Nathan Smith's Story

Jynx walked through the streets slowly, scaring away any possible attackers with a cold glare. She allowed the corners of her mouth to tip up in a smile every time a person backed away from her when she gave them this look, as if to say "good choice".

While looking for targets, she noticed a man with his daughter. He was pulling her along by her wrist, yelling at her everytime she slowed down. He was tall with white skin, wearing a white wife beater and sagging jeans, his red boxers showing. He had a brown buzz cut. The girl couldn't have been any more than 6, her eyes so innocent and pure. Jynx looked at the guys face, knowing his type, knowing what was in store for that girl. She wanted to kill him, but getting arrested would definiately not help the group. She took a mental picture of the guy for later, then walked to the alley.

She saw Nathan at the alley, walking up to him with her unfortunate amount of mugging money, which totalled to a depressing five bucks. She chose the wrong person today. She threw the money at his feet.

"Sorry, I didn't get lucky today. How did you do?"

Nathan leaned against the wall of alley, waiting for someone to come. He looked down, and ran his fingers over the few dollars he'd made that day. He had a slight frown on his face from disappointment. It'd been slow, and not much people were out. He looked up when he heard the light footsteps of Jynx. He stood up straight and moved off of the wall, and she then threw five dollars by his feet.
"Sorry, I didn't get lucky today. How did you do?" she asked.
He replied by throwing down his 10. "Not much better." he sighed.
David, Harely, and Jon then came in, all sharing their money they'd made. 5, 10, 80, and 35. That added up to 130. Not bad, and that didn't even include what Kendra was going to add. She made good money, usually the most of all of them since she was a prostitute. Where was she anyway? he wondered. They all seemed to meet up at this time. He scratched the back of his head and wondered out loud. "Any of you know where Kendra is?" he asked them.

(Sorry, I didn't know we started and like.. writers block. x___x)

Kendra leaned against the cold pole of the street sign. It was the afternoon, and she stood in red light district at her normal post. She bit her lip, hoping for some business. A few minutes passed when a somewhat beat up black Ford pick up truck roller up, and a man motioned her to get in. She went around and hopped in the car. She'd actually seen the man before around there, and heard about him from the few other girls she talked to. He liked to switch girls weekly, and came over here to cheat on his wife. If she were judging his character, she would easily dislike him. But, she'd also heard he was a good tipper, and this was a job, not a social hour.

She fakely smiled at him, and looked around the car. It seemed neat enough, and it didn't seem like a cheap car, not that she'd know of course. He seemed to keep his focus on driving, not bothering to make any small talk. After a moment or two, they pulled into a motel parking lot, which was half empty. The sign that read Vacancy in neon read lights flickered, and she unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out of the car. She heard the click of her boots as the hit the pavement, and she made her way around next to him. He took her by the wrist, and pulled her over to get his key, then lead her to the room.

~

Once he'd finished with her, he fished through his wallet, and pulled out $200. Her eyes widened a bit, she usually only made $150. She smile gratefully, and thanked him, as he walked off to shower. She picked up the bills, and counted them two more times before slipping out of the thin sheet on the bed, and carefully dressing herself again. Working as a prostitute sometimes made her feel disgusting, but whatever could keep her and her family living. She pulled on her shirt, and slipped on her shorts. Once she headed out of the room, she realized she was somewhat far from her alley. Deciding against asking the man for a ride, she reluctantly asked the manager to call the cheapest cab he could find.

The cab pulled up, and she stepped inside the dingy car, and sat down on the dirty seats. She gave the man directions for a street away from her alley, and he took her there. Taking her money out of her back pocket, she counted out the cost. She handed him a twenty, and a five, and stepped out of the cab. Placing the money back in her pocket, she walked towards the alley.

From the entrance, she could see the rest of them huddled around a small pile of cash. She sauntered over and walked into the middle of the circle, dropping her cash, then taking a step back, next to Jynx. "$175." she stated, a bit proud of herself, but she decided to leave the cab part out.. It wasn't too important, and she didn't know if they'd mind her taking one. She'd used it instead of walking because she was already late to meet them, and she didn't want to worry anyone.

