"We all live in a house of fire. No fire department to call. No way out. Just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down… with us trapped, locked in it."

-Tennessee Williams

My debut. My debut as Billy Darley's girlfriend. Sophie stared at herself in the mirror, her makeup free face staring back at her. What would Billy Darley's girlfriend look like if she was going to a bar? Probably a streetwalker, Sophie thought with a smirk. To his disappointment he wasn't going to get a "fake" girlfriend who looked like a whore. Billy had told her to "hurry the fuck up and get ready to go to the bar," and that was about twenty minutes ago and she knew he was getting impatient waiting in the living room. Sighing she began to apply her makeup. Black eyeliner, mascara, and silver eye shadow completed the smoky eye look she knew brought out her green eyes. She added a touch of bronzer to her cheeks and colored lip gloss to complete the look. Sophie decided to pin her long, wavy hair half up so it was still down but not in her face. Now to change her clothes really quick.

Since Sophie had the clothes that had been in her car she had a few things to choose from but most of her clothes were still at her house. She found she had had a tough time figuring out what to wear, and she wasn't about to ask Billy what girls wore at this particular bar she had been hearing about. Sophie wasn't used to feeling insecure, her whole life she had been the confident girl who was never intimidated in any social situation. But she guessed it wasn't everyday a person was forced to pretend to be a gang lord's girlfriend thrust into an environment with drug dealers and murderers. I guess I'm just the lucky one, Sophie thought sarcastically.

She ended up choosing a silver top that clung to her upper body but didn't show too much skin. The scoop neck revealed just a glimpse of cleavage; the only other skin showing was from the three quarter length sleeves that had a slit from the upper shoulders down to her elbows. Sophie paired it with a simple jean mini skirt and suede dove gray boots that went up her calves and stopped just before her knees. She didn't know why she was so nervous to go to this dumb bar, but she was anxious as hell.

Billy paced the living room, annoyed that she was taking so damn long. He had got a call from Tommy earlier in the day letting him know it was confirmed that there was a police tail on Billy, not that he was surprised. Which actually served his purposes perfectly since he wanted the cops to know about his "relationship." The plan was for the cops to see him and Sophie together as much as possible acting like a "couple." He almost laughed at the craziness of all this, hell he didn't even know exactly how to act. Sure he'd fucked a ton of girls, even had a few he'd kept around for a while but it had never gotten to the point where they had been considered exclusive, they never stayed the night, and they sure as hell didn't live with him. Billy didn't do that tied down bullshit.

He thought about Bodie, the only one of his friends at the moment who was in an honest to goodness relationship. Bodie treated his girl Sarah differently than all the girls he'd fucked around with in the past. He showed her respect and affection. Hell, he even called her when he wasn't going to be home when he had promised. Billy always gave him shit about it, but Bodie just shrugged. One thing was for sure, a person did not want to piss Sarah off. In fact, Sarah would probably be there tonight. Billy had given Bodie permission to tell Sarah what was going on, but that she better keep her fucking mouth shut. He figured if Sarah and Sophie appeared to have known each other for a while it just added another layer to their story. If Sophie had been Billy's girl for months then it made sense she would know his best friends girlfriend.

Billy had also let Sophie call her father earlier. He knew he had told her no contact, but if this ruse was going to work then he didn't want some damn missing person's report filed by some worried father. He had stood next to her when she made the call and made sure it was on speakerphone. Billy was surprised when her father had sent her to voicemail, she'd been gone over three days you'd think the little princess's daddy would at least be concerned about where she had been. Isn't that how parents of spoiled rich kids are? Sophie hadn't even looked surprised when his voicemail came on. She had calmly said in a voice with no emotion that she was sorry if she was bothering him but that she just wanted to let him know she was staying at her boyfriend's place from now on and to please tell Gloria that she didn't need to worry. Her father still hadn't called back.

