When a stranger calls

"I just want out! I've had enough and I can't take it anymore!"  "If that's how you feel Lou, then go! No one wants a spoilt foul mouthed brat anyway!" Her mother spat. Another alcohol fuelled argument had led to Lou walking out on her mother. Stephen (Lou's older brother) was just opening the door when she flew out in floods of tears.  " LOU?! " Stephen shouted after her.  " Lou! Please wait a minute.... Just stop!" Stephen shouted. Lou stopped dead in her tracks and then fell to the ground with her head in her hands, tears running from her face like rivers and such heavy sobs leaving her mouth. Stephen crouched down the side of her and cradled her.  " Come on. What's gone off?" Stephen soothed and began to rock Lou back and fourth, trying to comfort her and help to stop tlher sobbing.  "I can't...... I just can't... She.... She..." that was all Lou could manage between each heavy sob. Stephen pulled away from Lou and picked her up. He wiped away her falling tears and looked her in eyes with such love and compassion.  It had always been just those two from day one. Even though Stephen was four years older than Lou he doted on her. Ever since their Dad left their mum, Stephen and Lou have stuck together through it all. Through all their Mothers abusive one night stands and boyfriends, her alcohol addiction and all the fights and arguments that came with it. And that's what had happened this evening. Their Mother had come home after being away for 48 hours and reaking of alcohol. Behind her stood another one of her long line of men. Her mother introduced him and was all over him like a rash. He pushed past their Mother and looked Lou up and down with a sinister smile on his face.  "Oh baby, you didn't tell me your daughter looked this hot!" he wolf whistled. Lou rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She was at the point where she had had enough of the men her Mother was bringing home and the jeers and inappropriate things they would whisper to her.  " Back the f**k off! " Lou spat back." Don't you dare take one more step closer to me you fucker!"  He raised his eyebrows and licked his lips as though he was enjoying the warning.  "I'd teach you a thing or two girlie!! Yes I most certainly would!" he whispered taking steps closer to Lou. Just as he was about to come face to face with Lou, she brought her knee up with all her strength and got the fucker right in his precious jewels. As he fell to the floor Lou grabbed his hair and punched him right in the face. Before she knew it, Lou's mother had grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt and screamed at her!  Lou couldn't believe that once again she was taking some strangers side over her own daughters safety.  And that was was caused Lou to run out and Stephen to be left holding his sister.  "It's OK for you Stephen. You're not here anymore. You've managed to settle down, move away from her and shut this part of your life out. I can't do that. I haven't got anyone to run away with or run too" Lou told him numbly. Stephen couldn't bare seeing his sister like this and felt so guilty that he had moved away with his wife and made a life for themselves elsewhere.  "Lou listen..." Stephen started.  "Nah. It's OK Stephen honestly I get it. I get why you went off when you did. Hell, if I could I would. How is Suzie doing anyway?"  Stephen just sighed at the fact that she had changed the subject and didn't want to rub in the fact he and Suzie where amazing and that Suzie was 8 weeks pregnant with their first child.  " Look, Lou... Why don't you come and stay with me and Suzie. I know you two don't always see eye to eye but if it gets you away from this s**t hole and away from Laura then.... What other options do you have?" Stephen always referred to his Mother by her name. In the past 7 years he has never once called her Mum. Lou got it - but no matter what their Mother did or said, Lou deep down desperately wanted to keep loving her.  " I can't leave her Stephen, it will kill her.."  "You mean the drink will kill her..." Stephen corrected her. "You're her daughter not her f*****g keeper darling! You need to start looking after you. To be honest sis, you look a state. When was the last time you even had a decent night sleep??" Stephen had a point. Lou was constitly awake with either worry for her Mothers whereabouts, the angry physical fights she would witness between her Mum and her new f**k buddy and trying to keep her life going.  " f**k it. " It was like something had snapped inside of Lou. Stephen looked up at her with widen eyes.  "f**k what?" he quizzed.  "I can't take her s**t anymore Ste. I'm done with her and all her baggage. Let her f*****g drown in it!" and with that, Lou took a stand and marched to Stephen's parked car, got in and slammed the door shut.