Somehow I Will, Ch. 16- Just Friends
 by LilAngelGirl:
 

Chapter 16-Just Friends

"It’s not a date!" Chad protested.
Justin smiled, "The girl asked you out man. Man your lucky, she’s so fine." He said shaking his head.
"Justin!" Chad said giving his brother a look that made him hang his head.
"Sorry man. But it’s still a date. Fancy party or not, it’s a date." Justin laughed.
"She just wanted someone to go with, and I’m her friend, it makes sense."
Justin grinned, "No, what would make sense is if you too hooked up. "
Chad smacked his little brother lightly on the head, "Get your head out of the gutter. Resa has been through a lot lately."
"So cheer her up bro. I’m telling ya, the girl would be good for ya."
"We are friends. Just friends Justin. Understand?" Chad said staring his brother in the eyes.
"Denial, wow man you’ve got it bad. "
"Look I’ve had my run with women, first Whitney ran off to become a great tennis star, then Jada’s mom."
"Yeah that woman did you bad. Carrie was a bad seed, but Theresa, that girl is all good." Justin smiled.
"Theresa is all good, but still, she’s my friend. A friend I’m helping through a rough time."
Justin sighed. "You just don’t get it do you man? You’ve found a great woman, someone who would be great for that little girl upstairs, and your gonna let her slip away. "
"She doesn’t see me like that, Theresa can’t see anyone like that right now, she’s just lost her brother. Justin one day you’ll understand." Chad explained.
Justin huffed out large breath. "No man, maybe one day YOU"LL understand." He said heading upstairs.
 

~*~*~*

Ethan heard laughter as he walked into his mother’s home. He looked into the study and gasped.
"Ivy darling, that was the night you tried cooking for the children, they wanted real home cooked food remember?" He laughed looking at a picture.
"Yes and I believe it was you that snapped this picture, right as the roast began to smoke. "
"And, " He added, "The potato’s boiled over." Julian said as they both laughed.
"Hey, Sheridan helped me with that."
"Yes, she was also a horrible cook wasn’t she." Julian smiled.
"Well, she wasn’t home often, neither were the children, that was such a mistake." Ivy said picking up another picture.
"Um, can I come in?" Ethan asked edging into the doorway.
Ivy looked up and smiled, "Son, yes please. We were just looking at what few photo’s we had."
"I see. I didn’t realize you two were getting along so well." Ethan said looking at his mother and former father.
"Yes well we didn’t know we could." Julian said. Looking up at Ivy.
"Until today." She added. "We realized we didn’t acually hate each other after all."
"Well are you two attending that fasion party this weekend? "
Ivy smiled, "I will be, I hear they are unveiling some wonderful designs. In fact Theresa’s work will be shown."
"Theresa? " Ethan said arching his eyebrow. "Do you know if she has a date yet?" He questioned his mother.
"No, not that I know of. I saw her today and as far as I know she hasn’t asked anyone."
A smile spread across Ethan’s face. "Great, I’ll see you two later." He said rushing out the door.
Julian frowned. "Ivy darling, I’m afraid your son is headed for trouble."
"What? You don’t think Theresa will take him back? " She questioned.
"No. In fact I see a new relationship on the horizon for Theresa." Julian smiled.
Ivy’s eyes got bright? Oh really? Do tell Julian."
"I believe it won’t be long until Theresa falls for a wonderful young man. My son in fact."
"Chad?" She questioned.
"Yes. And I for one couldn’t be happier." Julian smiled.

