Release Me(FF Series) by pingster12

[JRK Archiver]

this is Ping's Release Me series that consists of Flash Fictions that continue from the last one.

[JRK Archiver]

Part 1: Flash Fic # 63


Jose Rivera’s ship had finally come in, after years and years of running numbers, of hiding in trashcans for hours while spying on threatening families, after doing the crap of the crapiest jobs he was finally receiving the recognition he so rightfully deserved. Finally moving up on the ladder and making a name for himself and in Jose’s mind it was a long time coming.

No more tomorrows or next years. Today was the day! The beginning of the rest of his life! And he welcomed it with eager open arms.

The moment he got the call from Sonny, from the top mob man himself, asking him to come aboard on one of his special and very top secret projects he just about pissed himself. Top secret….project……from Sonny himself, well it was more than he could handle. Right after the words confirming his full loyalty to the man busted from his lips he hung up the phone and went shopping. Bought himself a gray flashy suite, set him back more than a months rent but it was worth it, fine material, imported straight from Italy, made him look good-looking, sharp and a man to be reckoned with. It was worth every cent.

Jose chuckled to himself with pure glee dripping off every inch of his face as he turned into the public parking lot of the local park. He couldn’t help but whistle the infamous theme to the God Father as he turned the ignition off and unfastened his seat belt. Already he was proud of himself for following the mysterious directions his boss had gave him over the phone. His green eyes scanned the empty parking lot, he made sure to park in the far off back rows and that no other cars where near him, as was instructed, “Check” his smiled widened as he stepped out of his 94 Toyota, if he did a good job on this assignment and got a raise the first thing he was going to do was buy a new car. A car fit for the right hand man of the boss. He slammed the door shut and looked at his reflection in the tinted window. Damn he was good looking, he winked at his reflection, “Are you talking to me?” he jabbed his finger in his Italian covered material chest, “Are you talking to me?!” He eyed his slicked back jet black hair, wondering if the Dippity Do gel would hold up the entire day, “You must be talking to me” his muscular chest shook with laughter as he waved off his horrible Robert Dinero impression.

“It’s about damn time!”

Jose’s eyes snapped open wide when the familiar male voice boomed in the quiet afternoon breeze. He swallowed hard and slowly turned around to face Francis, “I’m sorry Sir” he jammed his large strong hands in the pant pockets, “I wasn’t aware that I was late” he downcasted his green bright eyes, his excitement and feelings of being proud quickly leaving his body, “I apologize”

Francis narrowed his eyes at the young man, “Than stop wasting my time and follow me” he quickly turned on his heels and began walking toward the park archway with speed.

Jose struggled to keep up with the large man, “So what are we doing?” he called out from behind Francis, slowly starting to jog after the man, “Are we doing surveillance?” he quirked a jet black brow with a mischievous glint in his eyes as he finally caught up to the large guard, “Or are we showing someone it’s not smart to mess with Sonny?”

Francis rolled his eyes and expelled a heavy sigh, “Rookies!” he blurted out completely annoyed, “Protection” he stated simply.

Jose wrinkled his black brows during his confused state of mind, “We’re dealing with condoms?”

“NO!” Francis groaned as he shook his head and picked up the speed, “We are here to protect someone” he spoke the words slowly so that the young guy would understand.

“An important adult to Sonny?” he asked with hopefulness, he had already had done enough protecting of little Mikey and in truth the kid was a little bit of a @#%$ and was not a very exciting subject to protect. No one ever went after the red headed monster!

“Yes” Francis expelled a relived breath as he spotted the sun’s light reflecting off the familiar golden hair, “Right where I left him”

Jose’s eyes snapped toward the direction the guards attention was focused on, his breath hitching in his throat when he saw the man, “Jason?” the name spoken with surprise and excitement. He was going to be involved with Jason Morgan! He was going to be working side by side with Jason Morgan! Yep, his ship had defiantly come in!

A little bounce entered his step as he approached the symbol of successes, “Hey boss!” his tone way too cheerful for anyone associated with the mob to use. And Jason’s cold, long and hard glare reminded him of that tiny forgotten fact. Jose cleared his throat and shifted his body weight, it was obvious that he was uncomfortable under the intense scrutiny of Jason Morgan, “Soooo” he clapped his hands together, trying his best to seem care free, “Who are we here to protect?”

Jason’s cold deadly glare slowly shifted to Francis, the man responded by hanging his head low and taking a small retreating step backwards. Jason nodded his head slowly as if he was understanding something that Jose wasn’t privy too. The man then slowly took steps toward the bark of the large oak tree a couple of steps away. Jose followed in silence, feeling the heat of the beating sun lesson as he stepped under the shade of the tree. Even though Jose didn’t look over his shoulder, he knew Francis followed them. Heard his large feet crushing the crisp grasp with every step he took.

Jason leaned his shoulder against the tears and Jose watched in silence as his eyes turned from a cold ruthless blue to the color of an afternoon rain storm. Cloudy with areas of sadness. Never had he seen this man’s face soften, display any type of emotion but at that moment, that tiny sad silent moment Jose watched as the infamous Jason Morgan frowned, as wetness build in his eyes, as his face suddenly transformed to that of an old tired man who had lost everything he once loved.

Jose followed the direction of Jason’s sad eyes with his own. He squinted as he barely made out a young woman sitting amongst the green field. She was young, he could at least see that and her brown hair danced in the wind as it desired to play with her, “Is that who we are protecting?” his question was met with silence, he squinted some more when the young woman stood up and appeared to run toward another man. Her small body leaping from the ground as she jumped into the man’s arms. Jose tilted his head to the side as he quietly observed the new dark haired man soak up the woman in his arms as if cherishing every single moment, “Is it her?” he tore his eyes away from the couple and when he took in Jason’s face, his hard face, his eyes now storming with rage other than sadness he drew his dark brows together, “Does….Does Sonny have the hott’s for this chick?”

The moment the last syllable left his mouth Jose’s airway supply was cut off by Jason’s large strong hand. It was all so quick that Jose couldn’t even registered the exact movements, all he knew was that his back slammed against the strong oak tree with a force he hadn’t experienced in years and that he couldn’t draw a breath to save his life.

Jason squeezed his hold around the young man’s neck, satisfaction igniting in his body when he observed Jose’s fair complexion turning into a deep red. Jason dipped his face closer to the poor man’s, his eyes raging with fury, “Watch it” he clenched his teeth together, “She’s my wife” he dug his finger tips deeper into the man’s throat, felt Jose’s raging pulse booming against his vicious touch.

“Let go Jason” Francis ordered smoothly and calmly.

Jason’s blue ferocious eyes flickered as his friends request was made.

“Now!”

Jose felt the man’s grip lesson, his heart beat began to attempt to resume its normal tempo and when Jason finally let go he fell to the frown and inhaled a much needed deep breath. His hand flew up to his throat and as he tried to take in the oxygen violent coughs raked through his large muscular body.

Jason turned his back against Jose’s body on the floor, he resumed his position against the large oak wood tree and spoke….as if nothing had happen, as if he wasn’t just moments away from taking the young man’s life away, “My wife” the words spoken with a mixture of anger and pain, “She just doesn’t know it….she just doesn’t know it”

“That’s enough Jason” Francis crouched down to Jose’s hunched over body, he reached out and gripped the man’s arm and began to help him up, “It’s time to go, you’ve seen enough”

Jose wobbled to a standing position, his hand still protecting his neck, “I’m sorry” he gasped through air, “I didn’t me-“

“You want to know who you are here to protect Jose” Jason didn’t look at the man, he kept his eyes fixated on his wife, as she laughed at her companion’s words. How she laughed in the same way she use to laugh at him, with that damn beautiful spark in her eyes that made a man think that no one existed to her other than him, “Your here to protect me” he let out a bitter chuckle, “Here to protect me” he reiterated with mocking humor, “To make sure I don’t do anything irrational…impulsive….stupid”

“Sir” Jose tried his best to compose himself, “If you wish for it I will kill the man who is with your wife, I will do it with pleasure” he ran his fingers through his gel drenched hair, his fingers coming to contact with the hard shell of hair caused immediately regret.

“Jose” Francis stepped in front of the man, making sure to be wedged in-between the rookie and Jason, “The only one that is going to be killed here is you if you keep talking” he jabbed his fat finger against Jose’s chest, “and by me”

“What do you think Francis?” Jason clenched his fists as he saw the man run his fingers though her brown silky locks, “I don’t think I wouldn’t mind killing this one that much”

“Jason” Francis shook his head, “Please, lets go” he pleaded with all that he had.

“Because” Jason spoke as if Francis had never said a word at all, “She looks at him different than she looks at all the others” he looked over his shoulder and locked eyes with his long time friend, “She looks at him the way she did with me all those years ago”

Jose looked over Jason’s shoulder to the young pair, his confusion of the situation building with every second. Was she cheating on him? And if she was why wouldn’t he just leave her? Or Did she leave him, “I don’t understand this”

Francis’s head snapped toward the rookie, “It’s none of your business to be understanding”

The breeze carried her sweet laughter of joy toward the two men, it’s music teased Jason’s heart and for a moment he imagined she was laughing with him like she did so many years ago. He closed his eyes against the sound of her happiness, “When I met her she was still in high school” he chuckled as his lids slowly lifted, “Young and feisty” he shook his head, “And for some odd reason head over heals for me” he jutted his chin toward Francis, “You remember?”

Francis offered his sad a friend a short nod, “Yes” he said sadly.

“Her friends and family hated me, didn’t want her to have anything to do with me” he laughed and it was a happy laugh, “Jose, have you ever had anyone turn their backs on everyone they loved just for you”

The man answered honestly with the a slow shake of his head. Jason’s smile grew wide and it caused his eyes to spark with life, “It’s a wonderful feeling….I mean….I did feel guilty but it did make me feel nice, special really” his eyes tilted down to the floor as he observed a patch of dead grass an inch away from the tip of his black boot, “She wanted to get married right away but I made her wait till she graduated from school” he rubbed his chin as a grin danced on his dry lips, “The moment the ceremony was over we were on our way to Vegas on my bike” he shrugged his shoulders, “Her family and friends didn’t want anything to do with her after that but she didn’t care” Then that smile began to slowly disappear, “That was seven years ago today” he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a silver flask. The sunlight beaming off of it caused Jose to squint, “It’s my anniversary” Jason unscrewed the top of the flask slowly and brought the rim to his lips.

“Jason” Francis spoke his name with warning, “Don’t”

“Why?” he lifted the flask in front of his face, “Can’t I have a celebratory drink in honor of my anniversary?” he quickly turned on his heels to face the young couple who sat so far away and tilted the flask in their direction, “happy anniversary Elizabeth” he brought the rim to his lips and drank to his love.

“So what happened?” Jose asked with genuine curiosity, “I mean if it was so wonderful between you two what happened?”

“Shut up!” Francis shouted as he charged up to the rookie, “Your job is to help me take care of him not ask stupid @#%$ questions!”

“An accident!” Jason shouted over his shoulder, he smacked his wet lips together, “I’m positive that you are well informed on my history….correct?” he looked over his shoulder to the young man.

Jose swallowed as his eyes bounced from Francis angry ones to Jason’s sad ones, “Of course” it was common knowledge that everyone knew about Jason Morgan’s accident.

“How ironic is it that the same thing happened to my wife three years ago” he laughed, but it wasn’t out of humor or happiness, it was dripping with heart ache, “She was in a comma for a couple of weeks and when she awoke….nothing…..didn’t remember a single thing” he turned his attention back toward Elizabeth and watched as the young man cradled his wife in his damn arms and suddenly he felt a coldness that chilled him to the bone. His eyes dipped down to his empty arms, “When the doctor told me….I knew all too well…..so I just left….didn’t even see her awake I just left. I knew all too well what it felt like for everyone to want you to remember…to want you to be the person that you no longer were” he licked his dry lips, tasted the burning liquor on them, “So I released her and hopped that one day she would find her way back to me” he brought the flask up to his lips once more and drank the remaining liquor, “One day I walked right past her, hoping that something would happen and….nothing” he let out a bitter chuckle that seemed to leave a bad taste in his mouth, “She didn’t even smile at me” he pressed his entire back against the bark of the tree and looked up toward the blue sky, “And one day I asked her for the time and ……nothing….like if I was a complete stranger” he felt his vision begin to blur, “I am a complete stranger”

“but she doesn’t know?” Jose shook his head refusing to believe that she didn’t know that she was married…..especially to Jason.

