Chapter 9
About half an hour later, after several requests from men who seemed to think I was a hooker, I knocked on the wooden door. The hollow sound matched the dull emptiness in my chest. I felt like my whole body had been shot up with Novocain, like I was in a cloud. I didn’t really think about what I was doing, I just did it. I had followed my instincts and went to the only safe place for me, even if it was a place I’d never been before, just trying to find the only person who could help me. The lights on the street threw into sharp reality what was going on. I pounded on the door again and waited for someone to come out. Then I noticed a row of doorbells off to the side. I picked one on the first floor and rang it repetitively until I heard movement inside. A small shuffle followed by the thumping of a heavy foot descending the stairs. I was surprised by how well I could hear. What had previously been a dull cloud was now a laser sharp focus, like I had just gotten an adrenaline rush. As I looked into the mass of cars navigating the late night, or rather early morning, streets, the door was flung open.
“What?!” an overweight man in an ill-fitting checkered robe shouted irritably at me.
“Um, hi. I’m here to see Lulu Granson. Could I please come in?” I replied awkwardly, realizing too late that I had no idea what to tell people, or even if Lulu lived here for sure. The man glanced at a battered brass colored wristwatch.
“At 3:30 in the morning? Are you crazy?” he scratched his balding head and began to close the door in my face. I hurriedly put my foot in the doors way and pried it back open.
“Sir, please. I’m begging you. I just went through a hellish ordeal followed by the creepiest four hour cab ride from Laguna Beach. Of course that particular cab driver only drives to the west side. So I had to walk from the west side with my bag fighting through mobs of drunk idiots who seemed to think I was a prostitute and no one would tell me anything so I had to find this place with only an address and a description. Of course I later found out that the address is for a post box at a post office and I really need to see Lulu because she is the only hope I have right now. I haven’t showered since yesterday and the grime floating in the air has completely covered me, I don’t even know what apartment the Granson’s are in, I wasn’t invited so I may be out on the street in a few minutes but this is my last chance. Will you please just let me in and tell me which apartment they live in.” I snarled back. His mouth was half open and his eyes looked at me in suspicion.
“You walked here from the west side at night? Do you have some sort of death wish?” He sounded almost in awe. “Ma’am, do you know how dangerous that is?” I let out a short laugh,
“Oh trust me, I know,” I said.
“Right,” he stepped aside, “Try not to wake too many people, apartment 4B.”I sighed appreciatively.
“Thank you sir,” I smiled at him as I stepped over the threshold. I walked to the elevator with my bag in tow and as the doors closed I swear I heard a voice behind me saying, “Walked from the west side at two a.m. Huh. Well I’ll be.”
“What?!” an overweight man in an ill-fitting checkered robe shouted irritably at me.
“Um, hi. I’m here to see Lulu Granson. Could I please come in?” I replied awkwardly, realizing too late that I had no idea what to tell people, or even if Lulu lived here for sure. The man glanced at a battered brass colored wristwatch.
“At 3:30 in the morning? Are you crazy?” he scratched his balding head and began to close the door in my face. I hurriedly put my foot in the doors way and pried it back open.
“Sir, please. I’m begging you. I just went through a hellish ordeal followed by the creepiest four hour cab ride from Laguna Beach. Of course that particular cab driver only drives to the west side. So I had to walk from the west side with my bag fighting through mobs of drunk idiots who seemed to think I was a prostitute and no one would tell me anything so I had to find this place with only an address and a description. Of course I later found out that the address is for a post box at a post office and I really need to see Lulu because she is the only hope I have right now. I haven’t showered since yesterday and the grime floating in the air has completely covered me, I don’t even know what apartment the Granson’s are in, I wasn’t invited so I may be out on the street in a few minutes but this is my last chance. Will you please just let me in and tell me which apartment they live in.” I snarled back. His mouth was half open and his eyes looked at me in suspicion.
“You walked here from the west side at night? Do you have some sort of death wish?” He sounded almost in awe. “Ma’am, do you know how dangerous that is?” I let out a short laugh,
“Oh trust me, I know,” I said.
“Right,” he stepped aside, “Try not to wake too many people, apartment 4B.”I sighed appreciatively.
“Thank you sir,” I smiled at him as I stepped over the threshold. I walked to the elevator with my bag in tow and as the doors closed I swear I heard a voice behind me saying, “Walked from the west side at two a.m. Huh. Well I’ll be.”
Chapter 10
4B. The brass lettering leered down at me tauntingly, making me second guess myself. I hadn’t really stopped to think about what I was doing until now. I had run away from home. I had taken a night bus to Las Angeles. I had stormed through drunken mobs of partygoers, and homeless men whose stares were so reminiscent of Ed’s leer, shown up unannounced at 3:30 in the morning uninvited, and didn’t even know if anyone was home. Lulu said she worked late sometimes but I didn’t know how late exactly. Did her family even know who I was? Heart racing, I raised my hand to the oak paneling. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
Nothing. If everyone was sleeping I was going to have to make a lot more noise to be heard and to get someone to come to the door. I raised my hand and was about to knock again when a voice, a whisper, came from behind me.
“Sophie? Oh my God, Soph? Is that you?” I spun around and gasped.
“Lu?” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. We just stared at each other. She looked so different from the Lulu I had known. Her makeup was darker; she preferred bright colors, but this was all black and red. Replacing the bright colored, paint-splattered tees she usually wore was a black leather coat that reached mid-thigh, with fishnet tights and knee length black boots poking out the bottom. After what seemed like an hour, she opened her arms and I rushed into them. “Lulu I’m so sorry to show up unannounced and everything but I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” I blubbered into her shoulder.
“Shhh, Soph, its okay. Come on inside. You’re fine now. I’ll get you cleaned up and you can tell me all about what happened.” She grabbed a keychain from her pocket and unlocked the door. I followed her inside and she showed me to the bathroom and started the shower. She pulled out a thinning lavender towel and, holding up one finger, rushed out of the room, returning moments later with a pair of flannel pajama pants and a paint-splattered cutoff tee. The shower felt beyond words. All the grime I had picked up walking through the smoky streets washed down the drain. The thrumming of the hot water felt comforting and I began to feel more in control of myself. I turned off the water and stepped out into the cold air, then pulled on the clothes next to the door and crept out into the kitchen where I found Lulu. “Now you look like the Sophie I know!” Lulu had changed into another pair of paint splattered pjs and a white tee shirt, making her looks a lot more like the Lulu I knew, too.
“Yeah, I certainly looked a wreck,” I laughed humorlessly.
“Soph, I am thrilled that you’re here, don’t get me wrong but…” she trailed off, looking down.
“What? Is this a bad time? Oh I knew it! I should leave. Oh Lulu I’m so sorry I should have called-don’t worry I will totally get a hotel room and you don’t have to worry about-”
“Don’t be ridiculous Soph!” Lulu cut me off, “Of course you’re staying here! It’s just that, well, I’ve never seen you like this. I’m not just talking about your dirty clothes and messed up hair from before. Mostly, it’s in your eyes. It’s like all the light is gone out and you have this sort of hardness behind them. I love you but something is seriously wrong! What happened to you?” I let out a snort.
