Loves Sharp Edges

Chapter One - Tom

It's around three AM when you walk up to the apartment door. You roll your neck and crack your knuckles. 

"You're not preparing for a fight." You hear a bemused mumble. 

"I'm getting into character, you wanted my expertise didn't you?" You roll your eyes. 

"She's coming." Max say quietly. 

Sandra opens the door a jar, you whisper hi, she almost didn't register it was you. Your hair was damp, the ends made to looks greasy with hair gel and your hood covering just enough of your face and smudged eye liner, fake bruise, that Tom wouldn't see you if he opened the door. 

"Let me in" you say loudly, almost begging, switching straight into your role. Sandra jumps, the sound of you trying to push on the door. You hear someone shuffling around inside the apartment. 

"Go away. I can't help you." She says back through the crack, sadly, tears building. 

"Come on, don't say that, you haven't even heard what I need. . ." You give a condescending lilt to your voice, friendly but desperate. 

"I don't care, I want you to leave." She says again, a little firmer. You nudge the door again, catching a glimpse of Tom entering the living room. 

"Sandra, please!!!" You beg louder " don't turn your back on me! You're all I have in this world!" You start to strain your voice, tears falling, a heartbreaking sob as you tap the door. 

"I'm sorry, Jenny... I'm sorry." She shuts the door, and you begin pounding on it like your life depended on it.

"Sandra! Sandra! Open the door!" You scream kicking it "please don't do this me, I need your help! Please! Please!" You continue hitting it until you hear Sandra break down in tears inside.

"Go away! Just go!" She screams. 

"You fucking bitch! I hate you!" You yell back, kicking the door once last time for good measure. Making loud footsteps away as you pelt down the stairs. You then sick your headphones in, handing one to Max, watching the phone you head outside and round the corner. 

"I'm sorry about that." You hear Sandra's voice wobbling with emotion. 

"Are you okay?" You watch as Tom checks on her, sweet naive Tom. 

"That was my sister. I haven't seen her in, like, six months, but when she comes by it only means one thing. She needs money... All happy families are alike and all that..." You look up at Max who watches with a stern face. 

"Right. How about a drink?" He offers, she nods as they head out onto the fire escape, and cosy up drinking whiskey. 

"I had it pretty easy. I was good in school, I had teachers who helped me get into college. My sister wasn't so lucky. Some of the homes she was put in were a nightmare."

"That's not your fault." You carry on listening to them both, you knew she could handle it but trust wasn't in your nature. 

"I know, but she's the only family I've got. And no matter how many times she takes advantage of me, I find it impossible not to help her."

"You're a good person, Sandra." You try not to smirk. 

"About a year ago I got a call from the police. I thought they were calling to tell me she had died. She hadn't, she had just gotten arrested. And I... I remember being disappointed. I remember thinking it wouldn't be so bad if... I am not a good person, Tom.

"Yes, you are..." You look up at Max as Tom cocoons her with his arms as she weeps into his chest.

"She likes him too much." Max frowns. 

"As long as she does the job. . ." 

"Hmm." 

"Come on, I need a shower, I'm board of looking like a junkie." You say closing down the phone and taking the headphones back. You both walk to the car, Max opening the passenger seat for you before you drive back to the apartment. 

. . . . . . . . . . . .

You stand out of view, as you watch Sandra and Tom. You call her phone and watches as she grimaces at your number appearing.  

"Hello?" 

"Have you got the volume down?" 

"Yeah..."

"Can he hear me down the phone?" You ask as she looks disheveled and worried talking to you, Tom watches, you see him trying to listen. 

"I don't know. . ." 

"Make a scene, you need to leave in a panic." 

"What?! Okay... I said okay!" You smirk as you close the phone before walking away and peeping round to see Tom left alone and confused. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

"I thought Max was going to be here." Sandra looked at you with a disappointed look in her eyes. "It was our con." 

"You like him don't you?" Sandra looks at you confused. 

"The mark, Tom." You clarify, of course you could tell she'd liked Max at the start, who wouldn't but no, there was something about her lack of excitement in what she'd just achieved as you stood there in the station, out the way pf prying eyes and cameras, that suggest Max had been right, she did like him too much. 

"He's a good man." 

"You can't cheat an honest man. . ." you reminded her slowly. 

"But I just did."  You roll your eyes, though secretly it was even better than you'd planed.

"If you still feel bad for the pocket money you've just stolen in a weeks time, call this number." You hand her a card, taking the bag with the money in it. 

"Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars is pocket money to you?" She scoffs. 

"Say it louder rookie." You raise a brow "Here. . ." you hand her a smilier looking bag to the one full of cash, you count out some money and chuck it in the bag "this has your share in it, a lease to a new apartment out of town." 

"You're getting rid of me? How do I know thats the amount Max promised" She said a little defensive. 

"Sandy no. . ." you say zipping the bag back up "I expect to hear from you very soon and as far as the amount. . . You'll have to trust me won't you?" You blow her a kiss before placing a pair of sunglass on and walking out the station.