Luck be a Lady Tonight

Tony comes home to Lily, his girlfriend, only to get into a fight. Can Tony make things better?

Desperation can be like a plague at times. It can eat away the soul of a man like a cancer and leave him hollow. A kind of hollow that calls for demons to take its place if left unchecked and then it makes it easy for it to affect the lives of others. 

            Though Tony had no time to think about this. He had no time to think about how desperate he was becoming and how it would affect the lives of those around him. No time to address how deep down his soul was rotting inside that temporal house; Flesh. No, he was more concerned about getting some money to pay those loan sharks.

            After a long bus ride out of Las Vegas, Tony finally made it home. A small run down apartment complex with the kind of neighbors that make living a nightmare. It wasn’t much but he called it his own because of a special girl.

            Lily was the type of girl that everyone thought had things figured out when she was younger. She had the good grades growing up, making and keeping an A grade point average. Enrolled in all the clubs and after school programs. Even had the looks of a movie star, with her beautiful long blonde hair and gem colored eyes.  So it was a surprise to everyone when she hooked up with Tony. The bad boy in high school with low grades and average looks. Though he seemed to posses that charm that everyone seemed to like about him, even the teachers.

            Tony knocked on the door to his apartment with one arm while the other held on to his side. The old white paint chipped door attempted to open from the inside. After a few choice words and bang from the other side, the door popped loose and opened.

“Tony were have you bee�"what the hell happened to you honey?” Lily asked as she looked at Tony’s bruised face.

“It was nothing I can’t handle.” Tony said stepping inside the apartment and made his move towards the couch where he crashed.

“Nothing you can’t handle? Tony, your eye is the size of a f*****g orange!”

“It was nothing Lily I just got into a small fight and got my a*s kicked.”

“I believe the a*s kicking part but I’ll have to call bullshit on the fight. You’ve gotten mixed up with some bad people haven’t you, tony?” She yelled at him. Tony rolled his eye and quickly stood up from the couch. He took just a few steps to the fridge and pulled a bag of peas from the freezer for his eye.

“No Lily I’m not mixed with any bad people I just went to the bar and got into a small fight--it was nothing.” He said putting the bag of peas on his eye.

“Bullshit! Tony, I know your lying to me one of those sleazy Vegas loan sharks called earlier today.” She said stepping in front of Tony before he could make it to that couch. Tony was annoyed now and trying to defend himself.

“Ok Lily fine…Yes, I took some money from a few of those Vegas guys but I did it to help pay for college.”

“Then why didn’t you just go to the banks and ask for a loan? Why didn’t you find a place that could have given you some kind of loan for students?”

“You don’t think I tried that! I have no credit, I’m an ex-convict, and have nothing to my name! I couldn’t get any money from any of those federal s**t-holes!”

“Well there is another way Ton…” Tony quickly interrupted Lily before she could finish her statement. His arms wrapping around Lily in a warm and loving fashion as he tried to calm her down.

“Lily, please I’m doing this for us both. I know I haven’t been making the right moves but this is all for us. I’m going to get an education and then I’m going to get some real money. I’m going to treat to the life I’ve always wanted to give you. You just have to trust me.” He told her kissing the top of her head. Lily’s head rested on his chest feeling the warmth of his body. She loved Tony but all she went though with him she just couldn’t trust him.

“I don’t know if I can do that Tony.” She said pushing away from him. “Have fun sleeping on the couch tonight.”  She quickly retreated into the single bedroom.

Tony stood in the exact spot he held Lily just a few moments ago. He knew that Lily had no reason to trust him, but to hear your love say so hurt.

Tony walked over to the wall and turned the lights of the apartment off.  The lights of Las Vegas were bright and shinning into the apartment. Lighting it up enough to make sleep difficult. Though sleep was the last thing on his mind as he stared out the window.

Just a few stories up in the apartment complex, Tony, could hear the sounds of people cheering, laughing, and talking among themselves. He quickly opened the window to hear and see what was going on.

Just below Tony was a group of people, almost impossible to see their faces because the shadows but able to see clothes and figures. They were playing a game of dice in a group. Every time someone made a roll the people would loudly respond in different ways.  Though there was some kind of man in the group that caught Tony’s eye. He was nicely dressed in a suit like he was Frank Sinatra, even had what looked like a fedora on his head. Even smoking a cigarette.

This man picked the dice up and with a simple throw they came out of his hand and onto the sidewalk. A few of the gamblers groaned and threw their money down. Those watching laughed and patted the man on the back.

“Thanks for playing boys but looks like I win again.” He said stuffing that cash into his jacket pocket. “I’ll be heading into Vegas now I got some deals to make and hearts to break.” He said with a deep chuckle and left the group.

Las Vegas was a city where fortunes were made over night, but were also lost at the same time. Though something rang in Tony’s mind that made Vegas sound like the perfect place to get fast cash.

He checked his pocket for the cash that the mysterious stranger put into his hand. Unable to see the person because of the condition of his eyes at the time. The cash was there.

