Chapter 23
The Docks

Liz ran towards the docks hurt and dazed over her friends’ betrayal. Jason would never do anything that would jeopardize her. and how could Emily agree with what they were saying about Jason. Lucky nor Nikolas knew how much Jason meant to her and for them to dismiss their friendship as naiveté on her part hurt. When she finally reached the docks she wanted to keep running but she sat on the bench Jason told her goodbye long ago. She covered her face with her hands and finally allowed the tears she had been fighting to fall. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder as a tender voice spoke to her.

Gia- Are you ok?
Liz- [slowly shaking her head] No…
Gia- Would you like some company?
Liz- [still covering her face she spoke softly] Yes…

They sat in silence until Liz tears subsided. Gia slowly reached out and gently placed her hand upon Liz’s. They spoke softly…

Gia- Liz, do you want to talk about it?
Liz- I can’t believe they don’t know me well enough to know…
Gia- They were wrong…
Liz- Jason would never do anything to hurt me.
Gia- He’s a good guy huh?
Liz- On of the best…
Gia- Then be happy he’s part of your life.
Liz- I am…I cant’ turn my back on him no matter who wants me to. He means too much to me…especially now…
Gia- What do you mean? I mean you two aren’t…
Liz- [softly shaking her head] No, but when I needed somebody who wouldn’t judge me and was there just because I needed him to be…Jason was that person.
Gia- Wow…
Liz- [taking a deep breath] There was a time when we all thought Lucky was gone from us…
Gia- Nikolas told me…
Liz- I felt so alone but I couldn’t show it. I was too busy making sure everyone else was happy. And when I finally broke down Jason was the one who helped put me back together.
Gia- Aww Liz…
Liz- Not Emily or Juan, not even Nikolas. They were too busy with their own lives to notice, and I don’t blame them for that, but I had no one else I could turn to except Jason. So no matter who wants me to, or what they say, I won’t let go of my friendship with Jason.
Gia- You shouldn’t have to…
Liz- And I won’t…[She paused as she looked out across the water. She slowly turned and looked at Gia and could not keep from smiling] Why are you being so nice to me?
Gia- Momentary weakness…[they laugh] seriously I think they were wrong and I thought you might need a friendly face, even if it was mine, so I came after you.
Liz- [softly] I appreciate it. I…I don’t know if I can thank you enough…
Gia- [smiling] Just go back to hating me like you used to and we’ll call it even. [they laugh again]
Liz- [smiling] For some reason I don’t think that’s possible anymore.
Gia- [smiling] I know…but that’ll be our little secret. [They smile at each other and quickly embrace] You be well Liz, don’t let anything they said get to you. If Jason being your friend makes you happy then continue to be his friend.
[Liz nods trying to keep from crying again] Liz- Ok…now we have another secret…
Gia- What?
Liz- Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I think you are good for Nikolas.
Gia- Ok now you are just trying to make me cry. [they laugh]
Liz- Thank you.
Gia- No thank you, I think that’s the nicest thing someone other than Nikolas has said to me.

She squeezes Liz’s hand once more and leaves. Upset with Nikolas she goes home ready to tell him how she being put in the middle of whatever he had against Jason and Liz’s friendship. But as she expected he did not quickly return home, he was avoiding her knowing she would yell at him. After a couple of hours the phone finally rings.

Gia- Hello…
Nikolas- Hey Gia…this is Nik…
Gia- I know who this is…what do you want?
Nikolas- Don’t tell me your still angry…
Gia- Shouldn’t I be…
Nikolas- We were only looking out for her best interest.
Gia- What you and Lucky did to Elizabeth and Emily was wrong.
Nikolas- Emily?
Gia- You set them both up and in the end compromised your relationship with both of them for what? To get your point across?
Nikolas- Gia you don’t understand…
Gia- And I don’t want to…
Nikolas- Why are you acting this way? You and Elizabeth aren’t even friends.
Gia- If you have to ask Nikolas it doesn’t even make sense to finish this conversation.
Nikolas- Come on Gia…
Gia- As a matter of fact it might be a good idea if you don’t come home…
Nikolas- Wait a minute…I’m not going to be driven out my own house.
Gia- Fine then when you get home I won’t be here.
Nikolas- Gia…
Gia- Goodbye Nikolas.
Nikolas- [pleading as she hung up the phone] Gia…Gia come on…[the phone goes dead] What now?