Jynx used her deathly glare on both Jon and Harley.

"Okay, you guys both did pretty good. Why the fuck are you guys arguing just to argue? The last thing we need is to hate each other... Got it?" She wasn't the leader, not in the least. Nobody was. But she did a pretty damn good job of scaring people into doing what she said. Granted, the group was used to her deadly stare and didn't really freak out, but it at least made them uncomfortable.

She turned out of the huddle, aiming her glare on Jon. "What you do with your money is up to you, but just remember that you joined this group knowing that we help each other out. If you buy booze, you're lucky some of us got lucky today. Just don't expect any of us to care if your drunk ass passes out in the street." These words weren't childish argument words; they were to keep a little bit of order into the group. They knew by now that she didn't get into childish scuffles, she only said things for the better of the over all group.

"Okay, now you two, apologize and lets move on."

Vicinda already knew she was late. Her source was being an ass and made her pay big time. She made the mistake of calling him a "heartless bastard". Her bottom lip was swelled and a little bloody, but it could have been worse. The alley was just ahead. She stopped and counted her money. Only 112 today. Oh well. She could hear Jon and Harley yelling at each other. That was also pretty typical for the two of them. She was the last one to arrive. She didn't say a word, just threw down her money and went over to her corner. She dared not to look at anyone. They knew this is what she normally did. There was also a bit of a language barrier: Vicinda learned Korean and Japanese as a child and only recently started learning English. She knew enough to communicate now though.

She hummed a bit, trying to tune out the rage that surrounded her.

Kendra didn't exactly understand what was going on, something between Harley and Jon. She was never really there for any of fights, but only heard about them like now afterwards. She watched as Jynx seemed to work out the problem. A small smile appeared on her lips, she thought it was cute that a girl her age and her size was telling two practically adults how to act and make up. She sighed, seeing the problem was resolving, and turned to see Vicinda come up and throw her money in the centre. She also noticed her split lip.

Kendra was somewhat motherly, and instantly something kicked in her to go get a cloth. Running over to her other things, she bent over and picked up a dark navy blue cloth, and poured a little bit of clean water to wet it a bit. She came back over to Vicinda, crouching next to her, then adjusting herself to sit on her knees. She dabbed the girl's cut a bit, and asked slowly, "Are you alright?" she decided to ask that before what happened, because it was easier to answer, and more important to Kendra.

No one in the group would find this act strange, since Kendra was practically seen as the mother around here. Since she'd grown up taking care of her own mother, who never asked her for anything, it's just her first instinct. She let the girl take the cloth, so she could keep it on the cut if she wanted to. She still had a worried look on her face, you'd think she'd be used to stuff like this now.

This behaviour was easily for anyone, she didn't care if they thought they could take care of themselves, like her mom had, she just did it anyway, if you liked it or not. Even if you seemed mad about it, she knew she was helping. She also usually didn't ask the names of the people who did this to any of her family, because then her inner anger would want to go out and murder this person in a second. That was of course, bad, and they needed to keep a low profile.

Ella Brown

Nathan watched as Kendra came in, then stood in their huddle, and threw $175 in. His eyes widened a bit, he loved the look of money. Then Jon threw $20 in, which slightly surprised him, but he left it alone, he didn't want to get on anyone's bad side. Next Vincinda ran in, throwing some money in and going off on her own to sit somewhere. Nathan didn't know too much about her, they didn't really talk. She seemed nice, but he really just trusted anyone in their group regardless if they were nice or not. Kendra suddenly got all motherly, cleaning up a bad cut on the girl's lip.

Nathan liked that she did that. It was weird, Kendra was only a few years older than him, but she seemed to care for them all like his own mother would have.. Or so he hoped at least. He liked to pretend he was taken away from his parents for a dumb reason, and that they were great people. In a way she was like the good mother he'd never had. In his eyes Jon was more of a fatherly figure, just in the sense that he was the man of the place. Though he didn't exactly think of the other girls as sister, David would be the oldest son, Vincinda and Harley would be the older sisters, him and Ella would be the middle children, and Jynx would be the youngest.

