Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The day of the event came and the team arrived by couples at the Hilton Five Star hotel. Camera bulbs were flashing and reporters were there to interview the stars that were invited to come. Erin hand was linked through Ted’s as she smiled up at him, her face glowing “What does it look like?” she asked giddily “I’ve never been to the Hilton.”
Ted smiled as he adjusted her feathered eye mask, it was required by everyone to wear it. At the end of the night, the mayor would announce for everyone to take them off “It’s a really tall building with beautiful rose bushes around the edges. There’s a red carpet laid out and it’s raining gold and silver confetti.”
Erin smiled as she pictured it in her head “It sounds gorgeous.”
“Ted! Erin!” Mia waved to them as she came arm in arm with Ethan, who looked handsome in a gold and black suit. Ted was more filled out in his silver and black suit. Erin matched him in a silver ball dress that Shelly helped her get into. Mia had on a sky blue sequined dress, the feather of her mask ticked her head each time she walked “You look so pretty!!” she gushed over Erin’s dress.
“Thank you. Shelly described it to me but she didn’t do it too well. She said it was light gray with sparkling thingys.” Erin laughed.
“Well, you look beautiful.” Mia concluded as she reached her finger up and itched her eye under the mask “Do we have to wear this thing the whole night?”
“I think so.” Ethan nodded “Well until the Mayor announces us to uncover them. Otherwise, they stay on. And stop scratching your eyes, you’ll make them red!” he scolded playfully while slapping her hand away.
“But it itches!!” she exclaimed.
“I’ll take you to the restroom.” Erin reached out her hand for Mia’s “Wait…that’s not right.” The girls laughed easily “A blind person leading the way, you should be scared.”
The guys made sure the girls were able to pass security and entered the large hallway of red carpet “How is she doing?” Ethan asked.
“Better.” Ted nodded “I think she’s having a hard time depending on others but she might be adjusting better than I imagine.”
“Is there anything strange about her?” Ethan was careful not to hint anything.
Ted was thoughtful as his brows furrowed above his eyes “About a week ago, but she’s back to normal now.” Ethan nodded blankly while Ted continued “She was really forgiving towards TK and the last that I heard from Chuck, they had an argument about it.”
“She really needs our support right now. It would only drain her emotionally if we tried to reason with her.” Ethan advised “If she ever leans towards a wrong idea, give me a call. I’ll help her.”
“Thanks.” Ted smiled, the guy was growing on him and the fact of the matter is he’s dating Mia. It was more of a reason to like him “You are dedicated to your job…or is it because Erin is Mia’s best friend?” he teased.
Ethan laughed “Yes and no. Mia would kill me if I didn’t help and Erin has a special case that I haven’t dealt with in ages. I just want to do everything in my power to help her.”
Their talk was interrupted when Darren arrived in a dashing gray with tiny silver trims at the hems of his suit. Jenna was in a red and gold ball gown, she was also clinging onto Darren’s arms. However, Darren was wiping her hands off his elbow every few minutes. When he couldn’t handle the girl any longer, he took his hands and placed them over her arms as he pushed her forward “Where’s Joe?” that was his greeting.
“Hi to you too.” Ted teased. His eyes traveled down to Jenna “Don’t you look cute.”
“Thank you.” She curtsied adoringly “Did you two guys come together?” she asked with a joking grin.
Darren was growing impatient as he placed his hands over Jenna’s ears “Where’s Joe? I need to give him his package before it explodes.” He whispered.
Jenna wiggled out of his grasp as she turned up to Darren “I can still hear you! And why are you in such a rush to get rid of me? Am I that unbearable?”
He instantly felt guilty as he shook his head “No…you’re not that bad.”
“Really, so you love me now?” Jenna’s eyes were beaming as she bounced up and down.
“Sweetie, if you are going to be that forward at least warn the guy.” Joe walked up to their left wearing a black and white suit. He shook his head at his little girl “Is that how you greet your father?” he warned.
Jenna pouted her lips as she turned her chin up at him “Yes.”
“Jen.” Joe used his fatherly tone. She eventually walked over and gave him a half hearted hug “Is someone sour because she lost a bet?” he teased.
“NO!” Jenna frowned and then answered “Yes. I don’t want to go up to Beijing, it’s boring!!” she began throwing a tantrum.
“A bet is a bet.” Joe stood his ground as he nodded to the guys “Nice to see all of you again.” He pointed to Ethan “I’m not sure I know you.”
