A/N – Happy Halloween! This is just a little AU one shot! Wendy requested it over a month ago and I can't disappoint her. So, this is for you, Wendy! Hope everyone enjoys! Please review!
Find Yourself
Johnny Zacchara took another turn, this time choosing left, on a hope and a prayer. He wasn't stupid; he knew he was lost. He was pretty sure he was still in New York, but where, he had no idea. But the problem wasn't being lost somewhere in the state of New York. It was how lost he felt in general. After the series of events he had lived through in the last year, he had lost his identity. So, he wasn't concerned with finding out where he was, but instead he was focused on who he was. And he figured he could find that out anywhere.
Johnny smiled to himself as a town came into view. He could use a pit stop and a bite to eat. As he entered the city, he noticed the "Welcome to Port Charles" sign. Port Charles? For some reason, it sounded perfect. He drove around, not seeing any place to eat. After a few minutes, he parked in front of a seasonal store, currently covered in pumpkins and cobwebs, to ask someone local where a good food place was.
Inside, the place was a complete zoo. There were at least ten people in line to check out and probably three times that wandering through the store and looking for the perfect Halloween costume. The man behind the counter looked up and his eyes landed on Johnny.
"Please tell me you're here in response to the help wanted sign out front," the man begged in a heavy Australian accent.
"Actually, I'm just looking for a good place to eat," Johnny replied.
"Then I can't help you, mate," he said, going back to his customer. "As you can see, we're kind of busy."
Johnny laughed at the man's understatement and turned to head for the door.
"Young man!" an older lady called out to him.
"Yes?' Johnny asked, turning to face her.
"I can tell you a good place to eat if you can do something for me," the woman offered.
"What do you need?" Johnny wondered.
"I'm in a terrible rush," the woman explained. "Can you take my money and pay for my costume when the line goes down?"
"How will he know you paid enough?" Johnny asked, tilting his head to the man behind the counter.
"You can take the price tag, too," the woman suggested, pulling out a pair of knitting scissors and cutting it off.
She reached in her purse and grabbed her wallet. She handed Johnny a fifty dollar bill and the price tag with a smile. Johnny noticed she was due more than twenty dollars in change.
"Now, when you're done, you stop by Kelly's to eat," the woman instructed. "And get apple pie. It'll be the best you've ever had."
"Wait a minute," Johnny muttered, reaching in his pocket. "You need change."
"No, no," she smiled. "You keep it. It's my way of saying thank you and welcome to Port Charles."
She smiled one more time and then left the store. Johnny shook his head and went to wait in line on her behalf. After about five minutes, it was his turn and the man behind the counter gave him a strange look.
"I thought you were just looking for food, mate," he said, taking the price tag from Johnny and laughing. "Not a Pink Ladies jacket."
Johnny laughed as well and explained his deal with the older woman.
"Ah," the man nodded, giving Johnny his change. "You're lucky. Most people in this town aren't that nice."
"Does that go for you, too?" Johnny questioned.
"I'm nice to people who help me make money," he replied, grinning widely.
"Well, what if I changed my mind about the job?" Johnny asked, looking around.
"Then I might treat you like my new best mate," he smiled. "The name is Ethan Lovett. You are?"
"Johnny Zacchara," he answered, offering his hand.
"Alright, Johnny," Ethan said, shaking his hand. "Let's go to work."
Johnny had been in Port Charles for two weeks and he was just getting in a groove. After that first day of work, Ethan had shown him to Kelly's and also gotten him a room upstairs. Johnny had met most of the town as they filtered in to buy costumes for the coming holiday. But now, it was Halloween day and very few costumes remained on the racks. Johnny wasn't sure what he would do with the job at the store ending today, but he imagined he would just hit the road again. Although he felt slightly more at peace in Port Charles, there was still a part of him he was searching for.
"Hey, mate," Ethan called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "I've got to run out for a minute. You okay on your own?"
"Yeah," Johnny nodded.
Ethan headed out and Johnny started wandering the store. He hoped for their sakes most of the town had gotten their costumes by now. The selection was limited and most of the items were not exactly flattering. The door opened and Johnny looked to see who had come in. His eyes widened and his breath caught at the sight of her. She had long blonde hair and wore a simple dark blue dress. What stood out most to him was the gorgeous color of her eyes. He had never seen a woman with eyes the color of the setting sun before.
