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Post by kittypatter on Aug 11, 2009 5:14:13 GMT -5
‘Luke? Oh, he’s just being a grumpy git ‘cos Namond and Randy spoilt the fun he was having with Luna,’ she smirked slightly and glanced over at the bedroom door. Luke always acted like this whenever he didn’t get what he wanted, Grace hold told him that locking himself away with beer wouldn’t work; but he didn’t care. Once all the washing was done, both of them moved over to the sofa; the thunder still rumbling over head. Rufus had now moved to cower under the duvet in Grace’s room.
The rest of the wine went down, and Grace and Mr P had moved onto the sofa, sleepily she slunk back into the pillows as Roland began to ask more questions. ‘Its just us… Moms away somewhere, we don’t bother to keep in contact anymore, and Dad died a couple of years back,’ she gave a small sigh and tipped her head back. What a day. Roland was silent for a moment, and when she turned to look at him, he came forward, his lips against hers. Then, as if he’d been waiting, listening at his bedroom door, Luke came from his bedroom, just in time to see Grace push my P away.
Luke was just pulling on a fresh t-shirt as he came out, he stopped just a little way outside his door before glaring hard. ‘What are you doin’ with my sister?’ he demanded, picking up pace as he headed towards the sofa. Dizzily, Grace stood up and pushed against her Brothers chest but he forced her back down onto the sofa.
‘Luke-’
‘Get out,’ he muttered, voice dark. He waited for Roland to stand before he pushed him towards the door of the flat, opening it he forced him forward and out into the hallway. ‘Stay the fuck away, you hear?’ with that, he shut the door and turned back to his sister, an angry look to his face.
Partlow watched patiently as the boys all pilled out the flat, Snoop naming them off as they did so. So, Luna was alone now?
‘What we waitin’ for?’
‘Nuffink,’ he replied shortly, pulling open his door he stepped out into the darkened street. A group of men were still stood across the road, they eyed him wearily before turning without even a snaky comment to be said. They knew better than to mess with him.
Pulling his jacket down at the back, Partlow his the gun that was tugged at the back of his jeans. He followed Snoop into the flats, and they took the lift up to the forth floor.
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Post by charlie on Aug 11, 2009 6:06:16 GMT -5
Prez gave a laugh. ‘Namond likes to stir things up like that. Best just to stay out of his way when he gets rowdy,’ he said, drinking the wine. The thunder rumbled through the apartment and Mr P winced, glancing out the window at the rain and the lightning that flashed and lit up the apartment. ‘It’s horrible out there,’ he murmured. He sloshed his wine and took another drink, before looking back at Grace.
‘I’ve not spoken to my parents in years,’ he admitted, finishing his wine. ‘I guess we just lost contact too. I never really had much in common with them. They were adventurous, always going away to different countries. I became a cop to please them, but...’ he sighed, biting his lip. ‘I couldn’t do it. So I became a teacher instead. Much less dangerous,’ he laughed.
And then, he was kissing her. The next second everything seemed to be a blur; Luke came from his bedroom, a look of anger and disgust on his face and Grace pushed him back and then he was grabbing his coat and getting pushed out the apartment.
‘Stay the fuck away, you hear?’
Roland opened his mouth, but no words came out. The door slammed in his face and he blinked. ‘Oh, no,’ he said quietly, backing up to lean against the wall. He put his head back and ran a hand over his face. She was his teaching assistant! He was practically her boss and he’d messed up already. What the hell had he been thinking?
He ran a hand over his face, before pulling away from the wall. He passed a man and a woman on the way, before heading down the stairs, shoulders slumped as he left the apartment.
--
Snoop allowed a smile, slipping out the car and shutting the door after her. She pulled her hood up to keep the rain off her, a crack of lightning and a roll of thunder that she felt inside her chest causing her to swallow nervously. There was rarely a storm in Baltimore, but when it did, it was fucking scary.
She glanced back at the group of men, unafraid of the thunder, the rain not stopping them going about a business and Snoop set her jaw; they were doing business too, she reminded herself. Just because Luna used to be her best friend and they did everything together when they were younger, didn’t mean business couldn’t be dealt.
