A/N – A deal is a deal. Thank you for all the comments! I know there have been some questions about the identity of the villains and all I can say is they will make their appearances soon enough. A special thanks to Beth for really encouraging me to run with this idea. Happy reading!

Chapter 1 – Making Plans

Johnny exited the science building at PCU and as usual Lulu was at his side. She was going on and on about how unfair it was to be forced into a lab partner and how she would fail with the one she had received. Johnny just smiled because he could listen to the sound of her voice all day and still consider it music.

"Kelly's?" Lulu suggested breaking Johnny from his train of thought.

"Sure," he agreed.

Kelly's meant more time with Lulu. Johnny knew he was ridiculous. With Lulu there were two possibilities and neither was good. Either she knew how he felt and ignored it because she didn't return the feelings and did not want to have an awkward conversation or she had no clue because she had never and would never consider the possibility of being anything more than friends with Johnny.

"What are you thinking about so hard," Lulu wondered.

"Nothing important," Johnny answered.

"Apparently it is because I just asked you a question and you didn't even notice," Lulu replied.

"I'm sorry," Johnny said honestly. "I'm just a little tired is all."

"Good thing we're getting coffee then," Lulu laughed and Johnny smiled.

Her laughter made his heart beat faster. She was so beautiful. Johnny knew going to Kelly's with her would probably make him late for his meeting with Sonny, but he didn't care. Lulu was more important. If she was with him, she was safe and keeping her safe was his main priority.

They entered Kelly's and Mike waved at them as they took seats at a table near the door. Lulu was looking intently at a menu and Johnny pulled it away from her. She pouted and he tried to keep his resolve.

"I'm not buying you something to eat," Johnny insisted. "You suggested here for coffee, not lunch."

"But all the walking made me hungry," Lulu argued. "Are you really not going to let me eat?"

"You can eat if you have your own money," Johnny answered. "But I'm not paying for it."

"I probably don't need anything anyway," Lulu said sadly. "I don't need the extra weight. I look like a cow already."

Johnny knew he was being played. Lulu had very high self-esteem. She was only saying these things so he would cave and buy her the burger she was probably craving. It was a common occurrence. She would want something and he would try to refuse. She would somehow trick him and get what she wanted. No matter what he did, he could not say no to her.

"Do you ever feel bad?" Johnny wondered after ordering Lulu her burger and fries.

"For what?" Lulu asked.

"For taking advantage of me," Johnny replied. "I know that you know that I know that you are playing me when you say things like 'I look like a cow already.' Yet you continue to do it."

"Can you blame me?" Lulu questioned. "It continues to work."

"True," Johnny relented.

"I'm sorry," Lulu said softly with sad eyes.

"Why would you be sorry?" Johnny asked.

"You're right, I do take advantage of you," Lulu admitted. "I can pick up the tab today. Your coffee, too. All of it is on me."

"No way," Johnny said simply.

"But…" Lulu started, but Johnny silenced her with a finger to her lips.

"No way," he repeated sternly. "I like doing things for you and I have plenty of money left to me from my family. I was just kidding before."

"I still feel awful," Lulu said.

"Don't," Johnny replied.

"I want to make it up to you," Lulu said with a smile.

"How would you do that?" Johnny wondered.

"My brother, Nikolas, is having a business party at his house," Lulu explained. "You could come with me and ride out the incredibly boring evening. Having you there will at least make it bearable."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but shouldn't you take your boyfriend?" Johnny questioned.

"I don't have a boyfriend anymore," Lulu answered. "I dumped him."

"You really want me to go?" Johnny asked in disbelief.

"Yes," Lulu affirmed. "There is no one else I'd rather go with."

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Johnny walked into the meeting and Jason, Sonny and Nikolas all stared at him. He was late and from the looks he was getting it was a big deal. He quietly took his seat, but the stares did not stop. Apparently an apology was needed. Johnny rolled his eyes.

"Sorry I'm late," Johnny mumbled. "What did I miss?"

"We were just discussing our next move," Jason said with frustration. "Something you should have been present for. Do you want us to guess where you were instead?"

"Eating lunch," Johnny replied.

"With?" Sonny asked laughing less annoyed and more amused at watching Johnny squirm.

"Lulu," Johnny answered quietly.

"Does my sister know that you're madly in love with her?" Nikolas wondered and Johnny couldn't keep himself from blushing.

