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Another typical Port Charles day rolled around. People
were out among the streets, talking, jogging, driving. Daylight was
starting to creep through curtained windows and slightly
open doors. Rays of sunshine hit sleeping PC residents, waking them.
Lucky Spencer slept peacefully in the boxcar. It wasn’t
the most comfortable of places, but it was his home now. He would
rather sleep here than at where he used to call home,
with Luke and Laura. In reality, he would rather be sleeping in the same
room as Liz. He was always so at ease when he was around
her. She made him comfortable and she was the only person in
town who he really trusted and confided in any more.
She made the void left in him after he waged war against his parents a
little less deep. She was his angel so to speak, his
salvation, but he still hadn’t realized that just yet.
Elizabeth Webber slowly rose as the sun hit her face.
She had slept somewhat decently the night before. She, however, only
slept best when Lucky was with her, in the room. It had
been nearly 8 months since some man had savagely grabbed her
innocence and shattered with one sick, twisted moment.
She was still trying to get through the trauma. Finally, she was starting
to move on somewhat. It had been a long journey to get
from where she was then that night after her rape to where she is now.
Only a few months before, she had been terrified to go
out alone, fearing everyone who looked at her. She had been certain
Mr. Murty was her rapist, but she was wrong. And now
Liz was beginning to move on, to take control and not become plagued
by the constant reminder of her rape. She wasn’t over
it yet, but she was ready to start to move on. She didn’t know how to
move on yet though. All she knew is that right now, she
wanted to be with Lucky.
"Elizabeth, you have to get up dear," cried Audrey from the kitchen.
It was the last week of total freedom, the last few days
of summer. School would be back in session in 8 days and Liz was
dreading the day. The last thing she wanted to do was
go back to school. She looked at her clock. It said, "8:11."
"Oh no! I’m supposed to meet Lucky at 9."
Lucky had convinced Liz, who quickly agreed, to meet him
at Kelly’s for breakfast this morning. They were supposed to meet
at 9.
After a quick shower and spending 10 minutes brushing her hair, Liz bolted down the stairs.
"Gram, I have to go."
"But Elizabeth I fixed you breakfast."
"I know Gram and I’m sorry. I promised Lucky I’d meet him at Kelly’s. I thought I told you. What time is it now?"
"8:45. Well, I suppose you should get going then. Perhaps we could have lunch or something. Stop by the hospital or call me."
"OK Gram, I will. See ya."
"Bye dear, and be careful."
"I will."
It was 8:53. Lucky was sitting in Kelly’s with his hair
all nicely combed the way Liz liked it. He didn’t do it on purpose. In
fact,
he started doing a lot of things Liz liked. It wasn’t
done purposely, they just happened but it was something he hadn’t noticed.
He was sipping some orange juice. Liz was due to come
any minute now.
They were best friends he thought. "So why is my stomach all fluttery?"
He noticed that feeling a lot lately. Every time he saw
Liz, he got butterflies in his stomach. He didn’t know what to make of
that
yet, but he guessed it was a sign of something.
In the back, the Today Show was ending on Ruby’s 8 inch
black and white TV. The local news brief came on. The anchor ran
through the local news, not much so far today and then
turned it over to the meteorologist. Derrick Chase, the newest
weatherman on the station graced the screen. He mentioned
what a nice day it would be in Port Charles and to enjoy the
sunshine while it lasted. Tropical Storm Isis was still
predicted to hit the Carolinas and move up to the north.
"But," as Derrick pointed out, "This has been a tricky
storm to forecast and it could very well go anywhere. Some models have
it going back out to sea, while some show it turning
northward and heading toward Massachusetts. We’ll keep you posted."
Tropical Storm Isis was about 15 hours away from landfall
on Cape Fear, North Carolina. The storm had baffled computer
models for days. And she was going to do it again...
Chapter 2
Liz walked into Kelly’s at 9:10 on the dot. She was 10 minutes late. Lucky was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is he?" she thought.
Looking around, she started to get a little worried. It’s
not like him to just not show up. He’s always on time, for everything she
thought.
"Except his homework," she snickered quietly.
