What you don't know

Not you again

I pause in my tracks. No, no this can't be happening. I'm now looking in the eyes of the guys who made my entire childhood a living hell. Jonathan Wayne. I can't believe it's him he looks so different, a lot bigger since the last time I saw him, and he has tattoos which doesn't surprise me.

"Vanessa." He calls after me as turn around and walk away. I am so embarrassed, him out of all people has to see me like this. Steve stops me in my tracks.

"Where do you think you're going, a paying customer wants a lap dance." I turn around to look at Jonathan who is now standing.

" Steve ask someone else to do it, we don't really get along."

"When I hired you you told me that your personal life will never get tangled with your job performance either you suck it up or your fired, your choice." Steven walks over to Jonathan and his friends. He is such an inconsiderate dick sometimes.

"I quit!" I yell out to Steve causing people to turn around and look at me, Jonathan walks toward me his face unreadable. Without giving him a chance to get within five feet of me I head back stage and I gather my belongings. I rather have my nipples chewed of my a bunny then give Jonathan a lap dance. His girlfriend Kimberly is part of the reasons I am where I am today.

"Ahhh!" I scream at the top of my lungs not caring who hears or not. "Why me?" Is all I could say to myself. I get from back stage and pass the crowd to the door. I try my hardest not to let Jonathan see me but I fail, I can hear him saying my name. shit.

"Vanessa, please wait up. Can we talk?" He says his voice getting closer. Seriously what is there to talk about? The last thing I want to talk about is the way I make a living. I have been judged one to many times, the last thing I need is for this douche bag to rub it in. I keep walking, speeding up my pace with every step. Since I'm in heals I guess I'm not going that fast because he easily catches up to me and syncs my pace. I let my guard down, waiting for him to just say the words that I never wanted to be said to me. I am a failure. But he doesn't he just walks beside me in silence. His hands in his pockets.

"I'm not a doctor,I'm not a scientist,I'm not a lawyer, I'm not making a difference in the world and I am not living up to my full potential. But I do have food to eat,a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and things to be grateful for. and I have all of this because I'm a stripper so go ahead, judge me, tell me I'm a slut, tell everyone that I show random people my body, but you can't take away the little bit of dignity I have left." I say to him still walking and looking at the ground.

He inhaled deeply," I'm not going to judge you," I stop and I look up at him." I have no right to judge you. I'm not that same guy in grade school who use to put you down so I could feel better about myself. I'm sorry for that, I truly am sorry and if you can find it in your heart to forgive me." he pauses." I think we could be really good friends." I stare at him I never thought those word would ever come out of his mouth. I look into the sky to think about everything he just said.

I breathe out a smile," Yeah, I forgive you." I say and I continue walking. What's the use of staying mad at him? He said sorry and I guess that's all I wanted to hear. It doesn't fix anything but it's a start.

"That's it, you forgive me?" He ask puzzled.

"Mhm." I nod my head still looking foward, I can feel his eyes on he side of my face. "We're cool I have more important things to do then hold a grudge all my life."

"I just thought I would have to actually try." He replies. I look him up and down. Who he's changed, I thought he would become bold and fat over the years but by the way he looks now that isn't going to happen. He use to work construction in high school so I'm use to his built body it's gotten more muscular actually, he looks good really really good.

"Nope, I have to go I'm freezing out here." I say speeding past him. He catches up to me.

"Let me walk you home."

"Why?" I really don't want him to know where I live.

Because it's dark and your still wearing your stripper gear." I look down and I guess I was so mad I forgot to get dressed.

I clear my throat. "Can I um-."

"Here." he laughs taking off his hoddie and passing it to me.

" Thanks." That was awkward.

"So no lap dance?"

"What, no I'm not giving you a lap dance even if we are friends now."

He smiles revealing a hint of dimples. " It was actually suppose to be a congratulations gift."

"Congratulations? For what?"

"I fight now and I won one of the most important matches in my career." That explains his bruised knuckles.

"Oh." I have to admit I am a bit jealous that he got the chance to actually got to pursue his dreams of becoming a fighter and I couldn't become an surgeon like I wanted it's not fair. We approach my apartment. "Well this is me, see ya." I take off his jacket and hand it back to him as I descend up the stairs.

"We should hang out sometime." He says.

"Yeah we should." I say unlocking my door and making my way inside my lonely apartment." Bye." I close the door. I rest my back against the door and I just start crying, just letting all of the pent up tears I have been holding in all these years release down my face. I haven't cryed in so long, it feels good to just stop fighting it and submit. Seeing Jonathan really brought back a lot of memories. He use to torment me and now he want to be friends? I could really use a friend right now, someone to lean on. I'm just afraid of them turning their backs on me like my old friends did.

I take a long shower and head to bed without eating. I close my eyes with the hope of this entire day was just a bad dream and when I wake up I would return to my old life.

No luck.