“No” he said simply as he attempted to blink back the tears, “Her family wasn’t too eager to let her know that she was married to the mob at one point. They put her away in school and here she is” he smiled as he took her in, and their was some proudness bursting in his heart, “She’s a college woman, going to be successful one day and…..she….she’s happy” Jason shook his head, “And me” he shrugged his massive shoulders, “I’m dieing inside day by day”

Jose weighed about 215, mostly muscle, he had seen grown men beg for their lives and had smiled in their faces as he took their souls from them. He had scene horrible things throughout the course of his life and never truly had ever felt affected by any of them…but this….to see such a strong man that he looked up too, completely broken….well, it affected him. So much so that the ping his heart felt took him completely by surprise. He tilted his head down toward the floor and jammed his large hands in his pockets, “maybe one day she will remember” he spoke the words so softly, full of sincere genuine.

“Maybe” Jason nodded his head as he pushed his body off of the tree, “I’ve always felt that it’s all inside, you know…..the love for me and it’s just hidden” he felt one bastard tear betray him, connect with the warm flesh of his cheek, “ She just doesn’t know it…she just doesn’t know it” he hid his face from his friends by turning it in the direction of his wife and her new boyfriend, “ and maybe…just maybe one day she will remember or the feelings would come back” he walked up to the two men, “Maybe tomorrow is the day?” he offered Francis a shaken smile, both men knowing that it wasn’t the truth…that it was a farfetched dream.

Francis slapped Jason’s shoulder, “Tomorrow or the day after that or the day after that”

Jose smiled at the new found optimism, “Hey” he jutted his chin out at his boss, “There’s always tomorrow!” his tone was full of cheer.

“Shut up Jose” Francis said through a small chuckle as he began to walk past the rookie, “Come on Jason it’s time to go” Jose quickly followed the man, walking at a fast pace to keep up with him and anxiously straining his ears to hear the crunching of the grass under Jason’s boots.

Jason looked over his shoulder before he began to accompany his old friend and new found friend, his blue eyes squinted as he watched Elizabeth rise to her feet with her small hand clasped within the man’s, “One day” he promised out loud into the breeze and hoped that the wind would carry his declaration to her ears, “One day you will come back to me” he tore his eyes away from her and began to walk slowly in the direction of the parking lot, a small grin danced on his lips, “And I will be waiting” he jammed his hands in his pockets and let out a small chuckle as he looked up at the miraculous large blue sky, “I will always be waiting”

[JRK Archiver]

Part 2: FF # 64


Bored! Jose Rivera was more than just bored, he was in an agonizing state of boredom. And found himself, more than once, seriously contemplating the idea of stabbing himself in the palm of his hand with a number 2 pencil, just for the plain fun of it, just so something exciting would occur for one moment. Anything was better and more interesting than this boring ass class. Even causing physical pain to his own body.

He shifted around in the incredibly firm classroom desk in search of some comfort, that and his ass was completely numb and was in desperate need of some circulation.

Jose eyed his wrist watch praying that the end of his torture would soon be up but to his great disappointment there was still 30 minuets left for the class to end. He rolled his green eyes in complete annoyance and decided to entertain himself by writing on top of the wooden desk the words, ‘Eat Me’ with the number 2 pencil, that if things didn’t get interesting soon enough, would find itself embedded in his thigh. He chuckled to himself completely humored with his childish actions and pondered what other clever words could he decorate the surface of the desk with.

“Marcus”

Jose’s green eyes rose up toward the back of the head of the petit brunette that occupied the desk directly in front of him.

“Marcus” she whispered in a hush tone to the man sitting right beside her.

Jose leaned his large body over the desk in order to hear her hushed words more successfully.

“I need your help” she whispered to the young man with the dark black hair and when he barely acknowledged her she grew annoyed with him. Her eyes flickered to the lecturing professor to make sure he wasn’t aware of her attempt to strike up a conversation. She rolled her blue eyes and leaned closer to the pissed off man, “Look” she blew out a deep breath, “I’m sorry for touching your hair. Ok?”

Marcus’s brown eyes moved from the professor toward her, she offered him a sweet smile, “I’m sorry” she apologized once more, “I won’t ever do it again”

He arched a black eyebrow, “Even when it doesn’t have gel in it?”

She shook her head, “Even when it’s not full of gel, or when it’s wet or when it’s dry” she lifted her tiny left hand and swore, “I won’t ever run my fingers through your hair again”

Marcus nodded his head sharply and offered her a large charming smile, “Ok, I forgive you”

“So” she placed her hand on his shoulder, “Will you help me?”

“I’ll try” he sincerely promised.

Jose clenched his large hands into two fists and sat up straight in his desk once he was positive the asinine conversation was at an end, “@#%$” he mumbled the insult to himself but really didn’t care if it was heard by others.

How the hell could she be in love with this @#%$, Jose just couldn’t understand it. If a woman like her wanted to run her fingers through his hair, gelled or not, he would probably have a boner at first touch. Some men were complete @#%$ assholes and some men weren’t, like him and like Jason. Jason was not an @#%$….he was a chicken @#%$ when it came to certain things, but not an @#%$. This guy Marcus was the biggest @#%$ he had ever met…well the biggest one he had ever laid eyes on.

The first time he saw him up close was about 3 weeks ago when he enrolled into this boring ass class about art he noticed it right off the bat. The guy was a dickless wonder and Elizabeth…..well Rebecca, that was the name she was going by now, was completely head over heals for him. Jose just assumed that with the brain damage she sustained came the defect of having really bad taste in men.

But hopefully that would all change soon, since Jose made it his personal mission to make sure that Jason and his wife would soon be together again. He chuckled to himself at his cleverness, no one knew….not Sonny, Francis, and certainly not Jason. No one knew that he enrolled himself in the same college that the Rebecca was at, that he bribed the head of registration to get her schedule and that, when the opportunity would present it’s self, he would get in good with her and then some how he would get her back into Jason’s arms. And when everything would be done, not only would Sonny give him a raise but he would rise up in the ranks of the mob. It was a win win situation and he was a clever little bastard for coming up with the idea.

Since the park he was spending more and more time with Jason and he just couldn’t handle how miserable the poor guy was….so he decided to do something about it. The old story of unrequited love was romantic and Jose was sure to file it in his memory bank because it was a tale that was sure to drop some panties once he retold it….well retold it as if he was Jason and that his wife was off somewhere loving another man with no knowledge of him. Jose smirked just at the thought of telling some girl at a bar and seeing the sparkle of sympathy in her eyes, that would sure lead him right to her bed and that was great for him….more than great! But for Jason….it wasn’t and something had to be done and he was the only one with the big enough balls to do it.

Jose sighed loudly and lifted his eyes to the ceiling of the class room, all he had to do now….all he had been doing now for quite sometime was waiting for the right moment to introduce himself to her and then the plan would be well on its way.

“OK” the professor spoke loudly in a professional tone, “Pick your group member for your project”

What’s this! Jose sat up straight in his chair and for the first time he had been in that class room he actually paid attention to what the professor was saying.

“And please Remember that this project is about 40% of your grade” the professor handed a stack of papers to his assistant, “Robert will pass out the packets and once you have received them and picked your partner you are free to go”

The classroom was overtaken with the rumbling sounds of students moving around and speaking in low tones to one another. Jose felt a small tap on his shoulder, “You want-“

“No!” he didn’t even bother to look at the poor female that wanted to become his partner, he had already chosen one even if she wasn’t aware of it.

Rebecca Webber pulled her desk closer to Marcus’s, “Look” she placed the piece of white paper that was the source of all her anxiety on his desk, “It’s going to cost me thousands of dollars to get my car fixed”

Marcus’s brown eyes took in the bill from the mechanic and frowned when he saw the large total, “Oh man”

“I know” Elizabeth’s voice was full of worry, “Who knew I had to replace the oil once and awhile” she shook her head and berated herself for being so clueless when it came to automobiles, “I sure as hell didn’t”

Marcus covered her hand with his own, “Don’t worry” he reassured her as best as he could, “We’ll figure something out”

Rebecca’s blue eyes shined with hopefulness, “You’re going to help me?” she asked with enthusiasm, “I really do need help” she sighed loudly and down casted her eyes toward the statement she placed on her boyfriends desk, “My parents say that they won’t give me the money and I need a car Marcus. Especially now with my internship at the hospital and if I can’t fix this problem I won’t be able to go the internship and then I won’t graduate on time. I’ll lose my scholarship” she felt her eyes water due to a mixture of stress and sadness, “And I can’t pay for school on my own without that scholarship”

“Rebecca” Marcus picked up the statement and slammed it loudly on her desk, “don’t do that” he huffed loudly, “Don’t start playing the victim and start thinking of the all the bad things that will happen, you’ll drive yourself crazy and will spend more time worrying about that then what you need to do to fix this problem.”

She nodded her head slowly and blinked back the tears, “your right” she spoke softly.

“Of course I am” Marcus said cheerfully, “now give me a kiss and all will be ok” He licked his lips as he dipped his head closer to hers.

Rebecca giggled softly as she leaned in closer.

And Jose decided that the couldn’t stand by and watch another kiss from the two, it made him physically ill so he kicked the @#%$ out of the back of Marcus’s chair and sent his body slightly jerking front.

Marcus looked over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Jose, he just offered him a cocky smirk and shrugged his massive shoulders, “Damn these reflexes of mine”

Rebecca looked over her shoulder toward the man that wore such heavy cologne everyday and was the main reason she left the classroom light headed. He smiled softly at her and she responded with a polite smile right back. In truth he kind of intimidated her, not only was he huge but there was something about him that gave off the warning not to mess with him. She was hundred percent positive that many had suffered in the hands of this man….more likely by the hands of this man.

Rebecca heard someone clear their throat loudly, her attention flew to the front of her desk and she nervously smiled when she recognized Robert. The teacher’s assistant was standing there clutching a load of the project packets in his arms, “Rebecca” he began to search through the packets for an assignment for her, “Have you picked a partner yet?”

She nodded, “Yes” she pointed at Marcus, “It’s Mar-“

“It’s me!” Jose shouted at the professor’s assistant.

“Excuse me?” Marcus asked with disbelief.

“What?” Rebecca asked with confusion as she turned her body in the chair to face the cologne drenched man.

Jose squeezed himself out of the desk and stood up straight. He eyed Rebecca and gave her a very charming, “What up” right before he looked at the assistant and reiterated who her partner was going to be “It’s me” he said with strength and was sure to eye Rebecca’s boyfriend. He outstretched his hand and wiggled his fingers to the assistant demanding the packet.

“I don’t think so” Marcus stood up from his desk to face Jose, of course he had to tilt his head up to look at the man which pissed him off because he was sure a couple of strands of his hair were going to fall out of place.

Normally Jose would just punch this @#%$ in the mouth, take satisfaction out of hearing the sound of breaking his perfectly white teeth but somehow he knew that wasn’t the way to get in good with Rebecca. He sighed loudly as he rationally fought the instinct to brake pretty boys face, “You need your car fixed right?”

Rebecca nodded her head softly, “How did yo-“

“Then I’m your partner” he jabbed his fat finger in his chest. Jose than proceeded to take a step toward the assistant and snatch the packet away from his hand, “you need your car fixed and I need a good grade in this class” he had to fight the urge to lose it laughing, “I know a man that owes me a favor” he turned to face Rebecca and smiled at her softly, “He’ll do your car for free”

Rebecca’s eyes widened at the word ‘free’, “For free?” it took her a moment before she eyed him with suspicion, “Why? Why do you want to help me?”

Jose sighed and eyed the heavy packet in his hand, “I need an A in this class, you look smart and I’m a nice guy” a huge toothy grin possessed his lips.

Rebecca looked at Marcus and then back at Jose. She didn’t see the harm in it, it was just a class project and she really needed the car to get fixed. Could it be? Could it be that this man, who reminded her of some kind public enemy number one, was her savior? She slipped out of the desk and stood in front of him, her eyes searching every inch of his face, “When can you start getting my car fixed?”

He smiled with victory…..he had successfully found his opening and everything soon would fall into place, “Today”

She couldn’t help the huge smile full of relief that was dancing on her lips, “Where should I get it towed to?” her tone was full of happiness, a huge weight was lifted off of her shoulders.

“Only one place” he grinned, “The only auto shop in a town called Port Charles” He smacked her playfully on her shoulder, but unfortunately it was too hard and it sent her flying toward the ground. Jose lunged to grab her body before it collided with a role of empty desks, “Sorry” he apologized on a hurry as he brought her to a standing position.

“No problem” she assured the large man as she attempted to regain her balance, “Port Charles?” she scrunched her lips, “Isn’t that place like two hours from here?”
He nodded his head and offered his arm to her, “So we best be going”

Rebecca picked up her book bag and slipped her arm around Jose’s, “what the hell” even though he did seem intimidating, he made her feel comfortable and she was sure that he wouldn’t harm her and right now she really really needed what he was offering.

“Rebecca!” Marcus shouted clearly not happy in his girlfriend’s decision.

“Everything will be fine Marcus” she offered him a reassuring smile, “I’ll call you later”

“Yeah Marcus” Jose pinched his lips together and stared Pretty Boy down, “Everything will soon be just fine” Yep just the way things were meant to be. Jose tore his green eyes away from her boy friend and softened them when they landed on Rebecca’s kind face, “Follow me”

Yep, follow him right back to the arms of the man and the life that she was always meant to have.

