Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The weekend snuck up on them quickly as work was beginning to slow down. The group planned for a picnic at Ted and Erin’s home. The backyard was spacious enough for a party as it was set up with tables lined up in rows ready for the barbeque lunch to take place. Erin and Mia were in charge of the meats as they circled the markets to get the steak and burgers.
“How do you choose the right ones?” Mia asked as she picked up a piece of cut meat at the open meat store “I’m so use to having Yuk Jei do the shopping.”
“You are so spoiled.” Erin laughed as she shook her head at the man who looked ready to wrap the meat that Mia was holding onto “That has too much fat. We’ll go down there.” Erin pointed further down the street.
“More walking?” Mia complained “Can’t we take a taxi or something?”
“Why not a limo?” Erin was being sarcastic.
“Darren has it in the shop.” Mia replied nonchalantly. Erin stopped and tilted an exasperated look at her friend “I’m kidding!” She quickly linked her arm through Erin’s “You can never take a joke.”
Erin snickered “Not when it comes out of your mouth.” Her eyes moved up to a commotion ahead. A young guy was pushing everyone out of the way while he was being chased by a few policemen “Thief, twelve o’clock.” She said to Mia.
“Oooh!! A chase, I haven’t had one of these for a long time.” Mia rubbed her hands readily as she stepped to block the guy’s way and raised a hand motioning for him to stop. Instead he spun his body around her arm and continued running.
“Smooth.” Erin raised her brows at her friend “You’re losing your touch.”
Mia smiled crookedly “It’s not fun if I can’t chase him.” Picking up speed, she began running after the guy while Erin stopped the police and identified herself by her carry on tag. She turned and rushed to help Mia, who had caught up to him and started a fist fight. But she defeated him with a little difficulty, Mia was out of breath “Not bad…but I still win!”
He spun himself out of her lock and tried to run away but this time Erin kicked a foot at his calf making him fall on one knee “Slick. You’re experienced.” She took a hold of his hand and quickly used her other hand to block the swinging arm coming at her. She let go of him as he stood up and turned to her “If you can beat me, I’ll let you go.” She challenged.
“I don’t hit women.” The guy answered coolly.
“Hello!! What am I? A man dressed like a woman?” Mia asked with wide eyes.
“That’s why I let you win.” He answered quickly.
Mia turned to Erin “Come on, let’s beat his ass!” the girls quickly attacked him and within a few seconds he was beaten “Did you let us win this time?” Mia snorted as she hit him across the back of his head.
“It’s not fair. Two against one.” He complained.
The girls exchanged glances again and quickly let go “Can I have him? Please?” Mia begged. Erin smiled with a nod, she knew her friend was itching to beat the guy up.
“She’s got a black belt in taekwondo, you don’t have to take it easy on her.” Erin stepped back and watched the fight unfold. She studied his moves, they were strong and well trained. Whoever he was, he didn’t need to steal purses to make a living. She wondered what his background was. It took Mia a little longer to defeat him but she did it “Let him go.” Erin said to her friend.
“What??” Mia was stunned by the order.
Erin pulled Mia’s hand off his wrist, which was pinned to his back “What’s your name?”
The young guy was not a day over 25. He rubbed his wrists “What’s it to you?”
“Just answer.” Mia was growing impatient with the guy.
“Riley.” He said reluctantly giving them his real name “Who are you?”
Erin smiled “That’s not important. Tell me, why are you stealing in broad daylight? With your fighting abilities, you could do much better.”
“You mean like rob a bank?” he asked wide eyed.
“He’s funny.” Mia crossed her arms with a smile.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble. I was simply trying to help the old woman up when she fell down and her purse was on the ground so I picked it up. Suddenly out of nowhere, these cops run after me, my first instinct was to run. I kept running and then you chased after me. I didn’t steal anything.” He insisted.
Mia leaned into Erin’s ears and whispered, “I think he’s telling the truth.”
“Riley, I’m Erin and this is Mia. We’re not cops.” Erin shook his hand professionally “But how would you like to be recruited?”
“I hate cops.” Riley wrinkled his forehead.
“Me too!” Mia chimed in.
Erin raised a brow at her friend “I’ll mention that to Ted later.”
“Kidding!” Mia added.
“Are you hungry?” Erin smiled at the young guy, he was a good spirit and reminded her of Brad during his earlier years.
“I haven’t eaten since last night.” He finally showed his perfect row of teeth.
Mia giggled, “Great, we’ve got a lot of food. That is if you’re not scared…”
“No.” Riley answered truthfully.
Erin smiled “We’re having a picnic at my home. But first, we have to find some burger patties and steak.”
“I know a cheap place.” Riley offered.
Mia nudged her friend “Good job.”
The three walked together down the street talking about random things going on in Hong Kong. The girls quickly realized he was well aware of the current events and even more obsessed with the P.R.A. He collected articles in newspapers about the team and followed their every move. For security purposes, Joe didn’t allow pictures to be taken of them and they were well protected by the government after saving the Mayor’s life three years ago. Riley had never met a real agent before. The girls decided not to expose their identities until they let him meet Matt.
Riley took Mia inside the meat store to show her how to buy the good pieces while Erin stood in line for the ground beef. She paid for the package and turned too quickly bumping into a tall figure, dropping her package “I’m sorry.” She said quickly and bent over at the same time the stranger did to pick up the meat. Her heart nearly stopped as she was face to face with him.
“I should apologize, I should have warned you.” The smile was haunting and the eyes were so brown. She was frozen beyond words and the guy with Brad’s face looked worried for a second “Miss…are you alright?”
Erin quickly snapped herself out of the daze “Yes…yes…I’m okay.” Her hands were shaky as she held onto the meat for support “Excuse me.”
