"They're creating quite a ruckus," Alex commented softly as he escorted Dara past the camera crew as Port Charles' ABC affiliate, WPCA's entertainment reporter, Katie Winters, conducted her taped interview with DJLS.
"They sure are," she agreed as she looked back over her shoulder. She squeezed Alex's hand and tugged gently. "Do you mind if we don't go in? I'd like to watch for a minute or two."
"I don't mind."
They watched the interview session. Dara never took her eyes from the elated face of her younger sister. With occasional glances to her enamoured husband, Dawn knew exactly how to work the camera and Ms. Winters. "Way to go, baby girl," Dara whispered, her voice filled with pride.
"Bright Eyes is something else, isn't she?" Alex said, placing his hands on his lover's shoulders.
"Yeah, she is. Look at her, Alex. She's eating it up. The guys are, too, but she looks like she was born for this. I'm not sure what the future holds for DJLS, but Dawn will be big. I know she will."
"I think the guys will do okay, too. Look at the comedy duo. Sly and Jordan are being more charming than I would have ever given them credit for. And, Lucky's doing that brooding thing that women seem to go crazy over."
"Excuse me?" she asked, shifting her upper body so that they locked eyes over her shoulder. "Women go crazy over some 'brooding thing'?? Oh, really?"
"Well, let me rephrase that," he said, offering her a teasing smile. "I meant *some* women. Not all, and certainly not you."
"Certainly not. I like my men not afraid to live…you know, to help provide some balance to my life," she said as she turned around to fully look into his chocolate brown eyes.
"Now, where could you find a man like that?" he asked her softly, lowering his head to hers so that they were now almost eye to eye.
"In my arms." She smiled as his eyes sparkled with love and contentment. She bussed his cheek with a tender kiss. With one last glance over her shoulder, she made eye contact with Dawn. Dara winked at her and then she grabbed Alex's hand and led him to viewing room.
"What a rush!" Jordan exclaimed as Katie and her camera crew left DJLS to speak with Robin. He and Sly exchanged high-fives as Sly enthusiastically agreed.
"It was wild!" Sly grinned. "Did you see how everyone was staring at us while she was talking to us? Did you check out that crowd as we walked in? Guys, we're gonna blow up when this video comes out. We're gonna be big!"
"What do you say, Greedy, are you buying those two?" Lucky asked Dawn as she beckoned for Nikolas to join them.
"Well, Selfish," she said, her tone matter of fact, "I think the dynamic duo have a point." When Lucky rolled his eyes in response, she playfully punched him in the arm. "C'mon, dude! You know our video is slamming. The song is hot. All ages will be into it, and our harmony will take it to the top."
"Not to mention that *suggestive* dance that comes in at the end," Nikolas added. He wanted to keep his voice void of sarcasm or envy, but as Sly and Jordan stiffened slightly, he knew that he wasn't successful.
"It's not *that* bad," Sly reassured him. "I mean, even I could have done it, and you know how badly I dance. It was just mostly slow and close."
"Thanks, Sly. I feel so much better now."
"Look, Nikolas-"
"Nikolas, listen," Lucky said, interrupting his cousin. "I know where you're coming from, but it's just a dance, you know? Dawn and I… It's just a dance. The song is what it is and the director wanted to add a little bit more. There's no need to go Neanderthal again."
"I'm not being a Neanderthal," Nikolas replied. He just didn't relish the idea of his wife locked in another man's arms. And after viewing the contact sheets for their photo shoot, he especially didn't want those arms to belong to his brother. They chemistry was there. Maybe neither Dawn nor Lucky realized it, but he certainly did, and he didn't like it. Not one little bit.
Dawn, who had remained uncharacteristically silent during the male interchange, watched as the dark clouds rolled into her husband's expressive brown eyes. She loved him with everything she had, and as she took note of how he battled the uneasiness he felt about the *suggestive* dance, she was very relieved that the director had decided to forgo the original ending. Very relieved.
