Prompt: Itches need scratching

Part Three

"Joshua what… what are you doing here?" With wide eyes, Elizabeth stood stunned, unable to move away from Jason's strong embrace, unable to tear he eyes off of Joshua, unable to breath. Her fingers dug into Jason's cranberry t-shirt as he continued to look at Joshua with unblinking eyes.

She couldn't believe it. How in the world could one person be so damn unlucky? First, she finds herself fighting off huge men who had the intention of kidnapping her just because she was standing next to a little girl who happened to be the daughter of Port Charles most dangerous mobster. Then, she missed her job interview, ending all chances she had of getting the art gallery job. But it didn't end there. No, it could never just go from bad to good. That was not the way things went for Elizabeth Webber. Not only did missing her interview screw up her chances at a normal life, but she also found herself being in the company of the most mysterious man she would ever meet. At first, things were rocky with them. He seemed dark and brooding, always watching from a far. But then, after a day together, she and Jason really began to hit it off.

The entire situation began to look up.

That should have been her first sign that things were about to go to hell. She should have known better. Nothing good ever happened for little Lizzie Webber. Why, out of all the days she could run into Joshua Knight, did she have to run into him while Jason held her in his arms?

As if realizing that she was still enclosed in his strong arms, Elizabeth pulled back from him, struggling for a moment when he refused to move away. Joshua still said nothing, just continued to stare at Jason, trying his hardest to match the enforcer's death stare. She tried to conceal her smirk but failed miserably at the thought of Joshua Knight ever being intimidating. The man was as uptight as they came. Never in his life had he ever been in a single fight. The man went to the same damn nail salon that she went to back home for crying out loud. Jason could probably flick him in the nose and the little pansy would fall on his ass crying for his mums.

Her smirk turned into a full out smile, transforming into loud laughter at the image of Joshua on his ass with strong, manly man Jason Morgan standing over him.

She couldn't stop herself if she wanted to. Her stomach ached from her laughter and when she looked up to see both Jason and Joshua staring at her like she had lost her mind, she just began to laugh harder.

"Lizzie, what in the world is wrong with you?" When Joshua went to step forward and touch her, Jason blocked the other man, not allowing him within three feet of Elizabeth.

Even though Jason towered over Joshua by several inches, the man raised his nose high in the air, using his snooty attitude as a way to look down on the other man. "Do you mind?"

Jason didn't move, didn't even blink as he answered, "No."

"Good, then you'll move."

"No."

Scoffing at the audacity the other man displayed, Joshua took a step back and dusted his suit jacket off as if being too close to Jason made him dirty. "Who do you think you are? Do you have any idea as to who I am?"

"Oh stuff it Joshua."

Both men turned around to face Elizabeth as her fit of giggles subsided. Jason's eyes held humor yet curiosity as he looked at her. While Joshua's face, on the other hand, took on the expression of confusion and disgust.

"Lizzie, I can't believe you-" When he tried to move towards Elizabeth once again, Jason turned around and shoved the other man back.

"Back off Josh."

"Joshua."

"What?"

Looking up at Jason, Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, "It's Joshua, he hates being called Josh."

"I don't give a fuck."

When the other patrons of the restaurant began to look at the trio with annoyance, Elizabeth grabbed Jason by the arm and steered him towards the entrance, never once glancing at Joshua. "You know what, why don't we take this into the lobby where there is less of a crowd."

Once the three of them made it safely out of the crowded restaurant and into the lobby, Elizabeth turned around with Jason by her side and stared at Joshua. She was about to speak when the other man beat her to it.

"What are you doing here Lizzie? And what are you doing here with him?" Jason's hands formed into fists as the other man opened his eyes wide, staring at Jason like he was a knock off Armani suit that was the color plum. If Elizabeth didn't place her hand on this forearm, calming him without even knowing it, Jason would have taken his fist and broke the little shits nose that probably coast him a fortune.

"I think I should be asking you that Joshua."

To his credit, Joshua actually shuffled his expensive shoes as he looked away. "I… I had some business that I needed to take care of."

"In Port Charles?"

"Yes."

"How convenient." When she didn't continue, Jason looked down at her with an expression of annoyance when she continued to stare at the pompous bastard. Who, as a matter of fact, claimed to be her boyfriend. Something Jason had not forgotten.

"Would someone like to tell me what the hell is going on."

