Chapter 3-
That Cocky Smile
The next day Christine got ready for work, but minus the short skirt and tube top. She chose to wear a pair of jeans and a turtleneck. But it was still form fitting. She had to have at least that. She pulled her brown hair, with red highlights, up in a ponytail. Made sure both of her contacts were in. Put on her pink lipgloss, took one more look, and felt satisfied. "Alright, day two of work."
3 hours later she was already getting the hang of her job. She had met a few nice people from Harmony. She had a decent conversation with someone named Miguel, and his girlfriend was there, but she had forgotten her name. Having something to do got her mind off the last 5 years of her life. Which was ok with her.
"Hey, how is everything going?" Her cousin asked while putting some change in the register.
"It's good. I haven't pissed anyone else off. And I am making good tips."
Beth smiled at her cousin, she had a glow about her. Like she was happier. "That's great. I have to run downtown, can you run it alone for a few minutes?"
"Sure, how hard could it be?"
"Ok, that will be 3 dollars even....out of 10 dollars....ok 7 dollars is your change. Have a good day. Ohh, don't forget your muffin!" she yelled across the cafe. This isn't so hard, she thought to herself. No one annoying yet, or rude. I guess this town is pretty decent.
Little did she know, in about 5 minutes, she would change her mind.
"Excuse me?" Said a womans voice behind Christine. She turned around to come face to face with a woman, about her age. She had dark skin and huge round olive eyes. And she was carrying a baby.
"Hi, what can I get for you?"
"Oh hi, you must be Beth's cousin that everyone is talking about. Nice to meet you, I am Theresa." She attempted to put out her hand to shake Christine's, but struggled because of the baby.
"Ohh, don't worry. It's nice to meet you, I am Christine. And who is this little guy?" She asked giving his cheek a squeeze, which sent emotion running through her, I could of had one of those....she thought.
"This is little Ethan....." And they talked for about 5 minutes before a deep voice from behind her interupted their conversation. "I thought you were going to meet me at the store?"
Theresa rolled her eyes and turned around, "Fox, I was meeting the new girl in town. Fox, this is Christine, she is Beth's cousin. Christine, this is Fox Crane."
Christine looked up to see a tall man with blonde hair and piercing eyes. He looked back at her with a cocky smile, which sent shivers up her spine. "Nice to meet you."
He got closer to the counter, "So...the famous cousin. Well, you don't look how I expected you to. I was told you were a little racier than this." He said motioning to her attire. "But hey, I guess it was too good to be true. I could of had you like that." He said with a snap.
Christine felt her face grow warm. But knew she had to come up with a remark. "Well, you wouldn't stand a chance....you are too much of a pretty boy for me."
His smile faded and he was about to shoot a remark back when Theresa tugged at his sleeve. "Fox, let's not start a fight. Go outside and I will meet you there."
"Fine." He said, his smile returning. One more look at Christine, and he headed outside.
"I am sorry about that, he is really into himself. Anyways, can I get a chocolate mocha?"
"Sure."
"So, everything was ok today I assume?" Beth asked as they ate dinner.
Christine nodded, "I got to meet a few people." And then the image of Fox ran through her mind. "Do you know who Fox Crane is?"
Beth almost choked on her food. "Yes, why, you don't like him do you?"
"Oh goodness no, he was just really rude. I thought I would ask."
"He is Julian Crane's son. Wealthy family. He was sent off to school because they couldn't handle him, if that says anything." Beth said grabbing her plate and taking it to the sink. "You only send children away when they are a nuisence."
Christine felt a pang of anger, she had been sent away because of her lifestyle. She couldn't believe her cousin had said that. "I am going to bed."
Beth turned around just in time to see her cousin run up the stairs, and then she realized what she had said, "Damnit!"
Christine had ran upstairs, slamming the door behind her. Beth had said something that really hit home for her, but it wasn't Beths fault. She hadn't realized that the statement, "You only send children away when they are a nuisence.", would pertain to Christine also.
She walked into her bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Tears streamed down her face, her mascera running. "I don't know what I am going to do, " She muttered to herself, "I am an 18 year old failure."
She sunk down to the floor with her back to the wall, remembering the conversation between her mother and her that would change everything.
SHE HAD JUST WALKED INTO THE HOUSE AT 9 IN THE MORNING FROM A NIGHT OF DRUGS AND DRINKING. HER SHORT SKIRT AND TANKTOP WERE ALL TWISTED, HER MASCERA RUNNING. SHE TRIED TO SNEAK UP THE STAIRS TO HER BEDROOM , BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT FAST ENOUGH.
"CHRISTINE, WE NEED TO TALK."
SHE ROLLED HER EYES AND TURNED AROUND TO SEE HER MOTHER STANDING THERE. HER MOTHERS FACE WAS TEAR STREAKED AND SHE WAS HOLDING THE PHONE. "MOM, I NEED TO GO TAKE A SHOWER, I HAVE TO BE TO WORK IN A HOUR."
HER MOM MOVED TOWARDS HER AND STOPPED A COUPLE FEET IN FRONT OF HER. "THIS WON'T TAKE LONG." SHE SAID HANDING HER A BUS TICKET.
