Tomorrow in your life

By Mallory Quinn

Think: Candy, Terry and the whole gang, in our time, today…

Chapter 1

"Between heaven and earth"

- Would you like something, Miss Andrew? Asked the stewardess

- A fruit juice please, answered Miss Andrew

The stewardess gave her a little bottle of fruit juice with a little plastic cup.

- Thank you she said

- You're welcome

Candice White Andrew was sitting in first class in a Boeing 747 that was taking her to London. The plane had just left and was suppose to stop at New York. She was obeying, almost against her will, Uncle William's order. But she had to obey him, because, after all he had the goodness of adopting her. She was abandoned as a baby in front of the Pony House, an orphanage in Michigan. Her best friend, Annie found the same day as her, was adopted by the Brighton at six. She had lived without her best friend during all those years, at the age of 13, she was hired as a companion in the Reagan family, for their two children Neil and Eliza; in the beginning, then she became the maid, the stable girl… but because of her friendship with the cousins of the Reagan children, that were leaving close by, she was adopted by the Great Uncle William. Anthony, Alistair and Archibald all fell under her charm, but she was under Anthony's spell. She was in love with him and he was in love with her. They had plans; to go to school together, make their life together. They went to the fair and they saw a gipsy woman that told them the she will have a good life full of obstacles… to Anthony she said he will have a nice life , but that there was a cloud and her face changed saying that. She then went back on her words saying that they both will have a nice life together… they had left happy. But not much longer after that, when Candy was officially adopted by the Great Uncle William, Anthony took the car to buy her a present. On the way back, he had had a terrible accident and he was dead on the scene. That day, that was suppose to be the most beautiful day of her life had become the saddest day in her life. The Great Aunt Elroy was angry at Candy. Anthony went to buy her a present and he died. It was Candy's fault! Why did William adopt her? She only brought bad luck to their family. The others kids were sent to London in boarding school, St. Paul Academy. Candy went back to the Pony house to cry on the shoulders of her two mothers, Miss Pony and sister Maria. Then George, Uncle William's assistant, came to take he a little after Christmas to send her to London to be with the others. There, she took the plane at Chicago airport to London.

She was sitting at the window and sleeping during the stop in New York. She woke up when the plane was in the middle of the Atlantic. She asked herself at first where she was. She opened her eyes slowly and saw a face that seemed familiar …

"Anthony she whispered"

But looking closer, she saw that it wasn't him, but a young man that was crying in silence. He seemed so sad. He wiped his tears.

- Are you all right? Asked Candy, do you need any something?

The young man was startled a little; a little confused to have been caught crying.

- No thanks! He said dryly

- Ok, said Candy, I wanted to help … that all! No need to bite my head off!

She took her laptop out and started sending e-mails to Miss Pony, Sister Maria and all those little friends of the orphanage. When she finished, she started at Anthony's picture that she had put as a wallpaper; Anthony was smiling, she will never see those beautiful bleu eyes and his nice smile. She closed her computer and fell tears coming into her eyes, that she closed with pain. Oh, how she missed him! She loved him so much! She didn't know the young main next to her, saw what had happened.

- You miss your boyfriend?

- Mind your own business! Said Candy suddenly

- Ok, I've deserved that! Let's start over, from the beginning. Terrence Grandchester he said give her his right hand smiling, you can call me Terry.

Candy that could never stay mad for too long took his right hand and smiled and said;

- Pleased to meet you Terry. Candice White Andrew, you call me Candy.

- Pleased to meet you Candy. That's your boyfriend on the picture? You miss him?

- Yes I miss him so much said Candy, but can we change the subject? It's much too painful to talk about him…

- You love him that much? Ok, let's change the subject. You're travelling alone? I like your freckles…

This young had a sudden change of subject!

- No, there's, my uncle's assistant, George who is business class… he's taking me to London. What about you, are you travelling alone?