She walked alongside Partlow, entering the apartment and stepping into the elevator. It chugged up to the fourth floor, before giving a ding and letting them out. Snoop stepped into a hallway, watching as a man passed. She stopped, watching until he was out of sight.
‘4B,’ she murmured, remembering the apartment name. Then, she tugged her gun from her jeans, glancing up at Partlow. Then, she knocked.
Luna frowned, looking up at the door as she heard the knocks. She wondered if one of the boys had forgotten something, but after a brief look around, there was nothing that wasn’t hers. She stepped forward, unlocking the door and pulling it open.
Her heart sank and her stomach tightened as she saw who it was. ‘Oh.’
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Post by kittypatter on Aug 12, 2009 7:19:01 GMT -5
Once the lift doors had opened, Snoop took the gun from the front of her jeans and Partlow gave a disapproving look. What if someone came out of their apartment? He just wanted to take it nice and easy, no need to scare anyone. Not yet, anyway.
Taking a step back, he left Snoop knock on the door. His hand hovered around his pocket to check his gun was still there, it was.
There was a pause. Maybe she had seen them? But how could she have? They were high up, you couldn't tell who was down at the bottom.
A click.
The door opened and Luna was standing there, Snoop seemed like she couldn't contain herself. Pushing her aside, he put his foot in the door just as she went to shut it. They hadn't waited an hour outside - with a storm frightened Snoop , just to be locked out.
Forcing the door back, he watched as Luna stumbled. After Snoop had stepped in, she shut the door behind her, and the two looked forward. 'We ain't gonna hurt you love, we 'ave a proposition.'
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Post by charlie on Aug 12, 2009 7:29:20 GMT -5
Snoop ignored the look of disapproval that Partlow shot her, moving over to the door instead. When Luna opened up, Snoop tried to put a blank expression on her face, trying to make it look like she wasn’t bothered whether Luna had turned up or not. But, the look in her dark eyes gave it away and she looked down. Luna shook her head, eyes falling to the gun in Snoop’s hand. She attempted to slam the door, but the man kicked his foot out, forcing it open.
He pushed his way in and Luna flashed Snoop a look of desperation. ‘Then, why has Snoop got a gun?’ she demanded. Snoop glanced up. ‘Jus’ being cautious is all,’ she replied. She found it better if she didn’t look at Luna, so instead she moved over to the table where the boxes were resting. She opened the top of one, peering in and rummaging through her things.
Luna folded her arms over her chest, staring at the back of Snoop’s head before looking at Partlow. ‘Do you have a name?’ she asked, raising an eyebrow. Her gaze fell back to Snoop, who was lifting a photo frame out the box; there was a picture of Snoop and Luna when they were younger in it. She’d had it forever.
Snoop stared down at the photo for a moment, before chucking it back in the box as if it was worthless. Then, she looked at Luna with hard eyes. ‘Marlo wants you,’ she stated.
‘Who the fuck is Marlo?’ Luna asked, looking between the two. She tried not to let the hurt from Snoop’s actions with the photo show and she bit her bottom lip to stop it trembling. ‘And will you put that thing away?’ she snapped to Snoop about the gun. Snoop glanced at Partlow, before sighing and returning it to the front of her jeans, pulling her coat over the top. She shifted back, sitting on the arm on the chair and looking pointedly over Luna’s shoulder, determined not to meet her eyes.
Luna’s shoulders slumped a little. ‘I can see you’re hurt-’
‘We’re here for business,’ Snoop cut her off, arms folded over her chest. ‘Tell her, Chris.’
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Post by kittypatter on Aug 12, 2009 12:27:39 GMT -5
Partlow watched the two, Snoop seemingly like a cat on a hot tin roof ( Idk what that means... but I've heard it a lot lately, and just wanted to say it. Whatever ). She made her way over towards a box of belongings and shuffled throught it. Picking something up, he watched her for a moment, before she slung the item down and went back to the buisness in hand.
He knew they'd had a background, they'd been friends at one point. But that didn't mean anything. Chris had, had friends once, and he'd learnt from experiance that you could never trust them. Everyone in this world are cheating bastards, you just had to get them before they got you.
Nodding towards Snoop, he turned his attention to Luna. She was pretty, attractive, he understood why Marlo wanted her. It wasn’t very often, you got a girl like her, in a place like this.
