CH 19

Gia looked up at Nikolas from her spot on the couch, she didn’t want to talk to him, but she needed to. “I thought we already did that?” Gia said. Nikolas slowly walked up to the couch and sat down on the arm, he looked down as he continued to talk. “I can’t except what you said, I don’t want us to be over. When I saw you and Jamal together today, it drove me mad, I want you Gia.” Nik said. “So, we can call up your uncle and tell him that we’re together?” Gia asked. “Gia, I can’t” Nik said softly. “Well then I can’t be with you Nikolas, I don’t want to be some little secret lover, waiting for you to come home and sleeping with you when no one’s looking.” Gia said getting up off the couch. Nik stood up, grabbing her arms from behind and pulling her close, her back was turned to him as he spoke softly into her ear. “You are so much more to me then just sex Gia.” He whispered, leaning in and kissing the side of her neck. Tears were forming in Gia’s eyes as she leaned into him. “How long can I stay in this house Nikolas? A week? Two?” Gia asked. “My family is dangerous Gia, if my uncle thinks that your still living here, I don’t know what he would do.” Nik said desperately. “Then there’s your answer Nikolas.” Gia said pulling out of his hold. “So are you seeing Jamal now?” Nik asked loudly as she was about to reach the stairs, she turned around and looked at him. “He asked me out and I said yes, I’m sorry but we just can’t have what we want.” Gia said turning back around and running up the stairs, she rushed into her room with tears in her eyes. Nik sank down on the couch, tears rolling off of his cheeks. He didn’t know what to do, he felt so confused. He knew that it might be better to just let things happen and for Gia move out, but in his heart he knew he couldn’t bear that.

~Club 101~

“You’re not a bad dancer Forester!” Paul shouted over to Seth. “Oh please, it was my dancing that got you to go out with me.” Seth said grinning. “OK you got me.” Paul said in surrender. “You’re a great dancer, and this has been so much fun.” Paul said. Seth smiled at him. “Look I know we’re having fun but it’s kind of hard to talk in here, what do you say we go to Kelly’s and grab a bite to eat?” Seth suggested. “Sounds great.” Paul said smiling. “OK let me go say goodbye to Carly.” Seth said headed over to the office. He stuck his head in and smiled at his friend who was reading something. “I’m going to go somewhere a little quieter I think.” Seth said. Carly looked up at him and smiled. “Oh are you sure? You guys were so cute, you could stay all night and I would be happy just watching you guys.” Carly said. Seth laughed. “Thanks but I want to get to know him a little better, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He said. “OK, you two love birds have and nice night!” Carly shouted as he walked out the door.

A short while later, Seth sat across from Paul, they were both eating burgers as the talked. “So is Gia always that friendly?” Paul asked. Seth laughed. “Not always, you never know with Gia, she either really likes someone, or really hates them, and she’s never afraid to tell you just how much.” Seth said. “She’s a very interesting person.” Paul said. Seth nodded his head. “She’s wonderful, I love Gia, but I’m around her pretty much all day long so I really need to talk about someone else tonight, like you.” Seth said smiling. Paul looked down shyly. “OK, what do you want to know?” He asked. “Well, how long have you lived in Port Charles?” Seth asked. “I just moved here recently. My uncle Reggie lives here and after the loss of my boyfriend, I decided that I needed a change of scenery so I moved in with him. He lives in this nice house. He works for a really rich family and makes a lot of money so he’s letting me stay there rent free until I find a job out here.” Paul explained. “You lost your lover?” He asked. “Yeah, he uh died of aids.” Paul explained. Seth became uncomfortable with this news. “Aids?” He repeated. “Yeah but he didn’t get it how you might think, it was through a blood transfusion.” Paul said softly. “So do you have aids?” Seth asked. “No, I’ve been tested several times just to be safe and I don’t have it.” Paul said. “I’m sorry about your boyfriend, I lost my boyfriend too. He was shot to death.” Seth said. “I’m sorry.” Paul said softly. “Thank you. Well what do you say we call it a night?” Seth said. “Hey are you freaked out or something?” Paul asked. “No not at all, it’s just that Gia, she doesn’t sleep well and she might need me tonight.” Seth said. “Oh OK, well let’s order her some pie and then we’ll take it to her?” Paul suggested. “That would be great, thank you for thinking of that by the way, that was so sweet. If it were me I would have just said tough luck.” Seth said. Paul laughed.

