Kimberly smiled at her again, this woman was fucking crazy, she really fucking was. Carla had just called her a crazy person and she smiles at her? She shook her head again in disbelief, thinking again that this woman was just crazy. It was then that Kimberly spoke, and all Carla could do was shake her head yet again. She took in a deep breath her hands slowly coming up from the floor to touch her face. Using the palms of her hands she rubs along her eyes before dragging her hands down along her cheeks. They then dropped to the floor again as she sighed a little. “You really are fucking crazy,” she paused as a second thought came into her mind. “I would never be friends with someone who is fucking crazy,” she continued before finally realizing what Kimberly was wearing. A mixture of horrifying and mortifying emotions and just a touch of embarrassment that ran through her as she blushed and looked away.

Carla quickly told the woman to put more clothes on, the indecency of the clothing that she had on was too much for Carla to take. When Kimberly spoke she blushed all the more, her back hunching up a little as she tried to hide her face behind the curtain of her brown hair. “Shut up!” She yelled even more embarrassed now than she had been before. Carla knew why she was blushing, but that didn’t make her understand why the woman was teasing her about her reaction or why the woman wanted her to blush in the first place. She didn’t look up even after Kimberly continued speaking. However, when Kimberly claim that Carla was ‘checking her out’ Carla gasped in horror, looking up quickly her brown eyes wide in her mouth hung open the little. “I would never do that!” She exclaimed. She then quickly looked away before speaking continuing “you look like a freakin’ whore in that shit.” However, the truth was, it was just a little too sexy for Carla to deal with. Then again, it may be Carla’s lack of anything sexy, or maybe it was just her overreacting to something a little showy.

Carla’s heart was pounding in her chest, her face still beat red as the image of Kimberly in that - in that outfit flashed before her eyes. It was something Carla really had only seen in pictures or videos, maybe if Kimberly had been less model-esque, Carla wouldn’t have been so freaked out about the whole debacle. Luckily for her, Kimberly finally change the topic. It was somewhat of a relief for Carla as she let a small sigh. However, the question just made Carla glare over at Kimberly her face still a slight tinge of pink, “are you fucking mad? Oh wait, we already established that you are. Why the hell, would shooting someone make me feel better? Nothing you do will make me trust you. All I wanted was to go home, I don’t know you despite what you claim, and shooting someone isn’t really on my agenda. It was a mistake, I panicked and my finger pulled the trigger. So get off your fucking high-horse and get over it.” She said, her true colours showing as her potty-mouth came out in full force.

It was something she had picked up from Hale. No matter how much he tried to lessen his swearing around her, she still swore a lot when she was angry. It was like a defense mechanism. Maybe her subconscious thought it made her look more intimidating. After all she was short, slightly tubby and totally un-muscular female. Something that just screams weakling or come get me, in her own mind. Looking away again, she stared at the floor for a moment clearing her throat of saliva, she stood up. “If you’re not going to let me go, I’m going to my room.” She said sternly before starting to march from the room. As to why she need to announce it, she didn’t know and she now found herself blushing again feeling foolish. If the woman was telling the truth about seeing Liz tomorrow she’d get her chance to get away then, if not. . . maybe she really would have to try to murder someone. . . . her fist tightened at the thought. It would go against everything that she promised Hale.

Kim rolled her eyes as Carla said she would never be friends with someone who was crazy. Really? Because when they first met Kim was in a much crazier state than she was at the moment. “I never said that we had been actual friends.” She retorted softly before seeing Carla blush and look away. Kim couldn’t help but tease her about it; she had such a cute and innocent little blush after all. Not the mention the fact that she could make Carla blush made Kim so happy. When Carla yelled at her telling her to ‘shut up’ Kim laughed slightly at the deeper blush Carla tried to hide.

When Carla said she looked like a whore, after she tried flirting with her, Kim looked away from Carla, tying the see through robe around her body. The smile gone and replaced with a sad frown, her feelings actually hurt by being called a whore. She moved over to the couch as Carla continued throwing almost hateful words at her loudly. After she was done talking, everything was quiet for a few moments, the tension up high between the two, Kim kept her eyes away from meeting Carla’s frame, even as she spoke.

“Whatever, I don’t fucking care if you go to your room, I’m not letting you go.” Kim answered softly and even a bit sadly as she marched out of the room. As soon as she was sure that Carla was out of the room. Kim started crying softly lying down on the couch, even though she was trying to be quiet, her house did echo at times. After all for just once Kim actually didn’t want something from the person she was trying to help. Her reasons for trying to save Carla were actually done from the heart more than from the pocket.
~~~
In the morning Kim was woken up by Ethan coming into the house, tired Ethan dragged his feet along the floor, he had been forced to stay outside all night long to watch Carla’s room. He found Kimberly passed out on the couch holding onto one of the pillows, that Kim had been hugging last night to calm herself down while crying. Softly he shook Kim’s shoulder to wake her up, only to have Kim point her loaded gun in his face, startled.

He stumbled back, hands in the air looking at her wide eyed. Kim had always told her not to shake her awake after crying, he of course though never remembered. Kim lowered the gun looking at him for a moment before he softly wrapped his arms around her pulling her off the couch into a tight hug. Kim buried her face into his shirt for just a moment letting herself cry just a little bit more, often times Ethan was like Kim’s teddy bear.

Pulling away from him, Kim gave him soft smile before wiping her eyes and turning away. Ethan went into the kitchen and started cooking. It wasn’t that he didn’t care why Kim was crying, it was that he knew she wouldn’t tell him why. Kim didn’t like to cry, it made her look weak like she really was, Kim had to be perfect. It was like Carla’s cussing, it was her way of acting tough, it was the reason being called a whore hit her so hard. So instead of asking, Ethan did as he always did, he went into the kitchen and started making French toast the only way to cheer Kim up.

Kim headed up the stairs to her own bedroom, right next to Carla’s, changing into some clean clothes before grabbing the least showy dress for Carla. Before knocking roughly on Carla’s door to wake her. “Get up Carla! Your cousin should be here soon! I have clothes for you.” She said loudly before listening for the sound of the dresser being moved and the door to open.

Outfit

Her voice had lowered as Carla made her way from the room. She couldn’t help but hesitate for a moment as she heard the sadness. Her hand hovered over the railing before she shook her head and took the stairs two at a time. Carla knew pain and sadness. She could feel a shaky breath leave her slightly parted lips as she came to her room and slammed the door. This time though, rather than moving the dresser she pressed along the door and slipped to the floor. She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her head on them. She closed her eyes and started to cry again.

~~~

Carla didn’t wake till the sun started to beam through her window. She blinked a little disordered as her hand came up to shield her eyes a little as she winced at the light. She was on the floor again. She could feel her body screaming at her. Her neck, shoulders, back and spots along her spin. Sighing softly a small grunt mixed in, she looked around the room again. Last night she really hadn’t taken the chance to look at the room. However, as she did take in the room she couldn’t help but yawn, letting her hand flutter over her lips before she sighed and leaned along the door again. She wasn’t really sure what to do at this point.

After a moment she pushed up off the floor and walked across the room towards the window. She checked for Ethan. He was gone, or was he really? Her hand hovered over the window wanting to open it, but her hand fell to her side. It couldn’t be that easy, but then again why would have Ethan been set outside her window all night if it had an alarm? It was then that she really looked out the window through the bright sun. Her hand had come up again to made a shadow for her eyes. Carla was amazed at what she saw. Huge houses, real houses, with green grass and flower gardens. Mail boxes by the doors, nice cars, and news papers laying at the end of the driveways. Carla let her hand come up and rest on the warm glass. This was a place she had only ever heard of.

