Chapter One

APRIL 2007

Milo stepped into the diner, passed her table- where her books were splayed out in front of her- and took a seat at an empty table in the corner.

Lulu had looked up the moment Milo stepped inside, as if she felt him before she saw him. It was one of those weird things that kept happening to her when he came around.

Sometimes she simply stared, loving the way he looked so strong- like he could save her from anything.

Sometimes she smiled and waved and hoped he would take a few minutes to talk to her.

But always she felt this intense stillness inside of herself, like time was slowly down, and every second became a heartbeat that was loud in her ears. Suddenly, in those moments when he was near her, he became all that mattered in her world.

She wished Milo would notice how he affected her. Though, she figured, he was beyond wanting to waste his time on a college girl.

Why did she always fall for the guy who wanted everyone else but her?

(I was sitting, waiting, wishing
you believed in superstitions.


Then maybe you would see the signs.


But Lord knows that

this world is cruel.


And I ain't the Lord.

No, I'm just a fool


Learning

loving somebody
don't make them love you) (Jack Johnson)

MILO watched as Spinelli came in and sat down with Lulu. She laughed at something he said, and her whole face became filled with light. When she looked that way, it was so hard for him to think, to talk, to breath.

She was more than pretty. She was insanely steal your heart beautiful.

He knew he had to do something about these feelings he had for her. Either ask the girl out or forget about her. She was under his skin and making it hard for him to sleep, to eat, and nearly impossible for him to focus at work.

His phone rang. "Hello"

"Staring at the lovely Lulu Spencer again?" asked Max

"No."

"I can see you through the window. You are so starting at her."

Milo turned his gaze from the blonde and spotted his brother waving at him, wearing a I caught you smile on his face.

"Come in and stop playing games," Milo said

"You get up and talk to her."

"I..."

"I.. I... I..." Max mocked him good-naturedly "I have heard that all before, brother. Talk to her!" Max hung up.

Milo stared at his phone for a minute then shoved it into his pocket, and stood up.

SPINELLI waved his hand in front of Lulu's face. "Earth to The Blonde One. Hel-lo. I know I am Justin Timberlake gorgeous but you don't have to drool. Or am I more Colin Farrell? What do you think? Lu- lu?"

"What?" Her eyes stayed focused just behind his head, where she could get a good view of Milo.

"I know you have a crush on me..."

"WHAT?" Her eyes darted to him for a second, and then back to Milo.

Spinelli continued, "But this is getting to be embarrassing. The way you gawk at The Jackal is ...very...hot and flattering in a stalkerish sort of way but...still. You can just tell me you want my bod and then..."

Lulu could hardly think. Milo was coming this way, a few more steps and he would be next to her table. She wanted to catch his eye so that he might sit down and join them, he might see she wanted to spend more time with him, he might notice she missed him since that day at Christmas when they were at Sonny's together.

"Spinelli, very funny."

Spinelli smiled at her, but his eyes said it was not completely a joke. Lulu thought she saw something there but then she was looking away again as Milo stopped and said "Hi, Lesley Lou."

Only he could make that name sound sexy. No one else had managed to pull that off before.

"Hey, Milo."

And then they simply smiled at each other for a full minute.

"How's The Godfather and The Super Model doing?" Spinelli asked Milo

"The Super Model?"

"He means Carly," Lulu filled in.

"I was just working on a new name for her. How do you like that one? Or what about The Stunner? Or Miss Breath Taker? Though that would work better if she was still with Jason. Mr. and Mrs. Breath Taker. Get it? Because of Stone Colds's job..."

Milo stared at him, not knowing or caring what he was going on about. When Spinelli finally ran out of steam Milo looked at Lulu again.

"How have you been?" he asked

Lonely, she wanted to say. But settled for "Could be better."

"Oh yeah?"

Lulu nodded. "Don't you find this town boring?"

"Sometimes."

Just then Dillon walked in, "I have an update on...you know. You need to come with me to the attic right now."

Lulu shoved all her books into her bag. She gave Milo a disappointed look, "I have to go."

"Have a good day, Lulu."

She nodded and found she had trouble forcing her eyes away from him and making her feet turn and head for the door.

Lulu and Dillon stepped outside first, while Spinelli was shoving his laptop in his bag.

Spinelli said to Milo, "Catch you later, runner- up."

Milo was still looking at the door but he asked, absentmindedly, "Runner-up?"

"There can only be one winner in the battle for the fair maiden's hand," Spinelli said before darting for the door "and I plan to be it."

Great, Milo thought, competition. Just what I don't need!

He knew he should head back to work but instead he sat down. Once again he let his mind drift into a fantasy about Lulu.

(Waiting on love ain't so easy to do.


Must I always be waiting, waiting on you?
Must I always be playing, playing your fool?) ( Jack Johnson)