Chapter 1
Closing time was coming soon, most of the men had left the club. Most of us girls finishing up the last few dances since last call was called twenty minutes ago. But that really didn't mean much to them. They just wanted to earn more cash, so they might milk those few men for every last penny.
As I finished my last dance, I walked back to the dancers changing room. As I got to my station, I just sat and stared at myself. Wondering what has become of my life but this is the path that I pick to go down. Well at least for know, I tell myself.
Letting out a sigh, Quien came from behind me and scared the living daylight out of me. Causing me to jump at a few inches in my chair. She always does that when ever I'm deep in thought.
Quien was my only friend here. Well, to be honest she was more like family. She found me living on the streets and trying to make it. I guess she took pity on me. After all I was only eighteen when we meet and was just kicked out of foster care because of my age. But, now it's been a few years and she has been the only person I can count on.
“Kat are you coming to get breakfast with us?” Quien asked with a smirk on her face as she pulled out her tips. “I’ll pay for you.” Of course Quien milked those poor men for everything she could. Hell she was good at this job and was trying to earn as much as she could so she could open her own bar, one day.
“Why should I go Quien? Everyone’s just gonna say how I’m the baby of everyone.” As I looked at everyone else changing and cleaning off most of their make-up.
“So what if your the youngest one here! Your life was never easy and your telling me that you can’t deal with being the baby of the group?!”
“I’m twenty and they still try me, like I’m the underage girl that’s going to get this place shut down.” Sighing softly. "I'm old enough to work here. I can't help that I have a baby face and look younger than them."
Quien throwing my clothes at me, sublimely telling me to get my ass dressed and stop whining.
“Why can’t you just bring me back something? You know what I always get.” As I get dressed muffling my question.
“You need to let everyone here know that you’re not a baby. Or else that’s all you’re going to be. They still see that young girl I brought in here. Now it’s time to prove them wrong.” Quien telling as if shes my mother.
Laughing softly I nod yes. Quien looking so happy that I finally agreed to go for once. I usually wiggle my way out of going because I don't care for most girls here. Many of them are mean and hateful, or at least until you get to know them.
We all walk to the only breakfast spot, that's still open this hour of night. On the plus side it was close to mine and Quien's apartment.
The owner knew most of us because most nights after working and building up an appetite, most of us came here to eat. Well, except for me, I usually had Quien pick me up something.
This being the first time that I actually went with the girls. I was nervous because I didn’t know what the hell I was getting myself into. I don't get along with that well, but maybe it was time for change.
Everyone was talking, mostly about the guys that they had to dance for and how most of them were pigs trying to get more from them. It was crazy the lengths that some of these men would go to.
“So Katharine you finally decided to join us for once.” Vivian started with a hateful tone.
Quien glaring at me almost letting me to stand up for myself. I just sighed as I looked at my half eaten plate.
“Vivian,” I started with a calm tone “ why does it matter if I come or not? It’s not like a came here to please you or to befriend you.” Ending with a bitchy tone.
She just looked at me as if I threaten her in some way. Everyone always said that Vivian was a witch but little did she know that I wasn’t scared of her like half of the other girls.
“Looks like Kat’s got your tongue.” Quien almost laughing as Vivian was lost for words. I guess she didn't think that I would stand up for myself.
The other four girls just stared as if they just seen a ghost or something. One of them finally chiming in “Little Kat just grow a pair.”
"I did not. I just don't want to be walked all over any more. I know have let ya'll say whatever you wanted about me and never said anything back to anyone." I looked at Quien then at the door hinting that I was done and ready to go back to our place.
She just signed at me as she shook her head no. She knew I wanted to make a run for it.
But,Vivian was heated and got up and left. I didn't think I had pissed her off that bad but oh well I didn't want to deal with her crap. Everyone waited until she was gone before talking again and giving me praise about standing up to her and all that kind of stuff.
Soon one of the girls changed the topic. Many of the girls started to pull out their tips and started to count there tips.
I just looked down until Luna spoke “Where’s your tips at from tonight Kat?” Staring blankly back at her I reached for them.
Luna giggled as she seen that I had already counted and sorted mine. Everyone but me called out what they had made in tips. Everyone now looking at me to call out mine.
“1,796” I still wasn’t making as much as them in tips but it was still good money for just one night. Shortly after we all said our good byes and went our separate ways.
Quien and I started walking to our apartment which as a fifteen minute walk. Passing a joint back and forth knowing that it was going to be one of those mornings where we needed the help to get to sleep.
Slowing down to look for my cigarettes in my purse as I get my pack out I see that Quien was nowhere in sight. I turn around looking for her but she wasn’t there. She couldn't just disappear into then air.
I started to panic. “Quien!” Yelling. I knew that these streets weren’t safe to walk around in the middle of the night, but that’s why we stayed together. We knew it was safer together than alone.
Next thing I knew was that someone had a hold of me. I tried to scream as loud as I could but it was no help as his hand was over my mouth. Then everything went black.