Carla’s family had always been rather poor, living in the ghetto town houses, and then her uncle’s farm out in the middle of now where before she got stuck living in a shitty apartment building with cock roaches. She couldn’t help but feel just a touch of jealousy. Why was it such bad people could get a place so nice, when. . . when she could hardly get by on what she had. Before she could start to cry again she looked away quickly and started to walk over towards the bed. Just as she started to lay down she realized how much she needed to piss.

She looked around the room and remembered the bathroom was down the hall. She couldn’t help but frown as she sat on the bed. She didn’t like the idea of leaving the room. She was debating about trying to find something to pee in when a hard knock startled her. She screamed in surprise jumping a little before her hand gripped her chest tightly. Her heart racing a mile a minute her eyes a little wide with surprises before she frowned. Carla stuck her tongue out at the door before yelling. “Go away!” She hadn’t really thought that through. Her first thoughts were to just get the evil away and then she flittered what had been said.

She made an annoyed face at the door before getting up and slowly walking over to the door and pausing just for a second before sighing and opening the door.

Carla had forgotten how much taller Kimberly was then her. Her eyes were right at Kimberly’s chest, making Carla blush just slightly before glaring away. However, as her eyes trailed away her could see this red patterned dress. At first she didn’t think anything of it before she paled a little. She looked up in horror at the woman. “There is no way in hell I am wearing a dress. I’d rather stay here in this.” Carla said her arms coming up to cross over her chest. She was still in a pair of Kimberly’s pj’s which were much like something Carla would have warn at home, only Carla’s would have been baggier.
Outfit

Kim sighed as she heard Carla yell at her to go away, despite the fact that she said that her cousin would be coming soon. This woman was so damn confusing! One minute she wanted to go home and the next she was telling to go away! At this point it was almost enough to make Kim regret saving Carla. Almost. Then again she hadn’t had much sleep the night before, that could also be the reason she felt so annoyed by this. “No! I’m not going away.” She answered loudly, glaring at the door in front of her, until it finally opened. She had thought the dresser would be in the way, blocking the door as it had been last night. If she had known it wasn’t she would have just came it when told to go away.

Kim honestly hadn’t noticed just how much shorter than her Carla was. The woman looked away blushing once more, and Kim could help the smirk that played on her lips seeing it. Why in the hell did Carla blush have to be so cute? Kim bit her lip softly to keep herself from picking on the girl again like last night. She could help that she wanted to pick Carla for blushing; it was Kim’s way of flirting.

When Carla said something about wearing the dress though, Kim pursed her lips at her. Dammit! Why did she have to be so hard headed! “Look I’m trying to be nice, but you are starting to piss me off. So let me put it this way. This is my least whoreish dress….and being called a whore last night! I don’t fucking care….” Kim’s fist clutched slightly on the dress wrinkling it a little bit. She took a shaky calming breath, closing her eyes, before she rubbed a hand down her face. Kim was tired she spent an hour crying on the couch last night, and looked like hell, in her mind, because she didn’t have on makeup. “Could you please just fucking…….put on the dress?” She asked quietly and sadly, Kim just wanted to go downstairs and have her French toast.

Carla had totally missed the smirk and the lip bite from Kimberly’s reactions to Carla’s blush and only saw her lips press into a firm line of frustration and anger towards Carla dislike for the dress. It really made Carla wondered if this woman even owned a pair of pants. There eyes then connected as Kimberly started to speak. Carla’s brown eyes hard and guarded. However, that didn’t stop her from seeing the hurt behind the mask of anger Kimberly put up. It made Carla frown deeper as she struggled to keep her own anger up. When Kimberly closed her eyes trying to keep calm, Carla’s eyes flickered towards the dress for a moment, a hint of sadness showing through her eyes as she curled her fist together in a different kind of anger. It was like when she was angry at Hale, and she had hurt him. . .she became guilty and just wanted to say sorry, even if he had been the one to wrong her.

Her lips were now pressed together in a firm line as she met Kimberly’s eyes again, just staring at the woman for a minute. “Fine.” She said harshly snatching the dress away quickly making sure no contact could happen between them. “But then I’ll need a shower and a razor. Because – yeah.” She said her awkwardness showing again as she blushed just slightly glaring off to the side as she clutched the dress in both her hands. The truth was, because Carla never wore anything to expose her legs, she never shaved her legs unless it was summer. No one saw much of her skin, and if she didn’t think showering in a bathing suit was weird she totally would. She swallowed a little, before taking in a small shaky breath. The way she had been acting since. . . since she had been saved by this woman was totally against who she really was. Carla may be shy and awkward but usually. . . she was nice. She only got hostile when she felt in danger. It was that or she’d freeze up and cry. Which she had done first. Her mind had just shifted from the tears and shut down into anger.

She didn’t dare look up at Kimberly as she waited to be shown her shower things. She hoped that she didn’t miss Liz because of her own selfish angry pride. Why couldn’t Carla just. . . back down? Be the people pleaser she was.

A soft happy smile spread on Kimberly’s face as Carla agreed to wear the dress. Even though Carla said so roughly and snatched the dress from her grip, still the fact that Carla agreed made Kimberly happy. At the mention of a shower Carla wasn’t the only one who blushed and looked away from the person in front of her. Though of course it was for a different reason. Kim let out an embarrassed laugh, her tone maybe a touch lighter than it had been only just a moment before. “Ri…right how rude of me. Um I’ show you where it is.” She asked before turning and going down the hallway.

The bathroom was on the other side of the hall, right behind the stairway, and as Kim pasted her room she shut the door. The upstairs bathroom, which was the master bath, was rather large. With both a walk in shower and a tub, the wall and title matched perfectly. Kim opened the lien closet, which was full of towels and washrags, sorted not only by the different sizes but the different colors as well. While Kim had to have things like clothes and towels sorted by color, Ethan had to have them sorted by size.

Pulling a washrag and hair towel out for Carla before handing them to her, she did have to bend over a bit to get the third towel for Carla, one of the things she hated about had Ethan did things was he always forget she was taller than other women. Either way she turned handing Carla the third towel, all the same color, before blushing and looking away from her. The thought that had been in her head before still there. “You can use whatever body wash, shampoo, and conditioner you want. The cherry vanilla is mine, Irish spring is Ethan’s.” She said as she went to the medicine cabinet and got a razor, though when she went to hand it to Carla she stopped for a moment.

What Carla had said in the kitchen last night about ending her life still lingered in Kim’s mind. She locked eyes with Carla, a slightly worried look on her face before frowning and handing her the razor. “Please, please don’t hurt yourself.” She said looking into her eyes, her tone almost begging, before explaining how to turn the hot and cold water on in the shower. “There will be French toast if you are hungry, seeing how you didn’t eat yesterday.” She then left Carla to her shower and went downstairs to eat. Ethan had already made plates for the three of them, though as sshe sat at the table, Kim could hear him snoring in the living room.

Bathroom

Since Carla had been also blushing and looking away she hadn’t seen Kimberly blush. However, when she heard the awkwardness in Kimberly’s voice Carla couldn’t help but look up slightly surprised before looking away again still blushing but for a different reason. She clung to the dress as if it was her life line as she saw Kimberly turn and walk down the hallway. Carla noticed when the woman closed her bedroom door, making Carla wonder. She paused for a moment looking at the closed door before hurrying after her captor. Coming up to the bathroom, she remembered it from the night before. Although she had been busy trying to get out she hadn’t really looked around.

