| Fan Fiction |
by Shweta
“You sure? Maybe...”
“No! I don’t want to think of any maybe’s. I’ve thought of it for as long as I’ve met him. Look where it’s got me. Now I don’t care if he rejects me...”
“Really?”
“Ok, so I do...but what if he doesn’t, reject me I mean. What if he loves me too?”
“Look, Joe is the type of guy...who if he loved someone...he would pursue...”
“Well. Maybe he does love me, but doesn’t know it. Maybe he needs an...an awakening.”
“You know what you’re doing right now, right? You’re thinking of maybe’s.”
“Oh...” Ariel stopped on her way of lighting a candle. “Well, these are...these are positive maybe’s, those are negative maybe’s...and our director is always telling us to be positive.”
“Ariel...” She could sense the laughter in his tone. “...that was his way of telling everyone, the show is okish, so let’s just hope it becomes a success!”
“Close, was a number one drama, and it was totally top material...nothing okish about it.” Ariel lectured Jiro. “Oh...he’s here...” Ariel declared as she heard the roar of Joe’s Lamborghini. “Now hang up! I’ll scold you more tomorrow.”
“By then you’d be Joe’s girlfriend.”
“A million chocolates in you’re mouth! Now wish me luck.”
“Luck!” Jiro wished and hung up.
Ariel looked around the little room she had hired for the occasion. She had spent half the day decorating it. She had asked Jiro for help, but he decided to back out at the last minute. Reason: a hot date. Ariel rolled her eyes at the thought. Hot date or not, Ariel was more important being the best friend. But she had never been able to explain this to her bestest friend ever-Joe. How would she be able to explain this to Jiro? She had never been too close with Jiro, for some reason she felt he never let her come too close.
Ariel sighed. The time was not to think about her and Jiro. Now she had to concentrate on Joe. She nervously glanced at the flowers around the room...yellow and red roses. Symbolizing friendship and love. Whichever Joe chooses, she would be happy with. Actually, not happy, but if he did rejected her---a scary prospect on it’s own--- she would have to be content with it.
She hated to think about it, but for the past week, she had been practicing how and what she would say to Joe, that she loved him. All the while, the little chance that he would reject her, kept eating her up inside.
She wanted to do everything in her power to make sure he would say yes. But there was only so much one could do, and it was up to Joe if he wanted to accept her.
The little knock on her door brought her back to reality. She quickly hurried over to the door, and opened it.
“Hey.” She smiled up at the man she loved.
“Hey.” He smiled back and entered the room. A quick look around brought a smile to his face. “What’s this?”
“Oh...I...um...this is a romantic setting isn’t it?”
“Yes, very! Who is it for?” He winked.
“Don’t joke Joe...you know who it is for.” She smiled.
“Actually I don’t.”
“You don’t?” Ariel looked surprised. She thought it was pretty obvious.
“Is it a setting for the shoot?”
‘Of course it’s not obvious to him!’ Ariel scolded herself inwardly. ‘After all these years of being a friend, with no clue about you’re hidden feelings, how would he guess? You’re expecting too much! Take a deep breathe, and guide him into this proposal.’
“Joe, sit down...” She pointed towards the two chairs on opposite ends of a little round table. On it was a vase with a red rose and a yellow rose. She sat opposite to him, and gave a little sigh.
“Joe...I...” She couldn’t get more than these words out of her mouth as the phone rang.
“Hello? This is a...oh Ella!” Joe’s face lit up. Ariel tried to ignore the lump that was forming in her throat.
“Joe...” She interrupted.
“One second sweets, I have to talk to Ella.” Joe said covering the mouth piece with his hands. “Who? Oh, she’s just my friend Ariel...What? No! No, no. We’re not together. I mean, she wouldn’t accept me!”
“Joe...” Ariel tried to interrupt again. The more he spoke to the girl, Ella, the more insecure she got. The more insecure she got, the more courage she lost.
“One second Arie.” Joe repeated his previous action. “Yes, as soon as this is over I’m coming to you’re house. Ok, bye.”
