Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
On the night of the party, while Steve adjusted his crooked bowtie, there was a series of knock on the door. Guessing it might be Lisa to pick him up early “Coming!” he answered while whipping the door open “Do you have—Oh, Jayd.”
She was wearing a beautiful pink strapless gown, her hands holding onto a matching pink strap heels “Help…” she smiled weakly.
“With what? You look amazing.” He complimented.
She entered without being asked, he quickly noticed her limp “My shoe.” She pointed to the broken heel.
Steve laughed “I thought you broke your ankle again or something.” He followed her to the couch as he took her shoe and observed the heel carefully “How did it break?”
“I tripped.” She explained, “Andrew sent them over with this dress and I was trying them on and walking around. My ankle twisted and it broke.”
“Nothing a little glue can’t fix.” He assured her while heading to the kitchen and looking through his cabinets “I swear Jayd, you are so lucky that I live next door. You’d probably tape the heel together huh?”
“Already tried that.” She laughed, “It didn’t work so I had to come over here.”
He shook his head while inserting the glue and holding down the heel onto the shoe “It says to hold for five minutes.” He applied the pressure. Returning to the living room, he sat next to her on the couch as she stared at the heel “It could take a while.” He raised his brows.
“Oh!” she nodded “Do you want me to leave?”
Steve smiled “No, of course not. Turn on the television or something. We’ll be bored out of our minds for five minutes.”
“I want to ask you something but you have to be honest.” Jayd said solemnly.
Nodding, he answered before she asked, “Yes, I will marry you.” Tilting her head, she sighed “Okay, okay…I’ll be serious. What did you want to ask?”
“Is this dress look nice?” She stood up and twirled around with a limp, one shoe still strapped to her feet.
Steve restrained from saying that everything looked magnificent on her. Instead he nodded “Sure, it’s a nice color.”
“What color?” She teased with a crooked grin.
“Baby pink.” He wasn’t afraid to answer.
She looked disappointed “Aww, that wasn’t funny.”
“Why? You don’t like the dress?” he brushed away the tease she failed to pull off.
“I think it’s a little much.” She pushed down at the naturally poofy dress “I feel like a bride or something. I can’t dance in this.”
Steve shrugged “Then change.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Why not? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. Or at least he shouldn’t.” he emphasized.
Jayd nodded “True. Okay, I’m going to listen to you for once.” Limping her way outside, she headed back to her apartment to change into her dress that she bought for the party weeks before. An olive green, it was compatible with her ivory skin tone. She returned with the chiffon dress that ended at the knee. Darker tones of olive green flares broke out from the hip and down to the knee giving it a classier look “What do you think?”
He was dumbfounded by her easy beauty. The makeup was fair and her hair curled just perfectly. One side was yanked up by a sparking green clip, she looked ready to ballroom dance. His hands slipped from the shoe as it clanked onto the floor. She smiled knowingly as he clumsily retrieved the shoe “I guess you don’t need it now.” He placed the pink shoe down and got up to take a closer look “You are breathtakingly beautiful… in anything.” He decided to add.
She felt the butterflies in her stomach come when he shifted a curled strand out of place on her head. Her smile fell as she realized her heart was thumping too fast “Thank you.” She managed to spit out.
He looked down and swallowed the lump in his throat “Are you sure…”
“Yeah.” She nodded before he could finish his question. Noticing his bowtie, she smiled and began untying it “Still can’t tie a bow huh?” she recalled the childhood incident well “I remember your family was going to a wedding for your Aunt this one day. And you were still playing in the backyard. I was throwing rocks at you like normal but I noticed you were sad. When I approached you, you said that you messed up the bow and your mother would hit you if you went back in the house like that.” She completed the bow to perfection with its center dimples poking out “I tried to fix it for you but I wasn’t that talented. I could hear your mother yelling at you from the backyard.”
She wasn’t prepared for kiss when he reached down and pushed his lips on her suddenly. Her mind became blank but her instincts came and she quickly pushed him away “I’m sorry.” He said breathlessly.
Jayd backed away without replying. Her fingers on her lips where he last kissed her. Turning, she left her shoe behind and went back to her apartment. Slumping on the couch, he buried his hand in his face. Ashamed of what he just did. Lisa walked towards the apartment and noticed the door wide open “Aww, don’t be sad. I didn’t stood you up.” She coaxed.
Steve looked up and put on a clear smile “Hey. You’re here. I’m almost ready.” He returned to his bedroom and retrieved his shoes.
Lisa looked down by the coffee table and noticed a pink strap shoe “Tell me you just play dress up for fun.” She pointed. Steve froze, not knowing what to say “You’re cheating on me?” she asked. He wrinkled his brows oddly as she began laughing “I’m kidding! Look at your face. Come on, we’re going to be late.”
She linked her arm through his with ease as he followed her, eyes still glancing back at the shoe “You don’t want to know where that came from?”
