Twenty Five

[Rose]

I stared at my face in the mirror and sigh putting on my lipstick for the second time. My time coming up for another dance. I could feel my feet getting sore minute by minute as I made my way towards the dance floor. My teeth unintentionally bit my lower lip softly as I suddenly saw Kaden standing near the stage.

The club was filled with people because it was a weekend. I had t leave early today because I was going apartment hunting tomorrow morning. I didn't care about the size. I didn't care if it was not convenient.

I just wished to leave the apartment I lived in. Because I wasn't getting any good vibes from David. I always feel his stare on me. I have witnessed him breaking into my room twice and running through my drawers now.

I get down from the stage this time taking Kaden's hand as thanking him. His hand was warm. Warmer than I thought. I walked in the back rooms and told my house mom that I would be leaving early. But somehow she begged me to stay.

"Stay till one, cause I have some VIP coming in from the port. Two girls didn't come in today. They want at least six girls in." I rose my eyebrows.

"Six?" She nodded counting my money.

"Yes, six. There booked two champagne Gold rooms. You girls might be in for some real money" Amber laughed behind us. "Yes, we will" I smirked leaning on the counter, and shrugged.

"Well, Fine then," I said ordering some fries for myself since I was starving.

I put on my hoodie since I didn't like being that much exposed all the time and ordered some lemonade going to the closed section of the club.

With fries in my hand and my lemonade, I tell the house mom to join me but she had to fix something up and told me to wait on her.

As I sat at the closed section couch and I put my feet over the chair ahead of and sigh sipping my drink.

I could see the girls dance, the people. I was tired. But the house mom hardly ever requested girls like that. So I decided to stay.

It was almost twelve and I waited on the guys to show up when I see Kaden walking in the section with his head buried in his phone and I stare at him. He came right up to me and sat right next to me.

I was confused. As I chewed on my fries.

Why was he here? What did he want?

I stared at my legs and my eyes could see his arms from my side view.

"I'll drop you tonight" I snap my head at him. My heart saying and hard no.

"No, I can call a uber" His eyes finally looked up from his cell phone and he looked at me.

"Carried asked me to do it. And I don't want to go in a uber this late" I bite my lip.

"Uh-" Before I could speak he spoke over my words, "It's okay if you don't want me to leave you, I'll ask Coby to drive you home" Coby didn't live close to me. And I didn't want to trouble him. I shook my head.

"No, It's just. I don't want to you drive an extra mile to leave me" He nodded.

"Alright then" I frown as he stood up and walked away. I sat straight watching him speed walk out the back section and disappear.

[Kaden]

She was staring at her legs and her eyes away from me. I hated it. I hated her eyes.

"I'll drop you tonight," I said and she snaps her head at him. she seemed to think about it for a second and I knew what she was going to say.

"No, I can call a uber" I looked up at her, eyes finally meeting each other. I looked down again.

"Carried asked me to do it. And I don't want to go in a uber this late" I explained. She only told me to do it once, but my fucken brain thought I should ask her again.

What was I thinking?

"Uh-" Before she could speak I cut her off , "It's okay if you don't want me to leave you, I'll ask Coby to drive you home" She shook her head side to side keeping her drinking down. She just wanted to be robbed and stalked by horny men by going home alone at this time of night, didn't she?

"No, It's just. I don't want to you drive an extra mile to leave me" I nodded. My fingers clenching in frustration. Couldn't she pick up why Carrie or Coby wanted me to drop her?

"Alright then"I could see her frown as I stood up and walked away.

I stood up in utter anger and walked straight towards the door to guard. I did expect her to decline. I am not someone she can Trust. And neither do I want her to.

Two days ago I from Carried that her all-time customer would wait by the bar until she left and follow her out. Carried decided to ask Coby for help. But there were only as many times he could help. H had his life too. I couldn't tolerate that man staring at her every time she dances in front of him,

I just wanted to punch that fucker but there was nothing he did that we could report. He could sue the club.

I didn't care. I thought I didn't. But every time she left I had to watch her get in the damn uber just for her safety.

Coby told me she was new to this part of the city. She didn't know the sick people of this area.

The anger I felt when I saw the man try and touch her that day in the dance room was a shock to me. I didn't give a fuck about the girl here. But she just looked the type to stay quiet even if something bad was happening to her.

