IX



"I'm sorry, Whit, but I just don't want to know anything more about Professor Hammond." Theresa said shaking her head in defiance. Whitney looked at her friend with a scrutinizing gaze. "If you don't like him, why not drop the class?" She asked curiously.

Theresa frowned. "I would, but I either get Hammond or bitchy Bertha."

"Who?" Whitney asked as she laughed aloud. "Bitchy Bertha?"

"Professor Bertha Lambert" Theresa clarified. "She was dubbed Bitchy Bertha ever since she began teaching at the college. Anyhow, I've met her on one occasion, and I don't think I'd be able to handle having her as a teacher. I'd rather put up with Hammond." Theresa propped her elbows on the table and folded her hands.

"Just out of curiosity," Whitney began, "Was Hammond ever given a nickname like Professor Lambert?"

"The last I heard he was nicknamed 'Hunky Hammond.'" Theresa rolled her eyes in obvious disgust.

Whitney laughed. "You're joking?"

"Nope." Theresa said shaking her head. "It's true."

Whitney laughed again. Theresa did not appear to share her friend's amusement. "Aw c'mon, Theresa. You have to admit. It's comical."

"Hardly." Theresa said dully. "It's the type of statement that feeds Hammonds' ego. He's already full of himself."

"Well I find him to be somewhat likeable." Whitney admitted. "He doesn't seem all that bad really."

"How can you say that after witnessing him telling me to write a paper on 'reasons why I shouldn't spill coffee on another individual.'?"

"You shouldn't have spilled your coffee on him in the first place." Whitney pointed out.

"I can't believe you're defending him!" Theresa said in shock.

Whitney sighed. "I just want you to give him a chance."

"A chance at what?" Theresa asked.

"A chance at being your friend perhaps?" Whitney suggested. "Theresa, the man acts the way he does for a reason. Maybe if you knew that reason, you'd be able to understand why he acts the way that he does."

Theresa looked down and her hands and contemplated her friend's suggestion. To an extent, Theresa agreed with her friend's reasoning. However, Theresa did not find it necessary for her and Professor Hammond to become "friends." After all, she didn't want to pry into his life, for she did not want to find out what the consequences were for doing so. Theresa had a feeling that if Professor Hammond thought she was being too nosy he would assign her a paper on reasons why people should mind their own business.

"Well?" Whitney asked after a long pause.

"I don't think Professor Hammond and I should be friends. Things should stay strictly as a teacher-student type of relationship. A friendship with him is out of the question."

"Why?" Whitney asked in disbelief. "Why have you dismissed the notion of trying to be a friend to him?"

"Because" Theresa said exasperated. She looked up as if trying to find the answer floating aimlessly in the air. "Because," She repeated.

"Because why?" Whitney asked.

"We irritate one another to the point of driving each other insane." Theresa replied. "Instead of discussing more important things, our conversation would probably be composed of arguments and banter. I can't even look at Professor Hammond without feeling irritated." Theresa admitted.

"Fine." Whitney said putting her hands up. "I give up. If you don't want to be friends with Justin then fine. I'm not going to force you."

"Why do you want me to be his friend so badly? Why don't you try to be his friend?" Theresa asked.

"You know what," Whitney replied. "I think I will."

"Well good luck." Theresa said unenthusiastically. "Anyhow, as for your wedding, and your pregnancy~"

Whitney beamed. "I'm so unbelievably happy, Theresa. I can't wait to marry Chad."

"Have you spoken with your family lately?" Theresa asked quietly.

Whitney's expression suddenly changed. "My mom has been the only one who actually talks to me. Daddy's still been difficult as well as Simone. I went over to the house to tell them about the wedding. Mom said she'd be there."

"What about your dad?" Theresa asked.

"He didn't say a word. Simone just glared at me. I tried to make them understand how much I loved Chad. You know, they didn't even know about what happened in L.A. with me and you being involved in that accident. If they had known, I'm sure Daddy would blame Chad with the whole situation since it was Latoya who was driving the car, and Latoya used to be associated with Chad. Daddy would just find some reason to justify his theory about Chad being a 'street-punk.'" Whitney looked away sadly.

"I'm sorry, Whit." Theresa said as she comfortingly patted her friend's hand. "Your dad and Simone will come around."

"I don't think Simone will." Whitney replied. "She's still resentful about the whole thing. I don't think she'll ever get over it."