Deciding that a small dosage of reassurance was in order, she laced her fingers with his and stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. "Come on, Captain Cave-man. I think it's time we had a little talk." Her voice was louder as she spoke to her friends. "We're taking off and claiming the *good* seats. See ya inside."
Sly shook his head and snickered as the couple walked away. "*Good* seats, my ass. They're going for a quickie."
Jordan didn’t want to laugh, but he had to give to his best friend. He wouldn't put it past the newlyweds to find a way to somehow fit one in. "Man, you're stupid!" he said, shaking his head as he continued to laugh.
"What did I say?" Sly asked as he broke into a grin.
"You two need to grow up," Lucky said. His sapphire blue eyes were void of humor and filled with sincerity as he looked as his two close friends. "When or where they do *quickies* is none of our business."
"What's got your panties all up in a bunch?" Sly asked with a frown as the trio began to walk down the long hallway, which led to the viewing room. "We were just kidding around. I know you and she are close, but even Dawn would have laughed at that one. What's up with you? Mad that the original was left on the cutting room floor?"
"No, that's not what's wrong with me. You know how I felt about that original edit. Don’t be a punk now, by bringing it up."
"And, don't call me a punk for asking you a question!"
"Lucky, Sly," Jordan began, "what the hell is wrong with you? Can't we get through one night without this shit?"
"Look, I'm not trying to start nothing," Lucky said. "In fact, I'll even apologize for jumping down your throats before."
"And the 'punk' comment?" Sly asked, pausing in the hallway to fold his arms across his chest.
"There's nothing I can do about that one," Lucky said, shrugging. "You are what you are."
Once again, Jordan didn't even try to fight the laughter as it bubbled inside of him. As Sly grimaced in response to Lucky's comeback and Jordan's laughter, Jordan slapped his friend on the back and said, "You gotta lighten up, man."
"Yeah, whatever," Sly mumbled.
Lucky joined Jordan in laughing at his cousin's expensive, and still chuckling, the trio entered the viewing room and joined their dates as they waited for the remaining two attendees to come in and take their seats.
"Captain Cave-man?"
"Well?" Dawn said, as a loving smile brightened her face. "He was a cartoon-"
"So, now I'm being compared to a cartoon. Thanks," he said, pursing his lips.
"Oh, Nikky," she groaned. "You're killing me here. Lighten up, baby! It was just one simple little dance. There was nothing pleasurable about it. I mean, I was dancing with Lucky for goodness' sakes! Lucky's okay and all, but he's not you. He's not my Snookums…my Honey Bear…my baby's daddy," she said, grinning with each word. She added softly as she pulled him closer to her, "He's not the man I love."
"No, he's not," Nikolas growled as he pulled placed his hands at the small of her back. He kissed the tip of her pert nose and as he raised his head, he sighed. "I'm sorry about that. Sharing isn't my strong suit and the thought of Lucky's arms wrapped around you and his body pressed against yours…"
"Well, it sounds to me that you need to get a few things straight, husband of mine," she said, resting her hands on his chest as she leaned back to look him square in the eyes. "First, you're not sharing me. At least, not until our baby comes, but until then, it's you and me. Second, don't think about me wrapped in Lucky's arms. The dance is less than a minute and after we see it here, I won't expect you to ever have to suffer through it again. Do we have a deal?"
"Yeah," Nikolas smiled, "we have a deal. Have I told you lately just how much I love you, Mrs. Cassadine?"
"Not for at least an hour," she frowned.
"Well, I love you lots," he told her.
"And, I you," she said softly. She rested her head against his chest as his warm embrace filled her with warmth and everlasting love. When they released each other and found pleasure in holding each other's hand, she began to lead them to the door so that they could exit Jax's office. "Come on, baby. Video premiere time."
[Author's note: This section will be presented in script format with stage directions, lines, etc.]
Setting: A teenage hang out/pool hall. The set is equipped with a several pool tables and a bar (which only serves non-alcoholic beverages, of course).
Leading Characters: Dawn and Lucky
Supporting Characters: Sly Eckertt and Jordan James
Extras: Emily Bowen-Quartermaine and Lark Madison, and a few other females and males who serve as filler.
