page165 (1/1)

Nikki ran her chewed-off fingernails through her greasy red hair “You ready?” she asked Sniffling, she hopped on the balls of her feet like she was an athlete aame

Though it was the furthest thing from the truth, I nodded I wasn’t ready, never would be, but I’d run out of options It wasn’t safe on the streets, each night in the open was a literal gamble with ht, I wouldn’t have the strength to fight off any threats Either way I needed protection froht before I ended up a real Jane Doe

I don’t think Nikki was capable of registering the feeling of hunger Given the option, she chose a quick high over a full stole time A sad fact made obvious by her sharp cheekbones and dark circles under her eyes In the short ti but coke

I judge her and I feel shitty about it But so she does When I’m not extremely irritated with her I feel al for ht for hers, but the probleht for herself

I opened my mouth to lecture her I was about to tell her that she should lay off the dope and change her main priority to food and her overall health, when she turned towardlike I was better than her The truth was that I could’ve been knee deep involved in the same shit before I lost my memory

I closed mental mouth

Nikki eyed uess you’ll do,” she said, blatant dissatisfaction in her tone I refused to cake on makeup or pluck out all of my eyebrows just to draw a thin line in their place like she did Instead, I’d washedthe drying process My face wasto do this, I was deter like Nikki

Yep, I amental asshole

“How is this going to work again?” I asked She’d already told me ten times, but she could tell me ten thousand times and I still wouldn’t feel comfortable

Nikki fluffed out her lihed in annoyance but continued on “When we get to the party all you have to do is cuddle up to one of the bikers If he likes you there is a good chance he ht want to take you in, keep you around for a while, and all you have to do is keep his bed warm and a smile on his face”

“I don’t know if I can do it” I said meekly

“You can do it, and you will do it And don’t be all shy like that around them, they won’t like that Besides, you’re not the shy type, that’s just your nerves talking You’re all rough edges, especially with that horrible case of foot-in-mouth syndrome”

“It’s eerie how you have ed in the short time you’ve known me,” I said

Nikki shrugged “I’m a people reader, and believe it or not, you are very easy to read Like for exaht now you’re super tense I know this because your shoulders are all hunched over” She presses my shoulders back “Better Stick out your chest You don’t have much to ith up top but without a bra, if you keep your shoulders back, they can catch a gliuys love the nips”

That was it I could get a biker to like ure out plan B “Worst case scenario is that he’s only looking for a quick one-ti and he’ll throw you a few bucks and send you on your way” Nikki made it sound more like a vacation than prostitution

I could foolon the street then I wasn’t like Nikki, but the truth was no matter which way I twisted the facts, this plan would turn me into a whore

Judgey McJudgerpants

When I wracked my brain for other options, I’d come up as empty as my stomach

Nikki pushed open the door, and sunlight invaded the dark space as it swung back and forth With one last glance at the plain-faced girl in the mirror, I whispered, “I’m sorry”