A/N – Thanks to everyone who has read and commented! I really love reading what everyone thinks about my little story. I like this chapter, definitely one of my favorites so far. I hope everyone else likes it as well, so let me know!
Chapter 8 – Persistence
Lulu had gone about her life as normally as she could. She felt strange at work because she hadn't taken Johnny coffee in two days. She guessed he was really going on with his life like he said he would. Why wasn't she happy about that? Any meeting would be awkward, but a part of her wanted to see him to make sure that he was okay.
"Lulu," Derek said, snapping his fingers. "Back to earth, please."
"I'm sorry," she apologized quickly. "What table?"
"No table," Derek answered. "Boss needs his coffee."
"Did he ask for me?" Lulu wondered.
"I don't know why it would matter," Derek replied.
"Right," Lulu muttered.
She slowly filled a paper cup with coffee and headed toward Johnny's office. She knocked and then went in and walked toward his desk. He did not look up at first and Lulu assumed that Derek had sent her and Johnny didn't know she was the one who was coming. When she turned to walk away, she heard his voice.
"I can't stop thinking about you," Johnny said softly. "Actually, I haven't tried to. I don't want to stop thinking about you."
"We talked about this," Lulu whispered, her back still to him.
"I know," Johnny nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "The thing is, you told me how it was going to be. What I realized is, I don't like the choice you made. I want to make my own choices."
"What choices?" Lulu asked, finally turning to face him.
"I choose to pursue you," Johnny smirked. "I choose to have you in my life. I choose to make you admit you want me too."
"I guess if you want to lie to yourself I can't stop you," Lulu said defiantly. "But I'll say it one more time. I don't want you."
"You can say whatever you want, Lulu," Johnny smiled, stepping around his desk to stand in front of her. "But it's not your words that do the talking for you. It's your eyes."
"Why are you doing this?" Lulu wondered.
"I'm stubborn," Johnny answered.
Lulu had to laugh slightly, but her laugh died on her lips as Johnny's hand made contact with her face. He touched her reverently, softly trailing his fingers down her cheek. Lulu closed the eyes that supposedly gave her away. She felt his breath on her face and her heart began to beat rapidly. He pressed a feather light kiss to her lips and in a second he was gone. She opened her eyes and he was back behind his desk.
"I'll see you soon," Johnny said, acting like he hadn't kissed her. "I'll need more coffee in about an hour."
Lulu just nodded. The kiss had been so brief, but her lips were still on fire. She turned to leave when his voice stopped her once again.
"And Lulu," Johnny smirked. "If the coffee is good, I'll kiss you again."
Lulu glared at him and then angrily walked out of his office. He knew the effect he had on her and that was the last thing she wanted. She had to make it clear to Johnny that nothing would happen between them. But first she had to convince herself of that fact.
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Matt waited patiently for Georgie at Kelly's. He was tired of listening to Johnny be sad about Lulu. He had to do anything he could to get them together. Georgie came through the door and rushed over to his table.
"We have to do something," they said in unison.
"About Johnny and Lulu," Georgie finished.
"Exactly," Matt agreed. "Does Lulu have feelings for Johnny?"
"Yes," Georgie answered. "She finally admitted it to me. She's just afraid he's going to hurt her again."
"Which he never really did on purpose," Matt sighed.
"Maybe we should just tell them the truth," Georgie suggested.
"I don't know," Matt said warily. "There has to be something else we can do to get them together."
"Lulu is pretty adamant she won't go there with him," Georgie replied.
"Johnny is pretty adamant about not giving up," Matt countered. "Maybe we can trick them into going on a date."
"How?" Georgie asked skeptically.
"Do you want to go on a date with me?" Matt wondered.
"What does that have to do with helping Johnny and Lulu?" Georgie questioned.
"I was thinking a double date," Matt smirked. "The catch is, you don't tell Lulu who she's going on a date with and I don't tell Johnny."
"How am I going to convince her to go?" Georgie asked.
"I don't know, but you'll figure it out," Matt replied. "This Friday night, we go to the movies and we make sure that Johnny and Lulu end up alone together."
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"I can't believe I'm doing this," Lulu complained. "How did you convince me to go on a blind date again?"
"Because you're my best friend and the only way I could get this date was if I brought someone for his friend," Georgie reasoned.
"You better have a damn good time on this date," Lulu warned. "And where is this guy? He's late."
"One minute late," Georgie said, rolling her eyes. "You need to lighten up. Maybe this date will help get your mind off other things."
"Maybe," Lulu agreed.
She turned around and her stomach filled with butterflies. There was Johnny with Matt coming to the movies. Her mouth dropped open as she saw Matt greet Georgie and the two of them smile at each other. Matt was Georgie's date which meant that Johnny was Lulu's date. Lulu quickly pulled Georgie to the side.
