A note on structure: Each update for Part 1 of Warning Shots will be like an episodic short story to provide a prequel to the main event. It’ll make sense later, I promise.

Written in 60 minutes.

---

STORY 1: And in the Beginning…

Port Charles, New York

September 1999

It had all started with a letter.

On bright April morning, Elizabeth Webber had rushed to her mailbox, eagerly anticipating acceptance to the New York School of the Visual Arts, Step One on the Lucky & Elizabeth Life Plan, a decorated poster board that held a prominent position on the wall in her bedroom.

Step 1: Get into Art School!
Step 2: Move to New York City!
Step 3: Get Lucky a gig playing guitar in the West Village!
Step 4: Get My First Art Show!
Step 5: Get married in Central Park!
Step 6: Live Happily Ever After!

Each step had been illustrated, and Elizabeth couldn’t wait to check off the very first one—

And then she’d seen the letter.

It was a slim envelope, nothing like the large, thick white ones that rolled in for her older sister Sarah year before or the one her best friend Emily Bowen Quartermaine had been receiving for a few weeks now. Or even the one from Elizabeth’s back up school, PCU.

No, this one could hold nothing more than a single sheet of paper.

She had stood on her step staring at it for a long time, the front door wide open enough that her grandmother’s annoying cat, Gatsby, had escaped, and Audrey Hardy had come to admonish her.

“Elizabeth, what is it—” Audrey had stopped when she saw Elizabeth staring at the letter. “Oh. Have you heard from New York then?”

With trembling fingers, Elizabeth opened the envelope, slid it out —

We regret to inform you…

It had been devastating. Soul crushing. She’d pinned everything on this one hope — they’d even gone to New York City a few weeks earlier to start scouting out their new neighborhood. Lucky wore a subway token around his neck in memory — and now —

She’d cried in her grandmother’s arms, then had gone to the phone to call Lucky. Lucky had been disappointed, but sweet as always. They’d figure out a new plan. No worries. Good thing she’d applied to her back up school, right?

Within a few weeks, Elizabeth had a new plan. Not as carefully or intricately designed — this was more of a paper ripped from a notebook type of thing.

Step 1: Go to PCU.
Step 2: Room with Emily.
Step 3: Graduate.
Step 4: Move to New York.

And now, five months later, Elizabeth was embarking on step two. Emily had convinced that for their first year, they absolutely had to live together in a dorm on campus. It would be the most awesome experience ever. Lucky had been disappointed — he’d been saving for an apartment for them, but Elizabeth had started to warm up to the idea of going to PCU. Especially with Emily. They’d pored over all the orientation materials, gone to all the opening house events —

Today, Elizabeth and Emily were moving into their dorm — Room 314 on the third floor of Barrington Hall, and Elizabeth was driving Emily’s older brother crazy. Not that Jason Morgan would ever admit it — he’d have to talk in order to do that.

“You’re going to be really mad,” she said, a breathless as she came back into the room to see Jason sliding the desk into the spot Elizabeth had just promised was the absolute perfect place.

Jason looked at her, his light blue eyes locked on hers. “No.” Normally, men like Jason made Elizabeth nervous. He wasn’t particularly tall, but everyone towered over Elizabeth’s short height. He was muscular, and Elizabeth knew he could throw a punch. He was Jason Morgan, notoriously mixed up with the local mafia. She’d been at Luke’s the night someone had tried to kill him and snagged Nikolas Cassadine in the throat.

But he was just Jason to her these days, the guy who ran the garage and rented a room above it to Lucky. He was so different around his sister — he even smiled, and even someone happily devoted to her boyfriend like Elizabeth was, could objectively admit he was attractive. Gorgeous. Sexy, actually with light blonde hair always worn with spikes — sometimes she tried to picture him arranging his hair in the morning with gel, and it made her giggle.

But mostly he was just Jason, the guy who would do anything for his little sister. And his little sister’s best friend.

Jason sighed, pressed one thumb to his eyebrow. “Where do you want it?”

“You are the best!” She squealed, actually jumped a little, then darted around him. “I had this vision as I was coming up the stairs — because you know, Em and I are going to be studying but this is going to be like home, too—”

“Elizabeth.”

She broke off, startled because she didn’t think she’d ever heard Jason say her name. Which made sense — how many conversations had they ever had? She bit her lip. “Right. You don’t care why. I promise this is it. We want the beds here—” She gestured by the window. “And then the desk over here—oh, and—” She bent down as if to pick up one end of the desk. “I can help—”

He brushed her hands aside, the callused fingers startling her — Lucky was the only man who’d ever really touched her, and his hands were so much softer. “Thanks, but I can do this quicker by myself.” Then in one light move, he lifted the desk without even exerting himself.

“You’re really the best. I’m so sorry Lucky ditched us. He had to do something with Laura, and well, Emily would have invited Juan—”

Jason looked at her and Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “Right. I know. That’s why she didn’t. Plus, um, she didn’t tell you this yet, but I thought I’d warn you. Juan’s step dad is making him go back to Puerto Rico.”

“Warn me?” Jason said, furrowing his brow. He slid the desk into the space she’d indicated, then moved the beds. “Why do I need a warning?”

“Emily’s trying not to be upset about it, you know, but when she told Lucky and Nikolas they practically cheered in her face. They really don’t like him—and I know you don’t either, but she was hurt—”

“I might not like the guy,” Jason said, his tone changing, a bit more serious now. “But my sister does. And until he gives me a good reason to punch him, she doesn’t need to know that.”

“I figured, but you know, I just wanted to protect her.” Elizabeth looked over her shoulder. “Here she comes now. Remember, you don’t know anything, okay? This will be the first you’re hearing about it!”

Jason just shook his head, but nodded, clearly humoring her. Emily came in now, a forced smile on her face. “Oh, you changed it again. I like this so much better.”

“Good, because I have to go. I should have been gone already, but—” Jason looked at Elizabeth, whose cheeks pinked up. He hugged Emily. “Call me if you need anything. I mean it. Don’t make any headlines.”

“I’ll walk you down,” Emily said, wrapping her arm around Jason’s bicep. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

—

Though he didn’t think he’d needed the forewarning, Jason was glad Elizabeth had previewed Emily’s news for him. He hadn’t cared for Juan Santiago the minute the little bastard had rolled into town over the summer, but Emily had hearts in her eyes almost immediately. Her first real boyfriend was leaving abruptly, and she’d probably never see him again. She’d been hesitant about sharing the news, prefacing it with —

“I know you don’t like so you’re probably glad—” she’d said with a heavy sigh.

“I care about you,” Jason told her, and had hugged her, reminding her again to call him with anything she needed. He knew Emily could take care of herself — and he was glad she was going to be with Elizabeth. He’d seen her around this last year and knew Elizabeth was tougher than she looked.

He left the campus and headed downtown to the garage he’d opened two years earlier. He left  his motorcycle parked in the usual spot, and went inside to the office where Lucky Spencer was tapping away at something on the garage’s ancient computer.

Jason had snagged the mail on his way in and didn’t notice the younger man until he was almost on top of him. He furrowed his brow. “I thought you had something to do today.”

“I finished an hour ago, thought I’d get a head start on logging the new inventory.” Lucky looked over at him. “They get moved in okay?”

“Yeah, all set.” He tossed aside the junk, set the bills on his desk. He didn’t really care that Lucky hadn’t shown up to help move the girls in — Jason could have done it in twenty minutes if Elizabeth hadn’t kept changing her mind on the set up. But it was the first time either had lived on their own, and he wanted his sister to be happy.

But Elizabeth had spent the first half hour apologizing over and over again for Lucky not being there — it had been an emergency, and Lucky said he’d try to hurry up because he hadn’t seen their dorm yet — and yet here he sat, no emergency in sight.

“I wanted to run something by you,” Lucky said twisting on his stool. “Going back to courier jobs.”

Jason grimaced. “Lucky—”

“I know you didn’t get me involved again after you, uh, left the last time,” Lucky said quickly, “and I was supposed to be leaving for New York so it was no big deal. But we’re stuck in Port Charles now, and we’re not going to have the money we thought we’d have for an apartment. That’s why Elizabeth is stuck on campus this semester—”

Jason frowned, looked at him. He knew all about semesters from Robin — this one would end in December. “Just this semester?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m saving up for the security deposit for us to get a place together. That was the plan in New York, but we had to put it on the back burner.”

That wasn’t the impression Jason had gotten, moving pieces around the room a thousand times until Elizabeth had been sure it was comfortable — it was going to be their home away from home, she’d told him, hadn’t she?

But it wasn’t any of his business, so he just shrugged. “So you want some courier work again?”

“Yeah. Just something extra. I can do it—”

“I don’t doubt that. I just—I figured—” Jason shook his head. He wasn’t going to tell Lucky Spencer about getting involved with him and Sonny wasn’t a great idea. Lucky had grown up at Luke’s feet. The kid had been raised inside the life. If he wanted to make stupid choices — “I’ll talk to Sonny.”

“Great. Thanks. This whole thing is just a bump in the road. Elizabeth being stuck at PCU. Maybe she can transfer after a year or something, and we can go to New York. Just as long as we’re together.” Lucky gathered up the things at his desk. “I’m gonna head over to my mom’s and see Lu. If Elizabeth stops by or calls, let her know.”

Jason opened his mouth, then closed it. Lucky had supposedly been with his mother all morning — but it wasn’t any of his business.

Jason was done minding the business of other people. After ending things with Robin and losing custody of Michael earlier that spring, all he wanted to do was stay in his own lane and stay far away from anyone else’s problems.

—

A few days later, Jason was stretched out underneath a Honda with a leaking oil pan. He heard the outside door open, and then a pair of legs appeared in his view. Long, slender, and bare — at least from the calf to the ankle. The toes were painted a bright pink and encased in a pair of sandals with at least two inches of platform underneath them.

“Hello?”

Jason slid out from the car and Elizabeth danced back, not having seen him. She had a messenger bag slung diagonally across her chest, over a white shirt. The legs weren’t completely bare — she wore a pair of cropped jeans that stopped just below her knees.

“Hey! Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I’m supposed to be meeting Lucky here.” She checked her watch. “He told me to just come in and grab him because he’d be in the office.”

“Lucky’s not working today. I don’t know where he is.”

“Oh.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “That’s annoying. And he refuses to get a phone, you know? Gram made me get the one second she found out I was going to be on campus.” She removed it now from a pocket on her bag, flipped it open. “Maybe I messed up the message. He’s been impossible to get a hold of the last few days.”

Maybe Sonny had called Lucky directly and hooked the kid up with a job, Jason thought, though he didn’t really know how say that to Elizabeth. She’d known Lucky was working for him the year before, but Jason didn’t think it was his place to mention it now.

Jason frowned. “You don’t have a car,” he remembered, and she looked at him with some surprise. “Emily said you take the bus,” he added. “You won’t even borrow her car.”

“Well, no, have you seen it? It’s brand new. I can’t park to save my life. Gram and Lucky won’t let me borrow theirs either.” She rolled her eyes. “How am I supposed to get better, I ask you? But whatever. No, I take the bus everywhere. It’s pretty reliable.” She fished into another pocket, waved the PC Bus schedule at him. “I’ll just leave a message at his mom’s and you tell him I was here, then I’ll head back to school, I guess.”

Jason didn’t know why it bothered him — except now he remembered hearing Lucky make the plans with Elizabeth that morning on the phone in the office. She hadn’t messed them up — he had.

But he wasn’t going to tell her that and cause problems. No one else’s business but his own, he reminded himself.

Elizabeth started for the door, then turned back. “Since I ran into you, thanks again for putting up with me the day we moved in. It was really nice of you not to just dump everything in the first place I pointed to. I know I was super annoying—” Her cheeks flushed, the color spreading down her neck. “But I’m pretty sure Emily went to PCU because I did. She could have gone lots of places, you know? But she picked PCU so we could do it together, and I really wanted it to be perfect. The dorm room is gonna be like —”

“Home,” Jason finished and she lit up, her eyes sparkling.

“Exactly! And it’s the first one I’ve ever really had that I get to sort of do my own thing in. It’s just ours. And maybe next year, we could do suite apartment thing so we could—” She stopped. “Anyway, like I said, it was really nice of you. And whatever you said to Emily about Juan, she felt so much better. It’s really cool of you not to make not liking him her problem. She’s lucky to have you.”

“She’s my sister,” Jason said as if that said everything and she wrinkled her nose.

“It should be that simple, right? But it’s not all the time. Family is—well, they can be the worst. Anyway, Lucky called him a loser, and it made her cry. I didn’t tell you that then but—I don’t even know why I’m telling you now except it made mad because we’re supposed to be a family, too, of sorts. Me, Em, Lucky, Nikolas—we made a pact—” She shrugged. “Anyway. It bothered me. And just because it’s the right thing to do, it doesn’t mean you doing it should go unnoticed.”

“Thanks,” Jason said, feeling a little like a heel staying quite about Lucky being the one to screw up her plans. “Listen, I’m about done here for the day. I can run you back to campus so you don’t have to deal with the bus.”

“Oh, thanks, but I’m gonna stop by my grandmother’s anyway. Thanks. Tell Lucky I was here when you see him!” She tossed him a wave over her shoulders, and he watched her leave.

Written in 63 minutes.

---

Story 2: The Juan of It All

October

Elizabeth counted the tip left at one her tables, wrinkling her nose as she walked back to the counter. “Man, people get cheaper all the time. They’re not even bothering with ten percent, much less fifteen.”

Emily swirled her straw in the vanilla milkshake. “You know, if you want, I could have my brother sit in your section and glare at the cheapskates. I bet that would work—”

“Why don’t I hold off on the intimidation until I get desperate.” Elizabeth slid the tips in her apron and continued her sidework, wrapping utensils in napkins. “You look miserable. Still avoiding the essay?”

“I’ll be avoiding that essay until three hours before it’s due.” Emily sighed. “It’s Juan. We’re trying to call each other three times a week, but it’s not easy with my schedule and his stepdad always breathing down his neck. I just—” She jerked one shoulder. “I miss him—”

“You miss who?” Lucky came through the kitchen entrance, wrapped his arms around Elizabeth’s waist, then kissed her cheek. “Hey,” he said, nuzzling her neck. Elizabeth leaned against him for a minute, then returned the kiss on his cheek. He came around the counter, dropped onto the stool. “Em? Who do you miss?”

“You’ll just make fun of me,” Emily muttered. She sipped her milkshake, and Elizabeth sighed. Neither Lucky nor Nikolas had let up on making sure Emily knew exactly how they felt about Emily’s boyfriend, which was stupid because the guy had been gone for six weeks.

“No, I won’t. Come on—” Lucky nudged her shoulder. “Juan, right? You’re still trying long-distance.”

“Yeah. It’s hard. But let’s talk about something else.” Emily straightened. “Liz, did you get your first art project back yet?”

“Not yet, but I’m really looking forward to it. Dr. Watts is the first, like, real artist to look at my work, and I really want to know what she thinks.” Elizabeth set a soda in front of Lucky. “But I’m also, like, terrified, because what if she hates it?” Her smile faded slightly. “I mean, there’s a reason I didn’t get into New York, right?”

“It’ll be fine,” Lucky assured. “Don’t I tell you all the time how good you are?”

“Well, yeah, and I love that. Really. But—”

“But my opinion doesn’t matter?” he asked, lifting his brows. He picked up the soda. “Used to matter a lot.”

“Of course it matters,” Elizabeth said. “If you hadn’t believed in me, I’d never even be this far. But Dr. Watts has connections, you know? And she’s head of the department. If I could impress her, it would make such a huge difference in my career.”

“You’ll be great.” Lucky turned back to Emily. “I hate seeing you so down all the time. Come on. We should do something Friday night. All of us, like we used to—”

“Oh, I wish I could, but I already told Tammy I’d work,” Elizabeth said.

“And Friday’s my night to call Juan,” Emily added. “But Saturday—”

“I have work at the garage.” Lucky rolled his eyes. “What about three weeks from now?” he asked sarcastically. “Is that enough advance notice? I mean, what’s a guy gotta do to get some time with his girlfriend?” He was smiling as he said, but there was an edge in his voice.

“I’ve been so busy, I know. I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said. “Just getting used to the new classes and everything on campus, juggling work. But we’re already almost halfway through this semester. And we’ll have Thanksgiving break—”

Emily pursed her lips. “About that. Um, what would you say about covering for me if I tell my parents I’m gonna have Thanksgiving dinner with you and stay at your house?”

Elizabeth frowned. “I’d say your parents would be confused because we live ten minutes apart. Why?”

“Oh, you’re not going to do something stupid like run off to Puerto Rico—” Lucky stopped when Emily dropped her eyes. “Em. Come on. He’s not worth it.”

“You don’t even know him—”

“I know enough—Look, you’re just making this harder on yourself than it has to be.”

“Lucky, hey, give her break,” Elizabeth said, a bit startled by how forceful he was being. It wasn’t like him to be so dismissive of someone else’s feelings, especially not Emily’s. “Em, we’ll work on a cover story, okay? Let’s get you to Puerto Rico.”

Emily brightened. “Yeah?”

Lucky scowled. “You’re just making it worse,” he told Elizabeth. “This guy is probably already dating someone else—”

“He’s not! Juan loves me—” Emily said, her eyes hot with indignation. “We talk all the time and he misses me! He’s writing songs about me and he sings them to me—”

“And he’s probably singing them to a thousand girls.” Lucky softened his tone. “I love you, Em. You know that. And I want you to be happy. With someone who deserves you. Not this guy.”

He tossed some money down for his drink. “Look, I gotta get to work. But you need to be realistic, Em. This is only going to end badly if you keep stringing yourself along.”

Emily watched him go, then looked to Elizabeth, her eyes stricken. “Is he right? Do you think Juan is already dating someone else? Maybe the songs aren’t for me—”

“Don’t listen to him. I don’t know what crawled up his butt lately, maybe he’s spending too much time with his dad. You know how cynical Luke is, especially these days with Laura dating Stefan Cassadine.” Elizabeth leaned over the counter. “Listen, I got you, okay? Here’s what we’ll do…”

—

Not too far away from Kelly’s, Jason was giving serious consideration to locking the door to the garage, getting on the bike, and riding out of town without a word to anyone else.

Because maybe then Carly would stay the hell away from him and stop dragging him back into her plans — into her life—

And maybe she wouldn’t be standing here, Michael in her arms, smiling at him like she’d done him a favor.

“I just knew you’d want to see how big he’s getting,” Carly said, shoving the toddler at Jason who fumbled to get hold of the little boy. Michael, nearly two, squirmed and struggled. Jason set him on his feet, then scowled at Carly.

“He doesn’t know me anymore,” he hissed, the pain of that statement—the accuracy—slicing at him. He’d given the little boy up the previous spring, ending their visitation and it had nearly killed him.

