It's True

Chapter 1:

Sheridan walked through her bedroom door and slumped down on her bed. Forthe past three weeks, she had gone through a lot. Ethan had just invited her out for lunch ‘cause he knew that she was feeling down. The original plan was to make her feel better and forget about her problems, but the plan failed. Instead, it just brought more pain. She rested her head on the pillow and gazed up toward the ceiling. She couldn’t help but recall the events that happened with Gwen and Ethan today. They were such a happy couple and she couldn’t help but envy them. Sheridan wanted to have a family just like Gwen and Ethan’s. She wanted the love that they shared. She had that once, and thought that it was the real one, too, but much to her surprise. She let out a deep sigh and got up. As she sat up, she looked out the window. It was such a lovely day, yet she was inside drowning in her sorrows. She pulled up her left leg toward her chest and crossed the other one across her left foot. Then she rested her head on her knee as a deep frown appeared on her face. Why was this happening to her. She couldn’t understand it. One minute, she found the love of her life, the next, it was gone in a flash. She went through all the events that happened in her life in relation to her recent problem. Finding love seemed to be the biggest issue in Sheridan Crane’s life. She wondered what could be the problem.

Wasn’t she lovable enough? What did she do wrong? Why is it that every relationship she gets into always ended the same way? She let out an exasperated sigh and told herself, “Rhetorical questions. God, I hate them. Why can’t someone just answer my question?” She told no one in particular. She got up from her bed and walked toward her dresser. She stood in frontof the mirror and looked at herself. “Maybe it’s me.” She told herself. Sheridan stared at her reflection as she remembered a time in her life when she was happy.

**Flashback**

Sheridan gazed at herself in the mirror. She wanted to look perfect. Finally she and Luis were going to have a night out to themselves. Since Luis got promoted to detective, he had been working day in and day out, never leaving any time for her. Luis noticed that Sheridan had been bothered by their situation and decided to take leave from work so he and Sheridan would go out and spend some time together. Sheridan pressed her lips together as she looked at herself. Her long, black dressed flowed to the ground as it perfectly fit her body. She wondered what Luis had planned for her that evening, and soon she would find out. As she brushed a strand of her golden hair away from her face, two arms circled around her waist. ‟Hey, you look beautiful already.” Luis said as Sheridan leaned against him. “Well, I have to look perfect considering I’m going out tonight with the most amazing guy that I’ve ever met.” She said teasing him.

“Really? And whom might this ‘amazing guy’ be? By any chance do I know him?” Luis asked as he smelled her intoxicating perfume. “Hmm, maybe. You’ll just have to wait and find out.” Sheridan said turning her head so that she was face to face with him. “Really? ‘Cause I mean, I’d love to meet this guy that has caught the attention of one very beautiful and charming lady.” Luis replied as he gazed into Sheridan’s blue eyes. “You want to meet him?” Sheridan asked. “Yeah, sure. Where?” Luis joked as he looked around. “Look straight ahead.” Sheridan said pointing to the mirror that stood in front of them. “I don’t see anyone but me.” Luis said mischievously. Sheridan playfully slapped him across the arm as she smiled. “Come here.” He said as he planted a passionate kiss on her lips.

**End of Flashback**

Sheridan sighed as she walked back to her bed. She laid flat on her stomach as she rested her chin on a toss pillow that she grabbed. “Why did it have to end that way?” She asked herself. Another rhetorical question. She was annoyed by it. Soon her eyes landed on a picture frame. Its glass was shattered and looked like a spider’s web. She didn’t know why it was still there or why she never threw it away considering it was broken. It held a picture that she was most fond of. A picture of her and Luis. He had his arms wrapped around her as she smiled for the camera. Luis was smiling alright, but not at the camera, but at Sheridan. He was looking ather as she gave her sweet, innocent smile that Luis loved. Sheridan sighed again as she remembered that night that Miguel took the picture.

She wondered if things would go back to the way there were. But then again, after their heated conversation that ended it, she doubted it. I mean, it was his fault in the first place. If only he would try, try and mingle in with her friends, then maybe things would be all right. No, he was just too pig headed and stubborn to even think! She told herself. **Flashback** She was mad! Oh, yeah, was she MAD! Sheridan barged into her cottage as anger raged through her body. Damn him! DAMN HIM. As she walked into the living room she heard the door slam behind her. “I can’t believe you dragged me to that stupid country club luncheon of yours.” Luis yelled. “Well, I thought you would like to get to know my friends a little more!” She yelled at the top of her lungs. “Honestly, it was a waste of my time. I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. I could’ve been at the office...” “Working on a case.” Sheridan mocked, “Yeah, yeah, I know that whole story. I’ve heard it many, many times and I’m sick of it!”

