Fan Fiction |
by xtingtingx
It took them longer than usual to find Vann’s car. There was a moment of silence as they stood in front of his car and it dawned on them that this time neither of them was in the state to walk, let alone drive.
Lexie chuckled and shook her head. She hooked an arm with Vann’s and said, “Come on, let’s go walk this off.”
“Good idea.”
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They hunted down a 7-Eleven and went in to buy bottles of water and aspirin. They walked around the streets near Escape while chugging water until Lexie had sobered up. She was the first to recover because as usual with them two, Vann lost again and again. Meaning he downed quite a few shots.
“One of my roommates is a bartender. And like I said, I started drinking since I was 17. I can bartend myself if I wanted to,” she had challenged him but he still wanted to try his luck. Good thing he’s a guy so he had a higher tolerance, especially after years of partying.
After popping a couple of aspirin in to prevent a hangover, they got into the car, with Lexie behind the wheels.
“Home?” She asked.
He didn’t answer right away. “Actually, there’s somewhere I wanna take you.”
“Okay. Just tell me where to go.”
With Vann giving her directions, Lexie drove them up to the mountains. He had her stop on the side of the mountain path, at a cliff. She didn’t say a word as she followed him out of the car. When she went to stand next to him at the edge, she was stunned.
The cliff overlooked the city. Only streetlights and lights from the buildings can be seen at this hour, but it was still gorgeous. Still, Lexie didn’t know why they were there.
Almost as if he could read her mind, Vann said, “I come here once in a while before the sun comes up. One of my favorite places in Taiwan. Just wait and you’ll see.”
They sat down in the grass, looking into the city. Lexie felt like a bird, watching over the city like that. She shivered as the cold of the night got to her. Vann saw and got up to go to the car. He came back with a sweatshirt and wrapped it around her. She smiled a ‘thank you’ and cuddled close to Vann. He hugged her tightly, not wanting to ever let her go.
They just want to treasure every second they had left with each other. Neither of them wanted to think about their separation in less than 24 hours. As they sat there with her head on his shoulder and his against her head, they witnessed their first sunrise. The red sun glowed as it slowly rose above the horizon.
“Whenever I get overwhelmed with all the things that come with being a celebrity, I would come here. Sitting here, I can be reminded that there is a God, that with him guiding me, I can get through anything. I’ve never brought anyone up here before. And I guess having you here with me today, I kinda want to wish that God can help me get through the separation that we’re about to face, no matter how long. I want to show him that I can surpass whatever obstacle he throws at me. I will find you again.” He told her in a soft voice.
Vann felt her nod silently against him.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, Lexie didn’t really know what to say anymore. As much as she wanted to believe there will be an ‘again’ for them, optimism is not exactly one of her qualities. Fate and life had been quite unfair to her. A happy thing was always followed by a heartbreaking one. She had grown to expect the worse after the best. Being with Vann made her believe that things changed and he made her forget all the bads of the world, which is why Ricky’s death came even more as a shock.
He didn’t know how long they sat there, but the sun was high in the sky when he figured it was time to head back down the mountain. It was then that he found an asleep Lexie. He smiled amusingly when he saw her hand. If she wasn’t sleeping, he would have laughed aloud. Strangely, she had wrapped her fingers tightly around his index figure. Not the whole hand, but just one finger.
Even though he, too, was beginning to feel weary, Vann didn’t want to close his eyes. He wanted to memorize her face and take in every moment he had with her. That way, he might have enough to last him until they meet again. Vann softly planted a kiss on top of her head before detangling themselves and carrying her to the car. He felt unusually cold after placing her in the passenger seat and walking to the other side. The warmth from her had kept the cold from him throughout the night.
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The jerk of the car stopping woke her up. She opened her eyes to the familiar leather interior of his Mercedes. The sun was shining brightly into the windows.
“Morning.”
She turned toward the voice with a smile, “Good Morning.”
She saw that they were outside her apartment building. “Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“Nah, don’t worry about it. You probably didn’t get much rest the night before.”
“No, not really. I kept on dreaming about Ricky.” There was a pause before she spoke again. “You wanna come up? You can help me finish packing. I should take advantage of having a buff guy around.”
