Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The ceremony was long and grueling for Billie as she sat quietly toherself and ignoring everything around her. She tried hard to block out the ‘I dos’ section but it seemed it was the only part of the ceremony she heard. Her stomach turned when he said his vows, beautiful and meaningful. Containing her feelings, she managed to look up with glassy eyes. They were blank and cold, she had no intention of weakening. She would carry on the rest of the day without emotions.
After the newlyweds kissed, the crowd broke out into applauds and whistles. They were both all smiles as they walked down the aisle as husband and wife. The MC found the microphone as he announced, “Now we would like to invite everyone into the ballroom for appetizers. The Bride and Groom wanted to thank everyone for making it and we hope everyone will stay until the end and celebrate with the newlyweds. Thank you.”
It was like a herd being ushered into one giant room. People were dressed to show off their status and most already knew each other. Travis’s eyes followed as he watched Billie walk to her seat and sat quietly down waiting for everyone else to sit. He walked to the back of the room where the brides’ maids were showing people to their seat. He flirted with one of the girls to switch seats with someone at Billie’s table.
Her eyes couldn’t help but fixate on the happy couple. She couldn’t ignore the gazes that he threw her way while she was sitting in the audience “If you stare any harder, you might burn a whole in the wall.” Travis teased as he sat down next to her.
She was taken aback “What are you doing here?”
“I followed you here.” He winked teasingly.
She wasn’t in the mood “You know the happy couple?”
Shrugging, he smiled “Does it matter? I’m here aren’t I?” she moved her eyes, obviously uncomfortable “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make this awkward. I just figured it’s better to have a familiar face around but I guess…I’ll change seats again.” He began to get up when he felt a hand stopping him.
“No…sit. I’m here alone.” She managed to give him a wry smile.
“Don’t sound so excited.” He joked. Sitting down, he looked around at the crowd “What a bunch of freaks.”
“Tell me about it.” She snickered.
Travis grinned, “You must be close friends with the groom.”
“What does that suppose to mean?” she snapped suddenly.
“Well, I saw you sitting on the groom’s side and you’re here by yourself. No one goes to a wedding by themselves unless they are good friends with the couple.” He analyzed.
Billie relaxed as she shook her head “Actually, I hate the guy and I don’t care for the girl too much.”
“Hate is such a strong word.” He said.
“Okay, despise.” Billie scowled “Ellena was right, I shouldn’t have come if I didn’t want to.” She got up ready to storm out when a sweet tone and a fake smile invaded her space.
“Billie, dear…fancy seeing you here. I had no idea Tony would invite you.” There were daggers in each word that was said too sweetly.
“Maggie.” Billie said flatly “How’s the new breasts?” she looked down at the enhancement that was too obvious to the naked eye “I hear you managed to squeeze the last grand out from your man. How old is he again? 50?” she attacked back with much vengeance.
Red in the face, the girl adjusted her chest with a raised chin “He’s 48 and still in his prime. Our sex life is wonderful, which is more than I can say for you. Still single? Can’t find a man, can you?” she smirked “Do you still teach that class…what is it? How to scare off men?”
“Actually, it’s How to find the right man and keep him.” Travis butt in to save her. Wrapping an arm around Billie’s slender waist, he threw on a smug look “Maggie right? I suggest you take a course one day. Maybe you’d realize that changing your appearance is not the best way to keep a man. I’d give him ten more seconds before he reaches for her butt.” He nodded his eye to a middle aged man talking to a young girl in the corner. Travis guessed that he was the guy when he threw a few glances towards their direction.
The girl huffed as she stomped her way over her boyfriend, who was ready to feel up the young girl. He sighed while turning to Billie with a look of concern “I hate this place.” She concluded.
Travis smiled despite her despair “Hey, hang in there. You’ve only got…” he glanced at his watch “seven more hours to go.”
She slumped in her chair with a chuckle “What a joke. What made me think that I could make it through today?” she looked at him questioningly while he returned a blank expression “Sorry…you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
“Whatever it is, you have good reason I’m sure.” He comforted “Hey don’t worry, we’ll get through this together. I’ll be your shield.” He places his arms over her head as she finally laughed amusingly “Ah…there’s the signature laugh. I was afraid I might not get to hear it again.”
In the uncomfortable room, she was surprised to find a breath of fresh air “Thank you.”
Travis smiled “Don’t thank me yet. We still have…Six hours and 52 minutes left.” Billie smiled with a nod “You want something to drink?”
“Champagne would be nice.” She nodded gratefully.
“Got it!” getting up, he walked to the open bar to get them drinks. There was a bounce in his steps, she could see it. How did she never notice how optimistic he was? Smiling, she thank her lucky stars that he was there to support her. Suddenly, she heard Ellena’s echo voice in her head saying that she liked him. Turning her head away, she convinced her mind that it wasn’t true.
Just then, she heard her name being called by sultry voice “Billie, darling. You made it.” It was the mother of the groom. Billie smiled in response as she let an internal sigh, it would be a long day.
*****************
“Can I open my eyes now?” Ellena asked.
“No!” Kyle snapped “I’m almost done.” He filled in her lid with a smoky black color “Don’t rush me or it will come out really bad. Do you want to look ugly?” he asked. She shook her head weakly “Okay, then let me do my work in peace.”
She nodded “Okay. Hey, so, where did you get all the makeup?”
“Don’t tell anyone but I stole it from the studio. I’ll return it when I’m done.” He whispered eventhough it wasn’t necessary.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…so what else do you do? Sell drugs to children?” she snorted, “You lie and you steal things…I swear Kyle, I have a feeling you might need more than professional help than you think.”
