The Second book of the sweet Revenge/Wicked Lester series

By Starbearer TM

"How would you ladies like to see a concert, after all your hard work?" Gene asked.

"A concert?" Ray perked up her ears. "To what do I owe this sudden surprise?"

"Well considering it's been a year since your band has started performing in public, and the fact you got accepted for studio time..." Gene said.

"WHAT?" Ray asked.

"Happy anniversary," Gene grinned, holding a piece of paper before her. "This came in the mail today. It's from Mercury. They want to sign you to do a recording contract for one album..."

"Oh my god!" she gasped. "REALLY?"

"Yes," Gene grinned. Catching Ray up in his arms, he hugged her tightly.

"Oh my god," she shrieked, as Gene hugged her close and kissed her lips. He whirled her about, raising her up in a twirl of laughter and shrieks. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and Ray sobbed in disbelief and excitement.

"I'm very proud of you, honey," Gene whispered in her ear. "But you know there's a tough road ahead... just cause you get the recording contract doesn't automatically guarantee..."

"I know Gene," she whispered back. "I hope I don't have to fire my band..."

"But it's something to celebrate, and here I have tickets to see Leonard Skinner and Blue Oyster cult," Gene whispered. "At the Eastman center..."

"How many tickets?" she asked, and Gene put her down.

"I have them for you, me, the kid, Karen, Peter and Lydia and your bandmates..."

"Man this is something," Peter said, crammed next to Lydia in the back of the cab with Gene. Up front rode Stanley, with Ray next to him.

"Thanks for inviting us, Gene," Lydia thanked him.

"Well just so you know it was a treat for the girls getting a record contract," Gene joked.

"So I'm second fiddle to a bunch of girls, GREAT!" Peter joked.

"Oh shut up, at least we're GOING," Lydia put a finger over his lips. "Who cares HOW we get tickets?"

"I understand these are pretty good seats," Stan spoke over his shoulder, turning his rear view mirror to see Gene. "Who'd you schmooze with to get THESE, Gene?"

"Our buddy Neil," Gene laughed. "He had a block of them as a promo to give away to business associates, and well he figured he'd talk to me there... as a sort of a business meeting... we're going to have a drink with him after... and I asked him if it was okay if I brought some lovely ladies for company, and he gave me the extra tickets..."

"So it's business?" Ray asked.

"I hoped you wouldn't mind sweets," Gene said. "After all, he's having a drink with us after the show..."

"You have the most INTERESTING places to do business meetings," Stan laughed. "Watch out, Pete, or else we'll meet him in a strip joint next time..."

"You do and you find a new drummer," Lydia gave a warning look to gene.

"Aww you're no fun," Gene pretended to mope.

"Just kidding," Lydia joked back. "But seriously, will the ladies in your woman's band mind tagging along?"

"Not really," Ray laughed. "Any chance to see a concert free, they won't care. Besides, we can ditch if things get too technical, can't we Gene?"

"If you want, doll," Gene laughed. "But Neil's a nice guy. I was thinking it wouldn't hurt for you guys to officially meet... he does have connections we could both benefit from..."

"Speaking of, Ray, where is Karen? I was looking forward to seeing her after work," Stanley asked Ray."

"They're meeting us over there," Ray said. "No problem..."

"That was one hell of a concert," Stanley said after he dropped Ray and Gene off.

"I had a WONDERFUL time," Karen smiled.

"You can drop us at the bus station and we'll be good to go," Peter cut in.

"Actually you guys live in the Bronx, right?" Karen asked.

"Yeah..."

"Well that's on the way to where we're going..."

"It is?" Stanley asked in surprise.

"I thought I'd take you to a new place I found," Karen said with a wink to Stan.

"Works for me," Peter said. "I'll give you the directions... just get on the cross Bronx expressway..."

It was only thirty minutes later when Stan dropped them off at their home, and swung around the corner to head to where Karen directed him. Turn by turn, and street by street his curiosity grew till she told him to stop by a Greek restaurant in a developed section of town. He parked in the alley behind where she directed, and opened the door for her to get out.

"Hon, I hate to say this, but I don't know if I have the money to..."

"It's okay, we're eating in a special section," she laughed. "Besides, this is the restaurant I work in now..."

"Oh, you mean you're gonna use your employee rapport to get me some gyros?" Stanley joked, taking her hand and walking her around to the front.

"Sort of," she laughed. "C'mon..."

Instead of leading him to the employee entrance, she stopped to unlock a door to the side. Biding him to close his eyes, she took his hand and tugged him after her. Up two flights of stairs and a landing, they proceeded, and he waited to the tune of jingling before she pushed him through into a wider open space. He heard the silence of a door slamming in a hollow place, plus the scrape of metal on wood. Distant traffic wafted from outside, no noise save this in the space around them.

"This isn't the restaurant," Stanley said suspiciously.

"Nope, it's someplace more intimate," she giggled. "Now just sit down..."

