Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The yoga classroom was large but was filled with women in tank tops and thin cotton pants. Kyle nudged his co-workers “What did I tell you. It’s a hidden sauna of babes.” The models laughed together as they agreed.
“Damn, look at her.” One guy whispered.
Kyle wasted no time to check out a beautiful lady, his eyes searched the room and it landed on a familiar face he only saw in his worst nightmares “Crap, just my luck!”
Anesa approached them with a look of vengeance as she dropped her bag on the floor with a thud “What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you that.” He retorted.
She laughed with a shaking head “This is my class. I come here once a week, what’s your excuse? Picking up women? What’s wrong? Hit on all the women in bars, they all recognize your sorry ass?”
“Hey, introduce us.” One of the taller models pushed Kyle.
“No!” Kyle replied with wide eyes “You do NOT want to get mixed in with this woman.”
Anesa rolled her eyes as she threw the guy a winning smile “I’m Anesa. And you are…”
“Chris.” The handsome stranger showed off his pearly whites.
“We should grab some lunch after this.” Anesa purposely threw Kyle a sharp eye.
“That would be great!” Chris said excitedly.
Kyle couldn’t take the flirting as he quickly pulled Chris to the side “Look, I’m warning you. She’s an animal, she’ll eat you up and spit you out.”
“I like a woman that can take charge.” Chris replied while throwing her a wink. Anesa smiled as she set up her mat next to his “Don’t let anything go to waste, you always taught me that.” He patted Kyle on the shoulder and moved onto his mat to work some more magic with Anesa. She was extra giddy with everything he had to say, making Kyle extremely jealous.
The class began and Anesa felt happy to help Chris with some of the harder moves. They were like two kids in a candy store, giggling and flirting openly. Kyle rolled his eyes away every time she laughed her signature shrill laugh “SHH!! This is a yoga class not acting like a slut class.” He hissed.
Anesa felt her face burning as she leaned back towards him “Just because you missed out doesn’t make it right for you to insult me. You snooze, you lose.” She leered her eyes darkly and quickly put on a smile at Chris.
****************
“Welcome back everyone! Today’s class is about ‘What Not To Do In A New Relationship’. Say you found a good potential and are now casually dating. I’d say 80% of the arguments begin early in the first year of a relationship. Everyone goes through them, that is usually how people learn not to repeat history in the future. That is, IF you have a future with this person.” Billie began as she looked around the class.
Anesa shot her hand up “You mean we shouldn’t leave cute little notes around the house?”
Billie laughed as she raised her palm upward “Why don’t we ask the guys?”
Kyle snickered “That’s so high school. No one does that anymore.”
“Actually, I still do.” A girl admitted causing Anesa to raise her chin smugly.
Billie raised her eyes with interest “Really? How does your man react?”
“He ignores it but there was one time he told me that they were like little inspirations that help him get through a hard day.” The girl replied. A gushing sigh broke out in the room while the guys rolled their eyes.
“How absolutely sensitive!” Anesa said it loud purposely.
Billie nodded in agreement as she pulled the chair closer to the class and sat down with crossed legs “How about we take this a little deeper, more detail shall we?” again she made the guys and girls shift to opposite sides of the room “Gentlemen, give us a little lesson in relationships. What is the one thing that comes to mind that a new girlfriend does which drives you crazy?”
Travis raised his hand and was acknowledged with a smile “Thank you for that.”
“What?” she asked in confusion.
“You called us Gentlemen. The first day of class, it was boys and then guys, why the sudden change of attitude?” he put her on the spot for an explanation.
She was impressed that he had noticed it “Let’s just say, I had a little wakeup call Saturday night.” She smiled knowingly. He was speechless. Was she trying to hint something to him? Was he the one that helped change her outlook on men? “Any volunteers?” she looked around the men’s section.
A guy offered the information “One of the things this ex-girlfriend did that drove me nuts was she was always calling me just to see what I was doing. She was checking up on me constantly, we argued over it so many times that it eventually broke us up.”
“Maybe she was concerned about your safety!” one of the girls blurted out.
Billie grinned as she turned to the girl “Sounds like you were a perpetrator yourself.” The girl lowered her head guiltily “But it’s a good point. Girls have the tendency to get a little self conscious when guys go out with other people. Whether it was a guys night out or just hanging out with a few old friends or co-workers. Men, you have to understand that when you leave a woman at home alone, it could do very good damage to the relationship. Before you know it, she’s asking you tons of question about what you did without her. Her biggest fear is that you had more fun without her.”
