Chapter 37

Nikolas eyed them the moment he walked through the door. A table across the room, Lucky’s back to him, Nikolas’s heart quickened as a slow smile danced across his beauty’s face. Though far away he knew her eyes sparkled, golden flecks of light shining like the farthest stars that twinkled on the darkest night. As Lucky covered her hand with his own Nikolas had to quell his desire to run to him pulling his touch from her. And slowly as he leaned in, Lucky’s attempt to taste what surely had to be one of heaven’s greatest creations, his heart stopped momentarily fearing all that he thought his gone in that instant. Because tasting even a sample of Gia Nikolas knew Lucky would never want to let go. Yet in a mere glimpse from her, knowing emotions crossing her face, Nikolas knew that his she still remained. Slowly walking towards the table, a gentle smile on his face, the sound of her voice causing his heart to quicken once again.

Nikolas- Lucky…
Lucky- [quickly standing] Hey bro...
Nikolas- [looking intently at Gia] Ms. Campbell...
Gia- [softly] Just Gia...
Nikolas- [softly] Gia...
Gia- Nikolas... [softly smiling] if it’s ok for me to call you that…
Nikolas- [softly] Of course...
Lucky- Why don’t you sit down?
Nikolas- It is not my intent to interrupt whatever was going on here. I was under the impression we were to meet here…
Lucky- We were… [smiling as he quickly looked at her] Gia invited us…
Nikolas- [looking again at Gia] Did you?
Gia- Yeah…
Nikolas- Why?
Gia- [softly as she locked eyes with Nikolas] I wanted to see you again…
Nikolas- You wanted to see me?
Gia- [nodding] Yeah… the last time we saw each other… [shaking her head] I never gave you the chance… [sighing] I want to get to know you and…
Nikolas- [softly] Why?
Gia- You’re Lucky’s brother and…
Lucky- And? [smiling] What other reason would there be?
Gia- [smiling as she quickly looked at Lucky] Whatever… [returning her gaze back to Nikolas] will you stay?
Nikolas- [softly] Yes…
Lucky- Good… sit on down… order whatever you want on the menu because the big spender told me she was going to pay for everything…
Nikolas- [smiling] Big spender?
Gia- [smiling at Lucky] Keep it up and I will only pay for Nikolas and myself…
Lucky- You can’t renege now…
Gia- Why can’t I?
Lucky- I didn’t bring my wallet with me and…
Gia- And you’ll be washing dishes at the end of the night…
Lucky- [laughing] Very funny…
Gia- [laughing] You better order bread and water or you’re going to be hit up tonight…
Lucky- Gia…
Gia- [laughing] Lucky… Nikolas- [smiling] I’ll cover you Lucky if you come up a little short tonight…
Gia- Short? How much does bread and water cost in this joint?
Lucky- Thanks man…
Nikolas- [looking at Gia’s smiling face] No problem.

After the waitress came to take their drink and food orders the conversation fell into easy banter around the table. Nikolas had his eyes trained on Gia only looking away from her when absolutely necessary. And surprisingly on more than one occasion Gia held his gaze drawing him in to her. As the conversation continued in Nikolas’s as well as Gia’s mind Lucky slowly disappeared and it was as if it was only them at the table. And with each smile, and every chuckle Nikolas found himself falling deeper and deeper under her spell. Hearing the account of the their meeting and the friendship that followed Nikolas again momentarily felt a twinge of envy towards Lucky. To have known her for so long, to have been the one to stand beside her and made her smile when all else seemed to despair, Nikolas would have given all he had for those moments. As their dinner continued the atmosphere of the Outback slowly changed as they welcomed the party/club scene in.

