| Subject: Chapter 1 |
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Becca
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Date Posted: 10:00:12 02/24/01 Sat
In reply to:
Becca
's message, "The Path of Thorns" on 09:58:31 02/24/01 Sat
The Path of Thorns
**Maxie and Dylan have been Sorased**
Chapter 1
**Outside Kelly’s**
Nikolas Cassadine quietly ate his lunch, attempting futilely to read an early edition of English translation of “The Cherry Orchard.” It was futile because every ten minutes Maxie Jones would leave her shift to see if he needed anything. Nikolas knew the young woman, blossoming nicely as her teen years progressed, had a mad crush on him. And though he had to admit she was a nice girl and quite attractive, he wasn’t really interested. He already had the problem of a girlfriend, who he wasn’t sure he was in love with, living with him.
It’s not that Nikolas didn’t care for Sarah Webber, he did. It was more a matter of wanting to experience more than he had in his lifetime. It was the chase that excited him. And what a long chase it was. Nikolas’s younger brother had originally dated Sarah. The desire to have what his brother had, to acquire something he didn’t possess, pushed Nikolas to pursue Sarah, even if he had barely take a passing interest in her in the past. Along the way he actually developed strong feelings for the young woman. Their relationship progressed physically, once it was out in the open and Landon gave them his blessing, and it also progressed emotionally. At least on Sarah’s behalf.
In a moment of panic as Sarah gave him an ultimatum to either make a commitment or she was leaving him, Nikolas asked her to live with him. Part of him wanted this; wanted the life she could provide him and the security. He knew he’d never be lacking love or comfort, she really did care for him. But he wasn’t sure if this was what his life was supposed to be like. Settle down at twenty years old, never having really lived.
At the moment, if Maxie came through the doors of the diner, Nikolas would have taken her up on any offer she’d make, just for the excitement of something new. Unfortunately, someone else entirely came out to check up on him.
“Hey Nikolas,” Elizabeth Webber announced, smiling at her friend. “Lunch alone today?”
“Sarah had to go to a meeting with Lucy today, such is the life in the cosmetics industry I suppose, leaving ones poor, lonely boyfriend to their own devices at lunch time,” Nikolas sighed.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you are melodramatic?”
“On occasion, why?”
“No reason,” Liz noted with a laugh. “Have you seen that brother of yours around today?”
Nikolas shook his head, motioning for Liz to join him. “Can’t say that I have. Why?”
Liz smiled, “I just miss him. I think I’ve grown attached.”
He looked at her pretending to be shocked. “Really? You mean you and my little brother are like, in love?”
“Well, we aren’t about to take the plunge that you and Sarah are, but yeah. What of it?”
“As your almost brother in law,” he groaned mockingly, “I’m just telling you to be careful. Those Spencers can be sticky people to get involved with. They have a way of breaking hearts.”
“My heart can’t be broken, didn’t you know that Nikolas? I’m the edgy, cynical Webber sister, I can take whatever anyone wants to dish out,” Liz noted proudly.
Nikolas grinned, “How could I ever forget?”
Liz rose from her seat, tossing the towel over her shoulder. “I better get back inside before Maxie comes out looking for me . . .or would it be you? Maybe I’ll send her out here to see if you want dessert.”
“You do that and I’ll find a way to get you back Webber, I promise! The last thing I need is a psycho blonde who is in love with me sniffing around. I’d rather spend the day with my grandmother.”
“Don’t say that, I wouldn’t wish Momma Cass on anyone, not even the demon spawn himself,” Luke announced, stepping behind Nikolas and grinning at Liz.
“It’s nice to see your relationship progressing,” Liz observed. “You two no longer want to kill each other, which I would call growth.”
“Doubtful darlin’, I’m just in a good mood today. Which you could make better,” Luke noted as he followed Liz into the diner.
“Oh really? How can I make your mood better?”
“Tell me if you’ve seen my ungrateful son around today.”
Liz frowned, shaking her head, “Sorry Luke. I haven’t seen him yet . . .why? What did he do?”
“The kid is running illegal poker games in the back room at the club,” Luke grumbled.
“You’re kidding?” Liz gasped. “I bet Laura’s not happy about that . . .or is it the police?”
“Neither! I’m mad because the boy isn’t cutting me in on the profits. I’m his father, I taught him how to play, the least he could do is give me something.”