The guy seemed to think about her words as he slowly nodded “Maybe…”
“What you could have done was assure her that you had more fun with her. That going out with other people was just something you did as a social thing. Take her out with you the next time? I’m sure that would’ve made her very happy. Am I right ladies?” Billie turned to the females as they nodded in agreement.
“Well, it’s not exactly fun to have a guy get so jealous that he practically locks you up and freaks out when you talk to a male friend.” A girl spoke up.
Billie nodded “Yes, true. Controlling men are not the funnest to be around. It could eventually grow to obsession and maybe violence. But in a normal girl/guy case, jealousy is just another form of self consciousness.”
“How so?” Anesa asked with interest.
“Easy, they are intimidated by other men talking to their girls. It is often mistaken for jealousy or a type of control because men do not know how to express their concern. Instead they blatantly suggest that their girlfriends no longer see this guy. At times it comes out too harsh and could be thrown out of proportion.” Billie explained “Any guy want to take this?”
Anton raised his hand “I use to date this girl that had a black book full of ‘guy friends’. And I use this term loosely. There was this guy that had been pining over her for years and I knew of it. He constantly took her out to dinner, at first I was very bothered by it but then I told myself to trust her. But in the end, I couldn’t take it and we got in a fight. I forbade her from seeing him. I told her that I trusted her but not him. She said if I loved her then I would trust everything she did.”
“Wow…so what happened?” Billie asked with concern.
“She said she couldn’t be with a person that didn’t trust her and her friends.” Anton sighed, “She broke off the engagement.”
“I’m sorry.” Billie said sincerely “Although you did the right thing by telling your girlfriend that you trusted her…you made the ultimate error by saying you don’t trust the guy. You have to understand, these are HER friends…whether guys or girls. She’s probably known them longer than she’s known you, obviously they have connected on a certain level of friendship. By forbidding her to see this particular friend, you are basically telling her that you think something would go on if you didn’t step in to ‘control’ the situation. Women are difficult like that, they always over analyze and when stress comes to push, they will eventually give up.”
“I got one!” Kyle pushed his arm in the air.
“Yes, you with the over-sized ego.” Billie found it hard to bite her tongue when it came to him.
The class laughed except for Kyle “Ha ha…As I was saying. There is one thing that I absolutely hate that girls do. When she ask a question and you answer, she then proceeds to ask if you are sure. It’s like…is that your final answer? Hell, if I was going to win a million dollars, I wouldn’t mind rethinking. But when I answer, I expect that question to end there. Why do you women persist and push to get another answer?”
“Simple, because the answer you gave is wrong.” Billie replied with a simple shrug.
“How could there be a wrong answer if it’s an honest answer?” Travis questioned.
She nodded “Good point. There is no such thing as an honest answer, just a right or wrong one. Contrary to what you believe and have been taught, honesty is not always the best policy. That is…if the question is pertaining to a woman’s appearance, age, figure etc. But if the question goes deeper about how you feel on a certain situation, it is best that you be honest to cover your asses just in case it pops up again in the future.”
“Example?” a female asked.
“Sure.” Billie got up as she walked up the steps to Travis “Come join me.” Handing him her palm, he took it hesitantly as she led him down to the room. Looking in the audience, she picked out a girl in the front row “Dana.” Taking them back to front of the room, they huddled and spoke in low voices. After they were done, she nodded to the class “They are going to perform for us and you can tell me what’s wrong with the dialogue.” She nodded to Travis and Dana “They are a three month couple getting ready for a formal party.”
Travis pretended to adjust his tie while Dana walked into the room holding up two make believe dresses “Honey, which one is better on me?”
“They both look good on you, dear.” He replied without giving her a second look.
“Stop.” Billie froze the two and turned to her class “What’s wrong with what he said?”
“Nothing.” Kyle was quick to speak up. The girls groaned with shaking heads “What? He was being supportive, he said they both look good.”
“Boo!! Sit down!!” Anesa growled.
Anton raised his hand “Can I try?” Billie smiled with a slight nod as he stood up “First of all, he didn’t even look at her once. Second, a girl always wants their man to take interest in what she has to wear. He should have chosen a dress, just to make her happy.”