CHRISTINE LAUGHED NERVOUSLY, "WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS FOR?"
"SWEETY, I CAN'T DEAL WITH YOUR ANTICS ANYMORE. I AM ALWAYS AWAKE ALL NIGHT CRYING OVER WHERE YOU ARE. JUST WAITING FOR A PHONE CALL FROM THE POLICE SAYING YOU'RE DEAD SOMEWHERE. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, AND YOU HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SLOW ANY OF THIS DOWN. YOU HAD A MISCARRIAGE ALMOST 2 WEEKS AGO, AND YOU DOVE RIGHT BACK IN. IT SICKENS ME."
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?!" CHRISTINE YELLED, THEN LOOKED AT THE BUS TICKET. "YOU ARE GOING TO SEND ME TO HARMONY, AND I AM SURE IT'S TO STAY WITH BETH! I AM 18, I CAN JUST MOVE OUT, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY!"
HER MOM SHOOK HER HEAD, "I AM ASKING YOU TO DO THIS, YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN YOU HAVE HERE."
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE DOING THIS. CHRISTINE SAID RUBBING HER TEMPLE. "I AM 18!"
HER MOTHER STARTED TO CRY, "I JUST WANT WHATS BEST FOR YOU. YOUR FATHER AND I FIGHT ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. YOU ARE RUINING YOUR LIFE!"
CHRISTINE REMAINED SPEECHLESS FOR MINUTES. SHE KNEW LEAVING THIS TOWN WOULD BE GOOD FOR HER. BUT WHAT ELSE WAS OUT THERE FOR HER. ALL SHE DID WAS EXPERIMENT WITH DRUGS AND DRINK. SHE JUST HAD A MISCARRIAGE, THE RESULT OF THE MAN SHE THOUGHT SHE LOVED. HE WAS IN JAIL NOW, BUT SHE KNEW THAT IF HE WAS RELEASED, HE WOULD COME STRAIGHT FOR HER. SO MAYBE GOING TO A SMALL TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. BUT WHAT WOULD SHE FIND THERE. SHE WAS SURE IT WAS NOTHING LIKE HERE. WHERE YOU CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET AND FIND 4 OR 5 GUYS SELLING DRUGS.
"FINE, I WILL DO IT FOR YOU." CHRISTINE SAID AND SIGHED.
She snapped back into reality. And realized that her tears had fallen more. She ran herself a bath, and turned on her radio. Before getting in the bath, she looked in the mirror once more. I can lead a better life....but how? She thought to herself.
That Cocky Smile
The next day Christine got ready for work, but minus the short skirt and tube top. She chose to wear a pair of jeans and a turtleneck. But it was still form fitting. She had to have at least that. She pulled her brown hair, with red highlights, up in a ponytail. Made sure both of her contacts were in. Put on her pink lipgloss, took one more look, and felt satisfied. "Alright, day two of work."
3 hours later she was already getting the hang of her job. She had met a few nice people from Harmony. She had a decent conversation with someone named Miguel, and his girlfriend was there, but she had forgotten her name. Having something to do got her mind off the last 5 years of her life. Which was ok with her.
"Hey, how is everything going?" Her cousin asked while putting some change in the register.
"It's good. I haven't pissed anyone else off. And I am making good tips."
Beth smiled at her cousin, she had a glow about her. Like she was happier. "That's great. I have to run downtown, can you run it alone for a few minutes?"
"Sure, how hard could it be?"
"Ok, that will be 3 dollars even....out of 10 dollars....ok 7 dollars is your change. Have a good day. Ohh, don't forget your muffin!" she yelled across the cafe. This isn't so hard, she thought to herself. No one annoying yet, or rude. I guess this town is pretty decent.
Little did she know, in about 5 minutes, she would change her mind.
"Excuse me?" Said a womans voice behind Christine. She turned around to come face to face with a woman, about her age. She had dark skin and huge round olive eyes. And she was carrying a baby.
"Hi, what can I get for you?"
"Oh hi, you must be Beth's cousin that everyone is talking about. Nice to meet you, I am Theresa." She attempted to put out her hand to shake Christine's, but struggled because of the baby.
"Ohh, don't worry. It's nice to meet you, I am Christine. And who is this little guy?" She asked giving his cheek a squeeze, which sent emotion running through her, I could of had one of those....she thought.
"This is little Ethan....." And they talked for about 5 minutes before a deep voice from behind her interupted their conversation. "I thought you were going to meet me at the store?"
Theresa rolled her eyes and turned around, "Fox, I was meeting the new girl in town. Fox, this is Christine, she is Beth's cousin. Christine, this is Fox Crane."
Christine looked up to see a tall man with blonde hair and piercing eyes. He looked back at her with a cocky smile, which sent shivers up her spine. "Nice to meet you."
He got closer to the counter, "So...the famous cousin. Well, you don't look how I expected you to. I was told you were a little racier than this." He said motioning to her attire. "But hey, I guess it was too good to be true. I could of had you like that." He said with a snap.