He looked up when he finally heard her coming down the hallway and walking into the living room. Billy couldn't help but stare. He always thought in order for a girl to be sexy she had to dress like a slut, with her tits hanging out and showing tons of skin. But this girl managed to pull it off better than all those girls combined and most of her body was pretty much covered. The mini skirt was fucking hot but not so short her ass would hang out and he could see the perfect outline of her breasts with the tight shirt but he could only barely see the top of her breasts because the neckline wasn't too low. It was like the outfit was saying "Use your imagination about what's under these clothes." Billy took a drag of his cigarette and looked away. Ignoring the tightening in his jeans. At least she looks good, I don't want people thinking my fucking "girlfriend" is a typical druggie whore. At least if I have to pretend to have stepped into the dreaded relationship shit, then it's with a girl I don't have to be ashamed to be seen with Billy thought bitterly. Once again his annoyance at this whole stupid situation making his anger rise. He glared at Sophie.

"Took you long enough, let's fucking go." Billy demanded while putting on his leather jacket.

"Yeah, well you didn't give me much notice and most of my stuff is still at my dad's." Sophie replied clearly annoyed as well. "I need to go get it soon if you expect me to stay here."

"Wow, did I just hear you giving Me demands, little girl. That shit stops now. Just follow my lead tonight and don't fuck it up. I already told you about Sarah and some of the people who will probably be there tonight. You're the puppet and I pull the strings, got it!" Billy said as he grabbed her arm and led her out of the apartment. He turned to lock his door when she started to walk a head of him. "Wait!" He shouted. Sophie stopped and waited for him to catch up.

"Why! I'm just heading to your car," Sophie said, clearly pissed off about what he had just said to her. There was nothing Sophie hated more than to be spoken down to like she was stupid. Her father spoke to her that way. She watched Billy quickly walk to her side.

"Don't you fucking get it! We're being watched right now…. Probably photographed by the fucking cops. So start acting your part." Billy snarled in her ear. Sophie wanted to look around but stopped herself, she had to act normal. She knew the cops were in a car nearby watching. She looked up at Billy and smiled sweetly.

"Are you ready to go sweetheart?" Sophie asked him, softly grabbing his hand so it looked like a natural thing she did every day. Billy looked surprised for a second but then tightened his grip on her hand and led her down the stairs to his car. When he got to her to the passenger side he opened the door so she could get in.

The drive to the bar was silent and only took a few minutes. They pulled into the parking lot of the Four Roses and it seemed like Billy had front row parking. There was one spot left open next to the other classic, red sports car with the tribal designs on it. The rest of the lot was packed. Sophie glanced back and noticed the car that had been following them since they left the apartment had pulled over across the street by a curb. Billy noticed this as well and smirked. He got out of the mustang and walked over to open the door for Sophie. Sophie got out and stood staring at the bar for a moment, her anxiety kicking in again.

"Ready?' Billy asked, placing his arm around her waist. For some strange reason that gave Sophie a small sense of feeling protected, which made no sense whatsoever. She sighed.

"Yep." She replied and they headed towards the front door.

The bar was filled with smoke and people and Sophie blinked for a second to let her eyes adjust. As soon as they had stepped into the bar it seemed the people automatically moved to let Billy through as though he was Moses parting the red sea. Billy kept his arm around her waist and led her towards a big table in the back. Sophie noticed some curious stares being thrown her way. Mostly guys leering at her, and a few girls glaring when they saw who she was with.

Sophie felt some relief when she saw some of Billy's crew at the table. Baggy raised a glass at her and the other guys nodded in her direction. Billy plopped down at the head of the table and Sophie stood there uncertain for a moment. Billy sighed deeply and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her onto his lap, putting one arm securely around her and using his other hand to take a shot that Tommy handed him. She sat stiffly on his lap but he forced her even closer to him, as if silently telling her to relax. She leaned back into his chest and crossed her legs since she was wearing a skirt. Billy's hand drifted from her waist to her thigh and rested there while he talked to his men. His thumb moving in small circles on her exposed skin. Sophie doubted he even noticed what he was doing.

