IX.

That night, Fox and Theresa decided to check out the A.D. According to Trish, the Crane Assistant, the A.D. was a palatial dance club where many of Hollywood's elite gathered. Whitney and Chad decided that they would join Fox and Theresa. The four of them entered the club, each couple hand in hand, staring in awe at their surroundings.

"Oh my God," Theresa said. "This place is amazing."

"Shall we hit the dance floor?" Fox asked as he twirled Theresa under his arm.

"Yes, we shall." Theresa replied smiling.

Fox led Theresa onto the dance floor and placed her arms around his neck. Their intense gazes remained locked on each other while their bodies moved rhythmically to the hypnotic beat of the music.

"Look at them Chad" Whitney said in admiration. "They're so into each other. I always knew they'd make a great couple."

"They do look good together." Chad agreed.

"Chad!" Syd called as she waved to him.

"Oh, Syd." Chad said. "What are you doing here?"

"I just felt like dancing tonight." Syd replied with a small grin on her face. "Dance with me later?" Syd asked as she played with the buttons of Chad's shirt.

Whitney loudly cleared her throat. "Ahem!"

"Oh," Syd said without enthusiasm. "Whitney."

"Syd." Whitney said curtly.

"Is that Fox I see?" Syd asked looking towards the dance floor. "Who's that girl that's with him?"

"That's Theresa." Whitney replied. "His girlfriend. I believe you met her already."

"Oh, yeah." Syd said remembering. "Hm, that's odd." Syd said frowning.

"What?" Whitney asked curiously. "Is there a problem?"

"Excuse me," Syd said as she made her way onto the dance floor. Syd tapped Fox lightly on the shoulder.

"Syd," Fox said in surprise.

"Hi, Fox." Syd replied smiling.

"You remember Theresa, right?" Fox said as he put his arm around Theresa's waist.

"Hi." Theresa said.

"Nice seeing you again." Syd replied. "You know, Fox, I was wondering, would you dance with me?"

Fox looked at Theresa. "Uh, I don't mind. You go ahead." Theresa said.

"Are you sure?" Fox asked quietly.

"Yeah." Theresa said giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"So, she's your new girlfriend?" Syd asked nodding her head in Theresa's direction.

"Yeah," Fox said warily. He noticed that Syd was acting a bit strange.

"That's funny," Syd replied. "I hadn't thought about it till now. Once upon a time I believed you had a thing for- Whitney."

"Syd," Fox said in a low warning tone.

"What? Oh yeah that's right, nobody really knew about your little crush on Whitney now did they? Hm, I wonder how Chad or Theresa would react if they found out that you initially wanted Whitney." Syd raised her eyebrows.

Fox stopped dancing. "Syd, stop it." He said warningly.

"What, Fox? It's true isn't it?" Syd asked playing innocent.

Fox shook his head in disbelief and began to turn away. "Fox!" Syd said grabbing his arm. Theresa looked up and curiously looked in their direction. "What's going on between them?" She wondered.

"You and I had an agreement." Syd said in a menacing tone. "We had it set up so that you could get what you want, and I could get what I want. Well, I don't appreciate you changing the plan all of a sudden by telling Vivian that Chad needs a break so he can spend time with his fiancé." Syd lowered her voice even further. "I want Chad, you understand that? And I thought you wanted Whitney."

"I love Theresa now. She's the one I want." Fox said in an even tone.

"Hmph. Love? Please, Fox. Don't give me that bullsh*t."

"I love Theresa, not Whitney." Fox repeated getting angry.

"How close are Whitney and Theresa?" Syd asked as she looked over in their direction. "What are they- best friends?"

Fox remained silent. "I'll take that as a yes." Syd said. "Let's see, I wonder, how would Theresa react if she found out her boyfriend used her to get to her best friend?"

"It's not like that." Fox said shaking his head. "It's not even like that."

"Oh, just more bullsh*t." Syd said.

"You better stay away from Theresa."

"You can't control me Fox. I'll do whatever the hell I please. Hm," She said tapping her lips with her index finger. "Let's see, I bet Theresa would be devastated if she thought that her boyfriend used her to get to her best friend. Oh yeah, she'd be so heartbroken."

Fox clenched his jaw. "Damnit, Syd. Stop right now."

"You can't do anything Fox."

"I'm a Crane. I have connections."

"As do I." Syd retorted.

"They aren't as good as mine." Fox snapped

"Whatever. I'll take my chances. Look, this isn't over Fox. I don't plan on letting you get away with taking Chad away from me. You take the things that I want away from me, I'll take away the things that you want- like Theresa for instance. Think about it." Syd said as she stalked off.

Fox stood on the dance floor feeling angry and afraid at the same time. "I can't lose Theresa over this." Fox thought worriedly. "Damn Syd!"

"Fox?" Theresa said quietly as she came up behind Fox.

"Yeah," Fox said quietly.

"What happened? Something's bothering you, I can tell." Theresa said worriedly.

"I have to tell Theresa before Syd gets to her first," Fox thought. "Hey, Theresa, what do you say we go back to the apartment?"

"But we just got here." Theresa protested.

"I really need to talk to you about something." Fox said. Theresa detected something in his tone that gave her a bad feeling.

"Okay," Theresa said slowly. "Let's go then. Let me just tell Chad and Whit we're going home." Fox's tone left Theresa on edge. She was afraid of what he wanted to tell her.

