Break In

Two

Anastasia looked at the bold red OVERDUE stamp on her power bill. It matched the stamp on her water, gas and tuition bills left unopened on the kitchen bench. Beside those letters were the rejection letters for the jobs she had applied for, if they even bothered to get back to her at all. If she wanted to buy groceries next week she would have to forego the power and water.

Grabbing the days newspaper she flicked to the back to find job listings. She mulled over the listings, crossing out what she had already applied for and what required qualifications. What she was left with was a single ad for a strip club. Her stomach rumbled and it made up her mind for her, she would just lie and say she was 21. It was late to trek across town but the place wasn't open in the day so she would have to go now.

Anastasia had obviously never been in a strip club before but she had seen plenty of music videos. It still left her surprised to walk in the club and have her senses assaulted by the lights and sounds. The club hadn't even opened yet but woman in bikinis were getting the place ready to open.

"Excuse me, do you know where the manager is?" She politely asked a greasy looking bouncer behind the bar.

"Follow me." He said lifting the bar top up.

She walked through the gap and had to brush past him as he didn't move. It took everything in her not to wrinkle her nose at his repugnance. He put the bar top down and led the way to an office that had a view of the stage behind them. The man knocked on the door before opening it and practically shoving her in the room. Another pudgy man sat behind a desk and he didn't even look up.

"You wanna make money?" He asked as he continued to write.

"Yes, sir." She replied softly and he finally looked up.

"How old are you?" He asked looking over her revealing outfit she opted for.

"21, sir." She lied, hoping he didn't ask for ID.

"If the cops come in, I'm not going to protect you. I pay cash, you're not on the books. You keep 50% of your tips. You start behind the bar, then work the floor before hitting the stage. Can you work tonight?" The manager listed off.

"Yes, sir." She nodded enthusiastically, grateful to have a source of income.

"Good, find Jazz, she'll show you around." He said and Ana turned to make her way out. "You need a name too. Obviously not your real one. With that tattoo, you're Angel."

He waved his hand to dismiss her before she could ask for another. Her stomach knotted at the name and now she would be hearing it here all the time. The bouncer pointed across the floor to a woman in her 30's but before she could leave the manager came out.

"Angel, I expect to see you blonde by tomorrow and lose the Latina accent. The men come here for that." He said pointing to the blonde bombshell on the main pole.

"Uh ok." She managed to say through the torrent of abuse she was mentally throwing his way.

She was proud of her heritage but right now the needed the money more than pride. After a quick introduction to Jazz she was given a bikini that matched the women on the floor and a pair of daisy dukes the bar staff wore. She quickly changed into the barely there outfit more revealing than what she currently wore.

Jazz gave her the run down of the bar, where to find the stock room and how to get bigger tips. Dry ice floated across the stage and Jazz skipped off before the doors opened. Ana looked at the full bottles of spirits lined up on the shelf and wondered why they had such a range when she had only served beer and whiskey.

Using Jazz's techniques of leaning across the bar and fluffing her hair up she was able to pull a lot of tips out of the men that sat on the barstools. When the night was over she took her tips and as agreed gave half to the manager Donny. He took them with a grin and handed her back the daily rate. Stuffing the cash deep in her purse she gripped her coat tighter and left out the staff entrance.

Anastasia called for a cab but the wait time at this hour was going to be longer than it would take to walk to the bus stop. She she made her way along the footpath and jumped when a car tooted at her.

"Angel, where are you heading?" Jazz asked out her window.

"It's Anastasia." She corrected. "I am going to buy some bleach then head home."

"Get in, I remember how bad my first bleach was." She said grimacing. "I'm Cathy, if we are using real names."