Lucas woke up when he felt himself being moved around. "Where am I?" he asked without opening his eyes.
"You're at Harmony Hospital."
Lucas opened his eyes but closed them again when he saw the bright light from the hospital room light. He squinted his eyes open to see the person in front of him. She had dark lovely hair and a warm smile. "Who are you?" He winced at his choice of words. 'Nice going Romeo.'
"I'm Kay Bennett. My friend and I saw you passed out on the wharf and brought you here. I called your mother and she should be on their way."
Lucas opened his mouth to thank the beautiful stranger but before he could, the door swung open and his family from his parents to his Aunt Sheridan came filing through the room.
"Luke are you okay?"
Lucas flashed Marcy a smile. "I'll manage," he replied.
"I'm sorry but I only want Julian and Ivy in the room now," Eve announced in her doctor tone.
Everybody filed out the room and Ivy stood by Lucas's bed while Julian sat in the chair next to the bed.
"So what caused Lucas to pass out?" Ivy asked.
Eve took a deep breath. "We pumped an enormous amount of marijuana out of Lucas's blood."
Julian scoffed. "That is preposterous." My son doesn't smoke that garbage."
"So you are actually admitting that I'm your son? Anyway how would you two know what I do? What Chasity, Stacy, Camilla, or me do for that matter? The only child you care about is Ethan."
"Lucas that is not true," Ivy said as she grabbed her son's hand.
Lucas snatched his hand away. "It's true mother. If it wasn't true then why didn't you call either of us to tell us Aunt Sheridan died? It's like when you sent us away, you forgot all about us. Parents don't do that. Parents love their children no matter how far away they are. Just leave."
Julian left the room but Ivy stood firmly in her place. "Lucas I must admit that I haven't been there for you and your sisters like I should have. But that's why I bought you all back here for Thanksgiving. I want to try to get to know you all. I want to learn about you playing soccer, Anastasia writing her new novel, Chasity's new business venture, and Camilla's new love interest."
"You can't learn everything about us in a week mother."
"I know I can't but I will try. So just give me a chance Luke."
Lucas sat up slightly and pecked his mother on his cheek. "So you say you want to get close to me?" Ivy nodded her head. "Tell me everything you know about Kay Bennett."
*~*~
"Chasity are you ready to go?"
Chasity stopped talking to Noah and turned around to face her older sister. "You aren't staying?"
Camilla shook her head. "There isn't much we can do for Lucas now."
"I can drive you Chas," Noah piped up from behind the sisters.
Chasity grinned. "That's okay. You just take your sister home and I'll see you tomorrow." Chasity gave Noah a small kiss while Julian looked on in horror.
"Come on sis. Marce is waiting."
*~*~
Sunlight streamed into Paloma's room waking her from the very vivid dream she was having. She opened her eyes and the previous night's events flowed back into her mind. Her meeting Bradley at the Book Café. Them laughing as they drank lattes. Him driving her home and staying so they could watch a movie on cable. Him almost kissing her. Luis catching them. Okay that last part was so pleasant as the others were and she knew she would have hell to pay when she saw her mother and brother. She pulled on a pair of sweat pants and walked into the living room to see her mother and Luis sitting very rigid on the couch. "Good morning."
"Paloma Gabriella Lopez-Fitzgerald how could you?!" Pilar exclaimed.
Paloma sighed. So Luis did tell her. "Mama we didn't do anything."
"But what if Sheridan and I didn't arrive the time that we did?"
"I know how to control myself. And I don't plan on losing my virginity before I get married." 'You need to be worried about Theresa,' she thought to herself but kept her mouth shut. She was going to let that secret out. Not when she could blackmail Theresa for the rest of her life.
And she wasn't that crude.
"Mija I am sorry but the Hotchkiss family is nothing but trouble."
"No Gwen and Rebecca is nothing but trouble. Bradley is different from his sister and mother. So just chill."
She sauntered to the bathroom and closed the door. "Well that went well."
*~*~
Kay trudged down the steps tiredly. "Whoever is at the door is out of their mind," she muttered to herself. She slumped down in the chair and laid her head down.
"Kay these came for you."