- All alone, like a big boy…

- Your accent indicates that you're British…

- My father is British and my mother is American

- It's New Year's Eve; wouldn't you want to be with your parents?

- In a perfect world, yes. But…

- …we all know that this world is far from being perfect, finished Candy.

They continued to talk of this and that. They had the choice in watching movies; they both had a small screen in front of them. They watched a movie they chose together; "William Shakespeare's Rome and Juliet" with Leonardo di Caprio and Claire Danes.

- I always wanted to see this movie said Terry, I wanted to see how they transposed one of the most beautiful love story into the 20th century.

- Me too, I've always been fascinated by this impossible love story. I'm wondering how they will put those lines in modern English…

- I think they left it as before…

- Really? So let's watch…

They started watching the movie and Terry was reciting the role of Romeo whispering. They had headphones on their ears to listen to the sound of the movie, so Candy noticed that he was reciting when she turned to look at him. Once the movie over, they took their headphones off.

- Well? Asked Candy

- Well being a fan of Romeo and Juliet, I found the movie…

- Not so bad?

- Yes not so bad he said smiling, they kept the story and the lines almost intact…

- Leonardo is very cute…

- For girls…

- Not for boys?

- Whatever!

Candy smiled. They talked about the movie, Hollywood actors… a stewardess announced a few minutes before midnight that the Commander was offering a glass of champagne to all the passengers to welcome the New Year. The passengers in first class had a buffet, cold and warm of food. At one minute to midnight, the captain joined them for the last few seconds…All the passengers were standing next to the Commander. Candy was next to Terry. Everybody started to count, 10…0…8…7…6…5…4...3…2…1….HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Everybody around them were kissing on cheeks. The couples were kissing on the lips. Terry kissed Candy on the cheeks. He wanted to kiss her on the lips, but… she would probably take it very bad, since she had a boyfriend, Candy, on her part held Terry against her. Then realising what she had just done, she stopped.

"Anthony she thought"

- Oh excuse-me she said to Terry blushing, I didn't want to…

- No. That's ok said Terry

But she walked away towards the washrooms. She into a vacant one, she put water on her face. What did she just do? She held another boy in her arms? What about Anthony? She had betrayed him! She started to cry.

"Oh Anthony, I missed you so much! She said, why did you have to die? Why wasn't I in the car with you? It's too hard to live without you!"

She cried for a while. Then her eyes were red. She waited a little for her eyes to clear. When her face was fresh, she finally got out of the washroom to return to her place. Terry stood up to let her pass but at that moment, there was an air pocket at that precise moment, Candy stumbled and land in Terry's arms. He smelled the fresh perfume of her hair which mad him a little excited for a second.

- Freckles… I know you find me irresistible, but…

- I'm sorry she started… oh you! She said when she realised that he was joking, and my name is Candy!

She went to sit near the window. This young man was exciting her. When she was near him, she felt good. And that hadn't happen since Anthony's death. But was she allowed to feel good without Anthony? She felt like she was betraying him by feeling better with another one, so soon after his death.

- Penny for your thoughts said Terry

Candy came out of her daydream

- You were thinking about him, weren't you?

- I miss him so much…

She hadn't told him that Anthony was dead. She didn't want to accept it. Terry a twinge in his heart. He wondered why.

- I'm going to cheer you up he said

And he started to tell her funny stories, about tricks he played on maids even some of his luxurious adventures… Candy couldn't help herself from laughing. He had managed to cheer her up. She took her laptop, turn it on and Anthony's picture appeared in front of her eyes. Terry looked and felt a twinge in his heart again. She loved him so much she had his picture a wallpaper.

- You can give me you e-mail address, we might not see each other again, but thanks to technology, we can keep track of each other, from time to time

Saying that he also took his laptop and turn it on. She gave him her e-mail address. He sent her a message right away that was saying.

Hello Freckles,

I hope that you'll see your boyfriend soon, so that you won't be sad any more. You are much prettier when you laugh than when you're crying.

