Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Ellena came home looking distressed as she slumped onto the couch next to Billie. Leaning her head on her friend’s shoulder, she sighed “I’m the stupidest girl in the world.”
Instantly, she was concerned “You slept with him?!”
Groaning, she curled her face into the corner of the couch “Worse, I’m falling for him.” She could hear the relieved sigh from her friend “What do I do?” she looked up desperately.
“Stay away from him and don’t take any of his calls, if he comes over to look for you, I’ll tell him that you moved away.” Billie replied simply.
“I can’t just play the avoidance game.” She said in shock.
“Then why are you asking me for advice if you’re not going to take it?” Billie asked with raised brows. Her lips began to quiver as Billie laughed, “Okay, okay…you big baby. Let me ask you a question. Do you like him?”
“Yes.” She replied without hesitation.
“Do you see a possibility of being his…dare I say…wife?” she questioned.
She had to think for a couple of seconds but her final answer was still the same “Yes.”
“Really?” she asked in surprise.
“Billie…” Ellena began sternly.
Laughing and raising her hands, she nodded “Okay, all jokes aside, what do you think he's like? As a person? As a guy?”
She smiled at the question “He’s different. It’s hard to describe why I like him, I just do.”
Billie shook her head with a sad sigh “That’s the worse kind. That just means you see too much of his good to find a bad. I can’t help you now.” Returning to her ice cream, she began eating again.
“Actually…I think I found a bad tonight.” Ellena said sheepishly. She knew if she told her friend, Kyle would earn yet another thumbs down from Billie “I went with him to this Model’s party…and you know me and socializing. I don’t do it well. By chance I met the host of the party and he told me that Kyle was a player…in so many words. It worried me, maybe I’m just another pawn in his game of chess?”
“Nice analogy.” Billie recognized.
“Thanks.” Ellena sighed, “So what do you think? Am I just wasting my time with this guy? Should I put my heart into something that flags so much warnings?”
As much as Billie wanted to give her advice, she knew the subject of love was too sensitive for her views “I don’t know sweetie. I wish I could tell you for sure if Kyle was indeed serious about you but I can’t. Because frankly, I despise the guy and I agree with the host.” Ellena’s disappointed expression could not be denied “BUT…at the same time, I believe a man can change if need be. And as much as I hate to say this but you should give him the benefit of the doubt. You never know, you might be the girl to change him.”
The light in her eyes returned as she smiled curiously “Thank you, that was very…helpful.” She grinned while playing with Billie’s long mane “Say, what’s with the sudden change?”
“What?” Billie asked innocently.
“The perkiness, the smile, the optimistic outlook on men. And you cooked!” she pointed out.
She grinned at her friend “You noticed all that?” getting up, she returned the ice cream to its place in the freezer. She turned to find Ellena in her face “Dear God!”
Ellena laughed, “Now come on, spill it! Who’s the guy?”
“Like you don’t know.” Billie rolled her eyes and side stepped her friend to the living room.
Her brows knitted together as she realized “Travis?”
Billie turned to her with a nodded smile “I thought it was obvious.”
“Travis?” Ellena asked again as she joined her on the couch. Billie laughed and confirmed it with yet another firm nod “Really?”
The third question caught her attention “Is that a bad thing?” Billie asked with a solemn face.
She shook her head “No…no…I guess not…” she was worried for her friend. He couldn’t hide his profession as a reporter forever. Ellena made a mental note to talk to him about the issue.
*********************
The following night, Anesa spent the entire late afternoon finding a dress to wear. Her room looked like a hurricane hit it with clothes and shoes sprawled out on the floor and bed. She took off yet another dress that didn’t look right for the occasion. She was wearing only a black slip dress when Travis knocked on her door “Come in.”
He opened the door with a cheeky grin “Happy birthday roomy!” he quickly frowned when he saw her room “Wow, were we robbed today?”
“Ha ha…” she turned to him with two raised dresses “Help me pick one out. The red low neck or the black halter top dress?”
“Too slutty and too desperate.” He pointed to the halter dress.
“Slutty is okay.” She considered the red as she dropped the black one.
Travis laughed “You act like you’re gonna get laid tonight.” She smiled secretively as he tapped his watch “Come on, we’re gonna be late for dinner.”
“Dinner?” she asked in surprise.
“Yeah, it’s your birthday, I’m taking you out to dinner like we do every year.” He reminded her with emphasis.
“Crap…I knew I forgot something!” she cursed “I have plans tonight.”
“You do?!” Travis widened his eyes “But…we do this every year!”
Anesa pouted as she patted his head “Aww, I’m sorry baby, I have dinner with another handsome man. And if I play my cards right, I might just get lucky tonight. Don’t wait up if I’m not back at midnight.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going out with Anton.” Travis shifted his eyes narrowly at her.
“Maybe, maybe not. What’s it to you?” she slipped on the halter black dress in the end and he gave her a look “What? I am desperate!”