"Whit," Theresa said hurriedly. "Fox and I are heading home."

"Why?" Whitney asked. "We just got here."

"I know, but Fox has something to tell me and I'm afraid that it isn't good." Theresa said anxiously.

"Don't think like that Theresa. It's probably nothing." Whitney said comfortingly.

"Yeah," Theresa said biting her lower lip. "Look, you have fun alright?"

"Okay," Whitney said. "If you need to you call me on my cell alright?"

"I will." Theresa said.

Whitney watched as Theresa and Fox quickly left the club. "I hope things are going to be okay between them." She said worriedly.

~*~

Theresa and Fox sat silently in the car as they sped down the interstate. Theresa glanced at Fox, but looked away when Fox turned his head to glance at her. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were turned white. Theresa couldn't shake the bad feeling that formed in the pit of her stomach. She became queasy just thinking of the horrible scenarios that could play out between them.

Fox drove on pretending to concentrate on the road. In truth, he was fighting a battle with himself. "Why did I ever go to Syd? Why did I enlist her help? Why did I even go after Whitney in the first place?" Fox chastised himself in his thoughts. Once they reached the complex, Fox turned off the engine and sat staring ahead of him. Theresa looked at him nervously. "Do you want to stay out here?" Theresa asked quietly.

"Theresa, I~" Fox said quickly.

"What is it, Fox? You're scaring me." Theresa said, her eyes conveying her emotions.

"I don't mean to." Fox said as he reached to stroke Theresa's face. "But what I say may make you hate me." Fox said wretchedly.

"Fox," Theresa said. "What could you possibly say that would make me hate you?"

Fox swallowed nervously. "Let's get out of the car first." Fox got out and paced around uneasily. He clenched his jaw and stroked his chin, searching desperately for the right words.

"Fox," Theresa said imploringly in a small voice.

"Oh God Theresa," Fox said dejectedly. "I don't even know where to start." Fox threw up his hands in frustration.

"Fox," Theresa said quietly as she leaned against the car. "How about you start off with the reason why you're having this conversation with me in the first place?"

Fox took a deep breath to calm himself, but found that the gesture didn't help him at all. Fox put his hands behind his head and looked up at the sky. "This is so difficult Thersea." Fox said.

"Why?" Theresa asked as her eyes began filling with tears. Her emotions were running amuck, and she felt that she couldn't take the suspense any longer. She knew that what Fox had to say would probably be something she did not want to hear. The fact that he himself was upset only pushed Theresa further to the verge of tears.

"Oh, Theresa, please don't cry. I won't be able to do this if you start crying." Fox pleaded.

"I can't help it Fox. You're really scaring me." Theresa hugged herself.

Fox went up to Theresa and put his arms around her. He leaned down and breathed in her sweet scent. He stroked her long silky hair and caressed her smooth skin. "I love you, Theresa." Fox whispered. "I love you so much it hurts." Fox said as his voice broke. He was fighting back his own tears. "I've never loved anyone as much as I love you." He said with his voice full of emotion.

"Fox," Theresa said as she hugged him tightly. "I love you too," she replied hoarsely, desperately trying to keep her tears from falling. Fox and Theresa held onto each other letting a few tears escape their eyes.

"Please tell me what this about Fox, " Theresa pleaded, her eyes still glistening with tears.

"It's about my mystery woman." Fox said quietly.

Theresa tensed and pulled away quickly from Fox's embrace. Her gaze locked onto the ground.

"You always wanted to know who it was, and I think it's time I told you. I need to get this out in the open." Fox said reaching for Theresa. Theresa stiffened, her eyes avoiding Fox's.

"See, I already feel you being pulled away from me." Fox said with an unsteady voice. "It's already happening, I'm slowly losing you." Fox said desolately.

Theresa inhaled slowly. She titled her head upwards and closed her eyes. "Who is she?" Theresa asked as her voice quivered.

"You're not going to like this at all." Fox whispered, his eyes glossy with tears. "I'm afraid you're going to be very upset with me."

Theresa rubbed her eyes. She pressed her lips together trying to keep more tears from descending from her eyes. She took in a shaky deep breath. "Fox, is what you're going to tell me going to harm our relationship?" She asked inwardly dreading the answer.

Fox went over to Theresa and stroked her hair. "Theresa," He whispered. "I~" A lump formed in Fox's throat which made it hard for him to swallow. "I wish I didn't have to say this, but what I tell you may bring a termination to us. I'm afraid I may lose you forever."

~*~



"Where did Fox and Theresa run off to?" Chad asked as he scanned the club crowd.

"They left. Fox had something important to tell Theresa."

"Oh." Chad said. "What is it?" Chad asked noticing the disconcerted look that crossed Whitney's face.

"I'm worried Chad. Theresa sounded really troubled." Whitney said stirring her drink.

"I'm sure it's nothing." Chad said. "Damn," Chad muttered under his breath. "Look who's here."

Puff-Dog and his entourage entered the club. Scanning the crowd briefly, Puff-Dog noticed Chad and frowned. Latoya glared in their direction.

"Not them again," Whitney said disbelievingly.

"Just ignore them." Chad said firmly while turning his back to them.

"Apparently they don't plan on ignoring us." Whitney said nervously.

"Why do you say that?" Chad asked.

"They're coming our way."