Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
After the last argument with Neil, Kathy became more distant but she did not ignore him. Because she knew it wasn’t his fault there were girls that still crushed over him. She continued with her work as normal, working late but this time she paid more attention to her surroundings. She heard laughter outside of her closed office door. Kathy got up curiously and peeked through the window of her office, she found Neil and Jill laughing comfortably. Apparently he said something so funny that she got a case of giggles in which she couldn’t stop laughing.
Kathy had to smile at the scene before her, she’s never seen him so happy either. It didn’t bother her that the fact another girl was making him laugh so humorously. Neil noticed Kathy looking at them with a distant smile and he quickly stopped laughing. Jill turned to the window and found Kathy nodding to them. She opened the door and walked out to the two “I know this might sound strange but do you always stay back when I work late?” she was asking Jill.
“Yes.” Jill nodded and turned to Neil “I felt sorry for him that first time I came back because I forgot my cell phone and saw him sitting on one of the chairs and staring off into space.”
Neil agreed “She keeps me company.”
Kathy let out a slow sigh “I’m sorry. I’ve been such a bad girlfriend.” She shook her head with a laugh “Can you believe this is the first time I realized that Jill has been staying back with us?” she looked at Neil apologetically.
His heart quickly ached watching her with remorse. Neil got up and walked over to hug her “You’re a great girlfriend…but you’re a better employee.” He smiled before pulling away. “I think we have some things to discuss.”
Jill knew her cue was to leave, she got up brightly “I know when I’m not needed. I’ll see you two tomorrow.” She gave them a quick smile and walked towards the elevator.
****************
The next few days, Snow tried hard to find a new job. She knew if she wasn’t going to do it soon, Mel was gonna end up renting her a new place and she couldn’t afford to owe him anymore. She looked around at the restaurants but all of them were not good. The managers took one look at her rough exterior and were completely scared. Maybe she shouldn’t have told them about her previous job as an escort? They simply looked down on her.
She stopped at a tiny café shop where a ‘wanted’ sign hung. Snow took her chances as she walked inside. It was a cozy little place, small but very clean. She reminded herself not to tell them about her previous job. She approached the counter where an elder lady sat. Snow cleared her throat “Excuse me.”
The woman looked up with friendly eyes “Yes?”
Snow suddenly felt nervous “I…uh…”
The woman seemed to read her mind “You wanted to interview for the waitress job?”
Snow nodded with a smile “Yes. Thank you, who do I speak to?”
“Well, my son would be here any second. But I’m the owner here, I guess I’m just getting old, it’s about time to hand it down to the youngsters.” The woman said with tired eyes.
“You’re not old!” Snow proclaimed “I mean, you couldn’t possibly be older than 39.” The woman laughed comfortably making Snow feel at ease.
“You’re a sweetheart.” The owner smiled “Oh, here’s my son now.” She nodded towards the door.
Snow looked up and a slow smile spread across her face “I’m not stalking you, I swear.” She laughed when Gary widened his eyes at her.
“You two know each other?” the elder woman asked.
Gary nodded “I met her…on the job the other night.” He almost slipped about the bar mishap, which was really the first time he met her.
“Well, that’s great, you can interview her. But I don’t think it’s necessary, son. I like her.” She gave him a quick wink of the eye indicating so. Snow smiled shyly before the woman walked away to take an order.
“So, you looking for a job?” he asked casually.
Snow nodded “I guess it’s about time I did something legal.” She laughed but realized that he was still a cop “Uh…just pretend you didn’t hear that.”
“Hear what?” he asked innocently and she smiled. “Now Miss…I never caught your name.”
“Snow.” She replied.
Gary nodded “Cute. Do you have a last name?”
Her smile quickly faded “I don’t know what it is.” He frowned and she explained “My brother and I are orphans. Our parents died when I was only two. We didn’t want to live in an orphanage due to the chance of getting separated so we depended on each other. We lived on the streets most of our lives and had no desire to be adopted.”
He seemed more interested to hear about her background, it sounded like a tragic movie “I’m sorry to hear that. But didn’t you two have any family?”
Snow shook her head sadly “Even if we did, we never met them. My parents were all the family we ever knew of. Naturally, my brother turned to the life of crime when he was old enough to understand how life worked. He understood how wrong it was and in all honesty, he didn’t mean to commit any crime. It’s just that was the only road he knew how to walk in. As for me…well, I don’t want to get to personal.”
Gary smiled “You’re hired.”
She raised her eyebrows “Just from that? Don’t tell me you pity me cause I’ll-”
He quickly stopped her from continuing “No. It’s not because of that. I want to give you the job because I think you can do it.” He stood behind the counter with a boss like aura. “There’s your first job. Take his order.” He pointed to a male walking into the tiny café.
Snow smiled “Got it, boss.” She was happy for the chance.
