The breeze flipped my long brown hair off my shoulder. My long black leather coat wasn't nearly as good enough as it looked for this weather. I strolled the empty streets on Downtown Chicago once again. It was dark. About 2 AM. My caramel thighs, albeit smooth, were numb, barely being able to stroll the next step. My black leather boots made my presence known. They didn't wanna mess with me here. I was the baddest bitch Sal had. 

"Here comes Violet" I heard one of the girls say. I rolled my eyes in their direction as I walked over to Sal. 

"You called me?" He demanded me speak lowly and make direct contact whenever talking to him. 

"You have a client asking for you" He pointed to a black Range Rover. 

"Ooh I love Range's" I smiled.

"You know what to do" He said as he squeezed my ass cheek. 

"Always" I winked at him and began walking over to the car. I looked in both directions, double-checking if it was clear. Once I got to the car, the windows were tinted very black. I knocked on the window. No answer. I looked at Sal who signaled for me to try again. So I did. Nothing, again. I wasn't one to beg so I began to walk away when the door opened. 

"Sorry I was doing something" I looked at the man up and down. His shades being the reason I didn't recognize him. 

"It's $50. I don't kiss or do any weird shit" He laughed.

"I don't want to do anything with you" He said. I scoffed and began to walk away. 

"Violet. Wait" 

"How the hell do you know my name?" 

"I've seen you before. Plus my boy has you know..been a customer"

"A client. They don't buy us" 

"Right, right. But listen, I need a date for...for this party"

"And I'm your 'dream girl'? Get lost asshole"

"Violet please" He pleaded. Not in a begging way, just as if he was in a hurry.

"75 dollars" I said. 

"Done" I got into his truck and he pulled something out from the back. "I need you to change into this" He said. 

"Dude, I don't do dresses" I looked at the short red thing. It was...atrocious.

"I've got shoes to go with. You can change in the back of my truck"

"Let me out" I demanded. 

"Come on--"

"Let me out!" I yelled.

"200 dollars" He said. I looked outside the window to see Sal kissing one of the girls. I looked back at the man before heading to the back of the truck. 

"No looking" I said. He laughed as I stripped my clothes. Once I was in the outfit, I fixed my hair and added more lipstick. 

"Ready?" He asked. 

"Guess so" Once he opened the door for me, I remembered. "Wait" I stopped him. He looked up, eyebrows risen. "What's your name?"  He took off his shades and smiled.

"Trace" He said. "What's your real name?" 

I chuckled. "You're better off calling me Violet" He smiled. 

"Alright then. Let's go" I don't know what happened to me here. I suddenly felt, normal. From the way Trace held my hand. I felt like a regular girl just going out with her boyfriend. It was nice. 

We walked into some club called Touch. Everything was lit in awesome 70's light effects. It made me feel back in time somewhat. Trace led me to where his group was. It was a bunch of guys and slutty looking girls. Yes, I called them slutty. I saw a couple of lines on the table, and before I knew it they were gone and sniffed away. 

"Guys, this is Violet" Trace introduced me. They all said hello before the last guy.

"This is my best friend. Justin" He said. I knew I recognized him from somewhere. He was a client before. I looked around him, which made me wonder. Why did he need to pay when he had so many girls on top of him anyway. I sat uncomfortably by some girls who were making out for "Justin's" pleasure. He winked at me, trying to tell me to join in. I couldn't hear him over the loud music but I caught his drift.

"No" I mouthed. He smiled and came to sit by me. 

"You know I had a great time that night" He said in my ear.

"I'm not here for that right now Justin" I said with emphasis on his name. 

"I know, I know. You're here with Trace. How much is he paying you by the way?" Before I knew it my hand stung across his face. I don't know why I did it. I just, thought that this would be a chance to get away. I didn't think he'd mention it. I got up and walked away. 

"What the hell you doing Justin?" I heard Trace. 

"She's just a slut anyway. Leave her. Here take Lea" I saw Justin throw some blonde at Trace. I walked outside and pulled out a cigarette. I walked over to a bench and crossed my legs. It was colder than before. 

"You know, you shouldn't smoke" I heard from behind me. 

"No, I shouldn't have came here" I corrected him. "What's it to you anyway? You guys were sniffing coke back there" 

"No that's them. I don't do that" He sat down next to me. "I'll take you home" He offered.

