Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Why hadn’t she notice that before? Maybe she was too scared. Her hand holding the picture as she looked around for Snow. Her eyes stopped on a young girl in thigh high hooker boots and a short jean skirt. She wore a tight purple tanktop showing off her assets. But she looked to be sad about something. Kathy saw her gulping down beers after beers. She was about to approach her when a guy beat her to it. He wrapped an arm around her drunkily “Hi baby, how much for a night?”
She turned up with a smirk on her face “You couldn’t afford it, you damn drunken bastard!” she whipped his arm away and dusted off her shoulders with a look of disgust.
Kathy raised her eyebrows ‘Mel wasn’t kidding when he said she was tough.’ But the guy didn’t give up as he crawled his way back up and wagged a finger at her threateningly “You’re just a hore! Don’t act like you’re some white collar prostitute.” He spat at her.
Snow flicked her lips into a crooked smile as she got up flung her arm behind and gave the rude guy a huge swing of her elbow. The crowded room roared with applause while Snow looked down at the guy with a smirk “And you still can’t afford me.” She laughed while he helplessly looked around with his nose bleeding and everyone laughing at him. Kathy began to regret coming, she didn’t want to have to deal with this girl. She turned to leave only to be called back “Hey!! You, the Virgin Mary wannabe.”
Kathy paused in her step as she looked down at her own outfit. She was dressed in a sky blue skirt and a white top. She turned to face Snow “You talking to me?” she pointed to herself.
Snow took her seat on the bar stool “No one else in here is.” She put up a hand pointed to most of the girls.
She gulped down her nerves and gingerly took a seat next to the ruthless girl “I’m Kathy.”
“Yeah, so?” she looked at Kathy without interest. “What do you want? You’re looking for me aren’t you?”
“I…can we go somewhere quiet?” Kathy leaned in and whispered.
“No. I hate quiet places, remind me of the damn library.” Snow snapped “Tell me now or get the hell out of my face.”
Kathy took a deep breath “Mel sent me.”
“Who?” Snow shook her head unable to comprehend “Did you say Mel sent you?” it was impossible that the guy she use to date would know a innocent girl like her.
She nodded in response “Yes. He needs your help.”
“Why would I help him?” she turned her stool around to face the bartender.
“He said you owed him a favor.” Kathy replied.
Snow’s eyes wandered carefully, sure she owed him one but why couldn’t he tell her himself? Maybe he was in trouble. She was busy analyzing the answer when a guy came up from behind her. His hand rested on her shoulder gently “How much?” he asked softly into her ear.
“$1000. dollars.” Snow answered with a smirk.
“But we have to meet him now.” Kathy eyes widened as she realized Snow was a hooker. What did Mel ever see in her she wondered.
Snow smiled with a shrug of her shoulders “So? It’s not a life or death situation right?” she got off the stool and took a hold of the guy’s waist.
She walked briskly by Kathy “Actually it is.” Her serious tone seemed to do it as Snow stopped in her steps. “Mel said you are the only one that could help him. He’s waiting for you at the subway station uptown.”
“How do you know him?” Snow was finally getting more curious. Kathy raised an eyebrow at the impatient guy and Snow turned to him “Sorry, I’m closed for business tonight.” The guy grumbled something but he knew better than to argue with her.
Kathy got of her stool and walked outside where Snow followed her “I hate the smell of cigarettes.” She wrinkled her nose before taking a deep breath of fresh air.
Snow crossed her arms and tapped her foot against the pavement “Well?”
“I saved his life.” Kathy said shortly “I did a favor for him and he just saved my life last night.”
“He came back?” she dropped her arms and a look of concern covered her face.
“He’s actually hiding.” Kathy looked around careful to see if they were being watched.
Snow narrowed her eyes suspiciously “Wait a minute. How can a little Miss Prissy like you save his life?”
“He was injured and bleeding tremendously. I found him in the corner of the subway station. I took him back to his place and bandaged his arm.” Kathy gave a short sigh “Look, if you want to know the details, ask Mel yourself. He’s going to wait until he sees you.”
She turned away “Why should I believe you?”
“You don’t have to. But if you don’t go, it might be the last time you see Mel.” Kathy said solemnly. Her plan worked as the girl rushed off without saying goodbye. Kathy smiled to herself as she took the cab home. Her hand holding a pepper spray. She knew it was her only protection and she refused to carry a gun or knife.
**************
Kathy wasn’t sure how Snow would be able to help Mel but she didn’t hear from either of them for the following weeks. She was grateful that there were no more sudden attacks or guys coming up to her asking where Mel was, but she wondered whatever he had planned actually worked. Her life was peaceful again. But she learned never to let her guard down.
She began taking self defense classes at night to help herself if she were to run into any trouble. It built up her confidence but she knew if someone attacked her, it would take her a while to comprehend and fight back. But it was definitely better than nothing.
