Fan Fiction |
by Hope
As both of them were about to start speaking, a man suddenly runs past Michelle from behind and knocks her over.
Not bothering with the man, Raymond quickly runs to help pick Michelle up, “Are you all right?”
Immediately realizing the situation, Michelle calls out, “That man stole my purse!”
Without further delay, Raymond sprints after the man with Michelle running right behind.
_____________________
“Okay, I think it’s time to head back now,” Edison decides, looking at his watch. “The sun is half set, if we don’t head back now, we won’t be able to get back to the cabin by the time the sun sets.”
Looking at the setting sun, Rain agrees, “Yeah, let’s go back.” Seeing the two paths that lead separate directions, “Hmm… I do believe we came from this path.”
“I think so too,” Edison acknowledges, “But I don’t remember there being so many paths.”
“Me neither,” Rain questions, “Maybe we were too caught up in the walk, or this could be the only one. Let’s go!”
_____________________
“Stop!” Raymond yells out as the thief and him had raced into the woods with Michelle trailing behind.
Finally, Raymond catches up to the thief and pounces on top of him. The two then ensue into a struggle.
Michelle, catching up to them, stops when she sees the two in a struggle and stands near by, helpless. “Help! Thief!” she calls out to the open, hoping to get some attention.
The thief hearing Michelle’s cries, then quickly shoves Raymond away and takes off before he could get caught.
“Raymond, are you all right?” Michelle panics, helping him up from the ground. “Your face,” she worries, seeing the bruise forming on his left cheek.
“I’m all right,” Raymond assures, then picking up the purse, he hands it to her, “Here, your purse.”
“Thanks,” Michelle gratefully accepts, then looking around the shadowed ground, “Where are we?”
_____________________
“The sun is already setting, how come they’re not back yet,” Leila asks aloud, looking at the night-filled sky.
Ron, standing behind the kitchen counter, “Don’t worry about it, even is they are lost, at least they have each other to defend themselves. It’s pretty safe around this area.”
“Yeah, but I can’t help but wonder where they are,” Leila worries, taking a seat on the couch. “And I can’t believe that Michelle and Raymond didn’t show up. I don’t know whether I should be happy that Rain and Edison aren’t back yet or not.”
Ron chuckles, catching Leila’s attention, “I think through the whole time I’ve met you, you have never once mentioned anything about you.”
“What do you mean,” Leila questions, as Ron takes a seat next to her.
“I mean, other than worrying about how your friends are doing and what is wrong or right with their life, you never gave thought as to what is happening in yours?” Ron suggests. “Other than knowing that you like Shirley Temples and am interested in fashion design, I don’t think I know much else about you.”
Leila, slowly catching onto Ron’s meaning, she turns to sit facing him, “Okay, so what would you like to know about Leila Tong?” she openly asks. “Any questions and I’ll answer.”
Ron smiles to her openness, “Okay, hmm…” he ponders, then recalling. “How come you chose to pick the good news first when Edison asked you the good news-bad news question?”
“I answered that question,” Leila points out, “If I hear the good news first, then I have something to fall back on.”
“By that, what would you mean falling back on. Is it because you’re a hopeful person,” Ron concludes, “That no matter how bad a situation can get, you will always look at the bright side?”
“A hopeful person doesn’t need things to fall back on,” Leila explains, “They just believe. Believe that things will work out.”
Ron looks at Leila, not understanding, “So you don’t consider yourself a hopeful person?”
“Use to be,” Leila answers to Ron’s surprise. “But I think I grew up. I’m an overly simple-minded person, use to have so many dreams for life… but now… guess I began to see the real world as time went by.”
Seeing Leila’s sadden expression, Ron tells her, “Don’t let them go, I’ll help make your dreams come true.”
Leila, comforted by Ron’s words, smiles to him, “Thanks Ron.”
_____________________
“Edison,” Rain shows a sign of panic as she held onto his arm for security, “We’re seriously lost.”
Knowing that Rain was right, Edison tries to comfort her, “It’s just a bit dark out now that the sun is down. I’ll grab my flashlight, one second.” He sets his backpack down and opens it in the pitch dark of the night. “Oh, shit,” he says under his breath, but still catching the attention of Rain.
“What’s wrong?” Rain asks, not knowing what else could go wrong.
“I accidentally took Leila’s backpack instead of my own,” Edison explains, and slowly takes out the cake Leila had prepared for the night.
Surprisingly, Rain cannot help but let out a chuckle. “I don’t know if I should be scared being lost in a place I’ve never been to, or be touched that there is a surprise birthday cake and you to be here and comfort me.”
