Measure of a Man by jmorgansgirl

[JRK Archiver]

Note: All songs are from Clay Aiken's album, Measure of a Man.


Songs Series- Measure of a Man

Part I: NO MORE SAD SONGS

“You can’t just walk away from me,” Ric said. “We are not over.”

“In order for us to be over Ric, we would have had to have something in the first place,” Elizabeth argued. “And we didn’t, because everything that came out of your mouth was a lie.”

“Elizabeth, you don’t really believe that,” Ric said.

“Don’t tell me what I do or don’t believe,” Elizabeth said sharply. “It’s over, Ric. You had your chance and you blew it. Big time.”

Saying nothing else, Elizabeth began to walk away, leaving Ric standing there, dumbfounded.

This is the way
That I state my independence
That I’m no longer connected to your memory
This is the day that I’m making my defection
That I claim back the affection
That you stole from me

I used to hear your music so loud
But it’s so low
You’re just another face in the crowd
I’m letting you know

Later that night, Elizabeth was in her studio, painting and singing along to the radio.

No more sad songs
I’m letting you go now
Switched off, switched on
I’m letting you know
You turned out the light
I’m gonna be alright without
Turn the radio off
No more sad songs

She was relieved to be done with Ric, but she knew that it wouldn’t be that easy to have him completely gone from her life.

Sighing, she wondered what had brought them together in the first place. It didn’t take her long to realize that it was because of her falling out with Jason that led her to start seeing Ric.

These are the words
To describe all your offenses
You said love in the past tense
And then you let it go
Haven’t you heard
You are no longer respected
You are formally rejected
From the one you hurt

I used to have the longing to hear
what was in your heart
But now it seems I’m over the fear
Of this falling apart

She’d been so hurt by Jason lying to her that she’d looked past, or even ignored completely, the signs that would have led to her discovering Ric’s deceit much sooner than she had.

He claimed that everything he’d done was out of love, but Elizabeth knew it wasn’t true. Everything he’d done, he’d done because she was gullible; because Ric saw that and knew he could get away with it all.

But no more. Elizabeth had decided that she was going to start living for herself for once, and not for anyone else. And no one was going to stop her. Especially not Ric.

No more sad songs
I’m letting you go now
Switched off, switched on
I’m letting you know
You turned out the light
I’m gonna be alright without
Turn your radio off
No more sad songs
No more sad songs

~~~~

The next morning, Elizabeth was ready to move on with her life, without Ric. She knew he’d called several times the night before, but she deleted all of his messages, not listening to one of them first.

After showering and dressing, Elizabeth pulled on her leather jacket and headed to Kelly’s for her shift.

~~~~

“Morning Tammy,” Elizabeth said, hanging up her jacket and tying her apron around your waist.

“Good morning Elizabeth,” Tammy replied. “The gentleman at the table over there has been waiting for you for the past twenty minutes.”

“Ric, what are you doing here?” Elizabeth asked, turning to see her ex pretending to read a menu.

“I told you it wasn’t over,” Ric said. “I want to talk to you.”

I used to have the longing to hear
what was in your heart
But now it seems I’m over the fear
Of this falling apart

“Not going to happen,” Elizabeth said. “I thought I made it clear last night; I don’t care about you or anything you have to say Ric.”

“You don’t mean that,” Ric said.

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean,” Elizabeth said, suddenly think of Jason, the minute the words left her mouth.

“Mr. Lansing, I believe Elizabeth’s made it clear that she doesn’t want to talk to you. I think you should go,” Tammy said.

“I just want to talk to her Tammy,” Ric said. “That’s all, I swear.”

“Yeah, well you’re a very good liar, and very good at breaking promises, so why should I believe you?” Elizabeth asked.

“I love you Elizabeth. I never lied about that,” Ric said.

“Maybe, but you lied about everything else. I don’t know you Ric, not the real you. And I don’t love you.”

No more sad songs
I’m letting you go now
Switched off, switched on
I’m letting you know

No more sad songs
I’m letting you go now
Switched off, switched on
I’m letting you know
You turned out the light
I’m gonna be alright without
Turn your radio off
No more sad songs
No more sad songs

“But Elizabeth...” Ric tried again.

