Chapter Five Laura got a job at General Hospital with the help of Amy. She started working there the Monday that Lucky went back to school. Lucky pulled himself out of bed early Monday morning and dreaded going to school. He knew Luke was right, he couldn’t hide forever and at least it was better than sitting around looking at nothing. He hated this new place and wanted his old home back. Lucky knew it wasn’t going to work. So, he pulled himself out of bed and got ready for school. He arrived and joined Liz and the others at the table before first bell. Sarah walked up all smiles. She looked at Lucky and said, “I’m glad you're back. We missed you.” “I bet,” Lucky thought and looked around for Nikolas. “Where is the prince?” Lucky asked. “Nikolas is working at ELQ and he has his own place. I spend so much of my time with him lately that gram is getting worried,” Sarah said smugly. “You little bitch,” Lucky muttered. “Good, I was wondering what they did to this place while I was gone and now I know what. I’m going to talk to the teacher about what I missed see you guys in class,” Lucky said and got up and left. “Sarah? We know you don’t like Lucky but don’t torment him like that. You wouldn’t want anyone to do that to you,” Emily said coldly. “I don’t care about Lucky Spencer. I still don’t know what I saw in him in the first place. He is a bully and acts as if he knows everything. I hope he finally gets taken down a few pegs because of all of this,” Sarah said and left. “You have to live with that?” Sly asked Liz. “Yes. I’m going to check up on Lucky. He really doesn’t look happy.” Liz went after Lucky and found him at his locker, talking to a kid she didn’t know. “Come on, Spencer. You are such a goodie goodie. Take a drink. You'll feel better,” Chris said handing him the flask. Lucky relented and took a long drink. The liquor burned on the way down but it didn’t taste too bad. Lucky had tasted better stuff at home, when Luke gave him a sip, every once and a while. “I've had better but thanks,” Lucky said taking a drink. Chris hid the flask as Liz walked up. “I’m sorry about Sarah. I hope she didn’t cause you to much trouble,” Liz said. “No. I just don’t know what I saw in her. Come on we will be late for class,” Lucky said and they headed to their first class. Lucky noticed by the time class ended that he felt better. The pain in his heart was dead and he had even started to relax a bit. Lucky spent the rest of the day happy and wondered if it was the drink that relaxed him. He knew a drink wouldn’t kill him, beside Luke got drunk all the time and he never worried about what the law said anyway. Lucky decided to get Luke’s old flask out and start using it at school. He would take a drink every once in awhile, so that it wouldn’t hurt so much. Liz and Lucky spent the day at the library looking up books for their class project and she helped Lucky get caught up with his work. Lucky realized that Liz wasn’t anything like her sister. She was plain and direct. He liked that about her and hoped that maybe they could start being better friends. Liz was glad Lucky finally started to notice her and tried her best to impress him. She caught him looking at her everyone once in a while and it felt good. Lucky walked Liz home after they ate something, once they had left the library and then he headed home. He walked into the house and for the first time he even started to like this place. His mood changed when he saw the newspaper heading. "Cassadine Empire Crumbles! Suspected Fake Heir to Blame." Lucky growled at the headline and threw it in the trash. Lucky grabbed Laura’s old carpetbag and dug up Luke’s liquor flask. He took out the open bottle and filled it up. Lucky then took a drink. Unlike the stuff Chris was drinking, this didn’t burn on the way down and it even tasted better. Lucky then went to do his homework. After a while, he noted that sure enough the pain went away and he felt better. Lucky thought a drink before school and one when he got home would help him get through life right at this moment and after things got better, he'd stop drinking. He could stop any time he wanted. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Laura’s first day went really well until she ran into Stefan. He found out that she was working at the hospital and went down to talk to her about Nikolas. Stefan saw her at her desk and his heart jumped a beat. “Hello, Laura,” Stefan said as he walked closer. “What do you want?” Laura asked glaring at him. “I want to talk about our son. He is starting to spend a lot of time with Helena and that isn’t good,” Stefan said. “You've talk to him about it?” Laura asked getting worried. “I tried but he is still very upset with me. I was hoping you would give it a try,” Stefan wondered. “I'll try but he might not talk to me either,” Laura said, “Do you know where to find him?” “He is working at ELQ and lives at this address,” Stefan said handing her the piece of paper. “Are you all right?” “I would be better if you avoided me at all cost. I am trying to get my little girl back and my family. You are just making matters worse.” Laura pleaded. “You still love him after all he did to you?” Stefan asked. “What he did to me? Stefan, you are as bad or even worse than Luke. You act so innocent about everything. Luke and I were meant for each other. You just have to live with it,” Laura said and then went back to work. Stefan left and headed to his office to make a call. He was looking for Katherine and hoped she would calm down enough to listen to him. Stefan wondered who was the bigger user: Luke or him. Laura’s words bothered him. Did he use Laura and has he became the person he hated the most, Luke Spencer? ”Stefan wasn’t to sure on that one. He walked to his office and call about someone watching his mother and son more closely. Laura waited until he left then called the office of ELQ and asked about Nikolas. She learned he was off work in an hour and was going to leave. Laura made plans to see him and maybe find a way to rebuild their lives together. Laura got off work about four and headed to the offices of ELQ and waited for Nikolas. She asked around and learned he left the same way everyday. She was leaning against his car when he walked up. “What do you want?” Nikolas asked coldly. “I want to talk and tell you my side of the story, that is if you'll let me.” Laura said. “All right, Sarah has something to do after school. I am not going to see her today. You have one more chance but one ground rule. Don’t tell me how or who to talk to. I’m sure you all ready know about me and grandmother. Right?” Nikolas said. “Right. I won’t this time. I just hope you'll be careful,” Laura didn’t like it but if she pushed it now she wouldn’t get her chance at all to talk to him. Laura and Nikolas went to the Outback to talk. They sat at the table in the back and talked quietly. “I just want to say I didn’t know who your father was. I knew it could have been Stefan but he never told me the truth.” “Why did you leave me?” Nikolas asked. “You want to hear it? I mean right now, Helena is off the record,” Laura said. “Because of grandmother? What are you talking about?” Nikolas asked. “Helena told me that Luke was alive and that I could leave. She would keep you and raise you. I left thinking I would come back and get you. Stavros changed all of that. He came after me and ended up losing his life. You know those reasons but you don’t know that Stefan contacted me a few days after Stavros' death and begged me not to tell anyone about you. He promised me that he would raise you and love you. You were the last in the Cassadine line and he wanted you to be raised right. I had been trying to tell Luke about you but when he said, I’m glad you didn’t have children by that man. I chickened out. I’m sorry for not being there for you and I hope you'll give me a second chance,” Laura said. “You left a year ago. Why?” “Stefan ordered it. He forced me to pick between you and Luke. He said he would tell Luke the truth about who your father was. I knew it would just cause more problems. So, I left. I thought I could be your mother and everything from a distance. I can’t and I know that now. I was wrong Nikolas thinking any of it. You paid a lot for my unwillingness to face the truth. I’m sorry,” Laura said and started to cry. “I don't’ know what to think. You let two men run your life. I don’t think that is love but you do. I don't think I’m ready for you to be my mother after all this time but I would like to be your friend. I understand now that you let Stefan use you. I believe that because he did it to me more than once. I also how hard it is to tell Luke anything from the little I've talked to him. I don’t like him but if you want him, I hope you will be happy. You said a lot today and I need time to think. When you see Lu, tell her I said hi and hope you would let me see her someday,” Nikolas said getting up to leave. He paid the bill and left.