Chapter 5

...I am aware now...

You've already won me over

In spite of me

And don't be alarmed if I fall

Head over feet

Don't be surprised if I love you

For all that you are

I couldn't help it

It's all your fault....

"I'm so glad we met up that day, Fox..... Has anyone ever told you how good you are in bed?"

Fox looked at his lover, who lay beside him, suggestively, barely covered by his linen sheets.

"No, Tracy, not recently," he told her, turning over on his side, away from her.

"Well you are," she said, matter-of-factly.

Fox felt physically ill, as he had been feeling since he had first slept with Tracy. After their date, touring Harmony, he had walked her to her hotel room, where she had invited him inside. But since that night, Fox had been vomiting violently after she left and he had no clue as to why.

He turned over, once more, trying to fight the nausea.

"Fox," Tracy started worriedly, "you look pale. Are you feeling okay?"

"Actually Tracy, I don't. Maybe you should go home."

"But Fox!" Tracy exclaimed, surprised. "It's late!"

"I'll call you a cab. Go get ready. I don't want you to see me sick," Fox told her, as he sat up.

Tracy walked hurriedly into the bathroom, her clothes in tow. Fox watched her until she closed the door.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" Fox asked himself, out loud. He shook his head, in disbelief. He just couldn't explain his sudden illness. All he knew was that every time he had sex with Tracy, he would feel an inexplicable guilt. That guilt would somehow become an overwhelming nausea, and ultimately him retching his guts out. And while he was throwing up, all he could think about was Theresa. It was strange too, because once he saw Theresa's image in his mind, it would prove to be a calming effect. He would feel better.

He wished he could call her, but something told him that it be best if he didn't. He had been avoiding her for the last two weeks since he had been sleeping with Tracy. He had this immense guilt written all over his face, and Theresa would instantly know, if she saw him, that something was wrong. Since he couldn't find himself lying to her, he decided that it be best if he avoided seeing and talking to her altogether. Concealing his affair seemed so necessary. He originally thought he could tell Theresa, but a nagging voice in his head told him that it would only make their lives more complicated.

Fox's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his cell phone ringing. He picked it up.

"Fox," he heard Theresa call out, even before he could get a 'hello' out. "I've been trying to reach you for days. I've been so worried. Are you okay?" Theresa was talking a mile-a-minute.

"I'm fine," was all Fox could respond. Another wave of nausea set in.

"Then why have you been dodging me for the last two weeks. You haven't even bothered to contact me, knowing how paranoid I am about people suddenly disappearing in my life?" Theresa sounded angry now.

"I'm sorry Theresa, I've been out on business and-"

Fox couldn't finish his sentence. Tracy had call out loudly to him. "Fox, is that the cab company? Make sure you give them the right address!"

There was an awkward silence between Fox and Theresa now. Fox couldn't even hear Theresa breathe anymore.

"Maybe I should explain..." Fox hesitated.

But Fox was interrupted once again; this time by Theresa. "Explain what?" She asked, with clenched teeth. "That you been keeping the fact that you've been having sex with someone. I can put two and two together, Fox."

"Please Theresa, I really need to explain this to you."

"Save it. I've got to go." Theresa started to click off her cordless phone.

"No Theresa! Don't hang-" Fox could only hear a deal tone now. "Up."

Suddenly, even surprising to Fox, himself, vomit started to come up his throat. He ran to the bathroom, leaving a trail of vomit behind him. When he entered the bathroom, Tracy, frightened, frantically tried to move over, but it was too late, Fox had vomited all over her and everything else for that matter.

-XXX-

Tracy had been nice enough to help Fox clean up his mess. She had made him some broth, and his stomach had calmed down. He thanked Tracy, sincerely. She was a really cool girl, but Fox had his heart set on someone else and Tracy lived a thousand miles away. They weren't expecting a romance that could outlast time when they went out on that date. They were just looking for a no stings attached relationship. At the end of the day, they wanted to experience something not-so- complicated for once.

They had agreed not to see each other anymore. It was an amicable agreement. Tracy had to leave in a day, and Fox didn't want to vomit on the poor girl for the rest of her stay. As Tracy got ready to leave, she started a conversation.

"Hey Fox," Tracy called out. "Do you have a romantic interest in your life?"

"Ummm...." Fox didn't know exactly how to respond to that.

"Don't worry about keeping any secrets from me. We may never see each other again, so you might as well share."

Fox looked hesistant, but decided that it was safe. He needed to talk to someone, after all.

"Well, there is this one girl," Fox began.

"Ohhh! Give me all the details."

Fox laughed. "Okay. This girl, she truly is my soul mate. Have you ever met this person who knew you better than you knew yourself?" Tracy shook her head. "Well, I've met her. Even though it is unspoken between us, we share a bond that can never really be broken. And Tracy, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

"Oh, you're going to make me cry! This is so romantic."

"It took me a while to realize that I was in love with her, and an even longer time to admit to myself that I was in love with her, but now, I know."

"Does she know?"

"I don't know. I don't think she really understands how much she means to me."

"You have to let her know."

Fox looked at Tracy. He did, he had to let the woman that he loved know how he really felt. He had been trying to hide this for so long. These feelings had always existed within him since the first time he had laid his eyes upon her. She may not be perfect, but she was perfect for him. He was now determine to look into her brown orbs and tell her.

"You're right. That's exactly what I'm going to do, and right now."

He got dressed quickly, drove Tracy to her hotel room, and then drove to her house.

He knocked on the door, feeling frantic. Finally giving in to these feelings was making him anxious to let them out.

The door opened.

"Whitney...."