Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The ride back to her shared apartment with Erin and Shelly was quiet. Darren had been feeling lost and didn’t quite know what to do or say. Maybe he was losing her? Who could not see the worried look in her eyes when she stared at Ethan. Darren didn’t want to admit it but the guy was nice, so genuinely nice that even he knew it was wrong to hate him.
Mia glanced over at Darren and noticed his tense face, the skin between his brows wrinkled with concern “There’s nothing going on between us.” She suddenly felt the need to explain herself.
“What?” Darren raised his brows, unsure of what she was saying.
“I meant about me and Ethan. He’s only a good friend.” She emphasized.
“Okay.” Was all he could think of saying. They weren’t married after all, she still had her own choice. As much as he loved her, he knew what was best for her at that very moment. Until the day she remembers, he would not pressure her with anything “I’m sorry.” He managed to blurt out of the blue.
“For what?” Mia asked curiously.
Darren shrugged “For being an ass.” She muffled a laugh and he turned to see her smiling, it’s been so long since he saw that innocent smile “I guess you agree.”
She looked up with rounded eyes “No.” her hair shaking with her head.
“Its okay.” Darren assured her “I had a lot of time to think lately. It’s not your fault that you had amnesia. Maybe this is one of those things that you have to do for yourself. I know I’ve pressured you a lot to remember me and maybe Ethan is right. The more you push the human brain, the more it will reject you. I just….” He couldn’t bring himself to say it “What I’m trying unsuccessfully to say is…be yourself. I won’t push you anymore. You are an adult and it’s not like we’re married. Don’t get me wrong…I love you more than anything else in the world, but I have to respect your decision in the end.” By the time he finished, they had pulled up to the apartment building. He turned to her and noticed her eyes were glossy “Did I make you cry?” he asked sincerely.
Mia shook her head and reached out abruptly to hug him. Darren was surprised by her action but he embraced it in return. It’s felt so long since he’s held her in his arms “Thank you.” She whispered.
“For what?” he asked when she pulled away, for a split second he wanted to yank her back and tell her he didn’t want to let go. But he knew of the outcome.
“For understanding.” Mia smiled down at her hands “Since the day I woke up, I was very fearful of you. You strike me as the kind of person that doesn’t give up and loves a good chase. The tougher, the better for your ego once you get it. But today…it made me realize why I would have wanted to marry you.”
Darren was speechless. That was all it took, give her some room and she was willing to take it one step at a time. Maybe there was a chance for them yet, but he had to remind himself not to push his luck. He felt like jumping up and down, instead he nodded with a goofy grin “That’s the best compliment I’ve heard yet.”
Mia laughed with her head shaking “Well, you need to get out more. Thanks for the ride.” She opened the door and walked out. He watched her enter the gates and left when she was not within view.
She walked into her apartment with Becca and Shelly pacing the floors looking worried “Mia, you’re home!” Becca cried as she rushed over and grabbed a hold of her arms “Don’t panic, but Erin’s missing! Shelly said she’s been out all day and she can’t get a hold of her on the cell phone at all.”
“Ga Jei always calls me to tell me if she’s coming home for dinner.” Shelly said with tearful eyes “I’m worried for her. She’s been really down since Brad…you know. And that room?” she pointed “She hasn’t stepped foot inside yet.”
“Oh my God, what if she killed herself?!” Becca cried suddenly.
Shelly’s eyes widened in fear but Mia knew Erin wouldn’t do that, it was her “Calm down.” She coaxed gently “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe her phone is out of batteries or maybe she’s out with friends. I’ll wait here with you guys and if she doesn’t come back in two hours, we’ll do a search party.” It seemed to work because the two girls calmed themselves and nodded in agreement.
“That’s a good idea.” Becca sighed.
After an hour and half, still there was no sign of Erin, Mia too began to doubt herself. Maybe she did do something drastic or worse, she was murdered. Her mind raced with horrible outcomes and yet she couldn’t figure out how to get it out of her head. Shelly’s legs were shivering while Becca stared at the television aimlessly. She wasn’t even paying attention.
Two hours finally passed and Becca was the first to get up “Okay it’s midnight and she’s not home. Can we call the team now?”
