Chapter 4 -
The Invitation
A month had passed since Christine arrived in Harmony. She was into the mode of working, going home, reading a book, taking a walk, and sleeping. Nothing interesting, but it was at least better than it would of been a year ago. Beth and Christine hadn't had any serious conversations, and Christine wanted it that way. She didn't want to open up to anyone who saw her as a nuisance.
She had made a few friends, but mostly just worked and stayed at home. She had made her room her own haven, with comfortable furniture, and dark colors. She felt safe there, and when she was safe, the bad thoughts stayed away.
Her mother had called her a few times since she got there. It was all just small talk, nothing special. She tried to act like she was as happy as can be, so her mother wouldn't worry. After she got there, she found out that her mothers cancer was acting up again, so it was probably less stress for her not to be there. So, she acted very happy when her mother called. No worries, no stress.
The Cafe was really slow on that Sunday afternoon, so Christine was scrubbing the counters early when Fox and Theresa walked in. Christine saw Fox and that smile and turned around so he wouldn't see her roll her eyes. She could feel them staring at her back so she turned around to see them sitting at the table closest to her. They looked deep in conversation, so Christine continued to wipe down the counters. But she couldn't but help glance over at Fox. He was gorgeous, and of course he was one of those guys who knew it. She always wanted a guy that was gorgeous, but her past boyfriends were anything but. She drank all of him in, his blonde hair, tan skin, and those eyes. She could sense something behind his eyes, like a secret, or a longing. Her eyes went down to his open button up shirt and the perfect body. Her eyes moved down to the long legs. But she broke her stare before he realized she was staring at him. Her face grew warm, and she had to turn around to calm herself down.
Beth walked back from the office to find her cousin's face bright red. She glanced behind her and saw Fox and Theresa sitting at the table nearest the counter. She nudged her cousin and said, "So, don't find Fox attractive huh?"
Christine shrugged, "He's attractive, but not my type. He would never go for me, besides, he is always with Theresa, they are cute together."
Beth started laughing, "Theresa is in love with Ethan Crane, those two are just good friends. They are probably trying to devise a plan to get her and Ethan alone together, away from his wife Gwen."
Christine looked at her cousin, "I met Gwen today, she's nice enough, why would Theresa do that?"
Beth pulled her cousin aside and told her the whole story about Ethan and Theresa. "She hasn't let him go yet."
Christine nodded, "I don't like him anyways, I had just....accidently dropped something, that is why I am all red." She moved towards the front of the Cafe and started wiping down tables. She saw Beth start talking to Fox and Theresa. They were all pretty much engrossed in conversation when Ethan Crane walked into the Cafe. She moved toward the front to take his order when he had noticed Theresa was there, so he tried to turn around, but Fox stopped him.
"Hey brother! Watcha running from?" Fox said with a smile.
"Fox, stop right now. I am not in the mood. I came to get Gwen her coffee, she isn't feeling well...." Ethan stated.
"Hi Ethan!" Theresa said.
Ethan and Theresa stared at eachother for a long time. So Christine went to make the coffee that Gwen had ordered yesterday, assuming it was the one she sent Ethan for.
She felt someone staring at her from behind. She turned around and came face to face with Fox. He didn't have a cocky smile on his face, but a warm smile. That looks a lot better, she thought to herself. "Yes, can I get you something?" She asked quietly.
"Well, I was bored with that conversation over there," He said pointing, "So I decided to see what you were up to. And who ordered coffee, or do you make random coffees?"
Christine's face turned red again, "It is the one Gwen ordered yesterday, I figured I would get it ready."
"Ahh, so you met Gwen. Lucky you."
"She is nice enough. I had no problem with her."
Fox laughed, "That is because you haven't crossed her path. Don't steal her man, that is my best advice when it comes to Gwen."
Christine smiled. "I didn't plan on stealing anyone's man."
"Ohh, plan on finding your own?" Fox asked without a smile, but a look in his eyes.
Christine shrugged, "Have to find one first."
