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-Kristin & Beth
Going out like this two nights in a row would normally merit him a lecture from his mother about spending his limited free time with his son and not acting like a playboy with nothing better to do with his time. She for sure wouldn't baby sit for him two nights in a row. Luckily for him, Lulu was currently in an off-phase with her boyfriend of the moment. Lucky had yet to meet the kid, but the light bulb nature of their relationship made him dizzy from a distance. At any rate, it had worked out for him tonight, since she was ready and willing to hide from him by babysitting Cameron.
Neither one noticed as he glided through the crowd to join them. They were too busy cheering the girl who couldn't be more than 18 singing "Take a Little Piece of My Heart" with all the righteous indignation of a teenager experiencing the loss of her first love. Courtney bent down to whisper something to Elizabeth, which caused her to throw her head back and laugh.
"What can I get you?" Brenda appeared out of thin air, materializing in front of him.
Lucky blinked at her, trying to remember why exactly she was there. The answer came to him slowly. Jake's. Bar. She works here. "The usual Bren."
"Did I startle you?"
He gave her his best questioning look. "Why would you say that?"
"Or is your attention just skewed this evening? Oh, Lucky, are you replacing me?" She made a pouted face.
He gave her his best charming smile, the one he knew Cameron had inherited. "Never Bren. I could never replace you."
She winked at him and, a second later, she brought him his order. "She's not half bad."
"I must be loosing my touch. Am I that obvious?" He sipped the Scotch appreciatively, his eyes never leaving Elizabeth's form.
"I was actually talking about the girl on stage...but, now that you mention it, your tongue is kind of dragging the floor."
"I'm pathetic aren't I?" He sighed.
"You don't need to try so hard if I got the right impression from their conversation." Brenda mumbled.
His eyebrow shot up at that. They had been talking about him? There was a shock. "I know I keep pissing her off every time we talk to each other."
"Try playing honest. Girls like her like that." Brenda suggested, taking a drink of Lucky's Scotch.
"Help yourself there Bren." He laughed. Glancing at Brenda, he cocked his head to one side. "Honesty? Really?"
"Well, maybe that was a bit hasty. Oh, Metallica!" She set Lucky's drink down, grabbed his hand, and led him toward the stage.
"Brenda...Brenda no!" He wrenched his hand away as she went to the exact center of the stage to join the gathering head bangers. "Bren, I love you but you are on your own."
"You can't sit out Enter Sandman!" She argued.
"Watch me." He turned and looked for Courtney and Elizabeth again. He turned his head and caught Brenda's eye winking. "Wish me luck."
"'Sleep with one eye open!'" She sang along with the wannabes.
"Thanks Bren. I really feel the love." Lucky rolled his eyes as he turned to make his move towards Elizabeth's table. It was now or never.
Elizabeth laughed as the crowd had turned mosh pit quickly once the young man in the leather jacket and bandana took the stage. Courtney had begun chanting loudly with the rest of the crowd. "LARS! LARS! LARS!"
"Lars?" Elizabeth questioned. "His name is Lars and he does Metallica?"
Courtney shrugged. "I think his name is Greg but he worships Lars. So the name sticks. He's actually a nice guy once you get to know him." She paused and tilted her head. "I think I tried to set him up with Robin once actually."
"Can't imagine why that one didn't work out." Elizabeth giggled. "I'm sure he's a nice guy but his image could use a little work."
"The image of you two ladies on the other hand requires no work at all. You are perfection."
Elizabeth jumped when she heard Lucky's voice sound beside her. When he hadn't shown up at nine like Courtney told him, she had thought he stood them up, probably for Daphne or some other young singer. But there he was, in a pair of khaki cargo pants and white button down shirt with light blue stripes running down his chest.
"We don't need you throwing out your tired lines, Casanova." Courtney wiggled a finger at him, smiling all the time. "You're late!"
He leaned down to kiss Courtney's cheek. "I had to say goodnight to my son. Forgive me?"
"It's not me you need to make-up with. Elizabeth and I were just talking about how you could do just that. She suggested a dance." Courtney lied.
Elizabeth stared with her eyes wide open. She had suggested no such thing. "You really don't need to do that. Courtney is just being ridiculous."
"I didn't mean to embarrass you sweetie." She looked thoughtful.
Lucky smiled at her. "I'll have to ask for a rain check. This song isn't appropriate to dance to anyways."
"Tell that to Brenda." The brunette was doing The Twist on stage, completely oblivious to the fact that the song had changed.
The three friends started to laugh. Lucky placed his drink on the table and leaned forward so they could hear him. "So if I have to dance, what does Robin have to do for being later than me?"
