Que Sera Sera Chapter 25: Upstairs

“I’m here, what do you want from me.”

“So glad you could join us man.” Jason slurred. “Go grab a drink.”

“I’d rather not. I have to drive back home.”

“Dude, don’t be such a goody two shoe. Drink up!”

Before Joe had a chance to refuse again, Tiffany sauntered up to him.

“Joe, honey you came.” She smiled dopily.

“Tiff, are you ok?”

“Oh yeah, fine. Never been better.” She tried to drape her body over Joe.

“Tiff!” Joe straightened her as she started to tilt. “How many drinks did you have.”

“Oh, not many.” She rubbed against him and pulled on his hand. “Let’s get a room.”

“Oh you two have fun.” Jason grinned and made an obscene gesture.

“Tiff, I have a girlfriend.” Joe ignored Jason.

“Oh what does that matter? That ugly bitch wouldn’t expect you to be exclusive. She should be happy that you’re even looking at her.” She slurred. Pulling hard on his hand, she led him tipsily to the stairs.

“Tiffany Xu!” He jerked her back.

“Yes?” She leaned up and tried to kiss him. “Don’t say anything baby, just enjoy what I’m going to do with you.”

“I’m taking you home.”

“You want to go home?” She seemed really happy. “Your place or mine?”

“I’m not going to sleep with you!”

“What if I want you to fuck me?”

“Tiff, you’re drunk!”

“Oh psh.” She pulled him towards the stairs, meandering through a throng of dancing people, “I’ve wanted you since we were 12. Except that slut Bianca was always there.”

“Tiff, do you know what you’re saying? Bee is my sister!”

“Oh, you know she wanted you. Why else would she always wear those short little skirts and tights around you all the time?”

“Those skirts were tutus and Bianca is a ballerina!” Joe gave up arguing with her. “You’re inebriated, I’m taking you home.”

Against her protests, Joe picked her up – princess style – towards the door.

————————

“Here,” Ariel pushed a cup of coffee across the counter. “Drink up. You look dead.”

“Thanks.” Joe raised his head gratefully, took a giant gulp of coffee, only to realize it was hot, and spat it back in his cup.

Ariel took the cup from him and emptied it. “What’s with you today? Fresh coffee is hot, remember?”

“There was a party at Jason’s house, and I went.”

“Jason the guy with the spiky hair that always has a harem after him?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know you guys were friends.”

“We aren’t. He always insists on having me go to these parties. I tried taking Tiffany home because she was drunk, but then I got stopped on the way and Jason and Brian teamed up on me.”

“What did they do?”

“They forced me to drink two shots of some really strong liquor thing. I don’t even know what it is – and I never want to try it again – but then I got too drunk to drive home, so I crashed there.”

“So for these parties, people always drink, do drugs, and have sex right.”

“Yeah.” Joe just realized what he said. “I mean, I just slept there – not with anyone.”

Ariel crossed her arm and raised an eyebrow.

“What? I’m not lying.”

“You better not be.” Ariel smiled a saccharine sweet smile.

Joe wisely refrained from talking replying.

—————————

“Flour, check, corn starch, check, candy canes, check, chocolate, check, turkey, check, PJ’s for Miranda, check.” Now what type of cereal should I buy? Cheerios are so bland and so are Rice Krispies. It’s near Christmas, so I should splurge a little… But I’m working fewer shifts this month because it’s Christmas and it’s a tight squeeze for rent already…

“Fancy meeting you here.”

Ariel turned at the sound of a high feminine voice and groaned inwardly. “Hello Tiffany.”

“So I see you couldn’t wait before sinking your claws into him could you.”

“I beg your pardon?” Ariel turned back to inspecting the cereal again. She looked utterly relaxed, though beneath that calm veneer, she was a full defensive mode.

“Joe. You couldn’t wait before you crawled into his bed could you.”

“Nope. You know what Joe’s like in bed. He’s insatiable.” Ariel then smiled pleasantly.

“You bitch!” Tiffany tossed her hair, “It’s not like you can satisfy him the way I can. Did Joe tell you that we slept together at Jason’s party the other night? Just wait ‘till he dumps your slutty ass and crawl back to me.”

“Yes, and he also told me how ‘hot’ it was to have sex with someone who just puked all over him.” Ariel winked.

“Bitch!” Tiffany tried to slap Ariel, but Ariel effortlessly twisted her arm behind her back.