Seth and Paul walked into the cottage to find Nikolas sitting on the couch by himself in the living room. “Oh hey I’m sorry Seth, I didn’t know you were having someone over tonight, I’ll go upstairs.” He said standing up. “No please Nikolas this is your house, you don’t have to leave. This is Paul, Paul this is Nikolas Cassadine, he owns this house.” Seth said. Paul walked up to Nik and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you Nikolas, you have a nice home.” Paul said. “Thank you.” Nik said. “Yeah and I’m sure he’s getting pretty sick of us but hopefully he won’t have to put up with us too much longer.” Seth said. Nik’s chest was heavy at the thought of Gia and Seth leaving. “No Seth, I’m not sick of you at all, you guys can stay as long as you need to. My uncle is just going to have to deal with it.” Nik said. “Well that’s good, Gia will be happy to hear that.” Seth said. Nik hoped so. “Where is Gia anyway? I want to take her this piece of pie.” Paul said. Nik pointed to her door. “She’s up stairs in her room, I don’t think she’s asleep though, she’s probably waiting for Seth.” Nik said, an aching in his heart was felt as he thought of not having Gia in his bed tonight. “OK I’ll go take this to her.” Paul said. When he disappeared upstairs, Nik sighed and plopped himself down on the couch. “I don’t know what to do Seth, I want to be with Gia but I just don’t know if I can.” Nik said. “Well you would be crazy to let that girl go.” Seth said. “I know.” Nik breathed. “So what’s the problem Nikolas? She’s not going to sit around and wait for you; Gia’s not like that. You better grab her while you can.” Seth said. Nik nodded his head slowly, an image of Gia and Jamal flashing through his head. Seth was right; she definitely wasn’t going to wait for him.

Paul knocked on the door that Nikolas pointed to; he stuck his head in shortly after, not really waiting for an answer. He found Gia pacing the room; she was wearing a small light pink tank top and a pair of tiny white shorts, clearly ready for bed. She stopped in the middle of the room when she saw him. “Why are men so damn difficult to be in a relationship with?” She asked. Paul shrugged. “Unsolved mystery.” He said as he walked in. Gia smiled at him, she cocked her head to the side. “What do ya got there?” She asked eyeing the container in his hand. “Hmm, chocolate brownie pie, I was going to see if you would want to watch me eat it?” Paul said. Gia’s mouth widened. “Oh so you came to eat it in front of me?” Gia said. “Well, I could share.” He said grinning. Gia bit her lower lip. “Got a fork?” She asked arching her eyebrow. “Two.” He said holding them out to her. Gia laughed and ran over to him, she tugged on his arm and walked him over to the bed and set him down, sitting herself across from him. “So you’re talking about Nikolas right?” Paul asked as he and Gia dug into the rich chocolate pie. “How did you know? God! Am I that transparent?” Gia asked in shock. “No, I can just sense it, I don’t know, you guys would make a good couple that’s all.” Paul said. “Yeah we would. Too bad he can’t stand up to his family.” Gia said looking down at the food on her fork and then stuffing the contents into her mouth, she moaned slightly at the comfort it provided. “So what now?” Paul asked. “I don’t know.” Gia said softly. “But you love him right?” Paul asked. Gia looked down sadly. “I do.” She said in a whisper. Paul smiled. “Then it will work out.” He said matter-of-factly. Gia laughed and nodded her head as she took the last bite of the pie. “That was the best pie I have ever had.” Gia said. “I got it at Kelly’s.” Paul said proudly, he frowned slightly at Gia’s disgusted look. “I hate Kelly’s, long story. Well it was really good and you are you are so sweet for bringing it to me. Thank you.” Gia said. “You’re welcome.” Paul smiled at her. “You know, you didn’t have to eat it with me, I bet Seth is freaking out because we’re taking so long.” Gia said. Paul laughed. “I wanted to eat it with you Gia, I like you.” Paul said. “Well I like you too, you gay’s are such good listeners!” Gia said as she stood up, Paul laughed as he fallowed her lead. “Yeah we’re trained for that, it’s in the manual.” Paul said laughing. Gia laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. They gave each other a kiss on the cheek and Gia fallowed Paul out of the room so that she could say goodbye to him.

