Great Expectations
Part 2
"Are you stalking me?"
"Lucky you know this guy?" asked Luke as he looked between the two men.
Lucky shrugged casually but never let his glare escape Sean, "I've seen him around."
"Oh, well Sean here is the new tenant." Luke pauses, " Hey, make yourself useful and help him take his stuff up."
Lucky's jaw almost entirely dropped. "Are you serious?"
Sean steps forward and put his hand in the air stopping Luke. "Mr. Spencer that's--"
"Luke. Call me Luke."
"Ok, Luke. That's not necessary, there isn't enough stuff for him to help with."
"Oh, well suit yourself."
"Ok, thanks again. Seeya later Lucky."
Annoyed with his dad, Lucky barely acknowledges Sean's farewell, but manages to say "Bye." As Sean closed the door behind him.
"What was that all about?"
"What?" Luke sits on the couch and lights up a cigar.
Mockingly, "Hey, make yourself useful and take this stranger's crap up to his own room."
"Hey... I did not say it was his room. He's just borrowing it."
"Whatever you say"
"Damn right. Now, don't make any plans for the next few weekends. You're going to be spending them with Lady Jacks"
"Dad. The woman is nuts. I didn't fix a damn thing while I was there, I played the piano, I sang a bit, I met her grand-daughter, I didn't--"
"Wait, wait... you met who?"
"Her grand-daughter."
"Interesting."
"How so?"
"I just had no idea that son of hers had a daughter."
"I don't know the family tree, I just know that Gia is her grand-daughter and her ward, whatever that is."
"Well don't get too close, Lucky. More pain in this family is not what we need right now." With that last comment, Lucky angrily goes upstairs to his room.
I know everyone says they hate their parents at one time or another. I just don't think I've ever hated both of mine at the same time before, and I know I haven't hated my dad for a few years. Not since Mom left. God I missed her, I actually missed her for the first year or so. But she took off without even a goodbye, that should've been my first wake-up call. My dad managed without her though, I didn't know he could. He loved her so much, I figured he'd rather be buried alive with rats then live without his Laura. I think that's how I thought of Gia. It would've been easier for me to be buried alive with rats then live without her. yet I continued to visit Lady Jacks; she remained a good supporter of my dads club…and it kept me occupied…and there was Gia.
A few hours after he got back from Lady Jacks, Lucky came out of his room. He walked downstairs and into the kitchen, his father was fast asleep on the couch. Looking around in the fridge for something to eat, he grabbed the milk carton and just as he was about to take a drink from top, a light in the corner of his eye took hold of his attention. Lucky set the carton back in the fridge and shut the door. Slowly and quietly, Lucky walked outside through the back door, all the while watching the smoke coming from the garage room. He walked up the stairs to the top and knocked slowly.
"Don't worry," Lucky called out after hearing Sean stumble around and slam some drawers, "it's not the cops, I'm not here to bust you."
"Oh, it's you." Sean said as he came to the door.
"Yes. It's me, the landlord's son, previously known as the escape-car driver." Lucky rolled his eyes. "Can I come in, or what?"
"To do what?"
"To decorate. No, what do you think to do?"
"Oh, I didn't think you were into the good stuff." Sean smirked sarcastically.
"I don't want any of your drugs." Lucky said with a undiluted face.
"Then what do you want?!" Sean asked, more confused then annoyed.
"I have some questions I want to ask you, is that ok?" Lucky asked, some of his anger showing.
"Fine, come on in. Make yourself at home."
Lucky walked into the room to see Sean only had a bag on the floor and that was it. He slept on the bed that was there, though Lucky wouldn't advise that considering it was Carly's. And he used the dresser that was there.
"Not much of a packrat are ya?"
"I guess I just travel light. So what do you want to know?"
"Are you going to kill me in my sleep tonight?"
"Most likely not, unless you piss me off anymore."
"What about my dad?"
"Spencer? Are you sure you don't do drugs? What the hell kinda questions are these?"
"Well I got a few plans for the rest of my life, and I need to know if I need to move to make sure I can pull them off."
