Chapter 17:
After Chad had finished packing some of his belongings, he grabbed his car keys and
headed out to the car. He really wanted to let Whitney know where he was going, but he knew
he couldn't.
He reluctantly stored the suitcase into the trunk of his car. He didn't want to return to
where he was going, especially since it wasn't going to be on a happy occasion, but being there
for the one-year anniversarry of his parents' death meant a lot to him. Even though he didn't
show it, he still ached over losing his parents. It was now time to go back to be at the
ceremony.
Driving off, Chad made his way into the roads that would lead to Castleton, his
hometown.
"I'm coming back, Castleton," Chad said aloud to himself, "but it's not going to be a
permanent stay. That's for sure. Unless I never get to see Whitney again, that is."
He continued to drive for a few more minutes before realizing that he hadn't told his
boss, Beth, that he wouldn't be working for a while. Picking up his cell phone, he rang the
Book Cafe's number.
"Book Cafe, how may I help you?" came Beth's voice.
"Hi, Beth, it's Chad," he answered.
"Hi, Chad. What's up?" she asked.
"I just called to tell you that I won't be able to come to work for a week at least. I'm
going back to Castleton for the anniversarry of my parents' death."
"Oh, that's fine." Beth answered. She had been all set to protest, but when he
mentioned his parents, she decided to keep quiet. She may have been a demanding boss, but
she did have a heart.
"Thanks, Beth." he answered, relieved that she had been ok with it. "I'll make it up to
you, when I return."
"Ok," Beth answered. "And Chad?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
She hung up. He stared at the receiver for a minute, before doing the same.
Chad very well knew what Beth was sorry for. It brought tears to his eyes as he
remembered the day he had first received word of his parents' terrible car crash. It was the
day he never wanted to go through again. He had broken his hand from punching the wall in
anger. But what had hurt more was the fact that he was never going to be able to see his
parents again. He had cried in his room for that night, not letting anyone in to "try" to comfort
him.
Chad did his best to push those thoughts aside as he continued driving. He popped in
the tape of Whitney singing. It almost caused him to forget all of his problems. She had that
effect on him. And he loved her for it.
______________________________________________________________________________
It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon and Whitney had just finished one of her daily tennis
practices. It wasn't enough that her father used to make her practice every day, but now it
was twice in 24 hours!
Whitney was getting fed up. Not caring what her parents would do this time if they
found out, she decided to go to the Book Cafe. She just had to see Chad. She would deal with
the consequences later.
But Whitney wasn't a fool. She had brought along a form-fitting hat and sunglasses.
She had tied her hair up in a bun and made sure her curls didn't show. She didn't want anyone
besides maybe Chad and Beth to know that she was here.
Stepping inside, Whitney was relieved she made it this far. She looked around, but
couldn't find Chad anywhere. Usually, he didn't work in the back, he was always at the
counter.
Whitney walked over to where Beth was behind the counter.
"Hi," she said nonchalantly. She hoped Beth wouldn't notice who she was talking to.
"Hi, Whitney," Beth grinned at her.
"Damn you noticed," Whitney muttered.
Beth laughed. "Of course I did. I've known you you're whole life. But still, that's quite
a get-up."
"Thanks."
"But why are you wearing it?"
"Long story. Is Chad here?" Whitney asked, changing the subject. The hat was itching
her head. She took it off.
"No, actually he left," she answered.
"What? To where?"
"He went to Castleton, hon," she replied. "It's the 1-year anniversarry of the death of
his parents. He went back for the ceremony I'm sure."
"Ohhh," Whitney murmured to herself, slumping down in the nearest chair. She felt
bad for not remembering herself. Poor Chad, she thought to herself. He's reliving the
nightmare all over again.
"Thanks, Beth," Whitney blurted out as she grabbed the hat and walked out of the
Book Cafe. A thought had come to her mind. She thought that she might just be able to pull it
off.