“I having nothing else to say to you,” Elizabeth interrupted. “So please do as Tammy asked, and go.”

“This isn’t over Elizabeth,” Ric said. “I know you love me.”

“I believe she asked you to leave,” a voice said from the door.

No more sad songs
No more sad songs

[JRK Archiver]

Part II: INVISIBLE

“This isn’t over Elizabeth,” Ric said. “I know you love me.”

“I believe she asked you to leave,” a voice said from the door.

“And what, you think because you’re saying it now I’m going to listen?” Ric asked the leather jacket-wearing blonde in the doorway.

“No. You’re going to listen because I’m going to throw you out if you don’t,” Jason said.

“Fine, I’m going,” Ric said. “But I’ll be back.”

“I suggest you rethink that,” Jason said.

Ric ignored him and grabbed his jacket, walking out the door.

“Are you alright?” Jason asked, turning to Elizabeth.

“Yeah, thanks,” Elizabeth said.

“If you need anything…” Jason said.

“I’ll be okay,” Elizabeth said.

~~~~

Later that night, on the docks outside Elizabeth’s studio…

Jason saw her sitting there, but he didn’t approach her at first, unsure of whether or not she’d even want to see him.

What’cha doing tonight
I wish I could be a fly on your wall
Are you really alone
Who’s still in your dreams
Why can’t I bring you into my life
What would it take to make you see that I’m alive

Deciding to watch from a distance for a while, Jason stood back and looked at Elizabeth. He could see the sadness in her eyes, and it was breaking his heart. He knew that Ric had hurt her, but he wondered how much of that sadness was from Ric and how much was from the actions he’d taken that had hurt her.

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I’d make you mine tonight
If hearts were unbreakable
Then I can just tell you where I stand
I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible
Wait, I already am

Jason wanted to be able to take all her pain away, but he wondered if he’d have to be invisible to do it. He could protect her and watch over for hours and never get bored. Jason knew he was still in love with her, but he’d already broken her heart once. Would she let him talk long enough for him to tell her how he felt?

Saw your face in the crowd
I called out your name
You don’t hear a sound
I keep tracing your steps
Each move that you make
Wish I could be what goes through your mind
Wish you could touch me with the colors of your life

Never taking his eyes off her, Jason realized that Elizabeth was talking. He desperately wanted to hear what she was saying, but knew that eavesdropping wasn’t exactly the best way to get back into her life. But when he heard his name pass her lips…

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I’d make you mine tonight
If hearts were unbreakable
Then I can just tell you where I stand
I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible
Wait, I already am

It was that moment that he wished he were invisible. Then he could hear Elizabeth with no chance of her seeing him. Sighing, Jason shook his head. He had to be lovesick. These were not the thoughts of Jason Morgan, enforcer; these were the thoughts of Jason Morgan, hopelessly in love with Elizabeth Webber.

“Jason?” Elizabeth said, looking up to see him.

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I’d make you mine tonight
If hearts were unbreakable (Hearts were)
Then I can just tell you where I stand
I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible

“Hi,” Jason said.

“Hi,” Elizabeth said. “How long have you been there?”

“Not long,” Jason said. “I wasn’t sure you’d want company.”

“Only if it’s you,” Elizabeth said.

If I was invisible
I’d make you mine tonight

Maybe he didn’t have to be invisible after all…

[JRK Archiver]

Part III: I WILL CARRY YOU

“How long have you been there?” Elizabeth asked.

“Not long,” Jason said. “I wasn’t sure you’d want company.”

“Only if it’s you,” Elizabeth said.

“Has Ric bothered you anymore since this morning?” Jason asked, sitting beside her on the bench.

“I haven’t seen him,” Elizabeth replied.

“Good,” Jason said.

“But that doesn’t stop him from haunting me,” Elizabeth said, her eyes filling with tears. “I can’t get him out of my head Jason.”

Yeah I know it hurts
Yeah I know you’re scared
Walking down the road that leads to who knows where
