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

to his ego. Bastard.

I hear footsteps in the hall and jump back in bed. Shut my eyes and force my breathing normal. I hear my door open and close again. I squint to see my empty room. God, he’s paranoid! I’m in my room, what does it matter if I’m not asleep? I glance at my clock and see I only have three hours left to sleep. I shut my eyes again and force myself to fall asleep.

**************************************************

I hear talking and open my eyes. Through the door, I hear Alex. That’s weird, he’s never here at night, especially not when he’s working on a girl. Jeremiah’s the one who makes sure we get ready.

Alex sounds angry. I hear crying and sit up. Candy is whimpering. I slowly climb out of bed and tip toe across the room. I press my ear to the door, but the words are still muffled. I take a deep breath. If I get caught… I ignore my jumping stomach and crack the door. The voices are clear now.

“…working tonight, I don’t care. You don’t ever take a night off. You’re gonna make up what you lost last night and the regular amount.”

“N-no, please! That’s too much!” She’s sobbing. I’m shaking. He’s got her terrified. I hear a loud smack and she cries out.

“Don’t say no to me, ever. It’s done. You’ll do it, I’m not asking. I’m telling. Get ready, and I’ll be close by tonight… so don’t try anything.”

I quickly shut my door again. Jump back in bed just as my door flies open. Alex is in my doorway, arms crossed.

“Get up or you’ll be late.”

I nod and climb back out of bed. I know I should respond, but I can’t find my voice. He smiles at me. I see something in his eyes. Something I used to see before he changed. It unnerves me and I look down at the floor. I’m waiting for him to either say something or leave. He does neither. The door closes behind him. I take an involuntary step back, away from him. He’s quick, across the room before I can flinch.

His fingers stroke my cheek. I still can’t look at him. I focus on the floorboard I’m standing on. There is a chip next to my big toe. His fingers trace my jaw. I wonder how the chip got there. I hear Alex’s breath. It’s heavy on the top of my head. I wish he would just go; I want to check on Candy. I hate him with everything in me. I hate everything he does, everything he makes me do. I hate that he made Candy beg. I hate how terrified I am of him.

I clench my hands into tight fists, fighting the urge to shake in fear. I refuse to show him how scared I am. His hand cups my chin. Forces my face up to his. I shut my eyes to avoid looking at him. His low chuckle sends chills down my spine.

“What’s the matter, Skylar?” He whispers. “Come on… look at me.”

I open my eyes, not because I want to, but because he told me to. Another reason I hate him so much. He laughs again at my expression.

“What?”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something I’ll regret. He smiles. Taunting me. I glare at him, the one thing I can safely do. He leans down until his face is inches from mine. I force myself not to flinch. In my head, I chant, I hate you I hate you I hate you I HATE YOU

!

“You know I don’t care how much you hate me.” I must’ve shown my surprise because he says, “It’s written all over your face. And I don’t care.”

I glare at him and say nothing. He gives me a gentle kiss on my forehead. In my ear, he whispers,

“Get ready; it’s almost time to go.”

I would nod, but he’s still holding my chin tight. With as much hatred as I can muster, I bite out,

“Yes sir.”

He laughs and releases my face. He leaves and I sigh in relief. While I’m getting dressed, I hear crying from Candy’s room. My heart sinks. I peek my head into the hallway and see that Jeremiah is standing in Cherry’s doorway, probably watching her change. Alex is gone. I decide it’s too risky with Jeremiah standing so close. I can’t talk to Candy now. Maybe later tonight while we walk.

I never get the chance to talk to Candy. Every time I see her on the street, Jeremiah is close by. He’s following her. I’m distracted so I barely make enough tonight. I finish just in time to get back. I made enough to eat, but don’t have time to stop at the diner. I decide a peanut butter sandwich is good enough. The only food we ever have in the house is peanut butter and crusty bread. When Jeremiah gets hungry, he orders. If we suck up to him, he’ll give us some too. I hate to beg, so I stick to the sandwiches. Candy’s got some food stashed in her room, but not much. She saves it for the nights when she’s short.

I’m the first one back. Alex is sitting on the couch next to a young girl. She can’t be older than thirteen. Her face is stained with tears, her makeup is running. She’s hugging herself and staring at her lap. She’s pretty. Curly brown hair, big green eyes. Her skin is white, like porcelain. The bruise on her chin is dark against her white skin.

Alex’s new girl.

He stands up when I walk in the room. The new girl flinches like he’s about to hit her. I feel a wave of empathy for her. I hand Alex the money and he counts it. The only sound in the room is the girl’s sniffling cries. I wonder why Alex says nothing about her tears. He ignores her like she's no more than a decoration.

