Sin City: The trip of a lifetime

Chapter 3: Smoke Signals

"So, what's your story?" "Huh?" Angel was a little surprised by the question. "Why do wanna know love?" "Considering both of your jobs, you should be able to get a nice little apartment. Why not?" "The job's inconsistent hun. How much I make each night depends on who else is there, how much stage time I have and how much each special costumer tips."

   Damien cracked the window. "You smoke?" "Depends, what you got?"

  He went to the closet and pulled out a a small jar, paper, and rolling set. "You're still on edge so, I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable with this." "Ohh is this why you wanted your brother to leave?" "Nah, he knows. He's had a few hits before. And we have names you know." "Alright love, what's yours?" She asks, grabbing a paper. "Damien, my brother's Brit- Brendon, excuse me. I love him to death but I still trip up on the name from time to time. He tells me not to sweat it but I hate myself for it. His name is Brendon." He grabs the jar and grinds a bit up.

"I see... don't worry, I've met lots of trans people before. I understand how hard that can be." As if on que, Brendon knocks on the door.
"Come in" Damien calls. Brendon opens the door and sees the rolling set. "Ah, need a lighter?" "Yeah, thanks. Wanna join?" "I'm good, maybe another time". Brendon gets the lighter from the bathroom and tosses it on the bed.

"I'm going to pick up a few things from the store, need anything?" Angel looked at Damien before looking at Brendon. "Maybe a shirt?" "Nah, I got you. You can wear one of my old ones" Damien says and Brendon heads down stairs. Damien goes back to the closet and pulls out a slightly fades and ripped SoundGarden tee. "Hey, same taste" Angel gave a small smile. She put down the rolled joint before standing up to change.

"Oh yeah. I probably shouldn't do this in front of you huh?" Damien turns around with a little blush, rolling an extra joint for the two to share just in case. "Ok, done!" Damien turned around to see her in the oversized tee and thin underwear. "Uhhh, want some shorts or something..?" "Oh, sorry. Do you want me to put some on?" Damien grabs some shorts for both of them. He changed out of his jeans and took off his shirt. "This is still my room after all. I don't want Brendon to think something happened." "Makes sense". Angel said eyeing the tattoos on his chest and arm. She slipped on the shorts only for them to slip off of her. "These are a little too big" she laughed. "Pull the strings" Damien said lighting the joint and taking a drag. "Oh yeah, duhhhh." She fixed the shorts and sat down to light the other.

Damien lit it for her and handed it over. "My story huh? Never really been asked that. Usually people just vent to me. The stories I could tell you. Oh, the people I've met. But my story? You're gonna have to wait on that one." She took a long drag, mirroring Damien. "Alright. How did you end up here at least? I mean, as a... you know." "It's not a dirty word. You can say it. I know... very well, what I am." "A prostitute".

Damien wasn't dumb. He had heard quiet a few weird things in college himself. He heard stories of the dudes that took girls like Angel home and all the dirty things they did. But he knew sex work itself was just like any other job. There were guidelines and restrictions. He knew Angel wasn't a dirty person. He just thought asking directly might not be the best idea after the events of tonight.

"Well, I kinda had to. I never had much confidence in my body. But after my parents died, no one else could take me in. I was so young that I couldn't get a proper job. I started living on the streets and begging for money and food. That's how I learned what people really want. Sex sells." She took another hit. "So, no one took you to foster care?" "No, they thought I died as well. I was in the car with my parents but I survived the crash. I ran away after that. The cops thought my body flew out into the lake. Never went digging deeper than that." Both took a sigh. "After I turned 17, I started to sell myself. I looked old enough and men never questioned it. An innocent face and thin body? Yeah. They were all over that." She took a sip of water as Damien took a longer hit. "But I have a question for you now" Angel said. "Shoot." "How come I've never seen you in the club before?"

Damien took a moment before responding. "Today was my last day of college. I may be twenty-three but I was never the party type. Tonight was Brendon's idea. It's the 13th anniversary of his coming out and he wanted to do something special with me." "Ah, that's real sweet. So has he ever been in before?" "Nope. Never even knew Ashley worked there." "So about Sky... that's the only person who really knows me. We've been stage partners for a while. She's an incredible dancer..." "Yeah, never would have guessed. She's rather shy around me, at least I think so. Never seen that side of her, or that much of her." He takes his last hit before lighting the next.

"Oh? Somebody got a crush?" Angel asks teasingly. "No, I mean I've literally only seen her a few times. She's Brendon's best friend, not mine. Although I know she's a really sweet person. They've been friends for years. Met at their job, or I guess, her first job. And no, I'm not really interested in anyone." "Ah, loner?" "Sorta." "Virgin?" Damien tensed. "Oh cmon! I could tell. The way you were gonna just leave me in here to keep my modesty or whatever? Like I said, I'm not used to that. Correct me if I'm assuming wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm right." She lit her joint again before looking back at him.

"Angel, that's what nice people do.... And what of it?" "Alright, alright. No judgement. Not gonna be a dick to the one who saved me. Just sayin, I'm not blind to the tent you have going on right now." "WHAT?!" Damien looked down, embarrassed. "Just kidding! Unless..." she said, getting on her knees. "I don't think that's a good idea Angel. Neither of us are sober and we just met." "I just wanted to say thank you." "Well you just said it. You don't have to do that." "...Thank you, Damien. For taking me somewhere nice and warm, for your kindness, and respecting me as a person."