"Just back to Sal" 

"No, Violet. Home" He insisted. I nodded and we headed for his car. When we pulled up in front of my building he looked at. "I'm sorry about Justin. He's not so bad. He just acts up sometimes"

"I bet" 

"Really" I nodded. 

"Thanks Trace"

"Anytime Violet" I began to walk out but stopped myself.

"Oh, shouldn't I change?"

"Naw. Keep em"

I walked up my steps into my apartment. "It's me Grandma" I reassured her. I went straight for the shower. Had to scrub off the person I was pretending to be.

"Abuelita I'm leaving" I yelled before closing the door behind me. It was time for me to head over to Sal's. He was probably pissed at me for never showing up again. He'll forgive me soon enough though.

"Oh look who finally decided to come back" He said sarcastically.

"Client was good. I couldn't just leave him" I said, only half-lying. 

"Yeah well you better not disappear like that again" He said. More seriousness in his voice. 

That night was long and boring. Barely made any money before 12:30 in the afternoon. Yeah people tend to stop by on their breaks from work believe it or not. Normally I like to be in by 4:00 AM but I always got home with at least $250 in my bra. Tonight...$75. You have got to be kidding me. I heard whistling but decided to ignore it before Sal called my name. 

"Violet! He wants you" He said. I rolled my eyes and strutted over to the car, bending down to see who was in it. Justin with a sick smirk on his face.

"Ugh" I stood back up and began to walk away. 

"Violet!" I ignored him. "Violet!" He called again.

"What the fuck do you want?" 

"Look, about last night. Trace told me about how I acted and I came here to apologize. And make it up to you"

"Nothing needs to be done. I already forgot about it. Now leave" I demanded.

"If you were over it, you wouldn't be ignoring me or asking me to leave. Come on let me at least buy you lunch" I stopped in my tracks and looked at him. Eyes squinted, the wind blowing dirty Chicago air through my hair. 

"No" I said.

"Violet. Please" I huffed under my breath and headed for Sal before walking back over to the car. 

"I'm leaving. I don't know if I'll be back later"

"But I have clients asking for.."

"Tell them to swing by tomorrow" I cut him off. I walked over to Justin.

"Well if you're gonna cry about it"  I slammed the door and he speeded off. We stopped at a small diner called "Jimmy's" where the waitress found us a table quick enough.

"I want to apologize again, for last night. That wasn't me. I swear" I nodded and somewhat accepted his apology.

Our food took a little long to get there. Watching Justin was...weird. After a while he began rubbing his arms. Constantly touching his nose. It was the cocaine. For some reason, watching him like this tugged at my heart. Wait, slow down. This is the same asshole that completely dissed you last night. You can't feel bad for him. 

"You didn't do any today?" I suddenly asked. My mouth forming words quicker than I could think to stop them.

Justin let out a gasping noise. Sort of like a nervous laugh. "What?"

I ran my thumb over my nose just so I wouldn't have to say it outloud. "Oh" He realized. "No" 

"How come?"

"How come you're asking so many questions?"

"I knew I shouldn't have came" I started to get up.

"No. Violet please. I'm sorry" He apologized. I sat back down and stared at him. His face was so interesting. Part of me was still pissed at him but the other part couldn't tear my eyes away from him. "I uh..didn't have time" He finally answered. I nodded my head. 

"I've never tried" I said. He looked up at me with such a look. His eyes reading my entire expression. Was I just asking him to let me try?

"Don't" He suggested. Suddenly all my fear of it went away. I smirked. 

"Why?" He let out another nervous laugh. 

"Let's just eat" And that we did. When we left, the Chicago groove really kicked in. It got freezing. I pulled out a cigarette and lit it. 

"Can I get a drag of that?" Justin asked. I passed it over and let him suck in the dirty smoke. "Tell me about yourself" He said. 

"What do you want to know?" 

"Why Violet? I mean that's not your real name is it?" I smiled at his wanting to know. He looked like a little boy. Nothing like the man with all the women around him, more pussy in his face than Snoop Dogg in one of his videos. 

"No. It's not" I answered simply. He blinked.

"Then what is it?"

"If I tell you, then I'd have to kill you" He laughed. "What about you? Why do you change when you're around people. You were right, last night wasn't you" I could tell my question got to him as he rubbed his chin. 

