• Nothing left to lose
    Loving you again
    --It's Already Over,     Red

    I blinked, letting my mouth spread open in a yawn. Kali sighed, shifting in her sleep. I smiled. I jerked my head up, growling. Lucky flinched. He leaned back, putting his hands up and ducking his head slightly.

    "Easy. Don't go all mom on me." His nostrils flared as he sniffed. "Did you clean her too?" I let out another low growl. He bared his teeth as he backed up out of the room and shut the door.

    Kali moved closer, hand grasping a tight semi-circle against my upper arm. I nuzzled into her hair, licking her ear a few times. She sputtered, looking up at me.

    "Did I wake you?" She shook her head. I rolled my eyes. Suddenly, "Do you know how to kiss?"

    My head fell to one side. Huh? Eloquent as always, I was. Kiss?

    "I've...never really needed to kiss anyone. Dogs don't really kiss," I said, finally.

    "But do you know how?" Kali persisted. Her blue eyes shone in the light of the now-a-waxy-stump candle, the red streaks fiery highlights in her dark hair.

    "Okay, so I've watched some people." I rolled my eyes again, snorting. "It doesn't look like all that much. The male tries to eat the female's mouth. So what?"

    "You've never kissed anyone." She smirked. I felt my face grow hot.

    "What does it matter?" I barked. She fiddled with a lock of my hair.

    "Not much. Just that I know more than you on something essential." Essential how?! I gripped her wrist as she began twirling my hair. My voice was low, eyes narrowed.

    "Prove it."

    Kali looked at me, eyes large--even the pupils. She tilted her head, looking as I had when confused. This was an intent look, though. She moved her head closer. I strained not to instinctively jerk mine up. She closed her eyes, paused, breathing against my lips. A whine was quashed in my throat. I wetted my lips, began to pant.

    My heart skipped and stilled; the breath froze in my lungs. My brain tingled. I knew her lips were on mine, but it felt like the room didn't exist. Nothing existed, except this odd feeling. Then warmth--a real sensation in all of this?--slipped into my mouth, flitted around, and disappeared as she pulled back. I gasped. My eyes were stretched wide; I felt as one feels waking from an anasthetic sleep.

    Kali smiled.

    "Well?" She winked. "What do you think, Gypsy?" All my muscles slumped. I panted. "Gypsy?" I edged forward, performing a kiss this time. Almost jumped as she licked my lips.

    The door fell open. I rose up, snarling, crouching over her. He laughed. He was dressed in purple and white. His hair was long and silver. Eyes hard and mocking. Cane bloody red. One of the ones we called Pimps. Kali flinched as he looked at her. I crouched lower.

    "Aww. How sweet."

    "Get out!" He narrowed his eyes. I shook my head from the floor, a long welt from the cane on my face. I grabbed it as it came down again, gagging as a hard shoe landed on my stomach.

    "Get up and get dressed. You're going into the ring tonight. The crowd doesn't like damaged goods either." He turned, walking up the steps. "Stupid b***h."

    I sat up, holding my stomach as I stood.

    "G-Gyps..." Kali whimpered. Don't cry... Crying won't help... I looked away, pulling on a tank top and some loose, slitted pants. "Who was that? Where are you going--why?"

    "Shh!" I shushed her, shrugging on a worn, brown canvas jacket. "Don't follow." I looked at her. "Stay. Wait." I hurried up the steps. If I'd looked at her face any longer, I'd have been the one sobbing.