Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
Ariel breathed in delight. She loved galleries and when she was free, could spend hours in one, lost in the beauty of the pictures.
“Look at that veiled one. I wonder what it is.” Wu Chun said, his attention caught by the only picture in the room that was covered by a velvet veil.
“Oooh what pretty pictures!” Serena said loudly and several people in the vicinity looked up, some smirking.
Mike looked down at her. “Why don’t you just, I dunno, continue talking about something you actually know?”
“Like what?” Serena fluttered her eyes at him and Mike again felt an urge to run away screaming.
He thought hard and came up empty. And then thought again. “How about shoes?” He finally said.
Just then Mary came rushing up to Serena and they started gabbing. Mike breathed a sigh of relief.
“Did you hear? Kingone brought his girlfriend to the party! She never goes to public functions because of the attention from the paparazzi! I wonder what made her do it.”
Kingone entered the gallery and paused by the doors, looking down at the woman he loved beyond anything in the world. “Thank you for doing that. I know it was difficult for you.”
“Friends help each other. Ariel helped us. I could only return the favour.” Joan, a stunning brunette smiled up at Kingone, feeling like the luckiest woman in the world. She reached up and pressed a kiss on his cheek, the moment caught and eternalized by the cameras of the various paparazzi.
“Omg, look at Rainie Yang!” Serena squealed, grabbing Mike’s arm. Mike turned blindly in the direction she was pointing, and stumbled off, almost weeping in relief at a possible saviour.
“Xiao Mei!” Rainie gave him a hug which was again captured by a roving reporter. Mike frowned; Rainie wasn’t usually so demonstrative in public. “Save me.” He whispered to her.
Rainie looked confused and then she noticed Serena who was standing a bit apart, looking very huffy. Her nose wrinkled in distaste and she raised an eyebrow at Mike who sighed sadly.
“Hi Serena.” Rainie said perfectly cordially. There was no love lost between them but Rainie didn’t see the point of feuding in front of the public.
“You look like an overstuffed doll.” Serena apparently had no such qualms. Rainie’s eyes widened and Mike smiled happily. He knew very well not to mess with Rainie and it appeared that Serena would learn that as well.
Rainie smiled and Mike knew that every time she smiled, you had better have written your will. “I’m sorry to offend your sensibilities, Serena. You on the other hand, look beautiful, just like a Christmas tree, two months too early.” A saccharine smile followed the words.
“Cheng Lin, I need to talk to you.” Joe appeared out of nowhere.
Rainie’s “I will kill” gaze swung to Joe and she left with Joe immediately.
“Rainie and Joe are so rude!” Serena pouted.
“They are my best friends.” Mike said sternly.
“I guess I could learn to get along with them.” Serena said, ready for sacrifice. Then. “I’m hungry.”
“What’s wrong with everybody?” Joe whispered to Rainie. “Kingone and his girlfriend. Mike and that brazen hussy. Ariel and Wu Chun.” He looked over to the last couple who were standing in front of a big picture, whispering earnestly to each other.
“It’s none of your business, Joe.” Rainie said coolly.
Joe looked startled at her tone. Then realization dawned. “Look, you don’t understand…” He started saying but Rainie was not in the mood to listen.
“I don’t care what you were thinking. The words you said were hurtful. You could have worded your feelings in a gentler manner, knowing how fragile Ariel is on that matter. Yet, you exploited that fragility, you ensured that the words you spoke hurt her the most. Isn’t that what Kris told her?”
“What?” Joe looked confused. “I thought they broke up because…”
“Yeah but he also said before that she was too messed, had too many issues , that she was a freak about intimacy etc etc.” Rainie glared.
“I had no idea!”
“It doesn’t matter, Joe. A good friend wouldn’t say shit like that. Seriously, how stupid can you get?” Rainie walked away and Joe ran a hand through his hair. He turned to look at Ariel.
Ariel and Wu Chun were standing in front of another beautiful picture but they weren’t observing that. Instead they were looking at a rather large woman who was wearing a turban and “a table cloth” Ariel whispered to Wu Chun.
“I know why she’s wearing the turban.” Wu Chun said impishly.
“Why?” Ariel asked sincerely.
“She has all her favorite snacks tucked in there. See, she just took something out from there and she’s putting it in her mouth!”
Ariel broke into peals of laughter, a joyous sound that attracted Mike’s attention. They were standing by the buffet table and Serena would not stop piling food on her plate.
“Are you going to eat all that?” Mike looked on in disbelief as she continued putting food on her plate.
Serena paused and looked up at Mike. “Didn’t you say you wanted me to gain more weight?” She beamed and then all of a sudden she reached up and pecked Mike on the cheek.
