Chapter Sixty One
Jason hesitated as he stood in front of the studio door. He should just knock and say hello, like the other hundred times he'd done it. Okay, maybe not a hundred times.
Just as he was about to announce his presence, the wooden door opened. There stood Elizabeth, she had a surprised look on her face, which faded into one of confusion. "What are you doing here Jason?" she chuckled. "I wasn't expecting anyone today."
Elizabeth stepped aside to allow Jason into the studio. "Uh, sorry. I should have called," Jason mumbled as he stepped into the minimalist studio. "I can come back if you want?"
She shook her head dismissively. "Nah. I just had to go grab some more canvas."
Jason swallowed. She looked like she'd been painting. Her hair was up in a short ponytail and she had smudges of paint on her face. Elizabeth wore a large ratty t-shirt and a cheesy grin.
"Well, I just wanted to see how things are going?" Jason mumbled vaguely.
Elizabeth frowned and laughed out loud. "Why? Is something wrong Jason?"
Jason sighed and shook his head. "Jaime thought you might like to come to Carly's new club with me tonight."
There. He'd said it.
Jason looked up at Elizabeth who seemed a bit stunned. He put up his hands to signal that it was no big deal. "It's not a big deal. Jaime thought you might like to check it out and thought since I was dropping by tonight anyways…"
His heart was beating fast. Jason didn't want her answer to be no, but knew that it was a distinct possibility after the previous night.
"Sure!" Elizabeth chirped. She looked like she was debating the pros and cons of the evening.
Jason shook his head. "No. You know what? It was a bad idea," Jason declined. "I shouldn't have let Jaime convince me you'd have a good time at Carly's nightclub."
He closed his eyes and chided himself for thinking that this even remotely had anything to do with Jaime's suggestion. Jason really did want her to come and that was why he had asked. Suddenly Elizabeth awoke him from his reverie. "Jason I can handle Carly!" sighed Elizabeth.
Jason studied Elizabeth's face, searching for any signs of hesitation or guilt for saying yes. There were none. Jason nodded and smiled. "Good," he laughed. "I never said that you couldn't!"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, but you were implying it!" she teased.
Jason feigned confusion. "I don't think I ever said you could be intimidated by Carly. I know better!" He winked at her.
Jason watched as Elizabeth's body relaxed and he felt, himself relax along with her. Nothing has changed. They were still friends. And even if he wanted more, he knew that above all, his friendship with Elizabeth would remain strong and firm.
Elizabeth threw her head back and laughed. "Do you think it's casual or formal?"
Jason shook his head and shrugged. "I don't think it's really anything fancy. I'd say semi-formal?"
She nodded her head and walked him to the door. "Okay. Um, are you picking me up?" she asked curiously, her eyebrows raised in conjunction with the question.
"How about I pick you up at eight?" Jason suggested, standing in the doorframe.
Elizabeth smiled brightly. "Okay. I'll see you then?" Her eyes twinkled.
If he and Elizabeth ever began something deeper, it would be based on the strongest foundation possible. Friendship.
~~~
Elizabeth couldn't believe she'd agreed. Going to Carly's club could possibly turn into the disaster of the year, if Carly saw her with Jason. Elizabeth bit her lip and smirked at the thought suddenly. It could be kind of fun?
~ * ~
She had thought about wearing Isabella's dress, which hung in the garment bag on a hook by the door, but Elizabeth knew it would be a little more relaxed, and there would be lots of bodies jostling around. Instead, Elizabeth opted for a black lace top, with a matching tank top underneath; it went well with her tan suede skirt that hung just below her knee. Completing her outfit, Elizabeth chose a fitted, knee-high pair of black leather boots to wear.
Just as she was about to check herself in the mirror, Jason arrived. He studied at her for a moment when she stood in front of him as she opened the door. All of the sudden Elizabeth felt a bit self-conscious about her choice of outfit. Maybe she should have worn the red summer dress she'd tried on first.
Elizabeth pushed that thought away, smiled and motioned him to come into the studio. "I'll be ready in a couple of seconds," she informed Jason, a bit flustered. She ran around the studio looking for the silver lasso necklace she'd just had in her hand a second ago.
