Ch.4

They walked back silently to Teresa's house. She walked up to the door.

"Resa," he said stopping her. "I'm really sorry about all of this."

"So am I," she said. "Are you sure you want to go talk to Chad alone...maybe I should go with you."

"I need to do this on my own," he said. "But thanks."

She gave him a weak smile.

"Fox listen.... tonight was really fun."

He Smiled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

She looked into his eyes.

"But I don't think this is going to work."

He squinted his eyes. "What are you talking about? You just said you had fun."

"I know...and I did, don't get me wrong...it's just that I...I don't think it's going to work."

He felt like he had been punched in the stomach.

"I know you like me Fox...I've always known...but I can see it in your eyes...you still have feelings for Whitney too."

"Teresa, I don't-"

"Fox." She put her hand up. "No one can turn his or her feelings off like that automatically. You've been in love with her for so long, I know deep down inside, there are feelings still lurking in there."

"What I had for Whitney was an infatuation Teresa, disguised as love. I was young and stupid, and I took my physical attraction for her as being more than that...but it's not...it's just an attraction."

"Let me ask you a question." She said. "If Whitney told you she had feelings for you too, what would you do? Honestly. If she came up to you tomorrow and told you her and Chad were over and she wanted to be with you...can you honestly look me in the eyes and tell me you wouldn't do anything about it?"

He looked down at the ground.

"I don't know," he said softly. "I don't know."

She nodded her head.

"Exactly," she whispered. She wiped her eyes and turned around.

"Goodnight Fox." She opened the door and walked in, collapsing against the door, slowly sliding down it. She sat there for a moment before her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Sis, it's Luis...you'd better get to the hospital..."

Fox was on the other side, his hand gently stroking the wooden door in front of him. He was about to knock, when he heard it.

"Fox!"

He turned around. It was Chad.

"Chad, I was looking for you..."

"Shut up!" he yelled getting in his face. "What's this I hear about you being in love with Whitney Fox?"

"Chad, I can explain, let's not do this here."

"This place is fine." He said through gritted teeth. "Tell me Fox."

"I'm not going to fight with you in front of Teresa's house," Fox said calmly. "You want to talk, we can go to my place."

Just then Teresa walked out, her hands shaky. She dropped her keys as she tried to lock her door. Fox turned around.

"Teresa?"

She looked up at them.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We were just leaving." Chad said not taking his eyes off Fox.

"What's wrong? Where are you going?" Fox asked concern.

"Oh, umm...Luis just called me...mama's not doing to good. I'm going to the hospital."

Fox shut his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "Do you want me to take you?"

"Hell no!" Chad yelled. "You're not going anywhere until we're through."

"Chad, lighten up..."

"Lighten up!" He looked at the ground. Then, with one swift motion, he raised his fist and punched Fox in the face, knocking him to the ground.

"Fox!" Teresa yelled.

"You traitor!" Chad yelled, kicking him. "You're were my best friend man! And you've been secretly in love with my girlfriend?"

"Chad stop!' Teresa screamed. "You're hurting him!"

"GOOD!" he screamed punching him again. "He deserves it!"

Fox didn't move. He took every punch and kick that came his way.

I do deserve this, he thought to himself.

Teresa ran over and grabbed Chad's coat, pulling him away.

"Go Chad!" She yelled. "You've done enough for now."

He looked down at Fox.

"This isn't over Crane."

He spit on the ground by his beaten body.

"I'll be seeing you."

Teresa watched as he walked away, his hands balled in angry fists.

"Is he gone?" Teresa looked down at a bleeding Fox.

"Are you alright?" she knelt beside him.

"Yea, I think so," he sat up.

Teresa touched his forehead. "

That cut looks pretty deep," she said. "Come on."

She stood up, and then helped him to his feet. His legs buckled.

"Whoa!" Teresa said grabbing him. "You're not ok."

"Resa, I'm fine."

"Fox," she said wrapping his arm around her neck. "Just shut up alright?"

She helped him to her car and got him in. She got in, buckled up, and peeled out. They we're quiet on the way to the hospital.

"I hope your mom is ok," he said breaking the silence. Her eyes watered.

"She's dying Fox...she's never going to be ok again."

He shut his eyes and leaned his head against his seat.

"Nothing is ever going to be ok," she said quietly.

Fox looked at her. He wanted so desperately to grab her hand, to kiss her, to tell her she was wrong. Things would be ok. Pilar would get healthy, and Chad would forgive him. Whitney wouldn't be in his mind, his feelings for her would go away. She would get her son back, they would be a real family, live happily ever after, just like in the movies she loved so much. They could dance in the street, travel the world, and grow old together. Instead he just stared out his window.

He didn't want to lie.

She pulled into the emergency room.

"Get that cut looked at," she said not looking at him.

Fox got out of the car and shut the door.

"Teresa," he said.

She put the car and drive and drove away, going to the other end of the hospital where her mother was. Fox watched her car disappear into the night. He walked into the hospital with his head hung low.

"I've really blown in this time," he said tom himself. He touched the cut on his head. He winced, the cut feeling like fire, burning his face. He walked up to the receptionist in the ER.

"What happened to you?" Broken face?" she asked jokingly.

He smiled sadly to himself.

"Broken heart."