Chapter 2

Friends? Don't make me laugh.

Of course, Kairi is the exception. By default, that makes her my best friend. But we've been inseparable since early childhood, so she'd be my best friend regardless. Even when I first entered the field of whoredom (yes, that is an actual word), Kairi didn't budge. It didn't matter how much I became the central topic in everyone's daily dosage of cafeteria gossip. She didn't care about my name becoming synonymous with lovely labels such as slut, skank, hoe, bimbo, and tramp following me in whispers, mostly from fellow females. She stuck by me, despite not exactly approving of new lifestyle choices herself.

I lost a lot of people who I thought were my friends. Does it hurt my feelings? Sometimes. But you know, suddenly all of that baggage doesn't seem to matter in moments like this when I've sunken into my mattress, getting reacquainted with my real friends; the ones who accept me for me, like Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant. According to the most reliable and informative source for knowledge known as the internet, the definition of a slut is a person with a seemingly insatiable but often overlooked desire to do or have something, most notably in reference to shameless promiscuity. But if by being honored the title of slut, whether that means I'm confused, reckless, the proverbial myth that I can't close my legs anymore, or that I just like some dick—

I don't really care.

Not when I'm licking my fingers and flipping through a pretty thick wad of cash. If you hadn't already figured it out, yes, I did earn eight-hundred bucks after Shiki and I met with our appointed companions last night. Obviously, we agreed to go back to their hotels. When Shiki first let me in on the sex working gig, we made a deal. We promised to always cut fifty percent to help with family costs until we're in a better financial position, so I'm really only going to get about four-hundred out of it. But hey, let me hold onto this fantasy of eight-hundred for just a little longer. There's nothing like the pleasure of receiving better than average sex and being paid for it. It's like they're paying to please me. But it's not like my pleasure is fulfilled often, so I have to appreciate it when it does. If only such a Utopia existed.

Shiki, being the considerate sister that she is, busts into my room without knocking. No matter how many times I tell her not to do that and she, presumably fast-talking me, insists she won't do it again—she always, in fact, does it again. So getting angry would just be a waste of my energy .Instead, I examine her attire. She dons a black dress that hugs her figure in all the right places with a skirt that's a few centimeters away from exposing her southern region to the world. A shorter skirt and she'd be considered trashy instead of classy. She presents herself with a strained smile that says, 'Hey, I'm insecure about this look so just tell me what I want to hear and I'll leave you alone.'

"Does this dress make me look fat?"

I roll over to my belly and eye her from head to toe with mild intrigue at the bear minimum. "That was the most basic bitch question that a basic bitch could ask."

Her former excitement deforms into an unimpressed glower. "We're basic bitches, sis. Deal with it. Aren't you going to ask me why I'm all dressed up?"

"But that would imply that I care." She sets her hands on her hips. I sigh. "Tell me, sister of mine, why are you dressed up like that on a Thursday afternoon? Because I really, really give a shit."

"Much better!" Shiki nods. "Remember that guy I hooked up with last night? He's picking me up in about an hour and a half. I think it's about time I start settling down with someone."

"Wait, you mean you're actually trying to be in a... ugh, relationship?"

We shudder at the word.

"Eww, don't say it like that. It's just that Xemnas has a very appealing bank account. They live up in the northern region of Radiant Garden. Have you even seen those houses? I'm thinking about entering the gold digging profession."

Does that even qualify as a profession? "I thought that was against our code." When Shiki first let me join her embark on illegal sex working, we made a pact: never, under any circumstances, enter a relationship or develop feelings for another guy. Both scenarios run the risk of ruining everything we've worked so hard for.

"But if I can make it happen, then we won't have to worry about sex working anymore. I ask him for a few loans, we can make rent, pay bills, etcetera. You should consider trying it too! If I fail, then at least you can seduce Riku as a backup."

What a stupid plan. She says it as if it's foolproof, too. "Don't you think it's kinda cruel to lead someone on like that? This job isn't always ideal, I get it, but at least we don't have to worry about anyone's feelings." Including our own.

"How do you think Risette Kujiwawa got to where she is? Because of her talent?" She laughs. "Don't be naïve, little sister. We can't do this forever. Someday, our skin will wrinkle, our boobs and butts will sag past our thighs, we'll have to deal with crow's feet, we'll have that permanent old people smell, I could go on. We'll be lucky if even the most desperate want a piece of us. So, at some point, we gotta start digging for that gold." She shrugs.

"But you're only twenty-one. You probably still have a good ten years left. Twenty, if you're lucky."