After a minute of standing by the door, Liz walked up to the counter and sat down on one of the stools. She waited.
"You know, you aren’t supposed to be working today," Ruby told her.
"I know. I’m meeting Lucky. Well, I was meeting Lucky here. Have you seen him?"
"He was here a minute ago. He might have gone upstairs for a moment."
"Oh, OK. Thanks Ruby."
Suddenly, Liz felt a rush. He was here, somewhere. She
didn’t know what she was feeling, but she was ecstatic. She’d been
that way when Lucky asked her to meet him here. This
wasn’t like the other times they made plans to have a meal together.
Lucky sounded different when he asked her the night before.
His tone was different. He seemed a little bit more serious, a little
bit more nervous. She hadn’t noticed then, but she did
now. Checking her watch, the hands pointed to 9: 21.
"OK Lucky Spencer," she thought, "I made you wait, and now you’re making me wait. So, where are you?"
Lucky came down the staircase that lead to the rooms above
Kelly’s. He stopped when he saw Liz’s back. He was in awe.
The butterflies crept into his stomach again. He couldn’t
move, almost as if he was transfixed on her, frozen by her presence. He
could see her side as she shifted on the stool. She was
wearing those overalls again. Lucky loved those. Actually, Lucky loved
anything she wore. Her hair was down, flowing like gold.
She was sipping some water that Ruby had given her a few minutes
before. She kept looking at her watch. Lucky broke out
of his statue-like state and came down to the counter. He placed his
hands over her eyes.
"Guess who?"
"Hmmm...must be that boy who I’ve been waiting 19 minutes for now. Or maybe it’s, you know, Lucky Spencer."
"In a good mood I see."
"Truthfully?"
"Always."
"I am in a good mood. I’m in a great mood now that you finally got here. Where were you?"
"Oh, I was in the bathroom. Had some OJ that just didn’t..."
"OK, no need to go on," she said to him laughing.
"So, um, wanna go sit down?"
"Well, I guess that would be a plan."
"OK."
"OK."
There was a pause. Nothing was said. Their eyes were locked on each other. Liz broke the silence.
"So... shall we move now?"
"Yeah."
They picked a table in the center of Ruby’s. Lucky and Liz sat across from one another.
"What can I get for you two?" Ruby asked.
"I don’t know. How about some pancakes and bacon?" Liz said. "Oh! And some orange juice too. Thanks Ruby."
"And I’ll have the same Aunt Ruby," Lucky responded.
"Even the orange juice Lucky? You know, if it didn’t..."
"Yes, even the orange juice," he said to Liz, flashing
that smile that she loved so much. It was like the white light at the end
of the
tunnel to her.
"OK. I’ll get it out to you in a few minutes," replied Ruby.
"Thanks Aunt Ruby," said Lucky.
"So, what do you want to do today?" asked Liz.
"I don’t know. Wanna go to a movie or something? I know you said you wanted to see that movie, oh what’s it called?"
"The Little Mermaid," they both said at the same time.
"It’s my favorite Disney movie you know. You’d like it. Well, you’d like Ariel at least."
"And why is that?" Lucky asked.
"You’ll see."
"Well, it doesn’t matter what movie it is, as long as it’s with you."
"What?"
Liz could have sworn her heart had stopped then and there. Did he mean it she thought?
Lucky had said what he was thinking. His face turned red. He muttered out a reply.
"Um. Nothing...nope. Um. I was just saying that, uh, being with you will make it fun."
"Oh, OK."
"So, why are they showing it again?"
"Well, the movie place is having a Disney marathon and it’s one of the films they’re playing."
"Cool."
Ruby brought out their orders. The two continued their
breakfast "date" until they finished at 10:30. Time had flown by and most
of their meals remained. They had talked most of the
time. They had the ability to do that. They were so in sync with each other,
almost as if one could read the other’s mind and vice-versa.
*************The North Carolina Coast*************
The National Hurricane Center was baffled. Jim Jacobs,
a senior meteorologist and hurricane expert, didn’t know what to think.
