Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Steve did not wait to tell Nick the news. He got in the car with Allie at his side while dialing Nick's number "Hey, it's Steve! I..." he paused when Nick was say something "Yeah, whatever...I've got good news! Where are you?...I'll be there in five minutes, don't go anywhere." he hung up the phone and turned to Allie "He's at the shelter."
Allie nodded "I'm a little nervous." she admitted.
"Why?" he asked with concern.
"I have not seen everyone for a while. Only Sunny and Amy... and it feels like I'm going to meet them after so long but in truth, they are not going to know that I am there." she was saddened by the slap of reality.
"You don't want to go?" he asked. She shook her head "Oh, come on Allie, it'll give you peace of mind to see Josie and Josh again, they still think about you."
Allie looked up with a tear stained face "Really?" she wiped it from her face.
Steve nodded "Who wouldn't?" when they pulled up the use to be restaurant, Allie took a deep breath "Ready?" Steve asked. She smiled in reply. As usual, he opened the door to let her out. They walked inside and found the place looking more busy from the holiday season coming up. The construction of the private rooms were almost ready. Amy and Sunny were looking at the new places while Nick stood there guiding some of the furniture that they just bought for the new rooms. Josh and Josie were in charge of decorating each room making it homy for their homeless guests.
Allie sighed as she walked around and stood next to each of her friends, taking in their smiles and grown up faces. She saw Josie's big belly, a kid on the way. She knew of Sunny's talks at night with Amy. Steve waved to everyone announcing his arrival "Hi guys!!"
The group looked up with brightened faces "Steve!!" Nick yelled happily as he rushed to his friend like they haven't seen each other in years, but in truth it was only a little over a year. "What's the good news? God knows we all need a little good news now a days." he added with a laugh.
Steve nodded "Remember years ago when you told me you wanted to do more meaningful movies?" Nick nodded "Well, what if I told you that I am producing one and I want to cast you as the main star?"
Nick was grinning from ear to ear "I'd say what took you so long?!" he laughed as he gave his friend a bear hug "You're serious?" he pushed at Steve still in shock. It was a moment he has been waiting for.
Steve laughed as he rubbed his chest where Nick pushed him "Yes. I'll give you a copy of the script and storyline, I need to make some more copies for the other parts. But I have a copy of it on my computer."
Nick was excited to start the new project "I'll drop by later, if you'll be home."
Steve was happy to see him so estactic "Sure." he looked around trying to find where Allie went. He spotted her standing next to Josie who was sitting down resting from exhaustion. Josh was giving her a neck rub. "Excuse me." he said to Nick and walked over to the lovey couple. "Ahem?"
Josie smiled brightly from her seat "Steve?!" she opened her arms out as the two embraced. Josh and Steve shook hands while Allie had a smile on her face.
"I didn't know you knew them that well?" Allie asked Steve with a grin.
He smiled at her and then looked at Josie "It's been a while since we've seen each other. You've helped me so much the past two years." he smiled to Josh "You're wife is so talented, I had no idea she was so good at english."
Josh smiled with obvious proudness "Yeah, she's quite the little writer. When we found out that you were called to California to help direct a new movie, Josie was excited for you and she wanted to help."
Josie smiled "I never knew you were so talented. I always thought you were this odd, round man that stalked girls. But when Allie told me one time that you weren't as bad as I thought you were...I began to see a different Steve."
Steve gave a glance to Allie and he thanked her with his smiling eyes "Speaking of Allie." he sat down next to Josie "How is Sunny doing?" he already knew but wanted to know if Josie knew.
Josie frowned "He's fine. I think it took him a while but he's moved on. I mean why would he marry Amy then?"
Josh sighed "Personally, I think he won't ever get over Allie's death. But I think he's realized that not everything in life is perfect. I mean look at him." he pointed to Sunny, who was talking to Amy and Nick, his face full of smiles. "I think he's doing better."
Steved looked up at Allie who was looking more distraught "It's just a show he puts on for everyone to see. Only Amy knows the truth." she sighed. "What time is it?"
Steve glanced at his watch "Look at that, it's already 2 pm, time flies when you're having fun."
Josie frowned "You have to go already?"
He peeked at Allie who nodded her head "Yeah, a lot of stuff to do. Working on a new movie that's going to take most of my time."
Josie smiled "Well, remember to drop by more often."
Allie waved for Steve to follow her. "Everyday at around 2pm, Sunny goes to my grave to weep. I don't even think Amy knows about it." she pointed to Sunny, who was excusing himself "See? Right on the spot."
Steve nodded as he said quick goodbyes to everyone before following Sunny outside "Hey, Sunny!" he jogged after him. Sunny turned with a look of surprise "Where are you going?" Steve asked.
Sunny shrugged "I have errands to run."
"I haven't talked to you for a while, why don't I go with you?" he asked.
"You want to run errands with me?" he asked. He looked around to see if anyone he knew was around before confessing to Steve "Actually, I haven't been to Allie's grave for a while. I want to go visit her." he was obviously lying but Steve didn't want to blow his cover.
