We lay in her bed both naked both stroking each other. We kissed gently and I smiled at her sleepily. “You better get back home to your girlfriend.” I looked at her questioningly. “I’m not going to ask you to break up with her. She’s a weak person, she needs you”

“Fuck you” I said not realizing what I said until it was out. She looked shocked, but then she just rolled her eyes and got up to go the bathroom, kicking my clothes at me as she went. I grabbed them up and put them on as I walked towards the door of her bedroom.

Tieran was sitting at the kitchen table when I came in. She took one look at my bed head and started for the steps. “Stop!” I yelled she stopped and turned around her eyes thin slits. “Who do you think you’re talking to like that? I’m not some little child you can step all on. I am stronger and smarter than that. You are a manipulative bastard and you prey on people that you think are less than you. That’s why you and Katie are a good match.” She spat. I had heard enough. I turned to leave but she grabbed me by my shirt. “What’s wrong? You heard enough? Are you gonna run like the little bitch you are?” I couldn’t take it my body went numb and my mind went blank all I could see was red. So I cocked back and let my fist fly. The first punch hurt like hell, but it got easier and easier as time passed. Before I knew it she was unconscious and I was being pulled off her by two cops.

At the station the cops finger printed me and stuffed me in an interrogation room. They gave me a cup of coffee and a donut. I was still numb when one of the cops came in to talk to me. “You know you’re looking at assault charges here. Maybe even attempted manslaughter.”

“She won’t press charges” I said smugly. “Well she should. You’re a little shit, you know that?” He spat at me. I slammed my fist on the table. “Get the fuck outta my face before I mess you up too.”

“You want to come at me?” he roared. He threw the table aside and rammed me into the wall. “Well c’mon then. I’m just waiting to beat the living shit out of you. That’s what you deserve after what you did to her.” He knocked me into the wall with every word. I spat in his face and he looked absolutely livid. He kneed me in the stomach and I doubled over the pain almost too much to take. When I was able to stand up he was being escorted out of the room by his captain. The captain closed the door quietly and looked at me warily. “Well, well, well. We meet again” he set up the chairs and the table and offered me a seat. “I can get this one erased off your record too.”

“What’s the catch?”

“You have to leave. Right now.” I nodded at him and took a good look at my father. He had always been the most down to earth of my parents. Probably because he wasn’t rich like my mother. By this time I had calmed down enough to think clearly. I was shocked at what I had done. Not that shocked ,though, since this had happened before. I had what they called an “anger management problem”, and beating up my girlfriends was my specialty. “There’s another catch too” my father said bringing me out of my thoughts. “You have to go to anger management classes and I want you to keep me posted.” He looked at me sternly and got up. “Be careful” he said and I walked out of the room.

I got home and was packing my stuff when Jenae slammed into my room. She saw me standing there with a glint in my eyes and her anger subsided. She carefully picked her way over to my bed and sat down. “I just got back from the hospital.” She said anger creeping into her voice again. I threw up my hands and turned around. I looked at her helplessly. She got the message. “So where are you going” she said indicating the suitcases strewn across the floor, some stuffed with clothes. “Away” I said. I didn’t feel like explaining what happened with my father. She turned to go. “Oh yeah. One more thing, you’re not welcome here.” I nodded in acknowledgement and walked out of the house.

I stood in front of the apartment building. It was old and decrepit and I couldn’t believe I was going to live there. I carefully made my way up the steps and to my apartment. It was small and cramped. I sighed and threw the first of my bags on the floor. I heard a knocking sound from down below. This place sucked, but I had decided during my trip to this God forsaken place that I, Tasha Shalin, was paying my dues for what I had done to Tieran. Tieran. That name made my head ache. I bent my head and said a quick prayer for her.

I decided to check out the city nightlife that night. There was nothing but I tiny bar, but the people in it told me I could go to the big city for even more fun. I stayed for a drink, and was starting to enjoy myself when a scrawny boy sidled up to me. “I’m gay” I said before he could ask me out. I took a swig of beer and looked him dead in the eye. “Well hun, I’m glad for you.” He said in a very feminine voice and I felt like an ass. I’m guessing he could tell, because he smiled and continued on. “I was wondering what a big city girl like you was doing in a city like this?”