| Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
“Let’s go in.” Mina said but Rosalinda had already wandered back in. The others each picked up a suitcase and moved.
The inside of the house looked much better than the outside. The atmosphere was that off a home, with notes pasted on the refrigerator, knick knacks decorating available spaces all around the living room and different posters on the wall: a periodic table next to a poster of a boy band. They entered through the kitchen door which was basically the only door in the whole house.
“Ladies, follow me,” And Cecily led them to a small room on the far end of the house which Ariel presumed was to be her room when Cecily set down the suitcase on the floor.
“This is your room.” Cecily said.
Yep. Knew that. Outwardly Ariel nodded and smiled her thanks.
“Have I seen you somewhere?” Patience finally zoomed into this reality and asked Ariel.
Ariel stiffened. “I have no idea. This is the first time I’ve been to Taiwan.”
“Hmm. Okay.” Patience replied looking dissatisfied with the answer.
“Well…we’ll leave you to unpack. The bathrooms right down the hall if you want to take a shower and dinner is in an hour.” Mina said cheerfully.
They left. Ariel closed the door behind them and then lay back on the bed.
“Well girlfriend, you’ve survived it up to here.” A flash of darkness, a memory rushed past in her head and Ariel lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Cobwebs. Ariel stiffened immediately. She couldn’t stand cobwebs. Funnily enough she had no trouble with spiders. She walked out of her room following the hallway to the kitchen where assumedly a broom would be located.
The girls were all sitting in the living room adjoining the kitchen. Ariel stopped just before she entered the room when she heard her name spoken.
Rosalinda said, “I don’t know why we had to have another roomie. She can never measure up to Serena.”
“We need the extra money, Linda,” This was said by Cecily. The calm measured words and the patient tone gave her away.
“I think she’s awesome! Anyone who is afraid of Dean Kang is just fine in my book!” Mina chirruped.
“Did you see her eyes? They were far away and creepy. It’s as though all she’s doing is pretending; pretending to be nice, pretending to care, pretending…” Rosalinda lowered her voice dramatically and Ariel strained to hear, “to be human.”
“She can’t be a vampire. I saw her in the daytime.” Mina said helpfully.
“I’m just saying we don’t know anything about her.” Rosalinda sulked.
“She sent over her police records and I had them verified, Linda. Honestly, what are you afraid of? That she’s a serial killer?” Cecily said impatiently.
“Female serial killers are very rare.” Patience spoke up.
“The Reference Book is doing it again, Ceci.” Rosalinda said sounding frustrated. “I don’t know why you guys can’t see how lethal she is.”
“You are only kicking up a fuss cuz you know she can kick your ass and still walk away.” Patience said with a smile apparent in her voice.
“I still can’t believe she doesn’t know who Wu Chun and Fei Lun Hai are.” Mina interrupted.
“Mina, you have to accept that not everyone is a fan girl like you.” Rosalinda said and Ariel heard a thud which she put down to Rosalinda throwing a cushion at Patience.
“She might be Taiwanese in heritage but you guys have to understand that she was brought up outside. She is going to have different values and reactions to things. Besides, you should be more understanding; she’s so far away from home and her family.”
Ariel leaned against the wall in the dark hallway and whispered to herself, “What are you doing, girlfriend? Lurking in hallways and eavesdropping? What did you expect anyway? To be accepted with open arms? Come on girl, you know better than that.”
Taking a deep breath Ariel walked into the kitchen and everyone immediately shut up.
“I don’t have one,” was the only thing she said.
“Don’t have what?” Patience asked when it seemed no one else would.
“A family.” Ariel replied meeting each of their gazes in turn, daring them to give her a conciliatory look.
“Dinner will be ready in about 20 minutes.” Cecily said.
“I’m looking for a broom actually.” Ariel replied. “Cobwebs.”
“Behind the fridge.” Patience gestured and Mina jumped up looking horrified.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I was supposed to dust the ceiling since I’m the only one tall enough to reach it! I’ll help you!”
“I got it.” Ariel replied shortly.
“Doesn’t it bother you?” Rosalinda finally spoke up narrowing her eyes at Ariel. “That you heard us talking about you? Doesn’t that bother you?”
“It’s a free country. You can talk about whoever you damn well please.” Ariel replied coolly and left the room.
“If she kills me in my bed I’m never forgiving you.” Rosalinda told Cecily who rolled her eyes and replied, “Quit giving her reasons to do so.”
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The next morning Ariel wandered into the kitchen. Patience was sitting cross legged on the counter eating toast and reading the paper.
“Morning,” She said when she noticed Ariel.
Ariel made a sound and then yawned.
“Toast?” Patience asked.
“Please.” Ariel replied. She put the kettle on the stove and rubbed her eyes. The heat was malevolently waiting to take over the world and morning seemed the only reprieve they would get from it.
The loud ping of the toaster startled Ariel out of her reverie and she looked up to see Patience observing her. She immediately put a genial smile in place and straightened.
“I wonder who you are,” Patience said.
“You know who I am,” Ariel replied ceasing all movement.