"Where I can't see," he joked. Firmly her hands pushed him back and he fell into something hard yet soft. She untied the bandanna and revealed the open space around them. Two windows crisscrossed with a fire escape and a tie-dyed sheet tucked up looked out on the street. They were three floors up, and he could see the taxi parked out back in the alleyway. A bare wooden floor, with a worn throw rug covered the floor. Before him, a packing crate served as a makeshift coffee table. He noticed a shower tucked into one corner of the space, beside it a commode in the open room. Along the back wall was a kitchen area, which butted against a door to its immediate left.

"Surprise..."

"Where are we?" he asked.

"First things first. I'll get you your dinner..."

"Dinner?" Stanley asked.

"What would you like to drink?" she asked.

"Can't you tell me whose place this is?"

"Just wait here. There's no kitchen table yet," she said. "So we'll be eating in the living room..."

He smiled at her and said, "Yes, of course. You are offering to cook for me? Very romantic, sweetheart. I'll have to thank whoever cleared out of here to let us have this place alone!"

He waited as she wandered into the kitchen area, and started to pull something out of the oven. Glancing to his left, he saw the television, a small black and white unit he'd remembered from the girl's apartment, between him and the view of the kitchen. The space was generous, bare now of anything except stacks of boxes, and egg crates to his immediate left. She had set up a guitar stand and her amplifier there, with several Peter Max prints over the egg crates. It amazed and stunned him.

She returned with two plates loaded with food. Fresh roasted chicken and baked potatoes were on the plate she set before him.

"Karen... what is all this?" he asked.

"Stan, I brought you here... because I wanted to ask you something..."

"What is this place, Karen?" he says, bewildered. "Is Trish moving out?"

"Well, not so much her, as Me." she admitted shyly.

"You mean, THIS is yours? This place?" he says, wide eyed, looking around. "How.... I mean.... uh...Hon, places cost money."

"I know," she said slowly. "Which was why I was hoping that... uh well..."

"Honey what are you getting at," Stanley asked, shaking his head for a moment in confusion at her.

"You had mentioned last time you wished we had a place... And well my friend's uncle had this place... and it's about 150 a month..."

"This will be great, Karen. If we're up late, I can just spend the night here instead of having to go out in the cold and go home."

"You mean... it's ok?" she asked slowly. "I mean... you wouldn't mind," she asked, reaching for his hand.

"No, sweetie, I think it's great that you're getting your own place. Your band is going places and you've got a job now, and it will be fun to have a love nest once in awhile. As long as you don't mind me stopping by from time to time." he winked.

"I had hoped... you'd be here more often," she said. He took a bite of chicken, savoring how it melted in his mouth.

"Tastes great love," he smiled.

"I put it in the oven before we went out," she admitted.

"It's wonderful," Stanley nodded, mouth filled with roast chicken. "You're spoiling me rotten..."

"I hope I can go on spoiling you, every night, if you want me to," she winked.

"Wait a minute. Are you asking me..."

"I can understand if you wouldn't want to. I didn't sign a lease or anything," she said. "This is just unless it works out..."

He stopped for a moment in silence, putting down his fork. Washing his food down with a mouthful of soda he said, "Karen. Sweetheart, you KNOW I want to. My mom.... damn...she's going to flip"

"Then... you can't?" she asked slowly, turning away. "I guess I'll have to find a roommate... Trish... she already moved Maxwell in... and Liz and her boyfriend are together there in the apartment. I can't go back..."

"You... already moved in?" he asked.

"I should have asked... beforehand," she muttered.

"It's not that I CAN'T, honey," Stanley said, reaching across the table to take her hand. She pulled it away, and pushed against the packing crate that served as a table. Getting up, she turned away from him to hide the sudden tears that sprung to her eyes.

"Awwww, now look, don't get mad," Stanley said, reaching for her. She turned around and grabbed her plate, food only half eaten.

"I knew this was a bad idea..." she muttered, taking her plate to the sink and throwing it in, food still on it. She stood at the sink, gripping the edge, shaking.

Stanley got up and rushed over to stand behind her. Resting a hand on her shoulder he said, "Karen, no, it's not a bad idea. It's just a SURPRISE that's all. $150 a month.... and I'm trying to save up for the band."

She shook her way out of his grasp and rushed over to where he had left his plate. Angrily she grabbed his plate, his dinner only half tasted and rushed with it to the sink.

"Hey now wait..."

"I guess you won't be needing this then," she muttered.

"Honey wait... look... I'm hardly ever home," he said weakly.

"Well some of us don't have a home to go to! I can't go back to living with the girls. I had been thinking about this for a long time... I had hoped you'd think it would work... but I guess I was WRONG!" she snapped, whirling on him. She hurled his dinner into the sink.

"Now WHAT is this about? I hadn't even finished!" he protested, running his hand through his curls. " Love, PLEASE don't be mad. You know I'll be here as often as I can. I PROMISE."

"Why can't you be with me all the TIME Then?" she asked angrily.

