Heart
& Soul
Episode
1.15
By Allan
Craig
The Abbot House
The front door
opened and Wesley helped Ashley into the lounge.
“How does it
feel to be home?” Wesley took off his jacket and hung it up.
“Great. I just
want a shower then I’m going to get changed and ask Nick over.” Ashley tugged
at the tight beanie hat that covered the bruise on her forehead.
“I don’t think
so. You need to take it easy, don’t overdo it.”
“Fine, I won’t go to school for a few weeks. I haven't seen my boyfriend in a
month except from the other day. I want to talk to him.”
Alexandra walked into the room.
“You’re back,”
Alex hugged her daughter, “How are you feeling?”
“Good. I’m so glad you’re back. Is this a permanent thing or just a flying visit?”
“I’m back for as long as you want me to be.”
The
Megan and
Carrie sat out by the pool.
“So, are you
going to tell me who you called?” asked Carrie.
“Not yet, not
until it’s final.” Megan poured herself an orange juice.
Greg walked
over to them and sat down.
“What are you
two gossiping about?” Greg sat by the edge of the pool dipping his feet in the
water.
“Nothing.”
Megan smiled sweetly.
The elevator
doors opened and Gillian got out. People buzzed around her going about their
business. Her throat closed up and she couldn’t breathe. Gillian stopped dead
in her tracks and turned around before running back into the elevator just as
the doors closed.
The Abbot
House
Ashley walked
out of the shower, drying her light brown hair. She looked at herself in the
mirror.
“I don’t
believe you, Ashley Abbot,” she thought, “You’ve lived all your life in this
sheltered little universe, and you could have died. And what would you have had
to show for your life? What would you have done? Nothing, that’s what, nothing.
Well girl, if you don’t like something, change it.”
She walked back
into her bathroom and fumbled through the cupboards until she found what she
was looking for.
“Gotcha!”
The
Sterling Mansion
Greg hung up
the phone as Diane walked into the room.
“Who were you
on the phone to?” Diane picked one of the flowers out of a vase and sniffed it.
“I’m organizing
a surprise party for mine and Carrie’s 3rd wedding anniversary.
Don’t tell Carrie though.”
“My lips are
sealed.”
The Abbot
House: Ashley’s Room
Ashley walked
out of her bathroom with a towel on her head. She turned on her CD player and
opened her closet, pulling out the contents. She picked up a pair of jeans and
a pair of scissors.
Ben’s
Apartment
Ben and Gina
sat on the sofa drinking wine.
“So, how about
tomorrow we go out for dinner?” Ben suggested.
“Cant. Sorry.
I’m working a double shift.”
“Couldn’t you get out of it?” Ben started to kiss Gina.
“Pamela would
kill me, I promised her.”
“Well call Pamela and tell her you’re otherwise engaged.”
“Like she’d
believe me.”
“Maybe she would,” Ben looked Gina in the eyes, “Tell her you’re otherwise
engaged.”
“But I’m not.” Gina took a drink of her wine.
“You could be,” Ben smiled, “If you wanted to be.”
“Are you saying
what I think you’re saying?”
“I’m asking you if you’ll make an honest man of me.”
“It’s a bit too
late for that.” Gina giggled.
“But seriously, will you marry me?”
Gina nodded.
The Abbot
House: Lounge
“I’ll just go
get her,” Wesley said to Nick, “Sit down.”
“Okay.”
Nick sat down
on the sofa.
“Ashley, Nick’s
here.” Wesley yelled up the stairs.
“I’ll be down
in a minute.” Ashley’s voice echoed down the stairs.
“How’s she
feeling?” asked Nick.
“She’s fine.”
The sound of
footsteps down the stairs could be heard. Both men turned around. Ashley stood
at the bottom.
Her hair was a
light shade of blonde and it sat long and straight. She wore a short white
tight t-shirt and a short denim skirt with a pair of black knee high boots. She
had put dark eyeliner around her eyes and her lips were a deep purple colour.
She wore large thin silver hoop earrings and a silver chain with a diamond
crucifix on the end of it.
“What do you
think?” Ashley gave them a twirl.
“It’s
different.” Wesley smiled.
“Good different
or bad different?”
“Good different. Definitely. Ready to go for a pizza?” Nick got up from his
seat.
“Sure, just let
me get my coat.”
The
Sterling Mansion: Megan’s Room
Megan sat down
on her bed and took out a shoebox from under her bed. She emptied it on top of
her bed. She picked up a photo of her with Diane when she was younger.
“That’s right
mom, smile for the camera. Just like you always do. Put on a smile for the rest
of the world and take your anger out on me.”
The
Wilson House: Gillian’s Room
Gillian sat on top
of her bed with her hands wrapped around the back of her head. All she could
think about was Quentin attacking her.
There was a
knock at her door and Anna’s head popped around the door.
“Hi honey, are
you okay? You didn’t look well when you came in.” Anna sat down on the edge of
Gillian’s bed.
“I cant stay
here much longer. I couldn’t even stay in the hospital. We need to move away
from Oakridge. For good.”
“You can’t let
him do this to you. Ruin your whole life. Your past is here. Your father is
here.” Anna looked at her wedding ring
“Dad’s dead, mom. His ashes were scattered here, sure, but he’ll have blown off
in all directions.”
“But his spirit’s still here.”
“I want to move
away mom. Whether you come with me or not is your choice. But first chance I
get, I’m out of here.”
The
Sterling Mansion: Conservatory
Carrie sat
reading a holiday brochure as Diane sauntered into the room.
“Thinking of
going somewhere?” Diane took the brochure out of Carrie’s hands.
“Just a little
break, for me and Greg on our anniversary.”
“It better just
be a little break, because I told you what would happen if you try to take my
son away from me.”
“He’s my
husband.” Carrie stood up.
“And he’s my son,” Diane closed the door, “You didn’t seriously think your
little plan would work, did you?”
“What plan?” asked Carrie.
“Don’t play
dumb. You got Megan to come back so that I’d give all my attention to her while
you convince Greg to leave Oakridge with you. I’ve just lost my husband, I’m
not about to lose my son.”
“Have you even
asked Greg what he thinks about all this?” Carrie folded her arms.
“I don’t have
to. He’s a Sterling, he belongs here.”
Carrie laughed.
“Cut the
Stephanie Forrester bullshit Diane, Greg can leave here if he wants to.”
“If he leaves I’ll cut him off.”
“That’s what you do, control your family with money, but it’s not up to you, is
it? No, John controls all that stuff. You don’t have an ounce of power in you.”
“John’s not here. I’m in charge.”
“That’s all you have? You’re pathetic, do you know that? You have no life of
your own so you take over your kids’ lives. Now they’re all grown up and have
lives of your own. You’ve always hated me for taking him away from you. You’re
a washed up, pathetic old hag. Face it. See the difference between you
and me, Diane, is that Greg loves me because he wants to. He loves you because
he has to.”
“Finished now?”
Diane raised an eyebrow.
Carrie nodded
and smiled.
“Good.” Diane
raised her hand and slapped Carrie across the face with a huge smack.
TO BE
CONTINUED…