Chapter 43
~ Luke’s ~
Brittany couldn’t keep her hands off of Jason as she continued to “remind” him of their time together. All the while Jason’s eyes remained locked on Elizabeth and hers on him. Lucky continued to kiss and caress Elizabeth to still no effect as her attention never wavered from Jason.
[Tired of his constant attempts Elizabeth pulled away from Lucky] Liz- I’m…I’m gonna go say…I gotta go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.
Emily- I’ll go with you…besides I want to know who this girl with Jason is.
Juan- Em…maybe that’s not your business…
Emily- [fanning her hand at Juan] Yes it is, he’s my brother. I need to know who he’s spending his time with. Come on Liz…
[They quickly made their way to the bar]
Emily- Hey Jason…
[Pulling away from Brittany to hug Emily] Jason- [sighing] Emily… [as he reached to hug Elizabeth he spoke softly ready to explain the situation]Elizabeth…
[Before Jason could hug her Brittany quickly attached herself back to Jason] Liz- [speaking softly] Jason…what…
Brittany- Who are these two baby?
Emily- Baby? Jason are you holding out on us?
Jason- No…I can explain…
Brittany- [angrily] Who are you to be asking?
Emily- I’m his sister.
Brittany- [smiling as she softly touched Jason’s face] Aww sweetie I finally get to meet your sister…
Liz- [looking away] I…I gotta go. I’m gonna head to the restroom Em… [Elizabeth quickly walked away before anyone could see how effected she was by Jason’s and Brittany’s display.]
Jason- [calling after her] Liz…Liz
Brittany- Who is she…some type of jealous lover?
[grabbing her by the airs and holding her away from him] Jason- Look I don’t know who you are, and right about now I really don’t care. But could you please stop.
Brittany- I’m only trying…
Jason- Just stop…
Jason left to find Elizabeth ready to explain exactly what was and wasn’t going on. Elizabeth stood by the bathroom wiping away tears she was ashamed to have. She would figure everything out soon so there was no need for her tears now. As she steadied herself to go back out and join the rest at the table she came face to face with Jason.
Jason- Liz…
Liz- It’s ok Jason…we can talk later. [She slowly walked around him to go back to the table]
[Gently touching her arm he stopped her as he spoke softly] Jason- Liz…please…
[Slowly looking at him careful to hide the hurt in her eyes] Liz- Jason if…if you have someone else I understand. But…
Jason- [slowly shaking his head he spoke softly] Liz…all I have is you.
Liz- [whispering] But…
Jason- No buts…
Brittany- Jason…baby you left me out there all alone… [coming to stand close to Jason Brittany turned and looked at Elizabeth as if Elizabeth was interrupting something important between her and Jason. Intertwining her finger with his she sweetly cooed] How much longer do you think you’ll be baby?
Liz- [looking from Jason to Brittany to their interlocked hands] I…I gotta go back to the table…my…my friends are out there.
Brittany- Then don’t let us keep you…
Jason- [angrily] Brittany…
Brittany- Hey I want to spend as much time with you as possible before…
Jason- Before what?
[Looking at Elizabeth again]Brittany- I have to go back to my boyfriend.
Liz- You have a boyfriend?
Brittany- Not that it’s really any of your business but yeah I have a boyfriend.
Liz- Then why are you…
Brittany- Because that’s how Jason and I like it. He gives me what my boyfriend doesn’t and I give him what his so-called girlfriend doesn’t.
Jason- She’s lying…I don’t even know…
Liz- I…I’m…I gotta go…
Jason- [calling after her again] Liz…Liz… [unable to stop her from leaving he turns angrily toward Brittany] Why are you doing this? Why did you just lie to her?
Brittany- [smiling] Come on Jason…don’t tell me you really want to be with her.
Jason- Stay away from her…do you hear me? Stay away from her and me.
Brittany- You don’t really mean that…you know you don’t…
Jason- I mean it… [Turning away he goes after Liz to explain everything regardless to who’s around]
Almost running to the table Liz is determined to get out of Luke’s as quickly as possible.
