Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Around 5:45pm, Ivy decided to leave early just in case the weirdo next door decides to hold her up on her words. She peeked down the hallway but didn’t see anyone. Smiling to herself as she walked out and closed the door gently. She locked it and turned only to be startled by the figure standing behind her. She pushed him roughly “What they hell are you trying to do? Scare me with your face?”
Ben laughed as he crossed his arms “It’s not six yet.”
Ivy flicked her brow up “Glad you could tell time. Now if you will excuse me…” she began to walk away and he blocked her “What?” her tone obviously annoyed.
“You forgot about our date?” Ben asked.
“What date? There’s no date!” she spat like it was a disgusting word.
“You can play dumb, but I have a very good memory. Come on, I’ll take you this restaurant.” He reached for her hand only to be yanked back by Ivy. She was strong for a little girl; he had to admit that much.
She lifted their entwined hands “Uh, uh, this…is a no-no. Three rules if you want to eat with me. One; don’t touch me, two; don’t complain and three; don’t touch me.” She warned.
Ben nodded with a crooked grin “Sure. Whatever you say. After you.” He stepped aside and brought out a hand as he bowed halfway.
“Freak.” She muttered under her breath and walked down the steps. They lived on the third floor so she normally walked instead of taking the elevators. Plus, she was terrified one time when she was stuck in one and it wouldn’t move for hours. It took the people forever to get her out.
Ben came into steps with her and realized he had to jog just to catch up to her “Do you speed walk for exercise?” he asked teasingly.
Ivy snickered “No, I’m trying to lose you in the crowd. Is it working?” she turned with a smile that told him she wasn’t kidding.
He quickened his pace and put out an arm to halt her, she eyed him carefully while he sighed, “Can we take my car? It’s right over there.” He pointed a few feet behind them.
“Nuh uh, I’m not getting in no car with a stranger…I wasn’t born yesterday?” she shook her head at him.
“I promise, I won’t try anything.” He crossed his heart “If I do, just stick your feet in my face. I would probably faint from the odor.”
Ivy nodded with a slow smile appearing on her face “Not bad…okay, I’ll sit in the back seat.” She followed as he opened the door for her “I have hands.” She commented sarcastically.
He got in the car and started the engine “A gentleman always gets the door for the lady.” He said politely.
“That’s a bunch of crock.” She turned her eyes to him. Pulling off her sandals as she crossed her legs on the seat “A guy only acts that way to get the girl into bed with him.” She said a matter of fact.
Ben frowned as he drove off “Who taught you to be so suspicious of men?”
“My mom.” She said shortly, a clear sign that she didn’t want to elaborate.
“Wow…she must have had a bad marriage.” Ben observed. Ivy turned out towards the window and shrugged “So, tell me…why are you such a…”
“Tomboy?” she tried without looking at him.
“No, I was going to say crude and disgusting, but tomboy works.” He laughed when she turned to give him the evil eye through the rear view mirror.
“Try growing up with a bunch of dirty, armpit scratching, snot blowing, perverted old men. My dad included.” She added.
Ben shook his head with a smile “I highly doubt that. Your dad seems to have more manners than your one pinky alone.”
She narrowed her eyes “Ooh, boo hoo, you hurt my feelings.” Her sarcasm was starting to get to him, he found it to be her only charm “If he wasn’t a horny bastard, he wouldn’t have gotten my mother pregnant with me and she had to quit college to have me. Then got married to a man that barely loved her. He got horny again and that’s how Tyler was born. If it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t have died giving birth to my brother!” she didn’t know why she shared it with this complete stranger, but somehow she felt she could trust him. Of course, Ivy would never tell him that.
His expression changed to sympathy “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Whatever. It’s old…I’m over it.” She waved it off nonchalantly, but deep inside she was aching to have the love from a mother. Although her father changed dramatically just to take care of her and her brother, he was still not a good man in her eyes. But she would never leave her father to fend on his own; she promised her mom she would take care of him.
They pulled up to a sushi restaurant that looked too high class for Ivy. She was in her daily uniform at the diner. She opened her own door before Ben could get to it “Come on.” He coaxed as he nodded to the restaurant.
When they walked inside, Ivy was at awe with the whole design. She’s never eaten anywhere besides her dad’s diner food. On her day off, she would travel around on her own. It was her time alone and she loved it. But a change would not be so bad, she figured after seeing the restaurant up close. They were seated at a booth and Ivy instantly made herself comfortable “This place is freaking crazy!” she blurted out.
A few eyeballs stared at the pair that didn’t look very compatible. Ben turned to her as he leaned in to whisper, “Can you keep your voice down?”
She leaned in towards him, mimicking his whisper “Can you brush your teeth before you talk to people?” he leaned back with a flustered look and she laughed, “I can talk however I want. It’s my mouth!!” she announced while looking over the menu.
