John

There was silence in John's office while his friend contemplated the series of events as they were spelled out for him. It was both a long saga and a short tale. John felt like he'd aged years since it all began, but in reality, it had only been a few months. Williams stared into his glass of scotch for a moment- there was always scotch involved when he and Thornton got together. "So, what's your plan, then? I know you have a plan, you always do," he said, finally breaking the stillness in the air. He was right, John was a planner. Growing up, he always had something new up his sleeve, some grand idea that was going to help them make it big, the two of them together.

Bracing himself with a burning gulp of scotch, John started to lay out his plan. He hadn't talked about it with anyone, yet. Often, the first time he told someone about his big ideas, they sounded ridiculous. This one, in particular, sounded downright insane.

"You've lost your mind, Thornton." Williams wasn't one to hold back his opinions, which is part of the reason he and John got along so well. He had always been there to keep him in check, talk him back from the edge of insanity, his internal voice of reason. Well, almost always. There were a few glaring exceptions, the moments that had shaped John's life, changing him irrevocably. That wasn't what he wanted to be thinking about right now; there were much more important things at stake.

John ran a frustrated hand through his carefully styled hair, ruffling it beyond repair. "I know. I feel like it, too. But this is my only chance, I think. Can't you see I'm past desperate, Andy?" His friend knew he was serious, pulling at his heartstrings. Williams didn't like to see him like this, the normally composed and stoic John Thornton with cracks in his armor. Just as John didn't like to let his guard down- but if there was anyone he could trust, it would be Williams.

It was almost time for dinner to be served, but John didn't want to leave his office without an answer. They were locked in a stalemate; both knew who would win. One of them was far more stubborn than the other. "Oh alright! I guess there can't be any harm in it, at least," Williams finally gave in. "Just tell me what you need me to do. I'll talk to the band about it when we regroup in a few days. They all took off to visit their own families." The words weren't spoken but the thought was there- they were family, the two of them. Williams would do this for John, if only to make up for the times he wasn't there. He carried a lot of guilt in that regard, and if he could help pull his friend out of this mess, it would help lighten that load.

Grinning, John slapped the other man on the back. "This is going to work, don't worry." Williams had his doubts but was glad that John at least seemed sure of himself. Then again, he usually did, even if he was a nervous wreck inside. With this part of his plan settled, John looked a little more relaxed, though there was a different undercurrent of anxiety running through him.

When you know someone their whole life, it's easy to pick up on the subtle signs that something is amiss. Their friendship was no different, and as they left the office, Williams was able to pick at the exact thread of his friend's current apprehension. "So, who was that girl you were talking to before you were so rudely interrupted? She was a stunner." John wasn't sure why he was surprised- of course, he would notice. But he didn't like the implication in Williams' voice, whether it was because he was being teased or if he was worried that the other man would be interested in Maggie. Or the thought that Maggie might find herself interested in him. Thankfully, they were interrupted by some guests mingling in the hall, and John was able to avoid the question for the moment.

Maggie

She was pulled from her brooding contemplation by the appearance of Mr. Bell. "Well, Maggie, I see Thornton has abandoned you to your own devices in favor of company far less charming. A poor choice, I'm sure. You're much more beautiful than the Williams boy, though the beard does suit him." Maggie blushed a bit at this odd compliment, noting as John glanced back at her one last time before leaving the room.

Always observant, Mr. Bell saw this interaction with a sly smile. "No matter, my dear, let me introduce you to the best and brightest that Atlanta has to offer." He led her away to be paraded around, meeting a wide assortment of celebrities and industry insiders. She had never realized how well-connected John actually was. Figuring the mystery man must be someone of consequence, she wracked her brain to remember who he could be. There were scores of famous people from the city, but something about him had seemed familiar.

Time felt like it was dragging by as she waited for dinner to be served and the two men to return. Finally, Mrs. Thornton announced it was time, and everyone took their assigned seats. John and his friend slipped in just as everyone else was sitting down. Maggie saw the concerned look that Mrs. Thornton sent her son- obviously, his absence had not escaped her notice. But she visibly relaxed when she saw who was with John.

The tables were arranged in several large rows, with seats carefully assigned to provide a good mix of company. Maggie was surprised to find her, and her father seated at the same table as the Thorntons', though separated by a few people. She considered this to be a testament to the high esteem John felt for her father. It warmed her heart to know that he truly enjoyed the older man's company.

Before she could reach to pull out her own chair, someone nearby reached over to pull it out for her. A strange formality that she wasn't used to in the north, she looked up to see who it was that was so overly polite. She wasn't entirely surprised to see the bearded man, smiling at her as he gestured for her to sit. "I don't believe we were properly introduced earlier. My name is Andy." Maggie accepted his offered hand and sat down after introducing herself. Andy Williams. The name, the face, the voice. All together it finally clicked. He was the lead singer of a very prominent band that had made it big several years past. She had actually forgotten that they were even from the area, but now it all made sense.

Williams went and took his seat next to John, who had been watching their interaction with an unreadable expression. Once seated, he leaned over to John and whispered something, making the other man frown. Williams grinned at the reaction, which made John's frown deepen. Maggie wondered what they were whispering about.

