Faithe-- Chapters 4 & 5
~4
Later at Nikolas’ apartment
Nik is making a bed on his couch when Faithe comes out of the bathroom wearing jeans, a gray tank top, with a black sweatshirt material jacket. Her hair was wet from her shower.
“You can have the bed.” Nik offered
“Don’t go out of your way, I’ll be fine on the couch.” Faithe said determined not to be bought in by his manners. ‘He is still a Cassadine, and can’t be trusted.’ She told herself.
“I insist, anyways Lucky would never let me live it down.” Nik said determined to kill her with kindness.
“How chivalrous.” Faithe said with an exasperated sigh.
“Well, Lucky and Liz should be here soon with the pizza.” Nik said breaking the awkward silence.
Downstairs
Lucky and Liz were walking into the motorcycle shop and Liz was carrying the pizza.
“ Hi Jason. How’s it going?” Liz asked sweetly.
“Good, Liz how are you?”
“Good, Thanks.”
“Hey Jason, I’ll put the new price list on the web page tonight, K?” Lucky said motioning Liz to the stairs.
Alright, remember to give me your hours tomorrow so I can pay you.”
“Sure thing, c-ya.”
“Later Lucky, bye Liz”
“Bye Jason.” Liz said from just inside the stairwell. “You know what?” Liz said once they were walking up the stairs
“What?”
“I think Nikolas likes Faithe.” Liz said in a playful voice.
“Yeah, I know,” Lucky said letting out a sigh “He’s got that glazed over thing goin’ on with his face whenever he looks at her.”
“That’s a good thing right? That he likes her?”
“ Yeah, but the thing is, he might end up getting hurt, I mean he has a better chance of getting Jason to dress up in a Halloween costume than he has of getting Faithe to trust him. From what my dad has told me, her family has just about as bad of a history with the Cassadines as mine does.”
“But you got past it, you trust him, he’s your brother now.” Liz pointed out.
“That took three years and some extenuating circumstances, and I have a feeling that Nik doesn’t want to wait that long.” Lucky said with a slight smirk.
Liz chuckled at that and reached for the doorknob and said, “ Let’s not keep the ‘lovebirds’ waiting any longer.”
Lucky laughed as he followed her into Nik’s apartment.
“What are you two laughing about?” Nik said teasingly.
Liz starts to laugh harder at this and Lucky tries to hold back his laughter long enough to tease Nik.
“Now Nikki, if we told you it wouldn’t funny anymore.” Lucky mocked and flashed that devilish grin of his.
Nikolas rolled his eyes and growled slightly, but knows it was all in good fun, he has become used to Lucky’s teasing, and decided to give him back some of his own. “Well, LUCAS, what’s for dinner?” Nik responds with an innocent grin on his face.
Lucky shoots Nikolas a look that says ‘Good one’. Liz laughs out loud at the look on Lucky’s face, as she puts some pizza on a plate and takes it to Faithe sitting down on the bed facing her still laughing.
“What was that all about?” Faithe asked amused.
“Nikolas hates being called ‘Nikki’, the only one who can get away with it is his little sister LuLu, and Lucky hates being called Lucas just as much. He only gets his full name when he’s in trouble.” Liz explained in a hushed tone and a slight glint in her eye.
“What is his full name.” Faithe asked with an evil, playful grin.
“Don’t say it.” Lucky warned coming up behind Liz.
“Say what?” Liz asked innocently tilting her head back to look up at him and smiled sweetly. Lucky chuckled and went to get a soda. Liz quickly leaned towards Faithe and whispered loudly “Lucas Lorenzo Spencer Jr.” Nikolas laughed victoriously as he sat on the chair beside the bed.
“I heard that!” Lucky called from the fridge as all four erupted in laughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later
The four teens are sitting on Nikolas’ bed playing poker. Liz, knowing better than to play poker with Lucky for long, is just sitting watching the other three. Liz doesn’t like to lose, even if they are only playing for M&M’s. Nikolas had learned a long time ago not to play for money, with Lucky, so he always kept a bag of M&M’s handy. The last time he played for money, Lucky bought himself a new laptop after the game. Nikolas was amazed tonight though, because Lucky wasn’t winning, Faithe was.
“Read ‘em and weep boys! Full H house, Aces and Lady’s!” Faithe cried smugly as she laid down her cards, and began to scoop the M&M’s in the center into her already humongous pile.
“Man!!” Lucky ran his hands through his hair frustratedly. He hadn’t lost this big in a long time. Good thing they were only playing for M&M’s.
“I’m done!” Nik said defeatedly and Liz laughed.
“Giving up Cassadine?” Faithe said mockingly.
“Score one for the girls!” Liz cries and high-fives Faithe.
“I haven’t ever had this much fun!” Faithe said pleased with herself.
“Yeah, but you’re not the one losing!” Lucky said obviously still in shock that he lost.
“This was great but I should get home, Gram worries.” Liz said rolling her eyes.
“I’ll walk you home.” Lucky said getting up.
“You better, you don’t have any more M&M’s to lose!” Liz said tauntingly, while putting her jacket on and picking up her purse. Nik and Faithe both laughed.
“HAHA. Very funny.” Lucky frowned putting his coat on. “Bye you two.”
“Bye guys.” Nik as Lucky shut the door behind him. He turned around to see Faithe putting her ‘winnings’ back in the bowl, and then started to put the cards away.
“You’re really good at cards, where did you learn.” Nik said looking at her thoughtfully. She was defenately beautiful and interesting, but how was he going to get her not to hate him.
