| The Secret Setting: Gia and Nikolas are in the kitchen. Gia is cooking and Nikolas is watching her cook drinking out of a bottle of water. It is late afternoon. Since it is winter the sun is already down. "Nikolas explain to me why I have to be here. I mean none of your friends like me. Lizard will just annoy me and say something mean and then it will be World War 3! Then you get mad at ME not matter WHAT! Don't you ever get tired of always defending Liz? She does have a boyfriend! And you say you don't pick side!" She had finally realized that Nikolas was only her friend. She had hoped that it would grow to more. But she was so unsure of his feelings. She loved his company and didn't want to destroy it by flirting to much with him. Although when they did he always flirted back. Then there was the time when they kissed. She was in total heaven when their lips were locked. But....well....they decided it was only a kiss. "Gia. They like you...you just never give them a chance. And don't call Liz that." He was watching her cook. She was cute when she was cooking. She was so into what she was doing. That was one of the qualities that he enjoyed about Gia. When she put her mind to something she would not allow herself to fail. He hoped that she wouldn't fail in the competition for FOD. He knew that would break Gia's heart. But yet in the back of his mind he knew that she wouldn't become the new face. He knew his mother wanted Liz and Carly or anybody would not persuade her otherwise. It was the Spencer thick head. "See there you go again standing up for her. Like I said Nikolas she has a boyfriend to be her knight. Hey why are we doing this dinner now and not on Valentine's?" Most likely cause Liz and Lucky wanted to go up to their....nevermind. "Well, Liz and Lucky have that as their special day every year. It is more then Valentine's for them." He watched Gia's face to see if she would continue the conversation. Gia was a hard one to read. You could sometimes look into her eyes and they would be soo soft and loving. Like the night that htey kissed. Now that was passion. He had never had such a kiss before. But they said it wouldn't happen again. "A 'special' day? What does that mean? Can't they have it any other time?" She never liked Liz. Everyone thought that she was some sort of godess to humans. Even Laura, which made the odds even more stacked against her. She hated it. It wasn't even like that she was jealous of Liz. Quite frankly in her opinion Nikolas was WAY better looking then Lucky. Nikolas was an amazing person... "Gia why do you even want to know?" Well you always want me to become their friends. How can I do that if you never tell me what happens with them? I mean i was lift in the dark with that whole brownie thing. So, why not tell me!" He was amazingly stubborn sometimes. But it didn't even come close to her stubborness. "Fine, I will tell you. Liz got raped on Valentine's a couple of years ago. You happy now? Listen Gia don't mention any of that to Liz or anyone. It isn't exactly a happy thought for all of us. Alright?" He knew Gia could keep secrets. But it never hurt to reinforce. "So that is why everyone thinks she is so fragile? I won't Nikolas relax. I still think that Liz could and can handle her own. It makes me sick watching every fall at her feet. She isn't a Princess you know." She felt for Liz but..she would NEVER tell Nikolas that. "Oh and you think that YOU are a Princess?" He chuckled. She could be Princess if she got a little softer. "Why yes! Of course I am a Princess. Just wait till you see my outfit. Then you will wish that you had been nice to MOI!" She left the kitchen with her head in confident way. Waving like a Queen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Setting: Gia is in her room. Getting dressed. She is standing by her closet. She looks scared and worried. "So lets see here...what to wear...." She had wished that Nikolas had never told her what happened to Liz. She felt sorry for Liz but that didn't mean she would treat her like a godess. But she could be nice tonight. Just for Nikolas's sake. She liked that dress. It was nice and Princess looking. Then she thought again about what Nik had said Liz being raped.... FLASHBACK There is Gia on a dance floor laughing with some guys and her 'crew'. She is titling her head back. "Oh yah. Jeff I told you that you could dance! Hey Tayern come here! Look at Jeff he can bust a move!" She feels something on her side. She looks down. It is her beeper. The number is 550-1111. Oh god not him.... BACK TO GIA'S ROOM Gia don't even think about that. Focus. It is all behind you. In that past. "DAMNIT NO IT ISN'T!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Setting: Back in the living room. Nikolas is sitting at the fire place. The door bell rings. "Gia they are here c'mon down!" He was looking forward to tonight. He loved watching Gia get all dressed up. He only hoped that she would be nice and not get everyone upset. "Hey Lucky! Liz, Emily...Zander." What was he doing here. He had thought Juan was coming not Zander. Oh-well he had better be nice. "Hey Bro! So how is the food. I am hungry! Liz had to get me out of Kelly's cause I was starting to go into the kitchen." "Yeah. Gia cooked the food she should be down here any minute." Just as he said that he heard creek in the floor boards. He turned around and there was Gia walking down the stairs. She look amazing. Well she always did but this was breath taking. "Hey. Nik you wanted me? Hey guys! I will go get the food." She gracefully went down the steps and into the kitchen. She knew that Nikolas was watching her walk away. She loved his facial look when he turned around. It was priceless. Almost as priceless when he saw her in her nightie a couple of nights ago. "Man bro. She lookes good!" He punch Nik's arm "LUCKY! Just remember who you are going home with!" She hit his arm. "Oh don't worry I