Disclaimer: Don't own, didn't happen. Set during the movie.

Arriving at her apartment, Lily shut the door and set her jacket and keys on a nearby table. She knew her apartment wasn't the fanciest one on the block, especially with the peeling walls, leaky ceiling, and poor wiring, but it was all she could get. The apartment was all one big room, the kitchen being separated by a counter, and her bedroom being cut off by a pink beaded curtain.

Grabbing a bottle of vodka from her refrigerator and a glass from the cabinet, Lily sat down on the window sill and looked out from beyond her fire escape. The lights in Stokely were burning bright, looking like stars on the ground. Lily remembered when she'd come home and find her mother passed out on their fire escape because she had fallen over. Back then, she wasn't sure why her mother always looked out the window while she drank, but now she knew.

She wanted to get away from the life she had...

"Lil!" A voice came from the front door, and Lily didn't have to turn to know it was Billy.

Sighing, Lily picked up the strength to get off the sill and walk into the living room where Billy stood. Taking a long sip of her drink, Lily looked at Billy one more time. There were times when Lily really wished she could off Billy, but the young blond knew she could never do it. Lily could not imagine her life without Billy in it. She couldn't live without him...

"Baby," Billy said, looking down at her, "Come here,"

"Why?" She asked him, taking another drink,

"Just do it."

Lily put her glass down on the kitchen counter and walked over to her boyfriend. Billy then wrapped his big arms around her tiny waist, laying a gentle kiss on her lips. This happened every time Billy did something wrong. He'd take her home; walk in a few minutes, giving her time to get a stiff drink in her system; apologize, and then take her back into her bedroom for a late-night sex session.

"I'm sorry babe," Billy whispered in her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine, "Please forgive me,"

Lily wanted to say 'no', but how could she? She knew he would do the same thing the next time he'd fucked up. It was nearly impossible for her to resist him. Deep down, Billy did love her. She could see it in the way he always picked her over all the other girls on the street and in the club. How his eyes were always glued to her when she was on stage. How he spent his night in her bedroom, laying next to her.

"Maybe just this once," Lily told him, kissing him deeply.

"Then, why don't we head to bed, huh?"

This was how most nights ended for her...

The next morning, Lily woke up to find Billy sitting up on the edge of the bed, smoking his morning cigarette. The tattoo Billy had swerved around his arms and up to his neck, endng around his waist and back. It was a tribal tattoo, like the one on his car. Lily remembered the first time she saw him, his tattoo being one of the things she first noticed. Sliding over to him on the bed, pressing her naked form against his, Lily wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Morning," She smiled, kissing his neck,

"Hey babe," He said, blowing smoke from his mouth, "Joe got out,"

"Out of where? Where was he?"

"Jail,"

"What was he doing there?" Lily knew it was a dumd question to ask, since she knew his inciation was last night.

"He got caught,"

"Billy. Don't tell me you brought him into this whole gang thing,"

"He's not a baby anymore, Lily. He's a man now,"

Lily had know Joe Darley for a long time, even before she met Billy. Him and her ex-boyfriend Ivan, had done business together when Lily had just started selling. She had dropped off drugs to Joe every now and then, getting various pick-up lines from him. Now, Lily was with Billy, and Joe knew better than to pursue her.

"Billy," Lily said, lowing her voice to reason with him, "He can't be you. He's nothing like you-"

"How would you know?" Billy snapped,

"Because I talk to him. He wants to go to school, Billy. He wants to become an artist. Joe's only doing this whole gang thing because he wants to please you. He doesn't want you to think less of him-"

"I'm gonna go," Billy grunted, getting up from the bed and out of her reach, "Joe's waiting for me at the courthouse-"

"-Listen to me, for once. Don't turn him into a criminal, Billy. He's not cut out for that-" Lily told him as he dressed,

"I think I know what's best for my brother, Lil!" Billy said to her, his eyes becoming enraged, "All that art shit was back in middle school, he doesn't do that crap anymore-"

"Yes he does. He's shown me his pictures. He hides them from you because he knows what you'll think-"

"He wouldn't hide anything from me! Now stay the hell out of it!" Billy barked at her, almost about ready to slap her,

"Billy, please-"

"Say one more word Lily! One more!"

She saw his hand on his belt and she didn't push him any further. Billy wasn't as abusive as some of her other boyfriends, only hitting her once or twice in their relationship, but if he was taken to it he would. Billy had killed tons of people; beaten tons of whores who didn't pay him his money, so beating his girlfriend would not be a problem for him.

"Now get dressed. I'll be downstairs," He said angrily, leaving the bedroom and his boots stomping the floor as he left.

Slamming the front door, Lily felt the trickle of tears run down her cheeks. Joe Darley was a good kid at heart, he just paid too much attention to what his brother thought. Lily recalled all those times Joe gave a real smile, only because there were so few of them. Sometimes, Lily wished she had fallen for Joe instead of Billy...