Christine felt her face grow warm. But knew she had to come up with a remark. "Well, you wouldn't stand a chance....you are too much of a pretty boy for me."
His smile faded and he was about to shoot a remark back when Theresa tugged at his sleeve. "Fox, let's not start a fight. Go outside and I will meet you there."
"Fine." He said, his smile returning. One more look at Christine, and he headed outside.
"I am sorry about that, he is really into himself. Anyways, can I get a chocolate mocha?"
"Sure."
"So, everything was ok today I assume?" Beth asked as they ate dinner.
Christine nodded, "I got to meet a few people." And then the image of Fox ran through her mind. "Do you know who Fox Crane is?"
Beth almost choked on her food. "Yes, why, you don't like him do you?"
"Oh goodness no, he was just really rude. I thought I would ask."
"He is Julian Crane's son. Wealthy family. He was sent off to school because they couldn't handle him, if that says anything." Beth said grabbing her plate and taking it to the sink. "You only send children away when they are a nuisence."
Christine felt a pang of anger, she had been sent away because of her lifestyle. She couldn't believe her cousin had said that. "I am going to bed."
Beth turned around just in time to see her cousin run up the stairs, and then she realized what she had said, "Damnit!"
Christine had ran upstairs, slamming the door behind her. Beth had said something that really hit home for her, but it wasn't Beths fault. She hadn't realized that the statement, "You only send children away when they are a nuisence.", would pertain to Christine also.
She walked into her bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Tears streamed down her face, her mascera running. "I don't know what I am going to do, " She muttered to herself, "I am an 18 year old failure."
She sunk down to the floor with her back to the wall, remembering the conversation between her mother and her that would change everything.
SHE HAD JUST WALKED INTO THE HOUSE AT 9 IN THE MORNING FROM A NIGHT OF DRUGS AND DRINKING. HER SHORT SKIRT AND TANKTOP WERE ALL TWISTED, HER MASCERA RUNNING. SHE TRIED TO SNEAK UP THE STAIRS TO HER BEDROOM , BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT FAST ENOUGH.
"CHRISTINE, WE NEED TO TALK."
SHE ROLLED HER EYES AND TURNED AROUND TO SEE HER MOTHER STANDING THERE. HER MOTHERS FACE WAS TEAR STREAKED AND SHE WAS HOLDING THE PHONE. "MOM, I NEED TO GO TAKE A SHOWER, I HAVE TO BE TO WORK IN A HOUR."
HER MOM MOVED TOWARDS HER AND STOPPED A COUPLE FEET IN FRONT OF HER. "THIS WON'T TAKE LONG." SHE SAID HANDING HER A BUS TICKET.
CHRISTINE LAUGHED NERVOUSLY, "WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS FOR?"
"SWEETY, I CAN'T DEAL WITH YOUR ANTICS ANYMORE. I AM ALWAYS AWAKE ALL NIGHT CRYING OVER WHERE YOU ARE. JUST WAITING FOR A PHONE CALL FROM THE POLICE SAYING YOU'RE DEAD SOMEWHERE. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, AND YOU HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SLOW ANY OF THIS DOWN. YOU HAD A MISCARRIAGE ALMOST 2 WEEKS AGO, AND YOU DOVE RIGHT BACK IN. IT SICKENS ME."
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?!" CHRISTINE YELLED, THEN LOOKED AT THE BUS TICKET. "YOU ARE GOING TO SEND ME TO HARMONY, AND I AM SURE IT'S TO STAY WITH BETH! I AM 18, I CAN JUST MOVE OUT, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY!"
HER MOM SHOOK HER HEAD, "I AM ASKING YOU TO DO THIS, YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN YOU HAVE HERE."
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE DOING THIS. CHRISTINE SAID RUBBING HER TEMPLE. "I AM 18!"
HER MOTHER STARTED TO CRY, "I JUST WANT WHATS BEST FOR YOU. YOUR FATHER AND I FIGHT ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. YOU ARE RUINING YOUR LIFE!"
CHRISTINE REMAINED SPEECHLESS FOR MINUTES. SHE KNEW LEAVING THIS TOWN WOULD BE GOOD FOR HER. BUT WHAT ELSE WAS OUT THERE FOR HER. ALL SHE DID WAS EXPERIMENT WITH DRUGS AND DRINK. SHE JUST HAD A MISCARRIAGE, THE RESULT OF THE MAN SHE THOUGHT SHE LOVED. HE WAS IN JAIL NOW, BUT SHE KNEW THAT IF HE WAS RELEASED, HE WOULD COME STRAIGHT FOR HER. SO MAYBE GOING TO A SMALL TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. BUT WHAT WOULD SHE FIND THERE. SHE WAS SURE IT WAS NOTHING LIKE HERE. WHERE YOU CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET AND FIND 4 OR 5 GUYS SELLING DRUGS.
"FINE, I WILL DO IT FOR YOU." CHRISTINE SAID AND SIGHED.
She snapped back into reality. And realized that her tears had fallen more. She ran herself a bath, and turned on her radio. Before getting in the bath, she looked in the mirror once more. I can lead a better life....but how? She thought to herself.