It had been the right decision — the only one — and if he could just get Carly to see that —

“No, but I could start showing him your picture and, come on, Jase, don’t—” she grimaced and went to grab Michael before he could get into any trouble. “I was thinking maybe I could come to your place and bring him so that when I finally get out of all this—”

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I said months ago,” Jason said, and her expression only turned more stubborn. “This isn’t going to work. You got a good thing up at the mansion—”

“You hate them—”

“But you like their money,” Jason said, and she rolled her eyes, didn’t deny it. “And Michael—he looks good. Happy,” he said, looking at the little boy he loved so much. “That’s what I wanted for him. So you need to go—”

The door behind them slammed open and Lucky stalked in, stopping when he saw Carly there. “Oh. I can come back—”

“No. No.” Almost grateful for the younger man, Jason waved him forward. “I need to talk to you about something. Carly was leaving. Say goodbye, Carly.”

Carly made a face, then lifted Michael in her arms. “Goodbye, Carly,” she said in a mocking tone, and flounced off.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Lucky said, after the blonde had left. “I thought you said—”

“I did. I got a job for you from Sonny. Come into the office.” Jason jerked his thumb in that direction and headed there, trusting the other man to follow.

“You know, Emily’s still talking to Juan all the time,” Lucky said darkly. “I thought she’d be over it by now.”

Jason looked for the package he’d set aside, only half-listening. “Yeah, I guess I thought she might meet someone on campus. She’s always telling me about some party they’re going to.”

“That’s what I’m talking about! How does she have time to go to class, talk to Juan, and go out all the time! Every time I try to see Elizabeth, she’s got something to do.” Lucky sighed. “Man, maybe I should have gone to college or something, so at least I’d be there with them.”

“What?” Jason tuned back in, frowning. “Maybe next semester.”

“No, we’ll be in our place by then. Just gotta suck it up for now,” Lucky said, taking the package. “But this Juan stuff — you gotta talk to her, man. She’s setting herself up for some real disappointment.”

“I’ll be there if she needs me,” he replied. “Now, here’s what Sonny needs from you.”

November

The night before Thanksgiving, Elizabeth had just completed step one in the GET EMILY TO PUERTO RICO ACTION PLAN, and had headed to Kelly’s to meet Lucky for a long-overdue dinner date.

She dropped into the chair across from him, grinning when she saw he’d already ordered her usual. “Oh, thanks! I’m sorry I’m late, I got hung up—”

“Did you at least remember to put gas in my car this time?” Lucky said, taking the keys from her. “What did you need it for? And do I have any new dents?”

“You back into one measly fire hydrant,” she said with a sigh, then picked up her milkshake. “I had to drop someone off. Anyway, the car is golden, and I am all yours. Just like I promised.”

Lucky smiled, his face lighting up. “I’ve missed this. Just you and me.”

“Me, too. And I really am sorry. I got so carried away these last few months, but, oh, it’s so much more fun than I thought it’d be, you know? I love my classes, well except for Dr. Watts—” her face fell slightly. “But I just know she’ll like the new project I’m working on—”

“I told you not to worry so much about what other people think—”

“It’s not just other—” The bell over the door jingled, and Elizabeth glanced over, her face falling when she recognized the man who’d come in.

Lucky twisted in his seat, and he grimaced. “Oh, damn. I really thought we were done with this.”

“What are you doing here?” Elizabeth lunged from her seat, crossing to where Juan freaking Santiago was standing in Port Charles. “You’re supposed to be in Puerto Rico!”

“I know, but it’s a surprise. Emily will never see it coming—”

“Oh, God—” Lucky hissed. “Elizabeth, please tell me Emily isn’t the person you had to drop off.”

“Um—” Elizabeth looked at Lucky, her eyes wide. “Maybe.”

“Oh, no,” Juan groaned, realizing what must have happened. “She’s on her way to Puerto Rico?”

“See? This is why I told you not to get involved.”

“Yell at me later,” Elizabeth said. “First, we have to get to the airport to stop Emily from getting on that plane—”

“No. No, this is exactly what needs to happen.” Lucky folded his arms. “Emily never thinks before she does anything—and you’re just as bad when you’re trying to help—” He shook his head. “I’m not helping you out of this one.”

“Dude—” Juan frowned, then looked at Elizabeth. “What time is her flight?”

“Ninety minutes, so we still have time. Lucky, if you don’t want to drive us, then just give me your keys—” She held out her hands, but Lucky sat down, picked up his drink. “Lucky, you’ve got to be kidding.”

“I told Emily not to waste her time on this idiot—”

“This idiot came all this way to see her—” Elizabeth wanted to stomp her foot. “Why are you being like this? Emily’s in trouble—”

“This isn’t like when she got blackmailed, Elizabeth. That was trouble—”

“Oh, forget it. I’ll argue with you later.” Elizabeth went around the counter. “I know just who to call. Someone who will actually drop everything when someone’s in trouble, no matter how they got there.”

“You’re trying to make me feel guilty, and it won’t work,” Lucky called.

“You’re not calling him, are you? Because he hates me—”

“He loves his sister more,” Elizabeth said. She dialed a number, waited for the call to connect. “Jason? Hey, it’s Elizabeth. Um, Emily and I have a small problem. I need a ride to the airport. Yes—” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll explain everything when you get here. I’m at Kelly’s.”

—

Jason strode over to the gate where his little sister was waiting patiently for her flight to be called. She sat in one of the seats, flipped through a magazine.

He placed two fingers on the magazine, plucked it out of her hands. “Going somewhere?”

Emily looked at him, guilt flashing on her expression, then it slid into determination and she jumped up. “You can’t stop me! I already bought my ticket!” She jabbed a finger in his face. “And I am eighteen so I can do whatever I want—”

“Seems like a waste of time to go all the way to Puerto Rico when you can just look over there—”

Emily frowned, then turned her head. Her eyes grew comically wide, and she squealed when she spied Juan standing next to Elizabeth by a bank of pay phones. She practically danced over to him. “You’re here! You’re really here!”

Jason just sighed and went to stand next to Elizabeth. He didn’t like Juan Santiago much, but the kid could be worse. And his sister looked so happy — she could probably power an entire small village from the wattage in her smile and light in her eyes.

Elizabeth had her hands clasped together and was practically vibrating with happiness. “We made it! Thank you so much! I thought we’d miss her plane when we got stuff in that traffic—”

“Yeah, it was close.” He folded his arms, looked at her with the glower he usually reserved for work. “Don’t think this gets you out of trouble.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Please. I saw you smile when Emily saw Juan.” She poked his bicep lightly. “You’re a softy for her, and you know it.”

“I am not,” he argued, but it was tough to keep up the facade when she was sneaking peeks at Emily and Juan, still talking excitedly. Elizabeth continued to grin, and he couldn’t really pretend to be unhappy with her when the only thing she’d cared was taking care of Emily.

“Look how happy she is,” Elizabeth said, putting a hand on his arm, pointing. “You can hate him all you want, but he’s not that bad if he makes her that happy right?”

“I like her being happy,” Jason said with a beleaguered sigh. “But does it have to be with him?”

“You can’t choose who you love,” Elizabeth told him, and he nodded, because of course that was true.

Emily bounced over to them, practically dragging Juan. “Liz! Liz! Oh my God, Juan gets to stay! He’s coming to PCU this spring!”

“Oh my God, that’s amazing!” Elizabeth hugged Emily, then Juan, then beamed at Jason. “Isn’t that the best news?”

“Yeah,” Jason said, then said nothing else. Elizabeth rolled her eyes, then went back to laughing with Emily.

—

“I just need somewhere to stay until my room is ready in January,” Juan said, his hand firmly tucked in Emily’s hand as they walked into Kelly’s courtyard. “You think Tammy will rent to me again?”

“Oh for sure.” Elizabeth rocked back on her heels. “She’s working right now. You guys should go ask her.”

“Come on, I’ll plead your case.” Emily dragged Juan into the diner. “We have a lot to catch up on.”

“Did you have to suggest Kelly’s?” Jason asked, with a wince. “Do you know how much I come in here? How much I’m going to have to see him?”

“Wow, it’s almost like I didn’t take you into consideration at all,” Elizabeth said, her eyes comically wide. “I was just thinking about Emily.” But then she laughed, and he knew she’d realized he was just teasing her. “Listen, this is actually a really good thing,” Elizabeth told him.

“I’m going to need you to expand on that,” Jason said, folding his arms. “How exactly is Juan being back in Port Charles, at PCU, and at Kelly’s a good thing—”

“Juan is what?”

They both turned to see Lucky striding towards them from the parking lot, scowling. “Tell me you’re joking,” he said to Jason. “Juan’s not really back for good—”

“He is, and listen, I know you guys aren’t sold on him, and I get it, but I promise you, this is a good thing—”

“You keep saying that,” Jason said.

“Before it was like Romeo and Juliet, separated by time—”

“That’s not the plot of Romeo and Juliet,” Lucky complained. “Their families hated each other—”

“Oh my God, are you going to correct my Shakespeare? Really? I watched the Leo version until my VHS tape broke. I know my Leo,” Elizabeth said, dismissing Lucky’s complaint. “Juan being in Puerto Rico meant that Emily would just keep making up stories about him in her head, making it harder for her to get over him. But he’s here. And he’ll either make her happy or he won’t. But at least it’s not her just mooning over him anymore. She’ll get to really know him this time. And we’ll see if he’s actually good enough.”

“Let me save you some time. He’s not,” Lucky said flatly, and Elizabeth just made a face. “And you’re just making it worse by egging her on—”

“I’m not—”

“And I told you not to get involved with all of this. Now we’re stuck with Juan. Why can’t you just admit you were wrong?”

Elizabeth frowned. “But I wasn’t—”

“You nearly sent Emily to Puerto Rico on her own for no reason—”

“I didn’t—”

“Jason, come on, tell her, man. You agree with me. You hate Juan. Tell her it was stupid for her to encourage Emily in all of this.”

Elizabeth’s smile had faded and so had all the light from her eyes. She looked at him, and he felt like someone had sucked all the air out of the world. “I didn’t mean for Emily to almost end up down there by herself—”

“It’s not that serious,” Jason said. He looked at Lucky. “It just isn’t. Emily would have just booked a flight home. We could have left a message at the airport down there. You’d have laughed about it later,” he told Elizabeth, and her smile bloomed again.

Lucky scowled. “It must be nice to have money to throw around like that. But some of us have to be realistic—”

“Well, lucky for both of us, I have enough money to send my sister to Puerto Rico every day for the next fifty years if I want,” Jason said, his tone more annoyed than he’d realized. Lucky flinched. “It’s not a big deal. Elizabeth’s right,” he added. “More exposure to Juan will either prove to us that she’s right about him or she’ll get over him faster.” He looked back at her. “I still don’t like him,” he said, hoping she’d see it as another tease.

But she was more subdued. “I’m gonna head back to my grandmother, I guess. Tell Emily I’ll call her tomorrow.”

“I’ll drive you,” Lucky said. “We were supposed to have a date anyway—”

“I’m not in the mood anymore. I’ll just take the bus.” Elizabeth hurried away, and Jason frowned after her, before looking at Lucky.

“Why did you do that?” he asked. He’d been around the two of them for over a year now, and he’d never heard Lucky talk to Elizabeth that way. “What’s your problem?”

“Elizabeth just—she used to be rational. Reasonable. Ever since she started college and is spending all this time there—” Lucky pressed his lips together. “I don’t know. It’s like she’s a different person.”

He went inside the diner, and Jason headed for the street where he knew the bus stop was located.

He found her sitting on the bench, picking at one of her nails. He sat next to her. “I can drop you at your grandmother’s,” Jason offered.

She looked up at him, smiled again, though it was weak and didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s really okay. I don’t mind taking the bus.”

“I mind,” he said. “You spent your entire day racing to my sister’s rescue. Thank you. She’s lucky to have a friend like you. Let me take you home so I don’t worry about you on the bus.”

She smiled again, and now it was a little bit brighter. “Even if I made it easier for her to see Juan?”

“Nobody’s perfect.” He stood, and held out his hand. “Come on.”

“Thanks.” She took his hand, let him pull her to her feet. “I hope you’re wrong about Juan.”

“Me, too.”

December

“When was the last time we did this?” Lucky split the last brownie in half and dropped a piece on Elizabeth’s empty plate. Around them, Kelly’s was quite, partially in shadows. After closing, she and Lucky had cleaned up and then had dinner on their own.

“Oh, probably since before Thanksgiving,” Elizabeth said, her smile fading just a bit when she remembered their last dinner date had ended with the rushed trip to the airport and the humiliating fight in the courtyard. She cleared her throat. “But hey, my last final is this week, , so I’ll be all yours for a month.”

“Just like old times.” He flashed her that grin she’d fallen for first, then popped a piece of brownie in his mouth. “Are you tomorrow? I thought we could take a look at few places. I know you want to be on the bus route so you can get to campus—”

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose, sat back in her chair. “Lucky, we’ve talked about this—”

“No, I’ve talked about this, and you keep acting like we didn’t have a plan.” He pushed aside his plate, folded his arms, leaned forward. “When you didn’t get into New York, we sat down, remember?”

“I do—”

“And we looked at our savings — neither of us had pretty much anything. We were going to get housing from your school, and I’d pick up jobs, but we were always planning to live together eventually. You said you’d room with Emily for the first semester because her housing was already paid for. The old man just picked up a phone and pulled a few strings to get you in.”

“I remember all of this. And yeah, that was the plan in June. But I also remember telling you in August that I thought we were better off waiting until next summer to get a place. I’d be able to save up so much more, and you said you were going to pick up some courier jobs with Jason and Sonny.” She lifted her brows. “Did I imagine that conversation, Lucky? Because it sure feels like only one of us was listening.”

“Come on—you can’t really want to be on campus for six more months. That room is so small and you’re sharing a bathroom with half the floor. That’s better than living with me. I’m sorry I don’t rate—I just wish you’d told me you changed the plan.”

“I’m talking to myself obviously because I told you in August. Why can’t you just be okay with this?”

“I don’t know. Because we used to see each other practically every day,” Lucky said. “But now you’re off at college, and you’re never around. You’re always working or in class and you have time for parties—”

“I make time for you, Lucky—I just—” Elizabeth sighed. “Okay, maybe I didn’t make you a priority. I’m sorry. I just—I had so much fun the first few weeks. It was a lot of fun living with Emily, and I didn’t expect that. I think maybe—maybe I want to put off living together until…maybe after graduation—”

“After graduation—” Lucky scowled. “In four years?”

“Well, three and a half—”

“Don’t get technical. We had a plan, Elizabeth. It’s not fair you to just to change it without talking to me.”

“I’m talking to you right now but you’re not listening—”

“Are you nervous about us living together? Because you know…” Lucky reached across the table, took her hand. “You know, I’m okay with waiting however long you need. But if we live together, you might get more comfortable—”

“It’s not about that. It’s not. And I—” She chewed on her lip. “I’m working on that. I want us to be together. All the ways. And you’ve been really great about that. You know how much I appreciate you not pressuring me. But I’m telling you I’m not ready for us to live together and it’s like you can’t hear me.” Her throat was tight and she had to blink back tears. “We fight all the time now. I don’t know. I don’t know what I did to make you so mad.”

“I’m not mad. I just—” He stroked her hand with his thumb. “I miss you. We were basically attached at the hip for over a year. You know? Always together. We slept under docks together and you’ve spent the night at the garage with me a few times. You can trust me to keep waiting.”

“But you’re always so annoyed when I bring up anything about school. Or when I want to do something you don’t agree with — like, that whole thing with Juan—”

“Oh—” Lucky rolled his eyes. “Come on. You know I’m right about him—he’s no one, Elizabeth. He came to town looking for a hand out, and he picked up the richest girl in town. Emily’s naive when it comes to these kinds of things—”

“Emily’s been through so much in her life, Lucky. She’s happy with him. So what if he doesn’t have any money? It’s not like you and I are rich. I didn’t think you were a snob—”

“I’m not. I’m just looking out for Em. When Juan shows his true colors—”

“You’ll be right there to tell you I told you so. Just like the airport thing. It was fixed and no real harm was done, but you just had to make sure everyone knew you’d been against the whole thing. I mean, you were willing to abandon Emily at the airport—”

“I don’t want to get into that—”

“Why? Because you don’t want to talk about how mortifying it was with you berating me in front of Jason—who by the way, doesn’t like Juan either, but he doesn’t make it his whole personality.”

“Yeah, Jason’s great. He saved the day. So what? What does any of this have to do with getting a place or changing the plan so that it’s four years away instead of a few weeks?”

“Here’s a newsflash, Lucky, I get to change the plan when it’s about me. I’m the one who has to live there, too. And I don’t want to live together yet. I want to go to college. I want to stay up late with Emily and be silly. I want to have fun. It took so long for me to get back there, you know? To be light, and happy. To not have—” She closed her eyes. “To not be afraid all the time. I just want to be eighteen and stupid sometimes. I want to help my best friend be in love even if sometimes we do foolish things. And I want the guy who says he loves me to understand that just because I don’t want to live together, it doesn’t mean I don’t love him anymore.”

“I’m sorry if I take it a little personally that everything you want to do has nothing to do with me.” Lucky shoved his chair back. “Fine. Stay with Emily this summer. Whatever. Do what you want.”

He jerked his jacket from the hook by the door and had left the diner before she’d even processed the whole thing.

Shaken, Elizabeth rose and started to clean up. She’d unpack all of this later — and maybe when Lucky had time to cool down, he’d see that she was right.

—

Jason headed into the office, surprised to find Lucky already in there, on the computer just like always. He tossed the work orders on his desk. “Hey. Did I know you were working today?”

“No, I’m just trying to distract myself,” the younger man muttered. “Figured I’d get a head start on the paperwork from yesterday. I was supposed to be looking for apartments today, but that got cancelled.”

Jason heard the petulant tone in his voice and wondered if Lucky had finally started listening to his girlfriend. Jason barely knew Elizabeth, and even he knew Elizabeth and Emily were planning to keep rooming together.

“Hey, can I ask a question? You don’t have to answer, but —” Lucky swirled on the stool. “When you and Robin starting dating, she’d just been diagnosed, right?”

Surprised, Jason nodded. “A few months earlier, yeah. They didn’t get the medication—the protocol—until we were together. But yeah, why?”

“Sex was an issue, wasn’t it?”

Jason stared at him. “Excuse me?”

“I know, I know, it’s none of my business — I just—” He grimaced, looked back at the computer screen. “Emily said she’d told you about that photographer last year. What he did to Elizabeth.”