It was like the bathroom seen in fancy hotels and in rich people’s home on tv. The shower made her uneasy. Who in their right mind wanted a shower that you be seen in. Clear glass, not fogged glass or even a current. Sure it looked nice, but. . . showers kept you hidden for reasons. Carla had been so focused on the shower that she jumped a little when Kimberly handed her the towels. “Sorry.” She mumbled in embarrassment before peeking over towards Kimberly. God she was pretty. She looked at Kimberly’s face, before she turned away making Carla pulled the towels to her chest as she looked down at her bare feet on the cool tile floor.

When Kimberly handed her a last towel she looked at it confused before glancing up at Kimberly and taking it. “You. . . know. . . I’d be fine with one towel.” She said softly blushing a little. “I honestly. . . don’t know what to do with all of these.” She said as she noticed the blush on Kimberly’s cheeks making her blush even more before looking down at them. They were soft, almost new feeling, better quality then any towel she had at home. But when she brought up the shampoos Carla glanced up and over to them, before hearing Kimberly move away. She watched the woman pull out a razor and start to bring it over to her. Carla shifted the things in her arms before holding out her hand to take the razor before seeing Kimberly hesitated. The blush that had faded came back making her look away again.

“Right-I-umm-yeah. It won’t happen.” She said softly before taking the razor from Kimberly and watching from a bit behind Kimberly, leaning over her just a touch to watch what she was doing, before nodding her head and watching Kimberly leave closing the door behind her. Carla sighed softly to herself and closed her eyes. She placed the towels down before the shower door and started to undress. However, as she did so she realized. . . her body had been stripped of all hair. She stared at herself in the mirror the horror of what happened to her starting to really sink in.

Her eyes started to water up, making her look away from herself totally disgusted and got in the shower and started to angrily scrub herself. She washed herself almost four times before she simply sat down on the floor on the shower, letting the hot water pour down on her red skin. She sobbed softly to herself.

Kimberly never thought of the fact that Carla would be uncomfortable about the clear glassed shower. After all Kimberly was perfectly comfortable with it, though she was comfortable with her body, also she knew that she and Ethan had no attraction for each other whatsoever. Had she been aware it would bother her, Kimberly would have suggested the downstairs guest bathroom that had a curtain. She noticed the fact that Carla jumped as she handed the towels over, she smiled brightly and nodded as the girl muttered sorry. Still quite happy that she gotten her to wear the dress, before turning to give Carla the last towel.

“Well you can only use the one if you want. Though the small towel was for your hair, big towel was for your body.” She explained still blushing. She was still worried about giving her the razor; she didn’t want Carla hurting herself, as she had suggested doing last night. The last thing she wanted was to spend 1600 dollars to save Carla from being sold to a lot of nasty old men and pimps that had bought most of the women at the auction, just to give her the razor she used to kill herself.

Even when she said it wouldn’t happen, Kimberly was still hesitant, though when Carla reached to take to razor from her, she let go of it, showing Carla how to turn on the hot and cold water before leaving her to shower. She went downstairs to the kitchen to find that Ethan had already finished making the French toast for the three of them, and was now passed out on the couch snoring.

Kimberly thought about waiting for Carla to eat, so that she wouldn’t be the only one eating. Though after about a half hour she put Carla’s French toast in the microwave to make sure nothing got on it, before making coffee and eating her own. It was taking forever for Carla to get out of the shower; she had been in there for a little over an hour before Kimberly started to grow a little impatient. While she understood that Carla had been through a lot, her cousin was supposed to show up soon, and Carla had given her nothing but trouble, even over wearing a dress.

Climbing the stairs she went to the bathroom door to check on her, to make sure that she hadn’t hurt herself. Kimberly’s hand went to the door knob and started to turn it slightly, out of habit more than anything else. She stopped before pushing the door open, her hand moving from the knob, and knocking on the door. “Mio caro, it has been over an hour. Is everything alright?” She asked loudly a trace of worry still is her voice.

The warm water felt good on her skin. Even as it went from burning her to a luke warm. At first she just sat their crying, fighting with herself not to end her life. She couldn’t do that to Hale, not after all he did for her. But she had been violated again and her mind couldn’t take that. The sound of the shower slowly turned to white noise and she could only hear the sound of her own heart pounding in her chest. Pump-pump. . .pump-pump. . .pump-pump. She felt numb to feel any emotion, as the steam in the room made it hard to breath. She started to feel sick, like she wanted to throw up. She figured it was dehydration from being over heated for so long. She moved from the middle of the shower and leaned along the glass of the shower. It felt cool on her skin, it stopped her from totally zoning out like she had at the age of fifteen. Then again when the cops showed up at her doors to tell her about Hale. Hale. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get away from them. I’m sorry I got mixed in all of this when I promised you I wouldn’t.” She whispered to herself before the door handle started to rattle a little, snapping her back to reality.

Her heart felt like it had stopped her eyes wide, her body frozen as she started at where the door had been through the foggy glass of the shower. She could feel her hands shaking as memories of that night came back to her. But then a knock echoed through the room cutting off the white noise of the shower once again. Kimberly’s voice was something of a relief to hear. Carla parted her lips to lie, but all that came out was. “Ah.” Drawn out as if she couldn’t speak. She cut herself off and took in a breath through the thick air. “Ye-yeah! Sorry” She said pausing for a second. “I’ll be out in a minute.” She said before standing up a little shakily using the shower glass to help her. That sick feeling was getting worst as she held her tummy before walking over to turn off the water. Walking out of the shower she started to dry off making sure not to look at herself in the mirror as she knew it would only bring her back to the tears and then the feeling of nothingness again. She couldn’t do that right there. Kimberly already thought she was up to something, she knew the woman would come in this time if Carla didn’t hurry.

Once her body was dry and her hair slightly damp, running a little wild from the towel dry, she frowned at the dress. She took a moment to breathe through the heavy air before sighing to herself. She couldn’t hold off the dress any longer. Slipping into the dress one foot after the other she felt awkward, as if she wasn’t wearing enough. Her legs far too exposed for her likings. She could feel her breath caught a little as she wanted to start to panic. “No Carla, your fine. Just breath.” She said to herself slightly harshly. She couldn’t have another panic attack, she knew if she had one this time she’d end up in the hospital and well, she knew that wouldn’t go well.

The dress was a little loose yet tight on her because of the size difference between the girls, she looked down at herself, staring at the matching red shoes. She didn’t like this, she wanted to rip it off and just go in the pj’s she had on before. Swallowing a little she closed her eyes and made sure to walk pass the mirror without looking at herself. She didn’t know where the hair brush had been and she wasn’t about to look for it so her hair was still a little crazy. Twisting the door handle, she just realized she hadn’t locked the door and cursed at herself for that. She paused with the handled turned before finally pushing it open and peeking through to see Kimberly still there a rush of cool air hitting her as the steam started to pour from the bathroom. “So-sorry for taking so long. . . I, umm, yeah.” She said before stepping out. She could feel the breeze between her legs, making her shift a little uncomfortably. “Umm you. . . wouldn’t have tights I could wear? Just. . . for now?” She couldn’t look at Kimberly as she said that but she made sure to stare somewhere else beside her own feet. She wasn’t sure if she could look at her bare legs and not cry again.

