A/N: Hello girls! Thanks for the reviews. I see there's still some doubt on Liz's age, she is 17 years old in the story. Hope you like this new chapter. I have this ideas going around in my head, this can be considered the start of a new twist in this story. Please read and review. I'd like to know what you're thinking and if you have any ideas or doubts. Enjoy!

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Chapter 6: Designated friends

Three weeks flew by and Elizabeth was back home and in school. But things were different now. How could they not be after everything she had gone through? She wasn't the same girl anymore, her innocence and her hope had been taken from her. It had nothing to do with Tony. He was just the last thorn on her fragile side, one more bad memory to store on her bad memory's trunk. Life had been an eternal struggle for her. Elizabeth had to fight more for her right to happiness in her short 17 years of life, than anyone would be willing to in their whole life.

She was sitting on a bench by the school fence sketching. Painting has always been her escape and lately it was the only thing that got her through the long and lonely days. She went through her days on a routine. She woke up, got ready, went to school, went home, sketched for a while, went to the meetings of the support group and went back home to sketch some more until she felt asleep. Jason had called her a couple of times to see how she was doing. He had gone out of town on a business trip so she hadn't seen him since the day he had taken her back to her house. For some strange reason, Jason had become an anchor for her. He was her link to reality when everything seemed to go into a nightmare-like state. Her designated friend.

Her concentration broke when a motorcycle revved up the street. She felt her heart do a flip. When she looked up, she found the biker right in front of the gate. All of the girls were mumbling and sighing at the leather clad mystery man. Elizabeth didn't need to see his face to know it was Jason. She stood up and dropped her sketchbook on the bench as she made her way to the fence. Every girl looked at her and wondered what was going on.

Jason stopped the bike and removed his helmet. He looked up and found her walking up to the fence. She seemed pale and her eyes were still sad. But he was determined to put a smile on her face, even if he had to make a fool of himself in order to do it.

"Hey." He said as she approached the fence.

"I thought you were out of town on business."

"Just got back. How are you doing?" He was still sitting on the bike.

"Hanging in there. How did you know where I went to school?"

"Grace told me."

"You talked to Grace. Should have known. So, how was your trip?" "I did what I had to do and came back."

"You went home didn't you?"

"Yes I did. But I don't want to talk about it."

"I get it."

They kept quiet for a while but a strong woman's voice carried to them. Jason looked pass Elizabeth and she turned to follow his gaze.

"Sister Mary Magdalen."

"Miss Webber. I would think you had learned the Rules of Conduct by now. But I guess you haven't. You're not supposed to talk to strangers, while on the grounds. Least of all men on motorcycles."

Both Liz and Jason restrained a chuckle at the nun's ceremonial tone. "What's so funny?" She asked.

"It's just that Jason is not a stranger. He's a friend."

"A friend? I don't think is healthy for a young girl like you to have friends . . . " She looked at Jason again and wrinkled her nose. "... to have friends like him."

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but that's not up to you Sister Mary Magdalen. I get to decide whom I want as my friend, not you."

"You're out of order, Miss Webber. You're still on school grounds."

Just when Elizabeth was about to answer back, the last bell rang. "That means school is over. Now I can do as I please." She turned to Jason. "Would you give me a ride?"

"That's why I'm here." He didn't miss the glint in her eyes and the small grin that appeared in her lips.

"Really?"

"Yes."

She turned and found the nun scowling at her. "I don't think is appropriate for you to leave . . . " Liz had walked back to the bench were her bag and sketchbook were lying.

"Miss Webber."

"Have a nice afternoon Sister Mary Magdalen." Elizabeth shouted as she made her way out of the gate.

She got to where Jason's bike was and stood a couple of feet away. Everyone was looking at her but she didn't look back. "What are you waiting for? Hop in." Jason said signaling to the sit behind him.

"Are you sure? What about Manuel? If he gets here and I'm not around he'll freak out."

"He's not coming. I asked Grace if I could come and pick you up. We can go for a ride and then I'll take you to your meeting." A full smile graced her face. And her expression brighten a little. "So, are you coming? Or are you gonna stand there all afternoon."

"No."

"No? You don't want a ride?" He said toying with her.

"Yes!"

"Yes, you still don't want a ride? What is it? Yes or no?"

She hit him playfully on the arm and yelled. "Yes. Yes, I want a ride."

He laughed at her goofy face and exasperated sigh. "Here, wear this. And hold on tight."

She grabbed the helmet and slid in the back of the bike. She put on the helmet and grabbed Jason's middle slipping closer to him. Jason turned on the bike and revved up, speeding up out of there.

