Girl on the Bench [Completed]

Tiger watching prey

Rosa

I'm not sure how long we stayed wrapped up like that but soon I heard Dominic's breathing become softer . I moved my head slightly and saw that he had fallen asleep. I gently touched his cheek, he looked so sad and so tired. His grip loosened around me and I managed to slide away. I put a blanket over him and walked over to the kitchen. I was adding to the soup when the lift opened and Lola walked in.

"Hi," I said quietly and waved my spoon in Dominic's direction.

Lola's eyes looked at Dominic and darkened. She frowned and looked back at me. I realised how much they resembled each other.

She walked over to me and leaned against the kitchen counter. She tapped a cigarette out of the packet from her pocket and lit it. She breathed deeply and exhaled. Her narrowed eyes, never moved from me.

"What are you doing here?" She hissed, her voice loaded with fury.

I took a step back, "I'm looking after Dominic. He's been attacked."

She barked out a dry, bitter laugh, "Is that what he told you?"

"Yes. That's all he said," I looked at her puzzled. "What's going on?"

Lola dropped her lit cigarette into my coffee. She took a step toward me and grabbed the front of my shirt. I could smell the nicotine as she pulled me towards her. I could see the flecks of mascara on her cheeks, the red rimmed eyes and her tiny pupils.

She was high.

"Get.Out," she whispered, her lips close to my ear.

I shook my head, "No, Dominic needs someone to look after him."

"I wasn't asking you, I was telling you. Now, take that fucking pot of dishwater and fuck off before I drown you in it."

She was high but she meant it. Years of looking after my Dad and dealing with his friends had shown me how they could love you one minute and hate you the next. Drugs meant you were volatile.

I nodded and step away, gently plucking her fingers off my shirt. I switched off the soup and walked around the counter to grab my bag. Lola watched me like a tiger watching prey. All the hairs were up on the back of my neck. She raised an arm and pointed to the lift.

"Fuck off," she mouthed silently.

I looked at Dominic, fast asleep on the sofa and felt tears form then I did as she asked and fucked off.

**

Dominic

I woke up and everything felt cold. I opened my eyes and frowned. The soup was gone, the candle blown out, the flowers in the bin. Where was Rosa? I heard a noise from my left and saw Lola sitting, legs crossed in a chair.

"Dom, are you ok?" She was at my side and hugged me tightly. I winced in pain.

"You're sore, let me fix that," Lola reached for her works.

"NO!" I grabbed her wrist and held onto it.

"Dom,you're hurting me," she mumbled.

I let go and watched her rub her wrist as she got up and sat back down in the chair.

"Rosa," I said.

"Oh, she's gone," Lola said.

"Gone?" I asked, then a sudden cold dread filled me. "Did you come here by yourself? Has Paul been here?"

God no, please no. He would...I would...

Lola laughed, "Dom relax, I told her to leave. We are family, we are all we've got. I look after you. Not some girl you're shagging."

"We've not.. that's not what I meant,Lola. What's going on? What were you doing injecting me with that shit? You know how much I hate it. Especially after Mum, Dad and now you."

Lola stood up, gathered her works into her bag.

"We're not talking about this. Paul sent me, he says you've spent too much time sitting on your arse. Get to work. He's sent you a list and you're not to come home until you've got all the money."

I laughed at her, "Oh, you're his favourite again are you?"

She slapped me hard. It hurt.

"Get to work, Dom."

**

I looked at the list that Paul had sent me. It was going to be a long night. I considered calling Rosa but I knew if I heard her voice that I would have to see her. I smiled as best I could when I thought of her. The way she wrapped her arms carefully around me.

I pulled up outside a squat and got out the car. I walked to the door and went in without knocking. I didn't need weapons and I rarely used my fists. They always gave me the money they owed, they knew I had an agenda to save my sister and I wasn't going to let them stand in my way.

**

Rosa

I finished cleaning the living room in the house and inhaled deeply. All of the furniture had been removed from all the rooms apart from the things I had in my studio flat. The house was bare but it still held that musty, oily scent that comes from cigarettes and heroin being melted. I had come back from Dominic's flat, opened all the windows and cleaned. I poured bleach everywhere and washed and scrubbed everywhere I could find.

I didn't know what to do with the house. Mum had loved it but I didn't know if I could live there. I didn't even really like my flat anymore. I didn't feel safe there. I checked my phone and saw that it had just gone 2pm. I went to my flat, made a coffee and sat, legs crossed in the sun.

I leaned back against the door and closed my eyes. I could sell it and move into the flat above the cafe. I could sell it all and leave the city. I could travel. Aside from Sophia and Callie, I didn't really have anyone.

Dominic crept into my thoughts. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know how he made me feel. He obviously had his own worries with Lola but there was something, something gnawing at the back of my thoughts. I pictured him standing at the doorway to his bedroom in his boxers. His bruised and broken body. How he has cried out when I taken his shirt off...

My eyes flew open.

He had track marks. He has been injecting. I felt sick to my stomach. He was using drugs? Of course he was! No wonder Lola wanted me to clear out, she was using them too.

Disappointment filled me. I had started to care about him. He was using drugs. I loathed them with a passion. They had ruined my Dad, killed his relationship with Mum dead and left me in fear most nights.

"Penny for them."

I looked up and groaned, I didn't have the energy for this.

Dark wavy hair, bright green eyes and a cheeky smile that often made me weak at the knees. Tall, lanky frame clad in jeans and black t-shirt.

Why did it have to be him?

Chris.