“No, not really.” She shook her head “I already know.” She winked with a laugh. Steve smiled weakly as he gave one last glance at Jayd’s apartment before entering the elevator with Lisa. The drive felt dull as his mind wandered, wondering what she thought of him then. He couldn’t tell if she was upset or just in total shock “…hmm…should I carry this purse? I think the color doesn’t match my pastel yellow dress.” She looked up and found him in a daze “Steve!”
He turned up with questioning eyes “What? Oh…yeah, that’s a nice pair of shoes.”
Sighing, she placed her arm around his shoulder “What’s the matter? You can tell Lisa.” She assured him.
“I’m not sure I can.” He looked embarrassed.
“Oh come on, I’m not going to yell at you. Hey, I’m not your girlfriend remember? I have no right to. Just spit it out, it’ll make you feel better.” Lisa insisted.
Steve looked down at his hands “I kissed her.”
“You what?!” Lisa asked in astonishment “Why…why would you do that? If you wanted to kiss anyone, I would have let you borrow my lips! She’s off limits!”
“I know.” He groaned while leaning back on the seat “I’m an awful person. I’m horrible and deserve to be burned at the stake!”
Lisa flinched “Well, let’s not get carried away. It was just a kiss…did she kiss you back??”
Steve shook his head “No…she pushed me away and walked out without saying a word.”
“And you would feel much better if she would have slapped you or something right?” Lisa could read his thoughts as he nodded “You’re obviously bothered by it. Maybe you were caught up in the moment? Don’t put yourself down for something unintentional. I won’t tell Biu Gor.”
He turned to her thankfully “I don’t know what to say…just embarrassed.” He laughed at himself shortly “What an idiot!”
She laughed “Well, you can thank me by complimenting me.”
“I’m sorry…” he smiled “You look very pretty tonight.”
“Thank you.” She bowed her head gently “Nice of you to notice.”
****************
Jayd was the last to arrive at the party, she felt her spirits lowering when she entered and found Lisa and Steve dancing. They appeared to be having fun while laughing and twirling in circles. She paused at the door until Andrew noticed her from a distance and quickened his pace to get to her “Hey.” He greeted and kissed her on the cheek openly. He knew a few people were probably staring “You look gorgeous.”
“You’re not upset?” she raised her brows in surprise.
“That you’re late or that you’re not wearing the dress I got you?” he laughed while petting her curls “Don’t be silly, girl. I told the driver to pick you up later, I guessed you would need extra time to get ready. Not that you need it.” He was quick to flatter her, something she was never use to.
“Are you drunk?” She dared asked, he wasn’t himself and he knew it.
Andrew laughed carelessly “Yeah, I wish. Father wouldn’t let me have a sip of champagne. His exact words were, we wouldn’t want to see you trip over your own feet or worse trip Jayd when you two perform tonight.” He took her hand simply and walked her into the mansion. It was transformed into a dimly lit room with plenty of room for dancing and a live band playing music in the background.
They walked around the crowd greeting all the employees with nods. A few familiar faces smiled at Jayd but she felt suddenly like a trophy. There were shocked expressions and looks of envy as she passed by “I have to go to the restroom.” She whispered at Andrew.
He nodded with a smile “Come back soon. I’ll miss you.”
Jayd turned her head strangely at the comment but decided to let it go unquestioned. Instead of going to the restroom, she took a detour to the backyard where an outdoors party was taking place. She paused at the double door patio, looking up the stairs that led to the balcony, it seemed like a safer place to hide out.
She was relieved to see no one had found this escape. Finally there was time to breathe and let the feelings wash over. But no matter how she tried, the feeling of Steve’s kiss came rushing back to her. She wasn’t sure what to feel at that moment. It was too much to absorb and at the same time her heart fluttered when he kissed her.
Taking a seat on the patio chair, she lowered her head into her hand as she rested her elbow on the table “I was wondering where you went.”
Jayd looked up at the familiar voice “Hey you.”
Andrew joined her on the empty seat “I know you’re not much of a party person.”
She nodded weakly “Aren’t you ashamed of this anti social girlfriend?”
He laughed. Wrapping an easy arm around her shoulders, he pulled her closer to him “Don’t be silly, I will never be ashamed of you. I really, truly admire you Jayd.”
She snickered in reply “Admire…” shaking her head at the irony.
“I love how you stood up to my father. And you really are one special girl. I am definitely the luckiest guy in this place.” He kissed her on the forehead.
She turned to him oddly “You sure you’re not drunk?”
“What’s wrong? You’re not use to me like this?” he asked.
Jayd nodded “You’re never affectionate. Why the sudden change?” her eyes widened “Did you cheat on me and now you want to be nice to—” he leaned in suddenly and kissed her passionately. She fell into it for a few seconds but eventually stopped the kiss as he pulled away with a faint smile “Is that a no?”
Andrew laughed heartily “You don’t know how great it feels to do that and not be afraid that someone might see us.” He mocked while getting up “But we should get back to the party.” He raised a hand for her to take. She smiled and let him lead her down the steps and back into the indoor party.