I finished my shift as soon as The last room was done. I took a beer and walked towards my car unlocking it.

I saw Rose walk out the back door as I opened my car door and look at her phone. She stood there was a minute before her eyes noticed me. And I sigh walking over.

"Get in, I'll drop you" She bites her lips. Something I couldn't avoid looking at. I was confused with myself as to why I stared at her. I didn't even like her.

She nods walking to my car with me.

"Thank you Kaden" I didn't say anything.

[Lily]

My mind kept going back to the night Coby took me a beach. As I washed the dishes, my mother talking about someone with my father. I could feel their voice fade back and my mind kept wondering about Coby.

I didn't know I was attached to him. I couldn't put my finger over the feeling I felt when he touched me. It was like twists and turns in my heart and stomach. I could still feel his head over my neck and chest. The way his beard brushed over my skin and tickled me ever so slightly.

That unexplained wetness I felt between my legs as he stood between them and his hands rested over my waist loosely.

I snapped out of the bubble and I heard my mother call for me.

"Did you not sleep well last night? You seem zoned out" I shook my head drying my hands over the apron.

"Alright then. We will be attending a wedding next week. I want you to get your bag ready for four days. And we will go get a dress for you tomorrow"

"Four days?" I asked and she nodded cutting some apples.

"But mother, I have my classes" She looked at the money.

"I am sure you can miss a class of two days Lilyan. We will go on the weekend and come back on Tuesday." She explained and I frown nodding.

I didn't like my family. I didn't like their ways of talks. Or living. I didn't feel free. I felt confined.

I took my bag and got into my father's car. He always drops me off at my gardening class.

My parents were different from others. After I was done with my college, A sudden friends that I encountered from my college made them lock me up in the house.

They believed in their own type of people.

They did not let me talk with my friends telling me that they would corrupt me. Separating me from a certain someone. Who saved me multiple times.

But Unfortunately, my parents never believed me. Convinced that he was putting wrong thoughts in my head to drive me away from my own family.

I said goodbye to my father and closed the door getting to my cousin's nursery. I helped her with selling plants and maintaining many.

I requested my parents to let me learn something since they were against me working.

In their mind, I could work after I turned a certain age and got married. It turely horrifies me. it was barbaric.

My sister's nursery was the getaway they let me have. But My sister wasn't nice either. She was the same as other, At least I was learning something. Ad working with plants was really fun for me.

I planted many vegetables in my parents backyard mking them happy, leading them to be a little less tight over my life. As long as I was their perfect child. I was allowed to go out and learn things.

Just like every other evening, I sat near my window painting flowers, Glancing out the window once in while to expect lights of a familiar car. Past time bed time.

But I always knew when I parents were up and sleeping. I was smart enough to figure things out.

At the very beganing, It was terrying. They would lock the front door while going to work so I don't go meet my friends. In order to separate me from the people I met outside the family, they did every possible thing. And there was no one who could help me.

My smiled formed a smile as I looked outside the window.

My heart beating again seeing him. As I grab the ladder and Glanced at my locked door once before turning off the lights and climbing down the stone cold ladders.

Alex opened the car door for me and I got in .

"Here" He said I stare at the box. Then look up in his eyes. "What?" I asked as he pushed the box in my lap.

" Well, open it" I look at him and then at the box before opening it.

I chuckled. The box contained a pair of simple shoes with a black hoodie.

"But why Alex?" I asked. He leaned back on the seat folding his hands. "Hide them well. Next time you won't have to walk over the cold ground bare foot while getting out"

My ear water, but I didn't cry. He didn't like it when I cried.

"Thank you so much. I love it" I said and he hummed staring at me,

I could feel myself blush. I bite my lip.

"So, How was your day?" I ask as he took the pair of shoes out and removed the papers around them.

"It was Meh" I smile as he put the shoes ner my legs for me to wear.

"Yours?" I smiled. "I plantes some berries today.If I harvest them, I'll gift some to you"

"That's nice" I ndded looking at the shoes. There was a moment of silence between us.

"And, is everything alright?" He asked and I shook his head.

"Why is that?" His voice sounded worried.

"My parents are taking me to our town, for a wedding" He sighs.

"How long?" I lean back on the seat.

"Four days" I said. And he takes my hand in his warm ones. "I won't let anyone hurt you Lily" I smiled.

"I know Alex" I whispered.