[JRK Archiver]

Part 3: FF 65


As Jose’s green eyes found themselves fixated on her rapidly moving, tiny, puffy, pink lips, all he really heard was blah blah blah blahbidyblah....a 1 hour presentation…blah blah. As he continued to successfully tune Rebecca Webber’s words out of his mind he came to the conclusion that the topic of art wasn’t really as interesting as he once thought it was. The realization was quite a shock to him since art was always his favorite subject during grade school. That and physical education.

He let out a heavy sigh as his cat like green eyes roamed over her appearance. A small frown possessed his lips when he noticed her tiny hand reach out toward the porcelain bowl, that held her half eaten lunch, and pushed it away, “You’re not eating more than that?”

Rebecca’s eyes lifted from the thick packet, filled with directions on the art project, and eyed her half eaten salad, “No” she shook her head, “I’m on a diet”

“Oh” he nodded his head slowly and arched both midnight black brow’s upward, “Your one of those”

She responded by wrinkling her nose, “What is that suppose to mean?”

“Nothing” Jose clasped his large hands and rested them on top of the table, “ It’s just….some girls think guys are attracted to those skeleton type of women, but in reality we really don’t care” he placed one hand over the his chest, “Personally, I like a woman that I can hug and not be afraid of cracking a rib”

Rebecca waived him off, completely dismissing the direction he took the conversation in, “I’m not watching what I eat because of a man” she shrugged her delicate shoulders, “My parents think I’m too thick for my own good….so I’m trying to slim down”

“Your parents don’t know @#%$”

She couldn’t help but narrow her eyes at that man and speak in a defensive tone, “My parents are doctors”

“Well then, your parent’s are doctors that don’t know @#%$” he reached toward the bread basket and pulled out a roll, “Sweetie a good gust of wind approaches and you’ll be flying along right with it” he out stretched his hand and waived the bread roll around, “You really should eat something else then lettuce”

Rebecca pushed the roll away from her face and huffed loudly, “I’m not hungry” she lifted the thick packet toward her face for the purposes of having a shield.

Jose dropped the roll back in the basket and dusted off his hands, successfully riding himself of bread crumbs, “So….You’re kind of uptight huh?”

Rebecca’s eyes widened with surprise and she smacked the packet against the top of the table, “Excuse m-“ her words were quickly cut off by the shrieking sound of Jose’s cell phone.

He offered her a charming smile and retrieved the little silver phone from his pocket, “No” he chuckled with amusement and rose from the chair, “Excuse me” he bowed down to her right before he walked away to the table for some privacy.

Rebecca glared at him with anger from across the room as he spoke into the phone. Though she couldn’t hear what he was saying it seemed as if he was arguing with someone, “Probably his girlfriend” she mused, if he spoke to her the way he spoke to Rebecca than she was positive conversations between the two was full of angry exchange.

She let out a weary sigh as feelings of guilt rose within. She really should be more tolerant with the man, he did help her out of a tight spot. And to top it all off, he was true to his word about the car being fixed for free. At first she really did believe it, thought it was too good to be true. But the mechanic, Johnny, did reiterate that he would fix the car up without any charge. And now everything was back to normal, the car would be fixed in two weeks, rotations at the hospital started within a month and once they were through graduation would come and then the beginning of the rest of her life. If it wasn’t for Jose, things wouldn’t be looking too bright.

Her eyes softened as a smile appeared on her lips, “And….he’s not that bad” she concluded with a soft nod of the head, “Rude, but not that bad” she expelled a deep breath from her body and relaxed into the chair. Her blue eyes began to roam the tiny little diner named Kelly’s. It was pretty empty except for a table by the counter, two blond teenage girls were occupying it as they ate their lunch. Rebecca kind of found it weird that instead of hearing giggling or mindless chatter coming from the two girls she heard nothing. They ate in silence and when they did speak it was in hushed tones and once in a while she caught them staring at her. But when she would look at them they would immediately look away.

It did bother her somewhat but what really bothered her was the young woman with dark long hair that stood behind the counter, Rebecca assumed she must have worked there. But what the woman’s actual job was still unclear. Since she and Jose arrived the young woman didn’t budge from that spot behind the counter. All she did was sit there, stare at her and smoke. The smoking is what claimed Rebecca’s attention in the first place. She had never once seen a person smoke as much or in such away than this woman. The moment the cigarette was at an end the girl would just light a new one and begin all over again. She must had gone through an entire pack since they had arrived.

In short the girl was weird, so were the teenagers and so was the mechanic. At first he would just stare at her in silence and his complexion was as pale as a white sheet of paper and the poor guy also had problems forming full sentences when he spoke to her. Rebecca wondered if the strange behavior of the towns people had to do something with her or was it just that the town was weird?

“Ok” Jose spoke loudly as he approached the table, “Let’s get down to business” he pulled out the wooden chair and sat down.

Elizabeth nodded silently and began to read her packet once more, “Ok, we got a hard assignment because….well we need to pick a modern artist of the times and well…..there really aren’t any on campus” she frowned and felt that familiar feeling of anxiety appear, “We can do research and write some letters to the well known artists of today…but I doubt many would be to interested in actually working with us” she wrinkled her nose, “Plus their all egomaniacs” her forehead began to throb as the stress level rose in her body, “This project is going to be hard”

“Yeah” Jose agreed but he really wasn’t paying attention, “So, Rebecca…..have you ever been married before?”

“What kind of question is that?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “It’s a good question”

“It’s an intrusive question”

He smirked at her, “So you have been married before”

Rebecca shook her head and eyed the man, “No I haven’t, but….You really need to work on your social skills. You just don’t ask someone you don’t know that question, especially if their not wearing a ring” she waived her ringless left hand in the air.

“You sure?”

“Sure of what?”

“That you’ve never been married before?” he reached for the bread basket and took out that same dame roll.

Rebecca drew her brows together as she tried to make sense of his insane words, “Of course I’m sure”

“I mean….You could have just like….bumped yourself in the head and completely forgotten that you were married”

Rebecca waived him off and resumed eyeing her packet, “You are insane”

“I could be” he simply agreed, “So…..Where did the name Rebecca come out of?”

“My parent’s” she answered while reading the details of the assignment.

“You sure?”

“Of course I’m sure”

“You don’t look like a Rebecca to me” he began to toss the roll from one hand to the other, “You look more like an Elizabeth”

She scrunched her nose in disgust, “Elizabeth?”

“Yeah” he chuckled, “Can I call you Elizabeth?”

Her eyes slowly rose from the packet to meet his, “Can I call you Psycho”

“If you want to”

Rebecca eyed him with suspicion, “Have you lived here long? In Port Charles I mean”

He nodded, “All my life”

Her eyes reluctantly left Jose’s face and roamed around the tiny diner. She eyed the chain smoker behind the counter, who didn’t even seem to blink, the two teenagers who were staring at her with their mouth’s completely open, “Everyone here is weird” she looked at her glass of water and lifted the cup up to her face, “Maybe it’s the water?” she began to sniff the liquid in search for a rational explanation to the abnormal behavior.

“How would you know about the people in this town? You said it yourself that you had only been here once before and that was just at the park”

Rebecca leaned closer to the table, “Well since I’ve been here with you everyone I’ve come into contact with are weird as hell” she jutted her chin toward the chain smoker, “And she takes the freaking cake”

Jose looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting with Emily’s, “Crap” he muttered to himself. The moment he saw Jason’s sister when they had arrived at Kelly’s he knew she was going to be a problem. Emily was notorious for saying and doing what she wanted when she wanted, “That’s Emily” he turned to face Rebecca, “She owns this place”

Rebecca huffed softly, “That doesn’t give her the right to stare at me every damn second” a deep frown appeared on her lips, “She’s making me feel uncomfortable”

Jose looked over his shoulder at Emily once again, he narrowed his eyes at her as she blew out a trail of smoke from her lips. And through the thick fog of the cigarette smoke she narrowed her eyes right back at him, “She…uh….she likes women” he blurted out nervously.

“Oh” Rebecca responded slowly as she processed his words, “OH!” she said more loudly after fully understanding, “But…..But” she sat up straight in her chair, “I don’t” she poked herself in the chest, “I’m not into that”

Jose rubbed his throbbing fore head. This was not turning out like he had expected and if Jason ever found out he said that about his baby sister he was going to get the @#%$ beat out of him. But damn it he needed to come up with a reason for Emily’s behavior, “Let’s….Let’s just get back to the project” he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“Right” Rebecca nodded and lifted the packet back up toward her face, “Like I said before, we need a modern day artist”

Jose’s eyes snapped open wide as his bright idea made it’s appearance. God he was a clever little bastard!

“Jason!” he shouted with excitement, “Jason Morgan”

“Jason who?”

“He’s a local artist” Jose reached over and tore the packet away from her hands, “He’s a friend of mine” a huge goofy grin radiated from his face, “And he’ll be more than happy working with us” he chuckled to his little inside joke, “Way more than just happy” To say that he was pleased with his cleverness was an understatement. Jose couldn’t help but giggle like a little school boy at the thought of his clever plan.

“Ok” Rebecca agreed with some sort of hesitation, “Is he good?”

“Great!” Jose beamed with happiness.

“And he’s a friend of yours?”

Jose was about to nod his head yes when the bell over the door rang in the practically empty diner, “Speaking of friends” he waived for the familiar face to come join him and his partner.

Francis narrowed his eyes at Jose as he approached the table, “What the hell was the big deal about me coming down here as fast as I could?” he asked with annoyance, “ I warn you it better be good”

Jose couldn’t help but laugh as he stood up from the table, “Francis” he gestured toward Rebecca with his hand, “Meet Rebecca”

Rebecca smiled at Jose’s friend and offered her hand in greeting, “Hello” she said sweetly.

Francis’s face suddenly turned white and his jaw completely dropped, “Oh @#%$”

Rebecca frowned, “Are…are you ok?”

Little beads of sweet appeared on the man’s forehead, he looked like if death had chewed him up and spit him right back out, “Oh @#%$” he repeated the words that accompanied his state of shock once more. And without saying a word or tearing his eyes away from Rebecca’s face he reached for Jose, fisted the man’s color and dragged him away from the table.

“Oh @#%$!” he shouted completely overcome by his emotions, “Jason’s going to kill you, he’s going to kill you”

“Relax” Jose tore Francis strong grip away from the neckline of his favorite t-shirt.

“Relax?” Francis narrowed his eyes and pinched his pale dry lips together, “Relax!?!” he shoved Jose’s shoulder with force, “You broke the golden rule! You know damn well we don’t mess in each others lives!” he took a threatening step toward the man, “He’s going to kill you and I’m going to let him, I’m going to stand by and watch with joy as he strangles the last bit of breath from your body” he jabbed Jose in the chest with a chubby finger, “We don’t mess in each others lives, it’s the rule we live by”

“Yeah!” Jose shoved Francis right back, “Well, I had a resolution!” he shouted in his defense.

“A what?”

“A re-so-lu-tion”

Francis shoved Jose backwards with extreme force, “its revolution @#%$!”

And Jose shoved Francis right back with the same amount of force, “What ever it is I had one! And some times life needs messing with” he took a threatening step toward his friend, “And sometimes men need to grow big hairy balls and make a difference” he eyed his friend in disgust, “Instead of letting something that shouldn’t be go on as long as it has”

Francis shook his head slowly, feeling the sting of Jose’s truthful words, “Jason’s going to kill you”

Jose’s eyes lit up when he heard the bell over the door of the diner jingle again, “We will just see about that” he walked past Francis and began walking toward his blond friend, “Yo Jason! What’s up!?!”

[JRK Archiver]

Part 4: FF #66


The rundown neon sign behind the bar buzzed loudly, the sound was accompanied with the flickering of the intense light. Jason closed his sore, red rimed eyes and gratefully embraced the darkness. Just for one single moment, he desperately craved that darkness, that coldness and simplicity that came with it. Just for one single moment, he desperately craved that there would always be darkness when his lids opened, that his eyes would never fall upon the light of a new day and all the difficulty that came with it.

“Another drink?”

He slowly opened his heavy lids, mentally cursing himself when that dreadful light of day and night, night and day reared it’s ugly head, “Please” for such a strong man, a large and powerful man his tone was soft and small. He attempted to square his shoulders, to hold his head up proudly, to not show the waitress and, in reality the world, that Jason Morgan was truly a broken man, “Could you make it strong?” It needed to be strong, because he really didn’t want to use his ability to think at that moment.

“Sure thing sweetheart”

He watched in silence, through those sore red rimmed eyes, as the elderly waitress walked toward the bar and gave his order to the bartender. The neon light behind the man attracted his attention once more, it’s buzzing rang in his ears, its flickering stung his tortured eyes. And he used that rundown neon sign as an excuse, to once again, take shelter in the darkness.

