Lana made her way home from the bar letting out a yawn. It had been a long, busy Steelers Sunday to end a very crappy week. Not only was inventory and the cash drawer off, but Mike was being extremely demanding as well. After working herself to the bone for six straight days, she had enough of work. The only thing she had to look forward to was crawling into bed and having a day off tomorrow.

As she approached her apartment, she could see someone sitting outside the gate on the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette. Lana's heart began to race as she cautiously approached her apartment. When the tall figure stood up and turned to her, she knew exactly who it was. "Well if it isn't my baby sister, Finally home?" She instantly put her hands on her hips as she responded, "I thought you were in the county jail." He took a drag from his cigarette before saying, "I was...but I got out, no thanks to you." Lana rolled her eyed and said, "Oh, sorry that I don't have money to bail you out every single time you get yourself caught."

He walked up to her slowly stopping inches away, blowing smoke into her face. "Speaking of Money, I need some," he said in a low tone as he towered over her. She took three steps backwards and said, "Oh no, I'm not giving you any more help, not until you get clean." Tim shifted back in front of her and said, "I am clean, Have been since I got in. I just need to eat."

"And so do I, Hit up dad for his freebies from the food pantry," she said flatly. He held out his hand, standing in her path as if he was not going to budge. "Tim, Just leave, I'm not in the mood tonight for this." She stepped around him and he grabbed her arm from behind. "I don't think you understand, fork over the cash sis," he said tightening his grip on her arm. "Tim, Stop it," she said while he quickly reached into her back pockets, digging out part of her tip money. When he was done he released her, giving her a forceful shove towards the sidewalk. Lana landed on her side, wincing as she fell to the ground. "Hey Jackass," she said in a cold tone while standing up, "Give it back and get a job." He flicked his cigarette at her before walking away while laughing, "Nope. It's mine now, Thanks little sis. See you soon."

At this point Lana knew there was nothing she could do. The only money she made that day was gone, and she would never see it again. She picked herself up off the ground and made her way to her apartment, closing the door behind her while letting out a sigh. She was frustrated and angry, and this was just the final knife twist. She flipped on the radio before walking in tot he kitchen and pulling out a bottle of MD 20/20 she had hidden in the fridge. As she took a swig she recognized the song by the Rolling Stones on the radio. "Ugh, Perfect," she said while listening to the verse, "Now the radio is mocking me." She took another drink and sang along with the chorus

"I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction,
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no"

She gripped the bottle and spun around, facing the note still on her fridge. Lana stared at the ten digit number for a moment before ripping it down and picking up her phone. She dialed the number and as it rang she paced back and forth. After the fifth ring it went to voicemail, causing her to let out a sigh. "It's Lana. Call me back, I don't want to be alone tonight," she said quickly before hanging up the phone. After she took two steps away from the phone, it began to ring. She turned around in disbelief for a moment before picking up the receiver and hearing him say "I'll be at your place in twenty."

--

Lana's breath was erratic as she flopped over on the rug. She closed her eyes for a moment until she felt his arm reached over her, grabbing the bottle of wine. "God how can you drink this stuff," he said after taking a sip. She looked at him and said, "It's cheap and warms you up, that's how." She stole it back and took another drink of the strawberry wine.

"You called me wanting me to come over, but I wasn't expecting the extra aggression," he said, "Not that I'm complaining." She was more aggressive than usual. Lana had thrown him literally to the floor before taking complete control of his body. "Bad week," she said in a short tone taking another drink. "I can tell, you aren't your cheerful self," he teased while running his hand through his hair. Lana sat upright and glared at him, responding in a flat tone, "You can go if you want." She wasn't in the mood for his snaky response, not after today.

"No, I'm not leaving," he said while shifting close to her, "Do you want to talk about it?" She laughed at him saying, "And when did you start caring about my bad days Kris?" He pointed to her thigh then her arm saying, “When I noticed the bruises on your body.” Lana looked down at her body and sure enough, there were blue and purplish bruises where she had fallen and her brother grabbed her earlier that evening. Lana had always bruised easily, but she never expected him to notice.

“Those?” she said with a shrug, “It’s no big deal. Besides, you’re prying.” She stood up, staggering slightly from all the alcohol as she made her way to the bed. She crawled under the old quilt to cover up, and a moment later Kris did the same. Lana wasn’t born yesterday, and she knew he was going to continue to press the issue. She looked at him and said, “Let me guess you’re not going to give up until I talk. Right?”

He looked at her with those hazel eyes again as he said, “Yeah. So what happened?” She chugged the last drop of wine and put the empty bottle on the floor before she began to explain. “I got into it with my brother tonight, we had an argument, he pushed me to the sidewalk. That’s it.” He sat there for a moment and asked carefully, ”Has he done that before?”

“If you asking if my older brother abuses me, no,” she answered, “He may be a thief and an addict, but that’s it.” The sad part was he never used to be that way. In fact he used to be the older brother that was overly protective and looked out for her. But then the collapse of their family and his addiction to drugs changed all that. “Listen, life isn’t easy for me Kris, I told you that. I’m poor, I have a shitty family, and I’m alone,” she explained, “I am not looking for some Prince Charming to come and save the day ok? I can take care of myself.” She lied back on her pillow as she finished, “You asked, I told you what happened. So let’s drop the subject.”

He still appeared concerned as he leaned into her body, which was still emanating warmth. “I’ll drop it, as long as you promise me that you’ll tell me if this ever happens again,” he said to her in a serious tone. She looked at him curiously and answered, “Why? I told you I don’t need anyone…” Kris took his hand and shushed her mid sentence.

“I know, you don’t want a prince, I get that,” he said, “but as a man I don’t like to hear of another guy pushing a woman around. Call me old fashioned but it’s wrong.” He looked her in the eyes as he finished, “Lana I may just be here for the sex and companionship, but I still owe it to you to look after you.” She blinked and wondered if it was the alcohol or if he did true say those words. “You owe me? For what,” she said, “for having hot, crazy sex?” Kris chucked and said, “No Lana, for that night in May. You have no idea how much you helped me that night.”

“Please don’t get sappy. I don’t think you owe me anything, but if it helps you sleep at night then yeah, I promise to tell you.” She knew that probably sounded cold, but that was how Lana was. After all she knew from experience that the only person she could count on was herself. Her response seemed to satisfy him for now, as the subject changed to his upcoming road games and when he would be back in town next.

As they both lied down to fall asleep though, Lana couldn’t shake the words he said to her. Normally she would laugh off someone saying they were going to look after her, but he was dead serious. It wouldn’t bother her as much if she had known why. He mentioned that one night in May, but all she did was listen to him, have sex, then leave him a note saying that life would get better. She hardly felt that was grounds for “owing her” anything.

Lana just hoped he wasn’t getting the wrong impression from her. She didn’t want to get tangled up in some rebound relationship, that’s why she set the rules. She liked him for his body and the company, nothing more. That’s what she was comfortable with. Lana just hoped he could play by the rules, because she really didn’t want to be the one to break his heart again…