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Chapter 7

When I woke up, it was the first thing I thought of. Numerous things had been going through my mind, things we could do to earn more money.

I rolled over in bed, my eyes opening wearily. And then I notice that I'm alone. Wheres Brick?

I get up looking around in the small apartment frantically. Where is he?

I'm only in my bra and underwear, so I grab my thin silky dressing gown and throw it round me as I open the front door.

I take a quick look round and step out, watching where I put my bare feet.

I can't see him, and as I take another step down the corridor of apartments, are neighbour Mr. Henderson steps out to get his mail.

"Mr. Henderson, have you seen Brick this morning?" I ask as politely as I can.

He looks up suddenly. "What? No! Course I havent!" he then slams his front door shut. I roll my eyes and step down the corridor more. His door flies open again. "And put some darned clothes on, you damn hussy."

I scowl at him then turn round, doing my dressing gown up tighter round my waist.

I retreat back to our apartment and sit on the sofa, waiting.

About an hour later he turns up. "Where the hell were you!" I demand, standing up suddenly.

"What?" he says, confused.

"Where were you? I was worried out of my mind!"

"I, I just went for, for a walk. Thats all. Anyway why are you still mad? I'm back now!" He cried defencsively.

"I waited like an hour! You can't expect me not to be worried! What would you have done if you woke up and I was gone for hours?" I say, beginning to get upset. I hate it when we fight.

He suddenly grabbed me and held me closely. "I'd just die." he said.

I closed me eyes and enjoyed the moment. It seemed to last forever. It was incredible.

"So, where were you?" I ask, taking his hand and leading him to the sofa to talk.

"Like I said, on a walk. Thinking about money, and stuff."

"Oh, right. I've been thinking about that too. And, well I've sort of came to a conclusion." I say, looking down.

Brick looks up at me. "Whats that?"

"Well, we need a place to stay. We cannot end up on the streets. If we do, we'll have nothing but to go home." I take his hand. "And we can't do do that. So, if there is anything you can think of, or I can, or anything, i will do it. If the money is good. I can't expect for all this to be easy, we knew from the start it was no smooth ride. What I'm basically saying is, there are a lot of things we can both consider getting into, and we're gonna have to, or its the streets."

Brick was still looking at me, and that familiar sorrowful gaze was in his crimson eyes once again.

"Thats really selfless of you to do." he said, pulling me closely again.

I don't know how long we sat there. I just know it was a long time. He held me in a close, warm embrace, and didn't let go, until we had to get ready for work. And that starts at 5.30pm!

We arrived, and the usual stuff started. Tom was there again! with more of his pervy friends. Its like they have there own annoy Blossom fan club. The only decent ones are Rob and CJ. They're close friends of Bricks, and them two and me were sitting at the empty Blackjack table with Brick.

"You guys got any ideas for things we could do? For money like?" Brick asked, shuffling a set of cards in his hands.

"Well, you might not like this idea, but me and Darla decided to do it, and shes been making lots of money, and she does enjoy it. And shes still 100 faithful to me." CJ said looking down at the table, looking a little ashamed.

"Sounds good." I said to Brick, then he nodded and looked over to CJ. "Continue." he urged.

"Well, its, its prostitution. I know, sounds soo bad. But its good pay, you rule over what goes on, and you can always decide to leave the guy if you're not happy about what he wants from you like. Well, thats what Darla says."

My eyes have widened and I'm staring at CJ in disbelief. Me, a prostitute? Could I do that to myself? But, its sooo wrong, and I'm married! I look over to Brick expecting him to explode. But he wasn't he just has the sad eyes once again, and was lookingat his desk.

"Someone has already suggested that to me. I thought it was just cos they wanted my girls goodies. But Bloss, if its gonna get in some money, then, well, it could be a consideration."

I look at Brick in shock. "What? What, what do you mean?" I stutter.

"I'm not saying you should do it, its just a consideration. A possibility like." Brick said gingerly.

"Is it?" I ask. "Who suggested it to you?"

"Tom did. Thats why I was shouting the other night." That does make sense. I can't believe I've been so dumb. This was bound to come up. I mean, I know, prostitutes make like 200 a night. Within a week our debts would be paid. But its just so shocking and out of the blue, that I don't know whether I can handle it.

I get up, but Brick grabs my wrist.

Wait, don't go getting all angry. Its not as bad as it seems. I know, you'd have to sleep with strangers, but the money is alot, and we could really do with it. And you said so yourself earlier, you said you were prepared to do whatever it takes to keep us off the streets."

I sit back down. I did say that. I had had a good talk with myself the night before, telling myself to toughen up. Life is gonna throw tons of crap at you, and you just gotta deal with it, thats what I had said. And this, I just have to deal with it, even though this aint crap, is deep, shit.

I sigh. "I did say that. And I said this wasn't gonna be easy. I'm just gonna have to have another good talk to myself emotionally." Then I get up and resume to serving drinks.

I cannot believe I'm agreeing to this...

Later...

"Your sure you're ok with it?" Brick asked me for the 100th time that night.

"No, I'm not ok with it, I'm also not ok with having to work at the casino, but, we've got to work there, and I've gotta become a hooker, for the money." I said as we got to the door. I say the word hooker with so much venom I'm surprised it didn't bubble out of my mouth.

Brick rolls his eyes and sighs. "But you don't have to! If you don't want to, don't! We'll find the money some other way. Maybe I could, like, get into drugs or something -"

I interrupt him then. "No way! I'd rather I was the prostitue then you doing that. You could damage your health and your powers, all I'd be doing is selling sex. Thats better then risking life or death. No, thats not happening. I will do this. I don't necessarily want to, but I will. Like I said this morning. If we end up with no home, I'm going home. And we really don't want that."

I get changed into my pjs and climb into bed. Brick hugs me tightly in bed.

"So, when are you ging to start it all?" He asks uncomfortably.

"Well, I'm gonna go into Caesars tomorrow and apply for the morning job. So then, if i get it, I can go down to Las Vegas Boulevard and, well, you know, work it." I say, slapping my forehead ashamedly.

A smile is playing on Bricks lips. He kisses my cheek. "I just want you to know, the thought of letting other guys screw you kills me. And if we weren't so desperate for the money, I'd never let you do it. Never." he says in between kissing my neck (and hopefully not increasing the size of the hickey).

"I know you wouldn't. If we weren't so deperate for the money I'd never allow myself to do it. But we are. So, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. I'm gonna need some cash to stock up on condoms though."

"I've got some tips." He offers. "Me too, I'll use them."

"Once again Bloss, I'm soo sorry." he whispers in my ear, then turns out the little lamp by our bed.

R&R!

Oh how I hate doing this to Blossom!