“Still just as dramatic, I see!” but then I sighed. She had a point. “It’s Ed.”
“Oh. Okay then.” She replied. “Who’s Ed?”
“My mom’s boyfriend.”
“Aren’t your parents like…?” Lulu sounded confused.
“Yup.” I told her my story, starting with my parent’s dysfunctional relationship and ending with my journey that had led to the couch I was currently sitting on. When I finished we were both in tears. I could see the rising sun, shining through the eastern window and reflected in the tears that pooled in my eyes. Its soft glow shone off my friend’s hair and in the light I began to realize how else she had changed. She looked older, and her eyes was hardened as well. Interrupting my thoughts, a yawning man entered the kitchen through a door off to the right. As he caught sight of me he stopped short. He was thin, a wiry tall man that somehow reminded me of Jack and the Beanstalk. His blonde hair was receding somewhat and his grey eyes had laugh lines around them.
“Hi!” He said, awkwardly, “Um, Lucille, who’s this?” his voice was pleasant, like soft velvet. It made you want him to keep talking. Then I realized something. I slowly turned my head toward my embarrassed friend.
“Lucille?” I smiled. “Your name is Lucille?” I began to laugh, truly, truly laugh. If felt like it had been ages since I had laughed like this.
“No! It’s Lulu. Come on, Dad! You’re so embarrassing! This is Sophie. You know, the girl I’ve been talking about, like, all the time.” A look of dawning comprehension dawned on his face.
“Ah. Hi, I’m Corey. It’s nice to finally meet you, Sophie. You’re welcome anytime of course. If you don’t mind, I have to get going to work. Have a great day girls. Oh and, Lucille” he emphasized the name, “Why don’t you fix up Greg’s room for our guest?”
“No, he’s coming home this weekend. Soph can stay in my room!” Lulu chirped
“Great, bye sweetie. It was nice meeting you Sophie.” He left the room and I heard the elevator ding.
“Is he always that…cool about everything?” I asked
“Yeah, pretty much, he’s the best.” Lulu sung. I smiled. Lulu was passionate and excessively emotional-her moods were like a roller coaster, jumping from distraught to ecstatic in minutes. Lulu and I talked and talked in the early morning and slowly our eyes began to droop.
The next thing I knew I was laying on the couch with a thick comforter thrown over me and the smell of bacon wafting through the air. For all of Lulu’s attacks on animal killers, she never could give up bacon. I groaned and stretched my arms.
“You’re up!” Lulu chirped. “Breakfast is ready whenever you are!” Wrapping myself up in the blanket lying on the chair next to me, I shuffled over to the counter.
“Wow this looks delicious!” Lulu had made pancakes and bacon and placed apple juice on the table.
“It’s hardly a feast dear, but thanks. So what do you want to do today?” She responded. Her question was interrupted by a buzzing noise from the door. Lulu jumped up screaming and ran to the door. Flinging it open, Lulu screamed. She leapt into the arms of a tall, dark haired man with emerald eyes. “Soph,” she exclaimed, “This is my brother Greg.” He looked up.
“The Sophie?” I smiled wryly and nodded. He glanced at me, winking. “Well hello,” he walked over towards me but was hindered when Lulu smacked the back of his head.
“No hitting on my friends!” We all laughed and Greg swaggered towards his room.
“I’m taking a shower, Lu,” he called back, “see you ladies later.” There was a silent pause in the conversation and the burning question that had been in the back of my mind for weeks became prevalent in my thoughts. I decided to ease into the conversation.
“Um Lulu, am I getting in the way of something? Do you need to go to work today or something?” When I said this I swore I saw something strange flash across Lulu’s face, but when I looked again, it was gone.
“No silly, I work night shifts this week. I was just getting back from a late one when you came last night. So, back to my question, what do you want to do today?” She looked at me expectantly.
“Hear about you. I know there’s something up, and in your letters and emails, I felt like you were always about to say something but you never actually got there. You hardly ever talk about your job and your texts are always far more cynical after you leave work then they were before you got there. You’re hiding something from me Lu. Come on, spill!” I saw that look on her face again. In a softer voice I repeated, “Lu, what’s going on?”
“Look Soph, I really need the money to go to college. I don’t want to be a waitress at fast food restaurants for the rest of my life, okay? My pay is great and as soon as I have enough I’m going to quit. I already have a semester covered and I’m going to get some loans, and I got a few scholarships. Once I leave for school I will get a normal job at a normal place but-” Lulu trailed off.
“Lulu,” I said firmly, “what do you do?” The panic began to set in again. She was doing something illegal. Or just really, really morally wrong. Lulu was never embarrassed and this, well I was scared for what I was about to hear.
“It’s not like it is illegal or anything!” As usual Lulu’s mind was on the same track as mine. My hands started shaking and Lulu sighed. “I work at a club downtown, as an entertainer.” Her word dripped with disdain.
“You mean like-” I said slowly
“Yeah.” She cut me off. “It isn’t that bad, it’s good money. I just try to think of it as dancing, with,” she paused, “a really appreciative audience.” She looked like she thought I was about to yell at her. I started laughing. “What’s so funny?
” she demanded, indignant.
“Lu, I thought you were like, dealing or a hit man or something, the way you acted, it’s like it was murder.” I laughed even harder, relieved. Lulu stared at me. Then a small smile appeared on her face.
“And yet you came and stayed in a house with drug dealing, hit woman! Wow, you are desperate!” We sat their laughing, feeling more carefree than either of us had in a while.
Nothing. If everyone was sleeping I was going to have to make a lot more noise to be heard and to get someone to come to the door. I raised my hand and was about to knock again when a voice, a whisper, came from behind me.
“Sophie? Oh my God, Soph? Is that you?” I spun around and gasped.
“Lu?” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. We just stared at each other. She looked so different from the Lulu I had known. Her makeup was darker; she preferred bright colors, but this was all black and red. Replacing the bright colored, paint-splattered tees she usually wore was a black leather coat that reached mid-thigh, with fishnet tights and knee length black boots poking out the bottom. After what seemed like an hour, she opened her arms and I rushed into them. “Lulu I’m so sorry to show up unannounced and everything but I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” I blubbered into her shoulder.
“Shhh, Soph, its okay. Come on inside. You’re fine now. I’ll get you cleaned up and you can tell me all about what happened.” She grabbed a keychain from her pocket and unlocked the door. I followed her inside and she showed me to the bathroom and started the shower. She pulled out a thinning lavender towel and, holding up one finger, rushed out of the room, returning moments later with a pair of flannel pajama pants and a paint-splattered cutoff tee. The shower felt beyond words. All the grime I had picked up walking through the smoky streets washed down the drain. The thrumming of the hot water felt comforting and I began to feel more in control of myself. I turned off the water and stepped out into the cold air, then pulled on the clothes next to the door and crept out into the kitchen where I found Lulu. “Now you look like the Sophie I know!” Lulu had changed into another pair of paint splattered pjs and a white tee shirt, making her looks a lot more like the Lulu I knew, too.
