Simone's New Start ~Chapter 15 ~Ghosts, Goblins and
More~
by Mademoiselle Butterfly
Chapter Fifteen
It’s the next day and we’re back in the dorms seeing Simone Russell
just walk into her dorm room from a chilly early morning run of
errands. She entered into the room, with a stack of mail in her hands
and a bag of dry cleaning. The day was the eve of Halloween night. As
everyone around the college campus began getting ready for a big
traditional Halloween dance at the youth center that night. Walking in
the door, she encounters the incorrigible Kay Bennett. “Hey, Kay.” she
says seeing her. Simone appeared dressed in a simple brown hoodie
sweater with dark jeans and a bright orange scarf. Kay ignored her as
she sat typing on her laptop computer dressed in a big Harmony U
sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Putting her clothes and mail down on her bedspread Simone walked over
towards her.
“Um, so what are you doing?” she asked looking over her shoulder.
“Hmm, let me see if you were actually my friend, I would tell you
wouldn’t I?” Kay replied getting up to get a soda from the fridge.
“Oh, come on Kay.” “You’re not still mad at me, are you?” Simone asked.
“Of course I am, Simone.” Kay says sipping her soda.
Simone sighs, “Kay, look don’t think I’m leaving you out in the cold
here with this Miguel and Charity thing but. .”
“What?” Kay shouts turning towards her.
“Look, don’t you think it’s getting a little old.” “Your plots and
schemes to break them up.” “Kay, it’s really time to move on.” She said
with her hands of her hips.
“Please, Simone you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kay replied
annoyed.
“Oh, really.” Simone said folding her arms.
“Yes, really me and Miguel are meant to be together.” “You’ll just wait
and see.”
“You keep saying that!” Simone whined.
“That’s because its true, but I still can’t believe you.” “You call
yourself my best friend but you never have my back!” “It’s like you
have no faith in me, Simone.” “And it hurts, having everyone against
me.” Kay says upset.
“Kay, it’s not like that.” “I am your best friend, and I have plenty of
faith in you, I really do.” “Its just that I get really tired of your
Miguel obsession.” “And I’m just not going to continue on with this big
plot to break him and Charity up.” “All you ever do is embarrass
yourself, Kay.” “Let it go.” “Because I’m not going to be apart of it
anymore.”
“See, that right there my best friend would never say that to
me!” Kay yells pointing with her finger in Simone’s direction.
“Well, I’m me Kay and I accept you just the way you are.” “And
hopefully being my best friend you could accept me how I am,
especially seeing how ridiculous you act sometimes.” “I care about you
Kay and I just don’t want to see anyone hurt, especially you.”
“I’m tired.” “So, move on please.” Simone said sincerely.
Kay rolls her eyes and takes a deep breath. Soon her eyes wonder over
to Simone’s bed.
“Is that your costume, over there?” she asks.
Simone turns and says, “Yeah, it is.”
“So, what are you going as for the party?” Kay asked.
“A 1920s flapper.”
“Really,” Kay responds in surprise. “You wearing something so sexy?”
“My what, would Dr. Russell say if she knew you were wearing that?”
“Nothing, because she wouldn’t care anyway and yes, I have a wild side
too.” Simone replies sticking out her chin.
“Yeah, sure you do.” “Well, I think you’ll look good in it.” Kay
comments.
“Thanks,” Simone said softly feeling like Kay was trying in her own way
to apologize.
“So, a truce.” Kay suddenly blurts out.
“Truce.” Simone said giving her a hug.
“We’ll never agree on this Miguel thing will we?” She asks her.
“Probably not.” Kay replied.
“So, show me your costume.” Kay said excited moving over to Simone’s
side of the room.
“Okay, hey where’s yours?” Simone asks looking around.
“Oh, I have it.” “It’s a surprise though.” Kay said happily.
And what a surprise she had up her little sleeve for tonight. Something
so rich and yet so simple that she was sure it would work in her
tiresome quest to have the handsome Miguel in her heart. Soon Simone
pulled out her costume it was a beautiful maroon colored studded number
that was inspired by the hugely popular movie and famous play ‘Chicago’.
“Oh, it’s looks great Simone.” “I can’t believe you picked out
something so hot!”
“I know, when I saw it I thought it was perfect.” “And I found a
feathered headband to match it.” Simone says with a smile.
