Chapter Sixty
Elizabeth touched her lips, as she lay curled up on her studio couch. She couldn't believe she'd done it. She had kissed Jason.
The whole embarrassment of the situation was overwhelming. She hadn't even gone outside today, for fear that she might run into Jason, even though they had settled the impulsive gesture with a friendly dismissal.
A quiet knock summoned Elizabeth from her thoughts. She walked over, hesitantly, peeking beneath the green shade that covered the window on her door. It was Jaime.
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't quite ready to test the waters with Jason. As much as Elizabeth believed the kiss was a reaction to Lucky, part of Elizabeth knew that it was something she had wanted to do since Italy. Elizabeth chided herself for letting Jason give her an easy way out of why she had really kissed him. She felt close to him and was attracted to everything about him.
As she opened the door, Elizabeth smiled, waving Jaime into the studio. "Hi! I wasn't expecting anyone to visit. I thought you might have to work this afternoon."
Jaime shook her head. "No. I work later tonight. I prefer the evening shifts, there's more energy and I'm a night owl!" Jaime laughed.
Elizabeth shut the door behind her and motioned for her to have a seat. "Can I get you anything? I'm afraid I don't have much. I've been meaning to get a refrigerator in here for sometime. Maybe spruce it up, so I can actually live here!" groaned Elizabeth.
Her visitor made a place for herself on the couch. "Uh, no. I'm good," Jaime dismissed casually. "I can give you hand if you ever plan to do it?" She paused for a moment. "The redecorating I mean!"
Elizabeth followed suit and sat down on the couch, tucking her left leg underneath her. "So what's up? Did something happen?" She didn't quite know why she asked that question, but as Elizabeth studied Jaime's face, she could tell something was wrong.
Jaime seemed to hesitate before shaking her head and denying any troubles. "I'm fine. Really."
Elizabeth worked up her best glare and smiled. "You know I don't like it when people lie. I can tell something's wrong. Why don't you tell me?" coaxed Elizabeth.
Jaime took a deep breath and sighed miserably. "My dad's in town."
The short phrase explained a great deal. Elizabeth didn't know much about her family history, but she knew Jaime dreaded the work that her Father was in and had pretty much disowned her entire family. "When did he arrive in Port Charles?" Elizabeth inquired.
Jaime pushed back her long black hair and slouched back into the couch. "I saw him a couple of nights ago. I thought I was being followed, which was scary, but then I got this gut feeling that it might be Rosco, so I ducked into a nearby church." Elizabeth nodded. It gave her shivers to think about Jaime having to confront Rosco again. "I was in there for a bit and then someone came in after a few minutes. I was sure it was Rosco."
Jaime shuddered at the memory. "But it turned out to be my Dad." Jaime picked up a small sketchbook that Elizabeth had been working in and began flipping through the pages. "We had another one of our heart-warming talks and then I told him to leave me alone."
Elizabeth's eyes widened. She couldn't believe there was so much anger between the two. Even though her family hadn't been a picnic, Elizabeth couldn't imagine being born into a mobster family. "Well did he tell you why he was here?"
Jaime nodded. "He said that he had sources, which led him to believe Rosco was in Port Charles!" Jaime scoffed. "Can you believe that lame excuse? Why would Rosco be in Port Charles?"
Elizabeth stared at Jaime, who then looked up from the sketchbook. Their eyes met. Suddenly Jaime pulled away from her gaze and shook her head. "No!" she exclaimed, shaking her head vehemently. Jaime practically sprang up off the couch. "No."
She reached out to her distraught friend and held her hand. "Look, I'm sure I'm probably wrong about it. Really," Elizabeth said soothingly. "I mean you're totally right. I'm sure he isn't even near Port Charles."
Jaime's dark eyes clouded and tears began forming in the corners of her eyes. Elizabeth watched as she closed her eyes and slump back into the corner of the couch. "I hope so," Jaime whispered. "I can't imagine him coming back for me. I'm still so messed up about the whole thing. I mean I try to do as many normal things as possible, but I just keep remembering!"
