Chapter 2

Nikolas followed Emily and Jeremy around and all they did was talk. He was too 
far behind to hear what they were saying but he knew it had to be bad because 
most of the time they had a sad, depressed, broken expression. Emily even burst 
into tears at one time and Nikolas watched wondering what could possibly be 
wrong. He hated the idea of Emily hurting. Finally, Emily saw something she had 
to see in a store and Nikolas followed them inside. Emily and Jeremy looked at 
this art kit in an art shop on the local corner. Emily told Jeremy about her art 
fixation. Jeremy laughed and told her how much he loved to draw things and 
suggested he draw her some time. Emily laughed at the thought and they began to 
walk out. Upon leaving Emily spotted Nikolas, "Nikolas!"

Nikolas pretended not to hear her hoping she'd ignore him or think he was 
someone else. Emily approached despite his hope and laughed, "What are you doing 
here?"

"Oh, I was sort of bored and decided to explore a little." Nikolas lied.

"And what a weird coincidence that you ended up at the same place Emily and I 
are." Jeremy commented sarcastically. 

"Yeah. That is weird." Nikolas agreed with knots in his stomach.

Jeremy automatically didn't like Nikolas. Emily told him about her problems with 
Nikolas and how much he had hurt her. Unintentional or not he didn't like 
Nikolas Cassadine. Emily elbowed Jeremy lightly so he would smile and include 
himself in the conversation. "Emily, was just telling me about her art 
aspirations." Jeremy chimed in.

Nikolas smiled, "You never told me about them, Emily."

Emily shook her head, "It's nothing really just a little fun that's all."

"Well, I guess I know what sort of present to get you." Nikolas sighed.

"Nikolas, your not suppose to tell the person what their present is going to be. 
It's part of the surprise." Emily told him with a playful poke.

"Emily, I think I should walk you home. It's getting kind of late for me because 
you know… mom might worry." Jeremy told her after glancing at a clock in the 
store.

"Oh, ok. Catch ya later, Nikolas." Emily waved and exited with Jeremy. Nikolas 
knew right then that there was a mutual hate between himself and Jeremy. He 
would have to wait and see what happened.

Emily walked into the Quartermaine mansion a little bored and dazed. She 
couldn't believe that meeting Jeremy was so normal. He didn't bring up the 
attempted suicide once. He let her bring it up and when she did he didn't hold 
it against her. She liked that. She walked through the empty front room and onto 
the terrace. She deeply inhaled the air and looked out at the acres of land 
around. She decided to just take a walk and ignored any bad feelings towards her 
immensely screwed up family. 

Emily hugged herself tightly as she thought about the way she almost jumped off 
that ledge. She remembered how the air felt against her body and the way she 
thought it was all over for her. Then Jeremy came into the picture and she never 
realized until that moment that it could get better. Anything could get better. 
No matter what it was. She thought about how horrible it would have been on the 
people who truly cared about her like Lucky. Lucky meant the world to her and 
she knew he felt the same about her. She took comfort in knowing that there was 
still one person who would do anything for her no matter the cost. She sat in an 
open space of grass looking up at the now gray sky. The clouds started to meld 
together slowly and form many different blurry shapes. She laid back and placed 
her arms behind her head. The grass brushed the opening where her waist peeked 
out of her overalls. She tried to identify the different shapes as she looked 
up. 

Slowly her eyes began to close and she took comfort in the silence around her. 
The breeze brushed against her exposed skin and she shivered a little. The 
atmosphere got darker but a sudden shadow hovered over Emily and she knew it was 
more than the clouds. She opened her eyes, "Nikolas!" She exclaimed as she 
bounced up and turned to him.

"Hi." Nikolas looked as though he were trying not to laugh.

Emily frowned, "What is it?”

"Nothing. It's just," Nikolas stopped himself and stepped closer to her. She 
felt her heart pound hoping he'd pick her up and save her from this horrible 
place. Instead he pulled out a piece of grass from her hair, "You had this in 
your hair." Nikolas smiled shyly as he flicked it away.

"Oh." Emily glumly responded and forced her hands into her pockets then 
shrugged, "So what can I do for you?"

"Have dinner with me." Nikolas said suddenly.

Emily stared at him in shock, "Ok. I must be delusional because I thought I 
heard you just invite me to have dinner with you and that just can't be right."

Nikolas laughed at her surprise, "It's true, Emily. I invited you to have dinner 
with me."

Emily blinked quickly and shook her head, "Why?" 