Fox smiled and they talked for awhile before Theresa rushed up to Fox and pulled him away. "We need to go!" She exclaimed.
"Damn, alright, give me back my arm. Let me say goodbye to my new friend here." He said and then turned back to Christine. "It was a pleasure talking to you. "
She smiled back, "Yes, a lot better than our last meeting. Have a good day."
Fox nodded, and turned around and walked toward Theresa who had rushed past Ethan with a dirty look on her face. Then he quickly turned around, snapped, and grabbed an envelope from Theresa's purse. "Beth, I forgot the whole reason why we came. It's an invitation to our little party that my family is having." He handed the envelope to her and looked at Christine, "You are invited also."
"Thank you Fox." Beth said, "We would love to come."
"Why do I have to go to a fancy party. And it is fancy, I read the invitation!" Christine asked Beth on there walk home.
"It would be good for you to meet the people in town. Plus, Fox will be there."
"For one, I don't like Fox, he is too into himself for me." Plus, he would never ever see me that way.....she thought to herself, making her smile from her own face drop. "And two, I don't dress up."
"Come on Christine, you will have fun. I have a dress you can borrow. And they are usually fun."
"I doubt they are like the parties I have been to." Christine mumbled.
"I heard that, and no, I doubt they are. Which is why you are going to see how much fun you can have at a party without the drugs or booze. "
Christine walked in silence for the rest of the walk home. When they reached the front door, she stopped her cousin, "Fine, but I will not frizz my hair out for this."
Christine looked through her cousins formal dresses and came across the perfect one. She tried it on and when her cousin walked in the room, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Beth looked at her cousin and was in awe. The dress had been one she wore to her Senior Prom and had forgotten that it was in there. It was a long lilac colored dress with spaghetti straps. With a plunging neckline and matching scarf. She looked great in it, and with the perfect hairstyle, she would be stunning. "That dress is perfect."
Christine couldn't believe that she had finally found a dress that made her pale skin look decent, and not scary. As she always thought. She looked like a porcelin doll. "Got shoes to match?"
The Invitation
A month had passed since Christine arrived in Harmony. She was into the mode of working, going home, reading a book, taking a walk, and sleeping. Nothing interesting, but it was at least better than it would of been a year ago. Beth and Christine hadn't had any serious conversations, and Christine wanted it that way. She didn't want to open up to anyone who saw her as a nuisance.
She had made a few friends, but mostly just worked and stayed at home. She had made her room her own haven, with comfortable furniture, and dark colors. She felt safe there, and when she was safe, the bad thoughts stayed away.
Her mother had called her a few times since she got there. It was all just small talk, nothing special. She tried to act like she was as happy as can be, so her mother wouldn't worry. After she got there, she found out that her mothers cancer was acting up again, so it was probably less stress for her not to be there. So, she acted very happy when her mother called. No worries, no stress.
The Cafe was really slow on that Sunday afternoon, so Christine was scrubbing the counters early when Fox and Theresa walked in. Christine saw Fox and that smile and turned around so he wouldn't see her roll her eyes. She could feel them staring at her back so she turned around to see them sitting at the table closest to her. They looked deep in conversation, so Christine continued to wipe down the counters. But she couldn't but help glance over at Fox. He was gorgeous, and of course he was one of those guys who knew it. She always wanted a guy that was gorgeous, but her past boyfriends were anything but. She drank all of him in, his blonde hair, tan skin, and those eyes. She could sense something behind his eyes, like a secret, or a longing. Her eyes went down to his open button up shirt and the perfect body. Her eyes moved down to the long legs. But she broke her stare before he realized she was staring at him. Her face grew warm, and she had to turn around to calm herself down.
Beth walked back from the office to find her cousin's face bright red. She glanced behind her and saw Fox and Theresa sitting at the table nearest the counter. She nudged her cousin and said, "So, don't find Fox attractive huh?"
Christine shrugged, "He's attractive, but not my type. He would never go for me, besides, he is always with Theresa, they are cute together."
