Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Billie rolled out of bed as she forced herself to get ready. It would be a horrible day, she could already tell by the bags under her eyes. After she freshened up, she walked out to the living room where Ellena had breakfast ready on a dish for her “Morning grumpy.” Ellena teased her friend.
“I hate today.” she grumbled and sat down next to Ellena on the couch to eat her breakfast “It’s just one of those mornings that you know if you walk out that door something is bound to fall on your head.”
She laughed at Billie’s exaggerated drama “Well, there’s always tomorrow.”
“If I live that long.” She moaned with satisfaction at the omelet.
“Good?” Ellena was always proud of her magic touch when it came to cooking “Hey, I want to ask you something.” Billie looked up with raised brows “Do you think I need a makeover?”
She swallowed the food in her mouth “No. You’ve already got a perfect new wardrobe and your personality is perfect the way it is.”
“Then why can’t I get a guy?” she asked.
Sighing, Billie disconnected herself from the fork and gave her friend undivided attention “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Ellena squeaked.
“Yeah and you’re a horrible cook. Don’t lie. What’s with the question?” she asked again.
Shrugging, she played it off nonchalantly “I was just thinking about when I would find myself a guy that I would truly like. Then it occurred to me, I never dated…how would I know if the guy is good for me? What if this is it for me, Billie? What if I’m doomed to live a single life?”
“Then we’ll grow old together.” Billie chuckled as she reached for the fork.
“What if I don’t want to?” she asked earnestly. Billie looked over with a confused look “I don’t mean about growing old together. If I had my choice we would both get married and buy a house next to each other or live in the same building. But what if I want to have a guy? I’m not like you, I need to feel loved by a man.”
Reaching out a hand, she stroked Ellena’s short mane “Come to my class this week.”
“Billie…” She began.
“You’ll see and hear it for yourself. I don’t convince anyone to do anything.” She insisted.
Ellena eventually nodded “Okay.”
“What are you doing today?” Billie finished her eggs and got up towards the kitchen.
“Eh…nothing…just hanging out here. How about you?” she hated lying to Billie.
“Wanna switch? I have a wedding to go to.” Billie groaned, “I might as well have a gun pointed to my head.”
“If you don’t want to go, just don’t go.” Ellena wasn’t sure whose wedding she was going to but assumed it was not a person she liked.
She returned with an exasperated look “I have to go.”
“Why?” it was seldom that Billie was forced to do anything “It’s not like it’s HIS wedding.” She rolled her eyes and it slowly widened after Ellena saw her face cringe “No way!” Billie nodded without replying, “How dare he invite you!”
“But he did.” She sighed tiredly “It’s one of those things…you have to go because you want to show that you’ve moved on. If you don’t come, he’ll think you still have feelings for you. It’s a very tricky business.” She shook her head “I’m gonna change.”
“You should wear a killer red dress just to show him off.” Ellena snickered.
Billie’s lips turned up into a sly grin “That’s a great idea!!”
“I…I was just kidding…” she faded away after Billie skipped to her room to change.
****************
Anesa napped for a couple of hours as she got up and walked to the living room to make herself some coffee. Expecting Travis to be gone, she was startled when he was sitting in the kitchen eating a bowl of cold cereal dressed in a suit “Damn, you sure know how to dress for breakfast at home.” She laughed wildly as if she said the funniest thing in the world.
“You know I love to look nice for you.” He winked flirtatiously “Oh, I shouldn’t do that. Anton might come and beat me up.” He let out the chuckles waiting to erupt. She was not amused with her hands on her hips “I’m sorry…I couldn’t help it.” Travis said with fake sincerity. He scooped a spoonful of cereal and before it reached to his mouth, he burst into giggles.
She pushed his head roughly “Shut up. You don’t know the half of it.”
He caught a serious tone in her voice “What do you mean by that?” he asked.
“Oh, now you want to know?” she grinned “But I don’t feel like telling you now.”
“Whatever, I’ll end up laughing so hard that I’d pee in my pants.” He shrugged it off and finished the cereal “Okay, I’ve got to go. See ya later.”
“Where are you going dressed like that?” she questioned.
“Wedding.” He replied flatly.
“You’re serious?” Anesa questioned, “Who’s getting married? I thought I was your only friend?”
“That’s what I tell you so you feel special. I have many, many friends.” He emphasized, “It’s just some reporter friend in the business. No one that I know personally. I hear the girl he’s marrying is filthy rich, so he invited pretty much everyone in the industry. Showing off, if you ask me.”
She nodded “I see. Well, if you don’t know him well, just don’t go.”