Ben shook his head as he knew it was going to be a tough battle of words. After a couple of minutes, he ordered every kind of sushi that he enjoyed. Ivy on the other hand was unsure “Should I come back?” the waiter looked restless.
“No!” she put up a hand “Just get me one of everyone on the menu.”
The waiter turned to Ben, who looked at Ivy exasperatedly “Yung Siu Jei, you cannot finish all of that.”
“Try me.” She said slyly.
Ben frowned as he waved at the waiter “That’s fine.”
Ivy raised her brows with interest “A rich boy huh?” she crossed her arms while her leg rested on the cushion seat “So tell me, why would you move into a run down old building like ours if you can afford this kind of meal?”
He shrugged “Sometimes you just need to get away. This is my way of getting away. I love food and I enjoy the things I like in life. Because frankly, you don’t know when you’re going to die, so you might as well live life to it’s fullest.”
She didn’t look touched by his words “How profound.” She was sarcastic about it.
After dinner, he took her home and they walked together up the stairs. There was an undeniable awkward silence “Uh…well, that was a very interesting dinner.” He said with a pressured smile.
“You mean it could have been worse?” Ivy asked straightforwardly.
He nodded with a laugh “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
She smiled as he waved her goodnight “Hey…thanks for dinner.” Ivy thought she’d never get the chance to say the words.
Ben was beaming “See, you are capable of being polite.”
Ivy rolled her eyes “Whatever.” She entered to home to find her father watching TV while reading the newspaper.
“Home so early?” he asked without looking up.
“Yeah.” She said shortly. Then she saw Tara walking out holding a bowl of hot desert.
“Here you go Uncle.” She placed it on the coffee table for him.
He smiled gratefully “Thank you, Tara. You didn’t have to do this.”
She grinned, “It’s okay, I wanted to.” She turned up to see Ivy standing there “Oh, would you like a bowl of rice ball desert? I made it myself.”
Ivy shook her head “No, save it for your future father in law. He’s drooling as we speak.” She threw her keys on the table but missed. She turned to the kitchen and caught Tyler pouring out the desert into bowls. Taking her chance a she pulled Tara aside “Hey, you like my brother huh?” she asked.
Tara’s face reddened quickly as she shook her head vehemently “No…no, who said?”
“Your face looks like a tomato right now. Anyways, everyone knows except for Ty. You want me to help you?” she asked.
“Leave Tara alone!” her father scolded.
Ivy rolled her eyes over to him “I’m not talking to you! No manners.” She muttered. She looked at Tara with wide eyes “Well?”
“He doesn’t like me…” she said weakly.
“Here you go, Tara.” Tyler brought out the bowls and saw his sister looking too friendly with Tara “Ga Jei, let me get you a bowl.”
She looked up at him “No thanks. I wouldn’t want to ruin your happy family moment.” She gave Tara a wink “We’ll continue some other time.”
Tyler grew suspicious as he waved for Tara to sit down as he got up and walked over to his sister “What are you telling her?” he hissed.
“None of your beeswax!” She replied in a whisper.
He turned to glance at the other two and then pulled his sister into his room “Ga Jei, I beg you, please leave her alone. She’s my only friend left. Don’t scare her away like the other girls.”
Ivy sat down on his bed and lied down casually, with her arms behind her head “My pathetic little brother…she likes you. Everyone knows.” Tyler looked flustered as he frowned at her and sat down at the edge of his bed by her feet “You know, I normally would be against this girlfriend thing…but I like this girl. She’s different.”
“Yes, because she’s nice. Don’t scare her.” He warned again.
“Yes daddy…sheesh, you’re even worse than the old man.” Ivy commented.
Tyler wasn’t bothered by her sarcastic remark as he looked at her earnestly “Ga Jei, can I ask you something?”
“Yes, I can kick your ass.” She said calmly.
He shook his head “No…um…do you think I’m gay?”
Ivy sat up “Did someone call you gay? What house do I have to burn now?”
Tyler quickly put up his hands “No, no…it’s just a bunch of kids at school said I act gay. What do you think?”
“What the hell do I look like? A gay detector? How should I know?” she laughed, “I don’t know if you’re gay, but even if you are…you’re still my brother. I will still beat up the bullies that pick on you; it makes no difference. It only matters what you think of yourself. I can’t answer that question for you, boy.” She shook her head sadly.
He nodded understandingly “I guess you’re right. Can I ask you another question?” he looked solemnly at her. Ivy sighed but she nodded in response “Why does your feet stink?”
Tyler began giggling uncontrollably while Ivy tried to stick her feet at his nose “Stink? Does it really stink?” she was laughing too as he gave a disgusted face each time she poked at him. The two’s laughter was so loud that Mr. Yung and Tara could hear it. The two glanced at each other and smiled.