Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Billie returned home that night feeling something out of the ordinary. Usually dinner was ready on the table for her. Instead the house was unusually quiet and the dining room was empty. She noticed her roommate’s room was lighted, she peeked inside and saw Ellena in a wrapped up ankle and trying to adjust her seat on the bed “Oh my God, what happened to you?” she asked with genuine concern.
She looked up at her friend “Freak accident at the courthouse, I’m fine. Are you hungry?”
“I’ll find my own food.” Billie waved it away briskly “So what happened?”
“The Liu murder trial was over today. A bunch of reporters came barging at me with questions, I tripped on a step and fell down. Just a little sprain.” She smiled weakly.
“Oh my…did someone call an ambulance for you?” Billie asked as she took a closer look at her friend’s ankle.
“No, one of the reporters took me to a clinic and got it checked out.” Ellena replied casually. She didn’t notice that Billie snapped her head up with a sly grin “What?” she raised her brows strangely.
“Sounds like Mr. Perfect?” Billie teased.
Her friend grinned, “I thought there was no such thing as perfect?”
“Don’t quote me.” Billie snapped with a laugh “What kind of guy would be so nice as to take you to a clinic? Unless he wanted answers from you?”
“No, he was very nice…he didn’t ask for anything from me.” She lied.
“Oh…” Billie was taken aback.
“What?” she stared hard at her friend “You’re acting a little strange tonight.”
Billie shook her head “Nothing. I was just thinking of something. Which reminds me, we have a little date with my friend, the fashion designer this Saturday.”
“Whoopee…” Ellena rolled her eyes.
“Great, I’m glad you’re excited!” Billie jumped from the bed and searched the kitchen for ready food. She eventually settled on a sandwich and a glass of milk.
***********
That weekend, Ellena was relaxing in front of the television when Billie walked out dressed in casual jeans and a cool top “Why aren’t you dressed?” she scolded.
“I am.” Ellena looked down at her sloppy sweats “If I’m going to get a new wardrobe, it wouldn’t matter what I wear right now.”
“Don’t get smart with me, young lady.” Billie wagged her finger “Get your skinny butt up and change.” Ellena knew she would eventually lose the argument as she got up and changed. They girls drove together downtown to a high rise corporate building.
They entered the building, which was busy even for a weekend “People work during the weekend?” Ellena asked with a short sigh “How sad.”
“You’re the one to talk. I recall someone working seven days a week during a murder case.” Billie refreshed her memory.
“That’s different. Criminal cases are way more important than fashion.” She sputtered and quickly lowered her head when someone walked past and over heard her comment.
Billie laughed with a shaking head “I suggest you close your mouth or they’ll make you ugly.” She walked down the hall after checking in with the receptionist “Come on.” They were directed to a section where only offices sat, she knocked on a door and heard a female voice asking them to enter. She turned to Ellena, who looked bored “Smile.” Billie whispered and her friend showed her two perfect rows of teeth “Scary, but that’ll do.” She opened the door and was surprised to see two other girls besides her friend “Janine, sorry were you busy?”
“Billie?” one of the girls asked.
Billie turned to the girl with a smile “Anesa?”
“Good memory.” Anesa grinned, “You know Janine?”
“Casually.” Billie winked at her long time friend.
“We only shared the same bathroom in college.” Janine laughed “I guess I don’t need to introduce you to Anesa. Is she in your class?” the girls nodded in unison “This is Grace.” She pointed to another co-worker “We were just going through the fall season.”
Billie nodded “This is your guinea pig, Ellena.”
“Be gentle.” Ellena joked as she shook hands with the girls.
Janine smiled “You should tell Anesa that, she’s one of our best makeover experts. She’ll be helping you out today.”
Anesa grinned proudly “Don’t worry Ellie, I’ll make sure you walk out of here gorgeous and turn all heads down the street.”
Billie nodded in agreement “Classy, not hooker-like.”
Ellena widened her eyes fearfully “I’m a legal secretary, I can’t dress too provocative.” She warned.
“Aww…you poor thing. What a horrid job.” Anesa said sympathetically as she smoothed her short mane “Come on, let’s get started!” she practically pushed Ellena outside to the wardrobe room.
“Is she always like this?” Billie chuckled as she turned to Janine.
“Like she’s had too much caffeine? Yeah.” Janine nodded.
Billie was a little hesitant to leave her friend in Anesa’s hands but when she saw the first few outfits Anesa chose out for Ellena, she was definitely impressed “I had no idea she had legs.” She pointed to the pin stripe skirt that made her friend look taller than she already was “Or arms.” She raised her brows after Anesa peeled off the matching suit jacket and showed off her slender figure.