{a/n: whats whitneys thought? keep reading to find out. thnx reviewers!!!!!}
After Chad had finished packing some of his belongings, he grabbed his car keys and
headed out to the car. He really wanted to let Whitney know where he was going, but he knew
he couldn't.
He reluctantly stored the suitcase into the trunk of his car. He didn't want to return to
where he was going, especially since it wasn't going to be on a happy occasion, but being there
for the one-year anniversarry of his parents' death meant a lot to him. Even though he didn't
show it, he still ached over losing his parents. It was now time to go back to be at the
ceremony.
Driving off, Chad made his way into the roads that would lead to Castleton, his
hometown.
"I'm coming back, Castleton," Chad said aloud to himself, "but it's not going to be a
permanent stay. That's for sure. Unless I never get to see Whitney again, that is."
He continued to drive for a few more minutes before realizing that he hadn't told his
boss, Beth, that he wouldn't be working for a while. Picking up his cell phone, he rang the
Book Cafe's number.
"Book Cafe, how may I help you?" came Beth's voice.
"Hi, Beth, it's Chad," he answered.
"Hi, Chad. What's up?" she asked.
"I just called to tell you that I won't be able to come to work for a week at least. I'm
going back to Castleton for the anniversarry of my parents' death."
"Oh, that's fine." Beth answered. She had been all set to protest, but when he
mentioned his parents, she decided to keep quiet. She may have been a demanding boss, but
she did have a heart.
"Thanks, Beth." he answered, relieved that she had been ok with it. "I'll make it up to
you, when I return."
"Ok," Beth answered. "And Chad?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
She hung up. He stared at the receiver for a minute, before doing the same.
Chad very well knew what Beth was sorry for. It brought tears to his eyes as he
remembered the day he had first received word of his parents' terrible car crash. It was the
day he never wanted to go through again. He had broken his hand from punching the wall in
anger. But what had hurt more was the fact that he was never going to be able to see his
parents again. He had cried in his room for that night, not letting anyone in to "try" to comfort
him.
Chad did his best to push those thoughts aside as he continued driving. He popped in
the tape of Whitney singing. It almost caused him to forget all of his problems. She had that
effect on him. And he loved her for it.
______________________________________________________________________________
It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon and Whitney had just finished one of her daily tennis
practices. It wasn't enough that her father used to make her practice every day, but now it
was twice in 24 hours!
Whitney was getting fed up. Not caring what her parents would do this time if they
found out, she decided to go to the Book Cafe. She just had to see Chad. She would deal with
the consequences later.
But Whitney wasn't a fool. She had brought along a form-fitting hat and sunglasses.
She had tied her hair up in a bun and made sure her curls didn't show. She didn't want anyone
besides maybe Chad and Beth to know that she was here.
Stepping inside, Whitney was relieved she made it this far. She looked around, but
couldn't find Chad anywhere. Usually, he didn't work in the back, he was always at the
counter.
Whitney walked over to where Beth was behind the counter.
"Hi," she said nonchalantly. She hoped Beth wouldn't notice who she was talking to.
"Hi, Whitney," Beth grinned at her.
"Damn you noticed," Whitney muttered.
Beth laughed. "Of course I did. I've known you you're whole life. But still, that's quite
a get-up."
"Thanks."
"But why are you wearing it?"
"Long story. Is Chad here?" Whitney asked, changing the subject. The hat was itching
her head. She took it off.
"No, actually he left," she answered.
"What? To where?"
"He went to Castleton, hon," she replied. "It's the 1-year anniversarry of the death of
his parents. He went back for the ceremony I'm sure."
"Ohhh," Whitney murmured to herself, slumping down in the nearest chair. She felt
bad for not remembering herself. Poor Chad, she thought to herself. He's reliving the
nightmare all over again.
"Thanks, Beth," Whitney blurted out as she grabbed the hat and walked out of the
Book Cafe. A thought had come to her mind. She thought that she might just be able to pull it
off.
{a/n: whats whitneys thought? keep reading to find out. thnx reviewers!!!!!}