Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Sara quickly dug into her purse to find her keys while trying to balance the drunk Ted with one arm “Don’t throw up.” She begged silently.
Once the door opened, Ted stumbled inside as he crawled to the couch and lied down tiredly. She let out a short sigh while shaking her head “Erin…Why? Why?” he muttered incoherently.
“Si hing?” Sara called as she seated herself on the ground in front of his face “Ted?” it sounded strange to call him by his real name but she had always hoped they would be close enough to be on a first name basis “Let me get you a hot towel.” She felt his forehead was clammy and cold.
At the same time, she got him a ready cup of hot tea. Lifting him up with one arm, she pushed him into a sitting position. Sara watched as he sipped the hot tea carefully, relief taking over as she realized he was sobering up “Thanks.” He managed to say before lying on the sofa again, the room was still spinning and he had to close his eyes to relax.
“You know, you can talk to me if you want to get something off your chest.” She offered gently.
Ted opened his eyes and turned to her, her smile was earnest “Have you ever met someone and instantly knew you would be with her or him?” Sara shook her head slowly “I knew the minute I met Erin that she was different.”
“But is it possible that it wasn’t meant to be?” she tried, afraid he would be upset with her honesty.
He smiled despite his lack of feeling “To be honest, it’s the first time I’m feeling doubtful.”
“What are you going to do?”
Ted shrugged “I don’t think it’s right for me to live in the same house with her anymore. I’m going to get my stuff tomorrow and find a new place.”
“Just like that?” She questioned. He turned to her curiously and she quickly smiled “Do you know what kind of impression you gave me when I first met you?” He shook his head “I thought you were very controlled and you were happier than most of the people that I know. You know what you want and you have what you need, you never need to have more. I was quite envious of you and Erin. To find someone you are so in love with is…it’s almost impossible in this day and age.”
He chuckled “I guess tonight doesn’t exactly showcase that part of me huh?”
She smiled with a slow giggle “No…but it doesn’t change what I think about you.” The simple hints were being picked up as Ted’s face fell. Sara looked worried as she quickly explained “I don’t mean it in any way. I don’t want you to think that I like you… because I don’t…well, only as a friend and co-worker…”
Ted nodded understandingly “That’s good. I don’t want to lead you on. You’re a great girl, Sara. There’s a better guy out there for you.”
She grinned showing him that she was indeed fine “It’s getting late. Let me get you an extra blanket.”
“Thanks again.” He relaxed against the couch pillow under his neck and covered his eyes with his hand. Never seeing the disappointed look on her face as she left the room to retrieve the blanket for him.
****************
Darren’s eyes were drooping as he sat in his daughter’s room watching her. His head began to nod off “Daddy!”
His eyes looked unnaturally large “Yes, Bon Bon?”
“Mommy always reads the WHOLE book.” Smiling sweetly as she pointed to the book on his lap.
“Mommy isn’t here.” He reminded the two year old mischief “Daddy only reads three chapters.”
Bonnie sat up in her bed “I miss Mommy. When is she coming home?”
“Not for a while sweetie.” Darren let out a loud yawn “Now come on, we have a long day tomorrow. You’re coming with Daddy to work! Aren’t you excited?” he asked the little girl who did not look flabbergasted.
“Not really. Mommy says you sit in your office and play games on the computer.”
He lifted a brow upwards “Oh really? Well Mommy’s wrong, I do work.”
“Mommy says she’s never wrong.” Bonnie concluded.
“Mommy’s ALWAYS wrong.” Darren imprinted it in her head. Waving her onto his lap, he cradled her “Since Mommy left us for a couple of days, let’s go over some new stuff…”
Bonnie giggled as she pointed to her father “Mommy told me when Daddy starts talking to close my ears.” She did just that making Darren grow more frustrated. It seems Mia had brainwashed their darling. He would have a lot of work to do.
He pulled down her hands gently “I know Bon Bon doesn’t like to sleep in the dark, but Mommy forgets to put on the night light for you. Do you want to stay on Daddy’s bed tonight?” The girl seemed to be at lost for words, trying to think if her mother ever mentioned about staying on their bed “No? Maybe I’ll just turn off the lights and let you sleep.” He began to get up only to be yanked down by her arms around his neck.
“I want to stay with you tonight, Daddy.” The little girl pleaded adoringly.
Darren hugged her little body as he picked her up with ease “That’s Daddy’s little girl.”
*************
The girls exited the plane feeling exhausted from the six hours flight. The airport was huge and each terminal was filled with people walking to and from. Mia stretched her arms in the air and twisted her body while Becca and Erin watched her in disgust “I feel sorry for Darren, he has to wake up to that every morning.” Becca teased.
“Oh please, he loves that…” Mia let out a short yawn as she reached to the ground to get her duffel bag when a person bumped straight into her causing her to stumble forward “Hey! It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize!” she called after the person that kept running.
Erin’s smile fell as she noticed the group of uniformed policemen coming towards them “Look guys.” She nodded as the two turned to the back.
“Who do you think they’re chasing?” Mia asked as she collected her belongings.
