Chapter Eight:
Date or Not?
While Jason is working with Spinelli, Elizabeth takes the time to walk the town. She didn't know if she'd ever see this place again once she leaves and she wanted to see it all before then. Walking the streets, Elizabeth finds herself back at that diner she first stayed in. Checking her wallet to see how much money she had in there, Elizabeth puts whatever she has in the envelope before sealing it with a short note written on the outside. Walking inside the diner, Elizabeth finds the waitress and asks her to give it to the owner before walking back out to see the rest of the town.
"Why do you care what I'm doing with him, huh Logan?" someone exclaimed, catching Elizabeth's attention with their next comment. "Johnny's my friend and you're nothing to me anymore."
"You're choosing this punk over me?" a male voice shouted, prompting her to find the voices, leading her to the docks.
"You lost the right to judge after you slept with Maxie, AGAIN!" the girl shouted back, getting in the guy's face.
"Dammit...the Spencer." Elizabeth muttered, walking towards them.
"What are you looking at?" Logan glared at Johnny, while Johnny just stood there with a blank look on his face.
When things turned physical, Elizabeth sprinted to the group, grabbing Logan's arm, twisting it behind him before slamming the back of his knee and bringing him down hard. Johnny was surprised to see his sister there while Lulu Spencer couldn't do anything but gasp and cover her mouth.
"What the hell!" Logan exclaims because Elizabeth is twisting his arm to the point of utter pain. "Let go of me!"
"Does it look like you're in a position to tell me what to do?" Elizabeth says in a menacing tone. "Big mistake putting your hands on him."
"Who the hell are you, his girlfriend?" Logan practically shouts, the pain almost unbearable.
"No." Elizabeth says plainly. "But I am your worst nightmare."
"Lizzie, let him go." Johnny puts his hand on her shoulder. "He's not worth it."
"No one lays their hands on you and expects to get away with it." Elizabeth tightens her hold on him. "Especially not scum like him."
"Please, just let him go, he didn't mean anything by it." Lulu pleads with Elizabeth. "Its not like you can kill him, right? Not with me here."
"I could always kill you, too." Elizabeth points out, slamming Logan's head against the bench when he tries to talk. "Then there'd be no witnesses."
"She's not going to kill you." Johnny assures Lulu, though the look in his eyes gave Elizabeth some pause. "Are you, Lizzie?"
"No...I'm not going to kill you, Spencer." Elizabeth states plainly. "I'm not a murderer."
"Thank you?" Lulu raises her eyebrow curiously. "Can you let him go then?"
"Johnny?" Elizabeth looks at him intently.
"He's not worth your time." Johnny says with conviction. "Come on, I'm cashing in that rain check."
"Fine." Elizabeth releases his arm before kicking him to the ground. "Lets go."
"Give me a minute." Johnny says, waiting for Elizabeth to walk up the stairs before turning to Lulu. "She's not a threat to you, but my father is."
"Who is she?" Lulu questions seriously.
"My twin sister." Johnny concedes. "You have to stay away from me, Lu. I'm sorry."
"Johnny, please." Lulu looks at him seriously. "You said you'd never tell me what to do."
"John, lets go." Elizabeth calls to him.
"This is how it has to be." Johnny says sadly. "My father will kill you if he finds you. I can't let that happen, I'm sorry."
Johnny looks at her for a moment before sprinting up the stairs to Elizabeth, taking her hand in his before walking off to his car with her. She could see that he was hurting, but she didn't think it was a good idea for them to be together. Not only because she's a Spencer, but because he's right. Their father would kill her if he caught wind of Johnny falling for someone. The same would go for her.
"I know I said I wanted to cash in that rain check, but..."
"Its okay, John. I get it." Elizabeth assures just as her cellphone rings. "Sorry. I should get this."
"Go ahead." Johnny focuses on his driving while she answers her phone.
"Yeah?" Elizabeth answers.
"This might sound crazy, but would you want to have dinner with me?" Jason says, taking her by surprise with his request.
"Uh, really?" Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears. "Where?"
"Its a surprise." Jason says simply. "I'm handling something for Sonny right now, but you can meet me at Kelly's."
"Okay. I'll be there." Elizabeth ends the call, confused by what just happened. "Drop me off at the diner."
"What was that about?"