“Cool.” “Oh, that reminds me while you were out your Mom called.” Kay
said.
“Oh, she did.” Simone says her bright smile fading.
“Yeah, hey what’s wrong?” Kay asked.
“It’s nothing.” Simone brushed off. “I’ll call her later.”
“Oh, okay.” “So, how are you going to do your make up for tonight?”
“I was thinking of something dramatic.” “What about you, how are you
going to do yours?” Simone asked.
********~********~*********~********
While across town Gabe Carrington sat visiting his sister’s new pool
house apartment. He sat at the moment sipping on a lemon lime soda.
“So, what do you think?” Blair asked him sipping on some spiced chai
tea.
“I like it, the place has really come together.” He answered.
“Thanks, but I was talking about my new shoes, aren’t they adorable?”
she says with a huge smile strutting them around.
“Yeah, their precious sis.” Gabe states with a straight face.
“So, how’s the hospital coming?” he asked.
“Pretty good, stressful though the saintly Dr. Eve was riding me again
today.” Blair said.
“Really, what happened this time you forget to say please and thank
you?” Gabe remarks.
“No, the same problems my attitude towards patients and blah, blah,
blah.” “That’s when I decided to go out for a little retail therapy
pick me up.” She said getting up.
“I love my new boots, yes I do.” She says talking baby talk to
her feet.
“Okay, you’ve got issues!” Gabe tells her shaking his head.
“No, I don’t.” “I’ve just got good taste and a love for the finer
things in life.”
“Really, like what?” Gabe asks.
“Like having a ton of money, taking long trips to the islands during
the winter time and having a platinum card for everything.” “Especially
these boots!”
Gabe laughs. “Hey, that reminds me.” “Do you have the cufflinks I
needed?”
“Oh, yes I do.” “I’ll be right back.” Blair says leaving the room.
After a little while, she comes back in her favorite juicy corture
sweatsuit wearing no make up and holding a velvet case, along with an
old sorority book in her hands.
“Here, you are.” she said handing him the case.
Gabe then looks up suddenly from the magazine he was reading and yells,
“Aah!” in a frightened state seeing her face.
“Ha, ha not funny.” she says.
“Hey, you’re the one with the Halloween mask on, not me.” He replies.
“Whatever, look be careful with the cufflinks or Dad will kill you!”
she warned.
“I will.” Gabe says admiring them.
“What did you need them for anyway?” Blair asks getting comfortable in
a chair.
“The Halloween party tonight, they enhance my costume.” He responds
opening them up.
“Oh, now who’s vain.” Blair says eyeing him.
“Yep,” Gabe replies.
“Oh, anyhow guess what.” “You’ll never believe who’s been asking about
me back at home.”
“Who?”
“Daniel, I spoke to Lisa today and she informed me that he and
his little girlfriend are already finished and get this she dumped
him.” “So all of a sudden now he’s looking around for me.” Blair said
with a smirk.
“That Jackass!” Gabe remarks.
“I was thinking the same thing.” “I can’t wait till he calls.” Blair
said happily.
“What, why?”
“So, I can rub it in his face of course.” “No one tries to dump me and
gets away with it!” “I’m a Carrington, damn it and things like that
just aren’t suppose to happen to me.” “He doesn’t deserve my pity or
forgiveness, now it’s my time to shine.” “And maybe walk over him with
my new boots! She states.
“Okay, it sounds like you’ve been listening to Grandfather too long, if
you ask me.” Gabe replied.
“Anyway oh, I also ran into somebody at the hospital today.” Blair says
excitedly.
“Well, you sound like you had a busy day.” Gabe says looking through a
book.
“I guess, well the person I ran into was Gwen Winthrop.” Blair replied.
“Who?” Gabe said confused.
“Don’t you remember her, well actually Winthrop is her married name.”
She says getting out the book she brought out.
“Alright.”
“Remember my sorority back home, well Gwen went to the same sorority.”
“Once before, she came for a couple of visits to recruit more sorority
sisters.” “Well, that’s when we met and I forgot that she told me she
came from the little town of Harmony.” “Here, this is what she looks
like.” “When I saw her, she was on her way to something called the Book
café.” Blair continued.
“Oh, okay.” “So, how is she?” Gabe asked.
“Good, she married to her longtime love Ethan.” “Anyhow, were going to
meet up later on this week.”
“Cool, so what are you going to do tonight?” Gabe asked her.
