The Real World: Revived

Linas just reached the third phase of his treatment. He was feeling better and his mind was feeling clearer each and every day. Things were definitely looking up for him. He just hopes that once he gets out he can keep his sobriety. Only time will tell.

"I've never met someone with a perfect life. I gave up a good home life for a rotten love. But he's gone and so is my family. But we're alive, I guess it could be worse."

Rowan lit a cigarette and exhaled the poison. "My place isn't too far from here. I don't know if you need company for the night, but looks like I'm off for the evening..."

"I'll be fine. As long as you feel safe staying alone..."

She snorted a laugh, point to a window barred closed with red curtains and bullet holes in the glass. The sound of shouting came from inside the building, and dogs barking along the street. Two gunshots rang out, "There is no safe."

"Hard to be safe anywhere I guess." Felicity halfway smiled.

Rowan took a long drag from her cigarette, "Thanks though. You've been a saint."

"You're welcome. I'll be seeing you around I guess." Felicity pulled out her own cigarette, half waving as Rowan walked inside.

Rowan gave a tender half-smile. Things were only going to go downhill from here, that much she knew. Especially since she just had another night of making no money. She'd have to find a way to make ends meet. Perhaps her dealer needed someone to run drugs for him...

Two weeks later...
Felicity walked into the gas station. Liquor and cigarettes on the brain. She was going to drink her weight in whiskey and smoke herself into cancer. Yes, it was payday. And she had made bank, nine hundred dollars. For the week. Tips and check all together, she had made enough money to throw herself a pity party. And it started right now.

Linas had a week to go until he was release. "Better call Felicity" he said as he picked up his phone and dialed the numbers.

Felicity cursed silently on her way back to her apartment. Juggling her bag of goods, lit cigarette, and purse to get to her phone.
"Hello?" Her voice muffled by the exiting smoke from her mouth.

"Hey roomie, or soon to be roomie anyways" Linas joked over the phone "what's going on?"

"Walking down the street, loaded down with my pay day goodies. When ya gettin' out? I got you a nice futon to sleep on. Whore stench included free." Felicity said with a smirk.

"My favorite aroma" Linas chuckled "I get out a week from today"

"Alright, well my apartment is pretty much a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. So I put you in the living room. Make it your room when you get out, it's all yours. I pretty much stay in my room. Oh yeah, and my address is 198 Fifth Street, apartment 6."

"Got it. I owe you one for all of this"

"Nah, karma owes me a rich man." Felicity joked. "It's no big deal, I'm just doing what I'd hope someone else would do for me."

"Welp let's get you down to the financial district and see if we can get you hooked up. I'll give you a call the next few days with more details. Talk to you later!"

"See ya." Felicity hung up her phone. She sighed. No more drinking with Linas in her apartment. So, tonight would be her last lonely drunken night.
___________
Inside her apartment, Felicity had her bottle of whiskey in the freezer, Tech Nine blasting on her stereo, and a cigarette in her mouth. She always felt better when she let loose.

Rowan cried out in the street, broken nose dripping crimson down her face and a knife blade in her leg. Perhaps going to a drug dealer for work wasn't the best of ideas. Especially when he was your ex boyfriend. She pulled out her own knife; "You stay away from me you fucking bastard!" she shouted, voice cracking, "Just... just fucking leave, alright?!"

Felicity had the bottle open, ready t go when she heard a muffled voice over her music. She sat it down and sighed.
Super slut to the rescue...
She stuck her head out her window, gun in her hand.
"What the fuck is going on out here?"

"See?" Rowan hissed, "You've got your damned witnesses. Just leave me the fuck alone!"
The guy didn't seem to care, blinded by rage (and drugs), he dove at her. Rowan's arms jerked up reflexively, and he tackled her to the ground.

"Rowan!" Felicity shouted. She jumped out the window, landing with a loud thud on the fire escape. She ran down as fast as she could, hoping to help Rowan out of whatever was going on.

When she arrived on scene, Rowan had pushed him off, and was covered in her own blood on her legs, and her ex's on her chest. Her hands trembled and looked to the knife in his chest, "I... I killed him..."