He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed deeply, "Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of you having a place. I think it's great for you.... and for me. It's just that.... this is so SUDDEN."

"So was you and me... sleeping together," she gets out.

'I sort of thought that maybe we'd wait until we were engaged...or something...."

"I see," she said slowly. Her expression was unreadable.

"Karen, do NOT make me feel guilty for sleeping with you" he snapped.

"I'm not," she countered. "I'm just saying the facts... And there are consequences for everything we do. And I'm trying to take responsibility for my life... And I can't stand being around Max and Trish, or Liz and her boyfriend... I can't sleep and be around those damn DRUGS!"

"And I love you for that, honey. I am so damn proud of you, I could burst. You're going to make it. I know you are. It's just...a place of our own. Damn," he sighed.

"I guess I'll ask Ray if she can..." Karen sighed, handing the plate back to Stan.

"You're mad, aren't you?" he said in frustration.

"Mad, me?" she asked. "What possibly could I have to be MAD about?"

He walked around to look her in the face, and said, "Yes."

"I have a lot to unpack," she said, turning around and pulling away.

"Not that I have that much... but they gave me what they could."

"You need my help?" Stan asked.

"Why don't you go home to your parents and spend some time with them... if you're NEVER there..." she muttered.

He rolled his eyes in frustration and walks away a bit. Quietly he asked, "Can I at least have a kiss goodnight?"

Karen walked over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Backing away she muttered, "Goodnight."

"That sucked, I must say," he said back, raising his voice.

"Well sometimes life isn't fair," she choked.

"Let me know when you get a phone," he muttered, as he grabbed his coat and walked toward the door.

"Fine, LEAVE," she said angrily. He stormed out the door, after hearing her words, slamming it loudly behind him. She rushed over to the battered sofa, and threw herself down on it, crying bitterly.

"Stupid son of a bitch, I KNEW this wouldn't work," she sobbed.

"All right ladies, take it from the TOP!" Raina commanded. She nodded to Liz, who clicked her sticks together in a four-four pattern. Organ spilled overtop, filling the bottom tones, followed by Trish's lead line. Karen struggled to keep up with a steady rhythm, while Ray began to sing the lead line for their new song.

Unfortunately, the tempo wavered back and forth in Karen's line. It was all they could do to hold it together before Ray stopped them.

"Hold on, Karen you're behind..." Trish rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Let's try it again," Ray suggested.

"Karen, get your head outta the clouds and think for a moment," Trish teased.

"Shut up," Karen growled.

"Excuse the hell me?" Trish asked, stepping over.

"Knock it off!" Ray snapped, coming between the two women. "Cool it now!"

Karen and Trish snapped to attention, and Trish sullenly said, "It wasn't MY fault! She's the one who's behind!"

"I think we need to take five," Liz suggested. "We've been pounding out all day, and the hostile vibes are increasing..."

"Trish, I'll talk to Karen. Why don't you and Liz jam on the last song?"

"Whatever, just don't bite my HEAD off for a joke," Trish muttered. "Just cause some of us don't get any..."

"SHUT UP!" Karen screamed, and threw down her guitar. Running offstage, she burst into tears.

"Trish, that was uncalled for!" Liz rested a hand on her hip.

"WHAT?" Trish asked. "Girl can't take one joke?"

"Her boyfriend DIDN'T move in with her," Ray snapped at Trish. "And our personal lives are NOT the subject for joking right now. You don't see Karen or me joking about your sexual habits..."

"True, but it's no big deal!" Trish snapped.

"Trish, let me talk to her," Ray said, holding up her hand. "WE can't let stupid crap get in the way of the music..."

"Fine. But I'm not going to have her snap my head off for some remark that wasn't a big deal," Trish snorted.

"Trish, mellow out," Liz said, climbing out from behind the drum kit and walking over to Trish. "It's okay... do you wanna step out for a moment and take a smoke?"

"Yeah, whatever..." Trish sighed. Liz took her friend by the shoulder and walked her out onto the fire escape, her small pouch in hand.

Meanwhile Karen rushed outside, hands over her eyes as she sobbed. Ray caught up to her before she could run and jump on the next bus. As she grabbed Karen's arm, Karen whirled around, blue eyes blazing as she shouted, "Ray, let me GO!"

"No. Not till you tell me WHAT is up?"

"It's nothing! I just can't stand that jerk!" Karen snapped.

"Trish and you used to be buddies. Care to tell me what's REALLY going on?" Ray asked. "I promise it stays between you and me..."

"I don't want to talk about it..."

"Is it Stanley?"

"Yes!" she snapped. "He just... he just... walked out... I KNEW this was a stupid idea, and now I'm stuck with 150 dollars rent!"

"Hang on, tell me exactly WHAT happened," Ray offered. "Look, would you like to call the rehearsal early and go home?"

"To what?" Karen cried. "It's nothing without him!"

"Well, it's your home now..." Ray said. "With or without Stanley. C'mon, won't you at least go up and calm down and make peace with Trish..."

