| Fan Fiction |
by Shweta
“Oh, where do I start.” Joe smiled back and gratefully took the coffee cup from her hands. “I’m really grateful to you, for the past three days you’ve been close to me. I really need a friend now. I thought I needed to be alone, but...”
“Oh don’t worry about it. I want to help you. I understand the pain you’re going through. When my mother died, my father mourned for her for all his life. He still does.”
“Oh, well. I don’t want to do that, but she...she was really close to my heart.”
“I understand. But you have to know...the key thing about closure. It only happens if you want it to happen. So unless you want to get over Ariel, it wouldn’t happen for you.”
“How do you suppose I do that?” Joe asked looking up at her face. Rainie just smiled in response and winked.
“Tell me about your wife.”
“My wife...Ariel...well, believe it or not, we didn’t start out as friends, or lovers. We started out as enemies.”
“Ah! So it is like a teen movie. You both hate each other, and then realise you cant live without each other, and get married?”
“Wrong.” Joe laughed.
“Then? How did it happen?”
“Well, I own an advertising company. We also do PR. There was a contest where women would write in their fantasy endings, and one woman wrote that she wanted to be taken away from her wedding on a white horse by a handsome prince...I know, stupid right?” Joe said giving Rainie a wink. “But it was the least stupid one, so we picked that...”
“The woman who wrote that was Ariel?” Rainie asked trying to stifle a laugh, Joe was acting very funny.
“No, it was some girl named Anna. But on that day, another woman was getting married in the hall next to Anna’s, and guess who that was...”
“No way! You picked Ariel away from her wedding?! Oh my God!”
“Well, Ariel was outraged, her groom thought she did it on purpose and dumped her, so to take her revenge she forced me to marry her, she thought she would make my life hell.”
“Did she? As much as you’ve described her, she seems like a normal, sweet, harmless lady.”
“Oh she is, she couldn’t succeed in the revenge part, and every time she tried, it only became the opposite. Except once.”
“Eh? What did she do?”
“She pissed off my parents.” Joe said breaking into a hysterical laughter. Rainie joined in, even though she didn’t know the joke. Joe’s laughter was so funny she had to laugh along.
“You’re laugh is hideous.”
“Oh, I know. I laugh a little...strange, don’t I?” Joe suddenly became very serious. The smile was wiped out of his face by Rainie’s comment.
“Aww, don’t stop laughing because of me, it’s cute.” Rainie squealed. “Come on, I was just kidding. I think you’re laugh is...well, hilarious. And laugh’s are supposed to be hilarious you know?”
“Well, I never laughed in front of Ariel, thankfully. Or she would’ve left me.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.” Rainie gushed. “Now please continue the story. I love, love stories.”
“Ah, a romantic, are we?”
“And a hopeless one at that.”
“Well, then Ariel found out that me ruining the wedding saved her from having a terrible marriage. She realised that the guy who was to be her husband, wasn’t a good guy and was just using her. She thanked me, and then...” Joe’s face became morose. All the laughter drained out of him.
Rainie realised that this was a crucial moment for him, to reveal this information. She placed a hand on his and squeezed it gently, silently giving him the courage to continue. “And then?” She asked softly.
“She was attacked, we went to Dubai after that, and there...well, she lost her life. She’s dead.” Joe replied. It had taken him two weeks to make peace with the fact that Ariel was dead. The police showed him Ariel’s mutilated body a week ago. It was such a horrific sight.
There was blood everywhere, some parts of her face were missing. It was almost as though, it wasn’t Ariel. The police had no clue why the body was in such a state, but they knew that it was indeed Ariel’s body, since it was found near the sea.
“Joe...it’s going to be alright, I promise it is...how about we go to dinner? What do you say? Let’s go to dinner, and then go meet your mother.”
“I...I would like that.” Joe smiled at Rainie. He knew he was taking advantage of Rainie’s feelings. He knew Rainie really liked him, he liked her too, and maybe he could even imagine them together. But the thought of letting go of Ariel got him depressed.
“Where do you want to go for dinner?” Rainie asked as she got up and cleared the table.
“Um, how about Fujioka’s? I hear it’s a great place, it recently opened up.”
“Japanese food? Since when do you like those?”
“It was Ariel’s favourite.” Joe answered instantly, and then regretted it. He was sure Rainie didn’t want to eat Ariel’s favourite food. “Or, we could go somewhere you like?”
“Naah, I’m fine with Japanese food...but you do realise what this is right?”
“What what is?” Joe asked confused as he saw her face blush.
“It’s a date.”
Joe looked at Rainie with one eyebrow raised. “You’re really shameless you know that?”
“I’m trying to get the guy I like, what’s shameless about that?”
“The method you’re using.” Joe replied, trying to keep a straight face.
‘The truth is, I like you too.’ Joe thought to himself as he sent Rainie into her car. ‘But if I succumb to my feelings, wouldn’t that be disrespecting my wife’s feelings? It’s only been two weeks, and I’ve already agreed to go out with you. Ariel...is she sad when she’s looking down upon me? Does she feel betrayed? Does she feel that I’ve wronged her by moving so fast? It took me two years to get over Selina, and then Ariel came into my life. Albeit forcibly, but she did...shouldn’t I respect her memory and stay away from women now?’
Joe sighed. ‘This isn’t an imposition.’ He heard his mind reply. ‘Ariel would want you to move on. If you don’t want to drown in her memories, but instead want to go out and face the world, she would let you do it. She isn’t a tyrant. She would want you to be happy.’
‘But...I love Ariel. I like Rainie, but how can I forget Ariel. Specially after what happened between us. I love her too much. What I have with Rainie...it’s friendship. Not love, love is something completely different. Love is what I felt for Selina, and what I felt for Ariel.’
‘So?’ His mind argued again. ‘Did you Love Ariel when you first laid eyes on her? Wasn’t it a gradual thing? Did you forget Selina the instant you saw Ariel? No! Same would be the case with Rainie. She is a lovely girl, get to know her, love her, and protect her. She likes you too. Why break a heart of a living person for someone that is dead and gone?’
‘I love Ariel.’
‘Keep chanting that all your life, but the truth is, Rainie is making room for herself in your heart, and you’re not fighting very hard.’
***
“What’s wrong with this boy? It has only been two weeks since that wretched girl died, and now...now he’s bringing home a new girl to see me? Does he have no conscience?”
“Ma’am, I suggest you calm down, the bruise on your arm needs attention.”
“Then see to it, would you?! Don’t ask my permission for these silly little things.” Lucy snapped.
“Yes ma’am. Perhaps they are just friends? I hear Rainie is taking care of him and helping him heal.”
“But if they get close...I would have to kill another one. First Selina, then Ariel. And I suppose that Gillian girl would have been close too? Isn’t this son of mine a Casanova?”
“Ma’am, I am sure all would be fine, please don’t move, I have to put the bandage.”
“I just don’t understand...one goes and another one comes. My son is busier than a bus. So many women vying for his heart. Something has to be done.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of a way ma’am.”
“Of course I will!” Snapped Lucy. “Oh hurry up, I cant be here all day, I have to meet my son and his latest.”
“Yes ma’am.” The butler said as he tucked the bandage safely into her arm. He didn’t know which was worse, working for Lucy, or listening to her banter. Whatever it was, he was being paid, and it was none of his business.
***
Another update. All of you have been supporting Ariel, but how can the dead come back? Whatever the ending, I promise it wont be disappointing. I have made my decision, just wait and watch...and comment =P
Please read my other stories which aren't as dramatic...@shwetastories.webs.com...be sure to check out the coming soon section.
or here on winglin u can read when love strikes...winglin.net/fanfic/shweta10