Stripped Bare.

Chapter 4.

"How was work?" Clara called out as I shut the front door.

"Yeah good actually, got a $200 tip of Mr Browne so can't complain. How was the party?" I put my stuff down on the bench and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

"I'm here, alone. How do you think the party was?" She laughed.

"Can't have been to bad if your still awake at 5am."

"True." She giggled. "But it would have been better if I got laid."

"Is that all you think about?" I tease.

"Says the stripper." She scoffs, but I know she's teasing me back. She has never judged me or had an issue with my job.

"The virgin stripper." I laugh and she joins me.

"I will never get over the irony. Virgin, stripper Mary." She laughs hysterically.

"How much have you had to drink? You're loosing it."

"Quite a bit actually. I think I should sleep it off."

"Yeah I think that's a smart idea, good night."

"Good night."

She gets up off the lounge and heads off towards her room. Clara moved in with me when I brought the house, she needed a place and I figured I needed the company.

I quickly get changed to go for a run, I don't know why but I always go for a run when I get home from work. It's like it washes the night off and is just my time to think.

I head out the door and down the street, it is still a little dark and I can see the slight start of the sun rising. I put my ear phones in and start to run, feeling the ground hit my feet with every stride. The air is cold on my face and makes me feel alive.

I take the same route every time, there is something about having something that is constant that calms me. And after a night in the club it always helps to have something calm.

I have been working in the club since high school, I started with a fake ID and got in quite a bit of trouble when they found out but thankfully for my they found out when I was 21 and legal again. And I guess the reason I lied helped the situation. My boss Callie was lovely and she liked me, so I always got away with a lot more than everyone else. That's how I was one of the first to be able to choose whether I wanted a client or not.

I could see the sun starting to peak out so I ran faster towards the local shops, this was a habit of mine. I ran to the back of the shops and climbed up the dumpster and pulled myself up onto the roof of the one story stretch of shops. I laid back against a wall and watched the sunrise, beautiful colours filling the sky for just a short amount of time as the sun started to rise.

I stretch out my arms and legs ready for the run home, I can't wait to shower and fall asleep. I can hear noises in the shops below, they must be setting up which is my cue to get out of here. I climb down and run off before anyone notices me.

Running as fast as I can to the warm shower that awaits me at home.

***

"Clara have you seen my red strappy heels?" I yelled out, I was dressed and ready to go to work again but I couldn't find my favourite heels. I walked out of my room to find her, I bet she's 'borrowed' them again. Instead I find her in the lounge room with Kyle, Connor and Josie, my heart stops, no one but Clara had been to my house before.

"Damn." Kyle wolf whistles. "Virgin Mary scrubs up all right, I thought you don't do parties?"

"I don't do parties with children." I tease. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We were bored so we came to hang out, we messaged Clara but she didn't pick up so we stalked her snapchat location." Kyle laughed. "These guys thought it was creepy but I told them you'd be down with it."

"It is definitely creepy." I cringed.

"Were all friends." He shrugs. "What afraid to show off what mummy and daddy rent for you?" He teases.

"Maybe I don't want you dirtying the place."

"Alright you two." Josie cuts in. "We can leave if it makes you uncomfortable?"

"No it doesn't make me uncomfortable." I lie. "Though it freaks me out that Kyle is a grade A stalker."

"He needs to be good at something." Connor laughs, Kyle shoots him a deadly look though. "Are we interrupting something though?" He asks as he looks me up and down.

"Not at all, I have to go to the dinner party for my dads work but you guys make yourself at home." I know lying is bad, and I haven't seen my dad since I was a child but they are the ones that assumed I have rich parents so it was perfect. "But Clara, heels?"

"My cupboard." She says sheepishly.

"Figured." I laugh, heading to her room to grab the shoes. I could hear the boys complaining in the background that they thought I stayed home and read not that I went to parties and didn't invite them.

I went past them all once I had my shoes on and waved a goodbye. I hated that they were here, I tried to keep my private life private for a reason. Them being here and catching me so dressed up is just to close for comfort. I hope they don't take this as they are now welcome to come and go as they please. I don't think I can make enough lies up to why I am gone every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night plus the week nights I get called in. There can only be so many 'parties my parents expect me to attend.'

Breath. I tell myself, there is no point getting stressed out when its just a simple visit. Plus my theory of them all thinking I am a spoilt rich kid must be right considering Kyle's comment earlier. And the shock on their faces when they seen me dressed up, I bet the last thing they would be expecting is that I'm a stripper.

AN- please vote and comment! <3