“Joe?” Ariel asked unsure if she could interrupt.
“Yes, Arie, I’m done...so what is it? Are we rehearsing for some scene?”
Ariel started to say something, she was pretty sure she was, but the words that came out of her mouth were totally different.
“I love you.” She was pretty sure she wasn’t going to say this. Maybe something else, maybe who’s Ella, or what is your favourite colour, but not I love you. She panicked at the look on Joe’s face, she saw his mouth opening to reply, but quickly spoke before he could.
“I...I think you’re the most handsome guy I have ever set my eyes on...but if you somehow became the ugliest, I would still love you for who you are...” She looked up into his eyes this time. Somehow that gave her more confidence.
“I think you’re the most charming guy to ever enter my life...but if you lost all you’re charm, and became the dullest man in the world, I would cherish my memories of our wonderful time together, and prepare for my future with you, no matter what you become.”
She saw his lips twitch into a smile and continued without letting him say a word...she hadn’t rehearsed what she said, but she could see he was smiling.
“You’re the funniest man I ever met, but if you’re laughter turns into tears, I would hold you close to me and give you enough comfort and strength...so you could laugh again. Make jokes again...and become the funniest man ever...if you gave me a chance, to be with you...and felt I was deserving enough for you’re love...I would show you...”
“Ariel stop!” Joe got up from his chair...but what she saw almost brought Ariel to tears. It would have been okay, had he got up in anger, or sorrow, or anything but...anything but laughter. He was clutching his stomach and laughing at her. Ariel didn’t know why he was laughing. Nothing she said was funny. His laughter made her wince.
“Why?” She asked the only question that came into her mind.
“Who wrote this bullshit? Is he the same writer who wrote the dialogues for closer?” Joe asked taking deep breathes, but still failing to control his laughter.
“I don’t...”
“Handsomest? Funniest? Most charming? What is this a poem? Don’t tell me this is in our new drama True Love? I cannot say---or hear someone say---such stupid dialogues!” He said laughing. “Water! I need water.”
Ariel got up quickly and gave him water. He almost choked while drinking it. She looked at him, tears forming in his eyes due to laughing so much.
“You think...you think this is funny?” She asked bewildered.
“What else? Come on! You don’t find this even the least bit funny?” He asked taking another sip of the water.
“I...no! How can you...you...you think this is a script?”
“Yes! Of course. You’ve called me to practice a scene, right?” He asked.
“Yeah! Yeah, of course! Why else would I call you? You’re right...the scene is kind of tacky! I’d...I’d talk to the writer...such tacky dialogues!” She gave a little giggle to sound convincing.
“Ok, is the scene over? Is that it?”
“Oh? Oh, no...actually...” She closed her eyes to stop the tears from falling. “Actually the guy says I love you too.” She opened her eyes to see Joe reaching out for his cell phone.
“Well, if that’s it, I’m going to leave...I have to go see Ella...this is our third date! I think this one’s sorta serious...oh, she’s dumb, kind of the put-me-first types...but you know...she’s pretty, and I think she’s the one!” He smiled. “Wish me luck Arie!”
“Luck! See ya!” She smiled and gave him a hug.
“See you! And please, do something about the damn dialogues!”
“Sure...I will...you can count on me.”
“Love you!” He said and she heard his car pull away from the building.
She sat back in her chair, looking around the room. She didn’t know what she could do but cry. Her dreams had come crashing down around her. Joe had laughed...he had laughed, damnit! She expected anything but that. He laughed at her feelings. Her proposal. He laughed at her love. He laughed at her.
She grabbed the red rose from the vase and started tearing the petals out. Now there was no need for red roses. Joe and her, were just friends, always had been, and always will be. There was no question of love between them...the idea itself was laughable. Ariel looked at the door Joe had walked out of.
“I love you too...” She whispered and let the tears flow. Tonight, she would cry till her eyes were sore.
***
Also updated my other stories, do check it out, coz their at the peak of interests. =P
http://shwetastories.webs.com/amgssd.html
winglin.net/fanfic/shweta9