"Ethan, are you here?" she called out, obviously not noticing Johnny.
Meaning she hadn't caught him staring.
Thank goodness.
"Ethan stepped out," Johnny offered, revealing himself to her. "Can I help you?"
"That depends," she replied. "Do you have any last minute costumes that won't make me the joke of my cousin's party?"
"To be honest, we don't have much," Johnny answered. "But I'd be happy to help you look around."
"Thanks," she smiled. "I don't think I know you. What's your name?"
"I'm Johnny," he said, noticing how her eyes shone even brighter when she smiled. "I'm new in town."
"Leave it to my brother to recruit a worker who didn't know any better," she laughed, shaking her head.
"Excuse me?" Johnny asked.
"My brother is Ethan," she explained. "He's a con artist at heart, just like our dad. My guess is, him 'stepping out' means you won't see him for a couple of weeks."
"Doesn't he need to clean up the store?" Johnny questioned.
"Well, sure, but he has a long time before next Halloween," she continued. "Anyway, he'll probably lay low and wait until you give up and leave town or enough time passes that he can give you a good excuse about losing the money he owes you for the time you worked."
"Why are you ruining his scam by telling me all of this?" Johnny wondered.
"I don't know," she shrugged. "I guess you just look like you deserve better than being played. Plus, I don't want you to leave town too soon."
"Why?" Johnny inquired. "You don't even know me."
"I know your name, which is more than you know about me," she shrugged. "And don't ruin the vibe by pretending you don't want to know about me."
Johnny's lips turned up in a smile as she turned to look at some costumes. He was shocked by her confidence, never having known someone who could be so sure of themselves without sounding even a little bit arrogant. She glanced at him and laughed, shaking her head.
"You're staring," she pointed out.
"You seem to know why," he reminded her.
She blushed slightly and turned her eyes to the costumes again. She pulled one out and looked it over carefully.
"What do you think?" she asked, holding it against her and turning to Johnny.
"You'd look great," Johnny smiled.
"Maybe," she muttered, frowning at the costume.
"You would," Johnny assured her. "You'd look pretty hot, actually."
Her cheeks flamed pink again and she looked at the costume once more.
"It's just...nobody goes as Jane without a Tarzan," she mumbled.
"Does your date already have a costume?" Johnny asked, frowning at the thought of her having a date.
"No," she chuckled dryly. "There's no Tarzan to my Jane in my life, hence why I wasn't going to the party in the first place. But my cousin begged me and told me it wouldn't matter if I came alone."
"Oh," Johnny muttered.
"Pathetic, I know," she sighed, shaking her head.
"No," Johnny argued. "I think it's great that you don't need a man to define you."
She smiled at him and opened her mouth as if to say something, only to close it just as quickly. She narrowed her eyes at him, like she was searching for something and after awhile apparently found it.
"Do you have plans tonight?" she asked softly.
"Me?" Johnny questioned, looking around to make sure they were still alone in the store. "No, I-I, uh...I'm free."
"Do you think the Tarzan costume would fit you?" she wondered, pulling it off the rack.
Johnny took it from her and smiled to himself as he read the size.
A perfect fit.
"I think I could wear it," Johnny nodded. "But there are a couple of conditions."
"What are they?" she questioned.
"First, you tell me your name," Johnny replied. "And second, I don't wear the wig."
"But the wig makes the costume," she smirked.
"It's a deal breaker," Johnny laughed.
"Fine," she sighed. "I'm Lulu."
"That's a beautiful name," Johnny offered.
"Thanks," Lulu smiled.
Before she could say anything else, her phone rang. She dug through her purse and answered the call. Johnny tried not to eavesdrop as she bickered with the person on the phone. She ended the call abruptly and groaned in frustration.
"Everything okay?" Johnny wondered.
"Yeah, I just have to get back to work," Lulu muttered.
"Oh, well, let me check you out," Johnny said, reaching for her costume.
"No, no, no," Lulu giggled. "I'm not paying for this and you're not paying for yours, either."
"Why is that?" Johnny questioned.
"He's scamming you, we have to turn the tables," Lulu winked at him.
"I take it you're like your father as well," Johnny smiled.