“Don’t know, don’t care. We’re not in Hong Kong, this is a vacation baby! I’m not working! You hear me?” Becca exclaimed.
Erin and Mia exchanged glances “Too much coffee?”
Becca nodded “Three cups. I wanted to stay awake in the plane so I can see where we’re flying. I have a fear of not knowing where I’m going. I have to see everything!”
“Psychotic?” Mia asked Erin.
“No, controlling.” Erin corrected as the girls burst into giggles leaving Becca scowling.
They checked into their hotel room with only two queen size beds “I get this one by myself!” Becca claimed as she dropped her bags and bounced onto the bed tummy first.
“No fair!!” Mia whined.
“Finders keepers, losers weepers!” Becca laughed hysterically.
Mia frown as she looked at Erin, who only shrugged her shoulders “She’s got a point. A little 5th grade but she’s right. It’s like calling shotgun.”
“Fine, then I’m showering first.” Mia said as she sprinted to the bathroom.
The following morning, the girls woke up to find Erin had disappeared. They found a note left behind saying to meet her down in the lobby café “What time is it?” Becca asked while covering a yawn.
“Eleven.” Mia rubbed her eyes tiredly.
“Does it say what time to meet her?” Becca asked. She shook her head “Two more hours of sleep please.” Mia nodded in agreement as she crawled back into bed to sleep some more.
Erin sat downstairs at the café shop going through Luke’s files. She studied it numerous times but never really found a clue inside. Sipping her coffee, she failed to put the cup on the table completely as it tipped over. Reacting, she was about to reach out to catch it when a male hand caught it for her. Sitting up, she turned to the face, he looked familiar yet he wasn’t “Thank you.” She smiled politely.
“Anytime.” The handsome gentlemen had a smile so kind, that she questioned it immediately “I thought you were a friend of mine and were about to say hi when I noticed the cut tipping over.”
“I guess you’re disappointed.” Erin joked.
He shook his head “Not really, my friend is not as striking as you. I’m Devin, by the way.” Bring out a hand, she shook it with ease.
“Erin.”
“Pretty name for a pretty lady.” The grin returned and the corner of his eyes smiled with him “Can I sit down?”
“Of course.” Erin nodded.
He nodded to the papers in her hands “You working on a vacation?”
“How did you know I was on vacation?” Erin asked, his perception was quicker than the average person.
“Your accent tells me you’re from Hong Kong.” He smiled, while speaking to her in her native tongue “Anyways, you’re too pretty to be from China. The girls here are just average.”
She tilted her head, unimpressed by his compliments “What do you need from me?” she asked straightforwardly.
Devin’s smile faded and his eyes became intensely dark “I think you already know.”
Erin’s eyes moved away and she remembered where she saw him. He was the guy that bumped into Mia and were chased by the China Police “You left something behind.” It wasn’t a question, she guessed.
“See, you do know.” He smiled crookedly “I want it back.”
“I’m sorry, I have no control over that.” Erin collected her things as she began to get up.
Devin quickly stood up and blocked her way, inches from her body “Wrong answer.” Erin smirked as she ignored his block and sidestepped to move away but he quickly grabbed her wrist and yanked her back as she threw a punch with the other hand. He blocked it with ease and laughed “You’re a vicious little one.”
“You haven’t seen it all.” Erin snickered a she threw a kick at his hand and he quickly let go of her wrist. Putting up her fist in a fighting mode, she stood grounded ready to fight.
“I don’t hit women.” Devin said calmly with his hands rested behind his back.
Erin smiled “Bullshit.” She pressed on his sensitive button as she flicked a brow upwards “Come on, you know you want to.” He threw his head back with a laugh and slowly nodded, she didn’t wait for him to start knowing that he wouldn’t charge at her if she didn’t make the first move. The two entangled into a ruthless fight with people watching as they soon retrieved away from the two.
She underestimated his abilities when at one point, he pinned her arm to her back as she winced in pain “You’re not bad. But just a little too persistent.” Devin commented with a snicker.
Erin’s blood was boiling as she twisted herself around and threw him another air kick and he blocked it with crossed arms. At the same time Mia and Becca noticed the fight was between Erin and a man as they raced over to assist her “Erin!” Mia came to her side “What’s going on?”
She relaxed her arms and smiled at Devin “It seems he left something with you.”
Mia turned to give the stranger a good look “You…you’re the guy that bumped into me without apologizing. The Police were chasing you.” She pointed out.
He shrugged, looking bored “So?”
“Aren’t you the little cocky one?” Becca snorted “Come on, I’ll take you one on one.” She raised her fists as Erin patted her on the shoulder to stop her.
“Listen to you friend.” Devin laughed as he turned to Mia “Meet me in two days at the Guang Chow city hall. I expect to see you there. If not, I’ll make sure you three won’t make it back safely.” He threatened before turning and walking out the hotel with ease.
Security was finally called as they rushed over to the girls “Are you ladies alright?”
Erin nodded “We’re not hurt.”
“We’ll make sure he doesn’t return to bother you.” The uniformed man insisted.