Soap Opera Challenge

Love (Valentine's Day Special 2019)

February 14th 2019

     Julian glances at Kristina from across the Metro-Court ballroom. She looks up from her drink just in time to catch his gaze before he turns away. His heart pounds in his chest, but even with his nerves he stays breathing slow and steady. Kristina's heart quickens too, more so when she catches herself still staring in his direction.
     Has he always looked this amazing in a suit? Has his jaw always been that strong? Is it just the lighting or does he look even more handsome than usual?
     She starts to swirl her drink, the heart shaped ice cubes starting to lose their shape. Molly touches her sister's hand. "You seem distracted. Is everything okay?"
     No, I can't be with the love of my life on Valentine's Day. "Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I'm just a little bummed that I don't have a date on Valentine's Day." She lies, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, biting her bottom lip. God, I need him inside me right now.
     Alexis and Neil sit back at the table with them. Molly snickers. "Where were you two? And Neil, is that lipstick on your neck?"
     He immediately starts to rub his neck. "You were totally messing around somewhere. Gross!"
     "We definitely weren't in the small room in the coat closet." Alexis laughs, burying her face in Neil's neck.
     I can't believe my mom's actually getting more action than me at a Valentine's Day party. It would be fun to try and sneak around with him. Kristina smiles and takes out her phone, keeping it under the table. *Go to the coat closet, I have a surprise for you.*
     She looks back up at watches as Julian takes his phone out of his pocket. He smiles and pushes off the doorframe, disappearing down the hallway. Kristina finishes her drink and stands up, getting all eyes at the table on her. "I'm just going to the bathroom. I'm not running off. I'll be right back." Assuming Julian's quick.
     She starts towards the door, moving as quickly as she could without drawing attention. "Kristina!"
     Damn it, Valerie. Kristina whips around. "What do you want?"
     "To talk. Aren't we friends?" Valerie asks, holding Kristina's wrist.
     "You made it pretty clear we aren't. Let go of me, I have to go to the bathroom."
     "I have to go too." Valerie claims. "I'll walk with you."
     "No." Take the hint! "I misread the situation and you treated me like a predator. If you were a real friend you would've understood that it was a mistake and we could've moved on from there, but you couldn't. You made me feel like the bad guy and I'm sick of feeling like the bad guy all the time. Unless you can change, our friendship is and has been over."
     She pulls her arm away and continues down the hall, turning quickly into the coat closet so no one has the chance to follow her. There was a guard when the party started, but his food truck burrito from lunch was taking its vengeance.
     "Babe?" She asks softly, narrowing her eyes to try and see in the closet. She feels around until she gets to the back, putting her hand on the doorknob and pushing it open. "Are you in here?" Dumbass probably got lost.
     "Boo." He whispers, pulling her into the darkness. She shuts the door as he turns the light on. "We haven't even been here for two hours and you're already making a booty call?"
     "I can walk out any second." But I can't stand being away from you.
     "So, what do you want to do in here?" He asks, keeping her pinned to his chest. "Are we just gonna make out, maybe some hand action, or do you want it all?"
     "All." She breathes, pressing her lips to his as she jumps and wraps her legs around his waist.
     "God, I love you so much." He whispers.
     You have no idea how much I love you.

Later

     Kristina taps her nails on her glass, watching the bubbles rise slowly. He looks so lonely. I wish I could just go over and hug and kiss him. Oh, Julian, why do you have to be my soulmate and the one person in Port Charles I can't date?
     "Kristina," Alexis says, touching her daughter's hand, "you look so lonely, dear. Do you wanna go home? I can come with you."
     "No." Kristina says softly. I couldn't imagine anything worse. "I'll just go alone." She starts to get up, making eye contact with Julian briefly, but long enough to see his uneasiness. "I should probably have another glass of water first." What's going on in that beautiful head of yours, Julie?
     Julian glances upwards at the speaker above her head. Kristina listens to the music. The current song fades out. "For our next request of the night we have Jim Croce's Time in a Bottle. Dedicated to Red from Jay with the message, 'I wish I could hold you right now.'"
     My work shirt. That sly, beautiful bastard. She relaxes her muscles as the song plays, the words hitting her hard. He would hum the sound to her while they laid together in bed and he'd quote the words to her in his declarations of love. It was their song.
     "Did you have second thoughts?" Sam asks.
     "Shh, I'm listening to the song." Kristina hisses, closing her eyes lightly. She hadn't realized that tears had started to fall down her cheeks.
     "I didn't know you liked seventies music so much." Molly laughs.
     "I don't." She says, looking over at Julian, not even trying to hide it. "I don't give a damn about the song." She runs over to him, practically throwing herself in his arms, covering his mouth and cheeks in kisses. "I can't pretend anymore. I love you, Julian Jerome. To Hell with anyone who doesn't want us together. Be my Valentine, babe?"
     "'Til eternity passes away."
     "Cheeseball, Jay."
     "Right back at you, Red."
     I was wrong. She turns back to look at her disapproving family. They'll get over it. For now, I'm just focused on my man. This was the best Valentine's Day I've ever had.

Happy Valentine's Day!
I hope all y'all's was a lot better than mine.
❤💓💕💗💞❣💌