“Yeah, I certainly looked a wreck,” I laughed humorlessly.
“Soph, I am thrilled that you’re here, don’t get me wrong but…” she trailed off, looking down.
“What? Is this a bad time? Oh I knew it! I should leave. Oh Lulu I’m so sorry I should have called-don’t worry I will totally get a hotel room and you don’t have to worry about-”
“Don’t be ridiculous Soph!” Lulu cut me off, “Of course you’re staying here! It’s just that, well, I’ve never seen you like this. I’m not just talking about your dirty clothes and messed up hair from before. Mostly, it’s in your eyes. It’s like all the light is gone out and you have this sort of hardness behind them. I love you but something is seriously wrong! What happened to you?” I let out a snort.
“Still just as dramatic, I see!” but then I sighed. She had a point. “It’s Ed.”
“Oh. Okay then.” She replied. “Who’s Ed?”
“My mom’s boyfriend.”
“Aren’t your parents like…?” Lulu sounded confused.
“Yup.” I told her my story, starting with my parent’s dysfunctional relationship and ending with my journey that had led to the couch I was currently sitting on. When I finished we were both in tears. I could see the rising sun, shining through the eastern window and reflected in the tears that pooled in my eyes. Its soft glow shone off my friend’s hair and in the light I began to realize how else she had changed. She looked older, and her eyes was hardened as well. Interrupting my thoughts, a yawning man entered the kitchen through a door off to the right. As he caught sight of me he stopped short. He was thin, a wiry tall man that somehow reminded me of Jack and the Beanstalk. His blonde hair was receding somewhat and his grey eyes had laugh lines around them.
“Hi!” He said, awkwardly, “Um, Lucille, who’s this?” his voice was pleasant, like soft velvet. It made you want him to keep talking. Then I realized something. I slowly turned my head toward my embarrassed friend.
“Lucille?” I smiled. “Your name is Lucille?” I began to laugh, truly, truly laugh. If felt like it had been ages since I had laughed like this.
“No! It’s Lulu. Come on, Dad! You’re so embarrassing! This is Sophie. You know, the girl I’ve been talking about, like, all the time.” A look of dawning comprehension dawned on his face.
“Ah. Hi, I’m Corey. It’s nice to finally meet you, Sophie. You’re welcome anytime of course. If you don’t mind, I have to get going to work. Have a great day girls. Oh and, Lucille” he emphasized the name, “Why don’t you fix up Greg’s room for our guest?”
“No, he’s coming home this weekend. Soph can stay in my room!” Lulu chirped
“Great, bye sweetie. It was nice meeting you Sophie.” He left the room and I heard the elevator ding.
“Is he always that…cool about everything?” I asked
“Yeah, pretty much, he’s the best.” Lulu sung. I smiled. Lulu was passionate and excessively emotional-her moods were like a roller coaster, jumping from distraught to ecstatic in minutes. Lulu and I talked and talked in the early morning and slowly our eyes began to droop.
The next thing I knew I was laying on the couch with a thick comforter thrown over me and the smell of bacon wafting through the air. For all of Lulu’s attacks on animal killers, she never could give up bacon. I groaned and stretched my arms.
“You’re up!” Lulu chirped. “Breakfast is ready whenever you are!” Wrapping myself up in the blanket lying on the chair next to me, I shuffled over to the counter.
“Wow this looks delicious!” Lulu had made pancakes and bacon and placed apple juice on the table.
“It’s hardly a feast dear, but thanks. So what do you want to do today?” She responded. Her question was interrupted by a buzzing noise from the door. Lulu jumped up screaming and ran to the door. Flinging it open, Lulu screamed. She leapt into the arms of a tall, dark haired man with emerald eyes. “Soph,” she exclaimed, “This is my brother Greg.” He looked up.
“The Sophie?” I smiled wryly and nodded. He glanced at me, winking. “Well hello,” he walked over towards me but was hindered when Lulu smacked the back of his head.
“No hitting on my friends!” We all laughed and Greg swaggered towards his room.
“I’m taking a shower, Lu,” he called back, “see you ladies later.” There was a silent pause in the conversation and the burning question that had been in the back of my mind for weeks became prevalent in my thoughts. I decided to ease into the conversation.
“Um Lulu, am I getting in the way of something? Do you need to go to work today or something?” When I said this I swore I saw something strange flash across Lulu’s face, but when I looked again, it was gone.
“No silly, I work night shifts this week. I was just getting back from a late one when you came last night. So, back to my question, what do you want to do today?” She looked at me expectantly.
“Hear about you. I know there’s something up, and in your letters and emails, I felt like you were always about to say something but you never actually got there. You hardly ever talk about your job and your texts are always far more cynical after you leave work then they were before you got there. You’re hiding something from me Lu. Come on, spill!” I saw that look on her face again. In a softer voice I repeated, “Lu, what’s going on?”
“Look Soph, I really need the money to go to college. I don’t want to be a waitress at fast food restaurants for the rest of my life, okay? My pay is great and as soon as I have enough I’m going to quit. I already have a semester covered and I’m going to get some loans, and I got a few scholarships. Once I leave for school I will get a normal job at a normal place but-” Lulu trailed off.
“Lulu,” I said firmly, “what do you do?” The panic began to set in again. She was doing something illegal. Or just really, really morally wrong. Lulu was never embarrassed and this, well I was scared for what I was about to hear.
“It’s not like it is illegal or anything!” As usual Lulu’s mind was on the same track as mine. My hands started shaking and Lulu sighed. “I work at a club downtown, as an entertainer.” Her word dripped with disdain.
“You mean like-” I said slowly
“Yeah.” She cut me off. “It isn’t that bad, it’s good money. I just try to think of it as dancing, with,” she paused, “a really appreciative audience.” She looked like she thought I was about to yell at her. I started laughing. “What’s so funny?
” she demanded, indignant.
“Lu, I thought you were like, dealing or a hit man or something, the way you acted, it’s like it was murder.” I laughed even harder, relieved. Lulu stared at me. Then a small smile appeared on her face.
“And yet you came and stayed in a house with drug dealing, hit woman! Wow, you are desperate!” We sat their laughing, feeling more carefree than either of us had in a while.
Chapter 11
I held the big white envelope in my hands, shaking slightly. I ripped open the seal and pulled open the letter.
Dear Miss Sophie Tristan,
We would like to congratulate you on your acceptance to Juilliard School of The Arts.
I screamed out loud. Lulu rushed out and saw the letter in my hand. She screamed too. “Did you get it?” she shrieked. I looked up, suddenly aware of something.
“Yeah, I did.” Lulu started dancing around. “One problem though,” she stopped and stared at me innocently. “I didn’t apply.” She smiled slowly.
“That’s funny” she said slowly, blushing prettily. “I wonder what gorgeous NYU student who wants what’s best for her best friend and who probably also wants her to be in the same city could have possibly sent in an application for you?” I grinned at her. I practically jumped in her arms, screaming and dancing around. I read the rest of the letter and reviewed the packet, discovering that they were offering me a substantial scholarship, due partly to excellence and partly to my new-found financial status. I pulled out a notebook and did a few calculations. If I got a small student loan, found a job here, and got a job in New York I was probably going to be able to afford college without my parents! I started crying. Greg appeared behind me, Lulu still celebrating. He rubbed my shoulders.