He, along with many of his colleagues, thought Isis was
going to slam onshore in Cape Fear that morning. In fact, that had been
counting on it. North Carolina’s eastern coast was all
but deserted. Isis, now Hurricane Isis, was not the most powerful of
storms to hit the state, but this one was different than
the others. Isis had been the toughest and most bothersome thing to
forecast. She moved in one direction and then, zigzagged
in another. She would lose strength, gain it, lose it again, and so forth.
She had a mind of her own so to speak and the Hurricane
Center was not going to take any chances. Isis had applied the
brakes 180 miles southeast of Cape Fear, NC. She was
speeding towards the coast at 15 MPH only hours before, but now
she was stopped. Completely. This was not a good sign.
There was nothing to move her around. And with nothing to steer Isis,
she could sit right there for days. Or she could move
in a different direction, strengthen, weaken, or completely fall apart.
No
one knew. But Jacobs and the Hurricane Center were watching
closely.
Now, they, and the rest of the east coast, had to sit
and wait. And prepare for whatever happened. From Florida to Maine,
everyone on the coast and inland had to be on their guard...
Chapter 3
Seven hours and counting. She had sat there, lurching
and threatening for seven hours. Only a slight drift here and there. She
was eyeing a target, Cape Hatteras. She had strengthened.
Now with winds sustained at 100 MPH, Isis was becoming more of
a danger than originally anticipated. Her movement was
quick. She was stationary at noon, but moving like a dart at 12:30. The
surf around the North Carolina coast was enormous. With
surges towering at 10 to 12 feet, the waves pummeled the houses
and the shore edging the Atlantic. With her steady jaunt
to the northeast, Isis picked her victim and was going to take action.
The hurricane warnings were now in effect all the way
to Atlantic City. Isis was on the move..
***************************************
The movie started in 20 minutes. Lucky and Liz walked
into the theater lobby. It was decorated with huge Disney displays.
There were movie posters of all the movies playing today.
Liz walked over to the poster showing "The Little Mermaid." She
drifted off to another one, "Sleeping Beauty."
"What’s that one about?" Lucky asked.
"You’ve never seen ‘Sleeping Beauty’? Have you seen any Disney movies at all?"
"Um, not really."
She laughed. He loved that. He couldn’t describe her laugh
or how it made him feel. He immediately smiled the moment she let
it out.
"Well, then maybe we’ll have to watch a few more today huh?"
"OK."
"Don’t sound so enthusiastic!"
She laughed again.
"So, you want anything to drink or something?"
"Well, popcorn would be nice."
"Cool."
They walked over to the concession booth. Lucky ordered a large popcorn for the two of them to split.
"You wanna share a drink?"
"Sure."
Liz got all dizzy. The thought of them sharing a drink
made her get all excited. She didn’t think it meant anything, just two
friends
sharing a drink. No big deal at all. But it was to her.
"I got us a Coke. I know it’s your favorite."
"How’d you know that?"
"I dunno. I pay attention," he smirked. No, he knew. He
hung on her every word almost all the time. She could ask him to do
anything and he would be there.
"Well, I’ll take the popcorn, you can carry the drink," Liz said.
They walked into the movie theater.
"Hmm...look at all the kids," Lucky snickered.
"Oh come on!"
She grabbed his free hand and led him to two seats in the center of the theater.
"This place OK?"
"Works for me."
They sat down. Lucky placed the drink in the cup holder on the seat. Liz placed the popcorn in between them.
"What’s this movie about anyway?"
"Now, if I tell you, it won’t enthrall you?."
"Enthrall me? OK."
"How much longer."
Lucky looked at his watch, 5 minutes until show time.
It dangled down, it was a little large for his wrist. She found it extremely
cute. He was very skinny, but she liked that. She didn’t
want a macho man. In fact, she didn’t have a ‘type’ that she preferred.
"That is so cute," she blurted out.
"Huh?"
"Oh! Your watch. It’s kinda big you know."
"Yeah, but I like it."
"Me too."
The lights dimmed. Some of the kids started clapping. Liz grabbed Lucky’s hands and smacked them together to join in.