“Listen carefully, because I’m only going to say this once.” Ariel whispered into her ears. “Stay away from me or I will have no qualms about hurting you. It will be easy for me and oh so painful for you. If you want Joe, go ahead and try to seduce him. You and I both know he doesn’t give a damn about you or he wouldn’t be with me. So why don’t you leave now,” here Ariel gave her a little push, “while you are still relatively unscathed.”

And with that, Ariel turned back to her cereal.

“He’s going to be mine.”

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why is he going to be yours?”

“Because I want him!”

“Too bad dear, because he doesn’t want you.” Ah! A Fruit Loops sale! All that food coloring can’t be good for the liver though. Oh well, we’ll only eat it once a year. At least they look festive.

————————–

“Joe asked me to have dinner at his house on Boxing Day.” Ariel said as she and Miranda are putting up their Christmas decorations.

“Really? That’s awesome. Does that mean you’ll meet his mom?” Miranda pinned the poster of a Christmas tree on the wall.

“Yes it does. He invited you as well.” Ariel looked at the Christmas tree. “Herbert looks a bit crooked.”

Miranda took a close look at Herbert the poster. “Oh yeah.”

“So you want to go?” Ariel straightened the poster. They have used Herb as their substitute Christmas tree for the last two years.

“Sure, why not. If I’m not there, who is going to prevent you from being uncouth?”

“Be quiet before I throw Herb at you.”

Miranda giggled. “You can try.”

———————-

“Hey Mira, is your sister around?” Joe asked when Miranda opened the door of the basement.

“Ariel’s just getting ready. Where are you guys going today?”

“Just shopping. No where special.”

“Alright. Make sure you have her back by seven. It’s our tradition to have dinner at eight on Christmas Eve.”

“Jeez, you guys have a million traditions.”

“Yup, we do.” Something occurred to Miranda. “You want to come over tomorrow?”

“I thought you guys have a ‘family day tradition’ tomorrow?” Joe said sourly.

“We do, which is that both of us must stay home and hang out. My boyfriend, Josh is coming, so why don’t you?”

“Ok. What should I bring?”

“Food, oh and wear your pyjamas, hopefully ones that don’t show off too much… stuff. I know you’re trying to seduce my sister, but tomorrow’s not the day to do it.”

“Someone’s seducing me?” Ariel walked in to the living room.

“Who? Me?” Joe grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Miranda shoved both Ariel and Joe out.

————————–

“I’m stuffed.” Rainie leaned back into her seat, leaving one last piece of sushi on her plate.

“Finally.” Mike grinned. “I can’t believe you can eat so much sushi. What do you have in your stomach? A dark hole?”

“Black hole. Not a dark hole.” Rainie rolled her eyes.

“Same difference,” Mike took the last sushi off Rainie’s plate and ate it.

“Pig. That was mine.” Rainie glared at Mike.

“You said you were full.” Mike replied.

“So?” Rainie demanded.

“Waiter, check please!”

——————

Hey Guys!

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Que Sera Sera Chapter 19: Choose Your Words

 

“Hey Joe.” Tiffany sauntered up to Joe in the main hallway of VU Monday morning. She grabbed on to his arm, pressed her body close to his, and smiled what she thought was a seductive smile.

Joe pushed her away.

Tiffany pouted, “I have got something you might want to see.”

“What do you have that I would want?” Joe walked on, he was barely paying attention to what Tiffany was saying, all he wanted to do was to find Ariel. He had meant to ask her out over the weekend but both his parents were home, which was very rare, so he didn’t get a chance.

“This.” Tiffany flashed something in front of Joe’s face.

Joe stopped. “What is that?”

“It’s your little friend and her lover. Looks like she’s got you and everyone fooled with her fake innocence.”

Joe grabbed the photograph from Tiffany, and then blanched. Mike and Ariel kissing?

———————

“What the hell is this?” Joe punched Mike.

“Man, what are you talking about?” Mike wheezed clutching his stomach.

“This!” Joe threw the photo at Mike.

Mike look at the picture. Oh crap! “Where did you get this?”

“Does it matter?” Joe grabbed Mike’s collar, “when were you going to tell me you guys were going out? Does it amuse you to see me interested in her?”

“We’re not going out! Joe, let me go, people are looking at us weirdly!”

———————–

“Ariel!” Rainie practically tackled Ariel.

“Hey Rainie. What’s wrong?”

Rainie grabbed Ariel and began pulling her, “come quick, Mike and Joe are fighting in the courtyard!”

“What? Why?” Ariel asked as she ran after Rainie.

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t look good. I’m worried about Mike; he doesn’t know how to fight at all.”

“Oh shit!”

————————-

“Don’t lie to me!” Joe shoved Mike.

“I’m not lying! Joe, come on, let me explain!”