“Like a finders fee?” Liz mused as she wiped down one of the tables.
Luke thought for a minute before nodding his head, “Well, yeah. I deserve a ten percent cut, at the very least.”
“You aren’t getting any cuts.”
Liz and Luke spun around, shaking their heads at the young men at the door to the kitchen.
“And why not?” Luke asked with a smile.
“Because dad, this is my gig. Didn’t you raise me never to be taken for a con? Well, you trying to get a percentage of my business smells like a con to me.”
“Try this on for size Landon,” Luke began, narrowing his eyes at the young man. He wasn’t tall but well built; his blonde hair combed forward, something that drove his mother crazy. “If you don’t cut me in, I’ll shut you down.”
Landon Spencer, eighteen years old, was a wannabe rebel. He liked to pretend he was rebellious, but was anything but. He had an ideal childhood, ideal for someone growing up on the run. Once his family settled in Port Charles, he went to normal schools, made normal friends, played centerfield for the PCHS baseball team, had girlfriends, and even got grounded by his parents. It amazed Luke and Laura that they raised such a normal son.
He lived at home until he turned eighteen, when he finally decided to move into a room above Kelly’s. It was a bonus that his cousin Sly and his good friend Gina Cates lived there, not to mention the rent was minimal and he could eat at home whenever he wanted. Needless to say he wanted to be rebellious, but had nothing to rebel against.
“I do not think that is very fair,” Landon protested as he took a seat at the bar. He shot a pleading look Liz’s way. “Come on babe, back me up. This is so totally unfair, this is my gig.”
Liz ran a hand across his back, kissing him softly on the cheek. “Sorry, I’m with Luke on this. Pay up.”
“Great! You even have my girlfriend on your side, who next? Nikolas?” Landon grumbled.
Landon and Liz had been dating for nearly a year and were fairly happy. Their first official date was the senior prom, but due to the fact that they had friends in common, not to mention his brother was dating her sister, they knew each other really well. Liz always loved the Spencer family, there was something so very calming and real about them, even though they were anything but calm. She wasn’t in love with Landon, but she liked him enough, and considering the Spencers took her in as an honorary family member long ago, it was enough to keep them together.
It wasn’t that she was restless with Landon like Nikolas was with Sarah. She could honestly see herself spending a lifetime with him; they were that good of friends, and the physical attraction was there. Liz just didn’t feel the connection, the connection she saw between Luke and Laura, the connection she longed for.
Landon on the other hand, after losing Sarah to Nikolas, thought he’d never love again. She had hurt him, almost made the easygoing kid cynical. That’s when Liz came around. They had been acquainted with each other for a while, even friends, but all of a sudden she became everything he wanted in life. She was beautiful and smart, spunky and strong. Part of him knew she didn’t feel as strongly as he did, but he didn’t care. He’d wait forever for her to feel that way. He was totally in love with her.
“Uh oh,” Liz moaned as she saw Maxie heading for the door. “I better get out there before Nikolas blows a gasket . . .Maxie’s been driving him nuts all morning.”
“Well?” Luke asked, his hand extended in front of his son.
“Well what Luke?”
Luke glared at him. “First of all, I’m not digging your James Dean impression, you have nothing to brood about, so stop. Secondly, pay up kiddo, or end the games.”
“Fine,” Landon grumbled as he reached into his back pocket for his wallet. “But this just sucks. And I do have something to brood about.”
“Oh really? What?”
“You’re taking my money.”
**Quatermaine Mansion**
“Oh, no, no, no,” Emily muttered as she opened the front door, not happy with who was standing there. Sly ran into the foyer from the living room to see what the commotion was about. The instant he saw what she was groaning over, he reciprocated his girlfriend’s actions.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sly said, wincing as Emily grabbed his hand. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Are you still with this chump Em? Dear me, I thought my family had taste. Guess not.” Dylan Hornsby, son of Tracy Quatermaine, half brother of Ned Ashton, sauntered into the mansion, dropping one of his suitcases on the floor. He turned to Emily, motioning outside, “Get the help to bring in the remainder of my luggage.”
Emily stomped to his side, pointing her finger in his face. “What are you doing here Dylan?”
