Chapter 4

After a solid twelve hours of sleep, I woke up in a tangle of sheets. There was no daylight to be found anywhere in my personal cave, and therefore, no way of telling what time it was. I forced myself to roll over and look at the clock that was now perched on top of a stepladder I had set by my bed after Jimmy had cleaned out the apartment. The soft blue light of the clock said it was eight fifteen. I flopped back into the mountain of pillows, closing my eyes again. What was there to get up for? I'm not sure how long I lay there, willing myself to go back to sleep, but at this point, there was no going back to sleep. I got up, brushed my teeth and hair, and threw on an old broken in pair of stonewash jeans, and a green t-shirt that said "Reading is Sexy". Since I was already up, and dressed, I figured I might as well go to the grocery store and pick up stuff to munch on for the next few days. The store was only two blocks over, so I walked.

It was nice outside, the breeze drifting across my face. Spring was in the air, but there was still a bit of a chill, so I was grateful that I had thought to grab a sweater. I shoved my hands in my pockets to keep them warm, walking slowly just to enjoy the walk. The grocery store wasn't that busy this time of night, and I knew that I only had about a half an hour to get what I needed before they closed. The soft whoosh of the electronic doors made me giggle every time I came in here, because it was like something off of one of those science fiction shows Jimmy used to watch. It's funny; I know that I'm supposed to be all hurt inside because of him leaving, but honestly all I felt was a sense of relief. I pondered as I walked through the aisles of the store why that was. Why is it that all I feel is a sense of peace? Though I didn't relish the empty apartment, and I certainly would miss sex, I didn't have that hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. That thought rattled around in my head as I paid for my groceries and headed back out the doors. I glanced down at my watch: nine o'clock. Perfect. Got what I needed just before closing time.

I walked back to the apartment complex with a half smile, thinking that maybe it was time for me to figure out what exactly it was I wanted. I loved my job, that much I was sure of. But the rest was kind of a mystery. Speaking of mysteries, there was a good one waiting for me at the top of the stairs.

Allen. Leaning up against the rail, looking like a male model. He had on a pair of jeans that were stained with what looked like grease, and a black muscle shirt. The ponytail was loose, like it had been the first time I saw him. I didn't know whether to be mad, or ashamed. I had jumped to conclusions the other night. I knew that because as soon as I got home, I had looked it up. Nitro was used in certain cases, but only under specific circumstances. Circumstances like the one we had encountered the other night. I shifted the weight of the grocery bags in my arms as I headed up the stairs. He didn't move, just watched me.

"Hey." Oh crap, I sounded like a blubbering idiot.

He stared at me for a minute, as if he was studying me. "Hey."

And that was all that was said. He passed me by, and headed towards a black pickup truck. Shit. Now that I knew he lived in my complex, and worked on my floor, I was going to have to work a little harder to keep myself in check. I hate conflict, and I try to avoid it. I had the feeling that this man wasn't going to allow me to brush him aside, or sweep our little spat under the proverbial rug. I gave up trying to puzzle it out, and went into my apartment, dumping the grocery bags on the counter.

Since I hadn't bought much, it didn't take that long to put it away. I threw a frozen dinner into the microwave, and poured myself a glass of wine. The cheap stuff. I didn't know much about wines, but this one had a nice smooth flavor, and it had a pretty dark red color that looked good in the wine glass I had picked up at the dollar store. It was within my budget, so that made it even better. The ding of the microwave was timed to perfectly coincide with me walking back into the kitchen to retrieve my dinner after setting my cheap wine and trashy novel on the table next to my chair. I dived into the novel, not really paying attention to the time.

I must have dozed off, because I woke up with a crick in my neck, and the paperback laying in my lap. I stretched, yawning as I headed to my cave, where I stripped down to my birthday suit, and continued my long nap in a mangled mess of sheets and pillows.

I guess you could say I was in kind of a daze. I knew that time was passing, but I wasn't really keeping track of it. I was thoroughly engrossed in a fantasy world of lies, sex, and backstabbing drama when I heard the insistent beating on my front door. Who could that be? I glanced up at the clock on the wall as I dog-eared my page and set my book down on the table by my chair. The pounding came again before I could make it three steps across my living room. "Okay, okay, I'm coming already. "

I had no sooner opened the door when Laura breezed in, looking like she had just stepped out of a fashion magazine in skinny jeans and some kind of sparkly top thing. Around her neck was a chunky turquoise necklace with a cross hanging from it. "Hey girl! We decided you've been holed up in this apartment enough." She dropped her oversized tote bag on the floor next to my chair, picking up my book to look at the spine.

"We?" I asked.

"She meant me, of course." Jamie put his hand on the door I had already closed halfway, strolling in as Laura smiled. "You know she's just hateful sometimes." They both laughed. I looked closer at the both of them: they were dressed for a night on the town. Jamie was tall, sandy haired, and had that goofy cute thing going for him. For some unknown reason, I always thought he looked like he just got out of high school. He had a boyish face, but kind eyes. And he was a nice guy, so that helped.

That wasn't what had me curious, as the two of them were best friends. You get one, the other isn't far behind. I envied that more at this moment than I had since meeting them, so it was no surprise that they were headed out.

"What are you guys up to?" There I stood, in my bare feet, a pair of lounge pants that had seen better days, and a t-shirt so thin I was amazed every time it survived another round in the washing machine. I saw the knowing glances as they looked around my empty apartment, with its one chair in the corner of the living room and the small table with its stack of books.

