Tracey came over that day and tried to convince her to leave and come back to the mansion. Lulu refused and Spinelli backed her up, reminding him forcefully of the day they had brought her back from her hitchhiking trip with Johnny.
"Why is it that whenever she's vulnerable you're right there?" Tracey demanded of Spinelli.
"I'm her friend. I'm supposed to be there to comfort her when she's vulnerable and make sure no one hurts her."
"Spinelli is a perfect gentleman," Lulu said. "He could have taken advantage of me any time since I woke up in the hospital and he's never tried anything even once. He's a good guy and if you have any good reason why I should think otherwise you better tell me right now!"
"Have you listened to him talk?"
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"He's crazy!"
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with Spinelli! He's a good friend and a good man! Give me proof otherwise or get out!"
"He's been obsessed with you for months, Lulu."
"He's not obsessed with me; he was trying to protect me! You didn't want me with Logan either, so don't blame him for trying to do what you couldn't! You know what? You're a snob! Just because he's not exactly like you he's gotta deal with you ridiculing him and trying to ruin our friendship!"
"She's never tried to-" Spinelli began.
"That's what it feels like," Lulu said. "You don't even have a right to be here. Spinelli didn't invite you here, so get out!"
"Lulu, I love you. I only want what's best for you."
"You want me to remember!"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Everybody wants me to remember! What if I don't want to! What if I can't! Spinelli won't be disappointed or angry with me. Will you? I know my dad and brothers will."
"No, Blonde One, they-"
"You saw Lucky today, Spinelli. He was so angry with me for not remembering."
"He was angry with you for turning to me."
"Why would I not turn to the one person in the world who treats me like a person instead of a piece of paper waiting to be written on? They think if they fill my head with enough information I'll magically remember everything."
"I'm sorry," Tracey said. "I didn't mean to pressure you."
"Yeah, well, you did, along with everybody else in my life, except him."
"Of course not, because he's getting exactly what he wants."
"What I want is for my friend to feel safe. What I want is for her to know that she has someone she can turn to when the pressure gets to be too much. What I want is for her to be happy and at peace, whether or not she gets her memory back!"
"So do I!"
"Then start acting like it," Lulu said angrily. "Until you do, I don't wanna see you!"
"I'm sure your father will be here to talk some sense into you," Tracey said, and stalked out of the Penthouse.
Luke did come over, but told Lulu he respected her choice and wouldn't try to talk her out of it.
"I'm sorry, Princess. I never meant for you to feel pressured and neither did your brothers."
He turned to Spinelli.
"I believe you have my daughter's best interests at heart, but if you or anybody else hurts her while she's living with you, you'll answer to me and both her brothers."
Spinelli nodded and Luke left.
Lucky was the third, and last, to come over and try to convince Lulu to leave.
"Don't bother unpacking. You're coming home with me where you belong."
"You heard Dr. Winters. She said I needed to be in a place where I feel safe, without pressure. That's not your house; that's here with the only person I completely trust."
"I'm your brother, Lulu!"
"You're part of my problem! You won't let up on me! You keep promising that you will, but you don't! I'm not moving back in with you and that's all there is to it!"
"Then move into Wyndemere with Nikolas."
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"She feels pressure from Nikolas, too."
"Shut up!"
"Spinelli lives here, you don't, so don't you tell him to shut up in his own house!"
"This isn't even his house; it's Jason's."
"That's what really bugs you, isn't it? You're not upset because I'm living here with Spinelli. You're upset because Jason and Spinelli are friends and this is Jason's house."
"Jason is a mobster."
"Jason is a coffee importer!"
Lucky stared at Spinelli in disbelief."
"Did you really tell her that?"
Lulu did know the truth, but didn't want to give Lucky more ammunition to use against Spinelli.
"Why don't you grow up, Lucky? You and Sam are still holding grudges when Jason and Elizabeth are not even seeing each other. Elizabeth herself told me that, so don't try to deny it or say Spinelli's lying to me! I'm staying here and there's nothing you can do about it. I moved in once before and you couldn't do anything and if you try I'll hitchhike again."
Spinelli and Lucky both stared this time.
"How could you tell her about that?" Lucky demanded.
"I didn't," Spinelli said.
"Carly told me."
"Does this conversation sound the slightest bit familiar to you?" Spinelli asked Lucky.
"What are you talking about?"
"You tried to force her to leave Casa De Stone Cold before and failed. The Blonde One is, as I said then, of legal adult status and can do what she wants."
"She had her memory before. I can go to court and-"
"You do that and you will no longer be my brother!" Lulu screamed at him. "Get out of here!"
Lucky stared at Lulu in shock for a moment, then glared at Spinelli, then stalked out of the penthouse, slamming the door behind him.
Spinelli was reminded of the day Lulu had slapped Logan and thrown him out. This time had to be even more painful, even if she didn't remember the person she was throwing out. He was her brother.
"You OK?"
She shook her head.
"I don't wanna be mean to them. I just don't know how else to get through to them. They're so forceful and I just-"
She spread her hands.
"You need time," he said gently.
"Why are you the only one who understands that?"
"Maybe because I haven't known you all your life, and maybe because I know Stone Cold is his own person, even without his early memories. They don't like him; I love him like a brother and I respect him for who he is now, not who he used to be. I didn't know that person."
"Can't you and I just run away together?" she sighed.
"Running away is not gonna solve your problems, Blonde One. You learned that when you-"
He stopped. She didn't remember hitchhiking and meeting Johnny. He was afraid she would feel pressure from him, too, if he started reminding her of past lessons in that way, using her bad decisions to teach her. He would rather advise her, and if she asked, then give her examples of her past life.
"I'm sorry."
"No, it's OK. You forgot I don't remember."
The silliness of that statement struck them both funny and they burst out laughing.
"Were you gonna say I learned that when I hitchhiked to get away from Logan instead of going to somebody I trusted?"
He nodded.
"You're right, and I didn't mean what I said to Lucky. You have my word, I'm not gonna go hitchhiking again, not when I have a good friend like you to turn to. I didn't wanna hurt Lucky. I just wanted him to leave me alone. I'm just so frustrated!"
"I know, but that's what your therapy sessions are for, to help you deal with your feelings."
"Speaking of which, Dr. Winters told me about my mom."
Spinelli didn't know what to say to that. Why would Dr. Winters tell her something so traumatizing?
"I asked why my mom wasn't around. No one would say anything when I asked and even you were vague about it. I understood why, but it was frustrating, so I got her to tell me. The difference between me and her is that I'm not catatonic and don't see myself going that way. My family needs to lay off. If they're so afraid I'll end up like her, they need to stop applying all this pressure or they just might send me over the edge."
"Are you afraid of that?"
"Yes."
"Is the journal helping?"
"It's helping me retain the new memories, but not helping at all with bringing back the old ones."
She began to feel more relaxed as they talked. She knew that no matter what happened with her memory, Spinelli would always be there. Old Lulu or new Lulu, her best friend was the one she could count on to accept and value her.
