| Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
“Your very own wake up call, aren’t you a lucky girl.” Rosalinda grinned, dipping a spoon in an ice cream tub.
“Funny. I don’t feel very lucky.” Ariel muttered, still under the covers.
“That’s cuz you are an ungrateful wretch.” Rosalinda replied even more cheerfully.
Finally, scowling enough to scare dragons, Ariel poked her head from underneath the covers and dislodged Rosalinda who went flying over the edge of the bed. Watching Rosalinda sprawled ungainly on the floor, ice cream tub on her nose, Ariel grinned. Then laughed. Loudly. This brought Patience and Ceci to Ariel’s room who seeing Rosalinda burst into laughter.
“Hmph.” Rosalinda got up and wiped her face on Ariel’s blanket.
“Hey! I just washed this thing!” Ariel growled. Patience came and plopped on the bed while Ceci yawned and followed suit.
“What time is it?” Ariel looked around for her 6th cell phone. “Only 6 am? Are you insane, Rosa? I could have slept at least 2 hours more, you cow.”
“Psht.” Rosa returned to eating ice cream.
“And who eats ice cream in the morning?” Ariel grouched. Mornings were not her strong point. She nudged Patience who was dozing on the pillow besides her. “Are we sleeping together?”
“I can arrange that.” Patience mumbled swatting her hand away.
“I want to be on the bed too!” Rosa put the ice cream tub aside and took a flying leap into the bed. Ariel curled up to avoid collision and so Rosa ended up on Ceci’s lap. “Hello darling,” Rosa fluttered her eyelashes up at Ceci who turned green.
“Slumber parties are supposed to start at night.” Patience said opening one eye.
“Well, Ariel’s going to a party tomorrow night.” Rosa said almost bouncing.
“She is?” Ceci raised an eyebrow.
“I am?” Ariel was three quarters awake now. And. “Why are you so cheerful? It’s not normal. Go away.”
“Well, you have the last scene to shoot for Chances today, right? Right?!” Rosa poked Ariel who had dozed off.
“Call later. I’m not available right now.” Ariel mumbled.
“Ariel Lin, pay attention!” Rosa screeched and all three girls winced.
“Okay okay, you monster. I’m paying attention.” With great difficulty, Ariel opened both eyes.
“So, party. Tomorrow. Since Chances is ending, we need to find you another job. Jason has a friend who is in fashion and who wants me. With his help, I procured invitations to this hotshot party tomorrow night. You and a friend.”
“Is he still alive?” Patience asked.
“Who?” Rosa looked confused.
“Never mind.” She went back to sleep.
“Are you going with me?” Ariel asked.
“No. You are taking Arron.” Rosalinda smiled brilliantly. Ceci hid her face to escape the glare and curled up beside Patience.
“What? NO!” Ariel came wide awake instantly. “No way.”
“Yes way.” Rosa said sternly.
“But why? Why do I have to take him?” Ariel pouted.
“Cuz he’s an idol.” Rosa was patient.
“So?” Ariel was stubborn.
“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Rosa frowned threateningly.
“Bloody Hitler.” Ariel mumbled.
“Did you say something?” Peaches and cream, Rosa asked sweetly.
“No, of course not.” Ariel put her head under her pillow.
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Rainie sparkled. She was finally going to get the man and it would be alright. Everything would be all right. They were on location to film the ending scene of Chances. And she supposed Ariel was necessary because Zee had to wave goodbye to J.J or something as he finally accepts Anna’s love. And then everyone could live happily ever after. Except of course Zee who was dead. But she was going to heaven so whatever.
She glanced over to where Ariel was sitting in a corner dozing. Rainie, making a big show of it, took out her script and started reviewing just to show people who punctilious she was compared to the other actress.
The director cleared his throat to get attention. Mike got up and stretched and shook Ariel awake. Ariel smiled her thanks and they all gathered around the director to get the instructions.
The director got a stack of papers from his assistant and passed it around. It was a revised copy of the script. Rainie curiously opened it to the part they were supposed to be filming and her eyes widened.
“What the hell?” She yelled without thinking and everyone turned to her.
“Is there a problem?” Mike raised his eyebrow.
“Damn straight there is. You changed the ending!” She accused the director feeling as though the earth beneath her feet had been swept away.
At her words everyone flipped open to the ending scene and for a few minutes there was silence as everyone read the revised edition.
“Ah.” Mike smiled. “Genius,” He nodded to the director who gave an enigmatic smile.
“Hmm…” Ariel looked up too.
“Why does it have a sad ending?” Rainie burst out nearly in tears. “Do you want the drama to flop?”
“It’s not a sad ending, Rainie. Think about it. A man that deeply in love…he’d act just the way I made it so.” The director said patiently.
