In the last chapter I asked who people would most like to hear from. The most popular choices were Stacey and Alan. Even though I didn't think we'd be hearing from her so soon this next chapter (by popular demand!) belongs to Stacey. Alan will get his own chapter eventually. The next chapter will begin a multichapter story arc in which we'll hear from some neglected BSC members.
Until then, enjoy the Stacey chapter! And, as this is about Stacey I must warn everyone that it includes sexual situations relating to prostitution and involving minors.
Dear Dad,
I am experiencing so many new things in Amsterdam. You would never guess in a million years what I've been up to. Well...gotta run!
XOXO Stacey
Seeing Tiffany at Hotel Deconstruction really shook me up. I couldn't even look her in the eye. I was so ashamed. If she knew what I'd been doing only minutes earlier...I couldn't think about that. As far as I was concerned no one back in Stoneybrook would ever know.
I wasn't sure I'd even return to Stoneybrook.
The truth is, I had fallen deeply and madly in love with Stas. I felt for him what I had never felt for another boy. Not Sam Thomas, not Robert Brewster, not Ethan Carroll. Or Pete Black or Austin Bentley or Wes Ellenburg or Scott the lifeguard. Not anyone. At seventeen, Stas was more a man than a boy. And I loved him as a woman loves a man.
Stas was my white knight. He rescued me in my darkest hour. That day at The Forbidden Fruit when I begged for his assistance he didn't even hesitate. He whisked me through the curtain behind the cash register, unlocked the seven deadbolts on the steel door, and pulled me into a dimly lit, but warm, parlor. Several young girls, not much older or younger than me, were flopped on the couch and in the armchairs. That's when I learned Stas' secret - he was such a kind, selfless man that he volunteered his time as an in-house supervisor at a home for runaway girls. I knew then that I had found a prince among men.
In his modest bedroom, Stas listened intently to my predicament. He calmed my nerves, assuaged my fears, then took me shopping. Stas personally chose several sexy outfits for me, including a hot pink tube dress and matching boots. Afterward, we went for dinner at a fancy Russian place. We sat in a dark corner where no one could see us. By the time the check arrived, we'd already made it to third base. Back in Stas' bedroom, we made love throughout the night.
Stas was so gentle and attentive because I told him I was a virgin. Of course, I wasn't. My mom says that every boy takes pride in getting there first, which is why I've been deflowered seven times. Or, maybe it was eight. No, no, seven. Mrs. Newton came home early.
Even after three days, I still moaned at his slightest touch. Stas and I were soulmates. Our bodies fit together as one. I'd do anything for him. I told him so, which is how I ended up at Hotel Deconstruction in a hot pink tube dress.
Wednesday morning after giving Stas his after-breakfast blow job, he zipped up his pants and helped me to my feet. I noticed a single tear rolling down his cheek. An ache in my heart, I inquired as to what I had done to upset him so. Stas took me in his arms and poured out his troubles. He dreamed of opening a night club with Klaus van der Pol, owner of Hotel Deconstruction. At first, I was furious. Stas told me he was starting medical school in the fall. He even considered specializing in childhood diabetes. How dare he lie to me! Did our love mean nothing to him? Quickly, Stas explained that he was looking out for me, for us. Stas needed a way to support me, take care of me, and eventually marry me.
Unfortunately, Klaus van der Pol refused to meet with Stas. Stas was optimistic, however, that Klaus would reconsider with a little incentive. Stas knew Klaus' weakness. All he had to do was arrange for Klaus to watch some live girl-on-girl action. Of course, I agreed. (Love makes you do crazy things!) I even had a little experience because Mary Anne once double dared me to french kiss Abby at one of our slumber parties.
So, that's how I ended up on a couch in Klaus van der Pol's office. On a couch and underneath Daniela. Even though I was doing it out of love, it was not my proudest moment. And, I wasn't thrilled about sharing that moment with Daniela. Daniela was this creepy Italian girl who lived on the third floor of the Forbidden Fruit and rarely left her room. She was sort of nuts and on the occasions that she did venture downstairs, she left several younger girls possibly scarred for life. Like Orchid, Daniela was almost seventeen, making her older than the other girls. Stas often mentioned that Daniela was getting too old and needed to leave.
