Melt Away - Chapter 5 *Fox/Whitney*
by unknown
 

Chapter 5

“Earth to Fox. Are you in there?” He waved his hand before his blank sidekick’s expression.

Fox blinked out of his deep concentration and landed his eyes on Stephen Randall. A long time buddy he went to school with. The six foot three, handsome fellow with short ash blond hair and sea blue orbs studied him in concern. “Yes, Stephen?”

“Dude, where were you? I have called you until the moon was falling out of the sky. Have you had an altercation with your folks?” Stephen marveled.

“Randall, you know very well there’s ‘no love lost’ between my parents and me.” He exhaled stridently.

“Then why were you pondering away—caring not about my being in your presence?” Stephen titled his head to the side with worry.

“I really can’t get into this right now.” He answered distractedly.

“I know why you can’t get into this … it has to do with a chick. Is it that Theresa girl you keep rambling to me about?” Stephen grinned from ear to ear.

“Stephen, you have really been outdated. I’m over her …” Fox told him halfheartedly.

“You’re sure about that? I know you’re not over her—and it’s okay to acknowledge that you’re still in love with her.” Stephen continued.

“Randall, once again you’re wrong.” He soughed heavily.

“You know Theresa had you whipped.” Stephen bantered, chuckling.

“Laugh all you want, but I am over Theresa.” He emphasized.

“It’s your call.” Stephen held back, throwing his hands up, withdrawing from his friend’s glare.

“You’re darn right it’s my call, Stephen. Now why are you here?” Fox cleared his throat, pouring his friend a drink.

“I was wondering are you up for going to Aspen this weekend? I know you want to hit the slopes, right?” he kindly accepted the glass of bourbon.

“Thanks, but no thanks.” Fox declined, appearing uninterested.

“Fox, since when do you turn down the slopes? I thought you love to snowboard?” Stephen glowered, having an impression that something isn’t right with this setting.

“You worry too much, Stephen, hasn’t anyone ever told you that?” Fox laughed in a wry sense.

“No, I hardly worry. I am just concerned, that’s all.” Stephen shrugged, knowing what his best buddy
said was true.

“If you say so. If you have something to say, Stephen, I suggest you say it now. I hate it when people beat around the bush.”

“Okay, I’m going to say what’s on my mind—and I don’t care if you don’t like it.” Stephen remarked stubbornly. “I say that there is a new girl in your life and apparently she must have stuck it to you good. Otherwise you wouldn’t be so cranky with me.”

“I am rarely cranky, Stephen …” Fox scoffed.

“So, I am right—it has to do with a chick, doesn’t it?” Stephen surmised rightly, expecting his friend to respond.

“Sooner or later you’re going to learn the truth. Yes, it has something to do with a girl-”

“See, I knew it!” Stephen intruded Fox unannounced.

“Ahem, and she wants to be friends with me.” Fox finally confessed.

“So? What’s so bad about that?” Stephen queried, forgetting about Fox’s history with women at the moment.

“That is bad, Steve. You know I don’t do too well with being just ‘friends’ with any woman. It’s not in my nature to befriend a woman. I always bed them and use them to my advantage.”

“And she didn’t give you that kind of leverage. Bro, don’t mean to be a party pooper-”

“Then don’t.” Fox added audaciously.

“But maybe you should consider that she could not be just any girl to you. Maybe she’s your future wife.” Stephen had no other way of saying it to him.

“I can barely see myself at the aisle, waiting on my bride to be, treading towards me. I’m not marriage material. And it’s not my family’s motto to marry for love. It’s about business mergers and that’s it. Love is completely out of the question. Besides, what I feel for her is merely sexual attraction.” Fox wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince Stephen or himself.

“If you say so.” He sighed.

“Stephen, I say so. Now, will you quit worrying about me?” Fox instructed.

“All right, all right. I’m going to bathroom and I want us to finish our convo on going to Aspen.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Fox rolled his eyes and heard someone thumping on the door, wondering who could it be on the other side. He clicked those nagging thoughts out of his head and satisfied his curiosity by unlocking the sealed entrance. “Whitney, how are you, what are you doing here?” he asked surprisingly.

“I’m great and you? I believe I left my purse here last night. Do you happen to know where it is?” Whitney queried softly.

“You did? Come in.” His eyes widened in astonishment.

“Thanks.” Whitney invited herself in and scanned the room meticulously.

“Where did you leave your purse?” Fox whispered, standing close behind her.

Whitney shifted her form around and slightly trembled. “Fox, don’t do that. I thought you were standing from a distance.” She inhaled sharply, relieving the tension in her body.