"I...I don't know" He stuttered. "Just the alcohol I guess" I nodded. "You have a boyfriend?" He asked. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Really? With what I do, you think any guy would want me? I'm used goods and I know it" Justin stopped me. 

"If I weren't a guy, I'd totally slap you right now" 

"Why?"

"Are you serious? You're beautiful...Violet" Why was he being so nice and defending me when I wasn't defending myself. 

"Thank you. But it's the truth"

"It isn't. I mean I wanted you. But you were busy so I had Chloe" He said. 

"Then how did you know my name?"

"I asked her about you. She could tell you were the one I really wanted and she got pissed and left" I must admit, I was rather shocked. He didn't even sleep with her. 

"I um...didn't know that. I mean, you really were a different person in my head" 

"Then maybe you shouldn't pretend like you know everything. Because you obviously don't" He said while pointing in my direction. "I mean look at the way you look at yourself. Just because you do what you do. I mean there must be a reason for it"

"There is" I admitted.

"Okay, see. What is it?" I looked up at him. Hesitant to tell him. 

"My grandma. She's sick with cancer and we needed money to pay for her treatment. I started on the streets when I knew her health care wouldn't pay for it" Justin nodded.

"See" Was all he said this time. 

"I'm cold, can we go somewhere?" I asked. He nodded and we went for his car. 

"Is my place okay?" I nodded. Why in the hell did I feel so comfortable with this guy after a freaking lunch. What the fuck. 

Once we got there, he told me to make myself at home. How could I? My house was nothing compared to this. His apartment was gorgeous and neat to a Tee. My place was nothing like this. 

"Wow, you uh...you've got yourself going pretty good here huh?" I commented as soon as I saw the perfectly white furniture.

"No, don't get it twisted. My parents are the ones with all the money. Not me" I sat down carefully. Justin turned on the TV and sat down next to me. After a while, his habit began kicking in again.

"Where is it?" I asked. 

"What?" He then realized what I meant. "What? No. No" He said sternly. I opened a few drawers and saw a bag. 

"How do I do this now?" I asked.

"Don't touch that" He snatched it from my grasp. I shrugged. "You wanna try it don't you?" 

"No. It's for you" He completely ignored my comment and cleared everything on his glass table. He made a couple of lines in front of him and me. 

"Wait" I stopped him. He looked at me. "My uh..my name is Sofia" He smiled.

"Now you just bend over and sniff, Sofia He said. I watched him do it and within seconds, the white powder was gone. I watched the way he played with his nose after, the high taking over. I could tell through his eyes. I bent over and did the same. The substance tickling and almost burning my nose. I did as he, playing with it after. When I felt the reaction. I...It was like nothing else I had ever felt. I could see why he needed it. And why I was gonna need it too. 

"Now let it just absorb in" I heard Justin faintly. I sat back and closed my eyes, enjoying the increasing high. "You like that, eh?" He laughed. I couldn't hide my smile. Justin got up and opened a door that led downstairs. "Come on" He invited me. I followed him to what seemed like a huge play area. He had a bar, a pool table and an in-ground pool. I didn't care what this guy said, he had it made. 

"Wow, Justin this is...incredible" I commented, wiggling my nose to ease the discomfort. He handed me a shotglass with what seemed like Tequila in it.

"Wanna go for a dip?"

"I-I don't have my bathing suit" 

"That's alright, clothes are fine" He said as he grabbed me and threw me into the water. 

"Justin!!" I screamed. Before I knew it, I was soaking wet, trying to get my hair out of my face. I didn't even have time to notice that Justin had joined me..shirtless. I began shivering immediately.

"Th-th-this w-water's c-cold" I stuttered. Justin came and wrapped his arms around me. For a second, just a second, it felt okay. Until I realized, he was high.

"Justin, don't. We're high" I said as I unwrapped myself from his hold and got out of the water. 

"Sofia, it's alright, we won't remember a thing" Suddenly the high wasn't enough to distract me from his comment. 

"That's the problem Justin. You know how many men I have to sleep with, and try not to remember a thing? That never works. It really wouldn't work with you" Justin stepped out of the pool as I took a step back. 

"Why wouldn't it work with me?" He asked, walking closer. I moved back a little more.

"Because" I simply said. 