‘Snoop ‘ere’s your friend aint she?’ he asked, eyebrow raised as he watched Snoop put her gun back in her jeans. ‘Cos see, if you don’t come and meet Marlo with us…. Well, he’s not goanna be very happy with young Snoop ‘ere. And when he’s not very happy…’ he let a low whistle escape his lips ’bad things can happen to people,’ smirking slightly, he rested against the kitchen unit and waited to examine her expression. ‘So what d’ya think? Want to come and see our man with us?’
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Post by charlie on Aug 12, 2009 12:44:03 GMT -5
Snoop gave a sniff, folding her arms over her chest, watching as Partlow nodded towards her from the corner of her eye. She glanced at him and then forced herself to look at Luna. She looked a little scared, having backed up pretty much against the wall, her arms wrapped around herself. Who could blame her? She knew how intimidating she and Partlow looked. And she didn’t even have her gun out anymore.
Luna looked at Partlow, before shrugging. ‘I thought we were friends,’ she said in a stiff voice, but a glint of fear shone in her eyes at his next words. She didn’t want Snoop to get hurt, but then again, who was this guy who wanted to see her?
‘This Marlo guy wants to see me?’ she frowned, looking between the two. ‘But, I’ve only been here a day. I don’t... I don’t understand.’ Snoop rolled her eyes.
‘Look, let me make it simple,’ she said. ‘You either come with us now and see him, or we’ll make you. How’s that sound?’ Luna glared at her, jaw clenched. ‘Fine,’ she sighed. ‘Fine.’ She stepped forward as Snoop straightened up. ‘But only because I’m saving your ass from getting shot off,’ she hissed. Snoop just curled her lip and reaching over, grabbing Luna’s jacket. She tossed it to her. ‘Put this on and let’s go.’ Snoop pushed past Partlow and flung open the door, stalking out.
Luna swallowed, feeling sick in the pit of her stomach. She glanced at Partlow, then ducked her head and left the apartment. ‘Where abouts are we going?’ she asked him.
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Post by kittypatter on Aug 12, 2009 13:39:27 GMT -5
"Drinkings not good for you, it doesn't solve anything"
No. It didn't. But it buffered things for a while.
What the hell was she thinking? Coming down. Why now? What was so special about now. It wasn't anyones birthday, it wasn't an anniversary... it wasn't a holiday occasion. What could make her want to come back, from wherever she was in the world, to see them. The children she had dumped a long time ago.
He couldn't understand it. He knew Grace wouldn't understand it. And she wouldn't enjoy it. Emma didn't know of her daughters little split with Daniel. She'd blow the roof, last time she heard of them, she thought he was the one for her. He was rich, good looking, intelligent. Why if Grace didn't marry him, she said she was going to herself.
A joke none of them really found funny. She probably would, knowing her.
Partlow followed Snoop towards the black van; it sat resting against the curb outside the block of flats. Opening the side door, he pressed his hand against Luna's back and forced her in; hands bruising. Snoop was to sit besides her, and Partlow was to drive.
Moving around the van, he opened his door and jumped in, glancing at Luna and nodding 'Get yer seat belt on,' he told her, before his hand moved to start the ignition.
All the while, Luke was sitting in his black BMW, a more glinting black than that of the van. He arched a brow, and lent forward in his seat to see what was going on. He didn't like the way that man was handling Luna. He was on the way to the store; more beer. But that could wait.
The van pulled away, and he hesitated before starting up his own engine and following behind.