*************
Neil and Kathy took a long walk on the beach before they went out to dinner which he made reservations for earlier that week. She was quiet as they walked along the sand with the cool breeze blowing at them “Why are you so quiet?” Neil asked breaking the silence.
Kathy looked up and smiled “Just thinking.”
“What about?” he asked curiously. He realized how hard it was to read her mind after they started dating. He never had a problem with it when they were friends. Maybe it was a sign.
“About us. Do you get the feeling that….” She was reluctant but knew it had to come out. Kathy stopped in her steps and turned to Neil “that…we’re better off as friends?” she winced waiting for the worst to happen. She was afraid of hurting him.
Neil laughed at the situation “I was just thinking the same thing.”
She let out a relief sigh “Gosh, I was afraid it was only me.”
He smiled “Can you read my mind right now?”
Kathy giggled amusingly “Hmm…let me see…you’re hungry?”
“How did you know?” he dropped his jaw with a stunned expression.
She laughed “I heard your stomach growling since we started walking on the beach.” She glanced at her watch “It’s about time. Where did you make reservations for?”
Neil smiled “You remember the first place we went to eat when we both got summer jobs?”
Kathy widened her eyes “Up at the hill top? Oh my gosh…I almost forgot about that place. We haven’t been there for years.” It was a fancy restaurant facing the city.
“I know.” He said proudly. Neil brought out a open arm and she happily linked through it as they walked toward the car and to their destination.
The two had a simple and peaceful dinner. There was no awkward silence as they yapped away about old times and Prom night. Then he suddenly remembered that they didn’t get to dance. But Kathy was way ahead of him as she looked toward the dance floor where soft music was being played “We never did get to dance, huh?”
“You read my mind.” Neil smiled.
Kathy laughed “Isn’t it funny how we do that? I thought we had lost it when we started dating.”
“Me too.” He got up and brought out a hand in front of her with a slight bend of his back “May I?”
“It would be my honor.” She smiled as she took his hand and let him lead her to the floor where they were practically the only couple out there. Maybe to other people watching, they looked like a loving pair, but in truth the two of them had finally settled their differences. They were finally coming into terms with their relationship. Kathy smiled up at Neil “Why do you suppose we even started to date? I knew I had a crush on you, but it had disappeared the minute I returned to Hong Kong. I think I was holding onto something…a question whether or not you liked me.”
Neil nodded as he continued for her “I know what you mean. I found the note within a month of you moving in and then it dawned on me. You liked me. I felt torn apart, like I owed you something. The love of a boyfriend that you never got. So I convinced myself of liking you. But in truth it was all pity.”
Kathy was no longer mad at the whole situation “Exactly.” She pointed out. Tilting her head as she looked up at him with a grin “Wanna know a secret?” she asked amusingly.
“Always.” Neil nodded firmly.
Kathy leaned up and whispered “It felt really odd when we kissed.”
He threw his head back with a laugh, never would he have guessed that was what she wanted to say “Like kissing a sister.” He added with another laugh.
Her face turned solemn suddenly “Hey, that’s taking it a bit too far.” Neil instantly stopped laughing afraid that he would have offended her but Kathy laughed instead “Gotcha!”
Neil shook his head while she giggled uncontrollably, he pulled her hands up to his neck and hugged her tightly “I’m gonna miss you so much.”
“This isn’t the end you’ll see of me.” She hugged him warmly as they swayed gently to the music.
“I know.” He pulled away and noticed she had tears in her eyes. Neil wiped them for her while her eyes continued to smile.
“You’re gonna help me move right?” she asked with widened eyes.
He nodded, not surprised of her decision. After all it would be odd for the two of them to continue to live together “Of course. But not until you find a new place.”
When the music stopped, the two stood there and clapped their hands joining with the crowd while everyone smiled at them with envy. Kathy took his hand comfortably as she led him back to their table. They paid for dinner and left the restaurant with a renewed feeling towards their friendship.
On the drive home, she seemed to sense his questioning gaze “I won’t mind if you and Jill start.”
Neil frowned “What are you talking about?”
Kathy turned towards the window with a smile “Don’t tell me you don’t feel that spark between you two. I’ve never seen you laugh like that… ever.”
Just thinking about Jill made his lips curl up into a grin “You don’t mind?”
“I don’t.” she shook her head firmly and turned to him to confirm her words “I’m happy for you. At least you are no longer chasing a dream that would never come true.”
Neil laughed “I was wondering when you would slap that Kelly fling in my face. She was way out of my league wasn’t she?”
“No, she wasn’t out of your league. You were just caught up in the moment. Like me.” Kathy was right and Neil knew it. “One thing I learned from this is that it’s not good to hide your feelings. People tend to dwell on the useless stuff.”
“You’ve matured.” He tapped her hand gently “I know what you mean. If people get it out in the open then there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings.”