Candy felt her heart jump.

"Like my prince of the hills, like Anthony…is it a sign from you my dear Anthony? Are you trying to tell me that life goes on?"

She answered him like this;

Dear Terry,

Thank you so much to have kept me company during this trip. I spent a nice time wit you. I know it's because you were sitting next to me, but you didn't have to do it. Thank you for cheering me up. I hope to see you again one day.

Sincerely,

Candy

They saved their e-mail address in their address book. They shut down and put their computers away. They watched another movie and talked about it. It was the new version of "The parent trap" with Lindsey Lohan.

- I saw the old version with Haley Mills said Candy

- Another remake? Are they out of ideas or something? Said Terry

- It doesn't bother you to watch another romantic comedy?

- When you're sitting next to a beautiful young girl, how could you resist not pleasing her?

Candy started to laugh and Terry was smiling. The movie started and they put the headphones on. The beginning started with a song by Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E. Candy loved the song and started to sing and looked at Terry who was singing too. He looked at her and they sang the song till the end. The staff and the other passengers were looking at them smiling.

♪♪L is for the way you look at me,

O is for the only one I see,

V is very very extraordinary,

E is even more than anyone that you adore and

Love is all that I can give to you,

Love is more than just a game for two,

Two in love can make it ,

Take my heart yet please don't break it,

Love was made for me and you.

L is for the way you look at me,

O is for the only one I see,

V is very very extraordinary,

E is even more than anyone that you adore and

Love is all that I can give to you,

Love is more than just a game for two,

Two in love can make it,

Take my heart yet please don't break it,

Love was made for me and you.

Love was made for me and you.

Love was made for me and you.♪♪

- Now every time you heard this song, you'll think about our duet and the stranger you met on the plane said Terry

- You too, you'll think about the young girl with freckles that kept you company…

Candy fell asleep for a little while during the landing and her head was on Terry's shoulder. This last one was pleased to have her leaning against him, he smelled the fresh scent of her hair. He liked her company, which was something that had never happened to him with someone he had just met. But this young girl with freckles was different… the plane was getting ready to land, but there was some turbulence because of the bad weather. The plane was moving and Candy woke up, fastened her sit belt and held Terry's hand without thinking… she left it a once, but he took it back, to calm her. Once the plane touched the ground, all the passengers started to clap their hands. Once the plane had stopped, the passengers started to get off. George came to get Candy to get off the plane.

- Miss Candy are you ready?

- Hi George, yes, I'm ready…

Then turning to Terry;

- Ok, Good bye Terry. Se you one of these days…

- Good bye Freckles, see you one of these days…

She left with George. Once the formalities over, she got out of the airport and saw Stear and Archie.

- Candy, over here! They cried

- Stear, Archie, I'm so happy to see you!

They hugged each other.

- I missed you said Stear hugging her hard…

- I missed you too said Candy, How are you? Really?

- You mean without our "third musketeer"? It's hard, Candy, very hard. But life goes on said Stear.

They walked toward the front of the airport where a limo sent by Uncle William, was waiting for them. When she was entering the car, Candy saw Terry from afar in a red car leaving. Their eyes crossed… like to say goodbye. She felt a little sad. She was going to miss him, after all those hours she spent next to him on the plane… she really liked his company.

- How is the boarding school?

- Like all boarding school in the world, strict, very strict said Stear

- Are we a lest allowed to have our computers and cell phone?

