Two

•EMMA•

I stayed with my mom after she was moved to a room, Amy had gone to our house to get me some clothes knowing I would stay the night,

I couldn’t sleep, and neither could I let go of my mother’s hands, the silence that swallowed us whole was the loud beeping of the monitor that checked her vitals while she slept, she looked peaceful

“ Mom, don’t worry”, I whispered to her yet, my hands moved to push away her hair from her face “ I will do what I can”

After three days I returned to my house, the doctors had put her in a medically induced coma, and they said it would slow down the growth of the tumor, I just hoped I could pay up before then.

I trudged into the apartment slumping down on the small old couch, it was quiet, too quiet, it made me feel hollow, how was I going to come up with the money?

I brought out my phone to check my account balance, I had seven thousand dollars saved, it was supposed to be for my tuition since I was in my junior year, but it means I would have to take a year off,

I had begged the manager of the restaurant I worked at that I wanted to do night shifts, even with working night shifts straight for a week, I only made a little short of two thousand dollars in the week I worked,

And since that day I ignore all calls from Paxton, even though he was very persistent in calling especially during my work hours,

“ Emma!” my manager called, my break was already over as it was time for my new shift, I arranged my casual waitress uniform, a white crisp shirt with a back short skirt, and platforms before I walked to where he stood

“ yes sir?” I called

“ you see that table?” he pointed to a VIP table where two women sat, “ They are important guests so do not, mess it up! Alright!” he gritted through his front teeth, but to others, it would have looked like he was smiling

I have him a slight nod before I put up my usual smile and went to the table

The two ladies were as rude as they could be,

“ wow why are her clothes so tacky?” the blonde snickered to her friend who chuckled

Like, excuse me I was right there!?!

“ what would you like to order?”

“ can’t you see we were talking?” the blonde sized me up before she rolled her eyes, I wanted to roll mine too, they ordered their food which I brought to their tables, all their remarks were filled with complaints and snickers, it seems I was the butt of the joke

I was fed up, with the stress of working overnight, my mother, and the fact I haven't been to College for over a week “ hey server girl!” the blonde called to me, I tried to keep up my smile even if I was itching to give her a piece of my mind

“ get me a glass of Borders” she called

“ you mean Bordeaux?” I corrected, it looked like I struck a chord the way she looked at me, she stood up and took her friend’s wine and splattered it over my clothes

People in the restaurant let out a loud gasp from the scene they were watching, and I was the main show, humiliated by her

“ oh my God amber!” her friend called also surprised by her friend's outburst, “You dare correct me? Do you know who I am?”

She turned to raise a hand to slap me, I closed my eyes ready for impact, but it never came, I looked up to see a tall man holding her hands she wanted to use to strike me,

her face had turned from anger to fear and embarrassment from getting interrupted by the man, I couldn’t see who my savior was because he was right in front of me and I could only see his hot back, tailored in a suit that framed his greek body, with a tall frame that towered over me

“ go” his husky voice whispered to me I gave him a quiet “ thank you” before I went back to the kitchen, all the other servers and cooks looked at me with sympathy

I hated that look, the look of pity they gave me, I took my phone and went outside, my right hand held a wet rag to use to get as much wine stain that I could get rid off my clothes,

I stepped outside and my phone rang at that moment, it was Amy, she always called when she was right around the corner from the restaurant and I looked at the time it was eight o’clock and Amy was going to the club where she worked

I stepped outside and saw her walking closer to me with a smile but it changed completely to a frown when she saw my drenched top

“ Emma! What happened?!”

She called rushing tone with a heavy scowl on Her face, I knew she would start a fight if tell her the truth, she was that daring and crazy

“I..spilled the wine on my body, I’m so clumsy”

She looked skeptical about my made-up story, she didn’t believe it

“ tell me the truth”

“ one of the customers..did it but it’s been solved they aren’t even here anymore Amy”

“ seriously Emma, I feel like shit seeing you like this, and I haven’t seen you in school for over a week now, you don’t answer my text”

I just sighed at her and decided to rip the bandaid that was the news out “ I am dropping out,” I explained “I’m taking a year off, just until I can get the money for moms surgery”

“ Emma, you don’t “

“ I have to, this shitty job isn’t paying me much but it’s still something, I just can’t leave it I have nothing or no one to just drop three hundred thousand on my table and a college student can’t take that insane amount of a loan!”.

It was decent work and I had ten thousand dollars saved now, I just needed two hundred and ninety thousand dollars to go, Jesus.

“ what if.. what if I tell you that there is an easy way to get money, would you do that?” She asked me, but her eyes were swimming with worry,

“ what is it?”

“ the club I’m working at, there is another level where only VVIP’s come, and they spend millions on girls but,… it’s a sex club”

She whispered, I looked at her like she had gone crazy, was she expecting me to have sex with strangers?

“Amy that-”

“ no! That isn’t what I meant, I would never tell you to sell yourself, some workers just serve drinks there, but you still get hefty tips, you can get up to Five thousand a night”

A night?!? That was way more than I earned after working double shifts for a week!, it all sounded too good to be true, and I didn’t want to risk it,

“ I’m sorry Amy but,”

“ It’s alright, I can never force you to do what you’re not comfortable babe, shit! I have to go! call me ok?!” She called looking at the time before she kissed my cheeks goodbye

I decided to stay outside for a few minutes to let myself breathe, I didn’t even thank the stranger that well, I just hoped he heard me

My thoughts were cut off by the buzzing of my phone in my pockets, my heart skipped when I saw it was the hospital number ID

“ ..hello?” I whispered,

“ Miss Smith, you need to come to the hospital right now, it’s your mother”

From those words alone I ran off without a word, I didn’t bother to change as I entered a taxi with my drenched clothing,

I ran into the hospital building with tears already blurring my eyes, “ I ran up to the desk to see the nurse on night duty ”

“ I’m here to see my mother, I was called off an emergency?”

“yes miss smith, the doctor would see you now”

The doctor filled me in on what happened, I just sat there and listened to him, she had a seizure, and they had to use a defibrillator to bring her back, this was just a lucky chance, there might not be the next time, he told me

I walked out of the doctor’s office, passing my mother’s room, I was too weak to even look at her, I made out an open area to clear my head, I needed the money fast, and there was a very clear option to get it fast

a spirit of determination pierced through me, I reached for my phone, cleaning my tears as I called Amy, she picked on the second ring,

“ Hello Amy, I’ll do it,”

I’m going to work in the club