"Damn straight," Lulu laughed. "Now, the party is at the Metro Court at 7:00. Meet me out front at 7:10. Don't be late."
"How do I know you're not scamming me?" Johnny asked. "Maybe you want me to show up in a ridiculous costume and make a fool of myself."
"Maybe I do," Lulu shrugged. "I guess you have to ask yourself if I'm worth the risk."
She smiled at him again and left the store, giving him one final glance over her shoulder.
Johnny stood around a corner, hidden from view because he was completely embarrassed to be wearing the Tarzan costume. It was five minutes after the time Lulu had said to meet her and he was about to leave, deciding she had just been scamming him like her brother. The disappointment he felt surprised him. He had only had one conversation with Lulu, but it was enough to make him want more time with her. He turned to walk away and came face to face with Lulu in her Jane costume and she looked even better than he had imagined. He froze in place, staring at her for a few minutes before she stepped closer to him. He wondered what she was going to do, but she simply tapped her finger underneath his chin, smirking at him the whole time.
"Close your mouth, Johnny," she whispered softly and Johnny knew she added a seductive tone just to send chills through him.
Johnny did as he was told, but he didn't stop looking at her. His eyes roamed over every exposed inch of her and he had to fight the urge to run his hands along her shoulders to see if she was as soft as he imagined. She was so beautiful in a way that was sexy, but not promiscuous even though her costume showed a lot of skin. Johnny finally found her eyes again and he noticed she was starting to blush from the way his eyes had been examining her. She sighed and shook her head, obviously a little flustered and frustrated that he had that effect on her.
"I thought I told you out front," Lulu said, raising an eyebrow at him.
"You also told me 7:10 and it is now 7:18," Johnny noted, looking at his watch.
"I got held up at work," Lulu shrugged. "I would have called, but I don't have your number."
"A problem that can be corrected if you wish," Johnny offered.
"I don't know, it looked like you were about to stand me up when I first got here," Lulu replied. "Are you having second thoughts about being my date to the party?"
Johnny tried not to smile at her calling it a date. She said it casually, so he had to be calm.
"I thought you were standing me up," Johnny explained. "You did make that threat earlier."
"Which reminds me," Lulu said, accepting his reasoning. "What made you decide I was a risk worth taking?"
"Mental image of you in that costume," Johnny smirked and was satisfied when her cheeks flamed.
"I take it I didn't disappoint?" Lulu asked, giving him a smirk of her own.
"You exceeded my expectations," Johnny answered. "Something I'm finding to be a common occurrence with you."
Lulu smiled and looked away, making Johnny wonder if he had done something wrong. She seemed nervous or on edge about something and Johnny didn't like it.
"Do you have cold feet about tonight?" Johnny wondered.
"What?" Lulu questioned, snapping her eyes back to his face.
"I just thought maybe you were rethinking the decision to bring me or something," Johnny continued. "You seem hesitant."
"Well, I am, but...it's not about taking you to the party," Lulu replied.
"So, it's just me in general?" Johnny asked.
"No, no," Lulu muttered, shaking her head. "Well, yes, but no."
"I'm lost," Johnny admitted.
"You have this whole charming, gentleman thing going on, but at the same time, you're not exactly being secretive about how much you're attracted to me," Lulu explained. "I just don't know what kind of expectations you have. I mean, at the end of the night are you going to be a gentleman and kiss me on the cheek or are you going to try to take me back to your place?"
Johnny took a deep breath and a step back, trying to decipher Lulu's words and get to the heart of what was troubling her. It was something he tried to do a lot lately with himself and he was never able to accomplish. He couldn't seem to understand why he was so unhappy with everything around him, including himself. But in the moments he had shared with Lulu, he wasn't unhappy. He wasn't just getting through the day. He was happy, hopeful even, for some reason he couldn't understand. And the only thing he could think clearly about as he contemplated Lulu's question was that his answer had to be perfect because he couldn't risk losing that happiness.
"I'm more of a take it as it comes kind of guy when it comes to stuff like that," Johnny replied finally. "I don't have any expectations for tonight other than to help you have the best time that you can. If I did, it wouldn't be fair to either of us."
"Wow, that's a perfect answer," Lulu said softly.
"You don't seem too happy about it," Johnny muttered.
"I guess I'm sort of looking for a flaw in you," Lulu admitted. "So far, I'm coming up empty."
