Once Upon A Time…
Chapter 8
"Back to school"
Once upon a time, a young boy was coming back from the United States, where he had spent the summer holidays as a punishment. He had been a very bad boy, his girlfriend of the moment ended up at the hospital. America as a punishment? It could've been worst. He had fun there until the day before his departure when everything went to hell with the local girl he was dating… he didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to see him anymore and he had accepted the horrible situation. He missed her so much. He had never felt so good with a girl. Despite the fact that he wasn't sleeping with her, he wanted to spend all his time with her, it was that simple. He didn't remember their night together, that famous night when he took her virginity…
He was in his bedroom, in his father's castle, when they butler came to tell him that he had a visitor.
- Miss Barrington, Master Terrence, said the butler.
- I'm coming, said Terry.
He wanted to see her so much, giving that he was responsible for her accident. He went downstairs in the living room and he ran to hug her hard.
- Lizzie!
Her leg and her arm were still in a cast. He looked for her lips and he kissed her tenderly.
- I've missed you Lizzie!
- I've missed you too, Terrence.
They went to sit on the couch.
- So how was America in your little town?
- It was… not bad in fact…
- Did you go out with girls?
- One girl only…
- Oh…
- Your parents made me understand that they didn't want us together anymore.
- My parents don't control my life. I love you Terry… Are you going to stay in touch with the girl?
- No…
He had an absent face saying that.
- It was only a summer fling...
- With a little country bumpkin ? Damn her! She got my Terry!
- It's over Lizzie… I won't see her ever again…
- Good! Because you're mine!
Terry looked at her.
- I want you Terry, I've missed you so much…
- Lizzie, I don't think it's a good idea for us to start over where we left off…
- And why not…?
- I have to think about my future…
- America didn't make you think? Oh yeah, you were banging a little country bumpkin!
- It wasn't like that at all, Lizzie. Your parents were right. Let's take a break… I have to think about my future…
- Terry…
- The accident made me grow up. I almost killed you!
- But you didn't kill me…everything is fine…
- No everything is not fine! I just came back from America , from my punishment, because of the car accident… I want to move on… I don't want to go back to my starting point…
- You're dumping me for good aren't you?
- Not for good… but for the moment…
- Ok then… can you make love to me one last time?
- Lizzie…
- You owe me that much…
Terry looked at her. He carried her in his arms to take her to the bedroom and they made love for the last time…
oOo
After dinner that evening, the duke was talking to his son in one of the living rooms. They were having tea.
- So Terrence that stay in America made you think a little about your future?
- A little…
- I heard you were taking care of charity cases…
- Yes, it was really fun to make good around me…
- You also had fun with girls I hope…
- I dated one girl, if you want to know.
- One girl only? What happened to Terrence Grandchester the womanizer?
- She was special…
- More special than Lizzie Barrington?
- Dad…
- Terry…
- Yes… well at leat, I thought so… it's over. It was only for the summer holidays…
- At least your punishment wasn't too painful… did you think about your future?
- Yes… you're not going to like it…
- Why?
- I want to go spend some time with mum…
- In Los Angeles?
- Yes…
- You're going to try to become an actor?
- If I don't try, I'm going to spend the rest of my life wondering if I could've made it…
- I suppose I can't prevent you from realizing your dream… I tried with your mother but she wanted to become an actress more than anything in the world and I had my obligations with the nobility…
- You're going to let me go?
- I'm going to let you realize your dream... but don't forget, you're my heir. The day I wont be here anymore… you will have to take my place.
- Dad, you've got long years ahead of you before I take your place… you're strong and in good health.
- All right son. Go to Los Angeles. The house would be quieter without you and the ramblings of your step mother…
- Thanks dad.
- What about Lizzie? You don't love her anymore?
- I'm going to think about my future before I think about girl, I have all my time for that.
- Hum, America made you think like that… or was it the girl who was more important than Lizzie?
- It doesn't matter… thanks dad.
- It's your mum who's going to be happy. She was mad at me when she learned that I had sent you at William Andrew's instead of at her place…
Terry burst out laughing. The duke took care of the formalities for his son's trip and the latter didn't take long to fly to Los Angeles… to join his mother and try to become an actor.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Back to school was always an event in all the schools in the world. Everybody wanted to talk about their summer vacations, everybody wanted to show the new clothes they bought with the fruit of their labour.
Candy and Annie had put away the last day of their summer holiday and they resumed their normal lives. It was their last year of school, then they were going to go to Chicago for college and adult 's mother to her big surprise, didn't bother her after the summer vacations. She seemed happy to see that Candy and Terry's relationship ended in a bad way. Candy would never understand her mother… she sometimes, had weird reactions.
Candy would see William not very often. He was always very nice with her, but he understood that she needed some space, after what had happened. She had gone back to her waitressing job and one afternoon, she was surprised to see:
- Anthony!
- Hi Candy!
- Hi…
- How are you?
- I'm fine, what about you?
- I'm fine thank you. I wanted to get some news…
- That's nice…
- You could've continued working for Uncle William…
- I think I would've killed Daniel if I had seen him again.
- You're too sweet for that…
- I was keeping myself for my marriage…
- You're a really good girl Candy, you know that?
- Thank you Anthony… I like you too…
- But…
- There's a rumour in the village
- What rumour?
- That I'm the illegitimate daughter of your grandfather…
- Oh… that's why Uncle William forbade us from hitting on you, to the exception of Terry…
- Really?
- Yes… he didn't want us to go out with our… aunt! Oh my God!
- It's only a rumour…
- You really think so? How does your mother behave with Uncle William?
- They always look like they're whispering…and they stop talking when I arrive… Oh my God! I've never paid attention! It must be true, for him to forbid you from hitting on me…!
- I'm going to order something before you get yelled at…
- All right…
- I would like a hot dog and a coke…
- All right. I'll be right back. I'm going to take my break and a talk with you a little…
Candy and Anthony became very close. He would come to see her and walk with her back home after work. One day Daniel saw them together and he went to tell Uncle William about it that evening at the dinner table.
- So Anthony, looks like you're spending a lot of time with Candy, lately…
Anthony gave Daniel the look.
- Is that true? Asked Eliza.
- I simply go ask if she's fine, said Anthony.
- You should stay away from that girl Anthony, said Sarah.
- Why? I like her…
- You can't get close to her, said aunt Elroy.
- You mean that I shouldn't hit on her, great aunt?
- What? But…
- I've heard the rumours… you should put an end to it.
- What rumours? Asked Daniel.
- It's none of your business, said Sarah.
- It's the family secret, said Anthony.
- You know what he's talking about? Asked Archie to his brother.
- He's talking about the rumour that says that Candy is the illegitimate daughter of grandfather, said Alistair.
- What? Said Archie.
- Alistair! Said Sarah.
- It's true? Candy is our… aunt? Said Eliza.
- Yes, said William.
- Oh my God! Said Daniel ashamed, she's family?
- You have a weird face, said Archie, you were dreaming about her didn't you?
Daniel became bright as red. William shook his head.
After that, Anthony went to see Candy every single day. And every day he would try to convince her to come and live with them at the castle and every day she would refuse.
Annie and Archie's relationship was no better. Annie didn't want to hear about Archie, she has stopped dreaming. She concentrated on her studies and her future stylist career.
Life continued for Candy she thought that everything was going to be fine until one nice morning, she woke up with nausea…
Once upon a time, a young girl was damning life for its injustice…