“You okay, Soph?” he asked. I nodded.
“I got in to one of the best music schools in the country on a really good scholarship. I don’t need to go back to Laguna Beach ever, ever again. I am free; I never have to relive that hell.” Greg put his arms around me and I hugged him back. His lips found my forehead and he bashfully kissed me. I pulled away slightly. Greg had been flirting with me since I got here, and I really liked him, but I felt like he was a brother to me. I couldn’t feel for him what he seemed to feel for me. I was more interested in him than I was for anyone I knew back home, but I still felt like his attraction for me was a different type than my love towards him. He understood to an extent. He loosened his grip to more of a friendly hug. “Now I just need a job,” I said, thinking slowly.
Dear Miss Sophie Tristan,
We would like to congratulate you on your acceptance to Juilliard School of The Arts.
I screamed out loud. Lulu rushed out and saw the letter in my hand. She screamed too. “Did you get it?” she shrieked. I looked up, suddenly aware of something.
“Yeah, I did.” Lulu started dancing around. “One problem though,” she stopped and stared at me innocently. “I didn’t apply.” She smiled slowly.
“That’s funny” she said slowly, blushing prettily. “I wonder what gorgeous NYU student who wants what’s best for her best friend and who probably also wants her to be in the same city could have possibly sent in an application for you?” I grinned at her. I practically jumped in her arms, screaming and dancing around. I read the rest of the letter and reviewed the packet, discovering that they were offering me a substantial scholarship, due partly to excellence and partly to my new-found financial status. I pulled out a notebook and did a few calculations. If I got a small student loan, found a job here, and got a job in New York I was probably going to be able to afford college without my parents! I started crying. Greg appeared behind me, Lulu still celebrating. He rubbed my shoulders.
“You okay, Soph?” he asked. I nodded.
“I got in to one of the best music schools in the country on a really good scholarship. I don’t need to go back to Laguna Beach ever, ever again. I am free; I never have to relive that hell.” Greg put his arms around me and I hugged him back. His lips found my forehead and he bashfully kissed me. I pulled away slightly. Greg had been flirting with me since I got here, and I really liked him, but I felt like he was a brother to me. I couldn’t feel for him what he seemed to feel for me. I was more interested in him than I was for anyone I knew back home, but I still felt like his attraction for me was a different type than my love towards him. He understood to an extent. He loosened his grip to more of a friendly hug. “Now I just need a job,” I said, thinking slowly.
Chapter 12
“Soph, I don’t think you should do this.” Lulu halted in the middle of the road, almost being run over. After I pulled her across the remainder of the road and all the horns stopped blaring at us, I replied.
“Lu, I need a job, and like you said, it’s not illegal, it’s good money, and it’s temporary. It isn’t a big deal!” I sighed, frustrated. We had had this conversation several times in the last few days, and two days later she still couldn’t argue with herself.
“There have to be other jobs in the area. So those few interviews didn’t work out! You could try some others.” She said, sounding doubtful even to herself.
“Ok, Lulu, you know there isn’t. If you couldn’t get a different job, I definitely won’t. You know everyone here wants people with job experiences. I only got this job because the guy who interviewed me instead of Rachel couldn’t take his eyes off my ass and you know it.”
“Justin’s a sucker for nice butts.” She said, adding softly, “Damn you, Justin.” I smiled.
“Look, I’m going in for training, we are going to save up our money and then we will both be in colleges in New York and always be together, okay?” She gave me a small grin in response.
“I guess, but if you change your mind don’t feel bad, promise? I totally understand,” she said insistently.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well here we are!” We had arrived half an hour early for the shift, I excited and Lulu crazy nervous. She said she just didn’t want me in with the wrong crowd and when I retorted that, she was in that crowd-so it couldn’t be that bad-she would go off mumbling unintelligible phrases that made me think she was a lot more nervous about what my parents would do to her if they found out than my safety, which they wouldn’t, because I was never going back there. After I received my acceptance to Juilliard and all the scholarships, I finally figured out what to do. All I needed now to finish paying for the four years was ten grand plus a food plan. If I did well at this job and took out a small loan I would be set and never have to return to Laguna Beach again. I was ecstatic.
“Lu, I need a job, and like you said, it’s not illegal, it’s good money, and it’s temporary. It isn’t a big deal!” I sighed, frustrated. We had had this conversation several times in the last few days, and two days later she still couldn’t argue with herself.
“There have to be other jobs in the area. So those few interviews didn’t work out! You could try some others.” She said, sounding doubtful even to herself.
“Ok, Lulu, you know there isn’t. If you couldn’t get a different job, I definitely won’t. You know everyone here wants people with job experiences. I only got this job because the guy who interviewed me instead of Rachel couldn’t take his eyes off my ass and you know it.”
“Justin’s a sucker for nice butts.” She said, adding softly, “Damn you, Justin.” I smiled.
“Look, I’m going in for training, we are going to save up our money and then we will both be in colleges in New York and always be together, okay?” She gave me a small grin in response.
“I guess, but if you change your mind don’t feel bad, promise? I totally understand,” she said insistently.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well here we are!” We had arrived half an hour early for the shift, I excited and Lulu crazy nervous. She said she just didn’t want me in with the wrong crowd and when I retorted that, she was in that crowd-so it couldn’t be that bad-she would go off mumbling unintelligible phrases that made me think she was a lot more nervous about what my parents would do to her if they found out than my safety, which they wouldn’t, because I was never going back there. After I received my acceptance to Juilliard and all the scholarships, I finally figured out what to do. All I needed now to finish paying for the four years was ten grand plus a food plan. If I did well at this job and took out a small loan I would be set and never have to return to Laguna Beach again. I was ecstatic.
Chapter 13
“So what do you want to do today, Sophie?” Lulu asked. I had been here for almost a week now, and I loved it. I was surfing the computer, trying to find out how to get my GED. I couldn’t go to school here, they would call my old school who would alert my parents, and I couldn’t get into college without graduating so this was my final option. It appeared that taking it online was the cheapest and easiest option. I signed up, excited to be done with anything that connected me to home. “Soph!” I looked up startled.
“Sorry what?” I asked.
“You were totally zoning weren’t you?” she asked. I smiled sheepishly. “You know what that means.” I looked at her, confused. I had no idea what she was talking about. “You remember when we were at dance-camp together?” I nodded.
“Obviously.”
“Weeeeell,” she dragged out the word. “Do you remember when we were doing that ice breaker and we said that one of our biggest pet peeves was people who didn’t pay attention to what you were saying?” I nodded, smiling at the memories. “Do you remember that later that day we decided that if we ever did that to each other, we would have to do a truth or dare?” my shoulders sunk. We had been obsessed with the game that month for some unexplained reason. I smiled.
“Truth,” I said simply. Lulu squealed.
