[Kiarah]

I sighed and dressed myself in the suit that I liked to call my teaser.

I mussed my hair a bit, and ran my fingers over the still healing bruise. I hate it when they get handsy, but it's what I have to do to get money...

You know I wasn't always this way. I used to teach at a Drama class. Give speeches, I was the youngest teacher ever at that school. But I messed up after my friend got drunk and died in that car wreck. I miss her...Gaze was the best. Anyway after she died I lost motivation and turned to the bottle myself. She was all I had since everyone else was gone.

After that, I lost a job and began doing whatever I could to get by.

So now it's tequila, lap dances, and pain.

[Dave]

I know it's her night to work. I hated that she had to do this, and I hate that she's good at what she does...really good. People get all hungry eyed when she's on that stage. I have to be there and try to control as much as I can... I grabbed my wallet ready to spend every penny I had to keep her in my sight. She isn't a prostitute, or a stripper...She just dances and man is she good... Not that I pay her to dance for me, well I kinda do...It's for her safety not my pleasure ok?

I rush out the door and I get a call from my sister Rose.

"Hey Dave, would you like to come have dinner with Kanaya?"

I sighed speeding down the road I had to get to English's Bar fast. "You know Rose, I'd love to come see you and your girl but I'm busy."

"It's her night again isn't it Dave?"

"Yeah." I grit my teeth. She would hate me if she knew Rose knew what was going on...

"Didn't she work last night?"

"Yeah they had her pick up some other hooch's slack." I growled. She works three nights a week usually, this time she's working five. Her only income is still tips...

"You basically just called her a hooch too..."

I hate Roses over analyzing things. "Kiarah is not a hooch ok? She hates dancing for people..."

You could hear Kanaya yell in the background... "You should just drop the protective friend act, tell her how you really feel before you get friend zoned."

"But Kan, I don't know if I feel that way..." Man I need to stop lying to myself...

Rose cleared her throat like she always did when she was observing my abused mental state. "I believe you do Dave, stop lying to yourself."

"Whatever Rose." I sighed parking my car. "I'm here so I'll...catch you later. I'm late."

And I was. I rushed in there determined to get in there before someone had forced her to dance. I groaned in disgust as I saw her dance for some burly man who was sticking money in every place he could. He had already stuck some in both halves of her top, and on each hip, I knew where he was going next, and it was not just to place money...

"Excuse me sir, I believe you've had enough." I grabbed his wrist as he moved to shove a one dollar bill there. "Man if you're gonna be a douche about where you stick your cash, make sure it's an amount that's worth it."

That biker man set his beer down, he thought I bit off more than I could chew this time, but I havent. I may be lean, but it's because I'm well toned, I mean not to brag or nothin, but I did have the worlds best sparring partner.

I could see her eyes pleading with me to back off. She knows I'm defending her honor, but she doesnt know I do it because I love her. Or at least not in the way I do...God Rose is right I need to tell her soon. "Standing up for your girlfriend are you boy?" He laughed and stood. "Don't you just love your boyfriend for helping you earn less money?" He sneered at her.

"I'm not her boyfriend, I'm her man-friend." That had to be the shittiest remark ever, I had to make up for it. "Boys are hormone crazed douches who get off on dancers because they cant stay committed long enough to get laid." I smirked and I could see Kiarah laugh a little out of the corner of my eye. That smirk faded when I saw him hit her across the jaw for laughing. "Also, men dont hit women." I hit him hard a few times before he knew what happened. He was bleeding from the nose as he left, he wasnt as tough as he looked. "Pussy." I laughed before wiping the blood from my busted lip and turning my attention to my best friend...god I wish she was more than a friend to me, but I dont think she wants that.

[Kiarah]

"I'm fine." I whispered as he touched the swolen part of my jaw. It hurt like hell but I had to suck it up and get ready for my dance routine. The bar loved it, I was their favorite dancer, too bad they don't pay me like they do the others. But then again I'm not as willing to be a bed warmer as they are...I mean I'm desperate, but that makes me sick.

"What are you doing?" I could hear the concern in Daves voice as I started handing him the few dollars I had earned from that biker man.

"It's my night to dance remember?" I gave a false laugh. "Just dont let a hooker walk off with my money, it's all I have." I hollered getting on the stage as the lights dimmed and the smoke machines came on. Tonights song was "Porn Star Dancing" by My Darkest Days. Not gonna lie this was my favorite song to dance to. " I grabbed the pole, and took a deep breath. I was good at this part, and the dancing is the funnest part, but I wasn't proud of it to say the least.

By the time that song was over, I was covered in sweat and glitter. That's when they liked to see me best, those sickos like to pretend that I worked up a sweat for them. They're lucky I have to work overtime.

"Kiarah wait." I heard Dave call as I went to grab a bottle of water.

"Oh, thanks for holding my money, and for saving me from molestation back there..." I leaned in and gave him a quick hug not wanting to make his shirt damp with sweat.

He laughed handing it to me. There was an extra twenty in there like always. I have learned not to refuse it because he would deny that he gave it to me. "No actually, I was going to ask if you could come home with me." He looked down sheepishly.

"Okay." I laughed. "How much did you drink tonight?"

"None." I could almost hear his jaw clamp shut.

"Oh, looking for a private Dance?" I joked shoveing his shoulder.

"No!" I didn't have to see his face to know he was blushing. "Look, I'm tired of you going to that cruddy apartment, eating next to nothing, and sleeping on a futon. Please, just one night. If you don't , you can leave."

"Fine." I whispered. He described my living conditions to a T. "Just let me get clothes."

"Rose and Kan have that covered. Come on, your weekend starts early." He took my hand and lead me out the door.