Chapter 2 – The Tent
Johnny allowed himself to smile as he walked up to the familiar secluded area. His car was parked about a mile away and all he had with him was his tent. He walked to the center of the small area and set down the tent. Looking to the sky, Johnny realized his moonlight would be hidden by clouds soon. He quickly began assembling the tent.
Once the tent was up, Johnny gathered some wood for a fire. Johnny moved effortlessly through the woods and couldn't help but be a little happy. It had been so long since his last escape and he was glad to get away. He thought briefly of the consequences when he returned, but put the thought out of his mind. All he wanted to do was enjoy the time he had. Although, being alone wasn't that enjoyable, it was more enjoyable than being trapped.
He finished gathering the wood and made his fire. He considered getting the rest of his supplies from his car, but decided against it. He was enjoying the smell of a fire and the outdoors. Reveling in the opportunity to think without interruption. To think of his future. What he wanted versus what he would get. At times he wondered why he even bothered to dream about a life outside of the Zacchara compound. Probably because that was the one thing his mother instilled in him that had stuck. To always dream.
His thoughts were broken by a raindrop landing on his head. He groaned in frustration. The weather was against him. He stomped out the fire and headed for the tent. He heard the rain increase and he sat down in the middle of the tent. Alone. Just like always.
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Lulu had been walking for what seemed like miles. She was in a part of Port Charles she had never been before. The sensible side of her was screaming at her for walking through the woods alone at night. The Spencer in her was loving the danger of the situation. The rush from doing something a little bit crazy.
Although she may have been in danger, Lulu's biggest problem on her mind was being lost. She had been at the overlook for awhile before heading into the woods. She didn't know what was leading her originally, but whatever it was had gone. She was treading aimlessly and her legs were starting to hurt. All of the weight from the day seemed to be catching up with her.
She found a tree branch to sit on and she tried to relax. Tried to forget all about her horrible day. Forget how she had fallen victim to one of the most hurtful things she could ever imagine. Lulu couldn't help but wonder how many people had known about the bet. How many people back home were laughing at her pain right now? She felt the anger surge through her once again and she stood up and began walking again.
She was moving more quickly now, but she didn't know if she was going deeper into the woods or back towards Port Charles. She also didn't know which option she was rooting for. She liked the possibility of leaving Port Charles and never looking back. To get away permanently from all of the pain she had suffered in that town.
She heard the rain begin to fall around her and tears fell from her eyes. She was lost, hurt and wet. The rain was coming down really hard and she began to run. She assumed that eventually she would find something. An abandoned cabin or maybe a road where she could hitch a ride. She thought she saw a break in the trees to her right, so she headed for it. Lulu breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted a tent in the middle of the clearing.
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Johnny had been listening to the rain with his eyes closed. Lost in its melody as it hit the tent, trees and ground. He remembered how much he used to love the rain when his mother was alive. When the rain would keep them indoors, his mother would tell him stories about how the rain always brought miracles. She would tell him that if you listened closely, each drop told a story of someone's happiness. It was her way of turning even the rain of a dreary day into something fun.
He found himself imagining the drops speaking to him, but he couldn't find happiness. All he found was heartbreak and misery. He desperately wanted to be able to find something good in this situation. Like his mom would have.
Suddenly, he heard a sound different than the rain. It almost sounded like someone was knocking on his tent. He thought he was imagining it, but it was persistent. When he heard a zipping sound, he opened his eyes. A soaking wet girl stepped into the tent and zipped it shut behind her. She turned slowly to face him and she took his breath away. Even rain-soaked, she was the most beautiful woman Johnny had ever seen. She gasped when she saw him, apparently unaware of his presence before.
"Hi," he whispered.
"Hi," she replied.
Maybe the rain did give miracles.