Keys, check. Wallet, check. Phone, check. .38 special...check. Faith made sure to give her boyfriend an extra hug before heading out the door this Friday evening, almost forgetting that he was probably waiting for a proper explanation as he finally moved to hug her back from his seat on the couch. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTSYmtAwwG
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She wished she wouldn't have to be alone in what she was about to do, but this was how it had to be. "Faith, wait..." He stopped her as she pulled away to head toward the door, his soft green eyes appearing not only confused, but almost sad. It was as if he was begging her not to carry it out, but he had no idea...right? How could he? She'd been too smart about this for him to know. "You still didn't tell me where you're going. And the way you hugged me just now--you seemed tense."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9qID27DoQ
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"Well, I forgot some things at the store yesterday. Leave it to me to be forgetful, right? It won't take long, Rowan, I promise," Faith replied, unsure how to respond to his comment about her tenseness.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYGXG0U29g
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His eyes lit up. "Then let me come with you. I just need to get my jacket--"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAesLMea9q
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbd0YnyIHQG
"No," Faith interjected, before cringing at how unintentionally abrupt that had sounded. "I really need you to hold down the fort for me here, and plus that arm of yours still needs to finish healing," she added, attempting a small smile. Smiling didn't feel all that natural to her, but she would if it meant that it might have a contagious effect on Rowan.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoOYWD2MVb
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But instead of a smile, all Faith got as a response was a simple "oh." He slumped back onto the couch, picked up the TV remote, switched his gaze to the screen displaying some kind of commercial, and...surprisingly didn't argue further. He only added, "Well, whatever you're about to do...just be careful out there, this late at night." 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9ipDWgiwG
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"I told you, I'm just going to the store," Faith repeated, hoping that didn't sound like a lie at this point...even though it was. "But anyway, I'll be careful. That's another thing I tend to be, you know." When Rowan continued to give her the silent treatment, she concluded awkwardly, "So...I'll see you in an hour, maybe less than that."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nMAklRKJl
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She turned toward the door but hesitated, asking herself one more time if this was what she wanted to do before finally walking outside to her SUV. She had almost been bursting at the seams inside, wanting to tell him everything and ask him to please come with her, so that she wouldn't need to do this alone. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxnOC7LPEg
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwnUxhymGp
Ideally, a couple was supposed to work together and support one another when problems related to things such as finances and health arose, but...not in this case. Not this time. Rowan had done so much for her already, and at times it seemed to have made him worse for the wear. If she could help it, he would never see any more of the world's ugliness than he'd already had to before she found him. As for herself, she had been helped through everything, all her life up to that fateful day she met him. It was her turn to step up to the plate. Having made her decision a year ago after being forced to choose between Rowan or her family...he was all she had now. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4fn3SJsXB
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU7bF0omRP
Still, she couldn't believe she would be setting foot in an office belonging to the likes of Aaron Galanos--even if she did know him from her and Rowan's high school years and was friends with his girlfriend. What do you see in him, Sheena? Faith silently wondered. His money, his appearance...or has he possibly changed for the better? It was pretty crazy how much of a different person he sounded like whenever Sheena described him from the side of him that she'd seen many times. Aaron Galanos, at least the one Faith knew, was always going to want payment for any sort of favor. Whether it would be the kind of payment she was willing to give now was something she would find out tonight. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhZcyabonI
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6Yt8e4Gvo
Of course Faith had thought many times about warning Sheena of what she'd seen him be capable of in the past, and had subtly tried to find out more about what their relationship was like, but each time Sheena had never hinted that Aaron was anything less than a good boyfriend to her. Ultimately, Faith had decided not to rule out the possibility that maybe he'd actually changed, or even if he hadn't, Faith had no proof of otherwise. Besides, she was too busy with her own boyfriend and making sure they both had a roof over their heads to take anyone else under her wing right now. However, Faith couldn't help but wonder what would happen to her friend in the case that Sheena discovered something about Aaron's money sources that she wasn't supposed to...884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T3lO0Uesx
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDagJqTnoY
It's going to be a short visit here, I know that much, Faith told herself in an attempt to calm her churning stomach. Just focus on you and Rowan. If Aaron recognizes me, he might actually cut me a break. I'm not banking on it, but hey, it's a possibility.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzKg64flz8
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Eventually, having pulled over for at least three police cars and one ambulance upon reaching this side of town, she saw it, just as Sheena had described to her: a lit up neon logo to her right that read "Happy Scoops" and displayed a triple-scoop ice cream cone with a small smiley face on each scoop.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNgmY5HPLI
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3MKteaFZY
Had her friend not described the building to her, Faith would have been sure she'd driven to the wrong location. It looked so out-of-place, this little ice cream store. Its innocent cuteness almost made the atmosphere worse instead of better. Only two cars were parked in front of the entrance. After taking a parking space next to them, her next immediate goal would be safely getting from the car to inside those doors. There was a man standing at the side of the building that she almost thought she recognized for a split second when her headlights briefly shone over his face, that graying handlebar mustache and all, but she knew it couldn't be. Her mind was playing tricks on her, as usual. Regardless, she intended to walk as quickly as she could past this guy, despite the fact he appeared to be preoccupied with his phone. Gathering her courage along with her purse (and confirming that the latter still contained her handgun), she exited her vehicle and made her way inside Happy Scoops. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaOOQe52qF
