Written in 62 minutes.

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February 1999

“I need your advice.”

Jason sighed, then slid out from beneath the car to find his sister standing over the car, her arms folded, the toe of her sneaker tapping against the concrete floor. “Should I call Alexis? Does anyone need bail money?” He got to his feet, reached for a rag. “Or is it the other kind of advice?”

“You know, you get arrested once—”

“Twice, but who’s counting.” Jason leaned against the driver’s side door. “What’s up, Em? Everything okay?” His mouth tightened. “Is it Juan?”

“Oh, you’d love that,” Emily muttered. “No, Juan is the model of the perfect boyfriend, thank you very much. It’s Elizabeth. And Lucky.”

Jason grimaced and shook his head. “I’m not getting involved in that. He’s avoiding which means he knows I’m pissed. That’s good enough—” He headed for the sink, but Emily’s next words stopped him dead.

“She forgave him.”

He turned, looked at her. “What? What are you talking about?”

“He came home, apologizing all over the place. He had bouquets of white roses delivered to her at our dorm, at her grandmother’s place—” Emily bit her lip. “And he had an excuse ready. He said he found out at the airport what dates he was going to be gone, and he tried to call her but he thinks the message got messed up. He had tears in his eyes. Told her over and over again he’d never hurt her like that. Not on Valentine’s Day. And she was crying, and he hugged her, and she forgave him.”

“That’s a lot of details.”

“I refused to leave the room. I thought someone should be listening with a clear head. You look mad. At her forgiving him?”

A little, Jason thought. But Elizabeth was young, and she’d been hurt. “No. At Lucky for pulling that stunt. He knew on Friday what the dates were.”

Emily perked up. “Did you tell her that?”

Jason opened his mouth, then thought back to the conversation. “No, I think—I thought I implied it when I said he knew he was leaving on Friday. But I don’t remember telling her that specifically. Or that he asked for a job out of town. I told him to take the run. He knows it’s usually a week.”

Emily pressed her lips together, looked away. “I wanted her to light him on fire. To throw him out the window. I told her that. I said it’s okay. He might have been my first friend, but you’re my best friend, and I know a guy who can hide the body—you’re the guy,” she told Jason who just rolled his eyes. “And she just shook her head. Because Lucky convinced her he messed up.”

“If the advice is asking me how to get away with a crime, I’ll give Alexis’s number and send you on your way,” Jason told her dryly. “Outside of that, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“I just—” Emily looked away. “I guess I need to know if I push this. Because this isn’t the first time Lucky’s been thoughtless. Or tried to make Liz believe something that isn’t true. You know they had this plan for New York right?”

“Yeah. It fell through.”

“She didn’t get into the art school, so they regrouped. And, yeah, okay, originally, Liz was just going to do a semester with me while they saved money. But then we started talking about decorating, and going to orientation, and it was just—I got really excited. And she was, too. We thought — let’s go make college everything high school wasn’t. We let ourselves get derailed by—” Emily made a face. “Well, you know, the drugs and the blackmail for me. And…you know what happened to Liz. College, it could be our chance to be silly and stay up all night and—I don’t know. We just got ourselves all hyped up for it, and so Liz told Lucky it would make sense to stay the whole year and they’d revisit living together next summer.”

“So?”

“So, I was there. I know she told him. I know he wasn’t thrilled, but he sucked it. And he agreed. But he brings it up all the time like she sprang it on him last minute or he’s acting like she’s doing some huge betrayal by just…changing her mind. She’s started to wonder if maybe she didn’t really give him a chance to weigh in. Like, ask for his blessing to change our plans.” Emily looked at Jason. “Has he said things like that around you?”

“He’s…” Jason sighed. “He’s mentioned it, yeah. But you’re almost halfway done. That shouldn’t matter—”

“Well, Liz started to think maybe she didn’t want to live with him at all. Like, maybe we’d stay together for all of college. And as soon as she brought it up to him, he like lost his mind, and he’s been so mean ever since. And Juan? He told me Lucky was really pissed at Liz when she took me to the airport. You were there. Was he?”

“Emily—”

“I just—she’s my best friend, Jason. More than that. She put herself on the line for me. She came to that studio to help me. To warn me. And she got taken hostage by the man who hurt her. She was so scared, but she fought back, and I just—” Emily rubbed her arm. “I don’t know. She’s always been in my corner one hundred percent. And I just kind of think I should do that for her.”