Chapter 24
Liz’s studio

~~ After the confrontation in park with Nikolas and Lucky Liz had not seen much of Jason. Realizing Emily must have told him about it; she knew he was keeping his distance again to save her from any pain his being around would cause her. Lucky and Liz’s relationship had gotten no better but her not seeing Jason seemed to help a little. He still could not understand that she and Jason were only friends so she lived for the brief moments she would see of Jason, a quick hello and goodbye at Kelly’s. One of those moments Lucky spied and he read more into Jason’s hand on Liz’s arm. Unbeknownst to Liz Lucky is angered by the innocent moment and goes to her studio waiting for her return. ~~

Liz slowly opened her door to find Lucky sitting on the couch in the dark

Liz- Oh my goodness you scared me…what are you doing here?
Lucky- Waiting for you…
Liz- [smiling] Well I’m glad to see you.
Lucky- I bet…
Liz- What does that mean?
Lucky- [angrily] You tell me…
Liz- Lucky what’s wrong with you? When I talked to you this morning you were fine now all of a sudden your attitude changed. Did I do something?
Lucky- You tell me…
Liz- I don’t know where this is coming from but…
Lucky- Don’t act like you don’t know.
Liz- Lucky…
Lucky- [shouting] Damn it…I saw you Liz…I saw you…
Liz- Saw me what?
Lucky- So you’re gonna stand there and play dumb huh?
Liz- [shocked by his words] Lucky…
Lucky- I am so sick of running into you and Jason…
Liz- Jason…all of this is about Jason? I haven’t seen or talked to him since you and Nikolas went overboard in the park.
Lucky- I saw you Liz…
Liz- You saw what? After you and Nikolas and the whole park fiasco I’ve…rather Jason has stayed away from me.
Lucky- So you are just gonna stand there and lie?
Liz- I don’t know what you are talking about.
Lucky- Kelly’s…a little while ago… you two were all cozy.
Liz- Kelly’s? [she paused to think]
Lucky- [clearly upset] His hand on your arms…you were all smiled up at him…
Liz- He asked me how I was doing…I smiled…so what.
Lucky- Are you sleeping with him?
Liz- [shocked] Lucky! Where is this coming from?
Lucky- [yelling] Answer the question.
Liz- No Lucky. I did not sleep with Jason, nor have I ever slept with him.
Lucky- Why don’t I believe you? It’s obvious that’s all he wants from you.
Liz- [angered] And you think so little of me that you would actually think that the only reason he spends any time with me is because he wants to sleep with me. So is that what you think…that I’m worth nothing more than his next sexual partner?
Lucky- No…but…
Liz- But what? I am so tired of defending my relationship with Jason to you. Never once do I question what’s going on with you and Deanna. I see how you look at her and she looks at you. But have I once came to you asking you if you’ve slept with her. I have I ever accused you of anything?
Lucky- No…but…
Liz- But nothing…if I tell you something why don’t you believe me?
Lucky- Because the second after you tell me anything you turn around and run right back to Jason.
Liz- So what…that does not mean anything. And I don’t run back to Jason…if I see him I’m gonna talk to him.
Lucky- I don’t trust him
Liz- Do you trust me?
Lucky- Liz…
Liz- Look Lucky I don’t know what you want to hear from me but I’m tired of constantly having to defend my actions to you.
Lucky- I want to hear that you are not sleeping with him…
Liz- I am nor sleeping with him. How many more times and how many more ways do I have to say it? Why won’t you believe me?
Lucky- Because… Ok maybe you have not slept with him but you are doing something with him…
Liz- Lucky I have loved you with all of my heart and we still have not slept together. Why do you think so little of me that you would assume that because I spend time with Jason that automatically means I’m sleeping with him?
Lucky- Because…
Liz- Because why?
Lucky- Because ever since you came back from "Cupid’s End"…
Liz- "Cupid’s End"…do you how long ago that was?
Lucky- Ever since you’ve been back you get this look when I go to kiss you.
Liz- I what?
Lucky- You pull back when I try to hug you…
Liz- That does not mean anything…
Lucky- It means something to me.
Liz- Lucky I can not believe you are getting upset over a few kisses or a hug or two I did not return.
Lucky- [shouting] And I can’t believe you are being so naïve about this situation.
Liz- [mumbling] I can’t believe this…
Lucky- You need to take a look at everything and decide where this relationship with Jason fits in.
Liz- [shouting] I told you we are just friends.
Lucky- Friends huh? That’s not how I see it.
Liz- Then there’s something wrong with you.
Lucky- No there is nothing wrong with me. You need to decide if beings "friends" with Jason is worth losing me…worth losing us.
Liz- Are you telling me that if I stay friend with Jason you’re leaving me?
Lucky- I’m not telling you anything. The only thing I am saying is if you continue this "friendship" with Jason it will make me rethink about what we have…
Liz- Lucky do you even love me?
Lucky- What has that got to do with anything?
Liz- [repeating Lucky] "What has that got to do with anything…" Do you hear yourself? I love you, I have told you over and over that I love you…even when you could not remember loving me, but still I stayed by your side and told you that I loved you…
Lucky- And…
Liz- And this one time when I asked you did you love me the only thing you can say is what has that got to do with anything….how could you?
Lucky- Whether I love you or not should not be the deciding factor…it should not be the reason you either keep seeing or stop seeing Jason.
Liz- [shouting] Lucky listen to yourself. I just told you that I love you and you didn’t even respond. It’s like you don’t even care…
Lucky- Liz anyone can say the words…it’s all about the actions. And your actions are telling me that your feelings have changed.
Liz- "My" feelings have changed…. Lucky I keep telling you that I love you and you keep throwing it back in my face like you don’t care.
Lucky- Don’t you think it’s deserved?
Liz- [yelling] I deserve this? I asked you if you loved me and you give me everything but an answer. I guess the better question should have been do you hate me?
Lucky- If you are asking me that I can see that this was a wasted conversation. [He stood to leave] Decide what you want Elizabeth because I won’t be played the fool much longer.
Liz- What?
Lucky- That means I will have to make the decision and I’m pretty sure you won’t like my choice. [He walked out on her again without a backward glance]
Liz- [calling after him]Lucky….Lucky [he voice trails off] why are you doing this to me?