Liz- Do you…do you think we can leave? I’m not feeling too hot all of a sudden.
Lucky- You sure? I mean just a few seconds ago…
Liz- Yeah…but if you don’t want to leave…
Lucky- Not really but…
Gia- You can stay…I’ll take Elizabeth home.
Lucky- That’s ok…
Gia- No I need to talk to her anyway.
Nikolas- Gia…
Liz- It’s ok…I can catch a cab home.
[slowly looking over at Jason and Brittany] Emily- I can’t believe what’s going on here. I mean who is she to Jason? [Elizabeth slowly turned to look back at Jason and Brittany. As she turned Brittany smiled wickedly and grabbed Jason for a long passionate kiss]
Lucky- [smirking] Looks like somebody’s getting some action tonight.
Liz- [hurriedly] I gotta go.
Liz quickly ran to the door unable to take Jason and someone else together. When she reached outside she took a long deep for once breathing in the last minute. Was what she and Jason had over before it really even started? She had to get away somewhere and think. She had to get a hold of her thoughts and emotions before she could make some decisions as do what was right for her. She wrapped her arms around herself tightly trying to figure out where she should go to think. Taking a deep breath she headed to the only place that kept coming to mind.
Chapter 44
~ Luke’s ~
Quickly returning to the table after they saw Liz take off in a rush. Standing Gia looks at the table’s occupants as they sit and do nothing to go after or bring Elizabeth back.
Gia- [looking at Lucky] Aren’t you gonna go after her?
Lucky- No…maybe it’s best that she’s alone. It’ll give her some time to think.
Gia- [turning to look back at Nikolas] Nikolas…
Nikolas- There’s nothing I can do…
Gia- Unbelievable…aren’t you even concerned?
Lucky- It’s for her own good. She finally saw what Jason was about.
Gia- Who are you to talk?
Lucky- Excuse me?
Gia- You aren’t exactly showing everything you are about are you?
Lucky- [angrily] What is that supposed to mean?
Gia- [folding her arms in front of her] Do you really want me to say? Because if you were to hear half the things I want to say you wouldn’t like it one bit.
Lucky- Whatever…
Emily- Why are getting so upset Gia…I mean Liz…
Gia- She’s your best friend…you should be a little bit more concerned. I mean the girl’s heart has just been broken…
Emily- [shaking her head] You don’t know what you are talking about. How could her heart have been broken tonight. I mean Lucky has been sitting right here the whole time.
Gia- Don’t you know anything? Open your eyes Emily…
Emily- [becoming angry] They are open…you should know what you are talking about before you start running off at the mouth.
Gia- [whispering] She’s an idiot…
Emily- What did you say?
Gia- I said…
Nikolas- Ok come guys….now is not the time. Lucky maybe Gia is right…
Gia- Maybe?
Nikolas- Someone should go and check on Elizabeth. She was pretty upset when she left.
Emily- [mumbling to Juan as they got up] I hate her sometimes…we…we’re leaving.
Gia- Are you going to check on Elizabeth?
Emily- [looking daggers in Gia’s direction] No…I’m going home. I have gotten a headache from the company.
Juan- Sorry
Emily- Come on Juan!
Gia- [shaking her head] Some friend… Lucky…
Jason- I’m not going…[smirking] I’m too busy enjoying the show.
Jason still trying to untangle himself from Brittany angrily pushed Brittany away from him.
Jason- [trying best to wipe the remainder of her kisses from his mouth] I told you…I don’t know who you are and considering your actions tonight I wouldn’t want to know you.
Brittany- [cooing] Jason…
Jason- [angrily] Don’t…
Girl- [pausing as her smile faded] Seeing your attitude maybe I was wrong about you after all. Maybe I don’t know you. [Jason stared blankly at her] Seems like I’ve been flirting with the wrong guy all night after all. Sorry…
Smiling she softly touched his face as turned and sashayed away. Jason stood with his hands on his hips trying to figure out exactly what took place tonight. Obviously someone had planned an elaborate hoax for he and Elizabeth benefit but who? He had to find Liz and explain what he himself did not fully understand. He quickly left Luke’s in search of Elizabeth forgetting the reason Luke had called him there in the first place. Searching the obvious places she was nowhere to be found. Jason stopped to think of someplace that only they would know about. Quickly going to the bridge only to find that she was not there either. Having checked both the boxcar and the bridge he was nearly out of possible locations until he remembered where Liz told him she would go when all else failed and her despair was at it’s lowest and he prayed that she would be there.