Turning her gaze that oozed of innocence toward Jason, Elizabeth removed her hand from his arm and placed it flat against her chest. "Oh, how terribly rude of me. Jason, this is Joshua Knight, Joshua this is Jason Morgan."

Neither man moved.

Repeating his question from before, Joshua tore his eyes from Jason and stared at Elizabeth as he spoke to her with words that dripped with accusation. "What are you doing here with this… this man Lizzie?"

"Having lunch."

"With another man." When she did nothing but nod her head in agreement, Joshua stuffed his hands in his pants and shrugged his shoulders. "Did you just happen to forget that you were involved… with me?"

"Excuse me?"

Neither looked up at Jason when he interrupted, both Elizabeth and Joshua just continued to stare at each other with angry eyes.

"Are you kidding me? Invol… involved! With you!" Letting out a grunt, Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and stood tall. "I think the second you hopped into bed with Mindy our… involvement, as you so elegantly put it, ended."

"Now wait a minute, I explained that to you."

Her face was the color of rage as her eyes turned black when she continued to stare at Joshua. Jason couldn't help but stare at her and think that she looked sexy as hell all with her cheeks red with anger. For a split second he stared at her and wanted nothing more than to be out of that restaurant, away from Josh, in his room at Jakes, with her cheeks the same color as they were now. Only, she wouldn't be flushed with anger.

He was snapped back to reality when Elizabeth fumed at the other man. "Oh yes… yes you explained yourself quite well. I believe your exact words were," standing-if at all possible-taller, Elizabeth flicked her wrist out in the air, lowering her voice as she mimicked Joshua, "It didn't mean anything Lizzie. I just had this urge and your weren't about to do anything about it. So I went to Mindy. You know, an itch that needed scratching."

"He said that to you?"

Not even sparing Jason a glance, Elizabeth answered "Yes."

Pointing a deathly finger at Joshua, Jason scrunched his forehead and glared at the other man, "You said that to her?"

Finally tearing her eyes away from Joshua, Elizabeth looked up at Jason and finally took in the rage that was floating off of him in thick waves. "Oh, Jason, its fine trust me." Looking back at Joshua, Elizabeth looped her arm through Jason's outstretched one and tried to lower his arm. "Finding him in bed with my best friend was like a wake up call for me."

He looked at her with wide eyes and a stunned expression as he tried to absorb everything. "That shit head cheated on you with your best friend?"

"Ex, ex-best friend, and yes, that shit head cheated on me with her two nights before our wedding."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Sir." All three of them turned to look at the concierge as he walked into the lobby. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave. This place likes to obtain a certain… appearance and you are starting to aggravate our costumers."

"Listen buddy," Ticking his head to the side, Jason took a threatening step towards the concierge until Elizabeth's slight hold on his arm tightened.

"No, Jason, its ok." Giving the man a polite smile, she continued. "We were just leaving anyway." Looking back towards Jason her fake polite smile turned into a real one the lit up the room, "Besides, I remember you challenging me to a game of pool."

His gaze never wavered from hers, but it turned from one of anger to one of skepticism until she whispered to him. "I'll explain everything when we get there."

With just a nod of his head, Jason moved his arm so he could place his hand on the small of her back, pulling her a little closer than necessary as he steered her towards the entrance to the street.

"Wait, Lizzie-"

Pulling out of Jason's arms just as they were about to exit the snooty restaurant, Elizabeth turned around fully to glare at Joshua, "Don't call me Lizzie, you know how much I hate that."

When he went to open his mouth to speak, Elizabeth held her hand up to stop him just as Jason's comforting arm slipped around her waist, letting her lean just the slightest against his side. She did her best to keep her emotions at bay. It didn't matter that the man standing in front of her was a cheating bastard. She had spent most of her life with him, she grew up with him. Their relationship had turned from one of young loves to one of convenience the closer they got to their wedding date, but it still hurt.

She couldn't look at him without remembering coming home and finding him in bed with her supposed best friend.

Her freaking maid of honor.

"I am through listening to you Joshua, so why don't you run home and find Mindy. I'm sure she wouldn't mind listening to your excuses." Smirking, Elizabeth easily held her tears back as she let anger lace her every word "Well, as long as it ends with the two of you in bed that is."

Without another glance or word, she turned back around towards the entrance, placing her hand on Jason's bicep so he wouldn't pull away, and walked away from Joshua.

Even though her stomach ached with each step she took, she still kept her head held high, never once allowing Joshua to witness the exact effect he had on her.