Jason tensed, the memory flooding back of Emily painfully telling Jason she wanted to be as brave as Elizabeth had been when confronted with her rapist. He hadn’t thought about it much after that — Tom Baker had made a deal, and Jason had made a promise to himself to handle the situation before the asshole would ever see the light of day again. “What does that have to do with Robin?”

“Elizabeth and I—we haven’t—she’s not—”

“Lucky, I really don’t think this is something she’d want you talking about with me,” Jason said, realizing too late where the kid was  going with all of this. “I’m not even sure Emily should have told me, either—”

“Yeah, well, Emily does a lot of things she shouldn’t,” Lucky muttered. “But I think that’s why Elizabeth doesn’t want to live together, and I just—I figured you had that problem with Robin—”

“I am not talking about this with you,” Jason said, heading for the door. He stopped at the threshold, feeling irritated with himself because he liked Elizabeth and the way this idiot was talking, he’d probably say something to put that look in her eye again. “Look, I won’t pretend to know what Elizabeth went through with that—”

“It was awful, but I’m not going to hurt her—”

“I don’t know what she went through. But I do know that she has repeatedly said to me and to anyone who listens that she’s happy rooming with Emily. Did she tell you it was about this…other thing or that she just wanted to be in the dorm?”

“She said it was the dorm—”

“Then do yourself a favor and listen to her. It’s not the end of the world. Robin was away at school a lot, and we were just fin.”

“You broke up with her, though—”

“This conversation is closed,” Jason said. “Listen when she talks Lucky. That’s the end of it.”

—

He put the conversation out of his mind entirely the moment he left the office because he absolutely did not want to be in the middle of Lucky’s romantic issues. He was staying out of everyone’s business, even if Lucky seemed determined to drag him through it.

A few days passed, and Jason forgot about it. Lucky didn’t bring it up again, and Jason was all too happy to send the kid out of town for a few days on a courier assignment, giving him the garage all to himself. He didn’t need to do the volume of business that required him to hire anyone else, and he liked the solitude of working by himself.

So when the door opened, and he heard footsteps, Jason sighed and slid out on the car roller, trying to find the patience to deal with another customer. He rose to his feet, reached for a rag to deal with his oil-stained hands and frowned when Elizabeth came around the corner.

She wore a white jacket, and her hair tucked up in a matching hat. In her hands she held a thick black leather portfolio, and she’d been crying. Jason knew enough about women to recognize the red-rimmed slightly swollen eyes.

“Is Lucky here? He didn’t answer his phone, but I thought—”

“He’s out of town until tomorrow,” Jason said, and she made a face, looked down at the portfolio in her hands. “He didn’t tell you?”

“No, he told me that he’d be around this weekend. He knew—” Her voice was wobbly. “He knew I was getting this back today, and I said I’d come by, but he must have forgotten.” Elizabeth sighed, then looked at him. “I’m sorry. I always seem to be bothering you when you’re working. Was it last minute or—no, I know. You can’t tell me.”

“He knew about it two days ago,” Jason said, and she flinched. “I’m sorry—”

“For what? It’s not your responsibility to tell me Lucky’s schedule or to listen when I talk so I don’t come all the way into town when there’s no reason—” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “Never mind. Never mind. Just forget it.”

“I can take you back to campus—”

“Aren’t you tired of offering to drive me somewhere every time Lucky disappoints me?” Elizabeth asked, looking back with a half smile. “I’m fine. The bus stop is just around the corner—and there’s one in like twenty minutes—”

“Then wait here where it’s warm until it gets here,” Jason said, heading to the sink. He’d use that time convince her, and maybe he’d look into talking to Emily about this. He didn’t like her on the bus all the time, especially when she was upset.

“Um, thanks, I guess. It’s pretty cold out.” Elizabeth set her purse and the portfolio on a nearby table. “Are you…excited for Christmas?”

“What’s to be excited about?” Jason asked, drying his arms off with a towel. “It’s just a day.” He saw her drop her eyes, and felt bad. “I mean, it’s good for other people. But it’ll just me and Sonny. You probably spend it with your family?”

“Yeah. With my grandmother. We used to come out for the holidays every Christmas when I was kid so we could listen to my grandfather read the story. Dad said it was one of his favorite memories of Gramps. I always thought it was weird because Dad didn’t even know Gramps was his father until he came to Port Charles, but it was also kind of nice, you know? That you could make your own family if you wanted to.” Elizabeth made a face. “Sorry — I tend to get going and just ramble. You don’t have to listen,” she added.

“I remember your grandfather a little,” Jason said. “He passed away not long after my accident, but he was one of the few doctors who didn’t…” He paused, squinted. “He didn’t look at me like I was a puzzle to figure out.”

“He really was the best. I miss him all the time this time of year. Anyway, Gram and I will decorate a tree next week, and Emily invited me over for a Christmas party at the Quartermaines, and Laura said I could come to their place. It’s nice to have options—” Elizabeth stopped. “Oh. I forgot. Um, about the Quartermaines. And—” She cleared her throat. “Anyway. I should go. The bus stop—”

“Still have ten minutes,” Jason said, and she sighed, looked at him. “You don’t have to worry. I know Michael’s at the house. I’m glad Emily will be there with him. She’s been the one constant for him.”

“Yeah, she told me she’s his godmother. I’m sorry. Is that why Christmas is so hard?” Her eyes widened. “Never mind. I didn’t ask that. Sorry. I’m always doing that.”

“Yes,” Jason said. “But every day is hard,” he added, and there was a little bit of a release inside when he admitted that. “Like I said, it’s just another day for me.”  He nodded at the portfolio, hoping to change the topic. “What’s that?”

“Oh.” She slid her hand over it. “My project for art class. I…” And her voice faltered. “I passed because I technically completed the requirements, but my professor didn’t like it.”

“Why not?”

Elizabeth jerked a shoulder. “She’s always telling me that I need to push harder and dig deeper, but I don’t know how to do that.” She flipped it open and showed him what was inside. There was a white background with swirls and colors that he couldn’t really make out. “I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“Uh—it’s nice.”

Her cheeks flushed. “Right. Right. That’s what she said.”

Damn it — “No—”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I think maybe I just have to start facing the fact that I’m not supposed to be an artist. New York didn’t want me and Dr. Watts says I’m not doing enough but maybe that’s her way of saying I don’t have what it takes—” She flipped it shut and headed for the nearby metal trash can. Jason snatched it before she could drop it inside.

“No, wait. Let me explain,” he told her.

“There’s nothing—”

“My accident,” Jason interrupted, and she closed her mouth, frowning. “I can’t always see…things that are abstract. Or—I mean, photographs are okay. Because they’re realistic. But art? It doesn’t make sense to me. A processing thing.” His cheeks warmed, and he handed her back the portfolio. “You could be Van Gogh and I’d never know.”

She studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Oh, that’s fine. Well, it’s — it’s just Lucky playing a guitar.” Elizabeth flipped it open — pointed to a color  “That’s the guitar, and Lucky’s holding it. She said it was nice, technically correct. But—” She wrinkled her nose. “Soulless.”

“Ouch,” Jason said, and then she laughed.

“I guess she’s right. There’s nothing really in this.” Elizabeth studied it. “I drew it from memory. I wanted Lucky to pose for it but we couldn’t get our schedules together, so maybe that’s why it’s like that. She asked why I always did portraits and landscapes, and I told her I didn’t know what else I could do. And she just told me that I should paint me, something inside of me, and —” Elizabeth bit her lip. “I don’t know. There’s too much sometimes, and what if I tried, and she still hated it?”

“What do you have to lose?” Jason asked, and she looked at him, startled. “She doesn’t like what you’re doing now. You might as well try something new.”

“That—” Elizabeth smiled, and some of the sparkle came back in her eyes. “Makes complete sense. You’re right. She’s not impressed with me as it is, I doubt it could get worse. And maybe it won’t. If I never try, the answer is always no. Thank you.”

“Sure. And—” Jason reached for his jacket and keys. “We missed your bus, so now you have no choice but to let me give you a ride back to campus.”

“Fine,” Elizabeth said, but her smile twitched. “Did you do that on purpose so I wouldn’t take the bus? Distract me?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He steered her towards the door, grimacing when he saw through the window that snow had begun to fall, sticking to the streets. “Hold on, I have to grab the keys to the SUV. We can’t take my bike in this.”

“Oh—” Elizabeth looked over at his Harley, inside the garage for protection from the elements. “That’s a shame. I’ve never been on one before.”

“Maybe some other time since we’re making a habit of this,” Jason said, and she laughed, following him out the door.

Written in 69 minutes. Needed that last scene to be perfect.

---

February 2000

Elizabeth spied a familiar figure in the courtyard and beamed. “Penny,” she called to the waitress on the floor. “I’m going to be right back, okay? I have to grab something from the back.”

Penny acknowledged her words with a wave, and Elizabeth dashed back to the employee lockers and reached into her messenger bag for her class portfolio. When she came back to the counter, Jason was just taking a seat, flipping over his coffee cup.

“I’m so glad you came in today,” Elizabeth said, reaching for the carafe to fill the cup with his usual order — plain black. “I had something I wanted to show you, and I didn’t know if I could wait until I went to the garage this week.”

Jason lifted his brows. “Yeah? You finally get a car? I told you—”

“No, I told you—I can take the bus. I’m saving my money for more important things.” She flipped her portfolio open, and set it down in front of him. “Read that.”

Bewildered, Jason picked it and read the feedback evaluation sheet attached to her winter project. “This is exactly what I was looking for all last fall, Miss Webber. You reached down inside the subject and displayed vulnerability and tragedy with a few pencil strokes. It would be my honor to recommend this for display in our spring showcase this May.” His smile was immediate. “The same professor from December?”

“You remembered! I hoped you would. Yeah, you know, you told me to just go ahead and go all in, because, hey she already hated everything I did, so what was the harm?”

“I don’t think those were my exact words,” Jason said, setting the evaluation sheet down and sipping his coffee. “But okay.”

“I paraphrased,” Elizabeth said, taking the portfolio back, hugging it to her chest. “I probably would have kept drawing boring landscapes and portraits for her if you hadn’t said that—”

“I think you’re giving me too much credit,” Jason said, “and you’re the one that had to do the work.”

“Sometimes a little encouragement makes all the difference—” Elizabeth looked past Jason, her smile a bit smaller. “Hey, Lucky.”

“Hey.” Her boyfriend dropped onto the stool next to Jason. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Oh. My art project. Jason gave me some good advice at the end of last semester, and well, it’s paying off. My project is going to be in the showcase.” Elizabeth handed him the portfolio and Lucky flipped it open, going past the evaluation sheet to the sketch itself.

It was a simple one, done in colored pencil, not a medium she used often, but it had the rough edges she wanted.

Lucky’s smile faded slightly as he looked at it, then at her. “This…this is the project you turned in?”

Elizabeth tensed. “Yeah, why?”

“It’s the fountain.” He set it down, folded his arms. “From the park.”

Elizabeth bit her lip. “Yeah, um, Dr. Watts wanted me to show vulnerability—”

“So you painted that night for a good grade?” Lucky asked. “Down to the shoe?” He shook his head. “You never told me about this. You knew?” he looked at Jason who was doing his best to appear invisible.

“It’s art,” Elizabeth said before Jason could say anything. “And he doesn’t know anything about the subject. And so what if I drew it? It’s mine, isn’t it?” She snatched the portfolio back, staring down at the scene. She’d felt so drained when she’d finished the original sketches for this, but by the time she’d completed the color, and added the details to the broken shoe laying by the stone fountain, she’d felt almost peaceful.

As if painting the worst night of her life had somehow taken some of the power out of it. And now Lucky was making it sound like she’d used that memory for her own gain.

“Yeah, you can do whatever you want. I just—” Lucky shook his head. “Congratulations on getting the showcase. I know it’s what you wanted.”

“Yeah, it’s what I wanted.” Elizabeth closed the portfolio and went to put it back in her bag. When she came back to the counter, Jason had left, leaving a twenty next to his cup. He’d always tipped too generously, but lately it had doubled. Probably trying to convince her to buy a car.

“Since when do you talk to Jason about your art?” Lucky wanted to know. “That’s our thing—”

“It’s my thing, and I can talk to whoever I want about it. I went to the garage the night I got that last project back, but you weren’t there.”

“So you just…told him? Since when are you even friends?”

“We’re—” Elizabeth frowned. “Why do you care? I’m friends with Nikolas, aren’t I? And Jason’s always been nice to me. Because I’m Emily’s friend, probably. He was just humoring me, okay, Lucky? I was upset because it was a bad grade, and he asked. And he probably didn’t even remember talking to me—”

But he had, hadn’t he? Had seemed happy for her? Why was it so difficult for Lucky to do that lately? Everything that had to do with college — he always had to take the fun out of it, to make her feel bad for doing something without him.

“Probably not. He’s got a lot on his plate. And you know, he’s having an affair with my cousin,” Lucky said. “She’s always at the garage—”

“Why is that relevant?” Elizabeth demanded. “Never mind. Never mind. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Me either. Let’s talk about something better. Valentine’s Day is next week,” he reminded her. “I thought we could do something last year. A nice place. I’ll dip into the savings,” he told her. “Some place fancy won’t break the apartment fund, and we should celebrate your showcase thing.”

Elizabeth refilled a sugar canister and decided not to comment on the apartment fund. If he refused to accept that she wasn’t planning on living with him for at least another year, if not longer, than there was no point in having that argument today. “Yeah, that sounds good. Just let me know when and where.”

“It’ll be fun. We don’t get out much, just the two of us,” Lucky said. “But I know you’re working a lot of hours here. I’m glad. I know we argued about the apartment, but I’m okay with waiting until the summer—”

“I’m working a lot of hours here because Emily and I want to go to Florida for spring break,” Elizabeth said, grabbing Jason’s empty coffee cup and dumping it into the green tub for the dish washer. “I know you know about this. We talked about it on New Year’s. And two weeks ago. Emily and I were looking at hotels—”

“Spring break? You’re getting a whole week off and you’re going away? Were you even going to tell me?”

“What—” Elizabeth stared at him. “What is wrong with you? I literally just—we’ve talked about it at least twice. Lucky, this is ridiculous. It’s like you’re a completely different person—what happened? Why can’t you just—” Her eyes stung. “Why are you making me feel guilty every time I do something that has nothing to do with you?”

“Why doesn’t it bother you that I’m included anything? Why didn’t you ask me? We could have done spring break together. We never spend any time together because you’re always busy. You don’t want to live together, you don’t want to spend any time with me—”

“Not when every time I see you, it turns into another list of everything I’m doing wrong.”

“I have to get to work. I’ll call you about next week,” Lucky muttered. He slid off the stool, and left. Elizabeth made a face, watched him go.

——

Jason did his best to be underneath a car and incommunicado before Lucky got to work, but a customer came in, distracted him.  The younger man stomped past them, heading for the office.

When the customer left, Lucky came out of the office, his eyes hot. “I want to know what the hell you think you’re doing with my girlfriend.”

Jason stared at him, then looked behind him because there was no way this little idiot was talking to him. “What are you talking about?”

“Since when you do talk to Elizabeth? Since when do you know things about her that I don’t?” Lucky demanded.  “I’m the one that talks to her about her art—”

“Okay, we’re not doing this,” Jason interrupted. “I like you, Lucky, and I’ve known you a long time, but you’re out of line. With me, and with Elizabeth. The only reason I know anything about her art project is you didn’t tell her you’d be out of town. She came down here, she was crying, and it was too cold to make her wait for the bus. So, yeah, I asked her if she was okay. Do you have a problem with that? Because there’s the door—” he added, jabbing a finger towards the exit.

Lucky grimaced. “I did tell her. She just doesn’t listen—she never listens. It’s just like when she moved town,” he said suddenly. “She was a selfish, self-centered brat who didn’t care about anyone but herself. And I thought she’d changed. That she grew up. But now all she worries about is what she wants.”

Jason opened his mouth, mystified because everything encounter he’d had with Elizabeth Webber for the last six months had been directly the opposite. Worrying about Emily’s feelings, about Lucky’s, about everyone except for herself. But if he said that, this would keep being an argument and he did not want to be in middle of any of it.  “Then you take that up with her. Not with me.”

“Fine. Fine.” Lucky dragged a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I know you’re not interested in her. I know that. I just—she’s driving me crazy. Maybe I need a change of scenery. I know you said things were slow right now, but there has to be something I can do for you and Sonny. Sometimes that might take me out of town for a few days to clear my head.”

“Yeah, maybe. I’ll call him. You could always do the Puerto Rico run next week,” Jason said, heading for the car on the lift. “An you wait that long?”

“Next week? Yeah. That’d be good. Perfect. Thank you. I’m sorry.”

“Just don’t let it happen again,” Jason said, already dismissing the whole thing.

—

Emily rolled over on her bed, and leaned up on her elbows. “Honestly, what is his damage lately? He’s been ticked at me, too. First because of Juan — and he’s just mad because Juan’s basically perfect, and he can’t complain about him without sounding like an idiot—”

“Doesn’t seem to be a problem for him,” Elizabeth muttered, sorting through her clothes.

“And then he’s mad at me because I asked you to room with me and had my grandfather pull strings to get you in free of cost. Listen, if I can’t use being a Quartermaine for my advantage, what’s the point?” Emily sat up, crossed her legs. “What are you doing?”

“Thinking about what to wear next week for Valentine’s Day. He wants to take me some place nice. It might be good for us,” Elizabeth admitted. “I mean, he’s right. I’m not really prioritizing him. You know, maybe we should just pick a night every week and make it date night, you know?” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “And I didn’t tell him how that art project turned out. When I got my project back, I thought about telling your brother because, like, he gave me the push I needed. I should have told Lucky—”

“You think a date night is going to fix any of that?” Emily asked dubiously. “I think maybe not.”

“Not just a date night.” Elizabeth came out of the closet with a dress, held it against her. “I think maybe Lucky’s pushing for us to live together because…well, he won’t say it. But he’s waited a long time, you know? And we haven’t—” Her cheeks flushed. “We haven’t.”

“Yeah, but that’s because you’re not ready,” Emily said. “I’m not either, and I told Juan, we can do stuff, but not that. Not yet. I only get one first—” She cut off. “Um—”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say that. Lucky and I don’t even do stuff,” Elizabeth admitted. “Nothing under the shirt. Or really over it,” she added. “He doesn’t push, and I haven’t really…sent any signals. But I think it might help. To get us back to where we used to be. We were so close, you know? Like one person—”

“But you’re not one person. You’re you, and you’re in college, and you get to be your own person. He chose not to come here with us this year, that’s not on you. I think he’s just mad that you’ve got your own thing going on here. With me, and the classes, and the art thing. He’s not part of it, and he’s never had to work at being the center of attention with you. You didn’t…”

“I didn’t have anything else,” Elizabeth said with a sigh. “I made Lucky my whole world, and now I don’t need to do that. We need to find a new balance. I love him, Emily. I want him to be happy. So maybe I should—maybe I should push myself. It’s Lucky. I know he won’t hurt me.”