"Because?" His tone asking a question. His eyebrow lifted and a smirk appeared across his face. He continued to walk over until he cornered me. So close I could feel his breath right on the nape of my neck. 

"I-I was beginning to look at you more like a friend"  My eyes hiding from his.

"No you weren't" My eyes met his.

"Yes I was" I defended.

"No. You were beginning to want me" 

"W-well so what if I was? Look now. You won't even remember it" 

"Then make me" His face got closer to mine, reaching for it and I did. I wanted it so badly, but I pulled away before our lips could meet. 

"Not right now" I said. I began back upstairs and noticed the bag still sitting on the glass table. I sat down in front of Justin, took some out the bag, cut some up as I watched him do and sniffed the first line. 

"What the hell are you doing?" 

"What you do" I said. Justin sat next to me and sniffed the last line. 

After that, I think he took me home. 

~~~~~~

Two Weeks Later...

"I'm really getting sick of you Violet" I walked over to Sal. My eyes were low and my body was trembling just a tad. 

"Did I really miss that much? I think my pussy needed a break anyway" I felt him grab onto my hair and drag me into the back alley. 

"Don't you dare fucking talk to me like that" His finger in my face, hot liquor breath gazing over me. I let out a laugh. Where I got the balls to laugh? Only God knows. He pushed me up against the wall harder. 

"You're hurting me"

"Good" He said while he pulled my hair a little more. He pulled me into a nasty kiss. "Now go do your fucking job. That one's yours" He said as he pointed to a red Mercedes. I ran out, tears stinging my eyes. I wiped them quick and walked over to one of the cars. 

"Hey sugar" I greeted. "It's only $50" I bent down to see a man in a dark hat. I couldn't really see his face. 

"That's alright, I just came to give you this" The man handed me a small baggie filled with the dreamy white powder. I looked around as I took it and stuffed it into my coat pocket.

"Who is this from?"

"The boss" The man looked up. I recognized him from the club with Trace. I didn't know who 'The Boss' was. But I was thankful for what he gave me. 

It's funny how fond of the stuff I had become. I'd seen people use it before but never thought to until that day at Justin's house. It was like the more I thought about it, the more I needed it. And wanted it. 

~~~~

One o' clock came along soon enough. I had gotten a call that Justin was coming to pick me up. He was at a lounge not too far away. 

"Hey Sofia" He said. 

"Hey. Where are we going?" 

"We are going back to my place. I'm having a small get together" I nodded as we began to drive. We pulled up to his place soon after, along with several of his other friends. 

"I got an idea for a game!" Justin called over everyone. "Truth or dare"

"Oh what are we five?" One of the girls, Tammy yelled. 

"Let's just play dammit" He said as we all gathered around in a circle. "I'll go first" He started. "Tammy" She eyed him. "Truth or dare"

Tammy looked around, "Truth"

"Is it true you slept with Kyle" I looked over at Kyle who's smile grew bigger.

"Yes" She admitted. A bunch of noises made their way from people. Guess that was a surprise. "Alright, alright. New girl, you" She pointed at me. "Truth or dare" I chuckled.

"Dare" 

"I dare you....to kiss Trace" Trace looked up from the floor. I shrugged and crawled over to him. He looked extremely nervous. Our lips met softly before engaging in a more intimate manner. Once we parted everyone's jaws seemed to be on the floor. Guess it came off more intense. 

"Um, Justin" I quickly said. I looked at him. He seemed to be angry, his eyes were so...big. "Truth or dare" 

"Truth" He got himself ready. 

"Is it true you've slept with any of Trace's girlfriends?" He eyed me slowly.

"No" He said in a soft tone. "I don't really wanna play anymore" He got up and turned on some music before walking to the kitchen. 

A couple of hours passed and I was still sober. I struggled along the room and saw people making out, more drugs being done and just pure, calm chaos. I found a seat next to someone who was passed out before Justin picked me up by my hand. He led me out to the small patio by his pool. The cold air immediately caught me. 

"Justin, it's freezing here" He played with his nose. I knew what he had just finished doing. 

"Just, just don't move" He said. He walked over to me slowly and placed his hand on the side of my face. His eyes a little low, his lips met mine. The kiss grew more passionate before he pulled away. I had no clue what to say. What to do. "Let me take you home. It's late" He said. 

Was he really gonna send me home like that?