She buried her face in her hands trying her best to keep from crying. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. She should have told him then that she her feelings were changing but when she asked did he love her and gave her no answer it hurt her more than she could say. She slowly moved to the window to think about the things Lucky said to her. How did things get to this point? Was she really spending so much time with Jason that it was effecting what relationship with Lucky? Why couldn’t he understand that lately Jason has been her only friend, the only support she had. She couldn’t imagine her life without him, but maybe Lucky was right. Maybe she was slowly choosing Jason over him. Since they, her and Lucky, became a couple again their time together meant so much to her. Even in the midst of all his accusations and interfering she still loved him. How could he even think that she would put something or someone ahead of them? How could he think so little of her?

You are beautiful inside and out…you deserve all the love someone will give you…

Why couldn’t Lucky see things this way? Was this how their love would be? Didn’t he love her enough to believe the things she told him…didn’t she mean that much to him? She sadly wiped at her tears as they continued to fall, which only depressed her more. Being in love was not supposed to hurt like this. Being in love should was not supposed to bring her endless tears. She wanted to be happy and she wanted to feel the same love she gave someone else. Her and Lucky’s relationship seemed to like her tears lately…determined to fall what she did to stop them. She slowly walked back to the couch where she finally allowed her sorrows to envelop her without resistance. Maybe Jason was wrong this time…maybe she didn’t deserve love after all.