Chapter 2: Lifeline

Robin looked at her watch for the hundredth time in the last two hours. Jason had arranged for them to have dinner in a beautiful lighthouse overlooking the ocean, but he hadn't bother to show up. It was her birthday and he hadn't spent an hour with her. When he immerse himself on his work everything had to take a back seat, even her. He told her that this trip wasn't about business. Well, at least not the illegal kind. She still couldn't believe Sonny had taken Jason in to the organization. She loved Jason and she loved Sonny, but the combination of Jason working for Sonny was something she was still debating on. She wasn't blind or naive, she knew what Jason did for Sonny but the fact that Jason liked his job was something she couldn't bring herself to admit. She glanced around and found the place filled with candles that had almost burnt out, rose petals spread on the floor and the mantle, the nice table for two where the food was already cold and the wine warm; and all of the sudden realized what her future was going to be like. Waiting for Jason to come home every night worrying about his safety, wondering if something happened to him and never getting a straight answer from him just the usual: " It was business." Was she ready for that? The answer frightened her. Because the truth was that even loving Jason the way she did, she wasn't ready for the consequence of being a mob moll. She stood up and decided to go back to the hotel. The guard was standing a couple of feet away from her and the driver was in the limo at the base of the cliff. She stood up and walked a couple of steps but couldn't help but look back at the setting... it was beautiful, but not enough.

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She had made her way straight to an old lighthouse. Her mind was made up. She was going to end all her suffering once and for all. The lighthouse was on top of a cliff. She stood in the edge and stared ahead. The sky was filled with stars and the moon was bright. She could hear the waves crashing in the stone wall of the cliff, deafening her thoughts. If she had to go, this was the perfect way to do it. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, but she couldn't do it. She fell to her knees a couple of feet away from the edge and started to sob uncontrollably. She couldn't even kill herself right! She was the most pitiful human being in the world.

Robin decided to walk for a couple of minutes, to see if Jason decided to show up at all. She looked up at the stars and the moon and the restless waves crashing down on the cliff. All of the sudden, she heard someone crying. She walked towards the sound and found a girl kneeled very close to the edge. Too close.

" Hey! Be careful!" She didn't know if the woman could understand what she was saying, but she had to get her away from the edge. " I don't.." How do you say it? " Yo no hablo espaƱol. Please get away from the edge. "

Elizabeth heard the woman calling out to her in English and a very thick accented Spanish. But she didn't want to answer back. Maybe if she ignored her she would go away and left her alone.

Robin moved closer to where the girl was and kept talking to her. " Look, you're too close to the edge. Why don't you move a little?" This wasn't working, the girl hadn't even looked her way. Was it because she couldn't understand or because she didn't want to? " Do- you- un-der-stand- a- word- of- what- am- say-ing." She emphasize every syllable just in case and talked in a slightly higher tone than usual.

" Go away!" Elizabeth didn't even looked at her, she just wanted the intruder to leave her alone.

" You speak English! Good. That's really good, 'cause I can't speak Spanish to save my life. My boyfriend in the other hand, I think he speaks every language in the world. He has this way of learning in a small amount of time. He reads dictionaries and travel books and seem to understand even italian." Robin was nervous. She could tell by the way she kept going on about nothing at all.

" I-I really-ly don't ca-re a-bout you or your boy-friend." She was still crying hard.

" Sorry. I just, could you come back here? You're making me nervous."

" L- Look. I-I just want to be-be a- alone."

" Why? What, did something happened to you? Do you want me to help you?"

" If I wanted help I would've ask for it."

" Sorry. It's just that you look . . ."

" I look... like a lonely, pathetic, loser fifteen year old girl who doesn't have a clue."

" Look come here. Let's talk. I mean, we could be friends. I don't know anyone here and my boyfriend failed to show up for my birthday."

"Oh, poor girl! Am so sorry for you." Every word out of Elizabeth's mouth dripped with sarcasm. " I mean, is not like your family shipped you away to the middle of nowhere and enrolled you in a Catholic school were you don't want to be. Or the simple fact that you have no friends and no boyfriend and nobody who cared if you live or die."

" Don't say that. There's always a reason to live. You're healthy, that alone should be a reason to be grateful." Robin comes closer to Elizabeth and they find each other face to face.

" Why? Being healthy hasn't improve my life. I might as well be sick and have a real reason to end it all."

" You don't mean that."

" Yes, I do."