"I didn't do anything WRONG!" Karen cried.

"Yeah, but I figure it's better to get it out in the open and calm down. Otherwise, these things are going to fester and explode. WE need her, and we need YOU. I won't let things get out of hand. I promise..."

"It's NOT funny! Ray, he just LEFT!" Karen sniffed.

"C'mon, let's go back up," Ray suggested, arm around her friend's shoulders. Sniffling, Karen let Ray lead her back into the loft and up the flight of stairs to where Liz and Trish sat on the sofa with a small clay pipe. They passed it back and forth, each taking a long drag on it.

"Pot," Karen groaned.

"Easy, don't worry. At least they're calm. And I think they might be willing to listen, even though I don't condone it..."

"Hey there," Liz said. "C'mon and sit down..."

"Trish, I'm sorry I snapped at you," Karen apologized, sitting down next to Trish. "I just... I wanted him to so badly move in, and he didn't..."

"Hey, look, men can be assholes," Trish said with a sigh. "So he got scared and rabbited. Big deal. Sooner or later, he'll miss you, and he'll show up before you know it... with a big bouquet. Especially that dream boat boy of y ours..."

"I hope you're right," Karen sighed.

"Say, why don't we help you unpack," Liz suggested. "Perhaps it will help the place feel less lonely..."

"You can keep the TV," Trish said. "Max is bringing a new one..."

"Really?" Karen asked, sniffling. She extracted a pack of Marlboros from her pocket and put one between her lips, fingers shaking. Trish flicked her lighter and leaned over to light Karen's cigarette. Inhaling deeply she let the smoke shoot out her nose like a dragon in mythology and legend.

"Yeah, you can take the other mattress from the other twin," Trish suggested. "Right Liz? Because didn't your man bring a double for your loft?"

She nodded up toward the wooden platform built over the lower bed, accessed by a ladder. Liz nodded, and touched Karen's knee, "Definitely. It's yours. Just in case..."

"Thanks guys, for putting up with my moods," Karen sighed.

"Hey, we have to stop the stupid shit from getting between us, all right?" Ray suggested.

"Yeah, but next time, ease up on the comebacks," Trish said. "I guess I wasn't used to you having such a bite girl..."

"I know... I just..."

"Hey it's cool. Actually it's nice to see your having teeth, girlfriend," Trish laughed, thumping Karen on the shoulder. "I used to dig you cause you didn't fight. But actually it's better that you DO!"

Out of a sound sleep, Karen surfaced, hearing the thump of boots on the stairs. It startled her into alertness, when it continued, closer and closer. Gasping, she sat bold upright on the mattress lying upon the Persian rug Liz had given her. Through the long high window beamed in an orange glow, through the tie-dyed sheet covering it. Still the squares of light shone through, casting their pattern on the brick wall next to her.

"Shit," she cursed, rising to her feet. All of her life she had been surrounded by people, whether at home or school. Third from the top of five siblings, there was not a bit of time where she had been alone for any appreciable stretch of time. Having her own place had seemed an unattainable paradise. Now that the walls that surrounded her were hers alone, she found herself loathing it.

Salty remains of tears still coated her cheeks. The last thing she remembered was laying curled up on the two mattresses pushed together, the sound of the television in the living room to mask the weird sounds of the building. Yet, the hollow thump of boots on stairs wasn't coming from the TV. Indeed, she heard the jingle of keys just outside, and she leapt to her feet. Wandering out she saw the flickering television, swirling with static. A quick glance at her stove's clock confirmed it was twelve thirty. She grabbed a baseball bat from the stack of half unpacked boxes and darted to the side of the front door.

Another bolt clicked, and she yelped in alarm. She heard a knock on the door, a quiet knock. It was quickly followed by a thud immediately outside the door.

"Karen?" called a male voice. Karen didn't recognize it, under the volume of the static television, and the muffled wood of the door.

"Who... ever it is... I have a bat... and I'm not afraid to use it!" Karen shouted, more confidently then she felt.

"Please don't." the male voice called back, "I have a shitload of suitcases to carry up yet."

Then the voices registered, and shock mingled with relief. Karen lowered her bat and sighed. He really had come back. Trish had been right, and once she heard about it, she'd never let Karen live this down. Still not sure, she asked, "Is that... really you?"

"It's me, hon."

She unlocked the door, finger shaking as she pulled the last two deadbolts out of place. Staring through the peephole, she stared at the dark shape from behind. She slid the chain across and opened the door to peer out from behind it.

"Will you let me in? I need to talk to you,' he asked, moving close. She glimpsed dark eyes, and a familiar cloud of hair curling around his face.

"Come in," she whispered, closing the door and sliding the chain free. Opening it again, she saw him standing there, suitcase in hand and a guitar case to the left of his boot. That was what had made the definitive thump. Opposite him, she stood in an extra large football jersey, reminiscent of her older brother's varsity days in high school. Pro socks covered her feet, her legs bare and shivering in the night air seeping in from the hallway.

