Great Expectations
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.” --As You Like it, William Shakespeare.
Chapter 1: When did it all happen?
Have you ever woken up one day and noticed how everything was so damn perfect? Well maybe not perfect but normal or good, and you just laugh because you know something’s going to happen that’s going to ruin everything. Well, it seems to be a constant pattern with my life. Gia had once told me that everything that seems great in life has an expiration date. I didn’t understand what she meant until now. And now that I’m sitting down on a train station waiting for the express to get here, I can’t help but notice how the past years of my life have started to flash back to me. Each year with a different story. Everything just seemed to happen so quickly. The memories come and go and all in the while I catched an elderly woman smiling at me from the next seat. Giving somewhat of a smile back I look around and see people racketing by, pushing into eachother, mumbling curses, yet at the same time minding their own business. For the next few minutes, I thought about my father. What was the old man doing now? Drinking a scotch? Cursing at the television set? Working? I remember the last time I saw him, which was about an hour ago when he dropped me off here. Behind all the high hopes he had I knew there was a part of him that had doubts and was exhausted. As I felt another flashback coming around I’m wondering if I should just shrug it off. Right then an announcer comes on saying that my train would be delayed for another hour or so. So I just sigh and think----what the hell.
-----------------
Five Years Ago…
**Luke’s**
“Lucky! Lucky!” Luke Spencer shouted as he summoned his son into his office.
“What is it Dad? I’ve gotta get going.” 21 year-old, Lucky Spencer said while putting on his jacket.
“Unless you’re planing on taking your ass to San Juan Island your not going anywhere, kid.” Luke said while he looked at the inventory.
“I still have to go there?” Lucky sighed and made somewhat of a grimace as he took a seat in a nearby chair opposite to his dad’s desk.
“We’ve been over this, and I hate repeating myself,” Luke closed the inventory tablet and settled it down on his desk, “I hate repeating myself.”
“You just did,” Lucky pointed out.
“Oh yeah. Well anyway. Your still going.” Ignoring his son’s groan he continued, “Jane Jacks has done allot of free publicity for this club and I owe her one.”
“Exactly Dad. You owe her not me.”
“Don’t be such a smart-alleck.”
“Like father like son,” Lucky smiled. “Besides, what am I supposed to do there?”
“She lives in a big house. I’m guessing you’ll just need to fix stuff. The greenhouse..electrical applicances…stuff like that.”
“Since when did I become a mechanic?”
“Around the time the club got free publicity,” Luke said as a matter-of-factly. “Look it’s only for a couple of hours a week.”
Lucky looked up at his father and knew he couldn’t say no. It would guilt him to death if he did. As much as things seemed to go wrong in his life, his father usually had it worse. He nodded, unwillingly and Luke smiled, “Good.”
Lucky stood up and started to head towards the door but turned around after a moment. “How am I suppose to get there?”
“You’re going to have to take the ferry. You can’t miss the house, since there’s only five beach-houses in the entire island. It has a whole bunch of trees, grass, leaves, and other green crap scattered all around it.” Luke informed. Lucky nodded and turned to head for the door only to turn back again. “Oh and Lucky, if that dame offers you something to drink and even if it looks like tap water---don’t take it.”
“Hey!” Robin Scorpio laughed as her boyfriend continued to tickle her. “C’mon, you know I’m such a sucker for that.”
“Yeah, but I love you anyway,” Jason Quartermaine smiled as he looked up at the love of his life. Slouching back on the bed they shared, he moved his hands up and down his arm. She laid her back to him, allowing them to embrace.
“When do you have to go?” She asked after a moment.
“I thought you would at least wait five minutes until you tried to get rid of me,” he said sarcastically.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t want you to fail oncology because you’re in bed with me.”
Trailing kisses down her arm and over her spaghetti strapped shirt he murmured, “Your worth it.”
Smiling, she tilted her head to face him, “Did you study?”