He looked at her with that smile again. The movie started. Liz started singing along to the opening number, "Fathoms Below."
About 20 minutes passed. Liz looked over at Lucky. He was laughing.
"Yes! He’s enjoying it," she thought.
She reached for the popcorn. Her hand bumped against his.
He was grabbing a few kernels too. The two looked at each other.
Liz got a little red.
"Sorry," she said.
"No prob."
He smiled again. She felt like she could have melted right
then. It’s not like they hadn’t held hands before or anything she
thought. But she didn’t feel the same way now as she
did then. That bump gave her a tiny rush, a flutter in her stomach. They
returned to watching the movie.
Ariel was now walking. She had accepted Ursula’s proposal
of giving up her voice for a chance to walk and be among people
on land. It was around this time in the movie that Liz
slowly found herself against Lucky’s shoulder. Her head was resting on
it.
Lucky looked down and saw her. He laid his head softly
on hers.
"That was actually pretty cool," Lucky said after the movie let out.
"See. I knew you’d like it."
"You know me better than anyone most of the time," Lucky thought.
"Well you were right," he responded.
Lucky glanced at his watch. It was 2:30.
"What time did you have to get home?" he asked.
"By 3."
"It’s 2:30 now. Shall I walk you home," he asked flashing her the smile again while extending his arm like an escort.
"I suppose I can let you," she laughed.
The sky was getting a little overcast now. The wind had
picked up. Not too much, but it was stronger than when they had
entered the theater.
"Looks like it’s going to rain," Liz said.
"Nah."
"Well, the weatherman said we might get some rain tonight. There’s like some front or something coming through."
"I’ll take your word for it."
"You better," she laughed again.
They were at Liz’s house.
"Well, I guess I’ll see you later," Liz said.
She didn’t want him to go, but Gram had arranged for a
girl’s night out of sorts. When Liz called before the movie, Audrey said
that she had tickets to see the new play in town. Liz
agreed. She still felt bad about the running out on her earlier this morning.
"Yeah. So how long are you going to be gone?"
"I don’t know. The play starts at 8 I think. It’s like 2 or 3 hours. So, 11 I guess."
"Well, maybe I’ll stop by and visit," he grinned.
"My window will be open."
"OK."
She gave him a hug before he walked down the sidewalk.
She wanted to run down to him, grab him and never let go. But she
still wasn’t ready to move that far into a relationship.
She still hadn’t figured out what she was feeling for Lucky. And the same
could be said for him about her. He would have given
anything to have stayed. He looked up at the sky again. Cloudy. The
wind blew through his hair...
Isis was sitting offshore of the Outer Banks. She had
stopped again. This time is wasn’t to strengthen though. Isis was turning...
Chapter 4
Jim Jacobs sat at his in desk. He was worried. Isis was
dancing along the coast. Teasing it. Playing around, like some sort of
game. She had stopped 3 times on her trek to Cape Fear
then turned to the northeast. She stalled again right off of Cape
Hatteras. She was supposed to hit there. But Isis had
never done what the forecasters thought. The direction she was heading
in
looked favorable, to the northeast into the Atlantic,
no landfall seemed in sight. But she stopped again. She went from 10 MPH
to 3 and then a slow drift. Inching northward now.
"She’s a thing of beauty," he thought. Isis was a beautiful
looking storm, albeit a pain to predict. Her eye was closed and tight.
She was stronger than before now, up to 120 MPH winds.
She was completely symmetrical, with feeder bands wrapping
around and keeping her afloat. Isis had a will to survive.
All eyes were looking towards Delaware now.
***************************************
"What a wonderful day we had Derrick," said Jackie Walters, anchor of the evening news.
"It was wasn’t it Jackie." Their banter was aggravating and tedious. Derrick went on with the forecast.
"As you can see, the clouds have been thickening over
the last few hours. This is all in advance of this weak cold front coming
our way. We might get a few showers but nothing to substantial.
