"Savannah!" Becky's calls after me but I shake my head, the tears continuing to flow as I walk away. "Savannah!" One of the girls grab hold of my shoulder, whirling me around to face them.

I just want them to let me leave, let me run home and bury myself in bed until I starve to death. No... I want to gorge on chocolate cake until I can't fit back out my bedroom door.

"Where are you going?" Zara asks, her voice calm.

"Home." I respond, wiping a tear from my face as I make a move to turn back away.

"Savannah we aren't letting you go home alone." Zara retorts, crossing her arms as I purse my lips, desperately trying to hold my emotions in. 

My friends are staring at me in sympathy, and I can see the somewhat judgmental look in Georgia's brown eyes.  My friends will never understand. Nor will anyone else. I don't need anyone's pity.

I don't blame them though. What kind of sixteen year old works in a shady club where the girls dance in little more than a g-string? That is the exact thought that is currently running through everyone's head.

They are all judging me, wondering what is wrong with me. I can already see how Monday at school is going to go... I'm the easy one. The whore.

Brett has destroyed my life. With one simple act, he's thrown me to the lions.

"I can't..." I try, the tears beginning to flow relentlessly down my cheeks. "I just..." I choke on my words and cover my mouth with my hand as I sob. "I need..." I try again and Georgia rubs my arm reassuringly.

That's all I need before I break.

"How could he do that?" I scream as I sob, falling forward as tears pour down my face. Becky launches herself at me, pulling me into her arms as Zara rubs my back. "Everyone knows." I whisper as I cry, "Everyone knows."

"Come on." Zara urges, "Let's go back to Georgia's."

"I..." My stuttering is futile, as Zara grabs me, pulling me into her arms. "I..."

"Shh, it's okay." She soothes, leading me over towards the cab that's just pulled up. Sliding into the cab, Becky wraps her arm around my shoulders and I rest my head on her, shutting my eyes as I try to prevent more tears from falling. I stay like that the entire journey, desperate to wake up from this nightmare.

Once we arrive, Becky helps me out of the cab before I follow them wordlessly to the front door, keeping my head down as we enter the house.

"I'll get us some snacks." Georgia smiles, immediately sloping off to the kitchen. I turn away, wandering towards the familiar comfy black couch, wanting nothing more than to curl up and cry.

"Sav?" Becky calls after me.

"I just want to take these boots off." I reply hoarsely as I slouch down on the couch.

"Alright!"

"They won't..." I exclaim, frustrated as I attempt to pull the boots off my feet, tears beginning to flow down my face once more.

"Don't worry!" Becky rushes forward, pulling my hands away and grabbing onto the shoes, "I've got them." She assures, smiling as she carefully unzips the boots and pulls them off.

"Thanks." I say softly.

Georgia soon reappears with a bowl of chips, setting it down on the table in front of me as Becky and Zara sit beside me. Crumpling the wet tissue in my hands I take a deep breath before looking up at the expectant girls, Georgia breaking first.

"So... do you dance?" Georgia asks and I shake my head.

"No, of course not." I deny as she smiles, clearly relieved. "I just work behind the bar." I shrug, "I literally serve drinks. I don't even talk to anyone."

"Why..." Zara's voice is small as she cautiously asks me. I know that this is what they all want to know but unfortunately I don't have a very good reason.

"It's good money." I reply, hugging my knees to my chest, "Three times what the diner pays me."

"But Sav..." Georgia begins.

"You don't know how it is." I cut her off, desperate to get my argument across. "I'm never going to get to college."

"Savannah you're so smart." Becky pipes up, smiling at me from across the room. "You can apply for scholarships." She assures me and I can't help but scoff.

"And if I don't get one?" Her face falls slightly at my question. "Exactly." I sigh, running my hand through my hair as I slump down even further into the couch.

"But it's dangerous." Zara points out and I can't help but shrug.

"Maybe." I respond, my voice low. I'm not stupid, I know it isn't the safest place to work.

"How long?" Georgia's voice comes out so small that I barely hear it.

"What?"