“Yea! Okay let me think for a minute,” she paused, looking at the ceiling, winding the end of her hair around her finger. “Oooh, I got it. Tell me a secret about you that no one or very few people know.” I sighed.
“Lulu, you tend to be one of those few people who know all of my secrets. Let me think for a minute.” After a few minutes I finally I thought of something. “Ahh, got it. Okay, so no one but my mother and I know this.” Lulu smiled and grabbed the pillow off her bed, hugging it to her chest. It was so reminiscent of dance camp sleepovers that I wanted to laugh. “I’m not actually a natural blonde.” I told her. Her mouth dropped open. She stared at me for a minute, and then jumped off her bed, grabbing at my hair. “Ouch, Lulu!” I whined. She looked at my head and gasped.
“Oh my gosh, I can see your roots, I’ve never been able to see roots on you before! I mean even some natural blondes have darker roots but you never did! And why, how-oh my gosh tell me more!” she screamed. I laughed at her. When every sentence ended in an exclamation point, you knew Lulu was excited.
“Well, my mom was in a big pageant and she had dyed her hair since she was like, ten, so everyone assumed that she was just a natural blonde because no one really knew her back then. One day during the pageant, she heard one of the judges talking about how much she hated people who dyed their hair because the pageant was supposed to be about natural beauty and talent and not changing your appearance to look prettier. So later on in the competition in some of the last stages, it was between her and one other girl for Miss Southern States. They were at the interview portion, and the other girl admitted to dying her hair blonde and so, in order to get a few extra points from one judge, she told them that she was a natural blonde and told the judges that she believed that the competition was for natural beauty and God given talent, not people who changed themselves to fit societies image of perfection. That statement was pretty much the reason she won. Afterwards, she dyed her hair every weekend, knowing she was going to be blonde for the rest of her life.” I paused to take a breath and Lulu stared at me, her mouth slightly open. She was sitting on the bed again, pillow firmly clasped to her stomach once again. “So my dad is, well, was, blonde too, so when I was born a blonde, my mom was perfectly happy. However, when I was about three or four, my hair turned brunette. My mother was freaking because it was about then that she started cheating on my dad. She knew that if I stayed brunette for a while and everyone thought she was a natural blonde, everyone would start looking a little deeper and assume that I wasn’t my father’s daughter. So she took me to a beauty shop far away from town where no one knew us and bought so much hair dye that I think we probably still have a closet full of it somewhere.” Lulu laughed at that visual, just like I knew she would. Her predictability was comforting. “Every Tuesday night I get my roots touched up.” Lulu stared at me, completely shocked.
“Oh, my goodness, Sophie Marie Tristan, I had no idea!” I smiled and the two of us laughed. She reached out to my head and pulled my hair back, squinting her eyes.
“Um, Lulu, are you okay?” I asked, still laughing.
“I think you would look really good as a brunette.” I smiled at her.
“Why, thank you Lulu.” She beamed and then suddenly, gasped.
“I know what were going to do today!” She exclaimed.
“Oh, no!” I said, laughing.
“We are going to dye your hair back its natural color!” I thought about it. It was more than just dying my hair. Not only would this declare that I was no longer under my mother’s control, but if I saw someone from home, they probably wouldn’t recognize me at first. I looked at Lulu’s short, brunette corkscrews.
“I think I’m kind of like your color.” I said. She smiled.
“Maybe we are really sisters.” I laughed. “Well, knowing your mom…” she trailed off. I glared at her.
“Yeah, and knowing your dad…”
“Okay, fine!” She said, her voice filled with fake pain. We got up, got dressed in jeans and converse and walked downtown. We went into the nearest drugstore and ignored looks from several shady-looking men outside. The next half-an-hour was spent trying to figure out exactly what color my hair was. We were laughing as we walked out of the door with a plastic bag tucked under Lulu’s arm. We walked back up to her house and we ran into Rachel and Marissa on the way.
“Hey ladies!” Rissa called out. “What are you all up to?” I looked at Lulu’s face, it was practically begging to tell them. I burst out laughing, and nodded my head. Lulu told them the story and the look on their faces was priceless. “You know you lived in a mad house, right?” Rissa asked me. I nodded.
“Oh trust me, I know.”
“So you’re going to dye your hair back now?” Rachel asked. I nodded again. “Can we come with you?”
“Of course!” Lulu squealed. They followed us back to Lulu’s house, chatting all the way. I changed into an older tee shirt and jeans. We followed the directions on the box and as I sat in a chair with Rissa suddsing my hair with dye, Lulu burst out, “Oh my gosh, WE need to come up with a name for you!” I looked at her, confused. “You know, for work!” I smiled.
“What’s your name?” I asked them.
“Coco,” Rachel said dryly.
“Misti!” Rissa exclaimed.
“Sunsheen!” Lulu added dramatically. I laughed.
“Great. Okay, so what should my name be?” I asked. They looked at each other.
“What’s your favorite color?” Rachel asked.
“Green,” I responded immediately.
“Okay, how about your favorite band?” Lulu tried.
“I don’t have a favorite.” I said apologetically.
“I got it, how about your favorite book?” Rissa asked, looking excited.
“The Hunger Games.”
She scrunched up her forehead thinking. Then, suddenly, she looked up, excited. “Glimmer!” she yelled out. Lulu and Rachel smiled.
“Perfect!” Rachel confirmed. I nodded.
“Nice job, Rissa!” I added. We were done with the dye so I rinsed out my hair and Lulu dried it out with her blow drier. I flipped my head down and teased my hair flipping it back up again. We all stared.
“Holy shit!” Rissa finally screamed after a few minutes. “You look AWESOME!” Rachel and Lulu nodded their agreements but I just stared. It finally struck me how much I looked like my dad. With my natural color hair back I could stop looking like my mother and even though my dad was blonde too, I could now see his nose, eyes, his high cheek bones all taking their places on my face.
“Sorry what?” I asked.
“You were totally zoning weren’t you?” she asked. I smiled sheepishly. “You know what that means.” I looked at her, confused. I had no idea what she was talking about. “You remember when we were at dance-camp together?” I nodded.
“Obviously.”
“Weeeeell,” she dragged out the word. “Do you remember when we were doing that ice breaker and we said that one of our biggest pet peeves was people who didn’t pay attention to what you were saying?” I nodded, smiling at the memories. “Do you remember that later that day we decided that if we ever did that to each other, we would have to do a truth or dare?” my shoulders sunk. We had been obsessed with the game that month for some unexplained reason. I smiled.
“Truth,” I said simply. Lulu squealed.
“Yea! Okay let me think for a minute,” she paused, looking at the ceiling, winding the end of her hair around her finger. “Oooh, I got it. Tell me a secret about you that no one or very few people know.” I sighed.
“Lulu, you tend to be one of those few people who know all of my secrets. Let me think for a minute.” After a few minutes I finally I thought of something. “Ahh, got it. Okay, so no one but my mother and I know this.” Lulu smiled and grabbed the pillow off her bed, hugging it to her chest. It was so reminiscent of dance camp sleepovers that I wanted to laugh. “I’m not actually a natural blonde.” I told her. Her mouth dropped open. She stared at me for a minute, and then jumped off her bed, grabbing at my hair. “Ouch, Lulu!” I whined. She looked at my head and gasped.