“Sweetheart” the elderly cocktail waitress sashayed back to her quiet customer. Her voice caused him to snap his eyes open and the moment they were he winced against the dim light of the bar, “Are you ok?” she placed his stiff drink down on the surface of the table.

Jason’s eyes drifted down to the cup filled with his salvation, “Yes”

Her concerned brown eyes wondered his face, for such a young man his face revealed years of ages he had yet to live, “Call me if you need anything”

Jason nodded and this time when she walked away from him, his sore eyes didn’t follow. No, he was far more interested in the mind numbing affects that were going to come from that small cup filled with the brown liquid. He lifted the cup up toward one of the spotlights in the bar, and observed how the light entered the cup with brightness and purity but exited with the color brown…..the color of a dirty stain.

“Are you going to share?”

He smirked at the cup, at the dirty light shining through. Jason couldn’t say he was surprised that she had made an appearance….she usually did on nights like these. Nights that he welcomed the end of the earth, the end of life itself, especially his end, “What was it that use to say?” he squinted his glossy eyes as he tried to remember the exact words that she always spoke when making a toast on those nights that it was just the two of them, “I can’t remember?” he revealed with troublesome.

She giggled softly, the sound was as beautiful as hymns being sung by angels, “Take my eyes, take my heart, because I will need them no more. If never again they will fall upon the one I so adore.”

His eyes lit up at the familiar words, that brought a downpour of wonderful, warm memories, “That’s it” he nodded his head softly, “That was it”

She leaned her elbow on the table and used her palm to hold up her chin, “rough day?”

He cradled the glass cup in his hands, making sure to keep them there. If there was one thing about these appearances of hers was the realness to them. How she really looked as if she was there, sitting in that chair and talking to him…..she looked so damn real that it broke his heart. So damn real that the temptation to touch her was thick and heavy….but he knew…knew the moment he would reach out to touch a strand of that chocolate silky hair or to touch that satin like skin she would vanish right before his eyes. She wasn’t real, a product of his mind and he knew that….was well aware of it, but welcomed it with an open heart all the same.

“Yes” he tilted his head to the side and watched those full lips curve up into a soft smile, “I have had one of the worst days in my entire life”

She peered up at him through thick, long lashes, “Really? Tell me about it”

He leaned closer to her, but being mindful of his distance, “I realized today that the woman who walks around in your body, the woman who laughs, and talks like you….is not you” he brought the cup up to his lips and let the hard burning liquor fill his mouth, “I realized today that you truly are gone and I wont ever get you back again”

She pouted those pink glossy lips and nodded her head in understanding, “That is tough”

He felt moisture build in his eyes and fought to blink back the tears that so desperately needed to be released, “Do you know? That I could never love again, as much as I love you”

But she didn’t respond, she just sat there with a sweet smile on her face and with those blue eyes, that were always his weakness, shining with the dim light of the bar. She didn’t say anything, didn’t jump into his arms and plant 100 small kisses all over his face, because she wasn’t Elizabeth. Because she wasn’t real.

Jason sighed softly, “She broke my heart today….When I looked into her eyes that spark wasn’t there, when I touched her hand it felt cold….felt like you but cold.” Jason snorted loudly, “I swear Elizabeth….I swear sometimes I wish I never laid eyes on you…..Why me? Why did this have to happened to me? To us!” he felt his hands begin to tremble, his vision began to blur, “I have to move on don’t I? I don’t want to” the reality of those words leaving his lips caused them to tremble, “But I have to. Because today she proved to me tha-“

“Who are you talking to Sweetheart?”

His head snapped toward the elderly waitress standing before him, his eyes slowly took in the emptiness of the chair that was right beside him. He shook his head and spoke the truth, “No one…Just myself”

She eyed him with slight suspicion and walked away.

Jason raised his glass toward the empty chair, “Because she proved to me today that my Elizabeth is gone” he threw his head back as he drained the glass.

Jason couldn’t tell how long he had been standing in the middle of the diner, the only thing he could tell was that he had suddenly come down with a strange immobility. And not only were his feet glued to the floor, but his lips seemed to be welded together as well.

“Hello” she attempted the task of introduction one more time, “My name is Rebecca” when he didn’t respond……again, she began to shift, nervously, around in the chair, “Um……Jose told me that you’re an artist” her tone was laced with fake cheerfulness.

Jose nervously chuckled loudly and smacked Jason on the shoulder, “Yeah, he’s one of the best artist’s in town!”

The word ‘artist’ thrown together with his name broke through the immobilizing fog that clouded his brain. He drew his sandy brows together as he slowly realized what she and the soon to be dead Jose were speaking of. His lips twisted into a deep frown, “ I’m not an ar-“

“Don’t be modest Jason!” Jose slapped him on the shoulder once more, and Jason decided that if he did it one more time he was going to rip the man’s arm out of it’s socket.

Rebecca’s blue eyes bounced from Jason to Jose, the look of uncertainty was written clear all over her face, “What’s your medium?”

“I don’t know Beckster” Jose eyed Jason’s from the side, “He kind of looks like a large to me” he lifted both hand’s in the air and attempted to measure Jason’s shoulders, “He’s kind of large on top”

“No” Rebecca shook her head, “That’s not wh-“

“Listen Jason” Jose successfully caught her off, “Becky and I are in this class together” When Jason heard those words he tore his eyes away from the young woman and glared at Jose. Glared at him intensely.

Jose laughed loudly, it was do to his nerves, “We need you for this project….you know? Follow you around, ask a few questions and stuff” he offered him a big toothy grin.

Suddenly a thick cloud of smoke appeared, it was drenched with the smell of nicotine. Rebecca clasped her knees together and sat up straight. The chain smoker was approaching and the girl made her extremely nervous.

Emily pressed her lips to the cigarette bud and inhaled a large amount of smoke, “SO” she slowly rid her body of the cloud, “You’re an artist huh?” She lifted a black brow at her brother, “Where can I find your work?” she let out a bitter chuckle and turned her attention to Rebecca. She let her brown eyes roam the girl from head to toe.

Rebecca began to nervously play with the pearl of string that decorated her delicate neck, “I like men” she whispered nervously.

Emily narrowed her eyes, “Good to know” she took a step closer to her, Rebecca’s body stiffened, “ You remind me of this really good friend I use to have”
“Oh” Rebecca swallowed hard.

Emily ashed her cigerate on the floor, noticing Rebecca’s eyes following the gray ashes trip to the floor, “That can’t be sanitary”

Emily laughed at her comment, but it the laugh was void of humor or entertainment, “The thing is you look like her but your not her”

“Of course I’m not her” Rebecca poked herself in the chest, “I’m me”

Johnny was on pins and needles, he safely kept his distance from the group. He was smart enough to know that being involved in this mess was dangerous. That and when he saw Emily approach them he decided to take a couple of huge steps backwards. The girl scared the @#%$ out of him. She said what she thought and did what she wanted, and if Emily was in the mood to inform little miss Rebecca who she truly was the @#%$ was going to hit the fan.

“No” Emily inhaled and blew out the smoke in a shape of circles, “No, you’re not you” before Rebecca could ask her what she meant by her comment the chain smoker was on her way back to Jason, “Who is she?” a fake smile was plastered on her lips. She waited patiently for his answer, but knew that he really didn’t need it. Jason saw it the moment he laid eyes on her, the moment she spoke. Just like she did, “Let’s give him a clue shall we?” Emily stood on her tiptoes and rested her chin on his muscular shoulder, “Wears pearls? A pink sweater? Eats half of a salad for lunch?” she lifted her head and inhaled the nicotine filled smoke, a twisted smile played on her lips as she blew it right into Jason’s face, “Come on?” she goaded him, “The name is on the tip of your tongue”

But he wouldn’t answer, just stood there fighting the urge to drag his sister outside of the diner and scream at her till he didn’t have a voice left.

Rebecca’s eyes dipped down to her pink sweater, “What’s wrong with it?” she frowned, her feelings hurt by that retched girl, “My mother bought it for me” her eyes began to water as her fingers traced her white pearl necklace, “You know I don’t think your very funny!” she jumped up out of the chair and clutched her bag to her chest, “Why are you making fun of me?!? I don’t even know you!”

Johnny’s eyes opened in fear as he watched Jason clutch his fits at his side, as his friend’s normally fair complexion was slowly turning into a deep purple. Emily turned to face one pissed as hell Rebecca, “Oh @#%$!” he couldn’t help his outburst.

Rebecca smacked her palm against her hip, “Stop with the ‘Oh shits’ all ready!” her head snapped back toward Emily, she was ready for a fight, “Why are you so mean?” she sneered the question out at the Marlboro girl.

Emily took a threatening step toward her, but Rebecca didn’t back down, “Because I’m pissed” she sneered, “Because the only person I had in this world is gone and shouldn’t be. Because you, a pathe-“

“Hey!” Jose jumped in-between the two shoving Rebecca behind him, “Were going to go”

“NO” Jason’s voice made his spine shiver with fear, “You and I need to talk” Jason reached for Emily’s arm and jerked her back, “But first I have to deal with her” Jason didn’t look at Rebecca, it hurt him too, but it hurt him more to admit it, “You’ll be fine” he looked down to her white flawless sneakers, not a smudge on them, “She won’t bother you anymore”

“No she won’t” Rebecca swung the strap of her back over her shoulder, “Because I’m leaving” she wrapped her arm around Jose’s and began to pull him toward to the door.

“Jose!” Jason called toward the man, he stopped causing Rebecca to jerk backwards, “We are going to have are little talk” it was a promise, one that Jose was positive he wasn’t going to enjoy seeing fulfilled.

Jose nodded and just like that him and his partner were out of the dinner.

The moment Jason was sure he couldn’t see them anymore he jerked Emlily’s arm, “What the @#%$!”

Emily shoved him hard, “What the @#%$ you! Say it Jason! Say the name!” She jerked her arm free from his hold and fisted his color, “Say it damn you!”

“Sarah!” he shouted back at her with fury, “They turned her into Sarah!” he tore her hands away from his color, Jason wasn’t aware when the tears of anger appeared but he was aware of the presence when he felt the wetness on his cheeks.

Emily didn’t even bother to blink back her own tears, her own tears of sorrow, “And who’s fault is that?” the question spilled from her mouth as if it was drenched in sour liquid.

“Mine my dear sweet sister, it’s all mine” Jason eyed his empty glass, something that really shouldn’t be and waived his hand in the air to get the waitresses attention, “Excuse me please”

The elderly lady turned to greet him with sweet eyes.

“One more drink”

She nodded her head, “I’ll be sure to make it strong”

Jason nodded his head and down casted his sad eyes down toward the empty glass and whispered to himself, “One more drink and then I’ll move on”

[JRK Archiver]

Part 5: FF# 67


Rebecca inhaled a long large breath, filling up her stomach with air and feeling it slowly inflate like a balloon. She kept her lids closed as her lips parted and began to exhale slowly. She felt the tension build up around her slender shoulders and as the next inhale entered Rebecca’s body she pushed that tension down to her chest.

Where are you?

Her heavy lids opened in order to answer the smooth steady voice that always succeeded in putting her in a trancelike state, “In my safe place” she answered the voice with the same smoothness.

Where is that?

She smiled softly as she felt the heat of the sun connect with her delicate creamy skin, “On the beach…..my tropical vacation”

What do you see?

Rebecca’s blue eyes slowly scanned the empty shore, “I see the ocean” she looked down to her bare feet and giggled as her toes wiggled in the white soft powdery sand, “I see white sand” the sound of palm trees dancing in the strong breeze began to make there music, “And palm trees” she exhaled slowly as a soft smile danced on her lips.

Are you alone?

She nodded her head but soon regretted the action when she saw a familiar person walking toward her. The elderly woman’s chocolate curls danced in the strong breeze as she approached Rebecca, “I’m not alone” the soft smile was quickly replaced by a deep frown, “She’s here”

This is your safe place…..tell her to leave, if you do not wish to have her there.

As her mother walked up to her, Rebecca narrowed her eyes and made a tiny fist. Before her mother could open her mouth and begin to nag with her annoying ideals and values Rebecca punched her right in the mouth. The action sent her mother’s intrusion vanishing into the air and lost amongst the ocean breeze. Rebecca smiled in victory, “She’s gone”

Good….now tell me, is it there?

Rebecca pushed her brown curls away from her face and scanned the beach with her squinted eyes. The moment it came into view her heart busted with happiness and she began to run toward it, feeling the sand being kicked up by her actions connecting with the back of her calves, “yes, it’s here”

What does it look like?

