General Hospital Rewrite Part One

November 23rd 2016 Part 1

7:21 a.m.
     Jodie sits at the kitchen table and flips through pictures on her phone. She wipes the tears as they fall. Dropping her phone she buries her face into her arms and sobs. Alexis comes down the stairs and rushes to her side. "Jodie? What's wrong?" she questions. Jo turns her phone screen on. "Four years ago today Tom made me a Facebook so we could keep in touch. I just got the notification." she explains. Alexis rubs her back. "He came up for Thanksgiving and he set it up for me. We used a nickname and all the privacy settings possible."
     "I'm sorry. I've just, I've never known life without him. At least after my mom died I still had someone. Now, that part of my life is completely gone." she says. "No one blames you for missing him. He was family." she says. "You know, if Dad had died when he was shot, Tom would be the only family I would have." she points out. "I realized that. But that isn't the case. You do you have your father. You have me. Your siblings. I know the lose of someone you love hurts, but please don't think that you're alone."
     "I never think that." Jo tells her. Alexis kisses her head. "Where's Dad?" she asks. "He was still sleeping. I think me might have a cold. I think he was chilly last night." she tells her. "Maybe it's stress. He's got a lot going on." Jo says. "I know, I know. He's just gotten sick so many times since he got out of the hospital. I'm worried." she admits. "You know he doesn't want that." Jo says. She nods. Julian comes down the stairs slowly and disappears into the kitchen. "Is he limping or am I going crazy?" She asks. "Probably both."

9:37 a.m.
     "Alexis something's going on." Diane tells her, pulling her off to the side. Jodie looks over at her father. "Dad what's happening?" She asks. "Don't worry, I'm sure everything is fine." he comforts. She swallows hard. Alexis and Diane walk back over to them. "He confessed." She tells them. "What?" Jo asks. "Jameson, he confessed. To everything. Jo, the trial's over." She says with a smile. A look of relief sweeps across her face and let's out a sigh. "It's over?" she asks them.
     "It's over." Diane tells her. Jo's next words come out a sob of joy. She throws her arms around Julian. "It's over kiddo. It's really over. You don't ever even have to think about that monster again." he assures her. "You're safe now." Alexis says. Jo's heart sinks, that wasn't true. She gives a fake smile aimed at her step-mom. "Thank you." She hugs Alexis, burying her face in her shoulder. "Thank you, for everything you've done these last few months. I don't say it enough. I love you." Alexis kisses Jo's head.
     "Does this mean we can go home?" Jo asks. "Yes." Alexis says.

11:12 a.m.
     Jodie grabs her jacket and heads to the door. "I'm going to meet Alex and Cassy for lunch." she tells her parents. "Why didn't we know about this?" Julian asks her. "Cause Alex just offered. I mean, he invited Cassy and everything. I think it's to make up for him being distant." she says. "Where are you going?" Alexis asks. "Alex is driving and I forgot the name. It's no where I've ever been." she says. "Alright, just text us the name when you remember." Julian tells her. Alexis looks at him. "It's fine. The kid needs to celebrate."
     She soften her gaze. "Okay, but text us." she warns. "I will."

11:29 a.m.
     "So what is this restaurant we're going to called?" she asks. "It's some Italian place I can't home to pronounce the name of. Here it's in my gps." He says, giving her his phone. "What's your password?" she asks. "0214." He tells her. She looks at the layout, this wasn't right. His phone buzzes. "Bri texted you." she tells him. "Oh, uh, for a school project. Ignore it." He says. She goes to check the message but it brings her back to the lock screen. "Guess mode." she tells herself silently. "You get the name?" he asks. She rushes to her back to where she was. "Yeah."
     "My parents want me to text them where we're going." she explains. "Oh, little overprotective?" he asks. "They have good reasons." she says. "As long as they don't show up." He says. "They aren't that overprotective." she replies. "Alright, parents know where we're going. Here's your phone." she puts it back on the seat between them. Hers starts to ring. "It's Cassy." she tells him. "Sorry I can't make it to lunch today. Dad needs me at home." Jo reads the messages out loud. "Bummer." Alex comments. "I'll text her again later. This is a good chance, just us."
     He smiles over at her.