“Nothing much relax, go over some medical notes, and maybe order some
Thai or Chinese.” Blair says putting up her dark raven locks into a
bow.
“Why?” she asks.
“Well, I was thinking of maybe you joining me tonight at the youth
center.”
“Oh, a local thing, I’ll pass little brother.”
“Okay, just thought I’d ask.” “Hey, remember when we were kids and we’d
always roast marshmallows and watch horror movies all night on
Halloween.” He says suddenly.
“Yeah, those nights were fun.” “Especially, when Dad would appear out
of the blue to scare us with some crazy Werewolf mask on.” Blair said
with a laugh.
“I know.” “I miss those days they seem like so long ago, now.”
“Yeah, back in Brooklyn.” “And hell, if I miss that!” Blair remarks.
“Well, I miss it.” Gabe said.
“Hmm.” “Well, I hope that you have a goodtime tonight.” Blair told him
sipping her tea.
“Yeah, me too.” Gabe said.
“Hey, before you leave take one more last look at my beautiful shoes!”
she said with a silly smile.
“Sorry, gotta go Blair.” “I’ll admire them later, much later.” Gabe
said getting up.
“Thanks, for the cufflinks.” “Bye.” He said leaving.
***********************************
On this night, we find the lonely Liz Sandboure out for a late
night stroll. Finding her apparent destination she makes her way into
the establishment, a local jazz club. Appearing in a simple dress and
headscarf, she glances around looking at all the bright lights,
entertainment and people gathered around. Soon she sat down at the bar
trying her best to avoid the biggest temptation to order actual drink.
Sitting there her hands began to tremble and shake.
“Hold on, Liz.” She told herself.
The bartender notices her and asks, “What will it be?”
Liz looks up from her purse, “A club soda, please.”
“Coming up.” He replies.
He quickly, passes her her order and she gives a generous tip. Taking a
deep breath, she says, “Look, um I need some information.” “This club,
I heard its run by the Cranes would you happen to know where the owner
is?” she questions.
The bartender gives her a weary look and then nods his head.
“He’s over there, to your right.” He answers.
Liz turns around and sitted in the corner sat the Crane club owner
indeed.
Appearing in a small section of the club sat a very, young wealthy
Crane male, like that of his father way back when. He sits posed
overlooking the new talent coming in, the women roamed fully throughout
the club. Taking a sip of her drink Liz slowly makes her way over to
his table, “Hello, there.” She says with a bright smile behind his
shoulder.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” she asks.
He turns and looks in her direction, “Yes, I am.” He replies sipping
his drink.
“Good, can I join you?” Liz asks.
“It’s a free country.” He says with a shrug not paying her any mind.
“So, Fox Crane.” Liz starts taking a seat. “You own this establishment
now huh?” she said glancing around.
“Yes, I do.” He said proudly watching the music acts.
“Wow, this is nice.” “Just great, the music and atmosphere.” “How, did
you manage all this?” Liz questions with prying eyes.
“Why, Mrs. Sandboure?” “Why do you care?” he asks.
“Well, I’m just wondering.” “Making conversation.” Liz replied
innocently.
“Wait, you know my name?” Liz said stunned.
“Of course, you work at the Book cafe right.” Fox replies still
focusing on the stage acts.
“Yes, I do.” “I co-own with Beth Wallace.” Liz said with a nod. “How
did you know that?”
“I’m a Crane and I pay attention.” Fox told her.
“Well, yes you do.” Liz said with a cheesy grin.
“You know what I think is strange.” He says turning to face her.
“What’s that?” Liz asked sipping her soda.
“You coming over to sit down and chat with me.” He replies. “You don’t
know me.”
“What, of course I do.” “You’re Alistair Crane’s grandson, your family
is known eminently around here.” Liz told him.
“Yeah, we are.” “Aren’t we?” “Were hated and loathed.” Fox replies with
a grin.
“Hmm.” “Yes you are, but not by me of course.” She lied.
“Really?” Fox said arching an eyebrow. “That’s funny, I’m sure my
father or grandfather has done something to piss you off in this town
just like everyone else.”
“No, no nothing.” Liz replies lying through her pearly whites.
“Well, lucky you then.” Fox said nibbling on some bar chips.
“So, Fox.” “Can I call you Fox?” Liz starts.
“Whatever.”
“Um, so how do you like owning your very own jazz club?” she asked.