“Well, where would you like me to be? Here?” he moved a step over, the moved again. “Or here?”
Emily cursed under breath, “No, here in Port Charles, in my house.”
“Isn’t it Edward’s house?” Dylan asked with a laugh.
“Actually it’s Monica’s,” Sly cut in.
“Only because my dad gave it to her . . .and that is not the point. Why are you here?”
Dylan draped his arm around her shoulder, grinning wickedly, “I’ve come to live here Emily, aren’t you happy?”
Dylan was tall and thin, a mop of curly blonde hair on his head. He dressed like a GQ model and had the ego to go with it . . .and he was only seventeen.
“Well, I don’t know how that is possible . . .after all, didn’t Grandfather disown your mother like, a bunch of times before?”
“I’m here on my brother’s request,” Dylan noted, slipping past Emily and into the living room.
“I hate that little brat,” she grumbled, grabbing Sly’s hand and pulling him into the living room.
“I gather that much,” Sly noted with a sigh.
“Ned wants you here? Did he forget what you did last time? Chloe Morgan is still afraid to go to the boat house,” Emily said accusingly.
“Is it my fault Barbie has a fear of snakes?” Dylan asked, smiling innocently. “Besides, it was fun, and everyone knows it.”
“No, it wasn’t fun . . .now why would Ned want you to come live with him?”
“Get in a few fights, have your mother run off to Milan or somewhere to make a mess of her life, and your big brother will intervene. Trust me dear cousin, I wouldn’t be here if I had it my way. It was either come to Port Charles or have my allowance cut off.”
Sly snickered, “You still get an allowance?”
“Go to hell Eckert,” Dylan shot back. “Aren’t we like, practically brothers or something? Why are you messing with me?”
“I’m always amazed that you can be Uncle Paul’s kid, really. He’s a good man, you . . . you are just annoying little prick,” Sly said smoothly, attempting to not let Dylan get under his skin. “And for the record, we aren’t related by blood, thank God.”
Dylan rolled his eyes as he flopped down on the armchair. “That’s right, I forgot, it’s only cool to be related to the Spencers in this God forsaken town. You people really need a new obsession than that family.”
“Em, if I punch your cousin, will you be overtly angry with me?” Sly asked, leering across the room at Dylan.
“Oh no sweetheart, don’t hit him,” Emily deadpanned, her voice flat and emotionless. “But if you have, I suppose I can forgive you.”
“Goody, now we’re play acting,” Dylan grinned, clapping his hands. “This is just beyond exciting, but I think I’ll give my big brother a ring, let him know I’m here.”
Dylan got up to leave the room, stopping at the door. “Oh, and Emily, make sure you keep that music of yours down at night, NEIGHBOR!”
Emily glared after him for a moment before his statement fully set in. “Neighbor? He is SO not moving into the room next to mine. Sly, that boy is evil, we have to stop him.”
Sly shook his head, following Emily out of the room. “Here I thought the Spencer/Cassadine war was the most insane. Quatermaines totally confuse me,” Sly muttered to himself, running hand through his short light brown hair.
He and Emily, childhood best friends, had been dating for two years, and were probably the most stable, sanest couple in town. Considering she was a Quatermaine, and he was an Eckert with close ties to the Spencers that was an incredible feat.
“What was that?” Emily asked, still fuming about Dylan.
“Nothing sweetie, you just constantly keep me . . .smiling.”
**The Docks**
“Now Sonny, you know that is not what I meant,” Carly complained as she followed Sonny along the docks. “I was merely thinking that maybe we can change the name of the restaurant.”
“Carly, you are three weeks away from the opening, do you really think it is feasible to change the name now? It’s not like you are changing the name of the cat again. Do you have any idea how much money it’ll cost to redo everything?” Sonny complained.
“But Sonny, Lucy and I have discussed this, ‘Pier 21’ isn’t what we really had in mind. Sure, catchy, giving the location of the restaurant and all, but . . . I don’t know,” Carly grumbled. She and Lucy had become friends at Christmas and quickly decided to open a restaurant together after they became disgusted by the service and selection at the PC Grille.
“Carly . . . I’ll see what can be done about it, but I don’t think we have enough time to change everything before the opening in three weeks. Either change the name or the date of the opening, and I know how much publicity you already put into the set opening date.”