Jason sighed yet grinned. He had always received this from her. Even before they were dating. They had met in medical school, and as far as he could remember Robin was the one always looking out for him whether it was in school, family, or anything else. “Yes. I studied.” At her mildly unsure look, he held up two fingers like a scout. “I swear, I studied.”
“Good. Then you shouldn’t have any trouble acing this exam.”
He grasped one last yawn before getting up and putting on his clothes. “I think you expect too much from people, Robin.”
She sat up on the bed and watched him dress. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. You get disappointed on the UPS man if he brings a package in late.”
Robin nodded. She couldn’t deny it. She was one of those things that the world dreaded the most—a perfectionist. “Does that annoy you?”
“Sometimes.” Jason shrugged as he buttoned his shirt. “But I guess that’s what people do to eachother; its human nature.”
Robin arched a brow. “Annoying another person is part of human nature?”
“Damn straight.” He said, kneeling down to give her a quick kiss. “At least that’s what Grandfather always says.” He sat down on the bed to tie his shoes. “And speaking of my grandfather, he’s throwing a party for me.” He glanced back and noticed Robin’s shocked expression. “But don’t tell him I told you so, it’s supposed to be a surprise.”
“How did you figure it out? I mean the party’s being held somewhere on the San Juan Island.”
“Reginald blabbed. It’s always useful having a gossiping butler around that house. But don’t worry—I’ll pretend to be surprised. But I doubt that we’ll have any fun once we get there.”
“What makes you think I’m going with you?” She asked slyly. “Maybe I have someone else in mind.”
“Oh really?” Jason grinned as his hands caught up to her waist. She threw another fit of laughter as they both landed back on the bed.
Lucky yawned lazily as he got the car into the ferry. Within a matter of minutes, the horn blew, and it was off onto the harbor. He looked out from his car window at the view of the waters before glancing on the rearview mirror, he shivered in surprise when he saw the guy in vintage clothing sitting on his back seat. “Who the f**k are you?”
“Not the best thing to ask a crook on the run,” the guy said blankly. “Look, I’m not going to hurt you---not unless I have to that is. I just needed a car to take me to somewhere---anywhere as a matter of fact.”
“How’d you get in the car?”
“This thing.” He looked around the interior of the car and shook his head. “Classic Chevy. Easy lock.”
“Well that’s comforting.” Lucky muttered in his breath.
“I’m sorry. But I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
The guy sighed and tumbled himself onto the front seat next to Lucky. Taking out the gun from his jacket pocket he said, “Maybe I should use a different choice of words.”
Lucky’s eyes dropped for a quick second at the thought of the number of possibilities this man could do to him.
Noticing Lucky’s tense expression, he said, “Relax man. I’m not going to mug you or anything. I just needed a free lift. Really beats taking abuse from a cab driver. And then I heard you can get a serious case of lice from those filthy metro buses.”
Lucky faced the man just in time to see him put his gun away. He looked around the ferry, there were a few other cars around. “Shit. Of all the cars…”
“I guess you got lucky,” the man said with a small chortle, but then noticed his name-tag employee ID from Luke’s. “Oh god. Don’t tell me that’s your name.” He looked up on the frown at Lucky’s face and started laughing. “Your name’s Lucky. People name their pets that.” Once he was able to drain his laughter he caught Lucky looking at him blankly. “But seriously, is that your name?”
“Its one more than you.” Lucky said genially, surprised that he was able to easily converse with a stranger that was most likely a criminal.
He looked at him for a second before looking out the window. “The name’s Sean.”
Lucky nodded. “It’s been awhile since Port Charles has had a new criminal.”
“Yeah, I’m the new felon in the block. “So where exactly is this joy ride supposed to take me?”
“San Juan Island,” Lucky answered, holding on to the steering wheel in order to remain calm.
“Its cold.” Sean shivered. Lucky looked at him awkwardly, the air conditioning wasn’t even on, the weather was around 83 degrees Fahrenheit and it according to this guy it was supposed to be cold. Sean slouched on his seat and acted as if he was a regular Joe; and as sad it as it was it could’ve been the story of his life. Two minutes effortlessly passed by and Lucky caught Sean taking out a ziplock bag with what looked like a white substance that could possibly be cocaine. Holding it up to Lucky he asked, “Want some? On the house.”