Mia stood up and slowly nodded “Becca, you get a hold of everyone on the team. Shelly, go stay with Ryan, I don’t want you to be alone here. I’ll go and look around the city then I’ll call you to meet up.” She pointed at Becca.
“Okay.” The three girls nodded and went to do their jobs.
Mia walked around downtown in hopes to find a clue or see if Erin was roaming around by herself. She knew the girl liked to go to the beach to think things through. But to her disappointment, she was nowhere in sight. Her forehead was perspiring and she could feel the cold feeling washing over her. What if something did happen to Erin? It was hard running against the sand and her legs were growing weary with each step. When she couldn’t handle it anymore, she fell to her knees on the sand. She was trying to catch her breath and the moist air was making it tough on her lungs.
She closed her eyes to rest and suddenly felt a wave of memory wash over her again. Mia recalled the time she was kidnapped and Erin was talking to Reina. She wanted Erin to trade in her life for Mia’s. And then she remembered herself yelling “No, don’t. It’s a lie!” Mia snapped her eyes open, her eyes darting around as if she forgot where she was. The memory was so clear yet it felt almost like a dream.
She shook off the feeling and headed towards the city again. She was about to call Becca when her phone rang, it was Doug “Hey Mia. Where are you? Becca told us everything. Did you find her?”
“No. I’m in downtown now.” Mia replied while her eyes continued to search.
“Come to headquarters.” Doug said.
“Okay.” Mia replied automatically. Then she realized she didn’t know where it was “Wait…” she was about to ask Doug but he hung up already. She was about to call back when her instincts told her where to go. Going with her gut feeling, Mia trailed down the streets until she came upon an old pizza parlor. She felt strange knocking on the door since it looked like it was deserted. There was no answer and she mumbled to herself “Stupid…they wouldn’t be here.”
She took about three steps when the door opened “Hey.” Doug greeted her with a smile.
Mia turned and walked back to him “It is here!”
“What?” he asked with raised brows.
“I remembered where the headquarters is. No one ever told me.” She pointed out.
“Really?” he asked without shock. He nodded towards the entrance “Come on in.”
Mia nodded as she followed him inside “I walked around the entire city and I even went to the beach. I remember Brad told me that she liked to go there when she was not happy. The ocean waves relaxed her…” she babbled on until they reached inside the conference room “It was really strange…I had this…” her words faded when she saw the team looking at her with smiles. Including Erin. She turned to everyone “I don’t understand…”
“It was a plan.” Erin smiled “Sorry, we had to do something to test you.”
“You tricked me here?” Mia asked incredulously.
“But you got here somehow.” Darren pointed out “We never told you where the headquarters was located and you found it anyhow.”
Mia looked down at the ground and nodded “I guess…It was really weird. I’ve been having these flashbacks…its…hard to explain.”
“So you’re memory is returning?” Ted asked.
“I’m not sure which are real and which are fake. It could be that I’m imagining it from all the things everyone’s said to me. Maybe my mind is psychologically forming images in my mind?” Mia pondered.
Doug laughed, “Damn that Ethan! Pushing in psychology and metaphoric junk in poor Mia’s head.”
Erin turned to Chuck who had remained silent since they got there “So what do you say, boss? Can we let Mia back in?”
“She remained calm like an agent.” Becca reminded him.
Chuck looked up calmly at them “Should we do it the democratic way? Let’s take a vote. Who would like Mia to join?” Everyone raised their hands except for Mia “Who doesn’t?”
Mia raised her hand and everyone turned to her oddly “I just don’t want to ruin the team. I am trained for all this, but I don’t think I’m ready to do a real mission.” She said in all honesty.
“Fair enough.” Chuck decided “Doug, take Mia out, everyone else we’ll start discussing—”
“Wait!” Becca interrupted “That’s all? Didn’t we just prove that Mia is capable of doing the job again? You can’t just let it go like this…Oh…I get it.” She nodded smugly “You’re mad about the jokes we made the other day. Hmph! That’s a bit petty of you, don’t you all agree?” she looked around the table and continued eventhough no one responded “I think I should make a petition to Joe about our new lieutenant.”
