CH 6

“Lucky, come on you’re going to make us late!” Nik yelled at his brother. He sat down on the small couch in Lucky’s apartment above Jake’s and waited for his brother to come out of his room. “Nikolas calm down please you’re making me nervous. Now how do I look?” Lucky asked as he stepped out of his bedroom. He had on a pair of khaki pants and a light gray sweater that made his eyes look grayer. “Lucky, what do you care about how you look? You have a girlfriend. You don’t need to dress up just for Gia.” Nik said. Lucky glared at his brother. “I know I have a girlfriend but I still want to look good OK? And look who’s talking about dressing up. Nikolas it’s so obvious.” Lucky smirked. “What?” Nik said looking down at himself. He had on a pair of nice loose fitting blue jeans and a fitted black sweater. “Nikolas you know that you didn’t dress like that for nothing, you want Gia.” Lucky said. Nikolas looked away. “Look as far as I can tell, Gia is a snobby stuck-up model.” Nik said. “OK so she has attitude. But I saw the way you were looking at her, you like her.” Lucky said, pointing an accusing finger at Nikolas. Nikolas knocked his hand down. “I don’t man, now drop it.” Nikolas said sternly.

Nikolas and Lucky walked into the Port Charles Hotel and walked up to the front desk. “Hi, my name is Nikolas Cassadine and this is my brother Lucky Spencer, we’re here to pick up Miss Campbell.” Nikolas said, his heart pounding slightly. “OK yes she’s expecting you, here’s the room number.” Nikolas was slightly relieved that they didn’t have any problems getting to her. He took the scribbled on paper from the woman and let out a long breath as he looked at his brother. “You ready?” He asked. Lucky smiled. “Yeah lets go.” Lucky said plucking the note out of Nik’s hand. After a few wrong floors, Nikolas took the paper from his brother and found the right room. They looked at each other and decided that Nikolas would knock on the door. He felt like a teenager or something, his heart was pounding and his hands were sweaty. He knocked on the door and felt like he would pass out as the door swung open. He stood and stared at Gia, she had on a pair of black leather pants that rode low on her hips, her tiny maroon spaghetti strap tank top was short, revealing her sexy stomach, and a delicate gold chain wrapped around her waist caught his eye. Her braids were undone, causing curls to sprawl out onto her shoulders. Her makeup was somewhat subtle but she had a slight shimmer to her body that twinkled when she moved. Nikolas felt like he couldn’t breathe as he looked at her, and he cursed his heart for beating so rapidly. “Are you guys going to be like this all night? I might have to change my mind about this little outing if you don’t stop gawking at me.” Gia said, her arms crossing over her chest. Nikolas composed himself enough to look over at his brother, and that’s when he noticed Lucky staring at her just as much as he was. Feeling embarrassed, he cleared his throat. “Yeah whatever Sparky. Are you ready to go?” Nik asked. Gia looked up at him. “Sparky.” She breathed, repeating the childhood name he called her so long ago. She smiled at him, and Nikolas looked down shyly. Lucky looked between the two. “Did I miss something?” He asked. Nikolas looked up at Gia, not sure what to say. “I’m sorry I was just caught off guard, I had a friend who called me that a long time ago.” Gia said. Nikolas smiled at her. “Well I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, do you not want me calling you that?” Nik asked. Gia shook her head. “No that’s fine prince, you can call me that.” She answered. Nikolas bit his bottom lip, his heart beating faster at the memories he felt after hearing her name for him being used. “Well are you ready to go?” Lucky asked, still confused. Gia smiled and nodded her head and then stepped out of the room, closing her door behind her.