When he finishes counting, he says,

“You barely made it.”

I know. I count my money all night every night. Why does he always have to tell me? Instead of talking back, I say,

“I know. I’m sorry, tomorrow I’ll do better.”

Alex gives me a smile and a pat on the cheek.

“I know you will. This is Mandy. Take her to your room. She’ll be sharing with you.”

Anger shoots through me. That’s not fair! I want to stay with Candy! I forget who I’m talking to and burst out,

“That’s not fair! Why can’t I stay with—,”

He backhands me hard; catches me by surprise. Fire shoots through my face and I stumble back, clutching my cheek. Tears of pain well in my eyes. I fight them back.

“Try that again.” He says, so quietly I almost don’t hear. Terrified, I whisper,

“Yes sir. I-I’m sorry.”

“That’s more like it. Mandy,” He turns to her and she cringes away from his hand. He ignores her fear and grabs her arm. Pulls her to her feet. “Go with Skylar. I’ll come see you in a little while.”

She says nothing and then cries out in pain. I see his fingers are deep in her arm. He says,

“What do you say?”

Her face turns beet red. To the floor, she mutters,

“Yes sir.”

He pushes her toward me and I take her hand. She flinches again but doesn’t pull away. We go to my room and I shut the door. She’s still crying and I’m not sure what to do. Candy’s the better person for this. She’s the one who teaches the new girls. I’m still learning. I say,

“Um… Mandy, my name is Skylar.”

“My name’s not Mandy.” She whispers. I sigh. This is going to be hard.

“Now it is... Um, so, this is our room. I’m gonna clean up, okay?”

She nods and I grab my pajamas. When I open the door, she says,

“Wait! Don’t leave me alone!”

Shit. I sigh again. I don’t have the patience for this.

“I’ve got to shower. I’ll just be down the hall. Okay?”

She nods, but looks so scared that I cave. I remember attaching myself to Candy when I first came. I take her hand and lead her down the hall to the bathroom. The front door opens and I hear Cherry come in. I wonder where Candy is. She’s usually back by now.

Mandy sits on the toilet while I shower. I hear her crying and a few tears well in my eyes. Memories wash over me. The first time he turned me out. How it felt to know it was all an act. He was just shopping for a girl. Stupid me, I thought he loved me. All those things he bought me. All the times he said he loved me. That I was a princess. All a lie.

Mandy faces the door while I grab my towel. After I’m dressed, I say,

“You know, it’s not safe to cry. He doesn’t like it. It makes him mad.”

“Why is he doing this?” She whispers. My heart breaks. I don’t have an answer for that.

We go back to our room and sit on the bed. She’s playing with a lock of her hair and staring at the comforter.

“Listen, Mandy. Um, there are lots of rules you need to know. Things you can’t do. Um, you can’t cry in front of Alex. Ever. If you want to cry, wait until you’re in the shower. The water muffles the sound. Um, there’s Jeremiah—,”

When I say his name, she shudders.

“I know him. He came over a few times. He’s mean.”

“Yeah, he is. He lives here, down the hall. Keeps an eye on the house while Alex is gone. He gets the benefits without paying. Don’t ever fight him or talk back. And whatever you do, don’t tell Alex. He doesn’t know.”

Her face is pale, but she nods.

“Um, okay. I guess tonight you’ll walk with me. I’ll show you what to do, who to go with, who to avoid. We’re supposed to get at least a thousand a night. Cash only.”

“What happens if you don’t make enough?”

“He gets mad. Um, and if you don’t make enough, you don’t eat. And then there’s the cops—,”

“Could they help?” Her face has hope that I hate to crush.

“No. And don’t try. He’ll kill you.”

Tears well in her eyes again and I decide that’s enough rules for now. She’s about to crumple. My stomach growls and I say,

“Hey, um. I’m gonna go make a sandwich…”

She gets up and follows me to the kitchen. Jeremiah is laying across the couch and Mandy freezes in mid-step. He smiles at her and says,

“Hey baby girl… Alex said you were coming.”

She doesn’t say anything and he laughs. He turns back to the TV and I grab Mandy’s arm. I pull her into the kitchen with me and make two sandwiches. We’re walking back through the living room when Jeremiah stands up. Mandy freezes again and he says,

“Wait. What’s that?”

I try to hide the sandwiches from him, but he grabs my arm. Yanks my hand from behind my back.

“S-sandwiches. I m-made enough last night.”

“Why do you have two?”

“I’m hungry?”

I know