"Nothing you need to worry about." Elizabeth assures. "Trust me, okay?"
"Okay." Johnny flips a U and drops her off at the diner. "Whatever you're up to...be safe."
"Always." Elizabeth kisses his cheek. "You do the same."
"Always." Johnny promises. "Forever, right?"
"Forever." Elizabeth assures. "I'll see you later."
Johnny pulls away from the diner as Elizabeth sits down at one of the tables. He was worried about her, he could see that look in her eyes that never bodes well for anyone that gets in her way. That wasn't the look that gave him pause though. It was the other look mixed into it. It was in the tone of her voice while she was on the phone too. Something was up with her and he really hopes she knows what she's doing.
"Hey." Jason walks up to her. "Have you been waiting long?"
"Not sure." Elizabeth shrugs. "You going to sit?"
"We're not eating here." Jason holds out his hand to her. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, now would it?" Jason counters, walking her over to his bike, holding out his helmet to her. "Trust me."
Elizabeth looks at him for a long moment before taking the helmet and strapping it on.
"Is this supposed to be a date or something?"
"Its only a date if we kiss in the end." Jason says half-jokingly. "No risk of that happening, right?"
"Right." Elizabeth says, but not entirely sure.
Starting up the bike, Jason drives them as fast as the bike can take them. She's been on a motorcycle before, but never as a passenger. The feeling that's coursing through her in that moment was indescribable. It was like nothing she's ever felt before, like if she let go of him she'd probably be able to fly. The thought of it, that kind of freedom, had Elizabeth holding onto him tighter. Because truth be told, she's afraid of that kind of freedom. She's afraid to see who she'll be once Anthony was no longer a threat.
"What is this place?" Elizabeth asks as she dismounts the bike.
"You opened up to me...I thought I'd do the same." Jason explains, helping her over to the boxcar. "When I was twenty-two, my brother and I got into a car accident that rendered me comatose. When I woke up from it, I had no memory of my family or who I was."
"How did you do it?" Elizabeth questions, allowing him to help her up into the boxcar. "How did you start over from nothing?"
"It was hard most days. People constantly wanting me to remember." Jason admits, sitting down beside her, a picnic setup just to side. "I tried to be the Jason they used to know, but it was too hard for me to pretend to be someone I wasn't. It was giving them false hope that I'd be him again when I knew I'd never be able to."
"Then you met Robin?"
"Yeah...how much do you know about our relationship?"
"Major details...why you ended." Elizabeth concedes. "That your love meant everything to her...that you still mean a lot to her."
"We were just too different." Jason says sadly. "She couldn't accept the guy I was growing into and it tore us apart."
"You're lucky though...to have had that." Elizabeth takes a deep breath. "I...never mind."
"No, tell me." Jason looks at her intently. "Please."
"I've always wanted that. To know what it feels like to be in love...to be loved." Elizabeth sighs, fighting off the tears. "You asked me for the real reason why I saved you...that's it."
"What do you mean?"
"I saved you because of the love you shared with Robin. I guess, in a way, I wanted you to exist as a symbol to me that love can happen for people like us...and that, even with the danger and the craziness, I can find that for myself." Elizabeth explains, tapping her fingers on the side of her leg. "I must sound crazy to you."
"You don't." Jason takes her hand in his. "Believe it or not, I understand you...more than you know."
"Its weird because I actually believe you do." Elizabeth looks at him intently. "So answer me something."
"Anything."
"Why are you saving me?" Elizabeth asks him seriously. "Why are you risking so much just to save me from my own life?"
"Because I want to prove to you that this life doesn't have to control you." Jason says, stroking her hand soothingly with his thumb. "I want you to be able to be free again. To not have to answer to anyone but yourself."
Jason reaches up his other hand to cup her cheek softly, staring into her eyes and seeing the tears that are starting to well up in them.
"I want to prove to you that your life is worth putting first...that you're worth putting first."
"How do you know that for sure?" Elizabeth counters, staring into his eyes. "You barely know me."
"I know enough." Jason says with conviction. "I know enough to know that you are worth fighting for...that you're worth saving. That you're just worth it."
"I'm not so sure about that."
"I am." Jason says before claiming her lips with his, kissing her softly before pulling away. "Trust me, you're worth it."
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