“No thanks.” Waving the bag away, he shook his head. “I’m already on the patch,” he said somewhat sarcastically.
“That’s for nicotine, idiot.” Sean rolled his eyes. “Sure you don’t want any? You just might get—lucky.”
“Like I’ve never heard that one before,” Lucky said dryly and turned to look at what he guessed was a drug-dealer. “You know there are other people in this ferry? I could just yell out for help.”
“And I could just beat the shit out of you,” Sean threw back.
“Yeah. You could. But if you wanted to, I have the feeling you would’ve done so awhile ago.”
“Don’t get on my bad side, kiddo,” Sean warned, “Your luck just might run out.”
As the sound of another horn blew, the short-lived ferry ride came to an end and it landed on the tip of San Juan. Lucky pulled the vehicle into drive and drove straight threw the road. Once he stopped at the house filled with vines, he heard a door slam. Turning around, he saw nothing. Sean, if that was his name, had made his exit more swiftly then his entrance.
“Mister, mister…” I heard someone calling. Blinking numerous times I finally got my eyes to open. I looked around me. People were still walking by quickly as if their lives depended on it. Hell, maybe it did. I turn to my side. The elderly lady that was winking at me awhile ago is gone. And I’m not sure whether or not to be relieved. Looking up, I notice a man in an janitor’s employee holding up a train ticket. “Is this yours?” He asked.
Taking the ticket, I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.” Letting out a loud yawn, I mumbled, “Do you know when the train to New York leaves?”
“Yep.” The janitor answered, grabbing his mop and heading the opposite direction, he calls out, “Six minutes ago.”
Hoping to forget his encounter with Sean, Lucky shrugged it out of his mind as he entered the infamous house across the bay. His father was right. Though it was a mansion, it needed a gardener badly. Leaves and vines were scattered all around the front yard and on the exterior walls of the house, but that didn’t stop it from making it look so beautiful. He slowly walked towards the front door getting the funny feeling that he was being watched. Just as he was about to ring the doorbell, a beautiful young lady who looked about his age opened the door. Instead of greeting him, she just gave him a blank stare. After a long pause, he realized that he had to start off the conversation. Clearing his throat, “Um, I’m Lucky Spencer.”
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” The girl asked in a snobbish tone.
“Let the boy in,” he heard an older feminine voice say from behind the door. The girl took one long glance at him, and waited a beat too long to move aside and let him in. Once Lucky got in the big manor, he noticed how the walls were stale and still covered with leaves, yet in some weird way the decorum of the house remained classy. He walked around the entrance, with the girl following behind him. After looking around some of the paintings that decorated the house, he turned back to the girl. “Are you Jane Jacks?”
She appeared somewhat insulted by his comment. “No,” she said bluntly. “I guess you can say---I’m her ward.” With that, she turned around and walked towards the stairs, allowing Lucky to either follow her.
Lucky ran to catch up with her. Once they both climbed the stairs in regular pace, he asked. “Excuse me, but what exactly is a ward?”
She held on the pole as they walked up the stairs. And without even giving him a second glance she shot, “Get a dictionary and figure it out.”
Realizing that he was dealing with a typical snob, he sighed. “Can I at least know your name?”
She stopped in her tracks and looked at him. He had stopped walking as well. They both stared at eachother, with a slight twinkle in both their eyes. Tilting her head she asked, “Why? What’s in a name?”
Lucky frowned. “You tell me. I’m too busy looking for a dictionary.”
She cracked half a smile before continuing the journey up the long stairway. “I’m Gia.”
“Gia.” Lucky nodded and then smiled. “It’s a good name. I like it.”
He was a few steps behind her, but he was pretty sure she was rolling her eyes. Spinning around once more she snipped, “What kind of a name is Lucky? I mean, don’t people name their canines that.”
