Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Days later, while Jayd’s foot had heeled, Steve was fussing over his date with Lisa on Friday. One night, while the mother and daughter were having dinner, they heard the doorbell ring “Aren’t you going to get that?” Mrs. Lee asked.
“No, it’s just Steve. He knows where the spare—” she didn’t have to finish, he already found the key under the mat “What did I tell you?” she asked chewing on her rice and chicken “Did you smell the food from your apartment?” she waved him over.
“No time, she’s coming for me in ten minutes.” He presented himself with a spin “How do I look?”
Jayd didn’t bother turning as she shrugged, instead her mother compliment him “You look very handsome.”
“Whatever.” She mumbled under her breath.
“No!” Steve cried “Darn it! This is the fifth time I’ve changed. I thought this would be a bland outfit. Now I have to find an outfit that says, don’t look at me.”
This caught her attention as she finally turned to him “What are you talking about?”
“I’m trying to make a bad impression.” He emphasized.
“Is that all?” Jayd laughed, “Just pick your nose and be extra loud. Girls hate that.”
“Really?” he frowned “What else?”
Jayd tapped her chin playfully “Walk ahead of her and don’t be a gentleman. Open the door for yourself and walk in.” she was on a roll “Eat the food from her plate but don’t let her touch yours. If she tries to get cozy, move away before she has a chance to think about it.”
Her eyes in a daze as she continued with the ideas. Steve approached her and snapped his fingers in front of her face “Miss Lee!”
“What?” she asked innocently.
“It’s like the exorcist or something.” He laughed “I think if I did one thing from your list, it would scare of any girl.”
“Yeah, any normal girl. This is Lisa we’re talking about. The girl is so dense, she doesn’t even know if a guy is dumping her. I remember back in high school, her boyfriend was flirting with some other girl in front of her and she didn’t bother to notice. Instead she acted like nothing happened and went to the next class all perky.” Jayd exaggerated.
“You describe her like she was an airhead.” Steve laughed.
She rolled her eyes away “You’ll know for yourself later.”
He glanced at his watch “Well, anyways, I don’t have time to change. I’ll see you later. Bye Auntie.”
“Have fun!” she called before the door slammed. She looked up to see her daughter glaring at her “What is that evil eye for?”
“Have fun?” Jayd asked “He’s not going to have fun.” She spat in disgust “You remember how horrible Lisa was to me. I came home crying when she pointed at my clothes in front of the whole class and said I got it at the Salvation Army.”
Mrs. Lee smiled softly “I know you were teased, but that’s no reason to be angry at this girl. Plus I think you’re jealous.”
She threw her head back with a laugh “Jealous of what?”
“Of Steve and Lisa. Obviously, he’s a good catch and you finally noticed it.” Her mother convinced.
“I have a boyfriend, ma.” Jayd reminded her “You’ll grow to like him.” She added when her mother made a face “I promise.”
Mrs. Lee sighed, “I sure hope so. Because right now, he’s at 2 points in my book.”
************
Steve took the stairs to the bottom as he saw her waiting for him by the limo. A fur coat around her slender body “Steve!” she brightened up at the first sight of him. Clinging onto his arm, she led him to the car “Right on time.”
“You think I’m NOT punctual?” he asked in offense.
“No, of course not. I’d wait for you however long you want to take. Afterall you are taking the time to look good for me.” She sang sweetly while opening the door for him.
He silently cursed as he got inside. She didn’t even give him a chance not to be a gentleman “Why is it so dark in here?” he complained.
“Oh, I’ll turn on the light.” She happily obliged while flipping on the switch above her head “Better? Or you want it dim?” she asked.
“This is fine.” He said quickly. He shifted towards the seat furthest away from her “I’m going to take a nap. Call me when we get there.” He lied down rudely and propped his shoe on the seat.
Lisa smiled “Okay.” She dimmed the lights “So it won’t hurt your eyes.”
He gave an internal sigh as he closed his eyes “Not working…” he muttered to himself.
When they reached the Peak restaurant, she tapped him on the shoulder gently “We’re here Steve, you want to take a longer nap?” she cradled her chin on her palm as she leaned over his face.
He quickly sat up “No, I’m fine and starving.” He moved towards the door and opened it roughly, almost knocking off the driver. The guy quickly caught the door before it slammed in Lisa’s face “The food better be good!” he said loudly so a few people could turn to give him looks.
Lisa eased her arm through his “It’s the best in the city.”
He stopped walking and looked down at their linked arms “A woman never makes the first move.” He scolded.
