A friend of his picked us up and dropped us off at his house, which was cluttered, more so than my own shabby, meager apartment. He told me that it was rare for him to be home, that his dad rented out cheap places in different cities –for his job, which required traveling, though he never specified what the 'job' was- and came by from time to time. They did their best to stay away from each other.

"I'll say," I replied after glancing around the messy room.

He laughed his bitter laugh.

"Well Ana, you're around whores a lot, you know how it goes down, right?"

The comment stung.

"Shut up," I lashed out, reaching for my pockets. He noticed this and yanked my hand away. I only struggled a little, but figured I was my own damn fault for being led into this, and accepted this may be the end. I let him take the blade from my pocket.

"A blade? On a girl? Did you think you were going to use this?"

I realized with relief that he was being more playful than serious. He examined the blade with curiosity.

"Where'd you get this?"

"None of your business." I spat.

He discarded it on the floor and laughed.

"I thought you were a nice girl, but you've got some spunk."

I had seen this coming. A girl with my rep just doesn't get invited over to hang out. For some reason, this time I was afraid.

I bent down to get my blade and shoved it back in my pockets.

"I don't want to do anything." I admitted at last, then crossed my arms and turned my face away from his, which inched closer every second.

"Did you think I brought you here to play card games or something?"

"I think I deserve a bit more respect…"

"You're one to ask for that." He grumbled, stepping away with a sickened look on his face.

"I didn't choose…I bet it was one of your friends that jumped me that night and took all of my money!"

I had paced to the other side of the room, meanwhile Dallas had taken a seat.

"Woah woah woah, slow down. Start at the beginning."

I sighed and took a seat next to him. Who knows why I decided to confide in him, a criminal and a jerk, but I did.

"I was middle class, and I was going to be a nurse, but then my bastard of a dad gambled away all my college funds so I ran off. I got here and not a second later I was jumped and they took everything."

He leaned back, scratching his chin as he mulled this over.

"No, it wasn't anyone in this neighborhood. How long ago was this?"

"A year ago,"

"You got picked up by that Monica lady, huh?"

"I had no where else to go."

He drew in a breath.

"You had too much manners to be like them anyway. Ya want to call up someone to pick you up?"

Had I not treated his wounds and had a weapon ready, would he have been so polite to me? I doubted it.

"No, I need a change."

He pulled a flask from his jeans pocket, took a swig, and offered me one.

"I don't drink."

He raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

"You mind seeing if there's anything to eat in there," he jerked his thumb towards the kitchen. "I'm starving."

"I'm not your maid." I said with a scowl. "But hey, whatever."

I searched the fridge and found many items way past their expiration dates, and once I had parted through them, I found a good jug of milk and in the pantry, some cereal.

"This okay?"

"Yeah,"

I handed him the bowl and fell back onto the couch as he munched away. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. For some reason the events that had occurred today had exhausted me, more mentally than anything. I know now that it was a turning point. It was when I began to realize I didn't want to give myself away to men I didn't even care about.

Once he finished he flung the spoon across the room with a smile on his face. He sure hated his dad. I was slightly dazed, staring at the spoon as thoughts clouded my head. I hardly felt it when he snaked his arm around my waist. I was caught off guard and came to my senses once he had pulled me close to him.

As much as I wanted to, I didn't even attempt to resist, even though I knew he probably wouldn't pay me. I was so close to brushing my lips across his, just that one little gesture would be enough…

Heavy footsteps on the porch startled the both of us.

"Shit, it's my dad. Get out!" he hissed in a loud whisper.

"Won't he turn you in?"

"Not the first time I went to jail, go on, out the back door!" He added when I started towards the front.

I gave him a meaningful look before I left.

"I'll try to visit." I promised before rushing out.

He took my feeble request humorously, snickering. It seemed even if he was smiling, it was always bitter. He was cold, and a blind man could see that he had committed many crimes in his life. It only made me more curious. As soon as I heard he was behind bars, I scrambled to schedule a visit. It would be easy. I had some favors with the men who ran the place he was jailed at, and I was willing to contact their wives.