Midnight Blues

𝐈𝐈. Addicted

𝔖𝔢𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔪𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔬𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔭𝔬𝔩𝔢...
𝔅𝔞𝔟𝔶 𝔩𝔬𝔬𝔨 𝔞𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔤𝔬...

          "Baby c'mon you know I gotta buy groceries with this money! I can't keep letting you shortchange me, Laron!"

          Angel sighed softly, as she kept her head down, walking up to the locker-room entrance of the club. She tried to keep to herself and refrain from eavesdropping, but she couldn't help over hearing conversations that happened out here. And she couldn't help recognizing the same few girls that would linger outside after or during their shifts, to negotiate their bodies for funds to feed their families. Way too often, Angel contemplated the small circumstances that stood between her reality and theirs.

          As the small woman approached the rusted metal door, and pulled at its handle, she huffed in defeat. For someone who thought that walking through the main entrance of the club would sour the 'Luxe Experience', Tobias sure did leave the backdoor locked a lot. What's the point of rules, if he never makes way for alternatives that work? She thought, banging her closed fist against the heavy door. On the side of her, the older dancer and her possible John looked on in annoyance at her interrupting presence.

          Within moments, the door was swinging open, and her tall, olive skinned boss graced the doorway, looking past her.

         "Lisha, I told you if you do anything at this club, I get half of the profit. Now go inside there's money to be made." Tobias's words slipped off his tongue like slime, and he meant every word he said. One thing Angel learned in the year and months she had been at Luxe Nightclub, was that Tobias had no problem taking money from them, on any occasion. And his money hungry tactics and fees normally resulted in some of the girls hating him, for taking money out of their kids mouths, or even their savings.

          Angel just rolled her eyes at the situation, pushing past him to get to the locker-room and change so she could get on the floor. Of course, though, her entrance didn't come without criticism, and the other girls were already whispering and talking about how she was always doing what she wanted.

          "Girl, where you was at last night? The big ballers came in!" A girl about a year younger than her approached her quickly, excitedly staring back for a response. Before she could even say anything, she was cut off.

          "Bonnie, now you know that this bitch ain't gon tell you nothing. I don't even know why you be trying with her. She was probably with one of the many niggas she got, getting no coin!" Krystal laughed, walking back over to where she originally was, at one of the many vanity stations available to them.

          Stuffing her clothes into the duffel bag in her locker, Angel glanced back already irritated with the prying they were doing. She wished so bad, that this year would be the first and only year she would be in the club, and as another month was sure to pass, she saw no end to the life she lived. But, she knew someone who could help her get there.

          Sitting in the purple lit room, Cassius got himself comfortable on the large, velvet couch as he awaited his lover. He knew surprising her here was a stretch, but knowing how he and Angel's conversations about their professions usually went, he figured he could show his support. He had already asked her boss for her to give him a private dance, and now, all he needed, was her.

         It was only a short amount of time until Angel was coming through the door, gracefully strutting to the stage in the private room. When she ascended the short flight of steps to the stage, the lights changed from blue to pink, and the DJ began her mix.