“So Gia, how do you like Port Charles?” Lucky asked as they entered Club 101. “Honestly, it’s pretty dull.” Gia said. Nikolas scrunched up his nose at Gia’s snobby response. He shook his head lightly. “OK drinks are on me.” He announced. Gia looked over at him. “What are you rich?” She asked. Nikolas smirked. “You could say that.” He nodded. Gia resisted asking him if he had accepted the inheritance of his family legacy and became the prince. Nikolas passed them their drinks and they all walked over to a table and sat down. “Well Gia I think that those shots we took today are going to come out great.” Lucky said. “Oh I know they will, I can feel it. I’ve been doing this so long, I just know when a shoot went well and ours definitely did.” Gia said. She sucked in a breath when she glanced at Nikolas only to find him staring at her intensely. She licked her lips lightly and watched his eyes fallow the movement. She felt excited but totally comfortable under his strong gaze. She challenged him, letting her eyes connect with his, the longer they stayed like this, the more excited she became. Nikolas slowly broke into a smile, and Gia couldn’t resist and returned it. Nikolas was amazed at Gia’s beauty, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her, and her smile was absolutely enchanting. He just couldn’t believe that this was his Gia, sitting across from him. “Hey you two, are you going to play this staring contest all night? Why don’t you go dance?” Lucky suggested. He received a harsh glare from both of them. Throwing his hands up in surrender, he then stood up. “I see my aunt Bobby over there, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go say hi to her. I’m sure I won’t be missed.” Lucky said before walking away. Gia felt uncomfortable, abandoned by Lucky. She finally turned to face Nikolas. “Are you going to stop staring at me or what?” She said harshly. Nikolas just smirked. “Oh right like it’s one sided. My god, what happened to you Gia? I guess fame has gotten to you or something because you were never this conceited. You use to be such a tomboy, now you’re just this prissy little princess with an attitude problem.” Nik said. Gia huffed as she glared at him. “And what happened to you? You use to be a shy little runt with no personality, now you’re this cocky asshole.” Gia said with attitude. Nikolas blinked a few times, stunned at her harsh tone. “You know I think that I’m going to go home, I’m sure my brother will be more than happy to keep you company for the rest of the night.” Nik said as he started to get up. “Nikolas wait.” Gia said as grabbed his hand to stop him. Nikolas sat back down; and looked at her. Gia finally became aware that their hands were still linked when he slowly began to rub his thumb over her soft skin. Her heart began to race as she pulled it away slowly. “I uh, I’m sorry I said that. I just go off sometimes. Will you stay, please?” Gia asked as she looked into his eyes. “OK fine I’ll stay.” He said. They sat silently for a while, looking away from each other. Gia slowly turned her head, and was startled as her eyes clashed with his intensely. “You’ve changed so much.” She breathed. “So have you.” Nik answered. “I’ve thought about you Nikolas, all these years. I wondered where you were and how you were doing. It broke my heart when I had to leave you. You were my best friend.” Gia said sadly, shocked at her own honesty. Nikolas reached over and took her hand in his. “I’ve missed you too Gia, so much.” He said, bringing her hand to his lips. Gia closed her eyes as she felt the feather light touch of his lips on her skin; it was enough to send the beat of her heart on a rampage. She opened them again, and for what seemed like the millionth time that night; she was shocked at the intensity of Nikolas’ stare. When she looked into his eyes, she could see so much, but the more she looked, the more she was aware that he was looking right back, and she was afraid of what he would see. Gia reclaimed her hand and looked down at the table. “I have a boyfriend.” She said softly. “I know. Where is he anyway?” Nik said. Gia looked up at him. “He stayed in New York. He runs his own business. It’s very important that he stays there.” Gia explained. Nikolas studied her face. “Well that’s a load of bullshit if I’ve ever heard one.” Nik said. Gia looked at him stunned. “What?” She asked. “If he really loved you, he would do anything to be with you.” Nikolas said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Derek loves me and I love him.” Gia said hotly. Nik scoffed. “Yeah right.” He said. Gia looked at him harshly. “What is that supposed to mean?” She asked. “You don’t love him Gia. I know it.” He said with a confidence that left Gia speechless.

“Hey you two, what’s going on over here?” Lucky asked as he sat down. “Nothing.” Gia mumbled as she looked away. Lucky smirked. “OK well if it’s nothing then you won’t mind me leaving with my aunt then? She needs me to help her with her computer tonight and she said that I could just spend the night after I’m done. I thought that maybe Nikolas could take you back to the hotel. It shouldn’t be a problem though right? Since you guys are getting along so well.” Lucky said. Gia glanced at Nikolas, shocked to see a smile on his face. She took this as a challenge. “I don’t have a problem with that. That’s if Nikolas doesn’t mind.” Gia said, cocking one eyebrow. Nikolas kept the smile on his face. “I’ll take Gia home. It’s no problem.” Nik said. Lucky smiled. “All right then, I’ll catch you guys later. Gia, it’s been lovely, we’ll have to do this again sometime.” Lucky said, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it. Nikolas was shocked by the jealousy that seemed to fill his entire being as he watched this. He quickly smiled at his brother before he walked away. “Are you ready to go? Or would you like another drink? Or perhaps a dance?” Nikolas asked, leaning across the table slightly. Gia laughed. “In your dreams prince.” She said, standing up and walking away. Nikolas laughed as he stood up and fallowed her out of the club.

“So where do you live?” Gia suddenly asked. Nikolas glanced over at her as he drove. It was the first thing she had said to him since she got in the car. “I live in a cottage at the edge of town.” Nik said. Gia nodded her head. “Do you have a girlfriend?” Gia asked, shocking herself. Nikolas smiled. “Not at the moment.” He said. Gia blushed when he looked over at her. “So have you thought about where you are going to live? I mean, you can’t stay in the Port Charles Hotel forever.” Nik said. Gia shook her head. “No I haven’t really thought about it. That’s not really like me. I usually think things through thoroughly before I do something, but this time I just kind of jumped into this whole Deception thing.” Gia answered. “I think I know of a place.” Nik said. Gia made a face. “If you’re thinking your place, forget it.” Gia said. Nikolas laughed hard. “Yeah right, like I could put up with you living in my house.” He said. Gia glared at his profile. “I was thinking that you could move in where my aunt Alexis lives. She has a penthouse over on Courtland Street. I think the one next to her is available.” Nik said. Gia thought about it. “That sounds nice actually. Do you think you could take me over there? Like maybe tomorrow or sometime soon?” Gia asked. “Yeah sure.” Nik answered. “Thank you.” Gia said softly. Nikolas pulled up to the hotel and stopped the car. Gia got out. “So I’ll see you tomorrow then?” Nik shouted. Gia stuck her head in the car. “See you tomorrow prince.” She said. A radiant smile graced her beautiful face before she shut the door. Nikolas sat in his car for a moment after she left; he threw his head back and smiled. “Gia.” He breathed.