“They don’t call me Fox for nothing.” He tittered, admiring how cute she looked when he frightened her.

“I guess not.” She muttered. “I thought for certain I left it in your living room …” she tried to retrace her memory, recalling on the last place she had set her personal belonging.

“Has it occurred to you?” Fox hated the silence between them, not to mention his stimulated manhood is not helping this situation either.

“Yes, now I remember. I left it in your bathroom.” She uttered, smiling.

Fox eyes widened and he halted her. “Whitney, why don’t I get it?”

Whitney furrowed her brows at him. “Fox, I’m sure your bathroom doesn’t look that bad.” She chortled blissfully.

“Believe me, a lot can happen in a twenty-four hour period. He replied dryly.

“Fox, if you’re worried I will talk about you because you have some things here and there, believe me there’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” She assured him.

I don’t think you would find it amusing if you knew my friend is in the bathroom; who is probably eavesdropping on my conversation. He contemplated. “I know. Have you chatted with your mother yet?”

Whitney averted her eyes to the bar, breathing out tiredly. “Fox, I don’t want to talk about her.”

“Well, I do. Whitney, I am pretty sure that your mother didn’t mean to hurt you. She was only protecting you, you must believe that, she only wanted you to love her for who she is, not what she used to be.” He sagely advised.

“Fox, her lying doesn’t justify the means.” Whitney spat irately. “Why are you taking her side anyway?” She questioned annoyingly.

“Whitney, I rather to have an imperfect mother who loves me than an imperfect one who doesn’t.” He fired back. “You’re lucky to even have a mother to teach you from right from wrong.” He scowled.

Whitney gasped and was taken aback by his sharp words. She has never seen any guy speak with such hatred about his mother aside from her. “I take it that you’re not close to your mother.”

“That’s putting it mildly. Whitney, at least your mother knows you’re there. What I would give to have a mother like that. Can’t you put your stubborn pride aside and forgive her?” Fox pleaded with her reasonably.

“Fox, there’s still a lot to sort out. I can’t forgive her just like that.” She snapped her finger while expressing.

“Yes, you can—if your sister did, you should, too.” He told her.

“Gee, Fox, you make it sound so simple.” She exhaled roughly.

“It is. I know you’re a loving woman. All you have to do is show it. You have a tendency to conceal things, don’t you?” He pumped, observing her thoroughly.

Whitney gawked at him in shock, wondering how did he figure her out so quickly. “What would you know? You think you know me, don’t you?” Whitney hissed.

“I don’t think, I know.” He said adamantly. “Whitney, when are you ever going to learn that you can’t fool me? You can’t hide from me. That I know your every move.”

“Not meaning to be rude, Fox. But I came here to get my purse not be analyzed by some spoiled rich boy!” She snarled fiercely.

“How nice of you to perceive me this way. Who said anything about me being spoiled?” His shoulders dropped all at once.

“You didn’t have to. Your speech betrays you!” Whitney continued to rant.

“You are impossible.” He shook his head.

“Maybe I should turn around and leave. I thought this was going to be a simple task, but somehow you never seem to disappoint me. You always have a way to learn about me.” Whitney hollered, loving him being in her presence.

“You know you’re turned on. Whitney, it’s only a matter of time, you start giving in and talk to me. I am not here to hurt you, but I am here to-”

“Help me. I know. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?” Whitney retracted.

Fox only grinned his sexiest grin and retaliated. “Would I not? How could I refuse?”

“Let’s make a deal …”

“A proposal, I hear?” Fox lifted a brow, beaming coyly at her.

“We can’t talk about our mothers … and let’s focus on each other, is that a deal?” Whitney outstretched her hand to his, expecting him to place his in hers.

“Deal.” He mumbled reluctantly.

“Great, now may I go get my purse?”

“Whoa, wait! You stay right here …” Fox was hell bent on her going in the back, as she scrutinized him oddly. He walked into his bedroom and headed towards the bathroom, knocking on the door. “Stephen, I need her purse.”

Stephen turned the knob and handed Fox the woman’s possession briskly. “Thank you.” He smirked and gave Whitney her purse promptly. “Is this what you were looking for?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“Whitney, meet me at Harmony’s Down Under at eight.” Fox informed her.

She glanced at him bewilderedly. “You’re kidding, right?”

“I kid you not. Be there or be square.” Fox announced and scurried her out of his house before she could decline.

“How dare he tries to set an appointment up with me.” Whitney huffed. “He thinks he is so clever! He’s up to something, but what? What could he possibly want?” She questioned, walking away.

“You want her, don’t you?” Stephen interrogated with spunk.

