Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
When she was done, her hair was wavy all the way down her back. She took the bus to the station and when she got off, she was startled when a microphone was jammed in front of her face “Miss Chan, have you read the morning papers?” Amy saw more reporters coming towards her, flashing cameras at every angle possible. She began to shield herself as she shook her head.
“Please, I have to get in the station.” She spoke up while pushing her way through the crowd of reporters.
“There are claims that you and Philip lied at the press conference last week and you two are indeed a couple. So why did you lie to the audience?” her accusations were endless as she went on “A gentleman spotted you two at a high class Sushi restaurant last night making out and when he took a picture, Philip used violence punching the man until he was unconscious.”
Amy stopped as she turned to the woman in shock “Philip did not hurt anyone to that extent.” She said grinding her teeth. How in the world did it get so out of hand. “Excuse me!” Amy cried when they began to block her way.
“Miss Chan, why the sudden change in appearance? Was this Philip’s idea?” another reporter asked.
She began to feel suffocated not to mention a migraine flying through her temples as she shook her head angrily. “Get away from her!” She looked up after hearing Philip’s booming voice. Johnny was behind him. He was quick to push through as he got a hold of her shoulders protectively “Excuse us!” his flaring eyes pushed their way through. Johnny shielded them from getting more flashes while Philip led them into the station. He passed by the front guard “Don’t let any of them pass.” He growled.
The three made it into the station in one piece. It wasn’t until they were in the recording studio when Johnny asked “You looked a little shaken up.” His concern was quickly overlooked by his teasing nature.
Amy shook her head “I’m okay. Just a little overwhelmed.”
Suddenly, Philip banged his fist against the table with anger in his eyes “Damn them! Sometimes the media can be so blind. I can’t believe that jerk sold the story to them and what makes me pissed is that they believed it without hearing my end of the story.”
Amy sighed as she tried to calm him “It’s not your fault. The story was bound to happen, I thought you would be use to it by now?” she soothed.
He laughed sarcastically “I would be, but I have never had this kind of media after me since I did my first break out role 5 years ago. I thought that was intense but this is beyond humane. I’m just sorry you had to be pulled into it.” He sighed with his hand smoothing her waved hair. Despite what happened, he was able to smile at her “You look adorable today.”
Her face was solemn as she turned away from him “Maybe this was a mistake.”
Philip frowned “Don’t start having regrets, Amy. I can’t lose you now.”
“Philip’s right.” Johnny stood up in his friend’s defense “If you quit now, the media will only crush him to pieces.”
“What use is it that I’m here? Haven’t I caused enough stir and not to mention the endless rumors. I really don’t know how you do it, Philip. I would have quit a long time ago.” She shook her head, tears brimming at the corner of her eyes.
He walked over across the room to where she stood, his arms slowly draped her shoulders “I’m not a quitter and I won’t let you quit. Ever. Sometimes I wonder why God gave me the courage to go on, but I’m sure he had good reason. Yes, the media can be cruel but you know what I learn each time they bring me down? It only builds up my confidence. If you give up now, they will hound you until you eventually move out of this country. It’s the way they work.”
Amy let the tears flow as she tried to be strong. She crossed her arms but would not look up at him “I can’t do this, Philip.” She laughed with a touch of sarcasm “I always thought that the movie star’s life was so glamorous, all it is money and partying. I never once thought that actors worked so hard for your stardom until I became your assistant. I respected you SO much for all the hard work you put into it. But as for me? I don’t have dreams about being a star, God knows I don’t want to be one after having taste of this overnight stardom.” She spat with disgust.
Philip was desperate to show her that she had the abilities to make it big “Listen to me.” He gripped her arms tighter as he shook her gently “You can do this. I believe it, Johnny believes it.” He glanced at his friend who stood motionless as he watched them with a worried look “Remember what you told me last night?”
She shook her head “What the hell did I know?!”
