Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
Joe called out loudly. “Mike!” And then stood back and watched as a plethora of expressions chased themselves around Mike’s face, arranging his features to suit their feeling.
First Mike looked overjoyed to see Joe and then immediately after his look became shuttered and then not one second later, there was a diluted and more brittle emulation of the first expression.
“Joe! I thought you were coming back tomorrow!” Mike said, giving Joe a hug. They paid no mind to the hungry cameras clicking away around them. That was a fact of their lives.
“I couldn’t wait to get home so I took the last flight out.” Joe said looking Mike over. “Where are you going?”
“To Japan.” Mike replied, craning his neck. “Funny, I don’t see Rui Ja. He’s supposed to come with me.”
“You are done filming?” Joe asked, something nagging at him.
“Nah. We are on a two week break. Anyway, it’s good to see you, man. Oh. Yi Chen wanted to talk to you about something. Give her a call will you.” Mike replied, shifting his bag from one shoulder to another.
“Yeah, I was just going to.” Joe replied showing him his cell phone which he had already gotten out.
“Of course.” Mike smiled. “Okay, I better go see where Rui Ja is. I don’t wanna miss the plane like the last time. I’ll see you man.”
Mike left and Joe frowned, wondering why Mike had been acting so differently around him. Just then Tiffany Xu walked out of the airport, pushing her luggage cart ahead of her.
“Joe! What the hell? You left me behind AND you didn’t take your bags. Not very chivalrous of you.” She glared at him.
“My bad, Tiff. I HAD to get out of the airport otherwise I’d have been stifled by processed air.” Joe stretched.
“Who’s coming to get us?” Tiffany asked looking around.
“The company sent a car.” Joe motioned with his head.
They loaded the car with their luggage and got in greeting the chauffer. “Drop me off first, k?” Tiffany said to the driver. “Yes ma’am.” He replied.
As they drove down the streets, Joe rolled down the window and stuck his head out, sniffing appreciatively.
“Nothing beats the smell of home.” He said with a content look.
“WOW!!!” Tiffany exclaimed all of a sudden. “Can you stop for a second, please?” She said to the driver who immediately complied.
“Joe, look.” Tiffany gestured and Joe turned and looked.
There on a billboard was an early promotional poster for Tuesday. Joe’s eyes drank it in. In the poster, Ariel had her legs wrapped around Mike’s hip, his arms were around her, one of her hands were grasping the back of his neck, pulling his face back. The other hand cupped his jaw. Mike’s eyes were closed and lips pursed. Ariel was looking down at his lips. It was, Joe mused, as though if he continued looking at it, the picture would consume reality and Ariel would finish the action that the photographer hinted at. A kiss. No, not just any kiss. A kiss which simply stated and illustrated the fact that the man holding her was hers. And hers alone.
“That is bloody awesome work.” Tiffany said breaking into Joe’s private reverie. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say the two really were in love. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah. I think so too.” Joe smiled. “You wanna hit up Alan and orchestrate a fireworks exhibition too?”
“I think I’m too late.” Tiffany said mournfully and they both laughed.