"Please, I… I'm sorry," Camey stammered, reaching forward and gathering her damp bikini in both hands. She wanted to get dressed quickly and get out of that tiny apartment.

"You Goddamned little bitch!" the pretty woman shrieked, dropping the groceries and running over to the mattress. Reaching down she gathered Camey's long blonde hair in her hands and started pulling, kicking the girl with her sandaled feet while screaming obscenities.

Camey jerked both hands up and fought back, hitting the woman on the chest, belly and upper legs while scooting around and kicking out one foot. Brad scrambled to his feet and was behind the shouting woman, hands wrapped around her waist, trying to drag her away from Camey.

"Come on, Karen, you know I dig you, baby. Come on, she don't mean nothin' to me," Brad said in a loud voice, tugging at the woman's waist.

"Lemme go!" Camey screamed, curling her fingers and clawing her nails across the woman's bare midriff.

"BITCH!" Karen screamed, finally letting go of the blonde's hair. She almost collapsed, then stiffened and glared silently at Camey for several seconds while the girl hurriedly slipped into her bikini, then gathered up her towel and books.

"I'm sorry," Camey muttered, sliding against one wall, trying to keep as much distance between her and the tall woman as possible.

"I'll get you," Karen said under her breath, her eyes glowing with hatred. "I'll get you the way I got the others who tried to take him away from me."

There was a certainty, a conviction in those words that made Camey shiver. Even Brad's easy smile flashed at her as she left the apartment didn't help. All the girl wanted to do was run and hide her shame in her bedroom.

"Oh, oh, oh!" Camey groaned, running down the stairs, the blanket streaming behind her. In the street she slowed her pace, feeling the tightness in her chest lessen a bit. What a horrible scent! Who would have guessed that she could have caused such unhappiness, could have set another woman off like a crazed asylum inmate?