She came to a complete stop in front of the object, her eyes eagerly taking in the familiar sight that, for some odd reason, always provided her comfort and happiness, “It looks like it always has” she pressed her shaking fingers against her bottom lip. She was aching to touch the dark red satin fabric, to feel her fingers sliding against the fine material….feeling the contrast of the soft silk and the rough golden pattern that decorated it, “I want to touch it” but she knew better, knew the moment she would try to feel the fabric it would be gone, her hand would slip right through.

Tell me what it looks like?

“It’s red…..that dark beautiful red that it always is” her lips parted as she stepped closer to it, “Something’s different” Rebecca felt her pulse begin to increase in it’s tempo, “It’s……The gold pattern looks more….more clearer” That was the first time, the first time in years that gold pattern actually formed into a visible symbol, usually it was just a golden blur. She licked her bottom lip as her eyes frantically took in the sight before her, “There flowers” her tone full of enthusiasm, “The pattern is flowers!”

“REBECCA WEBBER!”

Her eyes snapped open, she could physically feel herself being sucked out of her trancelike state, “@#%$” she muttered under her breath as her pupils painfully dilated, adjusting to the bright light of her sister’s bed room. She formed a fist with her tiny hand and punched the soft cushion of her sisters bed, “Damn It!” she shouted out of frustration. Years and years of practicing that damn relaxation technique her quack of a therapist taught her, months to train her voice to come out smoothing and relaxing when she asked herself questions in that dam state of mind and finally…finally all that hard work paid off….and who screws it up? Who screws up everything?!? She had finally gotten somewhere with it and now….now it was gone and she didn’t even get a chance to really take in the damn shape of the golden pattern of the damn large red material, “@#%$!”

The door of Sarah’s bedroom slammed open, “Rebecca!” her mother shouted out of anger, “Did I just hear you correctly!?!” she crossed her arms under her chest and began to tap her foot against the marble floor, a clear sign that she was about to unleash one of her proper etiquette speeches.

“Sorry mother” Rebecca slid off of her sister’s bed, she hated Friday nights. Hated pulling into her dorm to see that familiar black limousine waiting to take her home for Friday dinners with her family. She almost begged Jose to take her back to Port Charles, even if the town was weird as hell, anything was better than Friday night family freaking diners.

Martha Webber tilted her head to the side as she took her daughters disheveled appearance, “You know Becca, you really should wear your hair up. Let you face show….sometimes you look like a shaggy dog” she sighed and shook her head in a disapproving manor.

Rebecca swiped the hair away from her face and pushed it behind her shoulders, “Yes mother”

Martha walked into Sarah’s bedroom and began to fluff her older daughter’s pillows, “Why aren’t you in your own room?”

Rebecca bit down on her bottom lip, trying her hardest not to respond with the truth. That she was in Sarah’s room in the hopes that her mother wouldn’t find her, “I don’t know” she shrugged her shoulders, “I like it in here I guess” her eyes scanned the creamy walls, “it’s not pink” her walls were drenched in Pepto-Bismol. It made her want to puke.

“Excuse me!” her mother arched a perfectly brown brow at her younger daughter, “I worked very hard at decorating your room”

Rebecca forced a smile on her lips and shook her head, “That’s….that’s not what I meant….I love my room I really do” she stammered out the words that would correct the situation she found herself getting into.

“Hmmm” her mother eyed her daughter with suspicion, smiling as she noticed the squirming begin, “Marcus called during the day” she walked toward Becca and began to push the chocolate strands away from her face, even though moments ago the girl had successfully done it on her own, “said something about you leaving after some class with a strange man”

Rebecca pinched her glossy lips together, she was going to kill him, “He’s isn’t a strange guy. He’s my partner for a project I have for one of my classes”

“Which class Becca?”

She downcasted her eyes and looked at her bare feet, she began to wiggle her toes wishing it felt like the sand in her safe place rather than the Sarah’s fuzzy creamy colored carpet, “Art” she mumbled softly in hope her mother didn’t hear.

“Art?” that damn tone, that damn ‘I know better than you’ disapproving tone, “I thought you dropped that waste of time class”

Rebecca shook her head and sighed, “It was too late to drop it” that was a lie, but one her mother didn’t have to know about.

“Well, at least you are doing one thing that isn’t a waste of time” she brushed by her daughter and walked up to Sarah’s dresser draws, “That Marcus is a good catch Becca, don’t lose him” she began to snoop through her eldest daughter’s drawers and smiled proudly when she found how neatly and color coordinated everything was.

“Mother” Rebecca closed her eyes and rubbed her aching forehead, “ I don’t think studying ar-“ her words died in her throat when that familiar slash of color read snapped in her mind, the gold followed….an up close snap shot flashed in her mind and she could see the diagram of the flower so clearly, more so than ever. Her eyes snapped open and she began to frantically approach Sarah’s desk, yanking the drawers open.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking for a peace of paper and a pencil” she responded frantically as she began to rummage through her sister’s desk draw. Rebecca needed to get this on paper, she needed to get this damn golden flower on a piece of paper before she forget every single bit of detail. Her heart pounded against her chest when she saw the red note book, she pulled it out and flipped it open. But to her disappointment it was a photo album, she frowned deeply as her eyes took in the photo, “damn it!”

“What are you looking at?” Martha asked with minimal interest, she was having too much fun rummaging through Sarah’s underwear draw.

“A photo album” she was about to close it when she noticed her own face smiling right back at her. She arched a brow when Rebecca noticed that her hair, in the photo was purple, “What?” she scrunched her nose and turned the page. The next photo was of her again, but dressed all in leather with red hair, “I…..I….what is this?”

Martha’s ear’s perked at her daughters distraught tone and desisted her snooping antics, “Let me see” she walked up toward Rebecca and looked over her shoulder.

Rebecca turned the page and it was another picture of her, during a time in her life that she was told she refused to let anyone take pictures of her. That was their answer when she asked for them, when she asked why there was none of her in the family album when she was a teenager. Her blue eyes snapped open at an up close photo of her. She was smiling, beaming with happiness really and showing off a large diamond ring on her left hand, “Oh my God” Before she could get a good look at the ring her mother snatched the photo album away from her hands.

“Author!” her mother shouted over her shoulder for Rebecca’s husband, “Author!” she clutched the photo album to her chest for dear life.

Rebecca’s blue eyes were hazed with confusion, “What was that about mother?” she took a step toward the elderly lady but she only responded by screaming her husbands name out loud one more time, “Let me see the damn book mother!” Rebecca lunged at her, trying her best to rip the photo album out of her mother’s hand, “Why was I wearing a ring!”

“It was a trinket!” Martha lied through her teeth as she and her daughter fought over the album, “It was just a trinket!”

“Liar!” Rebecca pried her mother’s fingers off of the book but the lady just wouldn’t give up.

“What the hell is going on in here!”

Both women ceased there fighting to look at the open door, “Author!” Martha cried with tears in her eyes.

Rebecca took a step away from her mother, her white porcelain skin slashed with the color red, “I found pictures of me!” she shouted through anger, “Pictures that you guys told me didn’t exists” she pointed at the album, tears of frustration building in her eyes, “Pictures that don’t go to well with who you told me I was before the accident!”

Martha took advantage of her new found freedom and ran behind her husband for protection, of course keeping the book safely in her arms.

Arthur rose his hands up slightly in the air, “Calm down Becca”

“No! You calm down!” her vision began to blur as the possibility that her family had kept a secret from her began to register, “Did you guys lie to me?” her tone began to decrease in its anger and was replaced by vulnerability, “did you…..did you leave something’s out from my past?” Rebecca wanted them to say no and if they did she wanted to believe them, wanted to believe that her family wouldn’t do such a thing to her, “Please…” she felt her fat tears begin to stream down her face, “Please tell me”

“Of course we didn’t!” Martha shouted over her shoulder, “These pictures are from Halloween!”

“Jesus Martha” Arthur downcasted his eyes to the floor, he had been lying to his precious daughter long enough. And never liked it….he did it….but never liked it, “There are some things we didn’t mention”
Rebecca pressed a trembling hand against her queasy stomach, “Does….does this have to do with that ring on my hand?” just hearing the words come out of her mouth inspired a brand new batch of thick tears.

Her father jammed his hands into his dress pant pockets and sighed softly, his own vision beginning to blur, “yes”

[JRK Archiver]

Part 6: FF# 68

Rebecca pressed a trembling hand against her queasy stomach, “Does….does this have to do with that ring on my hand?” just hearing the words come out of her mouth inspired a brand new batch of thick tears.

Her father jammed his hands into his dress pant pockets and sighed softly, his own vision beginning to blur, “yes”

Rebecca stood in horrid silence waiting for her father to speak, every silent second that passed felt as if it was a long tortuous hour, “Tell me” she begged not being able to handle the silence any longer, “Please, tell me”

Author rubbed his throbbing forehead, felt the moisture of his tears gliding down his old wrinkled cheeks, “You….You were so young Becca” the moment he began to speak Author was reminded of his wife presence when she dug her nails into his back, “And….and you did things you regretted……you did things that we all regretted for you” he dough his hands into his salt and pepper hair and avoided his daughters glossy eyes at all cost, “It was…it was just better this way”

Rebecca lifted a shaky hand in the air, a wordless plea for her father to cease speaking, “Hold on” she shook her head and attempted to swallow the large ball of emotion that had formed in the base of her throat, “What are you trying to say? I…..I don’t understand……Just tell me” she searched her father’s kind face and noticed he refused to lock eyes with her, causing anger to arise within her tiny body, “This isn’t difficult” she spat out on building rage, “Was I engaged or not?”

Author Webber shifted his body weight from one foot to the other, “Yes” he admitted on a whisper, “More than e-“

“Only for a short time!” Martha jumped from behind her husband, successful in stopping him from revealing the entire truth, “He was a horrible man!” Martha exclaimed as she clutched the photo album to her chest, “And you regretted it, you regretted it so much Becca!” her blue eyes began to shine with the promise of tears, “We had to move just to get away from him!”

Rebecca’s eyes snapped open at the overwhelming flow of new information, “What!?!” she closed her eyes against the spinning room, the urge to empty out all the contents in her stomach caused Rebecca to collapsed on the edge of her sisters bed.

Author took a step toward his emotionally exhausted daughter, while reprimanding his wife’s version of the untold story, “Martha stop it!”

“It’s the truth!” Martha shouted off the top of her lungs as she pushed her husband away from Rebecca, “He wasn’t a good man….He got you in more trouble than you should ever know about” she kneeled down in front of her daughter, looking up at her through shimmering teary eyes, “He’s the reason you were in the accident”

“Martha!” Author’s reprimanding shout of his wife’s name caused her to glare at him over her shoulder, “It’s the truth” she sneered and lifted her chin up a notch, “Try to deny it….just try to deny it. If she was never with him the accident would have never had happen and you know it”

He hung his head low, he could feel his daughter’s eyes roaming over every inch of his exhausted demeanor, “That is the truth” he cringed when he heard his words followed by a low sob from Rebecca.

Rebecca dug her nails into her upper thighs as she registered all that had been said, “But why lie? Why not tell me about this?”

“Why would we want you to know this” Martha pleaded with her daughter, taking a moment to place the photo album on the bed and capturing Rebecca’s trembling hands, “Why would we want you to pay for something that could easily be erased……you had a chance to start new and we took it” she patted her daughters hand in that smooth and comforting motherly way, “Most people aren’t as lucky to be able to forget their past mistakes and start on a clean slate” Martha’s soft hand lifted toward her daughters cheek, she urged Rebecca to look at her and when she saw that innocence in her blue beautiful eyes……that blinding urge to believe in everything she had to say, Martha Webber’s lips curled upwards in victory, “Now how can that make us bad parents?” she rose from her knees and claimed the spot next to Rebecca, smiling when her daughters body melted into hers.

Rebecca snuggled her face into the crook of her mother’s neck, that spot that held a magical presence, that spot that just made all the bad in the world disappear, “You’re right” she whispered as her tears began to dry.

Martha chuckled proudly as her arms held her daughter tighter, “I know” she nodded her head and looked up in search of her husbands face. But he wasn’t there, she frowned for a moment due to his absence….but only for a moment, “Now….lets go downstairs and have our family meal…it’s getting late and you know I’ll get heart burn if I eat too late” she kissed Rebecca’s forehead and stood up from the bed.

Rebecca nodded her head and wiped away the evidence of tears from her eyes. She stood up from the bed but the moment she did a soft smacking sound came from the floor. Her eyes immediately dipped down to the source and there it was, laying peacefully on the tile floor reminding her that not all was told. Her eyes took in the red cover of the photo album…….she wondered what other lies would be uncovered with the turn of it’s pages, “something’s wrong” she could feel it in the pit of her stomach and it grew with more strength as she looked at the book full of her unknown past.