"Sure. I have not been there since...she left us." he saw Allie's concerned face. "Come on." they all took a ride in Steve's car and Sunny wondered why he opened the back door of his four door car. But he brushed it off when Steve said "I thought you wanted to sit in the back." it was a lame excuse but it worked.
When they got to the memorial park, they walked up the long flight of steps. Steve was panting halfway up the steps "Oh my gosh, why did you burry her so far up?"
Allie laughed "You need to excercise." she quipped.
Sunny sighed "She liked the city life at night." it hurt him just to talk about her, which was why he never did with anyone.
Steve was exhausted by the time they reached her gravesite. Sunny stood there as he leaned over and cleaned of the dust that was collecting on the picture that he had cut into the stone. "Hi Allie. Look who I brought this time." he smiled at the gravestone. "Don't be mad at Steve because it's his first time visiting you." he turned to Steve to see him staring at something else "Would you like to say a few words?"
Steve was looking Allie "Oh...yeah...Um...Hi Allie. How are you doing up there? I hope you're in a happier place. We all miss you very much, especially Sunny...ow!" he rubbed his arm where she hit him. Sunny looked at him strangely "I think it was a bee..." he turned to Allie with widened eyes as he lipped the words 'What?'
"Don't say that! We're trying to get him to forget me not remember me more. You're not suppose to point it out!" she scolded.
He rolled his eyes, not seeing her point "Whatever..." he muttered. Again Sunny gave him a strange look. "Nothing.. I was just thinking about something."
Sunny sighed "Steve, if you don't want to be here, you can go. I can stay here with Allie. She would want your full attention."
Allie placed her arms on her hips "Yeah!" she agreed with Sunny. Allie sat down on her own grave as she leaned on it "Go ahead..talk." she commanded Steve.
Steve leered his eyes at her as he continued "I'm sorry Allie for being distracted while visiting you. I'm sorry Sunny for being disrespectful." Sunny smiled happily "You come here often?" he asked randomly.
Sunny's smile faded slowly "Sometimes, when I think of her."
Steve was going to say something and Allie knew it was not going to be good "Don't you dare tell him that I'm here!" she cried in horror "He can't know!"
Steve closed his mouth but decided to ask something else "I'm going to be producing a movie soon, Nick's playing the main role. I think you'll be interested in it, it's called "Love is to Forget". Something I thought up of from the dreams that I've been having. Why don't you bring Amy to the opening night? I'll get you tickets. Why don't we bring Josh and Josie along too?"
Sunny did not seem too interested "Maybe, if I'm not busy. What do you think Allie?" he looked at the gravestone with a smile.
Steve looked at Allie and then at Sunny, he wondered if he could see Allie since it looked like he was staring directly at her. "Who are you talking to?" Sunny asked.
Allie snorted "To the gravestone, of course."
"To Allie." Sunny pointed to the gravestone.
Steve sighed with relief "Oh...I thought...oh nevermind." he glanced at his watch "I have to go now. I'll see you around neighbor."
Sunny smiled "I'm gonna stay for a while longer."
Steve nodded and looked at Allie "You coming?" he said casually but quickly covered his mouth as he let it slip.
"Didn't you hear? I just said I was staying." Sunny was beginning to feel that something was wrong with Steve.
"Yeah...what I meant was the premiere, you never gave me a definite answer." he covered it.
"Good cover." Allie complimented "You are learning well."
"I don't know yet, if Amy wants to go, I'll go with her." Sunny said without much feeling. He wanted to be alone with Allie.
Steve nodded "Okay, bye." he began walking down the steps with Allie by his side "Aren't you going to stay with him?"
Allie shook her head "I don't want to see him cry anymore." she glanced up where Sunny sat while he wiped his eyes "Every single time..." she contined down the steps while Steve stared at the sad young man who could not let go.
"I hope this works..." he silently prayed.
*************
For the next month, they filmed the movie to perfection. Allie stood by Steve's side actually helping him direct more than watch. She explained each and every feeling that characters are suppose to portray. The director looked at Steve with great admiration, he's never seen a producer so into the work.
Nick was a great actor, he took the role of the once happy man to a saddened man to perfection. On the last day of shooting they were filming the last scene, where Sam (the main guy) was to bring his wife Annie (portraying Amy) to visit Angie's grave (Allie's role). Nick looked to be confused by the scene as he went over the script. He looked up and waved to Steve.
Naturally Allie followed Steve over when someone had a question "Yes, Mr. Movie star." he teased his friend.
"I don't have a question about my role, but I do have a question about the storyline. I know it sounds crazy but this is really familiar...like I've read it somewhere." Suddenly his face brightened "I know. It sounds like Allie's life...see, the main girl.." he pointed to the script "She dies of a car crash, and the guy...he can't get over her death...but he has a great wife even after two years later. Although the part about Angie going to heaven and meeting God is really 'out there'...it seems almost fitting."
Steve looked up at Allie "Maybe it's just a coincidence?" he said casually to Nick.