" Listen, you're only fifteen and maybe life seems unfair right now. Maybe you think nobody loves you or care one way or another, but that's not true. There's always someone out there thinking of you. Maybe you're parents sent you here to help you. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Maybe life has something bigger waiting for you."

" What are you? Some kind of motivational speaker."

" Sort of. I don't usually go flaunting my personal life to a total stranger, but you don't seem like anyone. I feel a connection to you."

" What are you babbling about?"

" You came here to end you're life, didn't you?"

Elizabeth blushed, ashamed of what she wanted to do. " I- I. . ."

" Don't be ashamed. That thought crossed my mind a couple of times too. The important thing is that you were strong enough to not go though with it."

" Why would you want to end you're life? You seem so... perfect."

" Well am not. I- I had a boyfriend years ago. My first boyfriend, highschool sweetheart, the one I thought was going to be with me forever." Elizabeth listened carefully at what Robin was saying. There was something about her that Elizabeth couldn't quite figure out, but she was right. There was a connection between them. " But he wasn't."

" You tried to kill yourself because your first boyfriend left you?"

" He didn't left me, well at least not in the way you think. He died."

Elizabeth gasped out loud. " Am so sorry. I didn't know... I-I don't know what to say."

" It's ok there's no way you could've known. That was a big deal for me. Losing the one person who knew what I was really like, the one person who loved me unconditionally and who gave me his soul just because I was me." Robin's voice broke and her eyes watered. She was obviously shaken up, but she kept going. "He gave me his heart and his love. But he also gave me something else..."

" What?"

" HIV."

After a few minutes of stunned silence Elizabeth spoke. " You mean you have Aids."

" Not yet. Am a non-progressor. That means am HIV positive, because I carry the virus but it's not awake, yet."

" I don't know what to say. I've been really stupid. I mean, here I am drowning myself in self-pity when you're ... "

" It's ok. I told you this because I wanted you to see, that God never gives you challenges that you can't handle. You have to be grateful you're alive and healthy. You have you're whole life ahead of you. Take advantage of it and do everything you want to do. Alone or with your loved ones, you don't know when it'll be too late."

" Thanks for telling me all this. I guess I needed a wake up call."

" You're welcome. Anything I can do to help." They hugged and stood up. Looking out to the water they didn't heard Jason's bike roar up the cliff. Robin had let her tears flow freely as she remembered Stone and the way he showed her how precious life was. Elizabeth just stood there in stunned silence remembering Robin's words. Neither of them moved from their place.

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Jason knew that Robin must be mad that he was late for their date. But he would make it up to her. He got to the beach and found the guard and the driver, both in the bottom of the cliff. He asked them where Robin was, and the guard told him that she was still at the cliff top talking with a young girl. Jason was confused but decided to go look for her. He took his bike up the road. Soon he could see Robin's delicate feature standing with her back to him overlooking the ocean. God she was beautiful. He noticed another figure standing five feet away from Robin. An even more petite girl was standing there. She was wearing a school uniform and her hair was tousled by the wind. Even though it was picked up in a braid, strands of curls were coming loose from everywhere. They were both deep in thought. Neither of them moved a muscle as the bike approached them. He parked the bike and turned it off, but didn't move from his place in the seat. He kept contemplating both women with curiosity. They looked alike, at least from the back. Both petite, brown hair, delicate but deeper than that they both seem stubborn and courageous. He could tell by the way they were standing, firm and poised. He hated to disturbed their thoughts, but he couldn't stay here watching them forever even if he wanted to.

Robin came out of her reverie when she heard Jason calling her name. She turned and found him face to face. Her tears had left dark lines along her cheeks. Her eyes were red and puffy. Was she crying because he was late? That couldn't be it, she was always collected and equanimous. What happened to her? She saw the fear and confusion cross his gaze. She knew what he was thinking... he thought she was crying because of him.

" Are you ok?"

" Now that you're here."

" What's wrong?"

" Nothing. Everything is ok." She looked towards Elizabeth and realized she was still there. " Could you give me a moment?"

" Yes."

Robin walked up to Elizabeth and touched her shoulder. The younger girl looked at her.

" My boyfriend is here. Am going to ask him to take you home."

" I don't have a home. I have a prison. But don't worry I can get a cab or walk back, it's ok."

" There's no way I'll let you wonder alone at night."

" You really care about people don't you?"

" It's my biggest fault or virtue, take your pick." She smiled at the young girl and the other reciprocated her smile. " You're smiling. That's a very good start."