“You know more than you give yourself credit for. Amy, I believe this country should not miss out on you. You don’t want to be a star, but it’s calling your name. Fate brought you here, so why would you leave empty handed. If you quit now, I will be so disappointed in you. Who was that strong and independent girl that I met months ago? I fell in love with a strong willed heart, not a weak one.” Philip said earnestly.
Johnny looked at them with wide eyes, a smile crossed his face as he opened his mouth to comment but Amy pointed to him “Don’t start with me, Johnny.”
He frowned “I was just going to congratulate you two.” He pouted sadly at her outburst.
Amy looked down to the ground but her chin was pulled up by Philip’s warm fingers. She had no choice but to look at him in the eye “If you walk out now…just pretend the last four months never happened.”
His comment left an ache in her heart as she dodged his eyes again “I’m sorry Philip.” She whispered while wiping a tear away. “I just can’t…”
Philip let go of her arms as he stepped backwards, he nodded with eyes so red that Amy quickly regret what she just said. A tear flowed from his eye as he turned towards the door and walked out. But before leaving, he turned to her “Running away doesn’t help, maybe one day you’ll learn to face the problem...Have a good life.” He opened the door roughly and rushed out.
Amy was crying openly as she sat down on the ground and covered her face in tears. Johnny let out a sigh as he sat down next to her “Hey…” he nudged her gently “It’s not the end of the world.”
She looked up with a glare “Easy for you to say. You’ve got the perfect job, the perfect girl, the perfect life….” Despite her tears, she looked at him strangely “Where is Liz, by the way?”
Johnny shrugged “She told me she wasn’t feeling good. She said she was feeling sick and I shouldn’t come to visit her until her house is germ free.”
Amy stopped crying as she sighed lightly “I can’t believe she didn’t tell you.”
“Tell me what?” he asked with curiosity.
She turned to him with pity eyes “Nothing…” she said reluctantly.
His face turned to concern “What do you know that I don’t? Tell me Amy. She acted really strange last night when I took her home. And I tried to call her this morning but her phone was disconnected.” Suddenly his worried expression was replaced by a knowing smile “Is this a joke? Did you plan this with her?” he quickly stood up “This whole thing is a scam isn’t it?” he pointed towards the door where Philip had exited and back at Amy. “I can’t believe you guys!”
Amy’s angry face appeared as she stood up hastily “Yes Johnny, we all got together to come up with this…joke…” she spat out harshly “because we wanted to get back at you. Since Philip’s career is not as important as a silly prank! And my life has never been important! I just lost the guy of my dreams and it’s all a joke! Yes… you’re right.” She clapped her hands sarcastically, tears still fresh on her face. He began to think twice about what he said as his face fell with sympathy “Who would have thought I could cry on demand? Hey, maybe I should have been an actor?” she snapped her fingers “Oh wait, that’s right. I just lost my chance when I turned down the love of my life when he was trying to convince me that I could make it in this industry!”
“Amy….” He began slowly but she shook her head sadly.
“Never mind, Johnny. It’s too late…” she let out a long sigh “I should go now.”
“Before you go, can you tell me where Liz is?” he asked softly.
Amy smiled sympathetically “There will be other fish in the sea.” She stroked his face sadly “She went back to Canada to be with her husband.”
The last line crushed him like an empty beer can under a foot “What?” he asked.
“Maybe you should talk to her. I don’t feel comfortable telling you this.” Amy smiled as she reached in her pocket “Before she told me she was leaving, she gave me her new cell number.” She handed it to him as he took it like a zombie. Amy left the room to give Johnny some privacy.
He looked at his cell phone like it was a foreign object. When his mind cleared up, he dialed the number in his hands. Liz picked up on the other line “Hello?”
It took a few seconds for him to comprehend as he muttered a “Hello…Liz?”
She was quiet for a moment “Yeah…so, you found out?”
“So it’s true?” he asked desperately “Why? Why would you lie to me about having a husband?”