Erin tilted her head “I don’t think that’s why he's not letting Mia back in. Chuck doesn’t want to push her if she’s not ready, that’s all.”
“You don’t have to kiss up, we’re not getting grades.” Becca said with sarcasm.
Ted turned to Erin who looked away without arguing back “Becca, I don’t think Erin was trying to ‘kiss up’.”
“So everyone is against me?” Becca looked around the table and no one looked her in the eye “Fine…if that’s what you guys think. I’m out.” She got up and prepared to walk out when Mia stopped her.
“Don’t. Not because of me, it’s not worth it. If it means that much to you. I’ll try a mission but if I don’t do well, I’m going to sit out for the next one.” Mia was earnest, she didn’t want the team to be mad at Becca.
Becca smiled as she turned to the group, her eye on Doug “YOU owe me two hundred bucks.”
Doug frowned “Can you NOT remember everything?”
Mia frowned “This team is turning into a casino.” She shook her head “Sneaky little…” she muttered while taking a seat next to Becca.
Chuck laughed “Okay, now that we have the entire team here. Let’s start on our next mission. I believe this is the first for the P.R.A. Instead of saving someone, we have a job to steal something.”
“Sounds good already!” Becca squealed with excitement.
“I wouldn’t be too excited Becca.” Chuck warned “It’s dangerous and not to mention deadly.”
“Danger is my middle name.” Becca replied.
“Really? I thought it was Chu?” Doug quipped making everyone laugh.
She turned to him with an evil eye “You know what I mean.” She turned to Chuck “So you gonna tell us or leave us in suspense?”
“Eagerness will only put you in a deeper hole.” Chuck said wisely.
“And patience is not something I have much of.” Becca said. She turned to Erin with her brows wrinkled and Erin knew instantly what her friend wanted to say. She only smiled shortly in answer.
Chuck shook his head at the girl “Your mission is to steal the $350,000,000 pink diamond at The Bank of China. I need the girls to be the stealers and the guys to cover them. If you get caught, we will all be in deep shit.”
“So why are we stealing this gem?” Erin wondered out loud.
“Because this gem is a trade off by a businessman from the country of Russia. He wants to take over the entire shipping area that has belonged to Hong Kong for centuries. But because the Mayor was kidnapped, they are not able to get the final signature to finish the trade. Unfortunately for us, the people have elected to have another higher authority to take his place due to the large amount of money involved. If this deal passes, Hong Kong Harbor will be no more.”
Ted turned to everyone with the explanation “Hence the reason why we are stealing the diamond. No gem, no deal.”
“Right!” Chuck nodded “We cannot fail tonight. Guys, go change first. Girls, I have a little gift for you.” He smiled with secrecy that made the guys watch with envy as they left. He reached into the drawer by his seat and pulled out three boxes. He tossed it to each girl as they opened them. It was a small metal circle object with a ring at the bottom “This is a magnet that can carry up to 125 pounds of weight, since the guys are all heavier than that, we can’t have them do it. But you girls are perfect. Your job is to hang from the rooftop window and you three need to help each other out. One person take out the glass box and one has to retrieve the diamond, the third will replace it with a rock so the alarm won’t go off.”
“That’s all?” Becca asked with a sigh “I thought it was going to be hard.”
“There’s more.” Erin smiled at her eager friend.
“How do you know?” Becca asked.
“Because there is more.” Chuck replied, “There are lasers crossing at every section around the glass box. One graze at the beam and you will be shot without warning. Even God can’t save you then. You must use your flexibility and curves to get around them.”
“How about the guards?” Mia asked.
Chuck smiled “What are guys for?”
“I always thought they were used for toys?” Becca asked.
“Hmm, tell me why you don't have a boyfriend again?” Doug teased as they emerged with their uniforms.
“It’s not that I can’t find one, I just don’t WANT one.” Becca argued.
“Her standards are too high.” Erin teased.
“Well why should I lower them?” Becca asked while the girls walked to their changing rooms.
“Because you’ll grow lonely and then have to settle for someone like Chuck.” Mia pointed out and Erin nodded with a chuckle.