Sonny never, ever, thought she was anything less than family. Laura couldn’t possibly understand that their relationship went beyond ex-lovers, and in one moment she was relegated to nothing more than an acquaintance. She felt totally stripped of what she cherished the most, being Brenna’s significant other.
Sonny returned the club. She sat at the bar with a glass of scotch swirling it around. She had never drunk scotch before but it felt like the time to start. She looked at the ground to see Brenna’s blood.
Sonny scrubbed the floor for over an hour. Although the blood was gone, she could still see it like it was fresh. Sonny retired to Brenna’s apartment and took a shower. She sat down and let the water run until cold. The shower cubicle echoed with her sobs.
Next morning Sonny sat at the bar with the rest of Brenna’s staff.
“I rang. They said there has been no change.” Sonny couldn’t say anymore and broke down.
Erin wrapped arms around her “Shhhh shhhh come on our Brenna is strong... Just have faith.”
“Well I’ve done nothing but pray all night.”
Charli rubbed Sonny’s hair “You should be at the hospital... Let her know you’re there for her.”
Sonny flipped at the thought, picking up her bottle and throwing it at the back of the bar, shattering it
Everyone jumped back in horror
“I CAN’T FUCKING SEE HER, YOU KNOW WHY BECAUSE I’M NOT FAMILY ANYMORE!!” screamed Sonny hysterically
“Sonny... Of course you are” Erin tried to sooth her
“No…. Laura made it bloody well clear that I was no more than just a friend, and the doctor made it quite clear that only family can see her.”
Charli spoke up “Sonny if you want to go, then go... Don’t let them stop you.”
“Oh shut the fuck up Charli, what the hell would you know.” Spat Sonny completely losing herself.
Sassy in tears “Sonny please don’t yell at us.”
“What the fuck are you crying for... Like you ever cared about anyone but your own self gratification. “And as for you,” she said, now facing Arlie “if you had stayed back as you should have this wouldn’t have happened.”
“me? She opened the fucking door... It was her own damn fault.”
“Arlie” yelled Charli.
Sonny was on Arlie and was going to punch her, but Arlie held her back and thumped her across the face, sending her to the floor bleeding. Sonny got up and Charli got between them.
“Everyone calm down.”
“Hey, she started it” spat Arlie.
Erin pulled Sonny away.
Charli grabbed Arlie “If you want to keep all your teeth dear girl, I suggest you keep your temper in check or else the next person going to hospital will be you... Have I made myself clear?”
Arlie grunted “fine, what ever.”
Erin was cleaning up Sonny’s face. Sonny had no fight left and just sobbed “If she dies Erin, I can’t-”
Erin hugged her again “she’s not going to die. You know why?”
Sonny shrugs
“Because she has a life line.”
“Laura”
“No silly. You.”
“She kicked me out Erin... So I don’t think I’m that.”
“She kicked you out because you complicate her life.”
Sonny groans “don’t do this I’m not in the mood to hear this, I know I’m a loser.”
Erin grabs her chin “honey Brenna loves complicated. She doesn’t love boring and lame and she would never admit that you were right about Laura. So to prove to her self that she was over complication, you were sacrificed”
“Well why the fuck does she want to be with her then?”
“Because Brenna knows that she would never be enough for you, I guess Laura is the next best thing.”
Erin held Sonny until she stopped crying.
--
Brenna’s eyes fluttered open for the first time and tried to focus
Laura kissed Brenna’s head and squeezed her hand “hey welcome back.”
Brenna grimaced from the pain “Laura...”
“Shhh you are going to be alright...” she strokes Brenna’s hair.
“Sonny, is she ok?”
Laura smiled “I guess so, I haven’t seen her the last couple of days.”
“You need to tell her from me... she needs to run the club, tell her I trust her.”
Laura remained still “you don’t need to worry about that, it’s already in hand. You just need to rest.” Laura kissed her gently “I love you Brenna, and I’m here for you”.
Brenna’s eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep.
--
It was Friday night, Sonny arrived at club early to help Erin and Sassy organise the evening. Just as she was about to arrange her music Laura walked in and called them all together.
“Brenna is awake, she still has a long way to go but... she’s going to be ok.”
Erin hugged Laura and grabbed Sonny “you hear that, she’s going to be fine... I told you.”
Sonny smiled “that’s brilliant, ok then let’s get back to work. Brenna wouldn’t want us to slack off in her absence.”
They all nodded when Laura spoke up
“Ahh yes and she told me to let you know that I’ll be overseeing the running of the club until she is ready to take the reins again.”
They looked at Laura in disbelief “Ummm well that’s ok but Laura we got it covered” said Erin.
Laura smiled “well I’m here to make sure that you do.”
Sonny shook her head “there is nothing to oversee. Erin runs the bar, she knows what needs to be done. Charli knows her role, she’s been doing it before we were even legal to be in this place Laura, and as for me... well there is nothing you need to over see.”
Laura steps closer to Sonny in stand off. Charli moves to them both “girls this is neither the time nor place.”
People started to come in and as Sonny turned Laura continued “I’m only doing what I’m asked. I guess she doesn’t trust you as much as you think. She’s worried you’ll turn it into your own personal brothel.”
Sonny stopped and stared at her in disbelief “I would never do that.” Sonny left to start up the music.
Erin dropped by the DJ box late in the night with bottles of water “you should go and ask Brenna. I don’t believe she would have said that.”
Sonny shrugged “Erin I don’t care... Brenna is ok and that’s all I care about. I’m not going to start the whole Laura vs Sonny shit again. I made a promise if she survived I would not interfere. I will be her friend, no more, no less.”
“At least go and see her, show her you care.”
“I’m a little busy, plus they are still only letting in family.”
“So... when you finish here, just go and see her.”
“Perhaps.”
Erin squeezed her hand.
“Oh another thing Erin, can you get Charli to move the girls away from my box, I’m sick of them touching everything, touching me. I can’t deal with them.”
Erin nodded.