Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Erin came home that night to an empty house. Ted left a note saying he would be pulling an all nighter at the Police Department. She let out a short sigh “It’s you and me again.” She said to the house in a short snicker. Making instant noodles, she settled herself on the couch and turned on the television.
When she noticed it was around 7:10, she decided to check in on Luke’s show. It had been a week since she last heard it. Turning off her TV, she used the control to turn on the channel. Luke’s voice was vibrant and friendly “Let’s take our first caller. Hello, you’re calling the Love Hotline, what’s bothering you?”
“Hi Dr. Love…my name is Jim and I’ve been dating this girl for about two years and she seems very distant still. Should I be concerned?” the worried caller asked.
Luke made a humming sound and then answered “I don’t think so. Sometimes girls will take a long time to come around. Had she dated anyone else before you came along?”
“No.” the guy quickly answered.
“Ahhh…there’s your answer. She is inexperienced and probably doesn’t know how to act around you being that you are her first boyfriend. I would assume she is just shy, why don’t you sit her down and talk to her about it. Affection always turns a girl on.” Luke advised.
Erin had to smile, his advice was not bad. After listening to the entire show, she decided to take a ride down to the Radio Station. He came out minutes after she arrived, waiting patiently for him. She was nervous eventhough there was no reason to be. He waved goodbye to a few associates and turned to see her standing there across from him, a shy smile on her face.
He crossed his arm with a crooked smile plastered on his face “Tell me again why this isn’t considered stalking?” She laughed comfortably “Not that I’m not flattered. It’s not everyday I have a beautiful woman stalking my every move.”
“Calm your ego.” She teased openly “I believe it was a certain someone that told me I was welcomed to come down to the station anytime.”
Luke nodded “You got me. What can I say?” he approached her with a grin “How about dinner? On you.”
Her smile grew wider at his quick answer “Sure. But you’re going to have to put out if I pay for dinner.”
“It won’t be the first time.” He replied and Erin’s face fell “Kidding.” He leaned closer to her face making her blush profusely “You feel like Japanese?”
“Sure.” She let him lead the way as they took a walk down the block to a cozy little restaurant “This is nice.” She commented when they were seated.
Luke wasn’t interested in the place, he had seen it hundreds of times “You never answered why you are following me. I don’t want to use the word ‘stalk’ because someone is in denial.”
She smiled “I had a friend that past away years ago…he looked a lot like you.” Erin wasn’t ready to confess the truth.
“Really? You mean there’s someone out there just as handsome as me?” he asked pointing to himself with a delicate hand.
Erin rolled her eyes “Spare me. You are NOT that handsome, Luke.”
“I beg to differ. Take a closer look.” He moved himself closer to her in the half circle booth. Leaning his chin on his propped up elbow, he stared at her with adoring eyes. Every feature was etched into her soul, how could she forget that face? But it was a shame the person was not original. Luke had more vibe and personality than Brad. She turned away, eyes saddened and he quickly regret pushing her too far “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to remind you of your friend’s death.”
She shook her head with a grim smile “It’s not your fault you look like him.”
Luke moved back to his seat, giving her space “Was he a boyfriend?”
“You could say that…” Erin smiled “You two are different in every way, but the face is very similar.”
“Who’s more attractive?” he asked flirtatiously.
She shook her head at him “You’re hopeless.”
“Yes! I’m a hopeless romantic. Or that’s what my friends tell me.” He moved his arms aside when the food came “The salmon is the best here.” Picking one up with his chopsticks he placed it on her dish gently.
“Thank you.” She smiled. When she was about to take a bite, her cell phone rang disturbing them. Ted’s name flashed on the screen, taking a deep breath she answered “Hi Ted.”
“Hey Erin, where did you go? I came home and didn’t see you. I was a little worried.” He said with genuine concern.
She winced guiltily “I’m sorry. I should have left you a note. Did you eat dinner yet? I’ll drop by the café and order you some food.”
Ted smiled at her thoughtfulness “No, I’m fine. I’ll find something to eat. Are you out with a friend? I could hear the waiter in the background.”
“Yes. I’ll be home after dinner.” Erin smiled at the waiter who poured her more hot tea.
“Take your time.” Ted replied.
“Bye.” She hung up the phone and turned to Luke “I’m sorry. That was really rude.”
He chewed the food slowly with the chopsticks poking at the corner of his mouth “Roommate?” Erin nodded without answering “Sibling?” She shook her head with a smile “Guy?”
She laughed at his persistence “Yes.”
“Gay roommate?” he questioned hopefully.
