Chapter Twenty

Lucas walked through the streets of Salem Place, making his way back to his car. In one hand, he held a bouquet of red roses while his other hand was gripping the sleek jewellery case he had placed in his pocket. He was making his way past the Java Café when Belle, Shawn and Phillip noticed him. Calling him over to their table, the thee of them smiled curiously at the bouquet of red roses.

"Hey, Lucas." Phillip greeted his brother, still eyeing the flowers, "Who are those for?"

Lucas just grinned in response, "Oh my God, you have a girlfriend, don't you?" Belle's eyes widened at the thought.

"What gave you that idea? Do I glow?" Lucas asked, his words tinged with sarcasm.

The sarcasm seemed to go right over Belle's head, "Yeah, actually, you kind of do. I just never noticed it before. Who is it, Lucas?"

"I can't tell you. Besides, we're sort of estranged at the moment so it doesn't really matter." Lucas replied.

It was true, Sami had been more than a little cold to him after he had given her his no-sex ultimatum. He hoped the flowers and jewellery would help sort of get him back on her good side. He hated having her mad at him but he wasn't going to back down. Even if he lost the bet, he still didn't want to keep their relationship a secret. After the remaining week of the bet was up, if Sami still didn't want to start telling people, he would continue making sure that he and Sami kept their hands off each other. Even if it came dangerously close to killing him.

Belle pouted, "Why can't you tell us? Are you saying we have big mouths and that we'd go around telling everyone in Salem?"

Shawn patted his girlfriend's hand, "I'm sure that's not what Lucas thinks. But it's none of our business anyway. If Lucas doesn't want to tell us, then we have to leave it alone."

"It's not that. I would tell you but I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone and I have to keep that promise." Lucas explained.

"So, does that mean it's someone we know?" Phillip asked.

"Not necessarily." Lucas said slowly but Shawn and Phillip were already exchanging knowing smiles. Belle watched Shawn elbow Phillip and her lower lip stuck out even farther.

"Sha-awn." Belle dragged out his name for an extra few syllables, "Why are you and Phillip looking at each other like that? Do you know something I don't?"

Shawn ignored Belle and watched Phillip mouth something to him. He nodded in agreement and both Shawn and Phillip turned to smirk at Lucas.

"So, Lucas," Phillip began casually, "How long have you and Sami been doing the mattress mambo?"

Lucas stepped into the elevator to his apartment building after his trip to Salem Place. Jan Spears was already on the elevator and her eyes lit up when she saw Lucas.

"Aw, are those for me?" she smiled coyly at the flowers in Lucas' hand, "You shouldn't have."

"Actually, no, they're not for you." Lucas gave the younger woman a fleeting smile. He had spoken to her briefly several days ago when she had been waiting for Nicole outside his apartment. She had been nice enough, she just seemed a little...... ditzy. Besides, judging from what Sami and Nicole said about her, it was obvious that Jan didn't have very many friends and he had decided it wouldn't hurt to be friendly to her.

"Well, I bet I can guess who they're for then." without giving him a chance to reply, Jan quickly changed the subject, "Hey, do you believe in reincarnation?"

Lucas was startled by the sudden change of topic and frowned slightly, "Not really."

Jan looked disappointed, "Oh. Well, you should. I was talking to Celeste about it the other day and guess what?"

"What?"

"You were my sister in one of my past lives." Jan smiled happily, "Isn't that great?"

Lucas' brows furrowed at the comment, "Wouldn't I be your brother?"

"Nope. Nicole was my brother in my past life." Jan told him.

"And Celeste told you all this?" Lucas asked, watching her suspiciously.

The elevator doors opened and Jan and Lucas stepped out into the hallway, "Not exactly." Jan mumbled nervously, "But it's true."

"Okay, Jan. I'll see you later." Lucas stepped into Sami's apartment. Glad to have gotten away from Jan, Lucas made a mental note to stay as far away from that basket case as possible. Now he could understand why Sami and Nicole didn't like her. She obviously wasn't completely sane, not if she really thought he was her sister from her past life.

"Sami!" Lucas called, looking around the apartment. Sami walked out of her bedroom and hid a smile when she saw Lucas. She was still trying to act mad at him but it was getting increasingly hard to do. She couldn't exactly blame him for not wanting to keep their feelings a secret. And if it hadn't been for her bet with Brady, she would have given in a long time ago. But she was so close to winning and she just had to keep her feelings for Lucas private for one more week, then everything would go back to normal.

