"I demand you go, so go."
"Shane, I don't want to argue with you."
"Well, that's what you're doing." Carmen sighed and plopped down on the couch. Shane stayed standing in the doorway, hands in pockets. Carmen had been offered a DJ-ing job in Florida for a few weeks, and she didn't want to leave. The thought of being so far away from Los Angeles, and especially away from Shane, was nerve-wracking. Shane thought she should go, and they had started a mild argument about the situation.
"Carmen, go. It's for three weeks. That's not so bad."
"I'll be away from you."
"You can call me every day. Besides, we have done things separately. It's not like you're not used to being apart from time to time." Carmen could tell Shane was becoming frustrated, and she sighed.
"What about you?" she asked. Shane sat down in a chair across from her.
"I'll stay here and run Wax. This will be good for you. Now, go. I want you to." Carmen locked eyes with Shane and just sat there. Shane really wanted her to go and do this, but something was still bothering her. It had been a few weeks since Shane's wild affair with Cherie Jaffe, and although Shane had assured her she was willing to try and change, Carmen was still a little uneasy.
"I'll call you every night to see how you're doing."
"Of course. I expect you to. And if you don't call me, I'll call you," Shane said with a smile, and Carmen stood. She made her way to Shane and kissed her.
"I guess I better go pack." Carmen went off into the bedroom she shared with Shane, and started to pack. Just then, Jenny's door opened, and Jenny walked out, looking terrible. Shane turned and smiled, and when her smile wasn't returned, she followed Jenny to the kitchen.
"Jen?" Jenny turned to look at Shane, and raised an eyebrow when she heard her name.
"Yes, Shane?"
"What's the matter with you?" Shane asked. Jenny shook her head, and when she went to start the coffee maker, she sobbed. Shane walked over and put an arm around Jenny, and Jenny pushed her face into Shane's shirt. Her sobs had become louder, and soon Carmen was at the kitchen doorway, concerned. She held a shirt in her hands, a shirt Shane was sure was hers, but didn't care.
"What's happened to Jenny?" Carmen asked. Shane shrugged and held Jenny's head to her shoulder. Carmen walked forward.
"Are you okay, Jenny?" Carmen asked, touching Jenny's hair. Jenny flinched, and Shane moved Carmen's hand away.
"Carmen..." Shane whispered.
"I'm fine, Carmen, thank you," Jenny's muffled voice answered, and Carmen locked eyes with Shane. Shane nodded, indicating that she could handle it, and Carmen went back into the bedroom. Jenny raised her face so Shane could see her, and she wiped her tears away. Shane rubbed circles slowly into Jenny's back, and Jenny finally locked eyes with Shane.
"Shane, if I show you something, will you promise not to tell anyone?" Shane gave Jenny a confused look, and then nodded.
"Yeah. Promise." Jenny lifted her shirt and showed Shane a bruise on her side. She saw Shane's mortified face, and sobbed again.
"Where the fuck is he?" Shane asked.
"I don't know," Jenny said, and she put down her shirt as she made her way to a chair. She sat down and sighed, "the hormones are making him a fucking monster, Shane. We'll get in arguments, and last night's argument proved too much."
"What did it prove?" Shane asked. Jenny wiped away a stray tear and pushed her hair away from her face.
"That I was wrong bringing him home with me." Shane walked over and kneeled down in front of her. She rubbed the side of Jenny's arm, and Jenny smiled. Shane searched her face for a few minutes, and then smiled back at her. Jenny now took her hand and lightly traced the side of Shane's face. Shane had kept her mouth closed for the majority of the Max/Jenny 'relationship', and Jenny now had wished that she took Shane's silent protectiveness as a forewarning.
"Want me to make your coffee?" Shane asked. Jenny nodded, and Carmen walked out of the bedroom, two suitcases in hand. Jenny turned her gaze to Carmen, and tilted her head.
"Going somewhere?" she asked. Shane turned and looked at Carmen, and nodded.
"She was offered a job in Florida for three weeks."
"That's great. Congratulations."
"Thanks," Carmen said, and walked over to Jenny, "are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," Jenny said, and grabbed the coffee mug from Shane. Shane turned to Carmen, and kissed her.
"I'll see you in three weeks," Carmen said. Shane nodded, and they kissed once more. Carmen grabbed her bags and kissed Jenny on the cheek.
"Have fun," Jenny said, and Carmen smiled as she walked to the door with Shane.
"How are you getting to the airport?" Shane asked.
"I called Alice. She said she'd drive me."
"Okay." Carmen reached over and kissed Shane deeply. Shane smirked and held her in her arms for a few seconds. When Alice's car pulled up, Shane let go and smiled.
"Bye Baby," Carmen said.
"Bye." Carmen walked off to Alice's car, and Alice smiled at Shane.
"We're having a thing at The Planet tonight. You should come!" Shane nodded.
"We'll see. Call me tonight, Carmen." Carmen nodded and blew a kiss at Shane. Shane caught it and they both smiled. Alice drove off, and Shane waved at Carmen until she was out of sight. Shane walked back into the kitchen and grabbed herself a beer from the fridge.
"What do you want to do now? Watch some TV?" Shane asked. Jenny nodded.
"Yes."
"Let's go lay down." Shane grabbed Jenny's arm and led her to the living room, where they sat and watched TV.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was hitting six, and Shane arrived with Jenny at The Planet. Everyone was drinking and laughing, when Jenny noticed someone at the door. Shane looked over and locked eyes with Max, who looked apologetic. Max walked over and Shane grabbed his arm, pulling him off to the side.
"I saw what you did to her," Shane said. Max sighed and looked at the floor.
"I was out of control, and I just want to tell her I'm sorry."
"I'm not sure I want you anywhere near her," Shane said. Max placed his hands in his pockets.
"Please, Shane. I just want to make sure she's okay and say I'm sorry." Shane backed up and made the signal for him to walk over. Before he got close enough to Jenny, Shane grabbed his arm once more. Max turned and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah?"
"Next time you want to hit someone, Max, hit me."