Elizabeth couldn't stand to watch Jaime so confused and helpless. She bit the corner of her lip as she decided whether Jaime would welcome a hug or not. Finally, Elizabeth slowly reached out to Jaime, who had begun to shake from crying. Wrapping her arms around her friend, Elizabeth whispered to Jaime, "It's going to be all right. You can talk about this anytime."
After a few minutes, the tears subsided into sniffles, and Elizabeth grabbed a box of tissues near by, proceeding to hand Jaime the white soft disposable squares one by one. "Are you all right?" Elizabeth asked worriedly.
Her dark-haired cohort nodded as she wiped her nose and chuckled. "I'm such a dork!"
Elizabeth felt relieved that Jaime was able to laugh again; the dark cloud that hovered over her friend had dissipated. "No, you're not a dork! Geeky, maybe!" teased Elizabeth.
Jaime rolled her eyes at Elizabeth. "I don't want to talk about this anymore," she sighed. "Let's talk about you!" Jaime had a mischievous glint in her eye. "How's Jason?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "Don't ask!" she sighed. "I am such a screw up when it comes to relationships!" As Elizabeth heard the words come out of her mouth and saw the look on Jaime's face, she knew she had made a slip.
"So you guys have a relationship?" Jaime implied, rascally. "Do tell!"
She threw the box of tissues at her impish friend. "I didn't say that!" Elizabeth protested.
Jaime pursed her lips, and put her hands on her hips. "You know you can't lie to me!" informed Jaime. "You're holding something back! What is it?"
"Did you guys kiss or something?"
Elizabeth felt her face flush at the mention of 'kiss', and looked away. "Look at the time!" Elizabeth exclaimed, looking at her watch. "I really have some errands to run!" She arose to grab her coat when Jaime pulled her down.
"You're not getting away that fast! You kissed Jason! You did! Didn't you?" Jaime squealed, and clapped her hands in joy. "So are you guys an item now?"
Swallowing hard, Elizabeth peered up at Jaime shook her head. "No!"
Jaime frowned. "What? Come on! You guys totally like each other! Why not?"
Now it was Elizabeth's turn to slump back into the couch. Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest. "I don't know!" Elizabeth pouted. "I kissed him and then we were kind of embarrassed."
Elizabeth felt Jaime's steady enamored gaze upon her, and she knew her face was reddening. "Look, we were talking one minute and then suddenly I kissed him. It was just an impulse. And then," Elizabeth paused to catch her breath, which she'd realized she'd been holding. "I said I was sorry."
Jaime jumped up and opened her mouth like she was about to scream, but nothing came out. She began to do a little dance and was hopping up and down like a bunny. "What?" she screamed. "You said sorry?" Jaime exhaled loudly, in a show of disbelief.
"I can't believe you did that! What did he say?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and hugged a pillow that sat beside her. "What does Jason always say?" lamented Elizabeth. "He understands."
Finally Jaime had finished her little dance and sat down, alert and focused on the story. "What do you mean? Why would he say he understands? What did you say, when you said you were sorry? What explanation did you give?"
Elizabeth sat up and patted Jaime on the knee. "It's okay Jaime! Breathe," Elizabeth said laughed. "He gave me an explanation!"
Jaime frowned again. "What do you mean?"
"He saw how embarrassed I was, and assumed that it was because I didn't mean it, when really, it was just because, well, I couldn't believe I'd actually done it." Elizabeth sighed and got up from the couch. "I am glad I did it, but I think Jason thought I was embarrassed and wished I'd never done it!"
Jaime shook her head. "Oh boy."
Elizabeth nodded. "Yeah. You can say that again!" Elizabeth began fiddling with a container of paintbrushes. "So he said it was probably because of what happened between me and Lucky and I was angry and…"
Jaime got up and leaned on the counter beside Elizabeth. "You told him it wasn't true right?"
Elizabeth smiled miserably. "No?" Elizabeth squeaked shyly.
Jaime laughed out loud, which wasn't the reaction Elizabeth was expecting. "Elizabeth!" Jaime sighed exasperatedly. "You're such a character!"
Elizabeth watched as Jaime cleaned up her mess of tissues while she shook her head. Meanwhile, Elizabeth was wondering what she meant. She was a character? Finally, Elizabeth couldn't take the silence anymore. "What do you mean?"