“If you’re sure,” Emily said.

“I am. And we’re going shopping, because I want to look perfect.” Elizabeth sat on the bed next to her. “I can dip into spring break savings for this. It needs to be special. I want Lucky to know how much I love him.”

—

Jason slid out from under the car, then headed for the sink to wash the grease and oil from his hands and beneath his fingernails. He was using a scrub brush on the latter task when he heard the outside door open. “We’re closed,” he called, concentrating on the nails. “If it’s an emergency, it’ll be—” He trailed off when Elizabeth came around the corner, wearing her white winter coat. Her hair was gathered on her head, with loose pieces hanging down, and her make up was darker than normal—her eyes and lips.

She licked those ruby red lips now, looked around, then sighed. “He’s not here, is he?”

Jason set the scrub brush aside. “Lucky?”

“I think I knew it when I sat in the lobby of our dorm.” Elizabeth shook her head. “But I thought — maybe I got the plans mixed up. Maybe I was supposed to meet him here, right? Closer to downtown and restaurants. But no, he’s just not here. Did he say where he was going? Maybe I missed—”

That rat bastard, Jason thought, dimly thinking of the date he’d scrawled on the invoice. Valentine’s Day. “You had plans with him, tonight?” he asked carefully. He reached for the towel to dry his hands and forearms. “When did you …when did he make them?”

“He left a message on the phone at the dorm Saturday morning, and I left a message for him when I got it—” She frowned. “Why?”

“Because Lucky flew down to Puerto Rico Saturday afternoon,” he said slowly, deciding that when the kid came back, Jason was going to rip out his throat. “I’m sorry—”

“Puerto Rico? Was it an emergency or something?” Elizabeth asked. “He didn’t leave a message for me or anything?”

“No. No.” He’d asked for the damn job, hadn’t he? Hadn’t balked when Jason gave him the dates.

“Not a last minute thing, then. He knew on Saturday morning he wasn’t going to be here tonight.” Elizabeth exhaled slowly, dipped her head down, and Jason knew from the way her voice trembled that she was likely close to tears. She closed her eyes. “Can I—I need to sit down.”

“Uh, yeah, yeah—” Jason came forward, found one of the stools and made sure the top was clean. He nearly touched her elbow, to guide her, then remembered he hadn’t finished cleaning under his nails. “I’m sorry—”

“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said, looking up at him, with a smile even though tears were clinging to her lashes. “I always seem to show up here and ruin your night, huh? It’s kind of turning into our thing.” She used the tip of her index finger to carefully flick away an errant tear. “God. This is so exhausting. I just need a minute, and then I’ll get out of your hair.”

“You don’t have to do that,” he said. He found another stool, sat across from her. “You can be mad.”

“I’m sure I will be. Especially—” She stood back up, unbuttoned her jacket and tossed it aside. Beneath it, she wore a blue dress made of material that looked slippery. It was strapless, curving in at the bodice and fell to her knees.  “When I get my credit card statement for this because I already took off the tags? I’m pretty sure I’m going to be furious.”

She dropped back to her stool. “But right now, I just—of all the nights to pull this kind of stunt—to make me come all the way down here—to tell me he was taking me to a fancy, expensive restaurant so I’d dress up and spend all day on my hair and makeup so he’d be proud to sit with me—and he knew the whole time he was going to do this.”

Elizabeth stared down at her nails. “Tonight. Of all nights,” she said. “He did this to me. As if I don’t have a reason to already hate Valentine’s Day, he has to add this to the list. Why?” She looked at him. “What did I do wrong?”

“I don’t think I can answer that,” Jason said, even though he wanted to tell her nothing. Because nothing was worth this kind of punishment, and he was almost positive that this was entirely Lucky’s fault. “I’ll —”

“Drive me home? Yeah. Why not. Why even bother to argue about the bus? Right?” She rose, reached for the jacket she’d discarded, then paused. “You know the project I turned in? The one that my professor said showed vulnerability?”

He had the distinct feeling he was not going to enjoy where this conversation would go. “Yeah—”

“I didn’t show you the finished sketch.” She wasn’t looking at him now — she facing away, her back straight, her shoulders tense. “You said you had trouble with them, and it wasn’t important anyway. But Lucky didn’t like that I’d made it into a grade.”

“I remember.”

“It was Valentine’s Day. Two years ago. The fountain in the park. The stone one with the benches. Do you know it?”

“Elizabeth—”

“It’s a winter scene. Everything is dead. Grays, whites, blacks, browns. There’s almost no color in it. Except for a red shoe. The strap was broken.  I had a jacket, but I don’t know what happened to it. I never did.” She turned to look at him now, her face white but there no tears now. “Lucky found me that night, crawling out the snow. Broken. Dirty, bruised. A trembling mess. He brought me home, and he made me feel safe. And last year, on this day, he tried to give it back to me. He told he’d love me forever.” She picked up her jacket, drew it on. “I’m not sure I like what his idea of love looks like anymore.”

He knew what night she was talking about — Emily had mentioned it, Lucky had brought it up. But listening to her recount the barest of details about it — the way it had looked that night, how she’d felt afterwards — his skin felt cold and hot all at once, and he knew those sensations were coming from inside him — he didn’t feel surface temperatures that well.

“I’m sorry,” Jason said. “That Lucky did this.”

“Me, too.” Elizabeth bit her lip, and some of the life came back into her eyes. “And I’m sorry I made it your problem—”

“It’s not a problem,” Jason said. He picked up his keys, found his jacket. “And even if it was, Lucky created it. Not you. You did nothing wrong, you know that, don’t you?”

“I—”

“Whatever he tells you is the reason he did this to you tonight, it won’t be good enough,” he said, and she closed her mouth. “He knew you’d get dressed up, probably knew you’d buy something. And he probably knew you’d wait for him for a long time. Maybe he didn’t think you’d come all the way down here. He wanted you to feel this way, Elizabeth. So when you find the anger he deserves, I want you to remember that.”

“I will.” She smiled faintly. “Thank you. We’re making this a bad habit, aren’t we?”

He led her to the door, held it open. “Careful, the cement is slippery, and I don’t want you to get hurt. I don’t mind driving you home. And there are worst things in the world than spending a few minutes every once in a while talking with a friend.”

He opened the SUV door for her, and she looked at him. “We’re friends, huh? I’m not just your little sister’s best friend?”

“No,” Jason said. “You’re not.”

Written in 62 minutes.

---

February 1999

“I need your advice.”

Jason sighed, then slid out from beneath the car to find his sister standing over the car, her arms folded, the toe of her sneaker tapping against the concrete floor. “Should I call Alexis? Does anyone need bail money?” He got to his feet, reached for a rag. “Or is it the other kind of advice?”

“You know, you get arrested once—”

“Twice, but who’s counting.” Jason leaned against the driver’s side door. “What’s up, Em? Everything okay?” His mouth tightened. “Is it Juan?”

“Oh, you’d love that,” Emily muttered. “No, Juan is the model of the perfect boyfriend, thank you very much. It’s Elizabeth. And Lucky.”

Jason grimaced and shook his head. “I’m not getting involved in that. He’s avoiding which means he knows I’m pissed. That’s good enough—” He headed for the sink, but Emily’s next words stopped him dead.

“She forgave him.”

He turned, looked at her. “What? What are you talking about?”

“He came home, apologizing all over the place. He had bouquets of white roses delivered to her at our dorm, at her grandmother’s place—” Emily bit her lip. “And he had an excuse ready. He said he found out at the airport what dates he was going to be gone, and he tried to call her but he thinks the message got messed up. He had tears in his eyes. Told her over and over again he’d never hurt her like that. Not on Valentine’s Day. And she was crying, and he hugged her, and she forgave him.”

“That’s a lot of details.”

“I refused to leave the room. I thought someone should be listening with a clear head. You look mad. At her forgiving him?”

A little, Jason thought. But Elizabeth was young, and she’d been hurt. “No. At Lucky for pulling that stunt. He knew on Friday what the dates were.”

Emily perked up. “Did you tell her that?”

Jason opened his mouth, then thought back to the conversation. “No, I think—I thought I implied it when I said he knew he was leaving on Friday. But I don’t remember telling her that specifically. Or that he asked for a job out of town. I told him to take the run. He knows it’s usually a week.”

Emily pressed her lips together, looked away. “I wanted her to light him on fire. To throw him out the window. I told her that. I said it’s okay. He might have been my first friend, but you’re my best friend, and I know a guy who can hide the body—you’re the guy,” she told Jason who just rolled his eyes. “And she just shook her head. Because Lucky convinced her he messed up.”

“If the advice is asking me how to get away with a crime, I’ll give Alexis’s number and send you on your way,” Jason told her dryly. “Outside of that, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“I just—” Emily looked away. “I guess I need to know if I push this. Because this isn’t the first time Lucky’s been thoughtless. Or tried to make Liz believe something that isn’t true. You know they had this plan for New York right?”

“Yeah. It fell through.”

“She didn’t get into the art school, so they regrouped. And, yeah, okay, originally, Liz was just going to do a semester with me while they saved money. But then we started talking about decorating, and going to orientation, and it was just—I got really excited. And she was, too. We thought — let’s go make college everything high school wasn’t. We let ourselves get derailed by—” Emily made a face. “Well, you know, the drugs and the blackmail for me. And…you know what happened to Liz. College, it could be our chance to be silly and stay up all night and—I don’t know. We just got ourselves all hyped up for it, and so Liz told Lucky it would make sense to stay the whole year and they’d revisit living together next summer.”

“So?”

“So, I was there. I know she told him. I know he wasn’t thrilled, but he sucked it. And he agreed. But he brings it up all the time like she sprang it on him last minute or he’s acting like she’s doing some huge betrayal by just…changing her mind. She’s started to wonder if maybe she didn’t really give him a chance to weigh in. Like, ask for his blessing to change our plans.” Emily looked at Jason. “Has he said things like that around you?”

“He’s…” Jason sighed. “He’s mentioned it, yeah. But you’re almost halfway done. That shouldn’t matter—”

“Well, Liz started to think maybe she didn’t want to live with him at all. Like, maybe we’d stay together for all of college. And as soon as she brought it up to him, he like lost his mind, and he’s been so mean ever since. And Juan? He told me Lucky was really pissed at Liz when she took me to the airport. You were there. Was he?”

“Emily—”

“I just—she’s my best friend, Jason. More than that. She put herself on the line for me. She came to that studio to help me. To warn me. And she got taken hostage by the man who hurt her. She was so scared, but she fought back, and I just—” Emily rubbed her arm. “I don’t know. She’s always been in my corner one hundred percent. And I just kind of think I should do that for her.”

“It sounds like you are. Other than hiding a body, what do you need from me?”

“I think Lucky’s angry because Elizabeth isn’t all about him anymore. Her whole life revolved around him for over a year because he was there after…after. He basically put her back together, the way she tells it. Slept on her floor when she was scared. Went to lineups. Tried to help her find the attacker. Like, constantly together. But this year? He’s not the center anymore. She’s not acting the way he thought she would.”

Jason looked down at his hand. “She’s acting like her old self,” he said quietly, and Emily looked at him wide eyes. “He told me that. That she’s acting like when she first came to town. He called her a selfish self-centered brat.”

“Oh. Oh.” She pressed a fist to her mouth. “Oh, that’s horrible. God, Jason, he’s mad because she feels like she did before the rape? When she was happy and not broken? Oh, God. Don’t you see how bad that is?”

He was starting to. “Em—”

“Can you imagine that? The horror of knowing the guy who said he loved you forever only loves the version of you that’s a crying mess?” She sat on a nearby stool. “What do I do? She’ll never believe it if I tell her that. She’ll think I heard it wrong. Or that you did. What do I do?”

“I don’t know that you can do anything. Just be there for Elizabeth.”

“Okay.” Emily grimaced. “But if I eventually end up kicking his ass, I want you to tell the judge and jury I was provoked.”

—

“It’s freaking me out,” Juan said to Nikolas as they watched Elizabeth bus a table, then head into the kitchen. “She’s quiet. I’ve never known her to be quiet.”

Nikolas hated to agree with Juan on any subject, but well — “She says they straightened it out, but I think maybe—”

“Maybe what?” Elizabeth asked, emerging from the kitchen and coming back behind the counter. She topped off Juan’s water glass. “More coffee?” she asked Nikolas.

“No, I need to go to sleep before dawn,” he told her. “I was thinking maybe we should do something for spring break. It’s next month right?”

“Three weeks. Emily and I were saving money for something, but we never figured out what.” She busied herself with wrapping utensils in napkins. “But I should stay in Port Charles. You know, Lucky’s always saying we don’t spend enough time together—”

“But how many college spring breaks are you going to get?” Nikolas interrupted. “You should go to Florida or something.”

“And do what? Drink myself into a coma?”

“Relax on a beach.”

“Plus, you’ve got that art thing coming up the second half of the semester,” Juan pointed out. “Didn’t you say you had a ton to do for that? You need to chill and like, you know, be at your best.”

Elizabeth furrowed her brow, looked back and forth between the two of them. “What’s going on here? You’re both acting so weird. Since when do either of you are about my workload?”

“Well, you know, you’re my best friend,” Nikolas said.

“And your best friend is the love of my life,” Juan said, “so it’s in my best interest to keep you happy. Wait, that’s not the right answer. Because I like you.”

“I like you, too, but that still doesn’t change the fact that you both—” She stopped, sighed. “Emily got to you both.”

“I resent that.” Nikolas paused. “Lucky told me his side and that got to me. I thought I’d come check on you.”

“Emily got to me,” Juan confessed. Nikolas whacked him. “What? I thought we weren’t supposed to lie—”

“Emily’s heart is in the right place, but really, it’s all settled—”

“What is?” Lucky dropped onto the stool next to his brother, grinned at Elizabeth. “Hey. What time are you done tonight?”

“Eight. But I have a test to study for, so I really can’t do anything after. Oh—” Elizabeth checked the clock on the wall. “I’m going to take my break. I’ll be back.”

“I’ll come with you—” But Nikolas grabbed Lucky’s shirt collar and yanked him back before Lucky could follow his girlfriend.

“It’s all settled,” Nikolas echoed. “So she says. And you say she forgave you—”

“Forgave me—what about her? She told everyone I was an asshole who stood her up on Valentine’s Day—”

“Looking for the lie,” Juan muttered more to his soda than to the world, but Lucky heard it and narrowed his eyes.

“I’m the one who should be mad! She didn’t even try to think about why I didn’t tell her about the change in plans—”

“Because she knew why, jackass. And you know why. Maybe Elizabeth is swallowing the cell phone thing but that’s because she wants to. Me? I know you better than that, Lucky. I’ve known you longer. And I know you can be a vindictive, spiteful, petty little brat.”

“You’re really going to pick a fight with me over this? I thought we were past all that—”

“And I thought you were more than the little punk who punished his mother for having another son,” Nikolas shot back, and Lucky’s cheeks went bright red. “Yeah. Elizabeth wasn’t around for that. You think she’d think fondly of you if she knew how you treated me just for existing? Before you even knew me? I thought you’d grown up. I thought you were better than that.”

“Well, then I guess we were both wrong—” Lucky started to get up, but Nikolas shoved him back onto the stool with one hand on his shoulder.

“Sit down and shut up. I don’t know what the hell crawled up your ass since Liz and Em started college, but you’re going to dig it out and get rid of it fast. Because this time? Liz swallowed your bullshit. But you and I know there’s going to be a next time.”

“Are you done?” Lucky asked coolly. “Tell Elizabeth when she has time for me, she knows where to find me.” He twisted off the stool, then stalked out of the diner.

Juan watched him go. “What’s the stuff about his mom?”

“Old business,” Nikolas murmured, feeling old and tired. He dragged a hand down his face. “I knew. The minute Emily told me that he’d set up the plans and then boarded the plane. He wanted to hurt her. I knew he’d done it. Maybe he’s convinced himself he didn’t, but I know he did it. And I can’t really look at him right now without wanting to throw him out a window.”

He turned back to the counter, smiled when Elizabeth came back, her brow furrowed. “Where did Lucky go?”

“He had something to do. He said call him after your test tomorrow. You know what, Liz, maybe some I’ll have some coffee after all. Decaf.”

—

“Okay, I’m just going to go over this with her one more time,” Emily said, tugging her coat back on and sweeping her from underneath the collar. “Lucky asked for the job, and he knew the dates on Friday. Before he ever confirmed plans.”

Jason retrieved his leather jacket. “Yes. And if she doesn’t want to believe it, Em, you need to drop it. You’re not going to do either of you any good if you push her too far. She’ll get there in her own time.”

“I know. I know you’re right, but I hate it. It’s just—she’s the only one who gave Juan a chance. I’m not stupid, Jason. No one liked him. Liz was just quiet and nice about it. And she supported me anyway. She put me first. Like she always does. She deserves the same from me.”

“And you’re doing that—” Jason began but the door slammed open and Lucky strode in, stopping dead when he saw the two of them. He started to back away, but Emily was already striding forward.

“Oh, you better not go anywhere—”

“I’m not in the mood for another round of what an ass I am,” Lucky retorted. “I’m tired of being everyone’s punching bag. I get it, Elizabeth made sure everyone knew what she thinks I did—”

“You think she told us? You dumbass. Who do you think waited in the lobby with her?” Emily snapped. “I knew you were late. But I never thought you’d stand her up. And you’re damn right, I told Nikolas. But Juan was with me — and Jason — well, Liz was so worried about you she came all the way down here only to find out you were gone. She didn’t tell anyone. She was mortified.”

Lucky shot Jason a fulminating glance. “Yeah, I’m sure Jason was thrilled to come to her rescue again.”

Jason lifted his brows. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, don’t you dare—that is not the direction you’re going with this,” Emily said, slapping her hands on her hips. “Jason was minding his business and Elizabeth was upset.”

“I tried to leave a message—”

“On the cell phone you’re always saying is a piece of trash, so Lucky, why’d you even bother with it?” she demanded. “You never call it. You always call the dorm. But that day of all days, you’re claiming it was the cell?”

“I tried to tell her I mixed up the dates—”

“You didn’t,” Jason said, and Lucky stared at him, a bit stunned. “You know you didn’t. You asked for that job. I told you it was Puerto Rico. And I told you that you’d be back on the sixteenth. You knew that. Before you ever called Elizabeth to make plans.”

“That is—” He swallowed hard. “Maybe it’s how you remember it, but it’s not what happened—”

“You no good rotten liar,” Emily burst out. “You broke her heart, made her feel stupid and humiliate it, and you’re blaming her phone for not getting the message! Is anything ever your fault?”

