awake6

�What do you mean, there�s nothing they can do about him beating the shit out of me?� Tiffany�s eyes were angry, a deep scowl on her face. Satira sighed, handing her the business card the officer had given her.
�I�m taking you to the doctor, and he�ll fill out a report and send it to this guy. That�s about all we can do. It�s something about being married or having a kid or something. They�re on your side though, babe.� Tiffany sighed, nodding slightly as she stared at the card between her fingers. She tossed onto the table next to the telephone and headed outside. Satira nodded to Scottie, who followed her out. He watched her try to light a cigarette and fail, her fingers shaking so badly she couldn�t keep the flame going. Without a word, he took the lighter from her trembling hands and lit it for her. She avoided his eyes as she puffed away without a word.
�It�ll never be over,� she whispered, breaking the silence after a few minutes. Scottie put an arm around her shoulder.
�Yes it will,� he insisted. �If the cops don�t do something, I will.� She shook her head.
�Don�t do that,� she said softly. �Not for me.� He brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. �I don�t want to have to bail your ass out of jail,� she said with a slight chuckle.
�I�m not kidding, Tiffany,� he said, his eyes serious. Her eyes shifted from his eyes to his lips and back. �I�ll kill him before he touches you again.� His eyes were so serious and intense she couldn�t tear her gaze from them. A small smile crept onto her face as she finally looked away. She flicked her cigarette away and stood. He followed her back into the house.

***

�He�s a good guy, Tiff,� Satira said before taking a swig of her screwdriver. �I can promise he�d never intentionally hurt you, and if he did hurt you, he�d do anything and everything in his power to get your forgiveness. He�s an awesome guy, and you deserve someone like him.� Tiffany�s eyes lowered to the bedspread. They were sitting in Tiffany�s room. Mark and Scottie were asleep on the couches downstairs, and Scott was asleep in Satira�s bedroom. Nadia was asleep on the floor of Tiffany�s room. Tiffany nodded as a tear slid down her cheek. Satira sighed, wiping it away with a finger. �Look, darlin,�� she started. �I know this is a rough time for you. Scottie will wait for you. He�s already told me he would. Don�t push yourself. Wait until you�re ready.� Tiffany nodded.
�I think I might be,� she said softly. Satira�s smile crept into her eyes.

***

Tiffany rolled over and stared at the fluorescent green numbers on the clock beside her bed. She sighed and stood, wincing at the aches and pains she was still experiencing. Quietly, she crept down the stairs, a smile finding its way to her lips as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she saw Mark and Scottie�s forms lying, scrunched, on the couches on the first floor. She silently opened the patio door and sat on the back porch, squinting at the light emitted by her lighter as she lit a cigarette. She heard the door close behind her and turned, smiling at the messy blond mop sprouting from Scottie�s head. He sat next to her and rested his head on her shoulder. A low laugh escaped her from deep in her throat. �God, that�s sexy,� he thought to himself. His lips curved upward.
�What�s up?� he asked.
�Just dreaming,� she replied.
�But you�re awake.� She smiled, shaking her head as she laughed quietly.
�I know.�
�Couldn�t sleep?� he asked quietly. She shook her head before resting it against his. She took a slow, deep breath, closing her eyes at the amazing smell of his hair intoxicating her.
�You?� she asked, her voice muffled.
�Nope.� She lifted her head to take the last draw off her cigarette and he watched the live ashes fly as it hit the ground. �Too tired,� he finished. She laughed.
�Don�t you just hate that feeling?� He nodded against her shoulder. He groaned as he shifted, resting his head in her lap. Her fingers toyed with his messy blond hair. She watched as his eyes closed at her touch, a smile playing on his lips. His smile infected her, her own lips turning up. Her right hand rested on his chest as she stared up at the stars. He looked up at her, slowly intertwining his fingers with hers. Her smile broadened, and his eyes twinkled at this subtle change. Her smile remained as he played little games with her fingers, finally giving up to tracing patterns lightly up and down her hand, then up and down her arm. Goosebumps rose on her skin, and his butterfly-like touch turned to rubbing as he cured the bumps.
�Please tell me you�re not an astronomer,� he said softly. She laughed, finally tearing her gaze from the stars to look down at him. �God,� he whispered. Her eyebrow rose. �Your eyes are so amazing.� His voice was barely audible. Her smile fell, her face suddenly serious. He sat up, scooting his body closer to hers. His fingers traced imaginary lines down her cheek, and her eyes closed at the sensation. She smiled slightly as she felt his breath on her cheek. His fingers ran over her lips, and her eyes opened, shifting from his eyes to his lips and back. He stopped suddenly, pulling away completely. Her contented expression turned to into confusion, her eyes questioning him. �I�m sorry,� he muttered. �It�s too soon. I can understand that,� he said, avoiding her eyes. He stood slowly, wiping his hands on his pants. She noticed he was still wearing his jeans. She stood as well, following him toward the door.
�No,� she said softly. He stopped, turning around slowly. A smile played on her lips, reaching her eyes. She reached out, grabbing him around the neck and pulling him to her. Their lips met roughly in a desperate, hurried. His hands found their way around her waist, pulling her completely against him. The kiss softened and deepened. Her fingers tangled in his hair, holding his lips against hers as she moaned softly, causing his senses to jump. His hands ran up and down her back, finally catching in the tips of her hair. She smiled against him before pulling away with a quiet smack. His breath came in short spurts, his eyes moving wildly across the features of her face as his fingers released her hair, finally settling on her hips. Her hands slid down his neck to his chest. One hand reached up to his cheek as she leaned for another, shorter kiss. She watched him as he opened his eyes, his long lashes fluttering. His eyes twinkled, reflecting his smile. She blushed slightly before heading back into the house, their fingers intertwined. With a final kiss, she headed back up the stairs. He watched her light go out before settling back onto the couch. He quickly fell into a deep slumber.

