CHAPTER 13
Doubt
"You guys should really get your hands off each other."
Chad and Whitney both looked at Fox who was sitting across from them looking at a magazine. He didn't look up.
"Don't you feel a bit sickened over this?"
"Over what?"
"Over your relationship, Whitney."
"Care to explain?"
"When we were in Harmony, you both were shocked to learn that maybe you were brother and sister. Then the second you realized that you weren't, you got back together..."
"Your point been?"
"How thick are you Chad. It's disgusting. I know if it were me, I would have just walked away."
"That's because you don't know what it feels like to be in love."
He felt insulted.
"Maybe I don't, but I know that a close call like this would have cooled down whatever needs or wants I had. Don't you feel weird when you kiss her or make love to her?"
"No. Should I?"
Fox put down his magazine on the coffee table and got up.
"Do I really need to answer this question?"
He went outside and smiled at himself.
"Chad, maybe Fox is right. Maybe we should bring it down a notch."
"What? Why?"
"Because maybe we should take a step back and try to sort this mess out."
"What is there to sort, we love each other."
"I know."
"Then don't let doubt creep in your mind. Don't let Fox put these ideas in your head."
"He's not putting anything in my head. He has been a really good friend to us. I tend to think about the things he says to me."
"I don't think we should be taking advice on love from him."
She gave him a crossed look and he saw it.
"I mean he is a great guy, very different from the other Cranes, but still.....he is a Crane."
"That's not very nice Chad."
"Sorry, Whit, but that's just how I feel."
"Don't worry about it, Whitney. It won't be the first time that someone says that about me."
She got up and went to him.
"I am so sorry, he shouldn't have said that. I hope you know that I do care about you."
He smiled at her as she put her hands on his arm and squeezed it.
"I'll go check on Teresa. She' been awfully quiet."
She watched him disappear in one of the hallways, then turned to Chad.
"You can be such a jerk when you want to."
"I wasn't been a jerk, Whitney. I was just telling it like it was."
"It's not like it is. He is a good guy."
"Are we going to fight over Fox."
"Not unless you apologize for what you said about him. He is trying really hard to sever those ties to his family and to be a good man. Look at everything he's done for Teresa and her baby."
"I'm not apologizing."
She picked up her purse and was on her way out.
"Fine, be like that!"
"Where are you going? Let me go with you."
"I want to be alone."
She slammed the door behind her.
******************
Fox stood in front of Teresa's door and looked at it for a few minutes. He sighed and knocked.
"Come in!"
He opened it and walked inside.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from here."
He sat on her bed in the middle of the clothes she had spread on it.
"Are you going back to Harmony?"
"No. I'm staying in LA. I just don't want to live here anymore."
"Is it because of me and what I did the day I saw Dylan kissing you?"
"Yes and no. It's mostly because Ethan and Gwen are here, because they have had their baby. I'm tired of him asking me every 2 seconds where I am going and what's going on with me and trying to show me this fake interest. I just want to find my own place and not have to worry about anyone."
"That's fair enough. Do you have a place?"
"No, I was going to the hotel for a few days until I can find something decent."
"No, you won't. I got permission from Father to use our Malibu home. I was also thinking that this place was too crowded for my taste. Would you like to go with me?"
She looked at him feeling suspicious and he understood.
"No, there are no ulterior motives. It's a big house and I could use the company of someone I care about very much. Besides, I don't want you to end up at some of LA's dangerous neighborhoods."
"Before I say yes or no, you have to know that I have a date with Dylan tonight."
He felt his body tense up at the mention of the word "date" and "Dylan" in the same sentence.
"Alright, I will not try to run your life or anything like that. I already apologized and promised you that I wouldn't interfere."
He looked at her innocent and naïve face.
"Promise me one thing though."
"What is it?"
"That you will be careful around him. He is pretty slick. I never knew him to be a gentleman."
She was folding some shirts and putting them in her suitcase.
"You are doing the exact same thing that Ethan did with you when you first came to Harmony."
"And what is that?"
"You are judging him for things that he did in the past. Ethan also said that you were a jerk and a bad person all over, but I know you're not."
"The only difference is I know Dylan better than anyone and Ethan didn't really know me. Some of the things Dylan did are far worst than everything I did put together."