“My dad and Luke.” Faithe said quietly, “listen I’d love to chat, but I’m pretty tired so I’m just gonna go to bed.” Faithe took her bag and went into the bathroom to change.
Nikolas let out an exasperated sigh after she shut the door. She had seemed so relaxed tonight then she just shut down when they were alone. Nik quickly got ready for bed and settled himself on the couch. He had on black silk pajama pants and a white T-shirt.
When Faithe came out of the bathroom she was wearing dark gray, flannel pajama pants and a black tank top. She climbed into bed and shut off the light on the nightstand.
“Good night Faithe.”
“’Night Nikolas.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside the Hardy house
Liz and Lucky walked up to the porch holding hands.
“I like Faithe, she’s really funny. I’m glad we were able to get her mind off her troubles.” Liz said as she turned to Lucky and put her arms around his neck. Lucky put his arms around her waist.
“Yeah, I can’t believe she beat me.” Lucky grumbled.
“She wiped the floor with you Lucky.” Liz said matter-of-factly.
“I know” Lucky groaned.
Liz laughed, then turned more serious.
“She seemed so sad sometimes”
“Elizabeth, her dad was just killed.”
“I know, but it seems like it goes deeper than that. She seems so alone.”
“She might not have told us everything, but I have a feeling she’ll open up to Luke. I don’t know how yet but she knows him. Anyway, she’s not alone anymore. She has the whole Spencer clan looking out for her.”
“Well, I know that’s a good thing.” Liz said with a suggestive smile.
“Oh yeah? And you know from personal experience?” Lucky said arching an eyebrow.
“Defenately” Liz whispered as she brought him to her for a passionate kiss. Lucky held her tightly and silently prayed to stay like that forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~5
The next morning—Spencer house
Luke and Laura were sitting on the couch ‘making out’ when the door bursts open.
“AHH, Jeez, can’t you two grow up?!” Lucky groaned
“No, can’t you knock?” Luke responded with a smile.
“No” Lucky said smiling
“Mornin’ Liz”
“Good morning Luke”
“Nikolas” Luke said shortly and nodded his head.
“Luke” Nik said and nodded back
Faithe stepped into the house from behind Nikolas and Luke’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Skeekter?!” Luke quickly went to her, picked her up in a hug, and twirled her around, laughing while Faithe laughed with him.
“It’s great to see you, what are you doing here? How’s your dad...” Luke’s sentence trailed off when he put her down and realized something was off “Where’s your dad?” Luke asked slowly with worry in his voice.
“You didn’t tell him?” Lucky asked looking at his mom.
“Tell him what!” Luke demanded looking from Laura to lucky and back to Faithe.
“I haven’t had a chance, he just got home ten minutes ago.” Laura said in her defense all the while trying to put her hair back in place. Liz smiled.
Lucky rolled his eyes and then turned to his dad “Well Dad...”
“Luke Dad’s dead.” Faithe cut Lucky off in a rush.
Luke looked shocked “Oh Skeet...” Luke pulled Faithe into his arms and closed his eyes for fear he would cry.
Faithe relaxed when Luke hugged her and let a few tears escape her eyes onto the front of his shirt. It was the first time since her father died that had even let a tear fall. She quickly regained her composure and pulled away. Luke looked at her, worried and confused.
“Where’s your mom Skeet?” Luke asked
Faithe looked at him with shock “Dad didn’t tell you?” she asked slowly.
“What?” Luke asked more worried.
“Mom was killed four years ago, Luke.” Faithe said slowly.
Luke took a step back and put a hand on his head trying to digest what he had just been told. “Four years ago? Why didn’t Frank tell me? We kept in touch.” Luke asked in disbelief and then sank down on the couch. Laura sat down next to him and put an arm around his shoulders, and he seemed to relax a bit.
“I don’t know Luke. He said he’d tell you eventually. Dad hadn’t been the same since she died. We didn’t talk about it much.” Faithe said with a sadness in her voice. Then she pulled herself back together. “Look, all I need is a place to hide out for a while until the heat dies down, then I’m outta here.” Faithe said with a confidence she doesn’t feel.
“No way!” Luke and Laura cried in unison. Luke looked at Laura and smiled at her support. He turned back to Faithe and stood. “You’re my responsibility now, Skeeter.”
“Luke, I’m 18 I can take care of myself!” Faithe shouted and turned to walk away.
“Francine Marie Reynolds! You listen and you listen good!” Luke yelled. Faithe turned around slowly and seemed shrunken at the use of her real name. Luke lowered his voice a little but kept the intensity, “Your father wanted me to take care of you if anything ever happened to him and I intend to honor his wishes. You got it?!”
Faithe nodded slowly.
“Francine Marie?” Lucky asked trying not to bust up laughing.
“Lucas Lorenzo?” Faithe retorted and gave Lucky a look that dared a challenge.
“So we call you Faithe?” Lucky asked smiling.
“Unless you want me to call you Lucas.” Faithe said warningly.
“So where did you stay last night?” Luke asked.
“With Nikolas.” Lucky said preparing himself to explain.
“What?!” Luke screamed.
“Just listen Dad.” Lucky put up his hands in defense.
“Faithe, Liz, why don’t we go into the kitchen and get some coffee.” Laura said wanting to make a sticky situation easier. Faithe and Liz both nodded and followed Laura into the kitchen. Lucky then proceeded to fill Luke in on the situation.
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