Thinking of Ella, she then strode in, looking beat up. He winced, he could only imagine why she was covered in bruises. The problem with Ella being a prostitute as well was that usually none of the men wanted her once they found out her age, which was already a bit obvious looking at her. He felt bad for her, and wondered why she didn't just stick to pick pocketing with him. He never really asked her though, trying to give her space.

He suddenly remembered something and turned to Jynx. "Hey, I forgot to tell you, I found some old cards that no one was using.. I think one's missing but.. We can still play right?" he suggested. He then asked, "Hey Jon do you know any card games you could teach us? I've never really played before."

Jynx turned and looked at Nathan, who said he found some cards. She knew how to play poker really well, but only because her mom was an obsessive gambler. Thinking of her mom only made her think of her dad and how he treated her. All she had told everyone was that she was kidnapped by a gang, never that she was passed gang to gang and raped by them, or that her dad raped her since she was nine.

Trying not to cry, she smiled weakly at Nathan.

"I don't know, I think you need all the cards to play... Plus, I'm kind of hungry. I think we should all get some food..." She looked at the entire group for some approval.

Ella Brown

Ella stood quietly behind Kendra, gazing at the group from what she thought was a "safe distance". Her hands trembled a bit as she kept fidgeting with the money. Kendra had given the group an impresive $175 dollars, while Jynx had given only $20. It was good, but compared to Kendra it was almost nothing. Her mind wandered off into space, like she sometimes did, staring into nothing. Blinking she felt a stare on her, and looking around she found Nathan looking at her. He was a nice guy, her age too, but a little too clingy for his own good. But he respected her, and for that she was greatful. Finally deciding it was time to make herself known, she stepped closer to the circle and threw the $130 dollars she had won the other night, along with the credit card.

Stepping back again, she rubbed her hands up her arms trying to create heat. Her stomatch rumbled, which was embarazing. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose turned into a slightly crimson red, but she tried to dismiss is by looking down, hoping that her short hair would cover at least something.

"Hey, I forgot to tell you, I found some old cards that no one was using... I think one's missing... We can still play right?" She heard Nathan said. "Hey Jon do you know any card games you could teach us? I've never really played before."

Jon was a threatening guy in Ellas eyes. He was handsome too, but a complete asshole. Ella used to have a small crush on him when she first met him, but it vanished immediately once he opened that big mouth of his. Now she sees him more like an over protective older brother, or more like the brother she never had. She saw the entire group as her family, but only thinking about it brought thoughts of her own parents. Her eyes watered, but before she shed a single tear she wiped them away with the back of her hand.

"I don't know, I think you need all the cards to play... Plus I'm kind of hungry. I think we should all get some food..." Jynx said. Immediately her stomatch rumbled again in response.

"We should," Ella agreed, sending Jynx a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Jynx was like a little sister to Ella, and as everybody else, she was protective over her.

Vicinda appreciated that Kendra even cared. Most of the group didn't pay attention to her. "Thank you..." Vicinda said quietly. She took the cloth, holding it over her cut. She saw Ella enter, with a bruise on her cheek. Vicinda was concerned, but couldn't do much. Ella eventually threw her money into the pile. Then, the group was trying to decide what to do, from what the girl could gather. "Food~" She said, with a heavy accent. Her stomach grumbled as she said it. As she stood, she instinctively moved her hair to hide her scar. Still holding the cloth, Vicinda slowly joined the group. She saw Nathan holding something she didn't know the English word for. She was curious, but didn't focus on it.

"Who the hell did that to you, anyway?" Jynx heard Jon say. She knew the comment was directed at Ella, because she also wondered what had happened, but she knew well enough that you don't ASK someone about their past, no matter how recent. You let them tell you.

