Chapter Three

At this moment, in Harmony it’s summertime. With sunny filled days, warm nights and summer romances blooming everywhere. At this time our leading lady Simone Russell enjoys a leisure afternoon with friends after a long day’s work. The last time we saw her she just had gotten a new exciting job at the mall. Working there during the summer months, was wonderful, it made her feel much more happier to be doing something on her own terms. Especially since, she met a new and let’s just say outrageous and unique male friend and co-worker.

His name was Adam Vega, his personality was colorfully, and his outfits dramatic. He had dark hair, olive toned skin and a split personality towards people he couldn’t stand. During this peculiar day he and Simone were recently getting off from work and on their way to the movies. So, at the movies Simone and Adam meet up with Kay who’s joining them to see the new Matrix Reloaded flick. When Adam realizes that she coming to join them. He moans, and rolls his eyes “Oh, she’s coming too!” he says.
“You do realize that I’m standing right here!” “I’m not deaf, you know!” Kay replies to his remark.

“Oh, I’m so sorry honey, I assumed you were deaf AND blind judging from the way your dressed!” Adam says.
“Oh, this from a guy who picks out his clothes based off the Moulin Rouge characters!” Kay snaps back.
“Okay, okay you guys!” “That’s enough, put your craws away!” Simone says getting between them.
“Well, Monie tell her to stop her to stop hating on me!”
“Look, you drag queen reject . . .” Kay starts up.
“Guys, stop it okay.” “Please, gee I can’t take you two anywhere.” “You always make me feel like I’m a bouncer in a chick fight!” Simone chimes in. “Now, can we be civilized and get some popcorn okay.”

“Alright, Simone.” Kay says. In line, she orders a large popcorn with extra butter.
“Um, you’re hips look like they don’t need anymore butter!” Adam remarks.
“Kay, Kay!” “Let it go!” Simone says trying to hold her back.

Back at home; Whitney gets the surprise of her life. Her music loving, sweetie pie boyfriend, Chad away in LA sends her two plane tickets to come and visit him in LA with Theresa as an added bonus for two weeks. Whitney was ecstatic, and began pleading with Eve and TC to let her go. It took some time to convince them, but Eve told TC that she’s a young adult and needed to have some fun during the summer. So away Whitney went with Theresa and little Ethan for two weeks away for fun in the sun.

Simone relished in finally having her parents to herself for a while. She finally would get a taste of how it was to be an only child for once. It was strange, not having Whitney around the house for a while. But just as she suspected her parents did treat her a little different being the only Russell daughter in the household. Especially TC, he now doe on his little sugar bear.

As the summer months, pass along as to be expected Kay talked Simone into helping her with her schemes in her ongoing quest to permantely separate Miguel and Charity as a couple. Yet to be expected nothing worked, until Charity had gotten accepted to some special Sewing Camp, there she would be a peer counselor and help youngsters with special disabilities, who had dreams of becoming future fashion designers. A giddy, Charity was especially happy to get into the camp but doubted leaving Miguel behind. While Kay, couldn’t wait to see her leave. Finally, she thought a chance to get with Miguel.

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Meanwhile, during all this excitement Simone along with continuing her yoga sessions for relaxation. Continued perfecting, her dance craft her true passion for dancing came in the freedom it allowed her to have in life, something in her life she was able to control and give your all. She especially loved the sense of not labeling herself to anything in the classes; she wasn’t someone’s kid sister or youngest daughter while dancing. Her movements becoming more effortless, and unstraining as she counted each step with another. First, learning the trades of ballet and a how to stay balanced and centered. And then the freeness of modern dance, hip-hop and jazz mixed with a little sensuality of latin and salsa movements in the dance routine. Time passed, and she got better and better in her performance. Improving her dance skills, becoming more focused just on the dance instead of counting each move, she was able to finally just let her movements flow.

The rest of the time, if she wasn’t dancing or at work Simone would be found shaking her groove thing taking a belly-dancing course at the community center. She loved the Shakira movements of the interesting dance class. With a sash wrapped around her waist, she wiggled away to the music. Listening to the rhythm, feeling the movements as her hips swayed. . .

One late afternoon, Eve and Simone were hanging out at the Book Café chatting about the upcoming Fall semester and how Simone should really focus on her studies because her college years go so fast. Eve wanted her to know of what she should watch out for. Especially certain things, living in the dorms and how not to drink and be watchful of her judgments of people. Because later on in life you never know if that person is going to be your best friend or worst enemy down the road. The two were just having a mother/daughter chat, when Liz Sandboure comes up. She smiles at Simone but just gives a harsh stare in Eve’s direction. As though something deeply within troubled her when she saw her.

It’s no secret that Liz and Beth co-owned the Book Café together. But the glance, which Liz gave Eve, at that moment was cold and unwarming. Unwittly, to Simone these two women shared a past history. Nothing in the family way, but a sad past nonetheless. Liz, had been living in Harmony since she had met the love of her life her husband, Charles Sandboure. They married, soon in a world wind love affair even though her brother Robert Harris had disapproved. After the birth of his son, Chad he and his little family moved off to Los Angeles.

Still loving his older sister deeply, he promised to keep in touch. And that he did but back in Harmony Liz and her new husband Charles planned a long life together. He recently had gotten his pride and joy a new club entitled the Blue Note in his hands. Always being a fan of jazz, Charles wanted his Blue Note club to be reminiscent of the old Cotton Club in Brooklyn. Once he opened the doors, all of the young twenty something’s would stop by from the richest to the poorest. Everyone had to be seen there Charles was proud that his “baby” was doing so well. Everything seemed to be coming together he and Liz even planned to raise a big family of three kids.

