Shane came home from work early, something she never did. She was more a fan of overtime, which meant more money and more accomplishment, than skipping out at four. But she missed Kristin, and she wanted to steal back some of the illusive time she felt Jo had taken from her in the past few weeks. She unlocked the door and pushed it open with her elbow, calling out in a comically masculine voice "Honey, I'm home!" No answer.
The lights in the living room were off and Shane could hear the rumblings of the TV. She crept softly along the hallway, hoping to surprise her girl, but when she rounded the corner into the living room, she saw Kristen... and Jo. The little brat was strewn across the couch, Shane's couch, her long, firm legs exposed and her head in Kristen's, Shane's Kristen!, lap. Kristen was playing with Jo's cropped blonde hair and her fingers rested inches below Jo's luxurious, heavy breasts. And as usual, Jo wasn't wearing a bra. The two of them were caught in a fit of laughter at something on the screen (or maybe something in each other's faces?) and Kristen barely managed a, "Hi sweetie," as Shane stomped through the room, pausing purposefully in front of the TV screen, and stalked into the bedroom, snapping the door shut firmly as she went.
Kristin calmed down immediately. She hated to see Shane in a bad mood, and just by the tone of her voice, the sound of the door closing, she could tell it was her fault. She looked down at Jo, whose smile had melted into a worried frown, and looked at her own hand, resting at the edge of the thin white undershirt Jo was wearing. Fuck, Kristen, what are you doing. She motioned for Jo to sit up and followed Shane into the bedroom, leaving the door cracked as she entered.
"Sweetie, you're home early!" she said cheerfully. Shane had tossed her shoes against the dresser and was loosening her tie in an irritated manner.
"Yeah, well, little good it did me." She answered bitterly, "Just in time to catch the matinee of the Kristen and Jo show. Jesus, if I had come home a half hour earlier, maybe I could have seen you showering together."
"Baby, what are you talking about? You know I would never do that to you! Jo needs a place to stay. We were out all day looking for a job for her, and we were just taking a break. I'm not trying to cheat, I'm just-"
"Trying to help a friend, I know. But the truth is, Kristen, she's not my friend. And this apartment, well, this apartment is mine. My name's on the lease. And I want your friend out of my apartment."
"I can't fucking believe you, Shane!" Kristen retorted, "The girl doesn't have a home. And what family she had has abandoned her. I'd think you of all people would understand that. If she doesn't stay here, where the hell else is she gonna go?"
Shane, who had been pulling off her tie and button down shirt, now stood in sweats and a beater, and glared back at Kristen. "Don't you ever tell me what I should or shouldn't understand. You have no idea what my understanding is. And I'll tell you what, I don't know where Jo can go, but I can tell you where she's not going to go, and that's out with my girlfriend!"
Jo stood in the living room, packing up her few belongings quickly into her tattered knapsack. She didn't want to be in the way when this fight erupted into the living room. Somehow she knew it would end like this. Shane had good intentions, but she was very protective of Kristen, and she intimidated the hell out of Jo. Jo was just about to escape down the hallway when Kristen opened the door to the bedroom. "Jo," she cried, "where are you going?"
"Look, it's clear I shouldn't be here anymore Kristen. I can find somewhere else." Shane came out of the bedroom with an embarrassed look on her face and stood in the doorframe. "You've been so kind to me, I couldn't stand being a burden," Jo finished.
"No way," Kristen almost shouted. "Look you two, I know this is tough, but Jo, there is no way in hell I'm letting you go God knows where in the freezing cold. You're staying here, so take your coat off and make yourself fucking comfortable. And Shane, you know how important you are to me. I love you more than anything, baby. This is just something I need to do. And if you really love me back, you'll trust me, and you'll help me do it." Shane sighed and sat down on the couch.
"Jo, she's right, you can't go out in the cold. I didn't mean to say all that... I just got a little out of control. Please accept my apology and stay with us. It's no burden, really." She sighed again and let her head drop to her chest.
"Oh baby," Kristen cooed, and wrapped herself around Shane on the couch, one leg on either side of Shane's. She lifted Shane's chin and whispered, "You're my heart, you know that, right?" They kissed, and Shane wrapped her arms around Kristen's back. On the other side of the room, Jo, getting restless, was ready to bolt for the door. But Kristen saw her out of the corner of her eye, and, still staring right at Shane, she said, "Jo, don't leave. Come over here."