“It sounds like you are. Other than hiding a body, what do you need from me?”

“I think Lucky’s angry because Elizabeth isn’t all about him anymore. Her whole life revolved around him for over a year because he was there after…after. He basically put her back together, the way she tells it. Slept on her floor when she was scared. Went to lineups. Tried to help her find the attacker. Like, constantly together. But this year? He’s not the center anymore. She’s not acting the way he thought she would.”

Jason looked down at his hand. “She’s acting like her old self,” he said quietly, and Emily looked at him wide eyes. “He told me that. That she’s acting like when she first came to town. He called her a selfish self-centered brat.”

“Oh. Oh.” She pressed a fist to her mouth. “Oh, that’s horrible. God, Jason, he’s mad because she feels like she did before the rape? When she was happy and not broken? Oh, God. Don’t you see how bad that is?”

He was starting to. “Em—”

“Can you imagine that? The horror of knowing the guy who said he loved you forever only loves the version of you that’s a crying mess?” She sat on a nearby stool. “What do I do? She’ll never believe it if I tell her that. She’ll think I heard it wrong. Or that you did. What do I do?”

“I don’t know that you can do anything. Just be there for Elizabeth.”

“Okay.” Emily grimaced. “But if I eventually end up kicking his ass, I want you to tell the judge and jury I was provoked.”

—

“It’s freaking me out,” Juan said to Nikolas as they watched Elizabeth bus a table, then head into the kitchen. “She’s quiet. I’ve never known her to be quiet.”

Nikolas hated to agree with Juan on any subject, but well — “She says they straightened it out, but I think maybe—”

“Maybe what?” Elizabeth asked, emerging from the kitchen and coming back behind the counter. She topped off Juan’s water glass. “More coffee?” she asked Nikolas.

“No, I need to go to sleep before dawn,” he told her. “I was thinking maybe we should do something for spring break. It’s next month right?”

“Three weeks. Emily and I were saving money for something, but we never figured out what.” She busied herself with wrapping utensils in napkins. “But I should stay in Port Charles. You know, Lucky’s always saying we don’t spend enough time together—”

“But how many college spring breaks are you going to get?” Nikolas interrupted. “You should go to Florida or something.”

“And do what? Drink myself into a coma?”

“Relax on a beach.”

“Plus, you’ve got that art thing coming up the second half of the semester,” Juan pointed out. “Didn’t you say you had a ton to do for that? You need to chill and like, you know, be at your best.”

Elizabeth furrowed her brow, looked back and forth between the two of them. “What’s going on here? You’re both acting so weird. Since when do either of you are about my workload?”

“Well, you know, you’re my best friend,” Nikolas said.

“And your best friend is the love of my life,” Juan said, “so it’s in my best interest to keep you happy. Wait, that’s not the right answer. Because I like you.”

“I like you, too, but that still doesn’t change the fact that you both—” She stopped, sighed. “Emily got to you both.”

“I resent that.” Nikolas paused. “Lucky told me his side and that got to me. I thought I’d come check on you.”

“Emily got to me,” Juan confessed. Nikolas whacked him. “What? I thought we weren’t supposed to lie—”

“Emily’s heart is in the right place, but really, it’s all settled—”

“What is?” Lucky dropped onto the stool next to his brother, grinned at Elizabeth. “Hey. What time are you done tonight?”

“Eight. But I have a test to study for, so I really can’t do anything after. Oh—” Elizabeth checked the clock on the wall. “I’m going to take my break. I’ll be back.”

“I’ll come with you—” But Nikolas grabbed Lucky’s shirt collar and yanked him back before Lucky could follow his girlfriend.

“It’s all settled,” Nikolas echoed. “So she says. And you say she forgave you—”

“Forgave me—what about her? She told everyone I was an asshole who stood her up on Valentine’s Day—”

“Looking for the lie,” Juan muttered more to his soda than to the world, but Lucky heard it and narrowed his eyes.

“I’m the one who should be mad! She didn’t even try to think about why I didn’t tell her about the change in plans—”

“Because she knew why, jackass. And you know why. Maybe Elizabeth is swallowing the cell phone thing but that’s because she wants to. Me? I know you better than that, Lucky. I’ve known you longer. And I know you can be a vindictive, spiteful, petty little brat.”

