Chapter Ten: Taking the Bait
Sami had goosebumps from her scalp to the tip of her toes, waiting in anticipation for EJ's kiss. Just as his lips go to graze hers she feels herself being roughly pulled backwards and hears Lucas scream, "So, you love EJ, do you?" Lucas faces EJ, who just stands there silently, not wishing to stoop to Lucas' level. "Who do you think you are, Wells?" Lucas shouts, shoving EJ in the chest. "Get your own damn woman!!" EJ moves himself out of Lucas' reach. "I have my own woman," he replies, "it's you that seems to be lacking in that department." With that remark Lucas lunges towards EJ, hitting him in the chest. EJ stumbles backwards, but doesn't fall. He pushes Lucas off of him and tells him to calm down. Sami steps forward and begs Lucas to stop. He turns to face her, blinded with rage. "You…" he sputters, "my mom is right, you really are nothing but a two-bit whore." Sami's face blanches, but she tries to maintain her control and not lose it completely on him. EJ, however, isn't in the mood to hear Lucas berate Sami. He grabs him by the shoulder and turns Lucas back around to face him. "Don't ever speak to Samantha like that," he tells him seriously, pointing a finger in Lucas' face. Lucas smirks, draws himself back, and spits in EJ's face. All the other party guests gasp collectively and become quiet while they wait to see what happens. EJ raises his arm slightly as though he's going to hit Lucas, but then he withdraws and mutters, "You're not worth it." He turns to Sami and is about to speak, but she shakes her head no. He smiles at her, gives her a wink, and says, "So, I guess I'll see you around, then?" She nods and smiles, but averts her eyes from his face. EJ turns away from them and begins to walk out of the restaurant. Lucas yells out, "Hey, don't walk away from me! You come back here!" EJ keeps walking; Lucas picks up a chair and throws it at his retreating form. "I'll get you for this, Wells! I'll see you in hell!" He then collapses on the floor and stats crying like a woman. Sami stoops down to comfort him but he shoves her away. Everyone is shocked at Lucas' threat and the room breaks out in excited chatter. Kate walks over to Lucas and tries to pull him up off the floor. "Get away from me, mom. I don't need to hear 'I told you so' right now." Kate straightens herself back up; she's not going to argue with her son and make a spectacle of herself in public. "Come to the house tonight and stay with me. I'll just bring Will with me now." Kate collects Will and leaves.
Maggie and Billie stand talking about Lucas while the other guests start dispersing. They watch as Lucas goes from table to table, drinking all the backwash out of the almost empty glasses that are left there. Maggie says, "I'm so worried. Look, Lucas is drinking. I think I should put a stop to it." "I don't know," Billie replies, "he's obviously gonna tie one on whether it's here or somewhere else; better it be here. At least that way you can keep an eye on him and make sure he gets home alright." Maggie doesn't like it too much, but she agrees.
Sami watches Billie and Maggie talking. As soon as Billie leaves, Sami walks over to Maggie. She looks up sorrowfully at the older woman's face. "I really didn't want this to happen, Maggie," and Maggie nods. "I know, dear. Why don't you go on home? Do you need a ride?" Sami tells her she wants to stay with Lucas. "I'll leave him alone, sit and wait. Let him do what he needs to do and I'll bring him home. Maybe he and I can talk." "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Maggie asks. "No," Sami replies, "but it's the best one I can come up with."