The Asian girl turned around and smiled. "You really clueless! But in a good way!"
Was that a compliment? Elizabeth wasn't sure. "So what should I have done? I mean I don't want to lead him on though. I did that once before and I know I hurt him. Right now I don't know what I want and what I'm doing okay? So sue me if I don't want to lose one of the best friends I've ever had over a kiss!"
Jaime put up her hands in a sign of surrender. "Wait! Stop! I'm sorry!" she apologized. "I didn't mean to say that it was a stupid move, but from my point of view," Jaime paused. "I think you already know what you want, but you're too scared to do anything about it."
"No! That's not true!" protested Elizabeth.
Had she known what she wanted, it would make her life easier, thought Elizabeth. But she didn't know.
Suddenly a tiny alarm began to chime. Jaime put up her hand, signaling for her to wait a moment. She looked at her watch and shrugged apologetically. "I have to go. My shift starts in 15 minutes and I still have to get to Kelly's and change."
Elizabeth let out a slow breath. She had a few good arguments to counter Jaime's reasoning. Elizabeth ran her hands through her short hair. "Fine. But let me tell you, I had some good reasons!" Elizabeth retorted.
Jaime laughed. "I'm sure you did." She headed towards the door. Elizabeth followed her guest to the hallway corridor. "Thanks for dropping by anyway," Elizabeth teased.
Jaime nodded. "Yeah. Well, just one last thing," Jaime smirked. "You know I'm right!" She stuck out her tongue and ran down the hallway before Elizabeth could say anything.
Elizabeth shook her head and sighed. She knew she was. That was the problem.
~~~
Jason had his hands full with Sonny's coffee business and also figuring out the situation with his brother A.J. and Courtney. He didn't know what to make of marriage of his brother and Sonny's sister. After the informal run-down on the whole fiasco, Jason didn't realize how desperate A.J. was.
As he tried to help Sonny juggle his relationships with his own sister, Jason couldn't quite help but think about Emily. He hadn't heard from her in a few weeks. Jason always kept in close contact with her, especially since the shooting.
Emily was surprisingly nosy about Jason's love life, not that he really had one since Robin. But since Elizabeth's break-up with Lucky and Jason meeting up with Jaime and Elizabeth in Italy, he seemed to be inundated with voice mails about what was going on.
Jason sighed and made a mental note to give Emily a call as he walked into Carly's club. The look of ecstatic glee on Carly's face made him smile. He sort of even missed her loud brash attitude. "Hey," he nodded as walked past the tall dark brute standing just inside the hallway.
Carly skipped towards him, clapping her hands. "You jerk! Why didn't you call me and tell me you were coming into town?" she chided, feigning anger. Quickly she gave the charade up and launched into his arms. "I missed you so much!"
Jason chuckled out loud. "Had business with Sonny," he explained squeezing Carly tightly. "How have you been?" Jason pushed away, looking at Carly in the eye.
Carly turned around slowly, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "Fine," she said stiffly. Suddenly she whirled around with her arms stretched out. "I've got club Jason! I've never been better!"
The strained smile and her feigned excitement did nothing to convince him that she was anything, but fine. "You know you don't have to pretend with me Carly."
Carly swallowed and her ear-to-ear grin melted into a thin line and her arms fell limply at her sides in weariness. She rolled her eyes and walked towards the bar and opened a bottle of beer. She held out the bottle for him. Jason shook his head. "I still have to run some errands."
The irritated blonde shrugged. "Whatever!"
Jason leaned up against the bar. "Have you talked to Sonny at all?"
Carly took a swig of the amber bottle. "No. Why should I?" questioned Carly. "We're done. Divorced actually, so that allows me the ability to not have to talk to him if I like!"
Jason knew Carly was miserable. The fake smile and her upbeat demeanor were sure signs that Carly was in emotional turmoil. He patted the hand that rested on the counter. "You'll be okay Carly. You're a fighter."
Carly backed away and chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You don't know Jason." She looked up at the ceiling. "I think I've really blown it this time!"