“You’re right.” She removed her arm from his “Where are my manners.” Bring out an arm, she curtsied “After you.”
He straightened his back and walked into the restaurant with an air of importance. But his mind was searching for something other that could turn her off. It seemed no matter what he did, she was eager to please and do as he asked. They were ushered to a booth with the best view of the city. He smiled, forgetting about his plan “I’ve never seen the city from here.”
“Later, I’ll take you up to the roof, tonight is perfect for pictures.” She added excitedly.
“Ahem!” He remembered and wiped the smile away “Who said anything about pictures?”
“Oh.” Lisa looked surprised “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply…okay, no pictures.” She concluded while opening her napkin and placing it on her lap.
A waiter walked by to take their orders “What kind of drink would you like?”
“An ice tea, please.” Lisa said and turned to Steve “Order whatever you like.”
“Give me your most expensive wine.” Steve looked around the table “Where’s the menus?”
“Oh, this is a buffet style restaurant.” The waiter began to explain “There are different market areas, you walk over and asked them what you want and they’ll cook it there for you. They will stamp an order form and give it to you. We will count the stamps at the end of meal.”
“What?” Steve blurted rudely “What kinda freakish place is this? It’s not even buffet! No line? And the food has to be cooked?”
Lisa waved her hand “No, no… I talked to the manager, he said he would bring over any dish that we want. We would not have to leave our table.”
“Oh, are you Miss Cheung?” the waiter asked with raised brows. She nodded “I’m sorry. You’re right. My manager did mention that part. I’ll be back with your food.” He lowered his head politely and left to get their drinks.
“Isn’t it nice to have money?” she giggled.
“I wouldn’t know.” Steve snickered “Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouths.”
Her face quickly straightened “I’m sorry. I was not in any way degrading you. It’s just that I was born this way. Sometimes I just don’t know how to talk and end up offending people without knowing it.”
He sighed and leaned back on his chair “I give up.”
“What?” she was confused.
“Nevermind.” He shook his head “So, where did you go to school?”
“I went the University of New York for a few years but then transferred out to travel instead. It’s always been my dream to just travel.” Lisa said dreamily.
“Like a flight attendant?” he asked. He thanked the waiter who brought over the cup of wine and ice tea for them.
Lisa sipped her drink “Hmm, not really. I don’t like serving people. I was thinking more of a pilot. That way, I have full control of the plane and where I want to go.”
He laughed at the peculiar girl “I don’t think the passengers would be very happy. They want to go to Canada and you take them to Europe.” He could picture the hostile scene in his mind.
“No, I’ll be flying myself.” Lisa tilted her head innocently.
Steve’s face fell “Oh…well, that’s okay then.”
“OH, the food’s here!” she moved her drink as the waiter placed the ready steaks in front of them.
“Enjoy.” He smiled and walked away.
Steve remembered Jayd’s words as he was about to take her potatoes when she looked up “Do you want my side dish? I don’t really like potatoes, it makes me nauseous.” She wrinkled her nose and passed it onto him with her fork before he could agree. She cut into her steak and took a bite “Hmm, this is good.” She cut a side piece and placed it on his dish “Try it.”
“Thanks.” He smiled weakly. After dinner, they decided to take a walk up the rooftop to get a better view of the nightlife. He watched as she skipped to the binoculars and paid a dollar to look through the eye piece. She gushed at the scene while waving him over “See something you like?”
“That building that’s changing colors, what is that?” she asked.
Steve scratched his head as he too wasn’t certain “I think it’s a bank.”
“Oh…it’s pretty. I love the purple and green contrast.” She admired. Turning to him, she raised her brows “Here stand here, you’ll have a better view.” She waved.
“Why are you so nice to me?” he asked suddenly throwing her off guard.
Lisa shrugged “I don’t know.”
“You have to had noticed I was a complete jerk.” He pointed out.
She shrugged carelessly “But you’re nice now.” She returned her eyes to the view.
“Didn’t it bother you?” he asked “I mean, I was really an ass…but you were still pleasantly nice…although creepy but nice.”
Lisa laughed “I guess that’s the ignorance my dad always said I had.” She made room for him to lean on the rail “He said I always had the tendency to live inside this box. Whatever will hurt me, I ignore.”
“Aren’t you afraid what you do might hurt others? Or worse, yourself?” he found her even more different than he imagined.
“No. Because whatever I did cannot be explained. It’s just me. There’s no reason to apologize.” She answered truthfully.
“There’s no logic in that answer.” He shook his head with a laugh.
“It’s not a sin to be ignorant.” She concluded.
He nodded in agreement “I can’t argue with that.”