Chapter 8

"Hey." Taylor looked up from the sofa as John walked in. He sat down beside her. "You did quite a number on Viper."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I saw him down stairs and he looks pretty down."

"I don't care, John."

"Sorry, I just thought you guys were a couple. Here." John pulled a paperback from his back pocket and handed it to her. It was a romance novel. "I found this in my apartment. I read it. It's pretty good."

"Thanks." She took the book and read the back cover. "The man she loved to hate." She laughed. "Oh boy." It was about two people from different backgrounds whose families hated each other because the man's father and the woman's mother had a long time affair.

"I figured it would give you something to do while you're stuck in your room."

"News travels fast here."

"Not much else to do but talk."

"I guess."

"Taylor, I was wondering …"

"No." she snapped immediately.

"I'm not going to ask you that." He smiled sheepishly. "I was wondering if we could start talking. I would ask you on a date, but … well that's not really possible."

"I'm not looking for a boyfriend." She told him. "And if I was I wouldn't choose you John."

"Oh," he looked hurt. "Can I ask why?"

"John you look down on the girls who sell their bodies here, but you're just as disgusting maybe worse because you're a hypocrite. You are just as low because you pay them and lay down with them."

"Geeze. I never thought of it that way. You're right. I'm dirt." He grinned. "What if I stop? Will you give me a chance then?"

"John, I'm not girlfriend material. Okay?"

"Two hundred."

"What?"

"Money is not an issue for me. My family sends me plenty. Name your price."

"What is your problem?" She got up and left the room.

Bridget was with a customer in the bedroom and even though there was a blanket splitting the room in half, she could still hear them. She lay down on the twin bed and stared at the ceiling. She closed her eyes, trying hard to shut out her reality and drift into a pretend world where everything was better. She fell asleep dreaming about walking on the beach with a man with no face, but he was the kindest, sweetest person on earth and he loved her.

Taylor woke up to the sound of the radio playing loudly. It was dark and she knew that half of her time of being confined to her room was over. She sighed. She would have to return to work and face Randy in just twenty hours. She got up and walked out to the living room. Sheila turned and glared at her. The others stood and backed up their friend as Sheila walked towards Taylor.

"What?" Taylor asked hatefully. She tried to force herself to remain calm. Sheila pounced on her, knocking her to the ground and beating her without giving a reason why. Taylor tried to protect herself by curling up in a ball.

"You think you're better than us?" Sheila screamed. "You think we are whores?"

"I never said that." Taylor defended herself.

"You think you're so beautiful."

Taylor swallowed hard as Sheila pulled a paring knife from her back pocket and held it to her throat. They were not allowed to have knives. Only plastic cutlery was given to them which made it very difficult for them when preparing food.

"We all contribute to this house." Sheila pressed the knife into her skin; Taylor could feel her skin ripping under the dull knife. "And you don't give shit to this place."

"I give all I have." Taylor begged her to understand.

"Money, Taylor! I want money."

"I don't have anything."

"John offered you two hundred dollars tonight." Sheila reminded her. "That's a lot of money in here and I want it."

"Then you sleep with him!" Taylor shouted. Sheila slashed the knife, cutting Taylor's face. Taylor screamed and grabbed her wound.

"I want that money by tomorrow night or you're dead, princess." The girls backed off of her and Taylor stared at them from the floor. She had thought she had an ally in Bridget, but she had been wrong.

Morning came and Taylor was alone while the others worked. The time ticked by too quickly for her knowing what she had to do that night when the shift was over. She walked to the door and opened it and looked out. She saw Randy sitting outside his apartment smoking. She wondered if he had been moved to the night shift. At first she was happy about the idea, knowing she would not have to worry about him attacking her while they worked. Then she thought about who Kenneth would choose to take Randy's place and the happiness faded.

The court yard was quiet during the day. The night shift did not have a curfew to worry about, but they spent their day sleeping and only a couple of people could be seen walking around or sitting outside their doors. Taylor wished for the quieter shift so she wouldn't be so terrified spending time outside. After her shift the court yard was crowded and she saw everyone as a threat.

"You remember what I told you this morning, princess?" Sheila reminded Taylor when they returned that evening. Taylor closed her eyes and turned away. John arrived shortly after with a group of his friends.

"I heard you changed your mind." He flopped down beside her and placed his arm around her.

"Ya." Taylor whispered and John pulled a gift card from his pocket. That was how they paid each other in the community, by buying gift cards from the store with their regular card.

"Two hundred." He winked. "Ready?" He stood and took her hand. Taylor walked into her room and John closed the door behind them. They were alone. Even Bridget stayed out. Taylor sat down on the bed. She felt cold and couldn't stop shivering. She shifted her eyes from John to the floor as he set the card on her dresser and removed his shirt. He had broad shoulders and a muscular chest and she would have found him attractive if he was not about to do to her what she hated. She hated sex even though she had never actually done it. She never could. Just a man's touch was enough to send her into a panic and she despised men and how perverted their minds were. Her old high school friends had wondered if she was gay, but she wasn't interested in women that way either. She found men attractive, as long as they didn't have intentions of becoming more than friends.


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