| Fan Fiction |
by Shweta
Sisterly? No! Joe’s love for Ariel was not sisterly. He wouldn’t mind being her lover if...Oh God! What was he thinking? It is wrong to think about your friends that way! It is wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong!
Joe kept scolding himself as he reached Ariel’s trailer. He came to a stop in front of the door and looked up at the name plate.
“Ariel Lin Yi Chen.” He read. Soon to be Mrs. Ariel Iglesias? Would she agree to be Enrique’s wife? And if she did agree, why was he so hot and bothered? Enrique was a good man. He seemed totally in love with Ariel. He was down to earth, funny, smart, and handsome. Why should it bother Joe? There was no reason to be in doubt about Enrique.
He felt an unfamiliar feeling sweep over him. What was this feeling? He didn’t want Enrique to have Ariel, but why? Was it because...no! Certainly not! He didn’t love Ariel. She was a friend to him, and besides, Ariel didn’t have any feelings for Joe.
He had suspected in the past that maybe Ariel was harbouring a crush on him, maybe she felt something for him. He had completely ignored those thoughts and had acted as Ariel’s friend. He was on the lookout for his perfect woman, and Ariel didn’t fit any of the requirements.
She was too...nice. She was a very, very good human being, and Joe had always felt intimidated by that. He didn’t want to be with a saint, no one did. In the past, he had pushed away these doubts as silliness.
But now he couldn’t help but feel...what? Sad? Hurt? Jealous? Ariel had found a new man, and had forgotten him. Oh, she did call him at times, and did ask for help. They had gone out on an outing together just the other day, but he wasn’t as needed as before. Now that Enrique was around, he had been seeing less and less of Ariel.
Joe felt like a bulb had lit in his mind. Of course! He missed Ariel! He missed their friendship, he missed her smile, he missed they’re time together. Before Enrique Ariel called him every night, and planned something every other weekend. But now, he missed her.
He wasn’t jealous, he just felt like his best friend had been stolen. And the reason he was sad about Enrique proposing to Ariel, was because he knew if Ariel and Enrique got married, Ariel would no longer be Joe’s best friend. Oh she would see him and call him and all that jazz, but he wouldn’t be able to rely on her like before. She would be too busy with Enrique and maybe with kids. Why he was so bothered about the fact that Ariel and Enrique may have kissed and may have shared a bed together already, he didn’t know.
The mere thought made him want to puke, and made him want to bang his fists against the trailer. Another thought struck him. Ariel was innocent. He knew she hadn’t slept with anyone. She had kissed people before but that was only because of her shoots. In reality she didn’t have any personal life.
Enrique’s entry into her life meant her innocence was going to be stolen from her. She would experience the real world, and she would lose her tenderness. She would lose her warmth. She would lose...everything!
He knew it was bound to happen, but so soon? And with Enrique? No! He couldn’t handle it. He told himself, he was just feeling protective for his best friend - Ariel. The feelings he was having were completely natural. Any good best friend would feel that way, especially after spending so much time with his innocent friend. It had nothing to do with love. He didn’t feel love, he was just concerned as a friend.
What if Enrique left her after he used her? Men were dogs, and true bastards. They would go to any lengths to satisfy themselves. Who said Enrique was any different? He was a man wasn’t he? And Ariel was a woman, a beautiful, sexy, desirable woman.
He had to prolong the eventual seduction. He had to! He couldn’t let Ariel be trapped by such a man. Enrique had to be a bad man. It showed on his face. He was just too handsome to be a good person. He was just offering marriage to Ariel to take her innocence, because she had refused him the pleasure without having a suitable title. Joe knew this. He trusted his intuition. Ariel was a filial girl. A good girl. He knew she would never give herself away without marriage.
Feeling pleased with his justification, Joe gave a self-assured smile. This was his new mission, he decided. He looked into the mirror with single minded determination. He would show Ariel what a real jerk Enrique was.
“Joe?” He heard a voice interrupt his thoughts. He turned around and smiled. Ariel was standing in front of him.
“Are you wrapped up for the day?” He asked calmly, giving her his best smile. He had to talk to Ariel and explain to her what Enrique was up to.
“Yes, just need to change, then I’m meeting up with Enrique at his new apartment.” She replied.
Red flags went off in Joe’s mind. Danger, danger, danger! Enrique wanted Ariel to meet him in his apartment? Did he think Ariel was so dense she couldn’t see through his plans? He scoffed, then looked down at Ariel. She was looked at him confused and was tapping her right foot irritably.
