Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Ellena closed Billie’s room door quietly, afraid she would wake the fragile girl. She let out a slow sigh and returned to the living room where Anesa had come after Travis told her the news “How is she?” she whispered.
Shaking her head, Ellena answered, “Poor girl cried so much, she’s wiped out. She just fell asleep.”
“What are we going to do?” she asked worriedly “Travis is a mess. What did she say?”
“His boss came by chance and he told her what Travis really did. I tried to explain that I knew about him being a reporter but she wouldn’t believe me. She thinks everyone is fooled by his good boy act. I don’t think she’s most logical at this time.” Ellena turned to the distressed girl “This is all my fault, if I didn’t tell Travis not to tell her, maybe it wouldn’t have gone this far?”
“When did you tell him that?” Anesa asked, she had not heard her roommate tell her about his run in with Ellena.
“After a court hearing, I was mobbed by reporters and he was the only one that cared to help me when I tripped. We got to talking and realized he was in Billie’s class. I warned him not to tell her that he was a reporter, she especially hated them.” She rubbed her forehead wearily “Me and my good ideas.”
Anesa shook her head “Hey, it’s not your fault. It’s really no one’s fault…just fate.”
“She’ll be okay won’t she?” Ellena wanted someone else’s confirmation. But even she couldn’t answer the girl “I can’t bare to see two of them hurt, they were so good together.”
“I had never seen him happier.” Anesa sighed “Its all that stupid, bald headed man’s fault. What the hell was he doing there anyway? I swear, the next time I see him, I’m gonna kick him where the sun don’t shine!” she vowed.
“Shh…we don’t want to wake her.” Ellena silenced.
Anesa nodded and lowered her voice “Let’s go eat and buy her something too.” Ellena agreed as she got up and followed Anesa outside.
******************
Monday morning, Travis marched to Mr. Chan’s office with a vengeance and a balled up fist. He was beyond angry. He barged in without knocking. The reporter in a meeting with the beady eyed man was startled “Gary, you can go outside. I think Travis needs to talk to me.”
“Y…yes…sir.” He stammered and left the office.
After the door closed, Mr. Chan got up from his seat and walked around to get himself a drink “What can I do for you?”
“Don’t give me that bullshit! You had no right coming to my house and you had no right to tell her who I was!” Travis was beyond angry. He looked like a madman, unshaven and his hair was a mess.
Mr. Chan laughed, “I thought she needed to hear the truth.”
“Who died and made you God?!” Travis stepped closer to him dangerously but the man showed no fear or remorse.
“Rumor has it, you’re planning to quit. Even after how I lowered myself to beg you to stay? I will not lose another reporter over this woman!” he demanded with a pounding fist on the desk “She can go jump off a bridge for all I care, I want my story!!”
His blood was boiling and in that moment of anger, he threw a punch and knocked the man off his feet. Travis groaned in pain after the realization that his fist was numb. The man cried in fury as he pointed at him with one finger and one hand over the jaw “Stay away from her and don’t you dare send anymore of your little men to get a story from her. I’ll punch each and every one of them.” He threatened. Turning to the door, he paused and spun around to him “By the way, if you haven’t guessed, I quit.”
“I’ll sue you!!” it was the last words he heard from Mr. Chan. He snickered and left the building without looking back.
Travis made it home as he slammed the door shut and began pacing the floors. Still furious, he decided to drink a few beers to calm him down. A few turned to half a dozen, he was drunk and stumbling through the house. He found his way to his bedroom and lied on the bed to keep the room from spinning.
His eyes moved over the phone as he crawled to the edge of the bed and picked up the receiver. He dialed her number by heart. It rang five times before the machine picked up “Billie…it’s me. I know you don’t want to hear my voice let alone see me…but I really miss you. Maybe you won’t find a place in your heart to forgive me but I have to say what I want to say. Everything I’ve told you is true, I care for you a great deal and I don’t want anyone else but you. I never told you this but…I’ve never been in love. I don’t know what it means to love someone unconditionally. To do anything just to see the hypnotizing smile…the smile that makes me forget everything…that is until you—”
Billie was frozen in her place as the machine went dead, it ran out of tape. Her tears came slowly as she stared at the phone, she missed him too but the hurt overtook the love. She couldn’t forgive him that soon. She wiped her tears and played with the oatmeal in her bowl. She was in no mood to do anything but she didn’t want to be home either. Getting up, she packed a few things and left Ellena a note that she’d be at the Condo if there were an emergency.
The beach was filled with kids out for the summer, the water was warm and the air hot but they were oblivious to the horrible weather conditions. Billie stood at the edge of her balcony as she stared off into the distant. She could see a sailboat waving against the sea. Her mind was filled with thoughts of him, it seemed no matter where she looked it somehow reminded her of Travis. She could pick out the spot on the beach that they shared that one night she opened her heart to him. Smiling, she recalled the warm hug they shared. But as soon as the smile came, it disappeared when she was reminded how he lied to her even after how she poured her most devastating story that she only told Ellena.