John

They managed to slip back into the upstairs room just as everyone else was settling into their seats. John noted with pleasure that his mom had fulfilled his request for the Hales to be seated at their table, though she hadn't been thrilled with the idea. She also wasn't happy with his decision to set aside a seat for Williams; she hadn't thought he would come at all. Mrs. Thornton had never been overly fond of their friendship, thinking Williams a bad influence on her son.

As John sat down, he noticed that Williams was no longer next to him. He could easily guess where the other man would be; with a quick glance around he spotted him, pulling out Maggie's chair for her with a smile. Of course, he couldn't resist inserting himself into the situation, though John had warned him to back off. Maggie herself looked startled, and perhaps a little embarrassed, but graciously accepted the offering and Williams' introduction.

Sliding quickly into his seat next to John, Williams leaned over. "A yankee, hm? I'd have never guessed you'd fall for a northerner, Johnny boy." John wasn't in the mood for his teasing and made that clear with a dour expression. This only spurred Williams on, his conniving grin leaving no hope that this was the last John would hear on the subject.

Before long dinner was served and the wine and conversation flowed freely. Everyone was chatting comfortably, having a pleasant time, when Mr. Bell decided to stir things up. "I heard Arnold is packing up and moving back to England," he said casually, glancing around to gauge the reactions of his dinner partners.

"England, huh? Guess the man couldn't handle a little civil unrest." Watson seemed surprised by the revelation, if not a little miffed that he wasn't already aware of the gossip. It seemed Mr. Bell was always the first to know about such things.

Slickson gave an irritated grunt. "Can't say I blame him. I have half a mind to leave myself if there was anywhere to go. What would the so-called Ghosts have to say about that? There'd be no music scene left, that's for sure."

Raising his eyebrows a bit, Mr. Bell took a small sip of his wine. "Well, there doesn't seem to be much of one at the moment, either." John thought he knew what he was doing, poking the bear to get a reaction.

It obviously worked, since Slickson slammed his hand onto the table angrily. "There is one, it's their own foolishness that it the problem."

"Alright," John said, deciding it was in everyone's best interest to step in. "I think Mr. Bell is just yanking our chain, gaining amusement at our expense." He smiled to soften the harsh words, and Mr. Bell's expression showed he took no offense. "But it is an interesting thought," He continued. "I have no desire to move away, but I understand if others think they need to in order to make a better profit."

He hoped that would be the end of the conversation, but Faith decided to add fuel to the fire. John wanted to throttle her for the self-righteous tone she used when speaking to Maggie, asking what she thought about the boycotters. He got the impression that Faith had something to use against the other girl but couldn't for the life of him guess what it was. They wouldn't have to wait long for the grand reveal, though.

Maggie

The food was very good, the classic southern fare that she had grown accustomed to since the big move. Mrs. Thornton certainly knew how to throw a dinner. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves; the wine didn't hurt on that front, either. Regardless, Maggie was glad that they had been invited, as she was having a much better time than anticipated. She noted with pleasure that her father also looked like he was having a very nice evening, clearly enjoying the conversation of people with whom he wouldn't associate with otherwise.

Of course, Mr. Bell couldn't pass up the opportunity to provide for his own entertainment. She'd heard enough stories about him from her father to be wary of his intentions. Maggie secretly agreed with John's assessment of the man, that he was trying to rile up the crowd. She was also oddly comforted by his resolution to stay in Atlanta, though she wasn't sure why.

Faith had been mostly quiet during the heated conversation, which Maggie had taken as a sign that she wasn't interested in the subject. She spoke up now, though, startling Maggie. "What about you, Maggie? Do you think the boycotters are doing the right thing?"

She didn't like being singled out in a crowd and was caught off guard by the direct nature of the question. But everyone was looking at her now, waiting for an answer. "Well, no. I mean… not exactly. Though I think it's important to look at both sides of the situation, too see where they're coming from." She noticed John smile a bit at her diplomatic response.

The other girl didn't seem to appreciate it quite so much. "Hm, interesting. I do think Mrs. Arthur said she's seen you several times at that awful bar, the Butcher's Block. She lives near there, you know." Faith was satisfied with the looks of suspicion some of the men were giving Maggie with the revelation of this information.

Their condescending looks bothered her. "One of my good friends, Becca Higgins, knows the owner," Maggie replied, mad that she felt the need to defend herself to these people whom she owed no explanation.

"Higgins, huh?" Watson cut in, "Isn't that the name of your man, Thornton? The one who helped start this whole mess?"

Several men around the table nodded, and Hamper spoke up before John could answer. "I think we are all fairly familiar with Higgins. He's a dangerous man, always up to no good in one way or another." Maggie thought she saw a flicker of irritation cross John's face at this description of Nick.

Mrs. Thornton chose this moment to add her thoughts to the conversation. "I'm surprised you choose to keep such company, Maggie," she said, voice dripping with apparent contempt for the Higgins.

"Becca and Nick are my friends…" she started to explain, hoping to diffuse the situation a bit.

Her words grated on some of the men at the table. "Oh, the boycotters are your friends, are they?" Hamper cut her off with a sneer.