He looked at her framed in the doorway and smiled shyly, "I've never seen you in bed clothes before."

"Stan... what on Earth are you doing here?" she asked slowly. "It's 1 am..."

"I couldn't sleep. Couldn't eat. Couldn't play," he said quietly.

"I need to talk to you."

"Come in..." she urged, tugging his arm and pulling him in. she was half-afraid this was a dream and she'd wake up sobbing again and lonely in the apartment.

As he entered, he glanced around a bit. She grabbed his case from the hall and pulled it in, closing the door behind him and locking it securely. He turned to her and said, "You've been working on this a bit, I see. There are less boxes since last time."

"Yes..." she said. "Ray helped me unpack... And Trish brought some stuff over. I have a TV..."

"These boots are killing me," he winced.

"Liz hates it, and Maxwell already had one of his own..." Karen further explained. "Sit down... they even found an old sofa they didn't need... Liz' boyfriend had an old one he didn't need anymore and gave it to me..."

Stanley said nothing for a time, but moved over to the sofa and dropped into it. He propped his feet up on the improvised coffee table and lay his arms out on either side along the back of the sofa, sighing with relief. Karen turned to the television, fishing for a channel that had something on it. Thankfully she discovered the Tonight Show, with Jonny Carson.

"Why don't you come on over here... and sit down?" Stanley asked, patting the sofa next to him. "I've got some things I need to explain..."

"I'm just glad you came back," she answered, walking over and sitting next to him with a few inches between them. "Say what you have to say..."

"After we.... fought.... tonight.... I went home, had a nice dinner, home cooked, and a guy from Yellow Cab called and wanted me to cover for a few hours," he began, resting his head in his hands.

"Yes..." she nodded, turning to face him in the darkness, illuminated only by the flickering light of the black and white TV.

"So I drove around the city for about 2 hours, picking up idiots and thinking about you.... and me..." he continued, and then took her hand.

"And thinking how much I can't stand where I am right now."

"Did you complete your shift?" she asked him practically.

"Nah, I drove a bit, then called off. My heart just wasn't into it," he said, stroking her hand. "It seemed like everyone I picked up were couples going out on the town and all I kept thinking about was you here alone,"

"You... did you get in trouble for it?" she panicked. "You didn't lose your job did you?"

He smiled at her, "You really do worry about me, don't you?"

"Yes... of COURSE I do. Are you NUTS?" she asked, pulling her hand away and rising again. Pacing about she muttered something in Italian under her breath. "Almost losing your job..."

"Nah, I didn't lose it. I'm still there. Just told the dispatcher I was feeling like crap and I was going home," Stanley interrupted her.

"Which really wasn't far from the truth."

"Good... thank GOD," she sighed with relief. "I don't WANT you to lose your job because you feel shitty about us... Considering it's my damn fault for tricking you into coming here..."

"Honey, don't start. It wasn't your fault. Look..." He looked down at his boots, propped on the table, and continued, "It gets better. My night gets better."

"Oh?" she asked, turning around to see him for a moment. Tense and nervous she continued to pace the room.

"I walked through the front door after I got home and told my family I was moving out..."

She stopped before him in the darkness, his words registering. She asked, "you WHAT?"

"Yep" he smiled ruefully. "I told them I'm going to be living with you."

"Stanley... are you serious?" she asked, rushing over to kneel before him. "You can't mean it..."

He chuckled nervously, "First thing my mom says is 'Are you SLEEPING with her?' and my dad says, 'Eve, of COURSE, he's sleeping with her'."

"I bet your parents LOVED that... living with a mischievous Irish/Italian catholic girl," Karen laughed. "Who took their little pride and joy away from them."

"She.... umm...she wants to meet you. She reamed me over the coals for having a 'serious' girlfriend and not bringing her home for dinner," Stanley chuckled.

"She doesn't hate me then?" she asked, putting a hand on his thigh.

He noticed she held something in her hand.

"No, she doesn't. She went through a series of "Are you CRAZY" and that type of stuff. I'm too young. You're too young. We have no money. What about school? That type of thing."

"I'm glad," she smiled, stroking his thigh. He looked at her hand with interest. She held up a picture frame.

"You've got something, I see," he said quietly.

"Gene said that Lydia took it," she said, reaching to turn on the light next to him. "That night we were at the club... You and me... together... at the table. Lydia Crisscuola took it... you know she's a photographer..."

He reached out his fingers to touch it and smiled. He whispered,

"You're so beautiful..."

"She said... that if we were a couple we should have a picture... just in case..." Karen babbled, her heart pounding. "She took pictures of our band... that night. And we're using them to make fliers... For our next performance."

"She's very talented, but then again she has great subjects" he teased, as he pulled her up on his lap. She sat there; sighing as she set the picture on the crate that held the single lamp to one side of the well-worn sofa.

"I'm SO sorry..." she apologized, unable to look him in the eyes.

"I did promise my parents I'd finish school" he sighed. "At least this first year."

"I'm... very sorry," she sniffed, tears burning down her face. "I never should have..."

