CHAPTER 15 Five Months

Teresa was sitting at her favorite place, the lake. The place that held so many amazing and beautiful memories for her. She laid down on the grass and cried, remembering the worst time of her life. It seemed that she was stuck in that time loop and will be forever.

It's been 5 months since you went away Left without a word and nothing to say When I was the one who gave you my heart and soul But it wasn't good enough for you, no

So I asked God
God send me an angel

From the heavens above Send me an angel to heal my broken heart From been in love 'Cause all I do is cry God send me an angel To wipe the tears from my eyes

She kept thinking about what had happened five months ago. She was still trying to understand what had happened. It all began with a knock on her door.

She opened that door and there he was standing looking like a truck had just rolled over him.

"What's wrong, Nicholas?"

He looked at her and she knew that things weren't right.

"We need to talk."

"Come in."

"No, let's go for a walk."

"You're so serious, you're scaring me."

He didn't move toward her to put his arms around her like he did when she was feeling like that. He didn't say anything comforting either.

"What have to tell you is very serious."

"Does it have anything to do with Ethan's news?"

"No, but this might be a very good time for me to lay the cards on the table."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that it's time for you to know the truth."

"What are you talking about?"

Her heart was racing and she felt her knees weakening. She was panicking inside.

"I'm taking about the fact that I lied to you."

"About what?"

"When I was in Paris, I met someone."

He looked for a reaction from her.

"Go on."

"I slept with her often."

Tears started running down her cheeks. She had to sit.

"When I was with you yesterday and we were talking to my family, my grandfather said that you weren't good enough for me. I think he's right."

"So now you believe what you're grandfather says."

"Yes, I do. I'm also breaking off whatever we have and had. I think it's better if you stayed away from me."

"Was she better than me? Did she come from a wealthy family?"

"Yes, she does and.."

"I've had enough of this."

She got up and took off her bracelet and ring. She took his hand and put them in it and closed it. She started walking away when he called her.

"Teresa, wait."

"No, leave me alone."

"I wanted to give you your graduation ring back."

"Keep it. I want it to be a reminder of what you destroyed. Me."

"Don't say that."

"But it's the truth, Fox. You ripped my heart out and stepped on it. I stripped my soul to you and this is what I get in return. I guess Luis was right about you. And it kills me that he was."

"Teresa..."

"Let go of me or I will scream so loud..."

"Don't do this, please."

"Don't do what? Be hurt? Feel shattered or feel that my life is spinning out of control? I defended you so often to my brother. You were my best friend and I loved you so much. I guess I was nothing more than a piece of ass to you, just like all the other girls you have in your bed."

She was shaking violently, her lips were trembling.

"Say something, Fox."

"I have nothing to say."

"You drop this bomb on me and you have nothing to say? I'll tell you something and I hope it burns in your heart in your head for the rest of your life. I hate you. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you."

She slapped him.

"I never want to see you again."

She ran away from him and he watched disappear from his life, his Teresa.

"It's for your own good, Resa. I would rather know that you are alive and happy and hating me then wake up one morning knowing that I caused you to lose your life. I just hope you'll forgive me one day."

And I know it might sound crazy

But after all that I still love you You wanna comeback in my life But now thre is something I have to do I have to tell the one I once adored That they can't have my love no more Cause my heart can't take no more lies And my eyes are all out of cries

Now you had me on my knees Begging God please to send you back to me I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep You made me feel like I could not breathe Now all I wanted to do was to feel your touch And give you all my love But you took my love for granted Want my lovin' now, But you can't have it God.

"Teresa, there you are. I've been looking all over for you."

Teresa sat up.

"Oh, honey. Stop doing this to yourself. Stop crying like this."

"I can't Whit. It's too painful."

"I know, but you have to move on."

"I can't. I don't feel he told me the entire story. I think he kept things from me."

"Let's go for a walk."

"I don't feel like it."

"Come on, we don't do things together anymore. Let's go to the beach. It will do you some good."

"Alright, but no more than an hour."

"As long as we can out of here."

Whitney helped Teresa to her feet and they started walking to the beach.

"I know you don't want to talk about him, but did he send you letters, anything?"