Giving Lily’s room a quick glance then patting the cash in his pocket once more he nodded his head. This was maybe his only chance to turn a few dollars into some big money. He was desperate and like any other desperate man he’ll do whatever he thinks will get him what he wants. 

Author's Note

Second verse same as the first.

Reviews

[LRais]

I really like how the end of the story ties into the description of desperation given at the beginning. It's a fitting way to tie the whole thing together and makes the whole story more relatable to the reader! Brillian job!

[The earth (Titan maphah..]

Desperation can be like a plague at times. It can eat away the soul of a man like a cancer and leave him hollow. A kind of hollow that calls for demons to take its place if left unchecked and then it makes it easy for it to affect the lives of others.

Though Tony had no time to think about this. He had no time to think about how desperate he was becoming and how it would affect the lives of those around him. No time to address how deep down his soul was rotting inside that temporal house; Flesh. No, he was more concerned about getting some money to pay those loan sharks.

After a long bus ride out of Las Vegas, Tony finally made it home. A small run down apartment complex with the kind of neighbors that make living a nightmare. It wasn’t much but he called it his own because of a special girl.

Lily was the type of girl that everyone thought had things figured out when she was younger. She had the good grades growing up, making and keeping an A grade point average. Enrolled in all the clubs and after school programs. Even had the looks of a movie star, with her beautiful long blonde hair and gem colored eyes. So it was a surprise to everyone when she hooked up with Tony. The bad boy in high school with low grades and average looks. Though he seemed to posses that charm that everyone seemed to like about him, even the teachers.

Tony knocked on the door to his apartment with one arm while the other held on to his side. The old white paint chipped door attempted to open from the inside. After a few choice words and bang from the other side, the door popped loose and opened.

“Tony were have you bee"what the hell happened to you honey?” Lily asked as she looked at Tony’s bruised face.

“It was nothing I can’t handle.” Tony said stepping inside the apartment and made his move towards the couch where he crashed.

“Nothing you can’t handle? Tony, your eye is the size of a f*****g orange!”

“It was nothing Lily I just got into a small fight and got my a*s kicked.”

“I believe the a*s kicking part but I’ll have to call bullshit on the fight. You’ve gotten mixed up with some bad people haven’t you, tony?” She yelled at him. Tony rolled his eye and quickly stood up from the couch. He took just a few steps to the fridge and pulled a bag of peas from the freezer for his eye.

“No Lily I’m not mixed with any bad people I just went to the bar and got into a small fight--it was nothing.” He said putting the bag of peas on his eye.

“Bullshit! Tony, I know your lying to me one of those sleazy Vegas loan sharks called earlier today.” She said stepping in front of Tony before he could make it to that couch. Tony was annoyed now and trying to defend himself.

“Ok Lily fine…Yes, I took some money from a few of those Vegas guys but I did it to help pay for college.”

“Then why didn’t you just go to the banks and ask for a loan? Why didn’t you find a place that could have given you some kind of loan for students?”

“You don’t think I tried that! I have no credit, I’m an ex-convict, and have nothing to my name! I couldn’t get any money from any of those federal s**t-holes!”

“Well there is another way Ton…” Tony quickly interrupted Lily before she could finish her statement. His arms wrapping around Lily in a warm and loving fashion as he tried to calm her down.

“Lily, please I’m doing this for us both. I know I haven’t been making the right moves but this is all for us. I’m going to get an education and then I’m going to get some real money. I’m going to treat to the life I’ve always wanted to give you. You just have to trust me.” He told her kissing the top of her head. Lily’s head rested on his chest feeling the warmth of his body. She loved Tony but all she went though with him she just couldn’t trust him.

“I don’t know if I can do that Tony.” She said pushing away from him. “Have fun sleeping on the couch tonight.” She quickly retreated into the single bedroom.

Tony stood in the exact spot he held Lily just a few moments ago. He knew that Lily had no reason to trust him, but to hear your love say so hurt.

Tony walked over to the wall and turned the lights of the apartment off. The lights of Las Vegas were bright and shinning into the apartment. Lighting it up enough to make sleep difficult. Though sleep was the last thing on his mind as he stared out the window.

Just a few stories up in the apartment complex, Tony, could hear the sounds of people cheering, laughing, and talking among themselves. He quickly opened the window to hear and see what was going on.

Just below Tony was a group of people, almost impossible to see their faces because the shadows but able to see clothes and figures. They were playing a game of dice in a group. Every time someone made a roll the people would loudly respond in different ways. Though there was some



wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.... this is awesome

[Walker Andreasen]

I feel like this story would be better from a first person point of view. It feels as though it would be easier to write the character Tony. Second person is hard to write in and most of the time writers end up writing either entirely in first person or third. Give it a try! Don't be discouraged. writing is a long painful process and we're only here to critique and help one another.

[Juan More Story]

This was a pretty good chapter. It seems to have a kind of noir influence into it, and with the setting like Las Vegas its very fitting.

[Coyote Poetry]

A desperate man usually fall to a lower level of trouble. Never gamble with money that you need. A strong chapter. I like the description of the girl and his life. The ending of this chapter is opening the door to more trouble. A excellent chapter.
Coyote