Edison gives his half smile, “I think the latter would be more reassuring,” he tells here, opening the circular-shaped cake.
Rain, seeing Edison take out candles from a small container in bag and placing it onto the cake, asks, “What are you doing?”
“Well, since we’re lost here, and it’s best to stay still than get any more lost,” Edison starts to explain, lighting the candles with his hiking matches, “might as well make use of the situation.” Finishing lighting the candles, he begins to sing “Happy Birthday” to Rain, bringing the cake up to her.
Rain, touched by the gesture shown, became speechless as Edison finishes singing. “Edison…”
“Shh…” Edison hushes her, “Make a wish first.”
Closing her eyes and putting her hands together, Rain takes a moment to make a wish, and open her eyes to blow out the candles.
_____________________
Sniffling from the cold wind, Michelle sits next to a tree trying to not be bothered by the chilly weather. Not being able to hold in longer, Michelle sneezes from the cold.
Seeing Michelle rubbing her hands up and down her arms for warmth, Raymond, who had been sitting a few trees away, takes off his jacket and approaches her. Reaching her, he wraps his jacket around Michelle. Just as Michelle was about to take off the jacket, he tells her, “Just keep it on, I’m fine. I just don’t want you to get a cold.”
Michelle, holding onto the jacket tightly around her shoulders, looks at Raymond who had taken a seat next to her, “Sorry,” she apologizes. Seeing Raymond’s confused expression, she explains, “For getting us lost in the woods…”
Raymond nods understanding, but not thinking much of their current situation, “It’s no big deal, we’ll find a way out tomorrow morning when the sun’s out.”
“And…” Michelle continues, “I’m sorry for letting out my anger on you the other day. I didn’t bother to listen to you explain yourself, but just threw my temper out.”
“Oh…” Raymond awkwardly accepts, “no big deal.” Looking at Michelle, he took his chance to ask, “Can I ask who Benny is? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want, I was just wondering,” Raymond quickly defends.
Knowing that Raymond was only caring, Michelle reveals, “He was my boyfriend before Ron. We broke up three years ago.”
“It took you that long to get over him and move on to Ron?” Raymond accidentally blurts out, then immediately apologizes, “Sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay,” Michelle assures. “I actually didn’t think I would date again after breaking up with him. He cheated on me with my friend, a friend I’ve known ever since I was young.”
Raymond, understanding Michelle’s cold nature, comforts her, “Well, it might not be a bad thing, you found Ron now.”
Michelle smiles ironically and shakes her head, “No. When I first met Ron, I thought he was very different, that maybe the man I needed is the type Ron is. But guess I was wrong.”
“You’re breaking up with Ron?” Raymond asks on Ron’s behalf.
Michelle shrugs, showing her current indecision, “Although Benny hurt me, he gave me feelings I would never forget.”
_____________________
Making themselves comfortable, sitting by the edge and staring out at the stars, Rain sighs, “So this is how it feels to sit out on a rough, sandy surface, in the dark, when it’s chilly…”
Edison laughs at Rain’s complaints, “Yeah, this is it.” Then being more serious, “Sorry for causing you to spend your birthday this way.”
Rain looks at Edison, “You know, ever since high school, I’ve spent every birthday with Michelle and Leila. And though this year they aren’t here with the birthday cake and presents, I think this is one of my most memorable birthdays ever. Thanks Edison.”
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Slowly stirring awake, Rain realizes she had fallen asleep on Edison’s shoulder and sits up clumsily, waking Edison.
“Sorry,” Rain apologizes, “I must have fell asleep without realizing it.”
“It’s okay,” Edison brushes it off, as he looks up. “Look,” he gestures straight ahead at the sun beginning to rise.
Rain, seeing the sun’s genuine beauty arise from the horizon, gasps under her breath. “It’s beautiful.” Captivated by the sight before her, lies her chin on her two tucked knees, not saying another word.
After a moment of silence, Rain lets out a sigh, still looking out at the sunrise, “I remember being younger and telling my mom that the most romantic thing that could ever happen is being able to watch the sunrise with your one true love.”
“What are you looking for in Mr. Right?” asks Edison turning his attention to look at her from the side.
Rain, still looking towards the sunrise, answers, “I don’t know, I don’t think I expect much in life.” She then looks down and smiles to herself, “It probably sounds silly, but I just want to fall in love. To just know that there is someone out there that will make me smile, so that when I turn around, he’ll be right there,” she finishes, as she turns, facing Edison, who too looks to her.