"I guess I'll just have to find out on my own, now won't I?"
He got worried about her. "I won't stop you if that's what you want. I think you're a big girl and you can take care of yourself. I mean I did see you stand up to my family."
She laughed. She went up to him and sat on his lap putting an arm around his neck.
"See, nothing to worry about."
She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him.
"And I would love to live with you at Malibu."
He smiled at her and she got up.
"Do you think you can be ready in an hour?"
"Are you kidding me? The sooner the better!"
"Ok then, I'll go speak to the others."
***********************
Whitney was walking along the beach, lost in her thoughts.
"A penny for your thoughts."
She turned around.
"Dylan? Hi!"
"Hello, Whitney."
He studied her face for a moment.
"A fight with your boyfriend?"
"No, just an argument."
"I don't mean to pry, but over what?"
"Fox."
"Fox?"
"Yes, Chad said some things about hi, been a Crane and that no matter how decent he tried to be, he would always be a Crane."
"And that got you upset?"
"Kind of. But now that I think about it, maybe I overreacted."
"Maybe...but tell me Whitney. How do you feel about the young Mr. Crane?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you feel something more than friendship toward him?"
"Of course not. If you think that I'm falling for him, you are mistaken."
"Am I? No one runs out of the house because their boyfriend said something insignificant like what Chad said about Fox. Believe me, that is not the worst that I heard anyone say about him. He is used to it. I don't think he even cares anymore."
"I just thought that it was hurtful."
"Maybe you should think about this Whitney. It hurt you more than it did him. Maybe there is something there."
"No, there isn't. Look, I should go back."
"I'll walk you, I have to see Teresa."
****************************
Whitney opened the door front door and walked in. It was very silent. Both her and Dylan walked in and went to living room to find everyone sitting there. Gwen was holding her son in her arms, Ethan was sitting across from her looking at Teresa who was sitting beside Fox. Chad was staring at Fox.
"What's going on, guys?"
All heads turned to Whitney and Dylan.
"Look who I found."
Fox glared at Dylan, unhappy to see him standing there. He gave Teresa his million dollar smile.
"Dylan, do you think you can wait for Teresa in the kitchen or by the pool? This shouldn't take long."
"Of course."
He left the living room and went outside.
"You guys are so serious. What's up?"
"We don't know, Teresa and Fox wanted to talk to us."
Everyone looked at them.
"Fox, you want to start?"
"Sure, Teresa and I are leaving here."
"What? Why?"
"I love living with you Whitney, I truly love it. But I can't live here anymore. I want to just go away from here."
"Teresa, I need more than this. It's not an explanation."
"Look guys, the bottom line is that Teresa and I would feel more at home if we lived elsewhere. And since I don't want her to live alone in some unsafe place, I suggested that we go together to the Crane Malibu beach house. I think it would be more comfortable for both of us."
"Fox if it's because of what I said...."
"No, Chad. It's not. I had been thinking about it for a few weeks now."
"Are you leaving because of me and Gwen, Teresa?"
"This is a big part of the reason."
"Look, you don't have to leave."
"Yes, I do Ethan. Besides, I like spending time with Fox. We always have a really good time together. And I never have to justify myself to him."
"Ready to go, Resa?"
"Yes. I'll just go talk to Dylan."
"Ok, I'll wait for you outside."
She nodded and went on the patio to find Dylan. He turned around when he heard her.
"What was that all about?"
"Fox and I are moving out of here."
"Where to?"
"Malibu. Look, I'm sorry but I will have to cancel our date tonight. I have to get settled in tonight. Maybe we can reschedule."
"I would love to. How does a club sound to you? In a few days, just to give you the time to get your bearings...you know."
She smiled at him.
"Thank you."
He leaned in and kissed her just as Fox was going to see if she was ready to go. He felt angry. He turned his heels.
"Tell Teresa that I'm waiting for her."
He left the house and went back outside. A few minutes later, her and Dylan had joined him. He was holding her hand in his. He kissed her again and left.
"Let's go Fox. I want to be as far from here as possible."
He opened the door for her and closed it when she went in. He took his place in the driver's seat and started driving. She looked at him and felt that he was unhappy about something.
"What's wrong Fox?"
"Nothing. Everything is just dandy."
