| Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
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Matt curled in the bed and left Danny alone in the living room. It had been two days and he was still throwing temper at him.
Danny wanted to comfort him, "Matty let's get ice-cream from the fridge. It's chocolate flavour. You like chocolate flavour."
Matt ignored him and pretended to fall asleep.
Danny panicked. Just at this time, the phone rang. He went to pick up, "Hello."
"It's Olive." Olivia said on the other side, "How are you, Danny?"
"Hm." Danny sat down on the sofa.
"What's wrong?" Olivia asked.
"...Matty's still mad. He's really mad." Danny was freaking out and tears bursted out, "Never seen him so mad. He doesn't talk to me. Woo woo..."
"Oh don't cry, Danny." Olivia felt bad, even though she still felt she was doing the right thing, "It's ok. By the way, have you got yourself all ready for your first day of work tomorrow? Remember I'm coming to pick you up at 8:30 in the morning."
"...maybe...no work at Arts College. Go back to sheltered workshop..." Danny sobbed and wiped his tears, "Matty's really mad."
Olivia sighed, "Don't worry. I'm sure he will understand. You can't just give up on this opportunity. Why don't you give it a try tomorrow and see how it goes? Maybe you'll like this job a lot, or maybe you don't like it at all. We can figure out after tomorrow, okie?"
"Hm." Danny sniffed.
"Be good and go to bed early." She soothed him softly, "Or you'll get bumpy eyes tomorrow, huh?"
Her warm words calmed Danny down a little. He nodded.
***************************
The next morning, Danny woke up and restlessly got prepared for his first day of work. At this moment, he was still hesitant if he should go or not. He wanted to, but he was afraid Matty is mad. Job and Matty: of course Matty is way more important.
Danny walked out from the bathroom.
"Ah...right on time for breakfast. Come sit down and eat." Matt carefully put down a big bowl of congee on the dining table.
Danny looked at him.
"Still dozing? Come on. Gotta get ready." Matt softly fixed the collar on Danny's sweater, "It's your first day of work. Should be there early to give a good impression to your boss."
Danny was too surprised. He opened his eyes widely at his brother.
"Sorry Danny. I shouldn't throw temper at you. I heard you on the phone with Olive last night. She's right. I never paid attention and considered about your feelings in the past. You're now a grown up and I should let you choose what you want to do."
A big smile glowed on Danny's face. He was relieved. Not only that Matty had forgiven him, but also he was letting him to go for the new job.
"As long as you are happy." Matt stroked his hair.
"Matty." Danny peeked at the food on the dining table. It was his favourite congee breakfast. Matty must have waken up so early this morning to cook for him, to make him a happy and full meal to get ready for the first day of work. Danny was deeply touched.
"I'll let you work at Arts College. But you have to promise me." Matt cupped Danny's face, "If you are not happy, if some meanie does something bad to you, bully you, you cannot just keep in your heart. You must tell Matty, ok?"
Danny nodded. Of course he will.
"Let you try working at Arts College for a few days. In the meantime we will just ask for a few days leave at sheltered workshop. If you really like it and decide to stay at Arts College, we have to go tell Betty that you are quitting at sheltered workshop. You have to tell her in person and be a responsible boy. Also have to thank her for being so kind in teaching you all the stuffs in the last couple years."
Danny understood.
"And I still want you to go to your weekly music class at sheltered workshop every Wednesday night. You've learned quite well and I want you to continue. Also you can see your friends there too." Matt said.
"Yup." Danny nodded again. He loved the music class and how he can play the recorder now.
"I'll call Olivia now and tell her not to come pick you up. Matty will bring you to work. I will meet your supervisor...just to say 'hi' and ask her take good care of you." Matt scanned and touched Danny's sweater, "Gotta figure out the dress code at your workplace. Thought it's pretty casual at Arts College but still...can't go too bad. Matty will go shopping with you this weekend and get you some new clothes."
Danny's heart was filled with sweetness. He wrapped in his hug the best brother in the world, "Danny loves Matty."
"And Matty loves Danny too." Matt finished off their magic phrase.
***************************
Danny carried his lunch box and walked into the pantry at the back of the office. There was a small table at the corner. A girl was sitting there by herself.
He politely asked, "May I sit here?"
The girl seemed surprised when suddenly someone stood behind her and talked. Usually everyone would be out for lunch and she was the only here at this time. She lifted her head, "...sure."
So Danny sat down across from her. Matty taught him to have good manner at workplace, so he greeted the girl, "Hi Peony."
"Hi Danny." Peony greeted her new coworker.
Danny settled his meal on the table.
"How's your first day of work?" Peony whispered.
"Good." He answered.
"That's good." Peony said. She was a shy girl and not good at chatting with people, so she dropped down her head and went back to her eating.
Danny was a shy boy too, so he dropped down his head and concentrated on his eating.
The pantry was quiet and calm.
*************************
"You stand on Danny's side...two against one on me now." Matt tapped the nose tip of Olivia.
"Of course. Danny's my buddy." Olivia smiled.
"But I'm your boyfriend." Matt whined, "I thought I'm always the most important one in your mind."
"No you aren't." Olivia giggled.
"Yes I am. I know it." Matt hugged and rocked her.