“You’re really going to pick a fight with me over this? I thought we were past all that—”

“And I thought you were more than the little punk who punished his mother for having another son,” Nikolas shot back, and Lucky’s cheeks went bright red. “Yeah. Elizabeth wasn’t around for that. You think she’d think fondly of you if she knew how you treated me just for existing? Before you even knew me? I thought you’d grown up. I thought you were better than that.”

“Well, then I guess we were both wrong—” Lucky started to get up, but Nikolas shoved him back onto the stool with one hand on his shoulder.

“Sit down and shut up. I don’t know what the hell crawled up your ass since Liz and Em started college, but you’re going to dig it out and get rid of it fast. Because this time? Liz swallowed your bullshit. But you and I know there’s going to be a next time.”

“Are you done?” Lucky asked coolly. “Tell Elizabeth when she has time for me, she knows where to find me.” He twisted off the stool, then stalked out of the diner.

Juan watched him go. “What’s the stuff about his mom?”

“Old business,” Nikolas murmured, feeling old and tired. He dragged a hand down his face. “I knew. The minute Emily told me that he’d set up the plans and then boarded the plane. He wanted to hurt her. I knew he’d done it. Maybe he’s convinced himself he didn’t, but I know he did it. And I can’t really look at him right now without wanting to throw him out a window.”

He turned back to the counter, smiled when Elizabeth came back, her brow furrowed. “Where did Lucky go?”

“He had something to do. He said call him after your test tomorrow. You know what, Liz, maybe some I’ll have some coffee after all. Decaf.”

—

“Okay, I’m just going to go over this with her one more time,” Emily said, tugging her coat back on and sweeping her from underneath the collar. “Lucky asked for the job, and he knew the dates on Friday. Before he ever confirmed plans.”

Jason retrieved his leather jacket. “Yes. And if she doesn’t want to believe it, Em, you need to drop it. You’re not going to do either of you any good if you push her too far. She’ll get there in her own time.”

“I know. I know you’re right, but I hate it. It’s just—she’s the only one who gave Juan a chance. I’m not stupid, Jason. No one liked him. Liz was just quiet and nice about it. And she supported me anyway. She put me first. Like she always does. She deserves the same from me.”

“And you’re doing that—” Jason began but the door slammed open and Lucky strode in, stopping dead when he saw the two of them. He started to back away, but Emily was already striding forward.

“Oh, you better not go anywhere—”

“I’m not in the mood for another round of what an ass I am,” Lucky retorted. “I’m tired of being everyone’s punching bag. I get it, Elizabeth made sure everyone knew what she thinks I did—”

“You think she told us? You dumbass. Who do you think waited in the lobby with her?” Emily snapped. “I knew you were late. But I never thought you’d stand her up. And you’re damn right, I told Nikolas. But Juan was with me — and Jason — well, Liz was so worried about you she came all the way down here only to find out you were gone. She didn’t tell anyone. She was mortified.”

Lucky shot Jason a fulminating glance. “Yeah, I’m sure Jason was thrilled to come to her rescue again.”

Jason lifted his brows. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, don’t you dare—that is not the direction you’re going with this,” Emily said, slapping her hands on her hips. “Jason was minding his business and Elizabeth was upset.”

“I tried to leave a message—”

“On the cell phone you’re always saying is a piece of trash, so Lucky, why’d you even bother with it?” she demanded. “You never call it. You always call the dorm. But that day of all days, you’re claiming it was the cell?”

“I tried to tell her I mixed up the dates—”

“You didn’t,” Jason said, and Lucky stared at him, a bit stunned. “You know you didn’t. You asked for that job. I told you it was Puerto Rico. And I told you that you’d be back on the sixteenth. You knew that. Before you ever called Elizabeth to make plans.”

“That is—” He swallowed hard. “Maybe it’s how you remember it, but it’s not what happened—”

“You no good rotten liar,” Emily burst out. “You broke her heart, made her feel stupid and humiliate it, and you’re blaming her phone for not getting the message! Is anything ever your fault?”