Lucky shrugged. “I don’t know. What’s in a name, anyway?” She blinked once before allowing them to continue. Once they had gotten up the second floor, he heard the music of Nirvana coming from a nearby room. He saw Gia go up and knock on the door of that room. Another girl opened the door, who looked a bit like Gia or Gia looked a bit like her, and was possibly two or three years old; she had headphones over her neck and looked between both Lucky and Gia.
“You’re playing too loud again, Faye.” Gia said, annoyed.
“Fine, grandma. I’ll turn it down.” Faye made somewhat of a mocking laugh at her little sister. “Who’s the cutie?” She asked pointing at Lucky.
“I’m Lucky.”
“Well, don’t we sound so sure of ourselves,” Faye giggled.
“No you pragmatist. That’s his name,” Gia clarified with her usual dampened tone.
“Oh.” Faye smiled, finally getting it. Pulling her sister aside she asked, “So where’d you pick him up?” “Pick—him—up?” Gia scoffed. “At the corner of the street. He was showing too much leg, so I decided to try him out for one night.” Gia shook her head irritatingly and walked off.
“Damn. And all I get when I cross the street is a stop sign.” Faye said sadly while she winked at Lucky. She closed the door behind her as Lucky gave a shy smile then it hit him to follow Gia. They passed a few more doors, until reaching another one with what sounded like slow Spanish music coming from it.
Besame, besame mucho
como si fuera esta la noche
laltima vez
Gia entered first, and left the door open for Lucky to follow. Lucky walked in slowly and looked around the extended room. There was a huge window, with curtains entirely pulled down, on the side that left a view of the entire harbor. He looked straight and noticed a lady around her late fifties waltzing around by herself. He saw Gia make something of a grimace before slouching on the chase on the corner of the room. She cleared her throat in order to get the older woman’s attention. Jane Jacks stopped dancing by herself once she set her eyes on the young boy standing a few feet away from her.
Sighing, she put one hand in her hip. “Well do you have a name or are you just some intruder?”
“I’m Luke Spencers son.” Lucky said, taking a step closer. “My dad said---.”
“Yes, yes. I know. I’m sure.” She waved a hand and gestured towards the sofa in the middle of the room. “Have a seat.” It was more of an order than a request. Lucky took a seat on the left side of the sofa, and Lady Jane on the right. “What’s your name?”
“Lucky.”
Lady Jane rolled her eyes and pointed her thumb back at Gia. “And she’s Happy.”
“Actually my full name is Lucas Lorenzo Spencer Jr.”
“How redundant.”
Lucky nodded and frowned. He had begun to see where Gia got her personality from. She looked at him vacantly for a few minutes, and Lucky just sat there looking at his watch hoping that she would just come out and say ‘times up’.”
Besame, besame mucho
que tengo miedo a perd
perderte despues
Besame, besame mucho
como si fuera esta la noche
laeltima vez
Lady Jane put one elbow on the arm seat, waiting for him to say something. But she wasn’t much of a patient person. Tilting her head, she looked at Gia, who had her feet up on the chaise, reading the newest edition of Bazaar. “Gia, be a love and check the answering machine.”
“I already did.” Gia said, not looking up from the magazine. “You don’t have any messages.”
“Oh fiddlesticks.” Lady Jane grumbled. “Why doesn’t anyone leave a message anymore?”
“Maybe because there’s four minutes of Blue Moon playing and only three seconds for someone to leave a message.” Gia said, as a matter-of-factly. Lady Jane grumbled something that Lucky nor Gia catched. The silence returned, this time deafening the vibe of the room.
Besame, besame mucho
que tengo miedo a perderte
perderte despues
After staring at Lucky for what seemed like hours, Lady Jane rubbed her eyes and looked at him bluntly like Gia did when he first saw her. Tilting her face to look at Gia, she asked. “Does he have any distinguishing qualities or is he supposed to just sit here?” Gia didn’t answer or make any type of movement, except for flipping the pages on the magazine she was reading. Looking back at Lucky she asked, “What exactly do you----do?”