Sobbing, she rose from his lap and rushed back to the bedroom. Fear and shame filled her at becoming the reason his parents would never speak to him again. Because of her selfish desires, he had become ostracized from his culture as she had.

"Karen, what are you DOING?" he asked, rising and following her. "What's the matter, Hon?"

"I didn't want to make things bad with your folks..." she cried. "I guess I was just being selfish... thinking we could..."

"Karen, my parents love me. Granted, they're not nuts about us living together, with me barely being 20, but hell, they weren't nuts about me being in a band either instead of becoming a doctor," Stanley explained, rushing over to her. She hugged herself, standing in the door of their bedroom. "But they're in my corner, and they'll learn to love you too."

She turned around a bit, and sobbed, "I was so scared... because you're so close to them... that they'd hate you... for choosing me over them... like my parents did to me. And disown you..."

"Maybe TONIGHT isn't the night for the love fest," he chuckled. "I think I left them in a state of shock, but everything is going to be OK."

She cried bitterly, falling into his outstretched arms. Thinking about her parents telling her she was dead to them, she buried her face in his shoulder. He stroked her hair, kissing her forehead as she blubbered, "My sister... she called... the other day... begging me to come home... And you know what she said?"

"Shh, c'mere," he whispered. "What did she say?"

"She said that dad considers me no longer his daughter... and my name isn't spoken in the house... Can you imagine THAT?"

"Their loss, Karen. It's always been their loss," he said with a hint of anger in his voice. Breaking away from his hug, she pounded the wall in frustration.

"Come here, sweetheart. Please," he said, moving in the direction of the sofa, his fingers extended to her. Crying she came over and sat next to him, clinging to him and sobbing. He rubbed her back as she cried.

"Stanley I love my brother and sisters... and I can't see them at home... I can never go back..."

Stanley held her out at arm's length, fingering her chin, "I hope this doesn't sound unbelievably corny, but I'm your family now. Me and Gene and Raina."

"Oh god," she sobbed, and hugged him tightly.

"And if you want to, you can invite them over here..."

"I know..." she stammered. "It was just that... this never got to me so much... till tonight... cause I had my anger keeping me going for so long..."

"We'll make up this place really nice and have all kinds of parties. I'll bet this place has some nice acoustics," he said, surveying the apartment in the light of the single lamp and the television's combined light.

"And then the thought of losing you... I couldn't bear it... Because I had made a mistake..." she continued through tears.

"Shhhhhh," he said as he kissed her shoulder, "You didn't make a mistake. I'm here now, aren't I?"

"And then being alone... REALLY being alone... I've never been REALLY alone... I always was staying with a friend... This is the first time I've ever slept in a place TOTALLY alone... it scared me. When you have a brother and three sisters..."

"I'm ASSUMING the offer to move in is still open?" Stanley interrupted her. He rubbed her back lovingly as she talked.

"Stanley. It's open as long as you really WANT to live with me."

"I do. That's why I'm here. I thought it over and I'm ready," he said, fingering her t-shirt. "THIS is very cute..."

"My brother was a quarterback... he's on a college scholarship... to Notre Dame. When he found out I was first moving out, he gave this to me... for luck." She turned to look at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Angel, please don't be sad. We're going to have all kinds of fun here," Stanley smiled. "You know, one thing my dad said when I was packing, was that I'm an adult now and I need to be a man and stand up to my responsibilities."

"That's what ray told me." She sighed.

"That means going to class, at least for now, and it means this," he nodded, reaching into his jacket pocket for his wallet. Extracting a few bills, he handed them to her. Without question, she took the money from him. "That's so that we don't have to forget protection again. It's from my guitar fund" he laughed.

"Thank you."

'I.... umm...I told my dad about that night. NOT where we had sex, not at his friends, but that we did it, well, without," he sighed, looking at the ground.

"I... made an appointment to see the doctor," she said. "Ray paid for the visit. I took a pregnancy test... but it will take a week to get the results back."

"I'm glad. When my dad asked me if we were careful, I just found myself telling him about it." He sighed a bit as he began to twist a lock of her hair around his finger. "Dad says, if you ARE, he'll get me a job at the furniture store."

"The doctor said... that it didn't LOOK like I was pregnant... and I told him how I keep track of my periods and all," Karen said. "And I told him I was pretty sure I was doing it on a night where I was okay and he was VERY nice and said that he's had other girls my age come in.and that NOBODY would know about this but me and him."

"I can do that during the day and cabby at night. I can't lie to you, Karen," he whispered as he kisses her in the dark, "I don't think I'm ready."

"My friend's uncle said that I could extend my hours as a waitress if I have to... and I'm not either..." she whispers back as he continued to rub her back reassuringly. "I don't know if I'd make a good mom."

"You must be joking. You'd make a great mom. I just think we owe a baby more than we have right now."

"Stanley I wish to god I HAD found that condom." she said slowly.

"Me too" he sighed. "Although I must say, I enjoyed the hell out of it."

