Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
“Xiao Mei! What a surprise!” Joe’s mom opened the door. “You look hungry.” She said as she ushered him into the house. “Go find Joe and I’ll make you some food. “I’d look in his room if I were you.”
Mike ran up the stairs to Joe’s room. Without knocking he walked in. Joe was standing in front of the mirror, brushing his hair.
“Hey. When did you get back? Why didn’t you call me?” Joe said looking over his shoulder at Mike.
Mike wondered what to say. Now that he was here, brimming with self-righteous anger that Joe had rejected the woman Mike himself loved – wait, Mike said that over to himself once again. Joe had rejected Ariel. Which meant that he, Mike was now free to pursue her, but instead of doing that he was here to yell at the man. The man who had rejected the woman HE HIMSELF loved. Mike sat down on the bed. He had utterly confused himself.
“Xiao Mei, you are thinking so hard *I* feel exhausted.” Joe said spraying some cologne on himself. “What’s up?”
“Did you talk to Yi Chen?” Mike finally said, cornering Joe with a look. He couldn’t help but remember her broken voice on the phone.
“Yeah.” Joe fussed at his collar.
“And?” Mike asked, standing up and slipping his hands in his jean pockets.
“And I don’t wanna talk about it.” Joe replied, picking up the hairbrush again.
“Why?” Mike asked softly.
“Look, she asked me a question. I gave her an answer.” Joe replied impatiently, throwing the hairbrush back onto the vanity table.
“I see.” Mike replied looking over at Joe intently.
“And she didn’t like what I said.” Joe shrugged. “I can’t help that.” He looked at his watch and then said. “Anyway, I gotta pick up Tiffany. We have to go to this party tonight. I’ll see you later.”
Mike wandered downstairs pondering over Joe’s replies, evasive as they were. “What the hell was wrong with the man?” Mike wondered. If it had been him Yi Chen asked, he’d have climbed the highest building in the city and shouted yes from there so the entire world could know.
Joe’s mom made him eat dinner with them and after basking in the warmth they Joe took for granted, Mike wandered out to his car.
He felt terrible. It was his fault Yi Chen had been hurt, his fault she had cried once again. “I bring worse luck to her than a black cat walking across the road would.” He sighed. Taking out his cell phone, he dialed her number.
Ariel had been feeling restless, not wanting to go to any parties but not wanting to stay at home either. She’d have called Rainie but she didn’t want to intrude on the new happiness that Rainie had found. She knew that Rainie would kick her ass if she knew she felt this way but she thought it was only fair that Rainie and Ethan enjoyed their new love to the fullest.
She walked out into the night and to her car. She leaned against her car and wondered what to do. Her cell phone rang and she picked it up without looking at the caller id.
“Yi Chen, hi.” Mike said from his side.
“Hey, you are back?” Ariel said wondering why she was so happy to hear from him.
“Yeah. Listen could I meet with you tonight?”
“Sure. I’ll come get you. Where are you?”
“No. I’ll come get you. You’re at home?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll be there in about 5 minutes.”
True to his word, Mike pulled up at Ariel’s house five minutes later. She got into his car giving him a smile.
“Seatbelt.” Mike reached over and belted it for her, automatically, without thinking. Ariel slapped at his hand.
“I’m not 10 anymore, Xiao Mei.”
Mike gave her a sheepish look. “Sorry. I can’t forget that time in high school you refused to wear the seat belt and we got into an accident and you got hurt. Your mom reamed me out.”
Ariel smiled reminiscently. “Where are we going?” She asked.
“Remember that drive in Movie Theater?”
“Where Ethan always had his first dates with his various girlfriends? Yeah.”
“There.”
Ten minutes later, they pulled up at the theater. “Oh they are showing something I’ve never seen before.” Ariel exclaimed.
Mike shook his head. “That movie is only 2 years old, Yi Chen.”
“Whatever. Go buy me popcorn.” Ariel said.
“Listen. I want to apologize to you.” Mike said softly, using the darkness in the car to hide his shining eyes. “About what happened with Joe…”
Ariel held up a hand stopping his words. “Mike, it wasn’t your fault. This would have come up sooner or later. What Joe said to me…it was true. I have issues, I don’t deny them. The reason it hurt…” Ariel paused sighing. “I could have loved him.” She finally said, then laughed awkwardly. “It hurt because he didn’t think I was worthy enough to wait. But I’m being stupid; I’m not some femme fatale that Joe would fall for my spell. It hurt that there might have been a future for us and that maybe I allowed myself to dream of…that this future will never be anymore. That’s all. So there is nothing for you to feel guilty about. Okay?”
“I’m sorry anyway. For Joe. I feel responsible.” Mike replied.
“Buy me popcorn if it will ease your guilt.” Ariel smiled.
Just then both their cell phones rang. They looked at each other and then got out their cell phones.
“Sandra?” Mike said into his phone.
“Hey Mary.” Ariel said into hers.