Sorry this one's so short. I just want to wet your appetites. This was actually supposed to be part of the first chapter but I forgot to change the format. And an absolutely gigantic enormous and other synonyms for big, THANK YOU J to everybody who reviewed. You gave me a big welcome to ff.net

Disclaimer: See note for chapter one.

Chapter Two: Cold & Lonely with one Nickel only

Lily stood underneath a street lamp on Avenue B and thought about her predicament. She listened to the, by now, common sounds in the flat above. Things smashing, Smack roaring, and Cookie's high pitched scream as he struck her. She knew better than to go inside. That month's rent was do in two weeks and in this mood Smack would beat the shit out of her if she told him she still couldn't find a job.

That's what I get for lying, she thought. Who'd give a fifteen year old a job?

 She looked at the purple bruise that a drunken Smack had left on her thigh when she'd told him she'd been turned down for a job at a local boutique. If she didn't find one soon he'd throw her out. Of course, that might not be as bad as staying where she was. She was becoming frightened of her 'friends'. There was frequent drug use and sex in the flat that Lily was pushed upon to join. But she was determined to stay straight no matter what. This wasn't easy considering her room mates' occupations and pastimes. Jake, she found out, was a crack dealer and heavily dependant on his product, which he pushed on her often. His continued advances towards Lily were becoming hard to bear. Cookie was a prostitute and severely strung out on heroin. She was jealous of the attention Jake was giving Lily, for she'd been his 'Sugar Drop' before her. Lily's assertion that she wanted nothing to do with Jake meant nothing to her. Lily figured she just wanted someone to beat up on. She often threatened Lily and emotionally abused her.

"You think you're life is so bad," she had jeered once. "You're just a little yuppie scum bitch! Why'd you leave, huh, Lily? Mummy and Daddy wouldn't give you the car for the weekend? Wouldn't let you get another American Express card? Let me tell ya somethin', babe, Jake just likes ya 'cause you're young. It's me he really loves."

She obviously had no faith in her own words. They both knew the only thing Jake really loved was sex.

"You don't know what real pain is."

It was that remark that had made Lily blow.

"I have loved and hurt more deeply than you ever will!" she'd screamed. She had been talking about Angel.

But it was Smack Lily feared the most. She found out he came from a long line of alcoholics and carried on the tradition, but when there wasn't enough money for liquor the powerful hustler liked to take out his frustration on her. Her eye was healing up nicely but there were a few assorted wounds that had yet to heal. He couldn't catch her often though. Most of the time, she was too fast for him.

Yet through it all, she stayed. Each time she felt regret she thought of Angel, smiling and overjoyed to see her. She had to find him. He would make it all worth it.

"Hey, V-8!" a scratchy low voice made her jump. She turned and saw a tall man in a trench coat smirking at her. She recognized him. He was another dealer who gave Cookie her fixes. Everyone just called him The Man. He called Lily V-8 because of the orange color of her hair.

"Oh, hi," she said breathlessly. "You scared me."

"What's a pretty thing like you doing out here?"

"Nothing," she said. She had learned to trust no one on these mean streets.

"You look like you could use something to cheer you up."

He held a small sack of powder out to her.

"I already told you I don't do that," she said curtly.

"You will," he assured her, putting it away. Then he said, "I heard you was looking for a job."

She nodded warily.

"Well I know this place that needs dancers. As long as you're willing to take it off, you'd be perfect."

She thought about it. Would she rather become a stripper or stay unemployed and continue being beaten?

"Would I have to sleep with guys?" she asked.

"That's your choice. You can and, to be honest, you probably will. But that ain't part of the job."

"Are they open? Could I go now?"

"I'll take you. I gotta go there anyway."

She fallowed him into the dark alleyway and a voice inside her head told her she was sinking lower and lower. Then she thought about the real reason she was doing it and it drowned out the voice.

Think about Angel. Whenever it gets too bad, just remember Angel.

**************************************

Smack was rolling joints when Lily burst through the door. She was relieved that he'd calmed down, although she could still hear Cookie weeping in the other room.

"I did it!" she screamed. "I got a job!"

"Stop playin'," he said. "Where?"

"A place called The Cat Scratch Club. The Man helped me get it!"

"Awesome! I got some mo' good news fo' ya."

He pushed a phone book towards her.

"Maybe ya can find yo' friend in here."

"You're right!"

She sat down and flipped through the book, her hopes mounting despite herself.

"Schunard…Schunard...SCHUNARD!" She screamed as she came upon the name. "ANGEL DUMOTT SCHUNARD! YES!!!"

She didn't know what to do. Her heart was racing. Suddenly, she got up and did a back flip across the tiny room.

"Whoa," Smack laughed. "Easy there, Tiger Lily. How 'bout skippin' the gymnastics and callin' the guy."

She ran to the phone and dialed the number. A low baritone answered on the outgoing message.

"Hi, you've obviously reached Collins and Angel. We can't come to the phone at the moment but if you leave your name and number we'll get back to you."

She left a lengthy message, forcing herself to sound calm.

"I found him!" she cried after she hung up. "I can't believe I found him!"

Everything is finally going my way! She thought.