"I only ate with her to make sure she was safe," Johnny lied. "You should be happy I look after your sister."

"As long as you look mostly from afar, I will be," Nikolas responded, laughing with Sonny at Johnny's obvious embarrassment. Jason still looked annoyed.

"We need to focus on filling Johnny in on the plan instead of his love life," Jason interceded.

"Or lack thereof," Sonny added and Nikolas laughed.

"I agree," Johnny said blushing again. He hated being the youngest member of this group. He was the bud of all jokes.

"I am hosting a party at my place," Nikolas explained. "We think there might be some action at the party and all of us need to be there."

"Okay," Johnny said. "I was already planning on going."

"How did you even know about it?" Sonny wondered.

"Lulu" Jason and Nikolas said in unison and Sonny rolled his eyes.

"Should have known," Sonny laughed.

"Lulu asked me to go with her to the party, but I don't like her being there if there is a threat," Johnny said with concern.

"Well I can't exactly take back the invitation," Nikolas replied. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but you will just have to stay close to my sister that night."

"I don't think that will be a problem," Sonny chuckled.

"Enough with the jokes," Johnny said blushing again. "I will stay close to Lulu and make sure nothing happens to her. I hope nothing happens at all."

"That's unlikely," Jason said. "This is exactly the type of thing that draws trouble."

"Then why is it happening?" Johnny wondered.

"We want to draw trouble," Sonny explained. "We need to find out who we are dealing with."

"Right," Nikolas agreed. "And the faster we get the information the better."

"Okay," Johnny said. "I hope this works out."

"It will," Sonny said and Jason and Nikolas agreed.

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Lulu was trying to do homework on the patio of Kelly's but she wasn't very successful. She was waiting for Johnny to come back from his meeting because she had no idea what she was doing and she needed help. She knew she should pay more attention, but school just didn't really hold her interest. She was going because Nikolas said she should and because it was something to do in an otherwise boring city.

Spinelli came up and Lulu couldn't help but laugh a little. He was dressed sloppily and looked as if he had been working on his computer for hours. They had a few classes together at PCU, but Lulu didn't know him too well. Just that he was a computer genius, he was friends with Johnny and he worked for Sonny and Jason.

"Does the Blonde One wish to ask the Jackal a question?" Spinelli asked her.

"Me?" Lulu wondered and Spinelli nodded. "My name is Lulu. You're Spinelli, right?"

"Yes," Spinelli answered. "Did the Fair Lulu need assistance?"

"No, well yes, but I'm waiting for someone," Lulu responded.

"May the Jackal inquire as to the identity of the one the Blonde One waits for?" Spinelli asked.

Lulu found it odd that she could understand what he was saying but she could. Actually, she found it fun and wanted to get to know him. She could see why Johnny was friends with him.

"Johnny Zacchara," Lulu answered.

"Ahhh, the Jackal shall leave the Fair Lulu to her work," Spinelli said and entered Kelly's.

Lulu laughed as Spinelli left and she heard another voice laughing with her. She knew it was Johnny and she wondered how long he had watched her with Spinelli. He did that a lot. Just watched her. Something like that would creep her out with most people, but with Johnny, it made her feel safe. Like she had someone guarding her all the time.

"How long have you been standing there?" Lulu wondered.

"Long enough to see that Spinelli is your new best friend," Johnny laughed. "I'm hurt. You traded me in so quickly."

"You are hilarious," Lulu said laughing as well. "But he is pretty funny. I can see why you two get along."

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or not," Johnny chuckled.

"You should," Lulu assured, laughing hysterically.

Lulu finally calmed herself down and she saw Johnny smiling at her oddly. A small part of her had always wondered if she could be more than friends with Johnny. Given her track record with relationships, she knew that was a mistake. She never wanted to lose what she had with Johnny and being romantic would spell certain doom. Johnny was now leaning close to her and looking at her unfinished homework.

"Did you wait for me so I would give you all the answers?" Johnny wondered and Lulu giggled.

"If I say yes, will you buy me an ice cream?" Lulu countered and Johnny rolled his eyes.

"Come on," Johnny said pulling Lulu from her chair and immediately putting his arm around her shoulders and leading her inside. "Get your ice cream and then I am going to teach you how to get the answers on your own. And no complaining."

"Fine," Lulu conceded, smiling to herself because she knew he would give her the answers eventually.