September 8th 2008
Lulu's POV
It has been a week since I had dinner at my brother's house, a week since I'd met Johnny Zacchara. There was just something about that man that I wanted more of. Was I completely insane? This was my brother's boss! Who cares if Ethan wasn't bothered by it? Wasn't it still weird? I had been so buried in schoolwork that I hadn't really had much time to ponder this. I was so psyched to finally be getting my car back, Ethan was going to pick it up on his lunch break. I looked up at the presentation my professor was presenting scribbling down the notes, she went fast. I felt like I was going to the fail this portion of my classes, algebra was not my friend. After my last lecture ended I walked to the curb I saw my blue Nissan Altima but, Johnny Zacchara sat in the driver's seat instead of my brother.
"I'm surprised to see you behind the wheel of a piece of shit." Lulu smirked, knowing that Johnny bought the best of everything. Why wouldn't he?
"Hey, be nice to the old girl." Johnny smirked, allowing himself to glance over her features.
"Hey, even I know that my car is a piece of crap. Homegirl breaks down all the time." Lulu jumps into the passenger seat, content with him driving.
"Altima's are notoriously known for breaking down." Johnny shrugged, pulling out into the road.
"So, where's my brother this time? This is starting to become a pattern."Lulu lightly smirked, she happened to like this pattern.
"Ethan had to cut out early, it had something to do with Kristina. It sounded... serious. Ethan didn't want you to have to wait another day for your car so, I offered." Johnny shrugged.
"It's Sonny, he probably found out that Kristina and Ethan are dating and he's on his dramatic bullshit. I don't know why he can't find his God damn business, he's always gotta be in someone else's life when he should just stay in his lane. I'm so sick of hearing about Sonny, I swear to God. Silly me, thinking I'd hear less about Sonny when I broke up with his dip shit son. Of course not, Sonnys my godfather. Ugh! I'm disgusted with my life." Lulu mutters, completely disgusted. Lulu wasn't expecting much of a response but, she looked over to see Johnny chuckling at her words.
"You're right, I don't imagine that conversation is going very well. You being Sonnys goddaughter and all, I thought you'd be defending Sonny." Johnny was intrigued by Lulu.
"I've never defended Sonny in my life, I don't know why my parents trusted him enough to make him my godfather. Sonny's a liar and a hypocrite. I don't know why everyone thinks he's soooooooooo special. Kristina's nineteen years old, she's old enough to make her own decisions. My distaste for Sonny started when I began dating Dante, he turned Dante into a younger version of himself. Dante completely lost who he was trying to win Sonny's love and...Dante ruined our relationship by trying to win Sonny over. It's okay though, I'm not sure it would have worked out with Dante anyway. Dante's not fucked up enough for me to settle down with." Lulu launched into this big speech, knowing that she was essentially spilling her guts to a complete stranger. Maybe that's why the words flowed out so easily.
"I've never had much taste for Dante, he's too... gullible. Straight laced. I'm sorry that you got hurt, you don't deserve that. I know what you mean, people like us who have been through insane amounts of trauma can't be with the good people, so to speak. We have to find something messed up about them or we can't see ourselves with that person. There's nothing wrong with living on the wild side. I prefer it, actually." Johnny understood what Lulu was saying, more than she knew.
"Dante's too influenced about other people's opinions, I just... don't care what anybody thinks of me. Not anymore. There's a lot of...damage in here but, I've made my peace with it. There's nothing I can do to change the past. Every morning I get up and I just try. That's all I can do. Looking back, I don't know why I thought getting into a relationship with someone like Dante was a good idea. It's not even that he's a bad person...I just need someone who knows who they are. I don't think that's asking for much. Oh, and then there's the Brooklyn issue. That girl is a hot mess." Lulu rolled her eyes at the mention of Brooklyn.
"Sonny's other goddaughter?" Johnny raised a brow.
"Yeah, it's a club I'd rather not be a part of." Lulu mutters, looking out of the window as their surroundings blurred by.
"You really do not like Sonny." Johnny chuckled to himself.
"Oh, and your his best friend?" Lulu arched one blonde brow, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Point taken. What's the story with your parents? I'm not trying to pry, I just don't hear you mention them.' Johnny understood the bad parents rap, boy did he ever.
"My dad is sort of a drifter which I completely understand, it doesn't make him a bad father. I couldn't ask for a better one but, sometimes I wish I had a more present father. That's all. My mom kind of bailed on our family when my dad came clean to her about having an affair with Ethan's mother Holly, she went back to her ex-husband Scott. I haven't heard a thing from her since I was six. What about you?" Lulu was pretty much an open book.
"Well, my father has been a resident of Ferncliff since I was eight years old, after he shot my mom. My mom ended up living thankfully, I'm not sure what would have happened to me. My mom isn't too much of a fan of my work but, that's just not something we fixate on. I guess we've all got a bad parent." Johnny found a kindred spirit in Lulu.
"Sometimes I miss my parents but, then I look at Ethan and Kristina or my brother Lucky and his wife. I look at my best friends family, who basically adopted me. I guess you could say I'm very... social. It's a blessing and a curse." Lulu thanked God that she had Maxie and her family.
"You're one of the lucky ones, I mean to have so many brothers. I have a sister but, I don't really hear from her that much. I've always wanted a big family." Johnny noted, turning into her apartment complex.
"I am very greatful, thank you for picking me up. That was...really cool of you. It's good to know that my brother's boss actually cares about him. Ethan's had it pretty rough, too. It's true that he's not the oldest but, it's kind of like the family falls on mine and Ethan's shoulders." Lulu found herself being greatful for Johnny. Was that absolutely crazy?
"I'll always make sure Lovett is straight, you have my word. Ethan's a good man, I know that he thinks the world of you. You're welcome. What are you doing Wednesday night?"