Nik looked up when he heard Gia and Paul stepping down the stairs and his breath caught as it did every time he looked at Gia. She was wearing those “shorts” again and she looked sexy as hell in them. He watched as she and Paul came downstairs hand in hand. Seth cleared his throat. “How long does it take to eat a piece of pie anyway?” Seth asked impatiently. Gia rolled her eyes. “Oh please, you got to spend all night with him. It was my turn.” Gia said grinning, ignoring Nik’s stares. “Yeah well if you don’t mind, I think I’m going to walk him out to the car so that we can have a moment to ourselves.” Seth said. He walked up and stole Paul’s hand from Gia and began to pull him towards the door. “Goodnight Gia.” Paul said smiling at her; he waved a quick goodbye to Nik before Seth pulled him the rest of the way out. The click of the door shutting made Gia feel trapped with she and Nikolas being the only ones in the house. Gia stayed close to the door as she looked over at Nikolas, who was standing by the stairs. Nik watched her, wondering what she was going to do. “I’m going to wait for Seth upstairs.” Gia said. She tried to rush past him, but he stepped in front of her, blocking her from moving past. “I’ll miss you tonight.” He said as he touched her face lightly. Gia stayed frozen in her spot, completely numb as she felt his touch upon her face. “You won’t be able to sleep without me, you know that.” Nik said softly. The fact that he was right scared her, and made her feel defensive. She jerked her head away from his hand. “I’ll have Seth. It’s you who won’t be sleeping well tonight. But this is how it’s going to be when I’m gone, it’s just a glimpse of what’s to come; your uncle won’t let us be together Nikolas. I will never sleep in your bed again because you won’t stand up to him. But hey, we’re only friends right? Well friends tend to get on your nerves so as soon as Seth and I get enough money we’re moving out of here so that we can be out of your hair, don’t worry it won’t be much longer.” Gia said. She pushed past him and ran up the stairs. Leaving Nikolas once again to feel like he had been kicked in the stomach.

Seth walked into the bedroom to find Gia waiting for him in bed. “You’re not going to sleep with Nikolas tonight?” He asked. “What do you think?” Gia retorted as Seth pushed off his jeans and pulled off his sweater and walked over to the bed in his boxers and muscle shirt and sat next to her. “You can’t keep hiding from his Gia, this is his house.” Seth said as played with one of her braids. Gia sighed. “I know. Look, If he tells his uncle to go to hell then I’ll change my mind in an instant because I want to be with him, but if he thinks he can just be with me and keep it a secret from everyone around him, he’s fooling himself.” Gia said. “Well, I think he’ll come to his senses soon, he’s going crazy without you already, he’ll break soon.” Seth said pulling her down to lie on his chest. “Yeah maybe you’re..Hey! Nice try Mr. but don’t think you’re going to get away with not telling me how things went with Paul.” Gia said. “It went well, he’s a great guy.” Seth said. “Red! You know what I’m asking. Did you kiss him goodnight?” Gia asked, she watched as Seth blushed. “Yeah we kissed.” He said grinning. “Oh man, you guys sucked face?” Gia said with a huge grin on her face. “No! It was short and sweet.” Seth said. “Awww just like you.” Gia said. Seth lunged at her, tickling her stomach. Gia shrieked with laughter at his torture.

Nikolas lay in his room, in his empty bed. He could hear Gia’s laughter peal through the house. It made him smile at first, but then he quickly saddened. He needed to put an end to this torture and soon. He was going to have a talk with his uncle. He had never felt so alone, so lost. Somehow Gia had managed to pry her way into his life, and now that she might not be in it, he felt incomplete. Tears rolled down his cheeks as her laughter continued to fill the house. “I will get you back Gia.” Nik said aloud.