“Oh my gosh, I can see your roots, I’ve never been able to see roots on you before! I mean even some natural blondes have darker roots but you never did! And why, how-oh my gosh tell me more!” she screamed. I laughed at her. When every sentence ended in an exclamation point, you knew Lulu was excited.
“Well, my mom was in a big pageant and she had dyed her hair since she was like, ten, so everyone assumed that she was just a natural blonde because no one really knew her back then. One day during the pageant, she heard one of the judges talking about how much she hated people who dyed their hair because the pageant was supposed to be about natural beauty and talent and not changing your appearance to look prettier. So later on in the competition in some of the last stages, it was between her and one other girl for Miss Southern States. They were at the interview portion, and the other girl admitted to dying her hair blonde and so, in order to get a few extra points from one judge, she told them that she was a natural blonde and told the judges that she believed that the competition was for natural beauty and God given talent, not people who changed themselves to fit societies image of perfection. That statement was pretty much the reason she won. Afterwards, she dyed her hair every weekend, knowing she was going to be blonde for the rest of her life.” I paused to take a breath and Lulu stared at me, her mouth slightly open. She was sitting on the bed again, pillow firmly clasped to her stomach once again. “So my dad is, well, was, blonde too, so when I was born a blonde, my mom was perfectly happy. However, when I was about three or four, my hair turned brunette. My mother was freaking because it was about then that she started cheating on my dad. She knew that if I stayed brunette for a while and everyone thought she was a natural blonde, everyone would start looking a little deeper and assume that I wasn’t my father’s daughter. So she took me to a beauty shop far away from town where no one knew us and bought so much hair dye that I think we probably still have a closet full of it somewhere.” Lulu laughed at that visual, just like I knew she would. Her predictability was comforting. “Every Tuesday night I get my roots touched up.” Lulu stared at me, completely shocked.
“Oh, my goodness, Sophie Marie Tristan, I had no idea!” I smiled and the two of us laughed. She reached out to my head and pulled my hair back, squinting her eyes.
“Um, Lulu, are you okay?” I asked, still laughing.
“I think you would look really good as a brunette.” I smiled at her.
“Why, thank you Lulu.” She beamed and then suddenly, gasped.
“I know what were going to do today!” She exclaimed.
“Oh, no!” I said, laughing.
“We are going to dye your hair back its natural color!” I thought about it. It was more than just dying my hair. Not only would this declare that I was no longer under my mother’s control, but if I saw someone from home, they probably wouldn’t recognize me at first. I looked at Lulu’s short, brunette corkscrews.
“I think I’m kind of like your color.” I said. She smiled.
“Maybe we are really sisters.” I laughed. “Well, knowing your mom…” she trailed off. I glared at her.
“Yeah, and knowing your dad…”
“Okay, fine!” She said, her voice filled with fake pain. We got up, got dressed in jeans and converse and walked downtown. We went into the nearest drugstore and ignored looks from several shady-looking men outside. The next half-an-hour was spent trying to figure out exactly what color my hair was. We were laughing as we walked out of the door with a plastic bag tucked under Lulu’s arm. We walked back up to her house and we ran into Rachel and Marissa on the way.
“Hey ladies!” Rissa called out. “What are you all up to?” I looked at Lulu’s face, it was practically begging to tell them. I burst out laughing, and nodded my head. Lulu told them the story and the look on their faces was priceless. “You know you lived in a mad house, right?” Rissa asked me. I nodded.
“Oh trust me, I know.”
“So you’re going to dye your hair back now?” Rachel asked. I nodded again. “Can we come with you?”
“Of course!” Lulu squealed. They followed us back to Lulu’s house, chatting all the way. I changed into an older tee shirt and jeans. We followed the directions on the box and as I sat in a chair with Rissa suddsing my hair with dye, Lulu burst out, “Oh my gosh, WE need to come up with a name for you!” I looked at her, confused. “You know, for work!” I smiled.
“What’s your name?” I asked them.
“Coco,” Rachel said dryly.
“Misti!” Rissa exclaimed.
“Sunsheen!” Lulu added dramatically. I laughed.
“Great. Okay, so what should my name be?” I asked. They looked at each other.
“What’s your favorite color?” Rachel asked.
“Green,” I responded immediately.
“Okay, how about your favorite band?” Lulu tried.
“I don’t have a favorite.” I said apologetically.
“I got it, how about your favorite book?” Rissa asked, looking excited.
“The Hunger Games.”
She scrunched up her forehead thinking. Then, suddenly, she looked up, excited. “Glimmer!” she yelled out. Lulu and Rachel smiled.
“Perfect!” Rachel confirmed. I nodded.
“Nice job, Rissa!” I added. We were done with the dye so I rinsed out my hair and Lulu dried it out with her blow drier. I flipped my head down and teased my hair flipping it back up again. We all stared.
“Holy shit!” Rissa finally screamed after a few minutes. “You look AWESOME!” Rachel and Lulu nodded their agreements but I just stared. It finally struck me how much I looked like my dad. With my natural color hair back I could stop looking like my mother and even though my dad was blonde too, I could now see his nose, eyes, his high cheek bones all taking their places on my face.
Chapter 14
As Rissa and I set up the room for the party, Lulu came barreling in still in her street clothes. “I’m so sorry!” She called out, panting. “I will be ready in two minutes.” Rachel came running in.
“The party is almost here!” She squealed. Rachel seemed nervous and excited.
“Rach, do you know any of these esteemed gentlemen?” Rissa laughed. We all joined in but when I looked at Rachel she was blushing.
“Rachel you do!” I exclaimed. She smiled.
“Yeah, I do,” she admitted. “He and I have been friends forever but he’s never been here before so I’m super nervous. It’s his friend’s bachelor party tonight. Speaking of which,” she switched into work mode, “His name is Michal and he’s been here one or two times with some guy friends. He is getting married in one week and I sold them the multiple night deal so they are coming in for the next two nights. If they like you, you will be back in this group tomorrow. The man who booked it all is named Holland Ridge. There are six gentlemen tonight but eleven the rest of the nights. You have five girls only tonight, but you will have 12 the rest of the nights, unless I can spare more. Make sure that all six are getting attention. I know you will be stretched tight but they all have to have a good time and I really can’t spare anyone else. Lulu why don’t you go and debrief Claire, Grace and Hanna?” Lulu smiled and nearly made an innuendo about her own briefs until she saw the look on Rachel’s face. She nodded and bounced off. “Okay, your outfits are in the side room, I like those boots Rissa, go and find matching pairs for the others. Oh my gosh! I am so excited, I haven’t seen Emmett since,” she paused, “well, a really long time.”
“Emmett?” I asked, Emmett, who?” I knew there must be hundreds if not thousands of Emmett’s in the world but I was still nervous about anything that reminded me of Laguna Beach.