“What?” Fox replied blankly and turn the bolt.

“I heard everything that was going on between you and that girl. I must say she’s quite a beauty.” Stephen remarked, amused.

“You were spying on us?” Fox glared at him grimly.

“Not exactly, I was minding my own business the entire time. You didn’t give that Russell girl to speak because you want her. That’s your agenda …” Stephen speculated.

“Gee, I never knew liking a girl would be some sort of an agenda.” Fox retorted.

“Pul-lease, Fox. I know you’re getting back at Theresa by trying to get close to her very best friend because you want her to feel the pain she had given you.”

“That’s absurd. Whitney is not Theresa’s friend …” Fox refused to accept the truth.

“Why because she her hair isn’t curly? Dude, you know women change their hair all the freaking time!” He chuckled incredulously. “Why are you having a hard time to believe me?”

“Because I have no intention to rub it in Theresa’s face that I can move on without her.” Fox admitted.

“Fox, you’re known to be crafty and scheming … you’re not doing this unless it has something in for you. You’re going to drive a wedge between two friends! That’s exactly what you are doing!” He accused Fox.

“Theresa and Whitney are not friends.” He shook his head constantly.

“Oh, yes that Russell girl and her are.” Stephen debated.

“You need to go home and get you some rest.”

“Fox, you want to see the proof that I have it. Here it is.” Stephen had shown his skeptical friend Whitney’s driver license and a picture of Theresa and her posing together.

Fox grudgingly took the photo and the license from Stephen and examined it thoroughly. He saw her and Whitney in the same photo Theresa had in her former room in the Crane mansion. How could I miss something like this? How could I forget that they were friends? Was I so wrapped up by being in love with Theresa, I could forget someone as beautiful as her? And my oh-so-smart friend seems to think that I have an agenda. I didn’t then … but I do now. He deliberated.

“I know that look, Fox, think about what you’re doing … don’t drag that innocent girl into you and Theresa’s mess. She had nothing to do with Theresa breaking your heart.”

“Why should it matter to you, Steve? It is not like Whitney Russell is attracted to me … and she simply wants to be friends with me.” Fox stated.

“What makes you so sure of that, Fox? Just because she puts up a front—you think she’s not ‘feeling’ you? Get real. She has the hots for you but she’s playing hard to get. And I think you know it, and you’re doing all you can to take advantage of this situation.”

“Maybe I can have my cake and eat it, too.” He murmured aloud.

“What the heck are you talking about?” Stephen asked abruptly.

“Maybe I can get close to the object of my affection and use her to make Theresa jealous at the same time. Thanks for running the faucet to me, Stephen, you are brilliant and I owe you one!” Fox cheered.

Stephen came to a startling realization. “Oh, no. You had no idea that Whitney and Theresa are close friends. And you were really in to her! I should have kept my mouth shut!” Stephen cursed himself a million times. “You’re not going to use my false accusation to plan, are you?”

“No time like the present, eh?” Fox’s pearly whites had shone sparklingly.

“Fox, just stick with being attracted to Whitney without an ulterior motive! You don’t have to go this route!” Stephan affirmed strongly.

“Good day, Stephen. I have a date to attend tonight.” Fox escorted his puzzled friend out of his condo, preparing himself for this evening.

*%*%*%*%*%*%**%*%*%%*%*%*%*%

“Whitney, what’s the matter?” Simone could see her sister was disturbed.

“Fox expects me to meet him at Harmony’s Down Under. You know I don’t go to places like that.”

“Because they constantly throw wild parties. Whitney, you’re used to singing in clubs by now. I don’t see the difference. Except the fact there will be more people busting their booties on the dance floor, and a lot of drinking, and lurid sex.”

“Simone, I am not going to meet him there. I have an inkling, he’s in for something.” Whitney uttered suspiciously.

“Has it occurred to you that maybe he isn’t in for anything? Maybe he wants to get to know you and even love you for you?” Simone considered to her doubting sister.

“I don’t know …” Whitney exhaled sharply.

“You do know … and it’s about high time—you let another man into your heart.” Simone advised her.

“Fox, may not find me interesting. He could be using me for his sick personal reasons.” Whitney concluded rationally.

“You think too much, Whitney, for once enjoy the ride.” Simone encouraged her.

“Enjoy? So, you think I should meet him there?” Whitney mocked at her baby sister, chuckling mirthlessly.

“Yes!” Simone urged. “Go to your room, Missy, and put on your most alluring dress! You and Fox are out on another date!” She tittered. “And I’m going to help you!” Simone and Whitney walked into the bedroom for tonight’s new turn of events.