“What the hell?” Mike said loudly.
Ariel noticed the peck and her eyes narrowed dangerous, all mirth fading from them. She wanted to walk over and drag Mike away from that woman; scrub off her touch, her cloying scent, and her essence from Mike. She hated the thought of him with another woman and this made her frown ferociously.
“Darling, I’m here, you can stop scowling.” Rainie said slipping her hands into Ariel’s. Ariel’s features softened immediately as took in Rainie. “You look beautiful.” Wu Chun said to Rainie.
“I’m surprised you noticed after Ariel.” Rainie teased.
“Yeah, me too.” Wu Chun made googly eyes at Ariel and the cameras clicked gleefully.
“Poor Mike.” Rainie said. And Wu Chun nodded in affirmation.
“Why poor Mike?” Ariel asked.
Rainie gave her a ‘don’t be so dense’ look. “The woman is a monster.” She said.
“Monster.” Wu Chun echoed.
Ariel frowned. “She’s pretty.”
“Oversized Christmas tree.” Rainie said.
“Blinding.” Wu Chun Added.
“Will you guys quit that? Where’s Ethan?” Ariel said, tapping both of them smartly.
Ethan walked into gallery. He was late and Rainie was bound to kill him. The first person he saw was Joe who was stood talking to a couple of people. He made his way over him.
“Xiao Zong.” Ethan said, tapping him on his shoulder. Joe looked back and his gaze sharpened when he saw Ethan.
“Hey. You are late.” Joe said.
“I know. I spilt something on my suit and had to change.” Ethan replied looking around. “Have you seen Rainie?”
“Oh yeah, considerably.” Joe said grimacing. “She gave me the gimlet eye and reamed me out.”
“You messed up big time, dude.” Ethan said still craning his neck.
“Hey, do you know why Mike and Ariel are apart tonight?” Joe asked. He had no idea about Belinda or the impending scandal. He had not been in contact with any of them after his ‘talk’ with Ariel and so he was quite out of the loop.
“You don’t know?” Ethan finally focused on him.
“I wouldn’t be asking if I did.” Joe snapped.
“Well jeeez, chill.” Ethan said and filled him in on what was going on. Comprehension filled Joe’s face and his mind raced.
“Ah ha! There she is! Whoa, look at Yi Chen. What’s up with her dress?” And Ethan nodded to Joe and walked over to them.
“You are late!” Rainie said grabbing hold of Ethan’s hand.
“I know, I know, sorry.” He gave her a hug which didn’t go unnoticed.
He nodded at Wu Chun and turned to Ariel. “Yi Chen, what are you wearing?!” He said sternly.
Ariel looked back innocently at him. “A dress, Ethan.”
“Yes but where’s the rest of it?” Ethan replied which caused them all to burst into laughter.
“I swear Serena, if you say one more word about our future children; I’m going to run away.” Mike looked longingly at the group from afar.
“I’m just saying darling, we’d have the prettiest children.” Serena smiled.
“Look at what Fan Fan is wearing!” Mike said in a shocked voice.
“Where?” Serena turned to look and Mike ran away.
“Oh the music’s starting!” Rainie said excitedly. “Dance with me!” She said to Ariel. Ariel shook her head and nodded to Ethan who perked up. “Dance with Ethan. I’m going to dance with Wu Chun.”
“Hmpf. Fine. But save a dance for me.”
They started dancing, it was a beautiful sight. The stars had graced the earth tonight. Suddenly a voice interrupted Wu Chun and Ariel. “May I cut in?”
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Joe stood there, with a perfect smile on his face. Ariel stiffened and Wu Chun looked at Ariel for confirmation. She nodded and he let her go. “Only for this dance though.” Wu Chun said to Joe. A look arched through them. A warning. An acceptance.
Joe and Ariel started dancing. Ariel danced quietly, concentrating on her moves.
“Ariel.” Joe started.
“You don’t have to say anything, Joe. Really. You’ve said everything you were supposed to. It’s okay. It’s not that big a deal. I haven’t stopped being friends with you but I can’t just pretend everything is normal right now. So you need to give me time to push everything back into its proper compartment, all right?
“But…”
“Besides, I have much more important things to deal with at this moment.” Ariel kept a polite smile pasted on her face.
“Ariel, don’t treat me like a stranger.” Joe said again.
“I’m not, Joe. You are not the stranger. Mike is.” The dance ended and Ariel walked away.
Mike had been granted a moment of reprieve from Serena the Slimy and he had spent it watching Ariel and Joe dance. “They looked so perfect together it gives me indigestion.” Mike muttered to himself. Then the dance ended and Ariel walked away from Joe. He wondered what Joe had said to make her leave.
