The empty plate stared up at her as Tammy shoveled in another mouthful of heaven.

Her taste buds danced to the tune of the old yet familiar melody as she gulped down the last of her food.

“It tastes just like my mom’s,” she finally said.

Aidan nodded, pleased with her acceptance. “We follow the same recipe.”

She tilted her head to a side. It was potatoes and vegetables; what recipe did you need?

“She didn’t have a recipe,” Tammy admitted, eying him up.

Aidan didn’t care. He shrugged his shoulders, not thinking twice about his mistake.

Tammy on the other hand, was left bewildered.

Not only did Aidan know about her mother passing, but he knew what food she cooked.

As she sat frozen to the chair, Tammy wondered what else he knew.

“You alright? You don’t look very well,” Aidan asked, canting his head.

He shrugged once more as he walked away, opening a tall cabinet that stood in the far corner.

He couldn’t care less about Tammy. In fact, he was bouncing; beaming and full of excitement. He was that self-absorbed, Tammy wondered if he would even know if she slipped out.

“By the way,” he spoke suddenly, causing Tammy to jump. “We have company tonight.”

Aidan smiled before revealing what looked like a large bottle of alcohol.

His smirk grew larger as he whirled around, dancing to no music. “I have friends over.”

~

Only one of Aidan’s friends had turned up.

The woman’s blonde hair and face full of makeup reminded Tammy of school. Specifically, the kind of preppy, popular girls she had avoided.

Tammy was never a girly-girl. The thought of cosmetics scared her, and fake lashes reminded Tammy of spider legs.

She found her stomach heaving as she pictured a giant spider crawling across this woman’s face, making its way into her eye socket.

“Remember,” Aidan popped up beside her, his drunken breath warm on her neck. “Best behavior.”

The woman caught sight of this interaction and made herself known, much to Tammy’s frustration.

“And who is this?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes. “Hope you’re not cheating on me, Aidan.”

Aidan laughed as he stretched his arm out, grabbing the blonde’s hand. “Don’t be silly, Louise.”

Louise returned the laugh, but hers didn’t match Aidan’s. There was something sinister behind it, like a tiger choosing the right moment to pounce.

“Meow,” his girlfriend joked, pretending to claw Tammy.

Her smile vanished as soon as Aidan walked away, revealing her true self. “He’s mine, so back off.”

Tammy nodded, keeping her thoughts to herself. The woman was as crazy as him. Clearly, they were made for each other.

Another empty bottle was thrown onto the table; the two were inhaling the liquid like fish.

Tammy tried her best to hide herself, being sure to stay in the corner and keep quiet.

Aidan’s girlfriend didn’t seem to take the hint and threw her dirty looks every so often.

Aidan himself found every opportunity to talk to Tammy, much to the frustration of Louise, who watched on with disdain.

“You sure you don’t want a drink?” Aidan asked Tammy for the fifth time that hour. “I’ve got pretty much everything."

Before she could reply, the kitchen door opened.

Aidan’s face lit up as soon as he caught sight of the muscular man who had just entered his property. Ironically, Louise’s did, too.

“You made it,” Aidan greeted him, pulling him further into the kitchen. “How was work?”

Tammy held in a giggle. This man had been here two minutes and Aidan was already all-over him.

“I’ll have water,” the brawny man asked, sending Aidan to the fridge.

Louise frowned. “And I’ll have another bottle.”

Aidan nodded, not taking any notice of his girlfriend and focusing on the new arrival, who’s attention was on Tammy.

“Who’s that?” the man questioned, looking at her up and down.

Great.

Aidan was fine. He hadn’t hurt her that she could remember, and he treated her well for the most part.

This guy was a different breed. Built from pure muscle and with a beard that warned away curious passersby.

“My girlfriend,” Aidan stuttered, speaking so fast his words tumbled out.

Louise snarled, jumping on his mistake. “You what?”

“Just a friend. She’s just there,” he said, now talking nonsense and trailing off, his words turning into nothing.

“Where’s my drink?” Louise ordered, making the already awkward situation much more tense.

The man’s eyes widened, revealing the piercing blueness that was their color.

Tammy sniggered as the pair locked eyes. At first, she froze, scared for her life, but then he smiled, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

“Get Louise a drink,” Aidan shouted, breaking Tammy’s moment of happiness. “Now.”

Her hands shook as she grabbed Louise a bottle from the bench.

“Come on, sloth.”

Louise’s words seemed to echo as Tammy made the conscious decision to let go of the bottle.

The glass shattered as it hit the floor, liquid and glass shards flying into the air.

Louise’s mouth hung open as the two men stared.

“You bitch,” she hissed before turning to Aidan. “That was my last bottle.”

Aidan came to her rescue, paying more attention to her than he had done that night. “I’ll get you another,” he cooed, stroking her face.

His focus changed, his once soft expression becoming hard and angry. “Clean that up.”

“Easy Ade, it was an accident,” the man whose name she didn’t know stood up for her. “She didn’t mean it.”

Little did he know.

Louise growled. “She was an accident. The cow needs to learn some respect.”

Aidan watched as his girlfriend spouted abuse, only stepping in when it suited him.

“I’m going to wreck her pretty little head,” she promised, making her way toward Tammy.

Listening in on the conversation, Tammy stood from her duties of glass collecting and waited.

Grasping a shard of glass in her hand, she was ready for whatever this girl had to throw at her.

“Hey, whatever your name is,” Louise stepped up. “You fucking need to apologize to me.”

Aidan’s eyes darted from her to Louise, and in an instant, anger washed over his face.

Louise raised her hand, pulling it into a fist. “You’ll pay for that.”

Tammy took no chances and lifted the weapon high, squeezing her eyes shut as the sharp object came down, fast and effective.

Tammy awaited the scream, but it never came. She forced her eyes open slowly, wishing she hadn’t been so stupid.

Aidan stood in front of her with his jaw clenched. “You idiot,” he spoke through gritted teeth.

With that, he grabbed her hand, cupping her palm with such force, he bent a few of her fingers back.

The glass cut into her flesh immediately, and as she attempted to let go of the sharp piece of pain, he squeezed, gripping her hand tighter.

The pressure forced the shard into her skin further, and she screamed. Giving into the tears which flooded her vision, she begged him to stop.

“I’m sorry,” she cried, still trying to pull her arm away. “Please.”

“That’s enough, Aidan,” the unnamed man shouted from behind.

But he kept going, pressing down harder and harder, until both their hands were covered in her blood.