Chapter 2
Jason stopped his bike near the lake. He offered Gia his hand as they made their way down the steep incline to the water's edge. Gia accepted it gratefully.
When they reached the water, Gia looked around. "I've never been to this side of the lake before. I didn't know there was a path down that hill. It's well hidden."
"I'd like to make sure it stays hidden. I don't think anyone else knows it's there. This is my private spot. I like to come here to be alone and think."
Gia suddenly felt special. Jason had brought her to his private spot. He was trusting her to keep it a secret. "Thank you," she said.
"For what?"
"Thank you for bringing me here, for sharing your spot with me. It's beautiful."
Jason nodded. "Come on," he said taking her hand again.
He led her to a clear flat patch of ground by the water. He took off his jacket and spread it on a large rock and motioned for Gia to sit down.
Jason sat quietly staring at the water for a long time. Gia sat quietly too, but she was looking at Jason. She was not really staring at him, but studying him. Jason turned towards her and saw her looking at him. She quickly turned her head to look at the lake. She blushed. They sat in silence for a few more minutes.
"Did you ever bring Elizabeth here?" Gia finally asked. As soon as she said it, she wished she hadn't.
Jason stared at her a moment. "No." Jason continued to look at her. He wasn't sure why he had brought her here. He just felt like Gia was someone he could share this place with.
"So what happened between you and Prince Charming?" he asked.
"Who? Oh, you mean Nikolas. He… well he was trying to control my life," Gia said.
"Control it? How?"
"Well he's trying to take control of my career for one thing. He keeps setting up these photo shoots with magazines. He just wouldn't listen when I told him that I liked working for Deception. It wasn't enough. I had to be this top model on the cover of every magazine. It was driving me crazy."
Jason nodded.
"And then he was starting to control my diet. I had to have his approval to eat anything, but fish and vegetables."
"He was telling you what to eat?" Jason asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Gia said laughing. "Can you believe it?"
Jason shook his head. "I'll never treat you that way." He looked away. He hadn't meant to say that out loud. He was beginning to like her, but he didn't want to be hurt again.
Gia looked at him with surprise. Was he saying that he liked her? She was beginning to feel that she like him, but wanted to hold back. She didn't want to be hurt again.
She smiled at him and he gave her a weak smile in return. They both turned and stared silently at the lake.