Christmas Angel

Chapter 8 : Five Golden Rings

Scene: Outside Club Elf

Phone is ringing five times.

Chris is on his cellphone trying to call Carol. He wasn't able to catch her when she ran away because Noelle grabbed his arm. She and her friends were standing in line outside the club waiting to get in.

Noelle: Chris! It is you! Wow, you look hot!

The bouncer comes over.

Bouncer: Boss, is everything okay?

Holly: Did he say Boss? You're the boss here?

Bouncer: Yeah, he's the owner of Club Elf.

Ivy: Really? Chris, can you let us in? We've been waiting out here for an hour!

Chris: (to the bouncer) Okay, let them in.

Girls: Yey! Thanks Chris.

Noelle: Chris, aren't you coming in with us?

Chris ignores them, and continues to walk quickly and call Carol on the phone but after five rings, it goes straight to voicemail.

Chris: (on the phone) Carol, let's talk about this. Please call me. I don't know where you live or I'd go to you right now.

***

Scene: Inside Club Elf.

Noelle: (she's giddy) Oh my gawd, you guys. Chris Pascual is totally my boyfriend. We've been totally hooking up for months now!

Joy: Wait... you told us, whoever goes out with him......

Noelle: Yeah, yeah, whatever! I say lots of things.. Did you all see how hot he looks? Yeah, I hit that. I totally did! Hi hi hi..

Noelle's friends do not look too happy.

***

Scene: Carol's apartment.

In the living room, Carol and Merry are having a serious conversation.

Carol: I just can't believe I let it get that far.

Merry: Stop beating yourself up over it. You were drunk.

Carol: That's another thing. Why did I let myself get that drunk.

Merry: You said you ordered orange juice and they were spiking your drink

Carol: Merry, it's been a while, but I know the difference between plain orange juice and orange juice and vodka. I believe that deep down I wanted to get drunk so I'll have an excuse to go out of control!

Merry: Stop psychoanalyzing yourself! You're driving yourself crazy.

Carol: Why? Why did I allow this to happen? I worked so hard to rein in my wild nature. I've been successful for so long. Maybe my stepmother was right after all. I'm a nothing but an out of control animal and nothing I do can ever change that.

Merry: Carol! Stop that! Look at what you've accomplished! I will not let you talk about yourself that way! Let's figure this out. If you were a client, what would your advice be?

Carol thought for a while.

Carol: I would say that it is better to face your problems head on but if you can't help yourself around a certain person or thing, then you have to remove that person or situation from your life. This means I need to stay away from Chris.

Merry: Really? Hmmm, you seem so alive when you are talking about him.

Carol: I'm telling you, that man just brings out the worst in me!