Chapter 2

Sitting around at home doing homework was boring and Teresa really needed to do something. It was a Friday night so she decided to call her best friend Whitney Russell. After two rings she picked up
W: "Hello"
T: "Hey Whit its Teresa, I was wondering if you wanted to do something tonight"
W: "Yeah sounds like a plan my homework is driving me up the wall"
T: "So movies or book café?"
W: "I say book café, I could use a good coffee and chat right now"
T: "Anything wrong?" Teresa questioned
W: "I'll fill you in when we get there. Say ½ hour"
T: "Yep sounds good. See ya there"
W: "Okay bye"
T: "Bye"
Both hanging up at the same time
Thinking to herself Teresa suddenly regretted asking Whitney out. It was Friday, which of course she knew but hated. This meant that all the kids from school would be out and about and would probably pick on her. Al the kids at school who were considered good looking or who had the right clothes were cool. The "IN" crowd.
It was her choice not to hang around them, but it still hurt when they teased her.
So getting dressed she put on a pair of plain black pants and an old green woolen jumper. Pulling her hair back in a long plait she added some lip gloss and the finishing touch, her glasses. Always the killer. Sighing at her reflection she grabbed her coat and purse and walked out the door.
Crane Mansion
Ethan Crane was bored. Since kicking Gwen out he hadn't really been out of the house except work. He didn't have any real friends either. They were only there for his money. He hated it. He wished he could who would get to know him for who he really was not the size of his bank account.
Sick of wallowing in self-pity he decided to get out. Grabbing his keys and coat he got up and ran downstairs to the foyer of the mansion.
"Bye mom I'm going out" he called to his mother Ivy Crane who was in the sitting room.
"See you later honey. Don't stay out too long!" she called back.
"I won't" he replied running out the door to his BMW. Getting in he started driving.
Now where to go. There were not that many places in Harmony. The book café, the wharf or the park. Well the wharf and park were probably packed and as much as he wanted to meet new people, he only wanted to get out of the house tonight. A cup of coffee and a good book did sound very tempting. He only hoped that it was quiet.
After meeting Whitney outside the book café they went in and found a quiet booth at the back. Teresa set about finding what was wrong with her friend
T: "Okay spill" Teresa started
W: "What do you mean?" hiding desperately that she knew exactly what she was being asked.
T: "Don't dodge the question. You know exactly what I am talking about so spill."
W: "Alright" pausing and not knowing how to continue, "It's a guy" she whispered.
T: "So what about him" she asked hoping she could still help. She didn't have a lot of experience in that field
W: "Well he is really cute and I reckon we would get along really well but I don't know how to approach him. He probably doesn't know I exist. Although I have passed him in the streets a few time and he smiled at me"
T: "I wish I had your problem" Teresa interrupted.
W: "Well you know if you took off the glasses and wore decent clothes you would have no problem getting a boyfriend." Whit finished. She knew about Teresa's dilemma but believed that all she had to do was have more trust in people and she would be fine. But Teresa was set in her ways. It was the stubborn Irish streak that made her this way and there was no stopping it.
T: "Yes and if I did that I wouldn't know who liked me for the person behind the looks or just the looks."
W: "You need to trust people a lot more. How are you going to meet new people if you hide your true self from them? Now enough about you, back to me. I have a really big crush on him," she said hoping to make Teresa see the error in her ways. (Yeah Right)
T: "Well do this. The next time you see him, walk up to him," taking off her glasses, "Look him straight I the eyes and introduce yourself. Then ask him out for coffee. Speaking of which I want some, you want your usual?" she asked getting up.
W: "Yeah sounds good. Just one thing take some of your own advice and stop wearing these glasses" she said snatching the glasses, "You don't need them"
T: "Fine but if I meet someone who I could like, I will try to do it if you will"
W: "Just get the coffee" she said trying not to laugh
Life for the two of them was great, except they just needed a love life and it would be complete.
Pulling into the parking lot he got out of his car and made his way into the book café. It seemed fairly quiet for a Friday so he went up to the counter.
E: "Hey is it always this quiet in here"
Beth: "No some movie just opened that's supposed to be really good, so pretty much everyone there. I haven't seen you round here before. I'm Beth. You new in town?"
E: "No, my family has lived here all my life but I was at boarding school. I'm Ethan," he said extending his hand.
B: "Welcome back to Harmony. What can I get you?"
E: "Cappuccino and a choc muffin please."
B: "No worries"
After getting his stuff he made his way to a booth and settled down to read a book
After having a long talk and way too much coffee. They packed up to leave and head home in extremely good spirits.
T: "Bye Beth thanks for the coffee" Teresa called trying not to laugh.
W: "Yeah bye Beth"
B: "See ya girls. Don't get in too much trouble"
They turned and headed towards the door when it swung open and in walked the "IN" crowd.
Scott: "Hey guys check this out its Teresa! How are ya Teresa? You don't talk to us anymore. What's with that?"
T: "Hey Scott, can you blame me?" she fired back
S: "Ouch! You know you should really try to be nice to me. Prom's coming up and I could have you squashed like that" he finished snapping his fingers
T: "Well it's a good thing that I don't want to go with you then isn't it. Now if you will excuse us, we were just leaving."
S: "I don't think so" he said pushing her back in and causing her glasses to fall to the ground and get broken by the crowd that was now surrounding her.
Pushing and shoving her around, calling her names. Everywhere she looked people were laughing in her face. She couldn't escape them. Then just as she was about to collapse a strong pair of arms picked her up and carried her away from the crowd. Looking up she saw the most gorgeous pair of blue eyes she had ever seen.
"Are you okay?" he spoke then everything went black
He had really enjoyed the solitude of a good cup of coffee and book. He was getting up to leave when he heard an argument break out. A group of kids had just come in and were ganging up and harassing a girl. They were screaming at her and pushing her around. And then he saw the look on her face, pure terror; the pain in her eyes was so strong. Getting a surge of adrenaline he pushed his way through the crowd picked her up and walked outside putting her down. He looked at her. God she was beautiful. Her eyes held her soul. He couldn't possibly understand why the kids were harassing her.
"Are you okay?" he asked
Then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed in his arms. Great what was he going to do now? He couldn't see anyone around that she might have been with and he certainly wasn't going back inside. So making a decision he picked her up and tool her to his car placing her gently inside. He walked around to the other side and began driving home.
Pulling up in front of the mansion, he raced around picking her up and walked to the front door knocking loudly.

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~~~Angel 51~~~