"She can't stay mad at you forever." Theresa replied.

"No, but it'll be awhile before she can get over it." Whitney replied.

"Enough sad stuff. Have you gone for a checkup?"

It took Whitney a moment to adjust to the change in topic. "Yeah," Whitney smiled. "I'm doing fine so far. It's still early though."

"Do you want a girl or boy?"

"It doesn't matter to me. I'd love it just the same despite its gender." Whitney said as she absentmindedly stroked her stomach.

"You know what I just realized?" Theresa said after a pause.

"What?" Whitney asked.

"I don't remember the birth of my own child." Theresa replied with a look of puzzlement bestowing her features.

"You had pre-eclampsia." Whitney replied. "From what I've heard, you actually became violent."

"What'd I do?" Theresa asked in horror.

"You stabbed Gwen in the back with scissors."

"Stabbed?" Theresa said in astonishment.

Whitney nodded. "But I wasn't there, so I really couldn't tell you exactly what happened."

"Who could?" Theresa asked.

"Well, there's Gwen, but things between you two are pretty shaky."

Theresa nodded. "Who else could possibly help?"

"Ethan." Whitney suggested.

"I don't know what's bothering him." Theresa said. "He's obviously going through something, but he doesn't want to talk about it."

"What'd he say?" Whitney asked.

"Well," Theresa began. "First I asked how he was doing, and he admitted that he wasn't doing so great. Then I asked him why, and it's because things between him and Gwen aren't doing so well."

"Oh." Whitney replied.

"Ethan said that it had something to do with me." Theresa said.

"It's not your fault." Whitney immediately replied.

"I know that," Theresa answered. "He said he still loves me."

"Theresa," Whitney sighed. "Honestly, I think Ethan shouldn't have married Gwen in the first place knowing that he really did love you. Now, he's just got to live with the consequences."

"Yeah," Theresa sighed. "I wish I could help him, though. He seems really down."

"I guess you could try talking to him." Whitney said. "Just make sure he knows that there's no chance of you and him ever getting together. This time it'll be your turn to lay it all out for him. You're with Fox now, and you love Fox with all your heart."

"I know." Theresa said. Whitney's cell began ringing. She quickly reached for her phone and answered it. As Whitney talked on the phone, Theresa let her eyes travel about the room. She studied each person she saw and wondered what types of things were going on in their own lives. Theresa noticed a tall blond woman strutting to the table located in the exact middle of the coffee shop. The woman flipped her hair, sat down, and immediately pulled a mirror out of her purse. Theresa scrutinized the young woman. She was certainly pretty, but had an air about her that suggested she was uptight and snobbish. Her arrogance was evident in the way she held her head and looked at everyone with a look of dislike. The woman looked out of place in the simple Harmony town with her gaudy jewelry and expensive outfit. She looked more like she was going to a lavish celebrity event.

"Theresa," Whitney said.

"Hm?" Theresa said as she focused her attention on her best friend.

"Chad wants to meet me, so I'm going to have to cut this short. I'm sorry." She apologized.

"No need to feel sorry." Theresa smiled. "Go spend time with your fiancé."

"Thanks." Whitney said. "I'll talk to you later."

"Bye." Theresa said as Whitney got up to leave.

Theresa sighed and looked at her watch. She decided that it was time to go back home to her husband and child. She wondered if Dylan was still at the house. Theresa smiled. She liked Fox's friend. He was hilarious to her, and she enjoyed his hilarity immensely. Theresa knew that she wouldn't mind having Dylan around for laughs. She also had Dylan to thank for bringing her and Fox together. As Theresa walked by the table with the woman she observed earlier, she heard the woman complaining about the service.

"This is horrible!" She whined. "I have never received such awful service in my entire life! Paris was so much more better than this!"

"Paris?" Theresa thought to herself. "Go figure."

"Ma'm," The waiter said. "Please calm down."

"Calm down! Do you know who I am?" The woman cried.

"I'm sorry, ma'm I don't~" The waiter trailed off.

"Who does she think she is?" Theresa thought as she reached to open the door.

As if offended, the woman got up and looked the waiter in the eye. "I am Audrey Glenn, part of the most elite class in Paris, but obviously you middle-class wouldn't understand that."

Theresa froze. "Oh no." She thought. "That's Audrey?"

~*~