“What about the entire title of the drama? The peoples’ expectations. What about that?” Rainie argued passionately.
“Chances is a very ambiguous title. It could be referring to the chance that Anna had of remaking her life, the chance she took and the chance that paid off.” The director explained. “Besides, it’s my drama, my interpretation. If the people like it, fine. If they don’t, that’s just as well. I’ll have satisfied my own creative urges.”
And there was nothing else Rainie could say. She swung venomous eyes at Ariel who hadn’t said a word for or against the new ending.
“I’ll give you half an hour to memorize the lines and then we’ll film.” With that, the director worked away.
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Chances: It was the End of a Forever Dreamt in Blue
It was a windy day and the wind made the shutters bang on the frail walls of the little house by the beach where J.J had dreamt of living forever with Zee. The waves flowed white caps, pretty in the wind, in the sun. A year had passed since Zee left. Since J.J shattered. One whole year.
Anna stood silhouetted in the doorway, peeking at J.J as she often did. Unsure and hesitant of what to say, how to say her love for him out in words and make them real. She knew he knew but he didn’t respond because she hadn’t said anything concrete. But Anna felt as though her entire soul was singing the symphony, that longing was apparent in every look, gesture and touch. Surely he could hear the song. Surely he heard it.
“J.J, come inside, dinner is ready.” J.J was sitting on the window sill, looking out at the ocean. He turned as she spoke his name. Then he stood up and Anna noticed the bag by his feet.
“J.J…?” Her voice quavered.
“Anna.” That’s all he said and she knew.
“No!” Anna walked over and grabbed his arm. “No. I won’t let you.” She was adamant.
“You’ve repented long enough, Anna. I forgive you.” J.J replied, gently pulling his arm out of her grasp. “I forgive you.” He repeated.
Anna felt the tears waiting just beyond her eyes, a reservoir of tears. “You don’t understand, J.J., I want your forgiveness, I do. But…but…” Did she dare to say it? “But I also want your love!”
J.J looked surprised and Anna emboldened went on, “I’ve spent this year repenting. Every time you pushed me away, I came back. Not just because I was sorry but also because somehow, somehow I fell in love with you. Did you not feel it, J.J? Could you not tell?” She was crying now.
“Anna…” J.J seemed at a loss for words. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. Then he looked at her. She stood looking at him in entreaty, heart in her eyes. “You have someone who loves you.”
“But I don’t love him.” Anna insisted.
“I have someone I love.” J.J finally said.
Anna’s took a sharp, swift, painful breath. “Zee’s not here anymore, J.J.”
“Really?” J.J turned to the ocean. “I told her once I would never love anyone except her. It wasn’t a lie, Anna. I know she’s not present physically in this world anymore. I know that.” He fell silent. A minute. Two. “But every time I see the sun, I feel the sun, I think of her smile and she’s right there. Can’t you see, Anna? She’s in the sunflowers, in the wet dew in the mornings. She’s there in the food I cook, in the sweetness of the cake. She’s on the beach and she’s in the roar of the cars. She’s the asphalt and the stars. She’s the darkness of the nights and the softness of the moonlight. So what if she’s gone and I can’t hold her in my arms? I feel her inside of me every time I breathe, Anna. I can’t even imagine being with anyone else besides her. I’m sorry.”
He knelt where Anna had crumpled to her knees, weeping. “Life is all about Chances. I gave you a Chance. You should give Sam a chance. You should give yourself a chance. I’m leaving today. Zee always wanted to see the mountains. This house is yours. Fill it with love. With laughter.”
Saying that, he picked up his bag, shouldered it and went outside. Anna ran after him after five minutes and watched him walk that long, winding, unpaved road, alone. And then whether it was the trick of the eye, or the mischief of the afternoon, she saw Zee in her regular outfit of black leather pants and black sleeveless t-shirt slip her hand in his. Zee turned and looked at Anna and smiled. Zee smiled her forgiveness and Anna nodded and smiled back even though the tears were still streaming down her eyes. Then Zee turned back ahead, drew closer to J.J and they walked the long, dirt road away.
“CUT.”
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Author's note: As it always happens, I fell in love with the story of Chances. It's not as painful as Tuesday or maybe it's a different flavour of pain but I actually THOUGHT a LOT MORE about Zee and J.J and Anna than I actually wrote. Maybe someday I'll write their story cuz it's a pity if doesn't get told. Heh anyway. I decided on my next and possibly last fanfic. Ariel, Joe fans, ArJoers rejoice. I finally have a story I can tell about them. I'm not sure if I'm going to be writing it congruently with Fire Light. We'll see. Anyway. Thanks for reading, yeah?