“I thought we were friends,” Lucky said, and now some of the anger had faded. “We’ve been friends forever, Em—”

“You’re not going to twist this the way I watched you do to Liz. I’m not an idiot, Lucky. I’m not in love with you. And you’re no friend of mine, let me tell you—”

“I get it! Fine!” Lucky threw up his hands. “I’m always wrong! It’s always my fault! Elizabeth changes the plans without telling me, and she’s never around, never makes time for me, but hey, I missed a date, so it must be me that’s the problem—”

“You didn’t miss a date,” Emily bit out. “You missed that date, and you damn well know why it matters. Because you intended it to. You loaded the gun, aimed it, and pulled the trigger, and bullseye. You hit the target dead on. She is devastated. So devastated that she is clinging to the absolute bullshit you fed her in order to make it go away. I hope you’re happy, Lucky. She’s quiet and sad again. Isn’t that exactly how you like her?”

Lucky’s face was white and he spun around, storming out of the garage. Emily closed her eyes, took a deep breath. Looked at Jason. “Did I go too far?”

“Not as far as I would have, but then he’d still be on the floor if it’d been me,” Jason muttered.

“Jason. I can tell Elizabeth what you told me, but it’s not going to mean the same thing. You’re the one who gave him the dates. You know he’s lying. Lucky did this on purpose.”

“Em—”

“She trusts you. She told me that. That the only reason she was able to get through the night without breaking down completely was how kind you were. She doesn’t need my fury or Nikolas’s indignation. Not right now. She won’t listen to that. But she might listen to you. Please.”

—

Elizabeth read the same paragraph for a third time, then sighed and rubbed her eyes. She’d been studying for nearly an hour, but nothing was clicking. She’d pretended to read the entire chapter, but not a single word had stuck.

She rose from her desk, went over to her closet, and pulled it open, looking at the plastic bag with the dress she’d worn on Valentine’s Day. It was in perfect condition, but the store still wouldn’t take it back. On sale, nonrefundable. Just a pretty dress to remind her of a terrible night.

How had it all gone wrong so fast? She’d been so happy, so excited for everything that was happening around her, and now she just wanted to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head. She hadn’t felt like this since she’d received the rejection letter from New York. Or when Detective Taggert told her that her case was going to be shelved as a cold case.

It was silly to get so upset over one date. How many nights had Lucky planned for them perfectly? So he’d messed this one up with some miscommunication. He’d seemed so sorry, and she’d believed him.

But it was hard to get back to how she’d felt the day her professor had told her she was going to be in the spring showcase. Or when she’d looked in the mirror, and reminded herself that Valentine’s Day was hers — that she and Lucky had reclaimed it, and one day she might never remember that one terrible night—

The phone on her desk rang, and she picked it up. “Hello?”

“Hey, Liz. It’s Molly on the desk downstairs. You’ve got a visitor. You know the rules, though—”

Elizabeth sighed. “If it’s Lucky, tell him—”

“Oh, no way, girl.” Molly’s voice lowered. “This one is a man with a capital M. Blond hair, blue eyes, an ass to die for—is he single?”

Elizabeth’s mouth opened slightly. “Jason? He’s downstairs?”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s the name he told me. You want me to send him away? You know no male visitors after eight—”

“No. No. Um, I have to throw on some clothes and shoes. Tell him I’ll be right down.”

“Okay, but if you don’t want him, you know my deets. Hook a girl up.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but was smiling when she hung up the phone. She tossed her sweats in the hamper, shimmied into a pair of jeans and grabbed a sweater. After tying her sneakers and grabbing her jacket just in case, Elizabeth headed for the elevators.

When they opened, Jason Morgan was indeed standing in the lobby of her dorm, wearing a leather jacket over a black shirt with blue jeans. He was reading something on the wall when she approached.

“Um, hey. If you’re looking for Emily—”

Jason turned, looked at her with a hesitant smile. “No. No, I needed to talk to you. Your—” He looked at the desk where Molly wasn’t even pretending not to be staring. “Your friend said there were rules about visitors.”

“No guys after eight. For safety. Um, we could sit on a sofa—” She gestured at the lobby. “But…maybe not. I wouldn’t put it past Molly to listen in. There’s a coffee bar on campus or something.” She started walking with him towards the door. “Or something off campus. It doesn’t matter to me.”

“Yeah. Okay. I’ve got my bike if that’s okay?”

“The one from the garage?” Her smile was quick and genuine when she saw it parked near the curb. “Oh, well, you should have said that. I told you I wanted to try it.”

He handed a helmet. “Then let’s go.”

Written in 63 minutes.

---

February 1999

When the girl behind the desk had told him that the dorm didn’t allow any male visitors after eight, Jason figured maybe they could talk about it in the lobby. There were seating areas, and well, it wasn’t that complicated. He’d tell her Lucky was absolutely lying about the dates and that he’d asked for the job to go out of town. Jason would apologize for not making it clearer the other night, and then he’d leave her to figure out the next step.

But while he waited for her to come downstairs, he wandered the area looking for some place where he could tell her this, thinking of how sad she’d been that night. She wouldn’t want people staring at her or maybe eavesdropping—not after Emily had talked about Elizabeth sitting in this lobby, all dressed up, waiting for the jackass to pick her up.

By the time Elizabeth stepped off the elevator, Jason had reluctantly concluded that they probably couldn’t have this conversation in here. Maybe there was a bench or somewhere nearby. She’d suggested someplace close off campus, and he knew Kelly’s wasn’t too far. That seemed safe. He’d handed her the helmet, reminded himself to go easy. She’d never been on a motorcycle before, she’d related to him as she fastened the strap beneath her chin.

He went the speed limit for the first few minutes, but then he went into a turn a bit faster than he should have and the bike leaned to the right just a little, and he heard her laugh, her hands tightening around his waist. He sped up a little bit, taking the next turn even faster, trying to see if it was just surprise or if—

But no, she was still laughing, and she quickly learned to lean into the turns—and for some reason, instead of taking the road that led to Elm Street and the waterfront, Jason took the other one, winding up through the hills around the lake, towards Vista Point. There were more turns and chances to pick up speed. January had been icy and snow — he hadn’t really been able to get up here in a while.

When he finally pulled the bike to a stop in the parking lot, switched off the engine, Elizabeth was still laughing. She stumbled off the bike, tugged off the helmet. “Oh my God! You’re absolutely crazy! That was so fast! Everything was blurring past and the wind was rushing past—the roar in my ears! You can’t even think straight—”

“That’s why I like it,” Jason said. He parked the bike, setting the stand down. “So I didn’t go too fast?”

“No, no! I mean, well, yes, but not in a bad way—I didn’t even know it would be like that—every single turn, it was like the road got closer and closer but I never thought we’d fall, like I could always tell you were in complete control—” the words tumbled from her almost in a rush, falling over each other, and her eyes were bright and sparkling. The way they’d been that day in the airport and last week at Kelly’s when talking about her art project.

It was a relief to see it, but he also knew he might be the reason all of that faded, and he nearly changed his mind. But he’d promised his sister—and Elizabeth deserved the truth.

“I went a little further and faster than I would have normally,” Jason said. “I was going to Kelly’s, but well, it’s been a while since I’ve been up here, or had someone on the bike that might appreciate the ride. It helps when things aren’t…good.”

She bit her lip, then handed him the helmet. “You said you had to talk to me about something. I’m guessing it’s Lucky?”

“Yeah.” He stowed the helmet back on the bike, gestured towards the observation deck where there were benches. “Let’s, uh, go sit. If you’re not too cold.”

“No, I’m fine.” She followed him over to a wooden bench on the second level of the deck, and they sat down. “Did he tell you it was a mistake? He tried to call, but my cell phone is awful. I knew that—”

“I don’t know if he tried to call you,” Jason interrupted. “Maybe that part is true, but Elizabeth—he knew the dates on Friday. I confirmed them with him.”

She stared at him for a long moment, then shook her head. “No, no, because he said—”

“I should have made it clearer on Tuesday, I’m sorry. But I’ve been trying to stay out of this. It’s none of my business,” Jason continued, and she sighed, looked at her hands. She wasn’t wearing any gloves, he realized. “But at some point, staying out if it is the wrong thing to do. Especially when Lucky’s using me to hurt you.”

“How—”

“He asked for the job. To go out of town. He asked for it that day I saw you at Kelly’s. He wanted to get out of town for a few days. Then I told him about the run, and confirmed it on that Friday. I told him it would be until the sixteenth. I didn’t think about—I didn’t think about the holiday. I don’t think about that kind of thing anymore,” he added.  “He knew that morning when he talked to you. Maybe he tried to call you later — only he knows that for sure. ”

She closed her eyes, the dark lashes stark against her pale skin. “He knew.”

“Yes. He was angry that day that you’d talked to me about your project. I don’t know why—” He was skirting the edge there. He did know that Lucky had seemed jealous, that he’d made some remarks in that direction. But Elizabeth didn’t need to know that in addition to everything else Lucky didn’t seem to trust her either.

“You know…” She opened her eyes, looked at him. “I knew that. That he was lying about the message. He never calls that cell phone.”

Jason squinted. “But Emily said—”

“I wanted to believe him. I needed to believe him. And if you tell the lie enough, even to yourself, you can make it the truth.” Her voice shook slightly on the last words. “But he did it on purpose. ”

“Yes.”

“Why? W-What did I do to make him want to hurt me like that?”

“Nothing—”

“I had to have done something—” A tear slid down her cheek and she brushed at it impatiently. “You said he was mad I talked to you about my project? I don’t understand. It’s—you were just being nice to me. Why does he care about any of that?”

“Elizabeth—”

“I just don’t get it. It can’t be that. I must have done something else—”

“You didn’t do anything,” Jason said, almost too harshly, and she looked at him, startled. “You can’t make someone hurt you, Elizabeth.”

“But I hurt him in some way, and if I can just figure it out, I can fix it so I never do it again, and it’ll all go back to the way it used to be—” She shot up from the bench, paced to the end of the deck, looked out over the blackness of the lake. “I’ll just think about what I did, and —”

“Why are you taking this on?” Jason followed her, frustrated that she wasn’t reacting the way he expected. Why wasn’t she furious that Lucky had done this to her? The little bastard had set her up to be humiliated and was lying about it— “Why are you making this your fault? Do you hear yourself?”

Her lower lip quivered, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Now he felt like the jackass, and he was reminded why he stayed out of things. None of this was his business. He was just going to tell her what he knew and step out to let her handle it.

But now he realized the little bastard was going to get away with it, and he’d learn nothing from the whole thing. He’d just do worse the next time, and Jason didn’t think he could stand to watch Lucky hurt her one more time. Not when she always seemed to end up at the garage, looking at him with those eyes, trying to understand why it was happening at all.

“I—it has to be my fault,” she managed finally. She folded her arms, almost protectively around her torso. “Because if it’s my fault I can fix it. If it’s his…then I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

He bit back the obvious answer of dumping the asshole and finding someone who wouldn’t make her cry, because she wasn’t ready to hear that. “Why do you have to do anything except confront him and make him tell you the truth?”

“I need it to be a mistake,” she said softly. “Because you can forgive a mistake, you know? But…how do you forgive something like this?”

“You don’t—”

“But he loves me.” Her voice was small now, almost lost on the bitter air swirling around them. “He’s the only person who ever has.”

“That’s not true—” He couldn’t believe that. Wouldn’t.

“No, no—” She put up her hands. “Okay, you just don’t understand, okay?” She spoke fast now, like before, only it wasn’t excitement making her words fall into each other, but desperation. “Okay, you don’t know what it’s like to walk through your whole life knowing you’re just being tolerated. That people love you despite your flaws, to constantly know you’re a burden and an obligation. My mother didn’t want me — I was an accident, and she had to give up this fellowship—I was never worth it to her, I could tell. I just confused my father, Steven and Sarah were always embarrassed by me, and my grandmother had to put up with me because I showed up on her front step. Lucky’s different. He didn’t have to love me, but he did, and I don’t know if anyone else ever will. So you don’t understand what that feels like, okay? Don’t stand there and judge me because I can’t—” She broke off, pressed her hands against her mouth and started to walk away, maybe back towards the parking lot.

“Maybe I don’t know what that feels like,” Jason said, “but I know what it feels like when people who are supposed to love you look at you like you’re damaged. Stupid.”

She stopped at the steps to the upper deck, turned around to look at him. “What?”

“The Quartermaines. After the accident. They were always looking at me to be someone else. Who I was, who I wanted to be was never good enough for them. They tried to control me, force me into making the choices they wanted, and when they realized I was never going to fit the mold they’d made for me, they gave up. So maybe that’s not the same thing, but it’s not that different.”

Elizabeth took a step back towards him. “No, I guess it’s not.”

“It’s—it’s better now,” Jason said, almost not sure why he was telling her any of this. But he did understand a little bit about expectations and obligations, and not fitting in with the people who were supposed to be your family. “Emily and my grandmother. Monica. Sometimes Alan. I didn’t understand them back then. They weren’t my family, and I didn’t love them. But it made me angry and everything after the accident was harder than it has to be. I could have tried to fit what they wanted me to be. But I left. I had to figure it out for myself. I learned what love was from Robin and Sonny. Emily and Lila. They taught me what it was to be a family, to love someone else. And Michael—”

His voice was a bit rough now, and he wanted to stop, but something had opened up inside of him, and he didn’t know to stop it. “I know what it’s like now to love someone more than I loved myself. To destroy your world to keep them. I did that. I hurt Robin so I could keep Michael, and now I don’t have either of them. So, yeah, maybe I do understand why you need Lucky to just be making a mistake. Because if he’s choosing to hurt you, how can he love you? And who are you if he doesn’t love you anymore?”

—

They stood there for what felt like an eternity, Jason’s words lingering between them. Elizabeth didn’t even realize how little he’d always talked before — he’d never really spoken about himself. It had always been her dumping on him, she realized. And now — maybe he did understand in his own way why all of this was so hard.

“A few months ago,” Elizabeth said softly, “it all felt perfect, you know? We had to change our plans and stay in Port Charles, but I thought we agreed. I thought we were a team. But now it’s like he’s a different person. Or maybe I am. Maybe I’m the one that changed. He said that since I started college, I don’t make time for him, for us—”

“And that’s just more bullshit he’s feeding you,” Jason bit out, and she realized now he was really pissed off.  “Because Robin went further away to college. There were weeks and months I didn’t see her, but I never gave her any shit for that. For not being able to talk to her every day. She’s going to be a doctor, and I wanted that for her. When you love someone, you support what makes them happy. Especially when it doesn’t cost you anything to just be happy for them. Being away from her wasn’t fun, but it made being together even better. That’s what love is. Showing up for each other when you can and understanding when you can’t. So what if you got a little preoccupied with your classes and having fun at school. You were happy. I don’t even know you, and I could see that. Why couldn’t he?”

Elizabeth smiled faintly, looked away. “You don’t even know me, and you’re standing in the freezing cold arguing with me because my boyfriend’s an idiot—”

“Not an idiot. Idiots can’t control how stupid they are. Lucky’s an asshole. There’s a difference.”

She laughed at that, then pressed her hands against her mouth again, startled by it. Her tears were freezing against her skin. “Okay, well, I stand corrected. You’re arguing with me because my boyfriend’s an asshole. My point still stands.”

“What was your point?”

“I don’t know. I think I lost it somewhere. What am I supposed to do, Jason? You’re angry and I don’t know why—”

“I’m angry—” He shook his head. “It’s not your problem that I’m angry.”

“But you are, and if I caused it—”

“There you go again,” Jason said, stalking past her towards the steps. “Blaming yourself for how someone else feels. I’m mad because I knew Lucky was treating you like garbage months ago, and I said nothing to you. I knew he’d asked for that job, and I didn’t tell you that. I don’t know what telling would have solved, but maybe I’d feel less…responsible for any of it. And I’m mad I didn’t knock his teeth down his throat for the way he talks about you when you’re not around.”

“How—” She cleared her throat, tried to force the words out because the pain of that statement stole her breath. “How does he talk about me when I’m not there?”

“I—” He grimaced, shook his head. “Not like I’d ever talk about someone I loved. I shouldn’t have said anything—”

“We’re friends, aren’t we? Friends stand in the freezing cold, mad because their friend is being stubborn,” Elizabeth said. “I mean, unless you’re really mad that you’re involved and you resent being here. Because if that’s how you feel, fine. You can just drop it and take me home. Because I’m starting to get really pissed off, too. You’re acting like I asked for any of this, okay? I didn’t ask you to hire Lucky, or for him to constantly screw with me so I end up at your garage, and I always try to leave, but you’re the one who makes me stay to miss the bus—so if you don’t want to be my friend, then fine. But—” She broke off when she realized he was smiling. “What? What are you smiling about?”

“So you can get angry. I was wondering.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t act like you planned that. Because you’re annoying, but you’re not calculating.”

He lifted his brows. “I’m annoying?” he repeated. “How do you figure?”

“Because—you just—” Elizabeth threw up her hands. “I don’t know. You act like you’ve got it all together, and then you tell me all that stuff, and I was listening, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to say because you’re right about all of it. Loving someone to the point that you destroy who you are to make them happy or to keep them is stupid, and I just—I don’t want that to be me. I don’t want to be one of those dumb girls who give up everything for their boyfriend, but I think that’s who I’m starting to be. And you’re annoying because you didn’t just drop the whole thing in the beginning so I had to think about all of it.”

“Oh. Well, that explains it,” Jason said, but the corner his mouth was curved up in a half-smile, suggesting it hadn’t explained anything. “Look—I’m sorry. I really didn’t plan to make you mad. It just happened. It’s just—you were talking about how you needed to fix things. And—you know, you shouldn’t have to work harder to earn someone’s respect when they’re already not treating you the way you deserve. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know you’re right. I know it. I just don’t know what to do with any of it. It’s too big, it’s too awful,” she admitted. “It’s too much.” She looked back at him, smiled. “I appreciate you breaking your I don’t get involved rule, even though I know this is the last thing you wanted to do on a Sunday.”

Jason shrugged. “It’s fine. I haven’t been out here in a while or had anyone on the bike who seemed to like going fast.”

“Well, I did like those,” she confessed. “Can…is that as fast as you can go, or—” When his mouth curved into a full smile, her stomach fluttered.

“Only one way to find out.”

—

Jason coasted the bike to a stop in front of her dorm, and Elizabeth almost tumbled off the bike, stumbling. She was laughing again, trying to get the helmet unfastened, but her fingers were shaking. He  brushed them aside, undid the snap and pulled off the helmet.

“I think I’m actually dizzy,” Elizabeth said, the words breathy, punctuated with the giggles. She combed her fingers through her wild hair. “That was insane — how do you not get pulled over for speeding or-or reckless driving?”

