“What the fuck!” Zach yelled throwing his hands up. “You broke my lamp!”
I looked at Murphy confused and he shrugged.
“I trusted you Murphy…” He continued.
“I didn’t do anything with your sister Zach. Just ask her yourself!” He gave me a little nudge and I laughed.
“He’s telling the truth, I’m the one who climbed on top of him.” I said and saw Zach shudder. “We both still have our clothes on!” I pulled at my shirt to prove my point.
“Ugh, I can’t believe… you two?” He shook his head and started to walk out. “No more fooling around!” He said to us as he left my room, slamming the door. “And you owe me a new lamp.” He said through the door. Murphy started laughing and rolled off my bed. I giggled and sat down next to him.
“So now what?” I asked him.
“Now,” He put his arm around me and pulled me into him. “I go to work and you wait patiently for me, right here, until I get home.” He laughed and kissed the top of my head. “See you later Roxanne.” He smiled.
I groaned as he left. What a jerk. But I couldn’t be more happy.
I put on some T-Pain on my mp3 player, and decided to clean my room.

OOOOO

I was eating my dinner of chicken nuggets from McDonalds when Zach came in with Samson behind him. They were both dressed really well and I might even say that they looked sexy. But Zach is my brother, so I am not going to say it. I looked at them confused as Zach swooped down and took one of my nuggets.
“What’re you guys up to?” I asked after shaking my fist at him.
“Going clubbing. Wanna come?” Samson asked me.
“You guys trying to get laid or something?” I laughed, throwing my trash away. Samson smirked and Zach shrugged.
“Everyone knows I need it.” He said. I choked on my spit.
“I don’t want to think about my brother getting laid.”
“Hey, you’re not one to talk. I had to see you getting laid.” He said. Samson’s head snapped to me and I felt him glaring at me but I pretended not to notice. What did it matter? He kicked me out of his room when we were getting it on. I really wanted him that night. Now I had something much better.
“I wasn’t getting laid. Gosh, we had our clothes on and everything. Just let it go.”
“I’m not sure I can let you and my best friend almost getting it on, go.”
“Whatever Zach. It didn’t happen so, whatever.”
“Are you coming with us?” he asked me, trying to change the subject. I hesitated. I haven’t been clubbing in a long time. It might be nice to get away from her for a while. I’ve only gotten out of the house for walks and stopping by Murphy’s work and other random places.
“Yeah, I’ll come. I need to go change though. Give me like, ten minutes.” I ran to my room and threw open my closet door. I located my sexiest tank top and my favorite grey plaid skirt. I put on my fishnet stockings and my grey plaid flats and some jewelry and I was almost ready to go. I ran to the bathroom to brush my teeth and freshen up and I slammed right into Murphy.
“Careful there.” He said as he steadied me with a big grin on his face. “Hey, you look really nice.”
I smiled. “Are you going somewhere?” he asked. I bit my lip.
“Yeah, Zach invited me to go clubbing with him and Samson.” I didn’t want to tell him that it was Samson who invited me and it was Samson who glared at me at the mention of Murphy and me together. I hoped that Murphy wouldn’t be too upset.
“Oh, you go clubbing? I didn’t know that. Well have fun. Stay out of trouble.” He said as he patted my head and went back into his room. I scurried to the bathroom and put on a little bit of eyeliner and that was it. I looked perfect. But I couldn’t help but wonder who I was trying to look perfect for.
When we got to the club, I didn’t even get a chance to see what it was called because Samson dragged us to the front of the line and the bouncer let us in right away. It was crowded, hot, loud and sticky and I felt disgusting already. But the vibrations of the music through my body made me want to move, so I slipped away from the boys and tried to find a spot to dance. I don’t know how to dance, but I know how to move and that was pretty much all you needed to do, right?
In a few minutes I was grinding with a gorgeous guy with curly black hair and I wondered why I hadn’t gotten out sooner. He moved his hands all over my body and for some reason I liked it. And then all of a sudden he stopped and I felt my back hit a muscular wall. I look up and saw Samson grinning down at me, as he put his hands on my hips and ground into me. I turned around to face him and put my face by his ear. Even so I had to scream.
“I didn’t know you liked to grind.” I laughed. He just shook his head at me. The way his body moved, so fluidly and loose, yet tight made me realize that he was a great dancer. Feeling him so close to me gave me a buzz. I noticed all the other girl around me were scowling and I pulled myself away from him. I didn’t want Samson, I wanted to tell them. My head started to spin and I realized I needed and air and also to get away from him as soon as I could. I headed towards the nearest exit and pushed the door open. The warm breeze blew the hair away from my face as I leaned against the side of the building. I couple people were standing around and smoking. I drew a deep breath and let it go. Some guy waved to me and I ignored him. A few seconds later I felt arms around me.
“Why’d you run away from me.” Samson asked. His scent pulled me into his chest and I rested my head there. He took my right hand in his and put my other hand around his neck. He began to sway back and forth like we were slow dancing at a high school prom. I laughed, and he smiled at me and twirled me around.
“Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light. Those days are over… you don’t have to sell your body to the night.” He sang with a smirk.
“Oh shut up Sam. I’m not a prostitute…”
“I loved you since I knew you. I wouldn't talk down to you. I have to tell you just how I feel. I won't share you with another boy.” He pulled me into him.