"But it's not every day I get to hook up with the heir to Moogle Express. I'm thinking about the future, little sister. Besides, it's not like guys actually like us for who we are or anything. It's been proven that they only like us for our bodies." She smiles as if she just thwarted my entire point.

"That has to be one of the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say. And after seventeen years of your shit, that's saying a lot."

She rolls her eyes. "Why am I even talking to you?"

Good question. It doesn't matter what she says, she's not going to convince me that leading someone on is okay. There's a line even I won't cross. When she finally leaves, I casually return to my dead presidents' party. "Sorry guys, she's just a handful." And now I'm talking to abiotic objects.

Maybe I do need more friends.

Ironically enough, in the immediate aftermath of that line of thinking, my phone rings. I check the caller I.D.

Xehanort Okuda

I decide to humor him and answer the phone, tucking it into the crook of my shoulder. "Couldn't get enough of me, huh?"

"Aren't you a confident one? But I think I like that."

"Let me guess, you want to go for round two?"

"Close enough. More accurately, I was wondering if I could take you out? Maybe grab a bite to eat... dinner, perhaps?"

"Wait, you mean a date?" I ask, getting a bit more invested into the conversation. "Or a date, date?"

Xehanort chuckles dryly. "Depends on your level of interest."

Sorry, dude. I'm not Shiki. You don't want to get with all of this. Trust me, I'm doing you a favor. "I think we should just cut to the chase. You want a fuck buddy? For the right price, I'm your girl. But let's not try to take it any further than that, alright?"

A moment of silence takes over. "Well," he says with an awkward chortle. "I think that was the first time I've been shot down so blatantly. Or at all, really. Is it a crime to want to get to know you?"

Get to know me? As if I'm supposed to believe any of these jackasses want to know anything more about me other than what type of lingerie I'm wearing. "You've seen me naked—I think you know quite a bit about me already."

He laughs. "I see."

I wait for an elaboration that never comes. "You see what?"

He audibly shifts for a brief moment before speaking up. "You're very guarded. But I guess we all don't like being vulnerable to some degree."

What's this guy getting at? If he's referring to the way I handle business, I think keeping my guard up is a necessity for my survival. "Let's just say I have some trust issues."

He chuckles. "That much, I gather. Can I ask you something?"

I set my money aside as my intrigue settles. "Yeah?"

"Why are you afraid?" His tone sounds austere. Way to be vague about it.

I run my finger against the back of my phone. "Afraid of what?"

"You tell me."

Who does he think he is? My therapist? Okay, so what if I am a bit paranoid? Why does he care so much? "What do you want?"

I can practically hear the smirk enveloping his face. He got me, and he knows it. The sad part is that I can't deny it. "Just come to my place for some dinner. That's all I'm asking for."

I sigh and plop back onto my bed, roaming my eyes across the room. I stare at my crappy TV, right next to my dresser leading to the front door. It's all upside down from my point of view. "Is it really?"

He hums mischievously. "Well, I'm not opposed to a particularly intimate desert if you aren't."

Finally, he's getting to the point. I'm not one for wasting time while skirting around the subject at hand, but I will admit that he has me, if nothing else, interested. "And what would we have for dessert?"

"Depends on what you're wearing."

I quirk a brow and smirk. "That line wasn't as smooth as it sounded in your head. So, you're going to eat my clothes for desert?"

After a moment of silence, Xehanort grumbles and clears his throat. "Look, are you coming or not?"

I sit up and examine my current attire. A simple black camisole and some yoga pants don't really add up to a particularly formal ensemble. But at least it makes my butt look big. I worked hard to get it nice and shapely. I'm never going to get those hours of squats and dieting back, so I'm not gonna hold back from showing it off whenever I can.

"Just don't expect me to look fancy shmancy."

"You think you'll have the energy to handle me this time?"

This guy really thinks he's hot shit. "Please, don't get cocky. I've got energy for days. I never get tired."

S.E.X.S.E.L.L.S

I'm so fucking tired.

This dawning of realization hit me as soon as I stepped foot inside the main lobby of Twilight High with the ungodly urge to take a nap on the dirty marble floor. Heed no mind to the ignorant simpleton who claimed she had "energy for days" earlier. She was young, naïve, and stupid. So don't quote her on that. I was just lucky that Dad went to bed early; it gave me and Shiki enough time to sneak back into the house. I had to climb this huge tree on the side of my room and act as a bootleg tightrope artist to inch across this branch that leads directly to my window. I have a traumatizing fear of heights, so that wasn't very fun.

