A/N – Jolu are finally meeting! I'm not going to delay it any further! Leave me a review so I know what you think!

Chapter 3 – The Offer

Lulu rummaged through her desk looking for a pen. She had everything ready to call Johnny's agent, but she couldn't find a pen to write down the information he gave her. It was such a trivial thing, but she was getting frustrated. She didn't want to be kept from helping Johnny any longer than she had to be. Something made her think that if she didn't get to him soon, he might give up and she couldn't let that happen. Not now, not ever.

She finally gave up her search and walked outside to her secretary's desk. Her secretary was on her lunch break, but her pen was laying on her desk, so Lulu quickly picked it up and stalked back to her office. She picked up her phone and dialed the number of Johnny's agent, who was apparently named Dave. It rang three times making Lulu worry no one would answer, but then someone picked up.

"Hello?" a man's voice said.

"Is this Dave?" Lulu asked.

"Yes," Dave replied. "Who is this?"

"This is Lulu from L&B Records," she answered. "You sent us a demo from Johnny Zacchara."

"Yes, I understood the answer was no," Dave muttered.

"Well, it was, but sometimes we like to follow up with the artist personally," Lulu lied.

"I don't see why you'd need to," Dave sighed.

"I'm not asking you to see why," Lulu said simply. "I'm asking you to give me your client's information so I can speak with him."

"Look, lady," Dave groaned. "I don't think you should waste your time. Johnny's not my client anymore and I don't think he's trying to land a deal anymore., either Follow up really isn't necessary."

"Look, Dave," Lulu snapped. "I don't care what you think. All I want is Johnny's number, and you're going to give it to me."

"Excuse me?" Dave asked.

"Johnny's number," Lulu said again. "Please."

Dave mumbled the number and promptly hung up the phone. Lulu smiled to herself in satisfaction. If Dave was to be trusted, she was getting Johnny's number just in time. She wondered if she should wait to call Johnny, but knew she couldn't. Every second she let pass was one second closer to Johnny giving up completely on his dream. And her dream for him. She dialed the number and pressed the phone to her ear.

"Zacchara," he answered and Lulu smiled instantly.

"Um," Lulu muttered, realizing she didn't really know what to say. "Hi."

"Hi..." Johnny said, drawing out the word a little. "Who is this?"

"I'm...um...Lulu Spencer," she said nervously. "I work for L&B Records."

"Well, then I don't know why you're calling me," Johnny sighed. "I didn't get signed by L&B Records."

"I-I know," Lulu said softly. "But I wanted you to."

"Thanks?" Johnny said as more of a question.

"This is crazy," Lulu said, more to herself. "I'm calling because I was hoping I could meet with you. Maybe discuss ways to get you signed."

"I don't really think there is a way," Johnny replied. "I've shopped around and no one wants what I have to offer."

"I know it seems that way, but...I just really would like to meet with you to discuss your music," Lulu said again.

"I...look, I've been doing this a really long time," Johnny started. "I've heard the word no what seems like a thousand times and I just don't think I can hear it again. And I'm pretty sure no matter what, at the end of our conversation you would be telling me no again. So, I'm sure you understand why I wouldn't want to waste my time."

"You've been doing this a really long time," Lulu repeated. "What's one thousand and one times of hearing no in comparison with one thousand if it means there's a possibility you'll hear a yes?"

Lulu waited a few minutes and heard nothing but silence. She knew he hadn't hung up, but he was also battling with himself. He was afraid of another rejection, but she wanted him to take just one more chance.

"I promise, if you'll just give me thirty minutes of your time, you won't hear from me again unless you want to," Lulu said, holding her breath as she waited for an answer.

"You're persistent," Johnny noted. "And it's kind of hard to say no to you."

"Does that mean you'll meet me?" Lulu asked hopefully.

"Yeah," Johnny agreed. "Where?"

"Um, I'll come to you," Lulu offered.

"No, that's not necessary," Johnny replied. "I know where Port Charles is, I've been there before. You can pick the place, though."

"How about Kelly's?" Lulu suggested. "We could have lunch or just coffee."

"Just coffee, I think is best," Johnny responded. "Is ten tomorrow good for you?"

"Yeah," Lulu said, smiling happily. "I'll see you then."

"Goodbye," Johnny muttered.

"Bye," Lulu replied before hanging up the phone.

Johnny couldn't fight the nostalgic smile that crossed his face as he drove into Port Charles for the second time in his life. This drive was supposed to be the start of his career so long ago. And somehow, he felt like maybe the second time was the charm. He found Kelly's, parked in the lot and walked inside. The atmosphere of the place was nice and he felt calm, something that surprised him. Usually meetings about his music made him very anxious. He looked around and saw a blonde haired beauty staring at him with a smile on her face. He was used to being looked at, but this woman seemed to recognize him. His suspicions were soon confirmed when she stood up and walked over to him.