“I know my mind is made up. So put away your make up. I told you once, I won't tell you again, it's a bad way.” He spun me around.
“Roxanne…” He whispered against my cheek and I shuddered. What was he doing to me? With the song that I hated the most in the world, just because everyone sang it to me, thinking they were clever. But he was being sexy. Damn The Police.
He took my chin in his hand and tilted my face up to his. He brushed his lips against mine playfully and then kissed me. I didn’t know what else to do, so I kissed him back. And a few seconds into that kiss, Samson was suddenly ripped away from me and I heard a loud crack. I opened my eyes and saw a livid Murphy with his hand in a fist and Samson holding his bleeding nose.
“Fuck.” Samson said.
“You’re a piece of shit Sammy.” Murphy said, his voice dripping with anger. I stepped away from the bleeding boy and looked at Murphy.
“What the fuck was that?” I asked him, motioning towards Samson’s face. Murphy rubbed his hand and just looked at me with his eyes narrowed.
“Do I mean anything to you Roxanne? Am I so absolutely worthless you have to go and fool around with my brother too? And who else?”
“It’s not like we’re going out or anything.” I said defensively.
“No. It isn’t.” He said, and walked away. I turned to Samson who has his eyebrows raised and was holding his nose to his shirt. He shrugged.
“You’re untouchable I guess.” He began to walk away.
“Wait a minute.” I grabbed his arm. “You knew, didn’t you?”
He gave me a look and tried to take his arm away from me but I held on.
“You knew he really liked me and you wanted to fuck things up for him, just when they we’re starting to be right.” I let go of his arm. “You are a fucking asshole. I can’t believe you. You never meant anything you said…” I started to blush with embarrassment and anger.
“Roxie, I’m sure you could have realized by now that I’m not a one-lady man. I never mean anything I say.” He smirked and let his fingers trail down the side of my face. “I could whisper sweet nothings in your ear all day if it would get you in bed with me.”
“Then why didn’t you fuck me that night.” I glared at him and his smirk faltered.
“I didn’t feel like it.”
“I don’t believe you.” I turned and walked away in the direction Murphy was going. I stepped up the pace but I didn’t see him anywhere and I had no idea where I was. I started to jog down the street. It was dark and I didn’t recognize anything. I kept jogging when I saw the most wonderful sign I’d ever seen in my life. Paws & Claws. I looked inside the building and a light was on. Melissa was in there. I started banging on the door until she came over. She unlocked the door and opened it a little.
“What do you want? We’re closed.”
“Is Murphy in there?” I asked, still out of breath. She looked at me and grimaced.
“Yeah he’s here.” She reluctantly opened the door for me and locked it behind me. She followed me to the counter and then leaned on it.
“Are you like, his girlfriend or something?” she asked hesitantly. I shook my head.
“No, I’m his best friend’s sister.”
“Well, either way, he’s pretty upset.” She said, climbing over the counter and hopping into her chair. “I’d never make him that upset.” She mumbled.
“Yeah well, maybe when I’m done with him, you can have your chance.” I said to her, hopped over the counter and went to find him. I knew I wasn’t allowed back there, but I had to find him and apologize. I looked in each and every room, but only found dogs, dogs and more dogs. I went over to Smudge’s kennel and she wasn’t in there. I ran to the back yard door and pushed it open. The lights were on and I couldn’t see anyone. I crossed the concrete area and walked onto the woodchips.
“Murphy?” I called out. I heard scampering and a little black thing came running towards me.

“Smudge!” I squealed and picked her up and she gave me a million kisses as usual. Murphy walked over to me slowly.
“What are you doing here?” He asked, and leaned against the fence with his hands in his pockets.
“I should have listened to you.” I said, holding Smudge to my chest. I felt my eyes tearing up and I struggled to keep from crying. “I didn’t know he was that bad.”

“What I don’t get, is why you keep going back and forth. Don’t you see? With Samson, you’re his little puppet. Of course he’d get angry if he knew you wanted to be with me, but it wouldn’t kill him inside like it’s killing me.” He lifted his head and glared at me. “You don’t know what it’s like to always be the second choice. And up until now it’s never mattered this much.”

I looked at him.
“No one’s ever meant more to me than you Roxanne. You’re different.”
“Well what do you want Murphy?” I asked, my heartbeat quickening.

“Nothing. Just leave me alone.” He said, staring straight into my eyes. “I think I’m done with you.”
I stared at him for a couple seconds, put Smudge down, and stomped away.

OOOOO

When I got home, Zach and Samson were there, watching TV and playing cards. I had walked around the entire neighborhood, just trying to get away from myself. What was wrong with me? Did I actually care about what Murphy said? It must have hit me right in the heart because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I cried a bit, but I didn’t want to look like I had when I got home, so I wiped all my makeup off with my sleeve. Both Zach and Samson looked up when I closed the door, and I walked over and sat between them on the couch. We started up a game of poker, when the door opened and Murphy came in and practically ran to his room. I knew he saw me. And I made sure that as soon as he came in, I was laughing and cheerful. I didn’t want him to know how much he hurt me.