Nikolas walked into Kelley's. "Hi" Mike greeted him brightly. "How are you?"

"I am good Mike" Nikolas advised, "And you?"

Mike shrugged, "Been better- been worse. How is John?"

"He's good" Nikolas answered. "Can I get two cups of coffee to go, please?"

Mike nodded and turned to get it. Nikolas took a seat and felt someone hovering over him.

"Hi" someone said softly.

Nikolas turned around and saw Maxie Jones smiling at him. "Hi" he replied. "How are you?"

Maxie grinned shyly. "I am good. I am really good. How are you? How is John?"

"We are great" Nikolas told her. Maxie shifted her weight from one foot to another and brushed a piece of blonde hair off her face. Nikolas couldn't help but notice how pretty her hair looked when the sun caught it just right. Kind of like Carly. Her hair looks like a halo in the summer time - he thought but quickly pushed that thought away. He smiled at Maxie. She really was attractive and she had grown up a lot in the last three years. He remembered his conversation with Carly about dating. It was time.

Mike brought Nikolas his coffee and Nikolas paid him. "Well- I guess I will see you around?" Maxie said and turned to leave.

"Wait- Maxie" Nikolas called.

She turned around and looked at him questioningly.

"I was wondering-"Nikolas paused. "Would you like to go to dinner sometime?"

Maxie seemed shocked but thrilled, 'Yeah- that would be great"

"Tomorrow night at 7:00?" he asked.

Maxie nodded, "I will see you then" she replied and turned away.

Nikolas grinned as he followed her out the door of Kelley's. Now- that wasn't hard Nikolas thought. He was quiet proud of himself.

Nikolas handed Carly he coffee and sat down across from here. He was grinning from ear to ear.

"What's up Nicky?" Carly asked. "You look like you ate a canary"

Nikolas tried to look non-chalant. "What do you mean?" Carly gave him a look and he started laughing, "Ok. Ok." He relented. "I have a date?"

Carly paled, "A what?"

Nikolas grinned, " A date" he repeated.

Carly adjusted herself in the seat and looked away. "Good for you" Carly snapped.

Carly's demeanor took Nikolas aback. He sat quietly for a moment watching her sip her coffee and scowl. "Wait. I am so confused. You wanted me to date" Nikolas reminded her.

"Right. So have fun," Carly told him. Without another word she gathered her things and left him sitting there staring after her.

Carly stomped into her house and threw her stuff down. She paced for a few minutes trying to make sense of the clutter in her brain. She didn't want Nikolas to date. She remembered telling him that but now she wasn't so sure how she felt.

Carly sat down on the couch and blinked the tears back. No one she knew of was good enough for him. Why would he settle?

She was just about to call Nikolas and apologize when there was a knock on the door. Carly looked at the cell phone trying to decide what to do and finally she realized whoever was there wasn't going away. She threw the door open and there stood Jason.

"Long time no see" Carly greeted her friend. She gave him a hug and motioned for him to come inside. Jason sat down on the couch and looked around.

"Where are the boys?" he asked.

"Michael is at a friends studying and Morgan is with Leticia at the park," Carly advised. She sat down beside him. "What's up?"

"I came by to apologize for the last few weeks" Jason started. "I was wrong to accuse you of trying to make Sonny and Emily jealous."

Carly opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out. Instead she started to cry. "No you weren't Jase"

Jason looked confused by her tears. "Wait- you were trying to make them jealous?" he asked.

"No" Carly snapped, "Nikolas- I went out with Patrick Drake to make Nikolas jealous."

"What?" Jason asked. "Nikolas- you have a thing for Nikolas?"

"No" Carly shouted. "I am in love with him but he didn't even care. Instead he went out and found himself a girlfriend"

Jason didn't know what to say so he threw an arm around Carly's shoulder. "Maybe you should tell him how you feel instead of playing games"

Carly pulled away and looked shocked. "How do you not get it? Nikolas is a nice guy- a good guy. He is charming and handsome. He is damn near perfect. I am not sweet like Emily. I am not innately kind like Courtney. I am flawed and far from perfect. For the first time I am afraid. Afraid of being rejected."

Jason just pulled Carly close again. "It will be ok," he whispered into her hair.

Nikolas was sitting at the Metrocourt across form Maxie. She was talking a mile a minute and Nikolas wasn't paying attention. He was trying to figure out what Carly's problem was. He tried to call after the blow up but kept getting her voicemail. He even tried to see her but Leticia kept telling him she was out.

"Nikolas" Maxie said.

"Uh-huh" Nikolas replied.

Maxie shook her head, "You haven't heard a word I said"

"No- I did" he argued but then laughed. "I am sorry Maxie. Tonight isn't a good night for me. I have a lot on my mind"

"I understand" Maxie said softly.

For a moment neither said anything. Nikolas was about to put Carly from his mind when he saw Patrick Drake sitting at the bar with a nurse from GH. Nikolas felt angry. This sis why Carly was so upset about Nikolas dating. Patrick had broken her heart.

"Excuse me Maxie" Nikolas said. "I will be right back" He stood up and headed for the bar. Patrick saw him coming and stood to meet him.

"Nikolas" he greeted with the nod of his head.

"You make me sick" Nikolas said.

Patrick chuckled. "Let me guess- Carly?"

"Yes" Nikolas said. "You broke her heart"

Patrick started to laugh a little harder. "I doubt that"

"Why?" Nikolas asked. "Because Carly is strong? Let me tell you Patrick she can have her heart broken like anyone else maybe even more so. She is vulnerable and trusting. I can't believe you would do that to her"

Patrick leaned forward. "Cassadine, I am not the one breaking her heart. That would be you"

Nikolas was confused by that, "What?"

"Figure it out" Patrick told him. He turned back and went to the bar. Nikolas stood there watching for a moment unsure of what to think.