Tomorrow in your life…
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 14
Romanian vacations, part 3;
"The mountain, the sea and the wedding…"
A part of the program was to go to a small town called Brasov, on the mountain. The weather was a little cooler there, compared to the heat in Bucharest. They spent two days there.
They spent the night in separate cabins. During the day, they had long walks on the mountains and they came back in the evening, very tired.
Lizzie and her boyfriend came back last. She had to calm him after the rumour Eliza spread on casino night, and he wanted to break up her. Lizzie was pleased, because the rumour associated her with Terry, but she had to convince her boyfriend that it wasn't true. He even had a confrontation with Terry in the boys cabin:
- Smith, said Terry, you've got to be kidding me! Lizzie and I? No, I don't go back to what I've thrown away…
- But Eliza, said that you were together in the washroom…
- Why didn't you ask Lizzie what really happened? I have the girl of my dreams, I don't need Lizzie
- Not even for a quickie? They say your queen is a virgin…
- Hey, watch your language! I would spend the rest of my life trying to convince Candy, before I turn to Lizzie…
Smith didn't answer. He knew Terry was telling the truth, Lizzie still a thing for him. Terry only had eyes for Candy. Lizzie managed to convinced him that he was the one she wanted and he gave her one last chance. Lizzie gave Candy the evil eye when she entered the cabin. She didn't understand why Terry was with a girl that was so… so… "pure"! She knew he had desires, he was refraining them for Candy? He must love her a lot! " Damn you Candice White Andrew!"
Candy's cell phone started to ring, it was Terry. All the girls knew about it.
- Romeo? Wait, let me go outside, there are too many people here
The other girls pretended to be disappointed with an "Awww". Lizzie felt her heart hurting. Candy went outside to talk to Terry.
Eliza envied Candy, Terry was not only handsome, but he was also rich. He was a good choice, literally! She wanted to separate them. Lizzie, that idiot, with her stupid drug plot, had brought them closer together for good.
In the morning, they heard noises outside, and cries. The girls woke up and saw a mama bear and her three cubs sniffling around the cabin. The young girls started to scream;
- BEARS! BEARS!
While they were screaming, Candy, looked for her camera and took some pictures, before the little bear family left terrified by the screaming of the girls.
- Candy said Annie, you took some pictures? What a great idea! We'll have some nice souvenirs
The boys heat the girls' screaming and looked by the window and they saw the bears running away. They also started to scream. Most of them ran to their cell phones to call their girls friends! Those last ones reassured them and they talked for a while before hanging up to take a shower in turn.
When they were all outside ready to go, they were still talking about the bear incident.
- I was a little scary said Patty, but the cries of the girls were more frightening than the bears themselves!
- Really? Said Stear
- But Candy, was not afraid, she took some pictures…
- Freckles said Terry, when every body was screaming with panic, you took pictures?
- I wanted to immortalize the moment, said Candy
- You keep surprising me, Miss Tarzan! Said Terry kissing her on the neck
Candy started to laugh and Lizzie was looking at them the heart hurting. Candy's friends continued to talk about the bear incident with the other students.
After the mountain, they went back to Bucharest for a few days. They took the train for Constantia, to spend some days on the beach. Constantia baptized that way for the Roman emperor Constantine who liked to come and spend some day near the black sea. The name Romania came from roman soldiers who, when they arrived in that country thought it was so beautiful that they called it "Romania", the little Rome. The local population told all those stories. Constantia was also the city of the therapeutic mud, which made miracles. It was discovered by accident by a man, whose horse had broken its leg, in the mud. He loved the horses so much he didn't have the heart to kill it. The horse stayed in the mud with it's broken leg for a few days. The man came back one morning and found his horse up and well, totally recovered from its fracture! He wondered what could've had healed the fracture, he understood it was the mud, that had done the miracle. Ever since, it became the therapeutic mud to heal rheumatism, muscular pain etc. People were coming from all over the world for this therapeutic mud.
The youngsters took advantage or the sun to tan and to bathed in the sea. In the evening there were dances, bonfires, they will talk and tell stories, listen to music, play ball etc. Some took advantage of the dark to be alone in some little corner of the beach, but not for long, otherwise the supervisors would go and look for them.
