Story: Fox and Whitney Fan Fiction


Category: Romance, Comedy, and Drama.


Rating: PG-13 for mild language, subject matter, and sexual content.


Special notes: Chad is Whitney and Simone’s big brother and the son of TC and Eve Russell. The Russells and Bennetts are in the same social class as the Cranes and Hotchkisses. Ethan is Sam and Grace's son. Fox, Ethan, and Chad are all best friends.


Whitney and Gwen are around the same age and lifelong best friends. Just think of Whitney’s life on the show and replace Theresa with Gwen lol


Summary:


Whitney Russell has decided to return to Harmony, MA after graduating from college and ending a tremulous relationship with long time boyfriend Luis Lopez Fitzgerald. The horrifying ending of that loveless relationship would have left the average girl jaded but it hasn’t soured Whitney’s outlook on love. If anything it has solidified her belief in a love she has knew since puberty.

Whitney Russell is a hopeless romantic but also a realist. That’s why Nichols Foxworth Crane has no idea of how she feels about him. Whitney isn’t exactly his type and she is sure he views her as a little sister type. She isn’t sure if she can change his mind but she is ready to give it her best shot – she thinks...if she can overcome her insecurities and doubts. Not to mention her mother and father and the designs they have on her life.

Fox Crane is literally the American man’s dream. He has money, power, and hot and cold running women. He is living and loving it all but what happens when ‘real life’ issues forces Fox to look deep within himself?

Fox and Whitney enjoy what appears to be a unique relationship until the day fate intervenes. This sets them on a collision course forcing them to make critical, life-altering decisions. Can Fox be a different man or is the playboy in him too deeply embedded? Will the pressures and expectations of being a Russell woman be too much for Whitney to bear? Will they have their chance or does destiny have other plans?




Chapter One –


“We should be landing in Harmony in the next 30 minutes are you nervous?” Gwen asked while eyeing a pile of confetti-ed napkin bits.

“A little.” Whitney admitted as she fidgeted with the bits of paper. “I’m not sure if returning to Harmony is the smartest thing to do. My parents will be in enough proximity to actually control my life.”

“You’re over 21, Whitney. You’re a sophisticated college educated woman. They have absolutely no say in how you live your life.”

Whitney let out a stiff chuckle. “Try telling them that.”

“I don’t understand. Chad does what he wants.”

“Chad is a Russell man, not a Russell woman.”

“That’s sexist!”

“That’s my parents.”

“It’s just awful.”

“Now Gwen they’re not that bad. It’s not like they treat Simone and me like we are sub-human. My parents are great! It’s just that Chad’s a boy and Simone and I are girls. You know how fathers feel about their daughters?”

“I wasn’t saying anything bad about Mr. and Mrs. Russell. They’re awesome, a little old fashion but awesome. Besides we will be living in our own apartment, which means they can’t watch your every move.” Gwen adjusts her seat. “It will be great to see everyone again. Ethan, Fancy, Fox.” She opens her Vogue magazine and begins to read an article.

“Right.” Whitney smiled and turned her head to look out the airplane window. “Fox.” She says underneath her breath.

The passing clouds have sort of a hypnotic effect on her. She is taken back...

A warm gently sun is shining down on a massive oak tree that is providing shade for them. Ducks are quacking and playing in a pond near by, as they are sitting comfortably on a blanket surrounded by wild flowers. The sound of The Sundays’ Wild Horses is flowing in the air, providing just the right touch to the ambiance.

Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady you know who I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn't drag me away

“Is the music bothering you?”

She hasn’t heard him. She is too busy starting at him with a big lovelorn glaze.

“Earth to Whitney.” Fox jokes, snapping his finger in front of her. He brings her out of her reverie.

“Huh?”

“Where were you just now?” He asked with a gorgeous white smile.

She blushes and adjusts the glasses on her face. “Nowhere.” She is sitting Indian style with a book of sonnets in her lap.

“I better turn the music down.”

“No.” Whitney insisted. “I love this song.”

“Okay.” Fox leans against the tree, resting his hands behind his head. “So are you ready to help me understand this Shakespeare guy.”

“Yeah.” She answers. She removes the bookmark from her sonnets. “So the sonnet I just read...what does it say to you?” She could hear her heart beating faster. Just being near him had that affect on her.

Fox shrugged. “None of it makes sense to me. Mr. Benson sucks! This is a dumb assignment. It’s not like I’ll need this stuff when I go to college.”

