Lady (Rated M)

I'm Sorry

Stevie woke with a pounding in her head, instantly burying it into her pillow to try and ease that sharp pain shooting through her brain. She felt an arm around her waist, frowning.

Cautiously lifting her head, she glanced to her left, her heart stopping seeing the man next to her, naked.

  She quickly lifted the sheets, checking her own body and her breath stopping seeing she was naked as well. She muffled a sob, quickly sneaking out of bed so not to wake him. Peering around the room she looked for her clothes, tugging them on as she got out of the bedroom as fast as she could.

   Entering his dark living room, she squinted trying to find her purse, banging her knee against the oak coffee table. "Shit!" She swore, freezing when she heard him stirring in the next room.

    "Where are you going?"

   His voice made her turn around, seeing his wild curls and sleepy eyes.

    "I-I have to go." She stuttered out.

   "Why?" He frowned.

    "Last night was a mistake." She felt tears burning her eyes. "I was drunk, and it shouldn't have happened."

"Stevie-"

    "I have a boyfriend who loves me at home, I shouldn't be in your bed, I shouldn't be here at all." She finally found her purse, heading towards the front door.

"At least let me call you a cab, it's freezing outside."

    She nodded reluctantly, wiping the tears from her eyes as she watched him pick up the phone, calling her a car. He set the phone down, looking over at her as she stood stiffly, her arms crossed across her chest as she kept her gaze  on the floor.  "Stevie-"

    "Thank you." She cut him off, making sure she had everything, double checking as she glanced across the room.  She headed for the door, tending when Lindsey grabbed her arm.

   "Stevie can we talk about last night?"

   She glared up at him, yanking her arm away from his grasp. "Nothing happened last night." She emphasized. "Last night is a memory in your head and that's all. Do not show up at my work, do not try to buy me a drink, just don't do anything."

    She left him with that, tears streaming down her face as she hurried down his porch stairs, racing to the end of his drive way, sitting herself down on the stoned ledge of the entryway. She tried to not have a panic attack, taking deep breaths and blowing them out slowly as her face grew red.

After what seemed like forever, a car finally pulled up, Stevie climbing in the back seat and rattling off her address.

The ride was silent, Stevie laying her head against the cold window as she starred at the passing scenery, squeezing her eyes shut as a tear rolled down her face.

Pulling up to her apartment building, she thanked the man, climbing out of the car and making her way up the stairs to their place. It took her a moment to find her keys, shakily putting them in the door as she twisted, entering her tiny home she shared with Joe, holding her breath the whole time.

Not seeing him around, she tiptoed to the bedroom, slowly opening the door so it wouldn't creek, seeing his mess of blonde hair scattered across one of the pillows.

Quietly shutting the door, she headed for the bathroom. Locking the door behind her, she dropped her purse on the floor, turning on the shower.

As she waited for the water to heat up, she looked in the mirror, tears forming in her eyes again. Her hair was a wreck, her mascara smudged under her eyes and her lipstick smeared.

Not able to look at herself anymore, she turned away, taking off her clothes as she slipped into the shower.

Last nights events played in her head, it becoming harder to breath as she gasped for air, tears streaming down her face. She lost her balance, stumbling into the back wall of the shower, sliding down into the bottom of the tub. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around herself and beginning to sob.

She cried, letting the hot water stream over her, sitting there until it grew cold. Shakily climbing out of the tub, she turned the water off, sniffling as she wrapped a towel around herself.

Heading into the bedroom, her heart stopped seeing Joe awake, sitting on the side of the bed with his back faced to hers.

She didn't know what to say, her words caught in her throats as she just starred at him.

"Where were you last night?"

"I stayed the night at Candace's." She had an excuse ready on the spot. Already thinking of what'd she say in the car. He didn't respond, Stevie gnawing on her bottom lip nervously. "Joe?"

    "I'm sorry Stevie."

    "What?" She looked at him in shock, her heart falling to the pit of her stomach.

    "I have been such a dick to you lately, and all you've done is work your ass off, trying to make sure we have a roof of our heads. I don't deserve you."

    His words were tearing her apart, guilt eating away at her. "Joe please don't say that."

      "I laid here last night all alone, and all I could think about was how badly it sucked not having you next to me. I don't want to be the one to drive you away Stevie, I don't want to loose you."

    She couldn't speak, only a small squeak escaping her mouth as tears formed in her eyes.

    "Stephanie? Look, baby I know I've been a real dick to you lately, and I promise you that's going to stop. Just please don't get frustrated with me."

     She didn't have any words, wanting to disappear from sight. He stood, approaching her and tucking a wet strand of hair behind her ear, kissing her as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace.

          She buried her head into his chest, tears streaming down her face as she began to sob, Joe comforting her as he ran a hand up and down her back.

   Tears formed in his own eyes, rocking her back and forth. "I promise you baby, it's gonna be different."

    They both cried, each for a different reason as they held on tight to one another.