All in all, a pretty eventful night – to put it mildly. It involved two of my favorite things: food and great sex. But the repercussions followed me into the morning. Now all I can do is put my faith into this piping hot cup of espresso in hopes of it jolting me back into proper functioning, despite being deprived of four hours of sleep. Wish me luck, people.

"Oof!" Someone bumps into me, hard enough for my grip to loosen. I watch in horror as my cup practically takes a leap of faith out of my hands and descends to the floor. "Noooo!" I yell, reaching my hand out. But it's too late. In the matter of moments (which felt more like thirty second due to me seeing this travesty unfold in pseudo slow motion), the floor is covered in a delicious and thick pond of sweet, creamy goodness.

"Oh, shit! Xion!" says a clearly male voice. I turn around, ready to glare daggers at the clumsy numskull who decided not to look where they were going. "Aww dude, my bad. I was just messing with my bro and was totally not paying attention. Sorry about that." He rubs the back of his head. I draw back my fangs upon realizing that the perpetrator is none other than Tidus Fleming – the star athlete of the basketball team. Handsome, toned muscles, considerably wealthy, and due to being a native to Destiny Islands, ridiculously tan.

Meh, I can buy another espresso anytime.

His buddy and co-captain of the basketball team, Wakka Otani, punches him on the shoulder. "Yo, man! Watch where you're goin'!"

"Oh, it's okay. I was probably just about to throw it away anyway," I lie. "I guess I better go clean it up or something." I groan at the prospect of manual labor. But before I can turn for the bathroom, Tidus gently holds me back by the arm.

With a confident grin, he removes a towel from his shoulder and uses it to collect the contents. "Allow me."

Now, that's how you treat a lady. "What a gentleman."

"Yeah, I'm pretty awesome," he says with a smirk.

"Gentleman, ya?" Wakka snickers. "You should see the way he flirts with the cheerleaders. Then you'll see how gentlemanly this man is."

"Duuude," he whines.

I giggle as Tidus rises to his feet with the empty cup in his hand, having successfully cleaned up the puddle of grounded coffee beans. He chucks the cup into a nearby trashcan. I guess that's why he's the team leader.

"It's actually funny that I bumped into you, I've been wanting to talk to you lately." Tidus grins. He makes a quick gesture to Wakka with his eyes. Wakka seems to understand and winks at him, before giving us a bit of privacy.

"Is that so?" I ask as he takes my hands and gradually leads us to the first floor lockers. "Let me guess, you've heard the rumors?"

"Bingo!" he says. "Truth is, I've always thought you were cute, but I wasn't sure if you'd go for me."

Is he kidding? There aren't many girls in our class who can resist him, and I shamelessly fall into that same category. Mostly because of his aesthetic appeal, but hey, I said I was shallow. "Honestly, Mr. Fleming, if anyone should be surprised, it's me. I didn't even think you noticed me like that."

"You'd be surprised, me and a lot of others have been pining after you for a while," he says. "I dunno, there's just somethin' different about you. I guess it's because you're not one of the rich girls. Those bitches act like they're a gift to humanity." His hands slither down my waist. "Though, I wouldn't blame you if you did – with all of this you got goin' on back there."

I think I'm starting to see what Wakka meant, but you know what? Fuck it. Believe me, I've met far worse. "Are you sure it's that, and not just because of any certain physical attributes I might have?" I smirk devilishly, gesturing to where his hands are currently placed—quite evidently rubbing my backside. Not that I mind, like I said, I worked hard on that shit. "You seem pretty comfortable."

He smiles sheepishly. "Well, uh, it definitely helps." I expected no less. "But I meant what I said. And I'm glad you've made this a bit easier for me. Rumor says you have a price?"

"That rumor would be correct."

"To be frank with you, I just got out of a relationship with my ex. So, I wouldn't mind the distraction. Let's face it: I'm hot, you're hot. So we can make this work, right?"

I roll my eyes. "Dial it down a bit. But you do speak truth."

"You know I do." He winks. "What do you say we take this outside of school later on?"

"Sure," I chirp.

"I guess I'll have to cough up some dough, huh?"

"Ding, ding! Correct answer!"

"How much?"

"Depends. How much you got on you?"

He grins. "I don't think you're ready for all of those digits. How about I give you five-hundred and take you to my friend's place? His parents won't be there. Sound good?"

"It's a date."

"By the way, um, I think I'm out of condoms. You mind if I go in raw?"

"Ehhh! Wrong answer!"