Lucky gave her a confused look then shook his head. “Well, uh,” moving his face around the entire room, he stopped on a piano placed on the corner of the large window, “I know how to play.”
“I’m sure you do.” Lady Jane said, unamused.
Quiero tenerte muy cerca
mirarme en tus ojos
verte junto a me
Piensa que tal vez mañana
yo ya estar lejos,
muy lejos de a que.
“No,” Lucky shook his head and pointed to the piano, “I know how to play the piano.”
This got her attention, but only slightly. “Can you sing?”
Lucky thought for a moment. “I can hold a tune.”
Besame, besame mucho
como si fuera esta
la noche la eltima vez
Besame, besame mucho
que tengo miedo a perderte, perderte despues
“Good enough.” Sighing, she nodded and gestured toward the piano. Lucky walked across the room and took the piano bench while Lady Jane turned off her stereo. Gia stayed at her position, not even making the slightest gesture to look up. Exercising his fingers, he looked up at Lady Jane who gave him a look that said ‘what are you waiting for?’ Sighing, he placed his fingers on the keys and started to play. Allowing the melody to come first before his words did:
There's something about the night
That makes it alright.
There's something about the wind,
That makes me grin.
There's something about the rain
That takes away the pain
There's something about friends,
That make life not end.
There's something about cat's meow
That touches me somehow.
Your eyes are filled with hate
Well brother its not to late.
No you've gotta love one another
Like sisters and brothers,
And love one another I will.
You've gotta believe one another
And relieve one another
And love one another until
O-rise
O-Rise above
Look around what do you see?
Children's unity.
So why destroy them? Why destroy them?
Hey... no.
While singing, he turned to face Gia, who for the first time since he met her, had somewhat of a smile on her face even though she wasn’t looking at him. He didn’t notice Lady Jane watching him stare at his grand-daughter. Wetting his lips, he continued:
You've gotta trust one another,
Like mothers and fathers.
And trust one another I do.
You've gotta believe one another,
Do not leave one another,
And love one another I do.
Turquoise oceans, peaceful emotions
I'll rise above you
With rainbows of virtue
Love will live on
Hate will be gone
If we rise, if we rise above...
He looked up when he ended the song. Gia was still ignoring him, yet still somewhat grinning. And Lady Jane applauded.
“Very good.” Lady Jane complimented and then looked at Gia. “Don’t you think so Gia?”
By now, Gia had stopped smiling. She looked up at Lucky, connecting their eyes and after a moment, shrugged. “It could have been worse.”
Elizabeth continued to paint, letting the water from the ocean be her muse. She had done this allot. Go out into the middle of deserted beaches in San Juan just to paint. It was as if the brush moved by itself when she painted. She smiled at the thought, she was kind of intrigued that her painting tools had minds of their own—it meant less work for her.
“That’s good.” She heard a voice say from behind. “Not Van Gogh good. But its---good.”
She turned around, startled by the man’s presence. “Hello to you to,” she said sarcastically but then smiled at the handsome man standing in front of her. “How would you know whats good and whats not?”
“Years of practice,” Sean smiled back.
Elizabeth arched a brow, and looked the man over head to toe. Not your typical modern day painter. “You’re an artist?”
“No.” Sean shook his head. “But natural minded intelligence and instincts help.”
“You live around here?”
“No. I just got here. I’m a little lost.”
“What are you looking for?”
“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be lost.” He said in a whisper.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” She asked, putting down her painting utensils on a small stool.
“I’m just looking for the nearest Motel.”
“Your definitely not going to find one here. You can go to Port Charles,” she said pointing out towards the other end of the harbor. “Unless your staying here.”
“No. I just need to find a place to stay. That’s Port Charles?” He asked, pointing back at where she had just directed.
“Yes.”
“I was looking for Port Charles.” He said looking back at the sea. “I obviously past it.”
“Ever care to ask for directions?”
“Are you kidding?” He snipped. “With natural minded instincts like mine.”
“I thought you said natural minded intelligence.”