“I’m faster than the cops,” Jason said, folding his arms. “So was  that as fast as you wanted it to be?”

“Don’t tell me you can go—” Her eyes were wide, and she bit her lips. “No, I’m not asking. I’m not. Because I really do have a test tomorrow, but that was the best time I’ve had in…forever.” She grinned at him. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” Jason said. He leaned against the bike. “I mean that.”

“Good night.” Elizabeth headed for her door, then turned back when she was half inside the door, waved and smiled at him one more time, and went inside.

Written in 59 minutes. Supposed to be two more scenes, lol, but the first scene ended up being 3x as long as I meant it to. Anyway — oh, and I had written February 1999 for the last two parts but it’s set in February 2000.

---

February 2000

Elizabeth let the front door of the dorm swing shut as she stepped into the lobby, still smiling and a little giddy from just how fast they’d been going—she turned and stopped short when she saw a familiar figure rising to his feet from a chair next to the lobby desk. Behind the desk, Molly made eye contact and just shrugged.

Lucky strode forward, a bouquet of white roses in his arms, his eyes burning with fury — she’d never seen that from him, not directed at her, and Elizabeth found herself taking a step back. “Lucky? What are you doing here?”

“I think I should be the one to ask the questions,” he bit out. He passed a garbage can and dumped the roses inside. She flinched. “Where the hell were you? Where did he take you?”

“I—” Elizabeth looked over her shoulder, then looked back at Lucky. “How did you—”

“Your friend behind the desk was helpful enough to describe the man she saw you leave with,” Lucky retorted, and Elizabeth sent Molly a dirty glance. The other woman pretended to be looking at the ceiling.

“I’m not talking about this here,” Elizabeth said in a low, tight voice, the temporary euphoria from the ride entirely gone. She spun around and stalked towards the door she’d just entered through.

Lucky followed her to a circle of stone benches near the dorm entrance. “I can’t believe you’re acting like you didn’t do anything wrong,” he began, when she turned back to face him. “You don’t get to be mad at me, okay? You’re the one riding off with Jason Morgan—just exactly what did you do with him the other night?”

Elizabeth lifted her brows. “I’m sorry, what are you excusing me of right now? You think Jason—you think Jason Morgan and I are engaged in some torrid little affair? Do you hear yourself?”

“Don’t act like he hasn’t been circling like a goddamn vulture for months, ready to pounce. You come in acting all happy with that stupid smile on your face, and what am I supposed to think?”

“That we love each other, that you trust me—that I would never cheat on you. And my God, Lucky, Jason is—Jason isn’t that kind of guy either—”

“Tell that to Robin. Or AJ. He’s been screwing Carly for years, but I guess he must be bored—”

“Stop it! Stop it! He’s your friend, he gave you a job, a place to live!”

“Is that why you don’t want to sleep with me?” Lucky demanded. “Because you’re getting it from someone else?”

Elizabeth put up her hands, her fingers trembling, and took a step back. “W-What did you just say to me?”

“What do you expect me to think? You won’t move in with me, you don’t spend the night at my place anymore, so I don’t even get to touch you, and then I see you with him all snuggled up on his bike—what, did you think you should get someone with a little experience to make sure you liked it this time?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, even Lucky knew he’d crossed a line because his face went stark white. “That’s not what I meant—”

Her knees buckled, and Elizabeth stumbled backwards until she felt the stone bench and sat. “Did you just—did you just—” She leaned over, pressed a fist to her middle, squeezing her eyes shut. She couldn’t breath. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t do this.

“Just listen, okay? I was mad, and I didn’t think, I’m sorry—I’m sorry—”

“To make sure I liked it this time,” Elizabeth echoed, her voice barely audible even to her own ears. She lifted her eyes to his panicked expression. “Because that was the problem, right? Last time,” she repeated, and now there was some heat in those final words. “Last time, I didn’t like it. So I wanted to find someone who has a reputation, right? That’s what you’re thinking.”

“No, it’s—”

“Damn, Lucky, you caught me. I wanted to make sure it was good this time, so I called Jason, Emily’s older brother, and your employer and landlord, and asked him to come on over and show me how it’s done because last time I got it wrong. Yeah, that’s exactly where I was tonight. Do you want to know how I did it?” she stepped towards him, her hands curled so tightly into fists her nails were digging into her palm. “Where? Or are you worried maybe you won’t measure up?”

Lucky swallowed hard, his Adam’s Apple bobbing as he just stared at her. “You’re taking this all wrong. All I meant—”

“All you meant was you think that what I went through means so little to me, what you and I have is worthless, so as soon as I got mad at you, I decided I was ready after two years of not wanting anyone to touch me, but sure, Lucky, you lie to me, stand me up, humiliate me on Valentine’s Day of all days, and I figure—this is exactly the right time.”

“I realize now,” he said carefully, “that I was just jealous—”

“Jealous of Jason. Who’s done nothing but be kind to you. He gave you a job when we were living under the docks. He gave you a place to live. And, yeah, okay, he’s been nice to me. We’re sort of friends. But you can’t picture that, you can’t conceive that I might just be friends with someone—”

“You looked at at him,” Lucky ground out harshly, and she blinked. “You were looking at him last week, and you were smiling. You think I don’t know what you look like when you’re into someone?”

“At Kelly’s? Over my art project? Are you insane? Are you high? This is—” She pressed her hands to her face. “I can’t believe I’m standing here, listening to you accuse me of cheating on you with Jason. This is—this is a joke, isn’t it? It has to be a joke. Because I smiled at him? I’ve smiled at Nikolas. At Juan—”

“Not like that. Not like you do at me—”

“Well after Jason rocked my world up at Vista Point,” Elizabeth bit out, “he told me that you were lying about Valentine’s Day. About mixing up the dates. That’s why he came to see me. Because he felt bad he didn’t tell me that night. But hey, don’t worry, he warmed me up real good, and I liked it this time.”

“You don’t have to keep talking like that,” Lucky said stiffly. “I said I was sorry—”

“Oh, well, you’re sorry, I guess that fixes everything. You know—” she closed her eyes. “He told me and I wasn’t even surprised. Because I knew it. I knew it. And I was going to let it go because I needed you to love me. I didn’t think I’d survive losing you.”

“Elizabeth—”

“But you don’t love me.  You can’t, you just can’t and say these things to me.” She opened her eyes, tears clinging to her lashes. “What I went through, what you know I went through—I could barely let my own grandmother touch me. Accept hugs from my sister. I couldn’t stand for people to look at me. To see me. And the thought of anyone being near me that way, touching me, being inside me—” She pressed a fist to her mouth, her voice breaking. “You know, Lucky. Better than anyone. You were there for my nightmares. For my tears, after every therapy session. I trusted you.”

“You can still trust me—” His voice was soft and he forward, but she slapped his hands away.

“No, no! Because you’re going to act like you did then, and you’re going to say you understand and you’re sorry, and you think I’ll believe you, but you said it! You said it, okay? And you think I threw away everything you and I built, all the trust that I had in you by thinking I’d just sleep with someone I barely know.”

There were tears in his eyes now. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me. I was just angry, and I wasn’t thinking—”

“I don’t say things like that when I’m angry. I don’t bring up the worst of your fears, your darkest moments—I don’t bring any of that up to hurt you. But that’s all you want to do, isn’t it? You just wanted to hurt me. You wanted me to feel dirty. Just like I did that night. You wanted me to remember. Why? Why did you need to do that to me? Because I was happy? Because I smiled at someone who was nice to me?”

“I know how it sounds, but—”

“You left Kelly’s and you asked Jason for a job out of town. You knew, Lucky. Don’t lie to me. You did it on purpose. You wanted to ruin that night for me. To hurt me. Don’t you see how bad that is? That day—it’s never going to be a good one for me. Because now I’m always going to remember it not just because of Tom Baker, but because of you. Why? Why didn’t you pick any other night to do this to me? Why that night? Why, damn it, I deserve to know!”

“Because—” Lucky looked away, swallowed hard. “Because I wanted you to remember last year, and what I gave you. What I could keep giving you if you just looked at me, if you put me first once in a while. That’s all—”

“What you gave me last year—” Elizabeth just stared. “What is it that you think you gave me, Lucky?”

“I—I promised to love you. That’s what we gave each other—”

“No, you wanted me to remember what you gave me. That’s what you said. Are you—” She narrowed her eyes. “Do you think that you gave me my life back? Is that what you think we did last year? What you’ve been doing for the last two years?”

“You—you said it. That I saved you—a-nd I did that. You told me that all that time—”

“I saved me,” Elizabeth said softly. “I crawled out those bushes, Lucky. I crawled to your voice, yes. But I crawled, me! I’m the one that got out of bed every day and fought back. I did those things, Lucky. You held my hand, you supported me when it was bad, when I didn’t think I could breathe. Yes, those things helped. And yes, maybe I couldn’t have pieced it back together as well without you. But I did those things, Lucky. And you don’t get to stand there and act like being a good person gives you the right to break me down when you’re angry. I smiled at Jason because he’s kind and he listened to me vent because you weren’t there. I smiled at him, and you decided that meant you had to punish me.”

Lucky dragged a hand across his mouth. “Maybe we should—we should just talk about this tomorrow. We’re both upset, and—”

“We don’t need to ever talk again, Lucky. You’ve said everything I needed to hear today. You’ve been angry with me for months, I can see that now. Picking me apart every time I didn’t do something you wanted me to do, and I just let it go, because it’s you, and I love you. I might have kept doing that, Lucky, but you went too far. Because I had the audacity to smile at another man, you punished me by destroying a night that I had just barely begun to reclaim. Thank you. For doing that. For making me see that you don’t love me. You love the broken shadow I spent months trying to fix.”

“You’re not even trying to understand where I’m coming from. Why can’t you even listen to me—”

“Because I don’t have to anymore. You said enough. You think I belong to you. That my smiles and my time and my energy and my body and my love and my soul and everything I worked so hard to give back to myself, and you think they belong to you. I will smile at Jason and any other man I want to. And one day, one day, I hope I meet someone that I love, that loves me, and that I will be able to trust them with my body. Because, despite what you think about me, I’m not sleeping with Jason. And I’m never, in this lifetime, ever going to let you touch me again. I belong to me.”

She lifted her chin. “So go home, and don’t ever come near me again. We are done.”

Lucky exhaled slowly, nodded. “Fine. Fine. I’ll go home, and I’ll wait until you calm down and we can talk about this. In a few days—in a few days, you’ll realize that this is all just a giant misunderstanding. I—I was angry. And I said things I didn’t mean. I was afraid I was losing you, but we’ll—we’ll talk about it later, okay?”

He didn’t wait for her to respond, only turned his back and walked away. Elizabeth sat back on the bench, watched as his figure disappeared around the corner, then wept bitterly, stifling her sobs with her hands.

—

Jason listened for the sound of a car pulling up outside, then left the office where he’d been waiting for Lucky to come back. He didn’t want to put this off another day, not after tonight.

Lucky trudged in through the door, blinking slightly when he looked up, saw Jason by the door. His expression twisted into a grimace. “What? You went to Elizabeth to screw me over, and now you’re here to yell at me some more?”

“I’m not here to yell at you. I’m giving you thirty days notice as required by law. Find somewhere else to live,” Jason said, leaning his shoulder against the door jamb. “And look for another job. I don’t want you here, and Sonny can’t use either.”

“You can’t—over this?” Lucky demanded. “Because of my girlfriend?”

“Because you’re a liar who has disrespected me more than once. I don’t trust you—”

“You think I trust you? You’ve been sniffing around my girlfriend for months. Maybe she’s too stupid to see it, but I know it—”

“I’m not having this argument, Lucky. You’ve got your eviction notice. It’s in writing, too.” He tossed an envelope at Lucky’s fight. “That’s it—”

“If you’re not after Elizabeth, then why did you even get involved? I saw you with her tonight,” Lucky cut in, his cheeks flushed. “I saw her on your bike, I saw you look at her, and she looked at you—”

Jason straightened. “You were at the dorms tonight? When?”

“Why? Worried I saw something I shouldn’t have?” he sneered.

“Worried you hurt or upset her more than you already have, you little shit.”

“Don’t worry about her. She can take care of herself. And she’ll have to, because if she thinks I’m going to crawl back to her now—”

Jason grabbed Lucky’s arm as he passed by, jerked him back. “What did you did do to her tonight? Did you make it worse?”

Lucky muttered something under his breath, jerked himself out of Jason’s grasp. “Oh, but you’re not after her, are you? When did you start to care so much?”

“I don’t know, Lucky, when did you stop?”

Lucky just rolled his eyes and headed for the back stairs. “Good luck with that bitch. You’ll need it.”

Written in 64 minutes.  Would you believe I originally thought I could fit all of these scenes and the last part into one update? I must have been crazy.

---

February 2000

Elizabeth made it back to her room almost in a daze, mechanically returning to the entrance of the dorms opening the door, boarding the elevator, pressing the right button—she didn’t remember any of it, but found herself standing outside the room, staring blindly at the closed door as if she’d never seen it before.

Had that just happened? Had it been a walking nightmare from beginning to end?

Elizabeth wrapped her hands around the knob, twisted, then pushed the door open. Inside, Emily was lounging on one of the single beds, stretched out on her stomach, her feet up by the headboard. She bounded to her feet at Elizabeth’s entrance. “Hey! I was wondering how long you were going—” She stopped. “What happened?”

Elizabeth exhaled slowly, then closed the door, and perched on the edge of her bed, planting her hands flat against the mattress on either side of her thighs. “I broke up with Lucky.”

“Shut up.” Emily dropped onto the bed, her brown eyes wide. “No way. Did you call him as soon as Jason told you—”

“He was waiting—” Elizabeth cleared her throat. “Jason came to the dorms. You knew that. Didn’t you?”

“I did. I figured you were out with him, but—” her friend tipped her head. “Lucky was waiting when you got back? I didn’t see him when I came in, but maybe he wasn’t here long.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know.” Elizabeth licked her lips. “Jason told me that Lucky knew. He knew, Em.” She closed her eyes, dipped her down until her chin rested against her chest. “He knew and he did it on purpose. On Valentine’s Day.”

“I’m so sorry. I’m so so so sorry—”

“I was going to let him get away with it, Em. I was going to forgive him. I knew he did it on purpose, but I wanted him to love me—” Elizabeth bit her lip. “Was he always this way and I just…I didn’t see it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I just—” Elizabeth rose to her feet, crossed to her desk and the picture frame resting at the corner — from a night at Kelly’s, sitting at one of the tables, arms around each other, grinning. She traced their faces. “It was perfect, Em. Wasn’t it? Did I imagine that?”

“No, I don’t think you did. You loved each other, and it was real. But—” Emily toyed with the cuff of her sleeve. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about it a lot since I realized things weren’t right, and maybe it was perfect because you guys made each other your whole worlds. Everything was about Lucky for you, and everything was about you for him. And maybe if that had stayed true, it would have been fine.”

“I know I changed my mind about living together. I didn’t realize it was such a big deal for him—but I just—I didn’t want to. I liked this. Sharing a room with you. Being normal.” Elizabeth looked at her friend. “I spent so much of high school not being normal. Not doing what the other girls did. I was too obsessed with Sarah, and then too scared of my own shadow. I wanted something else for myself, you know? Was that so awful?”

“No. No, it wasn’t. You know that it wasn’t. Lucky didn’t have to make it such a deal breaker. Didn’t have to take it personally.”

Elizabeth opened the drawer and put the photo inside of it. “You told Jason to tell me, didn’t you?”

“Don’t be mad at him. He just likes to let people make their own choices, but I just knew you didn’t have all the information—”

“I had it, I just didn’t know what to do with it.” Elizabeth met her friend’s eyes. “But when he confronted me with it, I guess I couldn’t ignore it. Still, maybe I could have…maybe I could have rationalized it. Let it go. But Lucky accused me of cheating on him. He saw Jason bring me back on the bike, and I was smiling at him.” She pressed her fingers to lips. “That’s all. I smiled at him, and maybe I looked happy. Because it was amazing, you know? Have you ever been on the bike?”

“He goes the speed limit when he has me on the bike,” Emily said glumly. “Brothers, man. But I know he’s a speed demon. So, Lucky saw you smiling and figured you were interested?”

“Worse. He asked me what Jason and I did after Valentine’s when he drove me home.” Elizabeth sat back down, stared at her hands. “He asked me if I wanted someone with more experience. If Jason was the reason I wasn’t sleeping with him, if I wanted someone to make sure I liked it this time.”

“If you—” Emily’s eyes went flat, her lips thinned as she pressed them together. “Excuse me?”

“He tried to take back and I’m sure he’s sorry — and maybe I could buy he hadn’t believed it even when he said it, but I just—I heard it and it was like—it was like everything went cold. And I was back in that moment. In the park.” She stared straight ahead, her vision blurring. “It was so cold, the snow and the rocks scraping against my back, but then I couldn’t feel any of that because then it was just pain and being ripped apart and held down—”

Emily was at her side, pulling Elizabeth into her arms. “It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s over. It was over two years ago—”

“I didn’t like it, I didn’t want it—” Her chest burned as the sobs rose in her throat, spilled out her lips. “I stood there and it was happening again, and he threw it at me because he was angry, and I don’t understand, I don’t understand, he saw me crawling out of the bushes, he took me home, Em. He was so sweet a-and g-gentle—how could he use that—”

“I’m so sorry, Liz. I’m so sorry and so angry, and I just—” Emily rubbed Elizabeth’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. He’s vicious when he’s hurt and he’s angry. I’ve seen him with his mother, and you know, he’s talked about his dad. But I never, ever thought he’d be like that with you.”

“He wanted to hurt me the other night. To hurt me and remember why I needed him. Why I loved him. Do you know why? Do you know what horrible crime I committed?” Elizabeth sat up, dragged her hands over her cheeks, rubbing away the tears. “I smiled at your brother when I told him about the art project. My smiles, Em. I smiled at another man, so he stood me up on Valentine’s Day, the day he thinks he gave back to me, and I guess the day he thinks he can take away again. And then I smiled at Jason again, and for that, I got accused of being a whore.”

“I hope you knocked him senseless,” Emily muttered. “Knocked his teeth right down his throat.”

Elizabeth smiled now, though it was just the faintest curve of her lips. “No. I told him your brother rocked my world and warmed me up for Lucky, and asked if he wanted details.”

Emily stared at her for a long moment, her lips quivering then she snorted, and they both broke into giggles. “Oh, that’s almost as good. I wish I could have seen his face.”

“He was pretty angry about that, but I just—” Elizabeth sighed. “He’s been like this for months, hasn’t he? Months of punishing me.”