“It's nice, I get my feet wet you know.” Fox told her stretching out
his arms.
“Yes.” “Well, you know I saw the strangest thing?” “Just the other day,
I was looking in the paper and I saw that this place was up for sale.”
“Could you imagine that?” She hints.
“So.” Fox replies.
“Well, how can that be if you own the club?”
Fox smiled. “That would be my Father’s doing.” he shares.
“Oh, really.”
Fox eyed her, clearing his throat. “And, um what’s your interest in all
of this?” he questions.
“What?”
“Please, end the act Mrs. Sandboure you want something.” He says.
“And what makes you think that?” Liz asks.
Fox laughs, “Let’s just say I’m a quick study of people.” “And uh
besides that Mrs. Sandboure I just know, I see you.” “The real you,
you’ve never have step foot in here except for tonight.”
“Well, um. .” Liz hesitates.
“And of course the first time visit you just happen to see me and want
to sit and have a chat.” “Get real.” Fox continues calling her bluff.
Liz looks at him, “Okay, you got me!” She says playfully. “I do have
reason for being here tonight.”
“And what’s that?” Fox asks chewing on a straw.
“I want the Blue Note.” “The deed and all.” Liz announces.
Fox stares at her, and then starts to chuckle. “Oh, you’re serious,
huh?” “You do, really.”
“Yes, I do.” Liz said seriously.
“Well, then Mrs. Sandboure let’s talk.” Fox replies.
“Okay, Fox.” “The deed’s up, I have the money and you need to sale.”
“There’s not too much difficulty here.”
“Of course not.” “Explained that way but see Mrs. Sandboure.” “Despite
my father’s trying the sale the club, I’m not that willing to just give
it up in full to just anyone.” Fox told her.
“Me?” Liz questioned. “What, because I’m a woman or because I’m black?”
“No, no.” Fox quickly replies. “It’s nothing like that, of course not.”
“Respect you, no.” “I’m just saying that over the past year and couple
of months I’ve put a lot of effort into livening up this place.” “And
whoever gets the deed to it in the end, will have to know that I still
want my share.”
“Your share?” Liz said eyeing him.
“Yeah, I’m willing to sell you half the club.” Fox states.
“Half?” “Well, then we do have something to discuss then.” Liz replied
upset folding up her arms.
Fox took a long drink, “Well, I look forward to it then.” “After all
business is in my blood.”
“And my what young blood it is.” Liz replied infuriated.
“Yes, young Crane blood.” Fox told her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Now, for tonight’s Halloween event at the youth center, everything was
now coming full circle and the party was just beginning. The center was
decorated with a bright décor of all black and orange accents
with the starling sights of scary goblins in the corners and fake
spiders by the punch bowls. As large white spider webs hanged from
ceilings and tiresome, dusty skeletons darted the wings of every
doorway. The night promised for lots of excitement, everyone showed up
in their scariest of scary costumes starting with the vampires of the
black night to Enron stock traders and the dawning of guys made out to
be the Fab five and Martha Stewart look-a-likes all in the same room.
It was all too much to handle, the horror of it all, soon entering the
room were teens Jessica and Reese dressed as little red riding hood and
Sponge Bob. While John followed behind them, trying to play tonight’s
biggest bad boy dressed in his pirate costume he was going for the
Johnny Depp look tonight. While the sweetest of them all, the saintly
Charity came dressed as Maid Marion and her handsome beau Miguel donned
the dashing Robin Hood costume minus the dorky tights. So, the party’s
jumping and everyone’s enjoying themselves, drinking watered-down
punch, eating pumpkin shaped cookies and hearing the Dj spin his
tracks. Soon, enters our newest resident of Harmony the very adorable
Gabe.
He entered the party; in his handsome replica costume of Billy Flynn,
the bad boy of Chicago, or aka Richard Gere in that movie. Dressing in
a sharp dark suit, and his father’s beloved sterling silver cufflinks
and matching top hat. He quietly moved through out the party, as in the
crowd girls were checking him out, scanning to see if he was with
someone. Just then, entering the scene were our girls Simone and Kay.
Simone in her cute flappers outfit with matching sparkle headband and
maroon colored peacock feather. While Kay was covered in a cloak or
cape of some kind hiding her costume in order to make the perfect
entrance. Simone thought she looked ridiculous, but Kay just reminded
her it was all-apart of her master plan. Soon she begins to scan the
party for Miguel, Simone lets out a heavy sigh looking at her friend
and the pair soon split up.
