Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Jenna took the plate from Erin’s hands “Thanks. Can we put aside your drama for a second, Doug? I think Darren found something.” She nodded to him while taking a bite of her food.
Darren nodded, opening the book, he passed it around for all to see “You see anyone familiar?”
“Is that…Robert Kwok?” Erin asked.
“Looks like the mystery man knew my father.” Jenna nodded “I’m positive he came to see my dad on the night of his murder. But he didn’t do it.”
“Who do you think did?” Doug asked curiously as he passed the book to Luke but realized he wasn't with the team “Sorry.”
“I think Devin has something to do with it.” Jenna said firmly.
Erin and Reina exchanged glances and Mia quickly noted “What? You two just looked at each other. Erin, is there something you should be telling us? No more secrets, Reina.” She threatened.
Erin reached into her butt pocket and pulled out a fading picture. She handed it to Jenna “I found this when we were cleaning out your apartment a couple of days ago.”
“Devin and my dad?” she stared at the picture hard “They knew each other too.” She gave the picture for Mia and Darren to see.
“They look like old buddies.” Darren noticed.
Doug reached out his hand while Mia gave him the picture “See, this is how close Brad and I were.” He said to Luke.
“He never met Brad, but he’s not stupid.” Mia snickered “Don’t listen to him Luke, he never liked Brad.”
Luke laughed, “I’m not sure whom to believe now.”
“Well, I’ve never been so insulted!” Mia gaped at him while covering her daughter’s ears “Bon Bon, you shouldn’t have to hear this.”
Erin turned to Jenna “What are you thinking?”
“The three went to school together?” she said hesitantly.
“I think so too.” Reina nodded in agreement “But what is their relation?”
“Maybe they are on the same team and planned to kill my dad together?” Jenna said “Joe’s been taking sleeping pills since I could remember. I assume the only people that know this have to be close friends to him.”
Reina smiled “My thought exactly.”
“I don’t think Devin did it.” Erin blurted out causing the others to stare at her “I didn’t tell you guys this, but I saw Devin at Joe’s funeral. He stood from far away, but he came dressed in a black suit and faced Joe’s grave. He bowed three times and left.”
“Maybe he knew you were looking?” Doug asked suspiciously “That guy can’t be trusted, we don’t know anything about him except that he can kick ass.”
“But why would he bow three times? There’s no need to be respectful.” Reina pointed out “I’m going with Erin’s gut feeling. I think Devin is innocent.”
Jenna nodded eventually “Yeah…I don’t sense anything dangerous about him. When he helped me that one day, I noticed that he was very nice but full of silent clues.”
“There’s no way in contacting him?” Mia asked as she passed the picture back to Erin.
“Not that I know of. He comes see me but I can never find him.” Erin sighed.
Doug snickered while picking up another piece of pasta on his plate. The group looked at each other and back at Doug. He chewed away and turned his head up only to be startled from all the eyes on him “What? I didn’t say anything.”
“But you snickered.” Mia pointed, “What do you know that we don’t know?”
“Look nosy, this doesn’t concern you.” He rolled his eyes and got up to get another plate of food.
“But it concerns me.” Erin guessed.
Doug paused as he turned to her “You could say that.”
“Wait, is this Sara the same one we saw at the bar?” Darren asked. Doug nodded and he smiled “OH…I see why it concerns Erin.”
“Why? Why?! Tell me.” Mia rushed him. As she moved her ear closer to Darren’s lips.
He laughed while giving her a kiss on the cheek “Sorry sweetie, this really doesn’t concern you.”
Doug came back to his seat and before he could sit, the doorbell rang “Oh, your bride is here.” Mia teased.
“IF she asked, tell her I jumped off a bridge!” he turned and raced to the nearest hiding place in the kitchen.
“Be a man!!” Mia exclaimed.
“SHHH!!!” Doug hushed from the rice closet.
Erin sighed, “I’m letting the tiger in.” she walked to the door and opened it. Before she even got a chance to greet her friend, Becca walked inside.
“I know he’s here…where is he? Huh? Where is he hiding?” Becca demanded.
“Hello to you too Becca.” Erin said with sarcasm.
“Cut that crap. Where is he?” she said with hands placed at the hips.
Erin smiled as she wrapped an arm around Becca’s shoulder “Are you hungry? Would you like some food?” she led her into the kitchen “Look who’s here.”
“HI Becca…” the group greeted in unison as if rehearsed.
“Hey.” Becca nodded hastily until her eyes landed on Luke “Brad?” her face turned pale “Oh my heavens…do you see what I see? It’s Brad!!” she pointed.
Erin turned to Luke “No, I don’t see Brad.”
“You don’t??!” Becca screeched “Mia, don’t you see Brad?”
Mia caught Erin’s wink as she played along “No, I don’t. Are you okay Becca? We don’t see Brad.”
“Maybe he came back with unfinished business?” Reina played the game well “Did you owe him something?”
Becca moved herself behind Erin “Make him stop Erin. He won’t stop staring.” If she noticed Jenna stifling a laugh, she would have caught them on the joke, instead she continued to panic “I’m sorry Brad…I didn’t mean to steal from you.?”
“You stole from me?” Luke asked in surprised.
“AH!! He talked!!!” Becca clutched onto Erin’s shoulder “Yes, I did…I took your wallet as a joke and blamed it on Erin causing you two to get in a fight.”