Kay sat up to see Charity sitting a vase of roses in front of her. She smiled at her cousin. Their relationship had become much better since Charity became more independent and tough. She didn't dress in hideous clothes and her hair was looking so much better. Kay could now actually tolerate her. She snapped out of her thoughts and picked the card out of the flowers. "Thank you for rescuing me last night. Let me escort you to the dance at the Youth Center tonight. Sincerely Lucas Crane." Kay smiled after reading the card.
"Lucas Crane?" Simone asked her as she entered the kitchen. "That incredibly gorgeous boy we found on the wharf?"
Kay nodded her head. "That's the one."
"You have to accept it Kay. It's been so long since you have been on a date."
"I don't know Kay. I mean what if he is just like his father and all he does in womanize woman?"
"Well I'll just have to find out won't I?" Kay smirked.
*~*~
Ivy's eyes fluttered open when she heard the shuffling of sheets. "Lucas what are you doing out of bed?" she asked her youngest son when she saw him fixing his bed.
"Dr. Russell released me today. So now it's time for us to go home. A car is outside waiting as we speak."
Ivy got up and stretched. "So what are you doing tonight?"
"Hopefully going to a dance at the Youth Center."
"With a certain Kay Bennett?" Ivy asked with a smile.
Lucas blushed at his mother's question. "Maybe. Maybe not. Can we just leave it at that?"
"Okay. But wait until Alistair finds out."
Lucas shook his head. "I don't care what Grandfather thinks. I am my own person."
He walked out the room leaving Ivy behind wondering why Julian wasn't as strong as his youngest son.
*~*~
Jamal walked out the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist to see Camilla lying on his bed. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello to you too Jamal." Camilla sat up and gave him a warm smile.
Jamal sat next to her as he searched for a pair of pants. "What's up?"
"Just came by to give you something." Camilla pointed to a bag on the floor. "Just something for tonight," she added.
Jamal looked up from the bag. "What's happening tonight?"
"The dance at the Youth Center." Jamal looked at her puzzled. "It's by the police station and the Book Café where your friend Chad works."
"So I'm escorting you again?"
Camilla stood up. "Yep. I'll meet you at the Youth Center at 7:15." She winked at him and walked out the room.
*~*~
Anastasia walked into the dining room and grinned when she saw the visitor who was waiting for her. "What are you doing here?"
"I just had to see you," Jason said before he kissed Anastasia on the lips. "Is your mother here?"
Anastasia shook her head. "She's at the hospital with my brother. So what brings you here besides the fact that you had to see me?" she asked.
"I just wanted to see whether you were coming to the dance tonight."
"Dance?" Jason and Anastasia turned around to see Chasity standing in the doorway. She sauntered up to Jason and flashed him a smile. "Hi I don't think we have met. I'm Chasity."
"Jason."
Anastasia smiled nervously. She knew it was happening again. Every time she met a boy that she was remotely interested in, Chasity stole him away from her. But not this time. Anastasia grabbed Jason's arm tightly and shot her a sister a look as to say 'stay away.' "Come on Jason let's go to the Book Café." Anastasia walked out the room and pulling Jason along while an amused Chasity looked on.
*~*~
"Hey Nikolas," Theresa greeted cheerily as Nikolas entered the kitchen.
"Hey Resa and Pilar" Nikolas sat in a chair and laid his head down on the kitchen table.
"Nikolas are you okay?" Pilar asked him concern dripping in her voice.
"Not really."
Theresa reached across the table and grabbed his hand. She wanted to let her friend know that she was there for him like he was there for her when they were kids. "It's about Gia isn't it?"
Nikolas simply nodded.
"What happened?" Theresa asked.
"I finally found out that the woman I love wants nothing to do with me."
*~*~
Gia walked behind Jamal and Gabriel lugging a box of decorations for the Youth Center. After she woke up, they asked her nothing about what happened between her and Nikolas and she was glad. She loved her friends to death but she couldn't open up with them about her love life. She knew she needed more friends but she had a habit of pushing people away. Call it survival mode if you will but Gia wished she would simply lose the trait. She snapped out of her thoughts when she saw Chad at the d.j. booth. "Hey Gia," Chad called out to her when he saw her enter the gym.
Gia walked towards the booth and gave him a warm smile. She dug her hands into the pockets of her jeans. "What's up? So are you going to show these people how we party back home?"