***

Tiffany woke to an empty room. Groggily, she sat up and glanced at the clock. Twelve-thirty. She yawned as she tried to keep her balance on the stairs. The smell of breakfast caught her attention, and she headed into the kitchen. Scottie and Satira were sitting at the table, munching on bacon.
�Where is everyone?� she asked, her morning voice croaking.
�Mark and Nadia are out somewhere,� Satira said, �and Scott went to see Jagger for the day. By the way, that restraining order against Jeff came in today.� She waved an envelope in the air. Tiffany nodded as she plopped into a chair, resting her head on her hands. Scottie�s eyebrow rose. She yawned again, a vocal yawn, and Scottie held his laughter in. Satira didn�t try to hide her amusement, and Tiffany�s head rose slowly, a scowl on her face. She stuck her tongue out, her tongue bar clicking against her teeth. She giggled, playing with it as she stood. Sighing, she opened the refrigerator and pulled out a half-gallon of milk, pouring her breakfast into a Coke glass. Scottie�s smile turned to a wierded-out look as she dropped in two ice cubes.
�What?� she asked.
�I�ve never seen anyone put ice in their milk in my life,� he said, beginning to laugh. She rolled her eyes as she sat again, taking a long, slow swallow. She winked at him, and his eyes twinkled. Satira glanced back and forth between them.
�Am I missing something?� she asked, standing to clear the table. Tiffany shook her head. Satira sent them both a weird look before setting the dishes in the sink and running water in them.
�Doesn�t that water down your milk?� Scottie asked, pointing to Tiffany�s glass.
�Only if you let it melt,� she said before draining the last of her milk and refilling the cup. He shook his head, laughing again.
�I am missing something,� Satira insisted. Tiffany laughed.
�No, you�re not. I swear.�
�Okay,� Satira said, putting her hands on her hips. �What�s the joke with the milk?�
�There is no joke with the milk,� Scottie said, his laughter becoming more intense. He held his stomach as tears rolled down his cheeks.
�Aw, look what you did, Tira.� Tiffany brushed the tears from his cheeks, causing him to laugh even harder. �You made him cry.� Tiffany and Satira both started laughing. Once the laughs subsided, Satira cleared her throat.
�No, really. What�s the joke with the milk?� Scottie and Tiffany burst into another fit of giggles.
�There is no joke with the damn milk!� Tiffany practically screamed. Mark appeared in the kitchen doorway, obviously amused. Behind him was Nadia, their hands joined. Nadia�s eyebrow rose, her brown eyes twinkling as she took in the scene. She wrapped her arms around Mark�s waist, resting her cheek against his shoulder blade.

On to Part Seven