"What the hell is going on?" Lulu whispered harshly.
"What do you mean?" Georgie asked.
"Why are you going on a date with Matt and why didn't you tell me Johnny was his friend?" Lulu demanded.
"I like Matt," Georgie replied. "And I didn't know the name of his friend. He just said he had a friend who needed a night out with a girl."
"I can't do this," Lulu said softly.
"Yes you can," Georgie argued. "Please, for me?"
"Fine," Lulu relented and they turned back to Matt and Johnny who seemed to be having a similar conversation.
"Ready to go in?" Matt asked. "I already have the tickets."
"Great," Georgie beamed.
Lulu glanced at Johnny who was staring at her and she sighed. She followed Georgie and Matt into the building. Matt offered to buy the refreshments while the other three found seats. Georgie chose to sit on the aisle and Lulu gave a her a questioning stare.
"Don't you want to sit by Matt?" Lulu wondered.
"Yeah," Georgie nodded.
"Well where am I going to sit?" Lulu asked.
"I don't know," Georgie answered. "Maybe by your date."
Johnny laughed and Lulu rolled her eyes. Lulu stomped down the aisle and sunk into the fourth seat. Johnny just shook his head and sat next to her. Lulu glared at the large screen and Georgie smiled to herself.
"Hey, I have to go to the restroom," Georgie said quickly. "I'll be right back."
"I'll go with you," Lulu offered, standing up, but Georgie was already gone.
Lulu fell back into her seat and crossed her arms. After five minutes she looked at Johnny who was staring at his hands. He didn't seemed thrilled with the situation either.
"I wonder where Matt is with those refreshments," Lulu muttered.
"You don't get it do you?" Johnny laughed.
"Get what?" Lulu asked.
"They're not coming," Johnny answered.
"What?" Lulu demanded.
"Matt isn't bringing refreshments and Georgie isn't coming back from the restroom," Johnny explained. "They set us up."
"Georgie wouldn't do that to me," Lulu shook her head.
"She would if she thought it was best for you," Johnny smirked. "Which means your best friend thinks that I am best for you."
"Even if you're right, which I still don't think you are," Lulu started. "Georgie doesn't get to decide what's best for me. I do. And I sure as hell don't think you're what's best for me."
Johnny rolled his eyes and turned his face to the screen. Lulu sat there for ten minutes before standing up. Johnny looked at her in amusement and she glared at him.
"Where are you going?" Johnny wondered.
"Home," Lulu replied.
"Do you need a ride?" Johnny asked.
"I can walk," Lulu responded, stepping around him toward the aisle.
"It's a long way and it's late," Johnny protested as he followed her. "I'm not letting you walk."
"Whatever," Lulu sighed, exiting the theater.
She followed Johnny to his car and he opened the door for her. She got in and he hurried to his own door and started the car. They rode in silence to her apartment with Lulu deep in thought. When Johnny finally pulled up to the complex, Lulu made no move to exit the car. She had some questions that needed answers.
"Did you know that Matt and Georgie were doing this?" Lulu wondered, examining her fingernails.
"Not until I saw you and Georgie at the theater," Johnny said softly. "Then I put the pieces together."
"Why do you think they did it?" Lulu questioned.
"I don't know Georgie," Johnny replied. "But knowing Matt, he's tired of listening to me talk about you and wanted to do something to help. Of course I'm sure he just made it worse. You probably want even less to do with me now."
"Don't be angry with Matt," Lulu responded. "He didn't set out to hurt you. I can't say the same for Georgie."
"I'm sure she wasn't trying to hurt you either," Johnny offered.
"Do you talk about me a lot?" Lulu asked. "With Matt, I mean."
"You're all I talk about," Johnny whispered. "You're all I think about."
"I don't want to hurt you over and over," Lulu said honestly. "But I've told you nothing will happen between us and I mean that."
"I never wanted to hurt you either," Johnny swore. "I don't know why you don't believe that."
"What I believe doesn't matter," Lulu said, looking at Johnny. "What matters is you believe me when I tell you there is nothing between us."
"I don't believe that," Johnny stated. "I know there is something and I know you feel it too. I don't care how long it takes, I'm not giving up."
"It's your time to waste," Lulu muttered, opening her door and running to her apartment building.
She entered her apartment and leaned against the door. Why did Johnny have to make it so damn difficult to hate him? She knew her resolve would crumble eventually, but she was trying to stay strong. If she gave in to Johnny and he hurt her again, she wouldn't survive. She had to stay strong.
No matter how much she wanted Johnny.