“Sheridan, you of all people know how hard I’ve worked to get to where I’m at. And you know that I take my job seriously.” Luis said as he calmed down a bit. “Look, I’m just mad right now ‘cause you complained that we never spend time with each other anymore, so I took the time off to be with you and you go and drag me to be with other people that I don’t like!” “Yeah, well, I didn’t think that you had something planned. Next time why don’t you run your schedule by me and I’ll see that I don’t have any ‘Country Club lunches’ that I have to attend.” She said sarcastically. “Well, I thought I would surprise you!” He yelled. “SURPRISE? Well, I guess you were the one that was surprised, huh?” She yelled.

You know, why can’t you just accept that you aren’t the only person in my life? I have friends too, you know? And I know that they are all dying to meet you. Why can’t you just be glad that you got to know some of my friends?!” “Because! Your friends are all rich, stuck-up snobs! All they ever talk about is money and power, like that’s the only thing that exists in this world! I mean, they need to get a life, Sheridan, bad! I can never socialize with people in that class. They are just impossible, we have nothing in common.” He let out. “‘You can NEVER socialize with people in that class?’ I don’t believe you! And what do you call what we have? Not socializing? You know what? You are just impossible!” She yelled with all her might. “You know, why can’t you get it through your hard head...” Luis started but she interrupted him. “My HARD HEAD? Now you’re calling me hard headed? You know, why don’t I just add it to the list of other names that you have called me in the past two years that we’ve known each other... Hmm, let’s see, there’s stubborn, pig headed, HARD headed, wreckless driver...”

“Sheridan, that’s not what I meant.” “Oh, so now you’re telling me that I can’t comprehend what you say? Let me add that to the list... oh, yeah, there’s big ego, spoiled princess...” “Hey! I thought we got over that! You know that I’ve never called you a ‘spoiled princess’.” Luis said in disbelief. “Well, to tell you the truth, I don’t know what to think anymore. We never got to the bottom of it and you don’t have any proof that you didn’t say those things. Hell! For all I know it could be true and you really are just using me.” She said with anger in her voice. “I don’t believe this! What has gotten into you?” Luis asked. “NOTHING! Maybe it’s you! I don’t know!? Maybe it IS me! I don’t know! Maybe there’s just something wrong with this relationship, it’s not working anymore!!!” She yelled like she’d never yelled before. And she was surprised, she couldn’t believe what just came out of her mouth.

She never intended for it to just come out. She knew it was true, but she never had the guts to just come out and say it. She didn’t know what Luis was feeling, but she knew he took it the wrong way. What was Luis going to do now? Would he end it? Or would he try to work things out? She didn’t know, but she hoped it would be good... **End of Flashback** The ringing of the telephone interrupted her thoughts. She was grateful, though ‘cause she couldn’t pry herself from the painful memory. She got up and reached for the phone. “Hello?” She asked in a sweet, innocent voice like nothing was wrong. She did it well. She made it seem like her life was just perfect and nothing in the world could make her heart ache. She made a good cover up. “Hello?” She asked again. “Hello?!” She asked, this time with an annoyed voice. She was annoyed by these frequent phone calls. What was up with people these days? They just call and then don’t even say anything! “Argh!” She said before she hang up. “Damn, whoever invented the stupid phone!”

To Be Continued...