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Post by charlie on Aug 12, 2009 13:54:08 GMT -5
Luna sighed, huddling deeper into her jacket as she met the cool night air. It was dark, the street was damp but at least it wasn’t stormy anymore. Snoop climbed into the van in front of her, before Partlow pushed her forward. Luna gasped, her shins hitting the van step and causing tears of pain to spring to her eyes. She climbed in and he slammed the door shut. Snoop sat next to her, expressionless and keeping her focus on the floor. ‘You’re practically kidnapping me and you’re worrying about my seatbelt?’ Luna scoffed, but tugged it on away. It made her feel a little safe as Partlow pulled away. At one time, the van went over a bump and the Luna pressed a little against her. ‘Scared?’ Snoop hissed, before laughing. ‘Should be.’ Luna pulled away and looked out the rain speckled window. Finally, they arrived. The door was opened again as Luna was bundled out onto a small park-like area, which was made up of flat concrete, surrounded by a chain-wire fence. ‘Not so rough,’ came a voice. Snoop let Luna’s arm drop and turned to shut the van. Luna turned to see the tall man, dark skinned, an almost bored expression on his face. He was surrounded by four or five large men, all in big coats and at random points around the fence, others stood, looking out. Marlo studied her for a moment, before gesturing to the chairs. ‘Want a seat?’ ‘No,’ Luna said shortly. ‘I want to know what you want and then I want to go home.’ Marlo smiled and looked at Snoop and Partlow.
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Post by kittypatter on Aug 12, 2009 15:06:48 GMT -5
Marlo smirked, he had to admire her. She had a fight in her, not many girls had. She had the will to stand up to him, he'd soon show her that wasn't best.
'What do I want with you?' he repeated the question, eyes still on her as he thought. 'I want you to work for me. Work with me. Why should you do that, you ask. You should do it, because its whats best. Odessa, they're people in this town that could crush you. They don't need a reason, they'd just do it. But, if you were with me... I could sort them out,' he inclined his head to the people behind him. 'These boys, would also be working for you,'
Partlow lent against the van, eyes flitting around the spot. It was a cold night, he couldn't be doing with this. Shrugging into his coat, he pulled the zip right to the top, hands in pockets, he waited.
'But if you turn down my offer - which I hope you do not do, then these boys... will work for me, and destroy you.' the last words held a note of seriousness, and everyone around knew it.
Everyone that was, except Luke. He'd stopped the car, a little way from the group of people. Just far enough away that no one would notice him, unless that was they were looking for him.
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Post by charlie on Aug 13, 2009 6:52:20 GMT -5
Luna watched him smirk, swallowing hard and finally looking away. ‘Why me?’ she asked, forcing herself to look back up at him again, to show no fear even though her legs felt like jelly and her insides were squirming uncomfortably. ‘I’m sure there are plenty of people you can go to for help. I just want to look after my brothers. I don’t want to get into this.’ Luna blinked, frowning. Crush her? But, why, she wanted to scream. What had she done to deserve it?
Snoop moved to stand beside Partlow, her back to Luna and the group, pressed her forehead against the glass of the van. She sighed, almost silently and shut her eyes for a moment. The cool glass made her head hurt after a while and she turned, slumping with a humpf against the van. She titled her cap down so she didn’t have to see the two; her boss and her best friend. Ex-best friend, she reminded herself. Because she left you and then you had no one. No one.
Luna watched Marlo carefully, because deep inside, she knew she had no choice. If she ran, they’d find her. If she fought, they’d kill her. She paused for a moment, letting the silence draw out. ‘Will my brothers be safe?’ she asked and there was a note of panic in her voice. ‘That’s all I want. I just want them to be safe.’ She looked at Marlo with a pleading expression, hands clasped in front of her.
Snoop frowned as she looked up, noticing the man get out the car. She watched curiously for a moment as he scoped the scene, before heading forward. She gave a quiet, incredulous laugh. ‘Is he stupid?’ she asked herself, before tugging on Partlow’s sleeve and nodding in Luke’s direction. ‘Check it out. Some guy wanna come kill a nigga,’ she laughed.
Luna heard Snoop laugh and her face went red. Of course she’d find this whole situation funny. She knew now that the two might not ever be the same again. Didn’t Snoop know that Luna hated each day she left, longing to go back to Baltimore? Didn’t she understand that she would have come back earlier if she could? She folded her hands over her chest again as the cold bit her.
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Post by kittypatter on Aug 13, 2009 13:22:02 GMT -5
She’d seen him. Snoop had seen him. She muttered something to Partlow, and Luke cursed , what was he doing here? He’d thought it a good idea when he’d been following the van. He was going to be a knight in shining armour, save Luna and get a kiss at the end. But not now. The men were twice the seize of him - three times, and there were five of them. Five! Even if he was drunk he didn’t stand a chance. A punch to the face by one of them could send him into a coma.