"You've only known me a little while," Johnny noted. "If you stick around long enough, I'm sure you'll find more than one."
"Who said I'm sticking around?" Lulu wondered.
"Who said you have a choice?" Johnny countered and she laughed. "Finally, you're laughing again."
"Maybe I shouldn't," Lulu said, shaking her head. "Maybe I should be scared."
"Of what?" Johnny asked.
"You," Lulu answered.
"Why?" Johnny questioned in confusion.
"You just basically told me you were going to stalk me," Lulu giggled.
Johnny laughed as well and shook his head as he looked at his watch. At the rate they were going, they would never make it inside to the party. When he looked at Lulu again he caught her staring at his chest and abs and he smirked as he watched her mouth open slightly. He moved closer to her and her eyes quickly darted away from his body. Before she could do it herself, Johnny mimicked her earlier motion, tapping his finger underneath her chin quickly, making her close her mouth. He laughed at the irritated look she gave him and she glared at him.
"Not funny," Lulu muttered.
"It's okay, Lulu," Johnny smiled. "If I was afraid of being stared at, I wouldn't have worn this costume."
"Just shut up," Lulu warned, the corners of her mouth twitching in spite of herself.
"You do realize that, though, don't you?" Johnny asked, pressing the issue. "All night, girls will probably be staring at me. Wanting to dance with me and talk to me."
"No, they won't," Lulu said firmly.
"What makes you say that?" Johnny wondered.
"Well, maybe one will," Lulu conceded. "But when she gets a black eye from coming near you, the other girls will get the message."
"Ooh," Johnny replied, smirking at her again. "I like that you're willing to fight for me."
"Ugh," Lulu sighed, throwing up her hands.
"Seriously, it goes so well with the Tarzan and Jane thing," Johnny continued.
"Are you done?" Lulu asked, glaring at him again, but he could see the smile in her eyes.
"Almost," Johnny whispered, moving closer to her slowly.
He brought his hands to rest on her hips and reveled in the way she was watching his every move. Inhaling softly, he bent his head so that his eyes were level with hers. She met his stare and then closed her eyes as he got closer. He was an inch from her lips when someone called Lulu's name and they both backed away quickly.
"Carly!" Lulu said happily, glancing at Johnny before her eyes landed on the blonde in the fairy costume that was walking over to them.
Johnny tried to hide his disappointment as Lulu hugged the woman, apparently named Carly.
"I was coming outside to call you," Carly explained. "I thought you had backed out and I was going to strangle you."
"Sorry, I was just talking to Johnny," Lulu replied, pointing towards him. "This is Johnny...Johnny..."
"Zacchara," Johnny offered, smiling as he offered his hand to Carly.
"I'm Carly, Lulu's cousin," she said, glancing between Johnny and Lulu. "Tarzan and Jane. How cute!"
"Yeah," Lulu nodded, blushing again.
"Well, get inside, it's cold out here," Carly ordered, slinging an arm around Lulu's shoulder. "You two must be freezing considering you're both practically n-um...since your costumes are so authentic."
Johnny felt the heat in his cheeks and realized he hadn't noticed the cold air at all. He had been so busy sparring with Lulu and almost kissing her that the weather hadn't even registered. Lulu's eyes met his and she mouthed "sorry" to him, obviously embarrassed by her cousin's remarks. Johnny winked at her and she blushed again as they walked inside and headed up the elevator to join the party.
As they got off the elevator, everyone's eyes turned to them and time seemed to stop. Johnny noticed Carly's worried expression as Lulu tensed. Johnny felt the urge to comfort her in some way, but as soon as he moved his hand toward her, she flinched. She turned her back to him and looked at Carly. They had a silent conversation and Carly nodded as Lulu walked away.
"Is she okay?" Johnny asked, watching her disappear into the bathroom.
"She will be, she just needs a minute," Carly replied. "Which is fine, gives me time to get to know you."
"Why would you want to get to know me?" Johnny wondered.
"You're dating my cousin," Carly shrugged.
"I'm on a date with your cousin," Johnny corrected. "I just met Lulu today."
"I know, she called me and told me she was bringing you," Carly replied. "But, she's interested and the feeling is clearly mutual."
"What makes you say that?" Johnny questioned.