“Nope, I know who you tell us you are but who you actually are? I’m not certain you know yourself. You are composed of secrets, linking themselves together to make the Ariel standing right before me.” Patience suddenly smiled.
She was very dangerous, this Patience, Ariel realized. She may look like she wasn’t listening or far away but her perceptions were sharp and her observations spot on.
“I’m actually the bastard child of the Prime Minister,” Ariel said solemnly and watched amused as the colour faded from Patience’s face. No matter how dangerous Patience was, Ariel was in a league of her own.
“Are you serious?” Patience whispered.
“No,” Ariel replied and burst into laughter, loud and unrestrained. Cecily and Mina wandered into the kitchen just then looking curiously from Ariel to Patience.
“What’s so funny?” Mina demanded. “I want to know.”
Ariel smiled at Patience and said, “It’s a secret.” Mina pouted. Cecily made some tea and poured out a cup for all four of them.
“Ariel, do you have anything planned for today?” Ceci asked Ariel who was once again struck by how warm and intelligent Ceci’s eyes were.
“I was just going to look around, get myself familiar with the place.” Ariel replied sipping some tea.
“Perfect. We are going to show you around our places, not tourist places but places which a student absolutely NEEDS to know,” Cecil said smiling.
“Thank you,” Ariel replied. She could have refused but she was trying.
“Count me out,” Rosalinda walked into the kitchen, dressed and ready to go. “I have things to do before classes start.”
“Does this mean we aren’t going to the club tonight?” Mina said a moue of disappointment marring her face.
“I’ll be back before then Meens.” Rosalinda ruffled her hair. She grabbed Ariel’s toast and giving them all a ‘later’ left.
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So they piled into Sebastian and the girls showed Ariel around the city. Stopping at places like a 24hour coffee shop, a place where copies were 3cents each, where clothes were cheap and trendy. Ariel wasn’t quite sure what to make of their friendliness so she treated it cautiously.
Five hours later, exhausted they drove back to the house.
“Rock, paper, scissors time. Who gets to use the bathroom first?” Mina said as soon as they got into the house.
Ariel started walking to her room leaving them to her room when Mina pulled her back. “You too, Ariel.”
“You guys are the ones going out. I can shower when you are done.” Ariel replied.
“Oh no, you are coming with us.” Ceci said. “It’s the hottest club in town and Linda’s uncle promised her he’d get us entrance to it. He’s an agent at one of the star management companies.”
“Pleeeeeeaaaase come with us!” Mina jumped up and down.
Ariel looked at Patience who was observing at her with a knowing look in her eyes and then at Ceci who was smiling at Mina.
“Okay but I’m not wearing pink.” Ariel finally replied and Mina’s face was wreathed with smiles. Ariel wondered how Rosy Rosalinda would react to her presence in the evening. Well, she guessed she’d find out soon enough.
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And so it was that the five of them set out to Carpe Diem, which had just opened up downtown. Rosalinda’s uncle would meet them there. Mina was almost bursting with excitement at the thought that she might see Wu Chun at the club. Though the others girls weren’t as big fans, her excitement was contagious and since classes began the next day, Monday, they were keen to celebrate the last night of freedom.
Ariel walked along with them, not as dressed up as the rest were in clubbing tops and make up. In fact Ariel was a moth compared to these butterflies but she didn’t seem to care that her outfit which consisted of her uniform black t-shirt partied up by gold flowers on the front and skin tight jeans was drowned out by the ornately dressed girls. Even no-nonsense Ceci was resplendent in a mini and Patience had on a dress which served to heighten her innocent looks. Mina and Rosalinda had almost identical outfits on except that Rosalinda sported skull earrings and dark lipstick while Mina had gone for pink lipstick and bunny earrings. Ariel, after Mina had pleaded and threatened had finally given in and foregone her ponytail and sneakers for leaving her hair open and wearing gold stilettos.
Ariel still didn’t know what she was doing with them, behaving almost like a normal nineteen year old for the very first time since she had turned nineteen. The girls were still wary around her but they were trying really hard to be friendly and Ariel, prickles and defenses aside was trying too.
There was a long line in front of the club but Rosalinda signaled them to continue walking by the line and up to the door. This earned them plenty evil looks from the people in line.
“Jason!” Rosalinda yelled to a guy who seemed to be only 5 or so years older than them.
“That’s her uncle?” Ariel asked Ceci.
“Yeah.”
“Hey Rosy, girls,” then he noticed Ariel and looked her up and down. Ariel met his gaze calmly. “And who this ravishing newcomer?”
“This is Ariel, she’s Canadian.” Mina beamed happily.
Jason extended a hand out to her and Ariel shook it, nodding.
“Well do your magic already, Jason!” Rosalinda cut in annoyed by the attention Ariel was getting.
“Okay geez, you are as charming as ever.” Jason walked over to the bouncer, said something to him and the bouncer nodded at the girls.
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Author's note: Wooh. Considering the size of the chapters, you can't expect me to update as often as I did with Tuesday, =P. Next up.. Wu Chun and Ariel, second encounter. Questions, suggestions? Criticism? Throw it to me.