The girls applauded and a few whistled at the answer. Kyle on the other hand was scratching his head “Don’t break a blood vessel.” Billie teased the handsome model “Now, let’s start over and see what Travis SHOULD have said.”
“Honey, which dress should I wear?” Dana asked again.
Travis turned to her and placed a finger on his chin with much thoughtfulness “Hmm, I think the black one is classy but what the heck, go with the sky blue. It brings out your tan.”
Dana grinned happily “Okay!” turning around, she pretended to walk out of the fake room.
The class exploded with applause while Travis and Dana bowed from the performance “I wanna try!!” Anesa raised her hand readily.
Billie laughed with a nod “Okay. And we need a guy.” She turned to the men, a few had their hands up but she had her eye on one slouching man “Kyle!”
“Oh no…” Anesa muttered.
“No thanks, Miss Cheng.” Kyle shook his head.
She wouldn’t take no for answer as she approached him “Consider this extra credit for the final.”
“There’s a final?” Kyle was instantly aware.
Anesa rolled her eyes “Stupid.” She said quietly.
“Okay.” He was suddenly willing as he got up and followed Billie down the steps.
The three huddled and after a couple of minutes, they disbursed and Billie turned to the class “Anesa and Kyle are a couple dating for six months, they are on their way to a party but apparently the directions given by Anesa’s friend was off. They are lost.” She handed over the stage to the two.
“I think we’re lost.” Anesa said thoughtfully.
“We are not.” Kyle sighed with frustration.
“We should ask for directions.” Anesa offered.
Kyle turned to her exasperatedly “I’ll find my way. We don’t need to call anyone.” He insisted.
Anesa shook her head “We’re at the same block we were at ten minutes ago. I’m calling Joanne.” Picking up her fake cell, she dialed for directions.
“Stop.” Billie raised a hand and turned to her class “Kyle is clearly uncomfortable, anyone want to take a shot at why?” Almost all the guys raised their hands “I want a girl to answer.” She grinned with a shaking head.
One girl dared to raise her hand “This is really embarrassing…but I was in the same situation just a month before with my ex-boyfriend. We were obviously lost but he would not admit to it. Eventually, I called my friend for directions because we were already half an hour late. He didn't talk to me the whole night.”
“Wrong move.” A guy sighed sadly.
“Why?” the girl asked, “Til this day, I don’t know what I did wrong? I was only trying to help.”
Billie tilted her head thoughtfully “Let’s see what Anesa should have done.” She turned to the two and gave them a ready nod.
“I think we’re lost.” Anesa began.
“No, we’re not.” Kyle said with building frustration.
“Should I call for directions?” she offered.
“No, we don’t need directions. I’ll find it.” He said firmly. Anesa nodded without replying as she waited patiently as he turned each corner. Finally, giving up, he sighed “Maybe we are lost.”
Anesa smiled gently “It’s okay, I really thought you would find the place.”
“Thanks.” He said gratefully.
“Oh! I see!” the girl perked up as she saw her own mistake “I should have supported his confidence instead I stepped all over his ego by calling my friend.”
“Bingo!” Billie waved the two back to their seats. She glanced at her watch “Well, that’s our time. I’ll see you all again next week.” She gathered her belongings while the class began to leave. Earning a few smiles, she nodded to her students. It was then that Travis stopped in front of her “Yes?” she felt he had something on his mind.
“Eh…that…that was a very good session.” He complimented.
She smiled “Thanks, it’s the favorite, I realized after three semesters. The rest is downhill.” She joked. He nodded, but she could tell he was reluctant to share his feelings “Hey, how about dinner on Wednesday night?”
“Oh…sure…” he agreed. He saw Anesa approaching “Ready?”
“Yeah. Nice lecture today Billie. I need to ask you for more advice.” Anesa requested.
Billie laughed “Sure, but I charge by the hour.”
“Just like a hooker.” Kyle sighed.
“Actually, they charge by the night. I’ve got a little more class.” Billie quipped causing Anesa to stifle her laugh “Night ladies.” She gave the guys a wink before leaving the classroom.
“I like her!” Anesa said with pride “She’s got spunk.”
“Me too.” Anton agreed.
“Shut up.” Kyle said wryly with a dramatic roll of the eyes while Travis laughed.