ANY ILLUSTRATION SUGGESTIONS? I am planning to do one for Ch.6...

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Chapter 10: Mending

Lana puffed as she plopped her room key into an ash tray by the door. She sat down on the edge of the bed and threw off her shoes as she turned on the t.v. She heard a light knock on the door suddenly and looked up, wondering if she should answer it. It was probably the man coming to collect rent. She hated him. He was a swarthy, short and hairy man who thought he was god's gift to women and would try to flirt with her whenever he saw her. She shivered and stood up, walking quickly to the door and preparing herself to talk her way out of another advance from the man.

She huffed and slowly answered the door, closing her eyes.

"Habib, I've told you, for the last time-," she opened her eyes and gasped, "IAN!"

"Who's Habib?" he laughed. Lana glared at him and tried to shut the door. He put his foot in the way, keeping her from shutting him out. She let out a little sigh and opened the door again, running her hand through her hair in frustration.

"uh- uh, Ian, how did you find me here?"

"Connections," he smiled cooly.

She rolled her eyes, "I'm never getting away from you am I?"

"No," he grinned as she stepped aside to let him into the room. She wasn't happy with him being there but she did have to settle things with him.

"Look, just like I said at the diner, it's over!" she said as she waved her hands around to make her point.

"Why don't you just go home then?" He asked her quickly.

"Because I have to make my own way for awhile," she justified herself, "and- and I don't have the key to the house."

"Ah," he laughed.

"Please, tell me, why don't you just run along and go find your little treasure," she shooed him towards the door.

"You're coming with me," he said as he stopped in front of the door.

"No, no, no," Lana tried to open the door to push him out but he tried to grab her and kiss her. She slapped him and opened the door, nearly screaming when she saw Habib standing there with his arms crossed.

"NO! Habib!" she yelled.

"Is there a problem, my sweet?"

"Yes, and no! I am not your-" Lana struggled to make Habib leave but realized that Ian had sat down on the bed and was looking at her in a strange way, "no!"

"I heard yelling," Habib eyed Ian.

"Habib, please go away," Lana yelled as she placed her fingers on the side of her head and rubbed her temples. This was, hands down, the most frustrating and chaotic day she had ever had in her entire life.

"Why is he sitting on your bed?" Habib asked jealously.

"No reas-," Lana stopped and started to think quickly. If she said that Ian was just an aqauntance, Habib wouldn't leave, "He's my- my husband."

"What? You're married?" Habib backed up.

"Yeah," Lana laughed nervously. Habib's confused face made her want to crack up. She shut the door and turned around to see Ian grinning.

"No," Lana pointed at him, "go away. I've got to get to work early."

He didn't budge and Lana walked casually over to him and tried to pull him up by his tie, unfortunately for her, he pulled her down onto the bed. She hit him and struggled but just gave up and glared at him, "get off me."

"Not until we've settled this."

Lana rolled her eyes and grumbled to herself, "You killed a man."

"Actually," Ian interjected, "Ben and Riley are still alive."

"What?" She tried to comprehend what he said, "that doesn't make things better, Ian. You're a criminal."

"How would you know?" he asked in return.

"I-I-I just know, ok?!"

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Lana flung Ian off of her the next morning and got out of bed. He was snoring and she couldn't sleep. She looked at the clock, it was 6 AM, only an hour away from her shift. She cursed and grumbled angrily at Ian, rolling her eyes at him.

"Bastard."

She got ready quickly, throwing her wet hair up and running out the door. When she shut it, he sat up in bed immediatly and looked at the hanger that was swinging on the back of the door from the force. He immediatly threw himself off the bed and ran out the door after her. She groaned when he shouted after her.

"Ian, please, leave me alone!"

"Why would I want to do that?"

"'Why would I want to do that?'" she mocked him with a British accent, "I'll tell you why. It's because I've got mace."

He backed up a bit and started laughing. She stopped at the bus stop and leaned against the sign as they waited in the rain.

"Don't you have anything better to do today?" she said, glaring at him.

"No," he answered bluntly, "I took the day off."

Lana just glared at him and groaned. When she heard the bus brakes stop, she ran to the opening doors and pulled out some change. Of course, Ian followed her and payed his toll too. The bus driver could tell that Lana was not amused with this man who was annoying her. She sat down and huffed, realizing they were the only two people on the bus. He sat in the seat next to her and she rolled her eyes. He tried to put his arm around her but she shot him the evil eye.

"Unless you want to have your man business punched, I would suggest you take your arm away," Lana sang sarcastically.