So, the party’s moving along and music is as hot as it can get in
Harmony. Everyone’s listening the to sounds of No Doubt’s ‘Hella Good’
and Nelly’s ‘Hot in Here’. As Simone hangs out with friends from her
dance class and roomies John and Gabe, she’s surprised to see that she
and Gabe both were wearing costumes from the same time era and theme of
Chicago. Soon, Simone notices Kay making her move towards Miguel as
Charity left the room with Jessica. She watches as Kay waited on bated
breath for her cousin to finally leave, and then she revealed her
costume.
To everyone’s surprise, Kay had chosen the same costume of the sweet
Maid Marion that Charity had on. With a mask covering her eyes, Kay
slithers up towards Miguel, as he stood alone by the punch bowl.
Tapping him on the shoulder, she tried to do her best impression of
Charity, being all wholesome and mousy sweet. Foolingly, Miguel
believes she’s Charity and Kay puts her arms around him tightly holding
him in such an embrace that he would never want to resist. Then she
moves in, and tempts him in with a luscious kiss. Placing her lips on
his, she lays a kiss on him that is so raw, passionate and full of
lust, that it begins to make Miguel’s head spin. She bet that Charity
had never kissed him like this, Kay was trying to curl Miguel toes she
wanted him so bad.
After, the long, raw and passionate kiss Miguel comes up for air saying
“Whoa, Ch-Charity!” “I never thought you’d kiss like that!”
Kay leans in for another and Miguel surely doesn’t resist.
That’s when he hears behind them. “MIGUEL!!!”
Miguel turns around to see the real Charity standing before them. He
takes one look at her and then back towards Kay in the same costume.
“Charity, what?” “But, how?” Deeply complexed he lifts Kay’s mask and
soon backs away from her.
“Miguel how could you?” Charity cries running out of the room.
As Jessica follows her in tow, turning to Reese she barked. “Come on,
Reese we’ve got to do damage control!” As he followed her lead donning
his Sponge Bob gear.
Miguel stunned turns and yells, “Kay!?” “What the hell?”
Kay looks at him innocently, like she’s just confused as he was.
“Kay, what were you doing?” Miguel asks staring at her in awe, wanting
for answers.
Kay just stares back at him looking innocent showing off her charming
blue eyes. She didn’t have an excuse or lie to tell she had kissed him
on purpose. She wanted him to feel the chemistry between them, the raw
unexplored emotion they had. She wanted him to see her, feel her and
all the desire she felt for him at that moment and always. He needed to
forget about Charity, forget that she was her cousin, forget when she
came to town and forget her mousy sweetness. He needed a real woman and
an adult relationship something real with someone he had known all his
life, her.
Kay wanted Miguel to really see her not just as his baseball buddy but
her as a woman that truly cared for him. And as a woman that held much
more substance than Charity. Yet, she said nothing and soon Miguel
extremely confused pulled away from her and ran after Charity who by
that time was gone. His mind was still spinning and he didn’t know what
to do but try to go after her. “Charity, wait.” “Wait!” he
yelled.
Seeing him run off, Kay couldn’t do anything but burst out into a huge
smile. Her plan had worked perfectly it was all a matter of time before
she was bound to get Miguel for herself. At that moment, Kay could feel
Simone’s eyes on her from across the room just glaring at her in a
shameful manner. But she didn’t care, because tonight she had caused a
huge rift between Charity and Miguel. After that kiss she laid on
Miguel she was sure that Charity wouldn’t take him back especially
after all this public humiliation.
Nearby watching the scene unfold was Simone, she watched in utter
disgust. She stood there with her arms folded up just shaking her head
at what Kay had just done. Soon, up comes Gabe with two glasses of
punch in his hands, “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked looking at the
expression on her face.
“It’s a very long story.” Simone replies still fixed on Kay.
She still couldn’t believe just how far Kay would go to get Miguel away
from Charity, her own cousin it was all so unbearable to watch play out
sometimes she thought. Her mind wondered as she spoke to herself, “Kay
you’re so relentless.” “Will you ever change your evil ways and think
about someone else besides yourself for once.” “Its really time for you
to put aside your unresolved feelings for Miguel.” “For good before
they end up destroying everyone’s lives.”