"How long have you worked there?" She asks and I bite my lip.

"Six months." I reply and watch as she takes in a deep breath. Zara sits back, leaning against the couch as she bites her lip.

"How did Brett know?" Becky asks, a curious look on her face.

"He drove me to work one day." I almost laugh as I say it out loud. "I should have never accepted a ride. People like that are always looking for ways to make your life miserable."

I've been so stupid.

"He offered to give you a lift?" Georgia raises her eyebrows, unbelieving.

"Yeah." I shrug.

"He doesn't do that for anyone." Georgia responds, her eyes glazing over in awe. 

"Yeah, but then he pinned up her dirty laundry for everyone to see!" Becky spits out, wrapping her arms around my shoulder.

I have been setting myself up to fail. I didn't even know Brett but I let him see where I worked. I have spoken to him on numerous occasions now and all the while I forgot to remind myself what kind of person he truly is.

"How could he..." I choke out, a sob emitting from my lips.

"Because he's a dick." Becky replies and Georgia nods.

"Do you know what everyone is going to think of me now?" I look up at Becky as she wipes the tears from my face. "I'll never live this down." I whisper and Georgia grabs hold of my hand from the other side.

"You still have us." She smiles and I let the tears fall as Zara grabs me a tissue, Georgia squeezing my hand.

"Always." Georgia smiles.

"You aren't alone Sav." Becky whispers and I can't help but smile as she takes a new tissue from Zara and begins to wipe my tears away.

"Have some chips!" Georgia moves closer to me, holding the bowl out with a smile on her face.

*~*~*

"I... I have to tell you something." I stutter, my heart racing in my chest.

My sister has just walked in from a ten hour shift, her clothes crumpled, the creases in her face showing how exhausted she is. She doesn't need this.

"Anna?" Elle drops her bags as she sees my face, worry clouding her features. "What's wrong?"

"You're not going to be happy with me." I manage, playing with the sleeves on my sweater as Elle's eyes narrow slightly.

"What did you do?"

"I've... I've been working somewhere other than the diner." I manage to spit out. I didn't sleep a wink last night after the girls finally sent me to bed, the reality hitting me hard as I realized I had to tell my sister what I've been doing. She was never supposed to find out.

"You have?"

"Yeah." I reply and take a deep breath. She's going to kill me either way. Rip it off like a band aid.

"Aphrodite's Palace."

"Good one." Elle's face bursts into a smile, amusement obvious as she picks her bag back up, walking through to the kitchen.

"I'm serious."

"No you're not." She calls over her shoulder before turning back to me, a cautious look in her eye. "My sister isn't that stupid."

"Elle I'm sorry." I feel the tears begin to run down my face once more, watching as her face drops, the truth finally sinking in.

"Are you fucking serious?" She yells, slamming her hand on the kitchen counter, "Do you know what that means? You're underage Savannah!" She finishes, storming passed me and running her hands through her hair, eyes full of anger.

"I know... the money was good." I struggle to get the words out, my sister pacing the living room.

"Of course it's good, it's a fucking strip club." She snaps.

"I didn't strip!" I reply quickly, the tears slowing slightly.

"Oh really?" she replies sarcastically. Great, she doesn't believe me.

"Yeah." I assure her, taking a step into the living room. "I worked behind the bar. That's all."

"Not anymore."

"Elle it's good money..."

"I don't give a shit." She cuts me off, grabbing hold of my shoulders. "You aren't working in that shithole!" She hisses, pushing me away and continuing to pace the living room.  I let her pace for a minute, unsure of what to say. I've ruined my relationship with my sister. I just know it. I've never seen her so angry, so at a loss with me.

"I didn't..."

"Why?" She cuts me off, her pacing coming to an end as she stares directly at me. "Why didn't you come to me?"

"What?"

"I am your older sister." She snaps, taking a step towards me, "I am supposed to take care of you." She gestures around at our home, "And you went behind my back."

In the heat of the moment I feel my defensive side kick up, rushing to my aid as I feel her orders sink in.

