A Chance at Life

The Thorn of a Rose

I get home and Marty opens the front door as I go to open it myself.
"Toni, come on dinner's being served" grabbing my hand I follow her into the lounge as her parents bring in plates of food and set them on the table.
"Welcome back Toni, you look like you had a great time" she taps at her neck.
"I did thanks Mrs B...why?" Marty hands me her phone with the camera facing me and I see lipstick on my neck.
"Fuck"
"Language Toni" Marty hits my arm. I wipe the lipstick with my sleeve and take my plate.
"Told you I'd be back for dinner"
"Only just, you can help with the cleaning"
We eat dinner, clean up and watch movies for the remaining of Christmas day and I head to bed around 10.

I change into pajamas and sit in bed watching Lucifer when I get a tap at the window. I ignore it since Shelby knows we have a front door and then I hear it again.
"Shelby I swear to God if I have to tell y-" I open the window and look down. Fatin is stood there with a bag. "Fatin..."
"I didn't want to wake anyone..."
"What happened?"
"Help me up?" I grab her bag as she throws it onto the roof and she climbs up. I help her through window and she sits on my bed, turning on my LED lights the room turns to red.
"Not that I didn't expect it, just I didn't think It'd be whilst I was crying"
"Ha..." I quickly change the color to white and sit next to her as she puts her head on my shoulder.
"I was supposed to be at Leah's tonight but we got into a crazy fight about her ex"
"Again?"
"She still has that stupid fucking book, I tried to tell her it was me or him and she didn't say anything so I left"
"You didn't go home?"
"I didn't really want to go home and your house is closer anyway"
"Your house is a block away from here"
"Shh, let me cry in peace"

I get into bed moving my laptop and she changes into her silk pajamas.
"I packed for Leah's house okay...this is all I have"
"They're nice, can stay in them or I have some spare in that drawer" I point and she decides to just get into bed.
"Where's your cat?"
"With Marty probably" I turn off the lights and close my eyes. As I start to fall asleep, I feel Fatin turn over to face me. "You ok?"
"Not really"
"Do you want talk about how you feel?"
"Not really, I'm just enjoying your company"
"Alright, I'll drop you off tomorrow?"
"You can drive?"
"I can drive, I also have a car"
"Damn...who gave you your license? Stevie Wonder?" We quietly laugh and I close my eyes again.
"Toni?"
"Fatin"
"You're a good friend"
"Shut the fuck up and go to sleep"
"Night"
"Goodnight Fatin"

"Toni?! Fatin?!" I wake up to Marty standing at the door and Fatin cuddling up to me.
"Huh? What? Marty?"
"Hmm?" I look and Fatin still has her eyes closed.
"What are you doing?!"
"On a plane to New York Marty, what does it look like I'm doing?"
"Why's Fatin here?" I move Fatin off of me and she turns over still asleep. I get out of bed and get dressed.
"Shh come on I'll explain" I push Marty out the door and she starts walking downstairs.

"So why is she here? Are you cheating on Shelby?"
"What? No! You know me-"
"I do and I know you can do such stupid things Toni"
I go into the lounge and turn on the tv.
"No, she had a fight with Leah so she came here. I'm dropping her off back home when she's up" I watch as she relaxes into the couch.
"I would never Marty, I love Shelby"
"Fatin's in silky pajamas"
"She was staying at her girlfriends house and that was all she packed"
"I'm sorry"
"It's okay Marty, come here" She joins me on the bigger couch and I squeeze her tight.
"Where are your parents?"
"They went out for breakfast"
"Ah just us this morning then?"
"Yeah, do you want food?"
"I'll cook"
I make us some food and some extra for Fatin for when she's awake and relax until Fatin finally makes her dramatic entrance.

"I'm dying!" we look behind us and she's at the door with her hand on her head.
"Took your time" She looks at me in disgust.
"Why are you dying?"
"I'm heartbroken and deprived of love Marty"
"That could be true, she did spend half the night trying to touch my foot to have some human connection"
"Don't reveal my needs Toni!"
"Don't touch my feet Fatin!"
"There's food in the kitchen for you"
"Thanks Marty. At least someone cares" she scowls at me as she walks into the kitchen.
"I made it! I'll burn it next time!"
"That's fine by me!" I hear her shout rather muffled. She comes back in with her plate of food, stuffing her face and gets comfy on the couch. "So what we watching?"
"You're eating that so I can take you home. You need to fix your shit with Leah"
"Ugh, always ruining the fun"
"Eat"
We watch the show as we all finish up eating and Marty goes into the kitchen to clean up.