I didn't much care for Daniela either. I particularly disliked the way her pelvic bones pressed into my stomach. I tried to think of Stas and how much our future depended on my performance. I just couldn't muster the excitement. Fortunately, Daniela's enthusiasm made up for my shortcomings. As soon as we finished, Klaus van der Pol came over to the couch and he and Daniela put on a show for me. It was like one of those videos Mr. Perkins keeps hidden in his sock drawer.
The evening left me feeling empty and worn. Meeting Tiffany Kilbourne in the bathroom didn't help. I felt her eyes judging me, guessing at the things I'd done. Sensing my peril, Daniela pulled me out of the bathroom. Of course, I couldn't explain the situation to her since the only English she knew, for some odd reason, was "price not negotiable". Somehow, I think she understood.
Daniela and I found Stas at the bar, where I begged him to take me home. Stas still had to meet with Klaus, so very reluctantly, he allowed me to leave on my own. (Stas and I were rarely apart, except when he counseled the runaways upstairs or visited sick children in the hospital). I rode the tram back to the Jordaan and walked the remaining blocks to the Forbidden Fruit. Since the store was closed I had to go to the back alley entrance. I rang the bell and pounded on the door.
When Orchid opened the door she appeared surprised to see me. Orchid had not yet warmed to my presence. She was always making rude remarks about me to Stas, but in Dutch so I couldn't understand them.
I gave Orchid the once over, as I did whenever we met. I still viewed her as competition, even though her and Stas' dislike for one another was quite obvious. Something about her just told me that I needed to be cautious. That night, as usual, Orchid looked very spinsterly in a gray tweed skirt and glasses hanging on a chain around her neck. It was almost as if she was trying to look unattractive. Unfortunately, the skirt showed off two long and shapely legs that I'd never seen before and her heavy bosom strained the buttons of her pink blouse. Quickly, I pulled down my dress to better expose my own breasts.
Orchid stuck her head out the door. "What are you doing in the alley?" she demanded.
"Stas and I went out," I replied.
"Where is he? Where did you go?"
"That's none of your business," I snapped, taking a step forward.
Orchid blocked the doorway. "Did Stas take Daniela? She's not supposed to leave without permission. Neither are you. It's a rule,"
"You don't own me! Now, let me in. It's cold out here,"
Orchid stepped aside and I rushed in passed her. She followed, the enormous keyring jangling at her waist. On the keyring hanged every key to every room in the house. All the girls had to be locked in their rooms to prevent them from running away. A safety precaution to protect them from themselves, said Stas. He wore a similar keyring on his belt.
"What did Stas make you do?" Orchid demanded, as we walked into the parlor.
Honestly, she was worse than my mother! In the parlor, the two Danish girls were playing checkers and one of the Spanish girls was playing solitaire on the couch. Upstairs, there was a lot of commotion, typical for a late night at the Forbidden Fruit. For someone as militant as Orchid, she sure didn't mind the girls' boyfriends visiting at all hours of the night. Especially when the girls spent so much of the day with their private tutors. I felt the girls needed their rest.
"What did Stas make you do?" Orchid repeated.
"Nothing!"
"I don't believe that,"
"It's really none of your business,"
What was her problem? Did she really have nothing better to do than follow me around, nagging? Stas assured me that Orchid was an expert nag. He said that all Belgians are stubborn and all Jews are bossy and Orchid had the misfortunate of being both. According to Stas, that explained why Orchid couldn't keep her mouth shut for two minutes. I didn't hesitate to inform Stas that I don't see people in terms of race, religion, or nationality. We're all just people. For some reason, Stas found that very funny.
"I'm taking a shower," I told Orchid. The downstairs bathroom was in between Stas' and Orchid's bedrooms. (Orchid's bedroom was right next to the staircase, so she could effectively monitor the upstairs comings and goings).
"Five minute rule," Orchid snapped. "I'll shut off the water."