While, of course all wasn’t perfect in paradise Charles a loving man began a gambling problem that was hard to beat! During one of his bad nights at the table playing cards, with no other than a young Julian Crane. Charles, foolingly put up the Blue Note thinking he couldn’t be beaten. But at last he was, and Julian having his own plans for the club, he was going to use it to showcase his latest obsession, a beautiful young singer named Eve.

Soon, time passes and Charles gets even more depress about losing his club that he build up. One night, he goes to the club on a drinking binge seeing how well the club was doing without him. Soon, a very drunk Charles runs into Eve who’s just finished a late night set. Seeing, that he’s totally out of it, she tries to get him a cab home instead of him driving home. But he goes on, and drives home plaster! Unknowing that it’s been raining that night and sadly ends his life in a fatal car crash, poor Liz was heartbroken and crushed by his death.

Since then, she’s vowed to have revenge on Julian Crane for taking away her husband’s dream and just by association and being with him in his last moments she hates Eve too. Sadly, she stops herself from loving anyone since then and can’t cope with losing him. Seeing that drinking was one of the factors that killed Charles she vowed not to have another drink ever again. And every time, she sees Eve she’s reminded of those days and what’s she’s lost. Regret, sadness, and revenge now ruled her, which explains her cold- shoulder look at Eve. . .

As summer moves on, we see Simone hanging out with Kay, Jessica, Reese and Miguel late on afternoon as the sun’s about to set they all appear on the wharf. Just then, Miguel says something like how he wishes that Charity could see the sunset right now. But at the moment, she was still away at her sewing camp. Soon, we see Reese and Jessica embraced and Kay steps up by Miguel and reaches out to hold his hand. He reluctantly, stares at her hands not knowing what to do. But decides not to be cruel, and grabs her hand Kay surprised, smiles at his respond. Jessica and Reese soon slip away for some ice cream, and Simone continues to stare out at the ocean’s breath-taking view. She starts to daydream to herself, she wonders if one day she’ll meet someone to sweep her off her feet and they feel it too. That’s when a world wind the words like true love, real love, true commitment and fantasies pop into her mind. “How do you break away from fantasies to realities?” she asks herself.

Her mind ponders, from thought to thought. Unknowing, that behind her Kay went in for the kill grabbing Miguel in a deep embrace and attempting to steal a passionate kiss which he couldn’t resist. Maybe it was the enchanting sight, or the smells of the ocean below the port, but the two were very close to a heavy lip lock! Soon, unaware of what was going on, Reese and Jessica appeared again with ice cream in tote for everyone. Sadly, though Reese clumsily tripped on his untied shoelace. And the ice cream cones that he was carrying for Kay and Miguel fell into Kay and smeared all over her clothes and face the way she was turned. Finally, waking up from her own thoughts Simone turns in time to see the action. “REESE!!!” Kay screams as an ice cream cone goes up her nose.

Seeing the sight, Simone blurts into laughter. . .

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The month is now August, and it’s Simone’s nineteenth birthday. So, her parents decided to be sweet to her and have a quiet celebration with friends at the house. Simone was excited to have everyone there, she cared about come to celebration her special day. It was the perfect, event to have some of her new friends such as Adam and others from yoga, and dance classes meet her regular hang out crew. So, everyone she loved was there, except for Whitney of course. Even though their parents wanted her there, she decided against it feeling that her presence would in turn upset Simone. So, during that night Whitney could be found hanging around town with Theresa.

The party continued, with music blasting, hanging streamers and a beautiful array of fuchsia and lilac balloons everywhere in sight. At this moment Simone could be found unwrapping presents. It was Adam’s turn to present his gift; Simone opened it with great excitement as he sat next to her on the couch. She pulled out, an outrageously hot, red velvet velour dress with matching sweat logo jacket. “Oh, Adam I love it!” she told him.
“But do you think it’s a little too tight and revealing!?!”
“Well, honey if I had a tight little body and you’re -----”
“ADAM!” Simone yelled covering his mouth knowing exactly what he was going to say. Everyone, laughed as she looked towards her parents. Eve and TC looked at each other not knowing what to make of Adam or his expressions.

Later, the party ended as Simone thanked everyone for attending. People embraced and left with their stomachs full and big grins on their faces. Simone gave her parents’ another big hug and kisses before going up to her garage apartment. As she did, opening the door’s entrance with her key. She noticed something by her doorway, it was an envelope with her name imprinted on it and a little wrapped present. She picked it up and went in.

With all her other gifts in tote, and a handful of balloons she put them aside. Dying to know, who had left this mysterious package. She opened the letter first; soon she realized that it was from Whitney. Simply wishing her a good birthday and letting her know that even though they still weren’t on speaking terms she was there. Glancing at the letter, Simone slowly turned to the gift. After unwrapping it, she stared at it intently. Whitney had went out and got her a precious sterling silver charm id bracelet. With a special inscription on it. It read:

“Follow Your Heart” & Everything else will fall into place. Love, Whitney

Simone just stared at the bracelet for what seemed like forever and a day. She didn’t know what to think or say about the gift. Later, she just put it away in her jewelry box, out of her sight for now. She felt like it was way too late to go back to how things use to be. When she and Whitney shared the same loving and trusting relationship as before. Even if she were to fight her previous feelings, the hurt and anger would still be there at this moment. Afterwards, the only expression that she could express was a still lone tear that cascaded down her left cheek. She then stared out the window, and sighed deeply. The moon was full. . .