[author's note: I am so sorry that I have taken so long to get to the next
chapter, but I was just burned out from writing. Unfortunately, my
inactiveness has resulted in my writing muscles seizing up, so this chapter
is a bit of a throwaway – not much juice contained therein. But fear not,
it is allowing me to dip my toe in the water so I can ease my way back into
the flow of things. Eeek, enough cliches. Believe it or not, I have known
since finishing the last chapter what Skye is going to do, its just getting
there that is sometimes the hard part. Sigh. On with the show.]
Chapter 34
Crystal Ball
Adam continued to hug Skye until her tears had spent. She finally pulled away, feeling humiliated that she had shown such vulnerability in front of Adam. She glanced at his face, about to say something cynical, when she saw the look in his eyes. He did not disdain her for her show of emotion. She could see that he was in fact glad that she had opened up to him. She felt relief that he understood her pain. It made sense. He had gone through a lot of problems in his own marriage to Liza, some of which was due to his unswerving devotion to his children. Whenever their views clashed, it threatened their happiness.
AJ and Courtney came up to them and wished them a Happy New Year. Courtney looked around. "Where did Sonny go?" Skye forced herself to remain calm. "He left." Courtney stared at her. "Left? Did you two argue again?" Skye folded her arms. "No, we didn't even talk. He never came over to speak to me." AJ narrowed his eyes. "And you didn't approach him either, is that it?" Skye looked up at the ceiling, not saying anything. AJ sighed. "I think the two of you have to be the most stubborn people I ever met." Adam cleared his throat. "No, I think I hold the title for Most Stubborn. Be thankful that you two young people are somewhat more compromising. I'm glad that you decided to make up." Seeing that Adam wanted to change the subject, AJ introduced him to Courtney.
Skye excused herself to get a glass of punch. She sipped thoughtfully at the beverage. Should she have been the one to approach Sonny? It hadn't been because she was stubborn, as AJ indicated. She was just plain scared. She would have no problem making up with Sonny if she knew that was what he wanted too. But she didn't know. It was so frustrating. She was not accustomed to laying her heart bare for possible crushing. She bit her lip, thinking about how Sonny had laid his heart bare when he proposed to her in front of her family, with zero guarantee of her answer. Maybe it was time for her to return the favor. She sighed, wondering what she should do. Suddenly an idea occurred to her. Could she do it? It had been so long…. But she was sure that Sonny would appreciate the gesture. She would need Carly's help, which didn't set well with her, but she didn't think it would be a problem. Feeling better, she decided to go back to the ballroom and socialize.
Interstate
Sonny rubbed his face and leaned his head back on the limousine seat. He was immersed in darkness, except for the dull glow of the electronic gadgets surrounding him. He stared at the car phone, contemplating the possibility of dialing Skye's cell phone. He sighed, deciding it would be pointless. If she wanted him, she would have walked across the ballroom to him. His intentions in coming had seemed pretty obvious, so the ball was definitely in her court. Coming to Pine Valley was more than meeting her halfway. She chose not to close the remaining distance. His only interpretation had to be that she was still angry, and had no desire to be with him again. Right? He drummed his fingers on the armrest. Not necessarily. He was understanding Skye more and more as time went on, and if one thing was true about her, it was that she didn't always act in her own interests.
He remembered that last night in Rome, when he had escorted her back to her hotel room after their last dinner together before going home. Memories of their passionate interlude on the picnic blanket had been burning in his brain. He knew she was thinking the same thing. He wanted her. She wanted him. Nothing should have held them back. Yet she had sabotaged the moment by accusing him of wanting to make love to her out of pity. A woman as beautiful and self confident as she should not have believed such a thing, but that was Skye. So it was entirely possible that she genuinely had no idea he was in Pine Valley to call a truce. She could easily have thought that he was there solely to help out his sister, Courtney. Sonny let out a string of curses. Damn the woman anyway. He wasn't going to give in this time. He wasn't going to be the vulnerable one again. Skye would face her fears or the relationship was well and truly over.
As Sonny gazed out the window at black nothingness, his heart was squeezed by its own fear. Please, Skye. Come back to me.
Jacks Mansion
Carly slumped down in an overstuffed chair, her feet resting in a small tub filled with water and other soothing chemicals. She had a pack of ice on her forehead. Her blissful silence was broken by a small noise that sounded distinctly like a snicker. She debated which response would require more energy: opening her eyelids to give Jax a reproachful glare, or sticking out her tongue. Since she wasn't sure she could feel her tongue, she opted for the glare. When her bleary eyes finally focused on a grinning Jax, who was still wearing his rumpled tuxedo, she decided to let him laugh. At least someone in the room was having a good time. She closed her eyes again.