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Jason rode for half and hour down the streets. He took a couple of turns fast and Elizabeth yelled in his ear to go faster. At first he thought she was afraid but after hearing her laughter, he relaxed. She seemed happy. He took the highway up to Old San Juan. The smaller streets there made it difficult to go fast but they enjoyed looking at the old Spanish buildings. The architecture was amazing. It made him remember the small town where he stayed in Madrid last year. After a couple of minutes he came to a stop in front of a small Plaza. Elizabeth stepped down and he followed her. She took the helmet of and shook her hair, that had come loose from her braid. He found the big smile still on her face.

"That was amazing. I couldn't differentiate between the palm trees and the buildings or the sky and the sea. We were practically flying."

"You got the bug."

"What bug?"

"You like to ride fast."

"Like? Love it! It's amazing, feeling the wind on your face and not being able to think about anything or anyone."

He leads her as they started to walk slowly. "I love it to. Being on that bike is the closest thing to freedom I've ever experienced."

"Freedom . . . I didn't remember what that was like. But I see what you mean, ridding on that bike is pure freedom. Thank you."

"For what? I didn't do anything."

"Exactly. Grace, Manuel, the doctor at the support group. . . they are all trying so hard to make it ok. You know, to erase what happened, make me forget."

"That's not going to happen over night."

"Well try telling them that."

"Do you still have the nightmares?"

"Sometimes. There are good days and bad ones. I mostly sketch and paint, that helps me. It keeps me occupied in other things. I have studied more in the last two weeks than I have the past two years."

"You're an artist then."

"Not so much an artist, but an apprentice. I try to paint. I used to take classes before and now I'm taking classes at school. I've being thinking about studying art in college."

"I thought you said you wanted to travel first."

"That's the thing, I still don't know what I want do. At first I hated it here, but I've learned to appreciate the place. The people here are nice, and the landscape is breathtaking. Besides, I don't know if I'm ready to leave Grace behind. She's been like family. I'll miss her too much if I left."

"She's being like a grandmother to you."

Her expression turned somber in an instant. She looked away when she felt the tears sting at the back of her eyes. He saw her tense and knew he'd said something wrong, but he wasn't about to mess things more by asking her. So, he let her take a minute. They kept walking and found an out doors Café. Jason touched her on the small of her back and tipped his head toward an empty table. He held a chair out for her and she sat down, he took the seat in front of her.

"You read my mind. I'm starving." She said with a forced smile.

He immediately noticed, but let it go. "I thought you might be."

A waitress came and took their order. They ate in silence. Jason looked at her from time to time. Her brows seemed to straighten after a while. She must've pushed whatever had bother her earlier away. Twenty minutes later they were finishing their food. After paying the bill, they went back to the where the bike was parked.

"We have to go back."

"I know. I have a meeting today."

"Is it helping?"

"I mostly sit there and listen. Today I have to talk though. Dr. Sanchez, wants to know how I'm doing."

"Barbara, told me she was the best at that kind of treatment."

"She is. She's being wonderful to me."

"But you said earlier she's trying to erase everything and forcing you to be ok."

"She's not forcing me. But, sometimes I feel like I'm not healing fast enough."

"Some things happened fast, but you have to live trough then slow."

"Is that how you dealt with what happened with Robin and your son?"

Jason's eyes became dark and distant, his expression went cold. Elizabeth swallowed and looked at him, remorse in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be noisy. I just-"

"We have to get you home." He gave her the helmet and straddle the bike.

"But..." He turned the bike and revved it, shutting her up. Elizabeth blinked back tears and slid on the bike, leaving an inch between them.

As soon as Jason started on the way he was cursing himself for treating her like that. But the subject was still too recent. After going back to Port Charles and finding out that Carly and Sonny were married and that Michael was now a Corinthos his heart had being broken again. He still had hope of becoming Michael's father some day, even if it meant having to deal with Carly. But now those hopes had vanished forever. He still remembered the look on Sonny's face. They were happy. That should have been enough, but somehow for him it wasn't. He still wished it could've being him, and that made him feel like a traitor.

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Elizabeth came home late after the group session. She was still thinking about Jason. Something was wrong. He became cold and distant. After dropping her he hardly said "See you later.", before taking of. He had gone back to New York. She had the feeling that something had happened there, something that had nothing to do with business.

She was deep in thought and didn't noticed the figure sitting in the dark. She was half way up the stairs when the lights turned on. She stopped and turned slowly to find blue eyes looking straight at her.

"Are you going to stand there all night?"

"What are you doing here?" Her voice was void of emotion.

"Well, this is my house." He made his way up and stood in front of her. "So are you going to say hello to your big brother or what?" He grabbed Elizabeth and gave her a bear hug. She left her arms on her sides. "Hello Steven."