“I thought we were friends,” Lucky said, and now some of the anger had faded. “We’ve been friends forever, Em—”

“You’re not going to twist this the way I watched you do to Liz. I’m not an idiot, Lucky. I’m not in love with you. And you’re no friend of mine, let me tell you—”

“I get it! Fine!” Lucky threw up his hands. “I’m always wrong! It’s always my fault! Elizabeth changes the plans without telling me, and she’s never around, never makes time for me, but hey, I missed a date, so it must be me that’s the problem—”

“You didn’t miss a date,” Emily bit out. “You missed that date, and you damn well know why it matters. Because you intended it to. You loaded the gun, aimed it, and pulled the trigger, and bullseye. You hit the target dead on. She is devastated. So devastated that she is clinging to the absolute bullshit you fed her in order to make it go away. I hope you’re happy, Lucky. She’s quiet and sad again. Isn’t that exactly how you like her?”

Lucky’s face was white and he spun around, storming out of the garage. Emily closed her eyes, took a deep breath. Looked at Jason. “Did I go too far?”

“Not as far as I would have, but then he’d still be on the floor if it’d been me,” Jason muttered.

“Jason. I can tell Elizabeth what you told me, but it’s not going to mean the same thing. You’re the one who gave him the dates. You know he’s lying. Lucky did this on purpose.”

“Em—”

“She trusts you. She told me that. That the only reason she was able to get through the night without breaking down completely was how kind you were. She doesn’t need my fury or Nikolas’s indignation. Not right now. She won’t listen to that. But she might listen to you. Please.”

—

Elizabeth read the same paragraph for a third time, then sighed and rubbed her eyes. She’d been studying for nearly an hour, but nothing was clicking. She’d pretended to read the entire chapter, but not a single word had stuck.

She rose from her desk, went over to her closet, and pulled it open, looking at the plastic bag with the dress she’d worn on Valentine’s Day. It was in perfect condition, but the store still wouldn’t take it back. On sale, nonrefundable. Just a pretty dress to remind her of a terrible night.

How had it all gone wrong so fast? She’d been so happy, so excited for everything that was happening around her, and now she just wanted to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head. She hadn’t felt like this since she’d received the rejection letter from New York. Or when Detective Taggert told her that her case was going to be shelved as a cold case.

It was silly to get so upset over one date. How many nights had Lucky planned for them perfectly? So he’d messed this one up with some miscommunication. He’d seemed so sorry, and she’d believed him.

But it was hard to get back to how she’d felt the day her professor had told her she was going to be in the spring showcase. Or when she’d looked in the mirror, and reminded herself that Valentine’s Day was hers — that she and Lucky had reclaimed it, and one day she might never remember that one terrible night—

The phone on her desk rang, and she picked it up. “Hello?”

“Hey, Liz. It’s Molly on the desk downstairs. You’ve got a visitor. You know the rules, though—”

Elizabeth sighed. “If it’s Lucky, tell him—”

“Oh, no way, girl.” Molly’s voice lowered. “This one is a man with a capital M. Blond hair, blue eyes, an ass to die for—is he single?”

Elizabeth’s mouth opened slightly. “Jason? He’s downstairs?”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s the name he told me. You want me to send him away? You know no male visitors after eight—”

“No. No. Um, I have to throw on some clothes and shoes. Tell him I’ll be right down.”

“Okay, but if you don’t want him, you know my deets. Hook a girl up.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but was smiling when she hung up the phone. She tossed her sweats in the hamper, shimmied into a pair of jeans and grabbed a sweater. After tying her sneakers and grabbing her jacket just in case, Elizabeth headed for the elevators.

When they opened, Jason Morgan was indeed standing in the lobby of her dorm, wearing a leather jacket over a black shirt with blue jeans. He was reading something on the wall when she approached.

“Um, hey. If you’re looking for Emily—”

Jason turned, looked at her with a hesitant smile. “No. No, I needed to talk to you. Your—” He looked at the desk where Molly wasn’t even pretending not to be staring. “Your friend said there were rules about visitors.”

“No guys after eight. For safety. Um, we could sit on a sofa—” She gestured at the lobby. “But…maybe not. I wouldn’t put it past Molly to listen in. There’s a coffee bar on campus or something.” She started walking with him towards the door. “Or something off campus. It doesn’t matter to me.”

“Yeah. Okay. I’ve got my bike if that’s okay?”

“The one from the garage?” Her smile was quick and genuine when she saw it parked near the curb. “Oh, well, you should have said that. I told you I wanted to try it.”

He handed a helmet. “Then let’s go.”

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