“Ye-yeah! Sorry….I’ll be out in a minute.” Kimberly sighed softly, and moved away a little bit as she waited. However if Carla didn’t come out of the bathroom soon Kimberly would believe that the woman had done something to harm herself or was trying to. It really was a shame that Carla was so intent on not believing her and returning to her cousin, instead of seeing the truth in front of her. Maybe after she saw the truth about Liz, things would get easier. Maybe Carla wouldn’t be acting like a stubborn bitch, for lack of a better term. She stepped forward to go open the bathroom door herself, tired of waiting for Carla’s minute that in her worry, seemed like twenty, as the knob turned.

When Carla opened the door to the bathroom, the stream poured out of the room hitting Kimberly in the face slightly, as the cool air from the hallway flowed into the bathroom to replace the stream. Seeing Carla peek her head out to at her, Kimberly gave a soft relaxed smile. Much calmer that she had been a little over an hour ago, it usually took a lot to piss Kimberly off enough for her to easily stay angry. Carla was so pretty in the red dress and damp hair, Kimberly couldn't help but let her eyes scan the woman if front of her, taking in the beauty as Carla was making herself look away. Though she noticed the fact Carla was shaking slightly, she figured that it was because of the cool air after the hot shower.

As Carla asked about tights Kimberly thought of straight out saying no. Even though she actually wasn't sure if she did or not. Carla looked so good in the dress, even if she didn't want to believe it, though she clearly was uncomfortable and so Kimberly decided against it. "I'm not sure actually. I'll have to look for some." She said before noticing the fact that Carla quite pale looking, and she took a step forward. "Carla." She said in order to make Carla look up at her, so that she could see the paleness of her face. "You look rather pale. Are you feeling alright? Go downstairs, you need to eat something, I’ll look to see if I have some tights. There's French toast in the microwave for you." She told her much more of a demand than a request, before giving her a worried look and going to her room to look for the tights.

While Kimberly was looking for tights, Ethan woke up a little after Carla made her way into the kitchen. Coming into the kitchen looking for some coffee, though he wasn’t exactly noisy, he did groan annoyed to see Carla there. Mainly because he really didn’t want to deal with screaming and crying this morning as tired as he already was. If she screamed he would cover the ear nearest to her, glaring. “You’re not even my type, crazy bitch! Chill the fuck out!” He said grumpily dark blue eyes watching her reaction, then turning to get a cup from above the coffee maker and pouring him some.

He was taking a few slips when Kimberly came back down the stairs, empty handed. “Morning Ethan. Feel better?” She asked as she sat on the other side of the table from Carla. (Italian) “I’d feel better if she stopped yelling every damn time I came in the room.” He answered gesturing to Carla as he pasted Kimberly and when towards the back door which was where his room was. Kimberly looked at Carla, to see if the paleness was gone. “Sorry mio caro, I don’t have any tights.” She said a small smile tugged on her lips as her eyes scanned over Carla once more before going to get herself some coffee.

Carla couldn’t help but shift uncomfortably when Kimberly said she wasn’t sure that she had tights. Carla had looked down and away to hide the sadness in her eyes. It was too much skin to be showing, even in the heat that they lived in. People looked, and when people looked they wanted to touch. No matter how boyish her looks where that didn’t stop everyone from looking. However, before her over emotional state could kick in, Kimberly said her name in a tone that made Carla jump a little her eyes looking up wide and bright. The surprised didn’t fade from her face, as she realized Kimberly could see how ill she was feeling. It had been slowly building up since she got into the shower. Her hands curled into small fists of worry as she bite her lip a little her eyes flickering away from Kimberly’s again. “No-no. Not really. I think I just need to eat something.” She said blushing a little knowing that Kimberly had offered food that would have made her feel better but she hardly ate any of it. Still that sick feeling that rolled around inside her made her want to eat even less.

“Sorry.” She mumbled softly as she followed behind Kimberly, only pausing a second as Kimberly opened her bedroom door and slipped in and closed the door behind her. Carla once again couldn’t help but wonder what she was hiding in there. Blinking a little she glanced away from the door feeling funny and glanced at her one hand which seemed to shake ever so slightly. Carla quickly moved her still hand and grabbed her shaking hand as if to stop it. She then took the stairs carefully scared that her feet would give out from her lack of food. When had she last eaten? She didn’t even know what day it was. . . shit what if she missed work?! Then again that was the least of her issues right now. Maybe if she talked to Luke, he’d understand. Maybe she could say she was hospitalize? No, she’d have called. What if no one knew? Then he’d ask for a doctor’s note. Either way she had to think of something good because there was no way she could tell him she was kidnapped, stole as a human slave and bought by one of the local mob daughters.

By that time she walked into the kitchen and opened the microwave. She poked the French toast to double check the warmth before closing it and pressing in forty seconds with a beep for each button. As the overly loud machine came to life Carla leaned back on the island her arms crossed over her chest. As first she watched the green numbers count down, but she found that too nerve wracking. So she glanced at her feet, but she could see her legs. She started to look around the kitchen but the loud beeping of the microwave went off letting her know the food was ready. Pushing off the counter without using her hands she opened the microwave with a pop before touching her fingers onto the French toast. The smell came to her nose making her mouth water a little her tummy growl in hunger despite the protests of her gut. She grabbed the food and peeked outside the kitchen down the hallway before peeking towards the back sliding glass door.

For just a second she thought about running to it and running free, but she knew she couldn’t get it open. Sighing softly to herself she realized her hand was shaking again and moved to sit down. She stated to eat without hesitation of poison. If Kimberly wanted her dead, she would have done so by now. Carla was about half way through her food when she could hear footsteps moving down the hallway. Her body was tense a little, as she hadn’t heard anyone on the stairs. The only other person in the house that she knew of was the man, Ethan she recalled. He came into the kitchen and Carla looked down at her food, bits of her damp hair falling into her face a little her, on hand rested on the counter top shaking just slightly. He must have glanced over at her, before he angrily spoke to her making her pull her shaking hand under the table.

However, his anger only made her fear really show as her body stated to shake a little, her eyes watering. She gripped the fabric of the dress as she tried not to let the tears spill over. Even when Kimberly came into the room she didn’t look up as the tears dripped from her chin onto the plate. She never used to be this afraid, but people were evil and hurtful. She could always see the worst in them, the harm that they could inflict on her again. She never wanted that to happen again. Even after Kimberly said sorry about not having tights Carla didn’t look up not wanting to be screamed at again for doing nothing. She didn’t know why her body was shaking.

She took in a slow breath and cut off another piece of the French toast before bring it up her other hand shaking, she was sure it was because she was trying not to cry loudly or freak out, but just a slight shake would turn into a worst one by the end of the day. Even as she ate she didn’t feel any better. If anything she felt sicker. She took a bite and chew feeling the saliva in her mouth making it hard to choke down the food.

Kimberly saw the girl jump when she said her name, though she was more worried about the paleness of her face, than the fact the way she said it would scare Carla. Of course she could see that the woman wasn’t feeling good, even if she wasn’t pale, she was shaking even now as she answered, after her body should have adjusted to the cool air of the hallway. Looking at Carla’s face and her shaking, Kimberly almost reached over to feel her face to see if she was fevered, but changed her mind. Kimberly couldn’t help but sigh as she needed to eat something, she thought about bringing the fact she should have eaten the soup last night.

However it wasn’t the time or place to fight with her not feeling good, instead she told her to go downstairs and eat. She didn’t even hear Carla talk to her when she went into her room though, much to focused on finding the tights she was looking for. Moving around in her room, Kim searched her closet and dresser drawers, though in the end she gave up looking and went downstairs. Truthfully she really didn’t think that she had any tights in the first place, why was she even wasting her time looking? She had missed what had happened between Carla and Ethan completely.