~*~*~*~

" I can’t make the bubbles blue." Theresa said staring down at a unhappy five year old.
Kendra put her hands on her hips. " I wanta a blue bath." She huffed.
"I don’t know how." Theresa reasoned. "But I’ll give you extra bubbles anyway."
"No!" Kendra shouted. "I want um blue. Like daddy did it."
"I don’t have blue bubble bath." Theresa said.
"Make it blue."
"I can’t. Kenji, I don’t know how."
A knock at Theresa’s door stopped the noise, as Miguel walked in.
"I can hear her shouting outside." He said looking down at Kendra.
"I want blue bubbles Uncle Miguel."
"I’m trying to get her to take her bath and she want listen. I have to give Matthew a bath too, but I was going to do that last. " Theresa sighed.
Miguel put a hand on his sister’s shoulder. "Why don’t I give Matt his bath, and you fight this one out." He asked.
Theresa smiled. "That would help so much. You know where everything is right?" She questioned.
"Got it covered sis." Miguel said heading upstairs.
Theresa took a deep breath and looked back down at Kendra, "Tell you what Kendra, when Uncle Miguel finishes giving Matt his bath, I’ll see if he’ll go to the store and find you some blue bubble bath. How does that sound?" She asked.
The little girl shrugged. "Fine." She said walking away.
"Where you going?" Theresa asked.
"I’m gonna go play." She answered stomping up the stairs.
"I’ll never understand kids." Theresa said falling down on her couch, as the doorbell rang.
"What now?" She questioned heading for the door.
Opening it she looked shocked as she stared at the woman in front of her. "Gwen?"
"You said I could come by sometime. And I was so bored." She said uncertain.
Theresa smiled, "Come on in. Matt’s getting a bath. And Kendra is playing."
Gwen smiled back, "Thank you. I should have called first but, I just decided to try my luck."
"Its no problem really." Theresa said as they took a seat on the couch.
"This is a real nice place. You’ve done well Theresa." Gwen complimented looking around.
"Thank you. I’ve worked hard for this."
The women stared at each other, they had once hated each other, now they shared a common grief.
"Theresa, I want you to know, as far as I’m concerned the past is forgotten. I believe that is what Sher would have wanted." Gwen blurted.
"Thank you. I still want you to understand how sorry I am. I can’t begin to tell you."
Gwen smiled, "Sheridan once told me you had become a strong woman, one I could become good friends with. At the time I laughed, but now I think maybe she was right."
"Yes she told me the same thing. That we would make great friends." Theresa agreed.
"So would you like to try? I mean I must be honest, friends are something I don’t have a lot of." Gwen admitted.
Theresa smiled, "Neither do I. After Whit left she stopped calling, and well We drifted."
Gwen shook her head, "I never understood how she could give up Chad. He’s hotter than summer."
Theresa let out a small laugh. "Chad’s a wonderful person."
"Your close friends with him right?" Gwen said with a grin.
"Yes, we are very close."
"Are you two, well are you dating?" Gwen asked. "Or is that personal?"
Theresa laughed, "No, we’re just friends. Unless me taking him to the Fashion Party is a date."
Gwen’s eye’s lit up, "I’d call that a date. Lucky girl."
Theresa blushed. "Really its not a date. I just needed someone to go and well Chad is a great person."
"Hey Resa, Matt’s asleep. " A shirtless Miguel said walking down the stairs. His eyes went to Gwen. "I didn’t know you had company." He said shocked.
"Oh don’t mind me." Gwen sighed looking at Miguel’s chest.
"Where’s your shirt?" Theresa questioned.
Miguel grinned. "Matt got it soaked. Kenji told me I was suppose to go get her blue bubble bath. Did you put her up to that?"
Theresa bit her lip. "If you don’t want to." She began.
"Oh no it’s fine. Just let me go find a shirt." He laughed, glancing at Gwen who was still peering at him.
"I’m sure you have a few upstairs. From when you stayed over."
He nodded. "Be right back."
Theresa looked at Gwen and laughed. "He’s gone now." She said waving her hand in Gwen’s face.
"Wow, your brother’s, well grown." She cooed in a dreamy voice.
"Miguel?" Theresa laughed.
"Uh huh. Whoa. Is he single?" Gwen asked looking back at Theresa.
"Yeah, and only Twenty one."
"Which makes him Legal." Gwen noted.
"He’s my brother." Theresa frowned.
"He’s also built. Wow is he built. Never knew he had a body like that."
"Shall I repeat, He’s my brother." Theresa laughed.
"Oh, so would you rather talk about Chad? " Gwen giggled.
"No! We are just friends."
"So can I have him?" Gwen asked.
Theresa felt a tug in her heart, "Um, anyway Hank Bennett is single." She smiled.
"Just like I thought. " Gwen grinned. "Your not bad Theresa. "
Theresa nodded, "Neither are you." She said reaching her hand out, as Gwen shook it. And there a friendship had been made from two unlikely sources.
Theresa sighed as her doorbell rang again. "I better get that. I have no idea who it could be." She said turning back to Gwen.
"Maybe Chad’s come to wisk you away." She laughed.
"I doubt it." Theresa laughed opening the door.
"Hello Theresa." The male in front of her said.
"Ethan." Theresa said looking back at Gwen.
Gwen stood up, "Ethan, how are you." She smiled as Ethan’s face went pale.