Note- thanks for reviewing.Lean On Me

Chapter Twenty Eight

Thursday November 22, 2007

Logan pulled up in front of Georgie's house and killed the engine on his truck. He shook his head wearily and stared at her car parked in the driveway.

He really needed to get across town and see his sisters but he felt bad after hanging up on Georgie an hour before. He knew she was really cutting him a break by trying to forget how he had screwed up in the past: the fighting with her good friend Spinelli, the cheating on Lulu, the sleeping with Maxie, the times he was rude and angry and mean.

But he hated knowing she still saw him as that guy. That he had to work overtime to convince her he could be someone else.

It had only been three weeks since the Black and White Ball, though. Three weeks since he ended his obsession with Lulu. He had been a crazy man over her...and over his own issues in his messed up head. It wasn't Georgie's fault that she still worried he could be that crazy man again tomorrow.

The thing was...when he looked in her eyes...he wanted to leave that madness behind. He wanted to lay down his pain, and pull her close instead. Have her be what he held in his arms instead of bitterness and regrets. It wouldn't be easy to make her believe in him though. To even get her to be his friend. Here they were on day two of their starting over pact and they were already having troubles. He sighed deeply as he climbed out of his truck.

Mac pulled up and parked. Logan was walking across the lawn when Mac called out to him. "Don't tell me one of my girls invited you to Thanksgiving dinner?"

"Hey there, Commissioner. How are you doing this afternoon?"

"Cut the chit chat. Who are you here to see, Hayes?"

"That would be Georgie, sir."

Mac sighed. "I had my suspicions you had your eye on here when I found you baking pies last night. I knew it couldn't be out of the goodness of your heart that you offered to help her. So now what...? You hurt Maxie and then decide to hurt Georgie too? You think I will allow that?"

"I don't got any intention of hurting Georgie."

"You listen up, I want you to leave my daughters alone!"

The door opened. "Dad, I thought I heard you out here. Hello, Logan."

"Brown eyes."

Mac made a disgusted sound and walked toward the door. "He's not staying for dinner." Mac went inside.

Georgie walked down the lawn. She was wearing a green dress with her hair in soft curls. Logan lost his breath at the sight of her. She felt like his girl to him. But he knew she wasn't.

She crossed her arms over her chest. It was late November and chilly outside. "Why did you stop by?" she asked softly.

"You wanna go for a drive?"

"I have a turkey in the oven."

"Your Dad can watch the turkey. Come on....five minutes, girl." He took off his jacket and gave it to her. "There. You don't even have to go back for yours. Now tell me that's not an offer you can't refuse."

"Okay. Five minutes, Logan." She didn't smile as she put on his coat and walked to his truck.

Logan sighed and followed behind her, pulling open the door for her to climb in.

XXXXXXXXX

Maxie had her key in the door of her Saturn, which was parked in Kelly's diner parking lot, when she heard a man say behind her. "I'm glad you're okay."

She tensed up at the sound of Cooper's voice. Maxie went on opening the door, threw her purse in the car and slowly turned around. She knew she didn't look that great since she couldn't do her make up that morning because she didn't sleep at home. "What makes you think I'm okay?"

"Alive, I mean. Your sister was scared to death you were kidnaped. I was worried too."

"Sure you were."

"Maxie, please, lets not fight every time we speak now."

Her voice choked with tears she asked "What should we do? Hug it out?"

"We can try to be civil. Friends."

"I'm not friends with men who break my heart!" She climbed in the car and drove away with squealing tires. Tears flooded her eyes and she swiped at them. She did want to be his friend. She wanted to be cool with all of this. But right now it just hurt...it hurt so much she felt it in her bones.

She never wanted to hurt like this again. Never wanted to love this hard again. Never wanted to lose this big another time.

From now on it was just sex. Sex and no love. Just hot, sweaty, who gives a hell if he calls in the morning, sex. That was all she needed in her life...if she couldn't have Cooper back.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"SAM!" Kristina yelled out her sister's name as she spotted her standing just inside the living room at Wyndermere.

Alfred was the only other adult in the room. As Kristina came running over to hug Sam, Alfred greeted her. "Ms. McCall. Welcome. May I get you a drink?"

"I'm good. Thanks anyway." She hugged her sister. "Hey, Happy Thanksgiving!"

"I'm so glad you came," Kristina said.

"Me too."

"Mom said you might be working."

