friends //cody bellinger

nine

  Cody and his team have been gone for 4 days already on their 6 day road trip. I was back at my place and currently, I was sitting at my table with my bills, the money I had, and my paycheck that I had just picked up from the stadium. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. I had no idea how I was going to pay these bills.

    The team wouldn't be home for almost a week which meant a week without pay. I was already behind and that week is going to push me even further back. I promised Cody I wouldn't give myself away anymore but I felt like I had no other chance at the moment. I didn't have the money I needed and I sure as hell wasn't going to accept any money Cody tried giving me.

     I mentally screamed at myself while I walked to my bed and started digging through the laundry basket that sat on it. I slipped on the only dress I own which was a tight strapless black dress that fit me snugly. I've never liked this dress since it wasn't very comfortable but it made me look good and in this "business", that's really all that matters.

     I had just finished brushing through my hair and sat down to do my makeup when I got a call from Cody. He had surprised me with a phone the morning he left and he wouldn't let me give it back no matter how hard I tried. I felt bad accepting this stuff from him. Phones are a lot of money and I didn't want him to have to waste all of his on me.

    I accepted his facetime request and leaned it again the stand of my small, broken and circular mirror. "Hello Miss Emberly." He says cheerfully.

    "Miss me already? I called you before your game started." I chuckle while starting to put on my foundation.

    "Yes actually, I do miss you already. Why are you putting your makeup on?"

     I looked around my house, trying to come up with an excuse. My eyes lit up when I saw the bills still spread across the table. "I have to go talk to the landlord guy. He accidentally charged me too much for my rent so I'm going to go talk to him about it." I lie and start moving to my contour.

     Cody pursed his lips and nodded. "This late? And how did you get makeup? Isn't that stuff expensive?"

     I take out the only big brush I have and start blending everything. "Yes this late, and I take the samples at makeup stores. It's technically not stealing if the stuff I'm taking is already free."

    He laughs and shakes his head. "Em when I come back I wanna take you out and buy you makeup. Even though you don't need it, if you like makeup I want you to have the actual product and not the samples."

    I put down my brush and looked at the camera. "That's too much Cody. First the job and then the phone, I don't want you to think I'm just using you to get all this stuff."

   I went back to finishing blending before I started on my eyes. I always just used a golden eyeshadow because I popped the most and it was the only one I had.

   "Emberly, I know that you're not using me darling. I want to buy you this stuff. Please let me take you out shopping once I'm back in LA."

    I groaned and picked up my mascara. "Fine, but we're not going over $100."

   "We're going until you have everything you need babe."

    I jerked my head back and almost stabbed my eyeball with the tip of the mascara wand when he called me babe. I played it off though and set the eye makeup down.

    "You're a real sweetheart, I hope you know that." I say with a smile.

   He looks down and returns my smile. "And I hope you know that I really care about you. I want you to have everything you want in life; literal and nonliteral."

   I pick up the phone and smile. "I have to get going now, I'll talk to you soon Cody. Goodnight."

    "Okay, please be careful walking to your landlords place, there are sketchy people in LA after 9. Goodnight Emberly, sweet dreams."

    I wave goodbye before pressing end. I sighed and set my phone down on the table and went back to finishing my makeup. I hated lying to Cody, especially after everything he's done for me, but I have to do what I have to do right now to be able to pay my bills and make ends meet. Maybe he would get it if he were in my situation.

    I use my gold eyeshadow as highlighter and finish everything up with a red lip.

   I put my phone away in the farthest corner of the hallway closet and sit down on my bed to put my shoes on. I don't know why I felt the need to hide my phone but I felt weird having it out in the open. I wasn't really use to having it and it was strange to see it lying around since I've never had one before. I like having it away more then I like using it to be honest.

    I sighed and walked out of my apartment and down to my usual spot. I had only been away from this job for a little over a week, but I had already forgotten the feeling shame I would get when I walked through the streets. Now the feeling was back and stronger then ever.

   I showed the bouncers my fake id and snaked my way through the crowds of people. When I spot a man sitting by himself I automatically go and sit next to him.

    He turns when I approach him and gives me a toothy smile. He was older but not too old, probably around mid 30s, and he had hypnotizing ice cold blue eyes.

   I started working my charm and by the time he had bought me my second round of shots, I thought I had him wrapped around my finger.

   I was about to ask him to come back to my place when he interrupted me. "Listen princess, I know how this works- does $600 sound fine?"

   My eyes went wide and I nod. I hardly ever can make $600 off of a first time client.

   "Alright, then lead the way back your place."

   We start walking back towards my apartment, pushing through crowds of people. I couldn't help but think of Cody while we walked. I knew if he found out about this that it would kill him and it's killing me having sex with someone that's not him. I wanted to turn back and run from this altogether, but like I've said before, I have to do what I have to do.

   I should've went with my gut though because little did I know, this was about to be the most horrible night of my life.