"Jon, leave her alone, she most likely doesn't want to talk." Her voice changed a little bit, feeling a little for Ella. However, she was almost jealous of Ella. When Jynx was being beaten and shit, she didn't get money. She didn't find it fair.

Life isn't fair, Jynx. Get over it. She reminded herself.

It made good money, buy Jynx felt like prosititution shouldn't be allowed in the group. Of course, they brought her in recently, so it's not like she could do anything about it. It just made her skin crawl thinking about asking men to do that to her... It didn't seem right.

"I'm going to get McDonalds." She stated, knowing that not many people liked to go into restraunts. She would have gone alone, but she honestly wasn't strong enough to handle herself after dark. Everyone else seemed busy with something, except Jon, which really ticked her off. "Jon, you can come with me and then get something to drink for yourself, I don't really care anymore." She hated being out alone at night, but she would never tell anyone. She also didn't want Jon causing anymore drama between everyone.

Ella Brown

Everything seemed to be alright. Nobody questioned Ella about what had happened to her, and she was greatful that they decided to leave her alone. That was until Jon had to open that big mouth he has.

"Jesus, what the hell happened to you?" Jon questioned, glancing over at Ella with widened eyes. She felt like shit, and she sure knew she looked like it. Prostitution wasn't something Ella was proud of doing, heck she wanted to stop. But it was that or starve to death and it wasn't a tough decision. Her left eye twitched with annoyance, and as she was about to open her mouth to try to shut up Jon, he then again spoke.

"Who the hell did that to you, anyway?" Jon blurted out again. He can't shut up, can he? Ella thought. This question made her look away from Jon's accusing eyes, and try not to cry again. Even if Ella wanted, she couldn't break down and curl into a ball crying like a baby in front of everyone. She had to prove she was strong. So in order to do that, she balled her hands into fists, digging her nails into her skin and clenching her jaw, she turned back to face Jon eye to eye.

"Jon, leave her alone, she most likely doesn't want to talk," Jynx replyed. She was greatful that somebody was helping her out. She considered herself closest to Jynx that with anybody else. Maybe it was that they both where young and girls. She related to Jynx in ways she didn't with anyone else, and it eased her anger a little.

"Oh you know, a man who wanted sex and me offered money to eat. But it seems like you've been spending it in your fucking liquor," Ella challenged, spitting out every word with anger. She could feel her nails start to cut through her skin, making little trails of blood to emerge from her fists. She unclenched them, placing them at the edge of her hips, adding a little sassiness to her pose.

"I'm going to get McDonalds," she heard Jynx state, clearly wanting to ease the tension around. "Jon, you can come with me and then get something to drink for yourself, I don't really care anymore."

So Jynx's taking the dickhead with her... Hallelujah.

After calming herself a little more, Ella sat down resting her head in the wall, rubbing the bruise in her cheek. It hurt, but it wasn't as if she was gonna blurt it out.

A million and one thoughts ran through Ella's mind while she tried to block out any other sound from the outside. She most likely did not like fighting, or getting angry at all. She may be the girl who's always depressed and trying to commit suicide in secret, but fights where something she did not enjoy or participated often for that matter. It would all be so much easier if Jon just shut the fuck up, Ella thought. He may be part of the group, but if she had to choose who she hated the most, it would be him without a doubt. But maybe that was just her anger talking, as sometimes she saw Jon as a protective figure. He may look tought on the outside, but there has to be something inside him that's not so fucked up. Something that Ella said must have clearly angered Jon, because before she knew it, she was snapping at her again.

"I put down money too," he snarled, makind Ella turn towards the source of the angered voice. "I've never spent all the money I get on liquor. But if you really want it to be that way, then I'm more than happy to make it happen." Ella's eyes widened as she saw Jon's actions. He was acting out of anger, but Ella was sure pissed off when she saw him take money from the pile. "There ya go, now I'm 'spending it on my fucking liquor'. Would ya look at that, Ella, you where right about me all along," he snapped again. Ella clenched her jaw again and only gave Jon what she could manage to make as a "death glare", narrowing her eyes and trying to put all her anger and annoyance in her eyes for him to see.