Months soon past and her life was carried on peacefully, almost back to normal. She was counting down the days to when she would finally get to return to Hong Kong. She loved Canada but sometimes the cold weather was too much for her. She came home that day and had a sudden urge to look at her remembrances. She pulled out a plastic box under her bed and opened the dusty lid. She pulled out the purple envelope and brought it to her face. She had a smile on her face when she read the inside letter from Neil. She often looked at it when she felt lonely and sad. Kathy wondered if he still remember that promise. Whatever happens, Kathy knew she didn’t care if he chose to be with another girl or he would chose to keep his promise, she only wanted him to be happy.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone ringing, she reached over her bedstand and answered it “Hello.”
“Kathy? What are you doing up so late?” he asked.
“Same goes to you. Isn’t it like 4 in the morning in Hong Kong?” She laughed.
“I couldn’t sleep.” He sighed.
“Too much coffee?” Kathy asked, she knew her friend was sensitive to caffeine.
He smiled “Yeah. You always seem to know. So…when are you coming back?”
“In exactly 38 days.” she said happily “I can’t wait! I booked my flight early, it’s coming in at 8am. Can you pick me up? It’s a Saturday…” she warned, knowing that he loved to sleep in on the weekends.
“Of course you can count on me. What do you take me for? A slacker? It’s Neil Chan you’re talking to. The dependable guy, the guy next door…”
“Okay, okay I get it.” She cut him off with a laugh. “How’s your intern.”
“Great! I love this job!” he exclaimed in a hyper tone.
Kathy had to smile at his excitement “Good for you.”
“I have something to tell you when you get back.” He sang secretively.
She laughed “Why can’t you tell me over the phone?” she cradled the phone on her shoulder while she put away her old notes and high school stuff.
“I’m not telling.” He giggled like a little girl with a secret.
“Suit yourself. Okay, I’m gonna go to sleep now. My eyes are drooping.” Kathy let out a short yawn.
“Oh alright! Party pooper…” he said with disappointment “I’ll talk to you later.”
She laughed into the receiver “Bye.” Kathy hung up the phone, the smile still plastered on her face. She would get to see him soon. She hopped into bed in hopes of bringing herself in dreamland where Neil would come and take her away.
The following day, Kathy decided to take a walk around town. Since she had no work and it was the weekend, she wanted to treat herself to a good meal. She walked outside the large Italian restaurant but stopped when she realized it would only be herself. She turned to leave with her head held low. Her eyes came upon a pair of jeans that stood a few feet from her. A smile came on her face “Long time no see.”
Mel had his hand in his pocket as he walked over to her “Yeah. What’s wrong, you don’t like Italian?”
Kathy shook her head “No, I didn’t want to eat alone.”
“Well, it’s your lucky day.” He nodded his head toward the entrance “Come on, my treat.”
She smiled and followed him inside “Where were you the past few months?”
Mel grinned at her slyly “You sound like a jealous girlfriend.” She chuckled while he shrugged his shoulders “Taking care of business.”
“I think you’ve said that at least a hundred times. I should know by now that I don’t have any business being nosy with your life.” She shook her head shamefully.
His face fell “Hey, Katie. It’s not like that at all. I don’t want to tell you because the more you know about me, the more trouble you will be in. I want to keep you safe, so you have to know as little as possible. But thank you for caring.”
She shook her head apologetically “No no…I understand. I guess it’s just in my nature to be nosy. And I’m going to commit that crime again by asking…” he tilted his head thoughtfully “Did you know Snow is…a…hm, how do I say it nicely?”
“You can’t. Yes, she’s a hooker.” He smiled when Kathy raised her eyebrows “She wasn’t when I met her. Her wild nature was what attracted me in the first place. We met about three years ago and dated for a year. Call me a player or whatever, but I broke her heart so many times. But she always took me back, even when I came home drunk and smelling like perfume. But somewhere along the way, she couldn’t handle it anymore. Before I had the chance to apologize again, she was gone. Then I heard a couple of months later that she had found a new job as an escort…then she eventually turned to prostitution.”
Kathy was overwhelmed by the information. She didn’t expect them to have such a history “Wow…” she sighed, speechless.
He snickered at her comment “I’m not such the good guy now am I?”
She laughed “You were never the good guy in my eyes. But I did respect you a great deal with how you handle yourself and the love and bond between your boys are enough for anyone to envy. But I have a different outlook of you now that you told me about your love life.”
Mel nodded “With my life style, I can’t afford to love a woman. She would eventually die in my arms if she chose to follow me. But as God knows it, I will die before anything happens to her.”
“How romantic.” Kathy said sarcastically.
“What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic.” He smiled but his face turned solemn when the waiter walked right by their table. He slammed his fist against the table “Can we fuckin’ get some service around here?!” he hollered.
Kathy widened her eyes in horror at his outburst, she turned up at everyone that was staring at them “Sorry, my friend is REALLY hungry.”