Tyler

I was getting antsy while waiting for Mallory's shift to be up. I couldn't sit in the club anymore watching her. As dirty as I felt, I was still getting attached. I hated that. I was still healing from what Aidan had coined the "Ally Incident". I stood outside against the brick wall smoking until I heard her come outside.

"Hey," I greeted her, stubbing out my cigarette on the sole of my shoe. There was a lot left on it so I stuck it behind my ear to finish later.

"Hey," Mallory replied, backing me up on the brick wall. She smiled down at me; she was still in her heels. She reached and took the butt out from behind my ear. "Gotta light?"

"Are you old enough? I don't want to be an enabler."

"Says the dude at a strip club." She stuck her hand in my breast pocket and took my lighter out. She flicked it on, touching it to the tip of the cigarette, and inhaled the smoke.

"Don't lose that. It's my last one." We started walking towards the train station. I took her luggage because it was weighing her down. She didn't have much to carry. When her—my—cigarette reached the end of its life she threw it on the grown. By that time we were already at the station. I payed for her MetroCard. I didn't receive a thanks immediately, but I figured she thought I didn't need one. So I was amused when she took my hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.

I wasn't embarrassed of my shitty apartment. I refused to let Charles, my dad, pay for a nicer place to stay. He always told me I should build myself instead of relying on other people. He was the last person I wanted to rely on. The thing I was embarrassed about was Aidan. He had made such a fool of himself when he first met Mallory. I hadn't exactly told him about her staying with us. I hoped when I opened the door he would be dressed without having his junk hanging out for everyone to see.

I set her shit down on the living room floor when we got inside. I saw her inspect the place. I lived in a dump. Cobwebs lined the ceilings and we hadn't even swept since we moved in. It shocked me when she said, "Nice fucking place," and went to lean back on the couch.

"You've got to be kidding."

"You could use a sweep, I'll admit."

"Look up. The ceiling leaks."

She shrugged, crossing her arms behind her head. Her legs were spread out, her white, creamy thighs showing for me. "Does your toilet work?"

"Of course it does."

"Consider yourself lucky. I had to shit in my backyard for a week." My eyes bulged at her comment. "I'm just fucking with you. Jesus Christ. Get a sense of humor." She laughed, putting her feet on the crowded coffee table.

"Um..." I cleared my throat, at a loss of words. "I'll sleep on the couch. You can have my bed." She stood to follow me for the tour of the apartment. I grabbed her shit before I started walking. We made it to the kitchen. She stood there, waiting for my commentary. I had to clear my throat again. "The kitchen." I waved my hand. "Aidan and I don't cook much. We usually get take out or whatever."

"I can cook," she said.

"Can you?"

"Gumbo. That's it. I'm from New Orleans."

I smiled at her, teeth and all. "Sounds good. Next," I said, leaving the kitchen to go to the hall. In a little nook that verged left from the hall was Aidan's bunk. Under it was what we used as storage. There was a desk with a ratty old computer on it. Nothing special.

"Well damn," Mallory said. "He must not get much. Who can fuck on a bunk bed?"

"One of the reasons I offered to use the couch." I shook my head. "Is your mind always in the gutter?"

"Oh, I'm sure anyone would ask." I disagreed and moved on to our next stop.

"The bathroom. It needs a good cleaning. The shower works fine. Aidan uses up the hot water mostly, but the pressure's great. And our toilet works." I opened the bathroom door a bit more to show her where the toilet was. I waved at her to follow me. "Our last stop on the tour," I said, joking. "My bedroom. Now your bedroom." I set her things down carefully. "Um, just don't go through my shit. Private, you know?"

She nodded. "I understand. But you better not be a peeping Tom like you said! Or else I'll be homeless." She sat at the edge of my bed. "Been there, done that. Not fucking happening again."

"I won't let it happen again. Stay here as long as you need."

"I'm not a charity case."

"No, I know. You're a big girl. You've proven that you can handle yourself." I went to sit next to her. "I would feel guilty, though, if you were on the streets. No one deserves that. Maybe Aidan, but not you," I said with a laugh. "And I haven't even known you for a week. That's special."

"You're a good person, Tyler. Thanks." Her hand went to mine for a second time that night.

"Oh, my family would tell you otherwise," I joked. "You're a good person, too. I bet you think you're not. You are. I think you're doing what's best to survive, even if it's wrong."

"Don't get deep with me. I can handle myself." She snatched back her hand.

I got up, showing her I clearly disagreed with her. What she was doing to herself was wrong. She couldn't see that. I didn't want to start anything that night so I kept my mouth shut on the matter. "Were you serious about that gumbo?" I asked to lighten the mood.

She was biting her nails. Mallory took her fingers out of her mouth. She gave me a full smile, the biggest one I'd ever seen her wear. "Men," she scoffed, standing up.

"You're going to make some now?"

"Hell no!" She moved around me. "It's too late for that shit." I watched her go back to the couch. "No TV?"

"Stolen."

"Great. Safe. You have a bat at least." She nodded towards the aluminum bat that was leaned against the wall.

"Safety measure."

"I feel safe."

"We have a deadbolt, too."

"That ought to keep the pimps out." Jesus Christ. Some of the things she said shocked me. I scratched my neck nervously. I didn't know how to reply so I took a seat next to her. She looked at me through her lashed. I felt her breath come closer to me until she placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

"Thanks again. Goodnight. Go to your room. I want to sleep here."

"Why?"

"Dude, that's fucking gross that you want to sleep where your best friend fucks his whores."

I laughed, throwing my head back. "I'll go get your stuff."

I made a quick stop to the bathroom before I brought back her clothes. Mallory was fast asleep with her heels kicked off on the couch. Her body was sprawled out awkwardly on the length of the couch. Her mahogany hair was a tangled mess, yet she still looked beautiful. I pulled an old afghan off of the back of the couch to cover her up. I wanted to say goodnight, but I didn't want to wake her so I left and went to bed. The next morning I found her laying next to me in my bed. I was flustered. She lifted her head up, feeling my stares. Her green eyes looked back at me. "Your couch sucks ass," she said and went back to bed.