Elizabeth glanced at her watch. He was right. She hadn't realized it was so late and that Robin still wasn't here. "Where is that girl?" she wondered aloud.
Patrick could always sense danger. Ever since he was a child it was like a sixth sense. So, he knew when Robin Scorpio showed up at the door to his studio that he was in trouble. It might have been the deadly look he caught in her gaze. It might have had something to do with her slamming his door behind her. Whatever the reason, he was a little afraid to speak.
"Don't." She warned, pushing past him, letting herself into the studio. It was spotless. He got points for effort. No doubt his bedroom was upstairs. She bet it had seen plenty of women in the time he had lived here.
"I'm busy, Scorpio. Can't we do this later?" Patrick wasn't sure how he'd found his voice. He hoped he at least sounded put off.
"No! We're doing this right now!" Robin argued, charging up to him and slapping him hard across the cheek.
"Feel better?" Patrick wondered.
"No!" Robin shrieked at him, throwing her hands into the air.
"What would put you at ease then?"
"You've gotten away with being an asshole for far too long. It's over. I won't allow it." Robin informed him, folding her arms over her chest.
"You won't allow it?" Patrick's jaw dropped.
"That's right. I'm going to tell you exactly what you're going to do." She took a breath. "First, I want an apology. I didn't do a thing to deserve those insults you threw at me. I want you to be sincere."
"Sorry, Scorpio, but I'm not that great an actor."
"You're in hot water with Bobbie to say the least. Tell me you're sorry, and I'll get you back in her good graces."
"Just because everyone else in my family has blinders on where you're concerned doesn't mean I do too. This isn't going to work."
"What isn't going to work?"
"Whatever it is you're hoping to get from making me say sorry." Patrick explained.
"That's a gift in itself." Robin replied. "But I'm doing this for both our sakes."
"How so?"
"For a professional, you're quick to resort to childish tendencies. We need to call a truce. Here and now. From this point on, you swallow your pride when I'm around and I'll do the same. These screaming matches are growing tiresome." Robin reasoned.
"Stay away from my family, and you can easily avoid me." Patrick suggested.
"They were my family too!"
"For like five minutes! Someone has to protect them from women like you!"
"Women like me?"
"We were just fine before you came into the picture."
"Right. I remember. You were an overnight success and Logan managed to get through a complete meal without rambling like a drunken fool."
"You broke him when you left." Patrick accused.
"What did you expect me to do, Patrick? Was I supposed to stay there and take it? Was I supposed to tough it out? Is that what you would have done?"
"You didn't try to work it out!"
"You're right. After I caught him in bed with that whore, there was no going back. I'd suspected it for a while, but I just stayed positive. I kept a smile on my face for you and your family. Five years, Patrick!"
"You just needed a way out and you'd say anything if it got the family to side with you."
"How can you say that to me?"
"It's the truth!"
"He betrayed me, not the other way around! I took my vows to heart. They were just words to him. He proved that every single day after we were officially husband and wife."
"He loved you."
"No! He loved the idea of me. I reminded him of your mother. When he realized that I wasn't in fact her, he started drinking."
Patrick hadn't heard this part of the story. He wasn't sure why, but he actually believed her. "How long did you suspect him of being unfaithful?" His question caught her by surprise.
"Why do you care?"
"Make your point, Robin, or get out of my studio. I'm listening. That's what you wanted right?"
"The first time he was out of town on business. I found a pair of red lace panties tucked in the secret part of his suitcase. I should have said something then, but I didn't. I wanted so badly to be happy." It startled him when he noticed the sudden tears in her eyes.
"I believed him when he told me that you were making the whole thing up. I believed every word that came out of his mouth." Patrick grumbled.
"He wanted you to be proud of him. I have to believe that's why he married me. He thought if he settled down, you'd quit worrying that he was going to turn into your father."
"And he turned into him anyway." Patrick shook his head.
"The only difference is, losing me isn't what led him to drink. He felt like he had failed you by not making our marriage last."
Patrick ran a hand through his hair, turning his back to her. "I've hated you for such a long time." He told her.
"Do you still?" Robin whispered.
"Where is she?" Elizabeth held her phone close to her ear, just so she could hear the ringing on the other end. Jake's had steadily risen in volume as the night went on and the more regular performers took the stage. Apparently karaoke night at Jake's was the adult equivalent of the high school pep squad, with every effort being cheered loudly.
Robin was beyond late and Elizabeth was getting increasingly worried. In the short time she had known Robin, it had been impossible to notice the other woman's almost obsession with being punctual. She couldn't blame Robin since she was balancing opening a new business and adjusting to new motherhood. Being an hour and a half late for a meeting with friends was not like her at all.