Emily made a face, returned to her side of the room. “A little bit, yeah. I was thinking about it after Valentine’s Day, because I thought — it’s absolutely wild how crazy he went. Like, to set that up just to humiliate you? But he’s sort of been doing it all along. You decided to room with me for the year. Who helped us move into the room?”

“Jason,” Elizabeth said. “Lucky had some emergency, but I bet if I asked his mother, Laura wouldn’t know anything. And—” Her mouth pinched. “Thanksgiving. He was angry with me for using his car to drop you at the airport. He refused to loan it to me. I called Jason.”

“And you said you saw Jason before Christmas at the garage about the art project because Lucky wasn’t there. Didn’t you and Lucky have a fight before that day, too?”

“I’m sure we did. Every time I disagreed with him…it must have drove him crazy that Jason seemed to be there every time. I guess that’s better than him plucking some other guy out of the air to accuse me of cheating.” Elizabeth drew her legs up on the bed, sat cross-legged. “Was it always going to be  this way? If we’d gone to New York, and I’d disagreed with him, who I would have talked to? I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I’m glad I got rejected from that school.”

“Me, too. I’m sorry Lucky upset you tonight. It kills me that he did this,” Emily added. “He’ll come back, he’ll apologize. He’s good at apologies, you know. Don’t let it go. What happened tonight? He’ll just do it again.”

“I know. I know. Thanks for telling Jason to tell me the truth. I needed that wakeup call.”

“I knew if anyone could get through to you, it’d be him.” Emily wrinkled her nose. “Just don’t ever joke about my brother and sex again, okay? Because there are limits to what a sister can put up with. Ew.”

“I can’t imagine a single circumstance in which I’ll ever have to think of Jason and sex again.” Elizabeth lifted her brows. “Then again, having ridden on the bike with him with my arms around—”

“Shut up!” Emily squealed, throwing the pillow at her. Elizabeth threw it back, and a minute later they’d started a pillow fight, and the horror of her night had faded.

—

The next morning, Elizabeth had the lunch shift after her morning classes, and was hoping that Lucky would avoid her like the plague at least for a few days. She’d gone to bed the night before, feeling a bit lighter after her conversation with Emily, but this morning —

This morning, it had all flooded back, and it lingered now, like a thin layer around her shoulders pressing her down. Had it been real? Or had she just been fooling herself all this time? Had Lucky loved her or the mess she’d been? Had he just been good at rescuing the damsel in distress, and not so interested when the damsel had healed herself?

She lost herself in the monotony of the job, in taking orders, delivering them, making small talk with her regulars, refilling drinks, pocketing her tips — and didn’t notice when Nikolas slid onto one of the stools by the counter.

“Hey, do you have a minute?”

Elizabeth eyed him warily, went for the water pitcher to fill a glass for him. “That depends.”

“I was having breakfast with my mother and Lulu this morning, and imagine my surprise when my brother came down the stairs in a rotten mood.” Nikolas accepted the glass, popped a straw inside.

“So I guess you’ve heard then.”

“I heard his side, but I’m thinking maybe he’s an unreliable narrator.” He lifted his brows. “Unless you’re having a raging affair with the local gangster and that’s why Lucky’s out of a job and apartment—”

“Wait. What?” Elizabeth stared. “What?”

“Which part is the surprise? All of it? Or the living arrangements?”

“The living arrangements—the first part is Lucky’s fantasy. Apparently, if you smile at a man who’s given you a few rides at home, that means you’re screwing him in the backseat,” Elizabeth muttered. “Then again, there’s not really a backseat of a motorcycle, is there?”

Nikolas furrowed his brow. “You’ve lost me.”

“I’m not sleeping with Jason,” Elizabeth hissed, then glanced around furtively. Good, no one was listening. “Of course I’m not. It’s ludicrous for about a million reasons. For one, until last night, I was in a committed relationship. For two, Jason wouldn’t look at me in a million years.”

“And three, you’re not interested,” Nikolas prompted. She rolled her eyes, grabbed a tub to bus a few of the tables, then dumped them in the kitchen. “I’m not judging, you know that. I don’t exactly have the greatest history—”

“Yeah, I can see why you’re be questioning my morals since you were sleeping your uncle’s fiancee at Emily’s birthday party—”

“Hey. Low blow.” He paused. “And she wasn’t my uncle’s fiancee anymore. Or my father’s—damn it.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry—” Elizabeth pressed her hands to her face. “This is the stupidest conversation I’ve ever had. And we’re way off topic. Lucky set me up on Valentine’s Day to be stood up and humiliated because I had the audacity to smile at Jason, and he drove me home that night. That’s his entire evidence for this affair, by the way, in case that’s important.”

“I don’t believe him, Liz. I just thought you might want to know the side of the story he’s spreading. Did you know Jason was going to fire him and give him notice?”

“No, I didn’t. But I can’t say I blame him if Lucky’s saying that kind of thing to anyone who will listen. This is ridiculous, Nikolas. Why do I have to defend myself—”

“I’m not asking you to. I guess maybe I thought it was as insane as you did, and I was trying to have a little fun with it. I see that wasn’t the right tactic. I’m sorry.”

“It’s—it’s fine. I can’t believe after all this time he went home. He never acted like it was an option before.” Elizabeth bit her lip. “Jason fired him and gave notice? Last night?”

“He said he had thirty days but didn’t want to deal with Jason anymore. You really didn’t know he was going to do that?”

No, she hadn’t, and she didn’t know why it surprised her. Maybe because Jason had known for almost a week what Lucky had done and hadn’t shown any hint of wanting to fire him or throw him out the night before—

After her shift was over, she walked the few blocks to the garage, twisting her fingers together as she stepped inside the customer’s entrance and headed for the garage bay. “Hello?”

Jason peered out from around the raised hood of a red sedan, his white shirt smeared with grease. He reached into his back pocket for a rag, wiped his hands. “Elizabeth?”

“Hey. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting something—”

“No. No.” He cleared his throat. “Lucky’s not here if you’re looking for him—”

“I’m not.” Elizabeth folded her arms, looked down at the concrete floor briefly before raising her eyes to his again. “Um, Nikolas told me that you fired Lucky. And kicked him out.”

Jason pressed his lips together, looked away. “I’m not changing my mind if that’s what you’re here to do—”

“No,” Elizabeth said quickly. “No, I’m not. I—I saw him last night. He was waiting at the dorms when you dropped me off.”

Jason nodded, exhaled on a huff. “He mentioned that. Did he—” He hesitated, made a face, as if he was annoyed with himself. “He didn’t say anything that made it worse, did he?”

“Um, well, I guess that depends on your perspective on what could make it worse, you know—anyway, it’s not important—”

“What did he do?” Jason demanded, coming around the side of the car, his eyes flattening. “He was ticked off when he got back, but if he put a hand on you—”

“He wouldn’t do—” Elizabeth’s throat closed and she looked away. “I’d like to think that’s not something he’d do, but I’m not sure I can say that anymore. It’s like I never really knew him. Or maybe I never—anyway, I don’t want to talk about it. He said—he said something awful, and it was the last straw, and I broke up with him. And I’m not changing my mind. But I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Then we won’t. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make any of this worse for you—”

“You didn’t. Um, just the opposite really.” She smiled at him, a bit shyly. “He was there with roses. White ones. And I—I think maybe if you hadn’t come by first, no—I know it for sure. If you hadn’t been there, I would have just let him go. I would have forgiven him and maybe down the road, it would have been worse, and I would have months of being unhappy and miserable instead of just a few weeks. So…thank you. I know you didn’t want to get involved, and I’m officially absolving you from having to be a part of this, okay? Whatever Lucky says, it’s not about you.”

Jason stared at her for a long moment, then tilted his head to the side. “He’s saying something that’s going to piss me off, isn’t he?”

“No, I mean, probably. But it’s also ridiculous, and no one is going to believe him or take it seriously. Okay? So don’t worry about it. It’s just—he saw me smiling at you last night, and he thought—but it’s stupid, and he knows that. He just needs a reason to tell people why I broke up with him, and he can’t ever give the real one.”

Jason sighed, then closed the hood on the car he’d been working on. “You smiled at me,” he repeated. “Yeah, I know what he’s saying. Don’t worry about it.”

“Good. Good. I just wanted to tell you that, and to thank you for last night. You and then Emily — well, it could have been a really bad night, and it wasn’t all the way, so thanks.”

“Yeah, sure.” Jason paused, then lifted his brows. “If you give me ten minutes to wash up, I’ll give you a ride back to the dorms.”

“A ride?” Elizabeth’s eyes lit up. “On the bike? Sure.”

“No arguing that you don’t need one? What happened to the bus?” But he was grinning when he said it, already heading for the sinks.

“See, you should have just offered the motorcycle months ago,” she called after him. “I’m never saying no to that.”

Written in 63 minutes.

---

February 2000

Lucky slumped into a seat at the kitchen table, glared down at the wooden surface. Two years of living on his own and he was right back where he’d started — in the Spencer house, in his damn high school bedroom.

Across the table, his younger sister beamed at him, tapping her spoon against the table. “Mommy, Mommy. Juice.”

“Just a minute,” Laura said, coming to the table and setting down a glass of juice and bowl of cereal. “Did you want something, Lucky?”

“No.” He leaned back against the chair, squinted at her. “This is just temporary, okay? Until I can find an apartment. Jason didn’t really leave me a lot of notice.”

“I don’t understand why he’d throw you out like this,” his mother said, returning to the table and taking a seat. “You’ve worked for him for more than a year. Did you have an argument? Maybe your father should talk to him—”

“He wants Elizabeth,” Lucky said flatly. He sat up, dragged his hands down his face. Easier to blame it on Jason, he thought. To remember the way Elizabeth looked when she smiled at him than the other night when she’d just stared at him with that shattered look in her eyes. He’d seen it before, more than once, but he’d never…

It had never been his fault before.

No, he’d said the wrong thing but she wouldn’t even listen to him, wouldn’t even try to understand how upset he was, how sorry he’d been. He’d just wanted her to listen to him, to stop pretending that everything hadn’t changed—that she hadn’t changed.

“Oh, I don’t think that’s it. Elizabeth is…well, she’s not his type—” Laura hesitated, closed her mouth, and Lucky wondered if his mother was thinking about Robin Scorpio, another petite brunette who’d worshiped at the altar of Jason Morgan. “At any rate, Jason owes you thirty days notice—”

“You think I’m going to take him to court?” Lucky snorted, shook his head. “Forget it, Mom.”

“Hey—” Nikolas pushed through the door. “I’m here to take Lu to school.”

“You’re early,” Lulu told him with a sigh. “I’m still eating.”

“My apologies, I guess Mother and Lucky will just have to entertain me while you finish.” Nikolas looked at him warily. “How are you? Better since I saw you the other day?”

“I’ve lost my place to live, my job, and my girlfriend. How do you think I’m doing?”

“Well, maybe you don’t accuse your boss and landlord of sleeping with your girlfriend,” Nikolas suggested.

“I told you, Lucky, that you’re just seeing things. Elizabeth is friendly to everyone, you know that—”

“How am I the only person who sees that she’s changed? She’s not the same girl I fell in love with.” Lucky launched himself out of his chair, crossed to the fridge. “She spends time with Jason, but I never see her—”

“Managed to call her didn’t you?” Nikolas said, coming up behind him. Lucky scowled at her. “You tell Mother about that one?”

“Tell me about what? What’s going on?”

“Shut up, Nikolas. You don’t know everything—”

His gaze never leaving Lucky’s, Nikolas just smiled. “I know enough. Mother, you know about Valentine’s Day, don’t you? Why it’s a day that…might be difficult for Elizabeth?”

“Nikolas—”

“I don’t like what this is doing to the two of you,” Laura said, coming over to them, her arms folded, her expression pinched. “You just learned to be brothers—”

“My brother, Mother, asked Jason to send him out of town for a few days. And then my brother called his girlfriend, told her to get all dressed up for a night out on Valentine’s Day. A Tuesday night, if I recall.”

Laura’s lips parted. “Oh, Lucky—”

“Elizabeth waited all night in the lobby of her dorm, then took the bus to the garage to see if she’d messed up the message. Jason had to tell her Lucky were gone. That he’d been gone for days. He drove her home.”

Laura pressed two fingers to her lips, shook her head. “I can’t believe you’d do that to her, Lucky. Of all nights? And why? For what possible reason?”

“She smiled at him, Mother. Go on, Lucky, tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you have more evidence than she smiled at him and he gave her a ride home.”

“You don’t understand because you’ve never been in love with someone other than yourself,” Lucky bit out. “And I saw them together! They were out the night she broke up with me. He took her out on that damn bike, and she was laughing when she got off—”

“The horror,” Nikolas said, his tone soft, slight mocking and Lucky flushed. “No, you see, you need her to be the bad guy because you don’t want to face what’s really happening here. You put Elizabeth high up on a pedestal. Just like you did Luke. Just like you did to our mother. And the second they disappointed you, the second they didn’t live up to your expectations, you turned on them. I know some of the crap you’ve said about our mother. I’ve heard you talk about Luke. If I ever find out what you said to Elizabeth to put that look in her eyes, losing your apartment and job won’t be the worst thing that happens.”

“Nikolas, don’t—” Laura reached for her son but Nikolas walked past her to the table, towards Lulu who had continued to eat, oblivious to the tension.

“Lulu, you ready for school?” Nikolas asked. She nodded and hopped out of her seat.

When they’d left, Laura just looked at Lucky. “Tell me he’s wrong. Tell me that’s not what you did. That you didn’t stand her up on the anniversary of the night she was raped. Tell me I raised you better than that.”

Lucky exhaled slowly, looked at his mother. “Well, you know I’m only as good as the blood that runs in my veins. Who’s fault is that?”

Laura said nothing to him, and he felt the shame crawling up his neck. “You’re just assuming Elizabeth did nothing wrong—”

“Even if you’d walked in on her having sex with Jason Morgan on the back of that motorcycle,” Laura bit out, “it never would have justified using that night as a weapon to hurt her. But you’re right. Maybe you aren’t any better than the man who sired you. That’ll be both our regrets, won’t it?”

—

Jason winced when he heard the squeak of the door. He really didn’t want to deal with customers — that was why he’d kept Lucky around, and he really didn’t want to have to hire someone else.

But it wasn’t a customer who came around the side of the building, but Sonny, and Jason visibly relaxed. He stepped away from the Ford he was working on and reached for the rag to blot the oil from his hands. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Not much. Just checking in. It’s been, ah, quiet. Which is nice. Weird,” Sonny added. “But for now Moreno is keeping to his side of the street. Might need you to go down to the Oasis and remind Coleman who he works for. I think he’s skimming off the top from the bookies. Benny finds something for me to prove it, you’re on deck.”

“Yeah, sure. But why come all the way down here just for that? You could have called.” Jason headed for the office and Sonny trailed after him.

“Well, I stopped by Luke’s today to check on him, and he told me something that, I gotta admit, I’m a little confused about.”

Jason frowned, looked at him. “What? Is he having trouble with Moreno, too?”

“No. No. Is there a chance the reason you fired Lucky is because you like his girlfriend?” Sonny wanted to know.

Jason closed his eyes, muttered something under his breath, then scowled when he looked at his friend and boss. “What the hell is Luke saying about Elizabeth?”

“So it’s true? Because—”

“No, it’s—” He really wanted to punch something. Someone. But the way he was feeling, if he came across Lucky Spencer right now, he’d put him through a wall. “It’s not true the way Luke is saying it. So I want to know what exactly he told you because if that little bastard is talking about her that way—”

“I feel like I’m walking into a movie halfway through,” Sonny said. “Lucky’s girlfriend is that Elizabeth girl, right? The brunette who’s friends with Emily.”

“Yeah. And she’s—Lucky screwed up with her. Bad.” Jason related the events around Valentine’s briefly and Sonny’s eyes darkened. “I had to be the one to tell her, Sonny, that he wasn’t here. And that he’d planned it that way. Lucky’s taking a few coincidences and stringing them together to make a story that makes her the bad guy so he can feel better. And he’s walking around telling anyone who can hear him that I’m after his girlfriend. No, I don’t want people to think that. The wrong people hear him, and—”

“Ah. So you’re not mad on Elizabeth’s behalf, you don’t want anyone who doesn’t like you or me thinking we’ve got someone in our midst they can play with. You know since I’m flying solo these last few months and your sister is a no go or the Quartermaines will burn the city to the ground.” Sonny lifted his brows. “You’re right. Lucky could make things uncomfortable. Does Elizabeth know he’s saying this kind of crap?”

“She’s mortified,” Jason muttered. “She came here to apologize. Look, I’m mad because it’s a shitty thing to do to someone you say you love. She’s—she’s a good person, Sonny. Yes, I like her. As a person. As Emily’s friend. She’s put herself on the line to look out for my sister. I can be pissed at Lucky Spencer for both reasons.”

Sonny squinted at him, and Jason felt almost like he was under a microscope. He fought the urge to squirm. “Is there anything else?”

“No. No. Just heard the story and thought it was odd. I’ll talk to Luke. See if he can get some sense talked into the kid. What went wrong with him, do you think?” Sonny asked. “Had some real promise, but you got the right idea. We don’t need someone like that around.”

—

The conversation was still bothering Jason a few days later when he headed for Kelly’s — he’d been avoiding it most of the week, he’d realized, because he was hoping if he avoided even coming into contact with Elizabeth, Lucky would knock it off, and it would all die down.

He found Emily in the courtyard, having lunch with Juan. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. “Jason! Hey! I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever!” She hugged him. “Thank you, by the way, for going to see Liz last week. Because if you hadn’t and Lucky had showed up, well, he wouldn’t have shown what absolutely tiny little man he is—”

Jason made a face. “I barely did anything.”

“You always say that, and it’s never true. Anyway, Juan and I were just talking about our plans for spring break, and—I know this is going to break your heart,” Emily told Jason, “but Juan’s going home for the break.”

“Devastated,” Jason said dryly, and even Juan snorted. The kid wasn’t so bad. He was in school, and Emily seemed to be happy enough. “So you’ll be in Port Charles?”

“That’s how it looks right now. Liz and I were trying to save up to do something, but she refuses to take a cent from me—and Dad already tried to sway her with all expenses paid trip to Cabo. Honestly, what’s the point of having money if I can’t spoil my best friend?” Emily patted his shoulder. “That’s where you come in.”

“Should I be scared?” Jason asked.

“No, but you and Sonny still have that resort in the Caribbean, right?”

“Sonny does,” Jason corrected. He might have shares in the place, but it was all Sonny’s. “Why do you think she’ll accept it from me instead of Alan?”

“Because I’m going to tell you and Liz and I can afford, and it’s going to magically match a price at the resort, you know, like a discount—”

“A discount? I’m not charging you,” Jason said, vaguely insulted.

