7



"Fox?" The words painfully escaped Theresa. She automatically felt her lungs constrict while her legs trembled beneath her. Theresa sank to the bed and stared in disbelief at her aunt. "Not him. No, not him"

Maria glanced at Theresa with a concerned gaze. "I'm afraid it is."

Theresa covered her face with her hands. She tried to thwart the painful memories that flooded her mind, but she was too drained to fight them. The memories surrounded her and choked her with sorrowful emotions. Theresa found herself losing the battle to control her emotions. Like bursting floodgates, the tears flowed from her eyes.

"You go talk to Fox. I will stay with Theresa." Maria said quietly.

Paloma looked worriedly to her sister. As she was about to leave the room, Theresa called out her name suddenly. "Paloma!" Theresa cried with desperation. "Please don't tell Fox I'm here. Don't." She cried. "It hurts too much to be around him."

"Okay." Paloma said as she took a hold of Theresa's hands. "I won't tell him anything." Paloma left the room quickly and picked up the receiver."He-hello?" Paloma answered.

"Paloma?" Fox replied swallowing. "Um, you probably don't know me. My name is Fox Crane."

"I suppose you are looking for my sister." Paloma replied.

"Yes." Fox said. "I am. I really need to straighten things out with her. I've hurt her, and I feel absolutely terrible about it."

"What makes you think that I know of her whereabouts?" Paloma asked gently.

"Something told me that she would go to you and your aunt and uncle. Please tell me that you know where she is." Fox said urgently. The tone of Fox's voice revealed a great deal to Paloma. The desperation in Fox's voice hinted to his care for Theresa.

Paloma debated with herself. She wondered if she should tell Fox the truth, or lie to prevent him from finding her sister. Paloma hated concealing Theresa's location- especially since she knew that Pilar was most likely filled with an overwhelming sense of worry.

"Are you still there?" Fox asked. "Paloma?"

"I'm here." Paloma responded.

"Well?" Fox asked.

"I don't- I- well~" Paloma struggled to find words.

"If you know where she is, please tell me." Fox pleaded.

"You really care for her don't you?" Paloma said instead of answering Fox's question.

"I do." Fox replied. "Deeply. She's my best friend~ or at least she was. I need to make things right between me and her." Fox said quietly. "Please, Paloma. Tell me that you know where she is."

Theresa's pleas echoed through Paloma's mind. "Maybe now's not the time," Paloma thought to herself. "I-I'm sorry, Fox, but I don't know where she is." Once the words left Paloma's lips, a sense of guilt immediately flooded through her.

Fox's heart sank. "Oh." He replied. A long pause ensued, and Paloma silently cursed herself for lying. "But now's not the time." She kept saying silently. "I have to have time to convince Theresa that she must return home."

"If you hear from her," Fox said quietly. "Please call, all right?"

"I will." Paloma responded.

"Thank you." Fox said.

"Fox?" Paloma asked before they hung up.

"Hm?" Fox answered.

"I wouldn't worry about Theresa." Paloma said. "I'm positive that she's in good hands."

After Fox hung up, he remained still and contemplated Paloma's last statement. "She sounds so sure," He mumbled to himself. "Sounds as if she knows who Theresa is with." Fox ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "I just wish Theresa were with me."

~*~