If you have read many books in your life time you could probably guess what happens next after someone finds out one of your biggest secrets in your entire life. One common thing someone would do is play it off and seem as if they were crazy, two they try and beg them not to tell anyone.

Well by now you should know that I am no average girl, I am a stripper for gods sake!

So this is what i do in a time like this.

***

"Ava, are you and Flora strippers? " Jake asks with wide eyes.

In the corner of my eye i see Flora ready to make up some crazy excuse that there is no way we would be strippers.

Before she has the chance to embarrass herself, I do the only logical thing.

I punch Jake in the temple hard enough to knock him out .

"What the hell!?" Flora asks just as he falls to the floor. She rushes to his aid to help him

Yeah like that will help

I shake my hand to get rid off the mild pain.

You are probably thinking she probably took a class or something.

You are semi right, after a year of knowing Charles i finally told him mine and Flora's job, he was surprisingly cool with it, just didn't want us to sell sex for money.

One night however this guy got too drunk and too handsy, and i couldn't really defend my self but i managed. I was on my way home when i felt like someone was following me, before i could open the door to the lobby i felt arms go around my waist.

"Why not just do the thing you did to Jake?"

Yeah I only learned that after the incident.

He tried to get me into a van and kidnap me, he put his hand on my mouth and i bit on it hard.

Once it was off i yelled at the top of my lungs and the guy punched my to knock my out, it only made me dizzy, but i could still see what was happening but it was fuzzy.

I could still see Charles coming out and knocking the guy out. At the time this was going through my head.

Holy crap this old man can fight

If it wasn't for Charles I might not be alive right now, that is why we are close.

After that Charles taught me to fight it was extremely weird at first because you know he is old. But we got progress then he started to teach Flora as well.

Besides the point

Flora tries to lift Jake but fails miserably.

"You know a hand would be great right about know." Flora snaps sarcastically.

I clap my hands enthusiastically and give her a big smile.

"Oh it was so funny i forgot to laugh." Flora says while standing up.

"Please help me." Flora pouts while putting her hands on her waist.

"What is in it for me?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"A roomate, a co worker, and a best friend." Flora threatens.

"Oh please you wouldn't leave even if i asked you to." I say with an eye roll

"You're right." Flora slumps her shoulders.

"I will owe you another solid?" Flora says with hopeful eyes.

"Deal." I say with a smirk

I am surprised she said this she owes me 13 solids, well 14 now.

We help him up I wrap an arm around his waist while Flora does the same.

When he wakes up we need to talk about his weight

What seems like a mile we finally get him on my bed.

He moans but doesn't wake up.

Flora turns to me and starts to yell.

"What the fuck was that?! You don't need to knock the poor guy out, i was going to make up some excuse." Flora yells while doing some weird hand gestures.

"Yeah and what was that going to be?" I question with yet another raised eyebrow.

"It w-was going to b-be tha-that-" I cut her off.

"See you don't have a story but i do." I tell her.

"Let's here it, Ms. I know everything" She asks with sarcasm. I Ignore her name calling.

"I was going to say that you are a stripper, and I only go there to help you, like put all the money safe and sound, and clean your costumes stuff like that." I say

Her mouth makes an O shape.

"That is actually a good idea.." She says shocked.

"Don't act so surprised." I say while taking off my shoes and socks.

"Ok yeah that is great and all but we still have to go to work." Flora points out.

"I will make something up." I say waving her off.

"Of course you will." Flora mutters while walking out of the room.

Now what am I going to do with Mr. Fattie

***

Before I even open my eyes I can feel the pounding in my head.

Damn how much did I drink last night?

I moan and begin to sit up, I rub my temple, but wince because it hurts,

Oh well, it has been worse.

I finally get a good look around where I am.

Woah, who did i sleep with?

Just as I thought that, a chick walks out of the bathroom barefoot.

"Look, who ever you are last night was great i guess but i should be heading home." I say while getting up.

"You weren't drunk last night you idiot, you got punched and knocked out." Chick explains.

"No one has ever punched me, and knocked me out." I explain, I have been in plenty of fights before so trust me i know what i am talking about.

"So you don't believe me?" She asks with a tilt head.

"Ding Ding Ding, and we have a winner." I say while standing up.

"Why not look in the mirror." It was more of a statement then a question.

"Well if it means i get to leave, then no problem , i wouldn't mind looking at my gorgeous self." I say while walking to what seems like the bathroom.

"One, that's the closet, two your face ain't so gorgeous anymore." She says sarcastically.

I feel color wash into my cheeks and I start walking to the other door.

What does she mean "ain't so gorgeous anymore" It will always be gorgeous.

I turn on the light switch and I see a bruise the size of a small fist on my temple.

So that is why it hurt...

I rush out side to get some answers.

"Who the hell did this!? Where does he live? I need to kick his ass!" I growl but I have the urge to punch something right now.

Laughter fills my ears, I look up at the source, and see Chick laughing her ass off.

"Well i am glad my pain humors you." I mutter with an eye roll.

"It's not that, well not just that. You think a guy did this to you?" She questions with a sly smile and her arms over her chest.

Does boobs though...

Not the time for that Jake!

We'll go to the strip club tonight, I'll bring Zach and Alex that sounds good.