Ethan laughed “For a guy that asked me to help out his team for no charges, you sure forget fast.”
“Ethan!” Joe exclaimed with a laugh as the two hugged “I didn’t recognize you. You were invited too?”
“No, he came with Mia.” Darren replied with a pressed smile.
Joe nodded with understanding “Let’s go inside.” He led the group into the ballroom where hundreds of sparking streamers hung from the ceiling. Inside, he saw Chuck talking to a few people, his suit was not very fitting but it made him look thinner. Joe approached them “Hey Chuck.”
Chuck turned to the familiar the voice “Joe! You recognized me? I came inside first on purpose to see if anyone would noticed.”
“Are you kidding? I couldn’t miss that stomach anywhere.” Joe teased openly.
“Still aiming for the stomach?” Chuck shook his head sadly “I thought you would find something new to hit.”
“Not if it works every time.” Joe chuckled.
“Where are the girls?” Chuck wondered out loud.
Jenna pointed to her dad “See! I’m not a girl! You don’t need a son.”
Darren nudged Ted as he pointed to Joe and Jenna “Maybe she’s adopted?” Ted stifled a laugh while Darren turned away and found Matt, Ryan and Shelly walking in together. Matt was still in a wheelchair “Well, hello stranger!” Darren greeted their old lieutenant with a hug.
Matt laughed “I guess you guys have forgotten about me.”
Ted joined in as he brought out a hand “I’m Ted, what’s your name?”
Matt slapped his hand away as the guys too hugged. Darren turned up to Ryan and Shelly “Did you guys see Doug and Becca outside?”
Shelly shook her head “No. We just came inside. Where’s Ga Jei and Mia?” she quickly noticed the missing people.
“In the restroom.” Ted replied “But we’re still missing two more.”
“Where do you suppose they went?” Darren wondered.
Ethan nodded when he spotted them coming into the room “Speak of the devil.”
The group turned and saw Becca in an olive and silver gown while Doug was dressed in a gray-olive green suit. They walked towards the group calmly and with poise “Hello everyone.” Becca bowed her head slightly to greet them.
No one knew how to react to her politeness “What do we say?” Chuck whispered to Ted.
Doug frowned at the group “What’s with you guys?”
“I thought you said you were bringing Becca?” Ted asked.
He quickly picked up the joke “Oh…she acts like a lady when she’s in a dress.” He explained with a laugh.
Darren sighed, “Thank God, I thought she was possessed.”
“Ingrates!” Becca said haughtily.
“Aww, Doug is a little strange, but he’s not an ingrate.” Mia teased from behind as she walked Erin back after catching Ethan’s waving hand.
“I was talking to everyone BUT Doug.” Becca replied without much feeling.
“What’s with her?” Mia whispered to Erin.
Erin smiled slowly “When Becca puts on a dress…any dress…she turns into this upper class woman that looks down on people. I remember during a formal dance in high school, she walked around and called everyone a peasant. It’s like she’s taken on a special role, just ignore her and it’ll go away.”
“Well, that’s easy!” Chuck began hurrying the group away leaving Doug and Becca to stand alone.
“Look what you did!” Doug pointed at the group laughing and talking “We should be there. That’s it, take off your dress!” he ordered.
“Excuse me?” Becca turned her foot around “You are not the boss of me.” She flipped her dress back and walked away. Doug turned to the team and then back at Becca. He let out a sigh and dragged his foot over to her.
After another 15 minutes, the Mayor finally arrived in his own suit as he took over the podium. He gave a short speech welcoming his guests and hoped that everyone had a good time. After he was done the live band began playing slow soft ballads. Jenna’s eyes beamed “That’s my favorite song!!” she turned to Darren “Come on!” she practically yanked him out to the dance floor.
Joe grimaced when Darren almost tripped over his own foot “Remind me to send him a basket of fruit.” He said to Chuck.
“Or a basket of pest repellent.” Chuck said with a laugh.
“You want to dance?” Ethan asked Mia when he saw her staring at the dance floor.
She turned up with a smile “I’d love to.”
Matt looked up at his brother and soon to be sister-in-law “Why don’t you two join everyone? I’ll just sit with the cool guys…and Chuck.” Erin smiled at his easy choice of words while Chuck scowled.
Shelly and Ryan excused themselves as they joined the growing group of people on the dance floors.
Ted reached out and took Erin’s hand as he linked it over his elbow “Do you want to dance?”