Eliza was looking for a way to be near Terry. Around the end of one to the days, there were not a lot of people on the beach; she was on a little rowboat with her brother, Stear and Archie. She fell in the water on purpose, all dressed up.
- Help me! Help! TERRY! Help me!
Terry, who was near the water, couldn't resist the cry for help.
- He fell in the trap, said Archie, pleased
- He doesn't know she's playing him, said Stear
- Eliza is wasting her time, said Neil, Terry only has eyes for Candy
Terry went into the water and took Eliza who was pretending to drown. She hung on to Terry with all her strengths. She was in Terry's arms and she fell so well. She knew it was temporary, but she savoured every second. Terry put her on the sand.
- Thanks, she said hanging on to his neck, you saved my life…
She didn't seem to want to let go of him.
- Eliza, said Neil arriving, that's enough…
- You can swim, said Candy, you can let go of Terry, now
- I was going to drown, she said
- You can swim? Said Terry pulling away form her
- I was going to drown, she repeated
- It was a trick to be in your arms… said Candy, my gosh Eliza, I didn't know you were so desperate to be in my Terry's arms
Saying that she went next to Terry who was still stunned by Eliza's trick. Stear and Archie were laughing. Lizzie had an indifferent expression on her face. The others were also laughing. Eliza was glad to have had those few moments in Terry's arms.
- You want Terry too? Asked Lizzie to Eliza
- I'm having fun, Lizzie; I just wanted to know what you were talking about. He's great… you've lost a fabulous guy…
They went to Bucharest for the last days of vacations before going back to London. They have to leave the following Monday. The Saturday, there was a wedding in the diplomatic world. When an Embassy finds itself without an Ambassador, there is a chargé d'affaires a.i.(ad interim). It was the case of the Austrian Embassy; Miss Ulrike Tilly was the charge d'affaires a.i.. The Spanish Ambassador, Rafaelo dos Santos was single and had fallen in love with her, and they were getting married, the Saturday before the students left for London.
- That's so romantic, said Candy to Melissa, but how are they going to do for their work? They would have to be sent to the same country all the time…
- They'll find a way. When I married Philippe, I was working in a paper in London, I had the society page…I'm still working every where I go and I send my articles by e-mail
- That's practical said Candy, technology makes everything so simple. Well we had a lot of fun here in Romania. Now we're attending a diplomatic wedding! I'm going to miss you all!
- We're going to miss you too. You promise to keep in touch with us?
- Of course, said Candy smiling, we're going to write each other and call each other. I'm going to give you my phone number. And if you come to London, one of these days…
- I will call you for sure, said Melissa. Ok, we still have two days. We're not going to start crying now….
- You're right, let's go get ready for the party…
The wedding ceremony took place at the Catholic Cathedral of Bucharest There were a lot of guests from to different embassies, but also curious Romanian that were passing by, just to see foreigners getting married. Philippe had his camcorder and had filmed a part of the ceremony. During the reception at the Spanish Embassy's residence, Candy was standing next to her host parents, before she joined Terry, her friends and her cousins. A Romanian colonel, who was working with Philippe, came and talked to them.
- Doamna Crane, ce fetita frumoasa aveti! Se insemna cu dumna voastra foarte multe! (Mrs. Crane, what a beautiful daughter you have there, she looks exactly like you!)
- Nu es fata mea said Melissa, e prietena… pensionara ( She's not my daughter, she's a friend, our boarder)
- I'm sorry, he continued in English, Philippe, I'm confused…
- No problem, said Philippe
- He also thought you were my daughter, said Melissa to Candy
- Oh… simply said Candy, she knew that the subject made Melissa uncomfortable, so she decide to join her friends and her cousins, I'm going to see my friends, see you later
Candy's friends were in the garden, they smiled when they saw her coming.
- Hello, said Annie
- Are you ok? Said Patty, you seem a little distracted
- I'm fine, have you seen Terry?
- He must be with his Italian girls, said Archie
- I trust him, said Candy looking for Terry with her eyes
She saw him near the patio with Ornella and Francesca, as usual… she walked towards them, he needed some rescuing, and it was a pleasure for her to save him.
