Part six:

Suddenly the lights went out. The music halted abruptly.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry." Georgie whispered.

"It's fine."

"—Everyone should remain Calm. The power outage is due to the storm. The generators will start working shortly. Every one will—"

"Come on; let's find some where to sit." Johnny said leading Georgie across the room to a couch.

"Some night huh?"

"Yeah…" Georgie heisted. "… So what's your—"

But before she could finish an older man walked up and grabbed Johnny's shoulder.

"I need to have a word with you."

"What do you want Trevor?" his voice laden with annoyance.

"I need to speak with you now." Trevor cut his eye at Georgie. "Alone."

Johnny reluctantly let go of Georgie's hand. He could tell that the man was serious. "Excuse me but—"

"It's cool. I' ill be right here" Georgie supplied.

As soon as they were out of ear shot Johnny brushed Trevor's Hand off of his Shoulder. "Now what the Heck is so darn important?"

"Your father, He stabbed my son." Trevor replied in a horse whisper.

Johnny narrowed his eyes. "What the heck was the D.A. doing at the house then?"

"Ric was here John. He was here! I just got a call. Your father disappeared about half an hour ago. Alexis Davis found Ric in the entry way. He was in shock but he kept repeating the words 'Zacharra'. Now I don't have to tell you what that means."

Johnny clenched his jaw. The bastard must have followed him. "I have to find him."

"No John, the best thing you can do is to stay in here. He can't do anything in front of all of these people."

Johnny hated it when he talked to him like that; Like he was some snot-nosed kid who needed managing."He came for me Trevor! I can't let innocent people get hurt. You might not give a crap, But I have to stop him." Before Trevor could get in another word, Johnny walked away.

As he approached her, his lips were smiling but it didn't quite reach his eyes. " Is everything okay?" Georgie asked.

"Yeah, He just wanted to know if I'd seen his date."

"Oh."

She obviously didn't believe him, but he couldn't tell her the truth. Where would he begin?: 'Oh by the way my father is a murderous psycho who's after my blood.'?

Johnny sat down next to her. He desperately wanted to stay with her but he had to come up with some excuse to leave. "I wonder how long the storm will last."

"While you were away I heard someone announce that it probably won't pass until tomorrow morning."

"Oh great, our first night together!" Johnny said cheerily. "This night has turned out better than I could ever have dreamed."

Georgie felt her checks redden. She was grateful that the darkness concealed their currently pink hue. "I'm sure you'd rather be safe at home right now."

Safe? No place was safe as long as his father was breathing. He ignored her comment and simply flashed her one of his disarming smiles. "Are you cold?"

"No I'm fine."

"You sure? I enjoy the sight of your bare arms but not if it's at the expense of your health."

Georgie couldn't help but giggle. "Okay I'm a little chilly."

Johnny shrugged off his jacket and draped it around Georgie's shoulders.

"thanks."

The two lapsed into a silence.

"I think I'ill go see if I can't help find some wood or something. The generators obviously won't be coming on anytime soon."

"You want some company?" Georgie asked shyly.

Johnny wished that he could say yes but he would never forgive himself if any thing happened to her because of him. "Naw, I think it will be easier if I don't have you stumbling about and stepping on my toes in the dark. Any way I' ill be back before you know it." He gave her hand a tight squeeze and was off.

Georgie frowned. All good things in her life seemed to come to an end prematurely.

Spinelli winced at the dull throbbing pain which was spreading across the back of his skull. Why was he on the floor?

"Oh my gosh Spinelli! I'm so sorry!" Lulu shrieked frantically.

"Blonde one?" he whispered weakly. He squinted his eye waiting for the three shaky figures he saw to combine into the singular person he was looking up at.

"I heard a screams and I didn't think I-I just" She fumbled for words. "-I just acted. I'm sorry."

Spinelli stared back at her blankly. He didn't understand what she was going on about. His gaze shifted from her face to the shinny object in lulu's hand. It was a golden candle stick holder. Lulu's horror stricken face brought all the pieces together. He was just about to run after Maxie, when Lulu had made the hasty and unfounded decision to club him in the head.

He silently sat up and rubbed the back of his head. So this is how baby seals feel, he thought.

Lulu knelt down beside him. As quite as he was she wouldn't be surprised if he had a concussion. "Are you okay?"

Spinelli didn't even hear her question. His mind kept going back to the moment that his lips had melded with Maxie's. He could still feel them tingling .Maxie, he had to find her! He scrambled to his feet and quickly made his way off the terrace.

"Wait! Where are you going? It's raining!"

Without even a backwards glance he shouted. "Maxie, she's out there!"

"Spinelli com—"but he was already gone.

It had been five minutes since Johnny had left. Georgie scanned the room for her sister. But instead of Maxie she spotted Nadine making her way towards her.

"Hey Nadine, Have you seen Maxie?" Georgie asked hopefully.

"No sorry, have you seen Spinelli by any chance? Nadine asked doubtfully.

"No, well the last time I saw him, he was dancing with my sister."

"Oh, maybe they went off some where together."

Georgei laughed. "You must not know huh? Spinelli and my sister aren't exactly friends."

"But they were dancing together right?"

"Yeah but—"

"Well then maybe they discovered some redeeming qualities in each other." She placed her hands on her hips. "Any way, are you going to help me find them or are you gonna sit there and hope they're alright girlie?"

Georgie considered it. Nadine was right. She didn't want to just sit around doing nothing. And maybe they'd run into Johnny along the way. "Let's go."

"Maxie!" Spinelli called out for what seem like the thousandth time. Yet his words were drowned out by the rain and carried away by the howling wind. He'd been trekking across Windermere's vast garden in vain for what seemed like hours. His knees felt as though they were about to buckle when at last he caught a glimpse of a wall just a few feet away.

When he pushed passed the branches of a hedge he saw her. The sight of her sent a cold chill down his spine. She was standing right next to the high brick wall with her arms folded tightly across her chest. Rain was pouring down steadily yet she just stood there frozen in place.

Spinelli approached tentatively. "Maxie—"

"You shouldn't have done that! You had no right!" She spat plaintively.

Of course he didn't He'd violated the balanced barrier between them. In a matter of seconds He'd erased the line which had given them meaning. They'd been bitter foes but now that the line was gone, Spinelli didn't know what they meant, what he wanted them to mean to each other. As he inched closer he could see that her entire body was trembling. "Please, it's highly unadvisable for you to stand there in such a down pour."

"Stop pretending that you care! You and I both know that you don't so just go back in there and be with her!"

"Plaese, I'm sorry. Just-just come back." He pleaded.

She shook her head vehemently "No."

"Plaese." He whispered as his slide his arms around her form.

"But you hate me." She whispered weakly, letting her self collapse into his embrace.

Mustering up ever ounce of strength he had left Spinelli picked Maxie up in to his arms and began to make his was back to the mansion. He could see the imposing structure in the distance yet; none of the windows were illuminated as before. Spinelli made a silent plea to the Gods and Goddesses that he wasn't too late.