CH 9-Brotherly Conflict
After dropping Theresa off, Fox decided to go home to get ready for his party.
He opened the door to the mansion and saw the living room packed with decorators, cooks, and maids. His mother Ivy Crane was amongst them all giving orders out to everyone around her. When she spotted Fox at the door, she leaped up and came to him.
"Fox, darling I'm so happy you're home!" She kissed him. "Listen, I've been busy all day trying to get ready for your welcome home party tonight. Even though it was sort of short notice, I have a promising group of people attending. A lot of top executive people will be coming tonight Fox, and who knows maybe one of them will be able to offer you an important position."
"Yeah, sure mother." Fox said sarcastically.
He wasn't interested in meeting any top executives. All he wanted to do was hold Theresa in his arms and dance with her the entire nightlong.
"Great!" She happily squealed, not sensing the sarcasm in his voice. "Did you invite a friend to the party like I told you to?"
"Yeah, actually I did." Fox beamed, knowing his mother was not going to like this. "I invited Theresa."
Ivy immediately turned around and looked at her son in disbelief.
"Theresa, as in Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald?" She asked in disgust.
"The one and only!" He grinned.
"Fox no! That girl is pure trouble! All she ever does is ruin people's lives. Just look at what she did to Ethan?"
"Mother first of all, what happened between Theresa and Ethan was not entirely her fault. Secondly, you are the one who told me to invite someone, and lastly, I like Theresa. She's a beautiful, kind and sweet girl and she's coming to this party as my guest whether you like it or not."
Ivy knew better than to argue with him. Out of all her children, Fox was probably the most stubborn one of all. Once he made up his mind about something, there was no point in even trying to change it.
"Fine," she huffed. "But you keep her far way from me!"
She walked away and attended to one of her decorators.
Fox smiled and picked up one of the cakes the cooks had made.
"Mmmm, this is pretty good." He said to himself, stuffing the rest into his mouth.
In the kitchen, Ethan was busy doing some paper work.
He suddenly felt himself get really dizzy, as he put a hand to his head.
"That's strange," He thought to himself. "I wonder what made that come on?"
He put his hand to his mouth and began coughing uncontrollably. Every time he coughed, he held his stomach; the pain striking his insides.
What's happening to me? He thought.
Fox pushed open the door to the kitchen and smiled to himself, thinking about his fun afternoon with Theresa. He turned his head and saw Ethan hunched over the table coughing violently.
"Ethan!" He ran to his side. "Jesus, what's wrong?"
Ethan just continued coughing, his face turning pale. Fox jumped up and ran to the fridge, pouring a glass of water. He handed it to Ethan, and knelt down beside him once more.
After a few sips of the water, Ethan stopped coughing. He leaned back in the chair and caught his breath.
"Thank you Fox," he whispered, taking another sip.
"What happened man? I came in here and it looked like you were about to cough up a lung!"
"I don't know." Ethan shrugged. "My throat just suddenly felt really dry, and then I couldn't stop coughing. It's probably just the air."
"Yeah, probably." Fox nodded and smiled, staring into space.
"What are you so happy about?" Ethan looked up at him. "Where were you this afternoon?"
"I went out," He simple said, hopping up on the counter.
"Well it must have been some place. You look like you've been hit by one of cupid's arrows." Ethan smirked, flipping through his papers.
"Well I have in a way," he smiled. "I was out with Theresa. We went shopping!"
Ethan looked at Fox, a shade of crimson creeping up around his cheeks.
"Theresa?" He repeated. "What were you doing out with her?"
Fox noticed a bit of anger in Ethan's voice as he stared at him.
"Well, not that it's any of your business, but like I told you we went shopping for a dress for her to wear tonight."
"What? She's coming here tonight?" Ethan could feel his blood boiling.
"Yeah, I invited her. She's going to be my date." Fox smirked.
Ethan shot up from his chair in a fit of anger.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" He took a step closer to him. "You're not actually falling for her, are you Fox?"
"What if I am? I don't see why that should concern you?" Fox hopped down from the counter. "If I remember correctly, you pushed Theresa out of your life."
"I did not!" Ethan denied.