But he’d been seen. They’d come after him. He couldn’t back down. He wouldn’t. Luna was in trouble. Ad if he left her, what kind of man would that make him? Opening his car door, he groaned as it squeaked and captured more attention. Taking a bottle of beer from his seat, he tipped it back and downed what was left. He’d need that. Soften the blows.
‘Your brothers will be fine, if you do what I say. Everything. If you turn on me, take back your word. Well… lets not talk about that for now, okay?’ ears pricked and he looked over towards the car in the distance. Snoopers? Had Partlow been followed? Marlo shot a glare in his direction, and the elder man turned away, cowering, scared. ‘I think you have guests, Luna,’ moving forward, he gripped onto her arm and tugged her towards him. A hand ducked down into the front of his trousers, and he revealed a black, shining, metal gun. He pressed it deep into her back, twisting her arm as she wriggled.
‘You go and tell him we’re fine,’ he told her, lips close to her ear. He breathed her in, eyes closing momentarily, before he once again dug in the gun.
Luke stumbled closer, not sure what he was going to do. His brain wasn’t functioning. He couldn’t even remember his name. ‘Luna?’ he yelled, pressing his hands against the wire fencing and shaking it, rattling in the silent night. ‘Luna, are you alright?’
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Post by charlie on Aug 13, 2009 13:46:40 GMT -5
Luna bit her bottom lip, listening to what Marlo had to say. She heard the sound of a car door being slammed nearby and noticed Marlo’s eyes narrow in the direction of Snoop and Partlow. She didn’t dare look and see what they were doing to make him glare like that. Luna frowned at his words. Guests? She wondered who. Michael? Her stomach clenched painfully and she shut her eyes for a moment, praying that it wasn’t. Anyone, but him.
Her eyes opened to surprise as Marlo grabbed her arm and yanked her to him. She hissed as he gripped her hard, twisting her around. She felt the cool metal of the gun being pressed into her back, Marlo’s warm breath on her cheek and neck, lips brushing her ear. Shivers of revulsion ran down her and she tried to shake him off, teeth clenched.
Snoop glanced up, watching as Marlo tugged the gun from his jeans. She went to step forward, not sure of what she was doing, but Partlow grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She gave a hiss, glaring up at him and shrugging him off. Snoop looked back to see the man approach, shaking the fence and yelling out for Luna.
Who the fuck was he? She wanted to know. Who else knew Luna around these parts? Snoop folded her arms over her chest. She wanted to get out of here. Needed to. Luna gave a resigned sigh, looking at Luke from across the concrete.
Maybe she could yell? Would she even stand a chance? The muzzle of the gun digging into her back told her she probably wouldn’t. ‘Go home, Luke,’ she yelled. ‘I’m just seeing a few friends.’ Her voice broke at the end. She ran a hand through her hair, before looking up at Snoop. The two women’s eyes met and there was a moment where everything seemed to come together. Snoop’s eyes softened at the look of fear and the plea on Luna’s face and it all seemed to happen at once, as if they’d known what to do all along.
‘Luke!’ Luna screamed, elbowing out of Marlo’s grip and racing forward, as Snoop pushed Partlow away and threw herself against Marlo, making them both stumble to the side as Luna raced across the ground towards the man.
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Post by charlie on Aug 13, 2009 14:20:18 GMT -5
It had all happened so fast. Luke was rattling the fence. Partlow was keeping Snoop at bay. The men were on watch. Marlo was holding Grace, and everything was to plan, well, as well as could be.
Then Marlo had been blown back, an elbow coming to his ribs and momentarily winding him. Before his hand come lift the gun and fire, Snoop was on him in a flash, wrestling with the older man. Her small hands tried to take the gun, she didn’t want anyone to get hurt. But Marlo took control and his finger slipped to the trigger. There was a squirm, a groan, a shut, and a gasp as Marlo and Snoop parted. Snoop was holding a hand to her shoulder, staggering backwards, and Marlo was holding the gun down by his side.
Partlow didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to get involved. What if he got shot too? Marlo’s eyes flickered down at the gun, his hand shaking slightly. The larger men at the back simply looked on in confusion, was this the plan? Had it changed? What were they to do?
