A/N – I just want to say that I am SO excited because today we got a Jolu scene! 3 They are so perfect together! Here is part two...please enjoy!
11am
Sometimes things just don't work out. Other times you assume they won't work out because you're too afraid they will.
Lulu studied Olivia carefully. What did she mean when she said Johnny was always thinking about Lulu? Was she trying to see if Lulu was still interested in Johnny? Wondering if there was a threat to her relationship?
"Why would you say something like that?" Lulu asked.
"Because it's true," Olivia shrugged. "He never got over you and he never will."
"He was over me before we even broke up," Lulu argued. "He's probably just lying to you because he got tired of you. No offense."
"You really have no idea why Johnny broke up with you," Olivia smirked.
"Do you?" Lulu questioned. "I didn't exactly think you and Johnny were together because of an emotional connection."
"We weren't," Olivia replied. "But I do know that his biggest fear is the thought of you hating him."
"He knows me well enough to know that I could never hate him," Lulu said softly.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Olivia responded. "Fear is a powerful emotion that can cloud your judgment. It's a lot like love. When those two mix, things can get really messy."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Lulu wondered.
"Because I think Johnny is a good guy," Olivia answered. "I think he deserves to have what he wants most in life and I'm not stupid. You are what he wants most."
"He had me and he threw me away," Lulu said sadly.
"Don't be bitter, Lulu," Olivia advised. "Take it from someone who knows. When you find that person you're meant to love forever, no amount of time can make the love go away. He may have hurt you, but you're always going to forgive him."
"Johnny and I are not you and Sonny," Lulu quipped.
"No you're not," Olivia agreed. "Johnny loves you. Sonny doesn't love me."
"Why are you giving me advice?" Lulu asked.
"Because I think if someone had told me back then to go after what I wanted, things might have been different," Olivia sighed. "You still have a chance to make it work with Johnny if you want to."
"Wouldn't that interfere with the two of you?" Lulu questioned.
"There's nothing there that either of us will ever miss," Olivia replied. "You're the one he misses."
Lulu watched Olivia walk away and shook her head. She didn't know if she could take anything Olivia said at face value. On one hand, Lulu saw no reason for Olivia to lie; however, everything she had said was the opposite of what Johnny had shown with his actions in the previous months. Lulu got on the elevator and rode up to Crimson thinking about the conversation. The elevator doors opened and she got off and found Kate waiting for her.
"What took so long?" Kate asked. "I have somewhere to be with this dress. I have no time for you to drag your feet."
"I ran into Olivia," Lulu responded. "Literally. I was helping her pick up all of the papers I made her drop."
"That's considerate, Lulu, but not a part of your job," Kate said, taking the dress. "I have to go, but there is an important fax coming in sometime this afternoon that I want addressed before you two leave."
"Okay," Lulu nodded, as Kate got on the elevator.
"Why would you help Olivia?" Maxie asked after Kate was gone. "You should hate her."
"Doesn't that mean I should hate you?" Lulu smirked.
"You're impossible," Maxie sighed. "Did she say something to you? Because you look a little shaken up."
"She said a few things," Lulu answered. "But nothing important. We should get back to work."
"I know there is something you're not saying," Maxie replied. "And I'm going to get it out of you before you leave the office."
"Whatever you say," Lulu said, rolling her eyes.
Maxie was right, but Lulu planned on keeping everything Olivia had said to herself. She wanted to think it through and decide for herself what she needed to do. A small part of her wanted to talk to Johnny and ask him what Olivia was talking about, but the bigger part of her was still desperate to avoid Johnny at any cost.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"What exactly do you want to go back to?" Jason asked cautiously.
"I don't know," Johnny shrugged. "Back to when things were simple, I guess."
"When were things ever simple for the two of you?" Jason wondered.
"It didn't happen often," Johnny chuckled. "But there were some moments when it felt like nothing existed outside the two of us. When I believed that nothing could ever break us apart. Pretty naive, huh?"
"No," Jason said simply. "Just because love doesn't always work out doesn't mean you shouldn't hope that it will."
"Can you name one time when it has?" Johnny asked skeptically.
"I can," Jason nodded. "But the thing about relationships is that none of them are alike. You and Lulu aren't doomed to the same fate as her parents or yours. You two choose your own future."
"I chose our future," Johnny said sadly. "I made mistake after mistake until there was no way we could be together."
"You obviously regret it," Jason noted. "Maybe you should tell Lulu that."
"I'm done hurting her," Johnny breathed. "It doesn't matter how sorry I am because it doesn't change what I did and she deserves better than any apology I have to offer."
"How do you expect things to change if you won't make an effort?" Jason wondered. "You may not be able to go back, but you can't go forward if you don't try to make things right with Lulu."
"How can I ever make things right?" Johnny questioned.
"I don't know the whole story of what happened between you," Jason replied. "But I do know that the truth goes a long way. The whole truth, no matter how bad it is."
"Did you expect to be giving advice when you came here today?" Johnny asked.
"No," Jason laughed. "But after everything we've been through together and saving each other's lives, I figure we're friends. You needed advice, so I gave it."