"Found it!" exclaimed Elizabeth triumphantly, holding the thin shiny accessory in her hand.
~ * ~
When they had arrived at Fireworks on Jason's bike, Liz couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline when Jaime saw them and waved them through, past the crowd of people lined up around the block. "Wow! I never imagined the club was this big," Elizabeth said, looking around from the entranceway of the club. There were lights, loud pounding music and bodies tightly jammed into the club, dancing and moving together.
Jason had his arm around her waist, squeezing gently, Liz looked up at him. "What?" she tried to yell above the music.
"Stay close!" he yelled in reply.
Liz nodded. "Do you want a drink?" Jason asked.
Non-verbally they communicated, through hand gestures and reading each other's lips. The music was overwhelming; Elizabeth didn't bother to try to talk to him until they were in a more secluded spot.
As they perched against the bar, Elizabeth caught Carly out of the corner of her eye. She was moving and grooving her way to the bar and to Jason. Elizabeth shook her head in disgust. She would never understand why Jason was her best friend.
"Jason!" Carly squealed, squirming her way through the mass of bodies and kissing him on the cheek.
Elizabeth moved out of the way, allowing Carly her public display of affection, for the moment. She watched Jason hug her back and wondered how he could understand her so well, but be her complete opposite.
Carly seemed to notice that Jason had brought someone and scowled at Elizabeth when she realized who it was. "Why is she here?" Carly exclaimed.
"How did you weasel your way into my club?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and grabbed the virgin margarita, which sat on the counter. "I came with Jason," she announced, taking a sip of her pina colada flavored drink.
Carly glared at Jason, who stood in between them, observing quietly. Finally he spoke. "Carly, I invited her. I thought she would like to see your club."
The owner of the club studied Jason for a moment and sighed loudly. "Fine! She can stay. Have fun! Drinks are on me," Carly declared reluctantly.
Elizabeth frowned. She was surprised Carly gave in without so much as a fight. The feisty ex-lover always seemed ready for a fight.
Jason leaned down to whisper something in Carly's ear, which made the blonde break into a grin. Carly smiled and patted him on the back. "Okay!" she sighed.
Then turning her attention to Elizabeth, Carly looked at her unamused. "You'd better not hurt her like you hurt my cousin, little girl."
Elizabeth looked over at Jason derisively. Jason just closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. Then Zander, who was talking about some inventory mix up, unexpectedly pulled Carly away from the fray. Carly waved goodbye and winked at Jason. "Don't go without saying goodbye!" warned Carly.
Elizabeth looked up at Jason who seemed to be a bit distracted. "What is it?" she inquired, looking around the club as she'd seen Jason do.
Jason shook his head. "Nothing. I thought I saw somebody. Do you want to go find a table?"
Elizabeth pursed her lips and looked at him mischievously. "I think I want to cash in that rain check on that dance you owe me," she smirked, leading him onto the dance floor, which was inundated with moving bodies.
~~~
Jaime basked in the glow of seeing Jason walking up to the club hand in hand with Elizabeth. They looked darn good together. She was wearing a black top with a tan suede skirt and black boots, and he was wearing all black - black jeans and a black t-shirt, with his leather jacket.
When the crowd got to be too much though, Jaime decided she'd check in on the two. She hoped that she'd be able to spot them. Jaime knew it was easy to get lost in that sea of bodies. Jaime looked from up above the staircase and scanned the droves of people dancing. Squinting, she thought she'd spotted a tall blonde and a petite brunette over by the bar.
Yes. It was them. They were talking to Carly over by the bar.
Jaime was about to make her way over to them, but then suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she saw two men shoving each other back and forth. She slipped a radio clipped to her waist and called for back up. Looking behind her, Jaime saw Alan coming up as support.
"Break it up!" Jaime yelled, placing herself in between the two drunks. The two men separated quite easily, which was nice but unusual. She looked at both of them, and though they didn't look like regulars, there was something about them.
Alan shoved his way into the mix. "What's going on Jaime? You got a handle on this?"
