The clock on my incessantly ringing phone told me it was 2:13 in the morning. Someone was going to get their butt seriously kicked. Or at least mildly pummeled. Bleary eyes focusing, I saw the name of the person who would soon feel the full wrath of my fury unleashed upon them. Lori Peterson. Shit! I guess I wouldn't destroy her after all.
"Sup!" I croaked.
"Hey. Sis! Were you sleeping?" She sounded way too chipper than anyone at 2 o'clock in the morning had any right to be.
"No, of course not. I was just rebuilding my car engine in the living room!"
"Oh good! Hey do you think I could crash at your place tonight?"
Tonight? It was already tomorrow! But now I was awake.
"What did he do? Are you ok?" I asked shaking off the last cobwebs of my slumber.
"Nothing. I'm fine. Really! Scott and I just need a break."
Right! Nothing suspicious about that! "Yeah, ok! Come on over!"
"Thanks Tiff! See you soon!"
I climbed out of bed to make myself a cup of coffee. My journey to the kitchen was a perilous adventure through a maze of boxes and furniture. Luckily, I negotiated it with nothing more than a stubbed toe. I had moved in weeks ago, but you wouldn't know it with all the boxes laying around.
I thought about my little Sister. The fact that I wasn't overly surprised was evidence that this wasn't my first late night phone call. Nor even my second. It seemed that every couple of months Lori and Scott would have some falling out or drop down drag out argument and she would end up staying at my place for a few days.
Lori was 22, 18 months younger than myself. A taller, blonder, more eclectic version of yours truly. Always in motion. Never content to stay put for more than a moment. Like a butterfly in a breeze. A social influencer, forever influenced by others. Always changing her style and interests. Sometimes her hair would be long. Sometimes short like a pixie. Dyed pink or just the tips blue or maybe a purple streak. Her clothes changed right along with her. Haute Couture. Grunge. Neo punk. The one constant in her life? Me...and I guess Scott.
Outside of our hair and heights, Lori and I have quite similar features and body types. I guess we would both be considered more than merely pretty. My hair is quite a bit redder than Lori's and somehow, I avoided the pale skin that most redheads have, to balance their striking hair. Unfortunately, I'm not very tall...only 5'1" and if I put some rocks in my pockets, I can tip the scales at 115lbs. Which are all legs, boobs and butt. So, I guess I shouldn't complain, right?
Scott was the other constant in her life. Scott Dixon. More like a constant pain in the ass. Scott the dick I sometimes thought of him. He was, for lack of a better word, a bully. Tall and handsome, he looked like a fitness model. Not overly muscled but chiseled and in great shape. A real charmer, until you got to know him. He would, based on his looks alone be a great catch. It was his personality that was the problem. He was an asshole, who was constantly flirting with me right in front of Lori. Controlling and physically dominating Lori for as long as I could remember. He could be scary sometimes, I mean he certainly scared me. But If I thought for one moment he was hurting her, I would kill him. Someday I was going to kick his ass and knock that smug look off his face. Ok, maybe not kick, but I could scratch him...It might become infected!
The knock at the door, brought me back to the present. Lori was standing there bag in hand, trying to look in the window of my apartment. She was dressed really nice. Makeup impeccable. her hair was done up, she looked great. Opening the door, I smiled at her.
"Hey! Come on in!" I said taking her bag.
"Thanks! I hope it's not too much trouble? Geez this place is so much smaller than your last one." She said kicking off her shoes, which meant that she was still several inches taller than me. Anyone seeing us together could be excused for thinking she was the older sibling.
"Yeah, well it's just me, so it's what I could afford!" I had broken up with my own boyfriend 6 weeks ago and had been in my new place almost 2 weeks but still hadn't finished unpacking. I guess I was somewhat bitter about the whole thing, which explained why my place looked the way it did. John and I had been together for almost 2 years, when he finally decided to break it off. The only real reason he gave? That old standby 'he couldn't give me what I needed'. In hindsight I was ready to walk away as well. As John had said he couldn't give me what I needed and I deserved to be happy. Doesn't mean I wasn't bitter about the whole thing though.
"Is that for me?" Lori asked grabbing my cup of coffee and sitting at my kitchen table. "Thanks!"
"Uh...sure, no problem. So? What happened? Did he hurt you?"
"No... not exactly. He was very physical though. Angry...agitated. You know Scott. I thought it best if I let him cool down. After he sobers up, he will apologize and then he and I can talk."
Yep, I knew Scott. "Lori? You know he's not going to change, right? I mean eventually he will end up hitting you or worse. Now is the time to leave him! What was the fight about this time anyway?"
"Oh, it was stupid! We were out. That new club I was telling you about? Any rate, as we were sitting there this girl walks up to us. I guess it took me a few minutes to realize she was actually hitting on me. Scott must have realized it right away based on the shit eating grin on his face. So, after I sent her away. He says, "You know baby? I would love to see you eat pussy. Or at the least watch her eat yours. Why did you tell her to get lost?"
"What? Ewww no way" I said, "You actually think she's attractive? If I ever do decide to be with a girl. It won't be with some chick I just met and picked up at a club!"
"So, you would consider it? For me? If she was more your "type"? He asked. "And you knew her?"
"I don't know, maybe" I said. "We'll just have to see." Her narration ended.
"And that is what started it?" I asked.
"No, he wouldn't let it go though. He kept pestering me all night...naming girls we knew. That kind of thing. I kept telling him no...and the more he drank, the more agitated he got. So, he was like what about Tiffany? Which of course pissed me off. Finally, we went home."
"Huh. Would you really consider being with a girl?"
"No." She laughed. "Too self-conscious I guess." Huh? "I certainly have thought about it. I mean, you know me. There's not much I would say no to...and that is one thing I have never done, but I just can't see myself being with another girl."
"Hmmm..."
"What's that supposed to mean? You think just because I live my life like I want, I sleep around? With girls and guys?"
"No. I just thought that you being the free spirit that you are, if you were curious, you would have taken the opportunity to do something about it."
