Chapter 2 – Obstacles

Lulu walked down the stairs to grab her keys. She was on schedule for meeting Johnny, but she still wanted to hurry. Johnny would probably be there waiting for her as it was, and she didn't want to waste a moment of the time she had to spend with him. As she was getting her coat out of the closet, the door bell rang. She answered the door and found Carly on the other side.

"You look nice," Carly complimented as she walked into the house.

"Thank you," Lulu smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"I can't just visit?" Carly asked.

"You never have before," Lulu pointed out.

"Well, you're right," Carly admitted. "I have an ulterior motive."

"What do you need?" Lulu questioned.

"I'm redecorating the ballroom of the Metro Court," Carly started. "I need you to supervise and manage expenses. Normally I would do it myself, but I am swamped with so many other projects. Jax is taking care of foreign business and he really doesn't have time. We were going to hire someone, but I didn't want an outsider handling something so important."

"Carly, I'm not qualified," Lulu replied. "I have no experience with something like this. I mean if you needed me to wait a few tables that would be something I have experience with, but this?"

"Lulu, you're smart," Carly insisted. "You've taken business classes at PCU. I know you can do this. This could start a career for you if it's something you like doing. Jax will write you a reference and you could be traveling the world, managing large projects and making good money."

"I don't know," Lulu protested. "This is important for your business. What if I screw up?"

"You're family," Carly answered. "We will forgive you. This is the perfect opportunity. I don't see how you can turn it down."

"You're sure?" Lulu prodded.

"I'm sure," Carly smiled.

"Okay," Lulu agreed. "I'll do it."

"Great, let's go," Carly said excitedly.

"Go?" Lulu asked. "Go where?"

"Go get started," Carly responded.

"It's almost five," Lulu said slowly. "Why would we get started right now?"

"Because this is a round the clock job," Carly replied seriously. "Plus, we're interviewing decorators tomorrow. You need to have done your homework."

"Why would we be interviewing tomorrow if you just asked me to do the job today?" Lulu asked skeptically.

"Okay, you caught me," Carly conceded. "I was going to handle it myself, but I realized it would be a great opportunity for you and I decided to give it to you. But you already said yes, so no backing out now."

"It's just..." Lulu started before stopping herself.

Lulu didn't have a good excuse for not going with Carly. She couldn't say she had plans with Johnny and her usual quick thinking was failing her. She missed Johnny so much, but she had no clue how to get out of this or if she should. This was a good opportunity for her.

"Did you have other plans?" Carly wondered.

"No," Lulu lied. "I was just headed to get something to eat and rent a movie."

"Well, I will eat with you and then bring you up to speed on the project," Carly offered.

"Alright," Lulu agreed. "Let's go."

Lulu grabbed her cell phone off the end table and followed Carly out of the house. She stared at her phone and thought of Johnny. He was going to be crushed and she couldn't do that over a text message. She would have to find some way to get away from Carly long enough to call. And to figure out how to apologize for not meeting him.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Johnny looked at himself in the mirror. This was the fourth shirt he had tried on. He didn't know why he was so nervous to go see Lulu and knowing Lulu his shirt would hit the floor seconds after she got to the cabin anyway. He decided to stick with what he had on and finish getting ready.

All Johnny could think of was Lulu's smile and how much he missed her. He grabbed his phone and his keys and left his room. He crept down the back stairs toward the kitchen. He was almost out the garage door when a voice stopped him. Knowing he was caught Johnny desperately tried to think of an excuse for leaving the house so late at night.

"Hey dad," Johnny said, turning around.

"You weren't trying to sneak out were you, John?" Anthony questioned.

"I just wanted to go for a drive," Johnny replied.

"What have I told you about leaving the house?" Anthony asked darkly.

"To not," Johnny answered. "Look, it was just for a little while. I just wanted to clear my head."

"Fine, then the guards can follow you," Anthony reasoned.

"Being watched doesn't exactly let me clear my head," Johnny argued.

"I'm trying to negotiate, John," Anthony said firmly. "You leave with guards or you stay here."

"Then I guess I'll stay," Johnny responded.

"We have an entire house at your disposal," Anthony smiled. "Maybe you can find a way to clear your head here."

"Maybe," Johnny said softly.

He made his way back upstairs and collapsed onto his bed. His father was watching his every move. How could he get out to see Lulu? Lulu would be so upset with him if he had to cancel. It had been too long and he was desperate to see her.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Lulu sat uncomfortably in her seat at the table. Carly had insisted on treating her to a fancy dinner to celebrate the new job. She didn't want a new job. Seeing Johnny was hard enough without having a stressful job take up even more of her time. She looked across at Carly who seemed unusually happy. Something didn't add up, but Lulu didn't know what it was. What she did know was that she was supposed to be at the cabin soon and she still hadn't called Johnny.

"Excuse me," Lulu smiled, getting up from her chair.

"Where are you going?" Carly asked.

"Restroom," Lulu answered. "Be back soon."

Lulu left the table and headed for the restroom. Once inside she waited for everyone to leave before locking the door. She took a deep breath and dialed Johnny's number. She hated doing this, but she had no other choice. She had to cancel their plans.

"Hey beautiful," Johnny answered softly.

"Hey," Lulu replied. "I don't know how to say this."

"You're not coming," Johnny assumed.

"How did you know?" Lulu wondered.

"I told you that nothing goes right for me," Johnny muttered.

"I'm sorry," Lulu said, her eyes filling with tears. "It's not that I don't want to come. I miss you and I was looking forward to spending time with you."

"So what happened?" Johnny questioned.

"Carly," Lulu sighed. "She has some job that she wants me to do. I agreed before I realized that she wanted me to start tonight."

"That doesn't really make sense," Johnny commented.

"I know," Lulu responded. "I think there is an ulterior motive, but I don't know what it is yet. I couldn't exactly tell her that I couldn't do it because I had plans with you. Then we wouldn't be a secret anymore."

"It wouldn't have mattered," Johnny added. "I'm still at home. My dad caught me leaving. I was trying to figure out what to say when I called you."

"What happened?" Lulu asked.

"Nothing," Johnny answered. "I made up an excuse."

"Maybe we can meet tomorrow," Lulu suggested.

"Do you honestly think we could?" Johnny wondered. "I mean I don't want to make plans and have to cancel them again."

"I'm sorry, Johnny," Lulu said, starting to cry.

"Hey," Johnny soothed. "Don't cry. I'm sorry, Lulu. We're going to make it work. I promise."

"Really?" Lulu sniffled.

"Yes," Johnny replied. "I don't care how long it takes. We will be together. But only if you stop crying because hearing that is killing me."

"Are you always going to be so sweet to me?" Lulu questioned.

"Of course," Johnny laughed. "Look, why don't you go work with Carly and call me when you're done. We can just talk for awhile. Maybe you can talk dirty to me again."

"Maybe I will," Lulu replied. "I better go. Carly's probably looking for me."

"Okay," Johnny responded. "I'll talk to you later."

"Bye," Lulu said as she hung up.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Bye," Johnny said, hanging up.

He tried to be strong for Lulu, but he was crushed. All he could think about was holding Lulu in his arms and kissing her all over. He had planned on calling her and telling her to wait at the cabin until he could get there. Now he wasn't going to be able to see her. He was going to spend another night alone without Lulu.