After Jynx suggested the McDonalds trip, which Jon reclutantly agreed to, Ella could only glare at Jon's big back.

"Fuck you," She mutered under her breath. She could have chased him and tried to apologize for what she said, or punched him hard to empty her anger on something. But she was just too tired. Too tired of everything.

Her stomatch rumbled again. Great! Just what I needed! A hungry monster to feed, Ella thought. She stood up from her crowched possition, took fifteen dollars from the pile, and walked to the oposite side of the alley, towards a chinese restaurant she knew and enjoyed.

"I'm goin' for food," she said quietly, but loudly enough for the others to hear.

Kendra nodded, and smiled at Vicinda, who held the cloth to her lip. She sat there for a moment or two, and heard Ella come up. She didn't bother looking over yet, making sure the other girl was alright. She heard some people start fighting, and she quietly slipped away, not wanting to deal with it, be involved, or even hear it. She ran over to her pile of stuff, which was extremely small, a very beat up drawstring bag, containing scissors, for all those cutting needs, a needle and thread, she wasn't the best sewer, but hey, she wasn't probably going to keep going on a shopping spree every weekend. An old photograph, taken by a polaroid camera, of her and her mom in New York City in front of the giant Ferris wheel, a broken watch, that wasn't very expensive anyways, but hey, even a broken watch showed the right time twice a day. Last she had an over sized hoodie, which she kept for when it was cold. Feeling a bit chilly, she slipped it over her head, and put her arms through the sleeves. She grabbed at the wrist area of fabric with both hands, and made her way back to the others.

Nathan seemed disappointed, frowning with some cards, and the others milling about. Kendra looked at Ella, who stood up and said "I'm goin' for food," at first she acknowledged that, nodding, and then stared at the new bruises, all over the girls body. A pang of worry ran through her, and sent a chill up her spine. She knew it was from another man.. Kendra thought maybe she should work extra, and that way Ella didn't have to prostitute as much anymore. She frowned, knowing she couldn't exactly help with the bruises.

As Ella began to pass her, something caught the corner of her eye. Cuts. On her wrist. She instinctively grabbed it, but careful not to touch them. She took a step closer, her face beside the girl's. She whispered something that only Ella would be able to hear. "You're not alone. And you don't have to be. Doing that won't help you.." she tried not to sound blunt about it. She had the same sympathy for the girl, if not more than the others. She felt bad Ella thought ending things would be better. In Kendra's opinion it was a gift to live, and things could be worse. She then said aloud, dropping Ella's arm and stepping aside, "Why don't you take Nathan, Harley, David, and Vicinda with you?" Without waiting for an answer, she picked up some money, and motioned for the four to come over.

Just as Ella was about to sigh in relief that all trouble was left behind, she felt someone grab her wrist. Her heart stopped, and the first thought that came into her mind was that it was her dad, comming for her to beat her to pulp again. Her head snapped towards the source that had grabbed her wrist, and her eyes came across Kendra's own. They where slightly narrowed, but filled with worry. She approached Ella slowly, placing her lips by her ear, as if she was going to tell her the most important secret of them all. Ella's heart beated so fastly she could feel it in her throat.

"You are not alone." Kendra said. I am alone, only not entirely.

"And you don't have to be." I choose to be.

"Doing that won't help you..." Doing what?

Then it hit her like a bullet in the back. Her cuts. She had seen them. Ella's heart clenched a bit, along with her jaw. She was not angry at Kendra, but angry at herself for not hiding them well enough for Kendra not to notice. She felt ashamed, because she saw Ella as a mother and it was as if she had just caught her eating the last piece of cake which she had clearly stated not to eat. Her gaze was casted down to her feet, and she struggled not to snap at Kendra. Ella felt her arm being released, breathing out in relief that she wasn't being pressed into spitting more information.