Don’t you hang your head
Don’t you give up yet
When courage starts to disappear
I will be right here

“What happened?” Jason asked.

“He lied to me. About everything,” Elizabeth said. “You...you know he’s Sonny’s brother, right?”

“Yeah,” Jason said.

“Well, he was using me. And the minute he decided that he wanted a place in Sonny’s family, he found something to blackmail Courtney with to force her to marry him,” she said.

“I heard,” Jason said.

“And I...” Elizabeth began. “I feel so stupid for believing all of his lies. I mean I...I never once saw through them, or questioned him, no matter how suspicious his behavior was. I always let him explain it away.”

“Hey, hey. This isn’t your fault,” Jason said, wrapping his arms around her in an effort to provide some comfort.

When your world breaks down
And the voices tell you turn around
When your dreams give out
I will carry you, carry you
When the stars go blind
And the darkness starts to flood your eyes
When you’re falling behind
I will carry you

“I...I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said, pulling out of the embrace. “You...you don’t need me leaning on you again.”

“I can handle it if you can,” Jason said with a smile.

Elizabeth smiled back, and allowed Jason to keep his arms wrapped around her and hold her as she cried.

Everybody cries
Everybody bleeds
No one ever said that life’s an easy thing
That’s the beauty of it
When you lose your way
Close your eyes and go to sleep
And wake up to another day

“You know, I can take care of Ric for you,” Jason said, hoping to lighten the mood and make Elizabeth feel a little better. “If you want anyway. You wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore.”

“Jason, you don’t...I don’t deserve that kind of friendship from you anymore,” Elizabeth said.

“I told you once that I’m always your friend,” Jason said. “And that hasn’t changed.”

“But I don’t deserve you,” Elizabeth said.

“If anything, after what I did to you, I don’t deserve you,” Jason said.

“Oh God, Jason, I’m so sorry,” Elizabeth said, tears filling her eyes again as she realized what her walking away from Jason had done to him.

When your world breaks down
And the voices tell you turn around
When your dreams give out
I will carry you, carry you
When the stars go blind
And the darkness starts to flood your eyes
When you’re falling behind
I will carry you

“What are you sorry for?” Jason asked.

“I don’t even know anymore,” Elizabeth said. “God Jason, I’ve done so many things wrong.”

“We both have,” Jason said.

“But I...” Elizabeth said.

“Hey, come on,” Jason said, brushing her tears away. “You know I can’t stand to see you like this.”

“I’m so...” Elizabeth began.

“Don’t be sorry,” Jason said, taking her hands in his. “Ric is an idiot. You and I both know that. And now he’s out of your life.”

“For good,” Elizabeth said.

“For good,” Jason repeated. “But just because he’s gone doesn’t mean you need to deal with the blow he dealt you alone. I’m still your friend.”

“More than a friend,” Elizabeth corrected.

You should know now that you’re not alone
Take my heart and we will find
You will find
Your way home

“More than a friend then,” Jason said.

“Always,” Elizabeth said with a smile.

“Now there’s the look I like to see on your face,” Jason said.

“What’s that?” Elizabeth asked.

“A smile,” Jason said.

“Thank you for making me smile,” Elizabeth said.

“You’re welcome,” Jason said.

“I, um, I should get going,” Elizabeth said. “It’s getting pretty late.”

“Can I give you a ride?” Jason asked.

“I’m staying in my studio again,” Elizabeth said. “I moved out of Kelly’s after Ric and I...”

“I’ll walk you,” Jason said.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said, standing.

Jason followed and he took her hand in his as they headed off the docks in the direction of Elizabeth’s studio.

When your dreams give out
I will carry you, carry you
When the stars go blind
And the darkness starts to flood your eyes
When you’re falling behind
I will carry you

Jason smiled to himself as he and Elizabeth walked hand-in-hand to her studio. While they weren’t together yet, Jason was glad that they’d made progress. And with any luck, as he helped her through the mess that Ric had caused, they would regain not only their friendship, but the budding relationship they’d had.