"I'm not blind," Carly said pointedly. "You two would still be making out downstairs if I hadn't shown up."
"Why did you want Lulu to come so badly, anyway?" Johnny asked.
"I imagine if Lulu wants you to know, you'll find out," Carly said, her eyes wandering the room.
"Okay," Johnny muttered, then thought of another question. "Are you related to Lulu on her dad's side?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?" Carly answered.
"I just figure that means I have to watch my back around you," Johnny explained.
"You know Lulu's dad?" Carly wondered.
"Brother," Johnny replied.
"Just as bad," Carly laughed.
Johnny nodded and smiled as he saw Lulu exit the bathroom. She headed for the bar and Johnny didn't even bother to tell Carly goodbye before making his way over to her. He stayed distant, not knowing what exactly had made her uncomfortable earlier.
"You must think I'm crazy or something," Lulu said, glancing sideways at him as he sat down next to her on a stool.
"No," Johnny said honestly. "I think you've got some kind of past that I don't know about, though."
Lulu just nodded and drained the glass of some fruity cocktail that she had ordered. She frowned at the glass and shook her head when the bartender asked if she would like another.
"Can we just get a couple of beers?" Johnny asked, smiling as the waiter nodded and left.
"No questions?" Lulu wondered, turning to face him.
"Questions about what?" Johnny replied.
"My past," Lulu clarified.
"Let me think," Johnny said, taking a deep breath. "At what age did you stop believing in Santa Claus?"
"Johnny," Lulu sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Does that not qualify as the past?" Johnny asked, smirking at her. "Oh wait, do you still believe?"
"Shut up," Lulu laughed, thanking the bartender as he placed their beers in front of them.
"I'm not going to grill you," Johnny said softly, meeting her eyes. "It's your business and I'm pretty much a stranger. I get that you wouldn't want to tell me."
"It's not that I don't want to tell you," Lulu replied. "I just haven't talked about it...ever."
"I understand," Johnny said, offering her a smile. "You don't have to start now."
Lulu returned the smile and took a sip of her beer. She smiled even wider and Johnny just laughed. He took a swig of his own beer and noticed the song change to a more upbeat tune.
"So, do you want to dance?" Johnny wondered, looking at her cautiously.
"Sure," Lulu nodded, standing up. "Just don't embarrass me, Tarzan."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Jane," Johnny chuckled.
They headed out to the dance floor and laughed together through three songs. However, the more they enjoyed themselves, the more stares they attracted. Johnny could tell Lulu was starting to notice and when the song switched to a slow rhythm, she left the dance floor before he could even blink. He followed after her as she left through the door that led to the terrace. When he stepped outside, he noticed they were alone and he was thankful for that at least. He made his way over to her and he ached as he saw the tears in her eyes. She was so brave, trying to hold them back, but she didn't have to for his sake and he wanted her to know that.
"You don't have to run away from me," Johnny said softly. "I'm not going to think less of you because you have emotions."
She met his eyes and shook her head before collapsing against him. She cried, sobbed and apologized repeatedly for dragging him to the party. He just held her tight and assured her that he was happy where he was. And it was the truth. He couldn't remember the last time he had been in a position to comfort someone else. It was nice to be there, holding her and whispering in her ear that everything would be okay. It reminded him of who he used to be. That guy he had been looking for when he first stopped in Port Charles.
"I'm sorry," Lulu said again, finally pulling away and wiping at her eyes. "I never should have come. I should have known I wasn't ready. I really shouldn't have brought you with me."
"Am I that boring?" Johnny asked, trying to keep the moment light.
"No, you're amazing," Lulu replied. "For putting up with all of this. Some first date, right?"
"I've had a good time," Johnny smiled, wiping away a stray tear from her face.
"You're just saying that," Lulu muttered, looking away.
"No, I just really like you," Johnny said, bringing her eyes back to his. "Why is that so hard for you to believe?"
"Because my cousin throws a lot of parties," Lulu answered, shaking her head. "She owns the hotel and for most holidays, she has a party that the whole town attends. On Valentine's Day this year, she had a huge celebration. People bought tickets and there was a fancy dinner and a show. I had been dating this guy for months, almost an entire year. We had tickets and I bought a special dress. Halfway through the main course, he said he had something important to discuss with me. I thought he was thinking marriage. The truth was, he was thinking about how he had slept with every waitress on the staff that night."