Nikolas- What’s going on here?
Lucky- At night this goes from being a simple restaurant to being one of the hottest clubs in Port Charles.
Nikolas- I thought Luke’s was that…
Lucky- [smiling] It’s one of them… this is another.
Nikolas- What kind of club is this?
Gia- They play all the latest hits…
Nikolas- Hits?
Gia- They play the hottest songs on the radio whereas Luke’s tends to stick to more bluesy-mellow music.
Nikolas- Ok…
Gia- [smiling] You didn’t get what I just said did you?
Nikolas- [smiling] Not really… but I’ll figure it out…
Gia- Ok… let me put it like this… The Outback plays more songs you can dance to…
Nikolas- And Luke’s?
Gia- If your not crying after the songs you might be able to hear a song or two you can dance to…
Lucky- [laughing] Don’t let me dad hear you say that…
Gia- [smiling] You know it’s true…
Lucky- Yeah… but he’s trying to get better… you see he followed your suggestion…
Gia- You mean threat…
Lucky- [smiling] Ok he followed your threat and started playing Maxwell…
Gia- Only when I come into the club…
Lucky- [laughing] Well yeah… but it’s a start…
Gia- If you say so…
Nikolas- Well his musical choices did not keep you from dancing the night we were there.
Gia- Well he was playing Maxwell… [slowly smiling] then again I had a little inspiration…
Nikolas- [looking intently at Gia] Inspiration?
Gia- [softly] Yeah inspiration…
Lucky- Ok did I miss a part of the conversation? Because all I remember from that night is you dancing and then throwing a drink in his face.
Gia- [smiling] Oh damn I almost forgot about that…
Lucky- I didn’t… then again hearing Elizabeth and Emily whine…
Gia- Elizabeth and Emily whining? [smiling] Is that possible?
Lucky- [trying to hold his laughter] Having them discuss it for the next couple of days pretty much burned it in my head.
Nikolas- [his voice flattening out] Where is Elizabeth and Emily?
Gia- [smiling] They weren’t invited to this party…
Nikolas- Why not?
Gia- [her smile slowly turning devilish] Did you really want to see Frick and Frack tonight?
Nikolas- [smiling] Frick and Frack?
Gia- [laughing] My bad… Elizabeth and Emily…
Lucky- [laughing] Gia… that’s not nice…
Gia- I never said it was… [locking eyes again with Nikolas] well did you?
Nikolas- [softly] Did I what?
Gia- Did you really want to see them tonight?
Nikolas- [softly] No…
Gia- [softly] Well you got your wish…
Nikolas- Not yet… [slowly smiling] but I will…
Lucky- [quickly grabbing Gia’s hand] Come on Gia let’s dance… it is like one of my favorite songs.

Pulling her to the floor Lucky and Gia danced as 112’s “Peaches and Cream” thumped in the background. Like last time Gia quickly turned to Nikolas locking eyes with him as she danced. Every movement, every sway meant for him Gia smiled reading the thoughts that slowly crossed his face. As the music changed, and the sound of Bilal’s “Soul Sista” now flowing through the speakers Nikolas quickly rose making his way towards Gia and Lucky. As Lucky slowly wrapped his arms around Gia Nikolas came to stand behind Lucky whispering softly to him.

Nikolas- [softly] Do you mind if I cut in?
Lucky- [softly] I guess… I guess not…
Nikolas- [softly as he took Gia’s hand] Thank you…

Without another glance towards Lucky Nikolas slowly wrapped Gia in his arms drowning in the feel of her once again in his arms. Walking back to the table Lucky looked over at Nikolas and Gia frowning as jealously suddenly washed over him. There was no reason to be jealous of Nikolas but the sight of Gia in his arms and the look of content on his face that was surely what he felt.

Nikolas- [whispering softly beside Gia’s ear] I’ve thought about you…
Gia- [softly] I thought about you too…
Nikolas- I wasn’t sure when I would see you again…
Gia- Well I made sure you didn’t have to wait too long…
Nikolas- Were you serious?
Gia- Serious about what?
Nikolas- You wanting to know me?
Gia- [softly] Yeah…
Nikolas- [smiling as he tightened his hold of her] Good…

As they continued to dance to the music and after seeing the look on Nikolas’s face Lucky found his irritation and jealousy rising. Not sure why these feelings suddenly came to him Lucky silently prayed for the song to end and for Nikolas and Gia to return to the table. Also watching silently from the bar Taggert watched his sister confused by the look that graced her face.

