CHAPTER 7

"I knew I could never mean anything more to her than just a friend. Why was I stupid enough to think anything different?"
Fox kept thinking about what Theresa said to Ethan while he was walking down the hall. He ran into his mother along the way.

"Fox! What happened to you?" Ivy asked turning his head to see the bruise on his face.

"Some guy was trying to take advantage of Theresa last night and I stepped in." Before he even finished his sentence, he knew what would be coming out of his mothers mouth about Theresa

"I told you about that slut. The more you hang around her, the more trouble you'll get into. Please Fox just stay away from her." She touched his arm and continued on her path down the hallway. He didn't really care to say anything back to his mother. He just wanted to go to his room and lay down.

-----

"Theresa, um, I think I should go now. Gwen will be looking for me soon." Ethan slid his hand out from under Theresa's and got off the bed. She pulled back her hand and placed it upon her chest as if she was holding a part of him with her.

"Right...Gwen..." Once again, Ethan was back to his normal self. He barged in her room making sure she was ok, was worried about her and just when she thinks she's getting through to him, he pulls away.

"I know how you feel about me, but I'm married Theresa, and what we once were, we can never be again...I'm sorry." He rushed out the door leaving Theresa with her thoughts. She remembered all the times they had spent together. The way he held her, so close and tightly in his strong muscular arms as they were falling asleep in bed. The way he'd gently wipe away her tears with his thumb. The times he'd come to her defense when his mother tore into her and he'd yell back while slipping his arm around Theresa's small waist to ler her know he was there for her. How could he just forget all of that and walk out the door like it never happened? She glanced over at her nightstand and her eyes fell upon the white rose Fox had given her a few days ago, that had now started to wither and die. The petals were turning brown and the edges were becoming crisp. The events of the previous night came back to her and she decided to go check if Fox was up and see how he was doing. Climbing out of bed, she grabbed her robe off the chair and tied it around her waist. When she reached his room, she knocked quietly.

"Come on in." Fox called from his bed.

"Hey Fox. How are you doing this morning?" Noticing his brusied cheek, she bit her lower lip feeling responsible. "Ouch, that looks like it hurts." She sat down on the edge of his bed softly.

"Not too bad. I'll live." He comtemplated whether or not he should say he heard her conversation with Ethan. If he did, he would risk putting everything out on the table about what he was feeling, and knowing she didn't return those feelings, it could hurt their friendship. That was something Fox never wanted to lose. "How about you, how are you feeling today?" He sat up in his bed and tried to forget his thoughts.

"Not so great. Well it's not like it's anything new, but I just spoke to Ethan. He once again told me how we will never be." Theresa looked down and he could see the pain in her eyes. She wasn't very good at hiding her emotions.

"Why do you let him do this to you? Why do you continue to hang onto him and this hope of a future for you two?"

"Because we share a love Fox."

"Yeah, you keep saying that Theresa but I don't see it. The way he treats you isn't the way someone in love is supposed to be treated. Look, I may not be the expert on love since I've never been, but from what I've heard from you, love is being with that person whenever you get the chance, and doing anything for that person and overcoming any obstacle that gets in your way of being together. Ethan isn't doing any of that. I'm not denying that he was once was in love with you, I'm sure he was head over heels in love with you, how could he not be." When the words he was saying registered with her she looked up at him and the corners of her mouth curled up gratefully. He seemed to understand exactly what it was she needed to hear to feel better. "But he's with Gwen now, and I have to be honest with you, I don't see him leaving her. He did love you once Theresa, and he may still now, but it isn't enough to leave his wife and child. I don't mean to be harsh with you, the last thing I want to do is hurt you sweetie, but I hate seeing him treat you like this....I hate seeing him hurt you." Fox meant every word he said. The last thing he wanted to do was see her hurt but he wanted to find some way to get through to her that her love for Ethan is not the same love he has for her.

"Fox, I've tried to make myself believe all of that, but I have loved Ethan since I was a little girl, and I don't know anything else. When I see the love he shares with Gwen, it's not what we had. We had this passion, this undeniable feeling that everyone felt when we were in a room together. We had a connection, and still do, that cannot be broken."

The words Theresa spoke burned Fox. She said them with such hope, such belief. He wondered how a girl so beautiful and intelligent could lower herself to such a low standard of his half brother. Did she not see what Ethan was doing to her? He was using her. He had a wife waiting in his warm bed to come home to every night but still wanted Theresa waiting in the wings. He wanted her when it was convenient to him, and when it wasn't he simply played the wife card and got away.

"Ok Theresa, I won't argue with you about this. I just wish you could see the truth." He stared at her intently, waiting for her to speak. She remained quiet and looked down and her hands. She was spinning a ring on her finger. He could tell she didn't know what to say. Breaking the silence, he asked, "Hey, you want to get something to eat? We could go get some breakfast...what do you say?"

"Yeah, sure, that sounds nice. I'll go get ready." Slowly easing up off the bed, she headed for the door. She was lost in her thoughts. Fox was right, she knew that, but her heart didn't want to believe it. It wouldn't allow her to. Her eyes were glued to the floor and she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings. Just as she looked up, she saw Ivy walking towards her.

"Well, well, well, I suppose you're coming from my son's room. Which one is it this week Theresa? Ethan or Fox? You know you really ought to give up on the Crane men, all they see you for is the trash you really are." Ivy spoke in a cold, harsh tone. To most people it would have sent chills down their spine, but for Theresa, it was just more ammunition.

"You know Ivy, you should watch how you speak to me, I am Mrs. Julian Crane now and with a snap of my fingers I could have you kicked out of this house right on your expensively dressed butt." Standing with her folded over one another, she stared Ivy right in the eyes, letting her know she wasn't backing down.

"You wouldn't dare, what would Ethan think of you then?" Ivy laughed and started to walk away.

"You know, I don't really care what Ethan thinks of me right now, and guess what Ivy...I want you out of MY house, right now!" She shouted at Ivy who stopped dead in her tracks.

"You can't be serious Theresa." She turned around in shock.

"Oh I'm as serious as a heart attack Ivy. Go pack your things and get out." She used her finger to point to Ivy's room and then gestured to the front door.

"Ethan!" Ivy's voice was filled with fear.

"Mother what is it?" Ethan ran upstairs with a worried Gwen closely behind him.

"This bitch here thinks she can throw me out of the house."

"Oh not only do I think it Ivy, but I can do it, and I just did, so you better start packing."

"Theresa are you serious? Throwing my mother out in the freezing cold with no where to go? At least give her a few days to find a place to stay." He stood behind his mother and rubbed her shoulders gently.

"No Ethan, I want her out by tonight." Theresa stood firm on her decision. She wasn't backing down. For months she wanted to kick Ivy right out in the cold but didn't want to hurt Ethan. She knew it would crush him to see his mother in such pain, so she let things go and took all the harsh words and comments made about her and her family. No longer would she stand for it, she had the power and she used it.

"Ethan, can she do this legally?" Ivy looked up at her son with tears in her eyes. She wasn't on good terms with any of her old friends. She and Pilar has lost most of what they shared in a friendship ever since things with Ethan and Theresa went sour. She didn't know where she would go.

"I'm sorry mother, but legally being Julian's wife, she has every right to..." Not knowing what else to say, he pulled his mother close to him.

"Finally." Theresa smiled to herself knowing the wrath of Ivy would be over soon.

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has posted a review about my story. I love all the wonderful feedback. I decided to post 3 chapters since I had them already written and figured you guys would like it. Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!