Chapter Ten

“Well, father,” Fox took a seat beside a comatose Julian. “Looks like it’s just me and you.”

“Look, I know we have had our differences and everything,” Fox stated, “But you are my father.”

”And I… care very deeply for you.”

“And I need you.”

Fox laughed bitterly when there was still no response from Julian.

“I need you because I don’t know how I can live my life, without you there to support me. I need you to guide me and make sure that I’m not ruining or messing my life. My relationship with Whitney is already screwing up. She’s been distancing herself away from me and she never tells me anything even though it looks as if she wanted to. It’s like… she doesn’t even trust me.”

“But, dad, you KNOW Whitney. You KNOW her mother…”

Fox paused. “I’m not being entirely selfish here.”

“I’ve seen the good doctor. She’s worrying so much for you. Father, she loves you, and I think you know that too. There was a change inside of her. I saw it. She will not live without you. And I wish for no pain on Whitney’s part to see her mother like this.”

“You have to wake up.” Fox said, patting Julian’s shoulder.

He then got up and left the room.

___

“Simone? What are you going here?” Noah asked, when he entered inside the book café.

“Noah!” Simone gasped, and quickly shoved the picture inside her purse. She’ll take care of that one later, since she had heard that her parents were out for a “romantic dinner”. She bit her lip. She just HAS to take care of that later, because her mom has been cheating on her daddy for god knows how long now!

“I should be asking YOU that question!” she said, startled.

“I just wanted to take a sip of coffee,” Noah explained.

“But why are you back? Did you finish university?” Simone asked, and blushed slightly. She missed him so much! And he promised that he would come back! And he did!

“Yup,” he grinned. “I’m now officially qualified as a lawyer.”

“A lawyer? That’s great!”

“Yup.”

“Does your parents know your back yet? Does Kay know? Oh my god, she’s missed you so much!”

“Nah, haven’t told them yet,” he said shiftily.

“Why not?” Simone asked suspiciously.

“I’m waiting for Jamesha to come back so I could introduce her to the family again,” he said guiltily.

“Jamesha?” Simone asked, and felt her heart jolt in pain. “She’s here?”

“Yeah… we’re engaged.”

Simone felt her eyes water with tears. “You promised,” she whispered.

“I know,” Noah hung his head.

Simone got up, and smacked his face. “You betrayed me!”

Noah rubbed his cheek, and looked at her with full of pain. “No, I didn’t.”

“Yes you did!”

“No,” he then shot daggers at her. “Then can you explain the Chad Harris guy?”

Simone looked at Noah, shocked. “You knew?”

“Of course.”

Simone sat back down. “How?”

“Because,” he said furiously, “I came back to visit, last year, and when I saw you, kissing that man, I mean, god, it hurts so much… when I saw you two going at it I just left. Didn’t even see my parents.”

Simone sat silently.

“So it wasn’t like I betrayed you first. You did.” Noah said finally.

“And then you went back to Jamesha?”

“No, I tell you, I think it was fate. We somehow found our way back into each other lives again.”

Simone rubbed Noah’s arm, and he pulled away.

“Please,” he said. “Anyways, after I found you and that Chad Harris guy together, I knew that it meant “we” were over, and you looked as if you moved on so fast. I drove back to near where my school was, and sat in the bar, drowning all the pain away. It didn’t work, of course, until I found Jamesha again, sitting right beside me doing the exact same thing.” Noah paused. “Well, I suppose you’ll know the whole story afterwards.”

“I can only guess,” Simone murmured.

“I’m sorry, Noah.”

“It’s okay, I love Jamesha, I love her with all my heart.”

“And I still love you Noah.”

Noah’s eyes suddenly turned cold and looked on at her emotionlessly. “No, you don’t.”

“But-“

“I’m going to go check back on my FIANCEE now, I’ll see you later. I think just maybe, we could still be friends.” He then grabbed his coffee and vanished away from Simone’s eyes.

“Oh, Noah,” she sobbed. “Noah...”

____

“What happened?” Eve asked hurriedly when she saw Gwen being strolled down into the emergency room, with Ethan running alongside with her hysterically. She grabbed her doctor’s coat.

“Uh, Dr. Russell, -“ the nurse started, when she saw Eve wearing her coat.

“It’s past twelve now, it’s a new day,” Eve said stiffly.

“Alright, fine! But I’ve been given strict orders that you can’t treat Mr. Crane!”

“That is fine.”

The nurse nodded.

“So what happened?” Eve stared at Gwen.

“She’s been hit by some sort of glass.”

“Oh my,” Whitney said, covering her mouth.

Fox ran up to Gwen.

“My god! What happened? Why is she here?”

“Fox,” Whitney sobbed.

“What happened?” Fox said impatiently.

Ethan looked at Gwen and then walked up to Fox and Whitney.

“You’re back,” he said menacingly.

“Of course,” Fox smirked.

“YOU BROUGHT THERESA WITH YOU!” Ethan shouted, and started to pummel Fox.

“Fox!” Whitney shrieked. “Ethan stop it!”

Whitney looked around helplessly. “Someone, help me!” she pleaded.

Eve and the nurse ran to Ethan and pulled him away.

“What the golly is with you half-bro?” Fox said, wiping the blood in his lips.

“THERESA! THAT’S WHY!” Ethan shouted.

“Oh no,” Whitney shook her head. “Where is she?”

“She’s been taken inside the police station for questioning, and,” Ethan paused. “Probably will be arrested, tonight.”

“WHY?” Fox asked, shock.

“SHE HIT GWEN AND COULD OF KILLED HER!”

“I’m going right now,” Whitney said hurriedly. “See you later mom.”

“Bye Whitney,” Eve nodded, and kissed her cheek. “Be careful!”

”Whatever mom.”

Fox shook his head sadly. “Theresa…”

A tear-stricken Rebecca walked slowly over to Eve. “Please Eve,” she pleaded. “Save my Gwennie. You have to. You just have to.”

Eve nodded absently. “Of course, Rebecca.”

Suddenly, Julian’s heartbeat monitor went off.

“I’m going to go now,” Jamesha rushed over to Julian’s room.

“Please be okay Julian,” Eve whispered. She then turned to Gwen. Now it’s time for her to save Gwen’s life.