Life Goes On

Chapter 38

March 5th 2007, Monday, afternoon

They were sitting in his car while he was on a stake out.

Johnny was getting frustrated with Serena constantly reminding him that he had stopped calling her while they were dating last fall. There was nothing he could do to go back in time and fix that. He wished she would just let it go.

"When are you gonna believe me that I had no choice but to go on the run last November? I didn't do it for shit and giggles, Rena. It was out of my hands."

"I'll believe you when you stop lying about it. Till then I won't buy a word you say. And since telling the truth seems out of the realm of your abilities why don't you just lose my number. Forget the party. I don't want anything from you ever again, Johnny." She went to get out of the car but he grabbed her arm and kept her there.

"Okay...okay. I'll tell you the truth."

Her eyes searched his. "You dumped me cause you hooked up with someone else, right?"

"Wrong."

"Johnny, come on, I thought you just said you were gonna be honest. I don't wanna hear another bullshit story about you going underground for months on end. Cause I know that's crap."

"Considering my father's business there could be a day when I gotta hide in a safe house for weeks or months. That is a very real possibility. It could happen."

"But its not what did happen last year. I can feel it. I know you're holding back something about what made you stop calling me. So what's her name?"

"There's no one, Rena. If I wanted someone else I wouldn't be chasing you around day and night."

"You like the chase. You like hunting for chicks, getting them in bed, and then forgetting all about them. You did it with me and I'm not flattered that you're back trying for round two."

"You wanna hear some truth from me? How about you go first? Do you wanna get with me again? Or am I wasting my time and breath on you? Cause I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall over us and I don't know why I shouldn't just stop and walk away for good."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

"Oh yeah?" He cupped the back of her head and leaned close, till their lips were almost touching. "What if I don't wanna go anywhere till I get a kiss goodbye? Would you give me one to get me out your life for good? What's its worth to you to be free of the chase?"

She whispered "You want another kiss? Have your kiss." Then she gave him a slow, but brutally intense and angry kiss. "Now get the hell out of my life."

Rena didn't flee the car though. She sat there with her chest heaving and her blue eyes locked on his brown ones.

"My father is mentally ill. Remember how I told you that? Last fall, while you and I were together still, he had another episode. Its nothing new... when that happens...for him to lock me in the mansion...in the...panic room...and not let the gaurds let me out for weeks. He keeps me comfortable but I can't leave. And that's what happened when I stopped calling you. I was there for over six weeks. So now you have the brutal and humiliating truth. Now...why don't you get the hell out of my life. Go!"

Tears welled in her eyes. She cupped his face and leaned close to him, murmuring, "I didn't know. I couldn't even imagine that was why we ended. I'm sorry. I was so hurt when you stopped calling. I believed you liked me and then you were just gone."

"Every person in my family has mental problems, including me. That real enough for you?"

"My sister's mother died in a mental hospital. That does not mean I think Tina will go crazy because her biological mother did. And my Mom's husband has had several breakdowns and his twin brother was a nut job who kidnaped Maxie's mom. But just cause Ryan was like that and Kevin has suffered too from mental problems does not mean I love my stepfather any less. I don't give a crap about if your family is full of head cases or if you think you could end up like them. I ain't scared of that...of you...I know you, remember?"

"I remember but it feels like you shut down on me in every way."

"I take it all back, okay?"

After a moment he nodded. She ran her fingers through the back of his hair as their foreheads rested against each other.

"Johnny," she rasped out, emotionally, as all her walls fell and she remembered the guy who had stolen her heart months before.

"I missed you every second."

"I want you back."

"You never lost me, Rena," he whispered before kissing her.

(You have stolen

You have stolen my heart...

You have stolen my

You have stolen my heart) (Dashboard Confessional)

XXXXXXXXXXX

Luke had gotten stranded in Europe due to a storm and only got back that afternoon, after hearing Laura was home. He showed up at Lulu's house raging mad because he had heard from Lucky that Stefan was still alive.

Dillon opened the door for Luke. "Hey, its good to have you back but please don't-"

"That old bat is going straight to the darkest depths of Hell once I get my hands on him. I'll shoot him instead of just stabbing him this time before I toss him off the cliff."

Dillon finished his earlier sentence, weakly, "Bring drama here."

"Where is my wife?"

"Upstairs with Lulu and Lissa."

Luke rushed up there and when he got to the nursery he was in awe to see Laura in a rocking chair holding their granddaughter. "Sweetheart."

"Hello, Luke."

He walked over and crouched in front of her. "You look wonderful."

"I feel wonderful. And I have Stefan to thank for it so whatever you are thinking of doing to him don't do it or else I will never forgive you."

Luke shook his head in misery over her words.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Spinelli said to Winnie, after Maxie had raged at her and called her nasty names, "I apologize for Princess Maximista's behavior. We have some lingering issues between us and you were simply caught in the crossfire because she is jealous of the special nature of our bond."

"Jackal, you never have to apologize to The Priestess. I am your biggest fan. I bow at the feet of your greatness. Of course, Maximista is fueled by jealously. Having such an amazing man as you as her paramour must certainly inspire intense feelings."

"The Jackal is not sure he even is her paramour any longer. If you excuse me I must take my leave now for I have much to contemplate."

Georgie rushed after Spinelli and caught up with him outside, where Logan was standing alone. Georgie said to Spinelli "I'm sorry that you and Maxie are fighting. If you need to talk you know you can always call me."

"Thank you, Faithful friend."

They hugged and Spinelli left.

Georgie asked Logan "Do you know what that arguement was about?"

"Maxie seems insecure to me. She's worried he's gonna use her and ditch her and that he's got more in common with Winnie. But, the way I see it, hooking up ain't just about both liking motherboards, you know? Its chemistry. Like you and me got, baby doll."

"I think Maxie is really falling for him, which scares me cause she gets desperate when her feelings get too overwhelming. She implodes and when she does everyone around bears the fallout."

Logan pulled Georgie close. "Don't let it stress you out. You got your job, your double major, volunteering and me to keep you busy. Let your sister figure out her own life. She'll get it worked out in time." He kissed her forehead.

She held him tight around his waist. "I'm just happy I have you."

"Mmm, you got me, girl, and I got you and this ain't gonna end no time soon. Deal?"

"Deal."

Then she pulled back and offered him her pinky. They had pinky swore before to not kiss anyone else. He pinky swore again with her and with their pinkies locked they shared a sweet kiss before Georgie went back to work.

XXXXXXXXXX

Johnny had forgotten all about being on a stake out. Instead he was making out with Serena. Breaking away from him, panting breathlessly, she said "Lets go to your place."

"You don't know how bad I wanna take you up on that but I just got you back and I wanna do this right. Can we just...I don't know...give it a month?"

"A freaking what did you just say?"

Johnny laughed and kissed her again. "Okay. Maybe not a month. Just give it a little bit cause I want us strong. You are not just sex for me. I am in this cause you're in my heart, okay?"

"Johnny," she breathed out his name with emotions dripping off every syllable and then they started to kiss again.

(And from the ballroom floor we are a celebration.

One good stretch before our hibernation.

Our dreams assured and we all will sleep well, sleep well.

Sleep well, sleep well, sleep well.

-x-x

You have stolen,

You have stolen

You have stolen my heart. ) (Dashboard Confessional)