However when she looked over to Carla it looked like she was crying and shaking still, Ethan complained at her in Italian. She almost felt bad for telling Carla to come down before her, Ethan was clearly cranky from having to stay up all night, and when he was cranky he was also a mouthy dickhead. After telling Carla she didn’t have tights, Kimberly got herself a cup of coffee and sat down across from Carla. “Don’t mind Ethan, mio caro. He’s just tired.” She said her tone soft, trying to be calming to make Carla stop crying.

~~

It had been two hours! COUNT THEM TWO! Since Liz was supposed to be here with the money, and prove that Kimberly wasn’t lying to Carla. But no of course she had to be late, as every other fucking time she came to Kim for money, however this time was different, and it was rather annoying! After Carla ate they all went into the living room, Kimberly had brought her books as while, wanting to make sure she remember to put in the money paid in the books. The four large black leather bond books sat on the coffee table, Carla’s name now in them as well. Kimberly was pacing the floor by now though, clearly annoyed, her arms crossed though she kept checking her watch as she paced.

“Will you stop that!!” She finally snapped at Ethan, who sat in the far corner of the room, Kimberly had made him pull a chair to, so he was far from Carla. He was even tapping his foot slightly, annoyed for another reason, he had to stay awake to make sure Kimberly was protected. He smirked lightly looking up from the magazine he was looking through, keeping his foot still. “You knew she would be late, she is always late, or doesn’t show up at all.” He said softly the exhaustion clear in his voice.

He rolled his eyes as Kimberly glared at him, holding up the wrist with her watch on it. “Two Hours! This is why they made watches, so people wouldn’t be late.” She said loudly, before sighing and pacing again. Though she really hated people being late, normally she wasn’t this impatient, but she knew damn well that Liz had to have the money. Liz should have known that Kimberly would be aware of it, still she was late, and it was beyond infuriating. Soon she signed stopping her pacing again turning to Ethan. (Italian) “Come on Ethan, I guess we are going to the worthless bitch’s house.” She said annoyed, Ethan nodded his head getting one of the guns off the table, standing up and putting it behind his back before handing the other to Kimberly.

She turned and looked at Carla, the poor dear wasn’t looking an better. “Andiamo, Carla. I’m tired of waiting for your cousin; let’s go I’m taking you home to her.” She said gesturing at the door, she held her gun gently to Carla’s back as she swiped the key card on the lock, unlocking the door. “No offence caro, I just don’t trust you not to run.” She whispered softly and sweetly in Carla’s ear, before her shoulder rubbed against her to open the door to the house and taking Carla to the car. She would have much rather doing this at her house, were she had much better control over everything, but oh well.

~~

It didn’t take very long to get to the apartments Carla and Liz lived in, which wasn’t a surprise really considering that the part of town Carla lived in was about a three hour walk and Ethan was a rather fast driver. What was a surprise was the fact that her brothers car was parked on the other side of the other side of the street, she had thought that he was up in Fort Lauderdale. Though he likely didn’t tell her he was back because he hadn’t giving his cut to the books, Kimberly sighed loudly making Ethan look over and shake his head. Getting out of the car, Kimberly held her gun to the side and went around opening the car door for Carla to get out.

After Carla had finished eating, the three of them moved to the living room. Carla still felt overly nauseous and almost got up a few times to run to the kitchen to throw up. Her one hand rested over her lower stomach, her legs were pressed together as closely as they could as she sat upright in the couch. She could feel herself getting hot, put she wasn’t sweating yet. She didn’t want to say anything, because the shaking had stopped for the moment. After about fifteen minutes of sitting in the living room Carla shifted down on the couch so she was laying more than sitting. She let her head fall back onto the couch, her eyes falling closed.

She didn’t care what was going on in the room at the moment. She knew that if Liz showed up, she’d finally get to go home and then maybe the hospital. Life would go back to normal and this nightmare would be over. Well until she’d have to go see Hale about this all. She was so out of it that the two fully loaded guns sitting on the table in front of her didn’t faze her and she didn’t think about grabbing one. However, as she laid there she could feel the heat in her body growing slowly. She could feel her heart beat in hear head. Her tummy rolled and knotted as if she had a really bad case of the flu and slowly her hands started to tremble on and off. Not for a second did she fall asleep, the tapping of Ethan’s foot acted like an annoying clock only making her feel all the worst.

When Kimberly finally snapped, Carla’s body tensed a little, as she jumped in her half awake state. She let her eyes slowly open, the bags under her eyes getting darker from the fever she had. Rolling her head on the back of the couch, her hair frizzy from letting it air dry without brushing it, she watched the two argue over her cousin. Only when Kimberly looked over at Carla did she let her eyes slowly trail up the woman and look to her face. Carla wanted to say something smart ass, like ‘well maybe it’s because she didn’t sell me’ or something along those lines. So Carla simply nodded her head and pushed herself up to stand, feeling the world spin a little, making Carla’s hand come up to her face as if that would help it from stopping. She took a second before heading over to the door, she was just going to follow after Kimberly, but Kimberly shifted them so that she was standing in front of her.

At first Carla didn’t think much of it until she felt the barrel of the gun press through the fabric of the dress and onto her back. “Maybe if I didn’t feel like I was dying, I’d not trust me either.” She said softly her body shuttering a little as a cold shiver ran through her body as the fever was starting to get worst. When the door opened, Carla’s hand came up to cover her eyes from the overly bright sun of the South. It was easy to see her hand trembling again, before she took a second to see where she was going before going to the car. She was placed in the back see the two of them in front of her.

