. He tipped the server generously and drove to the beach. He got out of his car, carefully balancing the coffee and pastries in one hand. It was a windy night. He looked around for Ariel.
Suddenly he caught sight of someone at the water’s edge and he frowned. The moon was full today and it offered an ephemeral glow to the night, making it as serene as a fairy tale waiting to happen.
“Yi Chen!” Joe cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled.
Ariel stopped splashing in the water and turned to look up Joe. Joe caught his breath. She looked half fey in the moonlight, an other worldly creature. He sat down on the bench and watched her walk towards him.
“Coffee?” Ariel said reaching Joe.
“Nice to meet you too, oinker!” Joe said handing her one of the cups.
“Thanks.”
“So, Yi Chen decided she wants to see me and here I am. You can’t say I’m not a devoted admirer.” Joe teased.
Ariel took a sip of the coffee. She turned towards him and held out her hand. “Fudge.”
Joe grinned and handed her some.
“Cuz you were a good girl. How did you know I was going to bring some anyway?”
“Joe, you going into a coffee shop and not buying anything to eat would be a miracle. And while I do believe in miracles, this one just might be too incredible to occur.”
Joe hmphed. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
Ariel smiled beatifically at him.
“When are you leaving?” She asked him.
“This Friday.” He replied, turning to look at her. “Don’t give me that expression; I’ll be back in a month.”
“A month is a long time, Zheng Yuan Cheng.” Ariel said pouting playfully.
“You could throw caution to the wind and come with me.” Joe said, half seriously.
“Sorry, I’m spending the next three months loving Mike.” Ariel said, licking her fingers.
“Ah.” Joe said.
“Ah? What kind of an ah is that?”
“Just a regular kind of an ah.”
“Are you sure?
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“Oh hey, you didn’t tell me Tiffany Xu is going with you?” Ariel asked curiously.
“Yeah.” Joe suddenly started picking up the wrappers, avoiding Ariel’s gaze.
Ariel’s lips quirked.
“So I guess you are going to be ‘studying’ huh?” She smirked.
“Of course I’ll be studying. Tiffany’s just a friend. A FRIEND.” Joe said hotly.
“Methinks the man doth protest overmuch.” Ariel teased.
“Whatever.” Joe mumbled a bright red creeping up his neck.
“I have something for you.” Ariel said smiling in anticipation of his excitement.
“What?” Joe asked.
“Maybe I’ll give it you after you get back. That way you’ll be thinking about me all the time.” Ariel laughed.
“I think of you all the time anyway.”
“What?”
“Nothing. What do you have for me?”
“Welllll…remember that weekend you guys went to Miaoli and missed the party?”
“Yeah.”
“Guess who I met at the party?” Ariel sparkled.
“Who?”
“Guess!”
“Oh no you didn’t!”
“Oh yes I did!”
“I have the WORST luck! Is she as gorgeous in person as she is in the pictures?”
“More.”
“Oh man.”
“I got something for you FROM her though.”
Joe’s eyes went round. “An autograph?”
“Yep!” And Ariel handed him the napkin she had got Kireinagai to sign on. At short notice that was the only paper she had been able to find.
“Beware of the Golden Time Bomb. Best regards and wishes.” – Kireinagai.
Joe grinned as he read the message on the napkin.
“I asked her what she meant but she said you’d understand.” Ariel looked at Joe from the corner of her eye while eating her fudge.
“Er…yeah, I understand. Perfectly.” Joe smiled contentedly.
“Okay Joe, come here.” And Ariel drew him into a hug. She rested her cheek against his chest and leaned against him for a long moment.
“I’ll see you when you get back.” She said finally letting him go. Joe nodded, smiling. He turned to leave and then turned back again, “Do you wanna go to Rainie’s with me? I have to say goodbye otherwise she’ll denounce me for favouritism.”
“Nah. I have to go home and learn my lines. We start filming tomorrow. Didn’t Mike tell you? “
“Oh yeah he did. I forgot. So I guess I’ll see you when I get back?” Joe smiled as Ariel blew him a kiss in that endearing way she had.
“Of course you will. Bring me back seashells!” She called as Joe drove off wondering about the peculiar feeling, a sort of foreboding he had in his heart at leaving her behind.