“Can’t, the boss is close friends with his parents. He’s making it a mandatory day for all employees to go.” He said without much feeling “I have no choice.”
“Poor baby.” She said sympathetically “If you need me to save you, just give me a ring.”
“Okay. Bye.” He pinched her cheek before leaving the apartment. Glancing at his watch, he noticed he was still hours early. He had a sudden urge to see her as he took the taxi to the apartment building. Knocking on the door, he grinned waiting for her to open the door.
“Travis?” Ellena was surprised to see him “What are you doing here?” she opened the way for him to come inside.
He looked around awkwardly “Is Billie around?”
“No, you just missed her. Wow…you came dressed in a suit just to see her? If you ask me, someone might have a little crush.” She teased.
“Oh…this…I’m going to a wedding.” He said trying to hide his disappointment.
“What are the chances…” Ellena raised her brows “She was on her way to a wedding too.”
“Really?” he asked, “Do you know who’s wedding?”
“I think…Cheng and Lam.” She recalled.
“Well, I’ll be…” he shook his head in amazement “I’m going to the same one.”
“Really?!” Ellena was in shock what a small world it was.
Travis nodded while snickering “I guess he invited everyone in Hong Kong.”
“So you know the groom?” she assumed.
“Kinda…but not really. He’s a fellow reporter. Use to work with our company years ago but moved out and apparently, he’s marrying some rich girl that’s throwing the wedding of the century.” Rolling his eyes dramatically “What will we do with our money?” he asked sarcastically.
Ellena laughed at the question “Well, I’m sure you’ll have more fun than Billie.”
“Why?” he caught the ironic tone in her voice “Does she know the guy?”
“Know him…try being screwed over by the guy. He might as well rip her heart out and stomp on it. Its guys like him that give you guys a bad name.” She shook her head sadly “I know she doesn’t want to go but she has to…”
“What did he do exactly?” Travis asked with concern.
She was ready to blurt it out “Well, it was—You know what, I shouldn’t be telling you this.”
He wasn’t about to push her “I see…Okay, I won’t pry. I’ve got to go anyways. See you around.”
“Thursday.” She corrected with a smile “I’ll be joining your class. Billie talked me into it.”
“That’s great!” Travis said excitedly “You’ll like it. Billie does a great job.”
Ellena laughed, “You don’t have to convince me Travis, I already told her that I’d go.” She crossed her arms and tilted her head “You like her don’t you?”
“Sure…in a friends kind of way.” He answered with a sideways grin.
“Yeah…I believe you.” She nodded to the door “Have fun. If you see Billie there, try not to let her be alone. She’ll weaken.”
He wasn’t sure what she meant by it “Okay…I’ll try.” He drove towards the country club where rose petals were scattered instead of a red carpet. As he stepped over them, he muttered to himself “What a waste.” He reached the front desk where they pointed to the end of the hall. Standing at the end were two men in black suits and dark sunglasses. Everyone was required to go through searches. His eye caught the sign that read ‘No Cameras or Camcorders’.
After the frisking, he was ushered by a well dressed girl in a gold dress “Are you with the groom?” he nodded while his eyes searched around for her, wondering what she wore that day “Sit on the right side of the alter.”
“Thank you.” He nodded politely as he stepped towards the double glass doors. The doormen opened it and he was faced with an exquisite scent of lilies and roses mixed together. Long rows of white chairs were laid out ready to be filled up. A few heads turned his way and he saw his boss waving to him. He smiled and took the empty seat next to him “Am I late?”
“No, five more minutes.” He whispered.
“You have a sore throat?” Travis asked.
Shaking his head, he pointed to a girl in a sky blue dress a few rows ahead of them “It’s her.”
“Who?” Travis arched his neck and recognized her “Billie.” He lowered his voice “She can’t see us together.”
“Right, you’ll blow your cover. Sit over there.” He pointed to the other side where the bride’s people sat.
He nodded carefully and crept to the other side and let out a long breath “So close…”
When the wedding march song began to play, the large group stood up to greet them. The guests turned to the back for a good look at the bride as she walked down the aisle escorted by her father. Her hair perfectly in place as her veil hid her carefully made face, the train was magnificently long as it trailed behind her. The people gasped at how beautiful she looked as she passed them slowly.
But Travis was not interested in the bride, he turned to make eye contact with Billie but to his dismay, she was the only person that was not looking at the bride. He followed her gaze and noticed she was looking at the groom.
He looked up at the groom, who was staring at his bride to be but stole a few glances towards Billie. Applauds broke out when the father of the bride handed her over to the groom. The pastor stood in place as he began to read out the blessings “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today…”