She looked around the people at the table and noticed a girl staring at her. This is obviously Sarah, Sophie thought. The girl was pretty in her own unique way. Exotic looking, as if she was a mix of Spanish and African. She had light brown skin and curly black hair that fell a little past her shoulders. She wore a simple black tank top and jeans and Sophie noticed she had tattoos on the inside of both her wrists. The girl wasn't exactly looking at her in a mean way, just guarded. Bodie noticed the two girls looking at each other and put his drink down.

"Sarah, babe. You remember Sophie right. Billy's girl," He said with an edge in his voice.

Sarah raised her eyebrow and took a swig of her beer before she responded. "Sure I remember. How you doing girl? Long time, no talk. Been wondering where you've been lately." She spoke a little louder than necessary, probably for the ears of people walking by.

"I've been good, just busy finishing school and spending time with Billy. But you know all that." Sophie replied, giving the girl a small smile. She felt relieved when the girl smiled back.

"Yea, I hear Billy boy has been keeping you pretty busy. But hey, love is like that right." Sarah said, winking at Sophie. Billy slammed his next shot down and glared at Sarah. But Sarah just smirked back at him. Sophie smiled even more knowing Sarah's remark had annoyed Billy.

Billy grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniels in front of him and poured a round of shots, placing one in front of Sophie as well.

"I'm not really in the mood to drink." Sophie said. Billy's arm tightened around her again.

"Baby just take a few shots, it will relax you." He said, his voice making sure she knew it was an order.

Sophie grabbed the glass and lifted it, quickly taking the shot. Billy filled her shot glass again. Sophie turned her head to the side to look at Billy and saw him staring at her. Avoiding his blue eyes she looked back at the glass and took another shot.

Two or three more shots later and Sophie was really starting to feel the alcohol. It had been awhile since she drank so she knew she was a lightweight. But her anxiety had disappeared and she felt relaxed and warm. A sense of calm taking over her body. She was joking around with the guys and talking to Sarah about random shit. She was even laughing. Billy was being quiet but for once he didn't look pissed off. The roomed seemed to spin for a second and Sophie leaned back into Billy, resting her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes, letting the dizzy feeling pass. Billy turned his head towards her, letting his lips lightly brush her forehead.

"Man, you guys are totally pulling this shit off," Baggy said, leaning towards the two.

"Yea, all I have to do is pretend like it's any other night and I'm with any other bitch and then just throw in a term of endearment now and then and BAM…. People think we're a couple. Funny how a few words make all the difference." Billy snickered back at Baggy. Sophie felt herself tense up. It was almost like someone had thrown cold water all over her. She knew they were putting on a show, but he didn't need to disrespect her and group her with all the sluts he had around him all the time.

Sophie leaned forward and took another shot and slammed it on the table, a couple off the guys cheered. She leaned back against Billy and softly said so that no one but him could hear, "Yea I know what you mean. All I had to do was have some drinks in my system…. Then it was easier to pretend that you are Brendan."

Sophie could feel Billy freeze and for once she wasn't afraid of him. She was just too damn drunk. Truthfully she hadn't thought about Brendan all night, but Billy didn't need to know that. She started to get up off of Billy's lap, but Billy pulled her back down.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going!' Billy demanded, his anger radiating out of every pore of him. She pulled his arm free from around her waist and went to stand up again, a little wobbly but she managed.

"Relax baby," Sophie said sarcastically, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "I just need to use the bathroom." Billy stared up at her, his eyes sending daggers all over her body. For a second be brought his hand up to his cheek to where her lips had just been. Finally he just nodded. Sophie tried to walk and realized just how drunk she really was. Thankfully Sarah got up to walk with her.

Billy silently watched her and Sarah walk away, taking a drag of his cigarette. Finally he motioned for another bottle to be brought to the table. He hadn't wanted to get drunk this badly in a long time.