“Relax, you don’t know him. I’m pretty sure he’s from Tennessee.” I nodded. Rachel smiled at me, “its okay, sweetie, I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.” I smiled back gratefully. The new hostess came running back in.
“Party of Ridge is here, Coco!” she said, as sultry as she could.
“You don’t have to talk to us that way, Dolly,” I smiled at her jokingly. She smiled back, flintily.
“Just practicing Glimmer, dear.” She said so throatily it was comical.
“Haha!” a voice said sarcastically. “You two are hilarious!”
“Hi Destiny.” I said monotonously. For some reason Destiny had hated me from the moment I began working here. She stalked off angrily. I rolled my eyes and finished zipping my outfit. I peeked out the door and looked at the group of men standing by the door, most drooling over Dolly. She was beautiful, a complete male magnet. She had blonde hair, a great body, and even though she couldn’t dance very well, she made a great hostess. All the guys walking in started slobbering the moment they entered the club, and then the actual talent stepped in. Rachel went over to great them and after shaking their hands one of them fought his way through and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off her feet. She squealed and lifted her feet, tucking them in behind her, making us all laugh.
“I missed you Em!” She cried he laughed and my heart stopped. I looked closer at his face and I froze. It was like everything was in slow motion. Standing in front of the door, smiling and laughing with Rachel, was Emmett Moore. I heard the girls calling out my name.
“Glimmer? Glimmer! Glimmer! Come on, what’s wrong?” Misti and Sunsheen called out. “Coco! Coco come quick! I think she is about to faint.” My head was spinning; I tried to speak, to tell them to stop drawing attention to me. I tried to run, to hide, but my feet were glued to the floor, my mouth sealed shut, I could barely breath. Rachel came running to my side.
“Glimmer, Glimmer sweetie, what is it. Oh my God!” she gasped. “Is it Ed? Oh god, which one? I can kick him out. Where is he?” I managed to shake my head. I was still staring at Emmett, completely shocked. I was finally able to live in peace and he had to show up. My complete fear began to become anger. I saw black spots and as he looked to where Rachel was his head turned slightly and he faced me, with concern. Did he recognize me? It didn’t look like he did. I started to breath. Maybe the new hair color was enough to fool him. Maybe I looked different enough as a brunette to disguise myself. I smiled and shook my head. Just as I was about to tell them all that it was okay, I just needed a bit of water. Emmett’s mouth dropped. He walked over as if in a dream. He reached out and touched my hair. He swore so loudly, Rachel jumped.
“What the hell is this Sophie!” he yelled. My fear turned to anger. How dare he, how dare he come here and ruin everything. I grabbed the lapel of his vest and pulled him out the back door, avoiding the girl’s eyes. I couldn’t look at their pity, fear, or in Destiny’s case, probably amusement. I was glad that Lulu wasn’t there, I didn’t know if I could stand her reaction, whatever it might have been.
“The party is almost here!” She squealed. Rachel seemed nervous and excited.
“Rach, do you know any of these esteemed gentlemen?” Rissa laughed. We all joined in but when I looked at Rachel she was blushing.
“Rachel you do!” I exclaimed. She smiled.
“Yeah, I do,” she admitted. “He and I have been friends forever but he’s never been here before so I’m super nervous. It’s his friend’s bachelor party tonight. Speaking of which,” she switched into work mode, “His name is Michal and he’s been here one or two times with some guy friends. He is getting married in one week and I sold them the multiple night deal so they are coming in for the next two nights. If they like you, you will be back in this group tomorrow. The man who booked it all is named Holland Ridge. There are six gentlemen tonight but eleven the rest of the nights. You have five girls only tonight, but you will have 12 the rest of the nights, unless I can spare more. Make sure that all six are getting attention. I know you will be stretched tight but they all have to have a good time and I really can’t spare anyone else. Lulu why don’t you go and debrief Claire, Grace and Hanna?” Lulu smiled and nearly made an innuendo about her own briefs until she saw the look on Rachel’s face. She nodded and bounced off. “Okay, your outfits are in the side room, I like those boots Rissa, go and find matching pairs for the others. Oh my gosh! I am so excited, I haven’t seen Emmett since,” she paused, “well, a really long time.”
“Emmett?” I asked, Emmett, who?” I knew there must be hundreds if not thousands of Emmett’s in the world but I was still nervous about anything that reminded me of Laguna Beach.
“Relax, you don’t know him. I’m pretty sure he’s from Tennessee.” I nodded. Rachel smiled at me, “its okay, sweetie, I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.” I smiled back gratefully. The new hostess came running back in.
“Party of Ridge is here, Coco!” she said, as sultry as she could.
“You don’t have to talk to us that way, Dolly,” I smiled at her jokingly. She smiled back, flintily.
“Just practicing Glimmer, dear.” She said so throatily it was comical.
“Haha!” a voice said sarcastically. “You two are hilarious!”
“Hi Destiny.” I said monotonously. For some reason Destiny had hated me from the moment I began working here. She stalked off angrily. I rolled my eyes and finished zipping my outfit. I peeked out the door and looked at the group of men standing by the door, most drooling over Dolly. She was beautiful, a complete male magnet. She had blonde hair, a great body, and even though she couldn’t dance very well, she made a great hostess. All the guys walking in started slobbering the moment they entered the club, and then the actual talent stepped in. Rachel went over to great them and after shaking their hands one of them fought his way through and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off her feet. She squealed and lifted her feet, tucking them in behind her, making us all laugh.
“I missed you Em!” She cried he laughed and my heart stopped. I looked closer at his face and I froze. It was like everything was in slow motion. Standing in front of the door, smiling and laughing with Rachel, was Emmett Moore. I heard the girls calling out my name.
“Glimmer? Glimmer! Glimmer! Come on, what’s wrong?” Misti and Sunsheen called out. “Coco! Coco come quick! I think she is about to faint.” My head was spinning; I tried to speak, to tell them to stop drawing attention to me. I tried to run, to hide, but my feet were glued to the floor, my mouth sealed shut, I could barely breath. Rachel came running to my side.
“Glimmer, Glimmer sweetie, what is it. Oh my God!” she gasped. “Is it Ed? Oh god, which one? I can kick him out. Where is he?” I managed to shake my head. I was still staring at Emmett, completely shocked. I was finally able to live in peace and he had to show up. My complete fear began to become anger. I saw black spots and as he looked to where Rachel was his head turned slightly and he faced me, with concern. Did he recognize me? It didn’t look like he did. I started to breath. Maybe the new hair color was enough to fool him. Maybe I looked different enough as a brunette to disguise myself. I smiled and shook my head. Just as I was about to tell them all that it was okay, I just needed a bit of water. Emmett’s mouth dropped. He walked over as if in a dream. He reached out and touched my hair. He swore so loudly, Rachel jumped.
“What the hell is this Sophie!” he yelled. My fear turned to anger. How dare he, how dare he come here and ruin everything. I grabbed the lapel of his vest and pulled him out the back door, avoiding the girl’s eyes. I couldn’t look at their pity, fear, or in Destiny’s case, probably amusement. I was glad that Lulu wasn’t there, I didn’t know if I could stand her reaction, whatever it might have been.
