Pulling Away

After Theresa learns that Ethan is a Crane, she stops at nothing to ensure that she doesn't run into him around Harmony, or Castleton University. When Monday comes again for her Chemistry class, Theresa walks into the classroom, and sits in the back of the room. Praying that Ethan will not spot her, she pulls out a book to read, and hides her face between the pages.

When Ethan walks into his classroom, he is sad to see that Theresa is not sitting next to his usual seat. He looks around, and spots a girl with a book to her face. Sensing automatically that it's Theresa, he attempts to move to sit next to her, but finds no seats near her. Sighing, he sits in his normal spot.

"I wonder why she isn't sitting with me today?" Ethan thinks to himself.

"I'm sorry to do this, Ethan, but I refuse to be another notch on your belt of women you've had." Theresa thinks as she looks at the back of Ethan's head.

Sensing that someone is watching him, Ethan looks to where Theresa is sitting, and finds that she was staring at him.

After class is over, Ethan runs to the back of the room to try and talk with Theresa.

"Hi, Theresa."

"Ethan, I can't talk right now." Putting her things into her backpack, Theresa manages to escape any further conversation with Ethan.

"Why isn't she talking to me?" He thinks to himself.

As he attempts to get to Theresa again, a sudden though stops him dead in his tracks. "God, did she find out that I'm a Crane? No, that's impossible. I wouldn't have told her..."

Once he is home, he finds his mother, Ivy Crane, sitting in the living room talking with her head maid, Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald.

"Afternoon mother, Pilar."

"Ethan, darling! How was your day today?"

"Fine, mom. I met this girl in my Chemistry class, but now she won't talk to me."

"Well, maybe she was having a bad day?"

"I don't know, Mother. We got along great a few days ago, then today, it just went up in smoke. I tried to get her attention, and it never worked."

"Well, if this girl is the one for you, I'm sure you'll know it."

"Yeah, I just hope Theresa realizes it too..."

Hearing her daughter's name, Pilar looks up at Ethan. "Theresa you say?"

"Yeah, Pilar, that's her name. Why, do you know her?"

Debating on whether to tell the truth or not, Pilar finally fesses up. "Actually, Ethan, Theresa is my daughter."

"Your daughter?!"

"Yes. She asked me about you actually last night at dinner."

"She did?" Hope bloomed inside of Ethan's chest.

"Yeah, she was curious as to who you were. I told her that I knew you since you were a little boy, and that I always knew you as a nice, caring man."

"Well, thank you for the compliments, Pilar."

"Ethan, you don't have to thank me. You're like another son to me. But you also have to realize that I would take my daughter's side at any time. She is young, Ethan. I can't tell her what to do with her life anymore, but I'm telling you to please not hurt my daughter."

Hearing the mother's love through her words, Ethan nods his head. "I promise, Pilar. I don't want to see Theresa hurt. I just would like to get to know her as me Ethan, not with the Crane name or any other such thing."

"Then follow your heart, Ethan. Just be careful as you do."

Giving Pilar a hug, Ethan makes his way upstairs. Once in his room, he thinks of ways to make Theresa see that he is different then the ideal image of the Crane heir.

Coming up with a plan, Ethan takes a tape recorder, and starts to record a conversation.

"Hi, Theresa. I know this is a crazy thing for me to do, but it's what I have to do. I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry I never told you what my last name was. For so long, I've been known as the Crane heir, the man who will take over everything, the rich boy, the snob. For once in my life I just wanted to be known as Ethan, the man. Your spark for life called to me in some crazy way. I know at first, we got off on the right foot. But our talk at the bench really let me be myself just for a little while. I hope you can forgive me for not telling you who I was. I really like you, Theresa, and I hope I can be able to talk to you, and hang out with you soon. Love, Ethan."

Once he finishes recording his message, Ethan runs downstairs to Pilar.

"Pilar, I know you may think this is a crazy idea, but can you give this tape to Theresa please? It's just something I want her to hear in hopes that she understands where I'm coming from."

Taking the tape, Pilar puts it into her pocketbook. "Sure, Ethan, I will give this to Theresa."

Later on at night, Theresa listens to Ethan's words, as she sits on her bed. "Oh, Ethan, is this really true? Can I really be able to trust you and start a friendship, which could lead to something more with you? Dear God, tell me what to do...."

Coming Up

Theresa tries to move on without Ethan

What will Pilar and Whitney tell Theresa to do?

Will Ethan and Theresa find their way back to each other?

Please R/R