"Me too. But is one night of fun worth a lifetime of agony?" she asked practically. "That's what Ray asked me. It was then and there I realized I had to grow up."

"No, it's not. Not at all. If you're to have my baby some day, Karen, I don't want you to regret it."

"This isn't fun and games anymore... some grand adventure living way from mom and dad..." she nodded. "It's for real."

"If this is going to happen, there won't be any more bands, you know," Stanley said soberly.

"Yes..." she started to cry again. "Stanley I don't want to be the reason you give up Wicked Lester."

"As much as I hate to admit it, I can't take a wife and baby on the road, and I can't leave you alone in a dark apartment while I tour."

"If I am pregnant, I want you to not worry about me," Karen interrupted him with a finger on his lips. "Ray said there was a thing we could work out... I could have the kid with me during the day, and still play at night... and she'd pay a friend to watch my baby while I perform."

"Too damn late, missy. I'm your roomie. It's sort of my job to worry about you. And....your lover," he said quietly.

"I wish I hadn't..." she whispered. "I can't stand in your way. This is too important."

"I could have said no too, you know," Stanley said firmly.

"Yes, I wish you had, but we were stupid... And pointing fingers isn't helping."

"But of course, it really IS your fault, now that you mention it" he grinned. "You're soooo darn sexy, I couldn't resist."

She got up for a moment and paced again, then turned to say, "I started taking birth control pills you know... Today."

"Good. I mean, that's great," Stanley said.

"Ray gave me hers," Karen laughed.

"And I brought the rest of the box of condoms I had at home. Along with all the rest of my stuff that's still sitting in the car" he grinned at her.

"So... you want help bringing it up?" she asked.

"Don't overexert yourself, love. I guess I should get going and officially move in, huh?" Stanley held up his hand, rising from the sofa.

"Well I could unpack it..." she offered.

"I tell you what. Let's just enjoy each other tonight, and we'll deal with it tomorrow."

"Is it safe... down there?" she asked.

"No, probably not. That's why you're staying up here" he smiled.

"I've got clean underwear and a toothbrush in my bag and the rest, screw it. We'll unpack tomorrow. I'll just schlep the stuff up. It won't take long..."

"I have to tell you... we... don't have a very big bed... just a mattress on the floor," she said.

"I don't need a very big bed. I just need you," he said as he walked by and kissed her. "Be right back"

She waited for him over the next few minutes. Slowly the pile of suitcases grew along with the multiple boxes. She positioned them or directed him to the clear places. The last thing he brought up was a fluffy pillow and a few rolled times she guessed must be his artwork.

"Put those over there... that's the songwriting corner..." she said as he handed her the portfolios. Amused, she put them against the wall. Closing the door behind him, he handed her a grocery bag filled with food.

"What's this?" she asked, taking it and carrying it to the kitchen.

"Mom insisted." He laughed, locking the deadbolts securely.

"Oh man..." she squealed.

"There's probably even milk in there, knowing mom." He laughed.

"I'm afraid the toilet and the shower aren't in a separate bathroom," she said, showing him around the apartment. As he followed her to the bedroom, he stopped to look at everything and exhaled.

"Liz made a screen to put around them," she said, pulling at a screen on wood, like a bamboo partition in segments.

He chuckled a bit. "The reality of living together, huh?"

"Yes," she laughed. "This is our bathroom wall... and here..."

He smiled as she gives him the tour, his arm around her. He asked, "Speaking of which, where IS our bed?"

"In here," she announced. "It's small, but big enough to put a mattress on the floor..."

He followed her as she led him into the back room. ON the floor lay two twin mattresses, side by side. A double sheet covered them, with a comforter and several pillows. The whole mattress set at least was off the hardwood floor, on a worn Persian rug with a loud pattern. He looked at the mattresses for a bit, unsure of what to say.

"It's.... uh.... do-able." He cleared his throat.

"I got the one from my bed, you know the one that Ray gave me? And Liz gave me the other because she is getting a double with her boyfriend. But we only have one bedstead, cause Liz hated beds... she had that loft you know..."

He put his bag full of toiletries on the floor. She took a basket and puts them in it, giggling, "This is the medicine cabinet for now..."

"Our very own bedroom" he said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Let me get an extra blanket..."

"Here's my pillow," he laughed, watching her unzip another sleeping bag and spread it out for him. Taking his pillow, she let it drop next to hers. He's watched her, amused and titillated.

"You make a nice housewife" he winked at her and grinned.

"Okay, there is the luxury suite..." she muttered, standing back to look at the bed with both hands on her hips.

"I've had that pillow since I was 5" he smiled.

"IT smells like you. In a good way," she chuckled, sitting down on the edge of the mattress. "I've had that one since about the same age..."

Squatting, he noticed the teddy bear lying there on the bed. With one button eye missing, it was threadbare in places.

He laughed, "Let me guess. He's been around awhile, too."

"That's my woobie," she joked.

