Note – Yup, another Nohnny story! I figured it was time to do a full length one since the only other full-length one is The Right Girl, and it's been getting lonely. This Is Your Song is a shrimpy little playmate. :-P This story will be about 76-77 mini-chapters (think anywhere from 3-6 pages each, instead of my usual 10-15 pages each). The alternate title of this story is 75 Things A Man Should Be Able To Do. Each title banner will be one item in the list, instead of picture banners, which get boring. And how do y'all like my forum banner? ;-) Hee hee.
This goes out to my dear pals Amber and Kerri and Chikn, who love the Nohnny just as much as me, even though Amber's a drunk whore who's succumbed to the raw power of Jolivia. Let's throw things at her.
What You Need To Know: Nadine is a nurse at General Hospital, Johnny is the son of mobster Anthony Zacchara and little brother of Claudia Zacchara. Nadine has a few family connections we haven't seen on the show, so just go with that as it comes up. Everything is basically AU, just to be safe. This is a breezy, light, cute story, so have fun.
Wooing Miss Crowell | Prologue"That depends," Nadine said, eyeing him warily even as her blue eyes twinkled with amusement. "Will turning you down get me fitted for cement shoes and thrown into the harbor?"
"No, of course not," Johnny scoffed as he leaned against the counter of the nurses' station at General Hospital. "That's not my M.O. – everyone knows that's what Sonny and Jason do. I'm far more creative."
"Ah," she laughed, flashing him that pretty smile he loved. "Okay, so turning down your offer for a date will get me…sealed alive in the cornerstone of one of your currently under-construction buildings?"
He smirked and leaned closer. "You're getting closer to discovering my creative genius, Crowell, but the answer's still no. You won't be sealed alive or fitted with cement shoes or drowned in cement or whatever else you can remember from those old gangster films of yours."
"Good to know," she chirped, her expression becoming more serious now. "Because, while I'm flattered that you want to go out with me, the answer's still no."
His shoulders slumped a little, but Johnny Zacchara was nothing if not persistent. "All right, I can respect that. But I'm sure you agree that you owe me the courtesy of explaining why not."
Nadine licked her lips, trying to figure out a way to explain it so that he wouldn't take it personally. Truth be told, she was also trying to convince herself, to buck herself up. Because when a woman was standing a couple inches away from the Johnny Zacchara, one hundred and seventy-five pounds of muscle, charm, and pure sex, with him looking at her with those warm brown eyes, it was kind of hard to remember why this was a bad idea.
She clicked her nails on her charts, organizing her thoughts. "Well…Please don't take this personally."
He was disappointed but trying to hard it, and Johnny shot her a wry look. "Oh, okay, then."
Nadine rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. It's just…look, there's nothing wrong with you. Absolutely nothing."
"Good to know," he smirked, mimicking her response to him earlier.
"It's just…I know what this is. And…it's not what I'm looking for." She bit her lip, hoping that he would understand without her having to say too much more. Alas, no such luck, judging by the bewildered look on his face.
"I…I've never had a fling," Nadine said slowly, feeling her cheeks turn warm. "Or had a casual relationship. It's just not my thing. I'm not comfortable with that. I'm not knocking anyone who does that sort of thing, but it's just not for me.
"I look for relationships," she shrugged. "It's just how I am. I don't end every first date by calling the guy The One or anything, but I'm looking for something solid, something a little more long-term. Something…serious?"
Johnny's brows furrowed. "What makes you think-"
"I'm well aware of your reputation," Nadine smiled gently. "It doesn't lessen my opinion of you or anything, but it just leads me to believe that we're not exactly suited for each other. But, again, thank you so much for asking. It was really nice of you."
He grumbled something under his breath and nodded, pushing himself away from the counter. She sure was blunt when she had a mind to be, but that was, again, one of the things he liked best about her. It was really confusing: how all of her best qualities seemed to backfire on him. Like she really had any business being so hot if she wouldn't let him do anything to her.
The thought made him smirk and Johnny gave himself a brisk shake. He'd never been one to take anything lying down and he knew that if he just put forth the effort, he could change her mind. No one was more persuasive than a Zacchara – especially when there was something valuable on the line.
"Thank you for being so honest," he smiled, and the wickedness in his grin made her blink. "I appreciate it. I guess you're right – some people just aren't boyfriend material."
"Not that there's anything wrong with that," Nadine said slowly, still watching him in open confusion.
"Not at all," Johnny grinned, backing away toward the elevators. "I'll see you around, Nadine."
She nodded absently, watching as he got into the elevator to go down, and had to wonder why he was smirking like that.