Chapter 1 - Candy
Chapter One
Candy
I needed money to continue paying for my college. There was no way that I was going to quit halfway through. I didn’t want to. My parents told me a few months ago that I would be paying for things on my own from now on. I was lucky that I had saved some of the stipends my parents had sent to help get me through this semester, to help pay for the things I needed.
At first, I was upset that they were officially cutting those apron strings, but then I thought it was a test to see if I could finally make it on my own. Were they wondering how long it would take before I crawled back to them, asking for their help? Now that I was thinking of it, I remembered them telling me before I left for college a few years ago that they would help me through college, no matter what, and that had me wondering what was going on. Nevertheless, I needed to learn how to cope on my own. I am an adult now and no longer under my parents’ roof.
I didn’t know anything was going on between my parents. I thought they were happy. I found out last week from an odd conversation while on the phone with my dad that he wanted my mother to start chipping in with things around the house, but she refused to help and decided to leave him. I was sure something else was happening that wasn’t being said. He admitted that they had struggled with their marriage years ago but told me that therapy had helped them patch things up and that they were in love with one another more than they were when they first got together. I wondered if that was a lie to get me not to worry about them. Apparently, they had been struggling for a while and had separated right after I left for college, which eventually led to them getting a divorce.
Since their divorce, things have been even more stressful between them, and somehow, I’d been caught in the middle. I had decided not to go back home during my summer break coming up, which meant I had to figure out a place to stay, as we couldn’t stay in our college dorm rooms unless we were taking summer classes. I didn’t want to as I needed a break from my studies too.
My dorm roommate told me that she had gotten her own place off campus and wouldn’t be returning to the dorm next semester and that I could stay with her until I figured out what I wanted to do. I was feeling stressed from everything, and she had always been there for me to confide in. I happily agreed, but what would I do to pay the bills? I’m sure I wouldn’t be staying with her for free. Plus, I needed to come up with next semester’s tuition payments due in August, a week before school starts. I was sure that I would find something. I had been working in the library as a way to cover for the tuition credit, but that was only while I was attending. I’m sure I could find something else in the meantime.
“This place is amazing, Hailey,” I said as I walked around, looking at the place I would be staying at for the summer. I was amazed at the spacious size and the amenities offered. “How can you afford this?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t offending her.
I knew her parents weren’t well off, and she started working in the campus library with me but quit after the first semester, saying she had found a better-paying job.
I began to question myself on whether I could afford to stay here. It was a large condo with many expensive cars parked in their assigned parking spots. There was a huge pool and a large gym. I even had to enter a code to get through the front gate, which was no big deal. Driving up to it made my mouth drop; however, walking into her place took my breath away. How could she afford such a nice place?
“I have a great paying job. I could get you in if you want.”
“What do you do?”
She paused for a few seconds before answering. The smirk on her face had me frowning, wishing I didn’t ask now. “I do favors … for men.”
I felt my heart skip a beat, and I tried not to let the shock show on my face, but I’m sure it was already too late. Was Hailey a prostitute?
“Sexual favors?” I asked, my voice a few decibels higher.
“Sometimes,” she shrugged as if her job wasn’t that bad. “It’s enjoyable. I don’t have to worry about dating bad men, and they take care of me. Plus, the pay is excellent.”
“Well, don’t you have to deal with bad men with what you do?”
“It’s a high-end nightclub. Highly vetted. These men that come in there aren’t allowed to hurt us. I could say no to any of them if I wanted to. We’re well taken care of. I can get you an interview if you’re interested.”
“I don’t know, Hales,” I said with a frown.
“Mind if I ask you why? Are you still a virgin?” she asked with a concerned tone.
“What? No, I lost that over two years. I just … I didn’t enjoy it, is all.”
“What, sex?” she scoffed as if she found what I said humorous.
My eyebrows furrowed, but I took a deep breath, released it slowly, and said calmly, “Yes. It was unpleasant.”
“Was it the only time?” she asked softly, and I nodded.
My boyfriend at the time begged me to have sex with him before we both left for college. I agreed and regretted it later.
It hurt, and he was done a few seconds after entering me. Thank goodness I made sure he wore a condom. I had hoped that he would want to keep going or let us have sex again so I could see if it was just a fluke, but it didn’t happen. It seemed as if he got what he wanted, and I felt embarrassed for even asking if we could have sex again. I felt hurt for giving my virginity to someone like him. That was the last time I saw him, too, and I have regretted it ever since.
“High school boyfriend,” Hailey said sadly, but it wasn’t a question. I guess she’s experienced the same thing herself, but I didn’t want to pry.
I shrugged my shoulders, “Yeah. It wasn’t that great.”
“Well, here’s the thing. The guys that come to the club are men who have years of experience in pleasing women sexually. So, they know what they’re doing. It’s not like some high school jerk who doesn’t. I promise you’ll be taken care of where I work.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said, hoping she wouldn’t try convincing me. It was working, and I came close to saying yes for the sake of needing the money, but instead, I said, “I think I’m going to settle in for the night.”
“Okay, Candy Cane. Let me know if you change your mind.”
I watched Hailey walk into the kitchen, humming as she went along. She seemed happy with what she did, and I wondered if sex with men, experienced men, was more pleasurable as she was trying to sell me.
I shook my head, trying to get the image out of my mind and focus on unpacking and settling into my new room, but my mind drifted to something she said and I couldn’t help but think about a certain someone. There was one man I wished was the one who had taken my virginity. Ben Halsted. He was much older than me, and he was my dad’s best friend. I often thought Ben would be the one I would marry when I grew up. He didn’t know that though, as it was my fantasy and a secret I had never shared with anyone, including Hailey.
I hadn’t thought about Ben in a long time. Maybe it’s because I hadn’t seen him in a while. But when Hailey said something about being with experienced men, my mind wandered to thoughts of Ben pleasuring me instead of my ex-boyfriend rushing into getting his happy ending and ignoring mine. From what I remembered of Ben, he wasn’t the selfish type. He was sweet and would spoil me with gifts whenever he visited. But all that stopped when he married, and so did his visits.