"Yes you did!" Fox shot back. "You made it quite clear that you didn't want to have anything to do with her. In fact I distinctly remember you telling me that you and Theresa could no longer have a relationship because you didn't trust her. So what is it? It's either you want to be with her or you don't."
"It's not that I don't want to be with her. It's just that I can't and you know why." Ethan stared at him. "Besides, even if I can't be with Theresa, there is no way in hell that I would want her to be with someone like you. You treat women like dirt, and Theresa doesn't deserve that."
"Whatever Ethan, I'm not like that anymore. But you know what? It doesn't matter because right now you don't have a say in this." Fox looked at Ethan with stern eyes. "You made your choice already. You chose to push Theresa out of your life, so if I decide to be with her there's not a damn thing you can say or do."
Ethan just stood there staring at his half-brother with cold and hateful eyes.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go ready." He looked down at his watch. "It's almost time for me to go pick up my date."
He pushed past Ethan and walked out the kitchen.
Ethan grinded his fists together as he stared at the swinging door.
"There is no way that I am going to let you have her Fox. No way!"
Theresa stared into her reflection as she carefully put on a pair of earrings.
She stood back and looked at herself in her full-length mirror.
Everything looked perfect: from her hair to the beautiful dress that Fox had bought for her. She still couldn't believe how generous he had been. He was so caring and sweet. She was so lucky to have him as her friend.
Suddenly Theresa heard a knock on her door.
"Come in," she called.
"Oh, Thereasita you look beautiful!" Pilar poked her head in.
She came into the room and smiled at her daughter.
"Thank you mama, but I wouldn't look this good if it weren't for Fox."
"What do you mean?" Pilar looked at her confused.
Theresa told her mother about the generous act that he had done that afternoon.
"Oh my goodness, Fox is quite the gentleman!" Pilar said.
"Yeah, and he's funny too!" Theresa smiled. "He always manages to make me laugh, even when I feel the worse. If it weren't for him, I would probably be in no shape to go to a party tonight. He's so caring and considerate. He's absolutely amazing! Sometimes I wonder how he can even be a Crane."
When Theresa didn't hear her mother respond, she turned around to face her. Pilar just sat on the bed and stared at her daughter smiling.
"What is it mama?"
"You like him," Pilar observed. "And I don't mean as a friend Mija. I think you are slowly falling in love with Fox."
Theresa quickly turned back to the mirror, shocked by her mother's comment.
"That's crazy mama! I'm in love with Ethan. I've always been in love with him." She objected.
"I know you have, but you've been spending a lot of time with Fox lately. Have you ever thought that maybe what you feel for him is a little more than just friendship?"
Theresa suddenly felt her face get warm, as she remembered the dream she had about Fox. Could mama be right? She thought to herself. Could I actually be falling in love with Fox?
From downstairs, Theresa heard the doorbell ring.
"I wonder who that could be?" She turned to her mother.
"I don't know. Are you expecting anybody?" Pilar asked her.
Theresa shook her head, as Pilar went downstairs to answer the door.
Pilar turned the knob and smiled at the handsome man standing on the front porch.
"Hello Mrs. Lopez Fitzgerald." Fox grinned, holding a bouquet of roses in his arms. "Is Cinderella ready to go to the ball?"
"Fox, what a surprise!" Pilar beamed. "Theresa will be so happy to see you."
She turned to the stairs and called for her daughter.
"Therasita! There is someone here to see you!"
"Who is it mama?"
Theresa slowly came down the stairs and smiled when she saw who it was.
Fox looked up at her and closed his mouth. She looked even more beautiful than she did in the store.
"Ichi-wawa!" He whistled.
"Fox," Theresa bashfully giggled. "What are you doing here?"
"Well I came to take my beautiful date to the party." He smiled handing her the roses.
"Thank you," she grinned, noticing the white limo parked outside.
"Shall we go?" He let her pass by him, as he inhaled her sweet perfume. "I promise I won't have her home to late Pilar."
"Oh, I trust you Fox." Pilar smiled at the two of them. "Have a great time!"
She closed the door behind them, as she watched the expensive limo leave the driveway.