"Why don't you take Nathan, Harley, David, and Vicinda with you?" Kendra suggested. And as much as Ella wanted to say that she prefered to go alone, and have some time to think for herself, she didn't because Kendra had seen her scars, and she at least owed her that much. She nodded her head slightly, quietly spitting out a "Yes ma'am."

Nathan felt a bit disappointed, and he went and threw the cards near where he slept. By the time he'd made his way back he'd heard the yelling, Ella and Jon were at it this time. He frowned slightly and watched. He sort of agreed with Jon, because he didn't seem too happy about the prostitution. Nathan was barely okay with Kendra doing it, but at least she wasn't showing up with bruises all over her. He found the whole thing somewhat sickening. These people paid for sex, and now a sick creep was paying for sex with a minor, his own age. The thought made him squirm a bit.

It was true it was none of Jon's business in the first place, but Ella didn't have to be so mean about it. He understood why she was defensive though. He ruffled his hair a bit, then watched as Jon and Jynx walked off to eat elsewhere. Then Ella began to leave, and Nathan fell back against the brick wall of the alley, leaning on it.

Kendra stopped Ella, saying something in a hushed tone, and then said she should bring the rest of them to eat as well. Feeling the hunger get to him, he took the money from Kendra, and stood beside Ella, and smiled at her. He hoped she didn't mind them coming, or just him depending if the others went.

Aimee sat in the cell, the guard shouting at her. "This is the fifth time, I've seen you in this store stealing!"Aimee just sat their listening to him, every time she never reacted, but she kind of wanted to laugh, this guard was being stupid. "I had never left the store, hence I never committed a crime and where is your prove that I was going to steal it?" She looked up at him once she had finished, he then said something about her not having any money in her purse and that she usually steals stuff. "Do you even know where I live? If I walked about with money in my purse, I'd have nothing." She untied her converse and took out $55. "Secondly, you have no proof that was me? For all you know I have a twin sister, I could even be a triplet, oh and if you've seen me stealing so many times how come this is the first time you've actually stopped me?" The guard didn't know what to say and so Aimee hopped up and left, her brother, Marcus waiting outside for her. "Take your time." He said sarcastically before starting back home. "We're already late, we should've been back ages ago." He moaned as they walked, Aimee was smiling to herself. "I wonder how much is in this wallet?" She asked, pulling out a $20. "That's it." She tossed the wallet away but kept the 20, shoving it down her converse. She walked the rest of the way in silence. Together Aimee and Marcus had $100.67, which added to a good day. When they got back, most of the others had gone. "I'm guessing they got a bit." Marcus told Aimee. "I'm not hungry though, I ate while you were locked up, how about you?" Aimee shook her head. "Nope, but I'm not really that hungry." She looked at the entrance to the alleyway and back to the sleeping area, "Hey, looks like Nathan got cards. Wanna play Jack Change It?" Marcus just shrugged at her suggestion but she grabbed the deck anyway, shuffling then dealing. They played until the others came back.

OOC: Wow... I haven't posted in like a month... Sorry, school was a bitch (:

Ella Brown

Kendra grabbed some money from the pile they had made before, and handed it to Nathan. Ella watched as he stood beside her and gave her a small and encouraging smile. Her own lips twitched a bit, creating a more grimance-like smirk than a genuine smile, but at least it was something. She casted her eyes forward and without turning back called out for the rest of the crew to follow.

When she was aware of everybody else following her, she started walking towards the end of the alley. Her shoes squeaking slightly in the uneven pavement. She raised her hands and cracked her knuckles, a bad habbit that would surely come back to bite her ass when she grew up.

Her eyes warmed a bit as the Chinese take-out restaurant came to view, and she let her lips curl into a warm smile. She felt her stomach rumble again, and a little flushed she entered the local.

"Ah! I was wondering where you had gotten yourself into, Brown!" The cheerful chef called out to Ella. He knew her too well since she had been a frequent client for the past years. He was a happy and fat asian man nicknamed Yang.

"I was bussy," she simply replyed, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "I brought friends to feed too."