“I know, I know, but she’ll never agree. Unless you want to try to convince her. She always listens to you—” Emily turned and looked through the windows of the courtyard. “She’s here now. Come on. Let’s team up.”

“I did not agree to that,” Jason said, but he let his sister tow him through the doors and into the diner. Juan followed, and slid onto a stool at the counter.

“I have the best news,” Emily declared, releasing Jason’s hand at the counter. “I ran into Jason and told him how Juan is deserting me for the break—”

“Not how she described it ten minutes ago,” Juan told Elizabeth who just smirked, then looked at Jason.

“Let me guess, Emily told you I turned down Cabo, and now she wants you to convince me to take the trip after all.” She switched her gaze to Emily. “I told you, if I keep saving, I’ll be able do this summer. Tammy said I could have two weeks—”

“Not Cabo,” Emily said. “Jason owns an island—”

“Sonny. Sonny owns an island,” Jason corrected, but Emily waved that aside.

“And there’s a resort on it with a casino—which we could totally go to because the ages are different down there, and Jason’s got amazing villa with a private beach—he says we can use it for free! Right?” Emily turned her sparkling eyes onto Jason, her hands clasped in front of her. “This is so much better than us going to Fort Lauderdale and ending up on MTV’s Spring Break all drunk and half-dressed—”

“Was that an option?” Elizabeth asked, frowning.

“It could be. It’s not that expensive. I looked into it—”

“Robin made me watch that once. You’re not going to Fort Lauderdale,” Jason said flatly, and Emily smirked.

“Right, but if Liz doesn’t take you up on this amazingly generous awesome offer, than we won’t have a choice but to end up on Girls Gone Wild—”

“I like how she just assumes I’d be up for either of those choices,” Elizabeth told Jason with a roll of her eyes. “I told you, Em, we’re not friends because of your last name or your trust fund. And you—” She looked at Jason. “I don’t care about your bank account. I can pay my own way. In two months.”

Emily made a face, looked at Jason. “Okay, your turn.”

“My—” Jason just shook his head. “You know, my life was a lot quieter before I knew you.”

“Ha, you don’t remember your life before you knew me. I’ve been here since the beginning and I’m not going anywhere.” Emily wound her arm through Jason’s. “You’re stuck with me.”

Jason just looked at Elizabeth. “You have to say yes because she’ll never shut up otherwise. The place is there. I don’t use it. You can buy your own food or souvenirs or whatever. But I wouldn’t charge my sister, I’m not going to charge you either.”

Elizabeth bit her lip, then looked at Emily with a sigh. “Okay, but this is the last expensive thing you do for me. Which is what I said after the oil paints you got for Christmas.”

“Now is not the time to tell you about the pool house my parents are redoing so we can have like our own house on the estate instead of the dorms next year, huh?” Emily said. Elizabeth’s mouth dropped. “Right. I’ll save that for later.” She squealed. “Oh my God!” She hugged Jason again. “I knew you could do it, I knew you’d talk sense into her—”

“Don’t you all look happy,” came a sour voice from behind them. Emily released Jason and they both turned to see Lucky sauntering towards them. “Didn’t take you long to come sniffing around Elizabeth,” he said to Jason with a sneer who just stared at him, almost dumbfounded.

“You’re really still doing this?” Emily demanded. “Juan, punch him.”

“I mean, I’ll do it, but I don’t want to get arrested,” Juan said, getting to his feet. Lucky just rolled his eyes.

“Does it feel good that you turned all my friends against me?” he demanded to Elizabeth, and now Jason did turn and look at her. Her face was blank, but her fingers were clutched tightly around the cloth in her hands. “My own brother?”

“I never did anything to make that happen,” Elizabeth said, her voice trembling just slightly on the last word.

“No, of course not. You never do anything. You’re just good at making people feel sorry for you. Worked on me, but they’ll see who you really are and leave you, too. Your family did, didn’t they?”

Elizabeth’s face went white, and Lucky smirked. “And now I see, you too. Good luck.” With that, he headed for the door.

“Elizabeth—” Emily began, but Elizabeth released the cloth and fled towards the kitchen, the heavy kitchen door banging a minute later.

Well, it was time to throw someone in the lake. Jason started for the door, but Emily snagged his arm. “No, you go after him now, you’ll kill him, and you don’t need the hassle. I’ll take care of him. Go make sure she’s okay. Juan, come with me in case I need back up.”

“Em—”

“I’m not going to let him touch her,” Juan promised, and Jason sighed. He watched his sister dart out the door, heard her yelling in the parking, “Yo, asshole!” before he looked back towards the kitchen.

Then he followed Elizabeth into the alley.

Written in 60 minutes.

---

February 2000

The sting of bitter cold slapped at her cheeks and froze the few tears Elizabeth had let escape. Behind her, the back door to Kelly’s swung closed, and she leaned against the brick wall, closed her eyes.

…they’ll see who you really are and leave you, too…

…your family did…

She heard the door again, and sighed. “I’m fine, Emily. Go back inside.”

“She went after Lucky,” a familiar, but much deeper voice said, and Elizabeth’s flew open to see Jason standing awkwardly in front of her, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I was going to but I think she knew I was going to throw him in the lake.” He squinted. “Not that I’d put that past her, honestly, so maybe he’s not safer with her.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but smiled. She straightened away from the wall and flicked away the remaining tears clinging to her lashes. “I’m okay. Really.”

“You don’t have to say that. And don’t listen to that idiot. He knows he screwed up, and he—”

“Wants to make me feel as bad as he does.  Yeah, I’m familiar with the trick. I told you, I’m fine. And honestly—” She folded her arms. “Aren’t you a little tired of always coming to my rescue?”

“Always is a strong word,” Jason said after a minute. “And I don’t think a few rides home really counts as a rescue.”

“That’s because you’re not standing on this side,” Elizabeth replied. “And I know I’m tired of it. I feel like every time I see you, it’s about Lucky, and how he’s disappointed me this time—and that should have been a clue, I guess.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “It’s just…it’s not that he wants me to feel bad. That’s standard, I guess, for breakups, though this is my first so what do I know? It’s…how he did it.” Their  eyes met. “He took something I told him in confidence—and he used it to hurt me. He keeps doing that, and it just—it makes me doubt everything I ever knew. Everything I thought we were. And I hate that. I hate that every time he’s cruel, I wonder if I was just imagining all the good parts. I hate that he’s making me doubt myself.”

Jason opened his mouth, but Elizabeth continued, “But it’s a choice, right? I could choose to listen to him, to believe him, and maybe I’d feel bad enough to take him back. But I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to believe that I don’t deserve something better. I almost did. But you wouldn’t let me, and you were right. You were right, and I’m done feeling bad about Lucky Spencer. And I’m really done making it your problem.”

“I made it my problem,” Jason said, reluctantly, but the corner of his mouth had quirked up in a slight smile. “I followed you, remember?”

“And it’s freezing out. I know you said you don’t feel the cold, but I do, so I’m going back to work. Thank you. But this is the last time you have to watch me cry over him.” Elizabeth pulled open the door, held it for him to go in first. “He doesn’t get anymore tears.”

“That’s good.” Jason placed his hand flat against the door, holding it open, and she rolled her eyes. She released her grip on the edge of the door, and went into the kitchen.

—

Emily caught up to Lucky just as he had his hand on the handle of the car door. She grabbed his arm and flung him against the back door. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Behind her, Juan skidded to a stop but stayed back as Lucky shoved her arm away, his nostrils flaring. “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you? How long have we been friends? After everything we’ve been through, you’re just going to take her side as gospel? What the hell, Emily? You know how she can lie to get her way—”

“This isn’t cheating on a high school text, Lucky! This isn’t some little prank she’s pulling to make Sarah miserable—and that was two years ago! But since you’re still the insensitive dick you were back then, maybe you think no one else has grown up either.”

“You don’t even know what happened!”

“Really? Really? I had a front row seat for six goddamn months, Lucky. Watching you pick at her every time she disagreed with you—it’s the same thing you did to me because you didn’t like Juan! You’re the most loyal friend in the world, Lucky, as long as we agree with you. But the second we disappoint? We get shoved off the island, and we’re nothing to you. I know what you said to her that night.”

“You don’t know anything—”

“You accused her of sleeping with my brother, of wanting someone with more experience to make sure she liked it this time,” Emily bit out.

“Whoa, dude, you did that?” Juan demanded. “That’s some bullshit. What kind of asshole are you?”

Lucky’s eyes dropped to the side. “I didn’t mean it the way she took it—”

“I almost wish Elizabeth was cheating on you with my brother because at least I know she was with someone who wouldn’t hurt her like that. To take the worst thing that ever happened to her and throw it at her because you didn’t like the way you smiled at her? Are you deranged? Have you lost what little sense you had left?” Emily stepped back, tears suddenly stinging her eyes. “How could you do that, Lucky? How could you ever think she’d betray you that way? Because she smiled at someone? Because her attention wasn’t focused on you? It’s disgusting what you said to her that night. What you just did to her today. And I’ll never forgive you for it. Because I’ll always be waiting for you to turn on me. You going to throw my drug addiction in my face?”

“Em, I’d never—” Lucky swallowed hard. “I’d never do that to you—”

“Why not? You threw your mother’s rape in her face? You used to tell Nikolas all the time he was the baby your mother ran from. And you just told Elizabeth everyone leaves her just like her family. Why wouldn’t you get angry at me one day, too? I’m not waiting to be next. If you can’t see what you did is beyond redemption, then I can’t help you.” Emily turned, stalked off towards the pier.

She reached the railing that overlooked the bottom of the docks, and gripped the wood hard. Juan stepped up beside her. “You okay?” he asked, stroking her back.

“He was the first friend I ever made here. I loved him so much, Juan. I always thought I’d be able to count on him forever. I don’t understand — I can’t understand how something so small could ruin everything. How did he let it destroy everything they were? She smiled at someone. She decided to live with me for a year. And he thought that was a betrayal.” Emily exhaled on a shuddering breath. “It was just a matter of time before it was me, too. It’s better this way. Better to cut him loose before he gets to hurt me the way he’s hurt Elizabeth.”

—

A few blocks over, Sonny strolled into the gaudy and garishly decorated Luke’s, and headed for the back offices where he found the man himself at his desk, a cigar in one hand, and their tax forms in another.

“I thought we hired an accountant for that,” Sonny said closing the door behind him.

“Never trust anyone with your money. You know better.” Luke removed the cigar, set it the nearby ashtray. “What brings you by?”

“Need you to pass on a warning.” Sonny tossed his jacket aside, sat down. “Your kid needs to stop telling anyone who could listen Jason’s after his girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend,” he added.

“Oh, that’s just some gossip I passed along, and you told me it was nothing—”

“I said I’d check with Jason, but that he’s never mentioned her. You know better, Luke, the truth almost never matters if the lie is more interesting. The truth of the matter is that Jason mostly minds his own business these days. Things are quiet in my neck of the woods and Moreno is currently respecting the boundaries. For now. Why do you think he’s doing that?”

Luke made a face. “Because he can’t beat you. Because every time he comes at you, you shut him up and make him weaker. What’s with the question?”

“Because I have nothing to lose. No family. No loved ones. No one who matters to me. No one whose safety I have to worry about. I can respond to Moreno without worrying he’s going to take a shot at me and hurt someone standing next to me. No one stands next to me. And no one stands next to Jason.”

Luke sighed, picked up the cigar again, inhaled, then blew out a ring of smoke. “You’re thinking Lucky spreading this kind of gossip might make Moreno think Elizabeth is worth something to Jason. That’s a little thin, don’t you think?”

“I think it’s worth keeping the status quo exactly as it is, unless you enjoyed your parking lot being shot up.”

“Didn’t much like my wife’s son taking a bullet to the neck either,” Luke muttered. “You wouldn’t be telling me to back off Lucky if there wasn’t something to this. Is Jason sniffing around Elizabeth? Because I like that girl. And if there’s a chance she and Lucky can work this out—”

“I’m not going to tell you what’s in Jason’s head or you know, anywhere else. And I don’t know Elizabeth. But Jason cares about her as a person. Whatever Lucky did to her — he pissed Jason off in the process. That’s why he got fired and kicked out. We can’t trust someone going around mouthing off about one of us. Your kid used to know better.”

“He’s all tangled up about this Elizabeth thing. Laura—she, uh, told me that maybe Lucky went a little far. Standing her up on a date. Making her get dressed up, wait for him. He regrets it, but she won’t listen to him long enough to apologize—”

“That’s none of my business. Jason’s love life isn’t my business either. But he doesn’t have a lot of people in his life either. Just his sister, and she’s too connected to the Quartermaines to touch. Same goes with Michael. Tell your kid to knock it off or I’ll be the next one to make life miserable.”

“You don’t got a right to talk about my son that way—”

“And he doesn’t have the right to walk around calling this girl a slut or cheating whore, but that’s what he’s doing, isn’t he?” Sonny got to his feet. “I asked a few people, and they were happy to share the gossip. You like him talking about her that way? You think she deserves that?”

“No.” Luke sighed. “No, I don’t.”

“So if you don’t give a shit about my business or the quiet we got right now, then maybe you give shit about this girl you say you like. Because your kid is going to say something to the wrong person, and maybe next time Jason puts him through a wall. And I’ll help him do it.”

Sonny picked up his jacket, then left.

—

“I’ll go break down the courtyard,” Elizabeth told the other waitress on the shift. “If you’ll finish up in here?”

“Yeah, and if my last table leaves before you’re done, I’ll be out.”

“Thanks.”

Elizabeth left Penny to finish up, and went outside. She folded up the chairs first, stacking them in the corners. Just as she started the last table, she heard footsteps. She looked over towards the parking lot, grimacing when Lucky stepped out of the shadows. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Yeah, I get that.” He stood there another minute, his hands in the pockets of his coat. “Weird that you guys are still using the courtyard. Aunt Ruby—”

“A few people asked in December,” Elizabeth said, folding up another chair, stacked it with the rest. “Some people like the cold. I told you that, then but you weren’t listening. Obviously.”

“Look, I just—I wanted to apologize. Okay? I didn’t—I didn’t mean it. What I said earlier. About your family.” He shifted his weight from one foot to another. “It was a low blow, and you didn’t deserve that.”

“But I deserved Valentine’s Day? And the night outside my dorm?” Elizabeth shook her head. “Some things can’t be made right.”

“I came in earlier to apologize about that stuff, okay? Nikolas—he said some things, and they stuck in my head, so I thought—I’ll come in and I’ll catch you on your break. And we could talk.” He ducked his head trying to catch her eye but she kept hers down. “Just like we used to. We used to be able to say anything to each other—”

“I thought so. But it turns out that was just you.” And she lifted her gaze to his. “You were allowed to be whoever you wanted to be with me, and I loved you anyway. Venting about your father and Nikolas, and your mother, and anyone who looked at you wrong. But I didn’t get to do that, did I? I didn’t get to tell you that I think Juan is okay, that maybe we should be supportive of Emily. I didn’t get to change my mind about where I wanted to live—”

His mouth thinned, and he looked away. “You’re changing the subject—”

“No, I’m proving that I don’t get to say anything to you. Fine. You apologized. You can go—”

“I’m just asking you for you to hear me out—”

“What is there to say?”

“I came here to apologize earlier, and I saw Jason. Okay? So I lost it. I figured he was already moving in on you, and I just—I wanted to hurt you—”

“Emily dragged him in. You know, his sister. The only reason Jason and I even see each other is because of her and because of you. You’re imagining this huge conspiracy that just doesn’t exist. Okay? He drove me home a handful of times. And then he took me out on his bike to tell me about Valentine’s Day—” she broke off. “And I don’t know why I’m explaining myself to you.”

“Because you feel guilty. Because you know—”

“Because the idea is so ridiculous that it makes me laugh! You’re the one who introduced us, Lucky. You’re the one that told me he was a nice guy and if I ever needed anything, he’d help me. Why are you so angry that you were right? And why are we still having a conversation about Jason? He doesn’t matter. Except that I smiled at him, so you decided to use the worst night of my life to punish me.”

She shoved the table into the corner. “You’ve apologized. Fine. We have nothing else to say to each other.”

“I’m just asking for you to try to understand—”

“Understand what?” Elizabeth whirled back around, her eyes flashing. “What? I gave you the darkest pieces of myself because I thought you’d keep them safe, and you used them to hurt me. My family not loving me? And the rape—” Her mouth trembled. “Did you know that I almost forgave you for Valentine’s Day. Jason told me that you intended to do it, and I almost talked myself into forgetting about it. If you hadn’t been there that night, I might have.”

Lucky swallowed hard. “What do you mean—”

“I mean that I might have kept believing you were the only man I’d ever trust enough to let into my life. The only man I’d ever trust enough to touch me. Valentine’s Day. I was going to ask to go back to your room. Because I thought I might be ready to show you how much I loved and trusted you. But you never came, and thank God for that. Thank God you showed me what you really thought before I gave you that last piece.”

“Elizabeth, please—” He stepped towards her, but she threw up her hands.

“No. No. I worked so hard not to be that girl. To not wake up and have that night be the first thing I thought about. I didn’t want to be the broken girl anymore, and that’s what you did. You put me right back in that night. You looked at me, and you accused me of sleeping with someone I barely know because you saw me smile at him.” Tears spilled down her cheeks, hot and furious. “And then you said what you said. Did you think I didn’t fight enough that night, Lucky? That the only reason it haunts me is because I didn’t like it?”

“No, no, please, come on, that’s not what I ever—” He came towards her again but she darted away again.

“I will never be able to look at you again and not remember what you said. You made me feel dirty and ashamed all over again. For so long, I blamed myself. For lying. For wearing that dress. For sitting on that bench. For not fighting hard enough to make it stop. And you made it a cheap insult you threw at me in the middle of a completely different argument.  I can’t be with someone who makes me feel that way. We need to be done. We are done. And you need to go.”

Lucky swallowed hard, looked away. “Okay. I’ll go. But you need to admit something before I go. I deserve the truth—”

She laughed. “Oh, you do, do you? Fine. What do you want me to admit?”

“That I’m not crazy.” He waited for her to look at him. “You need to admit that you laughing and smiling at Jason the way you do — that’s not innocent.”

All of this — and he still didn’t get it. “No, you need me to admit that so you can have someone else to blame for what you did. For what you’ve said. And I won’t make this easy for you. I won’t give you a scape goat. Jason is a friend who was kind when I needed it. I won’t apologize for that. This is on you, and you’ll have to live with that.”

Lucky glowered at her, then turned and stalked away. Elizabeth took a deep breath, then sat  in the last chair she hadn’t yet folded up. She listened to the sound of his car as it left the parking lot.

And let the silence that followed surround her. It was over. Really over. She put her head down on the table, and wept bitterly.