This chapter was inspired by Emily-Jade's story 'Teenage Whore'. thanks for the inspiration! :)

Ashley

Last night around 8 my younger sister kate had gotten sick but wed had to wait untill 11 for her to go to the hospital. We had to wait for our parents to get back from their high school reunion. Everyone but marie had come. I didn't know where she was but when id texted her and asked shed said she was downtown visiting a friend. Anna had had to give kate blood and bone marrow. Wed gotten at the hospital near midnight. Id the bone marrow transplant had taken 6 hrs but id left early bc I had ballet from 4 - 6 this morning. Id had breakfast at 8. I had cheerleading after school from 3 - 4 and then ballet from 5 - 7. And then work from 7 - 10 and then my job at a strip club downtown from 11 - 1.

Once I left the house I went to the bathroom of a nearby star bucks. I went into a stall closed and locked the door. I took my razor blade out of the small black film canister in my purse. I put my purse on the floor and the film canister on the toilet paper holder. The bathroom was cold and quiet.

I cut.

After I cut I put the razor blade back in my film canister which I put back in my purse. I got my purse and walked into the café.

There were a few people ahead of me in line.

"these are new?" a guy to my right asked.

I looked up and saw a tall tan guy standing to my right. He had long curly dark hair.

I crossed my arms putting my hands over my cuts.

"I. um…" I began.

"its ok. My sister does it too," he leaned closer to me, "cuts."

"oh."

His breath was warm. He smelled like smoke and leather and cologne.

"im carlos btw. You come here often?" he asked.

"oh. Ashley. Nice to meet you. Youre from south america?" I asked seeing a map of the country when he leaned in.

"yeah you too. And yeah howd you know?"

"lucky guess?"

"and yeah," I answered his previous question, "when im not in school or working or at cheerleading or ballet. Or. Waiting for my sister to get sick."

He stepped back eyed me up and down.

"cheerleading?" he repeated.

"yeah," I said.

"idinno you, don't really seem like a cheerleader. I mean youre not. Uh. Perky."

I laughed; "yeah well. Looks can be deceiving."

The line moved forward.

My phone buzzed w/ a text.

"ex, cuse me," I said.

"sure go ahead," carlos said.

I turned flipped my phone open. Id gotten the text from an unknown number. It read; I know your secret.

I flipped the phone closed and turned back to carlos.

"hey did you just text me?" I asked.

"no I don't even have your number," he replied.

"oh. Ok."

"why?"

"I. wrong number I guess."

Which seemed weird getting a text rather than a call from a wrong number.

A few minutes later I got another text;

It was not, a wrong number. It was a right number. Bc everything happens for a reason. Right? Like you believe. xoxo

Whoever had sent me that text knew I was the kindof person who believed everything happens for a reason. They seemed annoyed and then fake happy.

After I left the café at 10 I went to the park to set up for the concert.

I got to school late when the day was half over. I was at my locker before lunch.

"Ashley!" Melissa one of the cheerleaders called.

I didn't know her well other than she was a gossip.

"What?" I asked annoyed by her presence.

"Haven't you heard?"

"Heard what I don't have a lot of time."

"Your sister went all the way w/ jimi."

"Janis', jimi? And which sister?"

Janis was a sister of Melissa. They were both daughters of Kerry and Haley girls my mom Karen had known when she was in high school.

"Hannah which sister do you think? It's Marie."

"Melissa. Go away. I have to get to lunch."

She sighed; "ok."

She left.

Why didn't Marie tell me? That is if this was true. And jimi while I didn't know him well didn't seem the type to have sex w/ just anyone. He was a nice guy not that kindof person. I knew he did drugs but that didn't mean he'd do. this.

I closed my locker and walked down the hall trying to find Marie. Who wasn't at her locker.

On the way passed jimi.

"Hey you," I began.

He turned from talking w/ Janis and Joan to me; "yeah?"

"You seen Marie?"

"Bathroom."

"Thanks."

I continued down the hall and into the women's restroom. Where Marie was standing by the window smoking.

"Yeah what do you want?" she asked annoyed.

"Is it true?" I asked.

"Is what true?"

"That you slept w/ jimi."

"What business is it of yours?"

"I just. I just care. Ya know?"

"Well there are other ways to do it besides flatout accusing me."

"I didn't accuse I asked. I just want to make sure you don't catch anything."

"Yeah. You weren't there in Paris Ashley."

"You caught shit in Paris? Why the hell doesn't dad know?"

"Why do you think," Marie said.

Oh. that's right. Bc he was busy w/ Kate.

"And not only did I - I caught it from my mom. That is she passed it - look don't tell anyone ok!" Marie cried looking scared.

"I won't," I promised; "but why didn't you get it checked out?"

"We meant to but we just. didn't know that much about it."

"Oh. You need to see someone about it."

"Yeah I meant to when I moved in but I just. Never got around to it."

"Oh."

"And I don't have to tell you."

"jimi doesn't seem like that type of person," I said.

"He's not! We talked about it and we did stuff but we didn't do that. He knows that I have. Stuff. His friend Janis knows. Her moms know. Only bc Haley and Kerry have been very upfront and honest w/ them about safe sex. But don't worry they wont tell anyone," Marie finished in an annoyed low voice.

"Oh. Ok. Haley and Kerry?" I asked.

"Janis' moms. They grew up w/ Mom. Er I mean Karen."

"Right got that."

"So what I'm not allowed to associate myself w/ a druggie? Oh bc it'll ruin my reputation," Marie said.

"Well I thought you were trying to better yourself but maybe I was wrong. I thought that's why you left Paris."

"Yeah maybe you were."

"Marie. I want you to feel like you can tell me this stuff."

"You know how you overreact."

"Only bc I care and I'm the next oldest woman. Which means, that if something happens to Karen I have to step up."

"You can be a little intimidating. Honestly," Marie told me.

"And it's not like you tell me everything either," she pointed out.

"You're 14. I'm 17," I said.

"I've been working as a prostitute foe years and you're telling me I cant handle shit?"