Ariel walked to the edge of the dance floor and decided to stand alone for a moment before joining her group. She suddenly felt a prickle on her neck and knew she was being watched. Ariel turned and her gaze was caught by Mike. Their eyes locked and everything and everyone else faded into the background. The distance between became unbearable and electricity danced along their connected gazes. Everything that was unsaid and unspoken was in that instant understood. Ariel took one step forward unknowingly and then a snide voice unwittingly saved her.
“Isn’t this sad? To be so close to each other yet so far.” Belinda sidled up to Ariel. “Young love, sigh.”
“What do you want?” Ariel said shortly shaking her head at Mike as he made to come over.
Belinda felt a glow of satisfaction warm her entire body. Finally, these so called stars would bow in front of her, slave to her direction. “Want? Your humiliation. Which I will soon get.” And she smiled again, satisfied. “You think I haven’t noticed you and your friends trying to divert the media’s attention? But my pictures Yi Chen are much too delicious, much too scandalous to be passed over. I’ll release the pictures in small doses leading up to a grand finale. So exciting!”
Ariel had had quite enough of Belinda. She turned, polite smile still fixed in place. “Go ahead, Belinda.”
Belinda’s face changed.
“Yes, I said go ahead. Release those pictures. Sell them to anyone and everyone. Let everyone see what you have captured. What do you think will happen to me? To Mike? That we will be ostracized by the acting community, by our fans? Oh goodness no, I hope you didn’t think that. A scandal is as common to a celebrity’s life as breakfast. Of course it will be an inconvenience, answering annoying and probing questions. But it won’t be the end of my life. So go ahead. Do your worst.” Ariel smiled perfunctorily. “Oh yes. Be certain that you enjoy every single moment of your assumed victory. To the fullest. Because once it’s done, so are you. I will make certain that this will be the last picture you take that will be published, that these will be the last words you write that any self respecting magazine, newspaper or even blog will accept. You’ve always thought that I was a little harmless girl, haven’t you, Belinda? Is that why you have always targeted me for your base stories and accusations? Or are you jealous of me? Of my fame? Of what I have? Whatever it is, just make sure you understand very clearly that there will be consequences to your actions and be prepared to accept them. Jiayou.”
Ariel walked away with more nonchalance than she felt. She walked back to her group and Rainie gave her a hug and Wu Chun put an arm around her and pulled her close to him. Ariel smiled gratefully. She didn’t know where she had found the courage to speak as she had but now that she had, she was glad. It had been wildly exhilarating.
Mike worried. He worried at his lip, he worried at his tie, and he worried at the pen that had somehow found its way into his hand.
“There you are!” Serena said pouncing on hand. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere! I even asked Ethan but he was so rude, he didn’t even admire my dress!”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, may I please have your attention?” A voice boomed out suddenly and everyone in the gallery fell silent.
A man stood at the podium before the veiled picture. He gestured to the picture and said, “I’m sure many of you have been wondering what this piece of art is. Wondering why it has been veiled.”
The guests nodded in agreement of his words.
“Well, wonder no more. This is newest piece by Alan Chou, the extraordinary photographer, the one who has captured the hearts in the pictures and laid them bare for your visual. It’s a piece de resistance from the much anticipated drama, Tuesday.”
Ariel and Mike hurriedly glanced at each other. Sandra and Mary had most certainly not planned for this. If anything this picture would bring rabid attention back to Mike and Ariel after they had spent the entire evening deflecting attention away from each other.
The picture was unveiled and Ariel felt her heart sink right down to her pink painted toes. Heat flooded her cheeks and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mike choke on the cracker he had just put in his mouth. It was THAT picture.
Tuesday had her legs around Daniel’s waist, her neck stretched to reveal creamy white skin, eyes closed. Daniel’s brown hand, a dark contrast cupping her jaw, the other hand around her waist, holding her close. His gaze facing the world, a mixture of possession, tenderness and pride in his stance and look.
“Wow.” Rainie said. “That’s intimate.”
And that summed it up. The picture indeed was intimate and Belinda herself couldn’t have planned it better. While the distinguished guests oohed and aahed over the picture, the rabid interest of the hyenas swung back to Mike and Ariel.
Alan Chou took over the mike from the MC. He smiled at crowd and said, “It’s not usual to find two subjects who flatter each other as Mike and Ariel or rather in this case, Daniel and Tuesday do. The camera loves them together and I know we will too. I don’t know about the rest of you but I look forward to watching the magic created by them in Tuesday.”
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Author's Note: Are you ready for this? Next up, the finale of Tuesday, the drama.