couldn't forget!" He pulled he in and started to kiss her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is after super. Everyone is in the living room talking. Gia is starring at the fireplace. Everyone is laugh except for Gia. Liz is looking at her. "Hey Gia you alright?" Not that she really cared but she should be nice Gia was. "Oh...yah fine." Well that was a lie. All she could think about was her past. She could kill Nik for telling her. But how was he suppose to know.... FLASHBACK "I told you Ryan....I went to the CLUB. Why won't you believe me?!" She was on her knees begging him to believe her. "Who was with you?! Let me guess JEFF!" "Yah....he was there but I didn't talk to him. I ignored him the whole time. I promise. I love you Ryan." Lie was the only way to get out. "Oh sweetie thanks" He picked her up and started to kiss her. BACK IN THE LIVING ROOM Gia looked at the fire. She had tears in her eyes. She needed to get out of here. "Hey sorry but I need some fresh air I will be back later. If you guys are gone...happy Valentine's" She was up and getting her jacket on. She opened the door and left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She had been walking for over the last hour. She didn't even remember where she had been. Only that she had been crying. She saw a park bench. She sat down. She thought she was past the memory of Ryan. She had moved tried to go to school. But yet it was still there. She had never told anyone. How could she? She remember what she would tell her mom. FLASH BACK In Florence's house. "Gia what happened to your face?" "Oh... well...you see...I was walking dropped my books and when I went to pick them up the door opened and well....my face got a little roughed up." SHe looked at Ryan. He smiled at her and kissed her. She hated him kissing her. He was sick. But she couldn't figure out how to get free from him. She had tried but her mother loved Ryan and forced Gia to get back. She called her a failure. That Ryan was an amazing boy. And if she let him go she would be a complete failure in her eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was 3 o'clock before Gia got back to the Cottage. Nikolas was laying on the couch. As she closed the door he awoke. "Gia...."He wiped his eyes and looked at the door. "Yah it's me. Everyone leave?" She didn't want Nik to see her face. It was all beat up...wait no...it was tear stained. that was all. Ryan wasn't here. "Where did you go. I was worried." He could tell something was off. She was already walking up the stairs. "Nothing...just....tired. I wanted to go for a walk is that alright?" She needed to get to bed. She was exhuasted from crying all night long. "Yah that is fine. Well thanks for being so nice tonight. And Gia..." He it came.... "Yah?" oh please don't make me look at you. "I just wanted to tell you that you looked like a Princess tonight." He wished he could see her face when she said that. She was begining to cry"Thanks..." She raced up that stairs slammed her door and locked it. What was wrong with her. That wasn't quite the reaction he was looking for. Him and Lucky had a talk about him and Gia. Nik agreed that he would start to test the water to see if anything was realyl there or not. But unfortunately on his first try he bombed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gia was laying in her bed trying to fall asleep. She couldn't whenever she closed her eyes she was scared by Ryan's face. He was always yelling and had his hand up ready to hit. She needed to get some sleep. She got up and headed for the kitchen. Maybe she needed to eat. Something. She was in the kitchen. She turned around and saw a figure standing in the door way. "Gia! WHY DID YOU DO THAT!! YOU LITTLE WITCH!! I LOVE YOU!! YOUR SUCH A FAILURE!! COME HERE! COME HERE!!" "Oh god NO!" She feel to the floor curled up and didn't move for an hour. It was 7:00am when she opened her eyes. She saw blood on her hands. She quickly got up and raced to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror. There were no marks. She looked at her hands. She realized that she got so scared she had dug her nails into her own skin. "DAMNIT!" "Gia you in there? Everything alright?" He heard a funny noise last night but figured it was just the furnace. "Yah fine...I just cut my finger that is all. Be out in a minute." Okay find a band aid. "Alright." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the kithcen Nikolas is eating some toast and coffee. "Hey there sparky!" He smiled at her. Last night had been a real eye opener for him. He had decided that he was gonna test the water and see if there was anything between him and Gia. "Hello." He was so cute. She loved it when he called her that. "So let me see those hands. Are they cute badly." He gently lifted her hand. And pulled her close to him. "Um.....yah."She looked into those eyes. She wanted him to kiss her again. He stood up. Pulled her close to him. Leaned down and kissed her lips. He waited to see if there would be a response. And there was. She was kissing him back. She moved closer. She slowly put her arms around his neck. YOU FAILURE! COME HERE COME HERE! "AHH!" SHe quickly pulled back. "Gia whats wrong?" Why was she so scared so fast. "Nothing..."She looked at the window. There he was smiling at her. YOU LITTLE WITCH YOUR GONNA GET IT THIS TIME!! "oh...STOP NO!!!!" She fell to the floor. She began to shake uncontrollably. "GIA!! GIA!" What had just happened he looked at where she had been starring. There was nothing there. He grabbed the phone of the table and dialed the hospital. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nikolas is in the waiting room. Liz and Lucky come walking up behind him. "Nik what happened? We got here as soon as we found out." Liz sat beside him "I don't know. I kissed her and she kissed me. Then she pulled back and looked at the window and fell to the ground." He didn't get what happened. EHw as so confused "Man bro you kissed? Go Nik" He smacked his brothers back "Lucky!"Liz looked at him "Sorry" "So Nik have the Dr. told you what is wrong?" "No other then she is in shock. They don't know when she will....here he comes." He stood up and walked over to the dr. "Hello Nikolas. Well she in shock. But as we were doing tests we came to discover that she is un-able to have children. Did you know that?" "WHAT!! No I had no clue."He had a tear in his eye. Oh god what had happened to her. "But she should be awaking soon. We will be doing more tests on here. She has had some sevre broken bones that were never fixed properly. I will be back though with more." He walked away "oh god....why....!" He put his hands up to his face. "Nikolas...I am so sorry. I had no idea..."Lucky put his arm around his brother. "Yah Nikols so sorry. Do you think she knew?" "No! Because she always talked about having children and raising them! That is why she was a babysitter cause she loved children!" He was so mad right now. W hat insensity pig had done this to her! No wonder she was so harsh and scared. She had her mother for a mother and some freak beating her! "What are you thinking about right now?" "That no wonder she is so harsh and scared all the time! Do you know that he mother insult EVERYTHING SHE DOES!! And now she had this happen to her!" He wanted to kill. He needed to go see her. "Hey I am gonna go sit with her. Are you guys gonna stay?" "Yah...we're just gonna go get something to eat. you want anything?" Liz looked at him. "Yah please coffee." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nik is sitting beside her bed. She looked peaceful he was glad. "Hey princess. Well...you know I miss you right now. I was gonna tell you that...well...I need you Gia. Sooo much. I need you to be my...Princess."With that he began to cry. She lay there motionless. Trying so hard to get out of the dark hole she was in. But she couldn't it hurt to move. She could hear Nikols talking. He needed her! She needed him so much right now. He was her Prince. She was kissing him...and then....he was there! Then she fell....that was it. She tried to open her eyes. Nikolas HELP ME!! Wake me up. Do something please. Think Gia...he isn't there. There is nothing to be afraid of Nik is here. "Gia wake up please! I need to you! We all need you! Liz and Lucky are here. I will call her lizard if you wake up! Come on princess!" She slowly opened her eyes. He was there, crying.... "Nik...." It took so much effort to say that. "GIA!! OH GIA!! Hey I am here. I am not going anywhere! I will stay right here. How do you feel?" 'mmm...I hurt..." She couldn't stay up. SHe could feel herself falling back. Slowly drifting back into emptiness. "GIA!!" He knew she was back in the dark again. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Three days had past since she was admitted. She hadn't woken up since. Nikolas had been there everyday. He had only gone home once. He refused to leave her. He knew that she could hear him. He knew that she needed him to be here. So he stayed. "Hey beautiful. You should see all the flowers that are here. Liz and Lucky gave you some roses. Carly gave you a whole bunch of bouques. My mom even stopped by. We all really miss you. Especially me. Funny hey...when we first met each other we didn't really like each other..but now...I can't imagine my life without you! so why don't you make it today the day." He stroked her face. She was so soft and tender "Nikolas...you here..."Her eyes slowly opened. She smiled when she saw him. She slowly moved her hand to his and grabbed it. "Gia. Man you have no clue how good if feels to see your eyes. So sparky you hungry? The nurse told me to get you to eat soemthien when you woke. so.....what you hungry for?" He noticed her hand holding his. He put his other hand on top of hers. "I wanna....kiss..." She smiled. "I think I can manage that one." He leaned forward and kissed her. Tenderly but loving. "Thanks. I feel better now.' She laughed. "Gia your awake!' Liz walked in and smiled. "Hey Liz. How are you?" She wanted to be nice to Liz. She was tired of fighting it took to much strength. "I am doing fine. We have all really missed you. I even miss you! I brought you some soup. I saw you open your eyes so I figured you might be a little hungry. Was I correct?" She walked over and handed Gia the soup. "Yah correct thanks." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It has been a week since she fell. She is back in the cottage. It is her first day back. Her and Nik are in his room. "Gia...why were you so scared?"He put his arm around her. "Umm...you don't really wanna know do you?" She knew she was gonna cry. And she had successfully not cried in front on Nik. "Yah. I didn't wanna ask you in the hospital. Everyone was there and I figured not the best timing. But Gia I need to know" He kissed her forhead "okay your right. (she got tears in her eyes) When I lived in Brooklyn I had a boyfriend named...."She couldn't go there. She wiped her tears. You can do this Gia."Ryan....he beat me a lot. I tried to get away but my mother called me a failure and she made me stay with him. She said that he was everything I could ever want. So I did. I didn't wannappoint her again. It was stupid. I know but....I was soo..scared." She looked at him. She was ready for the rejection of Nik. She was surprised though. "Well...no one is ever gonna hurt you again. Did you know about not being able...."He was crying now. Poor Gia. He looked into her eyes and could see a little insecure, scared girl. "No! I ....didn't.....Not until the Dr. told me....." She lay her head on his shoulder. They sat there for quite some time. He held her and comforted her. Showed her that he loved her and needed her. She was his Princess. She loved how he held her. She never wanted to feel alone again. And Nik was her Prince. Lisa |