- Yes, thank God. But not in the classroom said Archie

- That's normal said Candy, they wouldn't want to be disturbed by cell phones ringing during class

- Did you have a good trip? Asked Archie

- You weren't bored all by yourself? Asked Stear

- I wasn't alone, I met a boy…

- Oh… said Archie, with a twinge in his heart

- It was my sit neighbour; he kept me company, that's all. I was pretty depressed because of Anthony, He cheered me up…

- Good for you said Archie

But he was a little disappointed, he wanted to be there to cheer her up and little by little declare his flame. He was crazy in love with her. But before she was his cousin's girl friend, but his cousin was no more, she was available…

When they arrived at school, they took Candy suitcases in her bedroom. A few students that didn't go home for the Christmas vacations were walking in the dorm. They met the "adorable" Eliza Reagan with other girls as "adorable" as her. She looked at Candy with mean eyes and whispered something into her friends' ear and they started laughing. Candy and her new cousins continued their way and talking life there was nothing to it. Candy's room was big and nice.

- Wow, it's big! Said Candy; do I share it with someone?

- I don't think so said Archie, Uncle William asked that you be alone and calm

- Oh but… I wanted to share my room with someone to talk with… well

- We have to go. We can't stay for too long in the girl's dorm

- Ok, guys, so I'll see you tomorrow? Thanks for coming to pick me up she said hugging them, see you!

Candy was arranging her stuff .There was a computer in the room already and the whole she-bang. She will use her laptop during classes. She also had a radio-cassette with a CD player. She put it on a small table near her bed. The door was opened, a young girl a little chubby with glasses appeared.

- Hi, can I come in?

Candy turned around a smiled.

- Hi, come in please…

- My name is Patricia O'Brien, you can call me Patty

- Candice White Andrew, you can call me Candy, sit on the bed

- You're new, said Patty sitting down

- Yes. I come from Chicago. How is it here?

- Strict, with the nuns, no alcohol, no cigarettes, no sex…

They burst out laughing.

- Well I don't really care about that … I'm going to be right at home she joked

- Even the sex…?

- Even the sex!

- You've never done it? You're so pretty…

- Patty, have you done it?

- No. But, I'm not as pretty as you…

- Patty, stop saying nonsense. You're a pretty as anybody else…And shouldn't take sexual relations lightly. It's very intimate and very personal that should be reserved for the one you love…

Candy took Anthony's picture framed and put it on her night table.

- That's you boyfriend?

- Yes said Candy sadly

- He's handsome…

- Yes he was handsome…

- Was?… Oh Candy, I'm sorry

- Car accident… two months ago. Anthony, I missed him so much…

- Life goes on, don't worry, you'll get another one…

- You have a boyfriend?

- Not at the moment. I had one, we broke up…

- Oh… I'm sorry

- No, that's ok. It was mutual

- The trip here was full of surprise. My sit neighbour was also a young boy, he cheered me up, I couldn't stop crying. Well I think that I will never see him again… but I have his e-mail address…

- Good for you. Maybe he's your future boyfriend…

- Unless he's in this school by miracle, I don't think so…

- You never know. By the way, I write articles for the school paper. I'm the editor in chief…

- Wow! But I never thought about writing for the paper…

- Think about it, you never know. You may be a reporter in the making…

- We'll see, said Candy smiling

Patty helped her with the rest of her stuff in the bedroom, doing her bed and put the clothes in the closet. In the closet, there was the school uniform in a lot of it. There were grey skirts and pants, white blouses and navy blue

pullovers and blazers.

- Well you've got everything you need said Patty…there's even a box with everything you need for school….

- My Uncle William didn't want me to miss anything, literally!

- That's the least we could say… you even got a little fridge!

- And it's full said Candy opening it

- You'll need your schedule, I think there's someone in the office… but we can go tomorrow

- Why not now? It's New Year's day and we are in school

Candy and Patty got out of the room and went to the office. They found one of the nuns that gave them Candy's schedule and the number of her locker with a padlock and the combination.

- Your locker is next to mine said Patty

- Super! At least I wont feel to lost with you

They heard the voice of the "adorable" Eliza.

- Well look at what Patty dragged in, the stable girl

- Eliza said Candy, it's always a pleasure to see you. You're always so adorable… these are your friends? Hello, Candice White Andrew, I'm Eliza's cousin… you can call me Candy. See you around!

