Here's another short story. Once again, hasn't been beta'd, so all mistakes are mine.

Not my characters, all Janet's.

When life hands you lemons, you're supposed to make lemonade.

But what if the world wouldn't stop handing you lemons? And in fact, instead of handing them to you, they were chucking them straight at your head? What would you do then?

My name is Stephanie Plum, and I'm not sure that my life could get any worse.

But then again, I spoke too soon.

"Christ Cupcake," Joe said when I entered the house.

"It's not as bad as it looks." I say, hands up in a defensive stance.

"You're covered in garbage and I heard he had a knife!"

"It's just a scratch!"

He put his hands on his hips and said nothing. "I wish you could give up your damn job."

"What? That was the thing we agreed I could keep. I moved in with you. I go to dinner at yours and my parents'. I gave up seeing Ranger and the guys. This was the only thing that we compromised on!" I couldn't believe he was saying these things. Six months ago, I decided to clean up my act a little and give Joe and I a real shot. I gave up almost everything. I missed Ranger and the guys, but it was for the best. Joe gave me what Ranger couldn't. But every night, I still waited for him to break in and kiss me senseless before going off to save the world.

And every morning I wake up disappointed once again.

It was shocking to see how much my cell bill went down after all the Ranger/ Merry Men calls stopped. Even the calls to Lula have been few and farther between. We haven't been on the best of speaking terms since she and Tank are back together and she's on Ranger's side, but we still go out and catch skips together.

"I know, but we could be so much happier if you gave it up!"

"Joe, it's all I have left!"

"Then marry me and we can have kids! You'll have them and me to take care of!"

I didn't know how much fight I had left in me. "I can't do that, Joe."

"Why? Because you'd rather be with Ranger and his band of thugs? I thought we got him out of your system."

Hardly. But I didn't say anything.

He looked down at his shoes. "I don't think I can do this anymore. Give up the job or we're through."

I opened and closed my mouth, looking for the words to say; or the words he wanted. He sighed.

"I knew you couldn't make the decision. Get out, Cupcake. I don't want you anymore. I packed your things. Leave the key."

When I didn't move, he pushed me out the door and then sat my things on the stoop. "I'm sorry it has to be this way."

Yeah, right I thought. But I didn't say it. He shut the door in my face.

Finding some composure, I collected all my things and headed for my car. When I didn't think it could get any worse, it did.

My car wouldn't start.

"Shit!" I screamed.

I sighed and got out. I toyed with the idea of going back to the door and trying to use his phone, but I couldn't. He broke me into submission and I had no fight left. I grabbed my purse and headed to find a pay phone since my cell was dead.

On the way down the street, the sky opened up and began to pour.

"Great! Got anything else for me?" I screamed up at the sky.

After walking what seemed like a mile, I found a pay phone. I managed to scrounge up enough change for one phone call. Who to call? My parents? No, I shouldn't bother them. Lula? Connie? Maybe, but they were still mad at me for turning my back on Batman.

And there was my answer. I knew down in my gut that no matter what, Batman would always come to the rescue. I dialed the familiar number.

"Hello?" A woman's voice answered. My voice was caught in my throat. Of course he's got a woman over, why shouldn't he? It's not like he should be pining after me. "Hello?" The voice called.

"Who is it?" I heard Ranger's voice in the background.

"I don't know."

The phone was handed off and another voice came on. "Who is this?" He said, sounding menacing. I managed a sob before hanging up. After hanging the phone up, I sat down on the ground and cried myself to sleep.

Like it? Hate it? Let me know!