Dante&Lulu: Karaoke Night

"She wouldn't even take me upstairs to the party with her." The big man shook his head and took another sip of his beer. "We were in the same hotel! It would've just been an elevator ride!" Max's voice was so loud that the other patrons in Jake's turned and looked. Dante shifted in his seat a little. He wasn't averse to attention, normally, but he could tell the good people of Port Chuck were a little nervous to see two of the Corinthos family's major lieutenants out together and getting loud. Luckily Max, who had the body of a lumberjack, but the soul of a broken-hearted romantic, was closer to tears than fighting so the concerned citizens subsided after a couple of anxious looks.

"Yeah Big Man, I feel yah." Dante patted Max on the back. It was clear that Sonny's oldest muscle was feeling a little blue. Dante laughed to himself. Who'd ever thought that he, Dante Angelo Falconeri, former altar boy, would be sitting in Jake's on Karaoke night with one of Sonny Corinthos' most dangerous enforcers commiserating about women? "Lulu ditched me for that Dr. guy and some fancy party at the Quartermaines." Dante shrugged and gave Max a brilliant smile despite being a little ticked. He'd heard a rumor that the party was to welcome back Lulu's Dad, and it couldn't help but rankle that she'd chosen Dr. Clean-cut to go and greet the parent. Max looked up from his beer and gave Dante a man-to-man look.

"That's cold, brother. Ditching you for some fancy party." Max shook his head. "Women are heartless. How long have you two been going out?"

"Well, here's where it gets complicated. We haven't actually gone out yet." Dante smiled. "Not yet – but me and Lulu, we got this connection, you know?" Dante reached for his beer, but it was empty. He looked around the room. Karaoke night was a big event in Port Charles. He tried to wave Coleman down, but he could see the bartender was busy with a table full of Lulu's friends – the blonde chic and the nerd, Dr. Drake and his wife and that other blonde, Rebecca. Dr. Drake caught his eye and gave him a wave. Dante waved back. This Dr. Drake was cool in Dante's book because saving a man's life automatically makes you cool, even if your brother is trying to steal a man's girl from him. Rebecca caught him waving and smiled shyly, obviously thinking the wave was for her. Dante hastily put down his hand.

"A connection…" Max finished his beer and wavered a bit. His eyes were a little bleary and he looked not a little confused.

"It's like …well, haven't you ever been around someone who just makes the whole place light up?" Dante tried to explain. "She walks in a room and…I don't even have to be looking, I can just feel it, you know? It's like BAM! "

"BAM!" Max nodded solemnly, trying to understand.

"yeah, and we keep meeting up everywhere, like we've got antenna or something – or like" Dante leaned forward, forgetting that Max had started a good two hours before he had and probably wouldn't remember the conversation in the morning.

"A connection!" Max said happily. His smile abruptly dropped. "I thought WE had a connection. I thought I was something special to her, but NO. When my connector stopped working" Dante winced not wanting to have the images in his head. " She doesn't want the REAL ME" Max declared the last sentence on a wail.

"Hey! Hey Max, c'mon buddy! C'mon, it'll be okay." Dante patted his pal on the back. Just then Coleman passed by. Dante caught him and ordered a bottle of Wild Turkey and shot glasses.

Dante watched with interest as Dr. Drake's wife, Dr. Scorpio took the first turn at the machine. The pretty brunette obviously had a great sense of fun and adventure as she boldly stepped up to be the first singer of the evening, without a glimmer of fear. Dante suddenly decided he wouldn't mind having her in a tough situation, she would've probably been a great back up. The music started, and she sang a very creditable version of Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" in a clear and well-toned soprano.

Dante smiled as he watched Dr. Drake shake his head jokingly at his wife. Nice couple, he thought to himself. It was clear they loved and respected each other, which was what Dante had always wanted for his mother, and - for himself.

"Didn't Dr. Drake say it would fix itself?" Dante gave Max a sympathetic smile.

"Yep. He said I was psycho –" There was a clang as the door opened and two whispering women came in. The former DA Alexis Davis and her best friend Diane Miller stepped into the room. Both seemed too glamorous to be in anywhere so blue collar as Jake's but they were both obviously there for the evening. Alexis spotted Max and Dante and tried to guide her friend away but Diane shook her off and headed over to them. Max was transfixed, like a deer in the headlights.

Coleman brought over the bottle and set it down in front of Dante. For some reason he brought over a handful of shot glasses. Obviously gifted with some sort of sight, Coleman smiled at all of the table's inhabitants and ducked out of there. Diane stood directly in front of Max as she addressed Dante. Max deliberately looked down into his empty beer bottle.