“I think you will.” Whitney spoke demurely. “I think learning stuff like this helps cultivate us. There are life lessons in Shakespeare’s work that still speak to us today. Take Hamlet.” Whitney pulls the playbook from her book bag. “This deals with moral and practical pitfalls of revenge, which I think is prevalent or Romeo and Juliet.” She hands Fox the playbook. The themes in this play deal with tragedy, weakness, or the dangers of holding grudges. I think his plays and sonnets show you how unpredictable life can be.”

Fox just stares at her; this causes her heart to flip-flop. She begins to nervously ramble. “Of course I’m just a freshmen and you’re a senior. You would know better than some 9th grader.”

“Don’t do that.”

“What?”

“You’re opinions matter Whitney. Don’t back down from them because you think someone won’t agree. You’re smart. Don’t be ashamed of that.”

She smiles, revealing a mouthful of braces. Then realizes she has a mouthful of metal and straightens her ex-pression.

“Thank you.” She replied quietly. She was always embarrassed when someone complimented her.

“I think it’s cool that you understand all of this stuff.”

“Lots of people think it’s nerdy.”

“That’s because people tend to make fun of what they don’t understand. I’m guilty of that myself.” Fox found himself speaking honestly and freely. “I really want to understand this. You know mathematics, science, and Basic English comes easy to me but this stuff is different. I think it takes a special person to get it.”

Whitney watched him as he spoke. “So you really want to understand this?”

He looked at her. “That’s why I came to the best.”

There goes that smile again, the one that warms her from the inside. “Well, when I’m done with you...you’ll be quoting Shakespeare.”

Fox chuckled. They continued there studying all that afternoon. Whitney made the subject interesting for Fox, with her enthusiasm. By the afternoon’s end they were huddled together underneath the tree, and Fox was really starting to ‘get it.’

“Think about that first line.”

Fox reads it out loud. “My love is as a fever, longing still.” Fox thought for a second. “It’s like the love of this person is thriving within him. Hurting him in some way?”


“Exactly.” Whitney nodded yes. “Now this line reads... For that which longer nurseth the disease, Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill.”

“So even though this person is bad for him, he keeps going back. It’s like something he can’t help. He says Desire is death, which physic did except.”

“It’s deep isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but the way this guy talks about love.” Fox shook his head. “I thought Shakespeare was supposed to be a romantic?”

“He is. Most of his sonnets are sad but his poems are lovely. My favorite is Venus and Adonis.” Whitney begins to look starry eyed. “The anticipation of true love’s first kiss.”

Fox looks at her and then cocks his head to one side. “Have you ever been kissed?”

“Me.” Whitney almost shrieks.

“Yeah you.” He laughs at her.

“No! Look at my braces and glasses...” Whitney points to a pimple of her face. “Acne! The guys aren’t exactly beating down my door.”

“They should...and they will. You’re an amazing person Whitney.”

“That’s sweet of you to say but I’ll probably get my first kiss on my wedding day.” Whitney joked but in her mind was totally serious.

Fox runs his eyes over the woman in front of him. She was special and he knew that.

Whitney couldn’t believe how Fox was looking at her. She had longed for his gaze to burn into hers but for it to really happen? She wanted to pinch herself but fought the urge to do so. She just continued to look upon his handsome face, hoping he would wrap his strong arms around her. She loved him from head to toe, inside and out. Fox reaches up and touches her face. She briefly closes her eyes as he runs his hand down her cheek; his thumb crosses her chin, barely brushing her bottom lip.

“This is your first kiss.” He said softly. Whitney’s breath tightened in her chest as Fox applied a soft whisper of a kiss upon her lips. He pulls back slightly, his eyes connected with hers. “And this is your second.” He hesitates momentarily, looking for any signs that she may be unnerved. There are none. He moves in for another kiss, and this time she meets him. His mouth engulfs her. His tongue so tender, so sensual, swirls around hers. It was pure bliss as Whitney followed his lead and moved her tongue against his in the same fashion.

The daydream ends. Whitney bit down on her bottom lip as she could still feel the sensations of that kiss from many moons ago. That was the only time they kissed but a deep and real friendship was formed from that day forward.

“We’re landing.” Gwen announces.

“What?” Whitney says as the last remains of her daydream fades.

“We are in Harmony.”

“Great.” Whitney says as she prepares for the landing. “I can’t wait.” She says with a huge smile.

Chapter Two –



“You have a girlfriend?” The pretty blonde asked, her thumb hanging on the rim of her lower rider jeans. The gesture obviously meant to draw attention to a teeny butterfly tattoo right above her navel. A gesture Fox appreciated.

Fox tilts his head to get a better view. “I’m sorry to say...yeah I do have a girlfriend.” Fox looks her in the eyes, smiling a flirty smile.