Frustrated at the looks of open contempt she was receiving from her dinner mates, Maggie took a deep breath before replying. "The Higgins are my friends," she said firmly, "They go to the bar to support the owner because their friend has been having a hard time with business lately. I think this whole debacle has made everyone a little crazy. Nick is only doing what he feels is right, with the resources he has." Having said her piece, she sat back, waiting for the rebuttal she was sure would be coming.

"If he's so sure he's right, I'm surprised he accepts help from someone like you, who associates with the people he is fighting so hard against." Hamper's tone was more curious than accusatory, as if he couldn't figure out where Maggie stood on the social ladder.

She was glad that the man seemed somewhat open to civil conversation, so she decided it was okay to explain further. "The help isn't for him. His friend has a family, his wife is sick, and the bar is their only means of income. Everyone is pulling together to help them out during this difficult time."

The table was quiet for a moment while Hamper contemplated this. He seemed satisfied with her answer, but still responded, "Well, I guess he shouldn't have gotten wrapped up in this mess in the first place." The others at the table readily agreed with this sentiment. Maggie hoped at least some of what she said made an impact on the men, but seriously doubted it did.

John

It was obvious that Maggie wasn't comfortable with the attention that was suddenly bestowed upon her, but John was proud of her calmness in answering. If only Faith showed even half the amount of decorum that Maggie had. Instead, she dug in deeper, making John cringe inwardly at her words. The reactions of his colleagues were also something of a disappointment- they seemed willing to crucify the girl just for saying she was friends with a boycotter.

He felt torn while they discussed Nick and his actions. On one hand, he knew he was dangerous to their business, the perfect storm of grand ideas and charisma. But John also thought highly of the man; he couldn't hold such a negative opinion of someone who had been reliable through many tough situations at The Mill. He hadn't known Nick was friends with the owner of the Butcher's Block until recently and was surprised to learn that Maggie had visited the place more than once. It wasn't an establishment that he felt was entirely appropriate for a young woman to be hanging around, though he figured if she was with Nick she would be safe enough.

Maggie was right about one thing; this whole situation had made everyone go a bit mad. John felt a little crazy himself, listening to the others discuss the nuances of the boycott and the effects it was having on people in the community. Thankfully, the tone was more civil than it had been, and John appreciated Maggie's calm and even answers under the pressure that Faith had put on her.

There was someone who thought things were going too swimmingly, however. "Thornton, isn't that the bar you and Williams used to sneak into as teenagers?" Mr. Bell said offhandedly, knowing that it was. He was the one who had caught the boys with their fake IDs. That's how John knew it wasn't the most wholesome place in the city. Never mind that he still enjoyed going there to scope out talent and get to know some of the up and coming bands. He'd been gutted when he heard of the owner's involvement with the boycotters.

In the awkward silence that followed Mr. Bells question, John was bombarded with memories of his teenage years. He shouldn't be surprised that the Ghosts had chosen it as their unofficial headquarters; it certainly held plenty of his own ghosts. That's where Williams had formed his band, where they had played there first show, where the talent scout had discovered them, much like John would do years later. He didn't like the path his thoughts were taking. Why did Mr. Bell have to mention it at all? Damned man.

He was suddenly aware that everyone was waiting for him to say something. "Supporting the boycotters does more harm than good," he said, looking at Maggie. She seemed surprised at his irritated tone. He hadn't meant for his words to come out so harshly and tried to reign in his anger, since it wasn't directed at her. "The more support they get, the longer it will go on. The boycott must end eventually. Prolonging it is no kindness to anyone, as there is only one outcome. They will lose. It's only a matter of when." The confidence in his voice belied the uncertainty he felt, but it was good to put on a good front for his current audience.

As he spoke, he could practically feel the heat from the fire in Maggie's eyes. Of course, his words would provoke her righteous anger. John only wished there weren't so many witnesses to this conversation; he couldn't openly express himself in the present company. Whether he thought she was right or wrong, he couldn't show any sign of weakness or uncertainty.

"You can't possibly think there's anything wrong with helping out someone whose wife is seriously ill, who has small children to take care of. It's not about the boycott, but about showing some compassion!" Maggie's voice was full of emotion, though she was doing a commendable job holding back the full force of her displeasure. John was thankful for it, having been on the receiving end of her censure enough to know it was not a spectacle he wanted to be witnessed by everyone at the table.

Mr. Hale seemed of a similar mind since he tried to change the subject. "Dinner has been very delicious," he said, turning towards Mrs. Thornton. "I don't know that I've ever seen such lovely place settings, even in the finest restaurants in Boston." The old man was obviously grasping, and no one took the bait. Instead, they turned their attention back to John, to see how he would respond.

Closing his eyes briefly to gather his thoughts, John directed his next words back to Mr. Bell. "You don't give us owners enough credit, Bell. We're not all the same, don't always have some trick up our sleeves. Most of us just want this business to be over so we can go on with our lives." The rest of the table lost interest when they realized John wasn't going to continue fighting with the headstrong young northerner. John himself turned pointedly away from Maggie, unwilling to look back in her direction, afraid of the disdain he'd see in her expression.