CHAPTER 3

"... And that's when I decided to become a doctor."

Dominic Griffin concluded his story about how he helped save the life of a girl who had alcohol poisoning at a college party. He took a sip of wine, looking over at the woman seated across the table.

Robin Scorpio nodded her head absently while she twirled the pasta around on her fork.

"You see, I was a music major at the time, but after that night, I realized medicine was my calling." Dominic continued. "My parents were so relieved. I think a few 'Hail Mary's' were thrown around."

Robin looked up at him briefly before glancing past his shoulder.

"Little do they know, I still play in a band. Lead singer and lead guitar. We're pretty good. You should hear us rehearse sometime." Dominic tried again.

"Not that I expect us to hit it big or anything. Which is why I guess I should keep my day job." He chuckled slightly to himself.

Robin smiled distractedly as she took a sip of her wine.

Dominic sighed. Here they were, sitting at a table in the MetroCourt, having what appeared like a quiet, romantic dinner. He had picked her up at her apartment after her shift earlier, gave her a single long-stemmed red rose, complimented her on how gorgeous she looked, and drove her to the MetroCourt for dinner and perhaps dancing. And if she didn't want to go home afterwards, he also knew a place they could drive to which overlooked the town of Port Charles.

Everything was perfect. He had done everything right. He had said all the right things at the right time. Usually women would be smitten with him by now. So why was it that she didn't seem to be having a good time?

Dominic guessed it had to do with the people at the table across the room. The first half of the date went well, but then a man and woman he recognized from the hospital earlier arrived at the restaurant. Ever since then, Robin hadn't said as much as two words. He doubted she was even paying attention. He decided to test her to see if he was right.

"Actually, I'm thinking of quitting my career as a doctor." Dominic suddenly announced.

"Really?" Robin mumbled, talking a bite of her meal.

"Yeah. I was thinking of joining the traveling circus." Dominic nonchalantly stated. "I hear they have great health benefits. Must come in handy when you fall off the tightrope, or crash your mini car full of clowns."

"Hmm." Robin agreed, stealing another glance over his shoulder.

"I mean, even clowns need health insurance. There's only so many times one can be hit on the head with a falling anvil."

Silence.

Now Robin wasn't even bothering to pretend to be listening. She was now blatantly staring at the people across the room.

Dominic followed her gaze and turned slightly to get a better look. At first glance, the man and woman - whom he recognized as fellow doctor Patrick Drake and Carly Corinthos, the ex-wife of an infamous mobster - were chatting animatedly, seemingly only having eyes for each other in the crowded restaurant. But upon closer inspection, Dominic saw that Patrick kept on glancing in Robin's direction, although he was being much more discreet about it than Robin.

Finally Dominic decided enough was enough. He had stopped playing these silly games when he graduated from high school.

"Look, if you want to go over there, I won't stop you."

That seemed to get Robin's attention.

"What are you talking about?" She asked innocently, leaning closer over the table, attempting to give the impression that she had been listening to him all along.

Dominic rolled his eyes.

"The table across the room. The one occupied by Dr. Drake and Ms. Corinthos. The one you've been staring at. I won't mind if you go over."

Robin laughed uncomfortably. "Please. I don't want to go over there. I am enjoying myself right here, talking to you."

"Really? What have I've been talking about then?"

Robin panicked. What had he been babbling about?

"Um... something about someone named Mary and a band at some party with a clown..." She started to ramble quickly.

Dominic laughed. She had jumbled all his conversation topics together. He knew he should be offended, but it was quite amusing watching her weave her own version of the stories he had been telling her all night.

"Come on Robin, we both know who you really want to be here with tonight. So the question is, why are you still sitting at this table with me?"

"I - I don't know what you're talking about." She stuttered, talking a big gulp of her wine.

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Then it's not Patrick Drake whom you've been staring at for the past half hour?"

Robin hung her head sheepishly. Was it really that obvious?

"I don't want to come off as a jerk here, but I don't like wasting my time." He said, wiping his mouth on a napkin and rising from his seat.

"I'm sorry. You're absolutely right. I haven't been that good of a date." Robin apologized, feeling horrible about the way she had been treating him all evening. "Please sit down. Let's just start over."

Against his better judgement, Dominic sat back down.

"Okay. So tell me. What's the deal with you and Drake boy?" He asked, enjoying seeing her blush slightly.

"Patrick and I are just friends, if you can even call us that. Well, more like colleagues." Robin explained as the waitress cleared their plates. "Actually, I take that all back. We're enemies. We hate each other."

"Yeah, I can see that." He commented sarcastically with a smile.

Robin smiled back. "Well, okay, I don't hate him. But I do hate her."

"Why? Because she's on a date with him?"

"No, our animosity goes back farther and deeper than that." Robin sighed, suddenly feeling ill at the mention of Carly. "It's a long story."

Dominic got the hint and decided to change the subject. "So what was it like living in Paris?"

At the mention of the place she last lived, Robin came alive. She told stories about the differences of French and American cultures, the friends she had there, her hilarious misinterpretations of the language, and her research at the hospital. She got so caught up conversing with Dominic while having dessert and coffee that she didn't even glance in Patrick and Carly's direction. It wasn't until the check came and Dominic went to pay the bill that Robin even noticed that they had left. Sitting at their table was a new couple, kissing and holding hands. Robin suddenly felt sick.

When Dominic returned, they put on their coats and headed outside into the frosty February air. He walked up to the valet to retrieve his car while Robin stood near the entrance, staring up into the night sky. There were so many stars out, it was unbelievable. If it weren't so cold, it would've been the perfect night for a walk.

Robin pulled her jacket tighter around her body and wondered what Patrick was doing at that very moment. He's probably with Carly.

But what if he wasn't?

What if he was standing somewhere, looking up at the stars, thinking of her as well?

Just then, Dominic reappeared. The valet had driven up a red corvette and handed over the keys. Dominic held out his arm for her.

"Ready?"

"Actually, I think I'm just going to catch a cab." Robin said, an idea coming to her. "But thank you for a lovely evening."

"You're welcome. I guess I'll just see you tomorrow at work then."

Robin nodded and smiled. He had taken the rejection better than she thought he would. He was a great guy, no doubt about that. Intelligent, funny, not to mention incredibly 'yummy' as her cousins Maxie and Georgie would say, but he wasn't who she wanted to be with. He was no Patrick Drake.

TO BE CONTINUED...