Chapter 10

"Pardon me?  I don't know what you're talking about, Bobbie."

Bobbie came further into the room.  "You know what I'm talking about.  We agreed 
that Spoon Island was off-limits."

Laura looked at Bobbie in confusion.  "I repeat, I don't know what you're 
talking about."

"Laura, I don't have time for your Ms. Innocent Act.  Ever since Stefan and I 
got back together, all three of us have had an unspoken agreement.  *You* don't 
come *here*.   *I* don't invite you here, *Stefan* doesn't invite you here, and 
you don't come her on your own.  Even Nikolas has picked up on it and has 
stopped inviting you.  So why are you here?"

Laura couldn't ignore the facts.  "You're right about all that but I was only 
bringing Nikolas his jacket."  Laura held the jacket in front of her as proof.

Bobbie snatched the jacket away and threw it on the couch behind her. "There.  
You could have called Nikolas.  He obviously didn't need it since he didn't come 
back for it.  What are you up to?"

Laura blinked.  "I'm not up to anything and I don't like being accused."

"Laura, you know you're up to something.  What is it?  Life too calm for you?  
You can't handle having Luke putting his war with Helena on hold?  Or Lucky's 
moving back in?  Or the truce between him and Nikolas?  Or Nikolas and you 
finally having a good relationship?  Am I right?  Do you just like it better 
when everything's hectic and crazy and you're the only one who can fix things?"

Laura gave a nervous laugh.  "Bobbie, please, you're being ridiculous." She 
started backing up.

Bobbie moved in closer.  "I know what it is.  You can't stand not being the 
center of attention.  You don't want only Luke to be in love with you, you need 
Stefan panting after you also.  You love it when those two are battling it out 
over you."  Bobbie sneered.  "It makes you feel young and desirable.  So you 
came sniffing around here to see if Stefan still had that "obsession" for you. 
But let me tell you, he doesn't.  He doesn't need or want you.  He has me and 
he's happy.  And I'm not going to let you make Luke miserable after things are 
finally better."

By now Laura was mad.  She folded her arms and fixed Bobbie with a hard stare.  
"Are you trying to tell me that you married Stefan so that Luke would be happy?  
Because I know you'd do just about anything for him.  I recall hearing about you 
attempting to *poison* Stefan for Luke, wasn't it?  Or did you really fall in 
love with Stefan?"

Bobbie just shook her head, and went and opened the door.  "I haven't 
prostituted myself in years and I'm not going to start now, not even for my 
brother.  So why don't you prove you love *your* husband and get out?  And don't 
come back?"

Laura stood silent for awhile until Bobbie said through clenched teeth, "Now."   
Laura took her time leaving.  Bobbie slammed the door furiously after her.  

"I must applaud you, Barbara."  Stefan said behind her.  "I thought you were 
going to stoop to physical threats to get your way but you didn't."

"How long were you standing there?"  Bobbie turned around.

"I was here ever since you came in.  I wanted to see how you would handle the 
situation.  I must say, it was an excellent display of jealously."  The hint of 
a smile played at Stefan's lips.

"Jealously?"  Bobbie walked over to Stefan.  "I have nothing to be jealous of."

Stefan drew her into his arms.  "You never answered her question.  Are you with 
me to keep Luke Spencer happy or because you love me?"

Bobbie wrapped her arms around his neck.  "I think you all ready know the answer 
to that."  

"Yes."  Stefan murmured.  "Only a fool would dare betray me twice."

Bobbie laughed softly.  "You say the most romantic things."  He pulled her in 
for a kiss.

Carly slammed the front door behind her, interrupting their kiss.  They broke 
apart slightly to look at her.

"Sorry.  Hey, was that Laura I saw?  I thought she didn't come out to the 
island."

The couple just stood there and glared at Carly.  She was unfazed by it.

"Those mean looks aren't scaring me.  I'm the one you should be scared of. It's 
Saturday night, my son is spending the night with his father, and I'm free to do 
what I want but what am I doing? I'm going to *my* room in my *mother's* house 
because the only friend I have, his girlfriend doesn't want me around and for 
once I'm not in the mood to fight with her.  And my mother's about to get more 
action than I've had in the last 3 years! So, I'm not feeling too good and so 
*you* should be scared of *me*!"  Carly stomped up the stairs.  

The couple, glad to be alone, went back to making out.  Carly stomped along the 
corridor passing Nikolas' room as she went.  She could hear him talking on his 
phone.  Probably setting up a date, she thought sourly.  Haven't had one of 
those in years!

"Emily, I'm glad you called.  I'm sorry about not coming over like I promised."  
Nik said into the phone.

"That's okay.  I understood.  You were spending time with your sister.  Did you 
have fun?"

"I had a great time.  Lulu is growing so fast, even if I saw her everyday, I 
wouldn't recognize her."

Emily laughed at that.

Nikolas turned serious.  "So tell me.  How are you today?"

Emily knew what he was talking about.  "Better.  I spent the day with AJ, 
Michael, and Brook Lynn so I didn't have much time alone, much less to think."

"Well that's good, right?"

Nikolas could practically hear her shrugging.  "I guess.  Oh, I almost forgot.  
I'm going to give you my number so you don't have to worry about my grandfather 
anymore."

"I didn't know you had your own line."

"Yeah.  I only gave the number out to a few friends so we wouldn't tie up the 
family line.  It's 555-5309."

Nikolas wrote it down.  "Thanks."

"So, um, Nikolas.  Would you like to come over this week?  I promise we'll do 
something other than play video games."

"To tell you the truth, I liked playing video games.  How about Monday 
afternoon?  I'm free."

"So am I.  So I'll see you then?"

"Great."