This seems eerily familiar. A rich, good-looking guy being nice to me? A year ago I would have been flattered. But Kyle had made sure that that would never happen again.

I can't believe how naïve I had been. One day I was just Maxie Jones, the girl who hardly had any friends and no one ever noticed, and the next I was Maxie Jones, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school. At the time I had actually thought he liked me. God. The incarnation of Porn Star Maxie had helped clear up a couple of things for me, but not before the whole town had found out how he had used me. There's no telling how many people saw what happened on the web cam. Whenever I think about it my chest tightens and I feel like crying. So I don't really think about it.

Walking through the halls

Maxie, suck my dick!

Sitting down at my desk

Oh Kyle, fuck me harder!

On the school bus

Maxie, why don't you come back here and give us a little of what you gave Radcliff?

I didn't graduate. School just wasn't what it used to be for me.

So now, standing here with JR, whose sleazy charm is practically oozing from his pores, it's all I can do but refrain from rolling my eyes.

He wants to get laid?

I guess he'll be disappointed. For like, two seconds, until he spots some other stupid-looking girl, one who hasn't already been used and thrown away.

But that's not going to stop me from taking advantage of this free room. I think I'm playing with fire but my financial situation is too precarious to be cautious. I don't think I could stand the humiliation of having to return home.

"JR, I just want to thank you. You've really saved my life." I try my best to sound obliviously grateful. He smiles, showing me all of his perfectly capped teeth.

"You seem like a nice girl. I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if you were outside in this weather-well, any weather I guess. There's no telling what could happen." Does it look like I'm scared of whatever the streets of Pine Valley hold? I'm Maria Maximilliana Jones. I hardly know my biological father. I had a heart transplant when I was just a kid. A mobster held me hostage. Losing my virginity became an internet event. I overdosed on ecstasy. My friend was killed in a fire.

This fucker is nothing. Less than nothing.

I've had just about enough of this game so I grab my key and thank JR again, vetoing his suggestion that we grab some dinner, saying that I'm too tired. I'm also dying to take a hot shower. The rain hasn't done me any favors.

I wave to JR once more before turning towards the elevators. The door is being held open for me.

"Well, looks like you lucked out. Free rooms are hard to come by. Here they're practically unheard of." His gaze is unnerving me and the glass and marble interior of the elevator doesn't help. It allows his presence to be multiplied.

"Well, yeah."

"Where are your parents Maxie?" Does he really think he can talk to me like this? As if I'm a child who isn't able to converse on a normal level? Maybe I'm not as smart as Georgie, but I'm not an idiot. I don't have to be talked down to.

"My father lives in his home in Alaska, David." I look straight into his eyes, daring him to contradict me. He smiles, but doesn't.

I'm trying to sound tough and blasé but I can't help but be intimidated by this guy. He's older, for one thing. He looks at least thirty. And he totally exudes an angry, unfriendly vibe. He reminds me of those customers at Kelly's who were always brusque and rude, who acted as though the world owed them something simply because they were alive. Outwardly I complained but truly I wished that I could be as confident and purposeful as them. In a way, David seems to epitomize what I hope to be. I'm thankful when the elevator stops on my floor.

"So, I guess I'll be seeing you around." I smile, trying to make nice. David stares at me appraisingly until the doors begin to slide shut and then mutters something that sounds like yeah sure.

As I head to my room I'm strangely unsettled. And my wet clothes are making me shiver.

Author's Note- Next chapter is for Greenlee. It's going to be a big one . . . maybe I'll try to explain her recent skanky behavior. I mean, two different guys in the same day? Like, ew!