"Awwwww," he teased, "I thought I was your woobie!"

"You're woobie number two," she joked, leaning over and nibbling on his ear teasingly.

"Hmm," he laughed, tugging off his coat and throwing it over a stack of boxes lining the bedroom wall. He tugged his boots off, and then settled down next to her on the mattresses.

"Hmmm, well, let me see if I can change that. I want to be number one by the time the evening is over," he joked. She picked up the teddy and moved it to one side.

"Ray was lucky..." she muttered. "Gene had this nice place and she moved RIGHT in..."

"Hey, now, it's great here. There's you, a shower a TV some food a bed and me. What could we POSSIBLY want beyond that?"

"Music," she joked, and leaned over. He heard the click of a transistor radio turning on, and soft music drifted through the room.

He walks over and switches off the light in the bedroom, coming from the small clown lamp to one side, on a cardboard box. He suspected it was from Ray, another hand-me down from a bygone era. Walking over to her, he pulled her to him. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. He began to sway slightly so that they are sort of slow dancing. She put her arms around his neck and looked up at him in the darkness.

"I'm just standing here, imagining what it must have been like for Ray and Gene...that first night in t heir place together..."

"Hmm. And what did you come up with?" he breathed in her ear.

"Well I remember Ray saying how he made everything ready for her... so when she came home her stuff was waiting for her... And he ordered a nice dinner, and then took her to bed..." Karen sighed. "I can't imagine Gene being romantic... but Ray said he was... VERY much so."

'I think I just about gave you all I had," he admitted, blushing a bit. "Maybe there's enough in my wallet for a nice dinner."

"Stanley, it's all right... you're here now..." she whispered.

He leaned down and kissed her softly. Into her ear he whispered back,

"God, I love you."

"And I do have some money..." Karen said softly. "I made the 200 dollars from that night... And I have at least 25 in tips, for this month's groceries. Besides, my landlord said we didn't owe first month's rent for 30 days... I gave him 10o thought."

"I think I need another job," he said. "I can't let you get burdened with all this."

"No Stanley..." she interrupted. "It's all right. I found a job for you... They want a cook. Part time... on weekends..."

"I could do that.... And probably still drive some too," he chuckled.

"Yes, I hope so. I have my waitressing job... they gave me hours during the day."

"Band practice is most important, though. I have a feeling it's going to be kicking into high gear here soon. Now that's we've found Pete," Stanley said.

"And I practice and play at night," Karen nodded, lifting her head from his shoulder. "We have been given another gig this next week..."

He smiled, "Play at night. I LIKE that line."

"And they're promising 500 dollars... to the band," she said shyly.

"Am I invited?" he breathed in her ear.

"Yes... If you're free... Thursday night."

"Damn, I'm on duty. I tell you what, hell. I'll be there. I'll find a way," he muttered.

"Maurice insists on 100 himself... Ray's trying to talk him out of it. She talked him down to 50...since he's just the manager," she said. He kissed her neck as talked. "He is a pain, but he is GOOD at what he does."

"I love to hear you talk," he whispered between kisses.

"He is good at booking our shows, and helping find what we need..."

"You definitely need that.... a good manager," Stanley agreed.

"So we each get 100, and he gets 50, and the other 50 goes for security and road crew... That's Max and Liz' boyfriend."

"Damn, $100. That's practically our rent right there." He said, a little sadly.

"Yes..." she blushed.

"Just wish I could do more," he muttered.

"You will," she said with regret. "I just feel badly... We'll have to play MORE and more... just to make ends meet. At least two or three shows a week... When we hit our stride..."

She turned away for a moment, sensing he's sad. He grasped her shoulder and turned her to face him, with a smile, "And hopefully we'll be there right behind you."

He leaned down to kiss her neck again. Suddenly he felt uncomfortable. Unbuttoning his shirt, he lay it over the stack of boxes. He unbuckled his jeans and shimmied out of them next, putting them carefully on the floor by his boots. Grabbing his pillow, he threw it at Karen's back as she had it turned away to turn off the lamp.

"Ack!" she cried, turning. "Who THREW THAT?"

"INCOMING!" he laughed. "I think WOOBIE did!"

She turned and whacked him with her pillow. He laughed and hit her again. Grabbing him around the waist, she tickled his ribs. She giggled,

"You are a FIEND!"

"But I'm YOUR fiend!" he said as he tickled her back. She screamed and laughs. "And there's NO ONE to hear you scream."

Soon they rolled around on the bed, feathers flying and landing in their hair. Karen climbed on top of him, ticking his sides. He began to feel himself become aroused. In only her jersey and panties, she felt his underwear warm beneath her. He pulled her down for a hungry kiss between tickles. She moaned through the kiss, letting herself go.

"I love you and I want you" he whispered.

"You've got me," she whispered back.

"Thank God!" he sighed. She fingers his chest softly.

"Our first time in our first place," he smiled.

"Yes," she nods, kissing his chest. Pulling aside the covers, he tugged her beneath, and embraced her with his love.