We have two things we are watching. First, up here, is a strong
High pressure system. It was supposed to start moving
out today, but it has remained firm right in Maine. And down here you
see Hurricane Isis, now a major hurricane. The Hurricane
Center thought she would hit North Carolina, but she’s been toying
with the coast all day and it seems safe to say that
the Carolinas don’t have to worry about Isis making landfall. The latest
track
puts Isis heading northward through Delaware. If that
track holds, we’ll see some of the rain. But that’s at least 2 days away.
Now on to tonight’s..."
***************************************
Liz and Audrey walked back into the house at 11:30. The
play had been fantastic! They had seen PCU’s version of "As You
Like It." Liz was still in a rush from the performance.
She loved it.
"Wonder if Lucky would like it?" she thought.
Well, Elizabeth, I am going to turn in."
"OK Gram. And thanks so much for tonight! I had a lot of fun."
"I’m glad you liked it dear. We’ll do it again some time."
Audrey had changed with Elizabeth. Months after the rape
Audrey didn’t know how to act around Elizabeth. She still felt some
reminder of her own ordeal years and years ago. But slowly,
by attending sessions with Elizabeth, the two became closer.
"I’d really like that."
"Goodnight. And try not to stay up too late."
"I won’t Gram. Night!"
Audrey headed upstairs while Liz walked into the kitchen.
She wanted something to drink. She opened the refrigerator and saw
some orange juice. She laughed hard, remembering Lucky’s
little "problem" earlier.
"Maybe I’ll call him," she thought. Then, "Uh no. Can’t do that! He doesn’t have a phone in the boxcar."
Part of her wanted to leave the house and go see him.
But she was suddenly overcome with sleep and found herself walking
upstairs.
It was a beautiful night. The clouds had subsided and
the moon was out in full force. It’s light shone into Liz’s room, highlighting
her bed. She opened her door. Immediately she saw her
window was closed.
"Wait. I left that open."
She walked in slowly, scanning the room. Something caught
her eye. It was on the bed. The moonlight showcased the object. It
sat there, motionless. It was a doll. Ariel. She sat
there, resting on the bed. Liz picked her up and smiled. There was a note
attached.
Hey! I found this on my way home today. I thought of you and got it. Hope to see you tomorrow.
-Lucky
PS- Sweet dreams
"How sweet," she said.
Liz noticed something on the note. He signed it Lucky,
but there was a heart by it. No "your friend" or "take care," it was a
heart. And he never said "Sweet dreams" to her before.
She combed Ariel’s red, flowing hair. Sitting on the bed, Liz looked out
the window. It was a magical night. The moon was so pretty
she thought. She wondered what Lucky was doing.
"He’s perfect," she said under her breath.
Changing into some PJ’s, she climbed into bed. Ariel was sitting next to her.
"Well Lucky, sleep tight," she said. "And sweet dreams to you too."
She turned to the window and quickly fell asleep.
Lucky was sitting in the boxcar. He was still wet from
taking a swim at the creek near his "home." He’d have to take Liz there
sometime. It was a quiet place. Not many knew about it.
The water there was crystal clear, odd for Port Charles water. He
knew that Liz loved to swim. She had told him that once
when they were talking. He dried off his body, after all, he hated to
sleep in a wet bed. It was a warm evening, clear but
warm. The clouds earlier hadn’t brought in any rain to cool things off,
so it
was still muggy. So he laid down in his swimsuit he had
taken during one of his rare visits back to the home that was no longer
what he called home. He looked up at the sky. Then the
moon. All he could think about was her. It was like a flood in his mind
that he couldn’t escape. Every thought, every breath,
was Elizabeth.
"Hope she liked the gift," he said.
He had really had fun today. No, Disney movies weren’t
his idea of extreme fun, but he didn’t mind them. He knew she had fun
tonight at the play too. Elizabeth loved the arts.
"There’s an idea. We could go to a play."
Not Lucky’s idea of a fun Friday night date or anything,
but he would do it. He wanted to do it. He was still trying to figure out
his feelings. He really liked her, a lot. But he was
afraid to go to far. She still didn’t seem like she was ready to become
more
than friends. But he could wait. He’d have to. He would.
His eyes grew heavy. Looking at the sky once more, he
turned over and fell asleep.
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