CHAPTER 14: IT BEGINS...

"So, I'll see you later for lunch then," Michael said. He replaced the receiver, beaming from ear to ear, whistling a happy tune. I must be the luckiest man on earth, he mused.

Ellen hung up the phone, slumped back on the bed and stared up into the ceiling, a crazy grin plastered upon her face. Oh no! She suddenly slapped her forehead. What am I going to wear?! She quickly sat up with a look of panic. Hopping off, she ran to the wardrobe and threw it open. She reached in for a t-shirt, then hesitated ever so slightly. Shit! I don't think I have anything that doesn't have cartoon character on it, she worried. Astroboy, Powerpuff Girls, Psyduck, Kenny...Arghhh! Michael's going to laugh at me again! But I don't have anything besides cartoon characters to wear! Oh who cares?! Michael will just have to get used to it, she scoffed as she grabbed her 'The Many Deaths of Kenny' t-shirt out from the stack.

Clicking on the TV remote, Ellen switched it to Channel V. The TV flickered alive and strains of Christina A's 'Lady Marmalade' filled the room. "Gitchi, gitchi, ya ya, da da, gitchi gitchi, ya ya, hey ah, voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir, voulez-vous coucher avec moi," Ellen sang along as she danced to the beat, flinging off her pajamas bit by bit, then pulling on a pair of jeans and t-shirt. She stopped for a second to admire herself in the mirror. Not bad, she mused, as she ruffled her hair and looked herself up and down. You're all set, Ellen Hsuan. Grabbing her knapsack, she proceeded towards the door. Skipping merrily towards it, she suddenly let out a little shriek. "Eeps! Make- up!" she slapped her forehead. How could I have forgotten make-up?! She admonished herself as she ran back into the room.

"It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside. I'm not one of those who can easily hide. I don't have much money but boy, if I did. I'd buy a big house where we both could live. If I was a sculptor, but then again, no. Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show. I know it's not much but it's the best I can do. My gift is my song and this one's for you. And you can tell everybody this is your song. It may be quite simple but now that it's done. I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words. How wonderful life is while you're in the world," Michael belted out at the top of his lungs as he leaned back into the chair and stared out the window at the view of the city.

"Michael John, I presume? Or is it Elton Koo?" came a snicker from behind him.

Michael quickly spun around to find a smirking Sean in his room. "Haven't you heard of knocking?" Michael chided.

"I did. But I guess you were too busy holding a concert," Sean sneered amid a grin. "So, what's up with all this singing?"

"None of your business," Michael replied. His gruffness covering up for the mild embarrassment he was suffering.

Sean shrugged. "You're so right," he grinned. "I only have one question though. Does this, by any chance, have anything to do with Ellen Hsuan?"

But Sean didn't wait for an answer. Before Michael could retort, he had already ran out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Michael could hear him laughing on the other side even with the door closed.

Ellen stood by the curb waiting for the green man to appear. She still wore a grin on her face, testament to the euphoria she was feeling at the moment. She was meeting Michael for lunch at the bistro in his building and boy, was she excited.

Sheesh, cool it girl. It's not like it's the first time you're having lunch with him. Yea, but it's the first time I'm having lunch with him since he said he liked me, she argued with herself. "Love lift us up where we belong. Where the eagles fly on the mountains high..." Ellen hummed as she pictured Michael's face in front of her.

Chance watched her from across the road. Seeing the happiness written all over her face brought a smile to his lips. He felt certain joy and accomplishment everytime he saw her. Why not? After all, things were going real smoothly now. I deserve a pat on the back, he congratulated himself. Eat your heart out, Spyda, he chuckled.

Then out of the corner of his eye, Chance thought he spotted someone familiar. He squinted his eyes and looked again. He was right the first time round. He knew that person. She was standing not too far from Ellen, inconspicuously hidden within the crowd. But he recognised her all right. What is she doing here, he wondered. Then the thought occurred to him like a wrecking ball crashing into a wall. Shit! It can't be. No! He stared at the figure in the crowds. Yes, she was looking impatiently at Ellen while checking the timepiece on her wrist like she always does. Chance quickly turned his attention back towards Ellen, hoping and trying to ascertain what would happen next. There was a look of dread all over his face. Shit, if only I had the power to foretell the future, he wished.

At that same moment, the pedestrian light turned green and the crowd flowed onto the street. By the time Ellen snapped out of her daydream, she realised that everyone else had already crossed. She took a glance at the lights. The green man was blinking now but it was still safe to cross. Taking one last check to see if it was clear, she proceeded out on to the road. Chance panicked. He could still see Reaper standing there staring at Ellen. He couldn't let anything happen to Ellen now. As Ellen was halfway across the street, a car suddenly appeared out of the blue. It sped towards her with no intention whatsoever of slowing down.

Chance saw the car before Ellen did. The car! Without further thought, he rushed out on to the street, curved his arm, wrapped it around Ellen's waist as he got next to her and grabbed her back towards the curb. The car swept pass, missing them by only a few centimetres.

"Oh my god!" Ellen exclaimed as she watched the car disappear. "You saved my life!" She said to Chance. "How can I ever thank you?!"

Chance, a little out of breath as a result of his heroic deed, could just about muster a grin at her. "It's nothing," he panted. "Just think of it as a stroke of good luck," he waved a goodbye and walked around the corner.

"Hey!" Ellen called after him but Chance was already nowhere in sight. "…I don't even know your name," she whispered.

Chance peeped out from around the corner. He wasn't so much looking out for Ellen but more for Reaper. It was only when he was sure Reaper was no longer around that he breathed a sigh of relief.

Natasha gripped the steering wheel of her car, her fingernails digging into the leather. "Damn!" she gritted her teeth and cursed. "You won't be so lucky again the next time, Ellen Hsuan".

(Song credits: Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera, My Song by Elton John, and Love Lift Us Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes.)