"Val, what are you doing in here?" Matt climbed out of his bed as he saw her laying beside him.

"That couch was too uncomfortable," she mumbled.

"Get your stuff, I'm taking you home," he grabbed a pair of jeans from his closet.

"What? Why?" she finally sat up in the bed. "You didn't seem too upset about me being here earlier."

Matt felt his stomach clench at her words. "Oh shit," he thought to himself. "What are you talking about?" he asked in confusion.

"When I came in here and climbed into the bed...shit Matt, you held onto me all night like I was a damned stuffed animal or something. You didn't try to get rid of me then," she threw the sheets off her body.

"I should've just taken you home last night. Do you think this is going to make the whole situation easier by you being here with me? Nothing has changed about how I feel, Val...and it's not going to," he spoke with frustration.

"You're not helping the situation any either by just throwing me out or ignoring me all the time. It's not just going to magically go away," she shot back. “You fucking cheated on me!”

"Then what do you want me to do? Tell me how I can fix this so that everyone is happy...including myself," he dropped his arms heavily at his side.

"Well...you could start by telling me what happened between us," her tone had become momentarily softer.

He walked over to where she sat on the bed and sat next to her, placing his large hand on her bare knee. "Val, you have been my best friend for as long as I can remember...and I think part of me took advantage of your loyalty. I love you, but I think I mistook that as something it's not. That isn't meant to hurt you, but we were so young...I don't think I understood what was happening."

A look of pain washed over Val's face. "I can't believe you can just say that to me after all this time," she almost stuttered the words. "I have forced you into a corner all this time, is that it? You sure as FUCK could‘ve told me this years ago!" Her face reddened from sadness and frustration.

“Yeah, I fucked up,” he mumbled almost inaudibly. “I spend every day of my life trying to keep everybody fucking happy. My friends, my family…you. But what about me, Val? Huh?” The veins in his neck became more prominent as his temper flared. “Sure, I should’ve fucking said something before it got this far…I made a mistake. I’m only human!”

“Selfish prick!” she screamed at him, jumping to her feet.

He grabbed her by her wrists as she tried to strike against his chest. “Val, stop!” he yelled, holding her arms to her sides. “I’m taking you home…” he forcefully shoved her back onto the bed.
__________________________
It was a typical busy weekend afternoon at the tattoo shop. Young hipsters, middle-aged hippies and old, dirty bikers filled the lobby. Kat answered phone call after phone call setting up appointments and giving directions to the shop.

"Kat!" Kim called from her station as she looked up from the large dragon tattoo she was etching on a young woman's back.

Kat stood from her desk and made her way to Kim. "What's up?"

"We are slammed and getting hungry. Could you walk down to the deli and pick up some lunch?"

"Absolutely," she nodded. "Anyone want anything in particular?"

"Surprise us," Corey laughed. "We're too busy to be picky!"

"You got it," Kat agreed as she went to grab her purse and headed through the front door. She had only made a few steps when she almost crashed into Matt. "Holy shit!" she said in surprise.

"Hey," he grinned at her. "Where are you off to?"

"Grabbing lunch for the zoo animals," she chuckled. "Care to join me?"

He nodded and walked along beside her down the crowded LA sidewalk.

"So...is everything...ok?" she asked slowly, glancing down at her feet as they walked.

"Yes," he smiled at her.

"Really? What happened after you left last night?" she asked with great interest.

"Val told me she's ok with this," he motioned his hand back and forth between himself and Kat. "We both agreed that we read more into our relationship all these years than what was actually there. We should've remained friends and nothing more."

"So just like that? A magical switch went off in her that made her do a complete 180?" Kat seemed doubtful. "Or is she just playing with you? You know, me having to watch my back everywhere I go?"

"Kat," Matt stopped on the sidewalk and grabbed her by her upper arms to pull her facing him. "I don't know what made her change her mind, but you have to trust me when I tell you that we aren't doing anything wrong."

She hesitated momentarily before she gave a barely noticeable nod. "I want to hear it from her. I want to know that it wasn't just her telling you what you wanted to hear." She continued to walk again.

"Come back to Huntington with me," Matt suggested out of the blue as he continued his stride along side her.

"I have to work tonight..."

"Quit," he told her flatly.

"What?" she said with a laugh. "How am I supposed to quit my job? Are you going to start paying my bills?" she asked sarcastically.

"I will," he piped up.

Kat stopped walking again, lifting her sunglasses from her nose and pushing them back through her thick dark hair. "Seriously," she laughed again. "Matt, you hardly even know me. Why would you be my personal welfare check?"

"Because you are too good to be in that place and because I take care of people that mean something to me," he explained.

"I don't want a handout, Matt," she argued.

"Why do you have to be so damn proud? I'm a friend offering you a way out of that dump!"

"Because I've been on my own since I was 17. My parents raised me to be self sufficient, to not take handouts...and most importantly, not to take advantage of people that are better off than myself."

"Just let me help you until we figure something out," he plead with her.

"It would take me forever to repay you," she protested.

"Who said anything about you paying me back?"

"You aren't going to take no for an answer, are you?" she looked deeply into his piercing eyes.

His lips parted, a wide grin showing his pearly white teeth. "Nope."

She knew she had been defeated. If she didn't agree, this back and forth battle of yes' and no's would continue. "Give me your address," she pulled a pen and a scrap piece of paper from her purse.

Matt scribbled his address, smiling the whole time...knowing he had won. "Here," he handed it back to her. "I'll see you tonight then?"

She tucked the paper back in her purse. "How could I say no?"

"Good," he kissed her cheek. "I'll be waiting."