“He used to be a gangster, Annie.” A nickname he only used when he played the father role.
“You said it, USED to be. He’s a great guy and I don’t care what you say, I’m going out with him.” Anesa was firm.
He had no choice but to support her “Fine. Have fun.” He gave her a quick hug and kiss on the head “Oh! Before I forget.” He pulled out a velvet box from his jacket pocket “Happy birthday.”
Anesa gasped, “Aww, you shouldn’t have! I’m glad you did, but you really shouldn’t have.” She gushed and shook the tiny box “Pink velvet…necklace.” She analyzed.
“That’s why I gave up trying to surprise you.” He said flatly.
She opened the box with a silver chain necklace and half a heart charm with tiny crystal diamonds on the rim. Her initials were engraved on them “Its gorgeous.” She sighed and quickly put it on. It was a perfect match with the dress “Thanks.” She gave him a quick hug and reached for her purse and keys “I’m gonna be late. I’ll see you later or tomorrow morning.” She blew him a kiss and was on her way out.
Within five minutes, he heard the doorbell rang. Jogging out, he prepared to open the door “Did you forget—Ellena?”
She smiled “Can I come in?”
“Of course.” He quickly opened the door for her “Anesa is not home.”
“Yes, I know. She’s out with Anton for her birthday. I came to see you.” She dropped a gift on the coffee table “Tell her its from me and Billie.”
“How thoughtful.” He smiled “So, what’s on your mind?”
She sat on the couch “I had an interesting talk with Billie last night.” He raised his brows curiously “It was about you. It seems she’s fallen for you.”
He wasn’t surprised “And?”
“And?” Ellena asked, “You’re a reporter, did you forget? If she finds out, she’ll kill you!”
“Don’t get all dramatic.” He laughed, “Anyways, she won’t know cause I won’t tell her.”
“Have you no conscience?” she was astonished “She is falling for someone that you and I know she will despise if she learns the truth.”
“And I believe that I can change her outlook on reporters and men altogether. Trust me Ellena, I would do nothing to hurt her deliberately. To be honest, I like her a lot too and I can see us being together in the future. Happily ever after.” Travis was confident.
Ellena sighed, “That’s good for a fairy tale but this is life. This is real, Travis. I just don’t want to see both of you hurt. Did she tell you about Tony?”
“Yes and we both agree he is slime below mildew.” He sighed when she continued to look worried “I promise you, I will not hurt her. I already talked to Anesa on this, I’m going to work in her company as a entry level assistant. I don’t want to work as a reporter anymore, it was never satisfying anyway.”
She was impressed “Wow…she was right. Guys can change.” She smiled “When do you start?”
“Next month. I haven’t told my boss yet but I was thinking maybe I’ll pop the news to him the day before I start my new job.” He laughed, “That’s enough notice isn’t it?”
“Works for me.” She agreed with a laugh “Well, I did my job, said my lecture and warned you. I’ll see you in class Thursday.” She got up as he walked her to the door. Ellena was startled when she was faced with Kyle’s smile.
“Hey you!” he greeted brightly “What are you doing here?”
She was stunned and didn’t expect to see him. Travis noticed the awkwardness in her stare as he jumped in to help her “She was dropping a birthday gift for Anesa.”
“Oh, right…that’s tonight.” He waited for Travis to open the door “Is your cell phone battery low? I’ve been calling you all day.”
“Uh…oh, yeah…yeah it is.” She stammered and turned to Travis “Bye.” Squeezing past Kyle, she practically sprinted to the elevator.
Kyle frowned strangely as Travis shrugged “Go check it out.” He nodded after Ellena.
He agreed and quickly chased after her. She had made it to the elevator before Kyle could catch another one. He found her walking hastily out the building and trying to call a cab. But she gave up and ran to the bus stop instead “Ellena! Ellie!!” he called but she ignored his calls. He dodged a few cars to catch her across the street and before she got on the bus, he pulled her back “Ellie! Where are you going?”
“Home.” She said nonchalantly.
“Are you two getting on?” The bus driver asked in annoyance.
Kyle shook his head and waved him away. He looked at her sternly “I have a car, I could take you home. What’s the matter with you?”
Ellena shrugged “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” he pointed to her arms “You’re gripping onto your bag and covering your chest with it. According to Billie, that’s an act of—”
“Don’t use my friend’s word against me!” she snapped and turned to walk away.
“Ellie…stop!” he grabbed her arm and whipped her back “What’s wrong? I thought we were doing good? Yesterday, you were still fine.” He finally came to realize she was like any other girl. Playing guessing games with him “Please tell me. I’m not good at these games.”
“You think I’M playing the game?” she was flabbergasted “You are incredible, Kyle.” She shook her head and walked away without another word, leaving him completely confused.
"Why does all the girl say that?" he wondered out loud.