Chapter 6:
"Table for two, please." Maxie said as she walked into the small café. She and Robin had just gotten out of the movie theater and decided to grab a bite to eat. "Right this way, Ma'am." The hostess replied, quickly seating the two women in a secluded booth towards the back. "What can I get you two ladies?" Promptly jotting down the girls' orders, the waitress excused herself.
"So, what'd you think of the movie?" Maxie inquired distractedly, as she recalled the many love scenes between Brad Pitt and his co-star, Cate Blanchett. "It was way too long..blah blah blah...unrequited love...we get it!" Robin sarcastically answered back.
Snapping out of the fantasy of her and Brad Pitt running in slow motions towards each other, Maxie rolled her eyes, "Well aren't we bitter this afternoon! Hmm, well I think the movie wasn't long enough. I personally could have gone for more shirtless Brad scenes. Yummy!"
Genuinely laughing for the first time since her disastrous encounter with Patrick, Robin smirked at her cousin. She could always count on Maxie for a good laugh. While she tended to take things a little too seriously, Maxie was the complete opposite. It was what made their bond so strong over the years; they never had to compete against each other. Family or not, they knew they could always count on the other. "Thanks for everything today Max, I know I haven't been the best company."
"Hey! No thanks are necessary! I wasn't planning on going to class anyways...It's way too gorgeous of a day outside. So, you figure out what you're going to do about loverboy?" Taking a sip of her chilly pina colada, she watched as Robin fidgeted unknowingly in her seat.
"Not really. A part of me wants to just lay it all out on the line for him and see where it takes us, but then a huge part of me is saying to just get over it already. I'm scared of getting rejected again and want him to make the first move but I don't think he even knows what he wants right now. What do you think?" Robin hated feeling unsure. She thrived on structure and facts, which is what made a medical career the perfect career choice but it didn't exactly help her in her emotional relationships.
"I am soo the wrong person to give advice about relationships but there are three things I know for certain: (1) Skinny jeans weren't meant for guys...the emo look is soo five minutes ago (2) Blood isn't necessarily thicker than water...just because Mac and I don't share the same DNA doesn't make him any less of a father to me and last but not least (3) NOTHING in life is certain but death. So take risks, be spontaneous, have fun and live each day like it's your last." Maxie suggested.
"Wow! That was really deep Max; I thought you said you were not good at giving advice?" Robin teased as the girls were served their meals. "Don't read too much into it. I'm just pulling for my boy Patrick." Robin heaved a sigh before starting on her Caesar Salad, "Me too Max...me too." "Besides, at least one of us has to have that fairytale happy ending...and something tells me that it ain't gonna be me!" Maxie joked as the girls continued their luncheon.
*****
Laughter filled the air as Nikolas stepped off the launch alongside Jason and the two guys walked towards Wyndamere. It had been an amazingly beautiful day as the stormy clouds from last night had parted leaving way for the sun to shine. The misty rainshower had left dew drops over Spoon Island leaving it to look magical and enchanting. "So where do you think the gang all took off to this morning?" Jason shrugged as he was distracted by hustle and bustle of the household when they stepped inside. "Who knows? Maxie probably dragged Robs off to some fashion expo and Patrick is probably fighting off some bender from last night. I haven't seen that much of him; maybe he has a new chick 'cause he's definitely been off lately."
Leading his friend towards the kitchen to sneak a snack from the head chef, Nikolas paused before saying, "Hey, you don't think he's hookin' up with that Leyla chick again on the sly, do you?" Jason just shook his head at the thought of his best friend getting back together with his former stalker girlfriend. She put new meaning to the words restraining order.
"Hell no! Anyways, I think him and my sister got something going. I've been noticing the way he's been acting around her since she got back from Paris."
"What? When did this happen? I mean, I know Robs has had a crush on Patty boy since grade school but I didn't think she had the balls to actually let him in on the secret." Nikolas acknowledged as he sat down next to Jason, handing him a soda.
Accepting the drink and eagerly taking a sip he jokingly replied, "Excuse me? We are Scorpios...we fear no one. We kick ass and take names just for the fun of it."
Jumping off his chair and bowing down before Jason, Nikolas joked back, "Please forgive me oh Great One, I had forgotten what worthless souls we are compared to you!"
Jason smirked at his best friend's antics, "Don't hate Cassadine...we can't all be blessed with the Scorpio genes." Soon both boys were play fighting throughout the kitchen, aggravating the chef who was trying to get dinner ready and amusing Stefan, who had been watching from the doorway. It had been a while since he'd seen his son in good spirits.
