Chapter 2: Change of Plans
Ethan Crane woke up to find his girlfriend, Gwen Winthrop sound asleep in his arms. She looked so beautiful and peaceful that he couldn't bear to wake her. Instead, he gently lifted her up and moved her over to the other side of the bed and quickly and quietly stood up. Yawning, he stretched his tan, muscular arms above his head, drawing his shirt up a bit to reveal his toned, solid abs. He made his way toward the door and moved to open it, stepping on a piece of the wooden floor that creaked loudly. Ethan winced and groaned inwardly hoping that it didn't wake Gwen, but he knew how light of a sleeper she was and sure enough the sound caused his girlfriend to bolt upright in their king-sized bed and glance nervously around the room. When she saw that it was only Ethan she smiled sleepily and motioned for him to come toward her. Ethan went back over to the bed, sat lightly on the edge of it and gave her a quick kiss.
"Morning, gorgeous," he said with a smile.
"Same to you," Gwen replied. She sat up and smiled back at her boyfriend. Suddenly, her facial expression changed to one that was slightly upset and a little anxious.
Ethan noticed the change right away and instantly he frowned and looked down at her with his stunning blue eyes.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked concerned. "You look worried about something."
Gwen sighed and shook head and her straight blond hair fell in front of her eyes. Ethan pushed it away and looked troubled by her sudden change in appearance.
"Tell me, Gwen. You know you can talk to me about anything, don't you?"
Gwen nodded and took in a long, slow deep breath. She exhaled loudly and closed her eyes, as if she was psyching herself up for something. Finally she opened her eyes, looked right into Ethan's, and began to speak.
"Well, there's been something I've been meaning to tell you for a few weeks now. In fact, it's been on my mind ever since we arrived here. Ethan I..." Gwen stopped and looked away.
"Go on, Gwen," Ethan urged.
"Ethan, I've been offered a summer internship at one of the biggest couture houses in New York City. It's the chance of a lifetime for me, and you know how serious I am about pursuing my career in fashion design. I didn't want to tell you because I felt like it would ruin our vacation which was supposed to be special alone time for us. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I was afraid you would be upset with me. It begins tomorrow, and I already have my flight booked and everything. I leave today at noon."
Gwen paused to take a breath and looked nervously at Ethan, searching his face for a reaction. At first Ethan was silent and Gwen feared the worst, but then his face broke out into a huge grin and he reached out and hugged her tightly to him.
"Oh, honey, that's so wonderful! Why didn't you tell me? This is so great. I'm thrilled for you!" Gwen pulled back and looked relieved.
"Are you sure it's okay? I mean I know that there's no need for me to work since you make more than enough money for the both of us, but I really want to look into this. Who knows- after this internship I may hate the fashion world and decide to give the whole career thing up! But I at least have to give it a shot, don't you think?"
"Of course! Oh, Gwen, this is such good news! I'm so proud of you!"
"The only thing I feel bad about is this amazing condo. We rented it for the entire summer and now there's not going to be anyone to live in it." Gwen looked around the gorgeous bedroom longingly. Ethan gave her a confused, questioning look.
"What are you talking about, sweetheart? I'll just stay here for the rest of the summer. Sure I won't have you with me, but I won't be completely alone. I mean Chad and Fox are here. I'll just hang with them." Gwen narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips.
"Excuse me, Ethan? Don't you remember who ELSE is here? In case you've forgotten, let me remind you- a conniving, insane, horrible woman named Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald who will be more than happy to steal you away from me once I'm gone and out of the picture. That would be like a golden opportunity for her. I mean, who knows what that crazy woman could come up with given a chance like that. No, I won't hear of it- you'll just have to go back to Harmony until I get back." Ethan frowned and shook his head, looking disappointed.
"Come on, Gwen. I love you. YOU! Not Theresa, not anyone else but you! Gwen you are the one and only woman for me. Don't you know that by now? How many times do I have to prove myself to you? You're getting to be a bit paranoid and you're taking this whole "evil" Theresa scheme a bit too far for my liking. Don't you think it's becoming a little ridiculous?"
"No, Ethan. No I do not. I know what Theresa is capable of- just about anything when it comes to you. But you're right. Even if I don't trust Theresa one bit, I do trust you with my entire heart and soul. And it would be a shame to see this gorgeous place go to waste. I just wish I could stay here longer. I could live here forever."
"Well don't worry. I'll make sure it won't be a lost cause. Now you, little lady, should be getting ready to leave! How about you hop in the shower and I'll cook us some breakfast before you go." Ethan leaned over and kissed Gwen's neck and held her tightly to him before gently releasing her and heading off to the kitchen.
Gwen watched his retreating figure head out before getting up and moving into the bathroom. As she turned on the shower she couldn't help but notice that although Ethan had repeatedly stated his love for her, he hadn't said he was over Theresa. But then again, she thought sadly, maybe he never really would be.