"Well have no fear... tonight." Sean winked and Lucky cracked a smile for the first time since that morning. "How about this, I'll give you 48 hours notice if I'm feeling homicidal, ok?"
"Ok, thanks." Lucky said sarcastically.
"What's up with you man? You're not the same jackass I met this morning on the ferry."
"The guy you met this morning was already pissed off because he had to be somewhere he didn't want to be. Then I was even more pissed off that some drug addict hoped in the back of my Cadillac hoping for a free car. It isn't ever gonna happen buddy, ok?"
"Fine."
"Goodbye."
"Oh leaving so soon?" Sean rolled his eyes and flops down on top of the made bed.
"Try not to miss me, the first couple hours will be difficult, I know, but it'll be ok." Lucky said sardonically before leaving.
The next day Lucky spent a lot of time in his room working on some new songs.
"Lucky!" Luke hollered from downstairs.
Walking to the door, and peeking out, Lucky yelled back "What?"
"You got dinner for yourself covered?"
"Dad who're you trying to impress? I always have dinner for myself covered."
"Good. I'm leaving."
"Seeya." Lucky briefly caught Luke wave behind him before leaving.
On the outside Lucky was dreading his next "date" with Mrs. Jacks, but on the inside he was looking forward to seeing Gia again. Dressed a little nicer this time, Lucky approached the large front doors, and once again as he was about to knock, Gia opened the door before he could.
Lucky stared at her for a few moments before he finally spoke up, "Hey Gia." Gia said nothing, just turned around and headed toward the stairs, making it Lucky's choice again to follow her or not. Of course he did. Gia waited for him outside of Mrs. Jacks' room, and allowed him to go in first.
"Out! Out! Everybody OUT!" Jane yelled from the other side of the large room.
Lucky quickly ran out of the room, paused and then kept walking and got as far as the staircase before Gia called him back. "What was that all about?" he asked.
"I talked to her, and she doesn't want any visitors today because she's having a bad hair day'"
"Oh, that's silly. My mom used--" Lucky stopped himself from talking once he realized what he was about to say. He was now avoiding eye contact with Gia in hopes she doesn't ask any questions, not that she ever would speak to him unless she had to. After an odd silvence, he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Well, I guess I'll see ya later." Lucky begins to leave.
"Wait!" Gia almost jumps forward and then curses herself for sounding so desperate.
Lucky turned around with a small smile forming on his face, "Yeah?"
"Well, I could use a visitor today. We could just talk." Gia said uncertainly.
"What about your sister?" Lucky walks over to her.
"Faye?" Gia laughs. "Faye and I are not close, never have been and never will be."
"But you want to talk to me, a stranger?"
She took a step closer to Lucky, filling in the gap, "What? Don't you want to get to know me a little better?" She winked at him, then turns and walks away. Lucky grinned again before following her.
It had been me and my dad for so long, I almost forgot what it was like to find a friend in another girl. I was close to my mom, I won't deny that, so it took me awhile to want to accept any other girl in my life after she left. Gia treated me like a diary. She wanted me, but didn't want anyone else to know. To me, she was like my favorite shirt, I wanted her and I loved having her, but we all know what happens to favorite shirts. They wear out, fall apart and go out of style eventually.
Lucky and Gia ended up in the outside patio that lead to the huge lake. The wind began to brush around them and form baby waves in the chunk of water. They both stood their, a few feet away from the french doors taking in the view. Neither one of them saying anything as if words weren't necessary.
"So---where are your parents?" Lucky asked, feeling the need to finally break the ice.
Gia didn't bother looking at him when he asked the question. "My mother's in New York. Lady Jane is kinda stuck taking care of me…that's why me and Faye are her wards."
"What about your dad?"
"He's, uh. He's not around often. You probably heard of him? Jerry Jacks." Lucky nodded. Why hadn't he noticed it before? "Yeah him and Jasper-I'm guessing that's your uncle," he watched her nod, "they're probably the biggest business tycoons in the world."
