soschap4

Sacrifices of the Soul – Chapter Four

The DJ had been playing an odd mix of music all evening. Chad had asked Theresa to join him on the dance floor.

" Am I stepping on your shoes?", Chad joked.

Theresa hit him and said, " You are so silly. You’re a terrific dancer, Chad. I’ve never been this comfortable with anyone…well, not since Ethan. "

" Well, you’re not too bad yourself, Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald. "

" Tonight isn’t going badly. Just a horrible confrontation with Ethan and Gwen. "

" It wasn’t that bad.." Theresa raised her eyebrow to him, and Chad laughed. " OK, but, it wasn’t a total disaster…I stand by that."

" I was wondering..", Theresa began.

" What?"

" What took you so long when you went to the restroom. Usually only women take that long. "

" Um….The DJ cornered me, and we got into a sort of deep discussion about the music."

Theresa looked at Chad. She KNEW that he was telling a lie, because SHE had been talking to the DJ, but, she let it go if it was important enough for him to lie about.

Chad didn’t want to tell Theresa the truth about what happened when he went to the restroom. He never got to the restroom, because….

As Chad was about to go into the restroom, Ethan was coming out of it.

" Hello, Chad. "

" Ethan."

Chad didn’t get to go into the restroom before Ethan stopped him.

" Chad, can we talk?"

Chad stepped away from the door, and they went down the hall.

" Yeah, Ethan?"

" I was wondering what was going on with you and Theresa."

" Excuse me?"

" Are you dating Theresa?"

Chad begins to walk away, but, Ethan grabs his arm. Chad glares down to Ethan’s hand on his arm, and Ethan removes his hand.

" You know what, Ethan? What does it matter to you WHOM I am dating. YOU are a married man with a child on the way."

" It doesn’t matter who you’re dating. It’s just that I see you out with Theresa, and I.."

" Well, that’s your problem, Ethan. You had your chance, and you BLEW IT! Theresa is a beautiful, charming woman, and you can’t possibly think that she would be stuck on you for forever. IS your ego that big?"

" This has nothing to do with my ego. Boy, for someone who was willing to get married a few months ago, you’ve certainly rebounded quick.", Ethan sneered.

" My business is MINE, ‘Brother’.", Chad spat and went into the restroom, while Ethan turned to go back into the restaurant. Neither gentleman noticed that their conversation had been observed and heard.

" Earth to Chad…you still here."

Chad shook out of his remembrance and into Theresa’s brown eyes.

" You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?"

" Shucks…you got me."

" You were a million miles away."

" Now, I’m only with you..I promise." Chad saw across the dance floor that Gwen and Ethan had joined the others on the dancefloor. Chad saw Ethan looking at them, and instinctively held Theresa closer. Theresa didn’t know what to think of Chad’s maneuvering, but, didn’t say anything. She could smell his cologne and thought it was wonderful. They danced until Ethan and Theresa were looking over their prospective partner’s shoulders directly at one another.

Did I ever tell you how you live in me
Every waking moment, even in my dreams
And if all this talk is crazy
And you don’t know what I mean
Does it really matter
Just as long as I believe

I will love again
Though my heart is breaking,
I will love again
Stronger than before
I will love again
Even if it takes a lifetime to get over you
Heaven only knows, I will love again

" Well, well, look at this."

The sound of a familiar voice snapped Theresa out of her Ethan staring, and she turned to be face to face with..

" Whitney. How are you?"

" I can’t say that I’m surprised."

" Huh? What are you talking about."

Whitney looks directly at Chad. " I can’t believe that YOU are this stupid. Don’t you see it?"

" See what, Whitney?", Chad asks.

" You are her present fantasy. I used to have the suspicion, in the back of my mind that Theresa was never in love with Ethan. She just wanted to be a Crane."

" That’s not true!", Theresa shouts.

" Isn’t it? Ethan, the love of your life, the man you can’t live without..the man you that enables you to take your next breath…remember that, Theresa? Or is it already lost, now that you’ve got your next Crane mealticket on the hook?"

" Back off, Whitney! ", Chad warned.

