Chapter One: Lean on Me

"What the hell is your problem?" Diamond yelled, getting in Callie's face. "It's been three months since you been here, and Daddy ain't happy. You ain't made us nothin', and the blame it all on me. "

"I'm sorry," Callie answered. "I want to go home."

"Home?" Diamond laughed. "They ain't come looking for you. You think they care about you? They don't. Ain't nobody care about us but Daddy. He takes care of his girls. But we gotta take care him, you heard? And you ain't taking care of him. Get out there and work it, girl. Bring in the money, and the rewards you," Diamond scoffed.

"I." Callie started.

"You can't?" Diamond interrupted. "You ain't got no problem taking Christina's place. What you think they'd come looking? Oh well, one less worthless mouth to feed. You here with us now, bitch."

"Diamond." Callie started.

"No, I heard it all before. This ain't you. You wanna go home, you can't do this. Listen to me, home ain't want you. Your Daddy's bitch now. And listen to me, you ain't Callie. You Christina. And that bitch, she does anything for a record deal. You wanted this, to keep her from this life. You walked into it know what you had to do. "

"I-I-I," Callie stammered.

"You what? You thought they found you by now. Bitch, please. They ain't looking. Girls like us, they ain't mean nothing. Nobody look for us. Listen here, I'm bottom bitch, I don't wanna strike you, but Daddy say that if you ain't gonna bring it, I gotta bring you down. So tonight, you gotta get out there and make it. You heard me? " Diamond shook her head in disbelief.

Callie sighed, not sure what to say or what to do to get her out of this situation. "Diamond, this isn't the girl Steph got into Girl United. Look, we can run, we can get help. Run with me, I'll." she pleaded.

"You'll what?" Diamond spat. "Call your dyke mom and hope she gets you out? Cops don't care about us." Seeing the desperation in Callie's eyes, Diamond softened. "Look, Callie. It is what it is. Us foster kids who end up on the streets. Only Daddy cares about us. You gotta turn out a trick tonight, otherwise, Daddy's gonna beat me down. And then he's gonna come after you. A dry girl ain't no good to him. A dry girl ends up dead, and no one ever finds her, you heard? You got into this cause of me. Let me get you some lean, it'll help you."

Callie swallowed hard. "I don't do drugs, Diamond, you know that."

Diamond came out the bathroom with a red solo cup. "Yeah, I know. Callie ain't do drugs. But Christina do whatever she wants. Who are you?"

Callie swallowed, "Callie Adams Foster," she responded.

Diamond sighed. "No, bitch, who are you?" She asked, holding out the cup of lean.

Callie looked at the cup before taking it from Diamond's hand, resigning to her fate. Steph and Lena once told her you have to do what you have to do to survive in this world, and this was what she had to do. She took a deep breath and then downed the cup as fast as she could.

"Christina," she answered.

"And what you go do tonight?" Diamond asked.

"I'll turn tricks for Daddy because Daddy takes care of me," Callie answered.

Diamond smiled and nodded. "Good girl, Tina. Let's go. Daddy's waiting." She said, ushering Callie out the door.

They walked out the hotel door toward the white van Russell had waiting for them. Callie pulled her crop-top down, hoping it would cover her bit more. Russell had gone with a more conservative look for her. Tight jeans, knee-high boots, and a black crop top tank. He thought the innocent look would work better for her. Callie was glad she wasn't showing as much skin as the other girls, but she didn't like her look. She still felt like a slut, and that wasn't her. She looked around before getting into the van. Where was Steph? She was sure someone would have been there by now to save her.

The drive was short, but Callie felt the effects of the lean she drank hit her in the van. Everything became fuzzy, and all movements around her slowed. By the time the van slowed, she only felt a slight tingling along her skin. There was no more fear. She could do this, she could be Christina, the girl who would do anything for a music deal. The girls got out of the van when it stopped and awaited their orders. Russell gave everyone their locations but saved Callie and Diamond for last.

"Diamond and Tina, you go work east Belmont," he said.

Diamond's eyes lit up. She was obviously excited. "Yes, Daddy," was all she said.

Diamond started walking and Callie followed dutifully. She hadn't said a word to Russell since she got there unless he addressed her directly, so she didn't feel the need to acknowledge his order. Diamond glanced back at her.

"Sway your hips, girl, look sexy" she instructed.

Callie threw her shoulders out, pushing her breasts forward and added an extra sway to her hips. She walked along the sidewalk as if she belonged there. Her head was fuzzy and she couldn't quite remember why she didn't want to do this. All she knew was she had a job to do, and Diamond would help her. "Look sexy." Was Diamond's instructions. So Callie was determined to do what Diamond said. She put one foot in front the other, making sure to sway her hips and bat her eyelashes at each passing car. Men wanted a girl who'd give it to them. And if she spread her legs for a little of money, Daddy would take good care of her. That's what Diamond and Russell had said. And right now, who else gave a damn about her.

"So," Callie started. "I saw you. You're excited. What's so good about East Belmont?"

"Prime real estate, girl. Right across from the liquor store. We can make bank." Was Diamond's response.

True enough, it was prime real estate. Diamond was picked up within half an hour of them arriving. But Callie just couldn't convince any Johns she was interested. While Diamond was on a trick, Callie sat on a bench on the corner, crossing her legs and arms, subconsciously trying to cover herself. She hung her head, knowing her failure was going to lead to her and Diamond getting beat. More her than Diamond, but still. She went into this to help the girl and ended up making things worse for her.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice when a blue mini cooper pulled up to the curb and rolled down the window.

"Hey," the driver called.

Callie looked up then, he looked around, not believing the guy was talking to her. No one else was around, so she mustered up her sexiest grin.

"Hey," she called back.

"You look for a good time?" He asked, obviously a bit shy and naive.

She chuckled, biting back her own nervousness, "I don't know are you?"

She had seen Diamond do this a hundred times. Don't be too oblivious, let them come to you. But don't scare them off. Callie bit her lip, trying to look innocent. That was the look Russell thought would work for her. She sauntered to the car. Callie leaned into the window and batter her eyes and gave a bashful shrug. The John held up a hundred dollar and shrugged his shoulders, a small grin gracing his features. "I got a place nearby if you want to have some fun," he said, a tremble in his voice.

Callie laughed. "This your first time?" She asked.

"Yeah, is it yours?" The John asked.

"How can you tell?" She asked shyly. Never admit to innocent, just allude to it.

"Get in," was all he said.

Callie's first trick. And a hundred dollars. That would make Russell happy and get him off of her and Diamond's back. It would buy her time to try to get out this and take Diamond with her. Her hand slid to the door handle, but she looked up at the John. He was young, eighteen, maybe less. Curly brown hair and hazel eyes. The rest of his feature were fuzzy, probably because of the lean, she took before leaving the hotel. But, oh, he looked like Brandon. Brandon. She wanted to turn and run. Find a police officer and get help. But she knew there were people watching her, and she wouldn't make it far before her captors found her. So instead, she shot this boy a smile and got in the car. She satin the soft leather seats, trying not to think about how much she remembered sitting in a seat just like this as she instinctively reached for the seat belt.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked.

No, her mind screamed. Don't make me do this. Please, God, someone saves me.

"Shut up and drive," she said instead.