The ring stopped and Elizabeth held her breath, hoping to hear the call connect to her friend's voice. She sighed in disappointment when all she heard was the outgoing voice message.
"You've reached Robin Scorpio. If you'll leave me a message, I'll get right back to you. For information about Eat & Greet catering and wedding preparation, please press 4. Have a lovely day."
"Hey Robin, it's Elizabeth. I was just wondering where you were. We're all here at Jake's still so, umm, yeah stop by ok?"
"Still no answer?" Lucky placed his hand on her bare shoulder and offered the tiniest of squeezes. Damn her skin was soft, he realized. Dangerous thoughts Spencer. Dangerous. Think of Robin. Think of Robin.
She bit her lower lip and he worked hard to contain the chuckle when he noticed the movement. It was adorable. She was adorable. Robin, think of Robin, he lectured himself.
He was impressed with himself. He had managed an hour's worth of conversation without pissing her off over something. Of course, he had to admit Courtney's presence helped. She had unknowingly kept him from saying something too stupid more times than he cared to admit to. And her incessant cheering of the performers kept awkward silences to the barest of minimums. It was hard to ignore each other when you both wanted to laugh at a cheer that consisted of the words "Sing that Lionel Richie, T-bone!"
Elizabeth glanced at him and looked away quickly. Don't stare into his eyes, she reminded herself. You are worried about your friend. "She should be here by now. She just doesn't flake like this."
Courtney smiled at the both of them. "Actually on karaoke night, she does tend to. I've only managed to get her to go to one. And she tends to turn off her phone because she knows I'll call and try to guilt trip her about it." She paused to take a sip from her Midori Sour. "I bet she's at home reading to Morgan right now."
"There, see a perfectly reasonable explanation." Lucky smiled. "Feel better?"
She held up her thumb and forefinger. "A little."
"Ladies and gentleman, our next performer needs no introduction, because she'll do one herself." The crowd laughed at the emcee's joke. "Give it up for Courtney Matthews!"
"That's my cue!" Courtney stood up quickly and began to race for the stage. "Cheer loud!"
Obediently, Elizabeth began to cheer as loud as she could manage. Lucky began to wolf whistle and pound on the table, threatening to tip the drinks over onto their sides. If Courtney heard them over the deafening roar of the crowd, she had to have Superman's hearing. It was obvious the girl was a much-loved veteran of the Port Charles karaoke circuit. Smiling she took the microphone, and announced loudly, "Damn it's good to be appreciated."
As the music to Courtney's first selection, Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home" started; Elizabeth risked a sidelong glance in Lucky's direction. He was wearing the same smile she had seen all night. "Busted. You are so busted," she laughed.
He cocked his head to the left. "Busted? What do you mean busted?"
Elizabeth pointed her finger directly into his chest. "You, Mr. Big Shot Music Snob, are having a good time. Admit it."
"I may be having fun but it has nothing to do with the fine musicianship we are witnessing." He stated with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh come on, Lars was awesome!"
"He was ok."
"And T-bone...you had to love T-bone."
Remembering the man who eerily resembled the bouncer currently sitting outside the bar, Lucky shuddered. "I would be afraid not to love T-bone."
The man at the table directly behind them chose that moment to make his presence known. "Sing it Blondie! Sing it!"
Elizabeth doubled over in laughter. If there was one nickname Courtney hated it was Blondie. She and Lucky looked up to the stage just in time to see Courtney's face contort in disgust for a split second.
Lucky and Elizabeth ducked their heads and laughed until their stomachs hurt. When Courtney finished the song, and the man stood up yelling "Blondie! You're the best Blondie", they lost it all over again.
Courtney smiled and soaked up her applause. "Thank you. This next song holds a special place in my heart. I hope you all love it as much as I do."
As the haunting first notes of Alanis Morissette's "Uninvited" began, the crowd began to pair off into couples and sway closer together. Elizabeth felt her breath catch as Courtney began to sing.
Like anyone would be
I am flattered by your fascination with me
Like any hot-blooded woman
I have simply wanted an object to crave
She heard Lucky clear his throat and felt him tap her shoulder. She looked over into his green eyes and notice his hand extended to her. "I know you said it wasn't necessary, but Miss Elizabeth would you like to dance?"
But you, you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight
It was dangerous to say yes, she realized. Her brain screamed at her to say no, run to the ladies room, leave the bar, anything, just don't dance with him. Before she even realized what she was doing, she felt herself smile and stand up, taking his hand.