“YOU did that??!” Erin turned to her friend threateningly.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!! I didn’t know it would get out of hand.” She apologized “I also ate your burger on March 31, 1992 during lunch, sophomore year and I said some guy walked by and took it. I didn’t want to tell you it was me because I was afraid you would make me throw it back up.” She sobbed horribly “And I also…” she stopped when she heard a giggle from Jenna “Wait…You…you’re not Brad.” She pointed, “You’re his twin!!”
Reina laughed as she pushed Jenna “You had to laugh! I wanted to see what else she’ll confess.”
“That’s easy, Reina. Just stare at her.” Mia quipped while she let out her own laughter.
“You guys are sick.” Becca spat. She moved closer to Luke “That was not funny.”
“It was from our side.” He laughed “But any friend of my brother’s is a friend of mine. Have my seat.” He got up like a gentleman and gave up his seat.
“No, I don’t want to sit.” She shook her finger “I’m looking for a rat…where do you think rats hide?” she asked the group. No one dared to answer her so she came to the person that would not lie to her “Bon Bon, tell Auntie Becca, where Uncle Doug is.” She said sweetly “He’s playing hide and seek and we have to find him.”
“That’s low.” Mia said as Becca grabbed Bonnie into her arms and placed her on the ground.
Surely the girl raced for the rice closet and sprung it open “I found you!! I win!!” she claimed happily.
Doug looked frightful as he emerged with Becca staring at him with vicious eyes “What are you doing?” she asked calmly.
“Looking for…eh…mice. Erin, I don’t think you have any in there.” He moved passed Becca and returned to his seat.
“Doug Chung, this is not funny. How dare you run out on me while I was still lecturing you.” Becca declared “I treat you with the utmost respect and this is how you repay me? Running to another woman’s home and eating her food while I stay home hovering over a hot stove to cook you a meal?”
Luke raised his hand hesitantly “Actually, I cooked.”
“I did the lasagna.” Jenna raised her hand.
“And I’m not ‘another’ woman.” Erin acknowledge.
“You’re missing the point!” Becca said frustratingly “He disobeyed my rule. Respect. That’s all I ever ask for.” She said with reason. Doug snickered causing Becca’s red eye to emerge as she glared at him.
Doug turned to her and moved his eyes away “Damn! I’ve got to stop doing that!”
“We’re going home now.” She reached for his arm and yanked him up.
“No.” He whipped his arm away. The group gasped as they backed away from Doug and Becca.
“What?” Becca asked, unsure of what he was saying.
“No, it’s self explanatory.” Doug replied, his words dripping with sarcasm “NO!” he exclaimed, “Wow, that feels invigorating. NO!” he cried again with a laugh “Hey, it’s not that hard. My therapist will be so proud.” He laughed deliriously.
“Boy, you better apologize before I really get mad.” She said through gritted teeth.
Doug sighed as he stood up and faced her “I’m tired.”
“Me too, so let’s go home.” She reached again for his arm.
“No.” he dodged her reach “I mean, I’m tired of us. I can’t do this anymore. Becca, we’re not compatible. I’m nice and easy going, you’re jealous and mad. It’s like a firebomb waiting to happen. I found it endearing the way you chased after me but after we got married, you turned the notch up to walking bomb. I don’t know when you’ll explode and take me down with you. I can’t live like this anymore…I need a girl that appreciates me, not accuse me of sleeping with every girl that I meet.”
“Is this about Sara?” Becca narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Doug sighed, “See what I mean? No, it’s not about Sara. She was just the tip of the iceberg.”
“Good metaphor.” Mia complimented.
“Thank you.” Doug said and turned his attention back to Becca “You can’t stand here, look at me and say that we are a match made in heaven. Look, I think you’re great, but it crosses the line of female dominatrix when you start putting homing devices on me.”
“I said ‘IF’.” Erin reminded him. He threw her a look as she turned to her watch “Oh wow, it’s my bed time. Bye guys.” She ushered the group out as they happily obliged.
Becca couldn’t tear her eyes from Doug, she was shocked at what he was saying “What does this mean? You want a divorce?”
He nodded “I think it’s for the best.”
“You’ll be sorry.” She said in a low voice before marching out. The group huddled in the living room as they witnessed her leaving. She didn’t say goodbye, only walked out with a red face.
“Oh my God, she killed him!!” Mia exclaimed as she raced into the kitchen. Doug was leaning against the island range when she sighed with relief “Oh thank God, you’re not dead.” She hugged him dearly.
He frowned at her strangely “We’re getting a divorce.” He announced.
“I’m sorry.” Jenna said sincerely.
“No, it’s for the best.” Doug sighed “But I wonder…will she burn down my clothes? She said I would be sorry.”
Erin shook her head “I don’t think she’s that crazy. Becca might be a little over the top but she’s not capable of acting high school. Let’s give her more credit than that.”
“So what now? What are we going to do about the team?” Darren asked.
“I’ll talk to Ted about that.” Erin nodded firmly.
“Talk to him about something else too while your at it.” Doug snickered.
Mia pointed at him “Okay, that’s like the third time tonight. What do you know that we don’t know?”
“I told you, it’s none of your business.” Doug walked over and pulled Erin by the arm. They were out of ears distance “I think you know what I’m talking about, but I just want to confirm. Ted still has feelings for you but there is a third person that will get her heart broken regardless.”
“Sara?” Erin guessed.
Doug nodded “She’s madly in love with him but he can’t get over you. If you don’t find a future for you two, maybe you should cut him from your wrist.” Erin lowered her head “You do know what I mean.” He smiled and climbed the stairs to find an empty room “Thanks for letting me stay.”
She smiled after him "I didn't."