Before Eliza could say anything, Candy left with Patty. Eliza was fuming.

- That's your cousin? Asked Louise

- By adoption…

- She's your cousin, insisted Louie, she's part of the family and she's part of the heirs…

- Don't remind me! Said Eliza, Anthony died because of her. And for that, I will never forgive her… she's going to pay

- Calm down Eliza said Brittany another friend, we'll thinking about something

Candy and Patty arrived in the living room where there was the television or video cassettes. There was a vending machine for chips, candy and pop drink. Candy saw her cousins, Stear and Archie

- Candy said Archie

- Hi said Candy, Stear, Archie. This Patricia O'Brien, Patty , my new friend

- Hi said Stear with a smile

- Patty said Archie

- Hi. You're watching a movie? Asked Patty

- We haven't choose yet said Archie

- We were thinking about "Eraser" with Swarzenegger said Archie, but I wanted to see "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? With di Caprio

- I saw it on the plane said Candy

- I thought you had company said Archie

- We watched it together said Candy innocently without knowing that she was hurting Archie

- Oh… said Archie

- So. Let's find a movie that will please everybody said Patty… Why not "Waiting to exhale" or "Clueless"?

- Let's got for "Clueless" said Archie, we can laugh a little

The others in the room agreed. They looked at the movie and laughed alone in the beginning. They other student started to arrive in the room. Eliza's group arrived and started to talk very loud.

- Still here? She said to Candy

- I'm fine too Eliza, what about you?

- Anthony is dead because of you!

- It was an accident said Archie, enough with that, Eliza

- We all know that what's really bothering you it's the fact that he loved candy and not you! Said Stear, change your record!

Another group of snob girls were also in the room watching the movie.

- Can we watch the movie? Said their leader, your mumbling is of no interest to us! Hey Blondie, who killed your stupid boyfriend, we don't care! We want to watch the movie…

Candy was hurt to hear Anthony's death denigrate like that. And that, she couldn't take it! Archie knew she was mad.

- Candy calm down…

But she was not listening to him.

- What's your problem? Said Candy angry, who gives you the right to talk about him? You don't even know him! The subject doesn't concern you, plug your ears and shut your mouth. It's not polite to eavesdrop on other people's conversation and even worst to talk ill of the dead. Especially the one you don't know!

- How dare you talk to me like that? Do you know who I am?

- I don't give a damn, who you are! You have no right to talk about him! Other wise, the next time, I won't stop to words…

- But…

- Did I make myself clear?

The girl remained silent, too stunned by Candy's anger to answer, she couldn't place a word! Candy was so mad, that she left to go back to her room. She slammed the door behind her and burst into tears. Will she get over Anthony's death?

"I miss you so much she said looking at his picture. "

She cried for a while. She decided to check her e-mails. She opened the big computer and went in her mailbox to check her e-mail. The page opened on Terry's last message. She smiled. She had a lot of messages from her little friends of the Pony house. There was also one from Terry that said:

Hi Freckles,

I hope that you're ok. You thanked me for keeping you company. I have to thank you too for keeping me company. I know you saw the tears I was trying to hide. Your presence, your laugh cheered me up… we mutually helped each other. The universe knew what it was doing, by putting us together on the same plane… Thank you so much

I'm looking forward to hearing from you

Terry

Candy smiled and felt a lot better. Was it Terry's e-mail? Anyway, she was happy. She answered Terry like this:

Hi Romeo.

You nickname me "Freckles", I'm nicknaming you "Romeo", because I saw you reciting the role by heart while we were watching the movie. I'm happy too that the universe had put us together for this trip. There is a reason for everything they say. Maybe this time was so that we could cheer each other, but I don't think that the universe will be so brief. I'm sure it still has a lot surprises for us. I'm looking forward to discover what's waiting for us in the future.

'til next time

Candy