"Oh Great One...will you be joining us lesser souls for dinner?" he asked, effectively ending the fun between the two boys.
Sitting up off the floor, Jason pushed Nikolas off him and quietly muttered to himself, "Ha ha ha...very funny smartass." Putting a hand out to help both off the floor, Stefan smiled, "I'm sorry what was that." Jason grimaced and replied, "I said, depends on what's for dinner Sir." Nikolas started laughing aloud as he had heard his friends real reply but stopped when he received a heavy glare from Jason. "We are having whatever Chef blesses us with. I'll have Nancy put out another table setting for you. Now, we will be having guests over for dinner tonight, so I expect you to both be on your best behavior." Stefan reminded the two, knowing the kinds of trouble these two got into when around each other. Once he got an affirmative nod from each, he headed towards his study to finish up a few more phone calls before dinner.
"I wonder what chumps my dad invited over?" Nikolas questioned. Almost immediately the house was filled with the ringing of the doorbell. Curious as to who was coming over, Nikolas and Jason headed towards the front door to see who Alfred was inviting in. Shock was an understatement for Nikolas as steam seemed to figuratively blow out his ears. "What the hell are you doing here?" His voice seemed to echo as the tension in the air thickened with silence. Slowly walking towards him, Laura Spencer nervously fingered her jacket, "Your father invited us over for dinner, Nicky."
"Do not call me that! You lost that right when you abandoned your family for a new one, and just what do you mean by us?" Nikolas declared as he felt Jason trying to pull him back. "Hello, Mrs. Spencer." Jason politely greeted to try to ease the tension in the room.
"Don't bother greeting her Jase, Mrs. Spencer was just leaving." Before he could interject with a reply, he heard a familiar voice that raked at his heart. "Hello Jason." Turning around, he encountered Liz Webber. She was standing under the door entrance with her arm around her boyfriend. Lucky Spencer stood with a condescending smile on his face before turning to his older half-brother, "And I thought tonight was going to be boring." Seeing the angry look on Nik's face, Jason knew he was in for a long night.
*****
Patrick stood along the dock watching the water flow under the magnificent gleam of the sun setting. He had taken a long walk to try and clear his head. After his blow-up with Jax and Robin, he had escaped to his favorite thinking spot, a small clearing of trees hidden by the park. Sitting there for hours, he had nothing to keep him company but his thoughts. Although his thoughts and emotions were all over the place, one things was clear...he obviously felt more towards Robin than he originally thought.
Before she had left for her summer internship in Paris, she had admitted to having feelings for him and he had hurt her by not returning them. He had always thought of her as his little sister. Although beautiful, inside and out, she was untouchable to a guy like him. He preferred women he could take from and make no commitments towards, girls like Camille and Leyla. But lately, he couldn't keep his mind from thinking about her. She was everywhere...in his dreams, his mind and unfortunately, his heart. But he couldn't even entertain the thought of them together, he would only hurt her and it would ruin one of the few good friendships he had.
"I've been looking everywhere for you." Patrick scoffed as Robin walked up next to him. "You obviously didn't look hard enough, I've just been here watching the boats dock."He stated flatly.
"I looked in your usual spots, I even went to that clearing by the park you used to disappear to when we were kids." Robin replied softly. She was glad that he was at least talking to her.
"How do you know about that place?" Patrick shifted so he was looking at her side profile. He admired how beautiful she looked under the setting sun, her cheeks were red on her pale face. She looked casual yet stunning.
Rolling her eyes, Robin grabbed his hand and led him towards a small bench. "You may be many things Patrick, but you are also a creature of habit."
Silence danced over them as they watched an older couple holding hands near the water. The distant sounds of kids running seemed to die down as both reveled in each other's company.
"It would never work." Patrick suddenly admitted. Robin frowned as she turned towards him, "You don't know that." Seeing the lost look on his face, Robin felt it was time to just throw all her cards on the table.
"Since when did you become a quitter?" Patrick just shrugged. "It's never going to work out between us because I don't want to hurt you. You should be with someone who is going to worship the ground you walk on, someone who will never take you for granted....someone who is worthy of you."
Robin glared, "That's a cop-out and you know it. You're just too scared of your true feelings for me. Stop hiding behind your playboy past. What happened to the confident, arrogant Patrick I used to know?"
Angrily, bolting off the bench and pacing up and down the dock, Patrick yelled. "You want to know the truth, Robin? The truth is I think I'm falling in love with you!" Before he knew it, arms were encircling his neck as Robin pressed her lips to his. His hands wrapped around her lower back as he pulled her closer into him. As his lips trailed down to her neck, she whispered into his ear, "I think I love you too."