"Hm." Olivia leaned in his arms.
"Olivia, thanks for being so caring to Danny." Matt said sincerely.
"You love him. So I must love him as much as you do." Olivia gazed at him, "He's your brother, so he's my brother too."
"Olivia you're the best in the world." No other words could Matt use to thank Olivia's deep love to him.
"Hey." She whispered softly, "I got the news from my cousin. She's getting married later this year. I'm going to be bridesmaid. First time for me."
"Wow. Congrats to her." Matt asked, "You're close to her?"
"Yup. Jen and I grew up together. She's two years older than me. We used to live so close to each other and every night, Jen and her parents would come over for dinner and spend time with grandma. Jen's mom is the older sister of my dad. Sometimes we do sleepovers at each other's place and we would have pillow talks throughout the night." Olivia smiled,
"They moved to a new place a few years ago, but still, Jen and I keep in touch and we go out for shopping and stuffs together quite often."
"Such buddy buddy, huh?" Matt wondered.
"Can't believe she's getting married. Time flies. I guess we've both grown up." Olivia fell in thoughts, "I feel happy for her though."
Olivia took out a wedding magazine, "Look. She's thinking of picking this gown. Gosh...so pretty!"
"You get to wear bridesmaid dress. You're look really nice too." Matt said.
Olivia pointed at another page, "This is going to be my dress. Yeah it's nice...but can't compare to the one Jen has."
"Jealous?"
"Of course not."
"Envy?" Matt read her mind.
"Hm." Olivia did not answer, though it showed on her face.
Matt quietly hugged her.
"Getting married and start a new family together. Sounds so sweet and fun." Olivia wondered.
Matt stroked her face.
"Matt." She gazed at him, "Do you think it's a good idea too?"
Matt was shocked, "For us?"
"Yup."
"Olivia you're so young! You haven't even finished school yet." Matt shook his head.
"But don't you want to marry me?" Olivia bit her lips. It was the worst question to be brought up by a girl to her boyfriend, "It sounds like I'm begging you to marry me."
"Silly girl. I love you. I want to marry you." Matt gave her a peace in mind, "But it's just too early for us. Your most important thing at this point is to finish school. And for me, I have to do some thorough planning first. I can't just say 'yes' and let you move into my crappy rooftop shed like that."
Olivia knew it was just an abrupt thought that came to her head, despite it was still her wish.
"I want to give the best to you. If we decide to get married, I want you to be the happiest woman in the world." Matt whispered tenderly, "Give me some time."
Matt's commitment melted Olivia heart. Olivia smiled sweetly in his hug.
***************************
Danny and Peony sat across from each other at the pantry and ate quietly on their own. Danny had been working here for a week and ate with Peony every day, but besides casual greetings, both were so shy that no one took the first move to start a chat.
Everyone else was out for lunch. The entire office was so quiet that the only sound was their soft munching and swallowing. They could almost hear their own breaths.
Danny’s eyes rolled. He decided to break the ice, “Everyone’s out for lunch.”
“Yeah.” Peony answered softly.
“Hm…” Danny did not know what else to say.
“They go out to eat everyday.” Peony said, “Just you and I bring lunch.”
Danny looked at her lunch box, “You made it?”
“Yes I make mine everyday.” Peony asked, “How about you?”
“Matty makes it for me all the times.” Danny showed her his food.
“Who’s Matty?”
“Matty’s my brother. We’re twins. He’s 5 minutes older than me.” Danny stretched his palm and showed ‘5’.
“Wow. It must be nice to have a brother. He must love you a lot. Look at how nice your lunch box is.” Peony looked envied.
“Matty loves me. And I love Matty too.” Danny said proudly, “Don’t you have a brother or sister too?”
Peony was a friendly gentle girl; she was just too shy to talk. Since Danny took the first move she eased up and spoke more about herself. She shook her head, “I am an orphan. My parents died when I was very young. I grew up in the orphanage.”
“Oh?” Danny tilted his head, “I lived in orphanage too, ‘cause dad died.”
Peony was surprised.
“…mom wasn’t there…so just me and Matty…but now mom is back…with Josephine and she’s our little sister…” Danny tried to explain in the best he could.
Danny made it sound a bit confusing and Peony could barely catch all his words, but she could somewhat guess.
“So now you have your elder brother Matty, your little sister Josephine and your mom with you.” Peony counted and summarized for him, “That’s very good. Must be a happy family.” She bit her lips sadly.
“Oh don’t be sad.” Danny comforted. He offered his lunch box to Peony, “Do you want some?”
I ain’t a kid. Peony tittered at Danny’s act, though she appreciated his kindness, “…thanks. I’ll take a bit of this egg. What is it?”
“Fried eggs with green onions.” Danny said, “Matty cooks really well.”
She nibbled, “This is really good!”
“You like it?” Danny was happy.
She nodded, “I love eggs.”
**************************
“Ok Danny, I’m getting ready for your lunch tomorrow. What do you want to eat?” Matt called from the kitchen.
Danny bounced over and thought, “Fried eggs with green onions.”
“Again? You’ve had this same thing for the last couple weeks!” Matt wondered, “You never really liked eggs that much.”
Danny uttered something and sneaked away.