A Story With LUSH
Written By: Stacey

Summary - This story does not come close to the present lives of Harmony residents. I did take some of the storylines like Sheridan's flashbacks & Martin's disappearance. Luis, Sheridan, Hank, and Beth are all in High School. Ethan is away at boarding school, Theresa is nine yrs. old and Miguel is six.

Disclaimer - I do not own any of these characters they are owned by Passions on NBC.

Warning- Some places may contain heavy material. I will begin the paragraph with a rating to fore warn you. If you are offended I am sorry.
ENJOY!!!



Chapter 8

Crane Mansion:

Sheridan walked upstairs to see if Pilar was up there cleaning.
"Pilar?!" Sheridan called opening the door to a room and peering in.
"She's not in here." a voice called back from inside the room.
Sheridan moved her gaze in the direction of the voice. "Ethan!" she exclaimed walking up to her nephew and hugging him. Ethan was fifteen now and it had been awhile since Sheridan had seen him.
"When did you get in?" She asked pulling away from the hug to look at him.
"About an hour ago."
"So, how was your flight?"
"Long."
Sheridan laughed then went to sit down on the bed. "Have you been alone?"
"No, Pilar is helping me unpack." Ethan answered while hanging up some clothes.
"Oh." Sheridan sighed while folding a shirt.
Pilar walked into the room to give Ethan some extra hangers. She saw how sullen Sheridan looked and went over to her. "Sheridan are you okay?"
Sheridan set down the shirt and looked at Pilar.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"You just look like something's bothering you."
Ethan came up behind Pilar and stared at his Aunt for a minute. "You know now that I think about it. Pilar is right something is bothering you."
Sheridan thought about Luis and the awkward encounter they had at the Book Cafe.
"Really I'm fine." Sheridan assured them walking to the dresser drawer to put the shirt away.
"You cant fool me." Ethan said coming up to Sheridan and spinning her around to face him. "Now tell me what's wrong."
"Ethan I'm going to start washing your clothes." Pilar told him before leaving the room.
Sheridan waited until Pilar was out of the room.
"I didn't want to tell you with Pilar around." Sheridan told Ethan making sure the coast was clear.
"Tell me what?"
"My problem."
Sheridan came back into the room and sat on Ethan's bed. Ethan did the same.
"Well, you know about Pilars son Luis and how me and him have been butting heads lately."
"Yeah."
"Well, I want nothing to do with him."
"Right."
"Well, today at the Book Cafe Beth, his girlfriend, gave me this look like she was saying stay away from my man."
"And the problem is?"
"The problem is I have no interest in Luis and I want to know why Beth thinks im after him."
"Are you sure she thinks that?"
"I dont know something made me feel awkward about that look she had in her eyes." Sheridan replied nervously while knotting her fingers together.
"I dont think she should have anything to fear." Sheridan looked over at Ethan. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, its obvious from what you've told me that you are not interested in Luis. Right?"
Sheridan thought about Luis and the feelings that came over her every time she saw him.
"Yeah, you're right."
"So, this Beth girl is just either really insecure about herself, over protective, or obsessed with Luis." Ethan concluded.
"Yes?'
"Or maybe your just paranoid." Ethan said looking at Sheridan.
Sheridan gawked at Ethan. "I am not paranoid."
Ethan laughed at his Aunt. "I know, I just said that to ease the mood of the conversation."
Sheridan laughed. "Thanks I needed that." she said giving Ethan a hug. "I'm so glad your here because I need someone to make me laugh in this miserable place. I've really missed you."

Lopez-Fitzgerald House

Luis and Hank walked through the front door and into the den.
"So you already miss her?" hank asked plopping down on the couch and propping his feet on the table.
"Hank we just left the airport."
"I know do you miss her already?" he asked again.
"Hank." Luis groaned annoyed at his friends question.
"obviously not."
"What?"
"You dont miss her or you wouldn't be so defensive to answer."
Luis pushed his friends feet off the table and sat down next to him.
"Come on Luis you can tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"That you dont miss Beth and its because you got your mind on another prize."
"Hank...."
"Let me ask you a question. Its not Sheridan is it? Because you've only just now been acting weird around Beth since Sheridan came into town."
Luis thrown off by Hanks question got up from the couch and went into the kitchen.
"Luis?" Hank asked scared because his friend wasn't answering his question.
"No Hank." Luis finally said reaching for a cup. "Its not Sheridan."
"Thank God!" Hank sighed placing a hand on Luis shoulder. "Cause you know how we are when we compete over women."
Luis smirked at Hank. "Yeah you always lose."
Hanks grin faded. "Well, that's not true this time, not with Sheridan."
Luis looked at Hank puzzled. "What makes you think Sheridan is so different?"
"Because she is, there's just something about her."
"Well, I think you would lose her if we were competing."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Care to put your money where your mouth is?"
"What?"
"You and me.."
"Come on Sheridan isn't a prize to be won." Luis snapped at Hank.
"Sheridan isn't the prize its cash."
"How much?"
"Hundred dollars."
Luis laughed. "Just to convince you that you always lose I get a hundred dollars?"
"Yes, but this time I wont lose."
"What are the rules?"
"Just see if you can wow her with your Irish-Latin charms. And Ill see if I can wow her with my all American charm."
"What if Sheridan finds out?"
"She wont."
"I still dont know."
"Come on it will give you something to do while Beth's gone."
Luis stared at Hank for a while contemplating what he should do.
"All right but once I win Im going to tell her about this bet."
"She wont ever know because you aren't going to win." "We'll see." Luis said shaking Hanks hand to seal the bet.

Continue...



*What do you think? ( Please don't be to harsh. )