"Is it a crime to ask one of my only friends to have dinner with me?" Nikolas 
questioned amused.

"No. But when it's me a lot of people might say so." Emily answered and smiled, 
"I'd love to have dinner with you." Emily finally answered hoping he was still 
offering.

"Great. Meet me at the docks at seven." Nikolas told her before hurrying off.

Emily waited until he was out of sight, "Yes! Thank you god! I can't believe I 
am going to have dinner with Nikolas. Oh no, what am I going to wear?" Emily 
squealed and ran to the mansion to get ready.

Emily finally decided on something to wear and rushed to the docks. She used her 
teeth to clinch her lower lip wondering how on earth she would get through a 
whole dinner with Nikolas with out forcefully kissing him or confessing her 
undying love. She wondered if what she was wearing was a little too fancy. She 
wore her hair up in curls, light natural looking make-up, and a long dark blue 
dress that had just a hint of black sparkles wrapped around. She used her index 
finger along with her thumb to pierce her earlobe pressing her earring tighter. 
She let out a long sigh and began to hum a tune that was stuck in her head. 

Nikolas knew Emily didn't notice the launch approach the docks. Thoughts ran 
through his mind but the one that seemed to stick out from the rest was she's 
beautiful and waiting for me. The idea sent a chill through his body. What was 
this going to do to them? How was he going to tell her he was jealous of this 
guy Jeremy. How would he tell her he thought they should maybe be more than 
friends? Maybe they already were. In any case it made him nervous. 

Emily spun around a lighting pole and sat on the docks bench, "Where are you, 
Nikolas?" Emily said aloud and stood up to look at her watch. Nikolas was a 
little worried when he got a glimpse of someone else at the docks he squinted 
his eyes hoping to see who it was.

"Emily?" A familiar voice called out.

Emily wanted so bad for it to be Nikolas but she didn't mind seeing who it was, 
"Jeremy!" Emily exclaimed and hugged him. 

Nikolas wanted to somehow speed up so he could wisk Emily away. 

Jeremy caught Nikolas' arrival in the corner of his eye, "Emily, can we go 
somewhere and talk? Please. I have to… we need to talk." 

Emily looked at her watch again and since it was so dark she couldn't make out 
anything just Jeremy's worried face, "Well, I was suppose to…" Emily thought 
about how could she blow off the guy who saved her life? If it wasn't for him 
this night wouldn't even be possible, "Sure, Jeremy. Whatever you need." Emily 
nodded.

"Great!" Jeremy shouted and grabbed her hand.

"Jeremy!" Emily screamed happily as he ran away with her close behind.

Nikolas finally made it to the docks and ran to the spot where Emily once was, 
"Emily!" Nikolas called out but Jeremy and Emily were already too far to hear.

"So what's wrong?" Emily asked holding on to his arm and walking with him 
through the park. Emily felt a little scared walking through the same place 
where Liz was raped but they caught the creep and he would never hurt them 
again. She couldn't believe he didn't get the rape added to his already long 
list of crimes against innocent woman. 

Her grip around Jeremy's arm tightened a little and Jeremy could feel a pinch, 
"Everything but particularly… you." Jeremy groaned and answered.

Emily quickly let go of him, "Oh,  sorry. I just… I don't… a friend was hurt 
here and I'm just nervous I guess since it is night and all." Emily explained 
and wrapped her arms around herself nervously. She scanned the park for the 
hundredth time with her eyes.

Jeremy saw her scared look and slipped off his black overcoat. He then wrapped 
around her and smiled assuringly, "I won't let anything happen to you."

Emily blushed and grinned back, "I know. It's just a little. Nevermind. We're 
here for you. What did you need to talk with me about?"

Jeremy shrugged, "I don't remember." Jeremy stroked her cheek, "More 
importantly… I don't care anymore." Jeremy looked at her and everything he 
wanted to tell her or complain about went away. He loved the feeling and even 
more he loved that he had ruined whatever Nikolas had planned, "You look 
beautiful tonight." Jeremy complimented and Emily looked away shyly.

"Thanks." Emily responded and looked back at him, "You don't look so bad 
yourself."

"Oh. Well, I do try." Jeremy joked and they both laughed. The silence both 
comforted them and scared them. Jeremy took her hand and sighed, "Do you mind if 
we just… don't say anything?" Jeremy questioned.

"No, I don't mind. But I do have to get home some time tonight." Emily giggled 
and they continued to walk through the park forgetting anyone else existed.