“Nothings wrong Becca” her mothered smiled and held out her hand, “You know everything else………that was the only thing we left out.” She let out a shaky breath, “Now let’s go downstairs”

Her eyes narrowed and she mentally cursed the God given right to think…..to realize that some things just didn’t add up, “by those pictures” she lifted her narrowed eyes toward her mother, “It doesn’t seem like I was who you said I was” her pink full lips clamped down, “It seems to me that I was quite the opposite”

Martha tried her best to appear unfazed, she waived off her daughters accusations, “It was just a faze” she lied through shaky laughter.

Rebecca shook her head, “Why do I have the feeling it wasn’t? Why do I have this awful feeling that the purpose of the clean slate was for you to mold me into who you always wanted me to be” she took a threatening step toward her mother, “Why do I have the feeling that the real me didn’t fit into you’re perfect family picture and when you saw the perfect opening to change that you took it?”

Martha waived her off once more, “That’s insane!”

“Is it?” she lifted her chin up in a defying manor, “What else did you lie about……what other parts of my past did you think it was best to just forget about?”
Martha stumbled backwards as her daughter stepped closer, “You stop this!” she demanded as her porcelain white skin began to blotch with redness, “You stop acting insane”

“Is it insane to want to know the truth mother? I deserve to know who I was......and I want to know….I will kn-“ Her words were lost when her Martha’s open palm connected with Rebecca’s cheek. The sound of the harsh slap echoed off the walls of the quiet bedroom.

“Stop behaving like a psychotic person!” Martha shouted through anger, “I’ve had enough!”

Rebecca smoothed the red stinging flesh with her own hand, her eyes opened wide with shock, “Psychotic?” she whispered in disbelief as to what had just occurred, “Look who’s calling who psychotic!” She tore her eyes away from her mothers in order to find her sisters car keys, when she spotted them on the her dresser drawer she brushed right past Martha, “Stay away from me!” she shouted over her shoulder as she bolted toward the bedroom door with the keys at hand, “All of you stay the hell away from me!”

Rebecca drove all night, trying her best to out run her unknown past, to out run her overbearing mother and the abundance of unanswered questions that just wouldn’t rest in her mind. She drove till her poor abused eyes couldn’t take it anymore, till she couldn’t see the lines on the rode clearly and knew it was time to stop.

And stop she did, right in front of a bar that let its passer bye’s know that it was opened 24 hours with a neon sign. There couldn’t have been a more perfect place for her. No one would find her there and she had the entire night to figure out what the hell she was going to do…that and it had alcohol.

Rebecca stumbled through the entrance of the dark bar her eyes quickly taking in her surroundings. There was a couple on one side of the place, right next to the jukebox and a blond man on the other side of the bar…who seemed to be taking a cat nap at the moment. She huffed loudly while she passed him by, “I’ll have what ever he’s drinking” she informed the bartender as she plopped herself down on a stool.

“Rough night?” the bartender asked as he prepaid her drink.

She nodded her head and jutted her thumb toward the passed out man, “I feel like he looks”

The bartender chuckled as he set down the drink in front of her, “Then you do need this badly”

Rebecca quickly empty out the glass of all it’s liquid and asked for a refill, “It’s not everyday that you figure out your entire life is a lie….a lie made up by those who you love and supposedly love you the most” she snorted loudly and snatched the refreshed drink from the bartenders hand before he even had a chance to set it down in front of her.

He watched in silence as she drank the strong liquid down in one gulp, “Well…” he shrugged his shoulders and brought the full bottle of liquor to the table, “People in pain often do not understand the wounds they give others”

Rebecca reached for the bottle and began to refill her glass. The bartender was moving way to slow for her taste.

“Where the hell did you get that from?” the elderly bleached blond cocktail waitress questioned as she sat next to Rebecca, “Some damn fortune cookie!” her soft brown eyes took in Rebecca’s sole chugging contest, she giggled softly, “Slow down there champ”

“I’ve had a shitty day” she reasoned and continued to refill her once again empty glass, “Probably worse than passed out man over there” she jutted her chin in the direction of the sleeping blond man.

The elderly cocktail waitress sighed softly, “You may have had a shitty day but that man over there has had a shitty couple of years”

Rebecca’s eyes stung as she swallowed a large gulp of the harsh liquid, her lungs felt as if they were on fire, “Really?” she said through a harsh dry cough.

“Don’t know much about him, but from what I do know he’s had it pretty rough”

She replied by arching a brow, her facial features showing great interest. The remedy to forgetting your own problems was always to get lost in another’s, “Do tell”

Her eyes shinned with the excitement of engaging in gossiping, it was always one of her favorite pastimes, “Well…..I heard a couple of years back he lost his wife” the cocktail waitress leaned in closer to the young lady, in an attempt to keep her words only between the two of them, “poor guy just can’t seem to get over the loss of his wife. He comes in here three to four times a week and practically drinks himself into a coma….pretty much keeps to himself the entire time too. It’s kind of sad really”

Rebecca nodded her head slowly in agreement, “That is sad” here she was complaining about her family lying to her, keeping things from her….and it was wrong, it was really wrong but at least she wasn’t going through that…..through the loss of someone she dearly loved. She turned her body to eye the young man, her lips curving down into a deep frown, “My family thought they lost me once” her eyes began to water, “Maybe that’s how they felt….so lost inside” she felt a fat warm tear connect with her cheek and quickly began to shake her head, “NO” she demanded herself to stop, to stop thinking about them and what they had done. She was not about to brake down in front of this stranger and especially not in this strange bar, “What’s his name?” anything to get her mind of her own problems.

“Jason….Jason Morgan. Maybe you’ve heard of him?”

Rebecca’s eyes snapped open in surprise, the name ringing a bell in her mind. It was Jose’s weird friend, “Yeah I do know him! He’s an artist!”

The elderly lady scrunched her nose, “An artist?” she began to laugh, “Maybe you should stop drinking, because that man is no artist” she shook her head and continued to laugh.
But Rebecca really didn’t hear the cocktail waitress’s words, she was too busy reaching for the bottle and working her hardest to get off the barstool.

“Hey, where are you going?” the waitress asked as she watched the intoxicated brunette swagger toward her severally drunken customer.

Rebecca jiggled the half filled bottle in the air and spoke over her shoulder, “I’m going to talk to my new friend!”

[JRK Archiver]

Part 7: FF# 69

Rebecca shifted nervously in the cheep wooden chair positioned directly across from Port Charles’s intoxicated local artist. She cleared her throat loudly and followed the action by a swift chug from the liquor bottle, “Jason” her eyes watered from the strength of the hot liquid, “You freak me out!” she let out a drunken giggle, clearly amused by her bluntness. But the humor died down quickly when she noticed no change from Jason’s serious demeanor.

Rebecca squinted her drunken eyes at him for the purpose of eliminating the double vision of two very serious Jason Morgan’s, “Want some?” she jiggled the almost empty bottle of liquor in an offering manor, but he continued his personal mission of imitating a depressed Roman statue. Rebecca just shrugged in response and took another large gulp from the rejected bottle.

Smacking her wet lips together she tried her best to understand what the hell was this man’s problem!?! From the moment she sat down at the table and locked eyes with the drunk artist he hadn’t said a single word and Rebecca was almost positive that blinking hadn’t even occurred. For a moment she questioned the possibility that he wasn’t even breathing, but that couldn’t be….a dead person’s stare didn’t carry a type of mysterious emotion that could shiver anyone straight down to their bones. She shook her head as she came to the rational conclusion that he wasn’t aware of who she was, “You must not remember me?” she let out a silly little snort, “Or you may just not know who I am?” and when she realized how drenched her words were in irony she began to laugh loudly…hysterically, “How could you know who I am?!?” Rebecca slapped the top of the wooden table causing the empty glasses and bottles to quiver, “I don’t even know who I am!” Her small body shook from the unnatural laughter that was spilling out of her with no end in sight, “I’m going to tell you a secret Jason” she shook her head closing her lids from just one moment and felt wetness from the laughter soak into her thick lashes, “At night” she giggled uncontrollably and leaned her upper body over the table, “Late at night I find myself awake….fighting to stay awake” she nodded her head and continued, “I wait up for this voice. I don’t know who or what it is but I wait up for it…..I crave it because deep down inside in know it’s going to make everything ok, I know it’s going to take the nothingness away……. I know that it’s going to release me” Rebecca wagged her slender finger back and forth as her giggles decreased to a soft chuckle, “But the funniest part of all of this Jason is that…..it never comes” she huffed loudly and rolled her eyes in annoyance. In annoyance with herself, “It never speaks…the voice never comes to release me”

Rebecca eyed his emotionless face and watched as his hard lines, tough jaw, and those tightly pressed lips began to soften. Those intense cold blue eyes that made her spine shiver with fear began to grow with warmth, “You see me now don’t you” she swiped the bottle off of the table with swift fast movement and emptied it into her mouth, not one single drop wasted, “When I look into the mirror I see nothing but emptiness in my eyes” she slammed the now dry bottle on the table, her loud and aggressive movements caused Jason to blink rapidly, “And on some days when I’m brave enough to admit this….the fighting within begins and….it’s terrifying, painful and then I just want it to go away and then I just want the nothingness back” she huffed loudly, dipped her eyes down toward the table, still very much aware of Jason’s heavy gaze on her every move and began to poke at a chip on the tables wooden surface with her fingernail, “Because it’s safe….but deadly all in one” Rebecca swiped her bottom lip with the tip of her pink tongue, ridding it of any evidence of the harsh liquor. She lifted her foggy hazy eyes up toward Jason, the need to hear his voice…the need to feel any type of comfort radiated from her heart, body and soul, “Do you….do you know what nothing feels like?”

A thick silence casted upon the two, her heart pinged with disappointment and rejection. Her lips curled into a deep frown and Rebecca sadly casted her eyes down back to that damn chip on the table, “Nothingness” she muttered under her breath and fought back the stinging feeling of unwelcome tears.

“Yeah I do know what it feels like. It’s pretty much where I live”

Rebecca’s eyes shot up toward him and when she noticed him sitting there, just like he had been before she wondered if he had actually spoken at all. Wondered if his voice and words was a product of her drunken imagination, but then he faltered and displayed a tiny bit of emotion. Jason’s eyes betrayed him and glimmered with sadness and when it was clear that she had discovered this traitorous betrayal he looked away. For the first time that night, it was him who looked away.

“Oh” her soft lips curled up into a sweet smile, “What a pair we make”

“What do you want?”

Jason’s tone revealed his inner battle, his inner turmoil of holding back, it was laced with bitterness and anger, but his appearance was like a stone that hinted at nothing. Rebecca tilted her head to the side and observed this complex man with pure fascination as he looked off to the side, refusing her a look into his cold yet beautiful stunning eyes, “What do you mean what do I wa-“

“I mean what do you want?” Jason felt his lips begin to quiver and cursed the blood pumping through his veins, cursed the muscle that lived in his chest for allowing such feelings to be felt and observed but most of all cursed himself for being so damn weak, “What does that secret place inside of you….that place you fight so hard to keep hidden from others….what does it tell you to want?”

Rebecca inhaled a deep breath and let it escape her full lips slowly, “I…I don’t want to continue being someone I’m not….someone I was molded into….created. I want to ask questions and know without a doubt I’m receiving honest answers” she began to twine her fingers together nervously as she continued to let this strange man a view into her inner wants and needs, “More than anything I want to hear that voice…..because I want the emptiness inside me to be filled, the nothingness to disappear….and I….I want to be released. I want the person inside of me that I know should be….released” her final word was spoken softly and drenched in shame. Rebecca hung her head low, successful in causing her chocolate full curls to curtain her face….to provide a shield from her drunken stranger. She waited anxiously to hear his words of displeasure, to hear him call her ungrateful toward her family…toward her mother. Or maybe it wasn’t his words….maybe they were her own or the words she was sure would be spoken by her mother if she had ever spoken to her what she had just revealed to Jason. Rebecca shook her head and closed her eyes tightly, “Forget i-“

Jason successfully cut Rebecca off when he reached around the table, grabbed a hold of the wooden armrest of her chair and dragged it right next to him. Rebecca was so surprised by his movements that she wasn’t fully aware as to what was going on until the loud scrapping sound of her chair in conflict with the wooden dirty floor of the bar ceased ringing in her ears. She blinked rapidly adjusting her eyes and mind to the change in their bodies’ nearness. Her foggy confused dark blue eyes slowly dipped down toward his jean clad knee, it bumped her own and she could feel his body heat seeping through his and her own clothes.

Jason softly pinched her chin; he coaxed her with pure gentleness to lift those sweet doe like eyes.

Rebecca’s mouth went dry as her eyes locked with his, “What….What are you doing?” she asked softly, surprisingly feeling intoxicated by his warmth and nearness. She stiffened when his head dipped down toward hers, her heart beat increased its tempo when she felt his gruff cheek graze her soft one, “Shhhhh” he whispered into the shell of her ear.

* * * * * * * * * * * * ** * **
“Those two are sssssssssmoking!”