He let out an easy laugh. “Sure.”
With that, they got out of the car and went inside.
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She had changed into a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top while he was moving stuff around after removing his dress shirt to just a white tank and athletic shorts that he retrieved from the back of his car. He was glad that he usually had workout clothes handy in the car. For the rest of the morning, the pair cleaned up the apartment unit. The place was spotless when they were finished and all the furniture had been covered up.
“I’m gonna miss this place,” she said as they stood aside to admire their work.
“I’m gonna miss you.”
Slowly, she turned to face him. He saw a tear threatening to fall down her cheek. He started to take a step towards her but halted when she slightly shook her head.
Roughly, she wiped away her tears. “God dang it, I’ve been crying too damn much recently.”
Walking towards the kitchen, she cried over her shoulder, “Ice tea or Sprite?”
“Sprite,” he answered.
He appreciated how she didn’t want to seem weak, but he also thought she was being a bit too tough on herself. She was grieving over a best friend and leaving a place all at the same time. He was just worried about how she’s going to be when she goes back. Attending the funeral and seeing everyone so upset would finally allow reality to settle in for her. With a sigh, he shook his head clear. There was nothing he can do anymore. They would be an ocean and a continent apart by then.
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They were sitting on the floor eating, each with a carryout box in hand and a cup of bubble tea settled next to them. They had gone out to get lunch after taking a shower and changing. As they ate, they exchanged personal facts to pass time.
“Piercing?”
“Six. Doubles, cartilage, and belly. You?”
“Three. One in each ear and a belly.”
“I like your ear piercings. They’re unique. Must’ve hurt a lot though.”
“It hurt a bit, but it was durable.”
“Tattoos?”
“None.” He looked at her for her response.
She sheepishly replied, “One.”
His eyes widened with surprise. “Where?! How come I’ve never seen it?”
“Chill, boy.” She chuckled at his surprise. “I’ve got a butterfly tattooed on my lower hip.”
When he looked at her with eyes asking to see it, she shook her head. “Nuh uh, no one sees it.”
“Oh, come on! Please?!” He pleaded like a little boy.
She rolled her eyes as she gave in and pulled one side of her shorts just lower enough so the turquoise butterfly could be seen.
“Daymn, now that’s gotta hurt!”
“Yea, it hurt like a mofo. But we agreed to both get one so I sucked it up.”
“We?”
“Ricky and I. It was our first year anniversary. I got the butterfly and he had a dragon on his back.”
“Oh.” Seemed like he would always be competing with this Ricky guy.
She didn’t miss the tone of his voice. “Hey.” She went on when he looked at her, “We were a couple of kids doing stupid things.” And she smiled at him.
With that smile, all feelings except those he felt for her fled away.
They continued on well into the afternoon. It was only when the sun was setting that they’ve realized they had been talking for quite a while. And it was then that they were reminded again of their separation.
When it was time for them to leave for the airport, Lexie gathered her last-minute stuff while Vann brought her luggage down to the car. She walked through all the room to make sure she didn’t leave anything behind. Standing just outside the door, she took one last look at her home for the past month before closing the door. It felt like she was also closing the door to her life here in Taiwan. Some of her best memories with Vann were in that apartment.
Vann was silently waiting behind her. He held out a hand to her as she turned. Placing her hand in his, they left the apartment behind them.
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The airport was considerably empty for a Sunday night. Lexie had checked in and they were now waiting until it was her boarding time.
They had stopped by Vann’s so he could change into less noticeable clothes. Now in baggy jeans and a black t-shirt, he hoped no one would recognize him. The hat he was wearing helped a bit in concealing his features. In jeans and a sweatshirt herself, Lexie hoped she and Vann looked like a normal enough couple not to cause a stir in the airport.
He had walked with her to the gate and they sat on the floor together against the wall, just waiting. With her bag on one side and Vann on the other, Lexie had her head on his shoulder while his arms were wrapped around her. Their heads were bent close together, softly chatting about nothing really. Neither was ready to say goodbye yet.
Finally, the inevitable happened.