He sighs, but maintains a smile. "Fine. Guess I'll have to buy some."

"Hey!" a voice yells from behind. "What the hell are you doing?"

Well, if it isn't Yuna Burress, one of the leading "feminists" in our class, if you want to call her that. She's followed by her two flunkies, Rikku and Paine. She and I go way back, and we are many things – but mutually friendly is definitely not one of them. And that's just me being lenient. There's not a week that goes by without her bugging me at least once, especially after the rumors about my not so legal occupation spread about. She's used it against me ever since.

She crosses her arms and casts me a dirty look. "Spades."

"Burress."

She crosses her arms, wrinkling her nose with what looks to be repulsion. "I see you're still snooping your nose in where it doesn't belong. As usual."

I quirk an eyebrow and set my hands on my hips, narrowing my gaze. "What are you talking about?"

I only just now realize that Tidus removed his hands immediately upon her arrival. He approaches her with a callous grin and wraps an arm around Yuna. Though, I think I detect a hint of skepticism playing her face as well. "You got here just in time, babe," he says to her.

Hold the phone. Babe? Did I black out and miss something in the previous ten seconds? "Okay, you lost me." I press my fingers against my temple to keep myself from blowing a gasket. "What's going on here?"

"You should've kept your hands to yourself, Xion," Tidus says. "Told you she was easy."

"Oh, that's not anything new," Yuna says, directing her glare at me once again. "I think I should know more than anyone."

I return my own set of cold eyes, equally savage. "FYI, this guy bumped into me. Personally, I couldn't care less about him. So, what's your problem?"

"What's my problem?" She smugly adjusts her glasses. "What do you take me for? An idiot?"

"I—"

"Rhetorical question! Look, I'm only going to say this once as politely as I can: keep your filthy hands to yourself."

"Excuse me? I was told that you two broke up," I say while glaring at a very punchable Tidus.

Tidus scoffs. "Dude, you actually thought I wanted you?" He laughs. "It was just a prank, bro. Don't take it too seriously."

Either he's is an Oscar-worthy actor or he's a lying piece of shit who almost used me to cheat on his girlfriend. I'm going to assume the latter. I highly doubt he would've negotiated a price if he weren't serious. The worst part is that Yuna is actually buying this.

"Yuna." She looks at me with disdain. "You and me – we got issues. I get it. I don't blame you for not being so quick to trust me, but I said it before and I'll say it again—I've never lied to you."

She crosses her arms. "Is that so? How about we ask Sakuraba about that?" I bite my lip at the sound of that name. "You expect me to believe the girl who's probably done the whole team by now? Save for my darling, of course. Hypothetically speaking, if he ever did cheat on me—," Yuna turns to him with a menacing look before returning her attention to me, "—which he won't, he would at least have the decency to have higher standards than a defiled harlot who isn't worth one percentage of her rumored prices."

"Oh, burn." Tidus wraps a protective arm around her shoulders. "That's right, sweetie. Put this girl in her place. She needs Jesus in her life."

This is pathetic. How can Yuna not see right through him? Is she blind? Beneath that goofy grin is nothing but deceit and trickery. I ought to castrate this loser. How could he sell out on me that fast without any remorse and shamelessly lie about having a girlfriend? He must have heard about my policy against taken men. I hate to say it, but I'm glad Yuna got here when she did. Sleeping with him would've been a huge mistake. People like him are the reason why I can't trust anybody.

"Some folks never learn, huh?" Rikku giggles. Why does she have to say everything so perky? She is also punchable.

"So not cool," Paine deadpans.

"You might want to reevaluate yourself, Spades," Yuna says. "This year, you don't want to push me."

Her volume increases, making a small crowd form around us. "Tell me, Yuna – how much of Tidus' semen must you swallow to reach your level of stupidity? Because I think I might've dodged a bullet there."

She squints. "You're not funny. Do you want me to get hostile?"

I laugh. "Am I supposed to be scared of you? Do you remember the last time you tried to pick a fight with me?"

"Oh yeah, didn't you get your butt whooped?" Tidus asks dumbly. She hits him on the arm. "Ow!"

"I wasn't feeling well that day," she clarifies.

"Sure, you weren't." I roll my eyes. "No wonder Tidus came to me for some ass. He needed something you severely lack. Pick up the Amaya series for a squat training, will you?"

"Oh, burn!" Tidus yelps. Yuna shoots him a dirty look. "It was a half-decent burn..."