Carla put on her seat belt out of habit and lay back against the hot leather making her feel only worst. “Ca-can we put the air on?” She said softly her eyes already closed as she leaned back against the seat. She had gotten so much worst and it wouldn’t be much longer before she complained to her captor about her state.

~~~

When they falling pulled up to the apartment, the soft jerk of the car coming to a stop, woke Carla up. She had finally managed to fall asleep, but she felt even worst now, a small sweat could be seen breaking out across her forehead. Carla undid her seatbelt, and went to open the door, only to find it on child lock. She really hadn’t planned on running away, and so the locked door surprised her a little. When the door opened she looked at Kimberly her eyes not glancing to the gun like most people. “You really didn’t need to use a child lock.” She said softly clearly not feeling well as she slipped from the car. Carla didn’t have her keys on her, in fact she didn’t have anything that she had before she was kidnapped. Not her phone, her wallet, her work uniform and her keys. Just as she was about to punch in their buzz key, someone opened the door for them to get in.

They were on the third floor of a four floor apartment building. That meant no elevator and they had to take the stairs. Carla struggled a lot. After just the first flight of stairs she was totally out of breath and had to stop. “I’m-I’m sorry.” She said between her heavy pants. Finally they were able to reach her floor and Carla reached up to knock weakly her body trembling more, her fever making her whole body break out in a sweat. She could feel the room spin a little, making her lean on the door frame with her hand. It was just then that the door open.

Liz had been the one to answer, Michael standing in the background. Carla glanced up to see Liz, her fake blonde hair messy around her face, her eyes showing that she was already high as a kit, but that didn’t stop Carla from seeing the flicker of surprise and horror in her face. “Ca-Carla?!” She gasped in shock before she was finally able to compose herself. “Oh thank god your okay. Where the hell were you?” She said as she pulled her cousin into a hug feeling how hot Carla was. She backed up a little and looked at Carla. “Are you okay? Your really hot.” She said before nervously glancing up at Kimberly.

Kimberly smiled softly as Carla said something about the child lock, the cool air from the car seeping out into the hot air. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” She retorted has she followed Carla to the doors of the apartment building. Though this time she didn’t put the gun to her back, she clearly wasn’t going to run away from her home. It was slightly worrisome that someone had already buzzed them in. “Do your neighbors often just buzz anyone in?” She asked her tone nervous, what kind of a safe place would not have locks on every door? Or just let any and every one in, just like that? Places that did that made her nervous, in a family like hers, she found herself worried about being gunned down for something stupid.

Kimberly followed her up the stairs seeing the trouble she was having. She wondered if Carla was on some kind of medicine that she didn’t know about, by now. The pale complexion and shakiness, it was only worsening. When Carla stopped on the top first flight of stairs, Kimberly stopped as well waiting for her, though Ethan was impatient and kept going up. “It’s okay. Take your time.” She said worry in her voice, it would be a shame if something was wrong with the woman. Maybe she should have just taken her to the hospital instead of bringing her home.

She waited for Carla to be ready before slowly walking the stairs with her, Ethan was waiting at the top for them. When the door opened she didn’t even notice her brother was in the room visiting, the first thing she saw was Liz. Acting like she didn’t know what happened to Carla, but she saw the horror in her eyes, it made her smile a bit. The truth had already been planted in Carla’s head, now all that was left was to prove it to her. When Liz looked nervously at her, her eyes narrowed angrily at her, even when she acted like she cared, she couldn’t hide the truth that she was a selfish bitch.

“Looks like she’s having a withdraw tesoro, I thought you were better than getting mixed up with another druggie mio sorella.” Michael said from behind Liz, his tone almost disappointed as he knew pissed her off. Her eyes widened a little, looking past Liz at her brother, before looking back at Liz. Kimberly’s look likely said it all, she was about ready to take her gun to Liz’s head, just get rid of the burden all together. How dare she leave her waiting so she could deal with Michael?!? “Perhaps you should help Carla inside Lizzie, it would be a shame for all your neighbors to know just how much of a fucked up puttana you really are.” She said her tone could dark and emotionless.

She followed into the small apartment, with Ethan right behind her, closing the door. “What are you even doing here brother? I thought we had a deal not to get mixed in one another’s deals?” Tone still dark and emotionless, Michael only made it worse when he smirked cockily at her. “I don’t see your name written on her body….” He stated before looking over at Liz with a smile and winking at her. “…that I’ve seen so far, anyway.” Kimberly made a gaging sound at her brothers flirting.

(Italian-) “You know, there isn’t going to be a reason to even care, if you two don’t fix Carla.” Ethan said loudly before looking over to Carla shaking where Liz sat her. Michael looked at the girl as if she was the nastiest person in the world, he didn’t like people who clearly thought they was better than him. “Why should I help her? I could care less about her!” He said crossing his arms glaring at Kim. “Because Kimberly would owe you a favor.” (-Italian) Ethan said behind her before she could even respond, he knew how to get Michael’s help rather Kimberly wanted to say it or not, he looked at her questionably before Kim nodded. He asked what club she had brought Carla from, having sold to most of the clubs he knew what they used. Tying something around Carla’s arm, he stuck the needle in her arm, giving just enough to stop the withdraw. As he was doing this, Kim turned to Liz. “This is all your motherfucking fault!”

Carla didn’t even notice the fact that the gun didn’t touch her back again she the heat of the South seemed to beam over her already hot body. She felt like she was dying. Had she ever been this sick before? No, not that she recalled, she was really starting to think she should just go to the hospital, but by the time her mind thought of that they were at the door. When someone walked through and Carla and them slipped through, she was totally unfazed by it, it was natural. People were always coming and going. She did live in a huge gang related area.

She had simply started making her way to the door without a second though when Kimberly spoke, she glanced back out of habit before the world spin and she had to leaned on the wall to keep herself upright. “Yeah.” She said slightly out of breath. “We are in the ghetto.” She reminded Kimberly. “The people don’t bug use because they are all scared of Jem.” She said almost as if that would make Kimberly feel better.

When they got to the stairs, the heat of the building was only worst in the enclosed section. No windows, just heat and metal stairs. The clanging of their steps just making her feel all the worst. When she had to stop she clung to the railing, her hand over her stomach as she panted hard before couching a little feeling like she was going to throw up again. She could hear Ethan going up leaving her and Kimberly alone. “Af-after we see Liz, can-can you take me to the hospital. I really don’t feel so good.” She said finally saying it out loud. After having been so rude to the woman, with good reasons, she was now asking a favor. “I think I’m-“ She paused gagging a little as she leaned over the railing almost throwing up again. Once she was feeling level again she glanced up at Kimberly. “Ca-can you help me?” She whispered before moving to lean some of her weight on Kimberly.

Her arm was wrapped around Kimberly’s neck, her other hand on the railing as the two of them slowly made their way up, she was still breathing heavily when she got to the top, the withdrawal finally making her eyes a slight pink. Quickly after that Liz answered the door, her answers confusing Carla as she noticed Michael in the background. She wanted to leave. That man was bad news. Just as Liz asked if she was okay Carla started to part her lips to speak but Michael cut her off. “I don’t do that shit.” She growled at him before the room spun again. Liz put her hand to put Carla’s forehead.

“You’re really burning up.” She mumbled knowing that Michael was right. After all Liz knew that the people she sold her to most likely shot her up with a mixture of drugs. It was then that Kimberly spoke making Liz glare at the woman. “Come on Car, let’s get you inside and seated. I’ll get something to cool you down and then you gotta explain where the hell you’ve been. I was worried sick.” She lied through her teeth again. It was then that Carla frowned again as Liz lead her into the room.

“Where’s Jem?” She mumbled not hearing the dog barking in her room, which she was usually locked up in when Liz had people over. Her mind then rolled over to what Liz had really said. “wh-what do you mean, you were there. I thought they got you too.” She said before she groaned softly as they placed her on the couch next to Michael. “Don’t touch me you disgusting piece of trash!” She said weakly as she started to wiggle away seeing the needle in his hand, however, Liz was holding her down.

“Carla stay still!” She said but Carla didn’t still even though she wasn’t feeling good.

“NO!” she screamed getting enough motion to throw Liz off her. “I will not let that shit in my body. Even you of all people know what Hale would do if he found out.” She said as Liz looked to Ethan and Kimberly for help.

“Hale can’t do shit Carla! He’s in fucking jail for crying out loud, even if he wanted to do something he couldn’t.” She yelled at Carla making Carla’s eyes watered up. It was her fault he was in jail. “Do it now before she freaks out again.” She ordered Michael as the three of them held her in place.

Carla felt the band being tied around her arm before he tapped her arm a few times, her body tensed just before the needle pinched through her skin and into her vein making it hurt ten times more than it should have. She let out a small cry of pain before her body relaxed. Her eyes were wide as she drug started to flow into her system slowly removing all pain she had been feeling, her body still hot, but not like it had been before. All feelings of illness gone. She blinked a little before finally whispering. “You-you can let go now.” Her eyes were still watering her body still covered in a small layer of sweat as she shifted to sit up. The world seemed to bright, everything moving and she could see it all. It was something she had never felt before. She could see everything, feel everything, smell everything, hear everything.

Liz got down to Carla’s level. “Car, what happened? You weren’t at work when I came to get you?” She said again, making Carla frown at Liz.

“No you picked me up, we were walking to the car when they grabbed me, they should have grabbed you two. . . why are you here?” She said totally confused before she quickly stood up stumbling into Liz as she tried to get away from Micheal.

Kimberly didn’t really need to be reminded that they were in the ghetto that was the reason that she was so leery of the person just letting them in without another thought. It wasn’t often that she came around this part of town anymore. Maybe if she actually knew who Jem was, it would have made her feel a little better, but instead the statement just confused her. “I don’t know who that even is.” She mattered softly as she followed Carla into the building. They climbed the steps, but Carla had to stop and crouched down as if she was going to get sick, and Ethan went ahead leaving the two.

Kimberly reached down and gently rubbed Carla’s back when she asked if Kimberly could take her to the hospital after this. “Of course Carla.” She answered softly, even if Carla had been completely rude to Kimberly, she wasn’t going to refuse to help the woman get to the hospital. When she asked for help up the stairs Kimberly nodded, wrapping her arm around Carla’s waist to help her. Feeling the heat of the woman’s fever has her wrapped around Kimberly’s neck, it was rather worrisome.

Even as Carla said she didn’t do drugs, both she and clearly Liz knew that Michael was right. Despite her almost hatred for her little brother over what he had done, if there was one thing he knew about it was drugs. “Oh, of course you don’t tesoro, and neither do the other people in this building.” Michael retorted as Carla growled at him, his tone clearly mocking her. Coming into the room Kimberly and Ethan talked her brother into helping Carla, as Liz and Carla talked before she got her to sit down, Michael sitting beside her with the needle. “Don’t touch me you disgusting piece of trash!”

Michael narrowed his eyes angrily at Carla as she called him a piece of trash, funny, he was the piece of trash, but she was the one who was withdrawing from heroin, and he was the one who was going to make her better. “I’d watch your tongue, you scum of the earth. Just because Kimberly likes you, doesn’t change what you really are.” He said cruelly before Liz told Carla to stay still. When Carla started screaming something about Hale, Michael had no idea what the girl was talking about. Kimberly was slightly surprised to hear that he was in prison; though she had no clue who he was really, Carla hadn’t even told Kimberly that he was her brother.

“Shh…it will help.” Kimberly whispered softly in her ear as she stood behind her holding her shoulders as she, Liz, and Ethan held her in place while Michael tied the band around her arm, tapping her arm to feel for vein. Really he was an expert at doing this; he should have been able to get the vein without it hurting, though after Carla having the nerve to call him trash, he didn’t care if it hurt or not. A slight smile showed on his face when she screamed out in pain. Kimberly could feel Carla’s shoulders relax under her hands as the drug kicked into her system; Kimberly and Ethan letting her go as she softly said so. Kimberly crossed her arms as Liz lied through her teeth again to Carla.

“You’re welcome sweetheart.” Michael muttered loudly as Carla jumped up to get away from him as if insulted that she didn’t thank him like he deceived for shooting her up with addictive drugs, sitting back comfortably, as if he was in his own home.

“She is here because, she had you kidnapped, as I already told you, mio caro.” Kimberly said loudly to Carla still standing behind the chair.

“Oh right.” She said glancing back at Kim as Carla spoke about Jem before they reached the stairs. “She’s my Doberman, she’s really nice and friendly if you don’t give her a bad impression or upset me.” She said smiling as she thought about getting to see her dog again. She was sure Jem was going crazy without her, Liz was terrible at taking care of Jem when Carla went to visit Hale.

