Sugar and Spice: Everything Changes
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Chapter One.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Change of Plans

"Christa, how's school going?" Sherri asked over dinner one night.

Christa shrugged. "Same old." She hated having to make small talk with Sherri. She had been living in Boston for two weeks and Sherri was already getting on her nerves. First of all, she was always there, and she was so damned cheerful. But it was her influence on Christopher that really grated on Christa's nerves.

Life with her Dad was definitely different than she remembered. Not only did she have a firm curfew, but Christopher had insisted on meeting all of her friends and being introduced to all of her dates and she had to check in frequently. It was as if he suddenly didn't trust her and Christa found it really annoying, especially since she had always taken her freedom for granted.

"I was thinking we could go to the spa this weekend," Sherri told her cheerfully, not deterred by Christa's surliness. "It would be relaxing and give us a chance to bond."

"I'm going away this weekend." Christa told her.

Sherri frowned. "You're going to visit your mother again? You were just there." There was a censure in her voice and Christa fought the urge to roll her eyes. If she wanted to visit her mom and Rory that was her business.

"Christa's going to visit some friends at Yale this weekend," Christopher explained.

Christa watched Sherri carefully. This was the first time Yale had come up in Sherri's presence, because Christa had had the feeling her father's girlfriend wouldn't approve and she was worried about her influence over Christopher.

Christa wasn't disappointed. Sherri immediately frowned. "You're letting her go to Yale?" She asked Christopher, in obvious disapproval. "To visit a bunch of college boys?"

Christopher looked uncomfortable. "I trust Christa." He stated, causing Christa to smile.

"Of course you do," Sherri said sweetly, "But she's still a teenager and things happen. It's your job to watch out for her, Christopher. Is she going to be staying in a boy's dorm? That doesn't seem very safe."

"Colin and Logan won't let anything happen to me." Christa said quietly. "I'll be staying in Logan's room and he'll sleep in the common room." At least that was the official arrangement, Christa knew she'd really be staying in Colin's room and he wouldn't be sleeping on the couch. She also didn't think it would be as innocent as she wanted her dad to believe. She'd been thinking about Colin and about what had almost happened in Martha's Vineyard for weeks. She'd wanted it to happen. She still wanted it to happen. And maybe the time was right.

"See, Christa's got it under control," Christopher told Sherri.

Sherri was still frowning, but after a moment she forced a cheery grin. "Well, if you're going away this weekend, then we'll go to the spa next weekend."

"Fine." Christa agreed, even though she thought it sounded like torture, but she'd agree to anything if it stopped Sherri from interfering with her plans.


"What do you mean I can't go?" Christa asked Wednesday morning. "You promised!"

Christopher sighed. "Christa, I know, but I was thinking about it and I realized I'm not comfortable with you staying in Logan's dorm."

"We're just friends." Christa protested.

"Yes, and I trust Logan," Christopher told her, "But you don't know his roommates and things can happen. You're sixteen and it's my job to protect you."

"She talked you out of it, didn't she?" Christa said bitterly.

"Christa, this isn't about Sherri," Christopher denied, "I'm trying to be a responsible adult here."

"You've always trusted me before." Christa pointed out. "But since you've started dating her, that's suddenly changed."

"She just made me realize that I was being a lousy parent," Christopher told her, "I'm not supposed to be your friend, Christa, I'm supposed to be doing what's best for you. You're sixteen, you shouldn't be staying out until all hours of the night and doing what you please. You should have rules and boundaries and no, you shouldn't be staying alone at a dorm with a bunch of college guys."

"Fine." Christa said sulkily. "I'll go to Hartford this weekend."

"No, you won't." Christopher told her. "I want you to stay here and I'm going to take your keys to make sure you do."

"What?!" Christa asked in disbelief. "You really don't trust me, do you?"

"I just remember it was like to be sixteen." Christopher told her. He sighed and looked at his watch. "I have to go to work. We can talk about this later."

"Whatever." Christa said sulkily, since she knew that she wasn't going to change her father's mind. Sherri's influence was too strong. It wasn't fair, this woman had come into their lives and was changing everything.


"I can't come." Christa told Colin over the phone that afternoon. "My dad changed his mind."

"That sucks." Colin told her. "What brought this on?"

"What else? Sherri." Christa complained. "She convinced him that it was irresponsible for him to let me go. She's changed everything. He used to trust me."

"I'm sorry." Colin told her. "That really sucks. We were looking forward to seeing you."

"I was looking forward to seeing you too." Christa said softly. Not only did she not get to go this weekend, but she worried that her father's new attitude would ruin her friendship with Colin and Logan. If she could never visit them, what chance did their friendship have?

Still, she'd worry about that later, right now she had enough to be angry about.

"There will be other weekends." Colin assured her.

"Not if Sherri has her way." Christa muttered. She sighed. "But I'll keep working on him. It just sucks that he changed his mind at the last minute."

"It does." Colin agreed. He paused. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." Christa told him. "It's just… Living with Dad again, it isn't what I expected. I'm sure we just need to adjust."

"Probably." Colin agreed. "You have to get used to each other."

Christa hoped that was all it was, but after two and a half weeks, she was starting to worry. Things just felt different, it wasn't just Christopher's new attitude and rules, their relationship had changed too, it wasn't as open as it had been. There was a tension that had never existed before and Christa blamed it on Sherri.

"I guess," Christa agreed, "It sucks that I won't see you guys this weekend this."

"It does suck." Colin agreed. "Can you come to Hartford? We can bail on the party and meet you there?"

"No, Dad doesn't trust me." Christa said bitterly. "I have to stay here this weekend and he's taking my keys to make sure I do."

"That really sucks," Colin told her, "Well then maybe next weekend. We'll figure out something."

"Yeah." Christa agreed, but she wasn't optimistic. Stupid Sherri was ruining her entire life.