Page 9 of Unbreakable

I’ve just stepped through the doorway and made my way to my vanity table when I smell the stench of cigarette smoke.

“You think you are fuckin’ clever don’t ya? Your games won’t last here and the men out there will tire of the novelty of the new pussy.” Karen spews at me, contempt in her face.

“Karen, what the hell could I have done in the mere couple hours I’ve been here tonight to make you despise me so? Hell, you had an attitude the fucking minute I came through the door!” I ask her, not because it really matters to me one way or the other, I just want to know what her damn problem is.

“Just watch your step cunt. I would hate for you to have an accident or something and lose your job. Being a slut won’t keep you employed forever. Jones will tire of you.” she tells me, before turning to walk away and that's when it hits me.

I call out to her, stopping her dead in her tracks. “I see what’s crawled up your granny ass panties Karen. Jones likes what he sees, it’s me and not you that gets his engine running.” I can’t help the fit of laughter that ensues and only increases with her flipping me off before storming from the room.

It’s three thirty in the morning before I finally arrive home, fucking dog tired. I can hear music coming from Knox’s apartment so I know he must be home, most likely with company. What I hate is the twinge of jealousy I feel with the thought that it might be another woman with him.

I make it all the way to the couch before dropping everything in my arms to the floor and flopping my body down. I reach up and pull the blanket I had earlier in the day off the back of the couch and cover myself with it.

I close my eyes, thinking about my shift earlier and how I kept hoping to see the man that caught my attention, but he must have left because I couldn't find him. I managed to make a little over three grand tonight from the two dances on stage, four private dances and I can’t even fucking count how many lap dances.

If I could keep making money like this, I could add another class to my course load. The only thing stopping me is fear that Karen would hold true to her threats tonight. I should’ve just kept my big mouth shut, but I have an inability to do that, it’s like I have tourettes and no control over what comes flying out.

My parents have always said it would get me in trouble one day when I was a kid, back before they turned into the vile creatures they are now. Guess they were right.

As I lay there, I hear the gentle thumping beat of the music reverberating into my apartment from across the hall, slowly lulling me to sleep. Before I know it I find myself rolling to my side and curling into a ball of warmth I have cocooned myself in. Hopefully my mystery man will make an appearance soon, as his charcoal eyes lie vivid in my mind.

Knox

I can’t believe how gorgeous she is. She pulled me in from the first words I heard her say before seeing her face. She’s a fucking goddess. I know I should be careful because she’s my neighbor, but I can’t fight the need to flirt with her every time I’m around her.

I thought she would be pissed when I did it earlier today, but she wasn't. She even shocked me by flirting back. I know nothing will come of us, more than friendship, I mean what would anyone as good looking as her want with someone like me?

I almost fucked everything up today when she mentioned she was a stripper, totally didn’t see that coming. Worst part is now I can’t go back there because if I see her naked I know there’s no freaking way in this world I will be able to fight my attraction to her.

I heard someone on the stairs earlier, and when I looked through the peephole on my door I saw her walking into her apartment. I wanted to swing my door open and invite her in to hang with Christopher, Eric and myself, but I didn’t. Christopher had already made a claim he was going to fuck her and I didn’t want to share her with them tonight, or give him a chance to make true on his proclamation.

Christopher was a damn chick magnet. They loved his goofy ass sense of humor and chiseled body. Hell, I’m not into men but if I was I would be knocking down his door trying to get a date.

“Knox, what the hell are you doing? I thought you were getting us more beers?” I hear Christopher holler from the living room, drawing me back to the present.

“I’m coming!” I yell back at him, moving over to the refrigerator and pulling out three beers.

As I make my way back in I see they have switched over to a new video game, and are now playing basketball instead of the football from earlier.

“What took you so long man?” Eric asks as he takes one of the beers from my hand, popping the top and lifting it to his mouth, taking a long drink.

“Oh nothing, thought I heard something in the hallway but it was nothing.” I lie.

“Dude, is the hot ass neighbor home? We should go invite her over. Eric, man that bitch is fine and fucking funny as hell. I give her two weeks before she’s begging to take a ride on my stick, I bet she fucks like no other.” Christopher says as he makes lewd gestures with his hands while pumping his crotch up in the air.

Just the thought of him with her makes me see fucking red, and I know I need to get myself in check.

“Christopher, we already discussed this man. You’re to keep your dick away from my neighbor.”

“Hey man, I hear ya. But if the girl comes begging for it, I have no choice but to please her.” he says as he takes a sip of the beer I sat on the table in front of him.

“Okay, let’s get back to the game and off the subject of Arizona. We’re supposed to be here in support of Eric who was dumped by his girl today. We promised our bro a night with no talk of girls.” I remind them both, hoping this will change the subject.

“Bro’s before Ho’s.” they both begin to chant before lifting their beers and downing them.

I move and take a seat on the couch beside Christopher, picking up my abandoned controller before joining in on the game, all the while my mind is still on the girl who has taken possession of it, who is safe inside her apartment across the hall.

We continued to party for another three or four hours, before we all ended up passing out where we were sitting.

---