Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The following morning, Erin was released from the hospital. Mia and Ted came to pick her up “I’m going to miss this place.” Erin sighed.
Ted exchanged glances with Mia “Really? I thought you hated this place?” Ted asked while he packed her bag and carried it over her shoulder.
“I do…but somehow I grew attached to it.” Erin replied with a shrug.
“Well I don’t, it gives me the creeps.” Mia muttered as she took a hold of Erin’s arm and linked it through her own.
She began to walk her friend outside. Erin turned to her friend when she remembered something “Oh yeah, I was meaning to ask you guys how the mission went yesterday. Uncle Chuck sounded very worried.”
“Oh that…yeah, it went well.” Mia replied without much feeling.
Erin felt Ted’s should scraping her own as she turned to him “What’s with gloomy?”
He leaned in closer to her ear “She’s jealous.” He whispered with a chuckle.
“I am NOT jealous!” Mia retorted with defense.
Erin laughed as she patted her friend’s hand “Honey, if you are NOT jealous then it only means you ARE jealous.”
Mia rolled her eyes “Yeah, like that makes so much sense.”
“What happened?” Erin asked sternly. The girl was beating around the bush too long, somehow she guessed it had something to do with Darren.
When Mia refused to answer, Ted said it for her “There was a fire downtown and a girl was stuck in the top floor, but she was afraid of heights. Darren offered to help out the fireman by coaxing the girl down. She listened and he got her to safety, now the girl is forever in his debt. And that’s why Mia is jealous!” he concluded with a laugh when she threw him a dirty look. They were outside the hospital doors “I’ll go get the car.” He touched Erin’s shoulder before leaving.
Erin was smiling while Mia fumed “I’m NOT jealous! How many times do I have to tell you people??”
“You can say it a thousand times but we both know you are. So did we find out who the girl was?” Erin was more curious.
“Joe’s daughter.” Mia mumbled.
“Joe’s daughter?” Erin asked, her brows wrinkled “Why did her building burn down?”
Mia shrugged carelessly “Who knows…arson…maybe an enemy that wanted her dead.”
“A little vicious there aren’t you?” Erin chuckled but then something occurred to her “Wait, did Ted say she was afraid of heights?”
“Yeah…” Mia nodded.
“Didn’t Joe tell us that…”
Mia's eyes lit up as she realized it too "She skydives and bungees for fun!!” Mia recalled the mission vividly, it was the test one that they had to save Matt and the girls were tied to a bungee. Before that, Joe gave them a short lesson on bungee jumping and the girls asked how he knew, he said that his daughter was a daredevil who loved to do dangerous stuff.
Erin tilted her head upward “You remember.” She said flatly. Mia’s face turned pale as she looked for a cover up “Don’t may anymore excuses.” Erin said hurtfully “I know.”
“Please Erin, don’t tell anyone.” She begged “Darren would never forgive me.”
“I’m not sure that I can.” Erin turned her body away “How could you lead us on that way? Do you know how hard it is for him to see you and not be able to hug or touch you because he knows it will only make it uncomfortable for you? Mia, that’s very selfish of you.” Erin shook her head in disappointment.
“I know it is.” Mia said earnestly “But listen to my explanation…” she trailed off when Ted pulled his car up “Please, give me a chance to explain.” Erin hesitantly nodded as Mia helped her inside.
***************
Darren was asleep in his room when he felt a stir on his blanket. It was being pushed up. His eyes snapped open “Ah!!” he was startled to find Jenna looking at him with adoring eyes. He sat upright and clutched his chest “Dear Lord, you could give someone a heart attack!” his bare chest revealing when the blanket slipped from his shoulders. Jenna giggled as she widened her eyes at his naked top, he quickly pulled the blanket over his shoulder.
“Do you sleep naked?” She asked in a husky voice, pretending to be sexy.
He shook his head “No, I have on pants.”
“Oh.” Jenna was disappointed.
“Hey, how did you get inside? I locked the door.” He looked at her suspiciously.
She shrugged her slender shoulders, her short hair bounced up and down “It was open.” She said casually.
“No, I locked it. I’m certain.” Darren replied firmly.
“Maybe you forgot that you didn’t lock it.” Jenna replied.
He leered his eyes at her but decided to let it go “Maybe.” He covered a yawn with his hands and the blanket slipped again and he quickly yanked it back up “What are you doing here?” she stifled a giggle from his slipup.
“I made you breakfast!” she said brightly and pulled out a covered plate as she sat it on his lap “I don’t know what kind of eggs you like so I made all three: sunnyside up, scrambled and poached.” She revealed the plate and yelled out “Ta Da!!” her dimple showing as she smiled at him.
Darren raised his brows “Wow…you made all this?” he pointed to the beautifully decorated plate “It’s beautiful.”
“I just threw it together.” She said humbly “I’m a culinary arts student.” Jenna explained with a sense of pride “So what do you prefer?”
Darren smiled “I like them all.” He took the fork in her hand and began eating.
She grinned from ear to ear “Good.” She stretched her arms and pushed herself up as she roamed around his room, it was bigger than her apartment “You sure know how to live.” She moved closer to the window and noticed the magnificent backyard and the pool was bigger than a five star hotel pool “Damn! You could get lost back there!” she pointed.
Darren frowned as he put the plate to the side and got up “Doesn’t that view make you nauseous? We are on the third floor.” He looked at her carefully.
Her eyes darted away as she touched her forehead painfully and began groaning while her other hand was on her stomach “I feel sick…” she groveled over to the bed and laid down “Hurry, get me an ambulance.” She waved to him.
He crossed his arms “I wasn’t born yesterday. Why did you lie?” he asked.
Jenna quickly sat up as she sighed, “Fine, you want to know EVERYTHING. No, I’m not afraid of heights. I had a bet with my daddy.” She finalized.
