Working at a club doesn't look like an ideal place to work for a 16-year-old girl. Well, at least it didn't for me. But to my surprise, I wasn't the only minor here. There were 3 other girls my age and a girl who was 17. Their names were Malissa, Haly, Grace, and Stella. I never really talked to them but you could tell that they hated it here just as much as I did.
It was late tonight, probably past midnight and there was a party at the club. I served drinks and waited tables while Malissa and Grace helped. And Stella and Haly help Reggie bartend at the bar. As I waited a table, I look back to Grace and saw her getting grabbed by one of the men at the lounge. He had her grabbed by the waist and she tried to pull away. I was about to go up to them but I was pulled back by my arm. I turned to see Stella looking at me. "I wouldn't if I were you," She warns looking at Grace. "Why?"I ask. "The last time, one of us confronted one of the customers, it didn't go well," she explains. I look back at Grace and sigh, I wish I could do something. I got back to work and soon enough Grace was able to pull away from the group of drunk guys. She rushed passed me and headed into the back room. I sigh as I followed after her. I open the door and see her sobbing while sitting on the floor hugging her knees close to her chest. I kneel next to her and place my hand gently on her shoulder. She jumps and looks at me with a fearful expression. "Are you okay?"I ask her. She had red eyes, and she looked like she hadn't slept in days but tried to cover it with heavy makeup. She shakes her head "I hate it here" She cried. I sigh and wrap my arms around her. "It's gonna be okay, Grace. I know how you feel but you have to be strong" I tell her. Suddenly the door busted open revealing an angry Travis. "What the fuck are you two doing in here!"He yelled angrily. "Get the hell back to work!"He snarls grabbing Grace roughly by her arm, yanking her to her feet. He pushes her out the door and looks at me. He walks slowly towards me and stands inches away from my face "I don't wanna see you hang out back here again, you hear me?"He says. I stayed silent as he stared deeply into my eyes, his face getting closer to mine. "If I see you in here again" he leaned towards my ear "There will be consequences" he whispers. He backed away from me and scanned me from head to toe. He bit his lip slightly and walked out of the room. I cringed to myself and tried to straighten myself out before walking out of the room.
My shift ended around 4 in the morning and I went home with my mom and Travis. It was silent in the car and I was exhausted. We made it to the house and I went straight to my room. I closed and locked the door, to let them both know I wanted to be alone. I got out of my clothes and I changed into something more comfortable and appropriate.
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As I laid in bed, I could hear a lot of noise from my mom and Travis' room. I hated having my room right next to theirs, specifically for this reason. They were always so loud and it bothered me a lot. I sigh and I grab my phone to drown the noise out. I blasted music through my headphones and it was calming. I lay down, turn off the light, and stare at the ceiling letting the whole world slip away. I let out a long sigh and I slowly slip into sleep.
I woke up 5 hours later, feeling my stomach roar in hunger. I got out of bed and I walk into the kitchen to see my mom making breakfast. Her and my favorite, Blueberry pancakes with hot chocolate. "Hey, mom, "I say making her turn to look at me. I clench my jaw when I see a red mark on her cheek. I stand up from my chair and walk next to her wrapping my arms around her. She lets out a sigh and I hold her knowing she needed some actual affection that both she and I knew Travis could never give her. I pull away from her and I help her with the food. "Where's Travis?"I ask her. She sighs "He went out took take care of some business," she says, "He says not to wait up," she says. I nod and it grew silent between us.
After breakfast, my mom wanted to go do some errands and she offered to drop me off at the library. As she drove into town, I stare out the window, watching people pass by. The line of houses and neighborhoods I saw made me wonder what their lives were like. What went on behind those closed doors, is it a happy family? Do the kids go to school and have normal lives?