Placing her chopsticks down, she looked sympathetic “I should have told you sooner. I have a boyfriend, he’s living with me.”
“Ouch! You sure know how to turn a guy down.” Luke sighed as he slouched down “And I thought we had a chance.”
“If I gave you the wrong impression, I’m really sorry…” she stopped when he began chuckling.
“I’m only teasing. I guessed that you were taken since the first time I met you. Such a beautiful girl like you who’s still single? I’ve personally never been that lucky.” He shook his head firmly.
Erin turned her eyes to her lap “Maybe it’s lucky that I’m not single.”
Luke leaned back on the seat as he stared at her with interest “I’ve noticed your moods fluctuates really fast. You’re happy one minute and the next minute you have this sad aura about you. This is just a guess but I think you have had a lot of heartache in the past years? It shows it in your face.” He observed carefully.
“You’re good.” She nodded “I do have endured a lot of heart related pain more than the average person. But I believe it is my fate. I cannot run away from it.”
“Wrong.” He pointed out “Fate is not about endurance of heartaches. Fate is about meeting someone at the right place and at the right time. For instance, we do NOT have fate. Because if we did, I would have met you years ago and we would be married with a few kids and a beautiful house.”
She tilted her head with a grim expression “How can you be so sure?”
“Promise me you won’t leak this out to the tabloids.” He whispered while leaning in closer to her. Erin nodded with a smile “I have dated hundreds of girls and I don’t say the numbers lightly. None of them have lasted more than two or three weeks. I’m a Gemini, fickle and easily bored. But how do you explain the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about you for the past two weeks?”
She was speechless for once, there was no answer she could give him. No reason or excuses. She settled with “I don’t know.” She let out a short sigh “You’re a teaser and such a flirt, I find it hard to believe your words.”
Luke winced as he picked up a chopstick and stabbed it into his heart “Wow! Kick me while I'm down will you."
“Charming.” Erin flicked a brow upward “You are a handsome man, you can get any girl out there. There is no reason to think of me…afterall I am taken.”
“But not married?” he asked with brighter eyes.
“No. But it’s a matter of time.” Erin lied. She felt strange talking to him about it just after meeting him weeks before. While it was hard just to bring up the subject with Ted.
Luke threw her off with his next question “Do you love him?”
“What?” she wasn’t sure she heard him correctly.
“Do you love him?” he repeated calmly.
Erin dodged his stare “Of course I do. If not, I wouldn’t be living with him for the past three years.”
“Then why can’t you look me in the eye to say it?” he pressed, pushing her buttons with ease.
She turned to him with hard eyes “I love him.” Luke smiled as if he won the argument “It’s not my responsibility to convince you.” Getting up from her seat, she pulled out a few hundred from her purse “My treat. You don’t owe me anything.” He was motionless as he watched her leave in a rush.
She was fuming by the time she was out in the streets, angry that she allowed him to manipulate her feelings and anger her. Who was he anyways? No one to Erin. Why should she care so much what he thought? Just because he made her think differently about her relationship with Ted?
Erin decided not to take a cab, instead she walked alongside the streets, thinking about his words. The more she thought about Luke, the more curious she got. Determined to know his true identity, she quickened her steps to a Detective/Spy office she knew was down the street. The place was dimmed as if ready to close up. The man in a suit turned up to her when she knocked on the door.
“We’re closed, Miss.” He opened the door to let her in.
“I’ll make it worth your while.” Erin promised.
“In that case, come in.” he locked the door so no one would enter as he led her into his little office to do business. Normally, he would not take a new job after closing hours but the girl oozed of importance. They talked for another hour until they shook on the final price she was paying. He would do the best he could to get the information she needed.
Erin came home feeling different, she wasn’t herself. It wasn’t like her to order a spy and it was least like her to lose control of her emotions. She entered the home to find Ted asleep on the couch. He must have been waiting up for her. Smiling, she approached him gingerly. Seating herself at the edge of the couch carefully, she stared at his peaceful face “I’m sorry.” She whispered.
He must have heard her whimper as he fluttered his eyes open and found her tearing up “Erin.” Sitting up, he looked at her with concern “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
She didn’t know how to answer his questions, instead, she reached out and hugged him tightly “I’m sorry.”
Ted was confused and taken aback by her strange reaction. He patted her back softly “It’s okay.” He consoled. His final conclusion was that her sudden breakdown had to do with Shelly’s death. Although the girls only found each other years before, they still had a blood bond like two sisters had. He could only imagine what she was feeling when she had to witness her sister being buried.