Listening to him as he spoke, Elizabeth could vaguely picture her older brother, Steven, in the little gestures that Francis makes. Even the way that he spoke, so kind and understanding, it all seemed to be a little too familiar to her. Noticing his gaze being pulled away, Elizabeth turns her attention to the one person in all of Port Charles she loathes above all else.

Emily Quartermaine.

For many reasons in the past, Elizabeth had actually felt kind of envious of how easily Emily could fit into any given group, not once looking or acting out of place. Much like her sister, Sarah, the Quartermaine girl was loved by all of polite society, something she always tried to achieve, but never really could.

Then her entire world imploded with the aid of the impeccable Quartermaine princess and Elizabeth saw her for what she truly was. A woman with complete disregard to the tragedy of others. Without any sympathy or benefit of the doubt, she ruined Elizabeth's already shaky reputation for good. After all, who wouldn't believe Port Charles's very own self-proclaimed princess?

"Fran, I'm thirsty." Elizabeth voices while simultaneously rising to her feet. "Can I get you anything?"

"No, that's okay." Francis shakes his head, curious about her demeanor, but deciding not to question it. "The coolers are by the stairs."

"Kay."

Walking off to where the coolers are, Elizabeth tries her best to be subtle about it, but she's certain that she didn't pull it off. It had been one thing to run into Emily at the hospital, but another thing entirely to willingly socialize with her. Unfair, maybe, but so is what she did to her all those years ago.

"You okay?" Jason's voice sends a comforting sensation to flood over her. "I saw what happened."

"Of course you did." she sighs, pulling out a soda before turning to meet his eyes. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"You know my sister, don't you?"

"I'm from here." Elizabeth reminds him, glancing back at Emily as she sits down with Johnny and Francis. "There's not many people I don't know."

"If you want to leave..."

"I don't." she admits, turning her gaze back to him. "This is seriously the most fun I've had in such a long time. I don't want that to end just yet."

"Let me know if you change your mind."

"Will do." she smiles slightly as a thought forms. "I don't suppose you dance, do you?"

"No." he shakes his head before taking her hand in his. "But, for you, just this once."

Fitting snugly into his arms, Elizabeth couldn't hide the surprise from her eyes as they slowly swayed to the music. She had been certain that he would turn her down. For him to make an exception for her, as he had so eloquently phrased it, was something she found to be a pleasant surprise.

"Lizzie." Johnny's voice pulls her out of her thoughts, tearing her gaze from Jason's retreating form as he moves to help the men with the food. "Why did you run off?"

"I didn't." she denies, though she's rather certain she's still as bad a liar as ever. "I was thirsty."

"Right. Sure." he shakes his head, not believing her for a second. "I'm not blind. I saw you run off when we were getting closer."

"You can't prove that's what I did."

"Oh, really now?" his smirk gains a more mischievous gleam to it. "That's how you want to play it?"

"Did you hear that?" Elizabeth counters, gesturing over to Jason and the other guys. "I pretty sure that was Jason calling you."

"I'm not falling..." he begun to say until he heard his name, forcing him to turn and look at Jason. "...till next time, Lizzie."

"Whatever you say, John."

Deep breath in, deep breath out. Elizabeth repeats the exercise for a moment longer before walking over to Francis and Emily. In spite of her lack in party experience, she knows better than to start something at someone's birthday. A simple lesson in right place and time that had been drilled into her by her grandmother.

"Ms. Quartermaine." Elizabeth formally greets her, not knowing any other way to address the other woman.

"Ms...Webber?" Emily voices uncertainly.

"I think I'll leave you girls to it." Francis voices after a long moment. "Try to be nice."

"I'm always nice." Elizabeth says simply, plastering on a smile for Francis's sake.

"You don't have to leave." Emily blurts out as Francis turns to walk away. "I mean, I was just going over to Johnny anyway and we wouldn't want Ms. Webber to be alone, right?"

"The kid's busy." Francis counters, knowing exactly what Emily was trying to do. "Keep her company till he's done."

"I..." Emily voices, but Francis simply walks off to see if the guys need help. "Great."

"Afraid to be alone with me?" Elizabeth guesses, gaining Emily's attention easily. "Shocker."

"I'm not afraid."

"No?" Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at that. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're on the verge of running away from me screaming bloody murder."

"I...wha...no!" Emily scoffs, unconvincingly. "I just...want to spend time with my boyfriend."

"Sure." she replies with a shake of her head. "I know what you think of me, Ms. Quartermaine. Trust me, you've made that abundantly clear, so, you can drop the act."

"I...I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

"Sure."

"No, seriously, I have no idea what you're talking about." Emily's voice gaining more conviction than before. "How did I make it abundantly clear?"

"Play dumb all you want." Elizabeth states plainly. "We both know what you did."

Deciding to let things lay where they may, Elizabeth walks away from Emily, afraid of what will come out of her mouth if she were to stay in her company for a moment longer. Right place and right time. Something this party surely isn't. With a deep breath, she walks over to Jason, knowing that it's the best place for her at that moment.

"You okay?" Jason questions as he meets her eyes.

"I'm fine." she replies simply, gesturing to Francis and Johnny wrestling on the ground nearby. "What's with them?"

"That's just what they do." Jason assures, guiding her away from them. "You ready to leave yet?"

"Actually...yeah." she shakes her head. "More than ready."

"Good." he smiles slightly, slipping his hand into hers. "Because there's somewhere I'd like to take you before I drop you home."

"Really?" she questions with curiosity. "Where would that be?"

"Its a surprise." he counters, opening the passenger side door for her. "Trust me?"

"It better not be a haunted house." she voices as she slides into the SUV. "I hate haunted houses."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Settling into the passenger's seat, Elizabeth's gaze is captured by a well dressed man standing outside the building that they had just walked out of. Something about him pulled at her memories, his face strangely familiar for a man she's certain she hasn't met before in her life.

Staring at him in all is glory, Elizabeth's mind begins to pick at the pieces, trying its best to figure out when or if she's ever met the man before. From his features, she can safely say that he's of Cuban decent. Maybe he was one of her father's patients?

Shaking him from her mind, she decides to focus on Jason and where he's taking her, quite certain that its a better use of her mental strain than the man she had seen. Though, even with her mind returning to the destination before her, she still can't help but wonder who he is and why he seems so familiar. Too familiar.