END AUTHOR'S NOTES. ON TO THE STORY (please note that sentences {or fragments} enclosed in these: < > represent thoughts):

The night air whistled in my ears as I ran through the streets of Port Charles. My lungs burned and my legs felt like jelly. Millions of stars twinkled brightly above, but I didn't have time to stop and look up at them. My mind whirled in circles, yet it kept repeating the same thing over and over.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

Houses were passed by. Their lights shone out into the darkness, falling in patches and shapes.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

Storefronts yawned in the shadows, security lights glowing from the recesses inside.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

My feet slapped against the pavement of the sidewalk in a haunting rhythm. My brain began to shut down from oxygen deprivation.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

When I finally stopped running, I found myself standing in front of a hardware store. I propped my back up against one of the windows. My breath came in gasps; I was panting heavily. I pressed my shaking hands against my eyes and forced myself to get my balance in this spinning world.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

I fought for consciousness as blackness beckoned me from the edges of my mind.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

My heart rate slowed a bit.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

I could once again feel the ground beneath my feet.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

The darkness retreated from my brain.

< Should've kept my mouth shut. >

"No!" I surprised myself by saying aloud. My voice quivered slightly, but I injected as much force into that one word as I could.

If Lucky couldn't live with the fact that I had found comfort in his mother, then it was no loss of mine.

< Liar. >

I wanted to be totally honest with him. If he couldn't handle my honesty, well, it was no skin off of my teeth.

< Yeah, right. You want Lucky to like you. >

But if he couldn't face who I was everyday, twenty-four seven, then he didn't deserve me.

< Maybe in another dimension. Here, he's all you've got. And you just ran away from him. >

He wouldn't listen to me! He just flat-out refused to listen to my side of the story!

< So. You still should've kept your mouth shut. >

I straightened my shoulders and prepared to face the world again. Although, my hands still covered my eyes.

"You really shouldn't be out alone at night. Something could happen."

The familiar voice made me jump. My insides turned to mush. I slowly removed my hands, crossing my arms defensively across my chest.

"Hey," Lucky greeted me, no trace of a smile on his face. He slouched casually against a streetlight. Shadows hid his body from my sight, but his face was lit by the light. His hair was mussed, and he too seemed to be gasping for air.

< Has he been running? >

"Hey," I returned softly.

< Umm...what do I do? What do I do?! >

I lowered my eyes, but my conscience swiftly kicked in and I raised my head and boldly met Lucky's stare head on. His blue eyes bored into mine.

< Is he still mad? >

Lucky's stance indicated irritation, if not full-fledged anger. This was almost the same way he looked when Nikolas got anywhere near. I felt my heart sink into my stomach.

< Why won't he say anything? >

Lucky's face had kept it's carefully blank look until now. Now it softened slightly. His eyes lightened and he stepped nearer. The light shone on his hair now, and I couldn't see the expression of his face.

"You shouldn't be out here by yourself."

I struggled for something to say in reply. Nothing came to me. "I-"

< Don't apologize. >

I sucked in a deep breath. The cool air soothed my still laboring lungs. I watched Lucky's body language as he drew nearer.

"I'll walk you home."

< Is it enough? >

I gently clasped Lucky's outstretched hand.

"Thanks."