A/N – Thanks to everyone for all the comments! They make me smile! I really hope you like this chapter. I know that Lulu is being stubborn, but hopefully this will help you understand her line of thinking! Enjoy and I would love to hear what you think!

Chapter 7 – It Feels Real

Lulu sat on the couch, sobbing in spite of herself. She knew this date was a mistake. She knew it would only cause her pain, but she had still gone through with it. Georgie came through the door and immediately joined Lulu on the couch. Lulu fell into her and continued to cry as Georgie tried to soothe her.

"What happened?" Georgie asked softly.

"I-I-I had a good time," Lulu sniffed.

"Then why are you crying?" Georgie wondered.

"I wasn't s-supposed to," Lulu cried.

"But it's still a good thing," Georgie smiled. "I don't understand why you're so upset."

"I told him we couldn't see each other," Lulu admitted.

"Why would you do that?" Georgie asked.

"Because I'm scared," Lulu answered.

"I'm lost," Georgie responded.

"Tonight was magical," Lulu started. "Johnny was open and honest, even vulnerable with me. He said and did all the right things and I did everything I could not to fall for it, but I failed. I did fall for his charm. I fell for him all over again."

"Well that's not a bad thing," Georgie offered.

"Yes it is," Lulu insisted. "He's going to hurt me again."

"Why do you think that?" Georgie wondered.

"Because that's what he did last time," Lulu cried.

"I don't know, Lulu," Georgie argued. "I don't think he would go through all this trouble to hurt you again."

"I can't take the chance," Lulu muttered.

"Why?" Georgie asked.

"I wouldn't survive it this time," Lulu replied. "He hurt me so badly last time because I cared about him after one night. Well after this night, I don't just care about him."

"Are you saying that you...?" Georgie started to ask.

"Yes," Lulu whispered. "I think I'm in love with him."

"Then you should be with him, Lu," Georgie said softly.

"No," Lulu said adamantly. "I can't do that. He can never know how I feel."

"Why?" Georgie demanded. "What if he feels the same way?"

"He doesn't," Lulu shook her head. "He just wanted me to stop hating him."

"I don't know why you would risk it," Georgie fought back. "If he loves you and you love him then you two should be together. But your stubborn ass will never know how he feels because you're too damn scared to find out."

"You would be scared too if you were me," Lulu snapped. "You don't know how it feels to put yourself out there to a perfect stranger and then be rejected. You have all these rules about picking guys and knowing which one is right. I just followed my feelings and I got burned. I will not go there again. Especially not with the same guy that hurt me before."

Georgie didn't know what to do. Lulu was holding back when she shouldn't be. She had no reason to be angry with Johnny, but she didn't know the truth. Georgie was starting to question Matt's advice about letting them figure out the truth on their own. How much pain should her friend have to go through?

"I'm sorry for going off on you," Lulu apologized. "I didn't mean to take all of my frustration out on you. Forgive me?"

"Of course," Georgie smiled. "I just hate seeing you in so much pain."

"It's not your fault," Lulu sighed. "I did this to myself. I should have known better than to go on this date. I could have found another job."

"What are you going to do now?" Georgie wondered. "Won't work be awkward?"

"I don't think I'll be bringing him coffee anymore," Lulu replied. "I think I've finally gotten through this entire mess."

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Johnny strode into his office and slammed the door behind him. He looked up and groaned when he saw Matt in his chair. The last thing he wanted was to relive his date with Lulu just to satisfy Matt's curiosity. He wanted to forget this night, the night in Las Vegas and everything else about Lulu.

"Get out," Johnny ordered.

"That bad?" Matt asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Johnny answered.

"It's important to talk about the things that upset you," Matt counseled.

"I don't have time for your psycho babble," Johnny sighed. "Just please leave."

"No," Matt said simply. "The only way I'm leaving is if it's to get a six pack so we can talk this out the right way."

"I don't need to drink," Johnny argued. "That's not a habit I need to get into."

"Fair enough," Matt relented. "Just talk then."

"It didn't start off too well," Johnny began. "At first we just fought like we usually do. Back and forth banter, that kind of thing. I didn't think anything of it until I realized she was going out of her way to insult me even more than normal."

"Ouch," Matt commented.

"Yeah," Johnny agreed. "So I pulled over and offered to take her home and forget the deal. She would keep her job and I would leave her alone."

"What did she say?" Matt asked.

"She said it would be a waste not to go on the date because we were both dressed up already," Johnny answered.