The elderly bleached blond waitress rolled her eyes at her coworker’s poor imitation of Jim Carry’s character in ‘The Mask’, “If I was you I would concentrate on pouring drinks rather than spying on our customers”

The bartender huffed loudly, “Like you don’t love it”

The waitress tilted her head to the side as she observed Jason pull his face away from the young brunette and gently swipe a strand of silky brown hair away from her face. She smiled softly when she noticed how his fingers lingered in her hair, how his other hand couldn’t resist being left out and cupped the brunettes soft porcelain like cheek “Well, you know what they say” she giggled softly as her two costumers seemed to have let the world around them fade away, “Where there is smoke, there is fire”

The bartender chuckled loudly, “Those two are on ffffffffffire!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rebecca felt a spark ignite in the pit of belly and it grew into a blazing fire as every silent second passed. She clasped her hands together and rested them on her knees in an attempt to lesson their quivering. Her wide blue eyes looked up at Jason asking a million questions at once and Rebecca wanted to transfer them into words but her mouth didn’t seem to be working properly. Instead she just sat there in complete stillness watching his every intrusive move.

She swallowed loudly when his eyes dipped down to her neck, he licked his lips and gave her the impression that he was ready to feast. She felt his hand slip down from her cheek down to her exposed neck, he traced her collar bone with the gentleness of his fingertips. His intense blue stare rose up slowly and rested on her full lips. On instinct Rebecca trapped her bottom lip between her teeth. She heard Jason chuckle softly in reaction and when the back of his knuckles grazed her jaw line Rebecca inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.

He captured her chin once more and Rebecca’s eyes snapped open in response. The vision before her caused Rebecca’s breath to catch in her throat. His eyes, those intense blue eyes that probably made the sky jealous with their beautiful blue were shining with emotion, the unshed tears promised to increase and spill over onto that gorgeous face, “There you are Elizabeth”
“Eliz-“ Rebecca’s questioning of the name died in her throat when out of no where her heart pounded against her chest. The massive increase of its thumping demanded attention. Her blue eyes flew down to her chest, half expecting to see her pink blouse trembling from the thunderous beats, “What’s going on?” the questioned asked drenched in panic. She pressed her flat palm against her chest in hopes that it would make the muscle that provided her life decrease its alarming speed. She slowly raised her eyes up to Jason’s face and when she noticed that the tears had spilled over onto his cheeks she gasped softly, “Jason, you’re crying?”

His large hand cupped the side of her cheek and on instinct Rebecca leaned into his touch, “So are you” he pointed out softly and swiped one of the warm fat tears from under her eyes. He pulled his hand away from Rebecca’s face and showed her the evidence.

She blinked rapidly and was completely amazed when she felt her own warm tears streaming down her face, “Jason” his name spoken with a hint of desperation, “Why are we crying?”

“Because” he cupped both sides of her face with his large strong hands but held her so softly, “After all this time….after everything that has happened” his lips curved up into a soft smile, “You’re still you”

[JRK Archiver]

Part 8: FF# 69

Jose Rivera’s heart was overwhelmed with guilt, so much so that at any moment he thought it would quit ticking. There were things he had done during the many years of his life that were wrong in his eyes and the eyes of many others. But Jose never regretted the wrong doings and never wished his wrong doings away. That was until that moment of course.

Jose’s sighed loudly and began to rub his sore eyes, images of his fathers brown eyes flashed in his mind. That look of distaste and shame in his old man’s tired face almost brought tears to the strong, large, wana-be mobster, “I’m sorry” the trembling apology fell from his lips like tiny drops falling from a dark gray sky. Jose wasn’t sure if he was apologizing to the small brunette in the hospital bed or to his father….or maybe to both. Maybe he was apologizing to the small, weak brunette for butting into her life and to his father for not becoming the man…the good man he had once hoped for him to become, “I’m sorry” he repeated once more with the same deep sadness, deep regret and shame but was met with nothing but silence.

Jose didn’t expect her to answer though; knew Rebecca wouldn’t sit up in her hospital bed and accept or deny his full hearted apology. People in commas weren’t big on talking.

He threw his head back, melting into the large cushiony hospital chair. The back of his head felt the coolness of the white pasty wall that the back of the chair rested against, “What did I do” his brown eyes looked up toward the ceiling, taking in every crack, and every stain, “I should have just let you be….I should have never gotten involved” he groaned loudly, his large hands clenched into fists, “If it wasn’t for me you would be fine….if it wasn’t for me everything would just be as it was” anger pumped through his veins, anger directed at no one else but himself, “now look at you” he fought the erg to sit up straight and look into the pale face of his victim…to look at Rebecca’s weak and tired body in that damn small bed, “I’m so sorry” his lips quivered this time as his never ending apologies made their way into the atmosphere of the quiet hospital room.

“Quit saying your sorry jackass”

Emily’s never changing bitter voice made Jose’s head snapped up, made him sit up straight in the hospital chair and aim his attention right at the dark haired girl.

“This wasn’t your fault” she crossed her arms over her chest. The sole purpose of her actions was to stop her tiny hands from trembling, not smoking a cigarette after a couple of hours usually had that affect on her. Emily nibbled on her bottom lip and leaned her shoulder against the white framed doorway, “God! I hate non smoking areas” small beads of sweat began to dampen her forehead and if that wasn’t enough the all too familiar stinging of her jaw began.

Jose could practically smell the girls overwhelming need to light up, “Just go and get some rest” he sighed loudly and found his eyes slowly drifting to Rebecca’s sleeping form, “I’ll stay with her” he informed on a hushed whisper as he took in her brown locks sprawled out onto the white pillow.

Emily head felt light and the ground beneath her seemed traitorous….seemed to want to be swept up from underneath her feet, “No” she closed her eyes in an attempt to regain some strength and also some dignity, “Last time I left her….I lost her” she inhaled a deep breath, but since it was void of a nicotine soaked smoke her body rejected it and Emily began to let out a string of dry hacking coughs.

“Damn it Emily!” Jose jumped up from the chair and rushed over to the tiny brunette, “You need to quit that shit, it’s going to kill you you know?”

“No” she shook her head as she attempted to catch her breath, “I have no idea that it’s going to kill me, I have no idea that it’s the worst thing I could do to my body, I have no idea that I most likely will pay with my life for smoking as much as I do!” her tiny hands formed into two fists, “I mean how should I know all of that! It’s not like people don’t tell me enough, it’s not like I don’t read or watch the news, it’s not like I’ve never seen a fucking ‘Truth’ commercial in my life!!! It’s not like those things don’t scare the shit out of me!” When Jose cupped her elbow to offer support, clearly ignoring her tangent her anger grew and she shoved him away, “If it was so damn easy to quit I would have by now!”

Jose eyes snapped open by her rage filled tone, he lifted his hands in surrender, “You’re right, I’m sorry” he retreated from the clearly enraged girl.

Emily tipped her head down to the floor, her brown eyes observing the lifeless pattern of the hospital floor, “It’s ok” she whispered the word as if it physically hurt her to say them, “I’m sorry too….I’m just taking stuff out on you” she bit down on her bottom lip hard, angry with herself for showing any kindness to this man…a man who worked with her brother, a man who was just like her brother…..a man who didn’t deserve any kindness in the world for what he did for a living and for what that did to those around him, “I wondered what he did to her this time” she shuffled her feet slightly, “It doesn’t surprise me that he ran away like he always does when he hurts her…….but I wondered what he actually did this time around”

“How can you be so sure that this was his fault?”

“Because it always is his fault Jose” her brown cold soft eyes drifted toward Jose’s face, “Because every time he’s near her….every time he enters her life she ends up like this….in this fucking hospital” she shrugged her shoulders, “Even though he wasn’t even near the accident the first time it was because of him…because of Sonny…because either him, or hell maybe even you, killed the head of some crime family and they decided to get revenge by running Elizabeth off the rode”

Jose shook his head in response, “But Emily he lov-“

“Oh he loves her alright!” she shot back with an icy glare, Emily’s brown eyes sparkled with fury, “He loves her so much that the first time this happened Jason left her to that vulture Elizabeth called a mother! And what did she do? What we all knew she would do, turn Elizabeth into someone she would despise and he let her…. He let her lie about who she was and who she should be! And now…we know he was with her when this happened, we know he was with her when the ambulance brought her in…but where is Jason now? Why isn’t he here holding her hand? Why isn’t he here loving her oh so much!?!”

Jose didn’t respond, he couldn’t respond. Emily was right, where was Jason? Why wasn’t he here in the room holding the hand of the woman he adored? He turned his large muscular back toward Emily, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeing his defeated eyes, “And that still leaves us with the question as to what exactly actually happened tonight?” he slowly made his way up the side of the bed, a deep frown possessed his lips, “What happened Becca?” he spoke so softly to the poor girl who couldn’t answer, who couldn’t find her way out of the dark place she was trapped in.

Emily huffed loudly from behind Jose, “That’s not the question” she corrected with deep bitterness, “The question is, what did he do to her?….What did he say to her that caused this all to happen?”

Jose’s brown sad eyes took in Rebecca’s white bland face, he knew that image would haunt his dreams for the rest of his life. He found his thumb on the back of her soft cold hand, he eyed the IV and made sure not to let his exploration come near the medical object, “What did he do to you?” he asked the sleeping beauty with bitter curiosity, “What ever it is Becca, what ever he did I’ll make sure he pays for it” he lifted his chin up in the air as he promised her with every fiber of his being, “I promise Jason Morgan’s going to pay”

* * * * * * * * * * ** * * *

Rebecca Webber wrapped her arms around her quivering torso, she was so cold. As a matter of fact there wasn’t a time she could recall when she was ever this cold, “I don’t like it here” she whispered through chattering teeth as her blue dark eyes roamed the large strange house. It was freezing, the walls were covered with cobwebs and dust, it was strangely quiet and every time she tried to walk out the front door she would end up right back inside the damn place. No matter what she tried there was no escaping the strange home.

But even though it was a quiet place, she wasn’t alone. The moment her eyes snapped open in this strange universe Rebecca knew she wasn’t alone. And when she began her exploration of the large strange home the sound of small footsteps following her every move just reinforced her original suspicions. She had even caught a glimpse of the tiny person who was hiding in the shadows watching her. For some reason unbeknown to her it wasn’t freighting or creepy but it was annoying.

Rebecca blew out a deep breath through chattering teeth, “Little girl please come out!” she called out into the seemingly empty and dusty living room, “Please!” but her pleases were met with silence. Her eyes began to water out of frustration, all she wanted was to leave this place, to feel some type of warmth, “I hate this place” the words followed by a stream of tears, “I just want to leave!” she sobbed as her frustration grew.

“Don’t cry” a soft small voice came from behind her, “Please don’t cry” the little girl pleaded as she walked up to a very tired and cold Rebecca.

“It’s so cold” she complained through fat tears.

“I know” the little girl agreed softly as she made her way to stand in front of the older lady, “You brought it with you”

Rebecca tilted her head down to look at the tiny little girl through, her vision blurred due to the endless tears, “Please tell me how to leave this place…I can’t find my way out”

The little girl tilted her head up, her dark blue eyes twinkled in the light that illuminated the living room, “Oh please don’t leave” she begged softly while she twined her tiny fingers together, “Stay” a deep frown possessed her little pink lips, “I’ve been here alone for so long now and I’m so lonely….please stay with me”

Rebecca blinked back the tears, she took a moment to swipe away any evidence of her emotions from her face and eyes, “You’ve been here alone” she repeated with words of disbelief, “Where’s your family?” she eyed the little 6 year old through thick wet lashes, and for the first time she had made her presence known Rebecca got a good look at her.

The little girl shrugged her delicate shoulders, “I don’t know” she said truthfully.

Rebecca eyes slowly took in the young girls face in amazement, her porcelain skin, and the chocolate fat curls of hair that framed her delicate face, “What’s your name?”

She shot her new friend a big toothy grin, “Elizabeth” the name announced with pride.

There you are Elizabeth

Rebecca gasped loudly as Jason’s voice rang in her head, the remembrance of his words were followed by a sharp stinging pain to her temple. It made her spine quiver from pain, her knees gave in and the next thing Rebecca knew she was kneeling down on the tile floor. Her small hands cupping her head as the pain finally began to cease. She felt a small hand grip her shoulder, “It’s ok” Elizabeth assured softly. Rebecca tilted her head up toward the little girl, signs of worry were etched clearly in her young face.

“You…You look like me” Rebecca stated through raged breaths as her she began to gain strength.

“No” the little girl corrected through a small giggle, she gently swiped away a lose strand of Rebecca’s hair away from her face and smiled brightly, “You look like me”

[JRK Archiver]

Part 9: FF# 70

Francis held on to the leather punching bag for dear life, his eyes watered from the stench of liquor seeping through Jason’s pours, “Jason!” he shouted over the loud noise of fist smacking leather, “Jason for heavens sake!” he shouted even louder while digging his fingertips into the cushy leather bag.