“What is there to explain?”

————————-

“Oh crap!” Ariel swore as she ran near the courtyard. Joe and Mike were fighting in the middle of the courtyard, and they had attracted quite the crowd.

“Excuse me, excuse me,” Rainie said as she moved through the crowd. Ariel wasn’t so polite, she just shoved those in her way.

————————

“What the heck is going on?”

Joe paused.

“Ariel, thank God you’re here, could you explain this guy that we’re not going out?”

Instead of replying to Mike, Ariel looked at Joe, “can we please take this somewhere private?”

Joe looked around, nodded, and began walking. Ariel followed. Rainie helped Mike up from the ground and dragged him along.

They stopped underneath a large pine tree right outside the campus. There was no one else around because classes were in session.

Joe turned, “I hope you guys have a good explanation.”

“For what?” Rainie asked before Ariel could.

Joe glared at her and thrusted a photograph at Ariel, “for that.”

Ariel looked at the photograph silently for a few moments. Rainie, curious about photo, looked over her shoulder and gasped.

“What is there to explain?” Ariel asked Joe.

Joe was taken aback, “why were you two kissing?”

“How do I owe you and explanation for it?”

“Because both of you are my friends, and I don’t want my friends sleeping around so that people could laugh at me.” Joe was angry. It was the first thing he could think of, and he immediately regretted it.

Ariel slapped him. Hard.

Mike’s jaw hit the ground.

Ariel’s eyes were cold. Her voice was clipped and her tone acidic. “What I do does not concern you.”

Joe involuntarily shivered despite of his anger. Ariel gave him a long, calculated, and hard look. Then she turned and calmly walked away.

———————–

Ariel felt empty. She did not, could not, feel anything. She walked.

————————

“How could you say that?” Rainie demanded.

“It’s true.” Joe’s face stun, but he was stubborn and refused to back down. His insides were still boiling from anger, and worst of all… he had no idea why.

Rainie slapped him. Mike stopped her before she could do it again.

“You are a fucking lowlife.” She growled before stomping off.

Mike punched Joe, perhaps in revenge for the earlier punches, “Stop being such an asshole and start making some sense.” Mike ran after Rainie.

Que Sera Sera Chapter 6: Small Fragment

Joe looked at the person with the high pitched voice and almost groaned out loud.

Tiffany made a beeline for Joe, “What a surprise seeing you here!”

“Yes, very surprising.” Joe replied sarcastically.

“So, when are we going on that date you promised me?” Tiffany crooned to Joe, ignoring Ariel.

Joe took a giant gulp of coffee to delay having to reply.

Ariel coughed.

Tiffany turned and looked at Ariel distastefully. I have nothing to worry about from her. Still, it doesn’t hurt to make sure she knows that Joe is mine.. “Hi my name is Tiffany. I’m Joe’s girlfriend. You are?”

Joe choked and nearly spat his coffee out. “You’re not –“

Tiffany patted Joe on his back, “there there darling, take it easy.”

“It’s nice to meet you Tiffany, I have to get going.” Ariel replied calmly. She smiled a calculated smile, “Thanks for the coffee Joe.”

“Ariel!” Joe called as Ariel walked out of the coffee shop.

“Why are you so concerned about some girl that’s not your girlfriend?” Tiffany asked and sat down in Ariel’s vacated spot.

“I’m not your boyfriend, so why do you care about me?”

“If I recall correctly, we never broke up. You just stopped calling one day.”

Joe gave Tiffany an exasperated look. “Wasn’t that clear enough?”

“I thought that was because that skank was after you and you couldn’t get rid of her.”

“Bianca is not a skank, we were never together, she’s just a good friend of mine, and you knew that I wasn’t interested in you. I did something stupid in a moment of weakness.”

“You call sleeping with me ‘something stupid’?” Tiffany asked painfully.

“It’s not personally Tiff, but it wasn’t something I should have done, with anyone.”

“How long before you get over your ex-fiancé Joe? How long are you going to hold the torch for someone who obviously only cares about money? She isn’t worth it Joe.”

“I know, and I am over Natasha.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying.” Joe paused. “But I don’t like you in that way either Tiffany.”

“Why not? What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing, you’re great. You’re like a sister to me. We’ve known each other since forever; I just don’t see you in that way.”

“But I’ve liked you since forever Joe. How –“

“I’m sorry.” Joe said gently and got up. “I can’t.”

“Why don’t you love me Joe?” Tiffany whispered as Joe walked out. “What do I have to do to get you to forget her? How could you love someone like her? Why, why, why…?”