“Same shit.” He shrugged.
Elizabeth studied the young man for a moment. He oozed mystery and uncertainty. She looked away when he caught her staring. A smile crept around his face. Stretching her arms she tried to concentrate on her painting, “I can give you a list of places where you can stay if you like.”
“Well that’s nice of you. You’re not one of those loyal citizens are you?”
She looked back at him and grinned. “Nah. I rip up parking tickets just like anybody.”
“She wants you to come back again, next Friday.” Gia informed as she walked along the front yard, passing by the fountain.
Lucky nodded, kind of seeing it coming. He stopped walking and motioned toward the fountain, “You mind?”
“Go ahead. But be ware, it is poisonous.” It was a joke, but she made it seem serious.
Lucky shrugged. “I’ll take my chances.” He bent his head to were the water flew, and took a few sips. Gia practically grimaced, no one had drank the water on that fountain. He looked up at her and saw the contortion on her face. He smiled and nodded. “Not bad.”
Gia scoffed. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. Its so good. I think I’ll have some more.” He bent his head again, and drank a few more gallops of water. Not noticing the other pair of lips moving closer to the water. He opened his eyes and saw Gia taking a drink. He didn’t know whether it was an impulse or if he just did it by accident, but he moved his lips threw the water and next to hers until they both collided. Gia’s eyes popped open in awareness, though she allowed the wet kiss to continue. After a minute, she pulled back and stood up straight; Lucky did the same. Gia wiped her mouth and looked at him, “We’re both probably going to die from drinking unsanitary water.” Was the first thing she said after the kiss.
“Good to know.” Lucky lightly chuckled. The brightness of the sun popped over the trees, and he squinted a little. Clearing his throat he asked, “When does she want me to come back again?”
“Next Friday.” She answered, walking back towards the exit.
Walking with her, Lucky asked, “Does she want me to come.”
“Yes.”
After a short pause, “Do you want me to come?”
She stopped walking and looked at him straight in the eyes. “No.”
Lucky smiled. “Tell her I’ll be there at four.”
Right then though I didn’t realize it at the time, I had made a relationship that I would grow to somewhat regret in the future. I close my eyes as I get settled up in my seat. My heart still racing from chasing the train as fast as I could; but I still made it. The images of Gia, Lady Jane, and Sean kept appearing in my mind. Lady Jane was just always weird. Gia…Gia was a question mark. She was a question, I couldn’t answer her, which made me want to know more about her. And Sean, though rather difficult at times, was easy to comprehend. That night I had believed that I would never see him again, but I was stupid to underestimate life’s little surprises….
Lucky yawned tiredly as he entered his father’s house. The ferry ride back had gone in a rather slow pace, but all the more he was glad that he didn’t run into that drug dealer again.
“Hey Cowboy,” Luke said as he made his way down the stairs. “How was your little field-trip?” Luke asked sarcastically and tried to ignore his son’s weary glare. “That bad, huh?”
Lucky thought about it for a moment then shrugged off his jacket. “Not necessarily.”
“Well, I have to see your Aunt Bobbie at GH. If a guy knocks and asks about a spare room, just give him the key to Carly’s old room on top of the garage.”
“You put it out for rent?”
“Yeah. I figured since your cousin never paid rent, we should get someone who would.” Luke shrugged. The doorbell rang and Luke jumped off the stairs to answer it. “Never mind, I guess that’s the guy,” Luke said as he opened the door.
“You the landlord?” Asked the man. Lucky turned around, while hearing the familiar voice.
“Yep. Here’s your key.” Luke said, handing the key to him. “The rents 250 a month. The room’s on top of the garage. I’ll show you. Just give me a moment.” Luke laid the door open and walked back up the stairs. Lucky sighed and rolled his eyes once he saw the new tenant.
Sean smiled and smirked in unison as he looked at Lucky from the other side of the door. “Where’s the small world song when you need it?”
Besame Mucho by Cesoria Evoria (Great Expectations Soundtrack)
Scarlet Road