- Romeo?
- Juliet! You're here, finally!
- Francesca, Ornella… can I take him, back?
- Yes, of course, said Francesca
Ornella didn't say anything until Candy and Terry left.
- Romeo? She said ironically, how stupid!
- I think it's romantic said Francesca, I wish I had a faithful guy like him…
Terry was happy to have been rescued by his beloved. Those two girls knew they were wasting their time, but they couldn't help trying.
- I can't wait to be back in London, said Terry
- Me too, by I'm going to miss my family
- You can keep contact
- I hope you won't keep contact with these two barracudas!
- Juliet…
- I'm sorry, she said
- No, it's good to see you a little jealous…
The dancing started in the beginning of the evening. Everybody was having fun. Britt Macdonald was there and still frustrated that he was unable to seduce Candy. They found themselves in front of the washroom by pure coincidence
- Candy, this my last chance… said Britt
- Last chance for what?
- To have you… he said coming near her
He was tall, 6,2" and he had muscles. He took Candy to one the empty rooms near there.
- What are you doing, are you crazy? Let go of me!
- No girl has ever resisted me, I even kissed you friend Tanisha… who do you think you are? You think you're the first one to have a girlfriend?
He took Candy and forced her on the couch in the room. Candy was fighting as much as she could, but he was stronger. She was screaming but the music from the party was too loud for anybody to hear her. He put his mouth on hers and she turned her face fighting as much as she could. Mean while he was trying to pull up her dress to get to her underwear. Candy understood what he wanted to do, and fought harder. He was surprised by her sudden strength and leaned back a little, but he came back forward forcing her down again.
- NO! HELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPP! HELP!
Britt took his hand and put it on her mouth and she bit him. He screamed and slapped her hard. Candy had tear in her eyes.
- HELP! She cried, HELP ME! TERRY!
- SHUT UP, BITCH!
He was suddenly taken off Candy and a blow sent him on the wall.
- Philippe! Said Candy, thank God!
She ran to in his arms and he hugged her. Terry arrived and saw the spectacle and understood in a second what almost happened. He ran to Britt and punched him on the face…. Philippe had to separate them, because they were starting to fight
- You bloody bastard! said Terry, that's how you make your Casanova's reputation? By forcing yourself on girls?
- Who said she didn't want to? She's a little slut like all the girls! Said Britt
- That's why she was saying "NO"? Said Philippe, Britt, you're going to hear from me…
Terry came near Candy and took her in his arms. Philippe told them to go to the car and he went to get Melissa. Candy was crying, silently in the car.
Melissa was talking with some friends;
- Honey, said Philippe
- Hi! She said smiling, where were you?
- With Candy, something happened to her…
- What? Asked Melissa worried
- Britt Macdonald almost abused her…
- What! I'm going to kill him!
Philippe had to calm her so she wouldn't make a scene at the reception.
- Melissa, please, not now, Candy needs you…
- You're right. Where is she?
- In the car with Terry…let's go!
Melissa went to the car and held Candy in her arms. She felt like she needed to protect her, she felt so bad, so powerless… like someone wanted to hurt her flesh and blood, her baby…Melissa continued holding her in her arms. Terry was sitting in front of the car with the driver. Once they arrived home, Candy went to take a shower. Terry was waiting for her in the bedroom.
- Romeo, she said softly, you don't have to stay, I'm fine
- Candy, I just wanted to make sure that you were alright
- I'm fine, thanks. Nothing happed, because of Philip, thank God
All that, happened within the Spanish Embassy, which was considered like Spain, another country. That's how it is for all embassies. The police cannot do anything, because of the diplomatic immunity. Melissa decided to do something she swore she would never do. She went with Philippe to the residence of the American Embassy, to talk to Britt's parents about their son's behaviour; they didn't seem to believe it.
- You have to do something, said Melissa
- Our hands are tied because of the diplomatic immunity… said Philippe
- Melissa, you can't trust some girl's word over my son's, he said she was willing, said the Ambassador
- She was saying "NO"! Said Philippe
- But young girls today are weird, said the Ambassador, they say one thing, when they mean another…
- Which part of "NO" don't you understand? Said Philippe
Melissa couldn't take it anymore, she exploded.
