Johnny stumbled towards the rooftop's ledge, a nearly empty bottle of whiskey in hand. The unusual November heat made his day old clothing cling to him. After taking a long swig of the liquor, he threw the bottle against the brick wall. The glass immediately shattered on impact, spraying the ground with sharp shards of the bottle. Johnny lifted himself onto he ledge and looked down.

Standing close to the edge of an apartment building and staring down at possible death would usually scare a person, but Johnny had been doing it for years. When people asked him why he would take such risks, he'd simply reply "Why not?" He hadn't done anything like this for a while because he found something that was better, something that gave him more of a rush than any of the stupid, reckless things he had done before ever could – the love of Lulu Spencer.

His heart ached when he thought of her. He felt as if it was literally being ripped from his chest. He'd never felt this amount of pain before.

'One step could end the pain,' he dangerously thought.

Johnny roughly wiped the tears from his eyes while he continued to look down. He lifted his leg from the steady surface and dangled his foot in the air, as if temping himself.

"Johnny!" A woman yelled as she ran towards him. "Get down before you fall!"

Johnny looked back at her and chocked down a sob.

"I'm sorry, Lulu," he said desperate and sad. "I'm so sorry."

"Johnny… Get down," Lulu said helplessly.

He did as he was told and made his way over to Lulu. Entangling his hand in her blonde hair, he brought her forehead to his. "Can you forgive me?"Chapter One – It Sucks Being Love's Bitch

Eleven Months Earlier"Will that be all for you, Mr. Zacchara?" The deskman asked. Johnny gave a simple nod and grabbed his room key. "Have a good day."

"Yeah, you too," he said sarcastically.

Gathering his few belongings, he headed towards the elevator.

"Maxie, Kate needed the article yesterday!" Lulu said into phone to her friend and co-worker. "Ha! That's easy for you to say, you're out sick. I'm the one who will have to hear her rant about this."

Maxie had not been feeling good that weekend and decided to stay home from work. What she forgot to mention to Lulu was that she had not finished the article Kate allowed her to write.

"Fine, I'll cover for you," she gave in. "Only because you're sick. You owe me!"

Ending her call, Lulu walked into the elevator. Looking behind her, she was that she wasn't alone and gave a half smile.

"Hey, how are you?"

"I'm alive. You?"

Lulu noticed his bags. "Are you staying here?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, I thought you were-"

"Staying with Olivia?" Johnny cut her off. "I was. Turns out I was just a body to keep her warm at night."

"Oh."

"I learned that fact when I found her in bed with Sonny. I got the "I didn't mean to hurt you" speech. I'm sure this pleases you a bit after what I did... Karma, right?"

"Johnny," she said awkwardly. "What happened with us… What happened, happened. Did it hurt? Of course. But, I got over it. You'll get over this too."

As she finished her sentence, the elevator doors opened. She put her hand out to stop the doors from closing again.

"I am sorry. You shouldn't have found out that way. I know things between us didn't end so well, but I only hope good things for you."

"Yeah, thanks."

Lulu turned away from her former love and walked into Crimson. Johnny watched her go and pressed the elevator button to return to the level his room was on.

"Where's Maxie?" Kate asked when her hand was not filled with what she expected.

"She's sick."

"Let me guess, you don't have the article?"

"I'm sorry, Kate. Maxie gave it to me, but I was running late and I forgot it."

"Lulu, this is a business."

"I can run home quickly to get it if you'd like?" Lulu smiled sweetly.

"No, that's fine. Thankfully, I have a replacement article we can run. Do you have my coffee, or were you too busy to get that as well?"

"I'm going to get it now." Lulu said as she walked back to the elevator.

Within a couple of minutes she was in the lobby again. As she was passing the front desk she got an idea.

"Hey, Vincent!"

"Ms. Spencer, how are you today?"

"I'm good, but I'll be even better if you could do me a small favor." Lulu smiled, playing on Vincent's crush on her.

"Anything."

Lulu had got him. She didn't condone her current behavior, but this was for a good cause. She'd make sure to donate some money to one of the charities that are affiliated with Crimson to make up for it.

"I need a room number. The name is Johnny Zacchara."

"I'm sorry; I can't give out that information… Hotel policy."

"It's OK. I know him."

"I'm sorry, but it's hotel policy not to give out personal information," he said as he looked around at the guests currently in the lobby who could be in earshot.

"Thanks anyway," she sighed.

Not giving up, she took out her phone and looked for Spinelli in her contact list.

"Spinelli, I need you to get me Johnny's room number at the Metro Court hotel."

It didn't take long for Spinelli, the self-proclaimed assassin of cyber space, to give her what she needed. Thanking Spinelli, she returned to the front desk.

"I'd like to order room service and have it sent to room 506."

"What would you like?" Vincent wondered how she'd gotten that information.

"Chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, bacon… no, sausage… bacon and sausage, a glass of orange juice, and coffee."

Lulu grabbed a pen and a piece of paper from the deskman's note pad and quickly wrote a note.

"I'd like this to be sent with it as well," she said as she handed the folded piece of paper to him. "Make sure he accepts this. Do not go away until he does. Thanks!"

Her mission had been a success.

***

Johnny folded a towel around his waist as he stepped out the shower. Someone's knocking filled the suite.

"Room service."

Johnny opened the door to reveal one of the hotel's staff and a food cart.

"I didn't order and room service."

"This was ordered for you, sir."

"I don't want it. Thanks anyway," he said as he began to close the door.

"Sir, I can not leave until you accept this order. I forgot to mention there's a note as well."

Johnny paused before opening the door again. When he did, he snatched the note from the man's hands.

I've ordered you breakfast and demanded that they not leave until you take it! You didn't look so good earlier. Eat something!
- L

Johnny smiled to himself. That was Lulu, always looking out for him. After reading Lulu's note, he finally accepted the food.