Jason watched Carly open her mouth like she was about to laugh, but no sound came out. She ran the tip of her tongue along her lips. "There's no turning back on this Jason." Carly lifted her hand up and casually wiped a tear forming in the corner of her eye. Sniffling loudly, Carly shone a big smile at him. "Well, there's no point in wallowing in it, is there?"
Carly walked from behind the bar and made her way beside Jason. "Are you going to drop by when there's actually people here? Then you can see it in all its glory!" Her eyes twinkled in pride.
Jason shook his head when someone entered the club. He turned around and saw Jaime bounding down the stairs. She smiled at him. "Jason! What a surprise! How did you know I worked here?"
Jason was about to answer when Carly stepped in front of him, intercepting his bubbly friend. "He's not here to see you, missy!" snarled Carly.
Jaime brow furrowed and looked over Carly's shoulder in confusion. Jason shook his and sighed. "Carly, stop it."
She turned on her heel and glared at Jason. "You know the little mouse?" Carly inquired nauseously.
Jason nodded. But before he could elaborate Jaime interrupted. "We were in Italy. He showed me around a couple of years ago. And then, well, he rescued me."
Carly shook her head and looked squinted her eyes in irritation. "What?" she spat. "What is she talking about Jason? Italy?"
Jason rubbed his chin, trying to think of how to explain this to Carly, who was ready to blow a gasket. "Well, I met her in Italy a couple of years ago when I left Port Charles."
Carly nodded, but the sour look on her face remained.
"And then we met up again in Italy this past month. She got kidnapped and Liz and I went to find her." He tried to make it as short an explanation as possible, knowing that Carly wouldn't get past the part about him knowing her.
"Is that why you stayed away so long? Cause you and little Miss Prissy had to go find her?"
Jaime laughed in disbelief. By the look on her face, Jason knew that she was going to go off on Carly. As Jaime opened her mouth, Jason got up from the stool he had been leaning on and moved in between the two fiery women. "I really should get going. Sonny has some errands for me to run. Jaime?"
Jaime looked up at Jason flustered. "But I…"
Jason motioned with his eyes toward the exit. "Could you walk me out? I need to ask you something."
He quickly began to escort Jaime towards the exit before she could say anything that might lose her the job. Jason turned and looked back at Carly who just stood there glaring and tapping her toe. Finally she turned and walked out of the bar room.
Jason felt Jaime squirm out of his grasp. "Hey!" grunted Jaime, who looked very unhappy with him. "You didn't have to drag me out of the room. I could have handled her!"
Jason sighed. "I know you could have handled her. But I also know that you like your job and you wouldn't' want to lose it over a silly argument."
Jaime folded her arms across her chest. "How do you know?" pouted Jaime.
Jason smiled. "Jaime, you wouldn't have gotten anywhere with Carly. She's just upset about some personal stuff. Don't take it personally," Jason explained.
Jaime pursed her lips and looked up at Jason. "How can I not? She was so rude!"
Jason rested both his hands on squarely on her shoulders. "Just count to ten whenever she tries to get under your skin. I know you have a lot more patience than that."
Jaime rolled her eyes and finally broke a smile. "All right. I hate it when you make sense."
Jason hugged her. "I have to go…uh, I'll see you probably tonight. Carly asked me to stop by."
Suddenly Jaime had an unexpected mischievous look on her face. "What?" Jason queried.
"Oh, I was thinking maybe you could bring Elizabeth?"
Jason blinked a couple of times. He had specifically tried to keep busy so he wouldn't have to think about their last encounter. "I don't think she would like to come. She and Carly don't get along."
Jaime grinned. She reached out and patted him on the chest. "Oh, I'm sure you could possibly convince her that she would have a good time."
Jason shook his head. "Why are you suggesting this?"
Jaime rolled her eyes and began to make her way back into the club. "Cause you guys are so dense sometimes," Jaime muttered.
Jason thought he heard her call him and Elizabeth dense, but let it go. "I'll see you tonight."
Leaning on the door, one hand gripping the handle, Jaime warned him, "Not without Elizabeth though!"
Jason sighed and shook his head. He nodded and waved goodbye. He guessed he would be taking Elizabeth out tonight.