I approach her closer until our eyes are only a few inches apart. "And don't you ever threaten me like that again. If you want to go there, we can go there." She doesn't move. She doesn't say anything. Though, I know she's stabbing me in every way imaginable in her mind. But she doesn't lift a finger, which isn't much of a surprise. "Figured."

With neither of us pushing the conversation into violent territory, I navigate through our thin audience, leaving them to jeer and whisper over what just transpired. Great, it's only a matter of time before more rumors start to spread. As if I really needed any more attention. Don't you people have something better to do than produce your own fabrications of truth based on nothing more than your own third-party, uninformed judgment?

Oh wait, this is high school. Forgot.

I'm so fucking tired.

S.E.X.S.E.L.L.S

"How can you not be excited for homecoming?"

Kairi and I currently make our way down Tram Avenue after having just gotten off the bus. I don't remember how our conversation trailed towards the realm of typically superficiality like homecomings, proms, and dresses, but I can tell you that I don't like it.

"Should I be?"

"Uh, yeah," she says, as if it were obvious. "Don't act like you aren't waiting for the right guy to ask you out."

"Nobody's asked me."

She seems taken aback by that. "Really? But, like—people were asking you all the time last year."

"Yeah, when I wasn't known for being an underage sex worker. You think they really want anything to do with me now?"

She pouts. "Well, maybe we can still go? I think it'd be fun. You've been kinda tense lately, so I think it'd do you some good. Come on! Whatever happened to girl power?"

"It died," I deadpan. "I've got more important things to worry about than trying to squeeze into an overly tight dress that suffocates my breathing for ninety percent of the night only in order for me to show off my figure, the spiked punch, the sweaty bodies, that god awful smell, and the cheesy love songs I have to suffer through while I sit at a table alone with sticky nachos to keep me company while everybody else is out with their 'soulmate' for the night until they all go back to their hotels, fuck like rabbits, and forget the majority of the night by the next day as if it never happened."

It's a while before she speaks up. "Well, somebody sounds bitter." I grumble. Well, excuse me. Dances have just never been my thing. I guess that's the tomboy in me speaking. "See? This is why I think you should go. It would be so good for you. Just a good time to get away from it all."

"Don't get your hopes up."

Kairi and I say our goodbyes and she makes a turn to her street, leaving me to continue ahead by myself.

"Hey!" shouts a squeaky voice of some unknown third-party.

I turn around and spot Rikku and Paine in the distance. That's right, the two of them live this way. They approach me, Rikku in her usual giddy and oddly cheerful demeanor, and Paine in her aloof, visibly irritated one.

"That was one heckuva stunt you pulled earlier!" Rikku chirps. Seriously, why the hell is she smiling? Didn't she come here to interrogate me?

"Me?" I ask, scoffing. "You're the ones who blindly believed whatever that idiot said. Don't take it out on me."

She pouts. "Ya know, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for what you did to her!"

"Well, I've apologized. Multiple times, actually. If she doesn't want to accept it, then I can't do anything. How about you send your 'leader' a message and tell her to leave me alone?"

"Well, that isn't very nice," Rikku says. "Just don't mess with our little Yunny again, 'kay? We're very protective of her!"

"Is that supposed to be a warning?"

"Nah!" She giggles. "This is!"

Paine pulls her fist back, and the next thing I know, I'm seeing black.

"Teehee! Have a nice day!"

I can't even act like I'm surprised. These two psycho's have a reputation for silencing anybody who they consider messed with their precious Yuna. Despite the pain, I take deep breaths and try to calm myself down. And I'm not stupid enough to try to take them on, two on one.

The best thing I can do is pick myself up and keep going.


Sorry this was delayed a little bit, I'm actually really freaking sick right now and I haven't had the energy to do anything.

Anyway, here's the second chapter! Got a little intense there, huh? Well, I promise this story won't be getting too angsty, I actually plan on it being lighthearted, more or less. As lighthearted as a fic about selling yourself for sex can be XD

I'm glad the first one got a pretty good response. I love reading your guys reviews! They make me want to keep writing!

Big thanks to:

Ken7700, Hog s Head, snow . fairy, Guest (btw, I couldn't respond to your review since you don't have an account, but I was glad to hear that you liked the first chapter! I hope this one sufficed!),TheNotSoTalentedPoet, reqorz, and to my baes, SoraxKairi7 and BlissfulNightRain.

So, what did you think? I hope it came out alright! Leave a review and let me know what you think or what can be improved! Also, I only looked over this chapter once even though I usually reread my stuff at least three times so there might be some errors, so if you see any could you please be so kind to inform me? That would be much appreciated!