- Mr. Macdonald, do you know who I am?
- Euh, you're Philippe's wife?
- Do you know who my mother is? She's Senator Verna Grant. With one phone call, I can compromise your career…
- Melissandre… said Philippe
- No, honey, I've heard enough! You're going to take you son and get him the help he needs. I've heard rumours and I didn't want to listen to them… but enough is enough. He almost abused an innocent young girl. She also comes from an influential family in the United States, the Andrews from Chicago… you know them? So, you're going to do what ever is necessary for your son to stop, otherwise, between my mother and Candy's uncle, you won't survive!
Mr. Macdonald remained speechless. He knew his son was guilty and that one day it could cost him his career.
- I'm going to make arrangements for him to leave Romania to get the help he needs.
- I'm happy we found a common ground. Good evening, said Melissa
Philippe and Melissa left. Tanisha had heard everything. She went to Britt's room.
- You tried to rape, Candy? What's wrong with you! You have all the girls you want… why did you want the one that had a boyfriend…?
- No girl resists me…
- I'm sorry I let you kiss me… You disgust me!
She got out of the room, and locked the door behind her. She had succumbed to temptation and let him kiss her. She bitterly regretted it now.
Melissa and Philippe didn't say a word during the ride home, until they got to their bedroom.
- I'm sorry honey, she finally said
- You don't need to apologise, I'm not mad at you
- But you didn't say anything during the ride…
- I know what it cost you to use your mother's name and I wanted to give you the time to recover
- Thanks, Philippe she said hugging him, I didn't have the choice, he didn't seem to want to listen. I hated every second of it…
- You did it for Candy. It was for a good cause
Terry was on the bed on top of the blankets with Candy in his arms. She had her eyes closed. Candy was a little shaken up, even if she didn't remember the first time, it was technically the second time she was almost raped. She thought she was done for, until Philippe arrived… She never wanted to feel that way again, that feeling of powerless, in front of a coward who didn't know that when a girl said "NO" it meant "NO". Terry stayed late with her and went back to the Italian residence. Melissa came to her room after Terry left and spend the whole night with her on Candy's bed. She went back to her room very early in the morning. Candy was leaving Monday night; she was going to miss her terribly.
The next day, Annie, Patty, Tanisha, Archie and Stear came to see her after they learned what had happened. They spent the day with her. Even Neil came to see how she was, after he learned the news. Terry was there since the morning, alone, this time. Candy decided not to play the party pooper.
- Come on everybody, enough with the long faces! It's our last day before we leave Bucharest, let's do something…
- Like what? Asked Annie
- Well, we never went out without our guides…
- A trip in town alone? Said Terry, we don't speak Romanian…
- That's what's fun about it said Candy, to be in town in a city where we don't speak the language…
- She's right said Stear, let's go! We have enough local money on us, don't we?
They went in town without any guides, no one to translate Romania for them. They walked, took the bus, the subway, trolleybuses, tramway and taxis. They had a lot of fun. Most of the time they had to explain themselves with gestures and Italian words, Spanish and French. That was amusing!
Lizzie called Britt to talk to him.
- Britt, you idiot, you tried to have her by force?
- Yes, I got impatient
- You didn't even try to drug her?
- Apparently, that didn't work for you, did it?
- But it could've worked for you…
- My parents are sending me to America for therapy sessions
- Pour little you! You ruined everything! Eliza is right, this girl only brings bad luck to those who want to hurt her… well we had a good time you and I you were great in bed…
Eliza entered the room at that moment. She'd heard the rest of the conversation.
- You slept with Britt too? Asked Eliza
- You too?
- Wasn't he great? I will remember these vacations said Eliza smiling
- He wasn't as good as Terry… but he was great said Lizzie I'm going to remember these vacations too…
- You make me want to try Terry…
- Don't even think about it! We can share any guy, but not Terry. You leave Terry alone, he's mine!
- No, he's Candy's. All right! No need to yell! Good luck trying to get him back from Candy…you're going to need it! But Britt was good repeated Eliza!
- Yeah…! Said Lizzie laughing
Those two little sluts were unbelievable!