"I'm Lulu," she said, extending her hand.

"I'm Johnny, but it feels like you already knew that," Johnny replied, shaking her hand.

Their eyes met and he found himself smiling at her. There was something about her that seemed so familiar, but he didn't know how that was possible. He did know that her hand, which was still in his, was remarkably soft. His eyes roamed over her face and he wondered why she seemed so honored to meet him. She seemed to come back to herself and dropped his hand and her head in embarrassment.

"Let's sit down," Lulu suggested.

Johnny agreed and followed her to the table she had been sitting at when he came in. The waitress came and he ordered a cup of coffee which was quickly brought to the table. All the while, Lulu sat quietly, staring at some notes she had.

"Maybe we could talk about why I'm here," Johnny said after the waitress left.

"Right," Lulu nodded, fidgeting anxiously. "You were right before when you said I already knew who you were. I've seen you before."

"Really?" Johnny asked, the gears in his mind turning. "You said your name was Lulu Spencer?"

"Yes," Lulu replied.

"Any relation to Luke?" Johnny wondered.

"My dad," Lulu answered. "That's how I know you. I was at the club the night you performed."

"And you remembered me all this time?" Johnny questioned.

"Yeah," Lulu muttered. "I thought you were really good, so I guess your name stuck with me. Then your music found its way across my desk."

"Um," Johnny said softly. "I don't mean to be rude, but why do you feel the need to explain all of this to me?"

"I don't know," Lulu sighed. "I just wanted you to know that someone believes in what you're doing, I guess. I did nine years ago when I heard you play in my dad's club and I still do. I thought maybe you needed to hear that."

Johnny offered her a smile and took a sip of his coffee. Belief. A random stranger wanted him to know that she believed in him. It was nice to hear, but he had resigned himself to no longer being a musician. Her coming along now was almost more painful than helpful.

"Well, thanks," Johnny said after awhile. "I would like to say it's inspiring, but...I've tried every record company I've ever heard of and no one is interested. I think music will just be a hobby from now on."

"Oh, no," Lulu said adamantly and Johnny eyed her curiously.

"Did your company decide to sign me?" Johnny asked.

"Well, no," Lulu admitted. "I just mean you can't give up."

"I think that's my decision," Johnny asserted.

"I guess so," Lulu conceded. "But you shouldn't."

"Why is that?" Johnny wondered.

"Because you deserve to get a contract," Lulu replied. "My boss loved your sound and your ability. But your songs were just-"

"Too sad," Johnny interrupted. "I've heard that before."

"So why not change?" Lulu asked.

"Because," Johnny shrugged. "Sharing music is like sharing a part of yourself."

"And you only want to share the part of you that's sad?" Lulu questioned.

"That's all I have to share," Johnny muttered.

Lulu's eyes widened slightly and then filled with compassion. She frowned and looked down at her notes and Johnny finished his cup of coffee.

"I want to help you," Lulu said softly, not looking up. "If you want any help."

"How could you help me?" Johnny wondered.

"I don't know," Lulu admitted. "I think you need to find the part of you that's happy. It has to be there somewhere. Maybe I can help you find it."

"No offense, but not everyone has a happy part of them," Johnny scoffed. "I appreciate you wanting to make the effort, but I think my career or lack thereof is a lost cause."

"I don't," Lulu offered. "You have so much talent. More than I've seen with any other client I have at L&B. There has to be a way to let that talent be heard by the world."

"How?" Johnny asked. "Are you going to turn me into a happy guy overnight?"

"No," Lulu replied. "No one can make you happy if you don't want to be."

"What does that mean?" Johnny wondered.

"It means that you have to look for happiness sometimes," Lulu answered. "It doesn't always come looking for you."

"Fair enough," Johnny nodded. "So, you think you can help me look for my happiness?"

"I think it's worth a try," Lulu shrugged. "It may not work out, but at least you'll know you really tried everything."

"You've given me a lot to think about," Johnny said softly. "I've been through a lot with my music and I just got used to the fact that it wasn't going to happen. Now that you're here, offering me another chance to try, I have to ask myself if I can risk it one more time. I hope you understand."

"Of course," Lulu said, smiling at him. "The offer is on the table for as long as you need to think about it."

"Thanks," Johnny muttered, standing up and offering her his hand one more time. "I have your number from before. I'll call you with my decision."

"I'll look forward to hearing from you," Lulu replied, shaking his hand.

Again, they let their hands linger together as they smiled at each other. Johnny dropped her hand slowly and turned to head to his car. Twenty four hours ago, he had thought his dream of being a professional musician was gone forever. But things had changed drastically and he seemed to have one more shot at being everything his mother wanted him to be, everything he wanted him to be.

And everything Lulu seemed to want him to be as well.