Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
“I don’t want to be me today.” She told her reflection. “Why don’t YOU be me and I’ll be you?”
“Who are you talking to Ariel?
Ariel jumped, relaxing when she saw her mother in the doorway.
“Oh Ma. I need a hug.” And Ariel snuggled against her mom, feeling the warmth and basking in the security which even though it was an illusion, comforted her.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Mrs. Lin asked.
And Ariel unburdened herself to her mother.
“Well.” Mrs. Lin said.
“Yeah.” Ariel replied. “I don’t really know what to do.”
“Of course you know what to do.” Mrs. Lin replied.
“What?”
“Your job, Ariel. Just because He Jun Xiang is your lead doesn’t mean you give any less dedication or sincerity to your character. “
“I know Ma but-“
“There are not buts. Treat him as you would any other stranger. He will only affect you if you let him. I’ve taught you to be strong.” Mrs Lin paused, wanting to say more but hesitating for once.
Ariel jumped back in bed and pulled the covers over her head. “Wake me when it’s all over, k?”
Mrs. Lin laughed. “Wake up, now. Mary’s called the house three times already and I’m afraid if she doesn’t talk to you personally she’s going to call the police and list you as missing.”
Ariel groaned and took the phone her mother was handing out.
“Hello?”
“Where are you, Ariel?”
“What kind of question is that, Mary? You called me at my house and I answered so OBVIOUSLY I’m home!”
“Stop being cranky. I’ll be at the house in about 40 minutes. You have a lot to do today, including some photo shoots for some magazines. Oh and you are meeting your dance instructor tomorrow in the morning. I’ve cleared your schedules from 9 to 2 every day which is when you’ll be rehearsing. Get ready and get some breakfast. You’ll be less grumpy then.” And she hung up.
Ariel lay back on her bed. Despite herself, she felt the remnants of that initial excitement she had had when she first read about Tuesday’s character. She tried to walk around the sinking feeling she felt every time she thought of acting with Mike.
“Stupid Love Contract.” She thought. “Stupid chemistry. Stupid Mike.”
Mike. How often in the last few years had she thought about him? He had been as close a friend to her as Joe was right now. “Wasn’t it funny,” she mused, “how easy it was to avoid someone who walked the same path as you, as frequently as you did?”
Her phone beeped and Ariel snatched it up. A text!
“Don’t forget about the party tonight, guys. Remember. At The Imperial starting at 9. Be early and be happy.”
-Wu Chun.
“Oh crap!” Ariel thought. “I completely forgot that the guys were throwing Jiro a surprise birthday party. She hurriedly dialled Rainie’s number.
“Mmmmf?”
“Rainie!”
“Go ‘way. It’s late night.”
“It’s 10 am.”
“That’s what I said. Late night.”
“Wake up.”
“No.”
“Do you wanna go to a party with me tonight?”
“Did you say party?”
“I said party.”
“Like a real, people dancing, eating, flirting party and not a networking meeting people career advancing party?”
“A real party, Rainie.”
“Okay, I might be awake for that.”
“Haha. Do you want to go?”
“Are any of my exes going to be there?”
“I don’t think it’s possible to go somewhere where your exes WON’T be present.”
“Cow.”
“Love you too. So you are coming with?”
“Of course. Whose party?”
“Jiro’s surprise b’day party.”
“Oooh, is Wu Chun going to be there?”
“Yeah, he’s throwing it, in fact. Why?”
“He’s hot. I’m going to flirt with him.”
“You do that. I’ll pick you up at 8.”
“Snore.”
Ariel hung up and grinned. If only people knew that the gentle Rainie snored as loudly as a gorilla.