Relinquish(29)

“What are you doing?” I ask, confused.

“Shot-gunning it,” she responds, pulling out a pocket knife.

“What the hell is that?”

“What, the knife?” She holds it palm up, revealing the small blade.

“That, and what the hell is shot-gunning it?” I clarify.

“I grabbed the knife from the counter when the clerk wasn’t looking, and shot-gunning is when you stab the end of a beer can, take a few big gulps, then open the tab at the top,” she instructs. I guess she can steal.

“And that does… what?” I laugh, not sure what the point is.

“Makes the liquid rush out so you can drink it faster. Get drunk quicker.” She shrugs.

I snort in response and pull a beer can from the plastic. I watch Jayden stab the end of her can and suck from the cut, beer dribbling down her face as she hands the knife to me. I grip the can and repeat her actions. Instantly, beer sprays me in the face, making me squeal and Jayden laugh.

“Hurry, drink it!” Jayden hollers around her own beer. I quickly place the can to my lips and drink. Cold beer slips from my mouth and spills down my chest.

“Okay, now open the top.” Jayden giggles, finishing her own. I use my other hand to search for the tab then open it. The action makes the liquid rush into my mouth so fast I can barely keep up.

I drink it all and squeeze the can like a man would. This is what I missed out on growing up. Just having fun, and being dumb with friends. This moment may seem stupid to some, maybe even childish, but it’s a memory with Jayden I won’t forget.

“Wow.” I wipe my face with my arm. “Who taught you how to do that?”

Jayden shrugs. “I saw my dad and his buddies do it all the time.” I nod, not sure what to say. Sounds like her dad partied a lot around her when she was a kid.

“Come on, ho, let’s do another,” Jayden suggests, pulling another beer free.

I can’t help but smirk. “Let’s go inside so we don’t cause any unwanted attention first.” I point toward our apartment.

“Sounds like a plan,” Jayden sings, turning to walk up our steps.

***

Jayden and I walk to the Fever Motel, located just a few blocks away from where we live. I stare at the run-down building from the sidewalk, and my face immediately twists with distaste. There looks to be about twenty rooms in total, ten upstairs and ten down. The paint is this god-awful blue with all the doors painted an off-white. Right in the center of the old roof is a sign reading Fever Motel.

“You should breathe, Charlie. Your face is turning purple,” Jayden remarks, looking me over.

I exhale, releasing a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. I have this feeling in my gut, that last morsel of self-respect telling me I should turn and walk away. That I can keep trying to get a job, even though I know deep-down that won’t ever happen.

“This place—”

“This place is going to keep us safe, remember? And it’s going to make us money,” Jayden interrupts, reminding me why this is so important: protection.

“Right,” I mumble, blowing out a steady breath.

“Charlie, we’re just asking questions today. Getting information on how all this works. We are not committing to anything.” Jayden sighs, tucking a hair behind my ear.

“You and I both know there’s nothing better out there for us. At least here we’ll be safe.” I give a tight-lipped smile. I look back at the motel, and a shiver runs up my spine as the sign’s lights flicker on.

I peer out from under my lashes, glancing at Jayden who’s looking the place over with a worried expression.

“I’m not going to lie. I’m scared.” I breathe heavily, although I’ve had time to cope with the idea of sleeping with men for money. Having the hunger pains in my stomach, and the fear of being kicked out onto the streets next month, it makes your mind adapt to the unfair tactics of survival. No matter how devious it is.

“I’m just as scared as you are,” she admits. “But next month the rent is up, and then what? The guys I slept with before, they aren’t repeat customers. They’re going home for the summer and things are going to get difficult, even more than they are now. Not to mention more dangerous the more we mess around on these streets.”

The glimpse of the dead girl flares behind my eyes. I nod and straighten my back. “Right. We can do this,” I say with more confidence than I’m feeling.

“You showed up,” sounds behind us, causing Jayden and I to jump.

The lady I saw the other day stands with her hands on her hips, a confident smile plastered across her face. Her dark skin is glistening with sweat, causing her white dress to go sheer, revealing her bare breasts and dark-colored thong beneath it.

“Name’s Margo. I gotta say, I didn’t think you would show,” she remarks, digging in her black shiny purse.

“Why is that? Is there a reason why she shouldn’t show up?” Jayden asks, looking at me warily from the corner of her eyes.

Margo places a cigarette in her mouth and lights it, blowing a cloud of smoke into the hot air before answering.

“Most girls are stupid. They think they know the streets because they can open their legs well. That doesn’t mean you have a hint of an idea of what kind of men walk on these streets.” She scratches her big hair and smiles, pointing at us with her cigarette. “But I can tell. Yeah, I can tell you girls are street-smart. Mick is gonna love you.” She takes a drag of her cigarette, shifting on her ridiculous high heels.