CH 12

Gia didn’t know how Brandon talked her into going to this stupid party but here she was getting dressed for it. She put on the dress Nik had bought her. Secretly hoping that he would notice. She hadn’t talked to him since that day in the park when she told him she didn’t trust him. The truth was that she didn’t trust her heart with him, afraid that he would break it if she let him. She missed him so much, and Jacob asked about his Nikki almost every day. She was hoping that she could talk to him and apologize to him, and tell him how much she missed seeing him. She looked into the mirror, the dress she had on enhanced her best qualities, one of her smooth shoulders exposed, the black fabric making her mocha skin standout. She put in all her earrings and slipped on her black shoes. She felt shy just looking at herself in the dress; she wondered how in the world she was going to go out in it. She took a deep breath and went and got her coat, slipping it on so that she was fully covered by it. She came downstairs to find her mother come in. “You look nice.” She managed. Gia was taken back by her complement. “Thank you.” She said. Her braids were up, only a few were let down giving her a more dramatic look. Her makeup was subtle but it accentuated her lovely face. “You have Jake tomorrow morning before he goes to Carol’s so don’t stay out too late.” Flo demanded before leaving her. Gia sighed knowing her mother’s mood was too good to be true.

Brandon looked over at his brother, surrounded by all his usual friends. They had agreed on this party, the one thing they had agreed on in a while. Although Nikolas had no idea that he had invited Gia, in fact he assumed that he wouldn’t for social reasons, thinking that Gia wouldn’t fit in with this crowd. He knew his brother was in for a surprise when he saw Gia tonight and was looking forward to his reaction.

Nikolas was chatting away with his friends. Back where he belonged. Mad at Gia’s rejection at first, he soon realized that he was Nikolas Cassadine; he didn’t need the kind of shit that he had to put up with lately. He had gotten way too wrapped up in Gia. He had his friends, and lots of them. Woman would die to go out with him, he didn’t need to try and win Gia’s heart. She was just a girl, nothing but a stupid infatuation with something he couldn’t have. He gave up on her, and he moved on. He now eyed Maggie again as she sat next to him, his arm draped around her shoulder.

“So Nikolas, how did it go with that girl you were asking about? Did you do her?” His friend Scott asked, surely for the whole groups benefit. Nikolas rolled his eyes. “What girl?” Maggie asked turning to him.

Gia walked in, the door was wide open and she stepped inside, looking around for Brandon, or anyone she knew. She started to walk into the living room when she heard Nik’s voice. She looked over to see the back of his head as he was sitting on the couch in the living room, surrounded by a group of people. “It was Just some girl. She’s nobody, I barely even know her.” Nik said. “Oh come on Nikolas, you were asking about Gia Campbell not too long ago, you got over her that quickly?” Scott laughed. Gia just stood there, frozen in her spot, unable to tear herself away. Maggie gasped. “Gia Campbell? That slut with the baby?” She laughed. “It was stupid OK? I just thought she was hot.” Nik defended. “Yeah and you wanted to nail her.” Scott added. “Well can you blame me?” Nik smirked. Maggie laughed. “I don’t think you’d have to work very hard on that one, I think Sammy the janitor could get her.” Maggie laughed, the rest of the group fallowed. Gia’s heart felt like it was ripping in two. She couldn’t even move or breathe as she heard Nikolas laugh about her. Too hurt to even cry, she turned around, all she knew was that she needed to get away before anyone noticed her. She had barely turned around when she bumped into someone. “Hey careful sweetheart, you better be careful where you walk, you don’t want to get hurt.” Lucky said, laughing as he steadied her. Gia felt numb as she turned and saw everyone’s heads turn and look at her.