Back at Luke’s the atmosphere around the table was somber at best. No one is saying anything to the other. Unable to stand the silence any longer Lucky was the first to speak up.
Lucky- Why are you so concerned about what happens to Elizabeth?
Gia- Someone should be…
Lucky- And you don’t think I am?
Gia- Not the way you’ve been acting?
Lucky- And how Gia have I been acting?
Gia- [slowly shaking her head as Deanna entered Luke’s] It doesn’t matter what I think…you obviously think what you are doing is ok. But what is Liz supposedly doing that you aren’t already doing yourself?
Lucky- You don’t know what you are you talking about.
Deanna- [softly speaking] Lucky…you said to come at about this time. Is everything cool? I mean…
Gia- I don’t…
Lucky- Whatever…
Nikolas- [standing to leave] Not cool man…not cool at all.
Lucky- Nikolas…
Nikolas- No…up until now I was willing to defend you and try and see things from your point of view. But this… [looking from Deanna to Lucky] this is not cool. [taking Gia by the hand]
Gia let’s go.
Lucky- Come on Nikolas…
Nikolas- No…she’s still my friend and I won’t be part of this...
Lucky- This?
Nikolas- You know what I’m talking about even if you don’t want to admit it.
Lucky- But Jason…
Nikolas- This has nothing to do with Jason. This situation is of your own doing and I won’t take part in this. I’m sorry…
Lucky- You’re my brother…how can you take her side?
Nikolas- That’s just it…I am your brother but I’m also her friend.
Deanna- Maybe…maybe I should go.
Lucky- No… Nikolas…
Nikolas- Lucky I can’t… [tightening his hold on Gia’s hand] I just can’t.
Gia- [hearing the pain in Nikolas’s voice] Come on Nikolas…
Nikolas- [looking at Deanna] I’m sorry…it’s nothing against you but…
Deanna- I know…
Nikolas- [looking back at Lucky] I’m sorry…
Lucky- [nodding his head] You didn’t do anything wrong…
Nikolas- Gia…
Gia- I know…I’m here…come on. [They slowly walk out hand in hand as Nikolas lowers his head] -
Deanna- Did I do something wrong?
Lucky- No…I did…
Deanna- What did you do?
Nikolas- Forced him to make a choice.
Deanna- Are you gonna be ok?
Lucky- [taking her by the hand] I will be…now that you are here with me.
Deanna- [smiling as she lightly squeezed his hand]Well I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to stay.
Lucky- I’m glad to hear that… [They sat in silence holding hands as Lucky took in the magnitude of that night and all it’s ramifications.]
Outside of Luke’s Nikolas and Gia slowly walked to his car. When they reached to car she came to stand next to him.
Gia- [softly asking] Are you gonna be all right?
Nikolas- Yeah…I just can’t believe Lucky…
Gia- He wasn’t thinking…
Nikolas- That’s not it…I think…
Gia- What is it?
Nikolas- [taking a deep breath] I don’t know…I just can’t shake the feeling like he knew what would happen tonight. Almost like he set it up…
Gia- You don’t think he would go that far do you?
Nikolas- I didn’t at first…but now…now I’m not too sure.
Gia- I hope you’re mistaken…
Nikolas- So do I…but I don’t know…
Gia- Well if he did it’ll come out eventually…
Nikolas- Yeah I know… Promise me something
Gia- [smiling softly] Anything…
Nikolas- Promise me that you’ll always be truthful with me. Promise me if I am doing something to hurt you that you will tell me. And promise me that you will always love me.
Gia- [wrapping Nikolas in her arms] That goes without saying…I will always love you Nikolas. [smiling] You’re stuck with me for life.
Nikolas [holding her tightly to him] Good…