" And this is the next step." She put out her hand. " My name is Elizabeth Webber."

" Robin Scorpio. Nice to meet you." They shook hands and hugged. " Come I'll introduce my boyfriend."

Jason watched the strange exchanged between both girls and his curiosity grew even more. Both made their way back towards him and stopped a few feet away. The moon was full it wasn't bright enough so he still couldn't make out the girls features. Elizabeth eyed the figure of the man standing in front of the motorcycle with curiosity. He was dressed in black from head to toe, his leather jacket a very masculine touch. She couldn't really see his face, but was sure that he was good looking because of the strong lines of his jaw and his nose.

" Elizabeth, this is Jason Morgan. My boyfriend."

" Jason, this is Elizabeth Webber. My new friend."

He simply nodded his head towards her. " Nice to meet you."

" Nice to meet you too."

" Could you give her a ride home?"

" Ok. But what about you?"

" I'll go to the hotel with Paul and Dave."

" But we have to talk."

" We can talk later."

" Robin we have to ..."

Looking rather uncomfortable Elizabeth interrupted Jason. " Look I don't need a ride. I can go home by myself."

" No. It's dangerous to be alone at this hour. I'll take you. Could you give us a minute alone please?"

" Yes, sir." Elizabeth gave him a mock salute and looked at Robin. " It was nice to meet you. Thank you for everything, you helped me more than you think. Bye."

" You helped me too. Listen am staying at the S & S Hotel and Casino. Why don't you call me tomorrow and we can go shopping or something."

" I don't want to interrupt your vacations."

" It's ok. I'll be alone must of the day anyway. Please call me."

" Ok. I'll call you tomorrow. Good night."

" Night."

Elizabeth walked towards the bike and left them alone. No doubt they were gonna fight about her. The boyfriend didn't look to thrill about having to take her home.

" What was all that about?"

" Look I don't want to do this here. Take her home and we'll talk when you get to the hotel."

" Robin."

" Jason, please."

" As you wish."

Robin walked past him without looking at him and talked so they both could here her. " Be carful out there. And don't be long." After waving goodbye she started her way down the road where Paul was waiting for her. Jason watched as she made her way down and then as the limousine disappeared from view. Elizabeth's voice came to him as a whisper at first. When he came out of his tranced he asked her again.

" What did you say?"

" I said she's just going to the hotel, not out of town. The sooner you take me home the sooner you'll be reunited with your beloved."

Trying to find a good comeback to the smart ass comment, but not finding any he just vowed his head and walked towards the bike. " Let's go."

" I've never been on a bike before."

" Just hold on tight and scream if you don't like something."

Elizabeth was still a couple of feet away from him she walked to where he was standing but found a rock in her way and stumbled. She found herself falling over a hard surface. Thinking she had fallen face first to the ground she opened her eyes, but instead of brown dirt she found light blue. Beautiful blue, the bluest blue she had ever seeing.

Jason saw her stumble and moved to help her. He caught her before she hit the floor. She had her eyes closed, but once she opened them he found bright blue eyes looking deep into his own. The most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. Electricity ran through them both. Neither of them had felt anything like it. He got scared of the intense feeling in his stomach so he decided to speak first. She was still lost in his gaze when he spoke.

" Are you alright?"

" Hum?"

" I asked if you were alright?"

" Oh. Yes, yes I'm ok. I'm... fine." She realized he was still holding her and stepped away from his embrace. They both felt the sudden emptiness as they broke the connection, but neither acknowledge the startling need.

" Ok. So we, we better go." Jason said straddling his motorcycle.

" Ok."

" Here wear this. You have to yell to me which way to go." He gave her a helmet and she put it on.

" Ok."

" Hold on tight."

" Ok."

Elizabeth Webber, speechless that was a first one. Come on Lizzie, get a grip. She got on the bike and didn't know where to hold onto. There were two handles, one in each side. But she wasn't comfortable holding on to them.

" What's wrong?"

" I can't hold on to the bars."

" Put your arms around me."

" What?" She thank God she had the helmet on or he would have seen her blushing.

" You'll have to put your arms around me and hold on."

" Ok. I'll... hold on to you." She did as he asked and felt the sting of shook again. God, give her strength.

He felt her arms grab his middle and almost lost his breath and felt his stomach do a flip. But he dismissed it as hunger. He revved his bike and rode into the dark streets.