Nikolas felt like he couldn’t breathe as he turned around and saw Gia standing there. She looked stunning in the dress he had bought her. But the look on her face tore at his gut as she locked eyes with him. She looked absolutely crushed. “Oh speak of the devil, maybe you can clear up some of the gossip for us hun, tell us, who is the father of your baby?” Maggie smirked. Gia strode up to her and slapped her across the face, not caring that she came so close to Nikolas. She glared at the girl as she gawked, holding her hand up to her face. “Don’t you EVER talk about my little brother again! You can spew shit about me until you turn blue in the face for all I care, but leave my baby brother out of it!” Gia yelled, her eyes clashing powerfully with Nik’s as she spoke of Jake. Never thinking that he would ever let someone talk about him like that. “Why the hell does she keep looking at you Nikolas?” Maggie spit. “I was just thinking the same thing.” Gia said turning and running away from the group. Leaving Nikolas feeling numb with guilt and pain. He tried to play it cool, shaking his head at the group. But he soon excused himself and walked out of the room.

“Gia.” Brandon said as he caught her in his arms. She was in tears now and she was running for the door, but Brandon stopped her. “What’s wrong Gia?” He asked holding her. Nikolas stopped dead in his spot, he had wanted desperately to apologize to Gia but as he looked over and saw her wrapped up in his brother’s arms, that anger and hurt he felt returned and he couldn’t bear it, so he turned and walked back to his friends. “Its Nikolas, I thought he was my friend.” Gia was now sobbing as she clung to Brandon. “Gia what did he do?” Brandon asked, pulling her back slightly to look at her. “He thinks I’m nothing. I thought he was my friend but he thinks I’m just a slut. I heard him talking about me. I heard everything her was saying. He was so mean.” Gia cried. “Oh Gia, I’m so sorry he said those things about you.” Brandon said hugging her. “I hate him! I never want to see him again. I, I have to leave.” Gia said pulling back. “Gia you won’t let my brother come between what we have will you?” Brandon asked, looking her in the eyes. Gia shook her head. “No I just have to get out of here.” Gia said turning and leaving.

The minute the last person left the party; Brandon went into the living room and cornered his brother. “If you ever hurt Gia again, I’ll kill you!” He yelled. “Why? Things seemed to be going well between you two. You know what brother? You can have her, she’s just a stupid girl.” Nik’s heart was breaking as he said this. He barely felt the blow to his face that his brother threw at him until seconds after, at which time he brought his hand up to his face. “You don’t deserve Gia’s heart, but you had it, and you stomped all over it. I hope you’re happy.” Brandon stormed out. Nikolas fell to the floor, sobbing over the events of the night. He hated himself.

Gia let out a small moan as she entered her house; she hadn’t remembered that it was Phil’s poker night. She looked down at herself, finally registering that she had left her coat on the bus. She tried to sneak past but she didn’t make it. “Gia, good you’re here you can get us some more beers.” Phil said through the release of the cigar smoke in his chest. “Yes sir.” Gia said walking up to the kitchen. “You let her go out like that Phil?” A guy named Mike asked. Phil looked at Gia. “I tell her to put more on but she insists on wearing things that make her look like a tramp.” Phil said. Gia was so sick of people calling her that, especially being that she was still a virgin and had only had one boyfriend her whole life. “Oh you know you like it you sick pervert.” Gia retorted. Her heart pounded as Phil’s friends all laughed, but he laughed with them. Gia was relieved that he had let it slide. She got the beers and placed them on the table and then ran up stairs, taking her dress off in one swift motion and throwing it roughly into her closet, she changed into her pajamas and just pulled the blankets over her head, blocking out the world around her.

A short while later, Gia’s blankets were ripped off of her; he grabbed her exposed shoulder as she was facing away from him. He jerked her towards him and slapped her exposed thighs, four times as she cried out. He gripped her face in his hand roughly. “You pull that shit again and you’re dead. You don’t want to know what a sick pervert can do to you.” He hissed and then pushed her head away with his hand. Sobs racked Gia’s body until she felt sick to her stomach. She pulled her blankets up over her head again, praying for eternal darkness.