"Well, Mr. Pirelli, you're looking well. Seem to be coming along quite nicely with your recovery. " Diane smiled tightly at him.

"Thank you, Ma'am, I –" Diane cut him off before he could finish.

"Funny how some men recover immediately and some just never bounce back?" Diane's voice was brittle. Max flinched, visibly.

"Now, Ma'am – that's not fair" Dante shut up as Diane cute him off again. He realized attempting a debate with this professional shark was not advisable. She would chew him up and spit him out like she was doing with her former lover.

"Don't mistake me, Mr. Pirelli. I'm not speaking of physical wounds. Physical wounds occur and they heal. Any human being accepts that! No, I'm speaking of certain emotional wounds that people inflict on themselves!" At this point in the tirade, Diane turned and glared deliberately at Max who refused to look up. "Do you know what I consider half a man? A man who won't fight it out with me, assumes he knows what I'm saying without listening to me – a man who assumes he knows what I want from a relationship without truly giving me a chance to respond."

Dante's eyes widened. Max must be dead drunk and/or stupid not to know what she was saying to him. He watched as the killer attorney zeroed in on his friend.

"You know what Max Giambetti? I also consider it cowardly for a man not to pick up his phone when I call; NO ONE refuses my phone calls! I have taken entire families to the cleaners for less! So I will not have you here, crying into your beer, pretending that you're the put upon party when you will not even return one of my phone calls" Diane rounded away from Max to Dante. "Mr. Pirelli. Where's Lulu this evening?"

Dante's head spun from how fast she changed the subject. "Err…um, she's out at the party at the Quartermaines." The killer attorney gave him a deliberate stare.

"Really? Without you, I see." She raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"Yeah." Dante gave her a bright grin. "I guess she felt she needed a fancy Dr. to show off instead. " Diane continued to look at him. She didn't say a word. Just watched. Dante started to feel uncomfortable. "Yeah, I've still got some convincing to do there, I think."

"Really? And how convincing can you be, Mr. Pirelli, when you're here in Jake's and she's off at the Quartermaine's?" Diane smiled skeptically. "Is that Wild Turkey? Lovely!" Diane further astonished Dante as she poured herself a shot and downed it in one go. "Thanks for the drink, boys!" She stormed off to rejoin Alexis who was hiding her head in her hand.

Dante sat still - stunned. Why had he let Lulu go off with Matt? There were tricks he could've pulled, ways he could've worked around it. What was he doing? Max reached over and gave Dante a commiserating pat.

"Don't worry, she does that to everyone – even Sonny." Max poured them both shots and they clinked their glasses together. Suddenly a voice drawled from behind them.

"Well, I can see where the party is tonight! Mind if I join you two gents?" Dante turned to see a man in his late 40's/early 50's standing behind them. He had grey/blond curly hair and a clever smile. The tuxedo he was wearing was obviously custom and very expensive. He saw Dante staring and smiled. "Yeah, I know – I thought I'd bring a little class to this joint." He extended his hand. "Pleased to meet you…?"

"Dominic, Dominic Pirelli." Dante didn't quite trust this stranger, but he liked the cool. The stranger shook his hand. "Luke Spencer at your service."

Dante smiled. "Spencer?" He looked at Max who wasn't really focusing at all.

"Yep. I can see my reputation precedes me. " The stranger winked.

"Uh, no – I'm new in town, um haven't heard a word." Dante gestured for Mr. Spencer to join him. Luke sat and immediately poured three shots around the table.

"Well, let me fill you in, Junior. Forewarned is forearmed." Luke, (Dante was surprised at how quickly he reverted to first names with this strange man, his mother would have a fit.) Luke poured three shots around the table and they all clinked glasses.

Dante wasn't quite sure what was happening when saw Diane stand suddenly and with purpose. She strode over to the Karaoke machine. Max was busy downing his shot, so Dante looked at Mr. Spencer who smiled and shook his head. Suddenly the music started and Diane began to speak the lyrics. Luke chuckled under his breath and Max looked like he had been punched in the gut. Dante didn't know the song, all it was talking, something about a fire and pajamas and then Diane's smoky contralto hit the chorus.

"Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball - If that's all there is"
Diane was glaring pointedly at Max's back.

Dante bit his lips and looked at his friend. Max looked like he wanted to shoot something. Dante realized he didn't know if his friend was packing or not.

"Maximillion" Luke drawled in a friendly manner. "You didn't bring your enforcer with you, did you son?" Max looked patted his pocket and then looked confused.

"No," Max said, a little sadly. Dante sighed with relief. Luke winked and topped up their shots of Wild Turkey.

End of chapter 1