(Opening sequence begins with Lucky, Sly and Jordan standing and leaning against the bar as they watch Dawn, Emily and Lark play pool. Dawn and Lucky steal glances at each other with both pretending that nothing is happening. Sly and Jordan notice the interaction, as does Emily and Lark. Jordan nudges Lucky as if to say, "She's looking at you, man." Lucky gives a slight nod of his head in agreement, and just as Dawn is about to go for the eight ball, she makes eye contact with him again. He blows her a kiss and she misses the shot. The intro to the song begins…)
DJLS (singing background vocals):
ahhhh, crush
ahhhh
Dawn (singing):
see you blowin' me a kiss
it doesn't take a scientist,
to understand what's goin' on baby
If you see something in my eye
let's not over analyze
don't go too deep with it baby (baby)
(As Dawn sings, she shrugs to her friends about the missed shot, which causes her to lose the game. Emily and Lark smile and giggle in reply as they each take their turns with the cue stick. While Emily and Lark pass the stick between each other, Dawn continues to sing, her eyes on Lucky the entire time.)
Dawn (singing):
so let it be
what it'll be
don't make a fuss and go crazy over
you and me
Here's what I'll do, I play it loose
Not like we have a date with destiny
(DJLS sings the chorus as a voiceover as the scene continues on in the pool hall. Dawn shakes her head at her two friends as Jordan and Sly saunter over. The four hit it off and as the chorus ends, they walk away, leaving Dawn alone as she finishes racking up the balls for the next game.)
DJLS (singing as a voiceover):
It's just (a), a little crush (crush)
not like I faint, every time we touch
It's just (a) some little thing (crush)
Not like every thing I do
ooh depends on you ooh
sha la la la
sha la la la
(The chorus comes to close as it does so, Lucky begins to move away from the bar and heads toward Dawn.)
Lucky (singing):
It's raisin' my adrenalin'
you're banging on a heart of tin
please don't make too much of it baby
Say the word "forever" more
that's not what I'm lookin' for,
all I can commit to is maybe (maybe)
(As he sings to her, he moves behind her. His arms go around her as he demonstrates to her the proper way to make the shot. There are close-ups of their eyes, mouths and touching hands as they play their game of pool. The solid ball connects with the striped ball, and with a satisfied smile on his face, Lucky walks away as Dawn stares after him. The close-up on Lucky's face, which is unseen by Dawn, shows that the pool lesson has affected him, as well, even though he's refraining from letting her know.)
Lucky (singing):
so let it be
what it'll be
don't make a fuss and go crazy over
you and me
Here's what I'll do, I play it loose
Not like we have a date with destiny
(The second chorus begins with DJLS once again supplying the voiceover. The wide-angle shot features Jordan and Emily, and Sly and Lark as they perform a choreographed dance.)
DJLS (singing as a voiceover):
It's just (a), a little crush (crush)
not like I faint, every time we touch
It's just (a) some little thing (crush)
Not like every thing I do
ooh depends on you ooh
sha la la la
sha la la la
(Dawn and Lucky sing the final chorus. There is a shot of them in a fantasy-like sequence with only the two of them. Dawn's hands rest at the nape of his neck, and he rests his hands around her waist as they sway slowly to the music.)
Dawn and Lucky (singing):
Vanilla skies (vanilla skies)
White picket fences in your eyes
A vision of you and me (and me)
(As the verse ends, a voiceover of their voices is heard as the original ending is shown instead of the provocative dance. Lucky lowers his head to hers, and they kiss what appears to be a deep, sensual kiss.)
(The final chorus is heard as Lucky and Dawn come back to reality. Their eyes lock across the room and slowly they move to each other. Lucky takes her hand and they exit the pool hall.)
DJLS (singing as a voiceover):
It's just (a), a little crush (crush)
not like I faint, every time we touch
It's just (a) some little thing (crush)
Not like every thing I do
ooh depends on you ooh
sha la la la
sha la la la
The End (of the video)
Song credit: "Crush" by Jennifer Paige