Laura broke into a huge smile. "You, my dear, are going out. O-U-T, out. It's time you had some fun!"

A dozen things ran through my head all at once. Like the fact that I didn't own anything other than a few pairs of jeans and a closetful of scrubs. The fact that my car was probably running on fumes, and since I was paying the rent by myself now, I had to be extra careful with my paycheck. The fact that I couldn't believe that these two people, who barely knew me, cared more about my well being than anyone else.

"I don't have anything to wear, and I'm broke anyways, so why don't you guys just go and have a good time-" Jamie held his hand up to stop my diatribe. "Nope, you are going out with us tonight, end of story. And it's on us, so don't worry about that."

"And I've got you covered on clothes", Laura said, pointing her toe towards the bag she had dropped by my chair. "Come on, let's get you ready!" She took my arm, and half dragged me towards my bedroom.

Jamie just grinned like an idiot, and plopped himself down in my chair.

Two hours later, Laura had finally finished the extreme makeover routine, and I was now dressed in a pair of my favorite jeans that she had snazzed up with a black studded belt, a skinny tank with a rhinestone cross on it, some big silver hoop earrings, and a full complement of warpaint. My hair hung long down my back, and she had put some stuff in there that made it really soft. It smelled good, too.

"Wow! You look great!" Jamie looked me up and down, but not in a gross way. "Oh, no, those shoes have got to go." I looked down at my feet. I had on my cowboy boots. I thought they looked okay, but apparently Jamie and Laura thought otherwise. She looked over at him with that face someone makes when you serve them really gross food. "Do we have time to make a pit stop?" she asked him. I looked back and forth between the two of them, kind of confused. "What's wrong with my boots?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes at her, "Uh, for those? We'll make time." I gave up, grabbed my purse, and followed them out the door.

The club wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, not too crowded, not too flashy. We had stopped at a shoe store on the way, and I was now the proud owner of what Laura called "kitten heels", along with a "clutch" to match. Laura had bought them despite my arguments, brushing it off with a wave of her hand. "No big deal," she had said, "call it a birthday gift". Right, my birthday was four months ago.

We sat at a high round table along the edge of the dance floor, and I felt nervous. This was totally out of my element, and I had no previous experience to go off of. There were people gyrating to pop music, some clustered around a bank of pool tables on the other side, and a whole lot more just milling around. "So now what?" I asked them, hoping that there was some point to this adventure other than just having an excuse for Laura to shop.

Jamie smiled, "Now, we drink!" He got up, and walked over to the bar. I could see him talking to the bartender, and they were laughing about something. Hopefully, it wasn't me sitting here feeling like a fool. Laura's foot was tapping to the beat of the music. She seemed perfectly at home in this place. When Jamie returned, he had three glasses balanced precariously in his hands. "Thank you darlin'" Laura said as he slid her glass across the table to her, and another in front of me. "What's this?" I asked.

They grinned at each other again, that secretive grin that they did, as if they each knew what the other was thinking, and I wasn't going to be let in on the joke. "Just drink it," Jamie said, "Trust me."

I took a little from the straw that was coming out of the curvy glass. It was kind of fruity, and had a hint of coconut and pineapple to it. "Hey, that's pretty good. What is it?"

Three of those little fruity drink things later, I was feeling pretty good. Not nervous anymore, and before I could stop myself, I was on the dance floor, with Laura right next to me. I'd forgotten how much fun dancing was! I shifted back and forth from one foot to the other, trying to mimic the moves Laura was making. Jamie was on the other side of me, totally caught up in the music. I didn't feel drunk, but I knew that I felt really good, so it was a surprise when I felt the cold splash of liquid on my shirt. I looked up, and there was Jimmy, with a card carrying member of the Barbie Brigade. She had thrown her drink at me, and was now laughing. What the hell? Laura grabbed my arm on one side, Jamie the other. I stared at Jimmy, who was laughing along with the blonde bimbette who was holding her empty drink glass not three feet away from me. She stepped forward on those stilettos until she was right in my face, her overly made up eyes boring into mine. From this distance, I could smell the cheap perfume, see the layers of lipstick on her pouty mouth as she spat at me, "You should've stayed at home with your books, bitch." I heard Laura whispering in my ear, "Come on, Annie, let's go, let's just go." I felt her pulling me backwards with Jamie's help, and then it happened. The bimbo took another step forward, and slapped me. I felt the two pairs of hands that had been holding my arms disappear, and there was a sharp stinging sensation where her manicured hand had made contact with my cheek.

I could see myself in slow motion, as if someone had hit a button on my vision. I'd never been one of those girls that slapped and scratched when backed into a corner. I raised my head to look at her, and all I felt was fury. Cold fury that roared in my chest like a dormant lion that's been awoken. The beat of the music seemed in time with my heart, pounding like a drum. I didn't even feel my fingers as they balled into a fist. The bimbo laughed haughtily, and turned back towards Jimmy, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. The two steps toward the two of them felt like a mile, as all that fury came to the surface.

"Hey Barbie!" She turned at just the moment that my arm arced towards her face. My fist hit her square in the cheekbone, and she fell to Jimmy's feet. I felt Laura and Jamie grab my arms again, but this time I let them drag me away, my hands still balled up. I felt ready to take on the world.

The lion in my chest purred in contentment as Laura and Jamie pushed me into the backseat of the car. I leaned my head back against the seat, put my hand against my cheek, and stared out the window at the stars. I've never been a fan of violence, but I had to admit, this felt good.

I closed my eyes, and wondered what would tomorrow bring me.