Nick shook his head vehemently "No...I swear it is just like their lives...that guy is Sunny!" he insisted. "It has to be." he looked up and caught staring at the space next to him. "What are you staring at?" he narrowed his eyes "Or should I saw who are you staring at?" Steve's face flushed from the question.
"I don't know what you're talking about." he denied.
Nick shook his head slowly "No, I think you know." he looked again at the space next to him, his eyes moving in circles, he leaned in to whisper to Steve "Is it Allie?"
Steve let out a laugh so loud, he even startled the camera crew "That's crazy!"
Nick pointed at him with an accusing finger "YOu're lying, I know when you lie. You laugh this nervous, exaggerated laugh."
Allie sighed "You are so easy to read." she rolled her eyes at Steve.
"That's the thanks I get?" he asked her, forgetting that Nick was still sitting there. "You think it's easy looking like a nut everytime I go out to any public place?" he got up angrily "Well, I'm sick of it!! I'm telling the whole world!"
She quickly stood up and covered his mouth "NO!! Steve, you promised!!" Nick was instantly scared as he stumbled backwards in his chair, his face looked pale "Look what you're doing to Nick...you're scaring him."
Steve looked down and saw his friend looking horrified by his reaction. He broke free from Allie's hand and sat down on his chair as he calmly smiled at Nick "Sorry, Nick...I didn't mean to scare you." he said earnestly.
Nick laughed nervously as his head darted side to side "Is she here?" he whispered again.
Steve looked at Allie "Hey, I never said anything, he guessed it."
"She really is here?" he whispered. Steve looked at Allie who nodded for him to tell Nick, the secret was out. Steve nodded at Nick "Oh my gosh...you can see her? Where is she now?"
Steve smiled, he's never seen Nick so nervous "Right next to you." Nick raised his eyebrow pointing to his left and his right side "She's on your left side."
Nick sighed as he rubbed his face and turned to the left "Hi Allie..."
Allie shook her head with a smile "Hi Nick." she looked at Steve "He can't hear me, you have to be the messenger."
"She said hi and that you can't hear her so I have to be the messenger." Steve told Nick as he nodded.
"You don't have to tell him everything." Allie scolded at Steve.
"She said I don't have to tell you everything." Steve repeated it to Nick. He received a quick whack on the arm from Allie "Ow!" he rubbed his arm "For a spirit, you sure are violent."
Nick laughed "I miss Allie." he knew it was something that she would do. "How is she doing?"
Steve raised his eyebrows at Allie waiting for her to respond. "Well?"
Allie let out a sigh "Don't act like you don't know. Tell him!"
Steve laughed while Nick smiled "What? What did she say?" he asked eagerly.
"She said she's doing good and she misses you guys very much. And you better do a good job on this role if not, she would haunt you for the rest of your life." he quickly moved to the side missing her flying hand which was aiming at his head.
"She didn't say that!" Nick knew her too well.
"Fine, why don't you talk to her?" Steve said in his own defense.
"Don't be mean, you know he can't hear or see me." Allie pouted in defeat.
Steve crossed his arms and turned away from Nick "No, I'm not going to be the messenger anymore."
Nick shrugged "Fine, I'm sure I can feel her pressence." he closed his eyes and his hearing became more clear. "Allie? Are you here?"
Allie smiled at her friend "Yes. I'm here."
His face clouded over, he heard her voice. Nick immediately opened his eyes "Allie?" he looked around. He turned to Steve "I heard her!" he exclaimed with joy.
Steve looked strangely at his friend "You can?" He turned to Allie "Say something."
"Say what?" she asked.
"Did you hear that?" he asked Nick but he shook his head. "Maybe you can hear her if you close your eyes? Try it again." he urged.
Nick did as he told "Say something else, Allie." he said softly waiting for her response.
"You're doing a wonderful job with this movie." she commented.
Nick smiled with his eyes closed "I'm sure you had a lot to do with it. Am I right?"
She laughed, "Yes, you can say that."
"I missed your laugh." he sighed.
Steve looked like he was going to gag "Oh please, I just ate lunch." Nick opened his eyes with a smile.
"I feel better knowing." he looked at Steve "Has she seen Sunny?" Steve nodded "But he doesn't know?"
"He can't know. Actually no one knows, if people find out, they will be condemned to hell. Which means, you're a gonner buddy." he laughed when Nick's eyes bulged out "I'm just kidding!"
"Stop scaring him!" Allie scolded.
Steve rolled his eyes "It's no fun if you can't mess with people."
"If you do it again, I'm not going to help you with your girl problems!"
Steve pouted like a big kid "Fine."
Nick smiled "She got something on you huh? Because she got you to shut up." he guessed it on the nose.
Steve looked bored as he stood up "Well, this is all fun kids but I think it's time to start filming." he got up and walked to where the set was taking place. Allie gave Nick a quick smile before following Steve. Nick felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders. For two years he too felt the pressure and pain of losing someone so close. But talking to her and feeling her pressence made him feel much better. He decided to put the most feeling he's had in the last scene of the movie to be shot.