After dropping Theresa off, Fox decided to go home to get ready for his party.
He opened the door to the mansion and saw the living room packed with decorators, cooks, and maids. His mother Ivy Crane was amongst them all giving orders out to everyone around her. When she spotted Fox at the door, she leaped up and came to him.
"Fox, darling I'm so happy you're home!" She kissed him. "Listen, I've been busy all day trying to get ready for your welcome home party tonight. Even though it was sort of short notice, I have a promising group of people attending. A lot of top executive people will be coming tonight Fox, and who knows maybe one of them will be able to offer you an important position."
"Yeah, sure mother." Fox said sarcastically.
He wasn't interested in meeting any top executives. All he wanted to do was hold Theresa in his arms and dance with her the entire nightlong.
"Great!" She happily squealed, not sensing the sarcasm in his voice. "Did you invite a friend to the party like I told you to?"
"Yeah, actually I did." Fox beamed, knowing his mother was not going to like this. "I invited Theresa."
Ivy immediately turned around and looked at her son in disbelief.
"Theresa, as in Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald?" She asked in disgust.
"The one and only!" He grinned.
"Fox no! That girl is pure trouble! All she ever does is ruin people's lives. Just look at what she did to Ethan?"
"Mother first of all, what happened between Theresa and Ethan was not entirely her fault. Secondly, you are the one who told me to invite someone, and lastly, I like Theresa. She's a beautiful, kind and sweet girl and she's coming to this party as my guest whether you like it or not."
Ivy knew better than to argue with him. Out of all her children, Fox was probably the most stubborn one of all. Once he made up his mind about something, there was no point in even trying to change it.
"Fine," she huffed. "But you keep her far way from me!"
She walked away and attended to one of her decorators.
Fox smiled and picked up one of the cakes the cooks had made.
"Mmmm, this is pretty good." He said to himself, stuffing the rest into his mouth.
In the kitchen, Ethan was busy doing some paper work.
He suddenly felt himself get really dizzy, as he put a hand to his head.
"That's strange," He thought to himself. "I wonder what made that come on?"
He put his hand to his mouth and began coughing uncontrollably. Every time he coughed, he held his stomach; the pain striking his insides.
What's happening to me? He thought.
Fox pushed open the door to the kitchen and smiled to himself, thinking about his fun afternoon with Theresa. He turned his head and saw Ethan hunched over the table coughing violently.
"Ethan!" He ran to his side. "Jesus, what's wrong?"
Ethan just continued coughing, his face turning pale. Fox jumped up and ran to the fridge, pouring a glass of water. He handed it to Ethan, and knelt down beside him once more.
After a few sips of the water, Ethan stopped coughing. He leaned back in the chair and caught his breath.
"Thank you Fox," he whispered, taking another sip.
"What happened man? I came in here and it looked like you were about to cough up a lung!"
"I don't know." Ethan shrugged. "My throat just suddenly felt really dry, and then I couldn't stop coughing. It's probably just the air."
"Yeah, probably." Fox nodded and smiled, staring into space.
"What are you so happy about?" Ethan looked up at him. "Where were you this afternoon?"
"I went out," He simple said, hopping up on the counter.
"Well it must have been some place. You look like you've been hit by one of cupid's arrows." Ethan smirked, flipping through his papers.
"Well I have in a way," he smiled. "I was out with Theresa. We went shopping!"
Ethan looked at Fox, a shade of crimson creeping up around his cheeks.
"Theresa?" He repeated. "What were you doing out with her?"
Fox noticed a bit of anger in Ethan's voice as he stared at him.
"Well, not that it's any of your business, but like I told you we went shopping for a dress for her to wear tonight."
"What? She's coming here tonight?" Ethan could feel his blood boiling.
"Yeah, I invited her. She's going to be my date." Fox smirked.
Ethan shot up from his chair in a fit of anger.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" He took a step closer to him. "You're not actually falling for her, are you Fox?"
"What if I am? I don't see why that should concern you?" Fox hopped down from the counter. "If I remember correctly, you pushed Theresa out of your life."
"I did not!" Ethan denied.