"Score one for Zacchara," Matt laughed.

"That's what I thought," Johnny muttered. "When we got to the place I had set up, she loved it. I could see it in her eyes and she even admitted it. We started talking and I thought I had done it. I thought she was going to forgive me and maybe even give us a chance to be together."

"But?" Matt prodded.

"But she didn't," Johnny said sadly. "I basically told her how I felt about her and she said we would never be more than employer and employee."

"Wow," Matt breathed. "What did you do?"

"I thanked her for the chance and took her home," Johnny replied. "Then I came here and relived the horrible experience just for you."

"I'm sorry, man," Matt offered.

Matt watched Johnny pace the room. Johnny seemed completely devastated by his loss and Matt couldn't help but feel like it was partially his fault. He knew the truth about Lulu's phone and he hadn't told his best friend. Maybe letting them figure it out on their own wasn't going to work.

"What did you mean when you said you 'basically' told her how you felt?" Matt wondered.

"I didn't want to scare her away," Johnny said, rolling his eyes. "I told her I wanted to get to know her more and at least be friends."

"Huh," Matt sighed. "She didn't seem to feel anything at all for you?"

"That's the worst part," Johnny breathed. "She did feel something. I could see it in her eyes, but she refused to admit it."

"Why would she do that?" Matt asked.

"Because," Johnny replied. "I hurt her and she can't get over it, not that I blame her. I don't deserve another chance with her and I'm not going to get it."

"I wish that I could be more sympathetic," Matt said softly. "I just don't understand how you feel. I mean you're in love with a girl you've spent very little time with. How did that happen?"

"I don't know," Johnny answered. "It started happening from the first time I saw her..."

Johnny focused in on the girl. He realized instantly that she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. She had long blonde hair and a fit body which was perfectly formed for a bikini. But what intrigued him the most was her confidence and unwillingness to give in to the men that were throwing themselves at her. He wanted to meet her and he really didn't know why.

"She was perfect," Johnny remembered. "It was like the girl I had always dreamed about was suddenly right in front of me. Then I actually met her..."

Their eyes met and Johnny felt the spark instantly. He kissed her passionately and she responded, wrapping her arms around his neck. He opened his eyes to glance at the creep while he continued to kiss her. The guy was obviously pissed, but Johnny didn't care. He finally pulled out of the kiss to breathe and looked at his beauty, who looked a little dazed and confused. Johnny pushed her gently behind him and got in the face of the creep.

"Leave," Johnny ordered.

The man balled his fist and swung at Johnny. Johnny blocked his punch and put him on the floor in one swift movement. He took one step towards him and the man scrambled back to his feet and quickly left the dance floor. Johnny turned back to the woman he rescued and smiled.

"I'm Johnny," he said softly.

"My hero," she replied.

"What do I get for being your hero?" Johnny wondered.

She smiled seductively and moved closer to him, dancing to the music. His hands found her waist and he eliminated the space between them. She slowly slid her hands up his chest and locked them around his neck again. She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him deeply. He let his fingers dig into her waist softly as their tongues dueled. After awhile she pulled away and he felt dazed. He had never been kissed like that.

"I had never felt anything like that in my life," Johnny admitted. "I think I was a goner then. In the next six months I could have seen a million beautiful women and I wouldn't have known it. The only woman I could think about was Lulu. Then came the day I walked into the shop and saw her..."

Johnny couldn't breathe. Lulu. The woman who had been on his mind for six months was suddenly standing in front of him. He realized that his Lulu was in Matt's arms and she was hugging him. He was confused at best. He stepped forward and Matt released his hold on Lulu and turned to see Johnny standing there. Their eyes still locked, Johnny took another tentative step forward. He had dreamed that this day would come, but his dreams had never come true. He didn't know how to react.

"The way I felt in that moment," Johnny remembered. "I've never felt so many emotions at one time. But there was one that was screaming to be heard. I didn't know it then and I actually didn't really know it until tonight when she asked me why I wanted her forgiveness. I'm in love with her. I have been all along, but now that I know it, it's too late."

"No it's not," Matt insisted. "You can't give up."

"I promised her I would," Johnny sighed.

"So lie," Matt laughed. "If you think she feels something for you too, keep going after her."

"I know she does," Johnny responded.

"Then one day," Matt started. "You will look back on this time in your relationship and she will thank you for lying because you two will be together and that is all that matters."

"You're right," Johnny nodded. "I want her and she wants me. I can't give up on us."