Without Stas there I had no doubt she'd do just that. I jumped into the shower while the water was still ice cold and scrubbed and scrubbed at my skin, trying to get off all the night club grime and the scent of Daniela's cheap perfume. The water failed to wash me clean. After I toweled off I still felt dirty. A knot was forming in the pit of my stomach.
The door to Stas' bedroom was locked. Wrapped in my towel, I walked into the parlor. The Danish girls were still playing checkers. They looked up at me and giggled. Orchid was slouched in an armchair looking very sour.
"The door's locked," I informed her.
Wordlessly, Orchid rose and stalked into the hallway, unclipping the keyring from her waist. I stood behind her, dripping on the carpet as she unlocked the door. She held the door open for me, raising an eyebrow, and still looking quite disagreeable.
"You're a very stupid girl," she said when I stepped into the bedroom. Before I could reply, she pulled the door shut. I heard the key turn in the lock.
I slipped into a pair of lacy magenta panties and snuggled under the blankets on Stas' bed. I tried to wipe my mind of the unhappy, nagging thoughts that lingered there, somehow managing to churn my insides. The knot was growing larger. It was almost as if my body were telling me something was wrong. I wondered how much longer Stas would be. I hoped not too long, as I worried about other girls trying to steal him away. I also hoped, though, that he wouldn't want to make love when he returned. We'd already made love five times that day. I wasn't feeling up to a sixth time. (We wouldn't have to make love so often if not for Stas' problem with premature ejaculation. It was something we were working through together as a couple).
I dozed off, but was awakened by shouting in the hallway. I rolled over and checked the clock. It was nearly four in the morning. I felt beside me. Stas wasn't there. That's when I realized he was one of the people out in the hall.
Of course, Orchid was the person doing the actual shouting. As my eyes adjusted to the dark and I shook off the remaining effects of a shallow sleep, I realized that Orchid was shouting in English. That was odd. Although she spoke perfect English, Orchid usually chose to speak (and often yell) in Dutch and German. Why would she choose English now?
"If you can't obey the rules," Orchid was shouting, "I'll have to call Herr Dietrich. He would be interested to know that you are still adopting pets. These girls are not here for you. You spoil them, use them up, then toss them away, and they are no good to me."
"Always you threaten to phone Herr Dietrich!"
"Maybe I wouldn't have to if you'd stop acting like a selfish child!"
Herr Dietrich was the proprietor of The Forbidden Fruit, The Gentleman's Delight, and several other businesses. I hadn't met him, but Orchid and Stas spoke of him often (mostly in their threats to one another). Herr Dietrich lived outside Amsterdam, but spent most of his time traveling through Europe and Asia in search of runaways. I knew he must be a very kind and caring man.
"I do my job," Stas protested. "I find girls. You turn them into whores."
"You turn them into whores!" Orchid screeched, followed by a loud crash, like something hitting against the wall. Was Orchid throwing things? How childish of her. I was too confused to come to Stas' defense. Who were these girls they spoke of? Nothing made sense.
"Everything is my fault always! Tell me then, what do I do?"
"You know what you need to do," snapped Orchid. "Send her home or send her upstairs,"
Orchid's bedroom door slammed shut. Stas' key turned in the lock. I slipped back under the covers and buried myself far beneath them. I listened to Stas moving around the room. Finally, he climbed into bed beside me.
"Orchid is a crazy woman," he mumbled, knowing I was awake.
"What's she so mad about, Stas?" I asked, wondering if he'd tell the truth.
"Who knows? Always mad about something. Nag, nag, nag. Orchid should go home to parents. They search for her a long time. She should go back and leave me alone,"
"Sometimes it's too hard to go back,"
Stas didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms around my middle, kissed my neck, brushed his fingers along the curve of my breast. I felt his hardness pressing against my thigh. I hoped it was solely for me.
"How was your meeting?"
"Meeting? Oh. Fine. Fine,"
He fell asleep then. I stayed awake much longer. Thoughts swirled in my head. That knot kept growing in size. I cried myself to sleep. Stas didn't hear. Or, if he did, he kept it to himself.