**************
A few days later, Kyle, Ellena and Anesa decided to meet back at Travis’s apartment for lunch. Anesa had told him the news about Billie leaving to the condo. Although they knew where it was located, they wanted to respect her decision to have some peace and quiet “Maybe it’s for the best that she’s there alone.” Ellena suggested.
“She’s avoiding me, I know.” Travis smiled weakly “It’s okay. You guys don’t have to come see me. I won’t kill myself, I haven’t accomplished my dream yet.”
“What’s that?” Anesa asked.
“Marry Billie.” He said simply.
The girls exchanged glances, it was farfetched and nearly impossible at that moment but it was like him to be optimistic “Here, have some soup.” Kyle returned from the kitchen “Ellena made it especially for you.”
Travis shook his head “I’m not hungry.”
“You have to eat.” Anesa sat down next to him as she took the bowl from Kyle’s hand “I’ll feed you, see you don’t have to move, just open your mouth.” She instructed.
Again, he shook his head “Don’t make me throw a tantrum, you know I hate acting like you.” She smiled, he was joking again. It was a good sign. When the doorbell rang, the group turned to the door strangely “It doesn’t open itself.” Travis added.
Anesa got up and opened the door, she recognized the bald man “What are you doing here?”
He had a large purple bruise on his left jaw as he walked in without an invitation, in his hand was a manila envelope “I am serving HIM with a law suit.” He pointed his nose to Travis.
“For what?” Anesa demanded.
“For this!” he pointed to his purple jaw “He punched me for no reason, assault and battery.” He spat and threw the folder towards Travis, who let it slip from his lap.
Ellena crossed her arms sternly “Did you have a witness?” she asked professionally.
The man began searching for an answer “I know…Gary…he…he saw Travis storming in full of fury and fists balled ready to punch me.” He pointed accusingly.
“That wasn’t my question.” Ellena narrowed her eyes at him “Mr. Chan, if you do not have a witness during the present time of the accusation, it is irrelevant to sue Mr. Travis Cho.”
“Who are you?” he snapped after being sniped by a girl who looked more like a model than a lawyer.
“I’m his attorney. Ellena Lai. It appears the lawyer you have hired did not do his homework. He should know by law if there was not a third party present, there is no case. I suggest you return to him and demand a refund. Afterall isn’t it possible that you tripped on your own feet and fell onto a desk perhaps or maybe a chair. Since there were only two people present, it is your word against Travis and I hear my client has no history of violence.”
The bald man was stumped and cornered after Kyle stepped towards him with his chest poking out “Yeah!” he pushed him with his rib cage “I didn’t touch you, you ran into my chest. Did everyone see that?” he turned to Anesa and Ellena as they grinned.
“Fine…you win this time. But I won’t let this slide easily! I’ll find a way around it, you’ll see, I’ll get you back! I’ll make sure your name is tarnished in the journalism field!” he pointed threateningly at Travis.
Ellena raised a finger to him “Eh, I can sue you for threatening and slander of my client.”
He began backing away slowly towards the door “It’s not a crime to talk.” He said in a weak defense.
“But it is a crime to break the law.” Ellena tilted her head until he had nothing else to say and turned to leave the apartment.
Kyle broke out in laughter as he jumped over to hug his girlfriend “That was great!! Damn, is it wrong that I want you right here, right now?” he whispered seductively.
Ellena quickly blushed but she was use to his sexual talks “Oh, get a room.” Anesa groaned. She turned to Ellena with a laugh “But damn, I was getting goose-bumps too.”
“Thanks Ellena.” Travis was grateful but he didn’t feel any better about his situation with Billie “Now can you undo the other mess?”
Her smile shortened as she took a seat next to him “Just stay positive, if I know Billie, she will return. Consider it a test. She’ll eventually forgive you, if she cares for you as much as you do for her.”
“What if she doesn’t?” Anesa asked, earning a jab from Kyle “I mean, she will.” Nodding vigorously.
“I know I should be optimistic.” He sighed tiredly. Getting up, he returned to his room “I’m not going to class tomorrow.”
“Travis…” Anesa began.
He shook his head “No use in making everyone uncomfortable.”
“That’s not true. Only six people know, the rest of the class doesn’t know.” Anesa argued “Come on, it’s our last class.”
Travis shrugged “Maybe. I’ll think about it.”
“There must be something we can do.” Kyle hated seeing his friend so depressed “He’s going to turn to skin and bones.” He nodded to the full bowl of chicken broth.
“Maybe there is?” Anesa smiled wickedly.
“I’m so desperate, I think I want to hear this.” Ellena nodded for her to continue.
“We lock them in a room together and make them talk it out. They don’t leave until it’s a mutual agreement.” Anesa laughed at her wonderful idea “It’s a sure win!”
Kyle crossed his arms with rolled eyes “They’ll just end up fighting more and I’m sure Billie will eat him alive. He has no chance.”
“She’s not a tiger.” Ellena shook her head with a short laugh “It’s a little crazy but I think it might work.”
“Great! I’ll get Anton to find us a secured place.” She pulled out her cell phone and began dialing. She looked up to find the two staring at her strangely “He has connections.” She concluded.