The blonde tousles her hair to one side and then eyes the box in Fox’s hand.

“Do you live with your girlfriend?”

“No. I’m moving in with a friend.”

“So then you can have friends?”

“Yeah, It’s always nice to make friends.”

Her blue eyes sparkled as she licked her lips. “Would you like to be my friend?”

“I guess so...you seem friendly.”

The blonde takes out a scrap of paper and jots down her phone number. She hands it to Fox.

“Call me.”

Fox checks out the number and then stuffs it into his pocket. “I will.”

“Bye.” The blonde throws a girly wave before entering her friend’s apartment.

Fox walks a few feet down the hall and enters his and Ethan’s apartment. He drops the box in his hands at his feet. Chad is in the kitchen, he tosses Fox an ice cold Heineken.

“Did you get that girl’s phone number?” Chad questioned with a half empty bottle of beer on the tip of his lips.

Fox smirked at him. “What do you think?” He takes a long sip of his beer.

“Bad move playboy. She lives in this building.”

“Do you honestly think I’m that stupid? Her friend lives here, not her.” He takes another sip. “And I told her I had a girlfriend. That way if she gets attached I can lay the ‘you deserve better than me’ line on her.”

“Or the classic, I’m feeling guilty and I really want to work things out with my girlfriend line.”

Fox scrunches his face. Chad had a lot of women but didn’t know how to handle them. He wasn’t as smooth as Fox or as clever. Chad always got caught when he cheated and never knew how to talk his way out of a lie. Fox was quite the opposite. He had seducing woman down to an art form, and dumping them down to a science.

“How many times have you had your car keyed?”

“Eight.” Chad says, not making the connection.

Fox chuckles. “That’s why! Because you say stupid $hit like that!”

Ethan enters the apartment. He nearly trips over Fox’s boxes.

“Fox! Get your crap off the floor.” Ethan steps around the boxes.

Chad starts to laugh. “I don’t see how you two can share an apartment?”

Fox takes a seat in a black lazy boy recliner. “Is that anyway to treat your best friend, who has just returned from London? I’ve been gone for three years, man.”

“You were messy then and your messy now.” Ethan says sharply, he walks into the kitchen and grabs himself beer.

Fox reclines in the lazy boy chair and places his arms behind his head. He looked completely carefree and relaxed. “When is the last time you got laid, Ethan?”

“What?”

“He wants to know why you’re acting like you’re on your period?” Chad explains.

Fox nods in Chad’s direction “Precisely.”

Ethan remains silent so Chad offers up an explanation. “Ethan is having a problem with a woman.”

“What’s the problem?” Fox asked, confident that he could solve it.

“Ethan’s in love.” Chad answers.

Fox laughed out loud. “Have you been struck by Cupid’s arrow, Ethan?” He asked plainly teasing him.

“I’m not talking about this with you two.” Ethan walks into the living room and plops down into a recliner next to Fox’s.

Chad laughs. “I can’t get a word out of him, Fox. He has this new secret love.”

Fox spins his chair around until he is facing Ethan. “Do you have a mystery woman, Ethan?” Fox attempts to bite back his laugher, as does Chad.

“You guys are @ssholes!”

“Seriously Ethan. What’s up?” Fox asked earnestly.

“Seriously, I’m not saying anything. It’s not like you or Chad will understand. You two are so busy being players.”

“Dude you juggled you share of woman too.” Chad countered.

“Yeah and I’m paying for it now.”

“So this girl knows your rep and doesn’t want anything to do with you because of it?”

Ethan doesn’t answer. He just throws his head up toward the ceiling.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’ ” Fox concluded.

Chad looks at his watch. “I have to get out of here. My parents are having that dinner party for Whitney. You guys are coming, right?”

“Whitney’s coming back to Harmony?” Fox questioned. He hadn’t spoken to here in three years not since he left for London and she started to date Luis.

“Yeah. I thought I told you.”

“No.” Fox began to think of Whitney. She was his first girlfriend, in the sense that she was a girl and his friend. He had never been just friends with a girl. (Still hadn’t) But from the day Whitney started to tutor him and beyond that changed. They had sort of a secret friendship. Chad wouldn’t have appreciated Fox’s interest in his little sister even though his intentions toward Whitney were honorable. He was a complete gentlemen with her. But that didn't matter. It was a guy thing and Fox wouldn’t have blamed Chad. After all he had a little sister too, and he wouldn’t have liked the idea of Chad getting cozy with Fancy. But still, there was always something about Whitney that tugged at him. He was very fond of her. He even remembered getting a little jealous when she started to date Luis. He brushed it off of course. He was in London and she was in California for goodness sake. At that point their relationship was primarily through email. As her relationship with Luis deepened subsequently there came a reduction in emails and phone calls. He remembered being upset with her behind that. She wasn’t rude and she didn’t get brand new but she had a man in her life...a life period. Fox had to step aside and he did but he was sad about it – hurt even. He didn’t know why.


