after math

CHAPTER 7

I bolted to the car. "You'd better have a good reason for keeping me waiting this long or else...". Thea said, looking furious. "You bet. I just saw the hottest guy in the world. " "Wrong. That ain't a good reason. I'm not even interested in guys. Likeee?" She said, rolling her eyes. "So, like I was saying, this guy is the most prettiest thing I've ever laid my eyes on. Not sure if my grammar was correct, but I think my brain is going haywire from just thinking about him." I sighed, looking out the window. "Okay, someone looks drunk." Thea said, giving me a knowing look. "I know, right? But for some reason, when I was in the secretary's office, I felt sober. " I replied, trying to stop myself from puking in her car. "Girl, shut up. Don't say a word till I drop you off. " Thea warned sternly." Okay, buh, I kinda feel a little nauseous, so I'd appreciate it if you drove faster." I said matter-of- fact ly. "You ain't gon' tell me what I gotta do, and if you puke in my car, I'm never taking you to a fancy bar again." Thea scolded, and I sat still in my seat like an obedient little kid. Then, Thea burst out laughing. I tuned to face her, my brows knotted in confusion. "You look soooo cute when you're drunk."

I woke up the next morning and found myself on my bed. In the same clothes as yesterday . 'What? How did I go to bed without taking a shower?' I tried so hard to remember what happened last night, but the more I tried, the more my head hurt. I was soooo hungover. Then it hit me; I was a stripper.

I quickly hit the showers and hurried downstairs just to find mom passed out on the couch. Drunk. "Ugghh!" I groaned. It's still 9 a.m., and she's already this drunk goddammit.

Mom had been like this since she divorced dad. She'd immediately quit her job and used up her savings to pay for my college tuition. That's one of the reasons I feel indebted to her. Also, she's my mom soooo... . Besides that, she also spends a lot of money on beer bottles. Don't ask me how she got the money, but I'm guessing she'd do anything to forget my dad. Especially because my dad was living a perfect life with his new family and forgotten all about us. I could relate to her pain. Her relationship with my dad was similar to that of me and Theo.

I got a duvet and draped it over her, and went to the kitchen to make myself breakfast. Thea and I were supposed to hang out this afternoon, get our nails done, and shop for clothes and stuff like that. But I didn't know if that was supposed to still happen, especially after all that craziness I exhibited last night. At least that's what I thought till Thea called me to tell me she had been waiting for me in my driveway for 30 minutes and where the f**k was I? "Girl why are you just telling me now?" I asked quickly pulling on a pair of black shorts and a white hoodie.

"I can't believe I'm gonna be a stripper. I'm super nervous". I told Thea as we walked around the boutique. "Just don't do it". She said matter-of-fact ly." You don't understand. I can't just not do it. It's not as easy as you think. I'm desperate". I sighed.

"Then, you know what you should be shopping for?" She questioned. "What?" "Follow me." She replied pulling me by the arm. She took me to the underwear section and told the sales girl to bring the sexiest lingeries, thongs and lacy underwears. "Girl what are you doing?" I asked. "If my best friend is gonna be a stripper, she's got to be the sexiest." She replied. "Now, can we change the subject?" She added. "Yes please," I was literally waiting for her to ask that question. "I have a girlfriend". She confessed. "OMG girl, I'm so happy for you. " I squealed engulfing her in a bear hug. "So ,she cute?" I asked. "Yeah. She's Asian." "Ooh Japanese?" I cooed as the sales girl walked in with a dozen of lacy underwear. "Nah. Thai." Thea replied picking up a red lingerie. "Not sexy enough ". She told the sales girl. "My apologies ma'am but these are the prettiest ones." The innocent looking sales girl apologised. "Well, I didn't ask for the prettiest but sexiest ones and----". "We'll have these ". I cut Thea off. I turned to Thea. "So, what's her name? You know, your girlfriend, " I asked, avoiding the death glare she was giving me. "Candie". She replied. "Wow. You can't be serious. " I said . "I am. And believe me, her name matches her personality." She replied with a chuckle.

We also purchased a lot of heels and makeup. Who knew being a stripper would cost this much?

I tried so hard to forget the knot in my stomach, but I was too nervous to perform partly nude in front of an entire crowd.