"Everyday Heros is on hiatus...on a break for the holiday."

"Cool. So you can sit next to me then?"

Sam blinked back her tears as she looked at Kristina and tried not to imagine if Lila with that same dark hair and big brown eyes. Was it any wonder Sam had went a little crazy when she found out she couldn't have more kids?

Who else would ever love her unconditionally?

XXXXXXXXXXX

Milo nervously paced on Lesley Webber's front porch. He took in short breaths and let them out. He told himself he no longer had a crush on Lulu. He told himself this shade of blue in his shirt brought out his eyes as much as the shirt Spinelli spilled milk on earlier. He told himself he was just here to make her smile...not to make himself smile over seeing her.

He wondered when he had started lying so much.

Why was it so hard to forget about Lulu Spencer? Why did it feel like the worst thing in the world to know she was somewhere with a broken heart and he couldn't help her? Why was she still in his head so much?

He was over her now. Wasn't he? He had to be. For his own sake.

The door opened. Lesley smiled at him. "Milo, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'll call Lulu down."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Those flowers you sent were lovely."

"Thank you again, ma'am."

Lesley smiled and went inside. A few minutes later Lulu came out wearing a blue dress with her hair in a pony tail and a black wool coat on over her dress, plus leather gloves and a scarf.

Milo said "Maybe its too cold for a walk. I should have thought."

"No, its fine. Lets go."

He followed her down to the sidewalk. "You look very ....pretty today, Lulu."

"Gram likes us to dress up for the holidays."

After they walked for a while she said "Milo-" at the same time he said "Lulu."

"You go first," she said.

"No, ladies first."

Lulu smiled slightly. "Milo...those flowers were the sweetest thing anyone has done for me in a really long time. So I don't want you to think I don't appreciate them but....I just hope...you don't think..."

"I only wanted to make sure you weren't sad today. That's all. I know....you and me...I know...that's not happening. Which is fine."

She looked kinda startled. "Are you dating someone then?"

"Not really. Though I think Nadine might be available now so....I have options."

"Nadine?"

"She's nice, right? A little talkative but we all have faults. She'll drive Max up the wall if I bring her by the apartment though. But Max will get used to it...probably...if it was to happen."

"Oh...so....those flowers were what again?"

"Friendship flowers."

"Okay. Thank you, Milo," she said stiffly.

He stopped walking and looked at her. She still had the best hazel eyes on earth, in his opinion. God he could stare in them for years and years. He said "I know we aren't that close of friends but just know...I care."

"That's sweet of you to say."

"Its not just something to say. It's the truth."

"I know I blew it with you."

"You made a...different choice. Don't worry about it. I understand. And now that Logan has hurt you I just don't want you to think that anyone is blaming you for picking him...because no one is...well maybe Maxie but that is really about a lot of things, not just you. At least it seems that way to me. Anyway, Lulu, I'm still your friend...if you will have me?"

If you will have me. It wasn't the way he meant to say it. But it was what he wanted to ask her, deep down.

He really did still want a chance with his sad eyed girl.

Milo knew that when he added, without thinking, if you will have me that he had let all his feelings for her show. He blushed slightly and looked into her eyes, waiting for a reaction.

A wide smile broke out on her face. The very same smile that first made Milo fall for her. Lulu answered "Yeah. I'll have you as my friend, Milo."

"Uh....great."

"Great!"

He smiled back at her. "We should head back."

"Okay."

Milo couldn't help but grin like a crazy love sick fool as he walked Lulu home. She was imperfect...so imperfect...but he still cared deeply for this imperfect girl. Time would tell if that meant anything to her though.

(I would not have chosen the road you have taken.
It has left us miles apart.

I think I can still find the will to keep going somewhere in my broken heart.

So fly.

Go ahead and fly.
Till you find out who you are.

And I,

I will keep my love unspoken
somewhere in my broken heart.

I hope that in time you will find what you long for.
Love that's written in the stars.

When you finally do,

I think you will see
it's somewhere in my broken heart.

Girl, I,

I will keep my love unspoken
somewhere in my broken heart.

I hope that in time you will find what you long for.
Love that's written in the stars.

When you finally do,

I think you will see
it's somewhere in my broken
somewhere in my broken
somewhere in my broken heart ) (Billy Dean).

Note- More Glo, Coop/Serena, and Jomax friendship scenes in the next chapter.