Jax observed the lump that was his wife. "You might be feeling better now if you had actually gone to bed and gotten some sleep. Doesn't your back hurt from sitting there all night?" The only response was something that sounded like "Erg." "Excuse me, darling, would you mind speaking up?" There was a heavy sigh from the lump. "No backache. This is an ergo…ergonomic…a comfy chair. And I would gladly suffer a backache to keep my poor feet happy." He chuckled. "I would have gladly carried you to bed, Carly." A snorting noise from the lump. "Alexis." Jax shook his head. "No, I do believe your name is Carly." A tsking noise. "You were too busy chatting up Alexis to carry me anywhere." Jax laughed. "You spent enough time in your last marriage being jealous of Alexis. I won't tolerate it in this one. You, my dear, were busy sparkling for all your customers. I amused myself by spending time with friends, one of whom was Alexis. Deal with it." Another sound emitted from the lump, and Jax wasn't sure if it was a groan or a snarl. He would be willing to place bets on which it was. His cell phone rang. This time it was a groan that emanated from the lump.
"Jax here. Oh hello, Skye, good to hear your voice. How was Pine Valley? Oh, you're still there. You missed a great New Year's party at Carly's club. Yes, Carly is here, but I don't think she is quite able to hold a conversation right now. It involves business? Sounds intriguing. Why don't you give Emily a call? She's temping as Carly's assistant during her break from the rehab center. She can set up an appointment for you. Great. Please have a safe trip back to Port Charles. Bye." He disconnected and glanced at Carly, who had one eye open in an inquisitive stare. He shrugged. "I have no idea, but you'll soon find out." Carly gave a half shrug. At that moment her cell phone, which was on the table beside her, started to ring. Carly swatted at it in a "go away" motion. Jax laughed and picked it up. Pressing the button, he answered, "Carly's phone. Hello Sonny. Yes, this is Jax. Funny you should call at this moment. Never mind. Carly is not able to talk right now. She's recovering from her club's New Years bash. Bingo – both foot tub and ice pack are on the job. Maybe you can call back later? I'll let her know. Bye." He disconnected.
Jax sat down in the chair opposite Carly's. "Well that's interesting. Sonny and Skye recently broke up, and now they both want to talk to you. Sonny, I imagine, just wants a sympathetic ear. Skye on the other hand….she said it was business. Who knows what she's got up her sleeve." Jax leaned closer to Carly. "But I'm sure you will tell me as soon as you find out." Carly managed a chuckle. "And here I thought I was the nosy one."
Chapter 34
Crystal Ball
Adam continued to hug Skye until her tears had spent. She finally pulled away, feeling humiliated that she had shown such vulnerability in front of Adam. She glanced at his face, about to say something cynical, when she saw the look in his eyes. He did not disdain her for her show of emotion. She could see that he was in fact glad that she had opened up to him. She felt relief that he understood her pain. It made sense. He had gone through a lot of problems in his own marriage to Liza, some of which was due to his unswerving devotion to his children. Whenever their views clashed, it threatened their happiness.
AJ and Courtney came up to them and wished them a Happy New Year. Courtney looked around. "Where did Sonny go?" Skye forced herself to remain calm. "He left." Courtney stared at her. "Left? Did you two argue again?" Skye folded her arms. "No, we didn't even talk. He never came over to speak to me." AJ narrowed his eyes. "And you didn't approach him either, is that it?" Skye looked up at the ceiling, not saying anything. AJ sighed. "I think the two of you have to be the most stubborn people I ever met." Adam cleared his throat. "No, I think I hold the title for Most Stubborn. Be thankful that you two young people are somewhat more compromising. I'm glad that you decided to make up." Seeing that Adam wanted to change the subject, AJ introduced him to Courtney.
Skye excused herself to get a glass of punch. She sipped thoughtfully at the beverage. Should she have been the one to approach Sonny? It hadn't been because she was stubborn, as AJ indicated. She was just plain scared. She would have no problem making up with Sonny if she knew that was what he wanted too. But she didn't know. It was so frustrating. She was not accustomed to laying her heart bare for possible crushing. She bit her lip, thinking about how Sonny had laid his heart bare when he proposed to her in front of her family, with zero guarantee of her answer. Maybe it was time for her to return the favor. She sighed, wondering what she should do. Suddenly an idea occurred to her. Could she do it? It had been so long…. But she was sure that Sonny would appreciate the gesture. She would need Carly's help, which didn't set well with her, but she didn't think it would be a problem. Feeling better, she decided to go back to the ballroom and socialize.