Sonny and Carly had been thrown together in the oddest of ways. Jason had left Port Charles after he was linked to the murder of Anthony Moreno. It was up to Sonny to get Carly, someone he could barely stand at the time, out of the Quatermaine mansion, along with Michael. Eventually, without much involvement by lawyers, they worked out an agreement to give AJ visitation with Michael, and eventually partial custody.
Somewhere along the line Sonny and Carly learned that the hostility they exhibited towards each other was due to a fierce attraction and they began to date, however cautiously. They still fought like crazy, but they got along better and even cared for each other.
Carly was presently on a kick to get the restaurant opened on time, despite the many changes she wanted. When Sonny offered to help Carly start a business of her own, she took some time choosing. A restaurant is what she finally settled on, something that Sonny wasn’t exactly keen on. Adding Lucy Coe to the equation hadn’t made things any easier either.
“Can’t we talk about this some other time? Shouldn’t Michael be getting back from that play thing?” Sonny asked tiredly.
Carly rolled her eyes, realizing it was time to put this argument on hold for a bit. She was about to say something else, most likely a snide comment just to annoy Sonny, when she noticed a young man at the edge of the docks, looking at a map, confusion in his face.
“Hey, you there,” she called out, moving away from Sonny towards the young man. He was thin but didn’t seem overtly skinny, his jeans and tee shirt fit perfectly. He was handsome with brown hair that was short and combed neatly. His blue eyes flickered with what looked like recognition when he looked up at Carly. “Are you new in town?”
He nodded, revealing an absolutely breathtaking smile. For a moment Carly felt like she knew the young man, or she had seen a picture of him somewhere, but the moment was fleeting.
“Yes,” he said softly. “I just got into town a few hours ago. I’m looking for somewhere to stay. I don’t have much money, but I do have enough to pay some advanced rent. Would you know of a place?”
“As a matter of fact I do. My family owns Kelly’s diner; there are always rooms for rent. In fact, I’m sure my mom is there now, she can get you a room if you like,” Carly explained, feeling an odd sense of connection to the young man. “I don’t think I’ve introduced myself. I’m Carly Benson and this is my . . .friend, Sonny Corinthos.”
The young man reached out to shake their hands, his eyes sheepishly looking them over, as if he was committing what they looked like to memory.
“It’s um, a pleasure to meet you. My name’s Lucas,” he explained.
Carly looked at him in surprise. “Really? Let me tell you Lucas, you’ve come to the right town. Not only is my little brother named Lucas, but it’s my Uncle Luke’s real name.”
“Huh, well, how ‘bout that,” he muttered, averting his eyes out at the water. “Well, everyone . . .the people I know call me Lucky. So, you know, you can call me that.”
“Lucky?” Sonny asked with a laugh. “A nickname, I like that. It’s good to meet you kid. Do you know the way to Kelly’s?”
Lucky shook his head, “Nope, can’t say that I do. But don’t worry, I’ve got a good sense of direction, I’m sure I’ll find it eventually.”
“Are you sure? We’re heading that way, we can take you,” Carly offered.
“That’s alright,” he noted with a sigh. “My flight was long, I’m just going to hang out here for a little bit. But thanks, I really appreciate it.”
“Ok,” Carly sighed, touching Lucky’s arm softly. “I’m always around to talk, so if you are lonely and need someone to listen, just go to Kelly’s, someone there can help you get in touch with me . . .oh, except for Lizzie, she doesn’t like me much.”
“Carly, the feeling is mutual, you know that,” Sonny joked, grabbing her hand before she said anymore. “They have a very strange rivalry, I don’t fully understand it. But don’t let Carly scare you off, Liz is great, this entire town is pretty good. You’ll like it.”
“I hope so,” Lucky sighed, waving to the couple as they left.
He walked over to the bench and sat down, pulling a folder out of his duffel bag. He flipped through it till came upon what he was looking for.
“Caroline Benson, AKA Carly Roberts, AKA Carly Spencer,” he read softly. “My cousin,” he paused, thinking for a moment before flipping through the files and returning it to his bag. “Well, I guess I should find Kelly’s.”
He began to leave when he heard footsteps at the top of the docks. He turned around, instantly recognizing his visitor.
“How did I know that even now you wouldn’t leave me alone,” he bristled, sighing deeply.
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