People never tell you
The way they truly feel
I would die for you gladly
If I knew it was for real
So if all this talk sounds crazy
And the words don’t come out right
Does it really matter
If it gets me through this night

"Why should I back off? I’m telling the truth. The Housekeeper’s Daughter wants a ticket to a mansion on the hill, and any Crane will do. "

" Shut up, Whitney.", Chad warned.

" Oh puleeze. Has she begun to spin her web of events that will put the two of you in situations alone, and then begins to prattle on about how ‘Fate’ will bring you together. That it’s destiny? I think you and Ethan should compare notes. Have there been any ‘accidents’ around you? The playbook almost worked with Ethan, so, why should she change the agenda?"

Theresa has tears in her eyes. " Whit..why are you saying these things to me?"

" Oh, spare me the puppydog tears, Theresa. I have to congratulate you. Chad was already a fan of yours before everything happened, so, he won’t be nearly as hard to catch as Ethan. Now, you might have a fight on your hands, getting Chad his share of the Crane fortune, but, I’ve bet you’ve already got strategies outlined on your trusty laptop, don’t you?"

If I’m true to myself, nobody else can take the place of you
But I’ve got to move on, tell me what else can I do

" Whitney, THAT’S ENOUGH!", Chad shouted at the top of his lungs. Most of the couples on the dance floor, and the tables seated closest to the dance floor, were paying deep attention to the confrontation unfolding before them. " I don’t know what the HELL your problem is, but, you will NOT insult Theresa anymore. I don’t know what’s happening to you, Whitney, but, you need to seriously get a grip."

" I need to get a grip. You’re on DISPLAY with one of Harmony’s most ferocious GOLDDIGGERS, and you think that I need to get a grip? Sorry Chad, YOU are the one who needs to catch a clue. If you plan on being with your family, you should know that they will NEVER accept you with The Housekeeper’s Daughter."

" Who I date is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, Whitney. Not now, Not EVER!" As he had been saying this, Chad had moved closer to Whitney and was completely in her face.

" Hey, punk, get the hell away from my daughter! ", TC Russell exclaimed.

" Get away from HER? I was minding my OWN BUSINESS, when she came outta nowhere like a lunatic. She needs help."

TC got in Chad’s face. " What did you say?"

" I said..SHE NEEDS HELP! BADLY!"

" Well, whatever she needs, I’LL make sure she gets it, but, I’m certainly not going to listen to some Damn Crane Bastard tell me what to do about my own daughter. You stay away from her, or accept the consequences." TC said, his eyes glaring.

" Fine. I’ll stay away from her."

" And, stay away from Simone too. I don’t want any possibility of you contaminating my daughters, Crane. "

" FINE!", Chad spat.

TC put his arms around Whitney and led her away. " It’s Ok, Princess. I know that was awful, but, I’m here, and I’ll protect you."

Whitney looked up at TC and hugged him, " Thank you, Daddy."

TC kissed the top of her head, " Let’s go home."

Chad stood on the dancefloor, fuming. He counted backwards from 25 before he turned around. When he did, he saw Theresa standing there, with tears in her eyes, and she seemed to be shivering. Chad took off his tuxedo jacket, and put it around Theresa’s shoulders and gently led her out of the dining area of the restaurant.

" Chad.."

Chad shook his head. " Why don’t we just go home."

" Well! That was quite a display, don’t you think?", Gwen asked.

" It was definitely something."

" Only confirms what I’ve been saying all night, Ethan. Did you see the way Chad stood up for Theresa? And, her victim’s posture? Oh, she couldn’t have had a better night if she had planned it herself. And, whose to say that she didn’t? "

" What are you talking about?"

" Look at it, Ethan. She finds out that Whitney’s going to be here tonight. She shows up with Chad. Flaunts it in Whitney’s face, thus inviting Whitney’s attack, and when it begins…WHAM! Theresa, the innocent victim. The victim who needs ‘protecting’. Chad fell for it, hook, line and sinker."

" Gwen…."

" What? What’s different from this and all the other stunts that just ‘happened’ when she was after you?"

Ethan had nothing to say.

" I didn’t think so.", Gwen says and heads back to their table .

I will love again
One day I know, I will love again
You can’t stop me from loving again,
Breathing again
Feeling again
I know, one day, I’ll love again

- I Will Love Again
Lara Fabian

Chapter 5

Chapter 3

Site Index