"Yes you did!" Fox shot back. "You made it quite clear that you didn't want to have anything to do with her. In fact I distinctly remember you telling me that you and Theresa could no longer have a relationship because you didn't trust her. So what is it? It's either you want to be with her or you don't."
"It's not that I don't want to be with her. It's just that I can't and you know why." Ethan stared at him. "Besides, even if I can't be with Theresa, there is no way in hell that I would want her to be with someone like you. You treat women like dirt, and Theresa doesn't deserve that."
"Whatever Ethan, I'm not like that anymore. But you know what? It doesn't matter because right now you don't have a say in this." Fox looked at Ethan with stern eyes. "You made your choice already. You chose to push Theresa out of your life, so if I decide to be with her there's not a damn thing you can say or do."
Ethan just stood there staring at his half-brother with cold and hateful eyes.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go ready." He looked down at his watch. "It's almost time for me to go pick up my date."
He pushed past Ethan and walked out the kitchen.
Ethan grinded his fists together as he stared at the swinging door.
"There is no way that I am going to let you have her Fox. No way!"
Theresa stared into her reflection as she carefully put on a pair of earrings.
She stood back and looked at herself in her full-length mirror.
Everything looked perfect: from her hair to the beautiful dress that Fox had bought for her. She still couldn't believe how generous he had been. He was so caring and sweet. She was so lucky to have him as her friend.
Suddenly Theresa heard a knock on her door.
"Come in," she called.
"Oh, Thereasita you look beautiful!" Pilar poked her head in.
She came into the room and smiled at her daughter.
"Thank you mama, but I wouldn't look this good if it weren't for Fox."
"What do you mean?" Pilar looked at her confused.
Theresa told her mother about the generous act that he had done that afternoon.
"Oh my goodness, Fox is quite the gentleman!" Pilar said.
"Yeah, and he's funny too!" Theresa smiled. "He always manages to make me laugh, even when I feel the worse. If it weren't for him, I would probably be in no shape to go to a party tonight. He's so caring and considerate. He's absolutely amazing! Sometimes I wonder how he can even be a Crane."
When Theresa didn't hear her mother respond, she turned around to face her. Pilar just sat on the bed and stared at her daughter smiling.
"What is it mama?"
"You like him," Pilar observed. "And I don't mean as a friend Mija. I think you are slowly falling in love with Fox."
Theresa quickly turned back to the mirror, shocked by her mother's comment.
"That's crazy mama! I'm in love with Ethan. I've always been in love with him." She objected.
"I know you have, but you've been spending a lot of time with Fox lately. Have you ever thought that maybe what you feel for him is a little more than just friendship?"
Theresa suddenly felt her face get warm, as she remembered the dream she had about Fox. Could mama be right? She thought to herself. Could I actually be falling in love with Fox?
From downstairs, Theresa heard the doorbell ring.
"I wonder who that could be?" She turned to her mother.
"I don't know. Are you expecting anybody?" Pilar asked her.
Theresa shook her head, as Pilar went downstairs to answer the door.
Pilar turned the knob and smiled at the handsome man standing on the front porch.
"Hello Mrs. Lopez Fitzgerald." Fox grinned, holding a bouquet of roses in his arms. "Is Cinderella ready to go to the ball?"
"Fox, what a surprise!" Pilar beamed. "Theresa will be so happy to see you."
She turned to the stairs and called for her daughter.
"Therasita! There is someone here to see you!"
"Who is it mama?"
Theresa slowly came down the stairs and smiled when she saw who it was.
Fox looked up at her and closed his mouth. She looked even more beautiful than she did in the store.
"Ichi-wawa!" He whistled.
"Fox," Theresa bashfully giggled. "What are you doing here?"
"Well I came to take my beautiful date to the party." He smiled handing her the roses.
"Thank you," she grinned, noticing the white limo parked outside.
"Shall we go?" He let her pass by him, as he inhaled her sweet perfume. "I promise I won't have her home to late Pilar."
"Oh, I trust you Fox." Pilar smiled at the two of them. "Have a great time!"
She closed the door behind them, as she watched the expensive limo leave the driveway.