Chapter 2:

~~~~~~~~~~~~>five days laters<~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Sheridan, come on!” Ethan whined. “Ethan! I said I don’t feel like it. Please, just let me be?” Sheridan begged. “But Sheridan, it’s your birthday, and Gwen will kill me if you don’t show up to the restaurant and celebrate with us.” Ethan asked again. “Well, I guess this is good-bye. Don’t worry, I’ll put fresh flowers on your grave every day.” Sheridan joked. “Sheridan. This is no time to be joking around.” Ethan said with a more serious tone in his voice. “Ethan, do you love me?” Sheridan asked. “Of course I love you, Sheridan, you’re my aunt, but_” “But! No Buts Ethan... if you love me,” Sheridan started to show Ethan to the door, “you will be happy that I was born on this day and that I’m still alive and well.” She opened the door signaling Ethan to get out. “And tell Gwen that I don’t appreciate blood-shedding on my birthday, so don’t worry, if she loves me too, she’ll listen. Bye!” Sheridan waved as she shut the door leaving a stunned Ethan facing a door in front of his face. Sheridan was relieved that she got rid of Ethan. Finally, some peace and quiet. Just what she needed. She started for her bedroom, but then there was a door knock. “Agh! Ethan, why can’t you just give up? I’m not going, no matter what you say!”

She told herself as she walked toward the door. She was annoyed as ever. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? She opened the door and yelled... “I said I didn’t want to....go...” she trailed off when she saw that it wasn’t Ethan on her doorstep. “Luis!” She said, barely audible. “Sheridan! Um, hi! Did I come in a bad time? You seemed a little pre-occupied.” Luis asked unknowingly. “Huh? Oh! No! Um, I was just expecting Ethan. Um, he wanted to invite me to dinner, but I told him ‘no’ and he sort of can’t get that through his head.” Sheridan said. Then, a moment of silence. ‘Can’t get that through his head.’ Words that seemed very familiar to both of them. “So,” they both said simultaneously. They both just laughed. Another moment of silence filled the air. “What are you doing here, anyway?” Sheridan finally got the courage to speak. “I uh-, I, I ,” Somehow, Luis couldn’t find the words. He saw that Sheridan was wondering what he was talking about.

“I uh, uh, here...” He said as he handed her a neatly blue, wrapped box with a gold ribbon on top. At first, Sheridan couldn’t believe it. She just stared at it with disbelief. Was he handing her a gift? For what? “It is you birthday, right?” “Huh?” Sheridan finally snapped out of the twilight zone and responded. “Yeah, my birthday. Thanks.” She said as she reached for the item. During this process, her hand slightly grazed through his as they both felt something tingle in their bodies. She knew what it was, and she pulled away quickly. “You actually remembered my birthday.” She asked. “Well, yeah, I guess I did. Look, Sheridan I want you to know that even though we parted on bad terms, I still want to be a friend.” OUCH! Did he just say a friend? No this couldn’t be good. She still wanted his love, but not as a friend, as a lover. “Friends, right.” She really couldn’t believe it. She was hurting, and she didn’t want to show Luis that she was hurting. So she covered up.

“So what did you get me?” Sheridan said with a big smile like everything was okay. “Well, you’ll just have to open it up and find out, right?” Luis said as he let out that one smile that Sheridan couldn’t resist. “Yeah, you’re right.” She noticed that they were still outside. She thought that he would think her a fool for not even asking the guy in. “Look how stupid I am. Do you want to come in?” “Sure.” Was all that Luis said with no hesitation. Sheridan stepped to the side to allow access into the cottage. Luis surveyed the room and noticed that almost nothing change, except all the pictures of him and Sheridan were gone. ‘She must’ve moved on.’ he thought to himself. He was so caught up with his thoughts that he didn’t even realize that Sheridan had opened her gift. “Thanks for the CD, Luis.” Sheridan said snapping Luis away from his thoughts. “Your welcome. I figured you liked the Backstreet Boys, so I got you their latest single. I hope you like it. Have you heard it?” Luis asked. “No, not that I know of.” Sheridan said before turning around to put the CD on. The music started to play. It started off slow and romantic. Just the way she liked it.

*Even a lover can make a mistake sometimes Like any other Fall out and lose his mind And I’m sorry for the things I did For your teardrops over words I said Can you forgive me And open your heart once again It’s true I mean it >From the bottom of my heart Yeah, it’s true Without you I would fall apart Whatever happened I know that I was wrong, oh yes Can you believe me Maybe your faith is gone But I love you and I always will So I wonder if you want me still Can you forgive me And open your heart to me once again, oh yeah*

By the end of the song, Sheridan was furious. Oblivious to Luis. Luis just stood there waiting for the verdict. He really couldn’t tell what expression was on Sheridan’s face because her back was facing him. She finally turned around, and Luis didn’t know what to think. She just stared at him with an emotionless face. There was an awkward silence between the two. They just stood there. Finally, Sheridan spoke. “I can’t believe you.” She said in a voice that was low. “I can’t believe you, Luis.” “What do you mean, Sheridan?” Luis asked, wondering what she was talking about. “You THINK this is going to get to me?!” She yelled. “I don’t understand you Sheridan! What are you talking about?” Luis responded with the same tone in his voice.

“You! You think that you can come in here, give me some song and think that everything is going to be alright?! What kind of person do you think I am?!” “Sheridan, look. I never intended for you to think like that. I just thought_” “THOUGHT? You thought? Maybe you thought wrong!” “Hey! I just thought that you liked the group, so I got you their latest single! I never meant for you to think that I was trying to buy you off orsomething.” Sheridan had anger in her eyes. She couldn’t believe what was happening. But, for Luis, it was the opposite. He was calm and collected. He didn’t want to start another fight, especially on her birthday. “Sheridan, look.” Luis said as he walked closer to Sheridan and held her hands. “Can we just pick up where we left off? I don’t want to fight anymore. All I want is to be with you.” Luis said with sincerity in his eyes. Sheridan wanted the same thing, but she knew it couldn’t be right, just to pick up where they left off. “No, Luis.”

She answered a little more calm. “You don’t understand. We can’t just pick up where we left off, ‘cause the problem is still going to be there. We need to talk about it, not sweep itunder some rug. I want the same thing, Luis, I really do, but we can’t just forget about our problems. It’ll just keep coming back.” Sheridan said as she gazed into those hazel, brown eyes that she loves. “I’m willing to do anything. Just tell me what to do.” Luis said. “We have to talk about this.” “Let’s go to the gazebo. You seem to be more calm there.”