Ethan Crane woke up to find his girlfriend, Gwen Winthrop sound asleep in his arms. She looked so beautiful and peaceful that he couldn't bear to wake her. Instead, he gently lifted her up and moved her over to the other side of the bed and quickly and quietly stood up. Yawning, he stretched his tan, muscular arms above his head, drawing his shirt up a bit to reveal his toned, solid abs. He made his way toward the door and moved to open it, stepping on a piece of the wooden floor that creaked loudly. Ethan winced and groaned inwardly hoping that it didn't wake Gwen, but he knew how light of a sleeper she was and sure enough the sound caused his girlfriend to bolt upright in their king-sized bed and glance nervously around the room. When she saw that it was only Ethan she smiled sleepily and motioned for him to come toward her. Ethan went back over to the bed, sat lightly on the edge of it and gave her a quick kiss.
"Morning, gorgeous," he said with a smile.
"Same to you," Gwen replied. She sat up and smiled back at her boyfriend. Suddenly, her facial expression changed to one that was slightly upset and a little anxious.
Ethan noticed the change right away and instantly he frowned and looked down at her with his stunning blue eyes.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked concerned. "You look worried about something."
Gwen sighed and shook head and her straight blond hair fell in front of her eyes. Ethan pushed it away and looked troubled by her sudden change in appearance.
"Tell me, Gwen. You know you can talk to me about anything, don't you?"
Gwen nodded and took in a long, slow deep breath. She exhaled loudly and closed her eyes, as if she was psyching herself up for something. Finally she opened her eyes, looked right into Ethan's, and began to speak.
"Well, there's been something I've been meaning to tell you for a few weeks now. In fact, it's been on my mind ever since we arrived here. Ethan I..." Gwen stopped and looked away.
"Go on, Gwen," Ethan urged.
"Ethan, I've been offered a summer internship at one of the biggest couture houses in New York City. It's the chance of a lifetime for me, and you know how serious I am about pursuing my career in fashion design. I didn't want to tell you because I felt like it would ruin our vacation which was supposed to be special alone time for us. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I was afraid you would be upset with me. It begins tomorrow, and I already have my flight booked and everything. I leave today at noon."
Gwen paused to take a breath and looked nervously at Ethan, searching his face for a reaction. At first Ethan was silent and Gwen feared the worst, but then his face broke out into a huge grin and he reached out and hugged her tightly to him.
"Oh, honey, that's so wonderful! Why didn't you tell me? This is so great. I'm thrilled for you!" Gwen pulled back and looked relieved.
"Are you sure it's okay? I mean I know that there's no need for me to work since you make more than enough money for the both of us, but I really want to look into this. Who knows- after this internship I may hate the fashion world and decide to give the whole career thing up! But I at least have to give it a shot, don't you think?"
"Of course! Oh, Gwen, this is such good news! I'm so proud of you!"
"The only thing I feel bad about is this amazing condo. We rented it for the entire summer and now there's not going to be anyone to live in it." Gwen looked around the gorgeous bedroom longingly. Ethan gave her a confused, questioning look.
"What are you talking about, sweetheart? I'll just stay here for the rest of the summer. Sure I won't have you with me, but I won't be completely alone. I mean Chad and Fox are here. I'll just hang with them." Gwen narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips.
"Excuse me, Ethan? Don't you remember who ELSE is here? In case you've forgotten, let me remind you- a conniving, insane, horrible woman named Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald who will be more than happy to steal you away from me once I'm gone and out of the picture. That would be like a golden opportunity for her. I mean, who knows what that crazy woman could come up with given a chance like that. No, I won't hear of it- you'll just have to go back to Harmony until I get back." Ethan frowned and shook his head, looking disappointed.
"Come on, Gwen. I love you. YOU! Not Theresa, not anyone else but you! Gwen you are the one and only woman for me. Don't you know that by now? How many times do I have to prove myself to you? You're getting to be a bit paranoid and you're taking this whole "evil" Theresa scheme a bit too far for my liking. Don't you think it's becoming a little ridiculous?"
"No, Ethan. No I do not. I know what Theresa is capable of- just about anything when it comes to you. But you're right. Even if I don't trust Theresa one bit, I do trust you with my entire heart and soul. And it would be a shame to see this gorgeous place go to waste. I just wish I could stay here longer. I could live here forever."
"Well don't worry. I'll make sure it won't be a lost cause. Now you, little lady, should be getting ready to leave! How about you hop in the shower and I'll cook us some breakfast before you go." Ethan leaned over and kissed Gwen's neck and held her tightly to him before gently releasing her and heading off to the kitchen.
Gwen watched his retreating figure head out before getting up and moving into the bathroom. As she turned on the shower she couldn't help but notice that although Ethan had repeatedly stated his love for her, he hadn't said he was over Theresa. But then again, she thought sadly, maybe he never really would be.