“Ha ha…you should take your stand-up show on the road. It will surely attract the wild, ugly and bored.” He rolled his eyes while she giggled, “Almost finished…” he gave the final touchup on her cheeks with another layer of blush “Okay! Now you thank me.”
Ellena was excited to see herself as she opened her eyes and looked in the full body mirror in his room. Her smile instantly faded “I look like a raccoon on drugs.” She said flatly and pointed to her eyes, which was caked with black eye shadow.
“You don’t like it?” he was disappointed that she didn’t appreciate his masterpiece “I was going for the smoky look.”
“Smoking pot look?” she snapped “Oh my God…if Billie saw me now.” She shook her head at him “Where in the world did you learn how to do makeup?”
“Learn? I never learned. I just watched the makeup artist do the girls before a shoot. It looked easy so I figured I could totally do it.” He crossed his arms and gave her a better look “Now that you mentioned it, you do look a little drugged.” He quickly dodged the fist flying towards his chest.
“Take it off! I look scary.” She turned to the mirror and shuttered “God, I’m gonna have nightmares tonight.”
Kyle raised his nose haughtily “Fine but that’s the last time I’ll try to make you look pretty.”
“It better be!” she snarled and closed her eyes so he could take the gunk off.
“Sheesh…you’re not as nice as I thought.” She smiled at the comment. He took a makeup remover and dabbed it onto the cotton “That’s the thanks I get. You wonder why I don’t do nice things for people anymore.” He wiped one eye off and was about to start on the other when he heard the front door opened and then closed “Crap!” he whispered.
“Honey, I’m home!” Anton called as he went to the fridge for a drink.
“Anton.” Ellena snapped her eyes open “He can’t know I’m here!” she hissed.
“I know…hide. The bathroom!” he pointed “No, the closet!” he quickly changed his mind and opened the walk-in closet for her to hide in.
“Hey Kyle…” he didn’t bother knocking as he opened the door to find his roommate holding a cotton in his hand and makeup boxes sprawled over the table and bed. Women’s clothing thrown all over the bed “Dude…sorry.” He chuckled and began to back out of the room.
“What? You’ve never seen me do a drag queen shoot?” Kyle thought fast for an excuse.
Anton stopped as he leaned on the door with crossed arms “As a matter of fact, I haven’t. I thought Hong Kong was very conservative when it came to men dressed as women in magazines?”
“Who told you that bull?” Kyle laughed while waving a hand in the air.
“You did.” Anton said. Kyle’s face fell “What’s wrong with you?” he could sense the strange vibe “What are you really doing with women’s makeup and clothes? Is this what you do on the weekends when I’m not around?”
“No.” Kyle shook his head but he couldn’t think of a good enough excuse to drive his roommate away “So, what are you doing home? I thought you were going out with those political freaks tonight?”
Anton sighed with a shake of the head as he moved the clothes aside to sit down on the bed “Nah, I don’t think this is my glitch.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Kyle frowned “You know what you should do?”
“What?” Anton asked, suspicion growing. It wasn’t like him to shoo him away so quickly. Kyle would have insisted that they out that very second.
“Call up some old college friends and catch up. I’m sure they’ll be happy to hear from you.” He insisted. Waving his hand to the door, he was in a hurry to get rid of Anton.
Anton looked at him strangely “You are acting weird today. What’s the matter with you?” Suddenly his eyes caught on something shifting in the closet “What was that?” he pointed. The light was turned on and he could see shadows moving here and there.
“Nothing!” Kyle practically leaped to the sliding door and blocked it with his body.
He got up from the bed and approached the door “Move Kyle, I don’t want to use force.” He warned.
He laughed “Yeah, like you can.”
Without warning, Anton pushed Kyle to the side and slid the closet open. He gasped “Oh my gosh! You got a girl in there!” quickly laughing at Kyle’s surprised look, he shook his head “You were hiding a girl in there? Why would you need to hide a...wait...Ellena?” he could barely recognized the girl with the makeup and slinky dress.
“Hi Anton.” She greeted weakly while stepping out of the closet slowly.
“You had to turn on the light?!” Kyle asked with wide eyes.
“I’m sorry, I’m afraid of the dark!” she said in defense “Please Anton, don’t tell Billie. Please, I beg you.”
Crossing his arms, he gave them a hard time “Lying to your friend like that.” She lowered her head in shame “BUT…this is a good thing. Now that you two are dating, maybe it will help the relationship between Billie and Kyle.”
“WHAT?!” the two said in unison as they turned to each other at the same time.
“We’re not dating.” Ellena spoke up.
“No? Then why did you have to hide in his closet?” Anton asked in confusion.
Kyle replied, “Because her mother of a witch will freak out if she knew what we were doing.”
“And what is that?” Anton questioned.
“Hello!” Kyle pointed to the makeup and clothes “What do you think I was doing with this stuff? I’m trying to give her a makeover. You know, help her find a man.”
He laughed, “I’m relieved to hear you say that. Good luck to you…both of you.” He shook his head sadly “Don’t worry, I won’t spill the beans on your new…eh… relationship.” He teased with a wink.
“Can we trust him?” Ellena asked after he left the room.
Kyle sighed, “I sure hope so. But don’t worry…if he tries to blackmail us, I’ll just threaten him.”
“With what? A makeover?” she cracked. Realizing she made a joke, she began giggling.
He twitches his head strangely at her “You’re easy to humor. But don’t you worry your pretty little head, I know how to handle him.” He said with a wicked grin.