WHITNEY SPILLS HER (FISH) GUTS

 Frank Lomax, the detective, steps up his efforts to get the stalker and decides to focus on making Whitney talk by using his manly charms.  He can see that she is attracted to him , so he asks her out to dinner with the ulterior motive of getting info on the stalker.  He starts out by acting like it's merely a dinner date, at the Lobster Shack of course.  (This is Whitney's first dinner in some time, obviously)  During the date, Whitney becomes more and more attracted to him, while  he is actually becoming less and less attracted to her.  He can see that she is attracted to him but very immature, and she can't seem to stop talking about herself throughout the evening. After a series of nights out and fake flirting on his part, Whitney is ready falling for him . 

Theresa has been whining incessantly since the dating between the two began, fearful that her friend will be tempted to spill her (fish) guts.  This behavior just drives  Whitney closer every day to telling the truth to Frank  Theresa begins to take drastic measures, having Ivy schedule her tennis lessons when she knows Frank is taking Whitney out and lying to keep the two of them apart through missed messages and phone calls.

  Finally, Frank gives Whitney an ultimatum: they can never have a truly close relationship unless she is honest with him, and her knowledge of the stalker is the one thing she has been hiding from him even though she knows he really needs that information for his case with the town's most important family.  His reputation and future, depend on it. It's important in order for him to support a family someday to secure that reputation and respectability.

One night, as they are having dinner at the shack, Whitney decides the time is right.  She spills her (fish) guts about Theresa, Frank is shocked but expresses sympathy that she would have to betray her best friend.  Then Whitney goes on a tirade about Theresa and how selfish and superficial she really is, even though she has already explained that the whole thing started out because of Theresa's love for Ethan and was never really a stalking, just a series of accidents.  . 

By this time, Frank has gotten to know Ethan enough to form an opinion and has also gotten to know Theresa, he thought.  To him, Ethan is  a spoiled kid with a high opinion of himself , who could easily mistake a lovestruck teenager for a stalker. He  has also grown to like Theresa more, seeing her as a mousy loyal hermit at Ivy's command.  The whole Crane family's attitude about separation of money from locals doesn't set well with him, so at this point he really feels sorry for Theresa. 

Whitney leaves to throw up in the bathroom, and Simone show up looking for her when she sees Frank at the table alone and stops to ask about her sister. When Frank tells Simone that the whole truth is now known, she becomes apologetic about not telling him the first time she saw him.  He says he knows Whitney kept her from telling the truth. Simone is on the verge of tears with sympathy for Theresa, unlike her sister who seems cold and satisfied to give up a lifelong friendship  for her own pleasures.  

Simone looks sweeter and more beautiful than ever, wearing a low cut simple soft white dress, and Frank reaches over to dry her tears.  The attraction is like a bolt of lightning as their eyes meet.  What a difference he sees in the two sisters.  One sister, a healthy, honest and natural beauty who cares about doing the right thing, and the other sister, a skanky, fake haired, anorexic, shallow minded girl who only cares about getting what she wants and would give up a long time friend for something she's too stupid and self absorbed to realize she never came close to having.

When Whitney comes back to the table, she sits down, wipes her mouth, and greets her sister politely.  Simone says she's there to let Whitney know about an early morning tennis lesson cancellation , but quickly changes the subject to how  Frank has filled her in on the whole story.  Simone is still in tears about it, but Whitney remains cold and seems tired of the whole thing.  She says she's glad it's over, and Theresa will just have to deal with the mess she's made.

 "We've all made mistakes, Whitney,"  Simone says quietly, and Frank chimes in to agree with her, as he reaches to comfort her hand.  Whitney glares at the attention Frank shows Simone. 

"You should have just told Frank the truth when he first asked you at the wharf, and all this would have been avoided!" Whitney snaps back.

Simone just looks up innocently at the both of them, one at a time, not saying a word.  Frank retorts, "Look Whitney as I remember it you had Simone take back everything she said to help me that day.  You made it your mission to keep me from knowing about Theresa all this time, and now you're blaming Simone for the delay, when you and I have spent countless hours together, each one an opportunity for you to come clean!I   I feel sorry for Theresa too, Simone.  And now that I know the truth behind the so-called stalkings, I don't see any point in making that poor girl go through any more than she already has.  She must be living in sheer misery every day, just trying to keep a job and never knowing when the roof will cave in on her. I'd say the case is closed , and so is this relationship, Whitney. I'll talk to Theresa about it myself and let her know I've decided not ruin to the life she's worked so hard to build, unlike her so-called best friend who was ready to feed her to the sharks.

Whitney puts the napkin down and stands up, "Come on Simone, let's go!"  As Simone rises, she and Frank share a knowing gaze.  She shyly looks down and picks up her things to leave. 

Would you mind being with me tomorrow when I talk to Theresa, Simone,  I think she would feel more comfortable if she knew she had a real friend there during the conversation, in fact I'm sure of it.  Simone glances at Whitney who's  just staring coldly at Frank, then back at Frank as she politely agrees, and they set a time to meet the next day when Ivy will be gone.

The girls share a lively conversation all the way home, each adamant about her position already stated that night.  When Simone and Frank tell Theresa about what happened, Theresa is hurt and shocked about Whitney's betrayal but relieved at the results.  She thanks them both, and Frank asks Simone to join him for lunch at the coffee shop.  There's  still the electricity between them, quietly kept at bay.  This will be the beginning of another Harmonious relationship!

I hope you liked it!

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