“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I had a crush on you since the moment I met you when I was working for Philip. But when my family called me back to Canada, I decided to go back long enough to tell them that I was in love with someone in Hong Kong and I was planning to return.” Liz sniffed back the tears as she continued “But you can blame it on fate, I saw my high school sweetheart. He was not seeing anyone at that time and so we began talking. I felt like a school girl with a crush all over again. Before you knew it, we were engaged in two weeks and got married. I came back because Philip told me how much you missed me. I knew I owed it to you to come back and explain in person. But I’m a coward, I admit it. I couldn’t do it. I’m sorry you had to find out this way…”
“I can’t believe you…” he spoke softly and he could almost feel his heart breaking “I loved you…” he whispered.
Liz gulped back the tears “I’m so sorry…I didn’t mean to hurt you…I truly didn’t.”
Johnny thought his heard could not be anymore crushed but he heard a male voice in the background calling ‘Honey!’. He sighed “Is that…” he didn’t want to ask.
“Yes. That’s William. I’ll be there sweetie!” she called to the voice. Johnny closed his eyes when she referred to the guy he never met as ‘sweetie’. She called him that on occasion. “Well, I have to go now. Please don’t be angry. I know you’ll find a girl that’s a hundred times better than me. Maybe she’s standing at the door right now.” Liz gave it one last sigh before bidding him farewell “Good luck to you, Johnny. I have to go now.” When he didn’t reply she whispered “Bye.” And hung up her phone.
He listened for the little click and the phone went dead. He slumped down in his chair with his face on the table. His tears flowed freely as he let it go. There was a slow knock on his door as he cleaned his face but didn’t look up. Instead he pretended he was working “It’s just me Johnny.” Amy said softly “I forgot my purse.” She pointed to it on the ground. He nodded without saying anything while she looked at him sadly “I’m sorry Johnny.”
He desperately needed a shoulder to cry on as he got up and hugged her out of the blue. Amy stumbled back from the shock but she embraced him warmly “She’s gone….forever.” he groaned in pain.
Amy patted him on the back “I have a friend that I think would be perfect for you.”
He pulled away from her “No…not now, Amy.” He returned to his chair sadly.
“Oh come on, it’s the only way, you’ll get over Liz.” She coaxed teasingly. Johnny shook his head as he covered his forehead with his palm. But he could hear that she was opening the door.
“Ahem…” the girl cleared her throat. Johnny was frozen in his seat, the voice sounded like Liz’s…but it couldn’t be, she was in Canada? He just spoke with her. “Is this the way you greet a stranger?” his eyes popped up and indeed it was Liz. He couldn’t forget that voice.
“What?” Johnny shook his head in confusion.
Amy peeked in from behind Liz with a huge grin “Surprise!” she announced brightly. “Johnny, welcome to your payback.” She said in a deep voice, an evil grin plastered on her face.
“This is a prank??!” he cried in anger. He stood up “How about Philip??”
Amy turned her head and Philip appeared on the side of the door and wrapped his arms around her neck playfully “All part of the payback plan.” He grinned happily as he leaned downward and gave Amy a kiss on her cheek “Good job, babe. We got him good!”
Liz laughed as she rushed over and hugged Johnny “I’m sorry, they talked me into it! You know how easily persuaded I am!” Johnny was still in shock as he rubbed his head with frustration, mad that he let himself believe Amy’s words.
“We got you soooo good!” Amy laughed while pointing at him. She turned and gave Philip a high five. The girls giggled as they embraced as Philip rubbed Johnny’s shoulder. He soon had to laugh at it instead of being a poor sport.
“OH! This is a beginning of a war!” he threatened Amy.
She rolled her eyes “Please! Whatever trick you have up your sleeve is nothing to compared to being mobbed by reporters…trust me.” Philip nodded in agreement while Amy giggled happily. It felt good to play that joke on Johnny.