The Hard Life (Working Title), Ashley Beth [books that read to you .TXT] 📗

front of me.

“What the fuck have I told you about getting caught? I think you like it. I think you like the attention you get. Maybe I haven’t gotten through to you before. Maybe I need to really teach you a lesson.”

“N-no, please!” I beg, knowing it does no good. “The stupid cops have it out for me! I think they’re following—,”

Another blow to my face, this time with a closed fist. It catches me by surprise and I cry out. My head snaps back against the bricks. Black dots spot my vision. Involuntary tears of pain streak down my cheeks. I try to fight them.

“You’ve got an hour to make up what you lost. You better have the money when you come back, or I’d hate to be you. And wipe your face, tears make you look ugly.”

He leaves before I can respond. I don’t ask how he knows I’m short. Alex always knows. I wipe the tears from my cheeks. Spit out the blood on the concrete. I leave the ally and start down the street, knowing I don’t have a chance of making up what I lost.

While I walk, I think back to when I first met Alex. It was a year and a half ago. He came at a time in my life when everything was going to shit. I like to think that’s the reason I let him go as far as he did. Dad left me and mom for some skank he met at the office. Mom couldn’t handle it. She started drinking, lost her job. I had to support us, but an afterschool job at the Pizza King wasn’t paying the rent.

And then Alex came. Promised me I’d live like a princess. I ran off with him, thinking I was in a fairytale. He didn’t turn me out at first. Kept me for himself. I thought he was a dream come true. Beautiful blue eyes that pierced through me. Spiky brown hair. He was older; I think he said he was twenty-two. I know that’s a lie now. I don’t know how old he really is. Somewhere between late twenties and early thirties. He always bought me the most beautiful jewelry. A diamond bracelet for my fifteenth birthday. A soft fur coat for just ‘being me’ he said.

It was a week after the fur coat. He came home, said he had a friend coming over. Told me if I loved him, I would entertain his friend. I was stupid. I did it. Thought that would be the only time, but I was wrong. He brought over more and more friends. Introduced me to Candy, who showed me the ropes. I gave Alex every bit of me. The worst decision I’ve ever made.


The sun comes up and I try not to panic. I only got one more trick and it didn’t make up the difference. I’m still two hundred short. I walk down the street towards home. Try not to cry. I see Candy first. She’s standing outside, chain-smoking. When she sees me, she gives me a glare that makes my stomach twist.

“You stupid skank! The fuck were you thinking telling him! I had my money! I finished, but you had to run your stupid mouth!”

My heart sinks and I see the fresh bruise her makeup doesn’t cover. Shit, stupid me. Running my mouth to Alex.

“I’m sorry. He just—, you know how I get when he starts asking questions—, I’m sorry!”

I don’t know why she’s so mad. Not my fault she got caught, too. He probably told her I gave her up. She doesn’t answer me, but turns to continue fuming. I take a deep breath and go inside, wondering if this is it. Is this going to be the time he actually kills me? I got caught and I’m short. A bad night.

He’s waiting for me in the living room. I hand him the cash and don’t say anything. He counts it while I wait with baited breath. I cross my arms and stare hard at the floor. Try to calm my frantic heart. He finishes counting and puts the money in his back pocket. Here we go. I brace myself as he says,

“You’re short. Why are you short?”

I don’t know why he asks. It’s not like any excuse I give is going to keep his fists away. I try anyway, just in case he has sympathy this time.

“A b-bad trick. Stole some of my cash when I went to pee. He ran off before he paid. And then the stupid cops—,”

“That’s not good enough.” His voice is almost too low to hear. I can’t hide my fear any more. I see his hands clench into fists and try to take a step back. It doesn’t help. The blows land on my stomach, my chest. I throw up my arms to protect my face. I try not to cry out when I fall against the wall. He hits me until I feel like I’m gonna throw up. At least he leaves my face alone.

When he finally stops, I collapse on the floor. I want to cry so badly, but I don’t dare in front of him. Pain shoots through me as I try to catch my breath. Alex crouches down, grabs my face. Forces me to look at him.

“This is the last time I go easy on you. Next time you get caught, you better stay caught. I’m through messing with you. And if you ever come home short again, you’re dead.”

I know he means it. He’s given me too many chances already. Candy says it’s because I’m still new. He’s gotten rid of girls for less. I nod and whisper,

“Yes sir. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

He kisses my forehead and says,

“I know it won’t.”