“I’m out! I’ll see you guys around eight at the country club.”

“Bye Chad.”

As soon as Chad leaves Fox in on Ethan. "So this girl.” Fox beamed, his smile adolescent. “Is she an ex of Chad’s?”

“No.”

“C’mon Ethan. That has to be the reason you won't tell him."


Ethan let out a deep sigh. “The reason he doesn’t know is because it’s his sister.”

The expression on Fox’s face dramatically changed. It was almost a scowl, like a rabid dog about to attack.

“You’re in love with Whitney?”

Ethan was a very astute man. He quickly picked up on Fox’s angered and almost scared state. He decided to have some fun. A simple smile spread across his face.

“The heart wants...what the heart wants.”

Fox spring up out of his chair. “You can have her.” He downs his beer. He throat felt incredibility dry. "I won't let you."

“Why not?” Ethan asked casually.

“She’s younger then you.” Fox throw out the first flimsy excuse that entered his head.

“She’s 22, I’m 26. We are both of consenting age.”

“What about Chad?”

“You won’t tell, right?” Ethan’s mischievous grin grew.

Fox runs his hand threw his hair, as if he would stumble upon a plausible excuse.

“She is dating someone.”

“You mean Luis.”

Fox looks at Ethan surprised. No one was supposed to know about Luis. He had actually betrayed her confidence by telling Ethan (just now) but it was the only thing he could think of. But Ethan knew, which meant she must have told him. This angered Fox more.

“You’re going to stop seeing her.” The tone in his voice made it clear that it wasn’t a question but a demand.

Ethan couldn’t take how tense Fox was getting. He was taking the fun out of the game.

“Calm down Fox. It’s not Whitney.”

“Don’t lie to me. You know about Luis.”

“Because of Simone. It’s Simone.”

“Oh.” Fox says feeling foolish. His temper steadily dropping.

“She is interning at the Law firm and we are friends now but...”

“You want more.”

“And she won’t bend.” Ethan buried his face in his hands. His predicament seemed hopeless. He looks up at Fox. He had almost forgot Fox’s reaction when he thought it was Whitney. “So you have a thing for a Russell woman too?”

“No.”

“Fox, you were about to belt me one.”

“On Chad’s behalf of course.”

“I always thought something went on with you two back in the day.”

“Yeah, she tutored me.”

“Fox, there were some many girls in our senior class that would have killed to tutor you.”

“Yeah but I wanted to actually learn.”

“You never....”

“Look Whitney is two years older then Fancy. She is like another little sister.”

“But she isn’t your sister.” Ethan corrected. "I've seen her too. She isn't the same."

Fox just stared at Ethan, his expression unreadable. “I’m hitting the shower so I can be ready for this dinner.” He says finally.

“Fine." Ethan would let it go for now. "But tomorrow you unpack.”


Fox leaves the room and Ethan notices the front door is still cracked open. He hears voices in the hall and opens the door completely - just in time to see the door across from him shut. New neighbors. He thinks He goes back into his apartment and shuts the door.


“We are home Whitney.”

“Yes, our new apartment!” Whitney surveys her new surrounding. “That’s fully furnished.” She turns to Gwen. “Did you do this?”

“I thought you did.”

Whitney walks over to the coffee table and picks up a note. “Great.” She crumples the note up in her hand. “Not even here for a full hour and she is closing in.”

Gwen takes the note from Whitney. “Mrs. Russell strikes!”

“I’ll see the super tomorrow! First thing and get the locks changed.”

“You have to admit.” Gwen admires artwork on the wall in front of her. “Your mom has great taste.”

“I’m going to shower. We have just enough time to get ready for this dinner party that I do NOT want to attend.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ll be paraded around like prize cattle to potential suitors.”

“Just remind yourself it’s only for tonight, and that Fox will be there.” Gwen smiles.

“So will Ethan, hank, my brother, my sister, your parents, my parents. What's your point?”

“Yeah but Fox is the one that had you smiling all goofy on the plane.”

“Gwen...”

“You better go shower first. If I go first, I’ll use all of the hot water.”

Whitney just shook her head and headed off for the shower. She knew the Fox conversation was just getting started.