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU6cdzuFoC
She thought she would feel safer once inside, having only received a brief glance from the man outside, but that feeling never came. Still, she steadied herself--all she really needed to do was think of the two alternatives (moving back with her parents and sending Rowan to live with his shallow womanizing brother who didn't care a thing for him, or both of them ending up homeless), and she swiftly locked eyes with the two people who were already staring at her. The skinny boy behind the counter wore a name tag reading "Levi", while the other, a makeup-caked lady reminiscent of a Bratz doll, eyed Faith quizzically.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36atSdcFu1
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"Welcome to Happy Scoops! How can I help you tonight?" the boy greeted Faith. His tone was friendly enough, but he glanced at the lady beside him as he spoke, who continued to watch Faith with an unwavering gaze.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmkB5N4rA6
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2anLB1VCm
"Um...I'm a friend of Sheena's--she's the girlfriend of the owner here--and she said he had an office here? I...need to talk to him about some things."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHuLUqT0qM
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVnHWs7c4T
"Ugh, don't say her name." The woman brought her long, claw-like red fingernails to her forehead, as if experiencing a sudden headache. "Seriously, when's the boss gonna break up with that little--"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uXXanzFBf
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdvtacScLk
"Come on Tracy, remember what he said the other day--we need to leave our personal lives at home," Levi appeared to correct her, flashing Faith an apologetic smile. Tracy let out a huff and plastered on a smile herself, once again turning to face Faith. "Anyway, can we get your name?" Ah, so she works here as well. Upon closer inspection, while she didn't display the same professionalism as Levi, she also wore a nametag.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWPmu3MmOg
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"Um, Faith."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIAW990n0O
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Fortunately Tracy didn't ask for her full name, even though that was likely coming eventually. Tracy cocked her head for Faith to follow her. "Come with me." 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dkGRWgXWb
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3vWKTnaM6
Faith began to follow her hesitantly, wondering if maybe Tracy was the reason Sheena hadn't offered to come here with her. No. Don't worry about it, Faith told herself again. It's not my fault if Sheena is dating a lowlife like Aaron.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalyZTFTpAo
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"Chop chop. You think you're the only one that's gonna be needing to see the boss tonight?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oJrevNYl8
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"No, it's just--" 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjkdqzELUb
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Before Faith could finish, Tracy continued walking briskly down the hallway until she'd gotten to the end, where a door displayed a "staff only" sign. At least the behavior of some of the staff around here confirmed to Faith what kind of establishment this really was. A front, and not much more.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vWKR0PfW5
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8KRfuRfvV
Tracy gave a couple of taps and said, "Mr. Galanos, got another one for you. She says that blonde chick of yours sent her; this must be a friend of hers or something." I can't believe I'm doing this, Faith thought, facepalming internally. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yllqGEXUw
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V8qoUO3RW
Brisk as ever, Tracy whipped around and, pointing in Faith's direction and almost poking her in the eye, asked, "You're here for a loan, right?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ4svT52VM
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"Yeah...potentially," Faith replied.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zmCyK79TC
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"A'ight, come on in," that familiar male voice responded, though he continued to say something she couldn't make out, as if he were talking to another person.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF6vYzid8e
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesDgWLRml9
"Good luck, kid," Tracy muttered, cracking open the door before leaving Faith standing alone in the doorway, as if she had somewhere to be. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjE6t4LIEDW
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1iddKLAHd
The man gestured for her to take a seat without really looking her over, and now Faith noticed he had a cellphone--perhaps a burner phone, though she couldn't tell for sure--up to his ear. His desk was unassuming, with the typical computer, stacks of folders, a water cooler that sat behind him, and a window to the left. Keeping her head downward and pretending to toy with her blue painted fingernails that were beginning to chip, she heard him sigh frustratedly, and she raised her eyes just enough to briefly watch him run his hand through his dark wavy hair as he listened impatiently to the person on the other end. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5TgTh7vFa
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He soon cut them off, though. "--No, no no no no. Don't tell me that. Look man, I dunno what else to tell you, except I've got a reputation to keep up and you've got $800 to come up with this time tomorrow." 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jSBCfRxh0
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiFhV5VW9w
Claustrophobia was beginning to set in, but the oldies music quietly coming from the computer's small speaker calmed her a bit. It reminded her of more innocent days when she would listen to the same music with her dad as a little girl. If nothing else, she and the man on the other side of this desk at least had music tastes in common. "We'll be seeing each other again, one way or the other."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa8BWhzADv
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe721fl0bA
Following a sudden beep from Aaron ending his call, she finally heard him address her, albeit an element of absentmindedness remaining in his voice. "Sorry about that." However, when he recognized Faith's face, that absentmindedness seemed to leave altogether. "Faith? What's a girl like you doin' in a part of town like this? Good to see ya' again after all this time!" When he held out his hand for her to shake, Faith hoped her palm wasn't too clammy. She just wanted to be done here as soon as possible. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UzThiYRne
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVRuViEJ2z
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