Learning By Heart
Chapter 3
By: April
Disclaimer: The Passions characters featured in this story are the
property
of NBC, Passions, and its writers.
If it weren't for these people, I
could
not have come up with this story. This one is really more or less just
dedicated to the time once Sheridan gets to Paris that was not on the
show,
what could have happened, etc. The story gets much more creative in
the next
chapter.
Enjoy! From April
LEARNING BY HEART
Chapter 3
Luis watched as the plane landed on the runway.
'She's home!' he thought to himself, trying not to look to happy in
front
of everyone else, but none would have noticed. Everyone waiting for
Sheridan
at the airport was smiling. Especially Hank and Ethan.
"Look Luis, I don't know how you managed it, but I will forever be
in
your debt," Hank said, giving his old buddy a firm pat on the back.
"Now
she's mine, all mine. You, my friend, have just earned a place in my
soon to
be very large estate!" Hank laughed at his own joke, but all Luis
could
think about was seeing Sheridan.
"Yes, Luis, thank you again," Ethan said with less enthusiasm than
Hank.
Luis knew that Ethan still blamed him for Sheridan leaving in the first
place, but was not going to bring it up since the end was the same.
"I'M BACK!" came the cry from the terminal. Sheridan was
overwhelmed to
see so many people waiting for her. She quickly gave hugs to Pilar and
Gwen,
and gave Ethan a larger-than-life smile.
"I'm so glad you're back, Sheridan!" Ethan exclaimed, giving her a
rib
crushing squeeze.
"It's good to be home, Ethan," Sheridan confirmed. "Even though
it's
only been a few days," she could not help looking at Luis, "I've missed
all
of you more than you can imagine." 'You most of all, Luis.' She kept
that
thought to herself. 'We're just friends, remember that. Nothing more
than
friends.'
"Welcome home, Sheridan," Beth said, genuinely happy to see her
again.
Luis had told her about what they decided and it suited her just fine.
'Hank's happy, I'm happy, and soon Luis and Sheridan will be, too.
Just not
together.'
Hank grabbed Sheridan. Before she knew what was happening, Hank
picked
her up by her waist and was spinning her around. Sheridan couldn't
help but
laugh at his enthusiasm. When he finally put her down, he made a play
for a
kiss, but Sheridan, seeing it coming, quickly dodged his advance.
"Boy, you don't waste any time, do you Hank?" She asked, a little
embarrassed. "Can't a girl get settled in before you move in for the
kill?"
"A girl can do anything she wants if she will agree to have dinner
with
me tonight."
Sheridan was about to kindly decline (she could always blame
jetlag),
when Beth spoke up.
"That's a great idea, Hank. Why don't the four of us go?" she
asked,
taking Luis' hand. "We'll make it a double-date. So what do you guys
say?"
She looked from Luis to Sheridan and back.
Before Hank could protest, Beth took his arm and pulled him aside.
"What the hell are you doing?" Hank asked.
"I'm finding out if Sheridan and Luis are really just friends, like
they
say. If they are, and they don't have feelings for each other anymore,
than
they will have no problem coming with us. But if they do still want to
be
together..."
"They'll try to get out of a double-date," Hank finished for her.
"Okay, I guess that makes sense. I want to know what I'm up against."
While Hank and Beth were talking in the corner, Luis and Sheridan
were
trying to think of what to say to one another. After a moment, Luis
started
to laugh.
"What?" Sheridan asked.
"It's just that..." Luis started, then changed his mind. Finally
he
started again. "Okay, I think that we need to reestablish the rules."
"I thought those were dating rules," Sheridan asked, remembering
how
they had set ground rules for their first date.
"Well, they'll work for friends, too. After all, what else is a
date but
a chance to spend time with someone you like being with. I like being
with
Hank, you like being with Beth, right? So they are almost the same
thing. I
just don't have to pay for the biggest lobster in the tank this time!"
Sheridan smiled, remembering how he had nailed her for ordering
cheap
when he had taken her to the Lobster Shack.
Luis set the rules.
Rule
1:
Speak openly with each other. Don't worry about pissing the other
person
off.
Rule 2: Order what you want, no matter what it is.
"Okay, I'll stick to the rules if you will," she said.
"So, do you want to go to dinner with them?" Luis asked, trying to
sound
casual.
"I don't know," Sheridan replied, biting her lip nervously. "I am
kind
of tired, but..." 'I would love to spend some more time with you, even
if it
is with Hank and Beth, and we are just friends. Stop It Sheridan!' she
admonished herself. "If we don't, they might think that we still have
a
thing,"
"which we don't,"Luis finished quickly. 'We can spend a few more
hours
together, even if it is with Hank and Beth, and we aren't together,
we're
just friends, but damn she's beautiful today...'
Hank and Beth walked back to Luis and Sheridan.
"So, you guys feel up for it, or what?" Beth asked again, looking
at
Luis.
"I'm game. Sheridan?" Luis asked.
"Sure, why not," Sheridan said, already nervous. "I just need to
get
home, take a shower and change."
"Great!" Hank said, shooting an ecstatic look at Beth, who
returned it
double. "I'll pick you up around 7," he said to Sheridan, "and we'll
meet
about 7:15."
When no one protested, he led Sheridan towards the door
to the
parking lot. "How bout a lift home?"
"Sure."
When she got back to her cottage and got rid of Hank, Sheridan
began
barreling through her suitcases. 'I have to find the perfect outfit
for my
date with...' Sheridan stopped short realizing that Luis would be with
Beth.
A smile crept up on her lips. 'Well, just because I'm not on a date
with
him doesn't mean I shouldn't look fabulous. I will be on a date, after
all.
So what if he's there? That doesn't really mean anything. Just
because
we're just friends doesn't mean I shouldn't look presentable.'
Satisfied
with that, she went back to finding her outfit.
On the other side of town, Luis was looking at himself in the
mirror.
'Man, I need to shave before I see...Beth?' Luis thought about that.
'It's
still a date,' he reasoned to himself, 'and as a gentleman, the least I
can
do is not look like a slob. It has nothing to do with Sheridan.'
Luis
went
to his closet, found a suit, and headed for the shower.
To Be Continued...
TO: Chapter 4
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