Ellena tilted her head at Billie “I suppose I always walked on my hips and cooked using my breasts.” She said with sarcasm. Anesa found it amusing as she laughed while Billie flicked a brow up. Ellena began squirming uncomfortably “This is showing too much skin.”
Anesa’s eyes popped out while Billie sighed, “You have to excuse my friend, she was raised in the 1300’s colony.”
“Conservative?” Anesa asked.
“Just a little.” Billie nodded with a grin at her friend, who wasn’t too happy about the comment “Skin is good, it’s the new ‘in’ look. Who knows, maybe you’ll actually grab yourself a man.”
“You’ve never had a man?” Anesa asked in total shock “But you’re so pretty!”
Ellena lowered her head shyly from the compliment “Thanks. I guess you could say I’ve never dated.”
“A virgin.” Billie added.
“I’m waiting for my prince charming.” Ellena said dreamily.
“Still a dreamer huh?” Anesa cross her arms “Guys are all jerks.” She said casually and returned to the stack of clothes to pick out another outfit for Billie.
Billie smiled knowingly “There’s always one that ruins it all for women.”
Anesa returned with another suit with a more colorful touch as she handed it to Ellena and pointed her to the dressing room “Actually, I take that back, there is ONE good guy in this world.”
“Who?” Billie snickered “All the ones I’ve met are strange, obsessive and clingy.”
“You've just described all the losers that I dated. My best friend.” Anesa pointed her chin in the air “Any decent guy out there cannot compare to him.”
“Then why aren’t you with him?” Billie wondered if she was talking about Travis. She noticed they were not casual friends.
“Because we know each other TOO well. It would be dating my brother.” Anesa made a funny face “Hey, maybe he’d be good for the pilgrim lady.” She pointed her thumb into the dressing room.
“I could still hear you!” Ellena yelled before exiting the curtained room.
Billie nodded with approval “Not bad. I like the sky blue and gray together. Brings out her cheeks.”
“I don’t need to be set up. I can find my own man.” Ellena said haughtily as she allowed Anesa to adjust her suit jacket collar.
“Apparently not. You’re a virgin remember?” Anesa quipped.
Ellena scowled while her friend laughed in agreement. Billie crossed her arms “You know she won’t come to my classes because she thinks I try to persuade people to look for other partners when they’re in a relationship and single people to drop everything they have and search for true love.”
“Really? If she was that powerful, she’d find her own man.” Anesa winked teasingly in Billie’s direction.
Waving her hand nonchalantly, Ellena advised “Billie doesn’t believe in true love.”
“Ahem!” Billie made it known that she should stop talking.
“Sorry.” Ellena muttered.
“Wow…if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re the man…” Anesa pointed to Billie and moved her finger to Ellena’s nose “and you’re the woman.”
“She uses me to diverge men that try to hit on her. How sad is that…” she laughed with a shaking head “Hey…is that why I don’t have a boyfriend?” she questioned more to herself.
“Einstein finally discovered an answer to the mathematical theory of lesbian equals men’s uninterested.” Billie laughed “We’ve been friends for a long time, maybe a little too long.” She added earning a glare from her friend “Men only mean trouble, I like the single life too much.”
“Maybe you are waiting for Mr. Perfect too.” Anesa suggested as she handed another outfit to Ellena.
Billie shrugged, not disregarding the idea “Maybe. But until I meet him, no more dating.”
“Out of curiosity, why would you be teaching something you don’t believe in?” Anesa asked.
“I’ve questioned that since she started two years ago!” Ellena chimed in.
Billie laughed, “I don’t teach about finding true love. I teach about compromising and learning to live with the differences between men and women. Intolerable and tolerable is the same as love and hate. If you are lucky enough to find true love, you wouldn’t need my class.”
“True.” Anesa agreed. She turned to the door after Ellena emerged in a dark pink skirt and black sleeveless turtleneck “Nice!”
“Pink? Why pink?” Ellena asked.
Anesa turned to Billie for an answer “She hates pink.” she answered flatly.
The young fashion designer gasped as she covered her mouth “You hate pink?” Ellena nodded weakly, afraid she might have insulted the girl. Anesa laughed “Me too. But this season is all about pink. So…” she waved her away to change “I think you get the idea what to buy. Consider these three outfits a gift.”
Ellena widened her eyes “Are you sure? I don’t want you to get you in trouble, I don’t mind paying for it.” She offered.
Anesa shook her head firmly “No, it’s a gift.” She leaned in closer and whispered “I’m trying to get an ‘A’ in the class. Might as well kiss up to the teacher’s friend while I can.”
Billie overheard as she smiled “There is no grade at the end of class.”
“Really?” Anesa asked in shock “No test?” Billie shook her head “No final exam of who finds the perfect mate?” again she shook her head “What a jip!” the two friends exchanged glances and laughed in unison.