"It's my life!" I retort, "I can do whatever the fuck I want!"

"You are under eighteen! I am your legal guardian." She argues back, standing up, "You can't do whatever the fuck you want." She mocks and I shake my head.

"Clearly."

"Don't make me the bad guy here Savannah! This is your doing, not mine." She yells and I scoff, crossing my arms. I have no idea where my strength has come from, no idea that I had it in me to fight my sister today.

"My doing?" I snap. "I was trying to save myself some money for college." I continue, "You're the one who blows our money on clothes and shit for yourself."

"Are you serious? I bought a couple of tops because my old ones were falling apart." She yells back as I roll my eyes, "I work thirteen hour shifts for us." Her voice quietens and I know it's because she's getting angrier, "Don't you dare pin our money problems on me."

"Who else should I pin them on?" I cry out, "Mom and Dad?" I ask, gesturing towards the picture of them on the wall. "As you said, you're my legal guardian."

"How dare you!" Elle explodes, "I give you everything I can. I have bought as much as I possibly can for you!"

"It's not enough." I snap and her mouth drops open in disbelief. Shit.

"You spoilt bitch..."

"I... I didn't mean that you don't work enough." I hold my hands up in a surrender before falling down on the couch. "I meant that I had to work somewhere else. Your money isn't enough."

"You should have come to me." Her voice is softer now, "Since when did we keep secrets from each other?"

"I didn't really have a choice." I let out a dry chuckle.

"There is always a choice Savannah." She scoffs, crossing her arms as she looks out the window.

"Do you know how much I want to go to college?" I point out and she looks over at me, her eyes knowing.

"Of course I do." She says, walking over towards me, "But working there is not the answer."

"Then what is?"

"I... I don't know." She falters slightly, "But we should figure it out together," She reaches down, grabbing hold of my hand as I look at her with surprise, "Not yelling at each other over who's fault our money problems are."

"It's Aunt Lara's fault." I scoff and she cracks a small smile.

"I don't think she would agree."

"Fuck her."

"You have to quit." She demands and I quickly pull my hands away.

"Do you know how much this income has been helping us?" I exclaim, my eyes wide.

"I don't care." She shakes her head.

"Elle..."

"You are my baby sister." She grabs hold of my hand again, "And I have to protect you." I see the tears that are beginning to form in her eyes, "You hid this from me."

"That's not fair I..."

"Mom and Dad left me with one job Anna!" She cuts me off, pulling her hand away and walking over to the other side of the room. "Take care of you as best I can." She shakes her head. "You have made me fail them."

"I..." I falter when her words sink in, rising from the couch. "Shut up!"

"It's the truth." She glares at me, "They would be disappointed in you."

"That's not true!" I snap, another tear springing to my eye. I worked hard for everything I have. My parents would not be disappointed in that. She's lying!

"Deceiving everyone? Working in a place like that?" She rants before laughing slightly,  "You think they would have been proud?"

"Stop it!" I yell, a lone tear escaping and making its way down the side of my face.

"No they wouldn't." She answers, her arms crossed.

"Elle!" A few more traitorous tears make their way down my face. I've disappointed my parents.

"They probably can't believe what you've turned into."

"Shut up!" I explode, grabbing my hair in my hands as the tears flow down my face. "I worked behind the fucking bar! That's all." I yell, "What do you take me for?"

Her face softens as she watches me angrily wipe my face with my hands, my sister taking a step towards me.

"Ann..."

"No!" I choke on my tears as she attempts to walk over towards me.

"Anna listen to me!" She grabs my hands, forcing me to look at her. "I didn't mean it! I was just being cruel."

"They'd hardly be proud of you." I snap, wrestling to get out of her arms. That's a straight up lie. They would be so proud of how my sister has managed.

"You don't mean that." Elle retorts, grabbing my hands once more and forcing me to look at her. "Just like how I didn't mean what I said to you."

"I..."

"Anna!" She tries, her own eyes filling with tears as she wipes mine away with her fingers.

"I'm sorry!" I sob, collapsing into her arms.

"Me too!"

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