My Name Is Isabella

Chapter 4

I woke up to the now-familiar beeping sounds from the machines attached to my sister. I don't go back to the apartment anymore, I haven't checked on Mother either. I glance over out to the bed to see if Maggie is asleep. I watch her soft breathing causing her chest to move up and down delicately. She doesn't look any better. She looks worse. I wonder if she will even notice my new schedule. Come to think of it that manager said I could pick any 3 days a week I wanted to work as long as I worked 1-day shift, 1-night shift, and 1-weekend shift. I'll bring her back her favorite soup from the cafe after my shift, I feel guilty leaving her this soon, but it's Saturday I heard the other girls saying how much they make on Saturdays, I can't pass up this weekend. With a deep sigh, I get up and head to my first night at my new job. It's already crowded by the time I arrive in Colorado, the atmosphere is a lot more upbeat than when I had my audition. I head straight to Stacey the room mom and she gives me a big hug. " I knew you'd be back soon." She coo's as she hands me a pair of plastic heels that look like they were made for a barbie doll. I glance up confused. "Just pay me back when you can, trust me you will need the ankle support these offer." I smile and thank her. It's been a long time since anyone's given me much thought. It's a warm feeling. She makes me up, curling my long chocolate hair, and gluing equally long lashes on me. She gives me the same black outfit I wore for my auditions and rushes me out to make money "to pay her back."

All the confidence I had before seemed to diminish from me when I saw just how many men were crowded in the club. "Your next." Some girl drunkenly snaps at me. I turn to see a girl wearing neon pink bikini heels, and bows in her stick-straight blonde hair. She looked like a malibu bunny who spent too much time in the sun. She gives me a sarcastic smile " Try not to trip, is it your first time wearing heels?" I didn't come to make friends. To all these girls I am merely competition. Holding back my annoyance I give a simple smile and thanks batting my eyelashes as a true Bambi would. "Up next is Bambi, she is new so be nice." I hear the DJ announce my entrance and walk out onto the stage. I only see blurs because of how dark it is, the smoke doesn't help either. I put on a smile and move as slowly as possible it's what Stacey told me before my audition to seem seductive. Before I grab onto the pole I see the manager that watched my audition. "Use your eyes, they are your biggest asset," I remember his words and blink my eyes seductively before twirling around the pole. I noticed the manager was with another man but I couldn't make out his face, his dark features hidden in the smoke, and dim lights. I continued cutely prancing around and was starting to feel turned on by my own body when my two songs were up. I did good, and I felt good. Men surrounded me throwing money at me, their eyes begging for me to spare them a glance. When I step out of the DJ booth and walked towards the bar, someone grabbed my wrist firmly. " I would like a private dance." He said with half his lip tilted up in a sinister smile. I gasped. It's him.