~~~

When they were moving into the apartment, Liz now helping keep Carla upright as the fever and withdrawal seemed to take over her. “I’m not like these people. No offense Liz.” She said before glancing at Liz. Liz gave a small smile.

“It’s fine goodie two shoes.” She said trying to make Carla feel better after she got her into this mess. Placing her down the couch beside Michael, shit hit the fan. Carla at first hadn’t realized that they all planed on giving her heroin but once she saw the needle being pulled out it all clicked. She knew that she had been drugged when she was kidnapped, why else would her memories of it be mixed up, fuzzy and blacked out altogether at some points. Carla had thought it would have been some type of sedate that doctors used, but clearly everyone else thought otherwise.

When Michael retorted to her calling him trash, she laughed bitterly as she struggled against Liz. “Your just piss I won’t be one of your drugged up booty calls. I don’t act like your God, because really even with all your money you’ll never make something of yourself, wasting your life in drugs and STD’s.” She said before she finally pushed Liz off her, the fight about Hale being brought up before Liz’s comment about Hale hitting Carla like a slap to the face. She sat there as the three held her down, Michael shooting her up despite her protests.

When the drugs started to flow into her system Kimberly tried to make her feel better about now being addicted to heroin. She felt a tear roll down her cheek before the drugs kicked in. The world went from being blurry, painful and dull to some sort of God sent place of wonders. She told them to let go and they started to back off before she heard Michael’s mutters and jumped away. Before she would have felt the world spin, hell even sober and clean she would have stumbled a little but her feet planted firmly as she created space between herself and him. She wasn’t minding were Ethan stood at the time before Liz started to speak. Before Liz could say anything back to Carla Kimberly pitched in making Carla glance back to Kimberly, Liz glaring at the woman. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I may not be perfect, I may be a bad person but I would never hurt my family!” She yelled what she said sounding true.

“I didn’t dream it Liz, my memories may be a little fuzzy and mixed up after I was taken but I know you were walking with me.” Carla said firmly. It was then that it clicked that Jem wasn’t barking still, Carla may have been used to Jem’s barking but she n ever didn’t hear it. “Why isn’t Jem barking?” Carla said worry running through her body, as she pushed pass Liz to her room and opened the door. Her room had been ransacked and Jem was gone. Carla stood frozen with her eyes wide, her heart pushing into over drive against the slowing effect of the drug.

Liz had run after Carla her hand reaching out to stop Carla before she figured it out. “Carla wait!” She said only to freeze behind Carla her eyes wide as she knew Carla knew. Carla just stared quiet for a long time before the tears started to spill over her cheeks. Her hands curled into fists as a sob left her lips. She turned around and glared at Liz, hurt and anger taking over her body.

“You fucking bitch! Af-“

“Carla I can explain!”

“YOU DON’T FUCKING SELL PEOPLE, EVEN MORE SO YOU'RE FUCKING FAMILY.” Carla roared coming up to Liz as Liz backed up into their kitchen table, stuttering on something to say. Carla’s hand came up into Liz’s gut. “After all I’ve done for you! After all the shit you’ve put me through. It was all a fucking lie! You sold me!” She screamed before her hands started to shake.

“C-Car-Carla I. . . I was high, I knew Kim was going to send in her brothers soon. They would have killed me!” Liz said fear running through her body as she held her gut.

Carla was quiet for a long time as she sobbed softly. “I’m not sure what hurts worst, knowing what you did, or knowing I would have been raped again.” she said in a whisper, those standing at least a foot away wouldn’t have heard them. Horror wrapped around Liz’s face.

“You-you were-“

“YES!” Carla screamed. “And when Hale found out he killed twenty-three people! One of them being the man who did it!” she said before she started to walk away not sure where she was going, she didn’t know what to do about herself. Just as she walked pass Michael, Kimberly and Ethan she turned to look back at Liz. “Where the fuck is my dog? I’ll be back for my stuff in ten minutes, anything you haven’t already sold for another trip or another round at the slots, I want back. If I see you ever again, I’ll have you kidnapped and sold to the highest paying rapists and see how you feel. No wait, I’ll enjoy your suffering!” She screamed before starting to leave the apartment.