Jaime nodded, but studied each of the drunks. They reeked of alcohol, but they seemed quite in control of their motor skills. Frowning, Jaime walked up closely to the drunk on her left. Looking straight into his eyes, Jaime realized that he wasn't drunk at all.
She shook her head and pushed them towards Alan. "Get them out of here."
Jaime didn't know why, but it sent a chill down her spine. Something about the situation didn't feel right. She looked around the area to see if there was anyone who knew what this was about. Maybe it was a prank or some college frat thing.
"Are you wondering why?" a deep voice beckoned her from a near by darkened booth.
Jaime turned around immediately. As she approached the booth, Jaime squinted her eyes trying to make out the man in the booth. "Who's there?"
"You haven't forgotten me have you Jaime?"
The question froze Jaime in motion. She knew it was him. It was Rosco.
~~~
Rosco had planned this meticulously. He had his men positioned around the club, waiting for signs of Jaime. When she came into the club, the plan had gone off without a hitch. He would finally get his answers.
After the fiasco with Nam showing up, Rosco had almost lost his nerve. He'd debated whether he should just give it up. But in the end, Jaime's face and the memory of her lips on his compelled him forward with his plans.
He swallowed uneasily. Rosco never thought he'd actually see her before Nam or Morgan found him out. "Aren't you going to have a seat?" he asked, feigning confidence.
Jaime had her hair twisted into a knot. She wore a pair of black leather pants and a cream-colored t-shirt. The strobe lights glowed behind her and he could see the intensity in her eyes.
He stood up from where he was sitting and motioned her to sit in the booth. She took a step back and glared at him. "What do you want?"
Rosco looked at her calmly. "Sit down and I might just tell you," he replied slowly.
Jaime looked at him suspiciously. "Or I could just call security over here and have you thrown out," she retorted.
He chuckled softly. "Now what would be the fun in doing that?"
Jaime tilted her head and folded her arms across her chest. "Or I could just call Jason over here and let him do to you what he's been planning on doing for the past week?"
Rosco licked his lips and sat down. He took a swig of scotch from the glass tumbler sitting in front of him and shook his head skeptically. Rosco let out a hiss as the fiery liquid coated his throat. "Now that's good scotch!" he smiled.
Jaime's eyes never left him for a second. He liked that about her. She never gave in.
"Tell me what you're doing here before I call security," she commanded.
Rosco sniffed at the weak command. "And I told you to sit down," he reminded her. "Now I think you're more curious than I am afraid? Am I right?"
Jaime shifted her body from one foot to another. He watched her eyes dart from left to right, checking to see if anyone had seen her with him. Jaime bridged the gap between them and found a place across from Rosco, in the booth. "Fine. I'm sitting here. Now tell me what you're doing here," she growled, leaning forward to see him in the dim lighting.
Rosco followed suit and leaned forward in the booth, and rested his arms on the table. "What if I told you I wanted some answers?"
Jaime frowned and then her suspicious gaze turned to one of amusement. "You want answers from me?" Jaime scoffed. "You're insane. You're the one who kidnapped me!" She threw up her hands in disgust.
Jaime looked around to see if anyone had overheard them. Rosco knew that no one was paying attention to what was happening in the booths at the back of the club. That was why he knew this was the perfect place to meet with her - too many people and too much noise.
Rosco leaned forward a few more inches until he could reach her arm, which rested on the table. He grasped her petite, but strong arm and pulled her towards him, until her face was just inches from his. On impulse, Rosco placed a hard kiss on her lips.
When he pulled away, Rosco found Jaime sitting back in the booth unamused. As she was about to leave, Rosco stood up and blocked her path. "You know the question now. And I want the answer."
Jaime swallowed hard and looked up at Rosco with contempt. He slowly stepped aside so she could pass, and watched as she pulled a radio from her waist.
~~~
"Alan, could you come take this tall guy at booth 47? He's had enough tonight."
As Jaime peered over her shoulder, she didn't expect him to be still standing there, staring after her. And when her gaze located the spot where he had just kissed her, Jaime found that he wasn't.