Gia shook her head, still not facing him. "Not the world. Just twenty-three countries."
Lucky chuckled lightly. He looked back at the view and then turned towards her and noticed that she was now looking at him with a small smile that seemed to be hidden from her face for such a long time. Before either one of them could say anything, Lady Jane appeared in the doorway behind them.
"Lovelys!"
"What are you doing down here?" Gia asked her grand-mother.
"Well this is my house, darling. Plus I didn't want to keep my guest waiting any longer."
"What about your bad hair day'?"
"Oh pssh. That was ridiculous of me, I don't know what I was thinking. My hair looks grand as usual! Wouldn't you agree, Lucky?"
Glancing between Lady Jane's hair and Gia stunned face, Lucky managed to mumble "uh yeah." Gia rolled her eyes.
"Great! So what do you want to do today Lucky? Sing some more?"
"Well what about some yard work? I could go start pulling the weeds in your front yard... and back yard."
"That's not necessary, Lucky. Why don't you sing?"
"I guess if that's what you want me to do..."
"Oh it is!" Lady Jane turns on her heel and goes back in the direction they all came in. Lucky followed her, taking one glance back at Gia who remained watching the water howl. But Lucky noticed that she had walk into her grandmother's room just as Lucky was about to start singing. She quickly and quietly took a seat next to the magazine rack and pulled out a useless Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
Is that the sound
Knocking at my window
Lord I'm trying
Trying to let you in
But the bitter stares me like a stranger
I'm learning how to begin again
Promise me this
You will never understand me
Promise me this
You will always always hold me
Like you hold me now
You will hold me
Like you are holding me now
Promise me this
I thought of you
My faith began to wander
You woke me up
In the middle of the night
I have so many places I could run to
Lets not runaway this time
Promise me this
You will never understand me
Promise me this
You will always always hold me
Like you hold me now
You will hold me
Like you are holding me now
You will hold me
Like you're holding me right now
Promise me this
Promise me this
Promise me this
"Wonderful, Lucky, absolutely wonderful!" Lady Jane turned to Gia, "don't you agree dear?"
Gia let yet another small smile slip, "He's improving." Lucky smiled back but by then her smile was gone and she had returned to her usual state of mind. With a blunt frown she got up and began to leave the room.
"Where are you going dear?" Lady Jane asked watching her ward intently.
"I have to go buy a dress. For the Quartermaine party on Friday." She said twirling her heel around to face her grandmother.
"Edward Quartermaine? Fiddlesticks. That drake needs therapy I tell you."
"He's not the only one." Gia remarked but Lady Jane didn't catch it. "Besides the party is for Jason Quartermaine. Edward is his grandfather."
"The whole family's pickled." Lady Jane shrugged and then thought for a moment. "Well who's your escort?"
"Escort?" Gia sniggered. "Tell me your kidding."
"Your not going by yourself," Jane said as a matter-of-factly. She turned her chin towards the boy next to the piano. "Lucky will take you."
"What?" Both Gia and Lucky exclaimed in unison.
"Friday then?" Lucky said as he walked to the first floor.
"Yes." Gia said while accompanying him out.
Silence. Sometimes it cold be a wonderful thing, most of the time it was just plain awkward. Lucky and Gia passed by the same fountain where they shared their first kiss. Lucky laughed a little and when Gia looked at him he said, "We're both still alive," and motioned toward the fountain. Gia simply rolled her eyes.
"Well, until next time..." Lucky kissed her on the cheek, surprising not just her, but himself too. "Bye."
"Bye.." Gia called back, not very loudly though.
Later that day, Lucky walked into the livingroom of his house, but stopped in his tracks.
"Elizabeth?" She looked at him, "What... what are you doing here?"
Coming out of the kitchen "Ok, we got soda and chips... oh hey Lucky, this is Elizabeth, Elizabeth this is the landlord's son. Sorry man, I thought you'd be gone longer."
"Me too." Elizabeth agreed, knowing all too well who Lucky was.
"Promise me this" by Pancho's Lament
