Chapter One -

Lulu Spencer paced the length of pier fifty four, her head had been a mess for days. Thoughts of both Logan Hayes and Johnny Zacchara circling around in her head, there was no way that she would ever be happy with Logan…not by a long shot but, he was the safe choice. Well, considering he was rough with her more often than not maybe not the safest but, Lulu didn't know if she could trust her heart not to fail her. The truth was that Lulu really liked Johnny a lot, they related in ways that she had never related to anyone else before. Johnny being involved in the mob didn't scare her at all, honestly it was refreshing. It was like a high, like she needed the danger to function. Maybe she was like her father in that way. Lulu was drawn to Johnny like a moth to a flame, she couldn't stay away. That was the problem, she was coming unraveled in front of a guy she had just met mere months ago. Lulu couldn't let people really see her, he would surely run screaming and want to forget that he'd ever picked her up that night. It was clear that Claudia didn't care for her, his family wanted Lulu as far away from Johnny as possible. Maybe she should just leave him alone and let him live his life. Maybe she was crowding him. Who knows? All she knew was that she couldn't keep stringing them both along.

"You're thinking about him again." Logan Hayes sneered, coming up behind his girlfriend.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm not thinking about anyone. I'm just…tired. I'm going to head home, I just need to lay down." Lulu brushed her boyfriend off, she knew that Logan knew what was really going on.

"Lulu, you promised me you would stop seeing that no good gangster. You've made good on that promise but, you can't think about him either. I don't want anything Johnny Zacchara related in your life. You've got me, that should be all you need." Logan stood firmly, forcefully grabbing her by the shoulders.

"Get your damn hands off of her, creep." They heard a familiar voice speak, one that Lulu had been craving for months. Lulu grunted as Logan pushed her up against the wall, she steeled herself against the brick wall trying to draw in deep breaths to steady herself.

"I'm sorry, do you speak English? Let me see if I can dumb this down for you Hayes, keep your damn hands off of her. I don't care if she is your girlfriend, that's no way to treat a woman." Johnny Zacchara grabbed Logan by the collar of his jacket, shooting a thousand daggers at him.

"Lulu, talk some sense into him!" Logan shouted in her direction, she just shook her head completely done with this conversation.

"I've been putting up with a lot from you lately, I'm exhausted." Lulu brushes her blonde hair back into place.

"Lulu, you can't seriously be this stupid." Logan seethed at her, earning a kick in the shin from Johnny.

"Let her talk, that's your fucking problem. You don't let her tell you anything, it's your way or the highway." Johnny growled at him, finally putting him down.

"I don't even know what to say to you right now, I honestly don't. You hurt me." Lulu pointed a finger at him, reaching down to grab her purse from the ground.

"Why don't you take a walk with me?" Johnny asked, Lulu was thankful at his suggestion.

"What about she's not going anywhere with you, don't you understand?" Logan's hands balled into fists at his side, ready to strike.

"Man, how many times do I have to teach you this lesson?" Johnny pushed Logan up against a wooden post with such force that Logan fell, he got right back up.

"You won't win this battle, Zacchara. I promise you that." Logan growled, getting in Johnny's face.

"Logan, please stop." Lulu begged, not wanting to fight anymore.

"What makes you think this is a battle? I'm not forcing Lulu into anything, I never have. Lulu needs someone to listen, because you aren't." Johnny crosses his arms, not scared of Logan one bit.

"You'll regret this, I'll make sure of it." Logan got in Lulu's face, before leaving the pier.