“Attention all passengers on flight 851 going to Washington Dulles Airport, we are now starting to...”
The rest of what he said wasn’t heard as Vann and Lexie looked into each other’s eyes.
This is it. This is goodbye.
Slowly, they got to their feet while people around them were lining up to board the aircraft.
Vann stood with his hands in his pockets while he watched Lexie take out her ticket and put on her backpack. When she looked at him, neither knew how to begin.
He was the first to gather enough courage to say what he needed her to know. “I know this sounds really cliché, but you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I will remember every moment we had together and remind you all about them when we meet again. I believe with all my heart that our paths will cross again in the future.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets. “I have a little something for you. I would like you to wear it and never forget me, because I will never forget you.”
He stepped forwarded and fastened a silver necklace unto her neck. She gasped when she looked down. It was two small hearts linked together to become one. Each heart had a tiny diamond embedded in it.
“Vann…”
“No, if you don’t take it, I will only throw it away if not saving it until we meet again to give it to you. This necklace represents us. We’re two hearts forever linked as one. I promise you, Lexie, I promise that we will meet again someday.” He picked up the charms delicately and kissed it. “For now, I will keep my love in here.”
She flung herself into his arms. They held onto each other so tight as if they never want to let go.
“This is the final boarding call for Washington.”
Pulling away a bit, they shared one last, long, breathtaking kiss.
Lexie could taste the salty tears, not knowing if they were hers or his. When they pulled apart, she saw that his eyes were sparkling with tears.
Reaching up and wiping her tears away with his thumbs, Vann said softly, “Don’t cry, baby, don’t cry. I told you I will never make you cry and I am not about to break my promise now.”
Reaching into the pocket of her sweatshirt, Lexie placed a small envelope in his hand. Standing up on her tiptoes, she gave him a quick, hard kiss before hurriedly running to the waiting attendant at the gate door.
She hadn’t even taken more then three steps when he called out to her, “Xing!”
She smiled. She called her by her special nickname.
Lexie stopped and turned. He was now standing as far as non-passengers can go.
“I love you.” Clear, pronounced, and raw.
Her face slowly transformed into her signature lop-sided smile. And just like that, she turned back and continued toward the door of the airplane.
Vanness watched her get smaller and smaller until she was out of sight. He sighed. He did the best he could, yet she never repeated his declaration. Sullenly, he walked out of the airport to his car.
It was only when he got into his car that he realized his left hand was clenching the envelope. Eagerly, Vann ripped it open. He peered in and saw paper and a silver charm. Slipping out the paper and unfolding it, he found himself staring at Lexie’s neat, elegant handwriting.
‘My dearest Vann,
By now, we’ll no longer be together. I know I’m a wimp, which is why you’re reading this instead of listening to me. I was afraid that I would start bawling if I do this in person so I took the easy way out. Darling, thank you so much for the most wonderful week I’ve had my whole life. After Ricky, I thought I would have a hard time loving someone again, but you proved me wrong. You gave me your heart and soul and I apologize if you don’t know this, but you have mine with you. To tell you the truth, I never thought that my trip to Taiwan this summer would end up so wonderfully with you. I am going to miss you so much. All your dumb jokes and hearty laughs. I will miss YOU. In the envelope you will find a silver charm of a Chinese character. My grandmother gave it to me on my 10th birthday and it’s never left me until now. It says “Xing.” It’s my Chinese name and it means happiness. You’ve been my happiness for the past week. Wear it close to your heart and remember, I want it back. Meaning, no matter how different our lives are, we will find each other someday. I love you. I will thank God everyday that I have you.
Missing you already,
Lexie’
He took the charm out of the envelope and looked at it. The character was written in such an artistic way that you had to look closely at the curvy lines to recognize the Chinese character. Hastily, he unfastened the chain around his neck and slipped the charm on next to the crucifix. As soon as it was fastened, he picked it up and placed a kiss on it.
With his hand tightly around the cross and charm, Vanness laid his head back in the driver’s seat with a heavy sigh and allowed himself to close his eyes for the first time since Saturday morning. A tear rolled down from the corner of his eye.
What a week it had been.
- Fin -