“What?” Joe asked.
“You were miles away then, I don’t even know what you were thinking. I need to change, excuse me.” Ariel said pulling him away from the door. She went inside and closed the door behind her. “I know you wanted to talk to me about something.” She yelled, and Joe could hear her shifting and twisting in the trailer. “I’ll change my clothes and you can drop me off in Enrique’s apartment. It’s on the way to yours.”
Joe barely heard her speak. He needed an excuse, and he needed one quick. Enrique was planning to seduce Ariel today? It was mid afternoon. The sick bastard couldn’t even wait till the night! Or maybe he thought seducing Ariel required a lot of time, effort and concentration on his part. He had to devote himself to the task. Because Ariel was a Goddess, and she deserved to be pampered and...What was he thinking? He was going mental!
“OK, I’m ready!” Ariel announced as she walked out of the trailer and closed the door behind her. She smiled shyly at Joe and twirled round as she said, “do I look nice? You think Enrique would like me?”
Joe was horrified! Was Ariel planning to give herself to Enrique? “Like what?” He demanded.
“The dress, silly.” Ariel smiled, oblivious to the tension in Joe’s mind.
“Ariel, we need to talk.”
“First tell me how I look.” Ariel said folding her arms together. Joe looked over her profile. She wore a red sundress with white polka dots and a tiny white cashmere jacket, that only came upto her shoulder blades.
“Is this new?” He asked trying to hide his horror at the thought of Ariel shopping to look nice for Enrique. Her innocence showed in the choice of her clothing. What did she know that Enrique was planning a full scale seduction? He was probably at home right now lighting scented candles!
“Yes it is, Enrique encouraged me to wear more gowns and skirts, rather than jeans and capris. He said I’d look more feminine.” Ariel replied blushing. “I feel so girly, feminine and soft these days.”
The pervert! Joe mentally cursed Enrique a thousand curses before looking down at Ariel with a pained expression. It physically hurt him to imagine Ariel wearing dresses for Enrique. Twirling around and dancing in them. If he had his way, Ariel would be wearing a huge burkha. Now he truly respected the Muslim tradition of covering they’re ladies from head to toe. He wished the law could be passed in China too.
“What happened? Don’t you like it? Why do you look like someone has run a drill on your foot?”
“Nothing...Ariel, I need to talk.”
“So talk on the way.” Ariel said grabbing his hand with her left one, and watching the time on her watch in the other hand. “Enrique is expecting me in an hour, and we need at least fifty minutes to get to his house.”
“Forget Enrique for...now.” He stopped himself before he could say forever.
“Eh?” Ariel looked up at him with a blank face.
“Let’s go have some coffee...what say?”
“Joe, I have to meet Enrique. We both would check out his apartment and then go out and buy some furniture. The poor guy has to eat sitting on the floor, and order take out because he cannot cook anything because he doesn’t even have proper kitchen appliances. All he has is a bed to sleep on.”
Danger! Danger! Danger!
“Why don’t I join you guys then?” Joe asked brightly. A bit too brightly, going by Ariel’s raised eyebrow. “What? Why are you looking at me that way? I love furniture shopping.”
“You do?”
“Yes! I enjoyed it thoroughly when I went shopping for my furniture, and yours.” He replied, trying to sound hurt.
“Joe, you hate shopping...of any kind! I did all the furniture shopping for you, and I had to take you kicking and screaming for mine.”
“That’s not true!”
“It sure is, tell me how much did your couch cost then.”
“Um...I...I...” Joe hesitated. How much did the damn thing cost? Why wasn’t there a price tag on it when he got it? He tried a different approach. ”I don’t care, I’m coming!” He said firmly.
Ariel sighed, mumbled a defeated ‘fine’, and led him to his car. Joe, contented with himself, gave a happy smile. And to think, that man thought he could have his wicked way with Ariel tonight.
***
I hope you people don't think I'm snooty becoz M not replying to comments. I just did that and I promise I would more...it's just I keep forgetting to reply, and I'm kinda shy and also afraid I might reveal too much, then whatz the suspense right?
I hope this chapter was good, I too want Joe to suffer no matter what the ending. Let's see how it goes.
I updated white horse (shweta9) and a mathz geek (shwetastories.webs.com)
Please do comment! =)