Where was i...

"Oh uh yeah of course a guy did no girl could have done this." I state because well it is sort of true.

She scoffs "Think again." She says while holding up her bruised fist.

Wait, that is almost the size of the..

I grab her fist and bring it to the bathroom.

I put her fist on my bruise to see it is almost exactly the same size.

No way...

"Where did you learn to punch like that?" I ask because i am genuinely curious.

"Charles taught me." She says while taking her fist back.

"That old guy?!" I ask incredulously, because well he is old.

"Surprisingly yes," She shrugs her shoulders "Some shit happened on my way home from work and Charles was there to help me."

"A lot of shit happens to you doesn't it?" I ask because i remember the elevator ride up, wait...

We went up to her place, and then we met Flora and I asked.

"Are you a stripper?" I ask as realization takes place

"You remember now. I am not some girl you slept with, which you have your clothes on by the way." She says shrugging her shoulders.

"Answer the question." I ask once again

Can't this girl get to the point.

"Semi- yes." she shrugs her shoulders.

"How can you be a semi stripper?" I ask

"I was getting there, " She snaps at me, "I am Flora's assistant, I am in the back room dealing with her money, and make sure she has her costume ready, stuff like that."

"Oh, do you know who Tracy is?" I blurt out.

"Why you want to bang her, then dump her?" She asks with cold eyes.

I put my head down in embarrassment, and rub the back of my neck,

I look at her feet,

No I don't have a fetish .

I see she has black nail polish on, and look back up at her face.

"No, I blurted it out sorry." I apologize

"Yeah you aren't the only guy to lust over Tracy." She waves me off.

"Ok, let's get started on this project then" I say while walking into the other room.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Flora asks as soon as I get into the other room.

"I am fine thanks." I mutter

"Oh sorry but uh who are you?" She asks in return

"I'm Jake, and Ava talked about you on the way here, I must have forgotten everything is still pretty hazy." I say while gesturing to my head.

Flora makes a hissing sound.

"Oo that looks like it hurts, here put some ice on it." Flora goes to the freezer, and grabs a frozen sponge in a zip lock back. She wraps it with a paper towel and hands it to me.

"Here that should stop the swelling." She says while looking at my head.

"Thanks at least someone is nice." I grumble. Flora laughs at that.

"I can be a bitch sometimes too, but cut the girl some slack both of us have been through some shit, and no not our nails breaking, our clothes ripping, or our debit cards maxing out. We have a tough life, and I am sure you do too. But just know this, never underestimate her, and me." Flora says with a serious face.

"What happened to Ava?" I ask because the thought of her being hurt doesn't settle well with me, I mean no girl should have a rough childhood.

"That is not my place to tell, we all, afterall, have our own secrets don't we?" She says while eyeing my tattoos.

I know what she means by that, but i am genuinely curious.

"Ok let's get this project over with." Ava says whild holding her laptop and her history book. I rush to help her because she looks like she is about to drop her laptop.

"Holy crap you can be nice I thought that was a myth." She says with wide eyes.

"Hardy, Har, Har." I say, "Where do you want this?"

"Put it on the counter I am going to grab my back pack."

I walk on her room as well because I forgot my phone on her bed, I think.

Once inside I finally get a good look.

"Woah this is an awesome view," I say while eyeing the buildings, "Aren't you worried about privacy?"

"Are you kidding me?" Ava scoffs "This is New York City, you can get murdered in time squared and no one would notice. Plus it is a one way mirror type thing. Like how they have in the cop shows. I can see what is out there, but all they see is a reflection."

"Well that makes since."

"I am done." I say while slouching on the couch

"Ok we finished how about tomorrow you come over again and we work on the slide show?" She asks.

"Yeah that sounds good." I say whild putting everything in my back pack.

"So is that why you wore the nerd costume for school?" I ask.

"Yeah if people found out i worked at a strip club, they would bully me, even more then they do now." She says while not looking at me, I stop putting away my stuff.

"Hey, you were bullied at school?" I ask her, she finally looks at me.

"Well, yeah I'm the nerd at the school, Heather some of her clones and to be honest somtimes you." She says while biting her lip and looking down.

This is a new side of her, I have never seen her like this with her comebacks, or sarcastic saying. I am sure she hasn't seen this side of me either.

"But i guess i can understand, you know. My stuttering even annoys me." She says with a cold chuckle.

I don't know why i do this next but i do.

I put my stuff on the table and put the stuff in her hands and also put it on the table,

"Hey what are-" I cut her off by wrapping my arms around her neck and hug her.

I feel her body go rigid.

"I am not going to hurt you." I say. After a few moments she finally melts into my arms and returns the hug. I am not going to lie this felt really nice, and I couldn't help but notice how good she felt in my arms. Almost... like she was meant to be wrapped in my arms.

That sounded corny...

"Promise me that if they ever bother you again, that you come straight to me. I don't care if I am taking a dump, you just come to me ok?"

I feel her laugh in my arms.

"Ok, I promise. You know I am not used to you like this, it feels weird... but at the same time I kind of like it." She whispers the last part, if i wasn't so close i wouldn't have heard her.

"I kind of like it too, and what do you know, it's not raining chocolate." I point out.

I feel her body laugh at my words.

"What do you know..."