Darren dropped his arms and noticed Jenna was staring at his chest with a sly smile and he got to his giant closet to retrieve a shirt “What kind of bet?”
“When the fire started, I called my dad. I told him that I would climn out the window but he told me that the fireman would get me out safely. I said I wouldn’t let them, so he said he’ll send his team over. I laughed and said over my dead body. Then he said you wanna bet?” Jenna summarized the dialogue “Then you came up and I knew Daddy had won.” She finished with a crooked grin.
But there was something else Darren didn’t understand as he shook his head, ignoring the fact that the girl was hitting on him “So you started the fire?”
She shook her head vehemently “No. I wouldn’t do that. I love that apartment. But I smelled the smoke from my front door, so I knew using the door was out of the question. I just found another way out.” She replied casually, it never occurred to her why her apartment had begun to burn.
Darren crossed his arms as he tapped his chin thoughtfully “Something is definitely wrong.”
Jenna popped up from her seat as she moved closer to him “What is it?” she asked with wide eyes.
He pushed her away gently so she was at least at arms length “It was an deliberate arson. Someone was trying to kill you.” Her rounded eyes opened larger “But that’s just my theory. I think it’s best if we talk to your dad and Chuck about this.”
“Okay!” Jenna nodded in agreement “I haven’t seen my dad in five years!” she exclaimed.
“You already used that.” Darren rolled his eyes.
Her face wrinkled “Oh, yeah…short term memory.” She said with a laugh. Her eyes moved up and down at Darren’s body “Are you going to wear that?”
He looked down at his sweats and a button top “I’ll just change into jeans.”
“I’ll get it for you!!” she sprinted to the walk in closet and retrieved his jeans “I like this pair.”
Darren took the pants from his hand and looked at her strangely “You are one peculiar girl.”
“Thank you.” Jenna gave him a little curtsy as she turned and retrieved the plate of eggs and left him to change “See you in a bit!” her beaming personality was contagious as he smiled to himself. She reminded him of Mia when he first met her, quirky and wild. Not to mention forward about her crush on him. He was so drawn to Mia yet that very minute, his world has been flipped upside down. He let out sigh as he speedily changed into his pants.
Darren took his wallet and keys as he walked out of the room. He closed the door and took a few steps. He halted when something flipped inside his stomach. He backed up to his room door and touched the knob while giving it a little shake. It was really loose. He bent down and touched the keyhole where he found micro scratches on the metal part. A slow smile crossed his face as he realized the little guest was no ordinary girl. She was an agent in the making.
**********
The drive back to Erin’s home was extra quiet. Ted was the only one talking, when he realized the girls were not their usual selves, he turned to them “Is my driving that bad? You girls are so sick that you can talk?” he tried to make light conversation.
“I don’t feel like talking.” Mia replied shortly.
Erin didn’t reply as she turned her head towards her passenger window “I want to see Brad.” She said after a moment.
Ted turned to Erin, who was still as a rock “Okay.” He replied and made a u-turn to go the opposite direction where the cemetery was. He parked the car while Mia got out and assisted Erin out.
“I’m fine, thank you.” Erin said coolly while she pushed Mia’s helping hand away. Ted noticed the strange tension as he turned to Mia and nodded at her. Mia shook her head, clearly indicating that she didn’t want to explain. He respected that with a grim smile. Erin turned over to Ted’s voice “Ted, can you help me?” she put out a hand as he took it with ease and led her into the walkway of the cemetery. Mia trailed behind.
When they got closer, Ted could see the back of the person. It was TK. He was hovering over Brad’s grave, little did they know that he had been waiting there all morning. He had a hunch that Erin would come to visit her dead fiance’s grave when she was released from the hospital “I’m sorry, Brad.” TK said loud and clear “I didn’t know when I shot you that Erin would be in so much pain. I was forced to do it, you have to believe me… Reina threatened me…I…I can’t lose her…I’m so sorry…”
“What the hell are you doing here??!” Mia demanded. His fake tears could only fool a twelve year old kid.
TK stood up as he turned to the three with teary eyes “I just wanted to pay my respects.”
“Why don’t you do it in jail.” Ted said coldly as he took a step forward only to be stopped by Erin. He turned to her with a shocked expression “Erin?”
“Let him go.” She said solemnly.
Mia looked at her in dismay “What? How could you say that, he killed Brad!! Has your vision distorted your brain too?!!”
Erin ignored the angry words as she stepped forward and moved Ted’s hand on her elbow. She followed TK’s sniffing as she put out her hand and he looked at it blankly. After a moment, he placed his hand on hers as she clutched it “I believe you.” She said quietly “I forgive you…but you must leave. Don’t do anymore damage.”
“I can’t…she has my daughter.” TK replied sadly.
“Liar!!” Mia exclaimed.
Erin placed her hand up to silence her friend “We’ll find her. But you have to leave now. They’ll take you to jail if you don’t.” she gave his hand a little squeeze before pushing him away. TK nodded as he began backing away and then turned to run. Ted and Mia took a step up and Erin pushed her arms up at a level position “Don’t.” she warned.
“How could you let him go?” Mia accused.
“In front of Brad’s grave.” Ted reminded her.
She shook her head at them “I have my reasons.”
Mia was disgusted “Don’t tell me you are falling for him!! What did he do to you Erin? Since the moment we found you on that island, you’ve changed.” She was saddened and angered at the same time from her friend’s change of attitude “Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
Ted turned to Mia “Is that why you two were so quiet in the car?”
Erin and Mia turned their heads away “Just let me be.” Erin began walking away. She didn’t know she was in the wrong direction until Ted eventually rushed over to help her. Mia wiped away the hot angry tears as she nodded to Brad’s grave, hoping silently that he would bring Erin back to reality.