"I brought you these." Lucas handed her the roses and took her free hand in his. Using his thumb, he began circling her palm in slow, coaxing circles, "I wish you'd stop being mad at me." he murmured and Sami felt herself weakening against the sincere look in his dark eyes. Then she came to her senses and pulled her hand away from him. She didn't care how much stuff he bought her, she didn't care how nice he was to her, she was going to stay mad at him.

"I remember you saying something about no intentional physical contact." she reminded him in an aloof voice.

Lucas sighed and dropped his hand, "You're right. I'm sorry. I'll give you as much time as you need until you're comfortable with telling people. I just don't understand why you won't tell anyone. There is nothing anyone in Salem can do or say to drive us apart if we don't let them. Is that what you're afraid of?"

"No." Sami whispered.

"Then there's some other reason?" Lucas tried thrusting Nicole's words out of his mind but for some reason, they kept resounding in his head.

"She probably doesn't want anyone to know she's with you because it would be so degrading for her to let everyone know how much she's lowered her standards."

"That's not true. She isn't ashamed of me."

"Keep telling yourself that, Lucas. Ignorance is bliss."

Stop it, Lucas, he scolded himself, You know Nicole is a brainless bimbo. She doesn't know what she's talking about. Sami isn't ashamed of you, don't even think that.

Before Sami could reply, the shrill ring of the phone interrupted their conversation. Sami reached over and picked up the phone, "Hello?"

The scream on the other line was so loud, even Lucas could hear it clearly, "Sami!" How could you not tell me you were doing it with Lucas?"

"What?" Sami almost dropped the phone, from both the shock of Belle's words and from Belle's screeching. She looked over at Lucas, who was inwardly berating himself for not giving Sami any warning. He had tried his best to convince Phillip, Shawn and Belle that there was nothing going on between him and Sami but they hadn't bought it, for some reason he would never understand. Not to mention that Belle had been very upset that Phillip and Shawn had realized what was going on and she hadn't.

"Don't even try to deny it!" Lucas could still make out every word Belle was saying, "I know it's true. Man, when even you're getting sex and I'm not, that's a sure sign that life is really starting to suck."

So, even if there's a serial killer running around killing everyone, as long as you're getting some, then everything's perfect? Lucas couldn't resist thinking to himself.

"Belle, who told you that Lucas and I were together?" Sami demanded, glaring at Lucas, "Did Lucas tell you that?"

"No." Belle shot back, "Shawn and Phillip already knew what was going on. I don't know how they found out but they didn't find out from Lucas. Lucas wouldn't tell us."

"I guess they could have found out from Rex or Mimi." Sami mused.

"Rex and Mimi knew? My best friend knew and she didn't tell me?" Belle screeched.

"She was going to but Lucas and I made her promise not to. And you can't tell anyone either. Please, Belle, you can't tell anyone, especially not Brady." Sami pleaded. Lucas frowned. Why was it so important that Brady never found out?

"I guess I can keep quiet. And I am happy for you." Belle said in a calmer voice, "Even if I'm a little jealous that Lucas is having sex with you when Shawn won't have sex with me, I'm happy for you."

"Thanks." Sami got off the phone with Belle and turned back around, "God, I think I'm going to suffer from permanent hearing damage. Honestly, I love her but she can be so annoying sometimes."

"I bet if she and Jan weren't both fighting over the same guy that they'd get along great. Speaking of annoying, I'll have to agree with you, Jan can be very good at getting on your nerves."

"What did she do? You mean you actually talked to her?"

"As much as you can talk to someone who latches onto you if you so much as smile at them." Lucas shook his head in disgust, "Earlier today, she told me I was her sister from her past life."

Sami grinned, glad that their previous conversation seemed to be forgotten, "Not her brother?"

"No, her sister." Lucas grimaced, "With most people, if you decide to be friendly to them, they'll settle for being friendly back. But no, you're nice to this girl and suddenly you're her long lost sister from her past life. She even said that Nicole is her brother."

"Ew, that would mean that you married someone who was your brother in your past life." Sami looked horrified at the idea, "Don't listen to Jan, someone needs to take her away in a straightjacket or something."

Lucas remembered the necklace in his pocket and pulled out the case, "I also got you this." he opened the case to reveal a necklace. Moving so that he was behind her, he gently placed the necklace around her neck and, after struggling with it for a few moments, closed the clasp on the back of the necklace.

"Sami, if Rex and Mimi and Phillip and Shawn and Belle all already know about us, why don't we just-"

Sami turned around and gave Lucas a weak smile, "Thank you for the necklace, Lucas. It's beautiful. I'll wear it to the party at the Blue Note tonight. Speaking of the party, I have to go get ready for it." she turned and headed for her bedroom, letting Lucas know that the subject of telling everyone the truth about their feelings was closed.