"Do you need advice on anything?" Johnny wondered. "I doubt I can offer anything constructive, but I can try."
"I think I'm good," Jason responded. "And I'll handle the shipment tomorrow. Don't worry about it."
"Thanks," Johnny offered as Jason headed for the door.
"Talk to Lulu," Jason advised, pausing by the door. "That way you can at least know you did everything you could to get her back."
--------------------------------------------------------------
Lulu sighed heavily. She was tired of staring at her work and not being able to focus. She was thinking about Johnny entirely too much. Olivia's words about her and Johnny were playing over and over in her head and she couldn't stop wondering if maybe Olivia had a point. As much as she didn't want to tell Maxie what she was thinking, she needed to talk it out with someone before she took off for Johnny's garage with no regard for her heart or pride.
"Do you still want to know what happened earlier?" Lulu wondered.
"Of course," Maxie replied. "Are you actually going to tell me?"
"Yeah," Lulu sighed. "I need to tell someone and you're here."
"I'm glad you are so desperate to confide in me," Maxie said, rolling her eyes.
"Olivia said something to me earlier when I ran into her," Lulu confessed. "She said a lot actually."
"I'm assuming it was about Johnny?" Maxie asked and Lulu nodded.
"She said he missed and loved me and that I didn't understand the reason he broke up with me," Lulu continued. "I just can't help but wonder if she was right. I always felt like something didn't add up when he didn't go after you when we broke up."
"He had some big secret he was keeping from you," Maxie offered. "Something to do with Claudia and it must have been bad. He said it would make you leave him."
"I never would have left him," Lulu argued. "I told him that over and over."
"He obviously didn't believe you," Maxie shrugged. "What else did she say?"
"That Johnny wanted to be with me," Lulu answered. "That he always has. I just don't know what to think. What if everything she said was true? Am I supposed to go after him or something? Make him talk to me?"
"Is that what you want to do?" Maxie questioned.
"I don't know what I want," Lulu said, her eyes filling with tears. "A part of me wants the truth and I don't think I ever got it. But another part of me says that I just got through everything and I should just let it go."
"Lulu, this is a small town," Maxie noted. "You're going to see him from time to time and you're never going to be able to let it go completely if you don't get closure. If you get the truth maybe that will be the closure you need. Or maybe it will bring you back together."
"Why would he tell me the truth after all this time?" Lulu wondered. "What could have changed that would make him start to open up?"
"I don't know," Maxie replied. "Is it worth it to you to find out?"
"I don't know," Lulu countered. "Johnny knew me better than anyone and if he really thought I would have left him for this secret, maybe it's true. If that's the case, should I really try to find out?"
"Yes," Maxie responded. "I know you pretty well and I know that your curiosity will get the better of you eventually anyway. Find out what really happened or otherwise you'll regret it."
"I'm scared," Lulu admitted. "What if the truth makes things worse? What if I get hurt all over again and this time I don't come back from it?"
"You'll come back from it," Maxie smiled. "You're strong. Probably the strongest person I know. Besides me of course."
"I'm going to think about it a little more," Lulu said softly. "Maybe I'll get a sign that tells me to go see him."
"Lulu," Maxie sighed. "Your car needs fixing. Johnny is a mechanic. What more of a sign do you need?"
--------------------------------------------------------------
Johnny was back behind his desk. After talking with Jason he had tried to go back to focusing on his work and he had been somewhat successful. He had been able to get a little done before Lulu took over his thoughts again. Maybe Jason had a point about telling Lulu the truth. So much had happened between her and Johnny already, that Johnny doubted things could be worse. Why not finally put it all on the table?
"Deep in thought, little brother?" Claudia asked and Johnny looked up.
"Yes," Johnny answered.
"Hopefully you're not thinking about that cow that you're sleeping with," Claudia cringed.
"No," Johnny replied. "I'm not thinking about Olivia or sleeping with her if you must know. I ended it with her."
"You finally figured out she was a no good whore?" Claudia questioned.
"Why do you have to bad mouth her all the time?" Johnny wondered. "You put down everyone I've ever been with. What's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem," Claudia replied.
"You have a lot of problems," Johnny said, raising his voice.
"Calm down, John," Claudia demanded.
"No," Johnny yelled. "Do you ever think about what doing what you say has cost me?"
"Is this about Michael?" Claudia sighed. "Because I've told you I'm sorry."
"Sorry isn't even close to good enough," Johnny scoffed. "Do you know what this secret has done to me? What I've lost because of it?"
"What are you talking about?" Claudia asked. "Did someone find out the truth?"
"No, don't worry. You're safe," Johnny said, rolling his eyes.
"Why don't you just tell me what it is you're talking about," Claudia suggested.
"Lulu," Johnny breathed.
"What does that stupid girl have to do with Michael?" Claudia wondered.
"She's not stupid," Johnny said firmly. "She was perfect and we were happy, but your secret came between us. I kept thinking it would come out and I would lose her so I broke it off before that could happen."
When you've been taught that nothing good ever lasts you start to fulfill that prophecy subconsciously. You push away what's good until it's gone.