Lou and You.

Chapter 6

Lou tells her story one beer after another. "we did so much together." She tells you the type of cons they did. "oh, we also rigged bingo." But you just look at her blankly. "what?" she asks you.

"I just didn't know my boss." Lou turns towards you. "I mean, Lou, is a con artist." and you continue, "and I think I only understand the last part of your sentence."

Lou looks at you up and down. You're wearing a white T-shirt almost see through and a pair a blue jean. "so you're the good girl. Huh."

You ignore her and ask, "anyway, so how did you guys got together?"

Lou plays with her drinks and think back to that night. They were both drunk after they successfully pull off a small con. "I joke about it." she pauses. "I said we did so much together, we are basically married." oh god. Don't cry, Lou. "Deb just giggled. Probably she was drunk. Then I went up and kissed her." She takes a deep breath. "But then she told me, I'll always be her best friend. nothing more. Nothing Less."

You hand her a tissue, but Lou ignores it and wipe her tears with her hands. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"yeh well. So do I." Lou nods and thinks it's good to have company. She doesn't know how long you will be there for her, so she decides to let it all out. "and guess what?"

You look up to her blue eyes as Lou continues, "she left me for some guy, because she said rigging bingo was not enough." she thinks back to the night when Debbie left her.

"come on, you leaving me for him?" Lou grabs Debbie's arm. "you'll always be my best friend, Lou." Debbie give her one last smile. "But I don't want to be friends. Deb." she pulls away from her. "Don't you know what you mean to me?" she stands there alone, talking to no one as the taxi drives away.

"I guess, she means I'm not good enough for her." Lou stares at her beer and only sees her reflection.

"that's not true." you whisper but Lou heard you. "sometimes, when we fall in love, we do a lot of things for our partners. The good. The bad." She turns to you and listen carefully as you speak. "...you realized 'oh, she didn't even care.' Then the heartbreak. The tears. And at the end. We just lost who we really are."

Lou agrees because that is exactly what she is doing right now. Dedicating her life to Debbie Ocean and only to find herself drunk and tearing up.

But of course, Lou Miller wouldn't let her true thoughts out. "you sound like a fucking therapist."

You chuckle. "you just look like me when I was younger."

'Excuse me?' Lou starts to smile. "younger? You still look like a baby if I didn't know your age."

"if this is a height thing, don't talk to me." you put up one hand and try to hide your smile.

You're looking quite adorable so Lou decides to tease you more. "oh honey, of course it is a height thing." she is enjoying this. "what are you? Like 4 feet?"

"excuse me! I'm taller than that." she can see you smile widens.

"so, like 4"1?" Lou is relentless.

"no!" you look at her with your arm cross. "I'm 5."

She chuckles and take a sip, "same difference."

You get up and goes back behind the counter. It becomes a favorite moment for Lou. She like watching you cleaning up the glass, especially your expression and your hands.

"you know," she starts. "I don't know what to do now. ... now that she is in jail."

"you still have your club. And your ladies." you tell her.

Lou agrees with half of it. 'The club, yes. But the other half. No.' She fully understands that those woman means nothing but a night of pleasure. what she really needs is something or someone to fulfill her emptiness.

Lou hands you an empty bottle. "why is she in jail?" you asks.

"because that guy she left me for, put her in jail." she is really holding a grudge.

"is that why you were drunk tonight?"

"no. She's being in jail for a year now." she tries to be honest with you. "I just went to our old apartment and clean up some shit" then she remembers, "and saw a photo album." she stops herself before she tears up again.

Lou stands up wobbly and swear she hear birds chipping outside. You look at your phone, "oh woah. It's already 6 am."

she leans again the counter and try not to fall. "yep. No wonder I hear birds."

you pause and listen. "no... you can't."

"I heard it."

"you're drunk."

You start gathering your stuff and head toward the exit. But Lou just stands still. "come on, blondie." she looks up to your eyes. "I need to lock it up." she smiles when you repeats what always said to you.

Lou follows you outside and watches you locking the door. You're just so tiny compare to her, but you're also more reliable than her. She wants to depends on you more, more than she probably wants.

"do you even know where you live?" you ask when she hugs you closely.

"I do. But I'm too tired." she leans into you more.

"then sleep in the club." you suggest.

"no. The club don't have beds." Lou wants to be comfortable. "I'm sleeping with you tonight." You turn around and give her a look. But she just ignores and yawn. 'hmm. Sleepy.'

"fine." you give into her cuteness. "but you sleep in the couch." you pull out your key and open the door next to the club.

"so, you do live here." Lou just stands there and looks like she about to sleep standing.

"yeh. 2B." you watch with amusement. "you coming?" No answers. You then grab her hands. "come on."

Lou looks at your hand. You are gripping her so tight, but she is not protesting. In fact, she like it.

"This is so small." Lou is now protesting and see your eyes roll. "it's a one-bedroom apartment. Of course. It's small." you try really hard not to state the obvious.

Lou mentally nods to herself. There's a bit of a booze in her that still makes her head fuzzy. 'no wonder, it's so small.' she starts wandering around, not really. She just heads straight toward your bedroom. 'looks so comfy."

"no. That's my bed." you walk pass her and go inside to change.

"oh come on. I'm tired." Lou pout. Now, she has a frowning mouth.

You poke you head out after finish changing. "Lou." she looks at you. "do you want to shower? If n..."

"together?" Lou's face lights up immediately. "sure."

But you reject her like you did the other night. "I take that as no." and leaving her disappointed.

Lou walks toward her couch. 'it's small' she repeats. She put her jacket aside and start making her "bed" comfortable. She picks up the blanket and lay on the couch. She can hear the water running in your shower, but she is too tired to make any comments.

Lou don't know when she fell asleep, but she can feel that someone is next to her and putting more blanket on her shoulder. "hmm." Lou sits up. No one is here. Then She head toward the bathroom and takes a quick shower. She walks back out and look at her couch. 'this is a fucking mess.' she said to herself 'I want to be comfortable.' now she is having a tantrum.

Lou opens your bedroom door quietly and tip toe inside. She sees you sleeping steadily. Half covering your face with a messy hair. Her heart just warms up. Lou try not to stare too much and get into your bed sneakily. The bed is so warm and soft. Lou release a relief sigh. 'this is nice.' she turns to you and start staring again. she wants to cup your cheek but you shift a bit when she raises her hand. Lou smiles. 'maybe later.' she slowly closes her eyes and follow you into a dream.