But no matter how loud he shouted, no matter what tone he used to call out to the man beating the living shit out of the punching bag Jason never answered. He barely even acknowledged his existence. From the moment the blond man came stumbling through the doors of the homemade warehouse gym interrupting Francis’s morning workout he had barely spoken a word. Nothing but a grunt here and there.

Francis understood that sometimes a man just needed to get away, understood that sometimes words were the enemy and needed to be escaped from. He understood this and respected it and normally he would leave his friend alone. But something was wrong this time, something had happen during the night that caused Jason to revert back into a destructive shell that Francis knew all too well. Francis’s eyes zeroed in on the several spots of blood that were Jason’s newly decorated touch to the bland gray warehouse floor, “Jason, you need to put gloves on!” he shouted as he could practically hear the flesh on his best friend’s knuckles being ripped apart blow by blow.

Francis cursed loudly and swung the punching bag out of the way, causing Jason’s bloody fist to slice through the air, “Stop!” he shouted out of worrisome mixed with anger and stood in front of the battered black leather punching bag.

Jason’s chest rose and feel rapidly, “Move” he ordered through a ragged breath and when it was clear that Francis wasn’t going to follow the order he clenched his teeth tightly together, “Move now” his tone was as cold as ice.

Francis stood still, seeming unaffected by Jason’s unusual behavior, “Not until you tell me what the hell is going on with you”

Jason swiped his lower lip with the tip of his tongue and tasted the bitter saltiness of his own sweat, “You think I won’t hit you?” he quirked a sandy brow, his demeanor revealing the answer to his own question.
Francis kind brown eyes dipped down to Jason’s bleeding knuckles, “What ever happened it must be bad”

Jason pressed his lips tightly together, narrowed his icy cold blue eyes and clenched his battered hands into a tight fist. Not even flinching for a second from the stinging pain. He took a moment to contemplate weather to shove Francis out of the way or take his rage out on him, but before he could make an actual decision the warehouse door flew open.

“You son of a bitch!” Jose shouted as he boomed through the doors.

Francis blinked rapidly as he watched Jose Rivera run at the speed of light toward Jason and once he was near the blond man he gracefully lunged toward him successfully knocking him to the ground. Francis stood still in complete shock as Jose and Jason tumbled to the floor, he wasn’t sure if he was actually imagining what was taking place or that it was actually taking place.

“What did you do!?!” Jose shouted as he clutched a handful of Jason’s collar, “What did you do to her?!?!” He shoved Jason backwards causing the back of his head to smack against the concrete floor.

The extremely violent action caused Francis to snap out of his frozen state, he lounged toward Jose and attempted to pry the man off of Jason, “Tell me you fucking coward!?!” Jose shouted as he struggled against Francis while trying with all his strength to smack Jason against the concrete floor one more time.

Francis inhaled and deeply dug his finger tips into the back of Jose’s neck, the sharp pain struck Jose’s body causing his spine to shiver from pain. Francis took the opportunity and pried the man off of Jason. He pulled the man up to his feet, wrapped his arms around Jose and held him tightly. Successfully accomplishing peace between the two for the moment, “What in the hell is going on!” Francis shouted, clearly outraged from his clueless state.

Jose took in a deep breath, filled his lungs with air and shouted as loud as humanly possible, “How could you leave her like that!?!”

Jason moaned loudly as he attempted to lift his head, pain radiated from the back of his skull, “It was for the best” the words spoken on a dry cough.

“Bull shit!” Jose attempted to lunge at him for another ass kicking but Francis’s grip proved to be strong, “You’re a coward!”

“You don’t know what your talking about” Jason sat up, he groaned from the pain of his sore ribs, “Didn’t the doctor tell you….didn’t she tell you why Rebecca was in a coma”

“What!?!” Francis shouted directly into Jose’s ear, “Holly Shit!”
“She didn’t need to tell me” Jose sneered through clenched teeth, “I know it was something you did to her….Your responsible and I’m here to make sure you pay” his oath drenched with deadly intent.

Jason’s eyes brimmed with tears, “Your right” he admitted weakly, “Once again it’s all my fault” he let out a small bitter chuckle, “It’s always my fault”

“Jason” Francis spoke his friends name softly, “What…what happened?”

“I told the truth” He stood to his feet, his shoulders hunched over, evidence that he had been beaten physically and mentally, “I told the truth then she left me just like before”

She blinked rapidly and was completely amazed when she felt her own warm tears streaming down her face, “Jason” his name spoken with a hint of desperation, “Why are we crying?”

“Because” he cupped both sides of her face with his large strong hands but held her so softly, “After all this time….after everything that has happened” his lips curved up into a soft smile, “You’re still you” the pad of his thumb stroked Rebecca’s soft cheekbone, “You’re my wife Elizabeth, you always have been and you always will be” he inhaled deeply observing the confusion that clouded her ocean like eyes, “You were in this accident and couldn’t remember anything…couldn’t remember that you were my wife. Your famil-“ his explanation died in his throat when she began to react to the truth.

Rebecca shook her head rapidly, her heart booming against her chest deafened all other sounds, she tried to take in a short breath but her airways seemed block, “Ja..Jason” she struggled to get the simple name passed her lips and once they did a sharp pain behind her left eye was born. She whimpered loudly as she closed her eyes tightly.

“Elizabeth” Jason spoke her name with worry, he felt her small hands brace his large muscular shoulders and he winced slightly when she dug her nails into his skin.

There it was again! That name! And it seemed the moment he spoke it the stronger the pain became. It was blinding, her eyes flew open and saw nothing but darkness. Rebecca felt her knees give out and the next thing she knew Jason was holding her weak body up.

“Elizabeth!” he cried out desperately as he clung her, seemingly lifeless, body to his own. But to his horror she didn’t respond. He laid her gently on the bar floor screaming over his shoulder for someone to call 911, “Don’t leave me” he begged into the shell of her ear as he crouched his body low towards her, “Please Elizabeth, stay with me” he brought his trembling lips up to her damp forehead and planted a sweet kiss. Jason blinked and a set of fat tears streamed down the side of his nose on to her forehead, “I love you” he whispered against her soft skin, “Don’t leave me please” but his please fell on deaf ears because Rebecca was already gone.

“Holly shit!” was Francis lone response.

Jose’s veins pumped with blood filled rage, “You love her” he huffed loudly, “bull shit, then why leave her!?!”

“Because I’m killing her!” Jason fried back with anger and sadness, “Because of me she’s in another coma, because the reason why she’s back in that damn hospital bed is me! My selfishness” he dove a bloody hand into his short spiky blond hair, “Because of my selfishness she’s in pain, because I just couldn’t leave her alone, because I couldn’t live with out her!” he lifted both hands in the air, seeming like a poor pauper on the street letting the passer byres know that he had absolutely nothing, “Don’t you see?” his hands flew down helplessly to his sides, “ I’m not good for her. Don’t you see that I’m her demise in this world….and she is mine” he shook his head and rubbed his chin, “The doctor told me the coma was due to Post dramatic stress disorder. She saw something…heard something that caused her mind to shut down, caused her body to go into a state of shock,” his eyes locked with Jose’s rage filled brown eyes, “And the longer she stays there….the longer she sleeps the more her body shuts down” he narrowed his eyes at the man but the anger Jason felt wasn’t toward Jose but toward himself, “In other words she’s killing herself slowly….in other words Jose, she’s killing herself because of me”, Jason clenched his teeth together, the words he had just spoken left a rotten taste in his mouth, “And you think threatening to kill me is a bad thing?” he chuckled bitterly and shook his head, “I would welcome it” He turned his back on his two friends and walked right up to his discarded leather jacket that rested on the arm of the sofa. He rummaged through the pocket and retrieved a black and gun, “Go ahead” he walked up to Jose and shoved Francis’s confining arms away from the man, “Please” he placed the gun into Jose’s hand, “Please do it” he begged trough quivering lips and brimming icy blue eyes.

Jose looked down at his open palm, the image of Rebecca’s lifeless body laying in that hospital bed alone flashed before his eyes. Jose gritted his teeth together and closed his fingers around the butt of the gun.

He was taking to long to make a decision. Jason, clearly aggravated, grabbed Jose’s hand that held the gun and pressed the circular nose of the weapon against the middle of his muscular chest. The coolness of the steel seeped through his sweat drenched shirt, “Do it”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** **

Rebecca was just about to pull out all the brown silky strands right out of her scalp. Little Elizabeth was proving to be quite a handful. One moment the little girl would be nice and calm and the next she was running around this strange home lifting her dress and shouting off the top of her lungs. By now, as weird as it may seem, Rebecca knew the pattern of daisy’s on the small girl’s panties by memory. And sometimes she wondered if that was illegal.

“Smell it” Elizabeth lifted her tiny bare foot into the air an inch away from Rebecca’s nose, “I think it may smell like cheese” she wiggled her tiny toes as if that would make her request more desirable.

Rebecca gritted her teeth and shifted her body weight around in the cushy but very dusty couch, “No” she shook her head and gently shoved the tiny bare foot away from her face.

Elizabeth, who was laying on the couch, propped herself up to look at Rebecca’s displeasing face, “It’s not that cold here anymore” she shrugged her shoulder, “Why are you such a party pooper?”

Little Elizabeth was right it wasn’t that cold anymore but Rebecca didn’t want to be here one more second. This place gave her the creeps and for some reason timed passed so slowly. It seemed as if she had been trapped in this place for months, “I’m not a party pooper” she shot back with a hint of resentment.

Elizabeth rolled her midnight blue eyes and muttered under her breath, “Party pooper” she then lifted her bare foot to her own nose and sniffed, “it does smell like cheese” she revealed through scrunched lips.

Rebecca jumped off the couch, “there has to be something you can do that involves leaving me alone for an hour or two!” her eyes frantically searched the disheveled office for an entertaining object the girl could play with.

Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled with mischief, she jumped off the couch and smacked an unsuspecting Rebecca right in the butt, “And the crowd goes wild!” she shouted as she ran around in a circle. Her arms lifted above her head in show of victory.

Rebecca’s mouth hung open as she smoothed her stinging fanny with her own hand, “Why you little shit!” she shouted out of anger.

Elizabeth stopped dead in her tracks, turned to her grown up friend and gasped, “You said shit” she whispered in disbelief.

“Uh…..” Rebecca’s swallowed hard as she tried to come up with something to say, “Sorry” she apologized sheepishly.

Elizabeth slapped her tiny lips with her short chubby hands and began to giggle uncontrollably. She then began to lift her skirt way above her head and jump up and down while shouting the word “Shit!”

Rebecca narrowed her eyes at the small girl, “It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if you grow up to be a stripper” she muttered under her breath.

Elizabeth seized her jumping up and down and asked through the fabric of her skirt, “What’s a stripper?”

“None of your business” Rebecca shot back as she began to rummage through the office desk draws. There must have been a peace of paper and pen the girl could use to draw in there. She came across a large book, “It’s a photo album” she eyed it cautiously. This was how all her problems began with a damn photo book. Rebecca shook her head deciding not to open it, even though she felt as if the curiosity would be the end of her. She attempted to place it back into the draw but tiny chubby hands snatched it away from her. Elizabeth slammed it on top of the dusty desktop, sending particles of dust swarming through the air.

Rebecca was so busy coughing and swatting her hand about in the air that she didn’t notice the small girl flipping the cover of the photo album open.

“This is my family!” Elizabeth announced with pride as she poked the picture, “This is my mother” she poked her mothers face in the picture, “This is my Dad” she poked the salt and peppered hair man as well, “This is my brother Steven” she stuck out her tongue at the picture, “He’s stupid” she simply informed, “this is Sarah my sister, she’s really stupid” Elizabeth’s smile broadened when she poked her own face, “And this is me!” she said cheerfully, “I’m not stupid” She stood there quietly and patiently waiting for Rebecca’s response and praises on how pretty she came out in the picture. And of course she wouldn’t have minded if Rebecca would have commented on how Sarah’s hair looked like a birds nest. But when Rebecca didn’t speak a single word she found it odd, “Becca?” she turned her face from the family photo and looked up to her friend.

Rebecca’s face was pale as a ghost, her eyes roaming over every face in the picture, “It can’t be” she stated out loud.

There you are Elizabeth

Once again Jason’s voice brought the agonizing pain to life. She closed her eyes, feeling the moister building, “I hate this place!” she shouted through the throbbing pain.

“Becca?” Elizabeth spoke her name with worry.

Rebecca felt the grown beneath her, she curled up into a ball on the office floor and as her body began to quiver the tears broke through the surface, “I just want to go home” she whimpered softly, “I just want all of this to go away”

Elizabeth sat down beside her, she inhaled deeply as her fingers ran through Rebecca’s hair, “Its ok” her small voice was smoothing, “It will all be ok”