‘Luna, come on,’ Luke grabbed hold of Luna, trying to force her into the car, but she’d stopped, ears pricked as she heard the gun shot. ‘Luna, what are you waiting for? Do you want to get shot next? Luna!’ The girl moved away, and Luke didn’t know what to do. The man had a gun for Christ’s sake! Snoop was moving towards them, swaying, uneasy and woozy. Marlo had his gun raised to her back.
‘If you leave, you’re as good as dead to me!’ he threatened, finger hovering over the trigger. He’d do it. He wasn’t afraid. Marlo Stanfield didn’t let people get away from him, not people that turned on him. He’d made that clear. Had she not just heard what he ha said to Luna? ‘I mean it, your life won’t be worth shit if you get in that car-’
‘Marlo,’ Partlow muttered, voice low as he watched the three of them get in to the BMW. Luna and Snoop staggering into the back seats. ‘It aint’ no use man, she aint goanna come back,
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Post by charlie on Aug 13, 2009 14:43:46 GMT -5
Luna raced towards Luke and it was an almost sweet relief when he caught her. Then, the shot rang out behind her and Luna stiffened, spinning around. She watched as Snoop stumbled away from Marlo, hand flying up to grip her upper arm. ‘Snoop!’ she yelled, trying to shake Luke off. She tuned to him. ‘She’s my friend. No, we can’t leave her!’ She came forward to grab Snoop as she approached.
Snoop tackled Marlo, the two falling to the side. She grabbled for the gun and she was so close… A shot rang out and there was a sudden pain in Snoop’s right arm. She gasped, the pain flaring and she staggered back. She ran, hand clasped over the wound and behind her, Marlo’s words rang out.
She focused on keeping upright, the pain making her feel oddly drowsy. But, then Luna was there, reaching out to grab her and haul her into the back of the BMW. Luna slammed the door shut behind her, the bullets from the other men glancing off the paintwork and causing dings to sound throughout the car.
‘Drive!’ she yelled at Luke, before looking back down at the injured woman. Snoop was partly across Luna’s lap, yelling out, blood leaking from her between her fingers. ‘Go to the hospital!’ ‘No,’ Snoop moaned, eyes squeezed shut. ‘No hospital. Don’t.’ Luna pressed her hand against Snoop, trying to stop the blood flow. ‘Drive faster,’ she urged Luke, panic fresh and raw in her voice.
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Post by charlie on Aug 13, 2009 17:51:34 GMT -5
Once they were all in the car, Luke took a quick glance at Snoop. Laying sideways across the back seat, a worried looking Luna by her side. His eyes looked towards the men, Marlo with his gun lowered, eyes narrowed. Marlo wasn't going to let Luke get away with this, nor Grace, and definitely not Snoop.
'The bitch,' Marlo spat, stuffing his gun in his back pocket, and lifting his hand, he wiped the blood off of his lip. She sure did have a good fight in her. That was she did. With a shot like that who knew what would happen to her? 'You keep an eye on 'er, alright? She aint' leaving Baltimore, not till I''m done with 'er,'
Luke and Luna supported Snoop as they stumbled out of the lift and towards the flat. Trying the door, Luke cursed to see it was locked, and had to let Snoop lean her fool weight on Luna while he tried to find his keys. The lock clicked, and he pushed open the door, moving the junk of the sofa as Luna carried in the injured girl. 'I don't think the first aid kids unpacked. Could you go to your flat and get some stuff?' he asked, helping lower Snoop onto the sofa. He lifted her legs, and moved past her to fill up a bowl with fresh water.
There was a shuffle in Grace's room, and Rufus padded along the bed, moving to rest on the pillow besides her. The kitten licked her nose, before curling into a ball and instantly falling into a slumber. Grace, however, was far from falling asleep, and simply lay on her stomach, eyes looking up in the darkness.
What had happened today? He was nice. Not like Daniel. Her mind wandered for a moment, but she shook her ex fiance away. No. He wasn't important anymore. Mr P was important. But he was her boss, she worked for him; it wasn't allowed. And she wasn't gong to lose this job... over a man that probably didn't even like her. It was stupid. Wasn't it? She sighed, before rolling over and hugging the kitten closer.
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