"What?" Johnny asked.
"He had been cheating on me the entire time we dated," Lulu explained. "He worked his way through practically every other girl in Port Charles. He told me he had some kind of addiction or something, but I was just disgusted. I mean, why come clean at the dinner?"
"Things went badly?" Johnny wondered.
"I went off," Lulu sighed. "My Spencer kicked in and I called him every name I could think of and then added a few more. At the time, I just needed to get it off my chest. But later, everyone in town started looking at me like I was crazy. I realized I sort of was. Going off on him like that just made me look like a fool. He had been with so many girls behind my back and I had no clue."
Lulu shook her head and Johnny squeezed her hand in support. She smiled up at him and he let his other hand rest against her cheek.
"Anyway, I thought if I brought a date tonight, everyone would see that I was over it and stop looking at me like I'm insane," Lulu continued. "Turns out, the opposite is true."
"Forget about them," Johnny said, taking her face in both hands. "Are you over it?"
"Yeah," Lulu nodded.
"Then that's all that matters," Johnny smiled.
"How do you do that?" Lulu asked.
"Do what?" Johnny wondered.
"Make everything okay," Lulu clarified.
"That's a secret," Johnny said, winking at her.
"Can I persuade you to share?" Lulu questioned, smiling at him as her hands wrapped around his wrists.
"I'm tough to break," Johnny said, leaning closer.
"Doubtful," Lulu murmured, letting her lips just graze his as she spoke.
"See for yourself," Johnny muttered, catching her mouth in a kiss.
Johnny was experiencing perfection as Lulu's lips danced with his. It was such a gentle kiss, playful in a way but completely sweet. Their mouths were battling, much like they did when they bantered, only this time there were no words escaping. She pulled away quickly, gasping for air and he smiled at her cautiously.
"How do you do it?' Lulu wondered.
"I honestly don't know," Johnny chuckled. "But I'm glad that I can."
"So am I," Lulu agreed, resting her head under his chin.
"Do you want to know a real secret?" Johnny asked, wrapping her in his embrace.
"Sure," Lulu said, meeting his eyes.
"I came into this town a few weeks ago and I was lost in so many ways," Johnny muttered. "It's like I had all these pieces of myself that made up who I was, like a puzzle. And along the way, my pieces got lost or damaged, so I didn't fit together. My life didn't make sense and I didn't know how to solve my problems anymore."
"I know that feeling," Lulu noted, watching him carefully.
"I hate that feeling," Johnny whispered. "But ever since I've been here, it's been slipping away. And today, I met you and it was gone. It was like I suddenly remembered what I'm supposed to look like. Who I'm supposed to be."
"How could I have done that?" Lulu wondered. "I don't even know you."
"I'm not sure," Johnny shrugged. "But some part of you brought out the best part of me. So, thank you."
"Don't mention it," Lulu smiled, running a hand over his chest and laughing as he smirked.
"Are you cold?" Johnny asked, holding her closer.
"Not at all," Lulu replied.
"Do you think we should get back to the party?" Johnny questioned.
"No, I don't," Lulu answered.
"Okay, what do you want to do?" Johnny asked.
"I want to change out of these ridiculous costumes and go somewhere, just the two of us," Lulu said, grinning widely. "I want to find out all about you, even if it takes all night. And I want you to know about me."
"I like that idea," Johnny muttered. "But, don't call our costumes ridiculous."
"Okay," Lulu laughed. "Why can't I call them ridiculous?"
"Because I'm going to be the Tarzan to your Jane," Johnny explained. "How can that be ridiculous?"
Lulu just laughed even more and he captured her lips to quiet the sound. Their kiss intensified slightly before Lulu pulled away and gave Johnny a playful glare.
"Okay, Tarzan," she smirked. "Let's go before it gets way too hot outside for it being the last day of October."
Johnny laughed and agreed, leading her out of the hotel and off into what he hoped was a long future. It was funny how everything he wanted for himself was suddenly clicking into place in his mind. His dreams and ambitions were clear now and it was all because it wasn't just about him anymore. Now he saw his life with someone else and it helped him see his future for the first time. He had finally found himself and his path in life by finding Lulu.
And it was a path that was destined for happiness.