Interstate
Sonny rubbed his face and leaned his head back on the limousine seat. He was immersed in darkness, except for the dull glow of the electronic gadgets surrounding him. He stared at the car phone, contemplating the possibility of dialing Skye's cell phone. He sighed, deciding it would be pointless. If she wanted him, she would have walked across the ballroom to him. His intentions in coming had seemed pretty obvious, so the ball was definitely in her court. Coming to Pine Valley was more than meeting her halfway. She chose not to close the remaining distance. His only interpretation had to be that she was still angry, and had no desire to be with him again. Right? He drummed his fingers on the armrest. Not necessarily. He was understanding Skye more and more as time went on, and if one thing was true about her, it was that she didn't always act in her own interests.
He remembered that last night in Rome, when he had escorted her back to her hotel room after their last dinner together before going home. Memories of their passionate interlude on the picnic blanket had been burning in his brain. He knew she was thinking the same thing. He wanted her. She wanted him. Nothing should have held them back. Yet she had sabotaged the moment by accusing him of wanting to make love to her out of pity. A woman as beautiful and self confident as she should not have believed such a thing, but that was Skye. So it was entirely possible that she genuinely had no idea he was in Pine Valley to call a truce. She could easily have thought that he was there solely to help out his sister, Courtney. Sonny let out a string of curses. Damn the woman anyway. He wasn't going to give in this time. He wasn't going to be the vulnerable one again. Skye would face her fears or the relationship was well and truly over.
As Sonny gazed out the window at black nothingness, his heart was squeezed by its own fear. Please, Skye. Come back to me.
Jacks Mansion
Carly slumped down in an overstuffed chair, her feet resting in a small tub filled with water and other soothing chemicals. She had a pack of ice on her forehead. Her blissful silence was broken by a small noise that sounded distinctly like a snicker. She debated which response would require more energy: opening her eyelids to give Jax a reproachful glare, or sticking out her tongue. Since she wasn't sure she could feel her tongue, she opted for the glare. When her bleary eyes finally focused on a grinning Jax, who was still wearing his rumpled tuxedo, she decided to let him laugh. At least someone in the room was having a good time. She closed her eyes again.
Jax observed the lump that was his wife. "You might be feeling better now if you had actually gone to bed and gotten some sleep. Doesn't your back hurt from sitting there all night?" The only response was something that sounded like "Erg." "Excuse me, darling, would you mind speaking up?" There was a heavy sigh from the lump. "No backache. This is an ergo…ergonomic…a comfy chair. And I would gladly suffer a backache to keep my poor feet happy." He chuckled. "I would have gladly carried you to bed, Carly." A snorting noise from the lump. "Alexis." Jax shook his head. "No, I do believe your name is Carly." A tsking noise. "You were too busy chatting up Alexis to carry me anywhere." Jax laughed. "You spent enough time in your last marriage being jealous of Alexis. I won't tolerate it in this one. You, my dear, were busy sparkling for all your customers. I amused myself by spending time with friends, one of whom was Alexis. Deal with it." Another sound emitted from the lump, and Jax wasn't sure if it was a groan or a snarl. He would be willing to place bets on which it was. His cell phone rang. This time it was a groan that emanated from the lump.
"Jax here. Oh hello, Skye, good to hear your voice. How was Pine Valley? Oh, you're still there. You missed a great New Year's party at Carly's club. Yes, Carly is here, but I don't think she is quite able to hold a conversation right now. It involves business? Sounds intriguing. Why don't you give Emily a call? She's temping as Carly's assistant during her break from the rehab center. She can set up an appointment for you. Great. Please have a safe trip back to Port Charles. Bye." He disconnected and glanced at Carly, who had one eye open in an inquisitive stare. He shrugged. "I have no idea, but you'll soon find out." Carly gave a half shrug. At that moment her cell phone, which was on the table beside her, started to ring. Carly swatted at it in a "go away" motion. Jax laughed and picked it up. Pressing the button, he answered, "Carly's phone. Hello Sonny. Yes, this is Jax. Funny you should call at this moment. Never mind. Carly is not able to talk right now. She's recovering from her club's New Years bash. Bingo – both foot tub and ice pack are on the job. Maybe you can call back later? I'll let her know. Bye." He disconnected.
Jax sat down in the chair opposite Carly's. "Well that's interesting. Sonny and Skye recently broke up, and now they both want to talk to you. Sonny, I imagine, just wants a sympathetic ear. Skye on the other hand….she said it was business. Who knows what she's got up her sleeve." Jax leaned closer to Carly. "But I'm sure you will tell me as soon as you find out." Carly managed a chuckle. "And here I thought I was the nosy one."