She shook her head “I don’t want to step on your feet.”
“You won’t.” Ted chuckled as he began leading her away, he placed her hand on his shoulder and put his own over her waist as they began swaying with the music of the piano. He led the whole time while she followed his steps “You’re not bad.”
“For a blind girl.” She quipped. He was silent and she knew what he was thinking “Hey, I’ve accepted it, it’s time you do.”
Ted smiled at her with envy “How do you do it?”
“Being blind?” Erin asked.
He laughed “No, silly. How are you so strong?”
“That’s easy…I have you guys.” Erin smiled as she felt their entwined hands moving onto his upper right chest. He then moved his other hand over her waist.
Ted was about to say something when a hand tapped him over the shoulder “May I cut in?” the gentleman asked with a slight bow. Ted recognized the suit and mask.
“Of course, Mayor Chan.” Ted nodded with a smile as he took Erin’s hand and placed it into his ready hands.
“This is a beautiful event.” Erin smiled as they began swaying “It’s a shame I can’t see it with my own eyes.”
The man smiled “It’s not as beautiful as you.”
Her smile inched away slowly until they were pressed tightly together “You’re not Mayor Chan.” She said with a low voice.
TK was impressed “I guess being blind doesn’t have ALL the disadvantages.”
“What do you want?” her heart turned cold in a second.
“Nothing. I just wanted to see you.” TK replied nonchalantly “I mean no harm. Really.” He insisted while they continued to sway.
“Why did you let him go?” Erin asked, curiosity burning her.
“The Mayor?” TK asked and she nodded “It was my last attempt to go against Reina. I knew it was wrong to do it but she would not let it go…finally, I had enough and showed my face in the alley when I knew a patrolling policeman passed by there everyday. I only hoped that he had recognized me. I’m glad he did.”
“What does she have against you?” Erin had too many questions that were unanswered.
“It was back in the days of her and Andrew. He was a good friend of mine. I saw the influence she had on him and always tried to persuade him to move away from her. But he was too in love…look what it caused now. He’s gone…all because of her.” He sniffed back the fake tears while Erin shook her head sympathetically “Then my girlfriend at the time was pregnant and Reina knew…but she wouldn’t let me go that easy. She’s a person that remembered her enemies. Whatever you do to her, she’ll repay you a hundred times.”
“I think we all know that.” Erin replied sadly.
“She killed my girlfriend and stole my baby. I don’t know where she hides her but even when she went to jail, she never told me where my girl was. I begged her over and over but she wouldn’t let it pass. Then one day, she gave me an ultimatum. Kill Brad or lose my girl…I had no choice.” TK explained “But I should have known she would not keep her promise. She threatened me again…she wanted me to kidnap the Mayor because he had the power of attorney to give her a get out of jail card. But she needed a signature. My conscience wouldn’t let me do it so I let the Mayor go.”
Erin felt her heart weaken “I didn’t know…”
“It’s okay.” He said “Everyone thinks I’m the bad guy…and I really don’t care. But I only want you to believe me.”
“Why me?” she asked.
“Because for a long time, you were my only friend. When we were small, I treated you like my own sister. I was the only child and always wanted another sibling to play with. So you can imagine how happy I was each time your parents came to visit. At that time, your mother was pregnant with Shelly.” He knew her weak spot as he talked about the old times. The content smile on her face told him she was falling for the trick “I should go. Your boyfriend is staring at me with daggers.” His eyes on Ted, who was talking to Joe and Chuck while his eyes wandered to Erin.
Erin nodded understandingly “Stay out of their eyes. I can’t save you when the whole team is here.” She warned in a low whisper.
“I know.” He stopped dancing as he took her hand and pulled them up to his lips as they grazed together softy “Thank you.” His pace quickened when he heard someone yell for him to stop. He made it outside safely.
Ted rushed over to Erin as he grabbed her arms “Did he hurt you?!” they had just realized the Mayor was talking to a group of people at the corner of the room. So it only made sense that the person dancing with Erin was TK.
“Why would the Mayor hurt me?” she asked calmly.
“He’s not the Mayor, it was TK. Didn’t you recognize the voice?” Ted turned his eyes at her with suspicion.
Erin’s brows lifted “Are you accusing me?”
“No.” he said with earnest eyes “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry…What did he say to you?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“We talked about my blind situation. That’s all.” She replied shortly “If you don’t believe me, I have nothing to say.” Erin was colder than earlier. Ted was only worried about one thing. She was lying.