He was right. The comedown was fucking brutal. The high highs came low lows. But hey, it's self-inflicted. This was just a temporary punishment for messing with my brain chemistry, I guess.
My head was pretty twisted for the next few days - but I eventually got over it. I managed to play it off as just a hangover. Olive suspected nothing.
A couple days had passed, and tonight was another shift at the Holiday Inn. I got ready in my usual comfy clothes and tied my hair up in a loose ponytail, pulling a few wispy strands to frame my face. It's a far cry from how I looked the other night.
As I walked into the living room, I spotted a case of Pepsi cans sitting on the kitchen counter by bags of groceries. I smiled to myself knowing I can finally repay Richard from the night we met.
"Hey, do you mind if I take one of these?" I asked Olive, who was sitting filing her nails on the couch.
"You don't even like Pepsi." She spoke, putting her nail file down to glare at me.
"No, I know. But my friend does."
"Richard?" Olive smirked while raising her perfectly sculpted brow.
"Can I take one or not?" I rolled my eyes and folded my arms over my chest, tapping my foot impatiently.
"Yeah, go ahead."
"Thanks." I smiled and grabbed the soda, before making my goodbyes and heading out the door.
I skipped to work quickly. A grin filled my face as I threw the Pepsi can between my hands with each lengthy stride. El Paso was sweltering today, even at night. The black and purple sky with shimmering stars gathered in constellations. A full moon rolled out from behind a high mountain.
I tilt my head up and take a deep inhale, filling my lungs with crisp air. I felt content. I enjoyed my job. I got to spend more time with my sister. Even the boy I like, liked me back. It all seemed to finally be going my way. Maybe coming to El Paso was the best decision I've ever made.
The hotel was dead silent when I stepped inside. I held the soda can tight in my left hand, while my eyes scanned the lobby in search of Richard. It felt so eerily still - so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I check the clock up above the reception desk. It was only 10:45pm. Richard must not be here yet, since our shift doesn't start for another 15 minutes.
I guess I'll wait on the rooftop until he arrives.
I headed to the elevators and hit the button to the top floor with the tip of my finger. I stood there awkwardly by myself in the cramped elevator, with nothing to do but stare at my reflection opposite me.
Finally the doors slid open with a ding. I step out and dash quickly across the old burgundy carpet. As I begin my journey along the top floor, I could hear grunts and groans coming from a room at the end of the hallway. I cringe to myself, knowing what's going on behind those walls. But of course, I needed to walk past that room to get to the rooftop. I stop in my tracks for a moment to close my eyes and take a gulp as I prepare myself.
Yet just before I had the chance to open my eyes, a blonde woman stumbled out of the room with long bare legs, which were covered in scrapes and bruises. She was dressed in a skimpy denim skirt and a matted fur jacket thrown over her shoulders, with nothing but a hot pink push up bra underneath. The woman stood tall on her six-inch platform heels. Her hair looked disheveled and tangled around her large hoop earrings. Even from a couple meters away, I noticed her red lipstick was smeared across her mouth and her dark circles were prominent.
The lady tucked a $100 bill down her bra before smoothing down the crinkled fabric of her mini skirt.
She clearly was a prostitute.
Growing up in Vegas, I saw my fair share of women that lined up along the Strip every single night, just waiting for a desperate man to pick her up. So I knew a hooker when I saw one.
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Fiksi Penggemar"One glance of those brown eyes told of a lifetime of struggle that had never been put into words."
