𝙄𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚

Acceptance

Xiomara's POV •

"You sure this the place, Mar?"

I smile a little at the occasional nickname Indigo used for me. "Yeah. I peeped them on IG, and you know I'm usually a shy woman but...I had to face the truth: they have job openings and I need cash."

"You know I can always help out," she turned me towards her as we sat in the parking lot of Midnight Drop. "I love you and Zabelle like you're my own family."

"I gotta get this on my own, Indigo. I'm her mother. I owe it to her. I owe it to her after bringing her into this terrible, falling-to-pieces world." I shake my head. "If I could have planned...having a baby of all things, I would have waited until the world's gotten to a better place. I mean, everything's going downhill. Health, economy, culture, tradition, everything."

Indigo laid her hand on my shoulder, her soft brown eyes meeting mine. "It's okay. What's important is that you make it better for Zabelle and all the friends she'll have," she smiled.

I leaned my head against my best friend's shoulder, staring at the large club before me. Hardly any cars were in the lot, and the times that it was open for was largely printed on the side of the building for all traffic to see. "You sure they're open?" Indigo asked again.

"On the post they said that they had different times for interviews," I shrugged.

She eyed me. "You didn't bring anything to perform in?"

I frowned. "Why would I? Isn't it an interview?"

"Oh sweet mother of- Damn Xiomara. You really are innocent aren't you? This isn't some regular job interview, you're auditioning to work at a place so you can dance. So you should be prepared to dance for them in your interview."

I place my face into my hands.

"I won't have enough time to go back home. I'm so stupid, Indigo. I'm gonna blow everything for Zabelle and I. At my old club they just hired us on spot after asking a few questions. How many sexual partners you got and is your booty real? Shit like that." Why couldn't my family just give me more money? I grimace. They bought me a fucking Telluride, but they can't help me out with a new place? The appliances are falling apart. I want Zabelle to go to a good school when the time comes.

I might have to fucking sell that good ass car.
If only I didn't have to drop out to have Zabelle. Maybe things would be different right now.

"X, stop. Stop," Indigo mumbles, pulling me close. "This is a professional lesbian club. They have spots open for stud dancers. Fortunately for this no label today," Indigo playfully pokes me, "you wore some masculine clothes. Just perform in what you have on. You'll be fine."

I sniffled, pulling back. A year later and I still was more emotional than I had been before pregnancy.

"Sorry," I smile apologetically. "It's okay, but you literally got five minutes, so go break a leg or whatever," she grins. "I'll wait out in the parking lot for you."