TTTTT

Ian took a seat at one of the booths in the corner of the diner and tapped his fingers on the linoleum of the table. Lana headed into the back to grab her apron.

"Lana, who's this guy?" her boss, who's wife beater t shirt and stained apron suggested he had been working all morning to prepare for the first rush of costumers.

"My annoying ex boyfriend, who thinks he can get me back by stocking me around town," she answered bluntly.

"Tell him he better order something or get out," he smirked.

Lana tied her apron and grabbed her little notepad. Ian watched her as she stood in front of one of the bar stools and tied her apron. She was stalling, he could tell. She fixed her hair and brushed the wrinkles out of her classic dining uniform and reluctantly took up her pencil and pad, standing for a second as she composed herself and turned around.

"Larry says order something or get out," she said as she clicked her pen loudly and waited for him to make a decision.

"Coffee," he said quickly and she jotted it down, walking away quickly to grab a cup and a pot of coffee.

As she turned around, she watched Ian flip open his phone and dial a number. She sighed, knowing he was most likely calling her uncle.

"Calling your minions?" she asked unenthusiastically as she poured the coffee for him.

"Yeah, that's her," he said to person on the other line.

"Tell my uncle that i don't want to talk to him."

Ian watched her walk away again and head into the kitchen.

"Yeah, come here with the others," he ordered the person on the other line, "I'm going to need more help than I thought."

TTTTTT

Lana was ringing up the tab for a group of teenage girls who were giggling and chattering the peace of her usually quiet mornings, when the sun glinted off the glass door and the bell jingled as it opened. She looked up and prepared to say welcome but she didn't utter a word when she saw the group of Ian's minions, including her uncle.

Larry leaned on the counter and looked them over, "Now there's a group of men I wouldn't want to make angry."

"I know them, Larry," Lana rolled her eyes, "and, believe me, they're going to be angry when I give them a piece of my mind. After I take their orders of course."

She grinned flakily at Larry and he let out a little chuckle. She walked off and placed the bill on the girls' table as she made her way to the other corner where the men had all joined Ian at the huge booth.

"I'll take the waffles," Powell spoke up. Shaw smacked him on the back of the head and the Scotsman glared at his attacker.

"We're not going to be here very long, so don't settle in," Shaw whispered.

"mmhmm, yeah, sure," Lana said sarcastically,"you need to order something or that big man over there, who we affectionately call Larry, will come out here and rearrange all your organs, will inhibit your ability to spawn children and will then kick you out onto the street."

"Wow, look who's become hostile in such a short time," Shaw joked.

"Just order," Lana sighed.

They all looked at the menus and said their orders unenthusiastically. In a short time she came out with two huge trays of cups and plates which were overflowing with warm food and drink.

"So, Lana," Shaw began, "how's life?"

"It was going wonderfully until he showed up," she motioned to Ian.

"I love you too," Ian said, grinning impishly.

"Oh, shut up," Lana and Shaw said in unison to him.

TTTTT

Lunch time arrived for the employees and Lana was joined by one more waitress, who was very outspoken in her opinions. When their lunch break arrived, they both sat at a table together as Larry flipped the sign to say closed temporarily as he took his lunch break too. Larry didn't dare make the group of men move out of the booth.

"So, girl, let me get this right," she said to Lana, "that gorgeous blonde man over there is your ex boyfriend, he's rich, and he wants you back?"

"And I'm the one who dumped him," Lana said cooly as she sipped on some coffee.

"Is there something wrong with you?" the woman said as she placed the back of her hand on Lana's forehead.

"His business is very shady," Lana informed her, "that's what's keeping me from getting back with him."

"Honey, that don't matter," she said bluntly, "need I remind you?"

"No."

"He rich, he's gorgeous-."

"Ok, Ok, I get it!" Lana stopped her, "I'm mentally insane."

"mmhm," the woman agreed without missing a beat.

Lana rolled her eyes and chuckled as she finished the last bite of her sandwich. She had to clean some of the tables before the dinner rush came in. Larry came out and handed her the wet rag.

"Lana, please do something about those guys," he said.

"Look, Larry, I don't want you to worry but if I don't show up to work tomorrow then fill my position."

"And call the cops?"

"No," Lana laughed, "He won't hurt me. Kidnap me, maybe, but he won't hurt me."

"Lana-."

"Look, the bald guy is my uncle," she informed him.

"Well, take the day off after you finish that table," he nodded, "and take care of this problem you're having."

"Yay," Lana squeaked sarcastically as she threw her hands up and wiggled them to show how "happy" she was.

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