“Damn, why don’t you push them up a hint more, give him a nipple shot,” I tease, flicking her tit.
“Ouch, ho!” Jayden hisses, grabbing her boob.
“This calls for desperate times. Rent’s due next week along with utility bills, and we need food with what’s left over. So I’ll distract and you steal the booze,” she instructs, making me laugh. Not being able to afford booze is not a desperate situation, but I could use a drink, that’s for sure.
I nod, knowing the plan. It’s not my first time stealing, after all. I’ve stolen food from markets, clothes for the winter, and I’ve also been caught before, so I know what not to do, as well.
Jayden walks in and heads right to the counter where the store clerk stands, looking at a magazine. I sneak toward the back of the store where a sign reads ‘liquor’. I quietly open the door to the cooler and grab a twelve-pack of beer. My heart hammers against my chest with excitement, the idea I could get caught a high.
“Oh, my God, is that a real tattoo?” Jayden flirts, her voice echoing through the store.
I grab the beer and try to shove it down my shirt. After failing miserably, I head toward the exit quickly, turning my back toward Jayden and the short store clerk when I pass. I spot a package of pink snowball cakes and grab one on my way out.
I step across the street and wait for Jayden to leave the store. As soon as she walks out, she spots me leaning against the wall and runs toward me with a huge grin.
“Run! Go!” she squeals. I hold my hands against my chest to keep the beer from slipping out and sprint.
I laugh so hard I can barely keep up. I trip over my feet and nearly wipe out from giggling so hard. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard it hurt.
I stop two blocks away to catch my breath.
“Did you get it?” Jayden huffs, out of breath. I glare at her mock-offense. Growing up in care, stealing is second-nature. You do it to live. Sometimes you steal for fun, but not often.
“Yes, I got it.” I’m not sure how she missed it with them sticking halfway out of my top. I pull the beer out from under my shirt and hand it to her. “I got these, too.” I toss over the cakes, and her eyes light up.
“Fuck yeah!” she praises. “Let’s get drunk and plan our future, Charlie.” Jayden turns, walking down our block.
“About the pimp?” I question, still out of breath.
“Yeah. I mean, if you want to.” She looks at me, squinting from the sun.
“What do you think we should do?” I prod, finally catching my breath. I can actually say this is the one time I’m not sure what I want to do.
“I think we should do it. Making some money and not having to worry about paying rent and where our next meal comes from doesn’t sound like the worst thing in the world. To be honest, I’m sick of mac and cheese, and ramen noodles.” She laughs.
“I’m sick of it, too. Eating cheap can food and noodles is only tolerable for so long. I can’t get a job, and giving sexual favors isn’t the worst,” I respond. If I could just get my heart to wrap around the idea of it, I would be okay. My soul is telling me I’m selling myself short, but my mind is telling me it’s easy fucking money.
I sigh. In the realm of things, it’ll keep us safe. It’ll keep Jayden safe.
“Let’s check it out. Let the motel and this Mick guy do the selling, see what he has to offer,” I finally agree.
“Sounds like a plan.” She rips a beer can from the plastic, handing me the rest as she digs in her pocket.
“What are you doing?” I ask, confused.
“Shot-gunning it,” she responds, pulling out a pocket knife.
“What the hell is that?”
“What, the knife?” She holds it palm up, revealing the small blade.
“That, and what the hell is shot-gunning it?” I clarify.
“I grabbed the knife from the counter when the clerk wasn’t looking, and shot-gunning is when you stab the end of a beer can, take a few big gulps, then open the tab at the top,” she instructs. I guess she can steal.
“And that does… what?” I laugh, not sure what the point is.
“Makes the liquid rush out so you can drink it faster. Get drunk quicker.” She shrugs.
I snort in response and pull a beer can from the plastic. I watch Jayden stab the end of her can and suck from the cut, beer dribbling down her face as she hands the knife to me. I grip the can and repeat her actions. Instantly, beer sprays me in the face, making me squeal and Jayden laugh.
“Hurry, drink it!” Jayden hollers around her own beer. I quickly place the can to my lips and drink. Cold beer slips from my mouth and spills down my chest.
“Okay, now open the top.” Jayden giggles, finishing her own. I use my other hand to search for the tab then open it. The action makes the liquid rush into my mouth so fast I can barely keep up.
I drink it all and squeeze the can like a man would. This is what I missed out on growing up. Just having fun, and being dumb with friends. This moment may seem stupid to some, maybe even childish, but it’s a memory with Jayden I won’t forget.
“Wow.” I wipe my face with my arm. “Who taught you how to do that?”
Jayden shrugs. “I saw my dad and his buddies do it all the time.” I nod, not sure what to say. Sounds like her dad partied a lot around her when she was a kid.
“Come on, ho, let’s do another,” Jayden suggests, pulling another beer free.
I can’t help but smirk. “Let’s go inside so we don’t cause any unwanted attention first.” I point toward our apartment.
“Sounds like a plan,” Jayden sings, turning to walk up our steps.
***
Jayden and I walk to the Fever Motel, located just a few blocks away from where we live. I stare at the run-down building from the sidewalk, and my face immediately twists with distaste. There looks to be about twenty rooms in total, ten upstairs and ten down. The paint is this god-awful blue with all the doors painted an off-white. Right in the center of the old roof is a sign reading Fever Motel.
“You should breathe, Charlie. Your face is turning purple,” Jayden remarks, looking me over.
I exhale, releasing a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. I have this feeling in my gut, that last morsel of self-respect telling me I should turn and walk away. That I can keep trying to get a job, even though I know deep-down that won’t ever happen.
“This place—”
“This place is going to keep us safe, remember? And it’s going to make us money,” Jayden interrupts, reminding me why this is so important: protection.
“Right,” I mumble, blowing out a steady breath.
“Charlie, we’re just asking questions today. Getting information on how all this works. We are not committing to anything.” Jayden sighs, tucking a hair behind my ear.
“You and I both know there’s nothing better out there for us. At least here we’ll be safe.” I give a tight-lipped smile. I look back at the motel, and a shiver runs up my spine as the sign’s lights flicker on.
I peer out from under my lashes, glancing at Jayden who’s looking the place over with a worried expression.
“I’m not going to lie. I’m scared.” I breathe heavily, although I’ve had time to cope with the idea of sleeping with men for money. Having the hunger pains in my stomach, and the fear of being kicked out onto the streets next month, it makes your mind adapt to the unfair tactics of survival. No matter how devious it is.
“I’m just as scared as you are,” she admits. “But next month the rent is up, and then what? The guys I slept with before, they aren’t repeat customers. They’re going home for the summer and things are going to get difficult, even more than they are now. Not to mention more dangerous the more we mess around on these streets.”
The glimpse of the dead girl flares behind my eyes. I nod and straighten my back. “Right. We can do this,” I say with more confidence than I’m feeling.
“You showed up,” sounds behind us, causing Jayden and I to jump.