And then he leaves. I hear him say something to Candy on the porch and she comes back inside. She gives me a glare in the doorway. I ignore her and try to stand back up. Candy crosses the room and puts out a hand to help. She’s always been horrible about holding grudges. I take her hand and she helps me to the bathroom. I pull off my shirt slowly and look in the mirror.

“Damn, girl. He’s pissed at you.”

I touch the bright red marks on my chest. Wince at the sharp pain. My stomach is just as bad. Tonight’s gonna be horrible. The tears I held in earlier overcome me. I slump down on the toilet and cover my face, bawling. Candy quickly turns on the faucet and shuts the door.

“Shh, girl.” She whispers, stroking my hair. “You know what’ll happen if he comes back and hears you.”

I try to stop crying, but that only makes the sobs louder. She turns on the shower, too. Hands me a prescription bottle.

“Here, baby. Take these, you’ll feel better in no time.”

I look at the label. Vicodin. I shake my head and hand it back to her.

“No, Advil’s fine. I don’t hurt that bad.”

She sighs and pockets the pills again. “Well, take a shower. Get some sleep. You’re okay now, right? I mean, he’s giving you another chance. That’s something. I doubt even Cherry gets as many chances as you have.”

“I guess…”

“Girl, I’d love to know how you do it. If I did half the things you did, he’d kill me in a second. He’s still got a thing for you, I think.”

I roll my eyes. Candy and her theories.

“Yeah, if he did would I have these?” I point to the fresh marks on my chest. She sighs and says,

“Baby, you know that’s just the life. Take a shower. Stop feeling bad for yourself. I’ve got something to show you.”

I get up and wipe my eyes. She’s right. I shut the door behind her and climb in the shower. The pain is much worse than I’d ever tell her. I put my face under the water and cry until I have no more tears. I hate crying more than anything. It’s a sign of weakness. The only person I’ve ever cried in front of is Candy. I know she won’t hold it against me. She says that she used to cry in the beginning. Way more than I ever did. But she really loved Alex. I think she still does. I hear banging on the door and temporarily freeze.

“Damnit, bitch! You’re using all the hot water!”

Just Cherry. Not Alex. I yell back, but get out anyway. It’s not worth the fight. Cherry’s a hair-puller. Dumb bitch, that’s the only way she knows how to fight. Still, I’m too sore to get into it with her. After I get out and dressed, I go find Candy in her room. She’s sitting on the bed with a shoe box. I knock on the doorframe and she gives me a smile.

“Hey, girl. Close the door, alright?”

I shut the door and join her on the bed. She hands me a photo from the box. It’s Candy, but not the Candy I know. Her hair is short; she doesn’t have any makeup on. She’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt standing next to a horse. A horse. I want to laugh, but Candy seems really excited to show me.

“What’s this?” I ask, afraid to hurt her feelings.

“It’s me. Back on the ranch. Remember, I told you about that ranch I lived on? This is my old horse. Oh, god, we used to have so much fun!”

I vaguely remember her telling me about her old life. She lived on a ranch until she was twelve. Her parents got divorced and her mom moved her here to the city. And then she met Alex. Her eyes are shining and I hand the picture back.

“That’s sweet.”

“That’s not all.” She leans close to me and whispers, “I’m going back.”

I quickly glance at the door, terrified someone might hear her. If Alex finds out she’s thinking of leaving, she’s dead.

“What do you mean, go back?” I whisper.

“I’ve been saving some money. He doesn’t know. As soon as I get enough, I’m gone.”

Hurt overshadows the panic. She wants to leave me here alone. With no one to talk to. What would I do without her? She frowns at my lack of excitement.

“What?”

“What about me?” I ask. I know it sounds childish, but I can’t help myself. She’s like my sister. I can’t survive Alex without her. Her eyebrows crumple and she sits back. Obviously she hadn’t thought about that.

“Well… you could save up too. We could both go.”

I shake my head. “Yeah right. Let’s just pretend I don’t come up short almost every night. Even if I could save up, Alex would find out. He knows everything.”

“No, that’s not true. He doesn’t know about me.”
I cross my arms. “It’s a bad idea. I’m only one bad night away from getting killed. I’m not about to risk that.”

Her face falls. She quickly puts the photo back in the shoebox. I watch her slide the shoebox under her bed and open the door.

“Fine. Just thought you’d be excited for me. Whatever.”

I feel bad for hurting her feelings. I smile, grab her arm.

“Come on, let’s go mess with Cherry. That always cheers you up, right?”

She rolls her eyes and pulls her