"No, I didn't receive anything from him. Why should I care. I mean he cheated on me and said that I wasn't good enough for him."

"I know, but maybe he wanted to explain himself by writing you after he left."

"He didn't even tell me he was leaving. I didn't know until mama told me about it the next say, that he was gone. The worst is that I miss him so much and wish he was here."

They arrived at the beach and sat on the cold sand. The stared at the waves for a while.

"Do you think he looked at the stars tonight?"

"Yes, I did and I do it every night because it brings me closer to you."

She jerked her head around and got up as soon as she saw who had spoken. She took a few steps back, to get away.

"Teresa, don't."

"Don't what, Fox. You haven't broken my heart enough you had to do it another time? what the hell is the matte with you?"

"Keep your voice down."

"No, why should I keep it down, why should I do anything you say? You told me to stay away from you, why are you here?"

"Because I couldn't stay away."

"You're the one who broke it off, you're the one who cheated, you're the one who thinks what others want you to think."

"Please, keep your voice down. They can't know that I'm here?"

"What? Who?"

"My father and grandfather."

"Do I look like someone who cares, Fox?"

"I never cheated on you."

"Liar!"

"I never thought you were beneath me."

"Liar! Liar!"

"No, Resa..."

"Don't call me that. You haven't earned that right."

She was angry, she couldn't breathe properly. Her head was throbbing and felt teas forming in her eyes. No, she wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.

"Fine, I won't call you that. I did all of this to protect you."

"Is this some other lie you're telling me?"

"No, I lied to you because I had to."

"What?"

"The day we found out that Ethan wasn't a Crane, Julian and Alistair decided that I was going to become the heir. It was the logical choice since I was second in line anyway. When I told them that I didn't want it, they threatened me with my inheritance. When they understood that I really didn't care, Grandfather said that he would take away the one thing he knew I couldn't live without. You."

He was trying to read her, to see if any feelings were coming up to the surface, but she gave him nothing.

"He threatened to have you killed. He threatened to have a bomb put under your car, to have you kidnapped, tortured and killed."

"No, why would he threaten my life like that? It doesn't make sense."

"Doesn't it? Doesn't your brother think that Alistair and Julian were behind your father's disappearance or the boat explosion that almost killed Sheridan. If they are willing to sacrifice family, then they are certainly willing to sacrifice you. There is no one else to inherit everything Crane. There is just me left. They knew they would get me to do what they wanted by dangling a sword over your head."

He looked at her again and saw all the pain in her eyes.

"I am so sorry that I had to put you through this. I sent you a few letters, but I think they might have been intercepted. I took a big risk by coming here tonight. When I called Whitney..." Teresa turned to Whitney.

"You brought me here on purpose?"

"I had to. I couldn't watch you put yourself through that every day, wondering what you had done wrong when it wasn't your fault. I just wanted you to have closure."

"Teresa, you have to know how much I love you. I know that somewhere in your heart, you must know that. I didn't want you to be hurt. I rather live an entire lifetime without you and know that you are doing fine, then have to live everyday knowing that you died because I loved you."

"Nicholas...I don't know if I believe you."

"You have to. I have to go back to London in the morning, but think about what I said. If anything that I had said to you 5 months ago was true, I wouldn't be standing in front of you right now."

She was crying without holding back.

"You'll never know how sorry I am about that. But I did what I had to do to protect you."

"And now?"

"I have a plan that will keep us together for good if you are willing to make the sacrifice."

"I'm scared, Nicholas."

He walked up to her and did what he wanted to do the day he broke her heart. Take her in his arms and make the hurt go away.

"I love you so much, Teresa. I was so lost without you."

"And I was empty when you left. Don't ever let me go."

"I will never let you go, I promise. I will never let them hurt you."

God send me an angel From the Heavens above Send me an angel to heal my broken heart From been in love 'Cause all I do is cry God send me an angel To wipe the tears from my eyes. (Amanda Perez; ANGEL)

Teresa let go of him and looked at Whitney.

"My angel is back Whit."

"I know sweetie."

She went back in his arms and rested her head on his chest. The wounds were starting to heal.