~~~~~~~>outside<~~~~~~~~

They walked across the gazebo hand in hand as they watch the stars above twinkle before them. For the first time in a long time, Sheridan felt safe. Just with Luis holding her hand was enough. It seemed like nothing was even wrong, but there was a problem, and it had to be solved in order to move on. “Luis?” Sheridan started. But she was stopped by a heated, passionate kiss. They kissed under the bright, full moon. It was mesmerizing. But, as every road ends, so did the kiss. Sheridan was the first one to pull away. “Luis,” she said trying to catch her breath. “Luis, you can’t just expect to kiss me and everything will be okay. We need to talk about this, remember?” She said as she gazed into his eyes. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself. I missed you so much.” Luis said as he ran his finger down her cheek, memorizing her features. “It’s okay.” Sheridan said with a slight smile on her face.

“That’s why we have to talk about this so we’ll know whether to move on with each other or move on separately.” “You’re right Sheridan. I’m sorry. Come.” Luis said as he led her to the bench by the rose bushes. They sat down, not taking their hands away from each other. They just smiled and looked into the windows of each other’s souls. It was a cold and breezy night, but they couldn’t tell. All they felt was each other’s presence, and nothing and no one else’s. Sheridan was the first one to break the thunderous silence that filled the night’s air. “Luis, I know that I’ve said a lot of hurtful words to you that day. And I’m sorry. I knew you would never fit into my life style and...”

“No, Sheridan,” Luis interrupted, but Sheridan did the same. “Luis, look, let me finish. ‘Cause I don’t know if I’ll be able to say what I have to say later on, and I just want to get this over with. Please?” All that she got was a nod and a smile. “I know that I’ve been a hypocrite telling you how much I don’t like to spend time in the Country Club, and there I was having fun. I guess I was just bored out of my mind, and decided maybe it was time to see those people that I so-call friends. I don’t know, I guess I should’ve known better than to try to mix you with them.” Sheridan said with a slight chuckle. “I mean, I know how much you dislike people from my side of the tracks. I just don’t know what came over me. It’s just like when you say you need to go on a diet, and you give up Pilar’s famous enchiladas. You go without it for a month, but your craving gets stronger and stronger. You won’t be able to break the record ‘cause there’s always this hunger you long for.” Sheridan felt like she was stupid. She let out a laugh. “Okay, I’m sorry. Crazy analogy. Um...” “No, Sher, I understand. I see where you’re coming from.” “Okay, good. Whew.” She said with a smile.

