Chapter 20
Lucky leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Look, we’ve already been through how much you dislike my music, so why don’t we just drop it? I’d like to get through the rest of the evening without fighting, considering how well the last fight went.”
Liz shrugged. “Sure, whatever. Lord knows what you’d blurt out this time to get me in trouble with Jason!”
“Yeah, well, sorry about that. It’s not like I meant to do it.”
“Oh, I’m sure you didn’t,” she said sarcastically. “But that doesn’t change the fact that it happened. I’m just glad he’s already let it slide.”
“Yeah, he’s a regular saint,” Lucky grumbled.
Liz rolled her eyes. “I thought he was your friend! Why are you suddenly so against him?”
“I’m not. I like Jason, he’s a cool guy, but I just don’t think he’s the safest person to align yourself with, that’s all.”
“So, isn’t that for me to decide?” Liz shook her head in frustration. “Haven’t we been through this whole conversation before? Can we please change the subject?”
Lucky shrugged. “Fine by me. You started it, anyway.”
“Oh, that’s mature,” she grumbled, “Is this stupid thing over yet? I’d rather be having my teeth pulled without Novocain right now than be here!”
“You didn’t seem to mind so much when we were dancing earlier,” Lucky chuckled. He wasn’t sure why he said it, except maybe to annoy her some more.
Liz was too shocked to say anything at first. “Well,” she sputtered. “You weren’t exactly complaining either!”
Realizing that they had just entered a conversation that neither of them was ready to have, they fell silent, staring down at their empty plates.
~*~
“Where did you go?” Jason asked as Carly returned to the table.
“Ladies room, is that okay?” she said bitterly.
“Yeah, sure,” he said, studying her face to see if there was more she wasn’t saying. “Carly, what’s wrong?”
“What makes you think something’s wrong?” she asked. “Can’t I go to the bathroom without getting the third degree?”
Jason sighed. “You know that’s not what I mean. Something is bothering you, what is it?”
“Nothing,” she mumbled, looking over at Liz and Lucky.
“Carly....” he said, a warning tone in his voice. “You know better than to lie to me.”
“What?” she asked angrily, whirling around to glare at him, tears in her eyes. “What do you want me to say, Jase? You want me to tell you that I got jealous watching you and Liz dance? Or do you want me to say that I made a mistake letting you go, and that I want you back?”
Jason just stared at her, stunned.
She chuckled bitterly, wiping her eyes. “How about this one? I still love you. I never stopped, and I miss us being a family. Me, you and Michael. Isn’t that how it was always supposed to be?”
Jason cleared his throat and sat forward. “What about Sonny?”
“Sonny...” she said with a small laugh, looking up at the ceiling in frustration. “I don’t know. Sure, I like him, and maybe in some weird way I even love him a little, but not like I love you. I don’t know what happened with him. Maybe it was the danger, or because he seemed so untouchable before. After I helped him through that breakdown, I became obsessed with him. I wanted desperately for him to like me, to see that I wasn’t just worthless trash.” She laughed again, glancing over at his table. “Well, it worked, but now what do I do? I made a mistake, Jase, a big one. You know me, I’m never happy unless I’m screwing up my life. So, how do I fix this? How do I get you back?”
Jason shook his head and sighed. “I’m sorry, Carly, but I’m with Liz now. You lost me when you ran off with Sonny.”
“Oh,” she said softly, looking down at her hands. “So that’s it? I’ve used up my last chance with you?” When Jason remained silent, she sighed. “You’ve done it again, Carly,” she muttered to herself. “You’ve taken the one good thing in your life and thrown it out the window.”
“Don’t say that,” Jason said softly. “I’m still your friend, and you’ll always have Michael.”
“My friend. Right, you’re my friend. Well you know what? I’m greedy, just like everyone always says. I want you to love me again. Is that so hard to imagine?”
Jason remained quiet, not wanting to answer her.
“Jase?” she asked, sensing that there was something he wasn’t saying. “Do you still love me?”
He sighed and met her eyes, knowing he could never lie to her, no matter how much he might want to. “Yes. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re with Sonny and I’m with Liz.’
“Why should that matter? People break up all the time, Jase. Why can’t we just get back together? I mean, if we both love each other....”
Jason interrupted her before she could go any further. “Love isn’t enough. I need to trust you, Carly, and after what happened with Sonny, I can’t. I’m sorry, but this is the way it has to be.”
“Oh,” she whispered, wiping her eyes. She knew when she wasn’t going to get any further with him, and this was it. She broke his trust, and to Jason, that was the worst crime of all.
~*~
Liz glanced up at Jason’s table and saw what looked like a very emotional discussion happening between him and Carly. She sighed, hoping that they weren’t getting back together.
Lucky noticed her sudden change in mood and looked over to see what had caused it. Jason was talking to Carly, who looked like she was crying. He looked back at Liz, as she turned away from their table, and met her eyes. There were tears in them, although it was obvious she was doing her best to keep them at bay.
“I’m sure it’s nothing....” he started to say, trying to reassure her.
Liz stood up and sniffed. “Look, Lucky, I don’t need your pity!” she spat, then rushed out of the room. Lucky sighed and sat back in his chair.
~*~
“Whoa,” Rich muttered. “Did you see all that?”
“Yeah, it’s like a soap opera in here,” Charisma chuckled. “I feel kind of bad for her. Do you think I should follow her? It looked like she went to the ladies room.”
Rich shook his head. “No, I wouldn’t. She doesn’t know you, anyway. I’m sure one of her friends will go.” He looked up in time to see Emily hurry out of the room. “See, someone just went after her. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
Charisma nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. They sure don’t lack for drama around here, do they?”