Chapter 38

Elizabeth angrily slammed the dirty dishes into the sink still pissed off after her call to Lucky. After everything she’s done for him how could he all of a sudden turn his back on her? The fact that she even remained with him all of this time he should be grateful yet he still was not. It would serve him right to be left alone… no one wanting him and no one to love him. Maybe if she left him and went with Jason Lucky would finally see all that he had in her. With Jason she could have all she wanted… money… the power to make people do what she wanted… and the respect of everyone around him. But no… staying by Lucky’s side and being loyal to him she found herself in Kelly’s with a sink full of dirty dishes.

Liz- [yelling as she slammed another dish into the sink] Damn it!
Emily- [slowly walking towards the counter] Ok… what has you so pissed off?
Liz- [sighing] Life…
Emily- I hear you…
Liz- Do you ever wish you could go back in time and change some of the things you did?
Emily- Yeah constantly…
Liz- What would be the first thing you’d change?
Emily- Sleeping with that guy from last night…
Liz- What was wrong with him?
Emily- A total waste of my and his time…
Liz- What do you mean?
Emily- Let’s just say he didn’t satisfy me and I certainly didn’t satisfy him.
Liz- Are you serious?
Emily- Yeah… I guess there’s a first time for everything.
Liz- I guess…
Emily- What would you change?
Liz- Lucky…
Emily- Are you and Lucky having problems?
Liz- I don’t know…
Emily- What does that mean?
Liz- That means seeing that I haven’t spent more than five minutes with him in the past two weeks I wouldn’t know if we were having problems or not.
Emily- [softly] Oh…
Liz- I don’t know what his problem is but I tired of it.
Emily- Do you think he’s seeing someone else?
Liz- [smirking] Please… Lucky’s not going anywhere…
Emily- You can’t be too sure…
Liz- Believe me… I’m the only person Lucky is interested in… even if I wish that wasn’t the case.
Emily- What does that mean?
Liz- Nothing… let’s talk about you instead… Who was the guy from last night and how long have you known him?
Emily- I think his name was Eric and I met him that night…
Liz- [smiling] And you slept with him already?
Emily- We both wanted it so we did it…
Liz- What happened to Nikolas?
Emily- What about him?
Liz- Don’t tell me you’re giving up on Nikolas already…
Emily- I’m not giving up a thing… I just need to find a way to make him realize who he should be focusing his attention on.
Liz- He’s not looking at someone else is he?
Emily- For now…
Liz- Who?
Emily- [frowning] Guess…
Liz- [frowning] Don’t tell me…
Emily- Yes…
Liz- How in the hell did Gia get Nikolas to even look at her?
Emily- Who knows…
Liz- [smirking] Knowing the slut she probably slept with him the first chance she got.
Emily- [laughing] Probably…
Liz- So she pretty much threw herself at Nikolas and like most of the guys around here he fell for her games.
Emily- I don’t doubt it… but that’s fine because by the time I’m finished with Gia Nikolas won’t even want to look her way.
Liz- [smiling] What are you going to do?
Emily- I’m not sure yet but when I figure it out…
Liz- [laughing] I want in…
Emily- Cool… when we’re done with Gia…
Liz- She’ll finally be put in her place.
Emily- Exactly…
Liz- If it weren’t for Sonny no one would even care who she was.
Emily- Yeah…
Liz- Just because she got lucky and ended up being Sonny’s sister she thinks everyone is supposed to respect her.
Emily- Well I don’t…
Liz- Neither do I…
Emily- I hate that bitch and if it’s the last thing I do I’m going to knock her off her pedestal.
Liz- [laughing] And I’ll help you.
Emily- [smiling] Good…
Liz- Damn I wish I knew where she was right now…
Emily- Why?
Liz- So we could go there and upstage her…
Emily- How?
Liz- Put on our sexiest clothes… do our hair up… and after everyone sees us they wouldn’t look at her twice.
Emily- [smirking] I like how you are thinking…
Liz- [smiling] I thought you would… too bad we don’t know…
Emily- [slowly smiling] Give me a second…

Quickly pulling out her cell phone Emily called him knowing he would know where she was. Walking away from the counter as Elizabeth helped another customer Emily silently hoped he would tell her what she wanted to hear.

