Chapter 27- A Non-Wedding
Whispers continued around the sanctuary as Jason and Elizabeth stared at each other. Sam placed a hand on her forehead. It felt like this awkward moment was never going to end.
"Jason, what the hell do you think you're doing!?" Carly stormed towards him fuming.
Scout's mouth dropped slightly. "She said a bad word."
"The only time you come to see me anymore is to go on about this stupid mind mapping delusion!" Carly stopped halfway down the aisle. "And now you stop Elizabeth's… of all people's… wedding! You really need to get your head checked!"
"Jason, please leave," Ric said. "Or I'll have you escorted out."
"And you're supposed to be working for Sonny," Carly continued. "But you won't answer his calls either!"
"I—I can't work for Sonny anymore," Jason said.
Everyone in the sanctuary gasped.
"Excuse me?" Carly crossed her arms. "You can't quit."
"I'll talk to Sonny about this later." He turned back to Elizabeth. "Elizabeth… Can we go somewhere to talk?"
Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Whatever you have to say, you can say it here."
Ric scrunched his face. "You're going to let him ruin our wedding?"
"I'll hear him out."
Jason took a deep breath and walked awkwardly past Carly to the front of the church. "I don't think you should marry Ric."
Elizabeth crossed her arms. "And why not?"
"Because—"
"Because of this stupid mind mapping nonsense!?" Carly hastened over to them.
"Yes," Jason said.
"We've been over this, Jason," Elizabeth said.
"I believe Ric is going to hurt you."
Ric laughed. "I would never hurt Elizabeth."
Elizabeth squinted her eyes. "Why do you care so much?"
Jason paused.
"He doesn't care about you one bit!" Carly cut in. "Something is fuddling up his head right now! If he's not going to be with Sam, then he has to be with Sasha!"
Elizabeth clenched her jaw. "I didn't ask you, Carly. I'm asking Jason." She turned back to him. "Why do you care so much?"
Jason swallowed hard and stepped a little closer. "Because I'm in love with you. I always have been."
Elizabeth's mouth dropped slightly. Carly furrowed her eyebrows.
Sam lowered her gaze. She wanted more than anything to get up and leave. But that would just draw attention to her. She looked up and Drew gave her a sad smile.
"That's awfully convenient isn't it?" Ric said. "You haven't been together in years and you choose today of all days to admit that to her?"
"Wait…" Elizabeth scrunched her face. "Haven't been together in years… so we were together? Not just the night we conceived Jake?"
Carly shook her head. "Nope. It was only the one night. Tell her Jason."
"We were together, not just that night," Jason said.
Carly groaned.
"You can ask around town," Jason said. "They'll confirm it. But Sonny, Carly, and Sam don't remember, just like you don't. But what if the lesson we need to learn is that we keep coming back into each other's lives for a reason… you said that."
Elizabeth swallowed hard.
Carly grabbed his arm. "Jason, let's go. I'm taking you to GH."
"No," Jason said.
"Elizabeth…" Ric said. "Please. Let's get married."
Elizabeth looked between Ric and Jason.
Steve walked over to them. "Elizabeth. This is about what you want. If you want to marry Ric, then marry him."
"I—I think I need time to think," she said.
Ric set his hands on his hips, stared at the ceiling, and sighed.
"Cameron not being here was a sign. I need to take a step back."
"What? Cameron's not here?" Jason asked.
"He has the flu," Elizabeth said. "He was throwing up today."
"And did you see him throwing up?"
She shook her head. "The boys were coming with Ric. Violet and I stayed at Gram's last night."
Jason set his hands on his hips. "Did you do something to him?"
Ric scrunched his face. "What? No!"
Molly joined them next. "You wouldn't hurt Cameron, would you Dad?"
"Of course not." He wrapped an arm around Molly. "You see… Jason has always hated me. That's what this is about. He's making all of this up about him and Elizabeth to hurt me."
"He's not doing it to hurt you, he's doing it because his head is mixed up!" Carly shouted.
"Where'th Jake?"
Everyone turned at the sound of Violet's voice. Sam jumped up when she noticed Jake, Danny, and Leo gone.
Elizabeth rushed over to Violet and Audrey. "Did anyone see Jake leave?"
Sam lifted Scout and handed her to Kristina. "Stay with Auntie Krissy."
"Okay, you guys check the grounds," Julian said to Drew and Sam. "Lex and I will check downstairs."
"Wait," Elizabeth said. "Jake must have heard us about Cameron. I bet he went to find him."
"Find him?" Ric said. "He's home on the couch."
"And Danny likely wanted to trail along," Sam said.
"And Leo always wants to do whatever Danny does," Julian said.
"Then they're probably at my place," Liz said.
"Well, let's go find them," Alexis said.
Ric groaned.
"Steve," Elizabeth said. "Can you—?"
"I'll keep an eye on Aiden and Violet, no worries," Steve said.
GHGHGH
When Sam, Drew, Alexis, Julian, Elizabeth, Jason, and Ric arrived at Elizabeth's house, the door was off its hinges.
Jake hurled a cell phone on the floor. "Nobody's answering their phones!"
Leo was sitting on the couch and sighed, but then looked over at everyone and his face lit up. "Dad! Lexie! I knew you'd come!"
Sam's heart sank. "Where's Danny?"
Leo frowned. "He only went because she said she'd take him to Cameron."
"She wouldn't take me with them," Jake said. "I wanted to go too."
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked.
"I wanted to make sure Cam was okay," Jake said. "Danny and Leo wanted to come too."
"I'm sorry Dad," Leo said. "I just wanted to be part of the adventure this time."
Julian sat beside him and rubbed his back. "It's okay, son."
"Just tell one of us next time," Alexis added.
"Do you know where Cam and Danny are?" Drew asked.
"No," Jake said. "When we got home the door was down and Cam was gone. She just wanted Danny to go with her. She said they needed to bond or something. He didn't want to go."
"Who is she?" Sam asked.
"Michael's crazy ex," Jake said. "Though I think they're back together? Her name is Nelle."
Sam smacked herself in the forehead.