"You guys should really get your hands off each other."
Chad and Whitney both looked at Fox who was sitting across from them looking at a magazine. He didn't look up.
"Don't you feel a bit sickened over this?"
"Over what?"
"Over your relationship, Whitney."
"Care to explain?"
"When we were in Harmony, you both were shocked to learn that maybe you were brother and sister. Then the second you realized that you weren't, you got back together..."
"Your point been?"
"How thick are you Chad. It's disgusting. I know if it were me, I would have just walked away."
"That's because you don't know what it feels like to be in love."
He felt insulted.
"Maybe I don't, but I know that a close call like this would have cooled down whatever needs or wants I had. Don't you feel weird when you kiss her or make love to her?"
"No. Should I?"
Fox put down his magazine on the coffee table and got up.
"Do I really need to answer this question?"
He went outside and smiled at himself.
"Chad, maybe Fox is right. Maybe we should bring it down a notch."
"What? Why?"
"Because maybe we should take a step back and try to sort this mess out."
"What is there to sort, we love each other."
"I know."
"Then don't let doubt creep in your mind. Don't let Fox put these ideas in your head."
"He's not putting anything in my head. He has been a really good friend to us. I tend to think about the things he says to me."
"I don't think we should be taking advice on love from him."
She gave him a crossed look and he saw it.
"I mean he is a great guy, very different from the other Cranes, but still.....he is a Crane."
"That's not very nice Chad."
"Sorry, Whit, but that's just how I feel."
"Don't worry about it, Whitney. It won't be the first time that someone says that about me."
She got up and went to him.
"I am so sorry, he shouldn't have said that. I hope you know that I do care about you."
He smiled at her as she put her hands on his arm and squeezed it.
"I'll go check on Teresa. She' been awfully quiet."
She watched him disappear in one of the hallways, then turned to Chad.
"You can be such a jerk when you want to."
"I wasn't been a jerk, Whitney. I was just telling it like it was."
"It's not like it is. He is a good guy."
"Are we going to fight over Fox."
"Not unless you apologize for what you said about him. He is trying really hard to sever those ties to his family and to be a good man. Look at everything he's done for Teresa and her baby."
"I'm not apologizing."
She picked up her purse and was on her way out.
"Fine, be like that!"
"Where are you going? Let me go with you."
"I want to be alone."
She slammed the door behind her.
******************
Fox stood in front of Teresa's door and looked at it for a few minutes. He sighed and knocked.
"Come in!"
He opened it and walked inside.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from here."
He sat on her bed in the middle of the clothes she had spread on it.
"Are you going back to Harmony?"
"No. I'm staying in LA. I just don't want to live here anymore."
"Is it because of me and what I did the day I saw Dylan kissing you?"
"Yes and no. It's mostly because Ethan and Gwen are here, because they have had their baby. I'm tired of him asking me every 2 seconds where I am going and what's going on with me and trying to show me this fake interest. I just want to find my own place and not have to worry about anyone."
"That's fair enough. Do you have a place?"
"No, I was going to the hotel for a few days until I can find something decent."
"No, you won't. I got permission from Father to use our Malibu home. I was also thinking that this place was too crowded for my taste. Would you like to go with me?"
She looked at him feeling suspicious and he understood.
"No, there are no ulterior motives. It's a big house and I could use the company of someone I care about very much. Besides, I don't want you to end up at some of LA's dangerous neighborhoods."
"Before I say yes or no, you have to know that I have a date with Dylan tonight."
He felt his body tense up at the mention of the word "date" and "Dylan" in the same sentence.
"Alright, I will not try to run your life or anything like that. I already apologized and promised you that I wouldn't interfere."
He looked at her innocent and naïve face.
"Promise me one thing though."
"What is it?"
"That you will be careful around him. He is pretty slick. I never knew him to be a gentleman."
She was folding some shirts and putting them in her suitcase.
"You are doing the exact same thing that Ethan did with you when you first came to Harmony."
"And what is that?"
"You are judging him for things that he did in the past. Ethan also said that you were a jerk and a bad person all over, but I know you're not."
"The only difference is I know Dylan better than anyone and Ethan didn't really know me. Some of the things Dylan did are far worst than everything I did put together."