Liz could only stare with her mouth hanging open, her whole body frozen as she watched Carla start to leave.

Michael smirked almost amused by Carla’s words, she was a mouthy one, it was no wonder his sister liked her. But the girl seemed stupid, clearly she didn’t quite understand how things worked. “You got a smart mouth on you sweetheart. Ever heard the saying, don’t bite the hand that feeds you?” He said loudly as the others were holding Carla down, and he tied the band around her arm. This little withdraw of hers was cute, but the fact of the matter was almost all the drugs came from him in Miami, which logically made Michael her dealer. There was a reason his little drugged up booty calls treated him the way they did, because if they didn’t they would go without their drugs. Hearing Kimberly whispering and trying to make it better, he looked up rolling his slightly at her.

When Carla backed away from Michael, she almost backed right into Ethan. He quietly moved away, backing up a little too where his back blocked the door. She panicked when she was sober around him, he knew drugs could make things worse, he didn’t like drugs, and he had bad history with people on them. Kim’s eyes glanced at Carla quickly when she looked at her, though her eyes quickly went back to Liz as she started yelling at her. The little bitch thought she was higher on the food chain than Kimberly, she was too stupid to see that Kimberly was better than her in every possible way. “Quit lying you worthless puttana!! How dare you call me a liar!” Kimberly yelled angrily at Liz, loud enough to make enough Michael shift a little to look at her.

She opened her mouth to continue yelling, but Carla started to talk and she quieted down. Carla asked about Jem, and ran out of the room, Liz following and leaving the three in the room by themselves. “You sure have a thing for the troubled ones don’t you Kim?” Michael said from the couch with a smirk pulling Kimberly’s attention from the hallway back to him.

“And you’re always there to make things worse, or use them yourself. Aren’t you Michael?” She answered frowning, before her eyes went back to the quiet hallway. Hearing sobbing, she peeked around the corner ignoring Michael’s laughing.

“Who’s Jem? You stealing someone else that you should leave alone?”

“Jem’s her dog”

“Oh, I have her. She’s my new guard dog, I can’t even get into the building past her without help”

Kimberly’s eyes widened. “You have her? I want her!” She said as she moved to sit by him on the couch, though he didn’t have time to answer before Carla started yelling and held Liz against the kitchen table. Though it was sad that Carla had to find out that her cousin was such a horrible person this way, it was a relief that she didn’t have prove the truth to Carla. Of course Liz had to blame Kimberly for what happened, after all somehow it was her fault that Liz gambled and smoked the money away. It was her fault that Liz was a very sad human being. Kimberly, Ethan, and Michael were far to hear what Carla was whispering to Liz.

Hale killed twenty-three people? She didn’t hear what for, but even if she did, it wouldn’t have made Kimberly feel any better. She had tried to keep away from that type of trouble, that was the reason she wasn’t around her one brother unless needed. “Selling your own cousin? There isn’t very much that makes me sick.” Michael said to Liz as Carla walked out the door. Kimberly looked at Ethan before turning and going after Carla.

Kimberly almost had to run to catch up with Carla, which in high heels on steps wasn’t a very easy feat. “Carla. Please slow down, it’s very hard to run in heels. And I don’t know this neighborhood very well.” She called after her loudly by the time she actually did catch up with her, Kimberly was a little out of breath.

As the needle went into her skin she grinned her teeth together before she hissed. “I can take care of myself.” Which was true in some sense. Carla was the one who had kept Liz and herself from being homeless, which means Carla could easily keep her own place, but because she cares for her family she stayed with Liz when her father passed away. Carla had stayed cleaned and worked hard. She may not have her high school but she did well enough for herself. Even with her paranoia and her depression she kept herself going through each day. It wasn’t long after that she was up and moving away from the group of mob family in her living room. Carla and Liz had been so busy dealing with each other they missed what was going on in the other room, just as they missed what they were doing. It wasn’t until Carla stormed from the room that the two parties mix again.

Carla had stopped to tell Liz to be gone in ten minutes before marching out of the room herself. Michael was the first one to speak making Liz glare over at him. “Oh shut up. For find some other slut to sleep with tonight.” She hissed at him clearly upset.

Carla was already in the stairwell taking them two at a time, still high as can be from the drugs but the adrenalin from finding out that Kimberly was telling the truth had a mix effect on her system. The world was still bright, loud and totally surreal at times, but rather than her heart slowing for her to enjoy it she was pissed and her heart was working hard to only beat at a normal pace as she took the stairs two at a time. She heard heels on the stairs behind her, struggling to keep up with Carla before Kimberly finally yelled down for Carla to stop. She did at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at Kimberly who was still working her way down after her. Carla was still crying, her body sticky from the heat and the left over sweat from the fever. Her eyes were pink from crying her paleness had lessened with the drugs in her system but the bags under her eyes were still ever present.

“Ju-just-just leave me alone.” She said before sobbing softly as her back pressed to the wall as she slipped to the floor making her shift the dress so her legs disappeared under them almost flashing her underwear to the world. “I-I-I just want to be alone.” She whispered the second part as she hide her hands in her face.

Michael looked up at Liz as she told him to shut up, glaring back up at her before smirking. Well at least she was able to admit that she was a puttana. "Really Liz? You want me to leave to leave you alone with my sister and Ethan?” He asked looking at her like she was insane, though that made sense, everyone always thought Kimberly was a sweetheart that couldn’t hurt a fly. In truth as kids she beat Michael up more than their three other brothers did. He make a ticking sound with his tongue, as he simply sat back on the couch, not leaving rather she said she wanted him to or not. Why leave when things were just getting good?

Ethan stayed quiet his arms crossed standing by the door to make sure that Liz didn’t leave. As much trouble as she had been track down for the week, before she sold Carla. He wasn’t going to let her get away easily, if at all. What was she going to do about it? Half the police in Miami were in Kim’s pocket, she could try it make him and Michael leave. The very thought almost made him smile. “Maybe you should sit down Liz. You and Kimberly still have business.” Ethan said calmly, his eyes never leaving Liz like he would tackle her down at any minute.

Carla was moving so freaking fast down the steps and Kimberly wasn’t sure if it was because of the drugs or her anger. One thing was for certain Kimberly couldn’t even come close to keeping up, and half way she yelled for Carla to stop. Carla looked up at her from the bottom of the steps, her eyes pink and a little puffy from crying. Even though she said she wanted to be alone. “Why are you angry with me, mio caro? I haven’t lied to you, I even brought you back home like you wanted.” Kimberly answered as she continued down until she got to the last step, then wiped it off sitting down.

She sighed softly looking the girl over with soft eyes as she kept crying in front of her. What a sick example of a human being the greedy people like Liz were. From what she heard of the yelling it seemed like Carla did a lot to help her cousin and this was what she got in return. “I’m afraid to leave you alone Carla, I don’t know now drugs react, it isn’t like being drunk.” She answered her softly, before standing up and moving beside her crossing her legs so her underwear didn’t show as Carla’s had.

“You will need a place to stay for a while. You can stay in my house, I had thought you would believe me before. I had Ethan clean that guest room out for you after all.” She admitted her voice a slight whisper, she had wanted Carla to stay with her before she even bought her in the fact place. While they were waiting for the auction she had put Ethan hard at for. It was part of the reason her screaming at him annoyed him so much.