Chad laughed. "How about I stick to the music and you'll show 'em?"
"Well I have a date for this dance tonight," Jamal announced.
"Oh really?" Gabriel smirked. "With who?"
"Camilla Crane."
"Camilla Crane as in Julian and Ivy Crane's daughter? I don't think that's a good idea," Whitney told him.
"Yeah man I heard that her father and grandfather are strict when it comes to who she dates"
"I know. But I am not going to let her family keep us apart. It's about time I started to date again."
"You got that right," Gia muttered.
Gabriel looked over his shoulder when he heard talk fill the air. His breath caught in his throat when he saw Simone. She had a pair of blue jeans and a patterned blue sweater. 'Damn what's with you Gabriel?' he thought to himself.
Simone met Gabriel's exquisite gaze and blushed. This time last year, she would have never thought of looking at another boy besides Chad. But she was a different person now. She smoothed back her hair as she discreetly watched Gabriel approach her. "Hey Simone," he greeted her as he touched her arm. The touch made Simone shiver with delight.
"What's up Gabe?"
Gabriel shrugged his shoulders casually trying to calm his nerves. "Nothing much. So are you coming to this dance tonight?" Simone nodded her head. "Well maybe I'll see you there beautiful," Gabriel added before heading back towards the d.j. booth where his friends were looking on with interest.
*~*~
"Tell me again why are we here?" Chasity complained as Camilla dragged her and Marcy through the racks of an expensive clothing store.
"We came here to find outfits for this dance."
"What's wrong with all of our clothes at home?"
Camilla chuckled as she fingered the delicate material of a red Channel dress. She smiled when she imagined the look on Jamal's face when he would see her. She turned her attention to her sister and cousin. "None of those clothes fit the mood for tonight. And I don't want anybody thinking that we are some orphanage children." She picked up the dress and picked up a black Prada dress. "Well I found Marcy and my outfit. Now I have to find yours Chas."
Camilla flung the dresses over her shoulder and stalked towards another rack of clothes. Marcy turned to Chasity. 'Time to get on Chas's nerves,' she thought happily." So Chas where were you last night during dinner?"
"Even though it's none of your business, I was out on a date."
"With the commoner Noah Bennett."
Chasity looked at her startled. How could she have found out? "I heard your conversation with Pilar," Marcy said as if reading her mind.
"You eavesdrop now since you have no male companionship?"
"For your information, I met a boy last night. And he has affluence. His name is Phillip Kiriakis."
"So what air head strategy did you use to attract him? Did you drop something and he picked it up and then you proceeded to bat those fake eyelashes at him?"
Marcy sucked her teeth. "Quite the contrary. He came up to me and asked could he buy me a latte. Oh he's such a gentleman."
Before Chasity could reply, Camilla came up to the duo with shopping bags in her hand. "Come on. I have one more stop to make and then we will leave to get ready for this dance.
*~*~
"Hey Jessica." Belle bounced into Jessica and Kay's room with a gold number and a makeup box in hand.
"Hey. So are you helping me get ready?"
Belle nodded her head. "I have the perfect outfit and hairstyle for you. So go take your shower so I can get to work."
*~*~
They stepped out the luxury car and strolled into the Book Café. Their assignments were simple. Split the happy couple up. She would try it by seduction and he would try it by killing him.
The girl sat at the table. "Do you think we can do it Zach?"
Zach nodded his head. "It will be easy Val. Trust me."
*~*~
Julian slipped into his office brandy in his hand. He almost dropped the glass when he saw his office. Candles were spread all around it and a table with food entrees was in the middle of the room. "What in the hell is this?"
Lucas stepped into the room. "Father so nice of you to join the party."
"Lucas what are you doing?"
"Don't worry you'll see." Lucas looked at his Rolex. "In exactly 1 hour. Now get dressed." He pointed to a tux on the leather couch. "Well I'm gone."
*~*~
Paloma walked over to Noah once he entered the Youth Center. "So what happened last night?"
"We saw an old movie and talked. She is so intoxicating."
"So it looks like my son is dating," Sam commented to T.C. from behind Noah. "What's her name?"
"Chasity."
"Does she have a last name?" T.C. laughed.
Noah hesitated before answering. "Crane."