"I guess I'll just have to find out on my own, now won't I?"
He got worried about her. "I won't stop you if that's what you want. I think you're a big girl and you can take care of yourself. I mean I did see you stand up to my family."
She laughed. She went up to him and sat on his lap putting an arm around his neck.
"See, nothing to worry about."
She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him.
"And I would love to live with you at Malibu."
He smiled at her and she got up.
"Do you think you can be ready in an hour?"
"Are you kidding me? The sooner the better!"
"Ok then, I'll go speak to the others."
***********************
Whitney was walking along the beach, lost in her thoughts.
"A penny for your thoughts."
She turned around.
"Dylan? Hi!"
"Hello, Whitney."
He studied her face for a moment.
"A fight with your boyfriend?"
"No, just an argument."
"I don't mean to pry, but over what?"
"Fox."
"Fox?"
"Yes, Chad said some things about hi, been a Crane and that no matter how decent he tried to be, he would always be a Crane."
"And that got you upset?"
"Kind of. But now that I think about it, maybe I overreacted."
"Maybe...but tell me Whitney. How do you feel about the young Mr. Crane?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you feel something more than friendship toward him?"
"Of course not. If you think that I'm falling for him, you are mistaken."
"Am I? No one runs out of the house because their boyfriend said something insignificant like what Chad said about Fox. Believe me, that is not the worst that I heard anyone say about him. He is used to it. I don't think he even cares anymore."
"I just thought that it was hurtful."
"Maybe you should think about this Whitney. It hurt you more than it did him. Maybe there is something there."
"No, there isn't. Look, I should go back."
"I'll walk you, I have to see Teresa."
****************************
Whitney opened the door front door and walked in. It was very silent. Both her and Dylan walked in and went to living room to find everyone sitting there. Gwen was holding her son in her arms, Ethan was sitting across from her looking at Teresa who was sitting beside Fox. Chad was staring at Fox.
"What's going on, guys?"
All heads turned to Whitney and Dylan.
"Look who I found."
Fox glared at Dylan, unhappy to see him standing there. He gave Teresa his million dollar smile.
"Dylan, do you think you can wait for Teresa in the kitchen or by the pool? This shouldn't take long."
"Of course."
He left the living room and went outside.
"You guys are so serious. What's up?"
"We don't know, Teresa and Fox wanted to talk to us."
Everyone looked at them.
"Fox, you want to start?"
"Sure, Teresa and I are leaving here."
"What? Why?"
"I love living with you Whitney, I truly love it. But I can't live here anymore. I want to just go away from here."
"Teresa, I need more than this. It's not an explanation."
"Look guys, the bottom line is that Teresa and I would feel more at home if we lived elsewhere. And since I don't want her to live alone in some unsafe place, I suggested that we go together to the Crane Malibu beach house. I think it would be more comfortable for both of us."
"Fox if it's because of what I said...."
"No, Chad. It's not. I had been thinking about it for a few weeks now."
"Are you leaving because of me and Gwen, Teresa?"
"This is a big part of the reason."
"Look, you don't have to leave."
"Yes, I do Ethan. Besides, I like spending time with Fox. We always have a really good time together. And I never have to justify myself to him."
"Ready to go, Resa?"
"Yes. I'll just go talk to Dylan."
"Ok, I'll wait for you outside."
She nodded and went on the patio to find Dylan. He turned around when he heard her.
"What was that all about?"
"Fox and I are moving out of here."
"Where to?"
"Malibu. Look, I'm sorry but I will have to cancel our date tonight. I have to get settled in tonight. Maybe we can reschedule."
"I would love to. How does a club sound to you? In a few days, just to give you the time to get your bearings...you know."
She smiled at him.
"Thank you."
He leaned in and kissed her just as Fox was going to see if she was ready to go. He felt angry. He turned his heels.
"Tell Teresa that I'm waiting for her."
He left the house and went back outside. A few minutes later, her and Dylan had joined him. He was holding her hand in his. He kissed her again and left.
"Let's go Fox. I want to be as far from here as possible."
He opened the door for her and closed it when she went in. He took his place in the driver's seat and started driving. She looked at him and felt that he was unhappy about something.
"What's wrong Fox?"
"Nothing. Everything is just dandy."