Nikolas cursed his luck with Emily and kicked a rock near by as he walked up the 
path to Wyndemere. Now, what could he do? What could he do? He walked into 
Wyndemere when the phone rang, "Hello?" Nikolas answered.

"Nikolas! Great I caught you! I am so sorry about tonight. Its just Jeremy was 
having some problems and I wasn't sure you were still coming so I sort of left. 
I'm sorry it's just he sort of needed a friend and I was there." Emily 
explained. 

Nikolas smiled at least she was sorry, "It's ok. We'll just have dinner together 
another time."

"Oh, Nikolas, thank you so much for understanding. You're the best. I'll gotta 
go. Bye, bye." Emily hung up quickly before Nikolas could say anything more. 

Then the thought ran through him quickly she's still with him. Nikolas liked 
Emily even more now that she was a challenge. He just had to figure out how to 
get her.

Emily ran back out to Jeremy after using the payphone. Jeremy stood on the 
corner observing the chaotic surroundings. Emily grabbed his hand as she came 
back to him still waiting for some explanation as to what was wrong. Jeremy led 
her away from the place where stood and out of the neighborhood not liking the 
way some adult men were looking at Emily around them. They made their way back 
to the park and sat on one of the benches. Emily took his hands in hers, "Hey." 
She smiled and looked into his eyes, "You ok?"

"No." Jeremy sighed and shook his head, "That's where my mom and I have to stay 
for awhile. I mean that's where I'm going to live."

Emily's mouth dropped, "Oh."

"Nice place, huh?" Jeremy laughed sadly, "It's like my dad threatened… if we 
left him we'd have nothing. And we don't. My mom's got a horrible waitressing 
job and we're going to live on Courtland Street."

"That is a horrible place, Jeremy. I'm not going to lie to you but you and your 
mom can make it work. Trust me as long as she has you she'll be great." Emily 
praised.

Jeremy blushed, "Really?"

"Really. You saved my life. I'm sure you can save hers." Emily assured him and 
they hugged. Emily felt so secure in his arms. He was sweet and gentle. She 
couldn't even remember Nikolas' last name whenever she was near him. Now things 
were finally looking up.

Emily couldn't sleep much that night. She just kept thinking of her incredible 
night. And even though she knew she shouldn't feel proud she was. She actually 
stood Nikolas Cassadine up! And for a guy who really liked her back. The one bad 
thing was Jeremy was incredibly depressed last night. As much as they seemed to 
fulfill expectation whenever they brought up the concept of family both wanted 
an immediate out. Emily avoided her family a lot and that's when she noticed the 
roses on her dresser. She never got red roses in the morning. She walked over to 
the dresser and pulled out the card. It was simple but very sweet. Emily read it 
over and over in her mind: To my rose. Love, Jeremy.

Emily smiled to herself and reluctantly got dressed all she wanted to do was 
crawl in bed and sleep for a year maybe. Nothing really major. She had school 
today and it was the last thing she needed. She could just see Lucky and Liz 
giving her the third degree for being on Courtland Street but how would they 
feel when they learned her boyfriend lived on the street. She giggled slightly 
who says he's your boyfriend, Emily? She thought and looked into the mirror with 
a grin, "Well, if he isn't. He will be soon." She walked out the front door and 
prepared herself for a long day of school.

Liz and Lucky walked into the school hand in hand as usual. They saw Emily 
standing at her locker looking down at something. They both got really worried 
when they saw her tears falling. They pushed threw the hall way crowd to her, 
"Emily?" Lucky asked.

Emily turned to them, "Oh, hi guys." Emily faked a smile and wiped away her 
tears. Liz watched suspiciously as Emily quickly folded up some papers and 
shoved them back into any envelope, "You know, I'm glad your here actually. I'm 
not feeling to well can you guys um… grab my homework, please?"

"Emily, did you call your mother maybe she could pick you up and work." Liz 
suggested.

Emily shook her head, "No, I think I'm just going, ok? I'll see you all later."

"We'll walk you then." Lucky added.

"No! Ok, I'm fine!" Emily snapped and pushed past them leaving them with, "I'm 
sorry. I'll talk to you later, Ok." Emily sadly told them and ran out of the 
school. 

Lucky and Liz looked at each other worried. Lucky began to follow her but Liz 
stopped him, "She needs to be alone. For whatever reason. She should just be 
alone."

Lucky shook his head, "Not like that. She didn't look too good, Liz. I'm sorry." 
Lucky let go of Liz's hand and exited the school.