Chapter 15
I stormed out onto the streets, my face red with anger. I wanted to scream. I dragged him out behind me. “Sophie!” he called out.
“Please, please stop saying my name,” I begged.
“Okay, what should I call you?” I cringed. I couldn’t let him use my pseudonym for work. It would be to humiliating.
“Just don’t say a name, okay? Keep it anonymous,” I said. “Please Emmett?” He nodded. He stared at me for a while, just looking with an odd look on his face. I couldn’t tell what it was but I assumed it wasn’t happiness at seeing me. “What? Speak. I know you want to say something, just say it Emmett.”
“Are you okay?” His response startled me; we hadn’t left on good terms. I nodded. “Does anyone know you’re here?”
“What exactly do you mean by anyone?” I said sheepishly.
“Your parents, Crystal, anyone from home.”
“Well, you do.” He rolled his eyes in anger. “Okay no, and Emmett, I know you and I aren’t on the best of terms but I’m begging you, please, please don’t tell anyone!” I pleaded. “I have it all figured out and if no one interferes I am literally set for the rest of my life.”
“Are you kidding? You’re going to live on the streets and work in a strip club for the rest of your life? Is that set for you?” he shook his head in disgust.
“No!” I put in, indignant. “I got accepted to a good college and they offered me a lot of scholarship money. I have a place, I’m staying here and this job is just to earn the difference. In case you didn’t notice, egotistical, rich men such as yourself frequent this place for some reason and they tend to tip rather well,” I said somewhat sarcastically. “You can’t exactly be disgusted in my job when you’re one of the costumers. You seemed pretty friendly with Coco, do you come here often?”
“Rachel,” he articulated stressing her actual name, “and we go way back. I’m just here for a friend’s bachelor party and I would rather be out at a bar than in a club like this.” I narrowed my eyes.
“How do you know Rachel?” I asked skeptically. He smiled.
“It’s a long story, and one I wouldn’t tell without her permission,” he responded smoothly, “You can ask her about it sometime.” I buried my head in my hands and sighed.
“Look, Emmett, I have to get back to work. Could you please promise me you won’t tell anyone back home about this?” I prayed he would.
“Yeah, I guess,” he said, shocking me. We both stood there in silence for a moment.
“Right then,” I said, “I’m sorry for thinking you were a disgusting, imbecile, womanizing, snobbish asshole.”
“Right, well,” he paused. “Then I’m sorry for thinking you were a money-loving contemptuous, derisive, misanthropic moron.”
“Contemptuous, derisive, and misanthropic all mean the same thing Emmett.” I smirked “Anyway, thanks, I have to go back to work.”
“I have to get back to a party myself. See you later, Soph-” He cut himself off. “Never mind.” We both walked back inside together. At the last second he grabbed my hand. “Soph? Just, be careful, okay? There are a lot of creeps who come here.” Before I could respond, he brushed passed me into the club.
Before I got through the door, Rachel grabbed my hand. “I’m so sorry, Soph, I thought he was from Tennessee, I never realized you knew him, I swear,” She said, desperately. “Look, if he sends people here after you, we can always hide you for a while.”
“Its okay, Coco,” I stressed the work tone. In a softer voice, “You didn’t know. You couldn’t have known. And anyway, he promised he wouldn’t tell, so as long as he keeps that promise, I should be good.” I smiled at her. She looked grateful for my forgiveness, and nodded.
“Okay then Glimmer. Get back to work.” She said. I smiled.
“Yes, Sir!” I said with a mock salute. She tried to suppress a smile. I laughed and strutted back into the room, smiling and flirting.
“Please, please stop saying my name,” I begged.
“Okay, what should I call you?” I cringed. I couldn’t let him use my pseudonym for work. It would be to humiliating.
“Just don’t say a name, okay? Keep it anonymous,” I said. “Please Emmett?” He nodded. He stared at me for a while, just looking with an odd look on his face. I couldn’t tell what it was but I assumed it wasn’t happiness at seeing me. “What? Speak. I know you want to say something, just say it Emmett.”
“Are you okay?” His response startled me; we hadn’t left on good terms. I nodded. “Does anyone know you’re here?”
“What exactly do you mean by anyone?” I said sheepishly.
“Your parents, Crystal, anyone from home.”
“Well, you do.” He rolled his eyes in anger. “Okay no, and Emmett, I know you and I aren’t on the best of terms but I’m begging you, please, please don’t tell anyone!” I pleaded. “I have it all figured out and if no one interferes I am literally set for the rest of my life.”
“Are you kidding? You’re going to live on the streets and work in a strip club for the rest of your life? Is that set for you?” he shook his head in disgust.
“No!” I put in, indignant. “I got accepted to a good college and they offered me a lot of scholarship money. I have a place, I’m staying here and this job is just to earn the difference. In case you didn’t notice, egotistical, rich men such as yourself frequent this place for some reason and they tend to tip rather well,” I said somewhat sarcastically. “You can’t exactly be disgusted in my job when you’re one of the costumers. You seemed pretty friendly with Coco, do you come here often?”
“Rachel,” he articulated stressing her actual name, “and we go way back. I’m just here for a friend’s bachelor party and I would rather be out at a bar than in a club like this.” I narrowed my eyes.
“How do you know Rachel?” I asked skeptically. He smiled.
“It’s a long story, and one I wouldn’t tell without her permission,” he responded smoothly, “You can ask her about it sometime.” I buried my head in my hands and sighed.
“Look, Emmett, I have to get back to work. Could you please promise me you won’t tell anyone back home about this?” I prayed he would.
“Yeah, I guess,” he said, shocking me. We both stood there in silence for a moment.
“Right then,” I said, “I’m sorry for thinking you were a disgusting, imbecile, womanizing, snobbish asshole.”
“Right, well,” he paused. “Then I’m sorry for thinking you were a money-loving contemptuous, derisive, misanthropic moron.”
“Contemptuous, derisive, and misanthropic all mean the same thing Emmett.” I smirked “Anyway, thanks, I have to go back to work.”
“I have to get back to a party myself. See you later, Soph-” He cut himself off. “Never mind.” We both walked back inside together. At the last second he grabbed my hand. “Soph? Just, be careful, okay? There are a lot of creeps who come here.” Before I could respond, he brushed passed me into the club.
Before I got through the door, Rachel grabbed my hand. “I’m so sorry, Soph, I thought he was from Tennessee, I never realized you knew him, I swear,” She said, desperately. “Look, if he sends people here after you, we can always hide you for a while.”
“Its okay, Coco,” I stressed the work tone. In a softer voice, “You didn’t know. You couldn’t have known. And anyway, he promised he wouldn’t tell, so as long as he keeps that promise, I should be good.” I smiled at her. She looked grateful for my forgiveness, and nodded.
“Okay then Glimmer. Get back to work.” She said. I smiled.
“Yes, Sir!” I said with a mock salute. She tried to suppress a smile. I laughed and strutted back into the room, smiling and flirting.