Beth started laughing, "Theresa is in love with Ethan Crane, those two are just good friends. They are probably trying to devise a plan to get her and Ethan alone together, away from his wife Gwen."
Christine looked at her cousin, "I met Gwen today, she's nice enough, why would Theresa do that?"
Beth pulled her cousin aside and told her the whole story about Ethan and Theresa. "She hasn't let him go yet."
Christine nodded, "I don't like him anyways, I had just....accidently dropped something, that is why I am all red." She moved towards the front of the Cafe and started wiping down tables. She saw Beth start talking to Fox and Theresa. They were all pretty much engrossed in conversation when Ethan Crane walked into the Cafe. She moved toward the front to take his order when he had noticed Theresa was there, so he tried to turn around, but Fox stopped him.
"Hey brother! Watcha running from?" Fox said with a smile.
"Fox, stop right now. I am not in the mood. I came to get Gwen her coffee, she isn't feeling well...." Ethan stated.
"Hi Ethan!" Theresa said.
Ethan and Theresa stared at eachother for a long time. So Christine went to make the coffee that Gwen had ordered yesterday, assuming it was the one she sent Ethan for.
She felt someone staring at her from behind. She turned around and came face to face with Fox. He didn't have a cocky smile on his face, but a warm smile. That looks a lot better, she thought to herself. "Yes, can I get you something?" She asked quietly.
"Well, I was bored with that conversation over there," He said pointing, "So I decided to see what you were up to. And who ordered coffee, or do you make random coffees?"
Christine's face turned red again, "It is the one Gwen ordered yesterday, I figured I would get it ready."
"Ahh, so you met Gwen. Lucky you."
"She is nice enough. I had no problem with her."
Fox laughed, "That is because you haven't crossed her path. Don't steal her man, that is my best advice when it comes to Gwen."
Christine smiled. "I didn't plan on stealing anyone's man."
"Ohh, plan on finding your own?" Fox asked without a smile, but a look in his eyes.
Christine shrugged, "Have to find one first."
Fox smiled and they talked for awhile before Theresa rushed up to Fox and pulled him away. "We need to go!" She exclaimed.
"Damn, alright, give me back my arm. Let me say goodbye to my new friend here." He said and then turned back to Christine. "It was a pleasure talking to you. "
She smiled back, "Yes, a lot better than our last meeting. Have a good day."
Fox nodded, and turned around and walked toward Theresa who had rushed past Ethan with a dirty look on her face. Then he quickly turned around, snapped, and grabbed an envelope from Theresa's purse. "Beth, I forgot the whole reason why we came. It's an invitation to our little party that my family is having." He handed the envelope to her and looked at Christine, "You are invited also."
"Thank you Fox." Beth said, "We would love to come."
"Why do I have to go to a fancy party. And it is fancy, I read the invitation!" Christine asked Beth on there walk home.
"It would be good for you to meet the people in town. Plus, Fox will be there."
"For one, I don't like Fox, he is too into himself for me." Plus, he would never ever see me that way.....she thought to herself, making her smile from her own face drop. "And two, I don't dress up."
"Come on Christine, you will have fun. I have a dress you can borrow. And they are usually fun."
"I doubt they are like the parties I have been to." Christine mumbled.
"I heard that, and no, I doubt they are. Which is why you are going to see how much fun you can have at a party without the drugs or booze. "
Christine walked in silence for the rest of the walk home. When they reached the front door, she stopped her cousin, "Fine, but I will not frizz my hair out for this."
Christine looked through her cousins formal dresses and came across the perfect one. She tried it on and when her cousin walked in the room, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Beth looked at her cousin and was in awe. The dress had been one she wore to her Senior Prom and had forgotten that it was in there. It was a long lilac colored dress with spaghetti straps. With a plunging neckline and matching scarf. She looked great in it, and with the perfect hairstyle, she would be stunning. "That dress is perfect."
Christine couldn't believe that she had finally found a dress that made her pale skin look decent, and not scary. As she always thought. She looked like a porcelin doll. "Got shoes to match?"