Jake- Yeah…
Emily- [softly] Hey baby…
Jake- Who is this?
Emily- It’s Emily…
Jake- Oh… what do you want?
Emily- I wanted to talk to you…
Jake- Why?
Emily- I’ve been thinking about you…
Jake- Have you?
Emily- Yes…
Jake- What were you thinking about?
Emily- The time we used the limo when Sonny wasn’t looking…
Jake- Yeah… that was fun…
Emily- Yeah it was… and I was wondering… well… if you wanted to do it again?
Jake- Whenever you’re ready…
Emily- Really?
Jake- Yeah… have you thought about the other thing I asked you to do?
Emily- You asked me to do a lot of things…
Jake- [softly] You and me while another friend watched…
Emily- [smiling] Yeah I thought about it…
Jake- And?
Emily- I guess you’ll get your answer when I see you…
Jake- [laughing] Ok…
Emily- How about me coming over there now and giving it to you…
Jake- You can’t…
Emily- Why?
Jake- I’m on duty and…
Emily- So…
Jake- Emily…
Emily- I won’t be the first time we did it while you were on duty…
Jake- I know…
Emily- So… can I come over?
Jake- We’re not at the cottage…
Emily- Then where are you?
Jake- At the Outback…
Emily- What are you doing there?
Jake- This is where she wanted to come…
Emily- You’re not two-timing me with her are you?
Jake- Emily please… it’s my job to watch Gia not sleep with her.
Emily- Can never be too sure…
Jake- This time you can…
Emily- How much longer will you be there?
Jake- I don’t know… she’s not here by herself so I guess when her friends are ready to leave…
Emily- [smirking] Gia Campbell with friends… this I have got to see…
Jake- [quickly looking over at Gia] I think you already know them…
Emily- Really... Who is she with?
Jake- She met Lucky here first and his brother arrived a little bit later…
Emily- Are you sure?
Jake- Yeah… I’m looking at them right now…
Emily- I’m coming over there…
Jake- Emily I told you…
Emily- I want to see you ok…
Jake- Sonny can’t know I took my eyes off of her…
Emily- He won’t…
Jake- He might be coming here later and if I’m not on my post…
Emily- Let me worry about that…
Jake- [softly] Emily…
Emily- [smiling as she hung up] I’ll see you in a few minutes…

Quickly walking back to the counter Emily did all she could to keep from screaming.

Liz- Well did you fin… [seeing the expression on her face] what is it?
Emily- [slamming her phone down] That bitch!
Liz- Emily… what…
Emily- She’s at the Outback right now with Nikolas and Lucky…
Liz- [shaking her head] No…
Emily- Yes…
Liz- How can you be so sure? A few minutes ago you had no idea…
Emily- I called a friend and they told me…
Liz- Your friend could be wrong. Lucky wouldn’t blow me off to spend time with her…
Emily- [angrily] I talked to her bodyguard… I think he knows what he’s talking about.
Liz- But why would Lucky tell me I couldn’t come with him and his brother but it’s ok for her to be there?
Emily- Let’s go ask him…
Liz- [untying her apron] Yeah let’s… [turning to Penny as she prepared to leave] Penny I’m gone…
Penny- But it’s your turn to close up…
Liz- I can’t… something really important just came up and…
Penny- Elizabeth I had plans and besides my shift just ended…
Liz- [shaking her head] Sorry… there’s nothing I can do… I have to leave and…
Penny- [softly] You do this every time…
Emily- [impatiently] Are you ready to go or what?
Liz- [shrugging as she looked at an upset Penny] Yeah…
Penny- Elizabeth… [as she left without an explanation] damn!

Rushing to the mansion Emily and Elizabeth quickly changed before heading to the Outback to set Gia straight about some things.