“And Luis, I know that I’ve been so hard on you about your work and I’m sorry. I mean, I know how much you wanted to make detective, and here you are. I know that I’ve been selfish lately. And I’ll admit it. If I wasn’t so stubborn, we wouldn’t be here in the first place. If I’d just been a law-abiding citizen in control, then I wouldn’t have crashed into your car. I mean, I look back at the last two years that we’ve known each other, and I see that it is just a big laugh. There was New Mexico, New Year’s, Paris, the Drug Cartel, and all those little details that I’ve left out. If I’d had just been in control with my life, you wouldn’t be in any of those dangers. We wouldn’t be where we’re at right now. We wouldn’t be fighting.” Sheridan said with her head facing towards the ground. “Hey, hey.” Luis said as he picked her head up with his finger so that she was facing him.

“Sher, if going through all those things again; risking my life, saving yours, arguing non-stop, Alistair, Julian; if it would mean that we end up right where we’re at, then I’d do it all over again, even if it means a million times infinity. I never regret the day we meet. Well, I have, but that was when we always argued that first year. But now that I know you better, I never thought about regret. That’s the truth, Sheridan. In know that we come from two very, very different worlds, and I’m sorry for not trying or giving you a chance. I know that you have tried to live in my world, I’m sorry for not trying to live in yours. I’m sorry for not understanding you better and where you’re coming from. And as for my job, I’m sorry I never took the time off to even discuss it with you. I mean, you are a big part of my life and I should have run my schedule by you. You have every single right to know. But, now, I’ve discovered a little thing called ‘time management’ and I plan on using it wisely.”

“‘Time management’? Where did you come up with that?” Sheridan asked with a smile on her face. “Who else? Sam!” They both just laughed at this. “But I’m serious, Sheridan.” He said with a more serious tone in his voice. “I’ve got it all planned out. See, I’m getting a new schedule and they want me to choose the day off I get. I’m thinking maybe one day off during the weekends, like Sunday and maybe Monday or Wednesday. On Sundays, we can go on a picnic by the lake or in the park, and if ever we get tired of picnics, then maybe we can go to the Country Club and you can show me a point or two in tennis. I mean, Whitney’s gonna be there, right?” “Luis, you don’t have to do that.” “No, Sheridan. See, I want to. It’s part of my understanding plan.” “Okay, so when do you get to sleep over?” Sheridan asked with a mischievous look on her face.

“Ooh, that can be arranged. Maybe on my day offs.” “So, you’re saying that you only come over two nights in a week?” Sheridan said somewhat disappointed. “Yeah, unless you have something else in mind.” Luis said with a big smile. “What if I said I wanted you with me every single night?” “I’d ask you to marry me.” Luis said seriously which surprised Sheridan. Her smile suddenly disappeared as she heard this. She couldn’t believe it. Was he serious? Or was he just playing around? No, he had to be serious, he sounded serious. “What did you say?” “I said, ‘I’d ask you to marry me.’” “You’re not serious, are you?” As she asked this, Luis pulled out something from his pocket. He pulled out a small velvet box. No, it couldn’t be. Why was he proposing marriage? They just got through a little bit of understanding each other. “Luis, what?” “Sheridan, the only way I can think of to get you to be with me every single day and night is to ask you to be my wife.

So, what do you say?” Sheridan couldn’t believe it. Tears ran down her cheek. “Luis, I want nothing more in this world to be your wife,” “I hear a ‘but’ tone.” Luis said about to get up and walk away, but Sheridan grabbed his arm before he could walk out of her life again. And she’ll be damned if she let the happen. “Luis? Look, we’ve been through so many misconceptions in our life.

And usually that’s the problem. I want you to listen to me before you make any rash decisions and leave. I’ll accept your proposal. I’ll wear your ring, but the wedding is not going to come soon. We need to work this thing out, Luis. We need to go through trial and error. Or, our marriage will not work. We need to understand each other a little more.” “Deal.” was all Luis could say. With a big smile on his face, he placed the ring on Sheridan’s finger. “Let me ask you one question.” “Anything.” “How sure were you that I was going to say yes?” “Not really! I just thought that maybe if things didn’t go the way I planned, then I’d give it to Miguel and maybe he’d give it to Charity. There’s no return policy.” They both just laughed. When the laughter subsided, they looked into each other’s eyes and shared a deep, passionate kiss. “I love you, Sheridan.” Luis said against her lips. “I love you, too.”

THE END