He nodded with a smile as he watched her walk away. She looked oddly familiar but he couldn’t place his finger on it. Erin’s head was spinning. She saw him three years ago when she first moved into her new home. But from that day forth, she never saw him again. Was it fate that they met again? She always assumed he lived in her neighborhood but learned he was only visiting after she did some spying.
Mia and Riley had a few pounds of steak as they looked around for Erin “There she is.” Riley pointed.
“Hey, what took you so long?” Mia asked.
Erin debated on whether or not she should tell her friend but after a moment, she decided not to “The line was long.”
“Yeah, that’s what you get for cheap meat.” Riley nodded.
But Mia was more concerned about her pale friend, she was different “Erin, what’s with you? You look like you just saw a ghost.”
Erin snickered at the irony in her words “I just ran into an old high school friend and he asked about Brad. I was just reminded.” She lied.
Mia nodded understandingly “No wonder you look so pale.”
“Who’s Brad?” Riley asked.
Mia frowned at the curious lad “Rule number one, don’t ask questions. Only speak if you are asked a question. Got it?”
“Are you guys from some cult or something? Hey…I don’t want to join that shit…” he thrust the meat in Mia’s hand and began walking away.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to meet the P.R.A.?” Erin called after him, knowing it was the only way to catch his attention.
Riley paused in steps and turned to the girls “No…it can’t be…” he shook his head and walked back to them “You two are…” Mia and Erin smiled with a nodding head “No way!” he cried suddenly, startling the two “Sorry.” He quickly apologized “Oh my God! I can’t believe it…I’m being recruited??”
“There’s still a training process.” Mia reminded the overwhelmingly ecstatic guy.
“That is if Matt approves.” Erin said to her friend.
“Well come on! Let’s go already. My future is calling!” Riley began walking down the street while the girls laughed.
Mia shaped her hands around her mouth “It’s that way!!” she pointed across the street.
When they reached the home, they were greeted at the door by Chuck in an apron that read ‘kiss the cook’. He looked annoyed “Where have you two been?? I’ve got a hungry mob inside ready to chop me up for steak!”
“Uncle Chuck, what did I tell you about exaggerating?” Erin teased and stood aside for Riley and Mia to walk inside.
They headed to the backyard and could easily hear the chanting from the group “We want meat!! We want meat!!”
Erin raised her brows at Mia while Chuck turned to them “I wasn’t exaggerating, was I?” he grabbed the patties from Erin’s hand and raced to the barbeque.
“Wow…is this the team?” Riley asked, completely at awed “They look so…average.”
Mia laughed at his reaction “What did you expect? A group of body builders?” she took his arm and pulled him towards Matt “Come on, let’s meet the Lieutenant.”
Erin smiled as she nodded to Ted to follow them to the head of the table “Let me guess, you found a new boyfriend?!” Matt teased Mia. He winked at Darren, who looked just as curious as the other teammates.
“This is Riley.” Mia introduced “He’s a huge fan of the P.R.A. and quite trained himself if I might add.”
“Mia is being too kind.” Riley smiled shyly while shaking Matt’s ready hand “I really admire your work. I mean all of your work!” he turned to the group with a wide grin “It would be an honor and pleasure to join the team.”
Ted looked at Erin for an explanation “We ran into him in the streets. Just a little misunderstanding but we tested his skills, he’s quick and I’m sure he’ll be a good addition to the new young team.”
Matt was unsure, they usually needed to do a background check before agreeing to add anyone. Plus it had to come from Joe but because Erin and Mia were the originals, maybe it would be an exception “You know the rules, we need Joe’s permission. I can’t promise anything.”
Jenna raised her hand “Leave that up to me. Joe will agree to anything I ask. Don’t worry Riley, you’re in.” she pointed to the empty seat across from her “Have a seat.”
“Right…we forgot about the darling daughter of Joe.” Matt shook his head at the outgoing girl “I’m not going to be responsible if Joe loses his temper again.”
“He’s a teddy bear at heart.” Jenna waved a nonchalant hand.
Mark was intrigued by her again “You’re Joe’s daughter?”
She nodded with a grin “I guess no one ever told you.”
“How could he know if you keep referring to him by Joe?” Becca pointed out.
“Burgers are ready!!” Chuck announced as he brought over the dish full of cooked meat.
“Riley, this is your new trainer.” Jenna introduced.
He wrinkled his brows and hesitantly said, “Are you sure?”
Doug laughed “He’s not just our cook, he’s a very good trainer and filled in for Matt as the Lieutenant for a couple of months too. Don’t judge his appearance, he’s quite the man.”
“Ten points!” Chuck pointed at Doug with a laugh.
“Yes!” Doug pointed his fist upward and pulled back his elbow. He turned to Darren with a smug smile “I’m leading.”
Mia raised her hands in defense “Wooh! Did I miss something? How could you start a bet without me?”
Darren turned to his wife with a grin “We’re on a bet to see who can kiss up to Chuck the most. Cause he’s in charge of the cooking and we were starving. He said who ever can do the best job at praising him, he would serve them with the first steak.”
“Obviously, I lose automatically.” Becca commented dryly.
“Is that all?” Mia asked with a laugh. She spotted her little two year old daughter by the swing set with the babysitter. Rushing over to gather the girl in her arms, she whispered something in her ear and side stepped towards Chuck. The girl repeated what her mother taught her and earned a kiss on the cheek from Uncle Chuck.
“Thank you sweetie. You get the first steak!” he pointed to Mia, who then nodded her chin at the group staring at her in wonder.
“Damn! Swiped by a little two year old.” Doug sighed.