Chapter Eleven:

Work flew by. Before I knew it, I was already home and in the shower. I still have a little while before the tenants dinner, but I’m not about to sit around my apartment covered in dry sweat from work. No, thank you.

Despite a long ass day at work, I’ve been in a great mood today. And I’m not talking about an alright mood. I’m not talking about a good mood. I’m talking about an awesome, ‘You-can-run-me-over-and-I-still-won’t-give-a-fuck!’ mood. I might even go as far as saying it’s a ‘Do-your-worst-world-because-I’ll-take-those-lemons-and-raise-you-fresh-squeezed-lemonade-and-a-side-of-fuck-your-couch!’ mood.

‘My face to the sky, dreamin’ about just how high I could go and if I’ll know, when I finally get there.
Takin’ off my glasses, sun pokes through my lashes, and somehow I know, there’s a time for every star to shine.’

I sang in the shower, using my retractable shower head as a microphone. And I shook what my mama gave me, in my judgment free shower.

‘Everybody got their something – make you smile, like an itty, bitty child.
Everybody got their something…
Everybody got their something…’

I jammed to the radio and by the time my shower was over, I was convinced I was going to be the next contestant on The Voice. Nothing is going to bring down my mood. I am She-Ra!

---

I bounced out of the elevator and into the lobby with unusual pep and spotted Ashley. She grinned and ran over to me. I held out my arms and we hugged like we hadn’t seen each other in years. We do see each other in passing at work, but other than that, we really haven’t seen each other lately.

“Bitch, I was starting to forget what you looked like!” She cried. I laughed and hugged her harder.

“I could say the same for you!” I teased.

“How have you been? Did you move in okay?” She asked me. I nodded and pulled away, so I could see her face, instead of talking into her hair.

“I did. I like it here.” I told her.

“I heard that Brian and Matt have been around.” She said, not bothering to pussyfoot around her point. That’s Ashley for you. If she’s one thing, it’s direct.

“Yeah, they have been.”

“Details, woman!” She demanded. I laughed and directed her over to an empty couch.

“They want to try to be friends and I couldn’t come up with a good reason not to give that a chance. What harm can being almost friends be?”

“Almost friends?” She echoed. I nodded.

“We’re acquaintances. That’s what I agreed to.” I revealed. She pursed her lips and cocked her head to the side.

“It’s because they’re hot – isn’t it?” She asked me. I blushed, but didn’t deny it.

“Well, it certainly doesn’t hurt.”

“Amen to that.” She agreed.

“It’s not like I’m agreeing to anything else. I told them both that I wasn’t ready to be tied down and I wasn’t about to just open my legs for them.”

“Go girl,” she commended.

---

The ‘dinner’ turned out to be more of a dinner party. Alexander and Dean brought out a few fold-out banquet tables and chairs. Someone turned on music and we started chowing down on burgers. Dean grilled and there was a mass assortment of chips. The vibe was completely relaxed. I met a lot of the residents that I hadn’t had a chance to meet yet.

“You work at that bike delivery place, right?” Some guy that I had already forgotten the name of asked me. I nodded, trying to remember his name. He’s one of those faces that you’ll never forget. He has piercing, devious, brown eyes, a goatee, a small tattoo under his eye, and a mischievous smile.

“I do.” I answered him. He smiled.

“I knew you looked familiar. I work with Jessica Taylor.” He told me. It clicked. We deliver to that firm a lot. He must be her assistant, because I’ve seen him there before. How I had not recognized his beyond me. “What’s your name, love?” He asked me.

“Karen,” I replied.

“I’m Dom.” He reintroduced himself. Ashley had introduced us earlier, but I’m guessing he saw my confusion. I smiled, gratefully. “We should go shopping and you can help me look for eye candy.” He suggested, winking. I giggled.

“Sounds like fun,” I agreed. He clapped his hands together, excitedly. I can’t tell if he’s gay or just swings both ways. Hey, to each their own. Either way, I'm pretty sure that I just made a friend.

---

“I can’t even remember the last time we decided to slumber it.” Ashley mused. I shrugged and tried to think back. She’s right. It has been a while. Currently, we were planted in front of the TV watching The Hot Chick and binging on cookie dough. We’ve already watched Jawbreaker and next we’re watching Heathers.

“I can’t, either, but I’m glad we’re doing it tonight.”

“I am, too.”

“So… You have any guys in your life?” I asked her. She shot me a sideways glance, but shook her head.

“No… Ever since Gus, I haven’t really dated… at all.” She sighed. I get it. Gus put her in the hospital and no one treated her like they gave a damn. I wouldn’t be dating, either.

“Hey, there’s no rush.” I assured her. She shrugged. I know she doesn’t believe me and that it bothers her, but what can ya do? “When the time is right, you’ll start dating again. There’s no rule that says you have to. I don’t.” I told her. She snorted.

“You don’t date, but you still have hot sex with one of our resident hotties.” She argued. I laughed.

“It was one night. That’s it.” I clarified. She rolled her eyes, but she still looked happy enough.

“Do you think I’d make a good mom?” She asked me, quietly. I looked at her in surprise. That was out of the blue.

“Of course, why do you ask?” I questioned. But, she really would. She’s ridiculously bright, tough, stubborn, and fiercely loyal. She’d be an awesome parent.

“I don’t know. Sometimes… I wonder. You know? My doctors told me that if I had been pregnant when Gus attacked me, I would have lost the baby. He threw me down a flight of fucking stairs, Kare. I mean, God. Sometimes, I don’t even know how I survived. It’s not like he stopped after that. They never even arrested him. It just seems like it was a punishment for something and I have no idea what for. Did I do something to deserve it?” She breathed. She was trembling, like she was trying not to cry. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back.

“No, you didn’t deserve it. Gus is a pig that doesn’t deserve to be alive. What he did wasn’t your fault. He was like that before you were paired together. There’s no way you could have known, before he hurt you. Don’t ever think that, Ash. Do you hear me?”

“It’s just so hard… I still have nightmares about it. This can’t be normal. I can’t be normal.”

“Normal is so overrated.”

“You think?” She asked me, giggling through her tears. I nodded. “Good.”

“Get comfortable, because we have a night filled with chick flicks to get through. There’s no way I’m letting you fall asleep sad. Buck up, buttercup. It’s a happy night. Let’s keep it that way. Okay? You’re safe here.”

“Okay,” Ashley agreed. I beamed at her.

“Okay,” I repeated. I grabbed an extra throw blanket and laid it over the top of both of us. We went back to eating our cookie dough and watching our movie. Sometimes, I forget just how much hell she's been through. She's been through a shit-storm, but she came out stronger, even if she can't see it yet. I have faith that everything will work out. Eventually, it all has to be okay – otherwise what are we left with?

Notes

Music Credit: "Everybody Got Their Something" - by Nikka Costa

I'm going to try and have a new chapter up by Sunday or Monday, depending on how busy this weekend ends up being! :) More Matt next chapter!

Comments? Thoughts? Hugs?!

Love and s'mores to everyone!
Katie